Agro-Based Industry

Generally, agro-based industry refers to an industry that adds values to agricultural raw materials through processing in order to produce marketable and usable products that bring forth profits and additional income to the producer. Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010), development of agro-based industry will be focus on increasing utilization of agricultural produce in the production of high value-added products as well as processing activities.Private sector is encouraged to invest in agro-based processing activities such as agriculture related GLCs, subsidiary companies of the agricultural agencies as well as relevant associations and cooperatives. The efforts also will be enhanced to increase participation of individual farmers and fishermen in agro-based processing activities so that the processing of end-products from agricultural industrial commodities will be increase further.However, many of Malaysian food producers are still small enterprises, thus necessary incentive s and expertise will be provided to encourage the agro-food producers to upgrade the quality of their products through practicing Good Manufacturing Practices (GM), Quality Assurances Programme (QAP), Hazard Critical Control Point (HACCP), ISO and other International Quality Standards. Besides, during the Ninth Malaysia Plan period, agro-based industry will be centered on innovation-based product development.Furniture and furniture components manufacturers will be encouraged to focus on innovative product design and quality as well as expand their product range to include high-end niche products while improving existing activities. Measures will be undertaken to aggressively promote exports of high quality products in compliance with ecolabelling requirements to sustain market share as well as diversify into new markets. Issue Related – Food Crisis The food crisis situation seen in 2007 and 2008 with a sharp increase in asic food prices highlights the extreme vulnerability of the current agricultural and food model. The global food crisis is currently concentrated primarily in urban areas, where people in rural areas also suffering from the food crisis. The sharp price increases are beginning to cause widespread hunger as many families are using as much as 75 percent of their income for food. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the food crisis has left after another 925 million people in hungry.The number of people suffering from malnutrition before the rise in the price of food in 2007 was 850 million, and it become 925 million in the same year which increased by 75 million. In fact, the current food crisis is already affecting directly or indirectly half of the population worldwide more than three billion people. There are several factors which causes the sharp increase in global food prices, such as the increased demand for food generally.While production around the world has been increasing, consumption for food, feedstock, biofuels and other commercial uses has been growing at an even faster rate. Besides, there are many natural disasters globally like floods and droughts. Drought in some major producing areas also contributes to the higher food price. Drought is affecting Australia, the Balkans and the former Soviet Union. Other factors such as mold are affecting grain production in South Asia.On the other hand, the increased demand for animal protein also one of the causes for higher food price. More affluent societies use large amounts of grain for conversion into dairy, eggs and meat. Conversion uses far more grain than if people simply ate the grain themselves. There have been tremendous increases in China and India, but also in other countries where standards of living are rising. Implications of the Global Food Crisis Food security is defined as physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet dietary needs.The threes aspects of food security includes foo d availability, access and adequacy, where these three basic aspects must be attained for a country in order to achieve national food security. Due to the global food prices continue to rise and thereby ensuring food security is currently one of the greatest challenges facing by the world community. This challenge is most critical in low-income and food-deficit African countries. The reports from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have revealed that 36 countries are in the crisis globally, whereas 20 of these countries are in the Africa.More to the point, food safety and food security are closely linked with each other. When food is in short supply, individuals are mainly concerned with satisfying hunger and are not compelled to consider food safety or even the quality of food. They will consume fewer fruits and vegetables but more fatty foods and staples that are low in energy and nutrients. This imbalanced diet has implications for the prevalence of obes ity and chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and some cancers.Besides that, lack of access to food influences food intake will result in impacting the health and nutritional status of households. Among the world’s undernourished children, most of them are come from sub-Saharan Africa. In detail, the food crisis has resulted in about 200 million Africans are hungry and malnourished where 31 million are under the age of five. Malnutrition contributes to poverty because it causes or aggravates illness, lowers cognitive function and thus educational attainment, and reduces productivity.Food access, adequacy and quality are required to ensure that food security ultimately leads to an active healthy life for the individual as food is necessary for growth, resistance to or recovery from disease, and also necessary for physical work. In the long term, this crisis will result in impaired mental development, diminished learning ability, reduced work productivity, and the nu trition-related diseases. Conclusion As a conclusion, there is an immediate need and solutions for food crisis in order to prevent hunger and ensure the populations have access to safe food at the same time.For example, raising the investments in environmentally sustainable agricultural productivity, better risk management tools, less food intensive biofuel technologies, and climate change adaptation measures are all necessary to mitigate the impact of expected food price volatility on the most vulnerable. On the whole, the involvement, cooperation, and collaboration between the health sector and other sectors play the main role to address the challenges associated with food access, adequacy, quality and safety by strengthen the design and implementation of food and nutrition policies.References Driving Agriculture: Making Agro-based A Key Economic Engine. Retrieved April 9, 2011, from http://www.asli.com.my/DOCUMENTS/STRATEGIC%20OUTLOOK/Dato%20Baharom%20Jani.pdf Food Crisis – Causes, consequences and alternatives. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article1774 Food Price Watch – February 2011. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.worldbank.org/foodcrisis/food_price_watch_report_feb2011.html Ninth Malaysia Plan to Strengthen Agriculture and Agro-based industry. Retrieved April 9, 2011, from http://www.mtc.com.my/info/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=609: The Causes of the Global Food Crisis. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://crs.org/public-policy/food-crisis-causes.cfm The Global Food Crisis: Implications for the Health of People in the African Region. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://www.who.int/countries/nga/reports/foodcrisis.pdf

He Who Owns Information Owns the World Essay

It is impossible to underestimate the impact of Mass Media on every single person, and a society as a whole. For many centuries, starting with the invention of first printing machine, public opinion was extensively exposed to the influence of mass media. Ideally, mass media should be an independent body, whose main function is to reflect the reality, and provide people with new information, concerning economical, political and cultural aspects of life. But is it true that this is their only goal? However, as everything in the world is influenced by something, mass media is also being influenced, which makes it lose the main purpose which it serves. It is well-known that by means of mass media people’s behavior and beliefs can be adapted to the goals of certain individuals or organizations. Nevertheless the dramatic effect of mass media may seem small at the first sight, because it is a long slow process of adding up necessary information in order to modify public opinion. With the invention of the Internet the interaction between public opinion and mass media has become even stronger; hence, the influence on public opinion has also become more intense. As we know news programs on TV provide us with the current events going on worldwide, but it is already a fact that the same events are interpreted and shown differently in different countries. Before the news can be shown on TV they are altered in order to satisfy somebody’s needs. Thus, it is possible to say, that a process of â€Å"inventing reality† does really exists. To sum up we can see that who owns the information he owns the world. In my opinion the main function of mass media should be just the reflection of reality, without any interpretations, adaptations and other means of misleading the people. But unfortunately nowadays mass media is one more way to control people.

Victim support and the criminal justice system Essay

Victim support and the criminal justice system - Essay Example Previous Governmental Approaches to Victim Support Over the years, the government has created a great deal of reports on the issue of victim support particularly in relation to domestic violence. The main aim of its 2003 report stated that it was â€Å"determined to prevent domestic violence happening...and to protect and support all victims†.1 As the years have passed, governmental approaches towards victim support have recognised that victims need to be given greater access to and degrees of support, yet this has so far failed to be implemented. It is evident however that the government’s focus on making â€Å"the sentence reflect the crime†2 has caused it to place more focus on the offender’s punishment rather than the victim’s need for support. This is particularly the case in instances of domestic violence. Endless references have been made which recognise the need to support victims in order that they be given help to â€Å"rebuild their live s†,3 yet interest in and focus on this need has been sporadic and never a central aim of the government in the past. However, 2009 saw a renewed need to support women and girls who were victims of domestic violence in particular, and the government once again quoted an onslaught of promising plans and strategies to increase access to support, advice and services.4 Arguably, these were never properly implemented, or were applied in a piecemeal fashion, causing support for victims to be patchy and incomplete at best. The approach of the government has certainly not been without its critics; it has been often commented that years after plans were published, they still have yet to be properly implemented in order to provide the support that victims so evidently need.5 There is evident focus placed on the criminal justice aspect of crime, which greatly derogates attention from providing victims with the requisite support. Indeed, it is often claimed that the government has missed t he point in attempting to support victims,6 a result of its mistaken assumption that â€Å"the criminal justice system alone can deal adequately† with victims of crime.7 The reality of proposals and plans is greatly different from the theoretical promises of those plans; funds have been pumped into arresting offenders while victim support services took a step back due to lack of funding and importance. For example, despite research proving that refuges for victims has a major positive effect, minimal funding was assigned to the creation and maintenance of refuges for victims of domestic violence in particular.8 There is blinding evidence that funding has been improperly directed towards offenders rather than victims; promises to increase the number of Rape Crisis centres have actually resulted in many centres being closed down due to major underfunding.9 The government has placed much focus on and investment in convicting offenders, while studies show that over 90% of victims who were given access to shelters felt that they had majorly improved access to safety.10 The acts of the government and its plans and promises have simply not be implemented in reality: victims still stand in the shadow of inappropriate focus placed on offenders and criminal justice.11 There is little doubt that the approach of the government has been unorganised, unstructured and incomplete, despite reports recognising that it should be the complete opposite.12 Such failure on the part of the

Cause and effect of media on children and youth Annotated Bibliography

Cause and effect of media on children and youth - Annotated Bibliography Example The short-term exposure to such media increases the likelihood of aggressive thoughts and behaviors. It has been found that the characteristics of viewers, media content, and social environment influence the level to which violent media causes aggression in youth. in the end, it has been suggested that public policy makers, parents, and entertainment communities should play an active role in decreasing the level of media-violence exposure to youth and children. The researchers of this study focused on the impact of media on sexual behaviors and perceptions of children and youth. Using systematic review of the social science and biomedical literature and consulting sexual content of mass media, the effects of exposure on the sexual behaviors and attitudes of adolescents were studied. The results of the study reveal that television is one of the main sources of sexual content for adolescents. Media-literacy programs and parental influence can be used as effective measures to control the exposure of sexual content to adolescents. In this study, the researcher has explored the effects of television violence on children and youth. The researcher has used one hundred and forty-six articles related to behavioral science journals to identify the effects of television violence. Four major issues covered by the research in this study include the question of catharsis, emotional effects, effects on learning, and effects on aggressive behavior. A considerable increase in the aggressive behaviors of children has been found to be the most significant and alarming effect of violent television on children. Media has both positive and negative health effects on children and youth. In this study, the researchers have explored the ways media can have positively and negatively influence the health of adolescents. Excessive use of cell

International development studies midterm Essay

International development studies midterm - Essay Example Chronic poverty, on the other hand is the poverty that persists in a people’s lifetime (Hulme and Shepherd, 403). According to the world poverty index, extreme poverty is experienced when a person spends less than one dollar a day in both expenditure and consumption. Severe poverty, nevertheless, involves spending less than 0.7 dollars a day. Chronic poverty combines these two poverty lines and often transmits this style to generations that follow. Globalization involves the rapid and equal growth of the entire world through mechanisms that enhance interaction, trade and therefore enhancing global prosperity. With the existence of chronic poverty, many developing countries find it difficult to provide quality health services to the many citizens who live in impoverished states. The globalization trend aims at encouraging foreign investments in an individual country, and this has been the trend for many developing countries. Pushed by the need to provide employment and improve the tax revenue for provision of quality social services to the populations, many developing countries have embraced foreign investments from the first class economies. These investors are well aware of the desperate state of the poor people in these countries, hence putting in place industries that are labor intensive but offering poor remuneration for the laborers working in these industries. This represents inequality in the treatment of the markets, as in foreign countries the working conditions are adhered to buy the foreign investors (Ellis, 15). However, globalization helps in creating the much-needed social assistance that involves elevating the poorest people towards achieving better living standards. With the rise in globalization, the poor people are able to receive income that is in turn generated towards investment programs that are initiated by the foreign investments. Besides, the investments by foreign companies in developing countries enables these countries to

A Quality Study of the main Limitations of the Cyclic Casual Model in Dissertation

A Quality Study of the main Limitations of the Cyclic Casual Model in Establishing the Main Risk of Serious Problem Project - Dissertation Example I cannot afford to go without appreciating my friend Stephen for helping me type and edit this report. My dear parents and siblings gave me a lot of moral support throughout my study and for that I gladly appreciate them. Abstract The cyclic causal model is greatly reliable when dealing with serious problem projects (SSPs). The model has been successfully applied in respect of various SSPs. This study was dedicated to establishing the limitations of the cyclic causal model and involved a case study – the Vancouver building project which qualified as an SSP. The study involved face to face interviews with various stakeholders of the project. A total of eight respondents were sampled and participated in the study. We analysed the data obtained from the interviews statistically and noted that the main limitations of the cyclic causal model relate to the characteristic differences between the derivative and accelerating events when dealing with complex situations and its inability to provide a concrete solution to solving problems related to the derivative and accelerating events. ... couver Building Project and Its Failure 20 3.0 Research Methodology 25 3.1 Introduction 25 3.2 Research Paradigm 25 3.3 Research Philosophy 26 3.4 Research Approach 27 3.5 Research Strategy 28 3.6 Data Collection 29 3.7 Sampling 32 3.8 Time horizon 32 4.0 Results and Data Analysis 33 4.1 Correlation between Projects Problems and the Cumulative Quantity Accelerating and Derivative Events 47 4.2 Correlation between Derivative and Accelerating Events in Cyclic Models 48 4.3 Difference in mean frequency of cumulative events between the SPPs and Non-SPPS cases 50 4.4 Independent Samples Test 51 4.5 ANOVA 52 5.0 Conclusion 61 6.0 Recommendations 64 References 65 Appendix 1: Interview Questions 69 Appendix 2: Cover Letter 73 A Qualitative Study of the Main Limitations of the Cyclic Causal Model in Establishing the Main Risks of Serious Problem Projects: Vancouver Building Project Failure   1.0 Introduction In view of the interventions of the building code and regulations, it is possible t o cope with critical risk areas for various structural needs. Using the causal models of risk management, professional building and construction bodies have formulated several interventions for the industry for risk elimination and management. The seriousness of the risks involved in the building and construction industry border heavy financial losses for project clients and puts the safety of people frequenting the structure as well as the members of the general public using the structure at risk. The nature and application of the construction projects and their unique demands in terms of professional regulation raises questions relating to technical engineering considerations or ordinary project management. One of the risk management interventions that have been extensively applied in

Risk Behavior in Youth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Risk Behavior in Youth - Essay Example Most of the established studies on young people in Western societies have been devoted to an understanding of their transition within their families and schools towards adulthood and their working lives. During the different stages of their transition, the young people confront or create risks as they go through. Risk behaviours that include tobacco, alcohol, and drug use are common in young adults, and it is a common finding that those who engage in risky behaviours are prone to engage in additional risky behaviours with passage of time. Social sciences have established that as the number of risky behaviours increase, depression as a comorbidity emerges that take away the productive and fruitful time out of the youth (Viner, R. and Macfarlane, A., 2000). Although not universally true, the young people are prone to take risks sometimes to the extent of a risky life. More recent research in Europe, the UK, the US, and Australia demonstrate a out of bound mismatch between the conventio nal models of transition and the attitudes, choices, and experience of young people themselves in reality. The reason may be significant social and economic changes since the early 1970s. These could have introduced elements of uncertainty, unpredictability and risk into the lives of the young (Young, R., Beinum, MV., Sweeting, H., and West, P., 2007). Thus, it can be stated that risk is a useful concept in understanding young people. In the following sections, evidence for that would be analysed in order to find support for this statement, so some solution can be found to prevent this. Endemicity of Risk There is evidence that risk and uncertainty are certainly endemic, and technology and social institutions are unable to eliminate it. The modern notion of risk is guided largely by uncertainty. Harvest failure, pestilence, migrations, new currents in religion, technological developments, and the unforeseen consequences of urbanization have all exerted a powerful and typically unpredicted influence on the problems and difficulties the population including the young face (Case, S., 2006). Traditionally, lack of certainty in life was attributed to "the other" agencies beyond human control: the ignorance of imperfect humanity, divine agency, luck, destiny, or fate. Many events in the history of society have been the eye openers of the fact that risk has accompanied technical development and revealed the weaknesses of institutions for managing the resulting uncertainty. The social scientific study of people's responses to risk tends to focus on either their narrow cognitive or their broad sociocultural roots (Dworkin, J., 2005). The Young There is a diversity of experiences that characterises the lives of the young people. Although they belong to the same generation they have emerged with different aspirations for the future and have made different choices about their personal interests and priorities, and hence they have different life patterns that do not match with any linear assumption or prediction. Research has shown that young people do indeed possess a sense of persistence and determination in the face of frustrated expectations. After education, every

Comparing 2 articles and relating it to the study guide Essay

Comparing 2 articles and relating it to the study guide - Essay Example The researcher then needs to make significant decisions regarding the ontological, epistemological and mythological paradigms for the current study. It is based on the nature and type of the research question and research paradigms that a researcher chooses the most appropriate design frame, methods and techniques, and data production instruments for the study. It is worthwhile to analyse two research articles in terms of the above mentioned research decisions. The articles under consideration are the research studies of Hong (2012) and Lasky (2005). While Hong unearths the relationship between teacher resilience and psychological factors such as value, self-efficacy, beliefs and emotions Lasky attempts to examine teacher identity, agency and professional vulnerability in the context of secondary school reform. Thus the paper seeks to analyse the differences and similarities between the two articles against such research decisions as setting up the topic, the research question, scope and scale, paradigm and associated ontology, epistemology and methodology (with research design), and methods and data production instruments. Research decisions: 1. ... clearly identifies the gap in the existing literature and realizes that the existing research on shortage of beginning teachers only addressed external factors from an organizational perspective. Hong also sees the relationship between shortage of beginning teachers and teacher resilience while identifying the distinction between stayers and leavers in a school setting. Thus, the insights gained from the literature review prompts Hong to focus on the role of internal psychological factors such as self-efficacy, beliefs, values and emotions on teacher resilience and career decision-making. As such Hong’s research topic-Why do some beginning teachers leave the school, and others stay? Understanding teacher resilience through psychological lenses-is carefully chosen and sounds to be a good qualitative research topic. On the other hand, Lasky chooses his research topic from the complex fiscal restructuring, curricular reforms and new accountability systems implemented among the se condary schools in Ontario, Canada. The research problem is explicitly stated in the conceptual framework of the paper. Lasky holds that the emotions and professional identity of teachers change when socio-cultural changes occur in their immediate context. Lasky also points out that no previous studies have adequately addressed how teacher identity interacts with such reform mandates as in the secondary schools in Ontario. Similarly, the researcher also wants to probe into how secondary school reforms will contribute towards professional vulnerability of teachers using a sociocultural approach. Thus, Lasky’s research topic-A sociocultural approach to understanding teacher identity, agency and professional vulnerability in a context of secondary school reform-provides ample scope for a

History of Texas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

History of Texas - Essay Example e Indians and the Spaniards, who then decided to adopt the encomienda system, which seemed to be less destructive to the Indians, but was exploitative in nature (Ewers 82). Initially, the Spanish priests and explorers had recorded thousands of ethnic groups who had dominated the region for approximately 300 years. The names of the ethnic groups changed frequently, and they ranged from 100 to 500 persons. In 1690, the population of Indians in Texas and North Eastern Mexico was estimated tom lie in between 86,100 and 999,000 people. 15,000 of the Indians used to live in the Rio Grande delta (Ewers 82). After the introduction of smallpox and slavery, the Coahuiltecans were decimated in the Monterrey region. Since the Spanish expansion was a remote one, the Coahuiltecans did not suffer significantly from the diseases that the Europeans introduced to them as well as the slave raids that they undertook in Northern Mexico. However, in 1718 after the mission that was carried out by the Franciscan Roman Catholic at San Antonio, the population of the Indians went down significantly because of the smallpox epidemics that began in 1739 (Ewers 83). Before 1825, most of the Indian ethnic groups had gone down, and those that remained were rapt by the Hispanic population that was situated in Texas as well as Mexico (Ewers 84). Therefore, it is evident that the introduction of epidemics to the Indians in Texas led to the elimination of the ethnic groups as well as their

Tracing the Stars Essay Example for Free

Tracing the Stars Essay I. Introduction One of the biggest global brands in history is Converse, which stands for a casual and sports-oriented lifestyle popular among the young, and often with specific subcultures. Of its several lines, arguably the most recognized is the Chuck Taylor All-Stars or Chucks, which are combination canvas and rubber sneakers. First produced in 1917, these were originally known simply as the â€Å"All Star† until they were modified and endorsed by Chuck Taylor—one of the biggest basketball players of the time. To this day, the shoes carry Taylor’s signature and go by his name. Currently, the brand is no longer an entity on its own as Converse had been bought by Nike in 2003—thereby resulting in several physical and noticeable changes in the original design and make—yet is still a symbol of youth, vibrancy, and active lifestyle. II. From Basketball to Popular Culture The 1950s marked a landmark episode in the Chucks’ history as it made the successful shift from being exclusive to basketball to becoming part of American consciousness. The appeal of the shoes’ casual and affordable nature made it a status symbol for American teenagers, particularly when Hollywood actor James Dean made the white version part of his t-shirt-and-jeans image. Musicians ranging from rockers in the 1960s to 1980s punk rock artists emulated Dean’s choice, and started wearing Chucks as their uniform—particularly those in black canvas. Because of this growing popularity, Converse decided to add more colors and styles to the Chucks line. Currently, Chucks are still the shoes of choice of many young artists and celebrities; pop musician Avril Lavigne and actress Reese Witherspoon are just some of the personalities who prefer wearing the sneakers—with a particular preference of Lavigne for black ones—which echo the choices of legendary 1970s punk rocker Joey Ramone, who was never seen without a pair of well-worn black Chucks. Fashion designers and models have also been noted as being fans of the sneakers, owing to the rock-and-roll persona alluded to by a classic or trendy pair. III. Chucks in Sports In the midst of the shoes’ popularity among the younger set, Converse stayed true to its original intent for Chucks; during the decades of the 1960s and 70s, its move to add more colors to its classic line was also evident in the basketball industry. While this was not always met with complete approval by the athletes who wore them, the new hues definitely created yet another trend among the sport’s fans. However, the 1980s came and with it arrived the obsession for technology and new materials. The brands of Adidas, Reebok, and Pony arrived to take much of Converse’s basketball shoe business, and the inimitable Nike sealed the deal by having its basketball shoes endorsed by then-rookie Michael Jordan. This caused the decline of the Chucks brand in the sport, and by 1988 they were no longer the staple basketball shoes of serious athletes. Most of them now opted for the leather make and quality offered by other brands, which gave better support compared to the canvas body of the All-Stars. IV. Nike and Controversies Nike bought the brand in 2003, and immediately modified some of the signature details of Chucks—form material to design. The company enjoys a wildly popular following to this day, and is apparent in the use of high-profile athletes as endorsers in its multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns. But the reputation of Nike as a supporter of sweatshops set up in developing countries goes against the established image of Chucks associated with punk and left-wing ideologies—thereby forcing former Chucks patrons to shift to any of several Chucks imitations that are not produced through this kind of arrangement. V. Stepping Forward In a Pair of Chucks The enduring fame and existence of Chuck Taylor All-Stars is as permanent and unchanging as its classic design; materials may be altered, a few details may be added—but the concept remains the same. The future of Chucks may still be seen in the realm of the youth culture, through a role of greater relevance to the rest of the world. Using recyclable materials to produce a pair of Chucks may be one of the directions best for the brand, considering its tried-and-tested design principles. Environmental awareness should now be the focal point of the young and vibrant lifestyle it represents, which will also negate any bad impressions regarding its association with controversial Nike work processes. The time is right for Chucks to assume an image both traditional and innovative, without resorting to technology-related improvements. Ecology, rather than technology, is most apt for Chucks as it celebrates its hundredth anniversary this year, and as it represents the kind of mindset that has made it the shoe of choice of millions worldwide.

The Role of the Entrepreneur in Economics

The Role of the Entrepreneur in Economics Introduction Whilst entrepreneurship has existed for centuries and has contributed greatly to the foundation of Anglo-American business development and growth, its serious academic study is of more recent origin. The major reason behind this aberration possibly lies within the tenets of traditional microeconomic theory, which connects success and failure to essentially material causes and leaves little space for an essentially subjective and unquantifiable phenomenon like entrepreneurship. International differences in living standards are, for example, attributed to â€Å"differences in national endowments of labour, capital and natural resources, which in turn stem from differences over time in rates of population growth, saving and natural resource depletion.† (Welsh, 2003, P3) In fact the field of entrepreneurial activity was likened, as recently as 1983, by a Harvard University professor to an â€Å"intellectual onion.† (Welsh, 2003, P3) â€Å"You peel it back layer by layer and when you get to the centre there is nothing there but you are crying† (Welsh, 2003, P3). Studies backed by empirical and statistical evidence however show the importance of entrepreneurial activity in creation of new jobs and of small and medium businesses. (Harper, 2003) Research also indicates the presence of a residual factor, which is extremely significant to the success of business enterprises, relates to the quality rather than the quantity of resources, as also with the differences in efficiency of resource utilisation. (Harper, 2003) Whilst such differences in quality and utilisation of resources are often associated with the quality of human capital that has been developed through education and training, recently developed entrepreneurial theory also associates human capital with the entrepreneurial abilities of the population. (Harper, 2003) The role of the entrepreneur is best gauged from a historical perspective, which in turn enables academic researchers and historians to realise that some people were right and others wrong at certain points of time. (Birley Macmillan, 1997) Such people saw opportunity where others did not; whilst being in a minority they proved the majority wrong, and by doing so, altered the course of history. Much of the earlier neglect of the role of entrepreneurs has vanished over the last few decades. Entrepreneurs like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, the founders of Google, and Richard Branson are much admired role models; individuals who have contributed immensely to modern day society. Silicon Valley is a globally admired phenomenon and entrepreneurial activity is happening faster, and with more capital behind it, than ever before. The success achieved by the entrepreneurial community has led to their activity attracting enormous capital, not just in the United States, where stories of garage start-ups that have gone on to become billion dollar businesses have become part of folk lore, but also in many other parts of the globe. The market for venture capital offerings and Initial Public Offers has reached unprecedented heights; successful entrepreneurs have also invested heavily in other new businesses, backing competent people and supporting interesting ideas. (Welsch, 2003) Much of the enthusiasm for supporting entrepreneurship, as well as its practice, has also arisen from the growth of some extremely successful entrepreneurs into larger than life international icons, known worldwide for their enormously successful businesses, their social, economic, and political power, and, sometimes, their exaggerated lifestyles. L N Mittal the British steel tycoon, who hired the Versailles to celebrate his daughters wedding, provides an example of a successful modern day entrepreneur, ideally suited for a critical assessment of entrepreneurial practice, within its organisational, social, and personal contexts. Commentary and Analysis Mittal, the man, his life, and his company Mittal’s life is a fascinating account of the progress of an entrepreneur who grew from very simple beginnings in a conservative, deeply religious, and orthodox business community family in Calcutta (now Kolkata) to the largest steel producer in the world and the richest person to reside in the United Kingdom. Born into a medium level business family, Mittal’s early childhood, whilst austere, was not deprived. His father, a first generation entrepreneur was the owner of a steel mill in the central Indian province of Uttar Pradesh. Mittal grew up in Kolkata; where he first attended a local language school, and then went on to take a bachelor’s degree in commerce, before joining his father’s business. (D’Costa, 1999) Most members of the Rajasthani business community to which he belonged still believe in children getting into business to get practical experience immediately after obtaining a basic education, and Mittal did not even think of studying fo r an MBA like many of his peers. (D’Costa, 1999) Working in the family business for more than a decade, Mittal learnt steelmaking in Indonesia where the company had purchased an old loss making steel plant. (Balakrishnan, 2003) Turning it around successfully, he focussed on buying other loss making steel plants and making them into viable units; he separated from his family in 1994 (Balakrishnan, 2003) and in an astonishing period of fifteen years built the largest steel company in the world. Mittal’s strategy for growth was at once extremely simple and yet tremendously demanding. Concentrating on locating old, decrepit, and loss making steel mills, Mittal would procure them at bargain basement prices, modernise them with great cost effectiveness, increase their productive capacity and quality, and make them into efficient and viable units. (D’Costa, 1999) Mittal or LNM, as he is called, started buying out old and rusty companies in the early 1990s.One of his earliest coups happened in 1992 when he was able to buy the 20 year old Sibalsa mill in Mexico for USD 220 million. (Balakrishnan, 2003) This purchase was followed by mills in Trinidad, Canada, East Europe, and Africa, acquisitions that stretched his business affairs from Mexico and Canada to Romania, Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic, Algeria and Indonesia. (Balakrishnan, 2003) Apart from being known to be immensely effective in driving hard bargains, Mittal also developed a multidisciplinary team trained to make the most of dilapidated nationalised rustbuckets that had been put on the block. Many of his team members came from SAIL, the resource strapped and loss making Indian public sector steel making company whose managers had extensive experience in extracting the most from obsolete and ill maintained machinery at the least possible cost. Available for a fraction of the costs of western managers, these well knit teams of production experts would move in after the completion of an acquisition, put the plant into working order, increase its capacity significantly, train local managers, and move on to the next buy. (D’Costa, 1999) â€Å"At Ispat Sidex in the Czech Republic, production climbed from 3.04 million tonnes to 3.65 million tonnes, a year after it was acquired.† (Balakrishnan, 2003) Again at the giant Karmet Steel Works in Kazakhstan, which Mittal bought in 1995, production rose from 2.2 million tonnes in 1995 to more than 5 million tons in a few years. (Balakrishnan, 2003) Mittal’s biggest acquisition occurred in 2006 when he took over controlling interest of Luxembourg based Arcelor, then the world’s largest steel company, after a long drawn battle with the board of the target company. (Mittal Wins, 2006) Arcelor Mittal is now the largest steel company in the world. Producing 10 % of global steel output, the company operates in 60 countries, has more than 300,000 employees, and is ranked 39th on the Fortune 500 list. In 2007 it had assets of 133.6 billion US dollars, achieved sales of 105.2 billion US dollars, and achieved profits of 10.36 billion US dollars. That’s a long way to come in 15 years. Mittal’s current lifestyle belies his middle class origins. He has an eye for luxury, a fascination for opulence and revels in making extravagant lifestyle statements. His houses in London are among the most expensive in the world, the weddings of his children have been explosions of lavishness, and he is not known for charitable work. â€Å"Mittal outscored billionaires like Donald Trump of US, luxury titan Bernard Arnault of France and Andrei Melnichenko of Russia with a $60 million extravaganza in honour of his daughter Vanisha’s nuptials, Forbes magazine said in a report titled â€Å"Billionaire Weddings.† Mittal family had sent out 20-page invitations in silver boxes, while 1,000 guests were put up in a five-star Paris hotel for the five-day affair for marriage of Vanisha Mittal with Amit Bhatia in June 2004. A party was hosted at Versailles, while another event reportedly took place at a wooden castle temporarily erected in Parc de Saint-Cloud, Forbes said.† (Billionaire weddings, 2006) Proud to be Indian and still the holder of an Indian passport despite many years in London, Mittal’s charitable gestures extend to setting up a sports academy and foundation to prop up India’s pathetic sports effort and gifting successful Indian sportspersons with extravagant money prizes. Mittal’s business efforts have not been successful all the time. â€Å"There have been deals that have stayed out of reach along the way. A few years ago, the LNM Group was on the verge of clinching a deal to buy Sidor, a Venezuelan plant but found the prize snatched from it at the last moment. U.S. Steel which beat the LNM Group in the race for VSZ in Slovakia. It also beat Mittal to the draw for Sartid, a Serbian plant. His efforts to grab a share of the e-business pie also evaporated into cyberspace. He attempted to marry technology and steel by setting up an e-exchange where steel could be traded, but the effort was aborted. His venture capital fund which hoped to strike a gusher in the hi-tech sector also didnt score any big multi-bagger hits.†(Balakrishnan, 2003) Assessment in terms of Entrepreneurial Theory Various economists have attempted to explain the process of entrepreneurship in different ways. Attempting to fill in a vital gap in the market process, economists like Schumpeter, Mises, Hayek, Shackle, Lachmann and others have tried to clarify entrepreneurship as â€Å"the animating force of the market process, initiating each alteration of the existing pattern of values, plans, and expectations in the market, and carrying through the physical actions which bring about new values, plans, and expectations.† (Wood, 2005) Successful entrepreneurship is the core of market development; not only does it bring about changes of existing to future strategies, estimations, and opportunities, but also the sighting and construction of fresh future conditions that are better than choices on hand and the concrete modification of present plans to each other and to the future. In essence the entrepreneur is often regarded as a connector; the person who detects the opening of gain between two separate market members, initiates required actions for purchasing from the vendor and selling to the buyer, and captures entrepreneurial profit. There however also exist other entrepreneurial tasks, which necessarily begin with the route of watchfully perceiving the incidence of opportunity before others, followed by finer details. The definition of entrepreneurship laid down by Stevenson in 1983 as â€Å"the pursuit of opportunity beyond the resources you currently control† is much in favour at Harvard University and takes account of both the individual and the larger society of which s/he is a part. (Welsch, 2003) The individual identifies an opportunity that needs to be followed and then tries to obtain the required resources from the larger society for exploiting the opportunity. (Morris, 1998) Entrepreneurship theory has in recent years been significantly enriched by inputs from numerous researchers who have tried to analyse the phenomenon from the social, organisational and personal contexts. Welsch, (2003), states (from an investigation of histories and culture in forty countries) that (a) entrepreneurship flourishes in communities where resources are mobile (b) entrepreneurship is greater when successful members of a community reinvest excess capital in the projects of other community members, (c) entrepreneurship flourishes in communities in which the success of other community members are celebrated rather than derided and that (d) entrepreneurship is greater in communities that see change as positive rather than negative. Some of these conditions are particular to Mittal. He comes from a desert trader community, the members of which moved out to other regions a couple of hundred years ago in search of opportunities and prosperity. Over time the Marwari community, of which he is now a much celebrated member, developed very strong kinship, hereditary business expertise, internal processes of information exchange, strong informal networks through arranged marriages, and the ability to seek, spot, and exploit opportunities. Trust in such societies is created through intra-community linkages and the growth of diverse collaborative ventures where preferential treatment is usually provided to companies with same community ownership. Mittal himself married a wealthy moneylender’s daughter from the same community and his initial business efforts in Indonesia were supported by the family business and other members of the community.(Richter, 1999) Whilst he separated his business from that of his family n either he nor his family have ever expressed rancour or talked publicly about the reasons for separation except to state that he wished to follow the international route whereas the other family members wished to grow in India. .(Richter, 1999) He was the first to spot the potential available for commercial exploitation of old and loss making steel plants and could successfully put through a process of making them into productive and valuable assets. He has also had the confidence to constantly leverage his businesses taking on debt to fund the needs of acquisition and consolidation. (Harper, 2003) Much of Mittal’s entrepreneurial success in his chosen field is due to the organisation he moulded during the 1990s. Putting his trust in the people of his country rather than in creating an organisation with an international culture, Mittal stacked his team with production and finance people from India, the production people being drawn from India’s old and obsolete public sector steel plants where maintenance and operations on paper thin budgets called for gallons of ingenuity and expertise, (Balakrishnan, 2003) and the finance people invariably being sharp chartered accountants from his community who could be trusted to drive the hardest bargain and maintain total confidentiality. This team, which he personally supervises and motivates, is close knit and expert in working in alien environments and setting up new organisations. Whilst currently existing theories may be inadequate for comprehension of the vibrant interaction amongst entrepreneurship, the state, and external environmental factors, as well as the institution’s capability to assist entrepreneurship and ensuing efficacy, it does differentiate between innovative and entrepreneurial organisations, entrepreneurship involving individuals building new organisations rather than individuals who are involved with established corporations. (Koepp, 2002) Mittal’s empire has not been known for pathbreaking innovation of the type shown by Google or YouTube where entrepreneurship and innovation live closely in cosy comfort. It is known to stay with businesses in which its expertise has been built over years, and where success comes from production ingenuity and a vigilant eye on costs. Mittal’s preponderance to stay with people with whom he is culturally comfortable and whom he feels he can trust and control also denies him access to the much larger talent pool available to organisations who hire only the best regardless of their origin. It also possibly explains the reasons behind the failures of ventures that attempted to go beyond the pale of steel production, for example the lack of success in his attempts to set up an e-business, an e-steel trading exchange, and a venture capital fund. Entrepreneurship theory also essentially focuses on the entrepreneurial psyche, i.e. the fundamental mental and attitudinal differences that distinguish entrepreneurs from others. Peter Drucker and Frank Knight associated entrepreneurship with the willingness to take risks and spend time and capital in pursuit of ideas and convictions, especially in situations of true uncertainty about outcomes. (Welsch, 2003) Shackle, Lachmann, and other economists however theorise that the true entrepreneur does not bear risk. (Wood, 2003) Entrepreneurs are actually so sure of the trueness of their future forecasts that they believe that the future will roll out exactly as they anticipate; whilst knowing that they operate in situations of uncertainty they have the confidence in their ability to make correct forecasts. Although this phenomenon has been interpreted by Mises to mean that entrepreneurs are oblivious to all else but profits, a consensus is building on the theory that whilst entrepreneur s are aware of uncertainties, they shoulder risks aside in their pursuit of their convictions. Entrepreneurs are also associated with creativity, resourcefulness and strong self belief, desire for new ideas, openness to change, inherent competitiveness, motivation, energy, and openness to criticism. (Morris, 1998) Entrepreneurship is also associated with passion, commitment, and perseverance. Whilst it is improbable that all successful entrepreneurs are so gifted, many of them possess some of these qualities in abundance. Research studies however do not pay much attention to issues like factors like luck and fortune in successful entrepreneurship and the need for the entrepreneur to be in the right place at the right time. Nor do they associate it much with greed, ambition, the tendency to cut corners, and to work on the periphery of rules and procedures. Microsoft has been accused time and again of stifling competition and has been involved in anti-trust legislation. Many questions have been raised about Mittal’s donations to the labour party and the poor conditions of workers in his factories. Whilst much is made of the positive qualities of entrepreneurs it is but fair to recognise that ambition and greed contribute significantly to their mental makeup and strong institutions and regulatory procedures are needed for society to benefit from the dynamism and vitality they bring to business. Conclusion Mittal in his personal life is known to be a committed family man and has groomed his son to succeed him in future. Close associates say that he is hard working and driven by his bottom lines. Whilst detractors feel that he has been helped by the phenomenal increase in the demand for steel and that he was in the right place at the right time when large numbers of dilapidated steel plants were being put on the block, the enormous and sustained success of his enterprise proves that there is much to his success beyond simple luck. His organisation building capacity is said to be remarkable and he provides his engineers a stable and financially beneficial working environment. Entrepreneurship theory is also about vision; the capacity to forecast future happenings with great perspicacity. (George Zahra, 2002) This is where Mittal scores. More than anything else people associate him with extraordinary vision, the ability to see the need of the future and build his grand plan accordingly. (Balakrishnan, 2003) Whilst he has been distracted from time to time by plans for other businesses, his focus has been sharp on the need of the steel industry to consolidate and the inability of small and medium sized steel businesses to cope with the demands of the present and the future. Although the man is now regarded more as a business giant, concerned with the consolidation of his industry rather than with starting new business ventures, he stands as a classic case of a successful entrepreneur and of the tenets of entrepreneurship theory. Word Count: 3160 and References References Balakrishnan, P, (2003), L.N. Mittal, the king of steel, rediff.com, Retrieved April24, 2008 from www.rediff.com/money/2003/sep/27spec.htm Billionaire weddings: Mittal on top, (2006), The Financial Express, Retrieved August 24, 2008 from www.financialexpress.com/news/Billionaire-weddings-Mittals-on-top Bird, B., Brush, C. (2002), A Gendered Perspective on Organizational Creation, Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 26(3), 41+ Birley, S. Macmillan, I. C. (Eds.), (1997). Entrepreneurship in a Global Context, London: Routledge Does a Society Which Fears Failure Stifle the Entrepreneurial Spirit. (2005, June 29). The Birmingham Post (England), p. 17 Ford, N. (2008, March). Mittal Wrapping Up Africa? as the Pace of Asian Investment in African Raw Materials Begins to Pick Up, Indias Arcelor Mittal the Worlds Largest Steel Producer, Has Announced New Investment in West African Iron Ore Mining. What Are the Implications for Africa? Report by Neil Ford. African Business 54+ Gartner, W. B. (2001). Is There an Elephant in Entrepreneurship? Blind Assumptions in Theory Development, Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 25(4), 27+ George, G., Zahra, S. A, (2002), Culture and Its Consequences for Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 26(4), 5+ Harper, D. A. (2003), Foundations of Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, New York: Routledge Henderson, S. (2008, March). Growing Up CEO: Parents Can Nurture a Childs Entrepreneurial Spirit, Ebony, 63, 170+ INSIDE THE WORLD OF THE MEN OF STEEL; Dynasty of Steel: The Billionaire Lakshmi Mittal with His Son Aditya at the Familys [Pounds Sterling]57 Million London Home Opposite Kensington Palace. Lakshmi Says of His Son I Am Following in His Footsteps. He Is the Future. (2007, September 11). The Evening Standard (London, England), p. 18 Jelinek, M., Litterer, J. A. (1995), Toward Entrepreneurial Organizations: Meeting Ambiguity with Engagement. Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice, 19(3), 137+ Koepp, R. (2002). Clusters of Creativity: Enduring Lessons on Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Silicon Valley and Europes Silicon Fen. Chichester, England: Wiley Mittal Wins Battle for Arcelor to Create Worlds Biggest Steel Firm. (2006, June 29). Manila Bulletin, p. NA Morris, M. H. (1998). Entrepreneurial Intensity: Sustainable Advantages for Individuals, Organizations, and Societies. Westport, CT: Quorum Books Muhammad, T. K. (1997, January). From Buppie to Biz-Wiz: Forget Corporate America Generation X Is Choosing the Entrepreneurial Path to Success. Black Enterprise, 27, 44+ D’Costa, A, (1999), The Global Restructuring of the Steel Industry: Innovations, Institutions, and Industrial Change. London: Routledge Richter, F., (1999), Business Networks in Asia: Promises, Doubts, and Perspectives. Westport, CT: Quorum Books Schonberg, S. (2006, Spring). Europes New Protectionism: A Former Policy Insider Outlines the Disturbing Trend. The International Economy, 20, 46+ Taylor, R. R. (1988). Exceptional Entrepreneurial Women: Strategies for Success. New York: Praeger Theil, S. (2008, January/February), Europes Philosophy of Failure: In France and Germany, Students Are Being Forced to Undergo a Dangerous Indoctrination. Taught That Economic Principles Such as Capitalism, Free Markets, and Entrepreneurship Are Savage, Unhealthy, and Immoral, These Children Are Raised on a Diet of Prejudice and Bias. Rooting It out May Determine Whether Europes Economies Prosper or Continue to Be Left Behind. Foreign Policy 54+ Welsch, H. P, (2003). Entrepreneurship: The Way Ahead. New York: Routledge Wood, J.S, (2005), The development and present state of the theory of entrepreneurship in product and asset markets by Knight, Hayek, Schumpeter, Mises, Kirzner, Shackle and Lachmann, Austrian Scholars Conference 2005, Retrieved August 24, 2008 from mises.org/journals/scholar/wood.pdf

Grapes of Wrath Essay -- essays research papers

We as Americans have seen our share of violence whether it is first hand, through the media, or in history books. We have seen the pain and struggle that these people must go through in order to survive. This novel, The Grapes of Wrath, relates to some of the many times of violence and cruelty that this America has seen. During the Dust Bowl, hundreds of thousands of southerners faced many hardships, which is the basis of the novel called The Grapes of Wrath. It was written to portray the harsh conditions during the Dust Bowl. When one considers the merit of this novel, one thinks, how can Americans treat other Americans so horribly. After reviewing American History, the mistreatment of the "Okies" in The Grapes of Wrath can be concluded as being valid. After slavery, blacks were terribly mistreated. During the Civil War, Americans were divided. During the Red Scare, Americans mistrusted other Americans. These three different periods of U.S. history display how Americans can treat fellow Americans so cruelly. In The Grapes of Wrath, the Californians wanted to rid the "dirty" Okies from California because they were afraid of them. They were afraid that the Okies would take their land. In The Grapes of Wrath, Okies were unjustly beaten. The California police beat them for no just reason because they wanted the Okies to leave the state. The police killed Casey for no just reason. They killed him just because they thought he w...

Free College Essays - Shakespeares Sonnet 76 :: Sonnet essays

Sonnet #76 Sonnet #76 is in the section of Shakespeare's sonnets generally accepted as being written to the "fair young man." However, there is no clear indication within this sonnet to identify its recipient. The form is consistent iambic pentameter with an abab,cdcd,efef,gg rhyme scheme. The basic argument of this sonnet is the power of the sonnet itself as a lasting expression of love. In the first quatrain, the poet questions himself about his poetic style. He makes reference to it being "barren" (unproductive, dry, lacking richness or interest) of "new pride" which is an archaic expression for "ornament." He questions the lack of variety or innovation. Then he asks himself why he doesn't follow the current fads (trends) and new methods of expression. Within these lines the poet begins on a path of self-examination into what he is doing specifically in writing sonnets to express his love. These thoughts are further explored in the next quatrain. The poet asks why he writes always in the same form and style keeping his creative imagination tied to a well-known form. This form is the sonnet which fits the poetic style of the writer in the same way as a garment worn frequently enough to be recognized (therefore, a comfortable garment). The poet feels every word he writes reveals his identity because of the identification of the style and manner of word usage with himself. As a child who resembles his or her parent, his way with words is easily identified. Taking this further, just as a parent cannot disown his child as his true offspring, the poet cannot deny the sonnet as his own true form of expression. In the final quatrain, the poet tells his recipient that he always writes on one theme--his love and the one he loves. For this reason, the poet finds his best tool in reworking his words and the familiar form of the sonnet. Even as a child is a form of expressing true love (an idea from the early sonnets), his sonnets as his offspring express the poet's feelings in his own unique way. He may have to reuse words and images but he hopes that each new time he can improve the word combinations and embellishments to heighten his attempt to communicate love. The final couplet brings forth the idea that as the sun rises new each day with all its bright freshness while at the same time it is as old as creation, so the poet's love sonnets are both new and old in what they are saying.

The Effects of Global Warming on the Country Columbia :: Environmental Global Climate Change

Global warming is a very serious case, especially on a world wide scale knowing that it poses many extreme problems to different countries. Columbia is an upstart and emergent developing country that is significantly yielded by the issue of global warming. Global warming is caused by certain greenhouse gases that trap in radiation and heat from the sun and earth. These gases have always been produced in past times, but at a level that nature can balance and live by. It is us humans that act as a catalyst to creating and providing for global warming. One main gas, carbon dioxide, is very abundant in Columbia. However, the increase of it’s numbers has raised a serious concern in my country for future problems. Columbia is a vastly developing country, so industries and companies are moving in to make business. Their unlawful and selfish emission of carbon dioxide through power plants and other fossil fuel burning industries raise an eye for concern and show need for a safer law to obey by. For one, Columbia is greatly known for it’s extravagant and plentiful tropical lands. Its tropical forest split in parts by rivers such as the Magdalena, Caqueta and Cauca that produce mass biological life. However, these trees in the forest are large sites for deforestation. Companies that come in Columbia and remove the trees for irrational reasons disturb the balance of life, as well as create global warming problems. For example, trees absorb the carbon dioxide that humans and animals exhale to evenly produce a cycle. With more and more trees in the rain forests in Columbia being cut down, the higher the carbon dioxide level rises. Carbon dioxide changes our earths climate due to the carbon dioxide particles absorbing heat. The more my country loses it’s natural resources, such as trees and forests, the higher the concentration of carbon dioxide gas, increasing the country’s temperature. Columbia is protected from the Pacific Ocean by the illustrious Andes Mountains. The Andes Mountains provide relief from the ocean’s winds, homes for many animals and a source for natural resources. The tops of the mountains are caped with ice glaciers that are rapidly melting. The carbon dioxide particles, trapping heat and creating unusually high temperatures, melt the ice caps. With this at hand, the rivers over flow, therefore producing flood and destruction of crops. Rivers once flowing with a balanced amount of water that satisfied animals and other life forms along the river now become disrupted and generate more problems.

Life on the planet Essay

Water is a vital element for the survival of life on the planet. In human beings, water comprises fifty to seventy percent of an adult’s body weight. In humans the abstinence from water results in death in a few days. Water is lost from the human body loses due to urination, sweating and respiration. The body’s water content has to be maintained by regular intake of water and people who fail to consume sufficient water become dehydrated. They develop headaches, tiredness and loss of concentration. Persistent dehydration results in serious health problems such as constipation and gall bladder stones (Hicks, 2005). The human body gets water from water in the pure form and beverages, solid foods such as fruits and vegetables and through the chemical processes in the body. According to the British Dietetic Association, an average adult must consume at least two and half liters of water per day. Of this, nearly two liters should be through beverages. During summer the intake of water has to be increased. Physical activities also require the consumption of more water. It is the major ingredient of all juices and carbonated drinks contain sixty five percent, diluted squashes eighty six percent and fruit juices ninety percent water. However, drinking plain water is the most effective means of compensating for depleted body fluids (Hicks, 2005). Water is the chief element of human body and its essential nutrient. In fact, a human being can survive without food for a considerable period of time but cannot survive for more than a week without water. Water is essential for breathing as it bedews oxygen and supplies it to every cell in the body. Water makes the skin more shiny and supple. It controls the body temperature and discards toxins and other waste material from the body. It distributes important nutrients throughout the body and helps in removing waste materials from the kidneys and the large intestine. The digestive mechanism is enhanced by water and it is essential for the development and maintenance of good muscle tone. It protects and cushions vital organs and acts like a lubricant for the joints by contributing to the special fluids which protect bones from friction and erosion. Water increases the activity of the brain and improves mental quickness in reflex responses (Dr. Susan Kleiner Ph. D. ). Water is a vital nutrient which contributes to every function of the body. It acts as a vehicle in transporting essential nutrients to the cells and waste material out of them. Water is necessary for the functions of digestion, absorption, circulation and excretion and for the absorption of water – soluble vitamins. It is essential for regulating the body temperature (Functions of Water in the Human Body). The water in saliva allows foods to slide smoothly down the esophagus and the watery fluids dissolve enzymes, hormones and coenzymes. Water acts as a solvent for waste materials like urea, carbon dioxide and other electrolytes in the body. It plays a major role in Hydrolysis in which water molecules divide into hydrogen H+ and hydroxyl OH- ions. This chemical process forms the basis for the reaction of substances in the human body. For instance, sucrose is hydrolyzed into fructose and glucose. Moreover, water serves as a catalyst in intercellular reactions and maintains the electrolyte balance in the body (Water in the Body). Insufficient water results in dehydration, formation of kidney stones and particularly in women, urinary tract infections. Its scarcity affects physical and mental performance and the function of the salivary glands. Dehydration causes kidney function disorders, harmful changes in hormonal levels, chronic illness and limited mobility (Dehydration). Electrolytes are obtained from food and are absorbed in the intestines. The kidneys maintain the required electrolyte levels in the body. These electrolyte levels are affected by diseases and dehydration. Potassium, the chief cation in the intracellular fluid, plays an important role in activating enzymes and processing and retaining carbohydrates. It acts as medium for transmitting nerve impulses to the heart and skeletal muscles. Its deficiency leads to major health problems. Its depletion is caused by the use of diuretics like thiazides that are used in the treatment of hypertension and heart ailments, excessive perspiration, repeated enemas, trauma, diabetes, diseases of the intestinal tract and disease of the kidney due to the use of tetracycline and excessive intake of licorice. The loss of potassium causes weak pulse, faint heart sounds, low blood pressure and fatigue. Loss of large amounts of potassium results in death (Hecht, 1986). Magnesium is another electrolyte that is present in the intracellular fluid. It helps in muscle contraction, nerve transmission and acts as catalyst for enzymes. Deficiency of magnesium results from an improper diet, diarrhea, steatorrhea, alcoholism, diabetes, pancreatitis, damage of kidneys and diuretics. Functional disorder of kidneys raises the magnesium levels of the body and persons with kidney ailments have to avoid laxatives and antacids, which contain magnesium. This is due to the fact that excessive levels of magnesium lead to depressed reflexes, paralysis of muscles and decreased respiration (Hecht, 1986). Sodium is another important cation in the extracellular fluids, whose main function is to maintain the body’s fluid balances. Low sodium body levels result from dehydration, sweating, the use of diuretics and diarrhea, which result in muscular weakness, anxiety and convulsions. Inadequate water intake and malfunction of the kidneys increases the sodium concentration. Depletion of sodium levels in the body result in dry mucous membranes, flushed skin, rise in body temperature, dry eyes and un – sated thirst (Hecht, 1986). Chloride is the major anion of the extracellular fluid. It is important for muscle contraction, balancing the fluid levels in the cells and maintaining the acid – base balance of extracellular fluid. In order to prevent the accumulation of bicarbonate, there should be a sufficient supply of chloride ions (Hecht, 1986). Calcium is present in the extracellular fluid and is important for nerve impulse transmission, contraction of muscles and the clotting of blood. It mainly exists in the body in the non – ionized state in the bones and the teeth. Pancreatitis, chronic kidney disorders and the surgical removal of the parathyroid tissue decrease the ionized calcium levels. Insufficient calcium levels cause abdominal and muscle cramps, tingling of the finger tips, numbness and overactive reflexes. Excessive calcium levels in the body cause a significant loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss, kidney stones and body pains (Hecht, 1986). Alcohol induces water loss by suppressing the production of the anti – diuretic hormone vasopressin, which works on kidneys to concentrate urine by increasing the reabsorption of water and electrolytes into the body. Suppression of this hormone results in the increased loss of body fluid through urination leading to dehydration. Alcohol – induced loss of water also results in the loss of magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc, which are essential for maintaining the fluid balance of the body and muscular activity. Researchers in the UK studied the effect of alcohol on hydration and electrolyte balance after exercise – induced dehydration. They found that the volume of urine produced in the consequent six hours of rehydration had increased on par with the intake of alcohol. However, the rate of increase of the blood plasma during rehydration was considerably slower (Hamilton). Coffee and tea are rich in caffeine or trimethyl xanthine. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system. It blocks the binding of adenosine with the nerve cells, which enhances nerve activity and leads to the release of epinephrine. It also increases the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine. The ergogenic properties of caffeine promote lesser muscle activity by reducing glycogen thereby allowing more calcium into muscle cells, which would enhance the power of muscle activity. Caffeine is a diuretic and in higher doses results in heavy water loss through urination. It also increases the blood flow to the kidneys and reduces the reabsorption of sodium by the body (Hamilton). Dehydration is prevented by drinking eight glasses of water per day and abstaining from caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages. The common cause of dehydration is due to the loss of fluids from body as a result of gastrointestinal ailments, diarrhea and vomiting. In order to compensate for the lost fluids large amounts of water and fruit juices have to be consumed. Wearing loose fitting clothes keeps the body cool and prevents sweating. Those who participate in sports, have to drink water and fruit juices at regular intervals. Moreover, people should avoid the consumption of coffee, tea and other caffeinated beverages, because they act like diuretics (Gavin, 2006). In the absence of adequate hydration, true health remains a chimera. The minimum daily intake of water has been stated to be half as many ounces as there are pounds in one’s body weight. The reason for this is that in order to function properly and optimally, every organ in the body requires water to a major extent. A human being’s body consists mostly of water and in its absence life is not possible. References Dehydration. (n. d. ). Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http://www. betterhealth. vic. gov. au/bhcv2/bhcarticles. nsf/pages/Water_a_vital_nutrient? open Dr. Susan Kleiner Ph. D. , R. (n. d. ). Health & Hydration . Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http://www. calistogawater. com/health/ Functions of Water in the Human Body. (n. d. ). Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http://www. resultsproject. net/water_functions. html Gavin, M. L. (2006, January). Dehydration. Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http://www. kidshealth. org/teen/safety/first_aid/dehydration. html Hamilton, A. (n. d. ). Caffeine dehydration : Caffeine and alcohol – just how dehydrating are they? Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http://www. pponline. co. uk/encyc/caffeine-dehydration. htm Hecht, A. (1986, January 1). ELECTROLYTES. Retrieved June 30, 2007, from Electrolytes; the charge in the body’s power system. : http://www. encyclopedia. com/doc/1G1-4293240. html Hicks, R. (2005, September). Why do we need water? Retrieved June 30, 2007, from bbc. co. uk: http://www. bbc. co. uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/drinks_water. shtml Water in the Body. (n. d. ). Retrieved June 30, 2007, from http://www. dehlgroup. com/wbody. html

Effective Study Skills are the Sole Foundation of a Sound Education Essay

This essay intends to discuss whether effective study skills are the sole foundation to a sound education. A helpful start is to try to understand what is meant by the term study skills. Wikipedia (2014) defines study skills as â€Å"techniques to assess the individual to be an effective learner† and suggests that â€Å"any skill which boosts a students ability to study and pass exams can be termed as a study skill.† The word, skill, is further explained by Cottrell (2013) as â€Å"†¦a learned activity, something that can be developed through practice.† This suggests that anyone can successfully achieve a sound level of education. If skills such as time management, research skills, written skills and people skills can be learned, then perhaps everyone has the equal chance of success in their chosen topic of study. The C.R.E.A.M. Strategy for learning (Cottrell 2013) allows us to build further on the subject of study skills by looking at the learning process and breaking it down into four areas. It is then easy to see where individual study skills can be applied in the learning process. The acronym C.R.E.A.M. Stands for: C – creative, R – reflective, E – effective, A – active, M- motivation. Looking into each of these areas in more depth may give the student opportunity to examine the factors that may influence the learning process and be able to focus on, develop and apply the skills and strategies that they might find most effective. At the same time, weakness that may hinder the learning process, could be identified and dealt with. It seems to suggest that study skills and strategies can be taught, learned and implemented by any individual, so allowing anyone to gain a sound education by using these learned skills. However, there are many factors that may heavily influence the teaching and learning ofthese study skills in the first place, so affecting the implementation of the skills in order to succeed in education. Taylor (2014) believes that â€Å"in order for a student to learn there, are several factors that must be considered. Most of these factors are external†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Indeed, Mondal (2014) tell us there are seven factors that may influence a student: The intellectual factor ie. (i)the individuals intelligence level; (ii)learning factors such as poor or faulty  teaching or learning methods; (iii)physical factors eg. physical development or defects, sensory defects or general ill health; (iv)mental factors especially attitude; (v)emotional and social factors such as instincts, emotions, cooperation or rivalry;(vi)teachers personality; (vii)environmental factors for example, physical conditions at home or place of study. These factors go some way to identifying what may affect the way in which study skills can be learned and used effectively and of course many more could be mentioned too such as cultural and economic factors. In conclusion, effective study skills are vital for the development and continuing success in the education of an individual. However, the successful learning and implementation of these skills can be so heavily influenced by an abundance of outside factors, that it would be difficult to ultimately say that effective study skills are the sole foundation of a sound education. References Cottrell, S. (2013). The Study Skills Handbook, 4th Edition, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke Mondal, P. (2014). http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/learning 21 March 2014 Taylor, D (January 2014). Factors That influence Student Learning, http://www.educationspace360.com/index.php/factors_that_influence_student_learning, 21 March 2014 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/study_skills 20 March 2014

Equal Distribution of Income Essay

The fair distribution of income may be the most value-laden of all economic goals; it is certainly the most controversial. When it comes to dividing the total national output, there can be many interpretations of what makes for a fair division of wealth, as there are people. The issue of income equalization is further complicated by regional differences, as identified in the article. The equalization program, which is funded through general tax revenue collected from all Canadians, transfers dollars to poorer provinces so they can offer programs and services reasonably comparable to those offered in the wealthier provinces, at similar levels of taxation. There is a controversial overhaul of transfer payments under study by federal government. The six â€Å"have-not† provinces are splitting $15. 4 billion in equalization payments in 2012-13: Quebec ($7. billion), Ontario ($3. 3 billion), Manitoba ($1. 7 billion), New Brunswick ($1. 5 billion), Nova Scotia ($1. 3 billion) and Prince Edward Island ($337 million). The other four provinces (B. C. , Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador) are considered to have greater revenue-generating capacity and don’t currently qualify for equalization. The Conservative government has been examining substantial changes to the $15. -billion federal equalization program that could dramatically affect transfers sent to provinces and their ability to pay for programs and services. The concern in this article is the proposal, if implemented, could have multibillion-dollar consequences on hydro-producing provinces such as Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, and possibly Newfoundland and Labrador. Any reforms to how hydroelectricity is calculated in equalization would almost certainly prove to be one of the most contentious issues, especially in the hydro-producing provinces. The current equalization program calculates 50 per cent of a province’s natural resource revenues in determining its revenue-generating ability — or â€Å"fiscal capacity† — and whether it deserves an annual equalization payment. But, the economic value of hydroelectricity isn’t necessarily calculated the same as oil and gas, partly because of the difficulty in determining the value of hydro power due to a lack of a competitive market in Canada. However, any changes to how hydroelectricity is calculated in equalization could have a â€Å"huge impact† on how much — if any — a province receives from Ottawa in equalization. For example, some studies have suggested Quebec could lose billions of dollars in equalization payments if the true value of hydroelectricity were calculated in the program. If the true economic value of the hydroelectricity were calculated, it would amount to a larger fiscal capacity for equalization-receiving provinces such as Quebec and Manitoba and possibly mean billions of dollars less in federal payments sent to those provinces in the coming years. I feel that the issue of equalization payments with regard to hydroelectricity generating provinces is a controversial one. Although, my opinion on such is that these â€Å"have† provinces (Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador) which are producing the hydroelectricity should be compensated for such. Due to the fact that hydroelectricity isn’t calculated like another resource doesn’t mean these hydroelectricity providing provinces should suffer. Currently, the equalization program takes into account differences in revenue-generating capacity among the provinces, but not the varying costs of providing services in each of the jurisdictions. Considering the revenues from hydro generation account for less than 20 per cent of total natural resource revenues across the country. However, hydro makes up nearly 80 per cent of natural resource revenues of equalization-receiving provinces, making it particularly important for distribution of equalization. Regardless if one province would suffer dramatically, I feel it is important to focus energy on this matter as the other â€Å"have† provinces could also benefit.

Opp Papers

Want to play on a truly global field? Here’s your chance to up your game to a new level. Job Title: Reports To: Job Band: Function: Location: Cabin Crew Purser Three (3) Operations Lagos Purpose Statement: To ensure passenger safety and comfort on board the aircraft and to provide the same with the highest degree of service and customer care in line with the company’s brand, service and people values. Primarily working in the Business and Economy section of the aircraft.Key Accountabilities: a) To ensure on board safety, overall welfare and comfort of passengers on board each flight. b) To offer exceptional service to customers that will encourage continued patronage of the Airline’s services. c) To ensure that where possible, service is recovered whenever there is a breakdown or service failure. d) To maintain currency of cabin crew licence and competency on all aircraft types included in the licence. e) Remain current on company’s instructions via Genera l Notices, SEP and AVMED manuals. ) To attend a pre-flight briefing and to answer a safety related question from the Purser in accordance with the Standard operating procedures described in the Air Nigeria Cabin Attendant Manual. Knowledge, Skills and Experience: Some of the required qualifications, skills & experience for the role are as follows HND or good University degree Completed NYSC Confident Swimmer Good spoken English Language Able to do basic Maths (currency conversion etc) Should possess qualities of diplomacyAble to do basic Maths (currency conversion etc) A good understanding of the French language and least one year customer would be an asset. Working Relationships: ? Internal: SEP/AVMED Instructors, Flight Deck crew, Crew Line Managers, Flight Service Managers, Pursers, Crew Control, Customer Services Agents, Catering unit and Engineering unit. External: Passengers, Catering Companies, Hotels ? Interested applicants who meet the above criteria should apply Method of Application: by writing a covering letter as to why you believe you should be a part of a winning team.Please attach a full length colour photograph of yourself and an updated curriculum vitae with copies of relevant certificates and submit at the Front Desk any of the following locations- Air Nigeria Office, 3rd Floor MMIA, Lagos or 9th Floor, Etiebets place, 21 Mobolaji bank Anthony way, Ikeja Other important information: NIL Take down date: November 23, 2010 Best regards, For: Air Nigeria Human Resources Department

Diabetes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Diabetes - Essay Example Type II diabetes, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes is the most common form. Diabetes is an internal disease, which is caused due to the build up of glucose in the blood and insufficient glucose provided to the cells in the body. Living organisms need energy to survive and for this they intake food. The food that they eat goes through a lot of internal processes to be converted into energy. The hormone that plays the main role in this conversion is insulin, which is secreted by pancreas. It takes glucose from the blood and provides to all the body cells and this is how it is turned into energy. A person suffers from diabetes because his pancreas either fails to secrete sufficient amount of insulin or because the body does not utilize the already secreted hormone accordingly. He or she is seen to have high blood sugar levels or hyperglycemia. Causes of Type II Diabetes: Type II diabetes is mainly seen in people who have crossed 45 years. But with the modern lifestyle and the way the world works nowadays, even children and youngsters have started being affected by it. The percentage of youth suffering from diabetes is increasing steadily. To be safe from this disease, one needs to know the different factors that lead to it. Research has shown that â€Å"genetic susceptibility† (Causes of Diabetes para 9) and â€Å"environmental factors† (Causes of Diabetes para 12) such as obesity, lack of physical activity, metabolic syndrome, beta cell dysfunction etc, are the main reasons behind type II diabetes Often at times, genes play a very important role in placing a person under high risk or low risk of being prone to diabetes. This means that a person, whose parents and siblings suffered from this disease, stands a greater chance of falling prey to it. Inheriting such genes, especially â€Å"variants of the TCF7L2 gene† (Causes of Diabetes para 24) leads to restriction in the amount of insulin that is produced, wh ich causes the blood sugar levels to rise abnormally. Ethnicity also accounts as a factor and mostly â€Å"African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians etc† (Causes of Diabetes para 22) are seen to have diabetes. Certain genes also bring about the tendency in people to become obese. Obesity, mainly the one where the individual has excessive belly fat, along with absence of exercise cause a lot of cardio vascular problems and ultimately lead to diabetes. Metabolic syndrome is seen in people who have insulin resistance, due to which the cells of the body become unable to absorb the glucose present in the blood. Beta cell dysfunction causes substantial difference in the amount of insulin that is secreted. When glucose is produced in huge amounts, a condition called glucose toxicity occurs in which the beta cells are vitiated. Other factors include over secretion of glucose by liver, hindrances in communication among cells etc. Complications of Type II Diabetes: Type II di abetes is a very serious disease since one of the main hormones, insulin, which controls the blood sugar levels as well as the major activity of the body, that is converting glucose into energy, is tampered with. Diabetes itself is caused by factors that are quite harmful for the body, and when these factors along with diabetes together are present, the person suffering definitely runs the risk of being affected by other diseases. Type II diabetes is thus, associated to certain other diseases which prove to

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example As far as its corporate social responsibility (CSR) domains are concerned, Wal-Mart has been a very helpful neighbor and an active citizen in thousands of communities around the United States and the world as well. Wal-Mart has a strong organizational philosophy towards being a member of the community that it has opened up its chain within. It feels that its role towards uplifting the human and societal domains is nothing short of a privilege. The organization believes on fostering as well as deepening the community partnerships since these remain very critical towards its future undertakings. It must be remembered here that Wal-Mart is one company that is renowned for its values-based, ethically-led promise towards the publics and the community at large. Wal-Mart believes in the age-old premise that an organization would serve the community in the best manner possible if it wants to build long term relationships with the people who are within the community itself. They would be best served if their interests are being upheld and when they are given the right to be themselves, and to manifest the basis of success through commitment and facilitation in the form of different environmental, social and charitable initiatives that have essentially been employed by Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart believes in the fact that community partnerships as well as good working realms ensure that the company grows by leaps and bounds, and that it has a positive word of mouth across a number of channels and within publics that it directly or indirectly caters to, in the long run (Hoffman 1990). Wal-Mart knows that it can only move ahead if it grows responsibly and intelligently along with strong community domains. The CSR strategy of Wal-Mart depends a great deal on the focus, implementation and the budget which has been earmarked for such settings. The CSR focus has remained on the areas including education, public health, sports, environment, disaster relief, child safety and charitable s upport over the years. On the same lines, the CSR implementation has been emphasized upon a great deal through its own projects, a foundation in the name of Wal-Mart, and the efforts that are done through volunteerism. The CSR implementation phase has therefore been divided into three separate initiatives that have been undertaken by Wal-Mart in essence. Moving ahead with the CSR integration phase, one can see that the CSR strategy is divided into two sub-units which include the company product and the company strategy. Both these sub-units depend greatly on how Wal-Mart brings about significant value for the sake of Wal-Mart and how it has shaped up beliefs and attitudes with the changing times. Since the strategy basically defines how products are going to be sent across the channels, it is of significance to comprehend what kind of strategy would reap the best results from the long term scheme of things (Schneider 1998). It is also pertinent to note here that the company product and the company strategy are inherently linked with each other, and thus there is a clear cut definition of both of these sub-units. What is mandatory on the part of the CSR integration is how these two would bring in the much needed value for the sake of the organization and specifically in terms of the CSR initiatives that have been taken in a head-on manner by Wal-Mart. The CSR representative within Wal-Mart reports to the

The Greatest Challenges for a Reconstructed Intelligence Community Essay

The Greatest Challenges for a Reconstructed Intelligence Community - Essay Example Furthermore, it is obvious that intelligence agencies and services are one of the most reliable factors of the inner and foreign stability of a state. So, there are a lot of greatest challenges facing the U.S. intelligence community in the years to come. This paper will discuss the greatest challenges facing different U.S. intelligence services in our days. The paper will cover the challenges of such important American intelligence agencies as FBI, CIA, DIA, NSA, DNI, State Dept Intelligence, NRO and the military services. This list is not all-inclusive, but these are the most important intelligence agencies of the state which play great role in the state and the nation security providing, and the challenges facing them reflect the full range of challenges facing all the intelligence community of the United States. 2. There are some global challenges facing all democratic states and consequently their intelligence communities in the 21st century. "The threat to the United States that the Intelligence Community must mitigate takes several forms. ... These problems are common for most countries, as well as for the United States. These global world problems facing the world are being transformed into the global greatest challenges facing the U.S. intelligence community in the years to come. How can these common challenges affect the planning and activity of the various members of the intelligence community in the United States The FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) is one of the most important investigation services in the U.S. One of the challenges facing the organization today is connected with the antiterrorist coalition operations in Iraq. "The FBI is facing one of the most dangerous, difficult challenges in its history as agents and analysts try to solve a string of deadly bombings in Iraq" (2). There are about 300 FBI agents in Iraq who investigate numerous cases of terrorist bombing attacks and help to find suspects in these terrible actions. The challenge is connected with the difficulty to investigate such cases and large number of them: "The FBI is involved in about a dozen bombing investigations in Iraq, focusing on those that involve civilian or government targets rather than attacks directly on U.S. or coalition military forces" (2). The FBI agents sometimes risk their lives to follow their duty in different countries. There are some troubles facing the FBI in Iraq, Bali, Saudi Arabia and other countries: "In a telling sign of the peril, FBI agents must be accompanied by American troops whenever they leave their secure compound at the Baghdad airport. Further complicating their job is the lack of a cooperating foreign government to help them and the paucity of high-quality intelligence from either informants or

Discussion Chapter Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion Chapter - Essay Example The communication style of a manager is more aggressive as compared to leaders and the communication style used by leaders is more manipulative (Cherry, 2013). Leaders communicate in an aggressive manner because their objective is to simply get the work done. Managers do not listen to what their subordinates have to say regarding how work can be done and instead they inform the subordinates regarding the way the work should be done and expect the subordinates to follow the instructions (Yukl, 2010). In case of leadership, the leader tries to manipulate the feelings and the emotions of their followers in order to motivate them to work on their own and come up with innovative ideas regarding how tasks should be completed. The motivation strategies that a leader and a manager may use might be quite different. Managers are more likely to use extrinsic motivation strategies. When managers employ these strategies they tend to offer rewards to subordinates in order to externally motivate the subordinates (Yukl, 2010). These rewards can include increased pay rates as a result of attainment of targets in order to reinforce similar behavior in future. On the other hand, leaders are more likely to use motivation strategies that help motivating an individual internally (Sansone, 2000). For example leaders may have quite an aspiring personality and followers may want to be associated with them and in order to gain recognition in the eyes of the leader they may work hard. In order to enhance the individual and the organizational productivity managers may use the carrot and stick approach to motivate employees. The carrot and stick approach suggests that employees should be punished for their failures and should be rewarded for their successes (Daft et al., 2008). A manager may use rewards and punishments to motivate individuals to increase their

Reflection of slingshot Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Reflection of slingshot - Essay Example In 1930-s many people had their private cars. Most of them were used for family needs. They became important representations of American dream ideology. At the same time, Great Depression and World War II created the situation when many cars were out of use. Adult men had to work and fight leaving their cars to their children. Hard times motivate people to seek for some new ways to entertain. Those times gave the boost to cinematography, music and sport including drag racing. Drag races appeared as a participatory sport organized by those people who wanted to test their cars. Southern California became had perfect condition for drag races. It was a land of opportunities where people moved to start their lives from scratch. It was a land of big deserts where young people had enough space to conduct their illegal hobby. Media reacted to drag races negatively. Local newspapers were focused on road incidents which happened as a result of races stressing their danger for young people. Moreover, drag races were illegal and their participants could be imprisoned if they were caught by the police. Despite their illegal status, drag races were very popular with young people in Southern California. People who took part in drag races tried to organize them better. Location of drag races moved to military locations which were out of use. Airports and military bases became perfect locations for racers. In the end of 1940-s, the attitude to drag races became better. Racers could invite their parents and friends to support them. Local entrepreneurs sold snacks during those events. Timing system and races in pair were introduced to people who took part in races. Orange county airport became the location which held the first official drag races that welcomed spectators. Participants had to pay $2 to take part in the race. Spectators were expected to pay 50 cents to watch the race. What is more important, the winner got the prize of $10 which was a

Discuss how Napoleon and his General Staff took centuries of Essay

Discuss how Napoleon and his General Staff took centuries of monolithic parade units and redefined the protective units both as bodyguard and elite maneuver units - Essay Example n and brilliant mind that resulted in the imposition of rigid admission criteria for Imperial guardsmen, and he also trained them to handle rotating functions. Napoleon is a marvelously bright hands-on leader, devoted to his general staff, who exercised his power with nobility and personally attended to the needs of his staff. â€Å"Napoleon’s personal supervision of even the most mundane matters - such as the quality of ration bread - served to deepen the reciprocal affection between Emperor and Guard† (Haythornthwaite and Hook 7). During the Napoleonic wars, protective units, such as bodyguard and elite maneuver, have duties to save the French empire of Napoleon; however, these units are redefined through the expansion of roles. The authentic definition is to guarantee Napoleon’s safety, but this is predefined from a personal guard to a major combat force that is always prepared for the invasion. Napoleon believed that war is not a preset engagement, but it is an affair where a quick decision to fight is the way to victory (Griess 33). Thus, his protective units are given the role to be employed and politically involved in establishing personal links with foreign allies. The units are not just reserved to fight, but these are the instruments used to tame the enemies by giving them positions in protective