How does the filming help to make ‘The Shining’ an exceptional Horror movie? Essay

Stanley Kubrick a.k.a. â€Å"The Master Filmmaker,† was born on July 26, 1928 in the Bronx, New York City. By age 13 he had developed passions for jazz, drumming, chess and photography. In 1951 at 23 years of age, Kubrick used his savings to finance his first film, a 16-minute documentary short about boxer Walter Cartier. On March 7th, 1999, Stanley Kubrick died in his sleep of a heart attack. He was 70 years old. The Shining is a typical example of the horror genre because it works by arousing irrational fear. Stanley Kubrick uses step down imagery to make the terror in the horror, controlled and not too over whelming for the audience, to make it seem more believable. The horror is a paradox because it presents a vision of terror to the audience but the audience try to fight everything the director is trying to achieve by telling themselves that, ‘it is just a movie, its not real, you can’t scare me.’ The Shining was based on Stephen King’s third published novel, which became a best seller upon its release in 1977. What also makes The Shining such an exceptional horror movie is the way Stanley Kubrick keeps the horror hidden from the audience and like most good horror films, there is always a sense of the supernatural, good vs. evil and a sense of isolation. Personally I feel that the Shining is a typical horror film because it’s a situation where the victims are isolated from the outside world and there is a mad man or something out of the ordinary killing them, which is true of most horror films like Nightmare on Elm Street, The Ring, Signs, Jeepers Creeper’s 1 and 2 and Dracula. The camera at the start of the film is moving over a huge mountain pass. We are shown a tiny Volkswagen car driving down a road, the film has many of the most beautiful, atmospheric cinematography, by John Alcott. This scene gives the impression of man’s vulnerability, when seen against the massive powers of nature – a sense of ‘the other’ is also created here by the aerial photography – a dark power looking down on the tiny ‘beetle’. Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) is attending a job interview for the position of a winter caretaker at The Overlook Hotel, located in the rockies of Colorado, built on an Indian burial ground. At the beginning of this film Jack conducts himself as a calm, charming man. He goes for the interview looking smart wearing a collar and a tie, shaven and looking very confident. During his interview the camera is films from behind Jack, making it seem as though someone or something is watching Jack – a sense of the ‘other’ and there are some frontal shots in which the background is peach, soft and warm. This presents a comforting, secure atmosphere. As the movie builds up we begin to release that the Overlook Hotel is not just any other normal Hotel but haunted although the horror is kept hidden from us we just see parts of the supernatural, although as we discover through the movie that this is much more than a mere haunted house tale. One of the things that makes it so interesting is that it shows a wide variety of elements that lead to Jack’s insanity to the point that we are left with the question on our minds whether it really was the house that leads to Jack’s insanity or the isolation for six months, so far from the outside world or Jack’s own psychological make-up or even reincarnation. We are also told very early in the film, that the hotel has something of a ‘history,’ in summary, some years previously, a crazed-psycho (the ex-caretaker) killed his wife and two children by chopping them up into small pieces with an axe! But once the family settle into the caretaker lifestyle it turns out that Torrance’s wife does most of the ‘caretaking’ while her grouchy husband seeks inspiration for a novel he is writing. At first everything goes well but as time goes by, he gets increasingly frustrated with his failure to write and takes it out on his wife (Shelly Duvall). Slowly, Jack begins to change he becomes pale, his clothes become rougher looking more like a labourer and becomes more and more irritable & malevolent towards both his wife and son. In the background, their son played by Danny Lloyd also starts having problems of his very own when he starts receiving psychic visions (E.S.P) of twin girls who were murdered a couple of years ago by their father who was also the caretaker at the Hotel and there are warnings from Tony of ‘redrum’ which spells murder when you read it backwards. It is clear that both Jack and Danny have some form of psychic gift as they are both able to pick-up the Hotel’s own psychic emissions of the horrors that it has seen. The down side is that the visions end up making Jack, go insane. Throughout the movie, the camera follows the action like someone is watching (presence in the Hotel) and there is always a sense of claustrophobia, For example when Danny is cycling in the corridors and he meets the two murdered girls, the camera when he meets them zooms to his face then back to the girls four times and gets closer with each shot then a close up again to Danny then a close up of the girls’ dead bodies four times but not for long so that the audience probably would not find it sickening. We know that the twin girls are ghosts because there is an axe on the floor and blood, and when talking to Danny they use repetition, â€Å"Come and play with us, for ever and ever and ever† which is the Lord’s Prayer. After that scene Jack sees a vision of a lift and when the doors open blood flows like a river, Personally I felt that this was technically clever because it emphasis on the horror aspect. The scariest moment in the movie is when Jack has gone completely insane and is trying to â€Å"correct† his wife and son because he had no real idea what his job as the caretaker there was really till Mr Grady (ex-caretaker) had told him to kill his family because they were trying to damage the house and that his son had brought a coloured cook into the house, the climax of the scariest point is when Jack says â€Å"Here’s Johnny† which was rated scariest horror scene out of hundred horror films. This is clever as it uses comedy to make the tragedy seem even more horrific. The end scene is a shot of Jack, frost-bitten and dead in the snow apparently hours later, is a satisfying and scary ending. But Stanley Kubrick delivers an ultimate conclusion, which Stephen King could never have achieved in his novel. The haunting music begins again, the camera sweeps to a framed photo on the wall, and we see a portrait of a ballroom party from decades ago. After the camera zooms in thrice, Jack is seen in the centre of the photo, and the caption reads, â€Å"Overlook Hotel, 1921.† This caption indicates that Jack, or at least his spirit, has always been present in the Overlook Hotel. Kubrick brilliantly arranges each shot in the film so that the viewer is easily drawn into the story. There is no single scene, shot, or camera angle, which does not denote a deeper meaning or have symbolic value. This movie is perhaps Stanley Kubrick’s greatest work. I feel that this movie could not have had a better cast, and there is nowhere else in the world where this movie could have been set. I feel that Jack Nicholson’s performance in The Shining was absolutely stunning. I also feel that without Jack Nicholson, â€Å"The Shining† would have been just another haunted house film. Jack Nicholson’s depiction of a man teetering on the brink of insanity was brilliant. We watch in terror as the insanity slowly settles in and exploding fiercely into this man, transforming him from one who is trying to repair his fragile family life into a stark raving lunatic bent on destroying everything he loves. It is truly a magical movie experience. So I feel that The Shining really is the greatest horror movie ever made.

New Hire Communication Essay

We would like to welcome all new hires to TMG Inc. We look forward to a long and prosperous work relationship with each and every one of our new hires. Our main goal is to make sure the customer is always satisfied. As customer service representatives you are the first point of contact with the customers so we are going to make sure that each one of you is properly trained to assist the customers in any and every way. Here at TMG Inc. we provide phone, cable, and internet service to our customers. During your training each of you will learn about all of the products and services available to the customers. We offer on-site paid training which will consists of classroom training for one week and on the phone training for two weeks. Hours of training will be 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with two 15 minute breaks and an hour lunch. At the end of the training course there will be a skills test to determine if the trainees are ready to communicate with customers or if more training is required. Once training is successfully completed representatives will be assigned an eight hour shift between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with two 15 minute breaks and an hour lunch. Each representative is expected to report to work and back from breaks and lunches on time. Each representative is responsible for informing the company of any absences and lateness via the attendance line prior to the start of the assigned shift. Failure to follow the proper procedures will result in disciplinary action. Each employee is allowed two call outs per month. Comp time will start to accumulate once training is successfully completed. Comp time is accumulated by work hours. Four hours is earned for every forty hours worked. Comp time can be used once twenty hours are accumulated. The dress code is business casual with  dress down on Fridays. Welcome to TMG Inc. Let’s make this work experience last a lifetime!!!!

Night World : Huntress Chapter 10

Jez held herself perfectly still, keeping her face expressionless. Her mind was clicking through strategies. Two exits-but to go out the window meant a three-story drop, and she probably wouldn't survive that in her condition. Although, of course, she couldn't leave anyway without doing something to silence Morgead-and she wouldn't survive a fight, either†¦. She suppressed any feeling, returned Morgead's gaze, and said calmly, â€Å"And why is that?† Triumph flashed in his eyes. â€Å"Jez Redfern. That's the key, isn't it? Your family.† Ill have to kill him somehow, she thought, but he was going on. â€Å"Your family sent you. Hunter Redfern. He knows that I've really found the Wild Power, and he expects you to get it out of me.† Relief spread slowly through Jez, and her stomach muscles relaxed. She didn't let it show. â€Å"You idiot! Of course not. I don't run errands for the Council.† Morgead's lip lifted. â€Å"I didn't say the Council. I said Hunter Redfern. He's trying to steal a march on the Council, isn't he? He wants the Wild Power himself. To restore the Redferns to the glory of old. You're running errands for him.† Jez choked on exasperation. Then she listened to the part of her mind that was telling her to keep her temper and think clearly. Strategy, that part was saying. He's just handed you the answer and you're trying to smack it away. â€Å"All right; what if that is true?† she said at last, her voice curt. â€Å"What if I do come from Hunter?† â€Å"Then you can tell him to get bent. I told the Council my terms. I'm not settling for anything less.† â€Å"And what were your terms?† He sneered. â€Å"As if you didn't know.† When she just stared at him, he shrugged and stopped pacing. â€Å"A seat on the Council,† he said coolly, arms folded. Jez burst out laughing. â€Å"You,† she said, â€Å"are out of your mind.† â€Å"I know they won't give it to me.† He smiled, not a nice smile. â€Å"I expect them to offer something like control of San Francisco. And some position after the millennium.† After the millennium. Meaning after the apocalypse, after the human race had been killed or subjugated or eaten or whatever else Hunter Redfern had in mind. â€Å"You want to be a prince in the new world order,† Jez said slowly, and she was surprised at how bitterly it came out. She was surprised at how surprised she was. Wasn't it just what she expected of Morgead? â€Å"I want what's coming to me. All my Life I've had to stand around and watch humans get everything. After the millennium things will be different.† He glared at her broodingly. Jez still felt sick. But she knew what to say now. â€Å"And what makes you think the Council is going to be around after the millennium?† She shook her head. â€Å"You're better off going with Hunter. I'd bet on him against the Council any day.† Morgead blinked once, lizardlike. â€Å"He's planning on getting rid of the Council?† Jez held his gaze. â€Å"What would you do in his place?† Morgead's expression didn't get any sweeter. But she could see from his eyes that she had him. He turned away sharply and went to glower out the window. Jez could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Finally he looked back. â€Å"All right,† he said coldly. â€Å"Ill join Hunter's team-but only on my terms. After the millennium-â€Å" â€Å"After the millennium you'll get what you deserve.† Jez couldn't help glaring back at him. Morgead brought out all her worst traits, all the things she tried to control in herself. â€Å"You'll get a position,† she amended, spinning the story she knew he wanted to hear. She was winging it, but she had no choice. â€Å"Hunter wants people loyal to him in the new order. And if you can prove you're valuable, he'll want you. But first you have to prove it. Okay? Deal?† â€Å"If I can trust you.† â€Å"We can trust each other because we have to. We both want the same thing. If we do what Hunter wants, we both win.† â€Å"So we cooperate-for the time being.† â€Å"We cooperate-and we see what happens,† Jez said evenly. They stared at each other from opposite sides of the room. It was as if the blood sharing had never happened. They were back to their old roles- maybe a little more hostile, but the same old Jez and Morgead, enjoying being adversaries. Maybe it'll be easy from now on, Jez thought. As long as Hunter doesn't show up to blow my story. Then she grinned inwardly. It would never happen. Hunter Redfern hadn't visited the West Coast for fifty years. â€Å"Business,† she said crisply, out loud. â€Å"Where's the Wild Power, Morgead?† â€Å"Ill show you.† He walked over to the futon and sat down. Jez stayed where she was. â€Å"You'll show me what?† â€Å"Show you the Wild Power.† There was a TV with a VCR at the foot of the bed, sitting on the bare floor. Morgead was putting a tape in. Jez settled on the far end of the futon, glad for the chance to sit. â€Å"You've got the Wild Power on tape?† He threw her an icy glance over his shoulder. â€Å"Yeah, on America's Funniest Home Videos. Just shut up, Jez, and watch.† Jez narrowed her eyes and watched. What she was looking at was a TV movie about a doomsday asteroid. A movie she'd seen-it had been awful. Suddenly the action was interrupted by the logo of a local news station. A blond anchorwoman came on screen. â€Å"Breaking news in San Francisco this hour. We have live pictures from the Marina district where a five-alarm fire is raging through a government housing project. We go now to Linda Chin, who's on the scene.† The scene switched to a dark-haired reporter. â€Å"Regina, I'm here at Taylor Street, where firefighters are trying to prevent this spectacular blaze from spreading-â€Å" Jez looked from the TV to Morgead. â€Å"What's this got to do with the Wild Power? I saw it live. It happened a couple weeks ago. I was watching that stupid movie-â€Å" She broke off, shocked at herself. She'd actually been about to say â€Å"I was watching that stupid movie with Claire and Aunt Nan.† Just like that, to blurt out the names of the humans she lived with. She clenched her teeth, furious. She'd already let Morgead know one thing: that a couple of weeks ago she'd been in this area, where a local news station could break in. What was wrong with her? Morgead tilted a sardonic glance at her, just to show her that he hadn't missed her slip. But all he said was â€Å"Keep watching. You'll see what it's got to do with the Wild Power.† On screen the flames were brilliant orange, dazzling against the background of darkness. So bright that if Jez hadn't known that area of the Marina district well, she wouldn't have been able to tell much about it. In front of the building firefighters in yellow were carrying hoses. Smoke flooded out suddenly as one of the hoses sprayed a straight line of water into the flames. â€Å"Their greatest fear is that there may be a little girl still inside this complex-â€Å" Yes. That was what Jez remembered about this fire. There had been a kid†¦. â€Å"Look here,† Morgead said, pointing. The camera was zooming in on something, bringing the flames in close. A window in the pinky-brown concrete of the building. High up, on the third floor. Flames were pouring up from the walkway below it, making the whole area look too dangerous to approach. The reporter was still talking, but Jez had tuned her out. She leaned closer, eyes fixed on that window. Like all the other windows, it was half covered with a wrought-iron screen in a diamond pattern. Unlike the others, it had something else: On the sill there were a couple of plastic buckets with dirt and scraggly plants. A window box. And a face looking out between the plants. A child's face. â€Å"There,† Morgead said. The reporter was speaking. â€Å"Regina, the firefighters say there is definitely someone on the third floor of this building. They are looking for a way to approach the person-the little girl-â€Å" High-powered searchlights had been turned on the flames. That was the only reason the girl was visible at all. Even so, Jez couldn't distinguish any features. The girl was a small blurry blob. Firefighters were trying to maneuver some kind of ladder toward the building. People were running, appearing and disappearing in the swirling smoke. The scene was eerie, otherworldly. Jez remembered this, remembered listening to the barely suppressed horror in the reporter's voice, remembered Claire beside her hissing in a sharp breath. â€Å"It's a kid,† Claire had said, grabbing Jez's arm and digging her nails in, momentarily forgetting how much she disliked Jez. â€Å"Oh, God, a kid.† And I said something like, â€Å"It'll be okay,† Jez remembered. But I knew it wouldn't be. There was too much fire. There wasn't a chance†¦. The reporter was saying, â€Å"The entire building is involved†¦.† And the camera was going in for a close-up again, and Jez remembered realizing that they were actually going to show this girl burning alive on TV. The plastic buckets were melting. The firemen were trying to do something with the ladder. And then there was a sudden huge burst of orange, an explosion, as the flames below the window poofed and began pouring themselves upward with frantic energy. They were so bright they seemed to suck all the light out of their surroundings. They engulfed the girl's window. The reporter's voice broke. Jez remembered Claire gasping, â€Å"No†¦Ã¢â‚¬  and her nails drawing blood. She remembered wanting to shut her own eyes. And then, suddenly, the TV screen flickered and a huge wall of smoke billowed out from the building. Black smoke, then gray, then a light gray that looked almost white. Everything was lost in the smoke. When it finally cleared a little, the reporter was staring up at the building in open amazement, forgetting to turn toward the camera. â€Å"This is astonishing†¦. Regina, this is a complete turnaround†¦. The firefighters have-either the water has suddenly taken effect or something else has caused the fire to die†¦. I've never seen anything like this†¦.† Every window in the building was now belching white smoke. And the picture seemed to have gone washed-out and pale, because there were no more vivid orange flames against the darkness. The fire was simply gone. â€Å"I really don't know what's happened, Regina†¦. I think I can safely say that everybody here is very thankful. †¦Ã¢â‚¬  The camera zoomed in on the face in the window. It was still difficult to make out features, but Jez could see coffee-colored skin and what seemed to be a calm expression. Then a hand reached out to gently pick up one of the melted plastic buckets and take it inside. The picture froze. Morgead had hit Pause. â€Å"They never did figure out what stopped the fire. It went out everywhere, all at once, as if it had been smothered.† Jez could see where he was going. â€Å"And you think it was some sort of Power that killed it. I don't know, Morgead–it's a pretty big assumption. And to jump from that to the idea that it was a Wild Power-â€Å" â€Å"You missed it, then.† Morgead sounded smug. â€Å"Missed what?† He was reversing the tape, going back to the moment before the fire went out. â€Å"I almost missed it myself when I saw it live. It was lucky I was taping it When I went back and looked again, I could see it clearly.† The tape was in slow motion now. Jez saw the burst of orange fire, frame by frame, getting larger. She saw it crawl up to engulf the window. And then there was a flash. It had only showed up as a flicker at normal speed, easily mistaken for some kind of camera problem. At this speed, though, Jez couldn't mistake it. It was blue. It looked like lightning or flame; blue-white with a halo of more intense blue around it. And it moved. It started out small, a circular spot right at the window. In the next frame it was much bigger, spreading out in all directions, fingers reaching into the flames. In the next frame it covered the entire TV screen, seeming to engulf the fire. In the next frame it was gone and the fire was gone with it. White smoke began to creep out of windows. Jez was riveted. â€Å"Goddess,† she whispered. â€Å"Blue fire.† Morgead ran the tape back to play the scene again. † ‘In blue fire, the final darkness is banished; In blood, the final price is paid.' If that girl isn't a Wild Power, Jez †¦ then what is she? You tell me.† â€Å"I don't know.† Jez bit her lip slowly, watching the strange thing blossom on the TV again. So the blue fire in the poem meant a new kind of energy. â€Å"You're beginning to convince me. But-â€Å" â€Å"Look, everybody knows that one of the Wild Powers is in San Francisco. One of the old hags in the witch circle-Grandma Harman or somebody- had a dream about it. She saw the blue fire in front of Coit Tower or something. And everybody knows that the four Wild Powers are supposed to start manifesting themselves around now. I think that girl did it for the first time when she realized she was going to die. When she got that desperate.† Jez could picture that kind of desperation; she'd pictured it the first time, when she'd been watching the fire live. How it must feel†¦ being trapped like that. Knowing that there was no earthly help for you, that you were about to experience the most terrible pain imaginable. Knowing that you were going to feel your body char and your hair burn like a torch and that it would take two or three endless minutes before you died and the horror was over. Yeah, you would be desperate, all right. Knowing all that might drag a new power out of you, a frantic burst of strength, like an unconscious scream pulled from the depths of yourself. But one thing bothered her. â€Å"If this kid is the Wild Power, why didn't her Circle notice what happened? Why didn't she tell them, ‘Hey, guys, look; I can put out fires now?'† Morgead looked annoyed. â€Å"What do you mean, her Circle?† â€Å"Well, she's a witch, right? You're not telling me vampires or shapeshifters are developing new powers like that.† â€Å"Who said anything about witches or vampires or shapeshifters? The kid's human.† Jez blinked. And blinked again, trying to conceal the extent of her astonishment. For a moment she thought Morgead was putting her on, but his green eyes were simply exasperated, not sly. â€Å"The Wild Powers†¦ can be human?† Morgead smiled suddenly-a smirk. â€Å"You really didn't know. You haven't heard all the prophecies, have you?† He struck a mocking oratorical pose. â€Å"There's supposed to be: One from the land of kings long forgotten; One from the hearth which still holds the spark; One from the Day World where two eyes are watching; One from the twilight to be one with the dark.† The Day World, Jez thought. Not the Night World, the human world. At least one of the Wild Powers had to be human. Unbelievable†¦ but why not? Wild Powers were supposed to be weird. Then she thought of something and her stomach sank. â€Å"No wonder you're so eager to turn her in,† she said softly. â€Å"Not just to get a reward-â€Å" â€Å"But because the little scum deserves to die-or whatever it is Hunter has in mind for her.† Morgead's voice was matter-of-fact. â€Å"Yeah, vermin have no right developing Night World powers. Right?† â€Å"Of course right,† Jez said without emotion. I'm going to have to watch this kid every minute, she thought. He's got no pity at all for her-Goddess knows what he might do before letting me have her. â€Å"Jez.† Morgead's voice was soft, almost pleasant, but it caught Jez's full attention. â€Å"Why didn't Hunter tell you that prophecy? The Council dug it up last week.† She glanced at him and felt an inner shiver. Suspicion was cold in the depths of his green eyes. When Morgead was yelling and furious he was dangerous enough, but when he was quiet like this, he was deadly. â€Å"I have no idea,† she said flatly, tossing the problem back at him. â€Å"Maybe because I was already out here in California when they figured it out. But why don't you call him and ask yourself? I'm sure he'd love to hear from you.† There was a pause. Then Morgead gave her a look of disgust and turned away. A good bluff is priceless, Jez thought. It was safe now to move on. She said, â€Å"So what do the ‘two eyes watching' mean in the prophecy?† He rolled his own eyes. â€Å"How should I know? You figure it out. You've always been the smart one.† Despite the heavy sarcasm, Jez felt a different kind of shiver, one of surprise. He really believed that. Morgead was so smart himself-he'd seen that flicker on the TV screen and realized what it was, when apparently none of the adults in the Bay Area had-but he thought she was smarter. â€Å"Well, you seem to be doing all right yourself,† she said. She had been looking steadily at him, to show him no weakness, and she saw his expression change. His green eyes softened slightly, and the sarcastic quirk of his lip straightened. â€Å"Nah, I'm just blundering along,† he muttered, his gaze shifting. Then he glanced back up and somehow they were caught in a moment when they were just looking at each other in silence. Neither of them turned away, and Jez's heart gave a strange thump. The moment stretched. Idiot! This is ridiculous. A minute ago you were scared of him-not to mention sickened by his attitude toward humans. You can't just suddenly switch to this. But it was no good. Even the realization that she was in danger of her life didn't help. Jez couldn't think of a thing to say to break the tension, and she couldn't seem to look away from Morgead. â€Å"Jez, look-â€Å" He leaned forward and put a hand on her forearm. He didn't even seem to know he was doing it. His expression was abstracted now, and his eyes were fixed on hers. His hand was warm. Tingles spread from the place where it touched Jez's skin. â€Å"Jez†¦ about before †¦ I didn't†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Suddenly Jez's heart was beating far too quickly. I have to say something, she thought, fighting to keep her face impassive. But her throat was dry and her mind a humming blank. All she could feel clearly was the place where she and Morgead touched. All she could see clearly was his eyes. Cat's eyes, deepest emerald, with shifting green lights in them†¦. â€Å"Jez,† he said a third time. And Jez realized all at once that the silver thread between them hadn't been broken. That it might be stretched almost into invisibility, but it was still there, still pulling, trying to make her body go weak and her vision blur. Trying to make her fall toward Morgead even as he was falling toward her. And then came the sound of someone kicking in the front door.

Phase 5 Individual Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Phase 5 Individual Project - Assignment Example Analyzed from a business perspective, globalization refers to the process in which domestic companies seek international markets to expand their operations (Intriligator, 2003). According to Michael (2003), globalization of a company is a powerful trend in the current global competitive market and is one of the major factors that influence the future growth of a company. Globalization of the world economy has made the world become a global village where anyone can get whatever he wants from any part of the world. Today a company’s employees, competitors and customers can come from any part of the globe. In addition to increasing the market, globalization has led to the development of many companies both local and multinationals and invention of new products, this has made the market to be very competitive and a number of companies find it hard to survive (Collier & Dollar, 2002). The following discussion will present the importance of globalization, expected challenges and exp lain why the company should go global. 2.0 Globalization of company’s operations Globalization of the world economy has increased both bilateral and international trade thereby opening up many countries for companies to venture into. Many companies such as our competitors have expanded their operations to overseas markets and have reported significant success in those markets. Before venturing into new markets especially foreign, it is important to have a perfect strategy that will help the company take over the market with ease. With our global market strategy in place, the company can adopt both cost leadership and product differentiation in order to properly position its products well in the market. Cost leadership strategy is the one being applied by our competitors and they have reported good performance with it (Britt, 2007). Over the last two decades, companies all over the world have gone global a move that is threatening the survival of the local companies. This has made it hard for these companies (local) to expand their operations and even some lose their market share. This is clearly evidenced in the company’s analysis report that reported a decrease in the company’s sales volume as a result of the move taken by competitors who have already ventured into foreign markets. In order to compete fiercely and regain its market share, the company has to outdo its competitors which mean engaging in aggressive expansion and marketing programs which will lead to the growth of the company. According to Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer of N2growth, he states that the ability to do business in international market is an important necessity if one is to remain competitive in the current market. Operating a business in the international market is both a defensive and offensive play. Comparing the international market and the domestic market, it is with no doubt that international market is wide and majority of potential customers are living abroad (Myatt, 2009). Considering the move taken by our competitors and the success they have recorded in foreign markets and the dwindling sales in the local market, it is paramount for the organization to go global. 3.0 Rationale for globalization Globalizing a company’s operations in the current competitive environment is one of

Social Work - Welfare Agenda Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Social Work - Welfare Agenda - Essay Example Wales also introduced Childrens Commissioner into the social welfare network. This was later to be implemented by Scotland as well. However, Wales did not limit itself to Children’s Commissioner but rather went a step ahead and introduced the Older Peoples Commissioner. The chairperson of this new post would be bestowed with the primary job to consider and promote interests of the senior citizen in Wales by removing discrimination and modifying legislations among other things. The Welsh Assembly actively participated in these programs. Only in England and Wales has the Mental Capacity Act 2005 been implemented. An adult mental health plan is also in the pipeline as the Welsh Assembly is working on it. The Councils in Wales also take part in the development of the social sector and also helps in the development of the social services workers and volunteers. A Social Services Improvement Agency has also been introduced in Wales in order to develop the services rendered by the local authority. This is done by informing the workforce about the prevalent policies, research and various legislations in practice. Since 2007 the Welsh Assembly government facilitated the amalgamation of two bodies into a new Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW). The purpose of the CSSIW was to develop the existing facilities for social services. In the future, one may foresee two possible scenarios1. Qualified social workers are most important to attend to the welfare of the society. Over the years, the demand for social workers has increased leading to an imbalance and which is likely to remain for the next few years to come till there are more qualified social workers pitching for the job. This leads to the consequence wherein there is lack of local authorities to deliver social work services. The challenges thus presently existing the local authorities are

Biofuel production from waste wood - (Product Life Cycle Assessment Coursework

Biofuel production from waste wood - (Product Life Cycle Assessment (PLCA)) - Coursework Example However, wood pellets have drawbacks including requirement for large storage facilities and continuous removal and control of ashes (Chen, 2009, p 2). It is indispensable to comprehend that use of wood pellets as a substitute energy source to fossil fuels remains essential in significant reduction of global warming effects and minimal emissions of green gases. The report aims at understanding the life cycle of wood pellets and its contribution to environmental degradations. In addition, the report provides an assessment of wood pellets life cycle in relation to its human effects. Besides, the fundamental objective of the report is to assist wood pellets producers in communicating with customers. Moreover, the producers would also ensure better environmental management. Life cycle assessment (LCA) relates to an environmental evaluation device that focuses on analyzing environmental impacts associated with use of a process or product within its entire duration or life. The inherent assessment remains achievable through creation of a systematic model that can carry out quantification of energy and materials consumption and calculation of released wastes and emissions (Manyele, 2007, p 142). Such computation of effects occurs of life cycle of the process or product from raw materials extraction, production, transportation, reuse and use phases, and consequent recycling stage. Therefore, there exist four significant steps in performing LCA including last step called interpretation, life cycle impact assessment, inventory analysis, and the first step being goal and scope definition. Assessment of wood pellets life cycle is domineering in quantifying and analyzing its global warming potentials in comparison to fossil fuels. Moreover, the assessment remai ns vital in communicating with customers that constantly uses fuels and more importantly to investigate impacts of the energy on the environment. The diagram below illustrates the

Human Cloning Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human Cloning - Essay Example In other words cloning is a field characterized by diverse implications and uncertain results. Although proponents of cloning have praised it for the ability to repairs the nervous system, cloning has been found to causes irreparable nervous injuries the moment it back fires meaning that, it may complicate the burden of disease it purports to resolve. As much as there are advantages of taking care of the nervous system injuries, due to the production of the same types of cells with no change in genome, incase of future attacks of pathogens on the cells the cells may not survive as is intended. Consequently this is not yet fully researched and using human beings as objects of laboratory tests is ethically wrong and against the code of scientific studies (Gurdon, & Colman, 61). Also cloning has been found to increase the risk of somatic cells mutations, which may even trigger the growth of malignant cells making the situation even worse. This may be caused by the side effects of medications used in and after the process of cloning. The process of cloning as it pertains to this issue has not yet been authenticated. In addition, the new homogenous cells have been found to be easily affected by diverse climatic changes and have less resistance to pathogens (Gurdon, & Colman, 103). New cells that are similar may not be able to fight pathological attacks in case of diverse environmental changes (Gurdon, & Colman, 42). Scientists on the hand are not sure of the implications of this kind of treatment on patients. Medication used during invalid and convalescing stages may cause cells mutations (Rifkin, 90). As much as cloning may be the only option to saving the life of a patient, the implications are worse because of implications. With cloning to repair nervous system injuries even the scientists can not predict for how long the cells will keep working. The viability of the process has enough flaws and needs to be investigated more and more and verified. If a conclusion is made that cloning will reverse the aging process and hence reduce the burden of disease, this will just be a speculation. The human cells are unique in there own way and cloning of somatic cells to reverse old age process and diseases may have adverse negative implications that may trigger some mutations. With the reversing of the aging process, there may

In the context of capital market research what is the importance of Literature review

In the context of capital market research what is the importance of published financial information and the information content - Literature review Example Moreover, it has been proved that financial information and information content of earnings have the power to affect the investors’ decision making process. The interaction between the overall model of investor’s decision making and the published financial information, as well as the information content of earnings, is critically discussed in this paper. The justification of the above model in the context of the current financial crisis is evaluated. In order to secure that all the issues discussed above are covered, the paper has been divided into several sections, highlighting the various aspects of this paper’s subject. Apart from the introduction section, where the overall scope of the paper is presented, of particular importance are the literature and the Discussion sections. In the literature review section the following issues are addressed: the key characteristics of market research and its value on financial reporting, the published financial information and the information content of earnings as factors influencing investors’ decision making and potential use of the model of investors’ decision making within modern market which is under the continuous pressures of global financial crisis. The value of the literature findings in the context of the present crisis are further analyzed in the Analysis and Discussion section, so that valid assumptions are developed in regard to the study’s key subject. In the last section of the paper, Conclusion and recommendations, the key findings of the research developed for the issues addressed in this paper are summarized and recommendations are made, as appropriate, so that future failures are avoided. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Market research – characteristics and relation with financial reporting Market research is employed in a variety of business activities. For example, when having to decide in regard to the entrance of the business in a new market or in regard t o the development of a new product/ service market research is used for gathering information related to the host market or the consumer preferences as related to the new product/ service (Wahlen et al. 52). In regard to financial reporting and investment decision making, market research has a similar role. It helps to gather information required in developing a firm’s financial statements so that the position of the firm and its competitiveness is made clear (Wahlen et al. 52). Market research can be developed through a high range of research methods, such as surveys and field studies (Wahlen et al. 52). Preferably, market research should be based on empirical research methods, aiming to show the current market trends in regard to one or more critical business sectors. Capital market research is part of market research, it its broad meaning. Capital market research focuses on the review of ‘value-related information, such as share prices’ (Wahlen et al. 52). At this point it would be necessary to explain the key context of financial reporting, as a key activity in all organizations. Carmichael, Whittington and Lynford note that financial reporting is a process ‘for gathering information that will be used by investors or creditors for developing their investment or credit decisions accordingly’ (Carmichael, Whittington and Lynford 62). In general, financial reporti

Interest Rate Risk Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Interest Rate Risk Assignment - Essay Example Indeed, the credit was sold to the customer at a lower price (lower interest rate) than it could have been if it had been sold at a later time. Certainly, this is one of the simple examples, but we must consider that the value of the bank itself can be directly affected by the interest rate risk, through changes in its overall assets and liabilities values2 and given the time value of money. The repricing gap model is one of the simplest used by banks to determine the amount of exposure for their assets and is based on "the net differences between interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities maturing at different times"3). Within established time bands (one day, 1 day 3 months, 3-6 months etc. up to assets and liabilities with maturities of over 5 years), total liability values are subtracted from total asset values to evaluate a gap between the two. Each gap value thus obtained can be multiplied by a the assumed change in interest rates in order to obtain the potential numerical expression of the impact the change in interest rates will have on the value of that respective bandwidth (evaluated as the gap between assets and liabilities). ... Despite the fact that the repricing gap model is simple enough to be used by almost everybody, one of its biggest disadvantages refers exactly to this simplicity of the model. Indeed, there is practically no other variable being taking into consideration other than the difference in value between assets and liabilities within a time band. The market conditions generally impose multiple variable, such as different maturing and repricing periods4 or payments that need to be taken into consideration, so we may point out towards the fact that this model is only an approximation of the level of exposure of a bank to the interest rate risk. The duration gap analysis is somewhat more complex and provides more answers for a proper interest rate exposure analysis. It "focuses on managing NII or the market value of equity, recognizing the timing of cash flows"5, which is something that the repricing gap model ignored. According to the same source (Koch and MacDonald), an effective duration gap analysis will include three main steps. First of all, the bank management and analysis department will need to develop a forecast for the future levels of interest rate. Subsequently, the management determined the market value for all the assets and liabilities held by the bank. Third of all, an estimation of the weighted duration of assets and of the weighted duration of liabilities is made. In order to be able to hedge the market value of the bank's equity, the management will evaluate the difference between the weighted duration of assets and the weighted duration of liabilities and will set the condition that this equals to 0. Upon calculation, the bank management's conclusion will hold either an adjustment of either asset or liability weighted duration. 3.a)

Paper reviews (urban planning) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Paper reviews (urban planning) - Essay Example In a real sense, the urban areas are fast growing, and there are others that continue to come up by the day. Some of the developers are never oblivious of the fact that the cities are at some point able to expand (Levy, 14). Urban areas expand for two reasons, one being on development basis and the other in terms of population. The two should be examined critically to identify areas of basis planning. The bias is actually about having a well-planned and designed place that really makes it comfortable for people to operate. To some extent many experts ignore or have ignored the essence of proper planning. Some are never concerned about the future of the urban set ups. Their only focus is on the present and not in the future. This has since become a serious problem of concern as poor designs and planning have ruined the nature and well-being of several urban centers something that could otherwise have been dealt with properly (Levy, 43). Computer and video games have been discredited before as being nothing, but time wasters. However, this has been to the contrary, to popular beliefs. Video and computer games have become important tools for coming up with designs on the most well thought out manner. The games do not just act as playing materials, but also help people to think through some issues and the best ways. Some of the best developers have been said to be people who spend most of their time on the computer playing games. Some do not really play games, but rather try to come up with different designs and developments that can otherwise be adopted in real life. The most fascinating thing about the games is that they are not in any way binding, as one has to prompt actions by self. This is very critical because one is able to come up with designs just as a thought. Some of the designs can be fitted according to need and expectations. In the

Jonathan Glover Essay Example for Free

Jonathan Glover Essay Jonathan Glover (born 1941) is a British philosopher known for his studies on ethics. He was educated at Tonbridge School, later going on to Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He was a fellow and tutor in philosophy at New College, Oxford. He currently teaches ethics at Kings College London. Glover is a fellow of the Hastings Center, an independent bioethics research institution in the United States. Glovers book Causing Death and Saving Lives, first published in 1977, addresses practical moral questions about life and death decisions in the areas of abortion, infanticide, suicide, euthanasia, choices between people, capital punishment, and war. His approach is broadly consequentialist, though he gives significant weight to questions of individual autonomy, the Kantian notion that we ought to treat other people as ends in themselves rather than merely as means. He criticises the idea that mere consciousness or life itself are intrinsically valuable: these states matter, he argues, because they are pre-requisites for other things that are valuable and make for a life worth living. There is, then, no absolute sanctity of human life. [1] He criticises the principle of double effect[2] and the acts and omissions doctrine,[3] the notion that there is a huge moral difference between killing someone and intentionally letting them die. In his discussion of real cases of moral decisions about killing he draws on insights from history and literature as well as philosophy. Throughout, the emphasis is on the consequences of moral choices for those affected, rather than on abstract principles applied impersonally. In Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century, published in 1999, Glover considers the psychological factors that predispose us to commit barbaric acts, and suggests how man-made moral traditions and the cultivation of moral imagination can work to restrain us from a ruthlessly selfish treatment of others. Gaining greater understanding of the monsters within us, he argues, is part of the process of caging and containing them. [4] He examines the various types of atrocity that were perpetrated in the 20th century, including Nazi genocide, communist mass killings under Stalin, Mao, and Pol Pot, and more recent slaughter in Bosnia and Rwanda, and examines what sort of bulwarks there could be against them. He allows that religion has provided bulwarks, which are getting eroded. He identifies three types of bulwark. The two more dependable are sympathy and respect for human dignity. The less dependable third is Moral Identity: I belong to a kind of person who would not do that sort of thing. This third is less dependable because notions of moral identity can themselves be warped, as was done by the Nazis. [5] In The End of Faith, Sam Harris quotes Glover as saying: Our entanglements with people close to us erode simple self-interest. Husbands, wives, lovers, parents, children and friends all blur the boundaries of selfish concern. Francis Bacon rightly said that people with children have given hostages to fortune. Inescapably, other forms of friendship and love hold us hostage too Narrow self-interest is destabilized. [citation needed] In 1989 the European Commission hired Glover to head a panel on embryo research in Europe. [6] He is married to Vivette Glover, a prominent neuroscientist. Jonathan is father to three and grandfather to one (father to Ruth, Daniel and David Glover and grandfather to Samuel Glover).

Human Sexuality Essay Example for Free

Human Sexuality Essay In a review of research on nonexclusive marital relationships, it was noted that swinging had received considerable attention in the 1970s and reported that an estimated 2 percent of the American population had participated. Most studies of active swingers emphasized overcoming initial anxieties and difficulties coping with strains to maintain the lifestyle successfully, but Denfeld also studied couples who had dropped out of swinging and entered counseling (1974). â€Å"The problems such as jealousy, guilt, emotional attachments, boredom and perceived threats to the marriage were common reasons for dropping out of swinging. Unfortunately, there has been no research on identifying the factors that differentiate couples who are satisfied with swinging form those who are not† (Rouse, 2002). The people we may call swingers are somewhat younger on the average than the mainstreamers, and many of them have brothers and sisters or parents who are mainstreamers. In due course, some of them will become mainstreamers, because it is hard to be a swinger when one gets older. However, some remain swingers longer than others, and many swingers later take another road than the mainstreamer one (Hannerz, 1969). Swingers are usually somewhere between the late teens and the middle thirties in age. This means that many of them have not yet married and started families on their own, so that familial obligations would naturally be less demanding in terms of time, money and emotional investments. But there are many swingers who are married and have children and who even so are not family-oriented. Of course, married men are more able to take part in the swinger life than are married women, as they can leave children and household affairs more readily in the hands of their spouses. However, some women manage to continue as swingers by leaving young children with the grandparents. Also, quite a few marriages are broken as one or both spouses prefer to continue the swinger’s life (Hannerz, 1969). Swingers typically spend relatively little of their free time just sitting around at home alone or with the family. Weekday nights and particularly weekends are often spent going visiting, whether one travels alone or in the company of a few friends. The spontaneous gatherings are not complete without gin, whiskey or beer and the talk involves joking, banter, reminiscences of past shared experiences, and exchanges about the trivia of the day such as football results, forecasts of coming boxing bouts and local grapevine items (Hannerz, 1969). It is true that many women get involved with swinging because their male partner encourages them. They often do it to explore their own bisexual desires. By being exposed to a sexually charged environment, they are encouraged to be more experimental and let go of the cultural conditioning that has made them deny their own desires. This may be why swingers often say that men get women into swinging, but it is the women who keep them in it (Taylor, 2007). Couples who are not in a Swinging Lifestyle will find it unimaginable to allow his or her partner to engage in recreational sex with another person, but for swingers it is considered a highly acceptable form of social recreation. Swinging couples have a strong enough relationship to allow the sexual pleasure of his or her partner, and take satisfaction from that pleasure instead of jealousy and concern. Many couples would benefit from embracing the relationship ideas from the Swinging Lifestyle. Swingers understand that it’s perfectly natural for their partner to be physically attracted to someone else and that it’s ok to share one another sexually without threatening their love for each other. They do not confuse love with lust as many couples do. The Swinging Lifestyle can be a new adventure that can actually bring a couple much closer together (Taylor, 2007). Couples who engage in the Swinging Lifestyle experience that in swinging is less time consuming and emotionally demanding than an affair. Moreover, it offers sexual variety and it is sexually educative. Swinging is honest and democratic, since both partners are involved. It is less dangerous with regard to losing a spouse than infidelity. Swinging, however, is not without its drawbacks. Swinging may result to lack of emotional closeness, which in return may inhibit enjoyment and/or performance. There is also denial of ego satisfaction, since the partner was obtained by being available rather than charm. A worried air may also occur since the spouse’s partner may be sexier and better looking and this may inhibit ability and enjoyment of the sex act. Philosophy involves having an affair only once with each new partner, therefore, there is an ongoing search for new partners can be fatiguing. Moreover, there is subliminal fear that swinging can lead to venereal diseases (Cargan, 2007). For those with an open mind swinging is all about having fun as a couple. Moreover, it’s a way for a couple to expand their horizons by agreeing that sexual encounters outside and inside the relationships are permissible. It is a way for a couple to be a couple while allowing and accepting individual desires and needs. Couples who swing explore their sexuality and fantasies. These couples can break the chains of jealousy and experience a more passionate and fulfilling relationship, as well as connecting on a deeper spiritual level. Swinging can give them the opportunity to grow as a couple, and as individuals (Bellemeade, 2003). References Bancroft, J. (2002). Human Sexuality and Its Problems. Elsevier Science Limited. Bellemeade, K. (2003). Swinging for Beginners. New Tradition Books. Breedlove, W. and J. Breedlove. (1984). Swap Clubs. Los Angeles: Sherbourne. Cargan, L. (2007). Being Single on Noah’s Ark. United Kingdom: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

The Challenges Faced In International Trade Theory Commerce Essay

The Challenges Faced In International Trade Theory Commerce Essay International trade theory explains the pattern of international trade and the distribution of the gains from trade. Strategic advantage one business entity has over its rival entities within its competitive industry is called competitive advantage. Achieving competitive advantage strengthens and positions a business better within the business environment. In this report, Logitech as a case study of international trade and competitive advantage fully discussed in form of answering study questions. Background Logitech is a world leader in personal peripherals, driving innovation in PC navigation, Internet communications, digital music, home-entertainment control, gaming and wireless devices. Key product lines mice, trackballs, and keyboards webcams, speakers, headsets, and headphones interactive gaming devices network music systems video-security solutions advanced universal remote controls History 1981 established in Switzerland, opens Palo Alto office the following year 1982 introduces its first computer mouse, the P4 1984 secures first major OEM contract with HP 1985 introduces the C7, which sells for under $100 and does not require a separate power supply 1986 opens manufacturing center in Hsinchu, Taiwan, still a key center for worldwide operations and engineering 1987 reaches an OEM agreement to manufacture mice for Macintosh computers sold in Europe 1988 opens OEM sales, manufacturing and distribution hub in Cork, Ireland 1989 wins OEM contract for IBM; introduces the Series 9 mouse, the first mouse designed to fit the natural curve of the human hand 1991-92 introduces first cordless mouse, first digital still camera, and first mic/speaker combo 1994 opens first fully-owned manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China, which now employs 4,000 people 1995 introduces trackball technology; unveils first web camera and gaming joystick 1997 listed on Nasdaq; unveils first USB mouse 2000 introduces the first mouse with optical sensor to track movement 2001 acquires Labtec, expanding its audio business; unveils first cordless optical mouse 2003 surpasses $1 billion in annual revenue; ships its 500 millionth mouse 2005 opens new facility in Suzhou, China 2006 130 new products introduced; 143 million products shipped worldwide Logitech Today Global operations California marketing, finance, and logistics (some RD) Switzerland research and development (programming) Ireland design, mechanical engineering, sales support Netherlands European distribution Taiwan worldwide operations Suzhou, China manufacturing Performance more than 9000 employees distribution in more than 100 countries projected sales, $2.4 billion (11% OEM; 89% retail) Literature review International Trade Theory Brown (2005) defines comparative advantage means the comparison of relative price differences between nations to explain the pattern of trade. For example, compare the relative price of wheat in terms of cheese at home to the same relative price in the foreign economy in a hypothetical equilibrium with no trade (autarky) or with restricted trade. The country with the lower relative price of wheat is said to have a comparative advantage in wheat while the other country has, symmetrically, a comparative advantage in cheese. Buy low, sell high logic predicts that a country will export the good in which it has a comparative advantage. Theory of Comparative Advantage Free trade between international countries concept was structured and built by David Ricardo an economist. He stated that countries goes for trading with other countries would highly benefit from this trade as specialization as there in these countries. In free trade there are no any tariffs or taxes on incoming or outgoing goods and services. Typically, countries tax incoming goods in an attempt to keep domestic producers competitive. According this theory all trading partners even less efficient producers will benefit from specialization and free trade. Porters Diamond and Competitive Advantage Due to globalization, most of organizations strategies were changed towards being international wise. Even if an organization does not plan to import or to export directly, management has to look at an international business environment, in which actions of competitors, buyers, sellers, new entrants of providers of substitutes may influence the domestic market. Information technology is reinforcing this trend. Michael Porter introduced a model that allows analyzing why some nations are more competitive than others are, and why some industries within nations are more competitivethan others are, in his book The Figure.1: Porters Diamond model Competitive Advantage of Nations. This model of determining factors of national advantage has become known as Porters Diamond. It suggests that the national home base of an organization plays an important role in shaping the extent to which it is likely to achieve advantage on a global scale. This home base provides basic factors, which support or hinder organizations from building advantages in global competition. Porter distinguishes four determinants: Firm strategy, structure and rivalry Related and supporting industries Factor conditions Demand conditions Factor Conditions The situation in a country regarding production factors, like skilled labor, infrastructure, etc., which are relevant for competition in particular industries. These factors can be grouped into human resources (qualification level, cost of labor, commitment etc.), material resources (natural resources, vegetation, space etc.), knowledge resources, capital resources, and infrastructure. They also include factors like quality of research on universities, deregulation of labor markets, or liquidity of national stock markets. These national factors often provide initial advantages, which are subsequently built upon. Each country has its own particular set of factor conditions; hence, in each country will develop those industries for which the particular set of factor conditions is optimal. This explains the existence of so-called low cost-countries (low costs of labor), agricultural countries (large countries with fertile soil), or the start-up culture in the United States (well developed venture capital market). Porter points out that these factors are not necessarily nature-made or inherited. They may develop and change. Political initiatives, technological progress or socio-cultural changes, for instance, may shape national factor conditions. A good example is the discussion on the ethics of genetic engineering and cloning that will influence knowledge capital in this field in North America and Europe. Home Demand Conditions Describes the state of home demand for products and services produced in a country. Home demand conditions influence the shaping of particular factor conditions. They have impact on the pace and direction of innovation and product development. According to Porter, home demand is determined by three major characteristics: their mixture (the mix of customers needs and wants), their scope and growth rate, and the mechanisms that transmit domestic preferences to foreign markets. Porter states that a country can achieve national advantages in an industry or market segment, if home demand provides clearer and earlier signals of demand trends to domestic suppliers than to foreign competitors. Normally, home markets have a much higher influence on an organizations ability to recognize customers needs than foreign markets do. Related and Supporting Industries The existence or non-existence of internationally competitive supplying industries and supporting industries. One internationally successful industry may lead to advantages in other related or supporting industries. Competitive supplying industries will reinforce innovation and internationalization in industries at later stages in the value system. Besides suppliers, related industries are of importance. These are industries that can use and coordinate particular activities in the value chain together, or that are concerned with complementary products (e.g. hardware and software). A typical example is the shoe and leather industry in Italy. Italy is not only successful with shoes and leather, but with related products and services such as leather working machinery, design, etc. Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry The conditions in a country that determine how companies are established are organized and are managed, and that determine the characteristics of domestic competition. Here, cultural aspects play an important role. In different nations, factors like management structures, working morale, or interactions between companies are shaped differently. This will provide advantages and disadvantages for particular industries. Typical corporate objectives in relation to patterns of commitment among workforce are of special importance. They are heavily influenced by structures of ownership and control. Family-business based industries that are dominated by owner-managers will behave differently than publicly quoted companies. Porter argues that domestic rivalry and the search for competitive advantage within a nation can help provide organizations with bases for achieving such advantage on a more global scale. Porters Diamond has been used in various ways. Organizations may use the model to identify the extent to which they can build on home-based advantages to create competitive advantage in relation to others on a global front. On national level, governments can (and should) consider the policies that they should follow to establish national advantages, which enable industries in their country to develop a strong competitive position globally. According to Porter, governments can foster such advantages by ensuring high expectations of product performance, safety or environmental standards, or encouraging vertical co-operation between suppliers and buyers on a domestic level etc. Questions Question 1 In a world without trade, what would happen to the costs that American consumers would have to pay for Logitechs products? Question 2 Explain how trade lowers the costs of making computer peripherals such as mice and keyboards. Question 3 Use the theory of comparative advantage to explain the way in which Logitech has configured its global operations. Why does the company manufacture in China and Taiwan, undertake basic RD in California and Switzerland, design products in Ireland, and coordinate marketing and operations from California? Question 4 Who creates more value for Logitech, the 650 people it employs in Fremont and Switzerland, or the 4,000 employees at its Chinese factory? What are the implications of this observation for the argument that free trade is beneficial? Question 5 Why do you think the company decided to shift its corporate headquarters from Switzerland to Fremont? Question 6 To what extent can Porters diamond help explain the choice of Taiwan as a major manufacturing site for Logitech? Question 7 Why do you think China is now a favored location for so much high technology manufacturing activity? How will Chinas increasing involvement in global trade help that country? How will it help the worlds developed economies? What potential problems are associated with moving work to China? Answers Answer 1: The costs American consumers would have to pay for Logitech products would increase significantly in a world without trade. Â   This is due to the face that production, assembly, resources, and sale of their products would all have to be conducted in the US. Â   Logitech would no longer be able to rely on China for cheap labor and assembly, or Taiwan for efficient and cheap manufacturing. Â   Therefore these increased expenses would require a rise in retail price for the consumer. Answer 2: Trade helps in reduction of product prices due the following: Components are procured from any part of the world where they can be produced or manufactured at the best cost. (Motorola plant in Malaysia makes the mouses chip; Agilent Technologies supplies optical sensor). The actual assembling/manufacturing is done at the place where is cab done most cost effectively. (Assembling is done in Taiwan and China) The product reach the customers the most efficient way are taking the services of the most efficient logistics company. (Marketing from Fremont) Answer 3 Comparative advantage, as proposed by Ricard, says that it is beneficial for nations to involve in trade even when there is absolute advantage for them to produce all the goods. So nations will invest a major portion of their resources to produce what they can produce with advantage. This theory is being applied to the case as follow: China: It is cost effective to manufacture in China. China has a large population of semi-literate people who lives in semi-urban areas. It is important for the Chinese government to provide avenues for its people to earn their livelihood. Mass manufacturing is a good way of employing many people. Since there is abundance of semi-literature human resources in China it can manufacture products which need semi-skilled labor most efficiently. Thus Logitech uses China to manufacture mice. Taiwan: Taiwan has invested in creating industrial parks. It is giving land in these parks at very nominal rates. It had developed a strong supply base for computer parts, it has well qualified people. Its local computer industry is also expanding. Taiwan has done all these with an objective of being a major player in the electronics components manufacturing. Logitech is taking advantage of the facilities developed. California: California is located strategically due the Silicon Valley. Having an office in California provides an opportunity for any company to interact with the other companies. It also gives insights into the emerging technologies. These advantages make Logitech choose California as a center for RD. Since California also houses many large corporation, it makes perfect business sense for Logitech to have their marketing operations here. Switzerland: It is known for precision industry. The right talent is available here for developing the software for mice. Hence, Logitech is developing primary software in Switzerland. Ireland: The design firm in Ireland is used by Logitech for ergonomics design. The Ergonomics Society of Ireland is very active in promoting the discovery and exchange of knowledge concerning the characteristics of human beings that are applicable to the design of systems and devices of all kinds. Answer 4 Logitech make $8 for every mouse being sold. Let us assume that $3 of this is spent on RD and software programming. The earning per employee writing the software are code is (3*100)/650 = 0.47 cent. The value added per employee in China is (3*100)/4000 = 0.075 cents. Hence, the value added by RD people is greater. Free trade is beneficial because, it is the free trade which is allowing Logitech to take advantage of the low cost manpower available in China. If free trade were not available, Logitech would be forced to manufacture its mice in US at much higher cost. Answer 5 It helps Logitech to stay close to its customers. It can respond to the demands of the customers more promptly. Fremont is also the place where a lot of technological innovations are happening. Logitech being in the high-tech industry, continuous innovation is a key success factor for its business. Fremont is also an important in terms of managerial talent. All these reasons make it convenient for Logitech to move to Fremont. Answer 6 Porters diamond considers four important attributes which will create an environment helps the domestic industry. The four attributes can be applied to Taiwan becoming a manufacturing hub for electronics goods as shown below: Pool of resources: Taiwan has well qualified people for manufacturing electronic goods. It has good infrastructure and transportation facility. Demand conditions: There is demand throughout the world for electronic products produced in Taiwan. All major global companies source their electronic components from Taiwan. Relating and supporting industries: Taiwan has a well-developed supply base for parts and rapidly expanding local computer industry. Firm Strategy, structure and rivalry: there is competition and rivalry among local companies which help in better efficiency. In addition, government role: The government has created Science-based industrial parks through which they encourage companies to invest in Taiwan. Land is given at very subsidize rates in these parks. Answer 7 All the factors, in Porters diamond are at play in China very efficiently. It has huge human resources, land, water and other natural resources. It has good infrastructure for transportation, ports, and communication. It has created special zones for promoting exports, thus ensuring a good demand for the goods they manufacture. The rivalry among the domestic firms is also very strong. Government supports export oriented firms through funds. The cost of labor is very low. Technical human skills are available. These factors make China a favored location for high-technology manufacturing. Chinas increase in global trade will ensure that investment flows into China for manufacturing. Its balance of payment position will become very strong. It can use the trade a lever for political mileage. As more investment happens it will help China to reap the advantages of economics of scale. It can provide better living conditions for its citizen. It will also generate funds for planned investment. The worlds developed economics will be able to take advantage of the low cost manufacturing available in China. The global companies can improve the efficiency of their supply chain be manufacturing in China. The following are the potential problems associated with moving to work in China: The political changes, when they happen, can lead to disruption of work. Decision making at the government level is opaque, which can cause problems if unfavorable decisions are taken. When there is trouble in the political relationship between the home country and China; the companies may lose an opportunity to develop an alternate to China as a manufacturing hub. Conclusion It is obviously clear to any one that Logitech has strongly satisfied Porters diamond attributes by ensuring resources (China and Taiwan), go with Demand (Taiwan), Firm Strategy, structure and rivalry (California, Swaziland and Fremont) and keep involve in what is up-to-date (Taiwan, Switzerland, California and Fremont). By achieving this, Logitech is considered one of aggressive competitors all over the world with high competitive advantage using innovation as a key tool.

how to care for hermit crab :: essays research papers

How to take care of Color. 1. Wash hands before handling   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. You don’t want her to get sick cause you are sick. 2. Always have salt water and fresh water available.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Salt water is that little pouch that I gave you. Add all of that to 2 cups HOT water. Shake in a closed bottle until all salt crystals are gone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. Use the tap water conditioner to remove chlorine †¦ DO NOT FOR GET! Hermit crabs can not have tap water it will kill them! 3. Never pull her out of shell   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Duh! 4. Feed her in the night and leave food there all day.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Feed her anything that does not have milk or dairy. And no citrus even though some say you can feed them that †¦ I don’t think its healthy.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. I usually feed her and Juicy carrots and peanuts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. Always cut up food so they have smaller pieces. 5. Use plastic wrap to keep in Humidity in the container.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Place the plastic wrap on the lid. During the day allow some air to come though and during the night cover completely. 6.Don’t place in direct sunlight.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Even thought the sun is a good source for heat. Its not good when paired with a heater. 7. Use the paper cups for water and food.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Because of the small area these work well.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. Cut so that there is a depression on one side and the other sides are even. 8. Bath time!   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. After about 3 days you can give her a bath.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. Use Conditioned tap water.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. The best time is when she’s out and walking.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  D. Fill a bowl with water only water. Take her and place her up side down( her claws touch the bottom) and count to 45 fast like 1..2..3. 9.Have fun.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A. Color is the most active right now due to the fact that Juicy is molting.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  B. Be sure to play with her. In the small container she could get stressed.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  C. You can allow others to take care of her. Be sure they are gentle. And have washed their hands.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  D. Never allow anyone to tap the side of the container.

Maud Martha, by Gwendolyn Brooks Essay -- Maud Martha Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Black women's experiences and those of other women of color have never fit the private -public model.   Rather than trying to explain why Black women's work and family patterns deviate from the alleged norm, a more fruitful approach lies in challenging the very constructs of work and families themselves. ("Native") Maud Martha Brown had strong ideas regarding marriage.  Ã‚   She set out to conquer the role as wife, in spite of and because of her insecurities and personal hardships.   Unlike the rose-colored images that enveloped the minds of many traditional (white) women during that period of the 1940s and 50s, Maud Martha set her sights on being a bride under the simplest conditions.   Maud Martha was prepared to settle for being good enough to marry, rather than being a woman no man could refuse.   Her position in society, her relationships with her family, and her overall existence in society greatly influenced Maud Martha's ideas regarding the male-female union.   Though still influenced by her former roles, the final chapters of Gwendolyn Brooks' Maud Martha reveals an undeniably stronger and more mature heroine.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pulitzer Prize- winning author, Gwendolyn Brooks has gained much attention, but not without comparable controversy and criticism (Appiah 313).   The Chicago-based author has built a sturdy reputation in both mainstream and African American literary circles.  Ã‚   Nonetheless, her more popular works has won most of the poet laureate's recognition.   "No white poet of her quality is so undervalued, so unpardonably unread.   She ought to be widely appreciated... as one of our most remarkable woman poets" ("Voices").   Brooks challenged the existing approach to romanticism, the fairy tale nature of the Amer... ...d Giola's Literature Web Site. <http://longman.awl.com/Kennedy/brooks/biography.html>. Modu, Anaezi and Andrea Walker. All the Man I Need: Black Woman's Loving Expressions on The Men They Desire. Newark: Gateway, 1999. 13-14. Parl, You-me and Galyle Wald. "Native Daughters in the Promised Land: Gender, Race, and Question of Separate Spheres". American Literature 70 (3) (1998) 14 Oct 2000 <http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/webz/FSQER...:entityemailfullresultset=1%7.html>. Tresiddier, Jack. Dictionary of Symbols: An Illustrated Guide to Images, Icons, and Emblems. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1997. 120-6. Washington, Mary Helen. "The Darkened Eye Restored: Notes Toward a Literary History of Black Women". Angelyn Mitchell, ed. Within the Circle: An Anthology of African-American Literature, Criticism From the Present. Durham: Duke, 1994. 442-53.

Atomic Bomb :: essays research papers

Atomic Bomb On August 2, 1939 Albert Einstein wrote to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This was right before the start of World War 2. In this letter Einstein and several other scientists told Roosevelt of the efforts Hitler was making to purify U-235 in which he hoped to make an atomic bomb. This is when the United States started the Manhattan Project. This was the project of making an atomic bomb. In the project many brilliant minds were used. The most famous of these people is Robert Oppenheimer. He was the major person behind this project. He basically ran the operation and oversaw the hole project from start to completion. Other great people like H.C. Urey, Ernest Lawrence, Isidor Rabi, and Ken Bainbridge also worked on the project and put just as much into it. The most complicated process was the process of getting enough uranium to sustain a chain reaction. In that time it was very hard to extract U-235. The ration of Uranium ore to the Uranium metal is 500:1. Then out of this Uranium metal 99% of it is U-238 which is non-fissionable. Finding a process to refining the Uranium was the first step in developing the atomic bomb. A massive enrichment laboratory/plant was built in Oak ridge, Tennessee. H.C. Urey and other associates at Columbia University devised a system that separated the Uranium using the principle of gaseous diffusion. Ernest Lawrence shortly following this invention came up with a process using magnetic separation. This process was quicker then the first. After the Uranium metal was separated form the Uranium ore it is put into a gas centrifuge to separate the U-235 and U-238. The first step of building an atomic bomb was completed. They now had the U-235 to build a bomb. Over the course of six years, 1939-1945, scientist worked on equations to make the U-235 into a bomb. It took some of the greatest minds to make these formulas. At the end of the six years and after spending $2 billion they had what they thought was a working bomb or a very expensive dud. At 5:29:45 (Mountain War Time) on July the 16th, 1945 the "Gadget", the code name for the bomb, was tested in the Jemez Mountains in northern New Mexico. This was the first atomic bomb ever detonated. The Gadget caused a white blaze to stretch across the skies of New Mexico.

Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds Education Essay

Many issues that become about in a kid ‘s instruction bend into tough challenges for instructors, kids, and besides households. These issues fall under the class of â€Å" Children ‘s Oral Language Learning † and these issues are simply a trial to see merely how far instructors, kids and parents will travel to supply the critical instruction that a kid needs, and in the procedure, larning something new themselves each twenty-four hours. The subject and its issues that will be outlined and analysed that is related to kids ‘s unwritten linguistic communication acquisition is Second Language Learning. Three issues that are associated with 2nd linguistic communication acquisition will be outlined, analysed and theorised. Following that will be the recommendations and suggestions for pedagogues of immature kids in respects to 2nd linguistic communication acquisition. The first issue that is associated with 2nd linguistic communication acquisition is that kids who come from culturally and linguistically diverse ( CALD ) backgrounds may happen it hard to set in a new school and may experience left out and/or stray amongst other equals and instructors. As a consequence they may happen it nerve-racking to larn English and may show hurt or defeat in school. The 2nd issue associated with this subject is that parents who come from a CALD background may experience uncomfortable and unaware of what is traveling on in the school and with their kids ‘s acquisition because they are disadvantaged by being unable to talk or understand English. They may besides experience as if their demands and more significantly their kids ‘s demands are being neglected and non met due to their inability to talk English. The 3rd issue that is associated with this subject is that instructors should guarantee that during the 2nd linguistic communication larning procedure that they maintain the kid ‘s first/home linguistic communication, guaranting that it does non go lost in the procedure. The first issue that is associated with 2nd linguistic communication acquisition is that kids who come from a CALD background may hold trouble seting to a new school or in an environment that they are non comfy in, and holding to larn a 2nd linguistic communication can do it more nerve-racking for the kid. The key to larning a 2nd linguistic communication, particularly when it is a kid that is larning the 2nd linguistic communication, is to take it one measure at a clip. Rushing the kid through the procedure will merely do it more nerve-racking for both the kid and the pedagogue. The kid may meet feelings of defeat and hurt, hence doing it harder for the kid to set to the school ‘s environment and besides to acquire along with other equals. Educators should besides maintain in head that marginalizing and/or pretermiting CALD kids should n't take topographic point in the schoolroom. CALD kids could perchance meet similar experiences from schoolmates, such as negative behavior and attitudes including racism. Everyone has their ain sentiments and some may experience stronger about peculiar issues so others. ( Newman & A ; Pollnitz, 2005 ) . The ground as to why everyone has different beliefs and sentiments is due to their upbringing, that is, what their parents believed and taught them, their environmental milieus and the people in their community holding certain beliefs and ethical motives, hence impacting others. Whether their sentiments and ethical motives are right or incorrect, it has become a portion of who they are. Nevertheless, when people express their feelings towards certain issues, they seldom take into history how another person may experience about the remarks and sentiments put frontward ( Preston 1996 ) . This can be farther supported by Rizvi ( 1993 ) who mentions that as kids grow older they progressively seek to turn up themselves within contradictory discourses of popular racism. Contradictory discourses of popular racism can besides act upon a individual ‘s subjectiveness and where they place themselves in society, which can so hold a negative impact on CALD kids and their households as they may experience vulnerable and inferior because of how others may comprehend them. Furthermore, kids who do n't come from a CALD background could individual out, or marginalise kids who are from a CALD background, hence doing them experience neglected and isolated, and even insignificant in the schoolroom, therefore doing the 2nd linguistic communication larning procedure more hard for both kid and instructor. To assist with this issue, pedagogues are recommended or suggested to guarantee that all kids are included in category treatments, acquiring them involved in group activities and besides edifice and keeping a good and collaborated relationship between the pedagogues and kids, and besides between the kids from CALD and non-CALD backgrounds. This could include holding CALD kids bring in different resources from place such as books in their ain linguistic communication and so holding groups of kids write or draw their ain reading of the book so discoursing it as a whole about what they have written or drawn. Another illustration to assist kids experience more included and to work collaboratively with other kids is to integrate engineering into the kids ‘s acquisition. Technology such as educational computing machine games can successfully heighten a kid ‘s relationship with other kids and more significantly their literacy accomplishments. This can be supported by Resnyanicsy ( 2001 ) who notes that the new agencies of literacy through engineering opens up new acquisition chances Furthermore, when working closely with kids, households, communities and staff, it is important that early childhood pedagogues recognise the differing values and belief systems that people have in the universe. Furthermore, it is of import to guarantee that people are cognizant of how they perceive difference. It is unjust to consciously or unconsciously exclude and marginalise others based on discourses that place persons in a negative manner The 2nd issue that is associated with this subject is that parents from a CALD background may see feelings of hurt and defeat for their kid ‘s acquisition and may experience as though their kids ‘s demands are n't being met. They may besides experience as though their demands are being neglected and may experience that they and their kids are disadvantaged in some manner due to their inability to talk a 2nd linguistic communication. This can be supported by district attorney Silva and Wise ( 2006 ) who note that parents ‘ perceptual experiences towards quality attention in a school environment depend on the footing of their cognition towards quality attention and kid development. What parents delineate as quality attention depends on what they believe the household needs ( district attorney Silva & A ; Wise, 2006, who cite Emlen, Koren & A ; Schultze, 1999 ) , and besides due to their cultural upbringings, values and rules ( district attorney Silva & A ; Wise, 2006 ) . Harmonizing to Siddiqi et Al ( 2006 ) , the household environment as a domain of influence is an of import facet for kids. Children ‘s development is influenced by their household environment. For this ground household engagement is important to assist kids experience secure, loved and supported, furthermore can be seen as a measure in the right way for inclusion in the early childhood scene. Recommendations for pedagogues who are involved in the 2nd linguistic communication larning procedure in respects to this issue could include constructing collaborative relationships with households who come from a CALD background. Building and keeping collaborative relationships with CALD parents can turn out to an effectual and worthwhile experience, therefore doing the 2nd linguistic communication larning procedure easier for the kid and instructor. This can be supported by Billman et Al ( 2005 ) and Tett et Al ( 2003 ) who note that constructing collaborative and effectual partnerships amongst stakeholders, peculiarly instructors and parents, can turn out to be a worthwhile and efficient relationship between the two groups. For illustration, Billman et Al ( 2005 ) notes that what kids learn in the school environment, will trip on-going conversations with their parents at place. This of class can heighten the kid ‘s 2nd linguistic communication acquisition, every bit good as the partnership between the parents and the staff. This could include instructors holding afternoon tea with the parents, to do them experience more comfy, as an afternoon tea can be less of a formal meeting so that the parents do n't experience tense or awkward in that state of affairs. To let them to go cognizant of the regard and recognition that pedagogues have towards cultural diverseness, instructors could inquire parents to come in and convey in different resources from their background and to demo them to the kids and so leting the kids to research the different resources. Having regular afternoon teas, even if it is one time a month, is important so that pedagogues get to maintain the parents involved in their kid ‘s acquisition, and to do them experience and understand that they are a valuable resource in their kid ‘s acquisition. Another recommendation could be for pedagogues to propose to parents where they could happen topographic points where they can larn English or another 2nd linguistic communication and where they can happen resources in the community to assist them with the whole procedure. Having a multicultural twenty-four hours at the school or other cultural events could besides be another recommendation for pedagogues. This could assist parents experience and understand that their civilization is valued and respected in the school community. Besides in the procedure kids get to larn about the different civilizations of the universe and parents could convey in their cultural nutrients and music to tum it into an eventful twenty-four hours. Parents and pedagogues, from both positions, have identified in the past and at present clip that some instructors have been respectful or cognizant of other civilizations in the school, even more so than others. They normally tend to admit this factor and recognise and raise consciousness towards an issue or concern towards any cultural difference ( district attorney Silva & A ; Wise, 2006 ; Pacini-Ketchabaw & A ; Schecter, 2002 ) . Furthermore, when kids become cognizant of the constructive relationship between their parents and their instructors, so it is likely for the kid to organize a stronger bond with their instructors ( Billman et al, 2005, who cite Elicker & A ; Fortner-Wood, 1995 ) . The 3rd subject that is associated with 2nd linguistic communication acquisition is guaranting that when larning a 2nd linguistic communication, that instructors maintain the place linguistic communication in the school environment, so that it does non go lost or forgotten. It can go rather easy to ignore or bury the kid ‘s first/home linguistic communication, so it is imperative that instructors and kids become cognizant of this factor and guarantee that they do everything that they can to maintain the place linguistic communication acknowledged and remembered ( Makin & A ; Jones Diaz, 2002 ) . By keeping the kid ‘s place linguistic communication, instructors are turn outing that they are admiting and esteeming other diversenesss in the schoolroom. This can be supported by Pacini-Ketchabaw & A ; Schecter ( 2002 ) who note that Teachers ‘ engagements in a kid ‘s lingual and diverse background prove that they value the civilization and are committed to the kid ‘s learning procedure. Furthermore, cultural diverseness can be seen as the chief nexus between the place and the school, every bit good as the stakeholders, that being the parents, the instructors and the community ( Pacini-Ketchabaw and Schecter, 2002 ) This can be fbrther supported by Newman & A ; Pollnitz, ( 2005 ) who believe that â€Å" Culture is seen to compromise the manner people live- their linguistic communication, music, history, art, values and beliefs † ( p.254 ) . Therefore it is of import to include kids ‘s place languages into the school scenes to guarantee they feel valued and self worthy, this will assist observe diverseness in a positive mode. Recommendations for pedagogues for this issue could be affecting parents in their kid ‘s acquisition, as mentioned in the 2nd issue. Besides, similar to the first issue ‘s reconmendations, kids and parents could convey in different resources such as books and images from their cultural background, to heighten the collaborative relationship between the pedagogues and the parents, and besides between the kids and pedagogues, and to a fbrther extent, kids ‘s relationships with their schoolmates. Not merely does this heighten the relationships between the stakeholders, but by conveying in different resources from assorted cultural backgrounds, kids ‘s literacy skills become enhanced in the procedure ( Barratt-Pugh et Al, 2003 ) . Educators should be cognizant that a kid ‘s apprehension of literacy starts in the place. This can be supported by Jones Diaz ( 2007 ) who province that â€Å" Young kids ‘s apprehensions about literacy develop within their sociocultural and lingual communities † . ( p7 ) . Educators can integrate more than one linguistic communication pattern to guarantee kids are acquiring the best possible experience. Children and households will more likely feel that their involvements are valued and worthy. This can farther be supported by Marsh ( 2002 ) who says that kids who come from a CALD background have high opportunities of heightening their literacy accomplishments in the school environment. For illustration, instructors are able to integrate chances into the school, in this instance, heightening a non-English speech production pupil ‘s literacy accomplishments. Overall, cultural diverseness in the place, in the school and in the broader society is an facet of every individual ‘s life that must be valued, treated severally and every bit and must non be disregarded by persons, particularly by pedagogues of kids. Educators should besides be unfastened to new instruction facets, particularly when it is in respects to doing a kid feel included and besides when it involves heightening a kid ‘s literacy accomplishments. As literacy is everlastingly changing, so is the manner that instructors teach and kids learn ( Makin & A ; Jones Diaz, 2002 ) . As mentioned antecedently, engineering can be seen to be a successful tool to integrate into the kid ‘s acquisition when it comes to heightening their literacy accomplishments. However, many instructors will prefer to lodge with their original instruction ways, ways in which they are familiar and comfy with. Nevertheless, Cunningham-Andersen & A ; Andersson ( 1999 ) note that instructors should seek and avoid their ain single rules parallel to their instruction moralss to supply an instruction for kids that will heighten important and good developmental accomplishments in the kid ‘s acquisition.

International Monetary System

International monetary systems are sets of internationally agreed rules, conventions and supporting institutions that facilitate international trade, cross border investment and generally the reallocation of capital between nation states. They provide means of payment acceptable between buyers and sellers of different nationality, including deferred payment. To operate successfully, they need to inspire confidence, to provide sufficient liquidity for fluctuating levels of trade and to provide means by which global imbalances can be corrected. The systems can grow organically as the collective result of numerous individual agreements between international economic actors spread over several decades. Alternatively, they can arise from a single architectural vision as happened at Bretton Woods in 1944. Historical overview Throughout history, precious metals such as gold and silver have been used for trade, termed bullion, and since early history the coins of various issuers – generally kingdoms and empires – have been traded. The earliest known records of pre – coinage use of bullion for monetary exchange are from Mesopotamia and Egypt, dating from the third millennium BC. 1] Its believed that at this time money played a relatively minor role in the ordering of economic life for these regions, compared to barter and centralised redistribution – a process where the population surrendered their produce to ruling authorities who then redistrubted it as they saw fit. Coinage is believed to have first developed in China in the late 7th century, and independently at around the same time in Lydia, Asia minor, from where its use spread to near by Greek cities and later to the rest of the world. 1] Sometimes formal monetary systems have been imposed by regional rules. For example scholars have tentatively suggested that the ruler Servius Tullius created a primitive monetary system in the archaic period of what was to become the Roman Republic. Tullius reigned in the sixth century BC – several centuries before Rome is believed to have developed a formal coinage system. [2] As with bullion, early use of coinage is believed to have been generally the preserve of the elite. But by about the 4th century they were widely used in Greek cities. Coins were generally supported by the city state authorities, who endeavoured to ensure they retained their values regardless of fluctuations in the availability of whatever base precious metals they were made from. [1] From Greece the use of coins spread slowly westwards throughout Europe, and eastwards to India. Coins were in use in India from about 400BC, initially they played a greater role in religion than trade, but by the 2nd century had become central to commercial transactions. Monetary systems developed in India were so successful they continued to spread through parts of Asia well into the Middle Ages. [1] As multiple coins became common within a region, they have been exchanged by moneychangers, which are the predecessors of today's foreign exchange market. These are famously discussed in the Biblical story of Jesus and the money changers. In Venice and the Italian city states of the early Middle Ages, money changes would often have to struggle to perform calculations involving six or more currencies. This partly let to Fibonacci writing his Liber Abaci where he popularised the use of Arabic numerals which displaced the more difficult roman numerals then in use by western merchants. [3] Historic international currencies. From top left: crystalline gold, a 5th century BCE Persian daric, an 8th century English mancus, and an 18th century Spanish real. When a given nation or empire has achieved regional hegemony, its currency has been a basis for international trade, and hence for a de facto monetary system. In the West – Europe and the Middle East – an early such coin was the Persian daric, of the Persian empire. This was succeeded by Roman currency of the Roman empire, such as the denarius, then the Gold Dinar of the Muslim empire, and later – from the 16th to 20th centuries, during the Age of Imperialism – by the currency of European colonial powers: the Spanish dollar, the Dutch Gilder, the French Franc and the British Pound Sterling; at times one currency has been pre-eminent, at times no one dominated. With the growth of American power, the US Dollar became the basis for the international monetary system, formalized in the Bretton Woods agreement that established the post-World War II monetary order, with fixed exchange rates of currencies to the dollar, and convertibility of the dollar into gold. Since the breakdown of the Bretton Woods system, culminating in the Nixon shock of 1971, ending convertibility, the US dollar has remained the de facto basis of the world monetary system, though no longer de jure, with various European currencies and the Japanese Yen being used. Since the formation of the Euro, the Euro has gained use as a reserve currency and a unit of transactions, though the dollar has remained the primary currency. A dominant currency may be used directly or indirectly by other nations – for example, English kings minted gold mancus, presumably to function as dinars to exchange with Islamic Spain, and more recently, a number of nations have used the US dollar as their local currency, a custom called dollarization. Until the 19th century, the global monetary system was loosely linked at best, with Europe, the Americas, India and China (among others) having largely separate economies, and hence monetary systems were regional. European colonization of the Americas, starting with the Spanish empire, led to the integration of American and European economies and monetary systems, and European colonization of Asia led to the dominance of European currencies, notably the British pound sterling in the 19th century, succeeded by the US dollar in the 20th century. Some, such as Michael Hudson, foresee the decline of a single basis for the global monetary system, and instead the emergence of regional trade blocs, citing the emergence of the Euro as an example of this phenomenon. See also Global financial systems , world-systems approach and polarity in international relations. It was in the later half of the 19th century that a monetary system with close to universal global participation emerged, based on the gold standard. History of modern global monetary orders The pre WWI financial order: 1870–1914  From the 1870s to the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the world benefited from a well integrated financial order, sometimes known as the First age of Globalisation. [4] [5] Money unions were operating which effectively allowed members to accept each others currency as legal tender including the Latin Monetary Union (Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, France) and Scandinavian monetary union (Denmark, Norway and Sweden). In the absence of shared membership of a union, transactions were facilitated by widespread participation in the gold standard, by both independent nations and their colonies. Great Britain was at the time the world's pre-eminent financial, imperial, and industrial power, ruling more of the world and exporting more capital as a percentage of her national income than any other creditor nation has since. [6] While capital controls comparable to the Bretton Woods System were not in place, damaging capital flows were far less common than they were to be in the post 1971 era. In fact Great Britain's capital exports helped to correct global imbalances as they tended to be counter cyclical, rising when Britain's economy went into recession, thus compensating other states for income lost from export of goods. Accordingly, this era saw mostly steady growth and a relatively low level of financial crises. In contrast to the Bretton Woods system, the pre-World War I financial order was not created at a single high level conference; rather it evolved organically in a series of discrete steps. The Gilded Age, a time of especially rapid development in North America, falls into this period. Between the World Wars: 1919–1939 The years between the world wars have been described as a period of de-globalisation, as both international trade and capital flows shrank compared to the period before World War I. During World War I countries had abandoned the gold standard and, except for the United States, returned to it only briefly. By the early 30's the prevailing order was essentially a fragmented system of floating exchange rates . [8] In this era, the experience of Great Britain and others was that the gold standard ran counter to the need to retain domestic policy autonomy. To protect their reserves of gold countries would sometimes need to raise interest rates and generally follow a deflationary policy. The greatest need for this could arise in a downturn, just when leaders would have preferred to lower rates to encourage growth. Economist Nicholas Davenport [9] had even argued that the wish to return Britain to the gold standard, â€Å"sprang from a sadistic desire by the Bankers to inflict pain on the British working class. † By the end of World War I, Great Britain was heavily indebted to the United States, allowing the USA to largely displace her as the worlds number one financial power. The United States however was reluctant to assume Great Britain's leadership role, partly due to isolationist influences and a focus on domestic concerns. In contrast to Great Britain in the previous era, capital exports from the US were not counter cyclical. They expanded rapidly with the United States's economic growth in the twenties up to 1928, but then almost completely halted as the US economy began slowing in that year. As the Great Depression intensified in 1930, financial institutions were hit hard along with trade; in 1930 alone 1345 US banks collapsed. During the 1930s the United States raised trade barriers, refused to act as an international lender of last resort, and refused calls to cancel war debts, all of which further aggravated economic hardship for other countries. According to economist John Maynard Keynes another factor contributing to the turbulent economic performance of this era was the insistence of French premier Clemenceau that Germany pay war reparations at too high a level, which Keynes described in his book The Economic Consequences of the Peace. The Bretton Woods Era: 1945–1971 British and American policy makers began to plan the post war international monetary system in the early 1940s. The objective was to create an order that combined the benefits of an integrated and relatively liberal international system with the freedom for governments to pursue domestic policies aimed at promoting full employment and social wellbeing . 11] The principal architects of the new system, John Maynard Keynes and Harry Dexter White, created a plan which was endorsed by the 42 countries attending the 1944 Bretton Woods conference. The plan involved nations agreeing to a system of fixed but adjustable exchange rates where the currencies were pegged against the dollar, with the dollar itself convertible into gold. So in effect this was a gold – dollar exchange standard. There were a number of improvements on the old gold standard. Two international institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank were created; A key part of their function was to replace private finance as more reliable source of lending for investment projects in developing states. At the time the soon to be defeated powers of Germany and Japan were envisaged as states soon to be in need of such development, and there was a desire from both the US and Britain not to see the defeated powers saddled with punitive sanctions that would inflict lasting pain on future generations. The new exchange rate system allowed countries facing economic hardship to devalue their currencies by up to 10% against the dollar (more if approved by the IMF) – thus they would not be forced to undergo deflation to stay in the gold standard. A system of capital controls was introduced to protect countries from the damaging effects of capital flight and to allow countries to pursue independent macro economic policies [12] while still welcoming flows intended for productive investment. Keynes had argued against the dollar having such a central role in the monetary system, and suggested an international currency called Bancor be used instead, but he was overruled by the Americans. Towards the end of the Bretton Woods era, the central role of the dollar became a problem as international demand eventually forced the US to run a persistent trade deficit, which undermined confidence in the dollar. This, together with the emergence of a parallel market for gold where the price soared above the official US mandated price, led to speculators running down the US gold reserves. Even when convertibility was restricted to nations only, some, notably France,[13] continued building up hoards of gold at the expense of the US. Eventually these pressures caused President Nixon to end all convertibility into gold on 15 August 1971. This event marked the effective end of the Bretton Woods systems; attempts were made to find other mechanisms to preserve the fixed exchange rates over the next few years, but they were not successful, resulting in a system of floating exchange rates. 13] The post Bretton Woods system: 1971 – present An alternative name for the post Bretton Woods system is the Washington Consensus. While the name was coined in 1989, the associated economic system came into effect years earlier: according to economic historian Lord Skidelsky the Washington Consensus is generally seen as spanning 1980–2009 (the latter half of the 1970s being a transitional period). [14] The transition away from Bretton Woods was marked by a switch from a state led to a market led system. 4] The Bretton Wood system is considered by economic historians to have broken down in the 1970s:[14] crucial events being Nixon suspending the dollar's convertibility into gold in 1971, the United states abandonment of Capital Controls in 1974, and Great Britain's ending of capital controls in 1979 which was swiftly copied by most other major economies. In some parts of the developing world, liberalisation brought significant benefits for large sections of the population – most prominently with Deng Xiaoping's reforms in China since 1978 and the liberalisation of India after her 1991 crisis. Generally the industrial nations experienced much slower growth and higher unemployment than in the previous era, and according to Professor Gordon Fletcher in retrospect the 1950s and 60s when the Bretton Woods system was operating came to be seen as a golden age. [15] Financial crises have been more intense and have increased in frequency by about 300% – with the damaging effects prior to 2008 being chiefly felt in the emerging economies. On the positive side, at least until 2008 investors have frequently achieved very high rates of return, with salaries and bonuses in the financial sector reaching record levels. The â€Å"Revived Bretton Woods system† identified in 2003 From 2003, economists such as Michael P. Dooley, Peter M. Garber, and David Folkerts-Landau began writing papers[16] describing the emergence of a new international system involving an interdependency between states with generally high savings in Asia lending and exporting to western states with generally high spending. Similar to the original Bretton Woods, this included Asian currencies being pegged to the dollar, though this time by the unilateral intervention of Asian governments in the currency market to stop their currencies appreciating. The developing world as a whole stopped running current account deficits in 1999 [17] – widely seen as a response to unsympathetic treatment following the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. The most striking example of east-west interdependency is the relationship between China and America, which Niall Ferguson calls Chimerica. From 2004, Dooley et al. began using the term Bretton Woods II to describe this de facto state of affairs, and continue to do so as late as 2009. Others have described this supposed â€Å"Bretton Woods II†, sometimes called â€Å"New Bretton Woods†,[19] as a â€Å"fiction†, and called for the elimination of the structural imbalances that underlie it, viz, the chronic US current account deficit. [20] However since at least 2007 those authors have also used the term â€Å"Bretton Woods II† to call for a new de jure system: for key international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank to be revamped to meet the demands of the current age,[21] and between 2008 to mid 2009 the terms Bretton Woods II and New Bretton Woods was increasingly used in the latter sense. By late 2009, with less emphases on structural reform to the international monetary system and more attention being paid to issues such as re-balancing the world economy, Bretton Woods II is again frequently used to refer to the practice some countries have of unilaterally pegging their currencies to the dollar.