Economic Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Economic Analysis - Essay Example It is expressed as a percentage change in the quantity of a product demanded as a result of a small change in price. In reality, the price elasticity for demand is affected by many other factors other than just the price of commodity. When making calculations, it is normally assumed that all the other factors which could affect PED remain constant. High price elasticity means that the demand for the product is extremely sensitive to changes in commodity price. A zero measure shows that the demand is inelastic and thus will not be affected by changes in pricing. When the value is one, it shows that the demand is perfectly elastic and thus a pricing change will result to an equal change in demand. When the elastic is more than one, it implies that the demand is elastic and when the pricing is changed, it will automatically result in change in the demand from the item as wrong as all the another factors are kept constant. The cross-price elasticity measures the responsiveness of a product demand to changes in price of another commodity. It is measured as a percentage of change observed in the demand for a product as a result of price change of a completely different commodity. It can be used to determine the type of relationship existing between two products (Mankiw 2012). It allows economists to make a distinction between complementary and substitute commodities. Products can be defined as compliments of each other when the calculation of the cross elasticity for demand yields a negative result. When the measure gives a positive value, it is an indication that the products are substitutes of each other. When the calculations yield a zero measure, then there is no relationship between the products (Wetzstein 2013). When a competitor reduces prices of its prices, rival organization will have to consider the calculation of cross-price elasticity of demand in estimating the impact of this price change o n the demand for its products. This in turn makes the

Analysis of Optical Imaging Technologies

Analysis of Optical Imaging Technologies PAI is a relatively new imaging modality which displays optical absorption contrast with a high resolution at depths of up to a few centimetres. Tissue is illuminated using short laser pulses and ultrasound waves are generated within the tissue upon optical absorption. An image is formed of the optical absorption contrast based on the arrival times and amplitudes of the acoustic waves (Wang 2009, Lai and Young 1982, Sigrist and Kneubuhl 1978, Jaeger 2007). It began in the late 19th century, when Alexander Graham Bell discovered the extraordinary effect of sound being generated because of absorption of intermittent sunlight (Bell 1880, 1880a). It was not until the 1970s and 1980s that research in this field took off, with the advent of modern pulsed lasers and materials and electronics for acoustic detection and recording. Pulsed laser light, indeed, is used in the majority of PAl techniques in order to illuminate the sample of interest. The succession of phenomena that occur after light exposure is shown in the following list (Wang 2009, Xu and Wang 2006): Light absorption: the molecules that absorb light, start vibrating and this continues until the illumination ceases. Temperature rise: the vibration locally increases the temperature for the period of illumination, after which the temperature decays. Thermoelastic expansion: because of the thermoelastic effect, the heated area tends to expand, with a local increase in pressure for the period of illumination if this happens to quickly for expansion to occur. Acoustic emission: the transient pressure variation propagates away from the transiently heated region. The initial studies were based upon gas-phase analysis, in which gases, depending upon their physical properties would absorb specific wavelengths of pulsed laser radiation, generating acoustic signals recorded by a microphone (Tam 1986, Meyer and Sigrist 1990). It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that biomedical applications of photoacoustics were reported (Kruger 1995, Esenaliev 1997, Hoelen 1998) and from that point, until now, the field has witnessed unprecedented growth to a stage where imaging systems are commercially available. The generation of PA signal can be understood by dividing the phenomenon into two domains: ‘Optical’ and ‘acoustics’ (Kruizinga 2010). In the optical domain, the pulse of light incident on the body surface above the site of interest, penetrates and travels diffusely through the different layers and encounters regions where it is absorbed, causing the generation of heat, which results in volumetric expansion. If this heat is deposited in a short enough time using a nano- or femtosecond laser pulse, then there is no time for dissipation of heat into the surrounding medium nor dissipation of the stress due to the heat-induced increase in pressure, and a transient disequilibrium arises, because of the difference in pressure inside and outside the region of heat deposition. This results in the generation of acoustic emissions, which propagate to be detected at the body surface via the acoustic domain. In the next few sections, these two sub-domains (optical and a coustic) will be explained, followed by a brief outline of the possible imaging applications of PAI. 2.1.1  Optical domain In medical imaging, the wavelength range of 650 nm to 1300 nm is often referred to as the `tissue optical window, wherein the tissue components, primarily haemoglobin, water and melanin absorb minimal light, allowing greater penetration of the photons than at other wavelengths. The two processes that dominate in light interacting with tissue are `scattering and `absorption. The strength of these interactions heavily depend on the wavelength of the light used and the components of the interacting tissue. Before looking into the optical domain, it is necessary to define some common optical parameters and quantities, as listed in Table 2.1. Table 2.1. Definitions of some common optical parameters and quantities With these parameters, it is possible to define the extinction coefficient , as in Equation 1.1[JCB1]. Its reciprocal would be the mean free path between any absorption or scattering events. . (1.1)[JCB2] In order to take into account the anisotropy of light scattering, while evaluating the scattering property of a tissue (as it contains a combination of organelles and cells, ranging in size from nm to ÃŽ ¼m), another scattering coefficient is defined (Cheong et al. 1990). It is called the reduced (or transport) scattering coefficient and it is equal to: , (1.2) where g is the anisotropy factor, which is around 0.9 for tissue in the Vis-to-NIR [JCB3]wavelength range. The approximation of light transport through tissue is given by the diffusion theory. Here the attenuation (a) of light is approximated per unit length d with the use of Beers law , and the effective attenuation coefficient  µeff [JCB4]is given by (Cheong et al. 1990, Oraevsky et al. 1997): , (1.3) Unlike the all-optical imaging modalities, the resolution of PAI does not suffer heavily from the scattering of photons. In fact, scattering within the tissue lead to a more homogenous distribution of photons, which can be useful for effective PA wave generation. The limiting factor that PAI shares with other optical techniques is the low penetration depth of light in tissue. Nevertheless PAI only requires the delivery of light in one direction, and ultrasonic scattering is two to three orders of magnitude weaker than optical scattering in tissue. Therefore PAI allows for high spatial resolution much deeper within tissue than all-optical imaging, and can image to much greater depths than most of the other optical imaging techniques. 2.1.2  Acoustic domain The imaging principle of PAI does not rely on the reflection of an acoustic wave, as in ultrasound imaging, but rather on the detection of an acoustic wave generated from absorption of light. The generation of PA [JCB5]waves occurs only when the incident laser pulse [JCB6]length satisfies the stress confinement condition (Xu and Wang 2006, Jacques 1993). The stress confinement criterion is satisfied when the laser pulse length is shorter than the time ( ) for the stress waves to dissipate from the region of optical absorption: ,(1.4) where, is a representative linear dimension, such as the diameter of the absorbing region or the depth of penetration of the laser beam into the absorbing region, and is the speed of sound in tissue. In general, a pulse width of 3-10 ns is used in PAI. Pulse lengths greater than tens of nanoseconds do not produce a situation that satisfies the stress confinement criterion and generates either a very week or no PA signal. Pulses much shorter than a few nanoseconds lead to the generation of weaker PA signals from tissue. The generated acoustic signals propagate radially from the source, and the amplitude of the PA wave indicates the extent of local optical absorption, while the spatial origin of the acoustic waves, which indicates the location of the absorber, can be determined by the wave shape at the body surface, as given by the time taken for each part of the wave to reach the transducer surface, after laser irradiation. The initial PA pressure generation caused due to thermoelastic expansion can be rewritten as (Oraevsky and Karabutov 2003, Gusev and Karabutov 1993) ,(1.5) where ÃŽ ² is the thermal expansion coefficient, Cp is the specific heat at constant pressure, c is the speed of sound in the absorbing object, F is the light fluence and is the optical absorption coefficient. is referred to as the Grà ¼neisen coefficient ( and H (= is the local energy deposition density. With this equation, it is possible to estimate the intrinsic sensitivity of PAl techniques, which expresses how much the pressure signal amplitude would increase, if the fluence of the laser radiation is increased by a given amount. The acoustic wave that is generated upon light absorption obeys the following wave equation (ignoring thermal diffusion and kinematic viscosity) (Tam 1986, Sigrist 1986, Diebold et al. 1991, Gusev and Karabutov 1993). (1.6) The left side of equation represents the normal wave equation where v[JCB7] is the speed of sound in the medium of propagation, P pressure and t time. The right side describes the PA source, where ÃŽ ² is the thermal expansion coefficient, Cp is the specific heat at constant pressure and H is the amount of heat generated following light absorption. H can be represented as the product of optical absorption coefficient ÃŽ ¼a and the light fluence F (. The PA wave equation (1.6) formalized above can be considered as the key formula used for the construction of PA images, whereby, a linear relation between optical absorption and the measured acoustic amplitude is assumed. [JCB1] Just like figures and talbes, all equations should be referred to in the text. Otherwise, why is the equation there? [JCB2] This is how to centre an equation. Dont use any tabs. Right justify the line, and put spaces between the equation and the equation number until the equation is centred by eye. Why have you used a really tiny font for the equation number? I recommend that you dont do this. Also, even the equations themselves in this thesis are very small. It is boarderline acceptable. Slightly larger would be better. Of course do not make the in-line equations bigger. Finally, rules of grammar also apply to equations. If the finish a sentence or represent a sentence on their own, they should be followed by a full stop. If the are followed by the continuation of a sentence then appropriate punctuation should be used. For example, when they are followed by where variable is given by symbol, then the equation should end in a comma and the word where should begin with a small w. You will find this to be copied from all the good journals and books. [JCB3] Do not use abbreviations that you have not defined. [JCB4] Be careful to make sure that all symbols are correctly italicised and subscripted as appropriate. I wont be able to correct many of these if there are more of these problems. [JCB5] Needs defining. First use is at the beginning of section 1.2.1. [JCB6] Time does not have a width. [JCB7] Do not mix symbols. You said above that c is the speed of sound.

Differing Opinions of Bleak House Essay -- Bleak House essay

Differing Opinions of Bleak House When Bleak House, by Charles Dickens, was published in 1853, it did not go unnoticed by critics. The reviews of the period where anything but tepid in tone or opinion in regard to Dickens’ newest novel. Most notably, the critics were concerned with the structure of the novel, characterization, and, in particular, Esther as a plausible character. By singling out reviewers from different publications of the time, it is possible to see what the public in 1853 was reading about Bleak House in regard to these issues. Structure The contemporary reviewers of Bleak House fall into two categories when discussing its structure. There are those who like it and there are those who do not. More specifically, those who dislike the novel’s construction complain of the absence of plot and lack of connection between characters and their actions. Opposing this view are the reviewers who find the characters in Bleak House remarkably intertwined in the story, especially since it was written as a series for a literary magazine. One of the strongest of these critics is George Brimley, who, in his article entitled â€Å"Dickens’s Bleak House† published in The Spectator in 1853, writes that â€Å"Bleak House is, even more than its predecessors, chargeable with not simple faults, but absolute want of construction†(161). He finds that the structure of Bleak House fails because there is no connection between actors and incidents. Brimley points to the interest of Richard Carstone in the Chancery case. The case only serves to draw out Carstone’s personality faults that would have been drawn out in any other interest he may have had. The Chancery case, then, is trivial for it fails to exert any real impact on the characters... ...made more probably by the fact that she is the chronicler of her own perfection†(161). Chesterton concludes, â€Å"Miss Summerson in some ways is a failure† (166). Individuals encountering life-changing moments would be swayed and impacted greatly, unlike Esther, whose enduring calmness and optimism restrains her to the fictional role. The character of Esther is widely criticized for her perfection as a character, both receiving positive acclaims and negative feedback. Esther’s reserved, quiet character illustrates the role of women during the Victorian period and what little impact on society women played. Critics of Bleak House generally praise the narration and Dickens’s use of Esther’s character, which gives direction to the novel.    Works Cited Harris, Laurie Lanzen, ed. Nineteenth-Century Literature Criticism. Vol. 8. Detroit: Gale Research Company, 1981.

Outline of persuasive speech Essay

Specific purpose: To persuade my audience that IQ testing is not a valid measure to be used on modern populations. Central Idea: At the end of my speech the audience will know all about the disadvantages of IQ testing in addition to the bad impact it has on today’s society. Introduction: After taking 3 different IQ tests and averaging the results I can tell you that my IQ is either of 82 which is considered as low average or of 123 which is considered as superior! Ask yourself one question; would you look at me differently if you knew which one it really is? At the end of the speech you’ll know all about the disadvantages of IQ testing and why it is not a fit measure to be used on modern populations.  I’m going to first tell you about the consequences that a low IQ test result can have on a person’s life, then I’m going to tell you about how the IQ test is in fact not as reliable as anyone would think and finally even though it might not be 100% reliable it is still the best existing way of measuring logic. Body: I- A low IQ test score can result in having a psychological as well as a social impact on the test taker. A. Social impact: 1. The most dangerous assumption on IQ testing is that it measures someone’s biological or inborn intelligence that is set in stone and therefore can never change. The family and the teachers of someone with a low IQ will expect much less of that person which will then fail because of the lack of encouragements he is receiving. 2. Moreover, according to Bruce Uditsky in his article:† One of the original purposes of IQ tests was to determine or predict which students would require additional help to be successful in school. It then is an interesting question as to how these IQ scores evolved into stigmatizing, categorizing, racially prejudiced and negatively life-defining outcomes for students with developmental disabilities and others†. B. A child with a low IQ score will start feeling inferior to his  friends specially that at a young age competition between friends is at its peek. The negative labels applied as a consequence of an IQ test are lifelong and in the current context of our society limiting and hurtful. Transition: Therefore it is important to ask ourselves if this test that can determine if someone is mentally less capable than someone else is in fact reliable enough. II- The reasons why intelligence quotient tests are not reliable enough: A. A score can differ significantly from one IQ test to another taken by the same person, in the same conditions: 1- â€Å"During 2002–2003, as part of validation for their new IQ test, the KABC-II, Alan and Nadeen Kaufman looked at IQ test scores from a dozen children aged 12-13 who were tested on three different contemporary IQ tests. The first thing to note is that those exposed to greater opportunities for learning tended to score higher on IQ tests than those from lower-SES backgrounds. But even collapsing across SES, every single preadolescent had a different IQ score based on which test they took. The differences for the dozen children ranged from 1 to 22 points, with an average difference of 12 points†. 2- Therefore if a chi ld scored 75 on a test he would be labeled as â€Å"slow learner†, but it is very possible that the same child could have scored 95 on another approved IQ test, and a score of 95 is an average score. B. Moreover, IQ tests are culturally unfair, most of the approved ones are designed for use among white middle class children. And as we can see in this slide, an average Ethiopian person would be considered retarded in Hong Kong. Transition: On the other hand IQ tests are still the best way to measure logical thinking and can benefit children who get a good score on it. III- Benefits of IQ testing: A. If a student who has a high score is having difficulties learning, directly an assumption is made that his learning processes needs to be understood and educational strategies need to be applied in order to help the student become successful. B. In addition, if we don’t generalize it to be a test that measures intelligence IQ testing is the best way to measure logical abilities, which is the closest thing to intelligence. Conclusion: In conclusion, because IQ tests are administered by human beings on human beings, they are not 100% reliable and the same person can get very  different results on two different tests and because they are culturally unfair; IQ tests shouldn’t be considered as a valid measure of human intelligence and therefore a person with a low score should not be categorized and stigmatized for life. References: Udistky, B. (n.d.). IQ testing: A critique for parents of children with developmental disabilities. www.acl.org. Retrieved December 5, 2013, from http://www.aacl.org/clientuploads/documents/IQarticle.pdf Kaufman, S. B. (2013, July 7). IQ tests hurt kids, schools — and don’t measure intelligence. www.salon.com Retrieved December 5, 2013, from http://www.salon.com/2013/07/07/iq_tests_hurt_kids_schools_and_dont_measure_intelligence/ Countries with the Highest / Lowest Average IQ. (n.d.). Statistic Brain RSS. Retrieved December 5, 2013, from http://www.statisticbrain.com/countries-with-the-highest-lowest-average-iq/

In Defense of Food Essay

In the book, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, author Michael Pollan commences his tale with a few straightforward words: â€Å"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants†. In his introduction, An Eater’s Manifesto, Pollan discusses how the dietetic wisdom that was passed down from older generations has been heavily tainted by â€Å"nutritional science and food industry marketing† (Pollan, 2008). The first volume of the book entitled, The Age of Nutritionism†, delves into this problem and helps uncover the cause of today’s â€Å"nutritional confusion and anxiety† (Pollan, 2008). Nowadays, it is not uncommon to have â€Å"edible foodlike substances† displayed in every aisle of the grocery store with all products promoting some kind of nutritional benefit from their consumption. These dietary facts are often modified to showcase dietary benefits that are barely present in the food product, if present at all. With such prevalent misinformation, today’s society has become so overly concerned with nutrient enriched food that people have either forgotten or are unaware of the importance of the fundamentals. Pollan further explains that humanity has become â€Å"a nation of orthorexics† meaning that people have developed â€Å"an unhealthy obsession with healthy eating† centred on the theory of nutritionism (Pollan, 2008). Chronic diseases that have the highest death rate such as obesity, coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and cancer, can be attributed to the â€Å"Western diet† which consists of â€Å"highly processed foods and refined grains; the use of chemicals to raise plants and animals in huge monocultures; the superabundance of cheap calories of sugar and fat produced by modern agriculture; and the narrowing of the biological diversity of the human diet to a tiny handful of staple crops, notably wheat, corn, and soy† (Pollan, 2008). In the second volume entitled â€Å"The Western Diet and the diseases of Civilization†, Pollan analyzes the shift in eating habits of today versus those since the discovery of agriculture and the industrialization of food. In the third and final volume entitled, â€Å"Getting over Nutritionism†, Pollan offers helpful recommendations to healthy eating and living. These simple, easy-to-follow tips are intended to: educate society on the dangers of misleading information from food industries and medical communities; and to steer people away from the Western Diet and back to the traditional ways of preparing and consuming food. Pollan suggests for people to refrain from shopping at supermarkets and choose local farmers markets instead. However, for those with no other option, he recommends they only shop from the peripherals of the store. Some other advice that Pollan offers is to â€Å"eat mostly plants, especially leaves†, â€Å"eat like an omnivore† and â€Å"be the kind of person that takes supplements† (Pollan, 2008). He also states that people who â€Å"eat according to the rules of a traditional food culture are generally much healthier than people eating a contemporary Western diet†. This analysis is focused on the cultural traditions of food consumption where â€Å"eating is deeply rooted in nature – in human biology on one side and in the natural world on the other† (Pollan, 2008). People around the world have different relationships with food and eating. Pollan suggests that how different cultures eat plays a large role in what different cultures eat. He further proposes that American society, nowadays, has become a culture heavily focused on quantity and price rather than quality. Society has become so fixated on â€Å"low-fat† or â€Å"low-carb† options that they have failed to realize the true underlying issue of overeating. The distinction between price and quality is often the deciding factor for most American families. As a result Pollan recommends purchasing quality foods in smaller portions thus developing the pay more, eat less ideology. I found that this book provided tremendously eye-opening content. This book offers an insightful perspective surrounding the relationship between people and food; proposes how society, in particular the American culture, can start choosing healthier food options that enable us to live healthy and enjoyable lives; while bringing back the joy of eating and preparing food. I found his analysis of the history of nutritionism, the science behind what to eat and why, to be extremely informative. In particular, when Pollan discusses how the food industry develops food products heavily focused around the latest â€Å"fad† diets or so-called nutritional needs of society, it was enlightening to read his perspective as I often purchase items such as low-fat margarine over regular butter. It is outrageous that the food industry fought for many years to get the â€Å"imitation rule† removed and when modified was allowed to state â€Å"that as long as an imitation product was not â€Å"nutritionally inferior† to the natural food it sought to impersonate [and] had the same quantities of recognized nutrients—the imitation could be marketed without using the word [imitation]† (Pollan, 2008). By keeping consumers misinformed about such imperative factors that impact to our daily diets has contributed to society’s vast health issues. Moreover, the discussion about the differences between culture and food habits resonated with me because while I have lived in either England or Canada my entire life, my family lineage is from India. With this real-life example, I believe that Pollan is correct to assume the â€Å"certain cultures that consumed traditional diets based mostly on plants had strikingly low rates of chronic diseases† (Pollan, 2008). Nowadays, a large portion of Westernized societies base their food choices on price and quantity over quality; so-called nutritional content geared towards weight management than overall well-being; and convenience. According to Marion Nestle, author of Food Politics, â€Å"in advertising and on supermarket shelves, [there is] fierce competition [in the food industry] for our food dollars† (Nestle, 2008). She states that the Westernized food industry is â€Å"food politics in action: watered-down government dietary advice, schools pushing soft drinks, diet supplements promoted as if they were First Amendment rights. When it comes to the mass production and consumption of food, strategic decisions are driven by economics—not science, not common sense, and certainly not health† (Nestle, 2008). The role of innovation in sustainable development should focus on more â€Å"agriculture-based methods [of food production] that have been shown to prevent food waste, help resist climate change, and promote urban farming† (Nestle, 2008). What is most important is to provide innovative products and services that are centered on humanity and that meet the needs of the consumer. Pollan does an excellent job at analyzing the problem and developing solutions based on the needs of society, particularly in America. The solution here is to revert back to the traditional way of consuming and purchasing food: local food grown by local people. Pollan encourages that people become members of a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) program or shop for fresh produce at their local farmers markets. This local food movement enables new and soon to be farmers to provide â€Å"environmentally sustainable agriculture [while] supporting their local community and growing food that directly connects them to the consumer† (Collins, 2011). On the business perspective, CSA’s are part of â€Å"the Small Farm Movement that is growing across Europe and North America† and farmers start off by selling their products at â€Å"local farmers’ markets to test out what products the consumer is looking for, followed by building clientele and launching into a CSA† (Collins, 2011). In order for CSA’s to succeed as a sustainable innovation, farmers must understand the importance of truthful marketing and fostering relationships with their customers as the most important part of the business model. References 1) Pollan, M. (2008). In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto. Retrieved from: http://ebookbrowse. com/michael-pollan-in-defense-of-food-an-eater-s-manifesto-pdf-d341084275 2) Nestle, M. (2008). Food Politics. Retrieved from: http://www. foodpolitics. com/food-politics-how-the-food-industry-influences-nutrition-and-health/ 3) Collins, D. (2011). Community Supported Agriculture – A Unique Business Model. Retrieved from: http://www. omafra. gov. on. ca/english/crops/organic/news/2008-12a2. htm.

Effect of the Normans on Middle English essays

Effect of the Normans on Middle English essays The year 1066 had a resounding impact on the course of English history. William the First, Duke of Normandy, conquered England and took it as a stronghold in his reign. The French rule over England lasted for several centuries and brought about innumerable changes to the English state, language, culture and lifestyle. William imported French rulers to take over English government and religious posts. The French were not only the new aristocracy in England, but the new society. The English amended their language and their culture in an effort to more resemble the French and to communicate with their new lords. The English language was more changed by the Norman Conquest than by any other event in the course of English history. Middle English is defined as the four hundred year period between the Norman Conquest and the time the printing press was introduced to England in 1476. This essay will explore the specific effects that the French had on Middle English morphology, phonology, syntax, semantics and lexicon. During the period of French rule in England the standing of English as a valid language dropped substantially as French took over as the status language. Because so much of the French influence has been nativized by present-day speakers, many do not realize the impact that our language took in the years following 1066. Not one aspect of English life went untouched by the Norman presence in England, notably, its language. In addition to introducing new words into the English language, the Normans also introduced some new sounds. The English had previously had no phonemic distinction betweenf/ andv/;v/ was merely an allophone off/ that occurred between vowels. However, with the influx of French loans which began inv/ and contrasted as minimal pairs in English, this distinction made its way into Middle English: The French also influenced the adoption of several new diphthongs into English. Diphthongs are...

Technology in Education essays

Technology in Education essays Technology in Education: Whos Really Learning? Nearly a decade ago, educational leaders and politicians believed that it was necessary to improve the use of technology in the classroom by implementation of more resources. Based on the growing use of such technology, as well as the need for individuals capable of servicing and working with this technology, a plan was created. This plan sought to better integrate the use of computers and technology in the basic lesson plans of schools. Now years later, improvements have been marginal and the lack of overwhelming success has been attributed to the misuse of those technology resources. Misuse does not necessarily translate into wrongdoing. In this case, there are certain variable that must be involved with this plan for technology to be effectively put to use. The basic foundation to any effective use of technology is and must be the training of staff and teachers on how to use the resources. However, all too common school systems ignore the importance of this particular variable. It should be common knowledge that without appropriate understanding and/or training, it would be nearly impossible for effective teaching to take place. Too often teachers are charged with instructing students on the use of technology that they themselves are still learning how to use. In a study done by the Wall Street Journal in 1997, William Bulkeley commented that of the top 10 lessons learned in over a decade of having computers in the classroom, lesson number three (in impact and importance) was that most teachers are woefully unprepared as far as technology knowledge and usage. The lack of preparation has translated into marginal student improvements, wasted funding and even more wasted time. By overlooking possibly the most important aspect of education, students are being placed at a severe disadvantage in comparison of what they know, what they should know and what they nee ...

Meteorologists Are Scientists Who Study the Weather

Meteorologists Are Scientists Who Study the Weather While most people know a meteorologist is a person who is trained in the atmospheric or weather sciences, many may not be aware that there is more to a meteorologists job than simply forecasting the weather. A meteorologist is a person who has received a specialized education to use scientific principles to explain, understand, observe, and forecast the earths atmospheric phenomena and how this affects the earth and life on the planet. Weathercasters, on the other hand, do not have specialized educational backgrounds and merely disseminate weather information and forecasts prepared by others. Although not many people do it, its rather easy to  become a meteorologist- all you need to do is earn a bachelors, masters, or even doctorate in meteorology or in atmospheric sciences. After completing a degree in the field, meteorologists can apply to work for science research centers, news stations, and a variety of other government jobs related to climatology. Jobs in the Field of Meteorology While meteorologists are well-known for issuing your forecasts, this is only one example of the jobs that they do- they also report on the weather, prepare weather warnings, study long-term weather patterns, and even teach others about meteorology as professors. Broadcast meteorologists  report the weather for television, which is a popular career choice as it is entry-level, which means you only need a Bachelors degree to do it (or sometimes, no degree at all); on the other hand, forecasters are responsible for preparing and issuing weather forecasts as well as watches and warnings, to the public. Climatologists  look at long-term weather patterns and data to help assess past climate and to predict future climate trends while research meteorologists include storm chasers and hurricane hunters and require a Masters degree or a Ph.D. Research meteorologists generally work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the  National Weather Service  (NWS), or another government agency. Some meteorologists, like  forensic  or  consulting meteorologists, are hired for their expertise in the field to help other professionals. Forensic meteorologists investigate claims for insurance companies on past weather or research past weather conditions pertaining to court cases in a court of law while consulting meteorologists are hired on by retailers, film crews, large corporations, and other non-weather companies to provide weather guidance on a variety of projects. Still, other meteorologists are more specialized.  Incident Meteorologists work with firefighters and emergency management personnel by providing  onsite weather support during wildfires and other natural disasters while  tropical  meteorologists focus on tropical storms and hurricanes. Finally, those with a passion for meteorology and education can help to create future generations of meteorologists by becoming a meteorology teacher or professor. Salaries and Compensation Meteorologist salaries vary depending on position (entry level or experienced) and the employer (federal or private) but typically range from $31,000 to over $150,000 per year; most meteorologists working in the United States can expect to make $51,000 on average. Meteorologists in the United States are most often employed by either the National Weather Service, which offers between 31 to 65 thousand dollars per year; Rockwell Collins, which offers 64 to 129 thousand dollars per year; or the U.S. Air Force (USAF), which offers salaries of 43 to 68 thousand annually. There are  many reasons to become a meteorologist, but ultimately, decided to become a scientist who studies climate and the weather should come down to your passion for the field- if you love weather data, meteorology might be the ideal career choice for you.

Homelessness Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Homelessness - Case Study Example This was the only nice item of clothing she had and she was glad that her sister had outgrown it fast. Other wise she would be cold in her now threadbare pullover, the only other thing that she could say was really hers that she was given many Christmases back by some stranger who found her crying on the junction of Elm and Mel Street. Last week, that boy Curtis in her class had made fun of her look, again! He said it was jaded and unkempt. Well, he didn't know the half of it. At least she was able to shower today. She couldn't remember the last time she had a decent shower. She just used a wash cloth to wipe herself in the school bathroom so that she would at least not smell like the old torn upholstery that she always slept on. Her hair was clean today too. Normally, it was all oily and tangled. No wonder she had such few friends. Other girls at school were always clean, looking all prim and proper in their cute clothes compared to her. No wonder she couldn't get a boy to like her, she thought to herself quietly. Last night her mother was able to get them space at the Open shelter. She and her sister had been overjoyed. She got a hot bowl of soup and some steaming vegetables for supper and this morning, a mug of tea. But she thought the best part of all was that she got a bed all to herself that she did not have to share with either her mother or her sister. She had slept soundly for the first time in many weeks not worried about the cold or the mean looking strangers in the next carton house. She hadn't really eaten to her fill and she thought it hadn't been enough having had nothing to eat for two straight days. But it sure had tasted so good. She couldn't remember the last time she had anything hot, and clean, to eat. Most of the time she and her sister just rummaged through the bins outside restaurants. Two day old croissants weren't all that bad when washed down with some water. She then remembered that she might have to sleep in the carton house today and she frowned. Her mother might not be so lucky to get space in the Open shelter again today. It was by luck that she had managed to do so yesterday anyway. She would be sleeping hungry again today; there would be no hot bowl of soup like yesterday. Well, maybe not because something good just might happen. Like the Salvation Army would come by handing out packed food like they sometimes do. She thought about Curtis again and promised herself that one of these fine days she would punch him squarely on the jaw. She smiled at the thought of him just squirming. Soon, she started picking the small balls of lint from her frock, and for that moment she completely forgot about Curtis. Someday she would have all the nicest frocks and in different colors too. Pink was her favorite color. It was early morning and a lady going for her morning jog stopped by the bench to stretch for a bit. As she did so she took out one of those delicious looking power candy bars. As she watched the woman strip the cover off the bar, Sue could already feel the far off rumble in her stomach. The mug of tea she took in the

Latin American civilizations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Latin American civilizations - Essay Example United States of America. It comprises twenty independent states, six European (France & Netherlands) dependences and two US dependences. According to the American Heritage College Dictionary (3rd edition) the word â€Å"Latin† is derived from the word â€Å"Latium† which refers to an ancient country of west-central Italy bordering on the Tyrrhenian sea dominated by Roman Empire after the 3rd century B. C. As the region is defined with its European ancestry so the people of Latin America do not necessarily feel identify with the region. They tend to identify them with their national identities rather than with a Latin American regional identity.The population of Latin America is an amalgam of ethnic groups with varying composition of European, Amerindian or African origin.The Latin America has remained the home of many indigenous peoples and civilizations, including the notable Maya, Aztecs and Inca, before the colonialism in late15th century. They followed diverse religious thoughts and practices. Following is an account of some important civilization religious thoughts and practices.Mayan Religious Practices.The Maya civilization emerged in Mesoamerica – a region extending south and east central Mexico to include parts of Guatemala, Nicaragua , Honduras and Belize in early 1800 AD and flourished around 300-900 AD. Quiche was the mother tongue of all Mesoamerican and it is still spoken by a large number of Guatemalan indigenous people . The Mayan people had spectacular art and architectural skills with sophisticated mathematical and astronomical systems. The Mayan religious school of thought was based on the cyclical nature of time. Popol Vuh was their sacred book and Mexico and Guatemala was their main religious Centers. Like many ancient civilizations three aspects of cosmos i. e; the underworld, the sky and the earth, were the key features of Mayan religious belief. The caves, mountains and natural wells were considered extremely important geographical features as they were seen connecting the upper and the nether worlds. The influence of Cosmo vision was obvious even in their city planning and architecture. Mayan underworld was dominated by the aged Maya gods of death and putrefaction. The sun god dominated the Mayan idea of the sky. The night sky was considered to be a window showing all supernatural doings. They believed that world had infinite space and it had flat and square shape. They also worshiped the circle, which symbolized perfection or the balancing of forces. The maize god was considered to be the central figure of Mayan religious philosophy and maize life - cycle lay at the heart of Maya people. According to Mayan belief all gods were unbounded and associated with each others. The qualities of these gods and their attributes changed with the passage of time and with cultural influences from other Mesoamerican groups. An important characteristic of Mesoamerican religion was the dualism among the divine entities. The gods symbolized the confrontation between opposite poles: the positive, exemplified by light, the masculine, force, war, the sun, etc.; and the negative, exemplified by darkness, the feminine, repose, peace, etc. Good and bad features were not permanents traits of gods (Maya civilization, 1) . Philosophically, the Maya believed that knowing the past meant knowing the cyclical influences that create the present, and by knowing the influences of the present one can see the cyclical influences of the future. Aztec Religious Thoughts and Practices The Aztecs civilization refers to the Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican people under the control of the Mexico. The Aztec Empire was founded in postclassical era in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries in central Mexico with Tenochtitlan as its capital. The basic theme of Aztec belief was Ometecuhtli - a Supreme Creator, who, according to

International operation individual 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International operation individual 1 - Essay Example Currently it has a membership of one hundred and fifty nine countries. This paper focuses on the functions of world trade organization and how it was establishment. It also looks at how the international organization handled a trade dispute. Objectives of World Trade Organization The world trade organization was formed to achieve various objectives. Promotion of global trade is one of the aims for its formation. The trade organization ensures that all countries benefit from business operations in the international market (Sinha, 2012). For example, Content Cow Dairy Inc Company can realize better returns from its milk sales globally from this objective. Additionally, increase in the level of production among trading countries is another objective of world trade organization. To achieve this objective, the trade organization ensures that member countries enlarge their productivity through utilization of world resources. Another objective of world trade organization is implementation o f global trading systems. This is done by ensuring member countries adhere to the set regulations of world trade among its members. Functions of World Trade organization The world trade organization was established to carry out various business functions globally. Implementation of its objectives and trade agreements among its member countries is one of the core functions of world trade organization. The global organization provides a framework to ensure the smooth flow of business operations internationally. It also administers multilateral trade agreements among countries as a way to implement its objectives (Sinha, 2012). This trade organization can be beneficial to Mr. Swanson of Content Cow Dairy Company because of one main reason. Firstly, his milk product business will flow smoothly between different countries globally because of the framework provided by the trade organization. Eventually, the Dairy Cow Company will be able to reach more markets internationally with the pres ence of a well defined business agreement. From the above explanations, the world trade organization provides a favorable environment to conduct business activities. World Trade organization provides a platform for negotiations (Sinha, 2012). It provides a forum where its members can debate on the issues affecting them. This organization offers its member countries opportunities to discuss trade relation matters. Seeking new markets could be one issue that affects operations of businesses among different countries. This organization offers its members with different options of accessing new markets. For example, Content Dairy Cow president is seeking fresh markets overseas to promote his company’s products. Through world trade organization, the president can find new markets. This is achieved through the negotiation forums offered by the trade organization (Ahearn, 2010). Additionally, the trade organizations offer its members the best markets to sell their products and servi ces internationally. For example, Egypt is Content Dairy Company’s major market. The world trade organization can propose better plans for the company maximize profits from this prime market. Use of consulting firms or agencies to give advice on business operations is also another function of the world trade organization. The organization uses legally established trade consulting agencies

Debating Cinema and Time in film Inception Essay

Debating Cinema and Time in film Inception - Essay Example The approach that is given to Inception by Christopher Nolan conforms to the perspective of the theory of Bernani and Dutoit as portrayed in their book,-the approach given by the movie make the possibility of being to be put at great stake. Nolan also in hi movie, inception uses the theory that states that film using the ‘general apparatus’ are predetermined to guarantee production of a subject that dominates an ideology. Throughout the movie, there are breath-taking special effects coupled with unbelievable twists and turns. The film man referred to as Batman: the dark night and the Prestige are rated to be brilliant with the ability to create a world within a world with the masterpiece. Even though it is a little bit difficult to understand the movie, it has managed what very many directors are yearning for; the ability to leave the audience in need of more and continues with the talk about the movies weeks after watching it. There are creative camera works that has be en used in the development of the movie and this is what contributes to the peculiarity of the movie. For instance, when Leonardo and his partner Arthur visited Saito with their proposal for a dream to steal, the camera work involved in the scene is one of the very rare uses of 180 degrees. The use of 180 degrees do create the realism that there is a discussion going on while in the real sense it is just the use of two cameras on the opposites to create an impression that there is a discussion taking place. Usually, 180 degrees shot is to make shots that are close up in nature and will allow the audience to construe the characters emotional state and not the entire shooting scene. This camera work was used in the movie to depict the three men sat in a round table discussing. Apart from the 180 degrees rule, the director of the movie also used some other unique styles of expressing the facial expression of two characters talking; this involved the use of ‘shot reverse shot†™ which is able to move back and forth between two characters to depict that they are in a conversation. This technique also uses the 180 degrees rule to show a conversation between two people by moving the camera back and forth between the two people so that the audience can connect with the facial reaction of the characters talking (McCormick, 2004). This technique has been perfectly used in the movies where two people are discussing or talking in a way that it brings out the sense of conversation that connects easily with the audience. In the film, most of the shots are long shots, medium shots, and close shots meant to bring in varieties in the movies, this works well in keeping the audience interested about the movies and avoid tension building in the audience since they are fully aware of the happenings. The closes up shots are used particularly when the intended purpose is to depict the facial expression of the audience such as reactions and emotional state. In this case, t he close up shots works to pass important information to the audience and about the character of the individuals as well as what they think. Close up shots in this regard can also be used to bring into focus some of the important characters in the movies and to which the audience should pay more attention to and follow because they are

Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Interview - Essay Example Violence is often attributed to alcohol use and alcohol-related fatalities remain an important concern in the United States. The following is an excerpt from an interview I undertook with Dr. Daniel Smith1, a clinical psychologist from the Alcohol and Family Violence section of St. Mary’s Clinic. His specialization is on the linkages between alcohol and family violence and the following is a concise transcript of our discussion (Agarwal and Steitz 40-55). A: Well, the psychological and biological consequences of excessive alcohol intake can have a direct impact on the lives of individual drinkers. The effects of alcohol abuse include distortion of cognition and perception, disinhibition, bad judgment and attention deficit. All of these factors can lead to conflict with other individuals, especially after an alcohol user has drank. With the progression of time, alcohol abuse if compounded and alcoholics face a variety of social as well heath ramifications associated with their behaviour. From a health perspective, alcoholics face health complications including liver damage, heart failure, and an overall decreased life expectancy. Alcoholics are also more likely to engage in other detrimental behaviors such as smoking cigarettes or taking illicit substances such as illegal drugs. They are also more prone to aggression and violent behavior, especially within the family unit. A: Alcoholism may lead to conflicts within the family unit, particularly with the respect to the relationship between parents and children. Alcoholic parents are unfortunately not uncommon and alcohol abuse has been proven to lessen the ability of a parent to act as a proper caregiver to children in need. Another component of alcohol abuse on the family is marriage instability, increased tension in spousal relationships and violence between an alcoholic parent and

Whether the personal consciousness survives death Essay

Whether the personal consciousness survives death - Essay Example â€Å"[T]here is life after death† (Weintrub). The personal consciousness survives the death, and its satisfaction depends upon the goodness of deeds the individual performed in this world when he/she was alive. After death, an angel takes the soul out of the body and escorts it to either of the two places, one of which is meant for the good souls and the other for the bad souls. While the soul is taken out of the body, it still maintains a connection with it. The body is buried in the earth in the grave. Inside the grave, the dead body is exposed to different kinds of circumstances depending upon the kinds of deeds the person performed in the world while he/she was alive. The grave of a person who performs good deeds expands so that the person does not get suffocated inside the grave. In fact, the grave is enlightened with the light and fragrance of the heaven. Although the soul is departed from the dead body and it is only the dead body that is buried in the grave, yet the soul can feel just the same whatever the dead body does. Hence, the soul of a good person feels all the pleasures and peace that the dead body is blessed with. On the other hand, the grave in which the dead body of a ba d person is placed becomes narrower and narrower until it pressed the body so hard that the bones become dislocated and merge into one another. Again, all of this happens to the dead body, yet the soul can feel all the pain that it would had it been inside the dead body. Although consciousness survives the death, yet there are limits to it. One cannot say for sure that the soul can hear the cries of the relatives who mourn over the person’s death while the dead body is being buried or later. However, there is no doubt in the fact that the soul cannot reply any human being once it has been taken out of the body. The soul can feel the pain or joy depending upon the deeds the individual did when alive.

Interview Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 1

Interview - Essay Example Violence is often attributed to alcohol use and alcohol-related fatalities remain an important concern in the United States. The following is an excerpt from an interview I undertook with Dr. Daniel Smith1, a clinical psychologist from the Alcohol and Family Violence section of St. Mary’s Clinic. His specialization is on the linkages between alcohol and family violence and the following is a concise transcript of our discussion (Agarwal and Steitz 40-55). A: Well, the psychological and biological consequences of excessive alcohol intake can have a direct impact on the lives of individual drinkers. The effects of alcohol abuse include distortion of cognition and perception, disinhibition, bad judgment and attention deficit. All of these factors can lead to conflict with other individuals, especially after an alcohol user has drank. With the progression of time, alcohol abuse if compounded and alcoholics face a variety of social as well heath ramifications associated with their behaviour. From a health perspective, alcoholics face health complications including liver damage, heart failure, and an overall decreased life expectancy. Alcoholics are also more likely to engage in other detrimental behaviors such as smoking cigarettes or taking illicit substances such as illegal drugs. They are also more prone to aggression and violent behavior, especially within the family unit. A: Alcoholism may lead to conflicts within the family unit, particularly with the respect to the relationship between parents and children. Alcoholic parents are unfortunately not uncommon and alcohol abuse has been proven to lessen the ability of a parent to act as a proper caregiver to children in need. Another component of alcohol abuse on the family is marriage instability, increased tension in spousal relationships and violence between an alcoholic parent and

How Useful is it to See the World as a Society of States Essay

How Useful is it to See the World as a Society of States - Essay Example These individuals will experience a sense of solidarity and unity which drives them to establish, in essence a common social identity (Bar-Tal, 2000, 1). Conversely, the state is the body that according to Weber has the sole right or monopoly of power over anyone living within its jurisdiction. Lenin, on the other hand, has a similar definition of the state as being bodies of armed men (Parkin, 2003, 13). In the definitions of both men, one overriding theme in the interpretation of the state is the monopoly of power. If a body of people can claim this monopoly and have legal backing, for example, through elections or constitutions, they will then have then the right to claim the state tag on them (Dunne, 1998, 124). Origin of societies, states and man The societies and states have their origin in the Homo Sapien Sapien. This is the modern man starting from the Cro-Magnon Man all the way to the current man. There are a number of evolutionary stages, three in number that led to the com plex societies that exist today (Buzan, 1992, 343). The first stage is the structure of consciousness emerging, which consists of the magical, the mythical, the deep consciousness, and the ego-focused mental consciousness. The second stage is that of the development of communication from development of speech, writing, print, wired and wireless, electronic and now internet, and the third stage is that of three evolutionary stages namely the â€Å"human revolution† causing emergence of the Homo Sapien Sapien, the agricultural revolution and the scientific plus industrial revolution (Banathy, 2000, 107). This article wishes to recognize the Genesis story in the bible and will continue to draw comparisons between the evolution story and the creation story. A lot of similarities will be drawn from the two stories. For example, the evolution of agriculture features on both stories. The creation story is based around this stage, for example, the statement in Genesis chapter 3 verse s 17-19 where man is cursed to tend to the ground so that it may produce food for him. This ground is cursed to produce weeds and thorns as per the need to punish man. The bible is replete with agricultural settings that enhance this argument. The same applies to print technology, which allows the ancient writers to preserve the various works of God and Jesus as they form the state of Israel. Though many may beg to differ with this article, the facts are that the two stories are more similar than they are different. Back to Banathy’s argument, there are six stages of the change to the current status of man. These stages are archaic sapiens at the bottom; the Cro-Magnon Man who comprises the first stage in Homo Sapien Sapien’s evolution, the next stage is that of agriculture/ancient Civilizations, the next stage is that, of scientific and industrial evolution, the next stage is emerging stage. The final stage comprises the consciousness, intellect and the way of life cl usters. It is not easy to quantify the actual origin of human society. Question that begs an answer is when exactly human society began. Early man was quite social. This is driven by the fact that evidence points to small groups coming together to hunt, gather fruits as well as protection. At

Career Aspirations Of Individuals Commerce Essay

Career Aspirations Of Individuals Commerce Essay Every individual has an aspiration regarding his or her career. However organisation plays an important role in individual career aspiration. Recruitment plays a vital role in career aspirations because organisation need to be a learning organisation so that when they recruit employees, they have the motivation factor and the employees would have a feeling that they will develop and learn new ways that could be beneficial for their career growth.An individual leaves the company when there is no learning and motivation and he or she gets bored with the culture and environment of the organisation. Companies should mainly target the high performance of the employees. Good examples for this can the company Accenture. Accenture always focus on their responsibility of organisational change and transformational work. They involve talent and organisational performance to make workers more productive even under complex changes taking place in the working environment. Career transitions are result of improper work environment and stagnant learning behaviour of the organisation. The involvement of talent and organisational consulting helps the business operations even under pressure. Accenture also involves the customer relationship management. The recruitment procedure of Accenture is transparent as they look for applicant that has got broad understanding of the business. People who have got multi skills are recruited who are then nurtured by senior leaders of the organisation. Training and development program are one of the best way of retaining staff (John wiley and sons). Accenture provides on job training which helps the employees to learn and reach the top level and help them top grow continuously.() Mentoring is the important process which helps the recruitment because Accenture provides the support to their employees. Along with this they provide sound and competitive environment to cultivate mentoring relationship among the co-workers. They also involve the reviews and revising of their product so as to update them according to their taste and demand of the customers. The leaders are always working to implement the new ways for their employees to learn(-). They also provide online courses so that their employees always undergo the learning process. People from different culture works in Accenture that automatically creates the competitive and learning environment which is the basic requirement for the people to learn and develop their career goals.(www.accenture.com/careers) Organisation generally looks for people who can act as team workers. Knowledge enhancement and sharing can be another way of learning because this leads to the development of views from different individuals having different perspective (John Hall and Peter Oppenheim). Organisations search for people having a directed and focused target. Talent management is another important aspect that should be kept in mind during the process of the recruitment(-). Accenture process on long term consequences because companys regret when their decisions prove to be wrong and the employees start leaving the organisation. Implementation of innovative and effective approach to talent management can prove beneficial to improve the condition of the company even in the bad time. Accenture believes that if an organisation response quickly to talent management it can solve problem in much lesser time. Accenture has resource based strategies. It evaluates the talented workers as their asset and not the cost (www.accenture.com). By using the workers analytical talent, organisations can expand their analytical capabilities which in turn can increase the KSA of the employees.() New career forms have lot of importance on organisational activities. Recruitment should be done keeping in mind the flexibility for the employees so that employees feel that organisation cares for them. Availability of part time and full time options allows the employees to work more effectively. Job sharing can be a reason for staff retention. Job sharing is increasingly used by companies as broader views can be encountered because this may not be an individual persons view. Hence, view from different people can be beneficial for the company. Accenture can be a good example that favours for the flexible working. They believe that part time workers are more enthusiastic and energetic as they work for lesser time than a full time employee. Part time working is beneficial for Accenture because it helps to retain people with great potential.Flexi time helps to use the workers more effectively rather than making the employees to work long shifts every day as it decreases their efficienc y. Job sharing can be another possible flexible working style. Accentures working style is such that the work load is divided among different people because it ultimately involves more external views that can result in the better output. Job sharing is helpful in keeping people in career track(). Accenture does not discriminate on the basis of sex, colour or ethnic origin, in fact the only criteria is performance and qualification. Career transition can also be another mode of flexible working because in this case the companies send people outside the organisation around different locations of the world so as to get international experience of diversified culture which can be helpful in getting the extra factor for the success of the organisation. Job Analysis Before recruiting a candidate it is necessary to decide the nature of the job. It is necessary to overview what could be the possible output and whether it fits into the requirement criteria of the organisation and the job profile. Some of the ways of finding information regarding this can be interviews and questionnaire. However job analysis should be framed by keeping in mind using the Job/Person specification (CIPD).Job design is a group of motivational work patterns for improving the efficiency and satisfaction (Daft, 1990:530).Due to industrial revolution it is important for companies to switch to new methods that provide job satisfaction for employees which can help in providing positive outcomes (Morgan 1997:15). Job description and person specification A job description basically defines the roles and responsibilities of an individual in an organisation. A job description is important because it clearly describes the expectations of the employer for a particular vacancy in the company. A part from this a proper job description is also helpful in attracting the potential and talented applicants because it describes the nature and corporate image of the company. A job description may also be used as appraisal system to evaluate individuals performance. A person specification describes the skills and the knowledge required from a candidate to successfully operate a task. It clearly defines the requirement from the applicants and also provides the overall view of the expectations of the experience required to complete the task. A person specification is also helpful for the organisation in recruiting the candidates during the recruitment process. Person Environment Fit Person environment fit is the matching or alignment among the company culture and environment with the employees characteristics. The more is the alignment, the greater will be the positive the positive result (Schneider, Smit Goldstein,2002, OStroff,Shin Feiberg,2002).If there is mismatch among different ideas ,the employees will start to leave the organisation. Sometimes new comers may not be fit he organisational; characteristics and may develop conflicts which may decrease the efficiency of the employees(Chatman Barsades,1995).Person environment fit further adds to low staff turnover and establishes communication among different levels of the organisation. Organisational brand image plays an important role in attracting the potential applicants. This is because it is the organisations brand and recruitment image that increases the probability of applicants of contacting the organisation (Gatewood et al, 1993).The mail idea of employer branding is to attract the applicant that have the capacity and ensure that they identify the organisations mission and vision and then work to produce the desired outcome (Graeme Martin, 1998) E-Recruitment The purpose of E-Recruitment is to attract the potential employees to apply for posted vacancies. The Human Resource Management plays an important role in an organisation because recruitment is done keeping in mind the vision and mission of the company. The recruitment strategy of any organisation is to first identify the type of person necessary to fulfil a vacancy and then provide them with other training and development programmes to acquire KSA that may be required to deliver the vision and mission strategy. The principle aim of recruitment strategy is to attract quality and potential applicants. E-Recruitment is also sometimes known as online recruitment. E- Recruitment is recruitment of potential employees using the latest technology to attract and then recruit the candidates. There are several methods of recruitment. Internal recruitment is one in which a company find a replacement within the organisation, that is, someone from the organisation fills the vacancy whereas external recruitment is the process in which business works for the suitable applicant outside the organisation. There are several advantages of both the type of said recruitment. Some of the advantages of internal recruitment are that since the candidate is chosen from within the organisation, he/she is familiar with the environment and is quicker and cheaper to recruit. Apart from this company may already know the strength and weakness of the candidate. However there are some disadvantages like no new ideas from outside the organisation is inherited and also it creates another vacancy which anyhow needs to be filled in from other sources. The disadvantages of internal recruitment can be overcome in external recruitment like innovative ideas from outside the organisation can be generated. Another disadvantage is poor availability of people from which recruitment needs to be done, however it is an expensive and time consuming process. Comparisons of e- recruitment with traditional methods Companies prefer to use e- recruitment because it is quicker and attractive for applicants. E.g: an employee fills a vacancy application online. Now it is easier to receive the feedback via emails because it is faster and quicker. On the other end if we entertain applications in the form of resumes and covering letters, the first problem is to gather the hard copies. However, if it is online, it can be accessed from anywhere. Apart from this, in order to give the feedback, companies may need to post the letters. Some of the problems with these postal letters may result in delay or loss of the copy. Hence, the employee does not get the good impression of the company since he or she could not receive the feedback. Another possibility is that the organisation may provide the feedback over a phone but telephonic feedback can be more personal and hence, companies tries to avoid it and use it to minimum extend. Another reason for the companies using e-recruitment is that the companies get the chance to express their brand image via website. More attractive is the website greater will be the application of the applicant. Applicant gets the complete information of the company with its back ground and future goals and also the vision and mission statement to be accomplished. It is easier to post jobs specifications and realistic job previews (RJP) on websites. Companies can represent themselves and can be more transparent using the e-recruitment methods. Apart from this companys can be more descriptive on the websites. Another reason for the companies in posting job vacancies on web site is that it is easier and cheaper to advertise on websites rather than newspapers or advertising on hoardings because in the second case they need to first do the analysis as to where are their targeting customers and then need to make postings. On the other hand, posting on the websites is easier and easily accessible from anywhere. Survey suggests that using e-recruitment has almost cut 80% of the input cost as compared to traditional method. Another aspect of the e-recruitment is that user can use it 24 x 7. However, traditional methods do not provide such flexibility. Hence, E-Recruitment can be a win win situation for the employee as well as the employer. E- Recruitment is beneficial for the employer because it is easy to check the status of the candidate at the time of hiring. However, there are some disadvantages as well of the e-recruitment. Companies need to update their website on regular basis. This is because if there are no new updates on the website this may deteriorate the brand image of the company. There may be occasions where, there can be technical problem on the website which may prove to be disaster because the organisation could not access any data from the website. Apart from this it may require great funds to get technical assistance. Another problem is that websites cannot provide two way communications. Sometimes possibility of passive (duplicate) resumes is also another problem being faced by the companies in e- recruitment and there is no proper solution to this problem till now. E-Recruitment can be beneficial for a company and the company can learn a lot from it, says the Head of Recruitment of 3s (U.K Mobile Company).The company states that the principle reason for redesigning of their websites is to attract employee to apply for the job since the E-Recruitment has completely changed the attractiveness of the company. Now new employees can complete a form in very less time as compared to other previous recruitment methods. 3s online E-Recruitment strategy In year 2002, 3 (mobile company) started to recruit the employees though online recruitment. This is because they thought that online recruitment can provide more positive experience of the company as compared to other methods. It increased their efficiency and speed of hiring the employees. It helped them to access loads of application systematically. The head of recruitment department further states that not only E-Recruitment has made recruitment easier and quicker but it has also helped the company to improve its brand image which in turn has helped them to attract the potential employees (Rebecca Baker, Head of recruitment department).She continued saying that now candidates can track the status of their application at any stage of the recruitment process. She added saying that in year 2002, company hired 41% employees from the agencies. However these figures have dropped down to only 19% in the year 2007.This is the reason why they rely more on e E-Recruitment rather than other traditional methods. The company encountered a profit of  £1760 per year. Furthermore it became easier for the company to post job vacancies on websites rather than posing vacancies somewhere else which was much more complicated and expensive(www.three.co.uk) Another company named Stonefish Software also experienced tremendous advantages and profit of using E-Recruitment. Caroline Catmur (HR Administrator) states that use of E-Recruitment in October 2007 proved to be a boon for the organisation. Everything looks to be simple and more streamlined after the involvement of E-Recruitment. She further stated that another advantage of E-Recruitment was saving on both time and paperwork. She further added saying that E-Recruitment has been a driving force for the development of their organisation (www.stonefish.co.uk) Conclusion The essay briefly describes the career aspirations and the impact of recruitment and selection on individual career. It throws light on the company Accenture that provides flexibility and works consistently for retaining their staff. This describes as to how companies should prepare the job and person specifications so as to attract the potential applicants. The advantages of learning organisation and talent management are explained that helps the company to decide the basis for recruiting the potential applicants. The importance of E-Recruitment, its advantages and disadvantages are explained that helped the companies in recent time to overcome the problems of recruitment and selection. Two companies 3(Mobile Company) and Stonefish Software are illustrated showing their comments on the result of using E-Recruitment in their organisation.

Falling Down Essay -- essays papers

Falling Down The 1993 film falling down provides a look into two separate men’s lives in the course of one day. Although the movie was highly acclaimed for it’s portrayal of the new human situation, the covert and overt racism, sexism, and classism leave a sour taste in this viewer’s mouth. The movie comes across as a lame attempt to show the â€Å"White man’s ever growing burden.† The audience is expected to feel a compassion for both lead characters. The message that is supposed to be portrayed is similar to films of today such as fight club and American beauty. All three pointing at what they see as specific flaws yet offering up no real solutions to these problems. With these flaws in this system pointed out Michael Douglas’ character William Foster is held up as a martyr. He is not portrayed as a real villain through out the story. Both men feel the strain of society the difference is the way each chooses to express this frustration. The first scene both main characters are stuck in a huge traffic jam. Sick of waiting William Foster leaves his car in search of a way to â€Å"come home† to his wife. After leaving his car the second main character, Detective Pendergast, is shown commenting that it is his last day on the force. The two are contrasted Pendergast is able to work within societies boundaries while Bill has rejected the society that has rejected him. In this time there is an obvious comparison between the two that will become reoccurring through out the ...

The Dignity of Law Essays -- Law College Admissions Essays

"The business of the law is to make sense of the confusion of what we call human life-to reduce it to order but at the same time to give it possibility, scope, even dignity." In 1972, the American poet Archibald MacLeish wrote these words in the Harvard Law Review. In 1997, I read these words. At that point, the challenge and lure of the law crystallized before me, and I now see the ideals of MacLeish's vision as my own. MacLeish envisions the law as providing a sense of possibility, or hope, and I identify with this. Coming from a financially disadvantaged childhood, I had to put forth serious effort in overcoming financial and personal adversity and focusing on the importance of family and education. Without a sense of the unlimited possibilities ahead of me, my goals would never have been taken seriously-by myself or by others-and I would not have followed them to completion. Through my sense of possibility, I took my place on the Honor Rolls for fall 1996 and 1997 at the University of Maryland at Baltimore. I also served as vice president for...

Kellogg Book Essay

This book is intended to be a resource for members of the Kellogg School of Management Class of 2005 as they look for summer internships in the consulting industry (as well as for general management internships) for the summer of 2004. The book will also be useful to current first-year students during the fall of 2004 as they look for full-time postKellogg consulting jobs, as well as to the yet-to-be-admitted Kellogg Class of 2006 in their summer and full-time job searches. While we hope this document results in more Kellogg students reaching their employment goals, we are also confident that using this resource to prepare for case interviews will reduce the stress associated with the interviewing process. Additionally, students will find this document to be a useful reference for Kellogg’s core strategy course, MGMT 431, regardless of whether or not they plan to interview for consulting jobs. This introduction will provide an overview of the different sections of the book, recommend how it is to be used, and offer general thoughts of how this fits book in to the bigger picture. To this last point, the book is not intended to be the only resource that Kellogg students will need during the recruiting process for consulting. Rather, it is meant to be a central body of work that provides a complete and thorough introduction to the process, offers its reader a road map of the basic toolkit needed to succeed in these interviews, and also points him or her to other resources that may be helpful. Background on this book and acknowledgements can be found in Appendix A. 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 2 Sections This book is divided into six sections, plus five appendices. Section I is this introduction, whose goals are stated above. Section II provides an overview of the case interviewing process and offers general advice on how to perform magnificently during the interviews. (It is adapted primarily from the Fleischmann, Fong, and Marciano article that is alluded to in Appendix A, and has been reorganized into seven sub-sections. ) Section III provides ten sample cases. The first seven of these are meant to be solved in a 30-to-45 minute interview; the first six contain slides. The last three cases are shorter and attempt to emulate the 10-to-15 minute case nterviews that are used by some consulting firms. After all of the practice cases, Section IV discusses fit interviewing, which is a typically smaller, but no less important, part of the overall process. Again, this section is adapted primarily from the earlier work of Fleischmann et. al. Section V provides one-page overviews of each of the eleven consulting firms that are currently planning to in terview Kellogg first-years for jobs during the summer of 2004. Of special interest in this section are the interview formats used by various companies. Students who are interviewing should use this information to customize their case practice and preparation, based on the formats used by the companies that are most of interest to them. Finally, Section VI provides some concluding thoughts and attempts to synthesize the key â€Å"take-away† points of the book. How To Use The Book We would like to conclude this introduction by orienting the reader as to how we envision this book being used. We have mentioned previously that it is not designed to be the only available or necessary resource on the subject. Students who attempt to use it in this way are doing themselves a disservice. Instead, it should be used in tandem with the many other 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 3 resources that are available, such as case books from other business schools, Kellogg Career Management Center (CMC) counselors, students at Kellogg who have worked in consulting or are planning to, company representatives and literature, and the rest of the list of resources that is summarized in Appendix B. As for this book, sections I, II, IV, and VI are written to be read straight through (not necessarily in only one sitting). Section III provides practice cases that should be used or studied one at a time. Section V provides thumbnail data on companies that are interviewing at Kellogg, and is meant to be a quick reference for students who are interviewing in those firms. Particular attention should be placed on the various interview formats used by each different company. To maximize results, candidates should study cases that most closely mimic the ones that are given by the firms that they are planning to interview with and/or most want to work for. It is our hope that the combination of this book and of other available resources will maximize the effectiveness of Kellogg students during the winter quarter 2004 interviewing process. If anyone has any questions about the book or the process, they should feel free to directly contact me, either of the Associate Editors, Prof. Marciano, the Kellogg CMC, or any of the 2003-2004 Kellogg Consulting Club co-chairs1. We are all here to help Kellogg first-years get as many summer consulting job offers as possible. Best of luck in the process! Edwin Van Dusen Editor, 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book Evanston, Illinois December, 2003 1 The co-chairs are Leo Castro, Ami Fadia, Hanna Norfleet, Jason Greenwald, Brian Oxley, and Ojas Wadikvar, all from the Kellogg Class of 2004. 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 4 II. How to Ace Case Interviews2 Overview of Section This section provides a complete and comprehensive overview of the case interview process and is probably the single most important section in the book, along with Section III on practice cases. It offers advice on how to best navigate the process, and is divided into seven sub-sections to make the material easier to understand and digest: 1. Sub-section one provides an overview of the case interviewing process. 2. Sub-section two discusses the use of frameworks, and the need to strike a balance between a structured approach and the pitfalls of an overly regimented analysis. 3. Sub-section three walks through a step-by-step illustration of a case interview and is in turn sub-divided into five parts. 4. Sub-section four reviews several common case situations and how to handle them. These include public math, how to get unstuck, and the infamous estimate questions. 5. Sub-section five reviews seven common types of cases that are frequently found in case interviews. 6. Sub-section six goes through some overall tips on how to handle the process. Please do not be put off by the â€Å"laundry list† format of this section, for it contains some important nuggets of advice and wisdom. 7. Finally, sub-section seven provides some concluding thoughts about the process. 2 As mentioned in the Introduction, the text in this section has been primarily adapted from the 2001 Fleischmann, Fong, and Marciano article, although some of the content and wording are new. They, and we, would like to give special thanks to Jason Moss and Chris Riley (both members of the Kellogg Class of 2001) for their invaluable contributions to the initial document, from which this section is primarily adapted. 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 5 We have endeavored to distill the most important aspects of the case interview process into this section while keeping it to a manageable length. Obviously, since entire books have been written on this subject, it was not possible for us to include every detail or every opinion on the matter. Students should probably begin by reading this section to get the major points, and then can consult some of the additional resources listed in Appendix B if they feel that they still need to get more depth and detail. Sub-Section One of Seven – Overview of Case Interviews This section will describe the format and structure of case interviews, discuss the various types of cases that one may encounter, and provide practical tips and advice on enhancing one’s chances for success. Fit interviews will be discussed in Section IV later in this book. The consulting interview process may be unlike any series of interviews that a person has been through before Kellogg. While each consulting firm has its own distinct style and method of interviewing, virtually all screen candidates using a combination of â€Å"fit† and â€Å"case† interviews. Understanding and being prepared for both of these types of interviews improves one’s chances of obtaining a position in the field and also reduces the angst associated with the process. The framework is simply a tool to help you structure your response, so do not get too hung up here and waste valuable time that you could be using to advance the discussion. Your initial framework should be a broad sketch, not a detailed blueprint, of how you intend to go about solving the case problem. The details of your analysis should evolve interactively with the interviewer as you progress through the interview. Based on the framework you have developed, you should be able to identify several possible paths towards addressing the case issue. For example, consider a case about Firm X whose profits declined last year. Firm X’s reduced profits could be due to sagging revenues, rising costs, or both. Given that your interview time is limited, it is important to prioritize the issues you will investigate in the case. Investigate the most likely solution to the problem first, followed by the second most likely, and so on. The initial information that you have been given 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 14 may steer you towards a particular path. Take cues (subtle or overt) from your interviewer about which paths hold the most merit. For example, if you were told that Firm X recently altered its product mix, you might want to start by examining the prices of its various products. Based on the information you have received, and the framework you have developed, you should formulate an initial hypothesis about the case problem you are evaluating. In the parlance of case interviews, a hypothesis is what you believe to be the central issue of the case, or the solution to it. With regard to Firm X, your initial hypothesis could be that the root cause of its declining profits is that it is selling relatively more low price/low margin products than it had in the past. You may not be given enough information at the onset of a case to develop a reasonable hypothesis from the start. If that happens, progress through your framework, elicit information from the interviewer, and develop a hypothesis as soon as you can. If your initial hypothesis turns out to be wrong, which is often the case, try another one. It is not an automatic â€Å"ding† to not guess the answer correctly on the first try. But it is a likely â€Å"ding† to give up or to lose sight of the main issue, which is to eventually solve the client’s problem. Some firms are more or less receptive to hearing an interviewee, very early on, state a hypothesis for analysis. The key lesson here is to know the firms that you are interviewing with. If you are interviewing with a firm that conducts its cases/engagements with an â€Å"Answer First† approach, then you should probably state a hypothesis early and then relate findings to it as the case progresses: â€Å"this supports my initial hypothesis†¦Ã¢â‚¬  or â€Å"that seems to refute my initial belief, my revised working hypothesis is now†¦Ã¢â‚¬ . Other firms may conduct their work by doing much more detailed data collection before forming a hypothesis. In this case, strive to form a hypothesis, but hold back on stating it until you have collected more data: â€Å"OK, I think I now have enough information to form a hypothesis – based on facts A, B and C, it looks like X might 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 15 be happening. Here’s how I would evaluate whether X is truly going on†¦Ã¢â‚¬  With these firms, you may look like you’re jumping to conclusions if your hypothesis isn’t fact-based. Ask members of the firm about their firm’s preference prior to your interview (that’s what all those cocktail receptions are for). Step Three of Five – Articulation After you have developed your analytical framework, prioritized potential solution paths, and formulated your initial hypothesis, the next step is to articulate them to the interviewer. In the case of Firm X, it might go something like this: â€Å"Given that Firm X has experienced a decline in profitability, I am going to begin my evaluation by investigating the various elements that make up profit, namely revenues and costs (framework). Since you mentioned that Firm X has seen its product mix change over the past year, I will begin by analyzing the firm’s revenues, focusing first on pricing (prioritization). It could be that a decline in Firm X’s average price is causing its profits to suffer (hypothesis). If that turns out not to be the case, then I will look at changes in the company’s cost structure. † It is critical in case interviews to demonstrate a structured, logical, and thorough thought process. If you do not verbalize your thought process to the interviewer, (s)he will not be able to evaluate your performance. In addition to talking through your thought process, you may find it beneficial to sketch out your analysis framework on your note pad. Writing down your framework will help you to organize your thoughts, and to regain focus if you get stuck or your analysis becomes very complicated. Just as importantly, an illustrated framework shows the interviewer that you are thinking in a structured manner, and makes it easier for him or her to guide you. Many successful consulting interviewees extol the importance of â€Å"paper management† in case interviews. Interviewers often encourage candidates to take notes, and some even keep 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 16 those notes to help remember the path that the interviewee took during his or her case. Whether or not this happens to you, your notepad is an excellent communications medium during your interview. Consultants are generally graphical thinkers – even if they didn’t start this way, they now communicate in slides, charts, and graphs. Speak their language – sketch out your thoughts on your paper, write large, and show the interviewer what you are doing. It is not uncommon for an interviewer to look under an interviewee’s shoulder onto his or her notepad, and comment on it and/or ask questions about its contents. For example, â€Å"I see from your notes that you have come up with five reasons why Firm A should acquire Firm B, and the first one is distribution synergies. What do you mean by that? † Draw out your framework so that the interviewer can see where you’re going, and steer you accordingly. Many interviewees divide their paper into three sections. In the first section, they note facts about the situation (both those given in the initial situation explanation as well as facts uncovered through questions). In section two, analysis is performed, and in section three key findings/conclusions are noted (this section is especially helpful when the candidate is asked to â€Å"sum up† at the close of the case). Note: this does not have to all occur on the same page – feel free to use multiple sheets of paper; the clearer your actions are to the interviewer, the better. Be as graphical and as structured as possible whenever you seek to convey concepts like organizational structure or whenever you do quantitative analysis. Quantitative analysis, in particular, should be laid out in rows and columns â€Å"Excel-style† (ideally with the equation noted above the columns) so that interviewers can follow your calculations. Doing fancy math in your head is great, but it’s more important to illustrate to the interviewer how you are coming to your numbers than to wow them with calculation speed. Your arithmetic may be correct, but your equation may be missing a critical variable. Drawing out your thoughts helps the interviewer 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 17 identify this and correct your course. This is far preferable to leaving the interviewer wondering why your number does not match the number that is given in the case solutions. To err is human, but to do so in a way that leaves the interviewer wondering about whether the problem was with your arithmetic or your thought process is likely to prove fatal. Step Four of Five – Analysis: Ask Questions, Gather Information, and Test Hypotheses Having articulated your framework and initial hypothesis, you are ready to move into the analysis phase, which should be the bulk of the interview. In the analysis phase, you should ask questions, synthesize the information provided, and draw conclusions based on the facts. By asking questions and bringing to light new information, you will be able to determine whether your initial hypothesis was valid or invalid. If the data proves your hypothesis to be invalid, systematically follow your framework and progress to the issue with the next highest priority. In addition, based on new information you receive, develop a new hypothesis as soon as possible. For example: â€Å"Based on what I’ve learned so far, it appears as though Firm X’s product mix and revenues are not the most important cause of its declining profitability. So now I’ll move on to investigate the firm’s costs (transition to next branch of the framework). You mentioned that Firm X recently signed a new agreement with its unions, so I’ll start by examining its labor costs. It could be that an unfavorable union contract has inflated the firm’s labor expenses and negatively impacted its profits (new hypothesis). † Asking questions, collecting information, and developing and testing hypotheses is an iterative process, and constitutes a good case interview. As you receive answers to your inquiries, you should be able to hone in on the solution to the problem, and the interviewer may point you in the right direction. Even if all of your hypotheses are ultimately proved invalid, if 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 18 you have solicited relevant facts and drawn conclusions in a structured, logical manner, you will have done well. Do not forget that it is important to verbalize your thought process throughout the entire interview. Avoid long periods of silence — the interviewer is attempting to evaluate how you think, and mute introspection precludes this. When doing calculations, tell the interviewer everything that you’re doing. This maximizes the interviewer’s ability to coach you and illustrates your thought process. It takes practice to be able to do this with aplomb, but it is a skill well worth developing. Asking questions is a fundamental part of the process, but remember to do so within the context of your framework, as opposed to firing off questions in no particular order. As you work through the case, it is a good idea to verbally summarize where you are, what you have learned, what the information means in diagnosing the problem, and where you are headed next. Summarizing can also be a useful technique to buy yourself time to think if you become stuck. Take caution not to summarize too frequently, however, because it takes away from the time that you should be using to analyze the case issue. Step Five of Five – Summary and Recommendation When you feel you have covered all the bases in your analysis, or when you have run out of time, end by summarizing the situation and providing a recommendation. If at all possible, always end your interviews with a succinct recommendation. Try not to recap the path of analysis that you have just performed. Instead, draw on key facts to give a clear answer to the central question of the case. For example, â€Å"I do not recommend that the firm enter the market, given that the industry in question is characterized by low barriers to entry, intense rivalry, and significant supplier power† (all of which you discovered through your analysis). 2004 Kellogg Consulting Club Case Book 19 You might also add next steps or additional considerations, as appropriate, to make your analysis more balanced and thorough. For example, â€Å"Based on the discussion that we had today, I would not recommend at this point that the firm enter the market. However, I would also want to know more about the regulatory trends in the market, and about the industry’s distribution channel mix, before making a final decision in a real situation. † Remember, cases are usually complex. If you imply to the interviewer that you have completely addressed the issue in 30 to 45 minutes, you may be perceived as short-sighted or arrogant. It’s much better to state what you’ve found and can reasonably infer, and then identify the areas that you’d like to further penetrate (if given more time) and the assumptions that you’ve made that you think your conclusions are most sensitive to. An important point to keep in mind is that even if you are dead wrong, if you have approached the problem in a logical, structured, and thorough manner, you have done well. You will likely encounter the â€Å"elevator test† at the end of some of your interviews. It typically goes something like this, â€Å"We’re out of time. Sum this up in 30 seconds so I can tell the client our major findings. The purpose of this exercise is to see whether you can identify the most important elements of the case, distill complex issues into concise, easily understandable terms, and maintain your poise when thrust into a stressful situation.