Managerial Accounting and Organizational Controls Case Study

Managerial Accounting and Organizational Controls - Case Study Example This is done by standard reports that are generated at regular intervals. They may be generated monthly, quarterly, or annually and adhere to standard guidelines that are accepted by the accounting industry. The reports tell the amount of business, cost of sales, debt, and assets that a company has. The reports are used by creditors, bankers, investors, and shareholders to make financial decisions in regard to the company. Government agencies use these reports to calculate taxes and fees. These reports are routinely audited by outside parties to assure that proper accounting methods are being used and that the reports contain accurate information. This helps to safeguard investors and shareholders from financial loss and keeps investors and creditors apprised of the condition of the company's finances. Legal and ethical issues arise when external accounting is faulty and presents an incorrect view of the company's financial situation. If it is done intentionally, it is a grave legal issue as has been seen with some companies in the news recently. If it is done in error, or because of bad judgment, it is a serious violation of ethics and may also be criminal. The importance placed on these reports being correct cannot be overstated.

Persuasive Essay Example for Free

Persuasive Essay Obama Immigration Policy Illegal immigration has been a major issue in the United States (US), for those who leave their home countries for the American dream. These people are deported when found; completely up-rooted from lives they built. This affects illegal immigrants from men and women, which migrate illegally, to their children often, brought to the United States for a better chance at life. Furthermore, this piece will illustrate the issues illegal immigrants face along with a new policy, which has the potential to change lives for illegal immigrants with productive intentions. In June 2012, President Barrack Obama announced a new policy, which could delay illegal immigrants from experiencing deportation. The new policy is aimed at those who illegally came to this country as children, and who have generally stayed out of trouble since they got here (Simon, 2012). Under the administrations new plan, these immigrants would get a temporary, two-year waiver from deportation, and would also be eligible for a work permit (Simon, 2012). Those eligible can seek what amounts to a two-year deferment of any prosecution for being in this country illegally, a deferment, which is infinitely renewable (Fischer, 2012). Scott Horsley from the National Public Radio News (NPR) Stated, â€Å" the policy is aimed at people who came to the U. S. when they were under the age of 16, and whove lived here for at least five years. Those who have gone to school, finished school, gotten their GED, or served in the military, and who are not yet 30 years old. These are, if you will, the most innocent of illegal immigrants, those of whom Mr. Obama said they are Americans in every way but on paper. † This move could affect 800,000 to 1. million illegal immigrants. A few of my own family members could be affected by this. I have cousins, which came to the US illegally with their parents and have excelled since being here in the United States, but the threat of deportation is a constant reality. Some have been victims of crimes, and didn’t contact the authorities, for fear of being torn out of the lives they built. The new policy could be beneficial to my family as well as many other families who fear f amily members not coming home at the end of the day. This could be a temporary solution for the working class immigrants. A few arguments are that some think this back-door amnesty. Gov Jan Brewer stated, What he has done today is he is going to give documentation to nearly a million people that have arrived in our country illegally and not by the rule of law. † Another argument is that the Obama administration has decided to stop following laws already passed by Congress and act as if its preferred policies are law. More particularly, the DREAM Act, which failed to pass Congress. President Obama has used executive power to bring back parts of the DREAM Act, and is going along with policy rather than law. What President Obama has done is legal, but could set a regrettable precedent, where presidents in the future could refuse to follow laws because of disagreement with certain elements of those laws. Illegal immigrants are can apply for the two year waiver from deportation, but it is clear this is not a path to citizenship. Non-citizens will not be able to vote. These immigrants will also have to complete the same application process as all others do for work permits. Federal work permits will be given to those, which are granted prosecutorial deferment. I believe this new policy is a morally right decision. I personally have served in the armed forces with some of these immigrants, and a few have even defended the US better than some US citizens, for a country that does not want them. For example, one of my brothers in arms is a Philippine National, and while serving a deployment in Iraq his wife and newborn son were deported , which led to a long strenuous application process. To be blunt, it is a smack in the face to deport or prosecute veterans for immigration laws because they have served the US government and supported and defended the Constitution were to approve the new policy, immigration courts would be able to shift their focus to the illegal immigrants, which have bad intentions, criminal records, no tax record, or more blatantly put the individuals who should be prosecuted and deported. Some did not even know they were not citizens until they applied for drivers licenses, or college scholarships, etc. I just do not think it is right to deport or prosecute people who are not doing anything to hurt the United States, and if they show promise. So to recapitulate, the immigration policy was announced in June 2012. It has the potential to help, those brought to the US not by their own doing. Specifically, it helps anyone who was under the age of 16 upon illegal entry, has been in the US for five years, not more than 30 years old, veterans, and those with no criminal records.

Whitey’s: The Bar amidst the Prairies :: Free Descriptive Essay About A Place

Whitey’s: the Bar amidst the Prairies Before going to the legendary Whitey’s in East Grand Forks, MN, I had thought it was bar patroned by middle-aged people. There didn’t seem to be as many college students going there. When writing about this place, I positioned myself in a neutral ground. I am from Grand Forks, and lived there for ten years, but attend college at NDSU, not UND (NDSU’s rival). I came to see or know Whitey’s through my older sister and friends who frequented there and I actually went there for my sophomore year of homecoming with friends when it was a restaurant as well. It is strange to write about the bar now that both the bar and I have changed. What I found by visiting Whitey’s was some the joy of watching others. Listening to their conversations, hearing their whispers, feeling like a part of something in that bar was fulfilling. I came to find Whitey’s as being a place of fulfillment and satisfaction not only for the alumni of UND or the regulars, but for myself as an outsider as well. I felt comfortable at this local nostalgic bar. When coming into this place, I felt a sense of comradry and affection. It was UND’s homecoming weekend, and this was the place to be for the alumni. The first thing you see when you walk into Whitey’s is the bar to your left, the bar down the aisle, and the pool tables to your right and left, different from most bars I have been to with the dance floor being the first thing you see. There are neon signs hanging behind the bar to your left giving specials on $1.50 pints of beer. As I glided in I could feel the reunion amongst the alumni and it almost became cozy to an outsider such as myself. It happened to be very cold outside, and very warm inside, furthering the sense of coziness. I sat at the bar farthest back with friends and began to try to understand and learn about the people around me, without interfering. The first person who caught my eye was a young man, probably late 20’s. He reeked of alcohol and walked in surrounded by friends coming down that long aisle that lead to the bar.

Sugar Sweet :: Papers

Sugar Sweet The sugar pulsed through her blood. She took another bite. The smooth, sweet chocolate fused into her body removing the pain. She could feel their stares. Burning through her as she ate. She seized the remainder of the chocolate and walked out. It was intolerable. Every time she ate she could feel those around her wishing to throw up. She could feel their whispers of disgust. As she was leaving the food court she felt a tap on her shoulder. She spun around, preparing herself for another snide remark about her size. "What?" she snapped. "You forgot this" the girl replied, her tight jeans accentuating her flawless figure. The girl handed the leaflet to her. "Looks like you might need it" With a snort of laughter she left and returned to her friends. She ran through the rest of the shopping centre. Past the countless shops, pictures of stick figure models stuck to their windows. Sitting under the stairs on the station she extracted the remnants of a family block of chocolate from her bag. She flicked through the leaflet "Lose weight now". She had never seen it before. She began sobbing. The train pulled out of the station. She remained sitting hidden under the steps. Consumed by distress the tall figure that slid up next to her went unnoticed. He lit a cigarette causing her to jump. "What's the problem, babe?" he said offering her a cigarette. "No thanks I don't smoke" she muttered, wiping away the tears. Suddenly conscious of her size she folder her arms across her stomach. "Hey I've seen you before" she sniffed, "You're Dads apprentice" "Yeah, that's me. Look, do you want a lift somewhere?" Face flushed, crying, she unlocked the front door and ran upstairs to her bedroom. She shouldn't have done it. His sweet charm had left her trapped in a car while he tried to come closer. "Give it ago, come on I promise it won't hurt". He had thrust two pills into her mouth.

Human Resource Management in Brunei Essay

Rousseau (1990) defines culture as a set of common values and understandings obtained through socialization (Noe, Hollenbeck, Gerhart, & Wright, 2008). As such, the Islamic laws define the fundamental customs and lifestyle of Bruneians. Nevertheless, culture is an elusive behavior, which can be refined and redefined as the macro-environment changes. We explore how attitudes and perspective can be changed, in order to better adapt to technologies through laws and policies, without contradicting the essentials of Islamic culture thus improving their economy. The General Order in Brunei provides employees with high social security and benefits; they are entitled to ‘lifetime employment’ (Dore, 1973). Thus leading to insufficient supply of jobs for the younger generation who makes up the largest percentage of the unemployment rate. Additionally, paternalism is evident in Brunei; superiors act as a father figure in the organization and employees show utmost respect for their managers. Thus illustrating the relationship between cultural influences and organizational behavior. Foreign investments and tourism in Brunei have been severely impeded due to their inflexible Islamic culture, hence affecting Brunei’s integration with the world. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan, the importance of ‘liberation of visa regulations’ will ‘boost tourism and trade opportunities’ (Ying Chua, 2010). However in Brunei, regulations on foreign investments must comply with the standard of their Islamic laws, which hinder growth. Thus, exemplifying that culture affects its economy as it set the boundary of Brunei’s business environment. It is difficult for Brunei to fully integrate their economy with western countries due to very differing culture. Nonetheless, she can aim to be the capital for the Islamic world. For example, it can be the financial capital for the Middle Eastern countries, or even the world main supplier for Halal food in the world. This acts as a double-edge sword for Brunei because Brunei will not compromise their rich culture for economical gains. However before attaining such standards, Brunei has to examine their technological infrastructure and whether Bruneians are ready to adapt themselves for changes. Bruneians pride themselves on their rich Islamic culture hence they are less receptive to changes that appear to be in conflict. The sultanate laws never inculcated the use of technology until the mid 21st century, the government through its education system (Ganske & Hamidon, 2006). However the older generation, which the workforce mainly consists, is less responsive to such drastic changes. Firstly, it is against their culture to voice differing viewpoints to their superiors as it is considered disrespectful therefore, severely curtailing their initiative thus breeding complacency and conformity. Secondly, the lack of formalization (Chan, Foo, Nelson, Timbrell, & Othman, 2010) contradicted the implementation of new technologies; ‘the announcement to embark on e-government (a B$1 billion project) was made in 2000 but it was not until 2003 that the actual planning started (Kifle & Cheng, 2009)’, this 3 years gap have left many Bruneians confused about the process and pro gress. Language is part of a country’s culture. (Bakar, 2008). Therefore any language differences, will significantly hinder Bruneians’ adaptation to technology. Brunei’s national language is Malay while new technologies developed are instructed in English. This sudden change in the use language has adversely impeded on their adaptation. Nevertheless, this is only applicable to the older generation as Brunei government has enforced bilingualism in their current education system. A shift in their language culture from solely Malay to bilingualism will enhance their adaptation to new technology hence fulfilling Brunei’s vision of becoming an e-government whereby all traditional manual paperwork are electronically done. It is indisputable that Brunei will always be ruled by a strict set of Islamic laws, which forms the core principle of the country. Nonetheless, the problems faced by Brunei can be corrected through prudent laws and policies that can be inculcated as part of their culture. Culture shapes the fundamental of the legal and political system in Brunei. The Sultanate laws favour the Brunei Malays because of their shared values and customs while indigenous minorities are viewed inferior (Braighlinn, 1992). This partial treatment could potentially jeopardies Brunei’s economy by distancing relationships with developed countries because of very differing culture and customs and these developed countries have valuable resources, which Bruneians can acquire from. For example, skilled professionals from other countries will be hesitant to enter Brunei’s workforce because they have slower social advancement and benefits. This can be improved on without changing the core principles of Islamism. Furthermore, it is because of their traditional principle of ‘strict essence of conformity and consensus’ (Kramar & Syed, 2012) that has tremendously thwarted their country’s global integration. Brunei’s doctrine, ‘does not allow organization or individual to challenge the government and its policies’, has adversely stunts employees’ initiative. The Majesty criticized their work indifference, working ‘just like a robot with no direction, initiative or common sense’ (Low, Zain, & Ang, 2012). Such inflexible and flaccid work-attitude, would only curtail individual’s motivation at work and more drastically, leading to colossal losses to the organization. To a great extent culture sets the tone of how a country should be governed by defining the boundaries of their operations. However, we can no longer say that a country’s culture is a separate entity from its political system or from its economy or even their adaptation to technology. Culture orientates the parameters of one’s laws and policies, which in turn affects the growth of its economy. Likewise, a technologically cultured country brought about through good policies, could bring about many benefits to its economy. All these factors are intertwined and together they work as a whole system as to how a country, whether private or public companies, should be run. However there are certain strategies which the government can undertake to help individual adapt to the technology. The Government Employee Management System (GEMS) is a project, which aims in achieving an interactive and integrated public service. (Brunei Government Prime Minister’s Office 2010) Human Resource Management (HRM) consists of 2 main functions; the process of managing people in the organization in a structured and thorough manner, e.g. hiring people and retention of people. Secondly, the management of people within an organization e.g. managing relationship between management and employees. Critically, HRM requires the use of technology-based platforms to ensure efficiency and high-productivity of an organization. Thus, the importance of implementing GEMS and ensuring success to facilitate HRM better. Introduction of the use of technical system for HRM Government Employee Management System (GEMS) is a web-based system that enables, â€Å"efficient data input and greater transparency, which allows better management of HRM practices such as recruitment, compensation and benefit.† (Brunei Government Prime Minister’s Office 2010) To achieve greater effectiveness, GEMS will automate a significant number of tasks that were previously done manually. Employees’ information will now be kept in a database accessible to all departments, and it will be easily attainable. It would fasten decision-making because information would be readily available whenever required. Responses of Advancement of technology in HRM However, GEMS was not well received by employees. The Majority of the population belongs to the Malay community, thus finding it difficult to adapt to the English web-based system. Strategies that involve Human Resource enable individual employees to adjust themselves to technological changes Re-training of Employees GEMS was found as a complex system, training is thus, crucial to assist staff and officers to adapt and operate GEMS effectively. Training will greatly assist employees to better manage GEMS, as employees would be able to constructively operate the new system independently. Further mentoring is needed to ensure employees have fully comprehended the use of the system. At the same time creating a sense of achievement and often boost employee’s morale. However, there are several disadvantages and cost to re-train employees. Firstly, the large amount of people in an organization makes it difficult to schedule trainings (N Nayab 2010). Secondly, training requires a lot of time and ample resources, which could be economically disadvantageous in the short run. Hence, organization should thoroughly consider the pro et contra before sending employees for re-trainings. Motivating of employees Another key approach to assist staff and officers to adapt effectively to such changes is through motivation. Rewarding Employees A reward system can be created to encourage the use of technology. A good strategy to ensure adaptation for employees would be the use of monetary benefits. For example, HRM could implement an incentive plan by recognizing its employees for its efforts to adapt and use new technologies. It aims to acknowledge good performance and address the gap between the organization goals set for employees and the final outcomes. Increase job satisfaction of employee The more contented an employee is with its job, the higher possibility an employee would be adaptive to changes. (Richard W. Scholl 2003) Employers can consider satisfying employees’ job satisfaction, such as pay, working hours and job security. With job satisfaction, employees would be more adaptive to changes and the willingness to ensure effective operation of GEMS, which in result beneficial to the company in the long run. However, motivation is subjective. While it can empower employees and employers, its effect may be short term. Therefore, effort must be made consistently, for it will not be able to fulfil its long term effect of adaptation towards new organization goals. Strategies by Singapore Government A country’s adaptation towards technology is nurtured over time, and Singapore is a good example for Brunei to help individual adapt to technology. Singapore encourages technology development in its bid to become the next Silicon Valley (Gregory Gromov 1986). Singapore Government has created schemes and funding, which include cash grants, tax incentives and debt financing (AsianOne 2009). Brunei Government could also implement special schemes and grants dedicated to attract setup and ensure success, encouraging entry of foreign technology investors. This will subsequently, benefit Brunei as it helps risk reduction, in terms of investment in the long run. To further encourage the development of new innovations, SPRING Singapore has a special Technology Innovation Programme (TIP) for those who are able to develop new inventions or improve existing ones (SPRING Singapore 2012). Such programs and campaigns could be implemented in Brunei, encouraging Brunei to be exposed to the latest technology available, resulting in the increase of tech savvy consumers over the years. The above are just some strategies, which Brunei can adopt to help individual adapt to technological changes. There are many other strategies and prudent policies which Brunei can mirror, modeled by the western countries without compromising its core principle of Islamism. HRM is not culturally neutral. The nature of the scope is linked with local institutions, labour laws, corporate strategies and industrial relations vary greatly across national borders. Social Rights Bruneian adheres to the MIB ideology, a set of guiding values with the incorporation of the importance of Islam as a religion. This strict rule over the country means there are limitations to the freedom of speech, freedom of associations and collective bargaining (Kramar & Syed, 2012). However, despite the strict conformity, the government has adopted flexible and family-friendly policies (Kramar & Syed, 2012). For instance, General Order states that one should work no more than 8 hours and there are flexibilities when family responsibilities arise. America offers a much higher degree of freedom to its people. In the case of her stipulated law, â€Å"employees shall have the right to organize and to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and shall be free from the interference, restraint, or coercion of employers†¦. in the designation of such representatives.† (Stough, 1933). This leads to the formation of Labour Unions, which give the workers’ rights to negotiate terms with the management. The political system of the two countries sets them apart. In Brunei, HRM has to adhere to the country’s strict conformity, affecting multiple HRM issues such as appointments, discipline, work etiquette and appointments. Its people have little or no say over what is decided for them, unlike America. This social rights has seen the formation of Labour unions; an idea in which the government of Brunei will never tolerate. Sociocultural Individualism vs. Collectivism Brunei is more of a collectivist – the working environment culture is such that the people who work together are closely knitted, like a big family (Salleh & Clarke). Supervisors and officers are treated with respect like that of a parent (Kramar & Syed, 2012). Employees have no qualms sharing any problems and issues with their managers. Such informal relationship leads to total loyalty to their group; it gives the workers the sense of belonging and security. America, on the other hand, is represented by individualism (Gorrill, 2007). The need to develop personal relationships is less significant in comparison to Brunei. Individual performances are, instead, highly valued in American culture; managers are only approached for help in essential situations (Gorrill, 2007). The American corporations subscribe to formal corporate planning procedures and are generally viewed as unconcerned with promoting long-term loyalty to the organisation (Beechler, Najjar, Stucker, & Bird, 1996). Thus, a highly competitive work ethic is cultivated, leading to less job security Low vs. High Power Distance With a hierarchical relationship in place, Brunei is thought to possess a high power distance. However, it is not the case. The nurturance and care provided to the subordinates by their superiors imply that a paternalistic relationship is present (Aycan, et al., 2001). In return, the subordinate are loyal to their superior. The relationship positively impacts on the employee participation rates in decision making and problem solving. Evidently, it lowers the power distance between managers and their subordinates. Western cultures are, more than often, represented with a low power distance, thus a certain degree of informality is present. However, in America, an authoritative and organisational hierarchy is very much accepted and entrenched in its business culture (Dana, 2010). In other words, decisions are made from the top. The hierarchical chain of command often supersedes personal relationship and clear distinctions are made between work colleagues and friends (Gorrill, 2007). These leads to a significant power distance between managers and employees. Economy The economic context of a country is hardly predictable and stable, but it is most likely to have long-term consequences for HRM (Kramar & Syed, 2012). The supply and demand of labour forces vary accordingly to the country’s unemployment level. Supply and demand of labour force The benefits offered by the Brunei’s public sector, coupled with the family-style work culture, create a stable and secured work environment. As such, a job position will, almost, only be available when someone retires or resigns (Kramar & Syed, 2012). This brings about minimal turnover and thus, leads to an oversupply of labour force. America also faces unemployment issues but however, causes and implications are different and unlike Brunei, the issue is not a long term one. In the States, companies are unconcerned with long time loyalty and retrenchment may occur due to poor performances, intensifying job competition (Gorrill, 2007). Despite facing similar unemployment problems, HRM from the two countries has to tackle the problem very differently. When 1,000 applicants apply for a job with only 4 vacancies, HRM in Brunei has to ensure the right people are hired for the jobs (Kramar & Syed, 2012). (Salleh & Clarke)While in America, HRM faces the challenges of recruiting people for jobs because intense job competitions bring about a lack of job security. Bibliography AsianOne (2009), Singapore Press Holdings Ltd., Singaporeans second most tech savvy in the world, viewed 15 February 2013 . Aycan, Z., Kanungo, R. N., Mendonca, M., Yu, K., Deller, J., Stahl, G., et al. (2001). Impact on Culture on Human Resource Management Practices: A 10-Country Comparison. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. Beechler, S., Najjar, M., Stucker, K., & Bird, A. (1996). Japanese-style versus American-style Human Resource Management Overseas: Examining Whether the Data Support the â€Å"Facts†. New York: Columbia University. Black, A. (2008). Ideology and law: the impact of the MIB ideology on law and dispute resolution in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. Asian Journal of Comparative Law. Braighlinn, G. (1992). Ideological Innovation under Monarchy: Aspects of Legitimation Activity in Contemporary Brunei: Aspects of Legitimation Activity in Contemporary Brunei. The Netherlands: VU University Press. Brunei Government Prime Minister’s Office (2010), GEMS Background, viewed 15 February2013, . Bujang, A. G. (1987). Education for Nationhood. Southeast Asian J. of Education Studies . Dana. (2010). Downside of a low power-distance culture. Chicago: Investoralist. Gregory Gromov (1986), Silicon Valley History, viewed 15 February 2013, . (Gregory Gromov 1986) Gorrill, J. R. (2007). Doing Business in the United States of America / US Social and Business Culture. London: Communicaid. Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture’s Consequence: International Difference in Work Related Values. California: SAGE Publications Inc. Kramar, R., & Syed, J. (2012). Human Resource Managment in a Global Context. U.S: Palgave Macmillan. Kon, J. (2013, January 24). Over $1B spent in first year of 10th NDP. Retrieved February 5, 2013, from Borneo Bulletin: http://borneobulletin.com.bn/index.php/2013/01/24/over-1b-spent-in-first-year-of-10th-ndp/ Kramar, R., & Syed, J. (2012). HRM in Brunei’s public sector. In R. Kramar, & J. Syed, Human Resource management in a global context (pp. 27-30). New York: Palgrave Macmilan. Low, P. K., Zain, A. Y., & Ang, S.-L. (2012). The key principles of managing people: The Brunei perspective. interesjournal , 3, 594-602. N Nayab (2010), Pros & Cons of Company-Paid Employee Training, viewed 15 February 2013, Noe, R. A., Hollenbeck, J. R., Gerhart, B. A., & Wright, P. M. (2008). Human Resource Management; Gaining a competitive advantage. New York: McGraw Hill. Richard W. Scholl (2003), Job Satisfaction, viewed 15 February 2013, . Ronald Phillip Dore, 1973, ‘British factory-Japanese Factory: The Origins of National Diversity of Industrial Relations.’, Chapter 10, pg 264 Salleh, N. M., & Clarke, N. Emotions and their management during a merger in Brunei: The Impact of National Culture. Gadong; Southhampton: Institut Teknologi Brunei; University of Southhampton. SPRING Singapore (2012), Technology Innovation Programme (TIP), viewed 15 February 2013, (SPRING Singapore 2012). Stough, D. (1933). Trade unionism under the recovery program. Washington, DC: DC: CQ Press. World Trade Organization (WTO), 2001, ‘Trade Policy Reviews: First Press Release, Secretariats and Government Summaries’, viewed 20 February 2013, http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp164_e.htm Ying Chua, 2010, ‘Strict visa rules a factor in limited Pakistani trade presence, tourism’, The Brunei Times, May 7, http://www.bt.com.bn/business-national/2010/05/07/strict-visa-rules-factor-limited-pakistani-trade-presence-tourism

Routines in Healthcare that seem to be inefficient Essays

Routines in Healthcare that seem to be inefficient Essays Routines in Healthcare that seem to be inefficient The scientific management theory was advanced by Frederick W. Taylor. He was an engineer and inventor. The theory seeks to enhance an organization's efficiency by systematically increasing the efficiency of task completion by using engineering, scientific, and mathematical analysis. Additionally, the aim is to reduce waste, upsurge the methods and production methods and generate a just distribution of goods. This purpose serves the employers, employees and societys common interests (America in Class, n.d.). He established 4 principles centered on this theory: 1. Managers ought to collect information, analyze it, and lessen it to laws, rules, or mathematical formulas. 2. Managers must scientifically choose and train workers. 3. Managers should guarantee that the techniques which are developed by science are utilized by the workers. 4. Managers are duty-bound to apply the work similarly between workers and themselves where they apply scientific management theories to the planning process and the workers carry out the tasks with regard to the plans. An instance of a routine in healthcare that appear to be inefficient can relate to understaffing a floor with a potentially high acuity rate. In the medical facility that I usually work in, conscription is grounded on the census of the floor as opposed to the level of acuity which ultimately leads to a culmination of shift overtime, thus in my view, this leads to nurse dissatisfaction as well as more medical errors. An instance of a participative decision making that is present at the workplace is inspiring leading to nurses becoming members of the hospitals Shared Governance Committee. Regularly, such a committee provides autonomy to nurses to be involved in the decision making process in their practice. Most hospital have nurses who are part of recruitment and retention council, nursing informatics council, nursing practice council, and MAGNET council as a component of the powerful Shared Governance Committee. References America in Class. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://americainclass.org/wp content/uploads/2013/03/Taylor-Scientific-Management-1910-excerpt.pdf

Top Characteristics of Ancient Civilizations

Top Characteristics of Ancient Civilizations The phrase top characteristics of civilization refers both to the features of societies that rose to greatness in Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Indus Valley, Chinas Yellow River, Mesoamerica, the Andes Mountains in South America and others, as well as to the reasons or explanations for the rise of those cultures. Why those cultures became so complex while others faded away is one of the great puzzles that archaeologists and historians have attempted to address many times. The fact that complexity happened is undeniable. In a short 12,000 years, humans, who organized and fed themselves as loosely associated bands of hunters and gatherers eventually developed into societies with full-time jobs, political borders, and detente, currency markets and entrenched poverty and wristwatch computers, world banks, and international space stations. How did we do that? So, What is a Civilization? The concept of a civilization has a fairly grubby past. The idea of what we consider a civilization grew out of the 18th-century movement known as the Enlightenment  and the term is often related to or used interchangeably with culture. These two terms are tied up with linear developmentalism, the now-discredited notion that human societies evolved in a linear fashion. According to that, there was a straight line that societies were supposed to develop along, and ones that deviated were, well, deviant. That idea allowed movements such as kulturkreis in the 1920s to brand societies and ethnic groups as decadent or normal, depending on what stage of the societal evolution line scholars and politicians perceived them to have achieved. The idea was used as an excuse for European imperialism, and it must be said still lingers in some places. American archaeologist Elizabeth Brumfiel (2001) pointed out that the word civilization has two meanings. First, the definition arising from the grubby past is civilization as a generalized state of being, that is to say, a civilization has productive economies, class stratification, and striking intellectual and artistic achievements. That is contrasted by primitive or tribal societies with modest subsistence economies, egalitarian social relations, and less extravagant arts and sciences. Under this definition, civilization equals progress and cultural superiority, which in turn was used by European elites to legitimize their domination of the working class at home and colonial people abroad. However, civilization also refers to the enduring cultural traditions of specific regions of the world. For literally thousands of years, successive generations of people resided on the Yellow, Indus, Tigris/Euphrates, and Nile rivers outliving the expansion and collapse of individual polities or states. That sort of a civilization is sustained by something other than complexity: there probably is something inherently human about creating an identity based on whatever it is that defines us, and clinging onto that. Factors Leading to Complexity It is clear that our ancient human ancestors lived a far simpler life than we do. Somehow, in some cases, in some places, at some times, simple societies for one reason or another morphed into more and more complex societies, and some become civilizations. The reasons which have been proposed for this growth in complexity range from a simple model of population pressure- too many mouths to feed, what do we do now?- to the greed for power and wealth from a few individuals to the impacts of climate change- a prolonged drought, a flood, or tsunami, or a depletion of a particular food resource. But single-source explanations are not convincing, and most archaeologists today would agree that any complexity process was gradual, over hundreds or thousands of years, variable over that time and particular for each geographic region. Each decision made in a society to embrace complexity- whether that involved the establishment of kinship rules or food technology- occurred in its own peculiar, and likely largely unplanned, way. The evolution of societies is like human evolution, not linear but branched, messy, full of dead ends and successes not necessarily marked by the best behavior. Nevertheless, the characteristics of burgeoning complexity in a prehistoric society are pretty much agreed upon, falling roughly into three groups: Food, Technology, and Politics. Food and Economics increasing sedentism- a reduction in the amount of mobility within a society, allowing or requiring people to settle down in one place for longer periodsthe need to produce a stable and reliable source of food for your group, whether by growing crops, called agriculture; or raising animals for milking, plowing or meat, called pastoralismthe ability to quarry and process tin, copper, bronze, gold, silver, iron and other metals into usable objects, known  as metallurgythe creation of tasks that require people who can dedicate part or all of their time to complete, such as textile or pottery production, jewelry production and referred to as craft specializationenough people to act as a workforce, be craft specialists and require the stable food source, referred to as high population densitythe rise of urbanism, religious and political centers, and socially heterogeneous, permanent settlementsthe development of markets, either to meet the demands of urban elites for food and status goo ds or for common people to enhance the efficiency and/or economic security of their households Architecture and Technology the presence of large, non-domestic buildings constructed to be shared by the community, such as churches and shrines and plazas and collectively known as monumental architecturea way to communicate information long distances within and outside of the group, known as a writing systemthe presence of a group level religion, controlled by religious specialists such as shamans or priestsa way to know when the seasons will change, by means of a calendar or astronomical observationroads and transportation networks that allowed communities to be connected Politics and People Control the rise of trade or exchange networks, in which communities share goods with one another, leading tothe presence of luxury and exotic goods, such as baltic amber), jewelry made from precious metals, obsidian, spondylus shell, and a wide variety of other objectsthe creation of classes or hierarchical posts and titles with different levels of power within the society  called social stratification and rankingan armed military force, to protect the community and/or the leaders from the communitysome way to collect tribute and taxes (labor, goods or currency), as well as private estatesa centralized​ rule, to organize all those various things Not all of these characteristics necessarily have to be present for a particular cultural group to be considered a civilization, but all of them are considered evidence of relatively complex societies. Sources Al-Azmeh, A. Concept . International Encyclopedia of the Social Behavioral Sciences (Second Edition). Ed. Wright, James D. Oxford: Elsevier, 2015. 719–24. Print.and History of CivilizationBrumfiel, E. M. Archaeology of States and Civilizations. International Encyclopedia of the Social Behavioral Sciences. Ed. Baltes, Paul B. Oxford: Pergamon, 2001. 14983–88. Print.Covey, R. Alan. Rise of Political Complexity. Encyclopedia of Archaeology. Ed. Pearsall, Deborah M. New York: Academic Press, 2008. 1842–53. Print.Eisenstadt, Samuel N. Civilizations. International Encyclopedia of the Social Behavioral Sciences (Second Edition). Ed. Wright, James D. Oxford: Elsevier, 2001. 725–29. Print.Kuran, Timur. Explaining the Economic Trajectories of Civilizations: The Systemic Approach. Journal of Economic Behavior Organization 71.3 (2009): 593–605. Print.Macklin, Mark G., and John Lewin. The Rivers of Civilization. Quaternary Science Reviews 114 (2015): 228â₠¬â€œ44. Print.Nichols, Deborah L. , R. Alan  Covey, and Kamyar Abdia. Rise of Civilization and Urbanism. Encyclopedia of Archaeology. Ed. Pearsall, Deborah M. London: Elsevier Inc., 2008. 1003–15. Print.

Tylenol Cyanide Scare †Case Study Analysis

Tylenol Cyanide Scare – Case Study Analysis Free Online Research Papers In the Case 6-3, Tylenol Rides It out and Gains a Legacy, Chapter 6, was the one I decided to do my case study analysis on, in which I evaluated the effectiveness of communication between this organization and its publics. Based on my selected case study, I will evaluate the effectiveness of the communication between the organization and its intended public(s).This case study is a true story of how seven people died from cyanide put into capsules that people did not realize until too late. The first item on hand is to identify the different publics involved in the case study. There are two in this case which Tylenol (the company) is the corporation and the public which is the consumers. In having these tragedies happen to seven people in the Chicago area. Were cyanide was put into different capsules and resulting in seven deaths. Trying to figure out how to differentiate between the internal and external publics involved. The internal people would be the CEO, Vice Presidents, Upper management, Lower management and all the employees that worked for the company. The external were the customers, media, and special interest groups. The impact the communications had on the intended public(s) was great. Johnson and Johnson came out right and took the credit for all the problems. The company stood up and told people right away what was happing. By doing this and having a great founder that believed in the corporation and being socially responsible for society had a profound a ffect to the public. A company that has high ethics is very few and far between. A lot of companies just don’t want anyone to know what they are hiding so they try to sweep it under the rug. The message had been communicated greatly effectively because they as the company took on the public and the answers. They had a crisis and showed that they could handle it in any way. Any problem that was thrown at them they could try their best to fix or at least try to do something about it. Tylenol took pride in their product and in their reputation for integrity and having pride in the public. â€Å". In 2001, the crime remains unsolved. All supplies of the product in stores nationwide were pulled off the shelves by the parent company, Johnson Johnson, at a cost exceeding $50 million. After due time and investigation, the product was reissued in tamper-resistant containers, and a sealed package of capsules was offered free to consumers who had discarded the suspect supplies in their possession. The company became a champion of tamper-resistantconsumer product packaging†. (CASE 6-3 A CLASSIC: TYLENOL RIDES IT OUT AND GAINS A LEGACY, 1983) In the echoing events When I identified the different PR communication tools and techniques that were used to inform, influence, and motivate the public(s) in the Tylenol case. I was able to find a chart that listed all the forms they used below. They used proactive, reactive, strategic of non verbal and verbal words and many listed below in the chart that I have attached. They used strategic planning, News releases, Company profiles, Newsletters, Video services, Crisis Mangament, Speechwrighting. These came in handy because it was important to get the message out there with minumal distractions. Johnson and Johnson by using and following each one with care was able to have a much better out come then actually though. (Strategic communication process model, 2005) In evaluating the benefits and risks of using these tools is very risky because the scale can swing either way. By using the methods they chosen could have caused them to either go out of business or keep the business they have and get new clients. The company took a big risk with the decision. If it had gone the other way then we might not have Tylenol here at all. I would think that if they lost then another company would have come out with a similar product and they would have had made the same amount of money. The difference between the both is that this PR campaign and Advertising does not really matter does to the outcome in this century. I don’t think that I would have used other tools because I think that they pretty much did what they could at the time. If this crisis were to occur today, how would new technologies, such as the Internet, impact this case? It would have impacted very much. With the use of you tube and my space and the internet you can pracatally get instance messaging right on. This may have prevented so many deaths because if we used the internet there would have been instant messaging and I think we would have hit a lot more people in a shorter period of time. I think due to the time Tylenol did all that they could do. Due to the recent globalization of markets, would the outcome of this case be different if the events occurred today? It may have because the markets are mass media and everyone is on the internet and getting information. We might not have as many people die as we did. The case study was about how Tylenol had the scare with cyanide. It also talked about how seven people died because of it and how Tylenol products survived and they are now even better then ever. In the paper it asked us how we as PR people would improve on the situation and even predict a better outcome. We were asked if we think the internet would improve the outcome or even change the outcome. I think I have answered all the questions to the best of my abilities and have shown how Tylenol handled the situation very well for the time they were in. Not that the time was along time ago but it was before what internet service we have had in this present day of age. In the end I think that the internet would have improved the outcome and may even have saved some life. But what we know now and what we knew then are two different items. We can never go back and change the outcome of such a tragedy. In my case study analysis on, in which I evaluated the effectiveness of communication betw een this organization and its publics. I have shown the effectiveness on the communication on the public and how it can affect the public in different ways. I have achieved my goal in showing how the internet can play a big role in making a difference between PR now and PR then. Research Papers on Tylenol Cyanide Scare - Case Study AnalysisMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductThe Project Managment Office SystemThe Fifth HorsemanAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalResearch Process Part OneRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andLifes What IfsEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenGenetic Engineering

William Henry III Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

William Henry III - Essay Example In Plato's Allegory of the Cave, Socrates presented a caveman who only knows of darkness. He further presented another caveman who went out, saw the light, came back and considered blind in the darkness. And then he asked who is better off between the caveman who remained and the caveman who left and then blinded by the light. (350 B.C.) The caveman who left is better learned but the caveman who remained can better see. So, are they equal In my opinion, men are never equal. With regard to the cavemen, being in the cave at that point in time, I think the caveman who remained is superior compared to the caveman who left. For if you are bound and chained inside the cave with no chance of escaping, what use is your knowledge of light However, if eventually, the caveman who left was able to adjust his vision so he is no longer blind in the darkness, he is superior. For he no longer has a handicap and yet he knows something the other caveman does not. In Aristotle's Nichomachean Ethics he said that every art, inquiry, action and pursuit is aimed at some good. And that certain activities produce different ends. Some might result to the end itself or master end, while some might result in a product leading to the end or subordinate end. (350 B.C.) For example, the end of Medical Arts is health. Thus the act of the doctor of prescribing medicine to the sick and the act of the nurse of taking care of the patient all leads to the master end: health. However, the act of an x-ray technician only leads to a subordinate end: the production of the x-ray result. This is because without analysis of the result and without a cure given, health is not attained. Hence we can say a doctor is superior that an x-ray technician. With respect to medical arts, they are not equal. And this even applies to the normal work setting. In the office there are maintenance people, there's the staff and there's management. All of which are not equal. We have discussed the 'master end' in a particular art. However, there are different kinds of art and sciences. But is there a master art that in which all the ends of all the art fall unto to, the most superior art According to Aristotle, it is politics. Politics uses all the sciences, like medicine and economics. Thru legislature ordains what sciences to be studied, who should learn it and to what extent. It determines what we ought to do and what we should avoid doing. (350 B.C.) Politics directs the state and thus directs all individual men. In the modern day setting, politics is represented by the government. We abide by the law that it legislate. We pay taxes. And we accept punishment from it. Even the richest and most powerful private company answers to the government. Indeed, the government is superior compared to all the other institutions. So far we have established that within a certain activity, art, science or institution, there is inequality between men. William A. Henry III was right. Some are smarter, more diligent, harder to replace and simply better. So is this necessarily anti-egalitarian Does

Motivation Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Motivation Plan - Essay Example A team becomes one because of the diversity exhibited by the numerous members. However, in order to achieve success, the members must use their diverse features to unify and improve the performance of the group towards the attainment of the goals and objectives of the group. To achieve such, the group requires an effective leader. One who does not only motivate but also compels the members to commit to the activities of the group. Team C has just such a perfect leader. Elected democratically by all the group members, the group leader thus exhibits the diversity portrayed by members in the democratic process. The group leader unifies the group owing to his democratic election. Additionally, he enjoys the authority to summon members thus improve the accountability required by the group members. With such, the leader becomes a directional and unifying force capable of centering the group’s energy towards the attainment of specific goals. While the leader enjoys great autonomy and control to the group, the members influence his actions and decisions. He consults great with the members a feature that improves a sense of belonging of the members into the group. The group members influence the decisions that run the group. They own the decision since they generate them. The leader thus simply unifies the energies of the group towards the completion of any one task before proceeding to the next. Such a feature earns the members trust and indulgence in the group’s activities owing to the fact that the members generate the ideas thus determines the nature of the completion of the works. As discussed earlier, for the group to function seamlessly and attain specific goals and objectives, the members require appropriate motivation. The group leader must therefore motivate the group members and ensure that he unifies them towards the attainment of specific objectives. The leader is the primary motivational factor in the group. He unifies all the group members b y determining their actions. Through his active and passionate involvement with the activities of the group, the leader motivates other members to work equally as hard. The leader must exhibit a quality of charisma capable of manipulating the strengths and weaknesses of the members. He must use such to commit members to the tasks of the group by establishing a way of earning the trust and commitment of each member into the group. The members possess diverse features that are both weaknesses and strengths in diverse measures. The leader must effortlessly find ways of suppressing the weaknesses in the members while fostering the strengths thus encouraging the active participation of the members into the team (Duck, 2006). The group members on the other hand have a moral obligation to participate in the activities of the group equally. This implies that their active participation is primary if the group is to succeed. They must exhibit the natural drive and motivation to participate by either helping the leader make decision or by implementing the decisions made by the leader. Their participation in the election of the leader earns the leader the authority over them. They therefore have the moral obligation to obey and implement the decisions made by their leader. Respect and submission to the leader is a prerogative to the success of the group’s activities. Teamwork dictates that each member suppresses their individual interests and prioritizes the interest of the group. This implies tha

Sustainable Concrete Environmental Studies Coursework

Sustainable Concrete Environmental Studies - Coursework Example This industry has been identified as causing massive environmental damages within the production area. The materials used like cement produce a lot of dust and, therefore, contribute greatly to this pollution. Gore & Steffen (2008) states that with the current issues of climate change and global warming, this industry are faced with a surmountable task of alienating itself from the effects of climate change. This raises the issue of ‘going green’ – manufacturing using eco-friendly procedures and operations. Challenges Industrialization in the recent years shows an immense impact on the environment. There have been some positive effects as well as negative ones. The negative effects of industrialization on the environment continue to cause the players within the industry acclaimed nightmares. In the manufacturing industry, top among the environmental concerns has been the emission of greenhouse gases. These gases have been identified as a leading cause of pollution to the ozone layer. The effects of these emissions have become evident around the globe with adverse effects of global warming becoming a reality as time progresses (Edward, 2006). Immense pressure continues to pile for manufacturers to adopt manufacturing methods showing low levels of carbon emissions. Concrete manufacturing industry also faces the challenge of dust which causes chest infections while contributing to environmental degradation. The adoption of sustainable manufacturing processes seems to be an invention in the right direction. A relative pollution reduction level has been achieved by the industry players who have adopted the culture of sustainable manufacturing. Sustainable manufacturing can be defined as the new way of doing business in the manufacturing industry (Frank-Martin and Peattie, 2009). It ensures that, while organizations adopt new environment friendly sources of energy, competitiveness is maintained by the business. Most manufacturers do this by improv ing their processes and products as well. The process of production poses a bigger challenge to the environment than the product. The method most manufactures have adopted to achieve sustainable manufacturing has been the use of 3Rs (reduce, recycle reuse). This method aims at reducing emission of wastes, finding uses for the waste products and recycling any manufactured item which can be recycled. The challenges posed by this approach are still enormous. The company would make a shift into manufacturing using sustainable production methods. It aims at reducing the amount of emission it delivers to the environment. Dust produced by concrete manufacturing plant needs to be controlled. Through the control of the amount of dust emitted, the company shall be able to achieve environmentally sustainable production level. This level can be marked by reduced emissions and pollution from a single plant. The company can install air compression facilities on the machines used for production. T hese facilities shall ensure the machine produces smaller amounts of air into the environment. The air produced by machines has been identified as what blows dust into the environment. Through compression, the level of dust emission shall be reduced leading to reduced dust pollution from the plant as a whole. In the UK construction and demolitions, have been identified as the two biggest waste streams. The impact of this has a direct impact on the concrete production industry. Managing this waste would significantly

PAIN AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

PAIN AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - Assignment Example Hence, the nurse should identify information seeking behavior to understand the emotional health, fears and concede that fear and feeling overwhelmed is normal. The nurse might prompt the patient to describe pain accurately by probing into the feelings. For example, asking about breakthrough pain, or if the patient experiences mild or severe pain based on a scale of 0-10 and characterized with impulsive onset or a neuropathic pain. In addition, asking the location of the body that is more painful, quality of the pain whether sharp or dull and duration of the pain is helpful. He nurse might inquire about time of the day in which the patient feels the pain most, interactions that relieve the pain, worsens it, or triggers pain guides the patient to describe experiences (Kantrowitz, 2009). A nurse can also ask about the medications and their effect on the patient to gauge the severity. Mastectomy patients can use mild pain drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fewer severe pains. Other management plans include infiltration of botulinum toxin to prolong muscle spam or admission under a palliative care program (Layeeque, 2004). Besides, acupuncture, physical therapy, and massage therapy are methods to manage pain (Komen, 2014). Layeeque, R., Hochberg, J., Siegel, E., Kunkel, K., Kepple, J., Henry-Tillman, R., ... Klimberg, V. (2004, October 24). Botulinum Toxin Infiltration for Pain Control After Mastectomy and Expander Reconstruction. Retrieved February 9, 2015, from

How did the British Empire Understand and Try to Combat Violent Literature review

How did the British Empire Understand and Try to Combat Violent Nationalism - Literature review Example It is a trusteeship under what Lord Lugard has strikingly called a "dual mandate" in colonial government (Williams, Gwyn A., 1980). For it entails not only a compulsion to develop the territory in the interests of a world economy but the fortification of the native inhabitants from the too atrocious impact of contact with extremely geared industrial civilizations. An analysis into the success of the British Empire in dealing with this most annoying problem has astonishing interest to all colonizing powers. The consideration of the world has been focused on atypical intensity for that reason on the East Coast of Africa, now almost completely British, either through direct control or under League Mandate. There the white settlement, from which West Africa has been secured by its climate, is probably in the high uplands of Kenya, in parts of Tanganyika and Nyasaland, and perhaps on down to the Union of South Africa, on the island peaks of high plateau country such as an increase as one goes south through the Rhodesias. Over the entire area, Cecil Rhodes' dream of a white African empire for England is being fought out between the Colonial Office's policy of constraint and the stubborn nationalism of the Union of South Africa.   it settlements of the Rhodesias and of Kenya, though the latter is still sparingly settled protectorates or crown colonies, in the case of Kenya without accountable government. The shibboleth that divides men about native policy in Africa is the "dominant" interest of the natives (D. C. Dorward, 1986, pp. 399-459).The concern of this African struggle and of the other troubles of an empire can only be astutely foreseen after a study of each discretely, focusing attention first on the British Commonwealth of equivalent nations and weighing centrifugal and centripetal pulls from race, religion, class, chronological ties, and economic interests.British foreign policy compounded and compromised into an incorporated system out of the pull of these various interests, with other centers of economic and political gravitation pulling at its component members from both North and South America, and Europe (Philip Foster, 1965). Nor can one overlook that Russia is potentially threatening to the structure of that capitalist world economy in which the City in London shares with New York the ruling position. As long as capitalist nations evade war the threat is slight (G. O. Olusanya, 1973).

PAIN AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

PAIN AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES - Assignment Example Hence, the nurse should identify information seeking behavior to understand the emotional health, fears and concede that fear and feeling overwhelmed is normal. The nurse might prompt the patient to describe pain accurately by probing into the feelings. For example, asking about breakthrough pain, or if the patient experiences mild or severe pain based on a scale of 0-10 and characterized with impulsive onset or a neuropathic pain. In addition, asking the location of the body that is more painful, quality of the pain whether sharp or dull and duration of the pain is helpful. He nurse might inquire about time of the day in which the patient feels the pain most, interactions that relieve the pain, worsens it, or triggers pain guides the patient to describe experiences (Kantrowitz, 2009). A nurse can also ask about the medications and their effect on the patient to gauge the severity. Mastectomy patients can use mild pain drugs like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fewer severe pains. Other management plans include infiltration of botulinum toxin to prolong muscle spam or admission under a palliative care program (Layeeque, 2004). Besides, acupuncture, physical therapy, and massage therapy are methods to manage pain (Komen, 2014). Layeeque, R., Hochberg, J., Siegel, E., Kunkel, K., Kepple, J., Henry-Tillman, R., ... Klimberg, V. (2004, October 24). Botulinum Toxin Infiltration for Pain Control After Mastectomy and Expander Reconstruction. Retrieved February 9, 2015, from

Discrete and Episodic Violence among Families in Need Literature review

Discrete and Episodic Violence among Families in Need - Literature review Example â€Å"Domestic violence is a common complaint encountered by counseling psychologists and other mental health professionals. Common psychological treatment practices separate perpetrators and victims into individual intervention modalities. However, there is some research that has been emerging that suggests in some cases a couples treatment approach may be a useful adjunct to existing treatments† (Harris, 2008).   Stith et al. provide the framework for their study of domestic violence by writing an introduction which gets the point of the research across cogently.   Smith et al. provide an articulate and literate introduction that gives a good background to the research.An informative introduction is assumedly a way of classifying the introduction, and Stith et al.’s article meets this classification.   It is important for all research study introductions to be informative because they basically can tell one what the whole research is about.   An introduction c an tell the reader in a short amount of time what the basic framework of a study seeks to identify.   An indicative introduction like that used by Stith et al. does not give away the results of the study.   It suggests the research questions and gives everything else an introduction should give in terms of information to the reader, except for the results of the research.   An indicative introduction such as this is more like a set of clues about the research than an explanation that goes into very much detail about the results.   A good introduction should set up and give a good amount of background information about the research, which is something that Stith et al. achieve to great effect.   Their introduction shows the major trends in the areas of domestic violence and group counseling.  

Central Locking System Essay Example for Free

Central Locking System Essay Power door locks (also known as electric door locks or central locking) allow the driver or front passenger to simultaneously lock or unlock all the doors of an automobile or truck, by pressing a button or flipping a switch. Power door locks were introduced on the luxury Scripps-Booth in 1914, but were not common on luxury cars until Packard reintroduced them in 1956. Nearly every car model today offers this feature as at least optional equipment. Early systems locked and unlocked only the car doors. Many cars today also feature systems which can unlock such things as the luggage compartment or fuel filler cap door. It is also common on modern cars for the locks to activate automatically when the car is put into gear or reaches a certain speed. Remote and handsfree In 1980, Ford Motor Company introduced an external keypad-type keyless entry system, wherein the driver entered a numeric combination —either pre-programmed at the factory or one programmed by the owner— to unlock the car without the key. Early- to mid-1980s Nissan Maximas could also be installed with a keypad, which would also retract the windows and moonroof once the car was successfully unlocked by pushing a specific button on the keypad. During the 1990s the Subaru Legacy could also be opened by pulling the drivers external door handle a specific number of times to enter a passcode number that would unlock the drivers door only. Today, many cars with power door locks also have a radio frequency remote keyless system, which allows a person to press a button on a remote control key fob, the first being available on the French made Renault Fuego in 1982. [1] Currently, many luxury makers also allow the windows to be opened or closed by pressing and holding a button on the remote control key fob, or by inserting the ignition key and holding it in the lock or unlock osition in the external drivers door lock. The remote locking system confirms successful locking and unlocking through either a light or a horn signal, and usually offers an option to switch easily between these two variants. Both provide almost the same functionality, though light signals are more discreet while horn signals might create a nuisance in residential neighborhoods and other busy parking areas (e. g. short-term parking lots). Some manufacturers offer the ability to adjust the horn signal volume. Other cars have a proximity system that is triggered if a keylike transducer (Advanced Key or handsfree) is within a certain distance of the car. How Stuff Works Between the keypads, keyless entry systems and conventional locks, some cars today have four or five different ways to unlock the doors. How do cars keep track of all those different methods, and what exactly happens when the doors unlock? The mechanism that unlocks your car doors is actually quite interesting. It has to be very reliable because it is going to unlock your doors tens of thousands of times over the life of your car. In this edition of HowStuffWorks, well learn just whats inside your door that makes it unlock. Well take apart the actuator that does the work, and then well learn how the lock can be forced open. But first, lets see how the car keeps all its signals straight. Locking and Unlocking Here are some of the ways that you can unlock cardoors: †¢ With a key †¢ By pressing the unlock button inside the car †¢ By using the combination lock on the outside of the door †¢ By pulling up the knob on the inside of the door †¢ With a keyless-entry remote control †¢ By a signal from a control center In some cars that have power door locks, the lock/unlock switch actually sends power to the actuators that unlock the door. But in more complicated systems that have several ways to lock and unlock the doors, the body controller decides when to do the unlocking. The body controller is a computer in your car. It takes care of a lot of the little things that make your car friendlier for instance, it makes sure the interior lights stay on until you start the car, and it beeps at you if you leave your headlights on or leave the keys in the ignition. In the case of power door locks, the body controller monitors all of the possible sources of an unlock or lock signal. It monitors a door-mounted touchpad and unlocks the doors when the correct code is entered. It monitors a radio frequency and unlocks the doors when it receives the correct digital code from the radio transmitter in your key fob, and also monitors the switches inside the car. When it receives a signal from any of these sources, it provides power to the actuator that unlocks or locks the doors. Now, lets take a look inside an actual car door and see how everything is hooked up. Inside a Car Door In this car, the power-door-lock actuator is positioned below the latch. A rod connects the actuator to the latch, and another rod connects the latch to the knob that sticks up out of the top of the door. When the actuator moves the latch up, it connects the outside door handle to the opening mechanism. When the latch is down, the outside door handle is disconnected from the mechanism so that it cannot be opened. To unlock the door, the body controller supplies power to the door-lock actuator for a timed interval. Lets take a look inside the actuator. Inside the Actuator The power-door-lock actuator is a pretty straightforward device. [pic] Inside the power-door-lock actuator This system is quite simple. A smallelectric motor turns a series of spur gears that serve as a gear reduction. The last gear drives a rack-and-pinion gearset that is connected to the actuator rod. The rack converts therotational motion of the motor into the linear motion needed to move the lock. One interesting thing about this mechanism is that while the motor can turn the gears and move the latch, if you move the latch it will not turn the motor. This is accomplished by a neatcentrifugal clutch that is connected to the gear and engaged by the motor. [pic] Centrifugal clutch on the drive gear When the motor spins the gear, the clutch swings out and locks the small metal gear to the larger plastic gear, allowing the motor to drive the door latch. If you move the door latch yourself, all of the gears will turn except for the plastic gear with the clutch on it. Forcing the Lock If you have ever locked yourself out of your car and called the police or AAA to help you get back in, you know that the tool used is a thin metal strip with a flat hook on it. From this article you can now see how this strip works. A simple vertical motion from either the knob on the door or the power-lock actuator is all thats needed to turn the lock and open the door. What the officer is doing with the metal strip is fishing around until he or she hooks onto the point that the knob and actuator connect to. A quick pull on this point and the door is unlocked! For more information on power door locks and related topics, see the links on the next page.

Knowledge and Perception of Cervical Cancer Research

Knowledge and Perception of Cervical Cancer Research METHODOLOGY Study design and setting A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2015 among regular undergraduate female Debre Berhan University students. The university is found in Debre Berhan town which is 130 kilometer from Addis Ababa. The university has approximately 20,000 students pursuing regular and extension undergraduate and graduate studies. Of them 10,560 are regular undergraduate students.   Official university statistics show that 37.5% of the students are females and most of the undergraduate students living in university residential halls during the semester sessions. The University has two Institutes, eight colleges and 33 departments. Study variables The outcome variables were knowledge and perception of cervical cancer. Sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive history and sources of information were among the independent variables. Sampling size calculation The 584 sample size was calculated using single population proportion by open epi software considering the following assumptions; the number of female regular undergraduate students in the university =3,962, proportion of the university students who had knowledge on risk factors of   cervical cancer=50.6% (14), 95% confidence interval, 5% reliability,1.5 design effect and 10% non-response rate. Sampling procedure Two stage cluster sampling technique was used for the study.in the first stage , of the twenty nine departments, nine departments were selected by using simple random sampling technique and the sample size was allocated proportionally to each selected departments, based on the number of students. In the second stage, the study participants were selected from each year of study and sections of the selected departments by simple random sampling technique using computer method proportionally to the number of students in each year of study and sections. A list of the students was obtained from each department. Data collection procedure A self-administered questionnaire containing open and closed ended questions was prepared initially in English after reviewing deferent literature then translated into Amharic by an expert and again retranslated to English. Before the actual data collection process, tool was pre tested on 27 female Public Health students of Debre Berhan University. Then necessary modifications were made according to the results of pretest study. Six data collectors were recruited to facilitate the data collection process and were trained for two days. During the data collection process, the data facilitators introduces themselves to the participants and handed over a letter from each college/department which asked for support of the data collection process and showed the ethical clearance. Measurement Participants knowledge about cervical cancer was assessed by using a 20 points scale questions about the etiology, mode of transmission, symptoms, risk factors and prevention methods. A knowledge score was calculated for each participant based on the number of questions correctly answered in the knowledge section. A score of 1 was assigned to every correct answer and a score of zero to incorrect responses. Knowledge questions was scored and pulled together and the mean score was computed to determine the overall knowledge of the participants. Participants scored above the mean were considered as having good knowledge and below average as having poor knowledge. Statistical analysis Data was entered into an Epi info 3.5.4 and imported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. Results were summarized using descriptive summary measures for continuous variables, frequency and percent for categorical variables. To identify the effect of independent variables on knowledge and perception of cervical cancer, both the bivariate method and the multivariate logistic regression techniques were used. Then variables with p value ≠¤ 0.2 in the bivariate analysis was included in the multiple logistic regressions. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval was used to identify the presence and strength of association and level of significance at the 0.05.

Og Mandino (For the Rest of My Life) :: essays research papers

For the Rest of My Life . . .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the rest of my life there are two days that will never again trouble me. The first day is yesterday with all its blunders and tears, its follies and defeats. Yesterday has passed forever bye my control. The other day is tomorrow with its pitfalls and threats, its dangers and mystery. Until the sun rises again, I have no stake in tomorrow, for it is still unborn. With God’s help and only one day to concentrate all my effort and energy on, this day, I can win! Only when I add the burden of those two frightening eternities, yesterday and tomorrow, am I in danger of faltering under the load. Never again! This is my day! This is my only day! Today is all there is! Today is the rest of my life and I resolve to conduct myself through every waking hour in the following manner. . . . For the rest of my life, this very special day, God help me . . . to heed the wise advice of Jesus and Confucius and Zoroaster and treat me. To maintain a rein on my tongue and my t emper, guarding against foolish moments of faultfinding and insults. To greet all those I encounter with a smile instead of a frown, and a soft word of encouragement instead of disdain or even worse, silence. To be sympathetic and attentive to the sorrows and struggles of others, realizing that there are hidden woes in every life no matter how exalted or lowly. To make haste to be kind to all others, understanding that life is too short to be vengeful or malicious, too soon ended to be petty or unkind. For the rest of my life, this very special day, God help me. To keep reminding myself that in order to harvest more ears of corn in the fall, I must plant more kernels in the spring. To understand that life always rewards me on the terms that I establish, and if I never perform or deliver more than that for which I am paid, never will I have reason to demand or expect and additional gold. To always deliver more than is expected of me, whether at work, at play, or at home. To labor wit h enthusiasm and l9ove, no matter what the task at hand may be, realizing that if I cannot secure happiness out of my work I will never know what real happiness is. Og Mandino (For the Rest of My Life) :: essays research papers For the Rest of My Life . . .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For the rest of my life there are two days that will never again trouble me. The first day is yesterday with all its blunders and tears, its follies and defeats. Yesterday has passed forever bye my control. The other day is tomorrow with its pitfalls and threats, its dangers and mystery. Until the sun rises again, I have no stake in tomorrow, for it is still unborn. With God’s help and only one day to concentrate all my effort and energy on, this day, I can win! Only when I add the burden of those two frightening eternities, yesterday and tomorrow, am I in danger of faltering under the load. Never again! This is my day! This is my only day! Today is all there is! Today is the rest of my life and I resolve to conduct myself through every waking hour in the following manner. . . . For the rest of my life, this very special day, God help me . . . to heed the wise advice of Jesus and Confucius and Zoroaster and treat me. To maintain a rein on my tongue and my t emper, guarding against foolish moments of faultfinding and insults. To greet all those I encounter with a smile instead of a frown, and a soft word of encouragement instead of disdain or even worse, silence. To be sympathetic and attentive to the sorrows and struggles of others, realizing that there are hidden woes in every life no matter how exalted or lowly. To make haste to be kind to all others, understanding that life is too short to be vengeful or malicious, too soon ended to be petty or unkind. For the rest of my life, this very special day, God help me. To keep reminding myself that in order to harvest more ears of corn in the fall, I must plant more kernels in the spring. To understand that life always rewards me on the terms that I establish, and if I never perform or deliver more than that for which I am paid, never will I have reason to demand or expect and additional gold. To always deliver more than is expected of me, whether at work, at play, or at home. To labor wit h enthusiasm and l9ove, no matter what the task at hand may be, realizing that if I cannot secure happiness out of my work I will never know what real happiness is.

Successful E-Business Systems: PayPal :: essays research papers

SUCCESSFUL E-BUSINESS SYSTEMS - PAYPAL ABSTRACT PayPal is an account-based system that allows anyone with an email address to send and receive online payments. This service is easy to use for customers. Members can instantaneously send money to anyone. Recipients are informed by email that they have received a payment. PayPal is also available to people in 38 countries. This paper starts with introduction to the company and its services. The information about the history and the current company situation are covered. Later some interesting and different technical issues are discussed. The Paper ends with analysis of the company and several future recommendations. KEYWORDS PayPal, Payment Systems, E-business, Money Transactions, PayPal Analyses. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction 2. PayPal as e-Business 3. Technical Issues 4. Analysis (of PayPal as e-Business) 5. Conclusion 6. References 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 - PayPal –A Popular Company This paper is about a company called PayPal. First I will touch the general information about the company, then provide information about several details and finish with several useful future recommendations. PayPal (formerly X.com) that was founded in 1998 belongs to an Electronic Payment Systems, more precisely to Generic Systems subgroup. It is located in San Jose and carries out services that provide the possibility of sending and receiving money by means of computers in an easy, secure and fast way using an account-based system. This can be done by anyone (a private person or legal entity) who has an email address. When the money is transferred, a message is sent to the recipient’s email address notifying about the transaction. At the same time certain security measures are taken during these operations. One can still charge his or her account without having an electronic card, using the bank transfer or a paycheck. Transferring money is as easy as sending an email for customers. Page 2 2 (Fig.1, What is PayPal, retrieved on February 15 th , 2004 From: PayPal Developer Conference Keynote, Alex Kazim, VP Marketing, 05/08/03. Data available on http://paypaldev.org/ ) In 2002, PayPal was acquired by eBay. It has quickly become popular. Today the company offers services in thirty-eight countries and has about forty million customers for today. In most of these countries it supports bank withdrawal service and is especially popular among eBay customers. Fig.1 briefly illustrates Company’s business. The system enables its users to send money, using computers. The same can be done by means of mobile phones that are support Web.

Product Life Cycle Theory

The product life cycle theory is used to comprehend and analyze various maturity stages of products and industries. Product innovation and diffusion influence long-term patterns of international trade. This term product life cycle was used for the first time in 1965, by Theodore Levitt in an Harvard Business Review article: â€Å"Exploit the Product Life Cycle†. Anything that satisfies a consumer's need is called a ‘product'. It may be a tangible product (clothes, crockery, cars, house, gadgets) or an intangible service (banking, health care, hotel service, airline service).Irrespective of the kind of product, all products introduced into the market undergo a common life cycle. To understand what this product life cycle theory is all about, let us have a quick look at its definition. Product Life Cycle Definition A product life cycle refers to the time period between the launch of a product into the market till it is finally withdrawn. In a nut shell, product life cycle or PLC is an odyssey from new and innovative to old and outdated! This cycle is split into four different stages which encompass the product's journey from its entry to exit from the market. Product Life Cycle StagesThis cycle is based on the all familiar biological life cycle, wherein a seed is planted (introduction stage), germinates (growth stage), sends out roots in the ground and shoots with branches and leaves against gravity, thereby maturing into an adult (maturity stage). As the plant lives its life and nears old age, it shrivels up, shrinks and dies out (decline stage). Similarly, a product also has a life cycle of its own. A product's entry or launching phase into the market corresponds to the introduction stage. As the product gains popularity and wins the trust of consumers it begins to grow.Further, with increasing sales, the product captures enough market share and gets stable in the market. This is called the maturity stage. However, after some time, the product gets overpowered by latest technological developments and entry of superior competitors in the market. Soon the product becomes obsolete and needs to be withdrawn from the market. This is the decline phase. This was the crux of a product life cycle theory and the graph of a product's life cycle looks like a bell-shaped curve. Let us delve more into this management theory. Introduction Stage After conducting thorough market research, the company develops its product.Once the product is ready, a test market is carried out to check the viability of the product in the actual market, before it can set foot into the mass market. Results of the test market are used to make correction if any and then launched into the market with various promotional strategies. Since the product has just been introduced, growth observed is very slight, market size is small and marketing cost are steep (promotional cost, costs of setting up distribution channels). Thus, introduction stage is an awareness creatin g stage and is not associated with profits!However, strict vigilance is required to ensure that the product enters the growth stage. Identifying hindering factors and nipping them off at the bud stage is crucial for the product's future. If corrections cannot be made or are impractical, the marketer withdraws the product from the market. Read more on types of market research. Growth Stage Once the introductory stage goes as per expected, the initial spark has been set, however, the fire has to be kindled by proper care. The marketer has managed to gain consumers attention and now works on increasing their product's market share.As output increases, economies of scale is seen and better prices come about, conducing to profits in this stage. The marketer maintains the quality and features of the product (may add additional features) and seek brand building. The aim here is to coax consumers to prefer and choose this product rather than those sold by competitors. As sales increase dist ribution channels are added and the product is marketed to a broader audience. Thus, rapid sales and profits are characteristics of this stage. Read more on marketing tools. Maturity StageThis stage views the most competition as different companies struggle to maintain their respective market shares. The cliche ‘survival of the fittest' is applicable here. Companies are busy monitoring product's value by the consumers and its sales generation. Most of the profits are made in this stage and research costs are minimum. Any research conducted will be confined to product enhancement and improvement alone. Since consumers are aware of the product, promotional and advertising costs will also be lower. In the midst of stiff competition, companies may even reduce their prices in response to the tough times.The maturity stage is the stabilizing stage, wherein sales are high, but their pace is slow, however, brand loyalty develops imparting profits. Read more on marketing plans. Decline Stage After a period of stable growth, the revenue generated from sales of the product starts dipping due to market saturation, stiff competition and latest technological developments. The consumer loses interest in this product and begins to seek other options. This stage is characterized by shrinking market share, dwindling product popularity and plummeting profits. This stage is a very delicate stage and needs to be handled wisely.The type of response contributes to the future of the product. The company needs to take special efforts to raise the product's popularity in the market once again, by either reducing cost of the product, tapping new markets or withdrawing the product. Read more on: †¢Marketing Services †¢Marketing Mix †¢Marketing Tips It is important to note that, not all products go through the entire life cycle. Just as how not all seeds sown germinate, not all products launched into the market succeed. Some flop at the introductory stage, while some fail to capture market share due to quick fizzling out.Moreover, some marketers quickly change strategies when the product reaches decline phase and by various promotional strategies regain the lost glory, thereby achieving cyclic maturity phases. Application of product life cycle is important to marketers because via this analysis they can manage their product well and prevent it from incurring losses. A well-managed product life cycle leads to rise in profits and does not necessarily end. Product innovations, new marketing strategies,etc. keeps the product appealing to customers for a very long period of time.Hope this article on product life cycle theory was informative and helpful! The product life-cycle theory is an economic theory that was developed by Raymond Vernon in response to the failure of the Heckscher-Ohlin model to explain the observed pattern of international trade. The theory suggests that early in a product's life-cycle all the parts and labor associated with that product come from the area in which it was invented. After the product becomes adopted and used in the world markets, production gradually moves away from the point of origin.In some situations, the product becomes an item that is imported by its original country of invention. [1] A commonly used example of this is the invention, growth and production of the personal computer with respect to the United States. The model applies to labor-saving and capital-using products that (at least at first) cater to high-income groups. In the new product stage, the product is produced and consumed in the US; no export trade occurs. In the maturing product stage, mass-production techniques are developed and foreign demand (in developed countries) expands; the US now exports the product to other developed countries.In the standardized product stage, production moves to developing countries, which then export the product to developed countries. The model demonstrates dynamic comparative advantage. The country that has the comparative advantage in the production of the product changes from the innovating (developed) country to the developing countries. Contents [hide] †¢1 Product life-cycle o1. 1 Stage 1: Introduction o1. 2 Stage 2: Growth o1. 3 Stage 3: Maturity o1. 4 Stage 4: Saturation o1. 5 Stage 5: Decline †¢2 References [edit]Product life-cycle There are four stages in a product's life cycle: introduction ?growth ?maturity ?saturation ?decline The location of production depends on the stage of the cycle. [edit]Stage 1: Introduction New products are introduced to meet local (i. e. , national) needs, and new products are first exported to similar countries, countries with similar needs, preferences, and incomes. If we also presume similar evolutionary patterns for all countries, then products are introduced in the most advanced nations. (E. g. , the IBM PCs were produced in the US and spread quickly throughout the industrialized countries. ) [edit]Stage 2: Growt hA copy product is produced elsewhere and introduced in the home country (and elsewhere) to capture growth in the home market. This moves production to other countries, usually on the basis of cost of production. (E. g. , the clones of the early IBM PCs were not produced in the US. ) The Period till the the Maturity Stage is known as the Saturation Period. [edit]Stage 3: Maturity The industry contracts and concentrates — the lowest cost producer wins here. (E. g. , the many clones of the PC are made almost entirely in lowest cost locations. ) [edit]Stage 4: Saturation This is a period of stability.The sales of the product reach the peak and there is no further possibility to increase it. this stage is characterised by:  ¦ Saturation of sales (at the early part of this stage sales remain stable then it starts falling).  ¦ It continues till substitutes enter into the market.  ¦ Marketer must try to develop new and alternative uses of product. [edit]Stage 5: Decline Poor c ountries constitute the only markets for the product. Therefore almost all declining products are produced in developing countries. (E. g. , PCs are a very poor example here, mainly because there is weak demand for computers in developing countries.A better example is textiles. ) Note that a particular firm or industry (in a country) stays in a market by adapting what they make and sell, i. e. , by riding the waves. For example, approximately 80% of the revenues of H-P are from products they did not sell five years ago. the profits go back to the host old country. ?†¦ trade theory holding that a company will begin by exporting its product and later undertake foreign direct investment as the product moves through its lifecycle ? As products mature, both location of sales and optimal production changes ?Affects the direction and flow of imports and exports ?Globalization and integration of the economy makes this theory less valid ?Trade implication ? ?Increased emphasis on techno logy’s impact on product cost ? Explained international investment ?Limitations ?Most appropriate for technology-based products ?Some products not easily characterized by stages of maturity ? Most relevant to products produced through mass production Marketing > Product Life Cycle The Product Life Cycle A product's life cycle (PLC) can be divided into several stages characterized by the revenue generated by the product.If a curve is drawn showing product revenue over time, it may take one of many different shapes, an example of which is shown below: Product Life Cycle Curve The life cycle concept may apply to a brand or to a category of product. Its duration may be as short as a few months for a fad item or a century or more for product categories such as the gasoline-powered automobile. Product development is the incubation stage of the product life cycle. There are no sales and the firm prepares to introduce the product. As the product progresses through its life cycle, changes in the marketing mix usually are equired in order to adjust to the evolving challenges and opportunities. Introduction Stage When the product is introduced, sales will be low until customers become aware of the product and its benefits. Some firms may announce their product before it is introduced, but such announcements also alert competitors and remove the element of surprise. Advertising costs typically are high during this stage in order to rapidly increase customer awareness of the product and to target the early adopters. During the introductory stage the firm is likely to incur additional costs associated with the initial distribution of the product.These higher costs coupled with a low sales volume usually make the introduction stage a period of negative profits. During the introduction stage, the primary goal is to establish a market and build primary demand for the product class. The following are some of the marketing mix implications of the introduction stage: â € ¢Product – one or few products, relatively undifferentiated †¢Price – Generally high, assuming a skim pricing strategy for a high profit margin as the early adopters buy the product and the firm seeks to recoup development costs quickly.In some cases a penetration pricing strategy is used and introductory prices are set low to gain market share rapidly. †¢Distribution – Distribution is selective and scattered as the firm commences implementation of the distribution plan. †¢Promotion – Promotion is aimed at building brand awareness. Samples or trial incentives may be directed toward early adopters. The introductory promotion also is intended to convince potential resellers to carry the product. Growth Stage The growth stage is a period of rapid revenue growth.Sales increase as more customers become aware of the product and its benefits and additional market segments are targeted. Once the product has been proven a success and customers b egin asking for it, sales will increase further as more retailers become interested in carrying it. The marketing team may expand the distribution at this point. When competitors enter the market, often during the later part of the growth stage, there may be price competition and/or increased promotional costs in order to convince consumers that the firm's product is better than that of the competition.During the growth stage, the goal is to gain consumer preference and increase sales. The marketing mix may be modified as follows: †¢Product – New product features and packaging options; improvement of product quality. †¢Price – Maintained at a high level if demand is high, or reduced to capture additional customers. †¢Distribution – Distribution becomes more intensive. Trade discounts are minimal if resellers show a strong interest in the product. †¢Promotion – Increased advertising to build brand preference. Maturity Stage The maturity stage is the most profitable.While sales continue to increase into this stage, they do so at a slower pace. Because brand awareness is strong, advertising expenditures will be reduced. Competition may result in decreased market share and/or prices. The competing products may be very similar at this point, increasing the difficulty of differentiating the product. The firm places effort into encouraging competitors' customers to switch, increasing usage per customer, and converting non-users into customers. Sales promotions may be offered to encourage retailers to give the product more shelf space over competing products.During the maturity stage, the primary goal is to maintain market share and extend the product life cycle. Marketing mix decisions may include: †¢Product – Modifications are made and features are added in order to differentiate the product from competing products that may have been introduced. †¢Price – Possible price reductions in response to competition while avoiding a price war. †¢Distribution – New distribution channels and incentives to resellers in order to avoid losing shelf space. †¢Promotion – Emphasis on differentiation and building of brand loyalty. Incentives to get competitors' customers to switch.Decline Stage Eventually sales begin to decline as the market becomes saturated, the product becomes technologically obsolete, or customer tastes change. If the product has developed brand loyalty, the profitability may be maintained longer. Unit costs may increase with the declining production volumes and eventually no more profit can be made. During the decline phase, the firm generally has three options: †¢Maintain the product in hopes that competitors will exit. Reduce costs and find new uses for the product. †¢Harvest it, reducing marketing support and coasting along until no more profit can be made. Discontinue the product when no more profit can be made or there is a succes sor product. The marketing mix may be modified as follows: †¢Product – The number of products in the product line may be reduced. Rejuvenate surviving products to make them look new again. †¢Price – Prices may be lowered to liquidate inventory of discontinued products. Prices may be maintained for continued products serving a niche market. †¢Distribution – Distribution becomes more selective. Channels that no longer are profitable are phased out. †¢Promotion – Expenditures are lower and aimed at reinforcing the brand image for continued products.Limitations of the Product Life Cycle Concept The term â€Å"life cycle† implies a well-defined life cycle as observed in living organisms, but products do not have such a predictable life and the specific life cycle curves followed by different products vary substantially. Consequently, the life cycle concept is not well-suited for the forecasting of product sales. Furthermore, critics have argued that the product life cycle may become self-fulfilling. For example, if sales peak and then decline, managers may conclude that the product is in the decline phase and therefore cut the advertising budget, thus precipitating a further decline.Nonetheless, the product life cycle concept helps marketing managers to plan alternate marketing strategies to address the challenges that their products are likely to face. It also is useful for monitoring sales results over time and comparing them to those of products having a similar life cycle. Marketing > Product LifecycleThe Product Cycle and its Implications Let us begin by reviewing Vernon’s principal points regarding the technological and geographical transitions of industries. His product-cycle paradigm suggested that an industry’s competitiveness will go through a predictable series of stages: To begin with, U.S. -controlled enterprises generate new products and processes in response to the high per capit a income and the relative availability of productive factors in the United States; they introduce these products or processes abroad through exports; when their export position is threatened they establish overseas subsidiaries to exploit what remains of their advantage; they retain their oligopolistic advantage for a period of time, then lose it as the basis for the original lead is completely eroded. (1971: 66)While Vernon’s main objective was to explain the causes and consequences of foreign investment, the stages that he identified also implied that an industry’s perspective on trade policyComment on Deardorff 2 will evolve. Industries can be expected to favor open markets when they are competitive and to favor protection when they are not. Deardorff’s analysis is largely consonant with this cycle, but brings into closer consideration the role of developing countries’ exports in challenging the developed countries’ industries.While I am largely in agreement with the basic points raised by both Vernon and Deardorff, I would suggest two adjustments. The first is that a different policy question may be in order. To paraphrase, Deardorff’s question seems to be, â€Å"Will developed countries respond to increased competition from developing countries by erecting new barriers to trade? † I would instead ask, â€Å"How will the interests of declining industries in developed countries affect the pace and form of new trade liberalization? † While I understand the usefulness of the simplifying assumption that the two countries in the model â€Å"are initially engaged in free trade† (ibid. 3), I think it is equally simple and more realistic to begin with the assumption that restrictions to trade already exist. It would be a great exaggeration to claim that the WTO rules are so watertight as to prevent countries from imposing any new restrictions on trade, but I would quarrel with the suggestion that we â €Å"simply assume that [increased import competition will] lead the North to implement a tariff on imports† (ibid. : 9). The track record for both legislated protection 1 and safeguards cases 2 suggests that protectionist industries have had little success in winning support from government.The clear trend of the past half century has been towards the reduction of tariffs and (more recently) the replacement or elimination of quotas. In an environment of declining tariff barriers, the best that most protectionist industries can hope for is to secure a pledge that their products be exempted from reductions. Even when one acknowledges the continuation of â€Å"peak† tariffs in some industries and the mischief that can be done with antidumping duties and other instruments of protection, the fact remains that markets are much more open today than they were in decades past.Moreover, the rules are more comprehensive and enforceable under the WTO than they were under the GATT. The second important departure is that the range of options is not limited to a dichotomous choice between â€Å"free trade† or â€Å"protection. † Beyond the almost trivial point that there are many degrees of openness, representing every step from zero barriers to confiscatory levels of protection, discrimination is an equally important consideration. Here the rules of the GATT and WTO have been permissive.Free trade agreements (FTAs) and customs unions are allowable exceptions to the general rule of universal most-favored-nation treatment (provided that they meet the requirements of GATT Article XXIV), and preferential trade programs such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) are granted waivers. While each of these options provide for more liberal trade, and many extend special treatment to developing countries, they are widely seen as a â€Å"second-best† alternative to nondiscriminatory liberalization.For reasons that I explore below, however, th e increasing use of these discriminatory instruments can also be portrayed as a natural consequence of the product cycle. 1 Although there have been many efforts since the Hawley-Smoot Tariff Act of 1930 to enact bills imposing tariffs or quotas on imports, no major bills have been enacted over a presidential veto. There have been several instances, however, in which presidents felt obliged to make concessions to protectionist demands in order to win congressional approval of some other market-opening initiative (especially new grants of negotiating authority or the approval of a trade agreement).In other words, some of the rare steps backward have been price for making two steps forward. 2 Petitioners have succeeded in winning import protection in only 23 of the 70 cases considered in the quarter century since enactment of the current safeguards law (section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974). Comment on Deardorff 3 Implications of the Product Cycle for Trade Policy The product-cycle mo del could be used to explain any one of three approaches to trade policy.Depending on how one views the interests of firms and the responses of government, the cycle could be predicted to encourage more open markets, more protection, or more discrimination. Under the benign view that seems implicit in Vernon’s analysis, the product cycle can be portrayed as a progressive mechanism. A country with an efficient process of â€Å"creative destruction† could theoretically sustain a permanent free-trade orientation, with few or no exceptions for specific industries.Vernon’s views were similar to those of Schumpeter (1936), who believed that a combination of entrepreneurial innovation and periodic depressions provided just such an engine of progress. A real free-trading country would regularly produce a new crop of innovators, while firms that lost their competitiveness would either find new lines of work or be swept away when the business cycle swung downward. The sur vivors favor open markets. This Darwinian optimism is challenged, however, if firms and workers in a declining industry refuse to go quietly into that good night.A more pessimistic interpretation is that old firms and their workers do not always conveniently disappear or get reabsorbed into the economy, but instead seek ways to keep alive even after they pass their prime. Deardorff’s analysis falls into this second category. He concludes that factor owners in the developed country will respond to a competitive challenge by demanding and receiving protection. I offer yet a third alternative, in which the product cycle encourages the reduction of trade barriers but does so in an increasingly discriminatory fashion.My adaptation of Vernon’s model, which is illustrated in Figure 1, departs from the original in two ways. First, I believe that a wider range of stages should be represented in the model. Second, I more explicitly state what the trade (in addition to the invest ment) preferences of an industry will be as it passes through these stages. My adaptation recognizes that the policy options available to industries and countries are not limited to opening or closing the market, but also allow for discriminatory initiatives that better lend themselves to manipulation on behalf of specific firms or trading partners.The stages might respectively be termed pre-competitive, semi-competitive, competitive, and post-competitive. The distinctions between industries in stages 2, 3, and 4A are particularly important. Each one of these stages is â€Å"pro-trade,† but they favor different emphases in both the objectives and form of trade agreements. Only the Stage 3A industry is the pure free-trader. Industries in stages 2, 3B, and 4A each take a more qualified approach to open markets, and may be reluctant to support universal liberalization.An industry’s most critical choice comes in the fourth stage, when it must choose between retreat into th e domestic market or relocation of its production offshore. The initial decision to invest overseas might have been made in an earlier stage, prompted by such diverse objectives as gaining or maintaining access to a large and protected foreign market, taking advantage of lower wage rates and less restrictive regulatory environments, or reducing transportation costs. When an industry’s competitiveness declines, however, it could decide to shift most or all of its production offshore.Those firms that become multinational producers (Stage 4A) acquire interests and preferences very different from those that do not (Stage 4B). A multinational producer will be much more favorably disposed towards open markets than a â€Å"mature† domestic industry, but will not inevitably be a paragon of free-trade purism. These producers may perceive a strong incentive to support discriminatory options, especially if they create sanctuary markets at home or abroad. Home | About | Privacy | Reprints | Terms of UseCopyright  © 2002-2010 NetMBA. com. All rights reserved. This web site is operated by the Internet Center for Management and Business Administration, Inc. Search NetMBA Site Information Home About Privacy Reprints Terms of Use Marketing Accounting Economics Finance Management Marketing Operations Statistics Strategy ? ?In recent years an extensive theoretical literature has been offered examining the implications of the product cycle (PC) model of trade (Hirsch 1967; Vernon 1966). 1) Emphasizing knowledge transfers, Krugman (1979) constructed a general equilibrium model consisting of an innovating North country and an imitating South country. (2) A key implication of the PC is that the North must continually innovate in the face of the South's ability to eventually imitate each new product. The flying-geese (FG) theory (inter alia, Akamatsu, 1935; Kojima, 2000, 2003; Ozawa, 1993, 2001, 2005) elaborates on the mature stage of the PC by examining conditions un der which an initially imitating South country itself looses the comparative advantage in producing the mature product due to rising labor costs.The loss in comparative advantage results in the further and sequential transfer of production to less developed other South countries and the accompanying recycling of the North's import market among themselves, a phenomenon that can be called â€Å"market or comparative advantage recycling† (Ozawa, 1993; United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, 1995). ?This article specifically examines one particular mature PC import, TV sets, in the U. S. arket and its changing pattern of exporting economies from East Asia–first, from Japan and then from the Newly Industrializing Economies (NIEs) (Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea), from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-4 (ASEAN-4) (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines), and more recently, from China. ?True, technological progress continues in the TV set industry (e. g. , digitalization, flat-panel sets, and high definition TV [HDTV]), but set manufacturing has practically disappeared in the United States (Chandler, 2001).Incremental innovations are now being introduced mostly in the South/follower countries themselves, especially in Japan and South Korea. East Asia has emerged as the world's largest concentration of consumer electronics production. (3) In this sense, TV sets are certainly a â€Å"mature† product for the United States (too mature to be retained). In short, our study examines the phenomenon of PC-based imports and market recycling as witnessed in the United States and explores policy implications for both North and South countries in the age of globalization. There have been several tests for the existence of the PC. Tsurumi and Tsurumi (1980) found support for the PC by determining that the U. S. price elasticity of demand for color TV sets increased over time as U. S. consumers chose between dome stic- and Japanese-produced color TV sets. Audretsch (1987) also found support by determining that growth industries tend to be more R ; D oriented while mature industries allocate fewer resources to this activity.Cantwell (1995) concluded that over time the share of patents of multinational corporations located abroad increased for most countries from 1920 to 1990, which supported the internationalization of investment by technological leaders. Gagnon and Rose (1995) found that a trade surplus (deficit) of a commodity is likely to persist over a long period of time, a trend that is counter to the PC and more consistent with factor proportions theory (which closely parallels the FG theory). ?Econometric tests for the FG theory have been limited.Dowling and Cheang (2000) found support for the FG theory by utilizing both Balassa's â€Å"revealed† comparative advantage index and foreign direct investment (FDI) ratios for East Asian countries. Using Spearman rank correlation coef ficients and examining three periods (1970-95, 1970-85, and 1985-95), they found that economic development trickled down from Japan to the NIEs and then to ASEAN-4. Cutler et al. (2003) analyzed labor-intensive trade data from Japan, the NIEs, the ASEAN-4, and China to the United States and found support for the FG theory (market recycling). In this article, we are interested in testing for the dynamics of the combined PC-FG framework. Using annual data from 1961 to 2002 for TV sets, we use cointegration techniques to estimate a system of multiple cointegrated vectors representing the sequential transfer of the U. S. TV import market from Japan to the NIEs, to the ASEAN-4, and finally to China. We develop a methodology of interpreting both the cointegrating vectors and the speeds of adjustment as a technique to test for the recycling of the U. S. import market among the East Asian economies.We argue that our analysis has implications for the emerging HDTV and flat-panel TV sets' mar kets as well as patterns of behavior in lower developed South countries such as China, Vietnam, and India as these countries are actively pursuing inward FDI in higher value-added industries. ?Section II presents the theoretical framework, and section III provides the data and background information about the region's TV set manufacturing. Section IV discusses the empirical techniques and results of the analysis. Section V touches on policy implications and offers conclusions. ?II.CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK ?Electronics is an R & D-based industry where new products and processes are constantly innovated and competitiveness shifts from one product to another sequentially, an industry that is characterized by short PCs. The Schumpeterian concept of â€Å"creative destruction† aptly applies to innovators' home markets. A fast pace of technological standardization and maturity for a given new product leads to an equally swift outward shift of production from the innovators' (North) cou ntry to overseas, as conceptualized in the PC theory of trade and investment.In the early developmental phase of electronics, the United States was the dominant source of innovations, as seen in the original PC theory (Hirsch, 1967; Vernon, 1966), but other countries in Europe and East Asia also soon emerged as active innovators, as presented in the revised version (Vernon, 1979). Nonetheless, the United States still continues to play the major roles of both technology and market providers to East Asian economies.Yet, as described in the original PC theory, conventional TV sets and many other mature electronic products have followed the typical pattern of a sequence from U. S. domestic production to exports, to overseas production, and to imports. (4) These imports come mostly from East Asia. ?What is equally interesting is that once an electronic product becomes a mature â€Å"commodity,† whose competitiveness is basically determined by labor costs, its production shifts fro m one South country to another in the persistent search of lower cost labor.This development is facilitated especially when lower echelon South countries liberalize their trade and investment regimes so as to attract production from higher developed South countries. Such a successive transmigration of production of a standardized product therefore exhibits a changing pattern of production over time within the South countries, while the United States remains the major import market.This phenomenon of production transmigration down the intraregional hierarchy of South countries differentiated in terms of the stages of economic development and the levels of technological sophistication is captured in the FG model. ?Viewed in the above light, the PC theory and the FG model complement each other, as schematically illustrated in Figure 1. A new product is innovated first in a high-income (high-wage) country like the United States and initially manufactured and exported from the innovator' s home country (i. e. , the â€Å"introduction† and â€Å"growth† stages, from †¦ ?