Millennium Development Goals

In this twenty first century, one of the most widely discussed topics throughout the world is Millennium Development Goals (MDG). In September 2000, meeting at the United Nations Millennium Summit, the world leaders agreed to a remarkable document, the Millennium Declaration. The Declaration demanded that the world set its sights higher and aim for eight specific goals, most of which were to be achieved by 2015. What subsequently came to be known as the MDGs are – 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. 2. Achieve universal primary education. 3. Promote gender equality and empower woman. 4.Reduce child mortality. 5. Improve maternal health. 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other diseases. 7. Ensure environmental sustainability. 8. Develop a global partnership for development. MDG and Bangladesh: Bangladesh is signatory of the MDGs and it has made noteworthy progress in the attainment of MDGs. Notwithstanding the relatively slow income growth and modest pace of income poverty r eduction, Bangladesh’s achievements in the broad area of human development were faster and in some respects remarkable. Although the level of social deprivations is still high, the pace of improvements has been encouraging.We are happy that our efforts in reducing child mortality in Bangladesh have been duly acknowledged by the United Nations at 65th General Assembly session 20-22 September 2010. The world body has presented Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and through her the people of Bangladesh This recognition of Bangladesh’s sincere efforts in trying to reach the MDGs set for 2015, while clearly encouraging for us, is also a reminder for us of what we must yet to do in order to tackle the remaining sense of the eight MDGs. Our success in reducing child mortality must now be followed by proactive efforts towards achieving the seven other MDG targets. As thePrime Minister pointed out in New York, Bangladesh will need $ 22. 1 billion if it has to attain all the MDGs. Sta tus of MDGs in Bangladesh: Goal-1: Bangladesh is well on track to achieving goal-1 with poverty coming down to 40% in 2005. The poverty gap ratio has also decreased dramatically to 9. 0. Goal-2: While a significant 87% has been achieved in terms of primary school enrollment,dropout rates remain high & therefore primary school completion rate low. Goal-3: Bangladesh has achieved gender parity in primary and secondary education together with being on track with respect to percentage of women employed in agriculture sector.Goal-4: The country is on track with regard to achieving this goal. Significant strides have been made and if the trend sustains, the country will meet the 2015 target well ahead of schedule. Goal-5: The maternal mortality ratio is on track but the percentage of skilled birth attendants is low. Goal-6:Bangladesh has made some progress in the spread of malaria and other diseases. Goal-7: While significant progress has been made in terms of access to safe drinking wate r and sanitary latrines in urban areas, the same remains a challenge in rural areas.Also maintaining wet-lands and bio-diversity is still a challenge. Goal-8: Penetration of telephone lines and internet, particularly cell-phone usage, has increased to a great extent but youth employment rate is still low. Overall, goal-3 has been already achieved. There is more than 50% progress in attaining goal-2. In case of other goals, attainment is possible if necessary changes are made in policy and strategies. Conclusion: Bangladesh had adverse initial conditions at the start of its journey three decades ago.With one of the most vulnerable economies of the world characterized by extremely high population density, low resource base, high incidence of natural disasters and extremely adverse initial circumstances associated with the inheritance of a war-ravaged economy, the implications for long-term savings, investments and growth were deemed extremely bleak. Bangladesh which was once termed th e test case of development may indeed represent a learning site for keeping the hopes alive for other equally less fortunate post-colonial societies with adverse initial conditions.

North Carolina as a colony

North Carolina is one of the thirteen colonies established by England around 1650. The  territory was called Carolina in honor of Charles the First.  Queen Elizabeth I of England granted Sir Walter Raleigh a charter for the establishment of a  settlement in North America. Sir Raleigh and the Queen planned to establish a colony to be able to  explore for treasures and to scout for a strategic location where they can raid loaded Spanish ships. Based on these reasons, an expedition was sent in 1584 to explore for a suitable location and also  bring samples of the nature’s bounty on the area. After the successful exploration, the group  returned to England. In 1585, the first group of colonists was organized and they arrived at the north  end of the Roanoke Island. Ralph Lane with seventy-five men was left in the island while Sir  Richard Grenville, leader of the expedition returned to England to get additional food supplies and  additional men. Friction with the natives occurred when the settlers attacked a village in response to  the stealing of a silver cup by the natives. By April 1586, relations with a neighboring tribe had  degraded to such a degree that they attacked an expedition led by Lane to explore the Roanoke River.1 There was still no sign of Grenville’s fleet and due to hardships encountered, the settlers  accepted the offer of Sir Francis Drake to return to England.  Ã‚  The second group was led by John White and they arrived in June 1587. White tried to  reestablish friendly relations with the neighboring natives. At first, the natives were hostile and  aloof. But gradually the English gained their confidence by offering glass beads and dolls as signs  of friendships (Hale 128). But the aggrieved tribes whom Ralph Lane attacked were still unfriendly  to the new colonists and shortly thereafter, one colonist was killed by these natives. Fearing for their  lives, White was elected to return to England to inform of their situation and ask for help.   Two  significant events occurred shortly after the colonists’ arrival: two â€Å"friendly† Indians were baptized  and a child was born. Virginia Dare, as the baby was named, became the first child bor n to English-  speaking parents in the new world.2 But White was delayed in coming back to the colony because  of the following reasons: the vessel was not in good condition to travel back home and in crossing  the Atlantic Ocean; the refusal of the captain to sail back to the colony during winter time and then  the war with the Spanish Armada was imminent   and all the able ships were tasked to fight. He was  able to return in the spring of 1590 and found only the remnants of what was once a settlement. There were no signs of life, only the word â€Å"CROATAN† carved on a nearby tree.3   The second  failure can be attributed by factors beyond the control of the settlers. Although Sir Raleigh was  given a charter to colonize, attention was focused on the war with Spain. Cole and Warren  concluded that, â€Å"because England was so completely involved in fighting the Spanish Armada in  1588, no supplies were sent, nor any communications maintained with the settlements†. (403) The  colonization might have been successful if the expedition was fully equipped with farm implements,  food supplies and able manpower who are trained to do hard work in cultivating the soil. They  should have establish friendly relations with the natives to preserve their lives as well as with the  natives’. The impact left by Ralph Lane and John White on the area was that they had spread Christianity and English language to the new world.   It is ironic that Stuart Monarch James I rather than the visionary Elizabeth succeeded in  finally planting the British flag on the American shores. (Garraty and Gay 663) In 1607, three  shiploads arrived at Jamestown sent out by the London Company of Virginia. Captain John Smith  imposed a semi-dictatorial attitude to his men to check their incompetence and lack of initiative. His  edict, â€Å"He who does not work shall not eat† (Cole and Warren 406) was effective that they soon  cultivated crops especially staple crops and tobacco. By 1610, more settlers arrived and by 1612,  there were exportation of tobacco to other places. Significant too were the introduction in 1619 of  representative government – important to the Englishmen who contemplated migration to the New  World – and the beginnings of Negro servitude – important despite its inhumanity, to the economic  future of North America.(Garraty and Gay 665) Reference List Cole, Fay-Cooper, and Harris Gaylord Warren. An Illustrated Outline of History of Mankind. Grolier Incorporated: New York, 1963. Garraty, John A., and Peter Gay. The Columbia History of the World. Harper and Row: New York, 1972. Hale, John R. Age of Exploration. Time-Life International: Nederland, 1974. â€Å"Historical Highlights of North Carolina †.The State Library of North Carolina. 3 April 2006. 14 Nov. 2006. â€Å"Roanoke Island†. Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 14 Nov. 2006. 15 Nov. 2006.

Obama’s Foreign Policy on China

President Barack Obama and his administration’s foreign policy toward China can be summed up in one word: conciliatory. Conciliatory is not in the form of any weakness or appeasement, but rather the realization that in the 21st century global market, China is a main player on the world stage. Obama’s foreign policies are a departure from the previous administration. George Bush’s unilateral foreign policies were deemed domineering, even belligerent.From an international standpoint, Anti-American sentiments were at an all-time high during Iraqi War driven years. In America, the domestic stance after 9/11 saw this as an extension of patriotism and commitment. Nowadays, both domestically and internationally, many pundits would argue that Obama’s policy record in China inspires hope and optimism. President Obama is acknowledging the fact of a much more multipolar world exists where America cannot take all of the leadership roles by itself. Yet, at the same tim e, the world cannot go forward without America.In this respect, China needs a wide open market where they can export all their manufactured goods to consumers worldwide. Thus, it is a mutual benefit for China to have good international relations with other societies to acquire raw materials and sell products to overseas companies. President Obama’s policies toward China reflect a forward marching multilateral approach that deliberates an equal level playing field in terms of economic opportunities so that not one country can monopolize or control the global market.There is a thin line when it comes to economic diplomacy and military presence, so in regards to the currency value of the Chinese Yuan/Renminbi, the Obama administration has used strategic requests to the World Trade Organization and United Nations to sanction China on purposely keeping their currency low. These formal accusations were discussed early this year between President Obama and President Hu Jintao. There has been a consensus among the world leaders to use fair trading practices to help benefit all the countries especially in the delicate market of Asia Pacific.In this regards, even though the move is controversial, President Obama has ramped up military presence in the Pacific to police the trade waters and to secure areas where there were less American presence in previous years. These movements have alarmed China and Japan in particular but with the WTO and UN backing some of the agreements, Obama is hoping China welcomes some of the military help not as a threat to China’s national interests but a welcomed ally to settle any disputes in international waters with the recent troubles with Japan and other regional issues that arise.President Obama said that he was pleased to see the â€Å"peaceful rise of China† and hoped to continue to support China in its currency matters to ensure a more balanced way of doing commerce. (US Policy 2012) In May of this year, China le t the renminbi hit a low of 0. 9 exchange value versus the dollar. China contends the economy was slowing â€Å"sharply† thus had no choice but to try to boost its exports as a way of mending some of the bleeding (NYTimes May, 2012) This has caused much headache for the United States because its trade deficit with China has gone over $290 billion dollars last year.The Obama administration has pressed hard for three years to let the renminbi to appreciate at a faster rate than it has been. Europe also has had some struggles with this fact because for China lowering the currency allows for competitive trade in exports but brings up the cost for imports so there is less competition inside China so its citizens benefit while other countries do not. In any case, Obama is trying to build lasting bridges of mutual respect so that in the long run, the peaceful rise will end with a peaceful future.In a sense, I believe every country must make its own interests ahead of the world to se cure its citizens every benefit that is known to man. But, on the other side, without a world, it is hard for a country to reap the benefits of trade if everyone increases tariffs or lowers their currency. This is a double-edge sword that does not have an easy solution so I understand both sides and that no country is living in a vacuum. There are a quite a bit of complexities and consequences to consider and I believe there will be a mutual success in this issue.Concerning Human Capital, the Obama Administration has also pressed hard to improve the human rights issues in China in terms of economic policies to benefit workers and their family situations. Historically, having the highest population at a staggering figure of over $1. 3 billion people, the human labor supply is more than available at any given moment. Thus, United States especially has outsourced countless manufacturing companies and jobs to China. This reality the President clearly stated will not change anytime in th e future so this must be an accepted reality. (Ivaneishvili 2012) So, he Obama administration has sharply criticized China for their lack of enforcement and laws to deal with such violations. But, this criticism as the State Department states applies to the United States as well, but the United States has laws to deal with this issues so the criticism is being put in a way not to outfight offend Chinese policies but to encourage an increase in the priority of the Chinese government to follow up actions to remedy the situation (Berg 2012). The State Department also applauded China for the actions that China already has taken to ensure better working conditions and labor rates.This issue hurts at the heart of any country because human capital affects the very lives each person is trying to save. The truth of the matter in my opinion is that every country does have gross human rights issues. The problems in China are magnified and pressed by most countries because of the sheer number o f human labor that exists in China. Thus, as China continues to rise and become an economic superpower as it is becoming, those concerns will be dealt with because the people inside will and cannot stand for harsh living conditions.But, this is also the crux of the matter because if the people inside working in those factories do not care, how will the bosses ever face the truth and do something about it. Moreover, the Chinese government must also take steps to allow unions to form and protest to go on even though that might be against the government itself. As long as peaceful protests are taking place, a mutually healthy society with certain liberties will allow for better conditions all around. The sanctions or false accusations only lead to more difficult climate for genuine diplomacy to take place.The Obama Administration has done their best to limit some of the criticisms, instead, suggesting some ideas and working out plausible solutions to ensure the embassies on the ground in China can be an instrument to help both sides make the right judgments and calls on the spot for every situation that may arise (Berg 2012). Countries are going to continue to outsource jobs into China because of such cheap labor. In this sense, Americans can obtain ever increasingly cheaper products while China gains more jobs for its citizens.I do not see any reason for not forming better political allies in this respect. Lastly, there has been heated contention on the political issues vis-a-vis North Korea, Iran, and Taiwan that affect the globe economically. President Obama and his administration have recently sanctioned some banks in China that have allegedly used to fund certain radical Muslim groups and Iranian nuclear proliferation aims. The Chinese government certainly denies any wrongdoing on the part of the government and so that is not the issue (NYTimes 2012).There is no doubt China and India have become large consumers of oil and natural resources over the last few years have shifted the market that oil and coal producers desperately needed (Chang 2012). Iran and the Middles East supply most of the oil for China while America has supplied a lot of the coal for China. The rate of increase is at a huge figure of 8% a quarter growth. That is a huge supply. This type of consumption has been a blessing for many number of countries including the United States so the Obama Administration on these terms are delicate to file complaints on behalf of International Labor Unions, but he has to his credit.On the other hand, many countries including China appreciate American presence but not American intervention. To connect to two issues, some of China’s unilateral policies with these countries affect national security and oil prices in America. Thus, the two are irrevocably tied together. It is not only China but Russia as well. The State Department has taken certain measures to cut the finances of certain groups or countries that have ties to terro rist organizations and nuclear goals. North Korea has been one of the countries that China seems to be passive towards.President Obama has been careful to be too unilateral or assertive in these matters but with the recent change in power in North Korea and the upcoming elections in Iran, there is a vested interest in the Obama administration to secure a more peaceful region in Asia and the Middle East. The purpose of terror is to disable and terrorize Western populations as a whole so the pressure from Americans and other Western countries to secure the Middle East has set a fire to Obama’s more multilateral approach (Obama 2012).The research is not there for an easy explanation for these events and situations. I can see why China continues to have relationships with Russia and Iran. I can also speculate why the continued help to North Korea. Most of these countries do sit right on the border of China so that reason is obvious to keep your friends close and enemies closer, b ut that is just it. I do feel they are enemies of China rather mutual partners. I think this is what America and Obama worries about. I believe the best ways to go about this for both countries are for more transparent policies without fine print.Relationships cannot be built on lies and deception and in my fair and balanced view, there has been plenty of that from both sides, so it is important to be transparent and open in the discussions to help liberty and economic success to grow. In this way, a peaceful China and peaceful Middle East helps everyone prosper. In conclusion, President Obama and his administration have embarked on a different path from the previous administration because of the new world order that we all face in the world. Conciliatory as a method for foreign policy has been an effective means to not isolate one country over another.In other terms, using multilateral agreements and combined pressures have made progress in China. I believe one taste of liberty, an y person or group cannot wait for more so as China grows economically, it is the best interest of both countries to help one another in terms of currency, human rights, and political allies incidentally natural resources. The growth of China in recent years has been tremendous and there is so much room for it to grow more. Internally, Obama has repeated that the people in China as consumers need to consume more (US Policy 2012).This goes without saying and I believe that is happening in China. President Barack Obama is up for re-election and I am not sure who is going to win but there have been pretty strong words in regards to China and foreign policy so this paper is an interesting and important topic of study. The economist writes â€Å"Chasing the Anti-China Vote† as an article to speak of the elections. But, I happen to agree with Obama that outsourcing and manufacturing in China is there to stay so the way forward is not unilateral changes or demands. I believe China do es need America’s presence in the pacific as a police figure to help.It is similar to the situations at the turn of the 20th century. China did not accept then, and I do not believe China will accept now but surely, there will have to be some compromises made on each side and I for one look forward to healthier and brighter future for both populations since I am a product of both.Works Cited Berg, Rebecca. â€Å"In Meetings, U. S. Presses Beijing on Rights. † The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 July 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. . Chang, Gordon G. â€Å"How China Will Restructure the Oil Market. † Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 24 June 2012. Web. 7 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Chasing the Anti-China Vote. † The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Obama Foreign Policy Doctrine: Preparing America to Succeed in Multipolar World | IVANEISHVILI | Journal of Social Sciences. † Obama Foreign Policy Doctrine: Preparing America to Succeed in Multipolar World | IVANEISHVILI | Journal of Social Sciences. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Obama's Rudderless China, Russia Policy. † a Global Public Square. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Remarks By President Obama to the Australian Parliament. The White House. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . Research. , Jane Perlez; Bree Feng Contributed. â€Å"DIPLOMATIC MEMO; Political Worries in U. S. and China Color Obama Aide's Beijing Visit. † The New York Times. The New York Times, 26 July 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . Shanghai. , Keith Bradsher; Xu Yan Contributed Research From. â€Å"China Lets Its Currency Depreciate. † The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 June 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"USPolicy. † Obama and Chinese Vice President Xi Before Their Meeting. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. .

The Process of Institution Governance and Decision Making Research Paper

The Process of Institution Governance and Decision Making - Research Paper Example The process of institutional governance and decision making is dependent on how the authority is distributed amongst the administration under the legal rights and obligation. This ultimately trickles down to the organizational behaviour of the members of the institute, which is unfolded into what direction the institute adopts by unfolding its strategies that impact all the stakeholders. One of the solutions to avoid the conflict amongst different stakeholder groups by the board of the higher academic institute is by provisioning of ‘shared governance’, which allows representation of views of all the stakeholders that are affected by the decision making process. This happens because each stakeholder group provides the views and inputs related to their interest in the decision-making process of the board. Faculty, student groups, members of the alumni, members of the board of trustees, founder members, investors etc. are all provided with a chance to share their views in setting up a strategy by the board for the future of the institute. Rivera (2008) pointed out that shared governance is the process of involving many different actors in making decisions or choosing outcome direction that serves the best interest of the whole. But this has also been criticized by many schools of thought since it is believed that institutions are to be managed like corporations. Hence applications of concepts such as delegation of authority, a division of autonomy and negotiations form part of how the decisions unroll and who has the advantage in terms of higher bargaining power.

Irish Civil War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

Irish Civil War - Essay Example These divisions become the cause to the complexity which arose in the Irish civil war. Religious divisions often were more intense then the political ones and political divisions appeared to change every month depending on recent objectives (Neeson 1990). A detailed understanding of the causes which led to Irish civil war requires an analysis of the people and events before war started as well as the vents that took place throughout the war. Like many protestant groups Sinn Fein made a military wing, and by 1914 civil war seemed unavoidable. The occurrence of the First World War nevertheless a lot of important events, like the British Parliament suspension a bill permitting free Irish home rule. The home rule bill's suspension was opposed by three small nationalist groups, these were the Citizen Army, this was an illegal group of citizens of Dublin, the Irish volunteers, which was a national body of defence, and the Sinn Fein, all got together by their military wings and made arrangements for the Easter Uprising, this was one of the most prominent events which led to the civil war. At noon on the 24th of April in 1916 (Younger 1986), approximately two thousand Irish nationalists took over the Dublin Post Office as well as other points in the city which could help them in their mission. The rebellion's leaders announced the Irish independence; they were in control of Dublin city by 25th April1. A counter offensive was launched by the British on the 26th of April, and martial law was implemented throughout Ireland2. This led to violent street fighting in the city, but the British forces were stronger as they were better armed they thus they were successful in slowly removing the Irish nationalists from the places which they had taken over. On the 29th of April the post office building which was the rebel headquarters, was attacked by the heavily armed British army, eventually the rebels had to surrender. Approximately four hundred and forty troops of the British army died in the small battle at the post office, and almost an equal of number Irishmen lost their lives. 15 rebels were put to death. Sinn Fein's leader Eamon de Valera was also was also given the death sentence. His sentence was changed to life imprisonment, the next he was given. Amnesty (Liam 2006). Even though the rebellion was not successful it had the support of a lot of Irish people, and the public extremely opposed the death sentence of fifteen rebels, this further strengthened Sinn Fein's electoral support. In the election 's of 1918, the candidates of Sinn Fein candidates won seventy three out of hundred and six seats which were allotted to Ireland for the British Parliament3. Due to such great support, in January of 1919 the members of Parliament which belonged to the Sinn Fein held a meeting in Dublin and announced independence of Ireland, for their objective they made Eamon de Valera their president. Sinn Fein 's armed wing, which was known as the Irish Republican Army (IRA) after the meeting began a violent guerrilla war in opposition to the British troops who were

The Validity of Recovered Memories Research Paper

The Validity of Recovered Memories - Research Paper Example However, the validity of such memories is often called into question. The argument over such memories is one of the most contested positions in psychology, sometimes even referred to as the â€Å"memory wars† (Campbell, 2003). Many researchers claim that these memories are false, even implanted by incompetent therapists, while therapists most often stand behind the claims of their patients. Looking into the controversy surrounding recovered memories versus false memories, the process of memory repression, and some of the implications brings us to a realization of just how widespread and important this debate can be. Recovered Memories vs False Memories Individuals who recovered memories in therapy and with the help of a therapist were often unsurprised to recover memories of childhood sexual abuse. However, spontaneously recovered memories often surprised those who gained these memories. More tellingly, spontaneously recovered memories and continuous memories, those that were never repressed and therefore never had to be recovered, were much more likely to be corroborated by physical evidence than memories recovered in therapy (Geraerts et al., 2007). This could indicate that the presence of the therapist pushed people into â€Å"recalling† situations of sexual abuse that never occurred because the therapist expected to find such memories. In opposition to the situation of coaxed-out memory under the control of a therapist for the first time since the event occurred, people who report such spontaneous memory recovery may actually have â€Å"recovered† and then forgotten the same memory numerous time. This does not invalidate the correctness of the memory; however, such repeated incidences of forgetting and remembering does indicate the possibility that the memory was never truly repressed under the same system that would be used for completely repressed memories that require a therapist's assistance to recover (Geraerts et al., 2009). Resea rch shows that memories of terrible events, including being the one to commit terrible crimes, can be created in the subject's mind from nothing, and researchers tend to believe that recovered memories are generally of this type. Therapists, however, are more inclined to believe that such vivid memories cannot be created wholesale and instead that recovered memories are memories of true events; they may understand the existence of false recovered memories but believe that the incidence is much lower than a researcher may believe (Davis & Loftus, 2009). Memories of events can also be altered or distorted by such experiences as leading questions, suggestions, and incorrect conversations with other witnesses of the same scene. Especially telling for the possibility of recovered memories involving childhood sexual abuse in research results is the possibility of remembering accomplices who weren't present during the original scenes. An additional research study on recovered memories resu lted in up to one-quarter of the subjects believing that they had been lost in the mall as small children, when that event was presented as part of a series of actual events. This was only done on subjects whose parents stated that such an event had never occurred, so there was little possibility of confusing an actual childhood memory with the memory created as part of the research (Laney &

GOOGLE GLASS Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

GOOGLE GLASS - Coursework Example Businesses are now conducted online. The target of the distribution plan should be based on the online platforms (Shaw & Onkvisit, 2009). Individuals who have similar or common interest can be identified in the online platform. The targeted group of consumers should be selected in a way that the marketing strategy satisfies a wide range of the needs of the firm and the consumers. The client groups are targeted and identified using a similar interest element. The targeted group should be selected in terms of individuals with similar needs. It is easier to identify such clients, because the lifestyle of the people, demography, and ability of market growth. This is a transparent prove that Google glass has a potential market. Google glass has grown very fast in terms of attracting customers and quality due to their many inventions. They have able to compete with big companies. They manage this due to the strong brand affection they have. They invest more in brand loyalty than marketing making them to be on top of other. They work on how to make the customers prefer by using technology to create different makes of their devices to serve a large population. Google glasses are a combination of vital factors and elements that are required by an organization in order to accomplish a certain objective that marks their achievement. Hospitals require the tool to meet the demands of its clients. Numerous success factors and concepts, and ideas are being witnessed in the stream of the papers, media and other advertisement platforms, but there is still a little evidence tends to prove that the success factors can significantly assist an organization to boosts and propel its performance (Shaw & Onkvisit, 2009). Firms and organizations are trying to explore numerous options so that they may achieve success by attaining their client’s expectations. It is with the idea of innovating Google glass that there is a realization that it can meet the

Online Academic Book store Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Online Academic Book store - Assignment Example Since 1998, the Internet has increasingly emerged as a viable alternative to buying books at physical retail store locations. By the year 2004, the ratio of books sold at physical retail outlet and that through online stores has become 8-to-1. This shows the prevailing growth of the ebusiness for the books. And in case of Academic books the revolution has already taken place, during the past five years. Textbooks in the UK used to be published in parallel, split editions - a relatively expensive hardback for university libraries, and a much cheaper, cross-subsidized paperback for student purchase. Now, however, libraries buy paperbacks, the cross-subsidies have ceased, and the hardback undergraduate textbook has virtually disappeared. The cost of paperbacks has now risen. Publishing and book selling is no more a traditional business. With the advent of Internet the industry has gone global. Customers of modern era demand much from the industry. Customers want to browse the large scope of information, including bibliographical information on the net and wants to select and purchase their favorite books online. The competition is now on in the websites with huge number of online bookstores trying to catch the attention of Internet savvy customers. Publishers also finds it very difficult to catalogue the huge amount of data through the traditional means and the online solution will help them out of the difficult situation through easy search adoptions. By going online a company's publication will be accessible for more number of people and the business will definitely shoot up. And the problem with the traditional publishers is they produce high-demand textbooks for large numbers and to get low demand books out of season will be a time consuming task. Also in several areas of academic publishing, where texts are especially expensive to produce for example, modern languages, mathematics and medicine a very few number of publishers are producing and the demand would not be met in such cases. 1.Product innovation: The product component of the eBusiness model framework describes the value a firm wants to offer its customers. The current scope of the ebusiness model has sufficient value to its targeted customer segment by offering the product academic books. To deliver this Value proposition, the online firm should posses a certain set of in-house and /or outsourced capabilities. Value Proposition. This element refers to the value the firm offers to a specific target et customer segment. Through mass customization and through rule based one to one personalization or collaborative filtering, firms can propose value tailored to the profile of every single customer. The proposed features like Shipping calculator, Mini Cart Option on All Pages, Different layouts for cart & checkout pages, Address book function for easy checkout, Seamless check-out process, Built in shipping and tax calculation, Multiple shipping and payment options, On screen shopping list are highly dynamic in navigating the customer to the perfection of ebusiness. Target: A firm genenerally creates value for a specific customer segment. A firm can market either to businesses and/or individuals, commonly referred to as business-to-business (B2B) and business to customer (B2C). The target customers for

Close reading Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 3

Close reading - Essay Example The first stanza has also been endowed with a caesura. This part sets out the referent point of the poem. Though â€Å"My Life† has been used as the subject of the first line of the first stanza, it sets out the subject for the entire poem. â€Å"My Life† becomes the subject of the entire poem through the application of the caesura. Emily Dickinson uses personification of the â€Å"gun† to mean the poet which should otherwise been her to mean a woman can be a weapon. The poet has been kept in the corner of the room until the owner passed and carried her away. This is a clear illustration of how women are not allowed to go looking for suitors for but are meant to wait until a suitor comes along and proposes to her. It is imperative to say that even if the woman has been kept waiting for the man for a long time to come for her; she can be dangerous as she has the power. This can be seen where Dickinson uses the words a â€Å"Loaded Gun† which means that the gun is dangerous. This is the power endowed to a woman even when she keeps still and allows herself be used as a tool by men, she can defend herself. Emily Dickinson stresses the power women have by using a metaphor. The first line of the poem â€Å"My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun† is used metaphorically in this poem. This is done by comparing her life with that of a loaded gun indirectly. She uses this metaphor in order to deliver an impression to the readers, of the dangers which are presented by a loaded gun. Since it is well known that a loaded gun is very dangerous and is often used as a symbol of power and command, then she depicts the same amount of power to women. Emily Dickinson has also presented the futility of a woman’s power when she is not with a man. This is seen when the poet says that although she has been loaded, she has been waiting at the corner, this shows that there is nothing the poet could have done prior to the arrival of the husband who is presented as the

Managerial Economics - Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Managerial Economics - Questions - Essay Example 2. Advertising – advertising your own business requires a lot of money since it is expensive. However, franchisees do not need to worry about advertising their business because advertisement campaigns are already included in the fee that was paid by the franchisee and when the mother company advertises its products it normally carries all franchise outlets. 3. Name Recognition – most consumers nowadays buy products with brand names since it gives an assurance of quality. Most franchise outlets carry the name of well known companies with branded products that are trusted by consumers, and so they often patronize franchises. 4. Reputation – a franchisee also enjoys the protected reputation of the franchisor because lawsuits and other legalities, which may occur, would be taken care of the franchisor’s legal department. Franchisors will always look after their franchises in order to maintain their good status. 5. Support – when an individual invests in a franchise he is given the full support by the franchisor by providing technical know-how, skill, training in accounting and equipment. Support is always given to attain elevated success ratios in order to be able to sell more franchises. Corporate culture is the organization’s way of life and is an important factor in the success of an organizational architecture. Organizational architecture mainly survives in a corporate culture which possesses the following qualities (Blumenthal, n.d.): a) A team that functions as one; b) Has information sharing policy; c) Values the growth and success of its personnel; d) Puts more importance to consistency rather than hi-tech demarcation; e) Observes and respects authority; f) Measures performance output through hands-on management and is more on result-oriented people. By properly analyzing the corporate way of life, the organization architecture would be able to appraise the essential factors that

Pro Life vs Pro Choice Essay Example for Free

Pro Life vs Pro Choice Essay â€Å"Pro Life† people that believe that for example a fetus is a human and abortion should be considered murder vs. â€Å"Pro Choice† people that for example believe its up to them and no one else a subject that has been a sensitive moral issue for people through out the entire world. The issue we currently have in hand is should abortion be allowed or not and why or why not. This issue should be looked at very carefully because it does not just effect one person it affects other people’s lives as well. There are many utilitarian’s or should we call them people that are Pro Choice out there in this world that believe that when an issue comes about, the issue when handled should offer the most positive out come not only for oneself but for others as well. When women take the time and make sure that getting an abortion is the best thing to do, some of the reasons they are considering or should be considered is; am I ready to be a mom if the conclusion is you are not ready to become a mom it could be because of what is currently going on in your life. For example, if it’s you still are in school and would like to continue your education. A very important reason one to be considered the highest is not having a supportive boyfriend or husband, you can’t do it by yourself. Some will say that they cannot afford a child at this point and time. How will you be able to feed, cloth, and shelter your child with out the necessary means? Another thing that must be considered is will the mother or child be able to survive the birth. If there is a guarantee then there should be no questions asked, if the mother wants to have an abortion then it is her right to make that decision, if she knows she could possibly die from giving birth, and she is not allowed an abortion wouldn’t that be considered suicide or murder. Judith Jarvis Thomson states, â€Å" I think that the premise is false, that the fetus is not a person from the moment of conception. A newly fertilized ovum, a newly implanted clump of cells, is no more a person than an acorn is an oak tree. But I shall not discuss any of this. For it seems to me to be of great interest to ask what happens if, for the sake of argument, we allow the premise. How, precisely, are we supposed to get from there to the conclusion that abortion is morally impermissible† (Thomson) . On the other hand people that are Pro Life will argue the fact that fetuses are human beings and it is morally wrong to take their life from them, they say that it is against god or any higher power but that argument can be considered a little â€Å"flakey†, that seems like they are telling you to be a religious person, with the possibility of so many complications it is extremely dangerous on the mothers end, there is always the option to put your child up for adoption, you should know and or trust that the state will put your infant in a good family. No society will allow any human to intentionally harm or take the life of another human being without any form of punishment, and abortion should be considered no different. Doctors and nurses promised to save our lives, not destroy them. Don Marquis of the University of Kansas asks a different question â€Å" Do we have the same reasons not to kill a fetus that we have not to kill an adult?† killing adults he says, is wrong because it deprives them of their future. But in Killing a fetus, we are also depriving it of its future. Thus, it seems inconsistent to object one but not the other.† (Marquis) We all know that there are always going to be arguments on abortion being right or wrong. Each side both has value able points that they bring up in discussion. Morally its hard to say, you can always give your opinion but it ultimately its on a personal level and no one else’s beliefs should be forced upon you. I personally believe that it should be allowed. There are more positive reasons why it should be allowed. In my opinion some of those reasons are if you know your child will be ill and not be able to take care of him or herself at all, if there is a chance the mother or child wont be able to survive the birth. However, I do not believe that only one side should be taken, it is wrong to kill a human being no matter what state they are in his or her life. If abortion was to be socially accepted then there might be safer ways to come about, or more people would want to adopt which would make it a win win for all. But what it really boils down to is it’s up to the m other and no one else, it’s her body, and her child and it should ultimately be up to her.

Once More, America, Before I Go Essay Example for Free

Once More, America, Before I Go Essay The explication of poetry demands close reading of a single short poem or several stanzas of a longer work. Its goal is to unearth the hidden meaning/s of the poem by using the poetic techniques and elements employed by the author. Some of these techniques and elements include â€Å"diction, stanza and line structure, meter, rhythm and imagery (â€Å"Poetry Explication,† n. d. ). Walt Whitman’s poem, â€Å"Once More, America, Before I Go,† benefits from the use of explication due to its abstract nature, as it lacks concrete and specific imagery. To offset this problem, an in-depth look at the way Whitman uses rhythm and language will help to expound on the theme of the American democracy, of which he was an outspoken supporter. For Whitman, rhythm and language are intertwined, as the rhythm of the poem is inevitably linked with the type of language used. The work begins with the lines from which the poem takes its title: â€Å"One song, America, before I go / I’d sing, o’er all the rest, with trumpet sound, / For thee—the Future (Whitman, 1872). † This first stanza is notable: it establishes and introduces the readers to Whitman’s radical departure from traditional poetics. Note that the stanza seems like one continuous line, as if it were written in prose. Yet, this prose unit is broken in erratic intervals to form lines and not one continuous sentence. Whitman’s experimentation encapsulates perfectly his view of the democratic American society. This society, he believed, was the best form of society because it allowed for the individual’s self-expression and self-formation. Written as if spoken from his deathbed, as signaled by the first line, he tells American that it is the â€Å"Future. † The first letter of future is capitalized, which indicates it to be a proper noun. As such, future was become synonymous with future, and, at the same time, it implies the American democracy is the future, the mold for everybody to follow. Words such as these pepper the work, as can be seen in succeeding stanzas. In the second stanza, he elaborates on the other things he would do for America before dying: â€Å"I’d sow a seed for thee of endless Nationality; / I’d fashion thy Ensemble, including Body and Soul; / I’d show, away ahead, thy real Union, and how it may be accomplish’d (Whitman, 1872). † Nationality, ensemble, body and soul, and union all have their first letters capitalized. Again, Whitman’s unique use of language here gives the poem a deeper meaning. By using the same technique he used with the word â€Å"future† in the preceding stanza, he again turns these abstract concepts into concrete proper nouns. Furthermore, through such technique, he emphasizes the America will inevitably be the paradigm of all these because of democracy. In the second line, three words are capitalized: ensemble, body, and soul. All of these points to Whitman’s desire to form the perfect citizenry of America. In order to do this, he had to start with perfecting the individual person, a goal that can easily be reached because of democracy. The third stanza is different from the rest of the poem, being set off in parenthesis. It indicates a plan he will only start, but not accomplish, unlike those tasks he mentioned initially: â€Å"(The paths to the House I seek to make, / But leave to those to come, the House itself. ) (Whitman, 1872)† Here, Whitman is broaching on the continuation of time from the past to the future, and the fact that the experiment in democracy will see its final form in the future. He will only blaze the trails, but the final form will be for the future. The poem ends with an assertion of his belief. However, he says that simply believing will not bring results – they must also prepare: â€Å"Belief I sing—and Preparation (Whitman, 1872)† Both must act together to fulfill the goal not only for the present but also for the future: â€Å"Life and Nature are not great with reference to the Present only, / But greater still from what is yet to come, / Out of that formula for Thee I sing (Whitman, 1872). † He believes that the present is already good, as emphasized by the words life, nature, and present having their first letters capitalized. However, he believes that with the coming of future comes the fulfillment of the promise afforded by democracy.

The Motorcycle Industry Is A Consolidated Industry Marketing Essay

The Motorcycle Industry Is A Consolidated Industry Marketing Essay Harleys first segment is the motorcycle and related products business. It included designing, manufacturing, and selling primarily heavyweight touring and custom motorcycles and offering a broad range of related products that included motorcycle parts and accessories and riding apparel. The custom products charge a higher price because of its features, styling, and high resale value. New competitors have entered the marketplace because demand for the motorcycles has exceeded production. The demand is prospected to grow in the future, and the switching cost is low. Their customers are mainly male, middle age, married, and have some degree of education. Most buyers hold a motorcycle for recreational purposes rather than for transportation purpose. These buyers are mostly experienced motorcycle riders. Recommendation The international touring market is growing and is significantly larger than the U.S. touring market. Europe has the largest motorcycle, even larger than US. There is high potential in expanding business in Europe. However, the company holds a smaller market shares in the European market. Therefore, continuing to develop the European market should be a major issue for the company over the next few years. The following recommendations could be used in the European market. Not only should they target heavyweight motorcycles market, they can also target sport motorcycles market. The reason is that the European sport/performance market is four times larger than U.S., and is expecting to grow even more in the future. The company could distribute the Buell Motorcycle Companys product to the European market in order to establish a sporty image and able to directly complete with other competitors. Also, the company can build a motorcycle plant in the European by using strategy alliance or joint venture. Building the plant in the European can reduce the transportation cost and increase the companys international experience. Strategy alliances is suitable in this case since the company can create value from transferring competencies or sharing resources between diversified businesses in order to realize economies of scope. Harleys motorcycles are priced slightly higher than competitors. In the U.S. market, since the customers are brand, quality, and style loyalty. Instead of focusing on the price leadership strategy, they should focus on differentiate strategy. Therefore, under the current financial availability, they should be able to generate certain funds to run the Product Development Center, which bring together employees and suppliers to design the fashion products. At the same time, the company should focus on product development and product proliferation strategy. They should concentrate on creating new products or improving existing products in order to attract existing and new customers. The company should continue to build their enterprise. Since the industry does not have significant economies of scale, growth-via-acquisition strategy could be used. Harley-Davidson can merge or acquire weaker rival or smaller players. Taking over the weaker and smaller players will increase the entry barriers. Terms- ideas Competitive advantage is what sets an organization apart, that is, its distinct edge. That distinct edge comes from the organizations core competencies, which might be in the form of organizational capabilities the organization does something that others cannot do or does it better than others can do it. For example, Dell has developed a competitive advantage based upon its ability to create a direct-selling channel thats highly responsive to customers. Southwest Airlines has a competitive advantage because it is skilled in giving passengers what they want quick, convenient, and fun service. Or those core competencies that lead to competitive advantage also can come from organizational assets or resources the organization has something that its competitors do not have. For instance, Wal-Marts state-of-the-art information systems allows it to monitor and control inventories and supplier relations more efficiently than its competitors, which Wal-Mart has turned into a price advantage. Strategy -A Strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal as differential from tactics or immediate achieve a particular goal, as differential from tactics or immediate action with resources at hand. Strategic Management-It is the process of specifying an organizations objectives, developing policies plans to achieve these objectives, and allocating resources so as to implement the plans. It involves development of mission and strategic vision. It is long run in the nature and provides the organization with a road map Concept of Strategic Management: Strategic Management in the context of the construction industry comprises the following seven areas: Vision, mission and goals -The starting point for all organization endeavors; establishing a vision provides each members with a direction to follow in all business practices members with a direction to follow in all business practices. Core competencies -The Business boundaries for an organization does best and where its strength resides organization do the best and where its strength resides. Knowledge Resources -The Combination of human and technology resources that provide the backbone for completing organization projects. 3. What do I want to do after Graduation?   With todays economy like it is, I have to find ways to stick out from my competitors. Therefore, with a business management degree, also known as a general management degree, I have a lot of different areas I can go into after school. For example, finance, human resources, information technology, marketing, operations management, and strategic management. With this degree I will be prepared to assume a wide range of managerial positions in the business field. But the big question is do I want to start looking for a job, stay in school and change my major or go on to graduate school? But first I have to ask myself what I want to do/ what of my life. The questions I have to ask myself are?   Is there an industry that interests you? For example: Financial services, technology, real-estate, or health care?   What type of company would I like to work for?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For example: Public or private, small or large, domestic or international   Then I need to develop a target list of firms that interest me?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For example: Identify and research the top 10 firms that interest me and also areas that they are located.   What type of job motivates me? For example: Do I want to be an accountant, sales person, financial analyst or marketing research associate? What are unique strengths about me? For example: I need to develop a list of the skills I bring to a potential employer such as time management, communication skills, ability to multi-task, listening skills, ability to get things done. Where do I want to live now an in the future?   The actual job search can be time-consuming and frustrating. However, there are steps I can take to insure I spend my time wisely and efficiently. What do I need to know?    What industry is the target company in? How large is the company? Who are their competitors? What type of products does the company produce/provide? Who are the companys customers / prospects? Is the company an employer of choice? What criteria does the company look for when hiring? Are these companies located in your geographic preference? Where do they have offices? (International) What is their reputation in the market?   A company has competitive advantage whenever it can attract customers and defend against competitive forces better than its rivals.   Companies want to develop competitive advantages that have some sustainability (although the typical term sustainable competitive advantage is usually only true dynamically, as a firm works to continue it).   Successful competitive strategies usually involve building uniquely strong or distinctive competencies in one or several areas crucial to success and using them to maintain a competitive edge over rivals.   Some examples of distinctive competencies are superior technology and/or product features, better manufacturing technology and skills, superior sales and distribution capabilities, and better customer service and convenience.   5. A niche strategy can be competitively attractive because     The focusers specialized competencies and capabilities in serving the target market niche give it strength in countering challenges from larger multi-segment competitors (who may not be easily able to put the capabilities in place to meet the specialized needs of the target market niche and at the same time satisfy the expectations of their mainstream customers). Also targeting the market niche acts as an entry barrier and gives it some measure of protection from other firms wanting to horn in on the niche. Rivalry in the niche may be weaker than in the broader market if there are relatively few players competing in the niche. Difficulties in matching the focusers competitive capabilities in serving buyers in the target market niche present a hurdle that the sellers of substitute products must overcome in order to be a factor in the niche. Examples of Focus Strategies   eBay -Online auctions Jiffy Lube International -Maintenance for motor vehicles Bandag-Specialist in truck tire recapping Porsche -Sports cars What Makes a Niche Attractive for Focusing?   Big enough to be profitable and offers good growth potential Not crucial to success of industry leaders Costly or difficult for multi-segment competitors to meet specialized needs of niche members Focuser has resources and capabilities to effectively serve an attractive niche Few other rivals are specializing in same niche Focuser can defend against challengers via superior ability to serve niche members Risks of a Focus Strategy    Competitors find effective ways to match a focusers capabilities in serving niche Niche buyers preferences shift towards product attributes desired by majority of buyers niche becomes part of overall market Segment becomes so attractive it becomes crowded with rivals, causing segment profits to be splintered 6. The car industry is an ongoing growing market where the environmental issues become more and more crucial due to the apparition of new legislations to preserve nature and avoid Global Warming. Therefore, in this case more precisely work with the niche market of electric vehicles. Actually, carmakers have to face the problem of excess capacity. They are producing more than they are selling. One of the reasons can be the decreasing demand due to the economical regression and also to the fact that cars last longer. Another reason is that they want to produce in large volumes in order to make the production cost decreased. So, they can be competitive on the market. Now, scale economies are a critical issue for car manufacturers. The concerns for the economy and global warming have forced the automobile industry to start developing alternatives for fuel vehicles. At first, the automakers showed a little interest into this concern and they did not want to look into the development of alternative energy sources at all because of the high cost and the many risks involved. Nevertheless, due to new legislations, automakers do not have the choice anymore. They have to come up with new technologies to make fuel-efficient cars or find alternative to normal fuel engines. At the end of the 20th century, car manufacturers came up with new technology to produce internal combustion engines with an electric motor and the development is ongoing. In todays society people are judged on the type of car they choose to drive. Of course, car manufacturers know about that fact and they target their potential customers to market their products. For example, anyone who drives a nice car is perceived by others as being wealthy and no one wants to be seen driving an unattractive car. Consumers also tend to feel better when they are driving a nice or a new car. Another feature of the socio cultural aspect for car is that auto makers have to keep in mind the growing environmental concerns and the need of fuel efficient vehicles. Many environmentalists are worried about the impact that the gasoline cars have on the environment and therefore search for alternatives. The automotive market is characterized by a very low number of entrants. In order to compete in this market the newcomers must be able to achieve economies of scale by adopting a cost saving strategy. Therefore, the car manufacturers must mass-produce to be able to offer cars to the customer at a reasonable price. At the same time, it requires an extreme amount of capital not only to be able to manufacturer the product, but also to keep up with the research and development of new products. 8. There is a HUGE market for tablets.   Many have said this is like a living room computer, as well, as an e-book reader.   It would also be a great entertainment device, on airplanes (if were allowed to use them), on the bus, and around town. Also the iPad will be ideal for bringing to meetings without the intrusion, distraction, boot up or power cables of a laptop. In the future the laptop will be staying in the office. The people that will benefit from this product a lot are doctors and also nurses. I think when the iPad launches it will be a big competitive advantage to the company because of what they have done in the past. Honestly, the iPad, will give Apple more power in the companys product line and also move the company forward toward being the spoke in the wheel that is the world of media and technology. Making something that fits between a smartphone and a laptop has been a goal for the consumer technology industry for more than a decade. The most recent attempt has b een the Netbook. The iPad easily makes Netbooks seem boring and staid, and too close to the same old form factor, the computer. My prediction is that the iPad will really shake up the competitors and really hurt their netbook business in the long run. And, the competitors will really struggle this time to find a way to create tablets that are equally as unique and competitive with Apple. Sure, they will create similar designs, but Apples ability to deliver a complete eco system of hardware, software, apps and services tied to the iPad is their real advantage. And with iPads starting at $499, it will make it much easier for Apple to push a new mobile computing agenda that goes well beyond the interest of techies and will tap into the mobile computing interest of a large market of consumers.The iPad is taking a different tack: taking tasks that were too big for an iPhone and puts them on a device that isnt pocket-sized, but is more convenient to carry around than a 13- or 15-inch lapt op. The iPad poses a real problem to competitors on a couple of fronts. The big one is the fact that Apple uses their own processor to power the iPad. No Intel tax in the bill of materials. I suspect that even with bill of material costs for screen and memory being an issue, Apple is still able to get margins of over 20% for the entry version at $499 because of this vertical integration of Apple internet protocol.   On the other hand, any competitor doing a tablet will have the screen and memory component costs as well as the processor costs and at a competitive price of $499, they would have much smaller margins to work with. Also, Apple is able to tap into its rich eco system of easy to use multi-touch interface and 140,000 apps that give it additional functionality from the start. At the very least, it puts them two years ahead of competitors who will try and create competitive products in this same category with similar app ecosystems. The economy -rich peo young class Apple has created a new market, everyone will soon try to follow. 2. A business has to understand the dynamics of its industries and markets in order to compete effectively in the marketplace. The forces that drive competition, is contending that the competitive environment is created by the interaction of five different forces acting on a business. In addition to rivalry among existing firms and the threat of new entrants into the market, there are also the forces of supplier power, the power of the buyers, and the threat of substitute products or services. The intensity of rivalry, which is the most obvious of the five forces in an industry, helps determine the extent to which the value created by an industry will be dissipated through head-to-head competition. Another point is both potential and existing competitors influence average industry profitability. The threat of new entrants is usually based on the market entry barriers. They can take diverse forms and are used to prevent an influx of firms into an industry whenever profits, adjusted for the cost of capital, rise above zero. In contrast, entry barriers exist whenever it is difficult or not economically feasible for an outsider to replicate the incumbents position. The most common forms of entry barriers, except intrinsic physical or legal obstacles, are as follows: Economies of scale: for example, benefits associated with bulk purchasing. Cost of entry: for example, investment into technology. Distribution channels: for example, ease of access for competitors. Cost advantages not related to the size of the company: for example, contacts and expertise. Government legislations: for example, introduction of new laws might weaken companys competitive position. Differentiation: for example, certain brand that cannot be copied. The threat that substitute products pose to an industrys profitability depends on the relative price-to-performance ratios of the different types of products or services to which customers can turn to satisfy the same basic need. The threat of substitution is also affected by switching costs that is, the costs in areas such as retraining, retooling and redesigning that are incurred when a customer switches to a different type of product or service. Buyer power is one of the two horizontal forces that influence the appropriation of the value created by an industry (refer to the diagram). The most important determinants of buyer power are the size and the concentration of customers. Other factors are the extent to which the buyers are informed and the concentration or differentiation of the competitors. This force is relatively high where there a few, large players in the market, as it is the case with retailers and grocery stores; Present where there is a large number of undifferentiated, small suppliers, such as small farming businesses supplying large grocery companies; Low cost of switching between suppliers, such as from one fleet supplier of trucks to another. Supplier power is a mirror image of the buyer power. As a result, the analysis of supplier power typically focuses first on the relative size and concentration of suppliers relative to industry participants and second on the degree of differentiation in the inputs supplied. The ability to charge customers different prices in line with differences in the value created for each of those buyers usually indicates that the market is characterized by high supplier power and at the same time by low buyer power. Bargaining power of suppliers exists in the following situations: Where the switching costs are high (switching from one Internet provider to another); High power of brands (McDonalds, Coca Cola) Possibility of forward integration of suppliers (Brewers buying bars); The nature of competition in an industry is strongly affected by suggested five forces. The stronger the power of buyers and suppliers, and the stronger the threats of entry and substitution, the more intense competition is likely to be within the industry. However, these five factors are not the only ones that determine how firms in an industry will compete the structure of the industry itself may play an important role. 5 Forces analysis The Porters Five Forces model is a simple tool that supports strategic understanding where power lies in a business situation. It also helps to understand both the strength of a firms current competitive position, and the strength of a position a company is looking to move into. Despite the fact that the Five Force framework focuses on business concerns rather than public policy, it also emphasizes extended competition for value rather than just competition among existing rivals, and the simpleness of its application inspired numerous companies as well as business schools to adopt its use. With a clear understanding of where power lies, it will enable a company to take fair advantage of its strengths, improve weaknesses, and avoid taking wrong steps. Therefore, to apply this planning tool effectively, it is important to understand the situation and to look at each of the forces individually. After identifying favourable and unfavourable forces for the companys performance and industrys attractiveness, it is important to analyse the situation and examine the impacts of the forces. One of the critical comments made of the Five Forces framework is its static nature, whereas the competitive environment is changing turbulently. By thinking through how each force affects a company, and by identifying the strength and direction of each force, it provides with an opportunity to identify the strength of the position and the ability to make a sustained profit in the industry. It is important for a corporation strategists goal to find a position in the industry where his or her company can best defend itself against these forces or can influence them in its favour, or is the goal to become part of the ongoing commerce with the intention to produce innovative ideas that will expand the size of the industry? Is it true that the environment poses a threat to the organisation, leading to the consideration of suppliers and buyers as threats that need to be tackled, or does it offer the ground for a constitutive industry player co-operation? Limitations of Porters Five Force Model Porters model is a strategic tool used to identify whether new products, services or businesses have the potential to be profitable. However it can also be very illuminating when used to understand the balance of power in other situations. At the heart of industry are rivals and their competitive strategies linked to, for example, pricing or advertising; but, he contends, it is important to look beyond ones immediate competitors as there are other determines of profitability. Specifically, there might be competition from substitutes products or services. These alternatives may be perceived as substitutes by buyers even though they are part of a different industry. An example would be plastic bottles, cans and glass bottle for packaging soft drinks. There may also be potential threat of new entrants, although some competitors will see this as an opportunity to strengthen their position in the market by ensuring, as far as they can, customer loyalty. Finally, it is important to appreciate that companies purchase from suppliers and sell to buyers. If they are powerful they are in a position to bargain profits away through reduced margins, by forcing either cost increases or price decreases. This relates to the strategic o ption of vertical integration, when the company acquires, or mergers with, a supplier or customer and thereby gains greater control over the chain of activities which leads from basic materials through to final consumption. Examples of Golf Equipment 1. The threat of new entrants into the market is moderate, indicators point in mixed directions. Companies within the industry can be separated into two parts: golf and sporting goods. To take the largest golf company, for example, Callaway. For a company like Callaway to enter into this market would require significant amounts of investment. One could assume that other sporting goods companies could diversify into golf similar to Adidas and Nike, but there are no large manufactures that are not in the market already. Brand preferences are very important to consumers. Callaway lists brand preferences as one of the top five reasons why consumers buy their clubs, is because of technology, quality, customer service and price. Capital requirements are low the production of clubs are very labor intensive and very little animation is in the manufacturing process. Access to distribution channels are very important the quality of the club which is largely based on the material of the club ar e very expensive. To obtain carbon fiber and specific alloys that few manufactures make would be troubling for a small company to maintain and economies of scale in purchasing power would be most evident here. Essay

The Path of Shelleys Winged Thoughts :: Writing Poetry Papers

The Path of Shelley's 'Winged Thoughts' Writing much of his poetry on the Continent, away from England where his readership lived, and dying only three years after the composition of much of his best work, Percy Bysshe Shelley had little control over the transmission of his poetry. At the time of its initial publication, â€Å"Ode to the West Wind† appeared as part of a larger volume, entitled Prometheus Unbound, also the name of its signature, featured poem which overshadowed â€Å"Ode to the West Wind.† Following Shelley’s untimely death, his wife, Mary Shelley, dedicated herself to organizing and publishing Shelley’s work, and is largely responsible for the transmission of Shelley’s work that occurred posthumously. Piecing together a publication and composition history is particularly befitting for Percy Bysshe Shelley’s â€Å"Ode to the West Wind,† for the theme of transmission of words and thoughts is interlaced conspicuously within the lines of the poem itself. In the final stanza of the poem, the poet beseeches the West Wind, a natural and divine life-force, to â€Å"Drive my dead thoughts over the universe/ Like withered leaves to quicken a new birth!† (lines 63-64) Shelley continues to address transmission in the next tercet, writing â€Å"Scatter, as from an unextinguished hearth,/ Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind!† (lines 66-67). These imperatives contain Shelley’s lofty expectations for the dissemination of his words; however, when the actual path his words followed is studied, great disparity emerges between the ways in which Shelley envisioned his poem entering the world, and the way it actually reached an audience. While today â€Å"Ode to the West Wind† is widely known, and respected as one of Shelley’s best poems, during the few years the poem and poet lived simultaneously, Shelley’s visions for the transmission of â€Å"Ode to the West Wind† were limited, and boasted no divine intervention. Shelley’s notebooks and preserved manuscripts provide much information about the composition history behind ‘Ode to the West Wind.† In mid-October, 1819, Shelley walked along the river Arno, located near Florence, watched the autumn wind rustle and sweep the leaves strewn about the ground, and drew inspiration for the composition of â€Å"Ode to the West Wind.† Shelley’s own note included with the published version of the poem states, â€Å"This poem was conceived†¦one a day when that tempestuous wind, whose temperature is at once mild and animating, was collecting the vapours which pour down the autumnal rains.† (Wu, 859) His notebooks show the meticulous level of observation with which Shelley studied this scene; one page of preliminary notes contains a drawing of a

Okonkwo :: essays research papers

Okonkwo My name is Okonkwo a clan leader in Umuofia. I had a tough childhood due to my father Unoka, which has driven me to succeed. Due to my hardwork in war i earned a high position in my clan, and I'm still able to support my three wives and their children. My character in this novel is superior, I get angry at times and I'm not afraid of violence, but yet i have unmanly emotions for Ikemefuna and Ezinma, and i will do anything to not end up like my father Unoka. Unoka and i don't get along with each other. Unoka is lazy and could care less about wut I want in life. I have been ashamed of my father since I was a little boy, because of what my clan thinks is cowardness. My emotions for Ikemufuna and Ezinma which are unmanly conflict with my manly emotions as a superior leader. My oldest son Nwoye i believe is very weak and lazy. I beat Nwoye on a daily basis hopin it will turn him into a man. Nwoye begins to develop into being more masculine influenced by Ikemefuna which pleases me. I believe Nwoye has the same weakness that my father Unoka possessed. My problem is that I am afraid of looking like my weak father Unoka. Due to his behavior it forces me to act like a fool and bring a whole lot of trouble upom myself and the rest of the poeple in my family. I was not able to change when I went to go live with the Umuofians and could not adapt to their living style. So i realized that i have become a bad person and not able change with society. I beleive I okonkwo will have to change due to the changing in society and the diverse cultures there are. Not everyone can go about the same rules and

C ++ Language :: essays research papers

C++ Programming Language C++ is a universal programming language, which considerably eases and comforts the work of a professional programmer. Roundly, C++ is an enhancement of C programming language: C++ offers flexible and effective tools of determination of new data types, which help programmer to split up his work into a number of easily controlled parts. Custom data types can be composed into some objects (called classes), specified by the programmer. Such objects are simple and reliable to be used in the situations, when data types are hard to be defined on the stage of compiling. Programming by using such objects is called Object Oriented Programming, and C++ is one of the most popular OOP languages. Origin of C++ takes source from programming languages of â€Å"C with Classes†, which have been developing during early 80th at the AT&T Bell Labs. â€Å"C with Classes† has been used for big projects of modeling and testing of opportunities in programming, which required minimum of process memory and time. But â€Å"C with Classes† was not satisfying with its lack of virtual functions and links, and that is why the specialists borrowed some features and tools (like classes) from another programming language, Simula. The name â€Å"C++† has been invented by Rick Mascitti in autumn 1983; it indicates an evolutional transformation from C to C++, because â€Å"++† symbolizes the function of increment in C. Since C++ must be classified as an extension of C programming language, it did not receive a name of a higher level group of languages, â€Å"D†. Early versions of C++ proved to be efficient for solving of growing complexity of the programming problems. Standard version of C++, released in 1998, includes the Core of the language and Standard Template Library, a modified version of C Library. C++ presented a lot of new functions and opportunities for a programmer. First of all, those are features of managing with the classes, like constructors, virtual functions, or implementation of encapsulation, abstraction, polymorphism, and inheritance. Besides, C++ offers some improvements in the very programming operations, like using declarations, namespaces, function overloading, default arguments, function-like casts, run-time type identification, inline functions, and many others. Design of C++ is modern and convenient, besides, C++ supports various programming styles (like OOP, data abstraction, etc.). The main advantage of C++ is its object orientation. Strategy of OOP helps to develop a great variety of software and to satisfy growing needs of modern programming.

Clash of Culture Essay

Even though the â€Å"New World† had already had 115 years of contact, the year 1607 is often regarded as the first year of American History. In the year 1607 the English established their first lasting colony. This colony would later become the United States. Jamestown, which is present day Virginia begun by the Virginia Company of London. In the beginning Jamestown consisted of 104 colonists, some of who favored the plantation model of settlement others of whom favored the conquistador model. Due to the English gentlemen’s lack of motivation to work the land, or build fortification, failure was upon them. The Natives who were living in the area where Jamestown was established were unsure of the newcomer’s arrival. The Natives first reaction to the newcomers was hostile, due to their previous experience with Spanish explorers along the coastline. The English settlers had not only the Natives to worry about, but they also had to worry about the Spanish that were along the coastline. The first years of the settler’s time in the â€Å"New World† were difficult and trying. They were faced with disease, lack of food, and poor management. Historians refer to this time as the â€Å"starving time†, when food and supplies were almost nonexistent, and at least one colonist resorted to cannibalism. The only thing that kept the colony functioning was the continued arrival of colonist. As the colony deteriorated during its first two years, Captain John Smith’s leadership saved the colony. Part of this leadership involved exploring the area and making he risky decision to approach the Natives and attempt to trade with them jewels for food. John Smith unfortunately was injured by gunfire, and left Jamestown and went back to England. The first setters were in many ways dependent on Powhatan Confederacy for food. Powhatan and his tribe saw the English as allies who would trade their  weapons for the Natives food. The Powhatan saw this opportunity of trading food for weapons as a way to help Chief Powhatan his confederacy against other tribes. Because the Natives knew little about what the colonist had in mind as far as how the settlers wanted to to develop the New World, or how they intended to go about doing it, the Natives found it somewhat difficult to go into trade with them. The relationship of the Jamestown colonist and Powhatan’s tribe were difficult at times, and sometimes violent, but though there were trial and tribulations between the two cultures, the Powhatan Confederacy assisted the settlers throughout the trying early years. Around 1610 , the English settlers caught a break, they successfully cultivated tobacco. The Spanish had first introduced the crop to Europeans back in the late 1500’s, after coming across it in the Caribbean. Tobacco had been a great success in the European markets. By 1612, the Virginia settler John Rolfe had successfully cultivated an imported strain of tobacco in Jamestown. The Jamestown settlers shipped the first crop to England in 1617, and within a few years they were shipping around 1.5 million pounds. The success of growing tobacco made Jamestown more desirable, but growing tobacco was a laboring job. To meet the demands early, and not fall behind, the colonist tried to force the Natives to work their tobacco fields. The Jamestown colonists were met with objections from the Native people. The Natives wanted no part in growing surplus crops for monetary reasons, and the colonist didn’t have the force to enslave the Natives. In 1619 Dutch traders imported a small number of Africans to Jamestown, who were forced to do most of the hard work of growing the tobacco and establishing the town. Jamestown continued to grow, and the growth was causing Jamestown to have to deal with increased hostility with the Natives and also the introduction of African slavery. Local Native tribes began to become leery of the growth of Jamestown because the growth was infringing on lands that had been open to them before the colonist arrived. After the death of Powhatan in 1618, the new chief Opechancanough began planning attacks to get rid of the colonist. One of these attacks in 1622 resulted in 357 English colonist dying, which was about one-quarter of the Jamestown population. The attack caused the colonist to feel that retaliation was in order, and they set to kill every Native they came in contact with. Hostilities grew between the colonist and the Natives. The  Natives felt threatened by the fact that their way of life and the land they new was being taken over by these new comers. The colonist of Jamestown success has greatly to do with the help they received from the Native people. Though their relationship began in a somewhat peaceful fashion, it soon became a hostile relationship. The question is did it have to end the way it did? Could they bo th have come to mutual agreement, and even helped one another and cohabitated peacefully? Or were the two cultures so different that they were destined to clash at some point in time? References Scham, S. (2006). A Native Take on Jamestown. Archaeology, 59(1), 24. Tarter, B. (2007). Making history in virginia. The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 115(1), 3-55. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/195928212?accountid=458 ZONGKER, B. (2013, May 02). Scholars find cannibalism at jamestown, va., settlement. Spartanburg Herald – Journal Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1348619236?accountid=458 Schultz, K. M. (2014). HIST3, volume 1: US history through 1877 (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth.

Confidence Intervals

The confidence intervals represent upper and lower bounds of variation around each reference forecast. Values may occur outside the confidence intervals due to external shocks, such as extreme weather, structural changes to the economic system, geopolitical events, or technology development. The confidence intervals increase in width throughout the forecast period due to the increasing level of uncertainty in each subsequent year.The upper and lower bounds were based on one to two standard deviations of the historic values, indicating at least a 68 percent probability that future values would be expected to fall within the confidence interval. The confidence interval for the first forecast year is based on one standard deviation and grows linearly until it reaches two standard deviations, or a 95 percent probability. =====================================================================================For example, if we have polled a number of respondents from the home owners let†™s say 3500 respondents, and from those only 1190 are using electricity to heat their homes, this means that 34. 0% are using electricity to heat their homes, p? = 1190/3500 = 34. 0%. And we know that a second sample of 3500 home owners wouldn’t have a sample proportion of exactly 34. 0%. If another group of home owners has taken and we found that they have a sample of proportion of 38. 0%, So the sampling proportion will be the key to our ability to generalize from our sample to the population.Now, we know that the sampling distribution model is centered at the true proportion, p, of all home owners who use electricity to heat their homes. But we don’t know p. it isn’t 34. 0%. That’s the p? from our sample. What we do know is that the sampling distribution model of p? centered at p, and we know that the standard deviation of the sampling distribution is SE(p? ) = v p? q? /n = v(. 34)(1-. 34)/3500 = 0. 008 Because our sample (3500) is large, we know tha t the sampling distribution model for p? should look approximately like the one shown below The sampling distribution model for p? s normal with a mean of p and a standard deviation we estimate to be v p? q? /n. because the distribution is normal, we’d expect that about 68% of all samples of 3500 home owners taken in a specific time would have had sample proportion within 1 standard deviation of p. and about 95% of all these samples will have proportions within p  ± 2 SEs. But where is our sample proportion in this picture? And what value does p have? We still don’t know! We do know that for 95% of random samples, p? will be no more than 2 SEs away from p. so let’s reverse it and look at it from p? ’s point of view. If I am p? there is a 95% chance that p is no more than 2 SEs away from me. If I reach out 2 SEs, or 2 x 0. 008, away from me on both sides, I am 95% sure that p will be within my grasp. Of course, I won’t know, and even if my interva l does catch p, I still don’t know its true value. Now, We don’t know exactly what proportion of home owners using electricity to heat their homes, but we know that it’s within the interval 34. 0%  ± 2 x 0. 8%. That is, it’s between 32. 2% and 35. 6%. † this is getting closer, but we still can’t be certain. We can’t know for sure that the true proportion is in this interval-or in any particular range.We don’t know the exactly the proportion of home owners that use electricity to heat their homes, but the interval from 32. 4% to 35. 6% probably contains the true proportion. † We’ve now fudged twice—first by giving an interval and second by admitting that we only think the interval â€Å"probably† contains the true value. That last statement is true; we can tighten it up by quantifying what we mean by â€Å"probably. † We saw that 95% of the time when we reach out 2 SEs from p? , we capture p, s o we can be 95% confident that this is one of those times, after putting a number on the probability that this interval covers the true proportion,We are 95% confident that between 32. 4% and 35. 6% of home owners using electricity to heat their homes, this is now an appropriate interpretation of our confidence intervals. It’s not perfect, but it’s about the best we can do. Level of Confidence = 95% =1- ? = 0. 05 Sample size (n) = 3500 Sample proportion (p? ) = 0. 34 P complement (q? ) = (1-0. 34) = 0. 66 Sample standard error of a proportion = SE(p? ) = v p? q? /n = v(. 34)(1-. 34)/3500 = 0. 008 Z Score(1 – ? ) = Z Score95% = NORMSINV (1 – ? /2) = NORMSINV (1 – 0. 025) = NORMSINV (0. 975) = 1. 96 Width of Half the Confidence Interval = Z Score(1-? *  S(q? ) = 1. 96 *  0. 008 = 0. 01568 Confidence Interval Boundaries = p? +/- Z Score(1-? )*S(p? )= 0. 34  ± (1. 96) * (0. 008) = 0. 34  ± (0. 01568) = 0. 32432 to 0. 35568 = 32. 43% to 35. 57% We can be 95% certain that the percentage of home owners using electricity to heat their homes is between 32. 43% and 35. 57% 0. 01568 0. 01568 0. 316 0. 3243 0. 332 0. 34 0 . 348 0. 3557 0. 364 0. 316 0. 3243 0. 332 0. 34 0 . 348 0. 3557 0. 364

Joseph Conrad was ‘a bloody racist Essay

This is the quote – ‘The conquest of the earth, which mostly means taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much’ This, I believe effectively tars conlonialism and conquest with the same brush as he is describing colonialism while saying conquest. I feel he is saying that the two are indestinguishable and that anybody who can define them is stuck on ‘the idea’ he goes on to mention – ‘†¦ belief in the idea – something you can set up, and bow down before’ I think he is saying that as long as people can hide behind the idea of colonialism and tell it apart from conquest they are happy but in essence the two are the same. Conrad might be saying that although we live in a civil age we are no different to the Roman conquerors. I believe this shows that Conrad is not racist as he is saying that ‘taking away’ the earth ‘from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves’ is wrong. This is a very anti-racist statement and Conrad would have been saying something way ahead of his time. Marlow is a mouthpiece for Conrad in the sense that they have experienced the same things to the extent where even the characters names are the same – When in the Congo, Conrad took over a steam boat formerly captained by a man called Frieslieben (Fresleven in the book), and he had to go and retrieve a man called Kurtz (same name, also in the book). – In another book when asked of the likenesses between him and Marlow he said. ‘It is experience pushed a little (and only very little) beyond the actual case for the perfectly legitamate†¦ ‘ I think that any reader thinking that Marlow and Conrad are one and the same would be virtually correct. This means in my view that any likenesses and quotes that Marlow does or says can be directly linked to what Conrad believes in, therefore it is not a factor of how similar the two are as I see them as one entity. When Heart of darkness first come out in 1899 (serialised in Blackwood’s magazine) it was in an age where the western world was scrambling to colonise many African countries, where England was fighting a second Boer war and were supreme in North Africa, and it was a time when Joseph Conrad was putting his reputation and respect as an author on the table. His contemporaries could easily have dismissed his book as modernistic drivel and slated him for his uncontemporary views. In this light we see that Conrad’s book was way ahead of its time, exploring racism and both physical and mental journeys – into the congo and into one’s self. I believe it could be said that Conrad was not racist even if there is an inkling of racist assertions in Heart of darkness because this racist view was accepted at the time, this can be said of his usage of the word ‘nigger’ in his novel (one of his earlier novels even had the word â€Å"nigger† in its title – â€Å"the nigger and the narcissus† 1897) but as this was regularly used at the time it can be wavered as it didn’t have the effect it does in today’s society when spoken. Apart from this I think it is clear that Joseph Conrad did not conform in a racist society and had seen the horror and pure incorrectness of colonialism first hand. I have shown that Conrad and Marlow are one and the same and have been led to the conclusion through close reading of the opening of heart of darkness that Conrad is not, as Chinua Achebe states, ‘a bloody racist’. In fact I believe the opposite statemen could be made – â€Å"Conrad was a minority voice speaking out against racism through his character Marlow in a time where racism was rife†. I believe I am right because the evidence against Conrad is scarce and what little textual evidence there is can mostly be put down to ignorance which in my opinion can be let go, due to the fact that his overall message is an anti-racist one. I feel people who think that Joseph Conrad is racist based on Heart of darkness is wrong because of the reasons stated. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Joseph Conrad section.

How to meet the learning needs of mixed age groups in the home-based setting Essay

One of the biggest advantages of mixed age groups is that they make us really analyse the individual needs, interests, and temperaments of each child in the group. We can then plan and provide for the next steps in learning, by getting to know our group of children very well, and making careful observations on them, as individuals, what they do and how they interact with others. This knowledge can then be mapped to the EYFS Practice Guidance over the six areas of Learning and Development and used to devise individual learning plans by assessing activities, opportunities and experiences based on their individual development, interests and needs. Careful planning and organisation are critical factors in meeting the learning needs of different age groups. Each play area, including outside, must provide the maximum of learning opportunities for all ages in your care, using barriers e.g. gates and big cushions only where needed for safety so that infants and toddlers feel included whenever possible. A good idea is to go through the house looking at the room from the child’s level. What would the baby see first, what would the toddler or pre-schooler see first? What appeals to the school-age child? You can create small play areas for special activities, e.g. using a sturdy playpen or hallway as an â€Å"office† for older children when they want to colour, do a puzzle, play a board game or do something without â€Å"help† from toddlers. The little ones can then watch without interfering with the activity. A range of open-ended multiple-use resources should be used, that can be played with in different ways according to stage, such as balls and bricks and Lego. Toys that are safe for children of all ages can be kept on low shelves easily accessible, e.g. blocks, board books, dressing-up clothes,  dolls, stuffed animals, materials to play house, and a collection of heuristic play items (plastic containers, measuring spoons, funnels, etc.), which should be changed round frequently. It is possible to use the same activity to support the learning of mixed age groups, with modifications. This is differentiating the curriculum, by extending or adapting the original play into more specific areas of learning, as per the aims and targets set for each child. For example, younger children can handle gloopy paint to explore colour and texture, while older children use the same paint materials to express their feelings and ideas. Each child does the bit of the activity that he is ready and keen to do. If one child in the group is using a schema e.g. ‘Enveloping’, this can be used as the basis of a plan for the whole group e.g. to make a den, dress up or wrap up some ‘presents’. It is important to set up these activities for shared learning, as children develop socially when they have opportunities to observe and play with those who will play differently due to being older or younger. Being at different stages of their learning journey should mean that all will be able to share other viewpoints and richer experiences. This will help them be co-operative, and for the group to ‘gel’. NEC 733.000 08/516573 Ruth Dickerson The older members of the group can help to meet the younger ones’ learning needs, e.g. by ‘communicating’ pulling faces with babies, reading to preschoolers, putting on a play or a puppet show, or teaching a board game. They do often enjoy being valued for their input, but their help should be volunteered, not relied on, and they should have lots of opportunities away from the babies, since being your ‘assistant’ can be a way for older children to avoid their own age group, and a way to escape peer conflicts. Unplanned opportunities are also very useful as they can often spark off the kind of conversations and reminiscences about other experiences, and sharing of ideas, that just wouldn’t have happened unless that event had occurred.  They encourage communication and social skills which the smaller ones can pick up on and everyone can share. We can also help children to think about ways to include each other in their play, e.g. if the older children are playing house you could ask â€Å"As you are the daddy, could you read Tom and me a book?† (710)