Starting up a business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Starting up a business - Essay Example This report proposes a business plan for starting-up of a business of computer sales and services in the national market of UK. The main aim of the business will be to attract customers by providing quality services as per the need and demand of the customers along with delivering latest computer technology spare-parts to deliver the customers with quality assistance. Undoubtedly, the task of rendering computer sales and services to a diverse client base as can be observed in the current demographic features of UK, will be a tricky strategic initiation. Further reports have also revealed a fall in the selling prices and a consequence fall in the profit margin enjoyed by organisations in the computer sales and service marketing industry. Apparently this indicates towards an increasingly challenging market structure owing to which the planned business will have to be quite focused with respect to quality and customer services through effective supply chain management. For instance, whe re on one hand the resource requirement can be observed as low during the time of initiation as no requirement of large sophisticated office spaces and other obligatory assets will be required apart from skilled human resources; on the other hand, over the long run, significant costs for availing innovative technology assistances and increasing the dais for serving the customers may be incurred and thus, the business might require continuous inflow of cash and apparently at an increasing rate for its continuation. (Curators of the University of Missouri, 2010). Notably, the business is planned to be instigated as a sole-proprietorship based small business concern which will have minimum responsibilities in terms of legal obligations and therefore, will have to witness minimum intervention from external parties. 1.2. Aim of the study Setting-up of a business is often signified as a complex procedure which requires considerable knowledge base of the entrepreneur which can only be suff iced with ample information related with the motive obtainable through a formal research process (Bergstrom, 2012). Based on this notion, this particular study will aim at: Identifying the business opportunities, market competition trends and required resources to instigate the business Devising proper marketing strategies for the targeted potential customers Forecasting the capital requirements and costs to be incurred during the instigation of the business and within a one year financial period Concluding if the business plan is viable and should be proceeded with on the basis of the obtained information and forecast reports 2.0. Literature Review Business start-ups are considered as a significant contributor towards the economic development process owing to which, governmental bodies have been observed to decipher a supportive approach to assist the small and medium sized business organisations. It is worth mentioning in this context that majority of the economic structure of UK constitute of small and medium sized organisations and set-up firms which have further created a substantial pressure to facilitate this particular dimension with ample scope for future development (European Union, 2011). In the similar context, Mahdjoubi (2004) affirmed that business plan is considered to be the important source of evidences required for decisions in investment screening. Scholars have provided various frameworks to structure the process of setting-up of an organisation which is often characterised as a complex phenomenon. As stated by Carter &

The Overall Strategic Plan for Blackberry Research Paper

The Overall Strategic Plan for Blackberry - Research Paper Example According to Rhandawa et al (2009), Blackberry was founded in 1984 and it is headquartered in Waterloo, Canada. Blackberry’s strategic plan is to target professionals through the provision of a range of activities such as push email, mobile telephony, text messaging, internet faxing, web browsing and additional wireless information services (Moro, 2007). Jim Balsillie, co-founder of RIM, sums up the strategic plan for RIM â€Å"easy in, impossible out† which implies that it is very easy for corporations to install their email system, but because the way the proprietary RIM software and servers work, it’s almost impossible to extract (Harnish, N.D). Thus, the strategic plan is based on the notion that the products are strategically designed to appeal to the interests of the targeted customers and it is almost impossible for rival competitors to imitate the same strategy. It can be seen that RIM is at the forefront of designing, manufacturing, and marketing innovat ive mobile communication devices. This strategy makes it clearly different from other rival competitors in the market for Smartphones and is mainly based on productivity and utility in terms of the services offered. However, the industry itself is highly competitive where there are companies like Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson as well as Apple competing for the same customers in this particular Smartphone industry. Research has however shown that if RIM wants to continue its dominance in the market, it needs to market its devices moreover in Asia and Europe (Rhandawa et al, 2009). However, Blackberry of late has come under the spotlight for firing influential people who are seen as suggesting ideas that are within the scope of its strategic plan. For instance, the CEO was fired in 2011 though it was popularly stated that it was a resignation (Yarow, 2011). There have been some reports that anyone who goes against the culture of the organization with regards to its strategic plan is o ften viewed as a villain. The organization does not see itself in a position where it diverts from its outlined strategic plans. Such a stance has drawn criticism from other quarters and this is the reason why there is need to develop a Human Resources strategic plan for Blackberry which is based on its overall strategic plan. Thus the following section of the essay seeks to develop a strategic plan for Blackberry as well as to outline how it will be aligned with the organization’s plans organization’s plans as well as the measures that can be taken to implement the HR strategic plan. Strategic HRM for Blackberry Currently, the HRM strategy for RIM is mainly concerned with the optimum performance of the employees whereby the interests of the employees are not given due consideration (Harnish, N.D). Priority is given to the overall goals stated in the strategic plan of the company and this is the reason why the company has been criticised for bad HRM practices. As such, a strategic human resources management (SHRM) plan ought to be implemented. Basically, SHRM can be defined as the combination of human resources management with the strategic aims and objectives/plans in order to enhance business performance as well as the culture that promotes innovation, flexibility as well as the competitive advantage (Becker & Huselid, 2006).

Influential Costs to Healthcare Departments

Influential Costs to Healthcare Departments Patrick Bobst New federal laws, government regulations and the continuous rising costs of medical care have healthcare organizations facing financial revenue challenges stemming from fluctuating patient volumes to declining reimbursements. A major change in the healthcare industry has incentivized healthcare systems to keeping patients healthy and out of facilities instead of applying patient volume reimbursements. Healthcare organizations are shifting to value-based models that strategically focus on initiatives to not only reduce costs, but also improve efficiency while improving quality care. Challenges to maintain high quality care under tight budgets will be a continuous and arduous task for senior leaders. Budgeting practices are regarded as an organizational imperative if costs are to be predicted and controlled(Frow, Marginson, Ogden, 2010). Nurse Managers with a firm grip on relevant budget information are influential to patient care and insure the patient is receiving the best and safes t possible service(Dunham-Taylor Pinczuk, 2010). Budgeting increases efficiency through planning and coordination as well provides the ability to weave together all the disparate threads of an organization into a comprehensiveplan that serves many purposes (King, Clarkson, Wallace, 2009). Organizations today are implementing strategies to control the rising cost of healthcare are aimed at reducing medical resource consumption rates (Reiter Song, 2013). Research has shown that shifting budget strategies away from growth and expansion of high fixed costs associated with hospital care is shifting from growth and expansion toward a focus on efficiency, maintenance and existing capital in order to achieve cost control (Reiter Song, 2013). Cost Concepts in Healthcare Nurse Managers are rarely involved with revenue information but mainly involved with the spending aspect of the budget (Dunham-Taylor Pinczuk, 2010). Understanding the relationship of cost to volume is an important concept in a manager’s role for a departmental budget. Complexity surrounds the concept of volume, especially in volume-driven healthcare revenue planning and reporting. Volume in hospitals includes not only the patient census numbers but also takes into account the patient acuity, patient insurance type, patient minute/hours/days, and number of patient visits (Dunham-Taylor Pinczuk, 2010). â€Å"Direct supply costs are the only truly variable costs and a hospital that can be directly tied to patient volume and to cash expenditures† (Rauh, Wadsworth, Weeks, 2010, p. 61). Labor can be classified into two broad categories of direct labor and indirect labor. Labor is direct when working wages can be identified with specific costing units such as departments products or sales contracts and indirect labor is identified as all other employees that cannot be directly traced to the costing units (Chiang, 2013). Distinguishing between direct and indirect labor is vital to the budgetary process in determining accurate costs, measuring efficiency, decision-making and control, and minimizing overhead allocation inaccuracies (Chiang, 2013). Costs that have a direct correlation to the department could be either a variable or a fixed cost and the sum of these components equate to the total cost. Fixed costs are those that stay the same regardless the number of patients a healthcare facility treats or admits. The hospital still has to pay fixed costs even if their services are not used or even underutilized. Examples of fixed costs include insurance premiums, rent o n buildings or equipment, depreciation on buildings or equipment, taxes, utilities, and some salaried labor costs(Roberts et al., 1999). In healthcare, variable costs are expenses that fluctuate directly and proportionally with patient volume (Dunham-Taylor Pinczuk, 2010). Variable costs comprise all direct materials related in treating an individual patient including medications, testing agents, and disposable supplies as well as the salaries of nurses and technicians. Nurse Managers are considered a direct cost to the nursing department since the salary is the same reoccurring amount each month regardless of the quantity or volume of patients. The medical supplies furnished to the nursing department will be a direct cost that will be a variable cost if the total amount of supply used in the department increases or decreases as a volume in the department fluctuates. In estimating budgets, nurse managers determine the relationship between fixed costs, variable costs and total costs by utilizing a relevant range graph. The relevant range graph represents the likely range of activities within each cost behavior that is covered by the budget(Dunham-Taylor Pinczuk, 2010). Labor’s Influential Department Costs With enduring economic changes in healthcare, executives are continuously seeking how best to manage labor costs, how to efficiently allocate resources and optimize hospital staffing while reducing expenses all the while improving patient care. Twenty-five to 30% of the healthcare budget in a hospital organization stems from the nursing department (Dunham-Taylor Pinczuk, 2010) and the variable costs of labor are often 50 to 60% of total operating expenses(Rauh, Wadsworth, Weeks, 2010). Nursing departments are the only area where labor costs are directly related to patient volumeand the hospital’s profitability is very sensitive to changes in patient volume (Rauh et al., 2010). A hospital loses 100% of the patient revenue when volume is reduced but saves only on the cost of the direct supplies, whereas when patient volumes increase the next patient become highly profitable since revenue is captured(Rauh et al., 2010). Rauh et al. (2010) asserts, the true cost of caring for t he next patients is relatively small, as the additional cost is limited to direct supplies(p. 62). As a result, nursing management will focus their attention on utilization and throughput, the driving force in any fixed cost industry (Rauh et al., 2010). With labor cost containment and productivity initiatives scrutinized, managers are implementing flexibility in staffing. Strategically integrating a flexible staffing workflow provides the ability to adjust skill mix of core staff and volume of workforce when volume cycles demand. PACU Staffing and Productivity The labor force of the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) is directly patient volume driven and planned differently than other units. The PACU workload resets daily, with a daily variation in census, and the workload is peaked by time of day. The unit of service indicator used for the PACU department during the budgetary process is 2.5910 hours per patient. For example, with 40 surgical cases scheduled the PACU’s productive target hours will be 103.64. Hours per patient minute (HPPM) are the numbers of hours of nursing care provided, compared to the number of patients during a 24-hour period. Actual productive HPPM is calculated by taking the total nursing hours spent providing direct patient care each month and dividing it by the actual patient minutes spent in PACU. These hours include nurses, clerical, ancillary staff, and the assistant nurse manager. The nurse manager reviews weekly reports for the target HPPM with actual HPPM, monitoring vacancy rates, and maintaining the a verage nurse to patient ratio of 1:2. Understanding these reports help the nurse manager make data driven budget and staffing decisions. Due to the PACU’s fluctuating workload and census, adjustments are necessary to the HPPM. In order to ensure safe patient care the PACU manager evaluates the nursing skill level each day and makes the proper skill mix adjustments. Since shift overlap overtime raises the HPPM, the nurse manager analyzes productivity reports daily. Historical data supported management’s decision to mitigate expensive nursing care hours with an adjustment in our workforce to flex positions in order to meet changing volumes. Nonproductive non-worked hours and nonproductive indirect hours are also important budgeting factors in labor. Nonproductive, indirect hours referred to the hours reserved for activities, meetings, education and orientation. Nonproductive non-worked hours include paid time off for vacation, holidays, and sick time. References Chiang, B. (2013). Indirect labor costs and implications for overhead allocation. Accounting Taxation, 5(1), 85-96. Dunham-Taylor, J., Pinczuk, J. Z. (2010). Financial management for nurse managers: Merging the heart with the dollar (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Frow, N., Marginson, D., Ogden, S. (2010). Continuous budgeting: reconciling budget flexibility with budgetary control. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 35, 444-461. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aos.2009.10.003 King, R., Clarkson, P., Wallace, S. (2009). Budgeting practices and performance in small healthcare businesses. Management Accounting Research, 21, 40-55. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mar.2009.11.002 Rauh, S., Wadsworth, E., Weeks, W. (2010). The fixed cost dilemma: What counts when counting cost reduction efforts. Healthcare Financial Management, 64(3), 60-63. Reiter, K. L., Song, P. H. (2013). Hospital capital budgeting in an era of transformation. Journal of Healthcare Finance, 39(3), 14-22. Roberts, R. R., Frutos, P. W., Ciavarella, G. G., Gussow, L. M., Mensah, E. K., Kampe, L. M. (1999). Distribution of variable versus fixed costs of hospital care. The Journal of the American Medical Association, 281, 644-650. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.281.7.644

Hesse Biber- Am I Thin Enough Yet? The Cult of Thinness and the Commercialization of Identity :: essays research papers

The Cult of Thinness   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Many modern women subject themselves to an intense day-to-day involvement in the pursuit of thinness demands. These demands resemble those behaviors commonly associated with cult hood. Three main â€Å"tools† are used in order to achieve this goal or ideal. The Cult of Thinness invests in thinness through primary rituals. The rituals are followed through by the obsession of a particular â€Å"ideal† body. There are also extremities or positions of higher authority with extreme involvement in cults, much like the level of devotion in The Cult of Thinness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Daily actions of checking and critiquing can be performed in many ways. Body monitoring offers an array of resources. Constantly weighing one’s self is a way of achieving quantitative precision. Being able to pinpoint an exact gain or loss is a necessity in this cycle. To be able to have an ideal weight and to accurately compare yourself leaves no room for misinterpretation. Counting Calories helps maintain discipline to be sure not to exceed the limit. If one eats certain â€Å"restricted† food, it is seen to be sinful or as breaking the rules. This restriction of food intake is in a highly disciplined way. This is part of a larger process of dieting and exercising which is used in an obsessive manner to obtain the â€Å"perfect† body. These diet rituals can go as far as to fast for days at a time. Another â€Å"tool† of monitoring is food watching, monitoring the intake of â€Å"good† and â€Å"bad† foods. Nutritionally healthy foods are considered good. Anything else, from sweets to foods with fat, are considered bad foods.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Other rituals are performed through comparisons. By evaluating and examining old pictures and using them as motivation. Having a constant reminder of previous slimness can push a person to regain what might be an unrealistic goal. Mirrors provide a selective image to the viewer. You only see what you want to. This is particularly important, as most members to this Cult of Thinness have low self esteem. A mirror can be used to scrutinize and dissect physical flaws. â€Å"’A mirror reflects the virtual image of an object placed in front of it.’† This provides an analogy for how society fosters women’s obsession with their weight and body image. These rituals can serve as a reminder to ones self that one is not meeting the standards, guilt and self penance are results.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In a cult, there is an object or ideal to â€Å"worship.

The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920’s

The Ku Klux Klan (KKK) was notorious for their hatred towards African Americans and their proclamation of white supremacy. They were known as the invisible empire and for their symbols of intimidation, which included white cloaks with hoods, and burning crosses. The KKK was depicted as an organization which was mostly active in the southern Confederate states and targeted African Americans. It originally died out in the late 1860s, but The Klan rose again in the 1920's because of the motion picture Birth of a Nation, new immigrants arriving to America, and hatred towards African-Americans .Birth of a Nation was a silent film that premiered in 1925 that was directed by D. W. Griffith. Griffith went to Johns Hopkins University where he met Woodrow Wilson and became good friends. Wilson was a supporter of the Klan. One of the slides in Birth of a Nation has a quote by Wilson that said,†The white men were roused by a mere instinct of self-preservation †¦ until at last there ha d sprung into existence a great Ku Klux Klan, a veritable empire of the South, to protect the Southern country. Dixon's was a legislator, baptist preacher, lecturer, novelist,playwright, and an actor. The movie is based on the 1905 book The Clansman: An Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan by Thomas Dixon (Chalmer 28). This story revolves around two polar opposite families; the northern Stonemans and the southern Camerons. In this story their sons and daughters fell in love but were split by the civil war stricken states and reconstruction had devastated them.Congressmen Stoneman (was based on radical republican Thaddues Stephens) was represented as a hate-filled villain, urged by his Mulatto mistress to degrade the captured south, and with the recent assassination of â€Å"The Great Soul,† Abraham Lincoln, there was nothing to stop his rage. According to the book the south was ruled by Black tyranny and black corruption ‘stained' the legislative hall. The opposite of Congressmen Stoneman was Ben Cameron, leader of the KKK and a civil war hero of the south.In the end the Klan comes and saves the innocent, avenges the fallen, and reunites the grand lovers (Binder 9:166). D. W. Griffith based the movie on Dixon's book, by re-staging the war battles, Sherman's march to the sea. This gave the impression that the Klan was the ‘savior' of the states and the patriots leading our country with an invisible fist. This inspired many people to be patriotic like the Klan but others wanted to be the Klan again. William J. Simmon was one who had viewed this movie and took it to heart. He thought that it was time to bring The Klan back. Colonel† Simmons plan for the Klan had been revealed in an advertisement in the Atlanta Journal on December 7 1915. It contained blurbs such as, â€Å" The world's greatest secret, social, patriotic, fraternal, and beneficiary order. †This helped make the Klan more popular, but it wasn’t the only reason for the KKK's substantial growth. There are many other things that led to the KKK success that fell into place beautifully. They were allowed to march in parades during World War I in demonstrations of patriotism. After the war the seized the opportunity for power. Binder 9:167) Many problems were caused by a new influx of immigrants across the United States. Race riots sprang up in Chicago, Omaha, Duluth, Springfield, Tulsa, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, and Florida. The KKK disdained the new southern and eastern European immigrants that were. usually either Roman Catholic, Jews, Slavs, or Bolshevik. But they still hated people who were not white. This helped the KKK spread quickly through anti-Catholic socialist Wisconsin. The Catholics seemed to be real â€Å"threats† to the public schools and the enforcement of prohibition.The Klan actually favored something that may considered correct with there stance against alcohol during prohibition. The Klan went sour from there, when a few white men from Louisiana began criticizing them. These men where tortured and then later hanged by the Klan. This was known as The Mier Rouge Murders (Chalmer 29). The Ku Klux Klan spread to all corners of the United States, and all through the Midwest. William Allen White had experienced this first hand in 1921. He written of his experience and the experience of others.The following is from his letter that he had wrote on September 27, 1921. â€Å"An organizer of the Ku Klux Klan was in Emporia the other day, and the men whom he invited to join his band at $10 per join turned him down. Under the leadership of Dr. J. B. Brickell and following their own judgment after hearing his story, the Emporians told him that they had no time for him. The proposition seems to be: Anti-foreigners Anti-Catholics Anti-Negroes. There are, of course, bad foreigners and good ones, good Catholics and bad ones, and all kinds of Negroes.To make a case against a birthplace, a religion, or a race is wickedly un-american and cowardly. The whole trouble with the Ku Klux Klan is that it is based upon such deep foolishness that it is bound to be a menace to good government in any community,†(qtd Johnson 56). White went on to say how idiotic and self centered the Klan was by being so greedy and racial. He also said no one in Emporia fell into this recruiters clenches and they ran the recruiter out of town. (Johnson 285). The KKK had made there mark in many places.The KKK had control over many different government positions at the time such as in Indiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Oregon to name a few, but in Indiana the Klan was very influential. In 1924, Republican Edward Jackson was elected governor. This made the rest of the state filled with members of the Klan, but this had not lasted long (AP 135-136). 1924 Anaheim, California was taken completely over by the Ku Klux Klan to make it a model of a ‘perfect' city, by taking over the city council, but it was short lived because the voters called for a special recall election.A little bit after this Earle Mayfield of Texas got the U. S Senators seat, this made the Klan very powerful in these regions(Chalmer 34). Klan members in government seats did not stop there. Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed a former Klan member as a Supreme Court Justice. This man was confirmed to be a big supporter of the Klan, this was Hugo Black. Hugo Black was from Alabama where the Ku Klux Klan had been growing rapidly. He joined the invisible empire and became a high ranking officer in the Klan. Later he entered into politics. He was supported by the Klan and prohibitionists alike.At the age of forty he had not been known all that well publicly in politics, but he had surpassed four other prominent candidates and won the Senate nomination in the democratic primary, which essentially assured him of victory. For the next year he campaigned in every County. As senator he had openly acknowledged Klan support and attended man y state wide rallies. When the Klan political power diminished he broke his ties with them in 1930 (Van Deer Ver). In 1937 Franklin Roosevelt was frustrated with the conservative members of the supreme court.His legislation to appoint one member for every justice over the age of seventy had failed after a bitter 168 day fight in congress. That plan would have allowed him to appoint as many as six new justices. Roosevelt was not finished yet, as the struggle created one vacant seat, which he had filled with Hugo Black (Leuchtenburg 1). The Klan during the time of Black's membership was very hateful to non white people, especially blacks. They had thought that their jobs were being snatched up by Black people. They also didn't like them because the Ku Klux Klan viewed anyone who was not white as inferior to them.It had been a hard life for a black person during this time period because of the political power and the number of members in the Ku Klux Klan, they also always used the Afri can Americans of scapegoats to their problems (Drowne 10). The downfall of the second wave Klan happened for a number of reasons but one main reason was the conviction of D. C Stephenson. Stephenson was a long time member of the Klan and became the high rank of Grand Dragon. He was Publicly known to be a strong Prohibitionist. In 1925 he went on trial for the murder of Madge Oberholtzer.He was also responsible for the abduction, forced intoxication, and rape of Ms. Oberholtzer. The court had ruled that He was sentenced to life in prison. This devastated the Klan and sent them on a steep decline of members. (AP 135-137) The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s was very powerful during its prime. It started with Simmons, grew to enormous numbers, but then died out as quickly as it had came. The Ku Klux Klan had rapidly rose because of Griffith's major motion picture Birth of a Nation, the amount of new immigrants arriving to the United States, and the racial tensions between the Klan and African Americans.

Dr. Gregory House Essay

Dr. Gregory House is the main character in the House television series. He is currently working as the Head of Diagnostic Medicine with a double specialty in infectious disease and nephrology at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital. He is portrayed as narcissistic, sarcastic, and appears to dislike most people. He prefers superficial relationships with others, sometimes using prostitutes to satisfy his sexual needs. Descriptive Information: Gregory is a 52 year old Caucasian male. He prefers to be called House, as he views being called Greg as too personal. Dr.  House has a permanent disability in his leg. Dead muscle tissue had to be removed and left a divot in the skin. He is also very sensitive about the appearance of his thigh, being badly scarred from multiple operations. He is very reluctant to talk about this disability and is easily offended if it is brought up. House has been in constant pain since the surgery and has become addicted to painkillers. He does not acknowledge his using as a drug problem; he reports it is a pain problem. He states that it does not interfere with his ability to work. At the present time he has been to npatient treatment for detoxification, however still struggles with his addiction. House is above average in his intelligence, having been accepted to John-Hopkins University for his pre-med studies. It is his disregard for ethics and protocol that has caused him problems. He lost an opportunity for an internship at the Mayo Clinic when he was caught cheating and expelled. His inability to work well with others has been a source of employment issues for him in the past. House’s father was a Marine pilot, and he spent most of his childhood moving to different countries. As a result he isolated, and concentrated on a variety of interests. He is fluent in several languages, and plays the piano and guitar. At the age of 12, discovering the timing of his conception did not correlate with a time his father was around, he confronted his parents on the paternity. It was revealed to him that his mother had an affair with the family minister. House feels this was the turning point in his relationship with his father, John. He feels he was mistreated by John for this reason. John was cold and controlling, showing House limited affection. House was rebellious and was often punished harshly both physically and emotionally. House and his mother had a loving relationship, however in his desire to avoid his father he does not have her in his life. Presenting Problems: House’s presenting problems at this time are: his addiction to painkillers, his fear of intimacy, and anti-social traits. He also displays a problem with impulse control. Dr. House states his main reason for using Vicodin was for pain management, however he has admitted to recreational drug use in his past. His dependence has caused him professional problems, getting him into trouble on several occasions. His addiction has also caused him problems with Lisa, the woman he has feelings for. Dr. Lisa Cuddy and House have had an ongoing attraction spanning 25 years. They were beginning to form a relationship when she had a scare with cancer. When House couldn’t face losing her, he turned again to the Vicodin. Lisa ended their relationship when she realized his inability to cope without the use of drugs. Dr. House has been afraid to experience any real closeness to others in his life. He has issues of trust due to his mother’s dishonesty and his father’s distance and hostility towards him. This is the primary source of his fear of intimacy and cynicism. He hides his fears with a narcissistic attitude, and pushes people away instead of exposing any vulnerability. House can be extremely defensive, and it is likely he uses his personality in a deliberate attempt to alienate anyone who tries to get close to him. He is conflicted when facing his feelings for Lisa, while trying to hold onto his belief he is entirely self-sufficient. House has acted on numerous occasions without regard to his health and safety. He also takes his behaviors to the extreme. When Dr. Cuddy starts dating after their reak-up, he reacts by driving his car through her front window. He states his reason as simply â€Å"returning her hairbrush. † He uses himself as a test subject for drugs and medical tests, sometimes just to satisfy his curiosity. He has taken experimental drugs in hopes of restoring his leg muscle, which eventually led to tumors. House has also injected himself with questionable blood received by an ill patient to see if a blood transfusion caused their symptoms. Model: I believe that person-centered therapy would be the model best suited for House. I would also incorporate some cognitive-behavioral techniques. House would not respond well to any theory that is confrontational, he needs to feel in control. I also recognize that although his past plays a big part in why he has relationship issues, he does not seem to want to revisit these occurrences. I believe very little time should be spent on the subject of his parents specifically, with more time spent on how he’s dealing with relationships now. House would be a difficult client to build a therapeutic relationship with; however I do feel it could be done over a period where he felt he was in a safe and non-judgmental environment. He is intelligent and lives to figure out the â€Å"pieces† in difficult medical diagnoses. House may have a little trouble in using this in regards to his own mental health, since he is so enveloped in denial, but he does have the capacity to do so. The person-centered model works on the premises that the client is the expert, and I believe it is one he would respond to best given his personality type. Treatment Goals: House’s primary issue is addiction, and a lack of having a recovery plan. He has been trying to deal with this on his own terms, and has had relapses. His untreated condition contributes to his anti-social personality, interferes with his relationships, and causes issues at work. I feel his other presenting problems can never be fully addressed until he can gain control over his addictive behaviors. Until he comes to terms with his addiction, he will remain isolated and continue to be self-destructive. Dr. House needs to address his difficulty with any type of relationship. It is apparent at times that he does have the capacity and this facet of him is not part of a personality disorder. He displays a need for people despite his not wanting to. He shows jealousy when Lisa dates others and does has a close friendship with Dr. James Wilson from the hospital. Dr. Wilson provides House with consultation about cases, and often personal issues. James is one of the few who can away with calling House out on behaviors. They sometimes have real moments on a deeper level, and at times they can let go and share laughs. House has displayed many instances of problematic impulse-control. He has experimented with Methadone, self-induced insulin shock, and tried deep brain stimulation with an electrical prod. The electrical current caused him seizures, brain leeding, and ultimately led to him being in a coma. He often shows no regard for his well-being. Once in an agitated state, he dove from a balcony into a pool. These behaviors horrify others around him. Techniques: The person-centered therapy is flexible enough to be adapted to most personalities. I feel a technique building a person profile would help House to address his addiction issues and in building a plan. This would begin with listing his attributes and strengths. Learning what is likable and worthy about himself, instead of focusing on negatives, will present to him a view of himself in wish he wants to be seen. Next he should verbalize what is important to him. Having clear, concrete thinking on what he wants in his life can help when addressing what his drug use will take away from him, and how it is a barrier in achieving his desired outcome. Finally House should look at what has been working and what is not working as support in his life. This includes relationships, both ones that may be unhealthy and those he needs to build. Recovery is greatly impacted by support systems. These can include relationships on a personal level, and outside support groups. House needs to consider what should be changed, what should stay the same, and what makes sense as far as being realistic. Rational emotive behavioral therapy (REBT) could be beneficial to House in dealing with his fear of intimacy. The basic hypothesis is that people are not disturbed by events, but by the views in which they take on them. Therapy would dispute his irrational beliefs and engage him in activities that can counter them. Showing House the faulty belief system he imposes on everyone he meets, he can begin to work on seeing how his actions are self-sabotaging. If he can really grasp how his beliefs are blocking him, he can find ways to change and control them. It will help him to communicate more effectively with others. I believe social skill groups could help House with his impulse-control. Group therapies help with accountability of the behavior, and provide for feedback. This therapy is a powerful venue for growth and change. Participants receive tremendous understanding, support, and encouragement from others facing similar issues. House could also gain different perspectives, ideas, and viewpoints on those issues. I feel a variance outside of one-on-one would be beneficial for House. As narcissistic as he can be, I think too much attention to solely his issues at once would force him to become more defensive and less open to treatment. Assessment: House’s treatment goals will take some time to be actualized. Addiction is rooted not only in behaviors, but also his biology. He will need to have some strong support built in along with coping skills. Given the fact relationships with others need to exist for the support to be effective, these treatment goals are dependent on one another. His treatment with addiction will not show promise until a minimum of a year without use has been met, and regular involvement in a self-help group has been established. I do not expect House to develop newer relationships at this time; however I will gauge his success in fostering his existing ones. His changes should include learning how to express his feelings maturely, and learning to give of himself without the use of sarcasm to hide when it feels uncomfortable. There is also a strong correlation between addiction and impulse-control, by identifying coping skills for urges, House could utilize some of these with his behaviors. In addition, low self-esteem can be part of the problem in engaging in such dangerous and high risk activities. House needs to address both his physical condition that causes him embarrassment, and his abandonment issues with his family. I feel as time goes on, and he gives recovery and relationships with others a chance, he will begin to see himself as a person worth caring for. Once he begins to feel that he is valuable and deserving of love from others, he should be able to accept this within himself. It is my hope through those changes his disregard for his safety will dissipate.

radar-the world communicates essays

radar-the world communicates essays Current Technology and Advances Made Radar first began in 1930 when two American scientists realised its military value. Its first major application was in 1940 when the British had developed radar to such a degree that they were very successful in detecting and shooting down many enemy aircraft during WWII. Since then Radar has made a lot of advances and has spread into many different fields such as tracking aeroplane traffic, mapping, weather forecasting and one of its very important uses in police radar and speed cameras. In the late 1950s the police introduced the first technologies to kerb the ever-increasing fatality rate on the N.S.W roads. They introduced the first speed detection device called the Pie Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging) which had an antenna about the size of a 20-litre drum, because of its size and the power required to run it, it had to be carried around in the back of a Ute which had to be kept running to power the radar. These original radars were not really a solution to the problem as they were not practical or accurate. In 1968 a new radar called the S5 was put to the test and showed to be more salubrious than previous models as it was smaller and much easier to use but in 1971 the S5 radar lost a challenge in court and it was proved that the manufacturer couldnt verify their own radar, this was the end of the S5. The polices radar of today is called the Silver Eagle Traffic radar it can be used both in a stationary position as well as in a moving vehicle as it is contr olled by a Doppler based microprocessor. The other modern day speed camera is the Traffixpak Speedshot, which can tell the difference between different vehicles travelling in the same direction as well as calculating the speed of vehicles travelling in both directions this system can also be modified to digital imaging in the future. The newest radar instrument, which was introduced in 1997, is c ...

10 Simple Body Language Techniques for Career Success

10 Simple Body Language Techniques for Career Success Dr. Carol Kinsey Gorman, author of The Silent Language of Leaders: How Body Language Can Help- or Hurt- How You Lead, has 10 great tips for maximizing success through body language: 1. Sit up straight.Good posture doesn’t just impress those around you, it can actually boost the way you feel about yourself.2. Use your coffee cup to open up.Believe it or not- a recent study at Yale University actually concluded that participants holding warm beverages versus cold ones were more likely to be trusting in any given interaction. So unless you’re heading into salary negotiations and need to drive a hard bargain, grab a hot cup of coffee and feel more generous with your coworkers. And maybe bring one for your boss.3. Synchronized nodding.Stanford University scientists found that teams who moved the same way were more creative and collaborative. So go ahead, mirror your team members’ body language; the team that nods together gets more done.4. Squeeze left.If you’r e too much in your head and not relying on the tools you’ve trained so hard to build, squeezing a ball in your left hand can distract the right hemisphere of your brain (associated with conscious focus) and engage your left hemisphere (associated with automatic motor skills). It works with seasoned athletes and could work for you.5. Avoid resting grumpy face.Try to relax your facial muscles, especially when concentrating or reading emails. Studies actually show that messages can be interpreted as angry in tone when we read them with furrowed brows.6. Shake shake shake.We all shake hands after a deal is made, but the Harvard Business School found that shaking before negotiations can make for a more equitable exchange.7. Keep your voice on the down low.The lower your voice, the more authority you command. Try dropping your voice when asking for a raise. Researchers at Duke discovered that a 22 Hz drop can result in a significant pay increase, all other factors equal.8. Come int o the game warmed up.It takes our brains only 200 milliseconds to determine a person’s emotional state. So warm yourself up before you walk into the meeting to prove to everyone that you’re at your best. If you come on stage already in character, no one will doubt your performance.9. Add that extra touch.A Cornell University study showed that customers tipped 2-5% better when their servers made physical contact on the hand or shoulders. Try giving your associate a pat on the back and see what happens.10. Flex your muscles.Muscle tightening has been shown to increase willpower. Try tightening your biceps, hands, or calves, and see if it boosts your self-control.

What are Sensitivity Readers (And Should Authors Use Them)

What are Sensitivity Readers (And Should Authors Use Them) What are Sensitivity Readers? (And Should Authors Use Them?) A conversation is raging in the writing world and it’s not about the latest Harry Potter â€Å"backstory† that J.K. Rowling revealed on Twitter. Sensitivity readers lie at the heart of the debate - and the controversy has hit such heights that it has drawn attention from media outlets ranging from Literary Hub to the New York Times.For an author, the argument over the correct use of sensitivity readers might be smothering what they actually do. This post will clear the fog and uncover exactly what this kind of reader is - and what you can expect when you work with one. Hopefully, by the end, you’ll have a better idea of whether you need one. What are sensitivity readers?Sensitivity readers are a subset of beta readers who review unpublished manuscripts with the express purpose of spotting cultural inaccuracies, representation issues, bias, stereotypes, or problematic language.While these readers are not new to the publishing landscape, they have recently risen to prominence. Thanks to encouragement from organizations like We Need Diverse Books, there has been an earnest push to include more diverse characters in published literature, though some of these good-faith efforts have met with mixed reception.Such readers particularly became a hot topic in 2016, when the pre-release of the young adult novel The Continent was quickly met with online reviews pointing out problematic portrayals of people of color. The book’s release date was pushed back and galley copies were sent off to sensitivity readers, which resulted in numerous changes. Which brings us to both the case for them - and against them. Asked and answered: What are sensitivity readers? Discover more inside this post The case for sensitivity readersPublishing has a diversity problem: not only is the industry predominantly white and middle-class, but the stories overwhelmingly feature white characters. In recent years, the tide has shown signs of turning as inclusion and equity have become increasingly sought-after in an effort to represent the variety of cultures and diverse backgrounds that make up the world.However, the reality is that while more diverse books are being published now, many of them are written by white authors. Writers, like all human beings, are the products of their upbringing and often have little real-world context for writing about a culture outside their own - hence where the skills of such specialized readers come into play. Feedback from such readers can:Ensure better representation on the page. As diversity in literature becomes increasingly in-demand, it’s important that characters are represented accurately, without perpetuating stereotypes. This kind of reade r helps by pointing out unintentionally insensitive or incorrect portrayals of race, sexuality, religion, and physical disabilities.Improve the quality of the book. All books benefit hugely from a multidimensional, rich, and nuanced cast of characters - something that the use of sensitivity readers will encourage, as the feedback can steer characters away from being one-note cardboard cutouts.Moreover, in today’s real-time and divisive online environment - spurred on by such sites as Twitter - this kind of reader helps prevent the worst-case scenario: backlash which results in a book being withdrawn from publication. For publishers, these readers can avert the embarrassing predicament of canceling a book launch on the back of a public apology. The Continent was far from the only book that sunk because of a turbulent online reaction to its representation of diversity: Amà ©lie Wen Zhao initially called off the summer 2019 publication of Blood Heir due to criticism of the w ay that her novel dealt with indentured labor and slavery.Zhao only recently announced that Blood Heir is back on schedule for publication - after editing the novel and â€Å"taking the time to make sure the hallmarks of human trafficking were being incisively drawn.†The case against sensitivity readersCensorship is generally at the heart of every argument against these readers. Their detractors are concerned that these readers police expression of thought, resulting in homogenous stories that are afraid to touch complex topics - and a sterilized world of books in which controversial language can’t be used.Though one of the most common pieces of advice you’ll hear for an author is to â€Å"write what you know,† some also argue that the increasingly looming need for such readers discourages authors from experimenting and writing outside of their own perspectives. As Francine Prose wrote in an article for the NY Books: â€Å"Should we dismiss Madame Bova ry because Flaubert lacked â€Å"lived experience† of what it meant to be a restless provincial housewife? Can we no longer read Othello because Shakespeare wasn’t black?†From this point of view, sensitivity readers monitor freedom of thought, which is antithetical to what creative writing should be all about.What can you expect from a sensitivity reader?With all of the debate around the topic, what actually goes into a reader’s work can easily get overlooked. So what exactly does it entail? Well, the entire process depends on the individual - but generally, the collaboration between reader and author plays out in four stages.1. Finding the right reader for the bookTo add value to a text, the reader must match the needs of the book. For instance, if you’re a white author writing a book with a black protagonist, your reader would ideally come from such a background and understand the nuances of 1. writing from such a perspective, and 2. depicting th e culture. Likewise, make sure that the reader is experienced in the genre. A reader that specializes in reading children’s books wouldn’t be a good fit for an adult genre novel, and vice versa.Here are some more best practices to keep in mind for the search:Expect to pay for a reader’s services. Prices will vary, but generally fixed prices start from $250 for a novel. Some sensitivity readers charge by the hour - make sure that you get it all down in a contract so that both of you are on the same page before starting the collaboration.Find a reader who understands publishing. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they must be writers themselves - merely that they ought to understand the nuances of the writing process and be up-to-date on publishing debates. It shouldn’t just be any random person off the street - these readers are professionals in their own right and should know the ins and outs of the industry, as well as the contexts that require their knowledge.Set a firm deadline with the reader. Generally, the turnaround time is 2 to 5 weeks. Hash it out with the reader beforehand to avoid any confusion.As for where you can find these readers in the first place, the Writing in the Margins database is a good place to start. Ask around on Twitter and various writing communities - fellow writers will be happy to offer recommendations or share insight from past collaborations with sensitivity readers. "How to find the right sensitivity reader for your book" and more questions answered in this guide 2. Allow time for the reader to, well, readOnce the contract is ironed out and all of the details of the collaboration are fixed, the author will give the reader the entire manuscript to read. As we mentioned earlier, this stage usually takes between 2 to 5 weeks, depending on the length of the manuscript - the reader won’t be speedreading, but carefully evaluating characterizations, noting down sentences that are off, and appraising the tone of the book.3. Listen to the feedbackWhen the reader is done with the manuscript, it’s time for the reaction. It depends on the reader, but most of the time, feedback takes the form of comments in the margins of the manuscript and a detailed letter. Usually, a follow-up consultation, such as a phone call, can be taken up to resolve any lingering questions.Much of the time, the feedback will pinpoint things that an author might not have ever considered. As sensitivity reader Dhonielle Clayton revealed in an interview with Vulture: â€Å"I read a middle-grade book about a little black girl who loves to go to national parks, and I told the author that the first thing she needed to reconcile was, how did this black girl get into national parks? Historically, black people weren’t allowed to visit national parks, so going to national parks is not a thing we do, as a group. I wrote to her that if this little girl loves to camp, you need to figure out how that happened, how that passion was stoked, how her parents and grandparents felt about it. Or you have to make her white. Because otherwise it’s a paint by numbers diversity piece and it rings false.†Keep an open mind when you receive the feedback. The reader will point out blind spots - things that wouldn’t have occurred to an author who is writing about a different culture - and may raise delicate tonal questions. Like a developmental editor does for a manuscript, the criticism is ultimately meant to raise the quality of the book.4. Revise the manuscript accordinglyWhen the dust settles and all is said and done, it’s up to the author to make the final decision on whether or not to make the reader’s suggested edits. Nobody is stopping you from doing anything - on the contrary, a sensitivity read simply provides you with choices and information.What a sensitivity read offers is advice: it’s not compulsory to change the story according to their counsel, though it’s certainly recommended once you’ve reached this stage.Do you need a sensitivity reader?So do you as an author need a sensitivity reader?It depends on a number of variables: the subject on which you’re writing, your characters, and where you fall in the debate of censorship. Some writers may think, â€Å"Better safe than sorry,† while others believe that such readers are unnecessary. We’re not here to tell you what you should or should not do, but it’s important to be informed and to know ex actly what you’ll get out of the process if you do decide to hire a reader’s services.If it would be helpful to hear from authors who have previously worked with such readers, here are a few personal accounts that you can peruse before you go:Anna Hecker: The Problem with Sensitivity Readers Isn’t What You Think It IsJames Tilton: Sensitivity Readers! What Are They Good For?Literary Hub: On the Use of Sensitivity Readers in PublishingHave you used a sensitivity reader before and what's your take on them? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below.

Macroeconomics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Macroeconomics - Term Paper Example The housing market like any other market follows the basic supply and demand laws. Demand means the amount of good consumers demand at a certain price. While supple means the amount of goods the suppliers/ produces are willing to supply at a certain price. Generally when there is a price rise, demand falls and where as supply increases when there is higher price (supply and demand, 2008). But incase of the US housing market there was almost abnormal rise in the prices and then a sudden fall ushered in from 2006 onwards. This was preceded by a stable housing price environment in most parts of the 1990s while an increasing trend was witnessed towards the end of the 1990s. Housing prices rose by a whopping 87% during the period January 2002 to June 2006. While the sudden decline started in 2006 and gathered enormous proportions in the years 2007, 2008 and is still continuing. Housing prices were down by roughly 25% in 2008 third financial quarter in comparison to the peak levels of 2006 . During the middle part of the 1990s governmental regulations in relation to lending norms were relaxed drastically and ensuing regulations followed which made it mandatory for housing loan institution like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to increase their share of US mortgages belonging to middle as well as low income families by significant levels. During the era 1999 US federal rules also made it sure that these two institutions which hold a major portion of the US mortgages accepted greater amount of loans but with minimal and in many cases, absolutely no down payment. Almost a similar kind of regulation was passed in the year 1995 in context f bank's landings through which they were made to lend heavily to minority sections of the population in the vicinity of the banks in the process prudent lending mechanisms and evaluation of credit worthiness were overlooked. This was the 'Community Reinvestment Act'. Testimony to the afore mentioned fact Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's overall shar e of mortgages under their holding went up to 45% in the year 2001 from only 25% in the year 1990. This fact is shown in Fig.2. It is also evident from the figure that how these two institution's share of the outstanding mortgages went up continuously throughout the 1990s and also almost through the 2000s. Fig.2. Outstanding Mortgages and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's share of them. Source: Gwartney, et al. Interest rate manipulation During the period between 2002 and 2006 the US Fed ushered in an extended low interest rate phase. As a result of the ensuing low rate scenario there was a huge demand for the houses and consecutively the prices also soared in the sector. Fig.3. 1-Year Treasury Bill Rate & Fed Fund Rate Source: Gwartney, et al. Fig.3. shows that how the fed had kept the interest rate for

Justice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Justice - Essay Example These two characteristics, the concern for practical applications of his philosophy and the use of reason to supplant theological directives, distinguished Socrates. His was an attempt to teach people how to better define the highest good, how to attain justice, and therefore how to attain happiness both individually and socially. This essay will examine Socrates’ notions of a highest good and justice, his linking of the individual and society through an integrated philosophical approach, and the implications of different choices regarding public administration and public order. As a preliminary matter, it is important to note that Socrates’ teachings were most directed at the individual. The highest good, therefore, was a condition that each individual was capable of attaining; however, this highest good could only be known through reason and a knowledge of one’s self. Socrates equated this highest good with knowledge and happiness. Significantly, though, he went to great lengths to distinguish true happiness from illusory pursuits of happiness. He did this by drawing distinctions between absolute levels of ignorance and fancy ideals of true knowledge. These distinctions, often grounded in Socrates’ claims that he knew nothing, provided the intellectual framework for subsequently exploring ultimate questions of goodness, justice, and proper forms of public administration. In effect, he tore down common assumptions, challenged certain modes of thinking, and in the process attempted to redefine both the proper focus and method of philoso phical inquiry as well as the practical application of philosophy to man’s life and to social affairs. Central to man’s pursuit of happiness was the intellectual process by which he confronted choices and made decisions. In many ways, Socrates reduced the highest good to a

Motivating Learners from Low-Income Households Case Study - 1

Motivating Learners from Low-Income Households - Case Study Example An empirical approach has been suggested by the research cited on attribution, self-concept, and praise and questioning. At the close of our session, I would give a prescription for the thing to do so as to improve the condition in the classroom. I would recommend for the teacher always developing an anticipatory set so as to cause the students to keep focused. Telling the students the objectives and the purpose of the lesson too would be a recommendable thing to do. The teacher ought to input knowledge, whatsoever, into the pupils. It is also advisable for the teacher to be a role model for the learners and show them what is supposed to be mastered. Another strategy that would work for the teacher is seeking to understand the learner’s side. Providing a guided practice of skill is a motivating activity to integrate with the classroom situation (Wiles & Bondi, 2004). The teacher should as well allow for independent practice by the learners. When dealing with the teacher situat ion, I would research widely on the ability of a teacher to demonstrate to utilize appropriate classroom management with a focus on discipline. The research reveals that there is a direct and negative association between poverty and academic performance. Poverty is a chief factor underwriting poor academic performance by learners. Revelation from studies shows that most students from low socioeconomic background fare poorly in academics at school. This is caused by substantially little parental involvement especially that of mothers. Consequently, there is insufficient nurturing, time spent with children is less, and warm emotions are very rare. These factors cause depression, low self-esteem, sense of powerlessness, and an inability to cope up with various situations that are the behavior and personalities that a teacher ought to shape for the better. Exceptions to these appalling conditions are, however, existent.

Organization Behavior - 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Organization Behavior - 3 - Essay Example An open system focuses on the throughputs that are taken from the environment. The throughputs are then given back to the environment and in this way; the open system completes its cycle. The open system perspective plays a key role in determining the organizational effectiveness in a sense that the system receives inputs from the environment and its outputs are accepted from the external environment. The open system exchanges the feedback with the external environment of the organization, which helps the organization determine its effectiveness. The feedback, which is exchanged with the external environments, is analyzed in order to determine the changes that are needed to achieve the organizational goals and objectives. Therefore, we can say that the open system perspective is one of the integral perspectives of an organizational effectiveness because it helps the organization achieve its goals in a successful manner. There are five basic types of behaviors included in the organizational behavior literature. The types of behaviors include task performance, organizational citizenship, counterproductive work behaviors, joining and staying with the organization, and maintaining work attendance. All these types of behaviors are of significant importance for the success of an organization. Task performance refers to those goal-directed behaviors that are under the control of individuals. This type of behavior is used to transform the raw materials into the finished goods. If we take example of employees, we can say that employees usually have more than one dimensions for performance. In task performance behavior, all of the dimensions are analyzed in order to evaluate the employee’s performance. In my view, task performance behavior is one of the most significant behaviors because this behavior is directly related to the performance of employees. Organizational citizenship behavior

Effects of hoarding on market prices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Effects of hoarding on market prices - Essay Example As a basic economic rule, whenever a supply of a particular item is less than the quantity demanded, the former puts inflationary pressure on the price of the goods and prices increase, if the quantity supplied could not match the quantity demanded. This can be shown through pictorial representation: The above diagram shows how hoarding affects the equilibrium condition in the market and increases the market prices. If we explain the above diagram, we can easily see that the Indian food is at a point e, where demand and supply equal at market price p1 and at quantity Q. However, as soon as the hoarding activity, this results in supply curve being shift to s1 from initial supply curve of S. As a result of this a new equilibrium is formed at the point e1. At this point the quantity is below the initial quantity of Q at Q1. (Sloman, 2004) Similarly, due to this a shortage has been created and people with more money are ruling the market by the virtue of being able to pay higher prices. As a result the market price of food items increases high and now the food stuff is available at a higher market price of p1. As a result this hoarding decreases the supply and increases the market prices. ... Now, let's assume that at the time when hoarding activities are going and due to poor crop the going market prices are set at the price p. However, due to effective government action against hoarders and release of buffer stock into the market, the supply of food items in the market will now increase to a new supply position of Se. We can clearly see that Se is rightward of the supply curve at the time hoarding that is Sh. This shows that the supply in the market has increased. This increase in supply means that there is more food stuff now available in the market at quantity Qe. This will reduce the market prices from previous prices which at the time of hoarding were at ph to pe. This analysis clearly shows how effective action by the government against hoarders can reduce the market prices and bring inflation of food items under control. Thus, we can assume that the article is suggesting the right ploy by which the Government of India can bring prices under control. (Clermont, 200 9) Another issue that has been raised in the article is how India is using measures to reduce their trade deficit by introducing export benefits for businesses in India which will increase their competitiveness in the international market. This means that government will give them tax holidays. As a result of which cost of production in India will reduce which will lower the prices of "Made In India" products. As a result of which imported goods for Indians will become expensive and hence Indians will prefer domestic production and hence reduce imported goods. This will means that India will have a lower cash outflow and hence this will improve the foreign trade situation in India.

LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN - Compare & contrast humanitarian & Essay

LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN - Compare & contrast humanitarian & business supply chains. Provide anD analysis of similarities & d - Essay Example Though the supply chain strategies in both the cases aim at efficiency, there are differences arising due to the objectives, nature and goals of the operations, the management structure and management style. Blecken, A. (2010, p. 8) states â€Å"Thomas and Kopezak (2006) see the lack of recognition of importance of supply chain management and logistics in humanitarian organizations as a challenge to efficient and effective logistics and supply chain management†¦Ã¢â‚¬  This observation is in contrast to the recognition of its importance given by the private businesses, though an encouraging trend is evolving in humanitarian supply chain. I Factors differentiating humanitarian and business supply chains Factors differentiating humanitarian and business supply chains are discussed in this section. Though the operational strategy in the case of both humanitarian and business supply chain basically involves procurement, storage, transportation and distribution, similarities and dif ferences relative to these functions in respect of humanitarian and business supply chains are discussed separately under section II for understanding of the operational issues in proper perspective. Stakeholders The primary stakeholders in the humanitarian supply chain are the people affected by earth quakes, floods and other natural calamities; afflicted by epidemics, poverty or other events. Unlike the customers or suppliers of a business organization who comes to do business with the corporations or associate with them as employees, the humanitarian organizations are involved in the rescue or rehabilitation operations of unknown people from different parts of the world in need of assistance and support. These people are not related to other stakeholders like donors, service providers, NGOs or other agencies and the service to humanity is the cornerstone of these humanitarian organizations. Management structure The management structure of humanitarian organizations is not uniform as in the case of private corporations with a defined hierarchy and chain of command. Lack of accountability is a systematic problem in the charitable organizations. However, Tomasini & Wassenhove (2004, p. 446) noted that in the case of humanitarian supply management system (SUMA) developed by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in El Salvador a public-private commission was set up, including Price Waterhouse and KPMG Peat Marwick to audit the reception and distribution of goods as well as the management of funds. SUMA has successfully overcome the inherent weakness in the management structure of the humanitarian supply chain. Coordination with the Stakeholders Humanitarian operations are complex with different stakeholders such as government agencies, local authorities, private sector corporations, service providers, goods suppliers, large and small aid agencies and NGOs apart from the communities involved. Adherence to the humanitarian principles in the activities at all lev els and ensuring relief without partiality or discrimination is very important for sustaining the confidence level and trust of the donors and other stakeholders for their continued assistance and support. Infrastructure facilities Problems faced by a typical humanitarian orga

Effects of hoarding on market prices Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Effects of hoarding on market prices - Essay Example As a basic economic rule, whenever a supply of a particular item is less than the quantity demanded, the former puts inflationary pressure on the price of the goods and prices increase, if the quantity supplied could not match the quantity demanded. This can be shown through pictorial representation: The above diagram shows how hoarding affects the equilibrium condition in the market and increases the market prices. If we explain the above diagram, we can easily see that the Indian food is at a point e, where demand and supply equal at market price p1 and at quantity Q. However, as soon as the hoarding activity, this results in supply curve being shift to s1 from initial supply curve of S. As a result of this a new equilibrium is formed at the point e1. At this point the quantity is below the initial quantity of Q at Q1. (Sloman, 2004) Similarly, due to this a shortage has been created and people with more money are ruling the market by the virtue of being able to pay higher prices. As a result the market price of food items increases high and now the food stuff is available at a higher market price of p1. As a result this hoarding decreases the supply and increases the market prices. ... Now, let's assume that at the time when hoarding activities are going and due to poor crop the going market prices are set at the price p. However, due to effective government action against hoarders and release of buffer stock into the market, the supply of food items in the market will now increase to a new supply position of Se. We can clearly see that Se is rightward of the supply curve at the time hoarding that is Sh. This shows that the supply in the market has increased. This increase in supply means that there is more food stuff now available in the market at quantity Qe. This will reduce the market prices from previous prices which at the time of hoarding were at ph to pe. This analysis clearly shows how effective action by the government against hoarders can reduce the market prices and bring inflation of food items under control. Thus, we can assume that the article is suggesting the right ploy by which the Government of India can bring prices under control. (Clermont, 200 9) Another issue that has been raised in the article is how India is using measures to reduce their trade deficit by introducing export benefits for businesses in India which will increase their competitiveness in the international market. This means that government will give them tax holidays. As a result of which cost of production in India will reduce which will lower the prices of "Made In India" products. As a result of which imported goods for Indians will become expensive and hence Indians will prefer domestic production and hence reduce imported goods. This will means that India will have a lower cash outflow and hence this will improve the foreign trade situation in India.

Depreciation and Cost Essay Example for Free

Depreciation and Cost Essay 1. The primary cause of the current system to fail is the use of a single burden rate. Burden costs of the testing rooms as well as other costs such as admin were grouped into a single cost pool and then divided by the total labor dollars. This resulted to a single burden rate of 145% of direct labor dollars (cost driver). This method is not appropriate for Seligram because the information on the case present that direct labor hours and machine hours vary by product line and activity. In addition, the burden cost of the main and test room also significantly vary. Therefore, using a single burden rate does not provide the true cost of the product, as it assumes all products consume direct labor and overhead in the same proportion. 2. Cost for each system are as follows: 3. I prefer the system proposed by the consultant because it is the most detailed, therefore will produce more accurate costs. 4. The ideal allocation base should have a direct cause-and-effect relation with the costs incurred. Based on the data provided in the case, it appears that the consultant’s proposed cost system is adequate because it considers the appropriate cost pool and allocation base. However, it should be noted that developing a cost system that is more detailed require the use of more time and resources. There needs to be a proper balance between accuracy and cost. 5. There is significant cost involved in the purchase of new equipment. Although the machine will be located in the Main Room, I would use a separate cost pool when calculating the burden rate of the new machine. The purchase price of the machine is $2 million. I will add the one-time installation and programming cost to the acquisition cost of the machine since these costs are required in order to get the machine ready for use. I will calculate depreciation based on the machine’s practical capacity over its estimated life, instead of double declining method. It seems that the use of double declining balance method of depreciation is inappropriate for allocation of costs because this method incurs higher depreciation in the early years, although the utilization is lower in the early years. By using practical capacity as the base, I am able to properly match the cost with the use of the machine.

Structure and Chemical Composition of Silk

Structure and Chemical Composition of Silk Silk: A Natural Polymer By: David Church â€Å"The Silk Road,† a trading route that can be traced back to over 3600 years ago, but still is a household recognized name. Standing the test of time proves that this product was extremely important in shaping history. According to Chinese historians, silk began with the prince of China, Hoang-ti, and his wife, Si-ling-chi. The prince wanted his wife to contribute something important to their people. He assigned her the task of finding a use for the thread that came from silk worms. Si-ling-chi was able to develop a method to feed the worms, extract and reel the thread, as well as create clothing from the silk. The Chinese were able to keep not only the method of producing silk but also the source (the silk worm) a secret until about the sixth century. The nobility of the world was forced to pay as much as its weight in gold for silk until about 555 A.D. This is when two Nestorian monks were able to bring a few silk worm eggs to Constantinople, which began the spread of pr oduction through Europe and other parts of Asia.6 Silk can come from many different insects, including caterpillars, spiders, and worms. The most economically viable silk is produced from mulberry silkworms because they can be raised in captivity and their silk can be mass produced. The larva is born from an egg and must be fed mulberry leaves for up to one month before it is ready to create a cocoon of silk. Once it creates this cocoon, workers kill the larva inside using hot water or steam, and then proceed with the rest of the manufacturing process.5 The structure of this silk is composed of amino acids linked together in a long chain. Three main amino acids comprise 83.4% of the total polymer structure with trace amounts of many other amino acids. A total of up to 2592 different amino acids can be found in a polymer chain of silk. The three frequent amino acids include glycine, alanine, and tyrosine, with ratios in the polymer chain of about 1/2, 1/4, and 1/16 respectively. This leaves a ratio of about 3/16 of all other trace amino acids. If we denote glycine as G, alanine as A, tyrosine as T, and all the other amino acids as X, an outline structure of the polymer can be created to follow a pattern similar to: [G-A-G-T-G-A-G-X-G-A-G-X-G-A-G-X] n.2 Even though the chemical structure of this polymer chain seems like it could be very complex, the actual structure of the chain is relatively simple. The two most frequent amino acids present (glycine and alanine) in the polymer make up about 75% of the polymer chain and fortunately have two of the simplest individual structures of all amino acids. Glycine’s and alanine’s chemical structures are shown in Figures 1 and 2 respectively.2 Figure 1: Glycine Chemical Structure Figure 2: Alanine Chemical Structure The third most frequent amino acid present, tyrosine, is a little larger and more complex because it contains a benzene ring. Its chemical structure is shown in Figure 3.2 Figure 3: Tyrosine Chemical Structure The similarities in the chemical structure of these amino acids should be noted. As a generalization, all amino acids can be represented with an amino group, a hydrogen atom, a carboxylic acid group, and a side â€Å"R† group all attached to the alpha carbon as shown in Figure 4.2 Figure 4: Generalized Amino Acid Chemical Structure The method of synthesis that is used is step growth condensation polymerization. To perform this reaction, a hydrogen atom from the amino group of one amino acid reacts with the hydroxide molecule from the carboxylic acid group of another amino acid to form water. This allows for the nitrogen atom to bond directly to the carbon atom and start a chain. One step in the polymerization process between glycine and alanine is shown in Figure 5.1 Figure 5: Polymerization Step This process propagates in a chain of amino acids with the pattern previously shown in Figure 1. Denoting â€Å"R† for the side chain in tyrosine and â€Å"R1† for all the side chains in the numerous trace amino acids, a simplified polymer chain diagram would look something like what is shown in Figure 6.1 Figure 6: Simplified Polymer Chain2 As the name suggests, â€Å"The Silk Road† was a route taken in order to trade silk between communities, however, silk was not the only product being transported on this route. Silk is arguably known as the most significant product being transported at the time, but because of the existence of the Silk Road, it made it much easier to trade other commodities, such as gold, precious metals and stones, ivory, exotic animals, and religion. The route provided a means for Buddhist missions to travel from India to influence China. The starting point of the Silk Road and capital of China was Changan. During the heyday of the Silk Road, about 740 A.D., Changan grew into one of the largest cities of the time with a population of about two million people. As the Silk Road developed and the precious items became more widely known, it in turn became more dangerous to travel. Bandits took advantage of the long, desert road by attacking and looting caravans. To combat this, sections of the G reat Wall of China were constructed to defend the caravans.9 The simple pleasures that silk provided like comfort and social hierarchy caused a chain reaction that in turn led to the globalization of trade, religion, economy, and mass construction. Today, silk has taken on a new importance to society with the many technologically advanced uses that will be discussed later. Both the advantages and disadvantages of silk can mainly be contributed to the inherent biological nature of its formation. The advantages of silk come from comparing it with other natural threads and with artificially created threads. The mulberry silk worm produces large amounts of silk in a convenient cocoon shape that is easily industrialized unlike other natural threads. The natural process of protein organization with such chemical control has not been able to be replicated artificially in a laboratory. The first disadvantages of silk are bound by the limitations of nature. The only insect that is currently capable of mass producing silk is the mulberry silkworm. Other insects that produce silk such as spiders are carnivorous and independent in nature, and cannot produce mass quantities silk. Therefore, creating a farm of spiders that can produce enough silk becomes very difficult. The mulberry silkworm only creates one type of thread whereas a spider can produce typically five types of thread that have different and desired properties.4 A few other disadvantages include photo-yellowing, wrinkling recovery, and rub-resistance. Photo-yellowing is a phenomenon where the silk turns a yellowish tint after prolonged exposure to light. Silk cloth has poor wrinkling recovery meaning after it is creased; it is difficult to get it smooth again. The rub-resistance or abrasion-resistance of silk cloth is also poor, which is the ability to resist surface wear from flat rubbing on another material.5 The obvious example of a use for silk is cloth which also takes up the greatest portion of silk consumption. There are many other uses of silk specifically in the medical field that have arisen recently due to advances in technology. The fibers of silk have been used for sutures of wounds, because it does not trigger a response from the human immune system. For the same reason, it has been used as replacement ligaments, tendons, bones, and cartilage.3 After further research and development, a potential use is an artificial cornea made from a silk film that is lasered to become permeable. Another potential use currently under research is very thin, degradable silk films with electrode arrays printed on them. These films could form to the contours of the brain and potentially treat epilepsy and other conditions with less scarring than traditional procedures. New innovative uses for silk are surfacing and being researched regularly.4 Silk is a rapidly renewable resource that is both reusable and biodegradable. It has much less negative impact when compared to other fabrics if it is produced safely and organically. There is not much processing involved in the creation of silk that normally would cause unnecessary environmental impact. The mulberry plantations provide prevention to soil erosion from wind and water, as well as improving air quality by naturally filtering the air. Some silk has been advertised as being a â€Å"green† product when produced with the appropriate caution, but it also has negative environmental impacts associated with its production. 7 In non-organic production, pesticides and fertilizers are used in the growth of the mulberry trees that pollute the air when sprayed and the ground water when washed away by precipitation. Chemicals are used in the â€Å"degumming† process that are eventually wash off creating wastewater that in certain cases may or may not be reclaimed at a w ater treatment plant. In most areas silk is produced where populations are large and land is sparse, such as China, Japan, Italy, and India. The mulberry plantations take up a significant amount of land. 8 These are some of the few locations that have been able to successfully grow mulberry plantations; subsequently a great deal of transportation is required to deliver the silk to its consumers leading to pollution. As with any industrialized production, there are always environmental impacts both positive and negative that arise.7 References Ahluwalia, V.K., and Anuradha Mishra. Polymer Science. New Delhi: Ane Books Pvt. Ltd., 2008. Print. Bergmann, Max, and Carl Niemann. On the Strucure of Silk Fibroin. Journal of Biological  Chemistry 122.2 (1938): 577-596. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. Web. 25 Sept.  2014. Boado, Christine. Hand Designed Silk Embroidery Art with Over 2,500 Years of History.  Importance of Silk. Art of Silk, 12 Sept. 2012. Web. 25 Sept. 2014.  http://www.artofsilk.com/blogs/news/6565365-importance-of-silk#.VCpd-GePLIV>. Fountain, Henry. The Reinvention of Silk. The New York Times 7 Mar. 2011, sec. Science: n. pag. The New York Times. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. Harding, John G., Lin M. Romer, and Thomas R. Scheibel. Polymeric Materials Based on Silk Proteins. Polymer 49.20 (2008): 4309-4327. Science Direct. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. Kitching, J. Howard. The Cultivation of a Silk Worm. The Decorator and Furnisher 5.2 (1884): 56. JSTOR. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. Muthu, Subramanian Senthilkannan. Assessing the Environtmental Impact of Textiles and the  Clothing Supply Chain. Wiltham MA: Woodhead Publishing Limited, 2014. Print. Soulivanh, Somphong. Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Silk Handicrafts Sector of the Lao PDR. International Institute for Sustainable Development. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 1 Dec. 2007. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. Wild, Oliver. The Silk Road. The Silk Road. Earth System Science University of California, 1992. Web. 25 Sept. 2014. http://www.ess.uci.edu/~oliver/silk.html>.

A Comparison of Vacations :: Compare Contrast Comparing

A Comparison of Vacations Summer and vacations are synonymous, especially with my family. Does Chevy Chase and summer vacation ring a bell? With a family of six, anything is possible. There are two types of excursions that we take every year. I refer to one as my family vacation and the other as my family trip. My family vacation to the beach is an annual event, but my family trip destination is always different. This past summer my family and I went to Wyoming. Both experiences were the highlights of my summer but for very different reasons. We begin packing for our beach trip shortly after my grandmother arrives from North Carolina. My dad's twenty-five-year-old surfboard is securely tied on top, and we are stuffed like sardines into the car with the week's groceries packed in every nook and cranny. My dad always insists that we take everything with us; it would be a sin to spend good beach time at the grocery store. The trip down is uneventful, and we make our traditional one and only stop at the Subway for lunch and gas. I was taught early on that there are limited drinks on travel day because bathroom breaks are unheard of. After an early start we arrive to find our three-bedroom, three-bath condo just as we remember it. We especially enjoy having a VCR in each bedroom, After unpacking the car, my family and I head for the beach. The familiar smell of the salty air, the rhythm of the ocean waves, and the gentle breeze across my face are like long-lost friends. The beach routine begins. Just as we do on the day we leave for the beach, my family and I wake up early to prepare to leave for Wyoming. My dad says that getting my family of six ready to go is like launching the space shuttle. For this trip, luggage is limited to what we can each carry. We all convince my dad that there will be grocery stores in Wyoming. After a quick trip to the airport, we board a jet to Atlanta and take a connecting flight to Denver. The highlight of our plane trip is the long-awaited lunch, which is a real disappointment. My mom and dad nap, while my sisters and I watch a movie.

A Long Way to Go :: Essays Papers

A Long Way to Go Here is what a couple of SCSU students thought about the recent holiday celebrated as Martin Luther King Day: "We should've killed four more of 'em, and we could've gotten the whole week off." I heard that and cringed. Prejudice, racism, bigotry, discrimination . . . whatever way it is phrased, it still means the same thing according to Webster: "a judgment or opinion formed before the facts are known," or "a preconceived idea which is usually unfavorable." Prejudice is found everywhere, and it affects everyone, not just those being judged. Cringing after hearing the preceding "joke" was the affect that particular racial statement had on me. But I am sure that after reading that introductory phrase, some readers had an urge to laugh. People always talk about how they are "just kidding," or how we should "relax, it's just a joke." However, that is precisely the point. Joking about a race, color, or nationality is not funny--it is discrimination. The word prejudice literally means to "prejudge." In Barbara Grizzuti Harrison's essay entitled "women and Blacks and Bensonhurst," she talks about a high school English teacher named David Zieger. Zieger wanted to clearly present the unfairness of prejudice to his freshman class. He said, "Everyone with blue eyes has to do homework." The lesson was quickly learned. "It isn't fair," they protested. Touchà ©, Mr Zieger, touchà ©. That particular concept struck me as fascinating. To take such a complex, enduring, and painful subject, and to be able to break it down into such basic terms and get the desired result is amazing. Although Zieger probably was not the first to use this technique, his point was made very clearly. Growing up white with exclusively white people, I did not know the first thing about discrimination. My first experience came when I was twelve. It was our first entrance into the Girl's National Fastpitch Softball Tournament, and we were excited. None of us had reached true puberty, and we were all pretty flat-chested and narrow-hipped. Regardless, we were all girls. After beating a team from Kansas quite handily, their head coach, a male, filed an appeal claiming that some of our players were boys. Our parents were appalled, and we were scared, embarrassed, and angry. Though only twelve, I knew this was not right and we were being discriminated against because we were good athletes although we were girls.

Life & experienced

My life has experienced its fair share if twists and turns. If there is one thing that I have learnt from life, it is preparing to expect the unexpected. I always try to keep an open mind towards situations and it helps me to stay unruffled during adversity.I maintain a positive outlook towards life even during hardships, which helps me focus on things that need to be done in the present rather than worrying about the past. It has also helped face failure with optimism and given me confidence that anything is possible if adequate time and effort are put in.I enjoy reading books and feel that it is extremely enlightening and entertaining at the same time. I feel that good books can talk to people and change lives. I have read quite a few good books that have greatly influenced me and made who I am today.I enjoy playing outdoor sports and feel that it a great way to exert pent-up energy and refresh the mind. A good game has the power to take the mind off negative thoughts. I believe it helps to lead a healthy lifestyle since it acts as adequate exercise to the body and soul. It is also an excellent way to learn sportsmanship and make new friends.I feel college education is absolutely essential to gather knowledge, which would otherwise take years of experience. However, I do understand there is no substitute for real world experience. But, I just feel that a college degree would give a head start towards launching a successful career.I also hope that college life would expose me a world of new possibilities and people that would made life more interesting. I have been quite a disciplined and dedicated student in school, which is reflected by grades and clean record. I also stick to strong moral values, as a result of my healthy upbringing and good friends.I am looking forward to learning new things from professors and academic experts, enabling me to be a more enlightened person. I like making new friends by mingling with my fellow students and getting to know th eir experiences and thoughts on life.I feel that college is the best place to make human connections that last for a lifetime, since we reach a mature state of mind and are also free from the greed that haunts the professional world. I am good in coordinating charity events and can help out in organizing any event. I am very open to learning and quite good in grasping things quickly. I believe that I can I contribute to your student community in more ways than one by being an honest, unbiased, helpful person.I seek joy by helping other people, especially the ones that desperately need help. It makes my heart ache to see people in our very own country suffer without food and a proper place to stay. I am willing to do whatever it takes to revive this situation.However, I feel that I have to first empower myself with the necessary tools to accomplish this noble cause. I believe that I have to start with higher education which is the one of the key steps. Dedication and persistence in h ealthy doses measure are also equally important to reach this goal.I am very patient person and would like help out elderly people are abandoned by their kids. I feel that everyone deserves someone to care for them and listen to them. I wish to visit elderly rest homes and interact with senior citizens. I wish get their perspective on current affairs and help them in little ways that matter.I wish to spend time with time with them on a regular basis and offer such elderly homes my free services. If I could help out a few elderly people, it would make me feel extremely proud and contented.I gone through many trails and tribulations in my life so far and all of them have only made me a stronger person. Even when I failed in my tests, I never gave up hope and have always been ready to face tough situations. I feel this quality of mine helps me to keep moving forward in life. I would have to mention my math teacher who helped me a lot to come out of failure and taste success.I will alwa ys be grateful to her and I made decision to be helpful to other people. I have also helped a lot of my friends during personal crisis and family emergencies. I try not pass judgments and am very open-minded.This has helped me gain the trust of my friends and prompted them to share their personal problems with me. It has also made me gain insight into human pain and uncover ways to deal with it. This has helped to understand that that every wound will heal with time.I see myself as a very active and sociable person. I have a penchant for doing social work and fighting for good causes. I would like to participate in events that deal with cleansing the environment and taking a new fresh look at humanitarian issues.I believe it is my duty as a human being to exhibit empathy and devote time to improve the world that I live. Nothing in the world would be give me more pride and joy than knowing that I have made a difference in another person’s life.

Radisson

RADISSON BLU LIMFJORD HOTEL AALBORG ? INTRODUCTION ? PORTER'S FIVE FORCES Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel Aalborg is a luxurious 4-star property conveniently located near the centre of Alborg. Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel Aalborg is a business-friendly hotel within walking distance of Jomfru Ane Gade, Osteragade, and Gammeltorv. Additional points of interest include Aalborg Congress and Culture Center and Jens Bangs Stenhus. PORTER'S FIVE FORCES Values Values include the things that the firm gives high priority. This can either be the firm’s service, relationship with the environment or the attainment of goals.The company’s values service to clients and relationship with the environment. The company wants to make sure that proper service is given to clients and they maintain a good relationship with the clients. The company is doing well in showing how they value the clients and the environment. Hotel Rooms Hotel customers are offered the following room facilities: fax machi ne, direct-dial phone, in-room safe, coffee/tea maker and climate control. Rooms are equipped with iron/ironing board as well as trouser press. In addition there is minibar in the rooms. Beds: Rooms are also equipped with extra towels/bedding items.Hypoallergenic bedding is also available. Guests of the hotel may request a crib/cot (infant beds). Bathroom amenities include complimentary toiletries and hair dryer. Entertainment: The in-room entertainment facilities at this welcoming hotel include cable television service and pay movies. Internet connection options: Guests are sure to appreciate television Internet access (complimentary) and high-speed Internet access. An additional charge is applied for Internet access. Housekeeping services and complimentary newspapers are also offered. Environmental scanning OpportunitiesAn opportunity for The Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel Aalborg is to find out more ways to give a distinctive look and features to the hotel. By doing this the company will have competitive advantage over other firms. This will help the company have unique identity in its various markets among their competitors. An opportunity for the company is to improve the features of the leisure amenities they currently have. By doing this it can attract more markets and it will help them attract tourists that will come to the country they operate in. Hotel Amenities Food options at Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel Aalborg include a restaurant.A complimentary breakfast is served daily. Room service is also available. Our hotel provides a 24-hour front desk service. ATM/banking and currency exchange facilities are also offered. Public areas of Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel Aalborg are air-conditioned. Leisure amenities: Guests can also enjoy the following spa/wellness facilities: sauna. Other available services: tours/ticket assistance, television in lobby, safe-deposit box – front desk, roll-in shower, on-site car rental, laundry facilities, express check-ou t, elevator/lift, dry cleaning/laundry service, concierge desk, complimentary newspapers in lobby.Business & Internet: Guests at Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel Aalborg can use a well-equipped business centre and meeting room(s). Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel Aalborg Internet options: wireless access; dial-up access in public areas; high-speed connection in public areas; access in public areas is available for an additional fee. Threats The main threat to the Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel Aalborg is the competitors. The competitors like BEST WESTERN Hotel Scheelsminde and Hotel Hvide Hus try various tactics to make it difficult for Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel to maintain its standing in its various markets.The threat to the company includes the laws in the country they operate in. Another threat to the company is the tariffs and taxes that the company has in its various market, each countries has its own rate of taxes and tariff that creates additional expenses for the company. Lastly a thr eat to the company is the culture of some clients in the market. Resources Resources The Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel’s resources come from reliable suppliers and manufacturers. The materials used in the hotel are made of the best kind of raw materials and come from reliable suppliers.Another resource for the company is its personnel that provide the best kind of service to guests and clients. The personnel make sure that clients receive the satisfaction they need. Human In providing excellent service to the clients, a company needs to have a dedicated staff that performs well and knows that the service they give to the client can help The Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel have a positive or negative image. The staff of the company is well trained to ensure that the best service can be given to the clients. The company makes sure that it hires promising individuals that can assist in the company’s task of reaching their goals.It makes sure that the personnel have a distinct s kill that matches the company’s goal. Skill The Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel’s capabilities include its use of sophisticated technologies to provide the best kind of services. The Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel has a set of production regulations that makes sure that every stage in the company’s operations will minimize any waste on time and effort. The Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel has made use of advanced technologies to provide services to the personnel and give them complete security. It also makes use of better security systems to rooms, hallways and other vital places.The Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel makes sure they are updated to what is happening and they can adjust to these changes. Capabilities The main capabilities of the company are on the well trained personnel. The personnel serves as the arm of the firm and they show how the company meant by total customer satisfaction. The personnel of The Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel are well skilled in assisting the cl ients and giving them excellent service. The company makes sure that they hire individuals who are skilled in management, human relations, fine dining and other qualities that a member of a hotel business needs.Radisson Blu Limfjord Hotel also looks for various activities, seminars, and symposium that will help the personnel improve their skill. Competencies Distinct Competencies The company makes sure that the employees are paid accordingly but the personnel are expected to provide a good kind of service. The company makes sure that clients receive a good service based on the money paid by the clients. The company also makes sure that the personnel are compensated well. The company’s distinct competency is embedded on its efficiency of service. The company also makes sure that the best lodging and assistance will be given to the clients.Developing operation strategy Competitive priorities The priorities for the operation plan are the cost of the strategy, the personnel that will be involved, the time that will be used and the effect of the strategy. The cost of the strategy should not be too high; it should be reasonable enough and should be worth it. The personnel that will be involved should be properly briefed before they take part in the endeavor. The personnel that will be involved should know why they are chosen to take part in the training and what is expected of them.The time that will be used should be limited to days that the personnel are off. It should not hamper the delivery of service. The whole process of training should not exceed one year from the start of the endeavor. The strategy should make sure that it will have imminent effects to the personnel. The result of the strategy should be evident in the way the personnel will serve the clients. Supporting production requirements The structure requirement includes the use of the various facilities where the training process will take place.The various facilities would be the rooms in the hotel that have no immediate schedule and would be available for the firm to conduct trainings and seminars. Another structure requirement would be the different instructors who will facilitate the training/seminar. The instructors would be experienced in their field. The infrastructure requirement includes the quality measures that will focus on making sure that the whole endeavor would result to a positive thing for the company. Process flowchart The first thing that happens is the Hotel receives inquires from the clients.The inquiry can be in the form of personal correspondence, by phone or by email. In this part the client asks for any available room. The company then checks for the availability of a room. If there is no room available, the company informs the client about the situation and ends the transaction. If there is a room available, the company will then inform about the rooms that are available. The company will then ask the client if they would want to rent the avail able room, if they choose not to rent they will be given another room that is available.If the client chooses to stay in the room the hotel will book the client to the available room and provide the service the client needs. REFERENCES: Aharoni, Y. & Nachum, L. Globalization of services: Some implications for theory and practice. London: Eds. ; Routledge, 2000. Brewster, C. , Harris, H. & Sparrow. Human Resource Management . New York, 2004. Burke, R. J. & Cooper, C. L. Reinventing Human Resources Management: Challenges and new directions. New York, 2004. http://radisson-limfjord-alborg. h-rez. com/index. htm? lbl=ggl-en&gclid=COLQ0ci8zLYCFbMQtAod8FUA-Q