Geological Hazard

Geological Hazards are naturally occurring or man-made geologic conditions capable of causing injuries or other health impacts, loss of property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage. It had been divided into many types. The two main types of man-made geological hazards are collapsing of buildings and forest fire which happening recently. Now, I’m going to talk about the collapsing of buildings first. The structure of a building actually is fundamental to ensuring the safety of people in or around the existing buildings. However, human’s ignorance, negligence and greed lead to building collapse. Human ignorance has to do with when incompetent personnel are in charge of design, construction or inspection. One of the major areas of negligence is in specification writing where that of a past project is adopted without crosschecking those areas that need improvement, addition or omission. Greed on the part of building contractors like diversion of building materials, cement in particular, the use of sub- standard materials so as to achieve high profit. Moreover, foundation problems, quality management, material and testing variability and unprofessional conduct will also leads to building collapse. The effect of building collapse are the innocent citizens lost their life, many other people has been rendered permanent disable in one form or the other as a result of increasing rate of building collapse in the country. Economic problem of this incidence is immeasurable in that many have been rendered homeless with loss of countless properties. Here is the true incident which happens in Bangladesh when 24 April 2013. At least 76 garment workers have been confirmed dead in Bangladesh after an eight-story building containing clothing manufacturing units collapsed. Moreover, this is another true incident collapse of a 20-metre lighting arrester pole from the UMNO building in Jalan Macalister during a storm and caused casualties is the best example of fallen misfortune which happen on 15 June, 2013 at Penang. It is a man-made disaster, instead of a natural disaster or accident. And a person had been killed in this incident. The other man-made geographical hazard is forest fire. Forests are important to us and our environment, their benefits cannot be measured. Without forests humans cannot survive. Fires can have a positive or negative effect on forests; and its impact on forest health and dynamic change greatly in different ecosystems. Fires are sometimes essential for forest regeneration but also harmful if it is repeated systematically in the same area. Forest fires have terrible environmental, social and economic consequences. The causes of forest fire are including drought, human carelessness, lightning, heat waves, slash and burn farming. The most common cause nowadays is probably due to drought. Tropical forests are quite sensitive to temperature change, thus long dry seasons and higher temperatures can severely damage a healthy forest and leads to forest fire. The next common cause is probably lightning and the last major cause of forest fires is to open oil palm plantation for own benefits. The main consequence of forest fire will be releasing of carbon dioxide which will affect our health and it increases the atmospheric pollution. Furthermore, an increase in carbon dioxide means an increase in global warming. When global warming rise the â€Å"Greenhouse† phenomenon will being increases also. Other than that, shelter for animals is not provided anymore. Animals are immediately affected when they are killed at the duration of fire and indirectly when no more food is available. Lastly, the forest products will be destroyed, such as wood, food and medicines. Recently, smoke from forest fires in Indonesia has choked neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, prompting Singaporean officials to press Jakarta for urgent action against the haze that has pushed the city-state’s air pollution to the worst level in 16 years. Its main air pollution index hit a measurement of 401 at midday Friday, exceeding previous highs of 371 on Thursday and 321 on Wednesday. Those measurements were classified as â€Å"hazardous† and can aggravate respiratory ailments. The reason why the firm burn the forest is to open oil palm plantation for own benefits but they didn’t consider for other.

Church and Dwight Essay

A. Executive Summary 1. Summary statement of the problem: Church & Dwight, more commonly known by its brand name â€Å"Arm & Hammer,† has held a commanding lead in the sodium bicarbonate product market for over 160 years with virtually 99 percent of all consumer products in households within the United States. However, in order to promote growth and diversity while maintaining a steady profitability rate of three – five percent per year, the company has expanded uses of sodium bicarbonate products so that it is no longer the only focus. The acquisition of a diverse group of consumer products in international markets has been viewed as a viable option to sustain the profitability margins well into the 21st century (Wheelen & Hunger). 2. Summary statement of the recommended solution: Since Church and Dwight is a relatively small company, when compared to competitors in household and personal care product markets they must recognize the challenges of growing sales through acquisitions to promote growth and competitiveness within those markets. Church & Dwight must incorporate additional acquisitions of solid brands and products in order to grow market share through an expansion of product lines into a variety of â€Å"personal care, deodorizing and cleaning, and laundry products† as well as â€Å"specialty chemicals, animal nutrition, and specialty cleaners† (Wheelen & Hunger). In addition, to maintain its position in the world market place, Church & Dwight must expand into international markets and gain footholds in product markets through acquisition of manufacturing assets. Simply shipping domestic product lines overseas is cost prohibitive. Foreign manufacturing assets will allow product recogniti on by local consumers in foreign countries and markets. B. The Situation After 160 years, Church & Dwight is a giant in the household domestic product market with brand name recognition more commonly associated with â€Å"Arm & Hammer† products. However, this achievement in the market only nets $2.5 billion in annual sales worldwide. The company’s brand portfolio includes over 80 popular brands and competes for market share with other giants including Colgate-Palmolive, Clorox, and Proctor & Gamble, which have combined sales of over $100 billion. The company has also expanded over the past decade into other household product lines through acquisitions of consumer brands including Mentadent, Pepsodent, Aim, and Close-up, as well as Trojan. Church & Dwight has a core of specialty products primarily based on its successful sodium bicarbonate line of products. It currently holds 75% of the sodium bicarbonate market share. Expansion in the domestic markets has proven successful because of the â€Å"company’s pristine balance sheet†. Growth into the foreign markets has proven more challenging than domestic markets. Foreign market net sales in 2009 were only $393 million compared to domestic net sales of $1.8 billion (Cook). II. ANALYSIS A. Analysis of the Situation 1.Management – The Church & Dwight Company has continued a tradition of slow and steady leadership with a solid focus on long-term goals. The steadiness of the company’s leadership can be primarily attributed to the fact that 25 percent of outstanding common stock is owned by descendants of the company’s original cofounders, a tradition that continues today. In addition, the management of the company over the past 160 years has been handed down from generation-to-generation until recently when Dwight C. Minton passed on the position of Chief Executive Officer in 1995 to an outsider, Mr. Robert A. Davies, III (Wheelen & Hunger). This focused leadership style has enabled Church & Dwight to overcome potential leveraged buy-outs and hostile takeovers with a series of calculated actions and savvy business decisions. These actions allowed the board of directors and management to amend the company’s charter and allowed shareholders four votes per share. The board of directors was also re-structured into classes, in which each class serves staggered three-year terms (Wheelen & Hunger). In addition to staggering the tenure of the directors, the company initiated employee severance agreements with key officials, providing a severance package agreement to provide a â€Å"safety net† should any of the board member positions be terminated by a hostile takeover or leveraged buy-out by an unwanted suitor. By providing these lucrative packages for senior management, many were able to stay with Church & Dwight. This allowed for continuity of leadership styles, vision and mission focus. Because of this steadfast devotion to principles, steady growth over the years has occurred, identifying Church & Dwight as a Cash Cow, using the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Growth-Share Matrix. However, as the company focuses more on international markets and enters other potential avenues of growing product lines, it will surely find itself labeled a s a Star. 2.Operations – Church & Dwight have peacefully existed over the past 60 years with sustained growth and profitability because it virtually held the market in the palm of its hands as other companies searched for ways to enter the household and personal care product lines. As a result of the constant forces in emerging markets, Church & Dwight has come to the realization that they have major challenges to overcome if they are to compete with other giants in the industry and continue to thrive. As the company gains a stronger market share in the international consumer products, the growth and profitability standard will continue well into the future. However, Church & Dwight also recognize they must remain vigilant to quickly and adequately deal with Porter’s Five Forces: Bargaining power of suppliers; Threat of new entrants; Threat of substitute products or services; Bargaining power of buyers (customers); and Rivalry among existing firms (competitors) (Wheelen & Hunger). When considering Bargaining Power of Suppliers, the force rating could be considered Medium as management must be constantly aware of any potential market shocks or trends. If an affiliate retailer is affected by unforeseen supply chain issues, like increased fuel prices, then those costs throughout the company may be affected to remain competitive. In addition, Church & Dwight are well aware of the economic situations that may affect their trade customers who may reduce distribution of products in which sales may decline, or adversely affect the financial performance of the company (Craigie). There was never historically a threat of new entrants into the sodium bicarbonate market prior to 1970. However, since the company has developed new product offerings and other established consumer brands, they now face the same competition threats of mature and domestic and international markets for consumer products. This threat of new entrants has emerged over the past decades and may now be rated high. The threat of substitute products or services is always considered high, as well, because consumers might choose a substitute item, if it is cheaper. This is a problem for any company. Bargaining power of buyers (customers) is generally a medium concern as consumer satisfaction is evaluated in a variety of ways. Otherwise, dissatisfactio n can drive prices up or down based on demand, or the lack of. Quality is a hallmark of Church & Dwight and the perception by consumers of any potential lowering of standards to decrease prices will typically drive loyal customers away. Finally, rivalry among existing firms (competitors) is high as competitors try to achieve greater market shares to grow potential profit shares. â€Å"Church & Dwight has in an enviable position to profit from its dominant niche in the sodium bicarbonate products market since it controlled the primary raw material used in its production† (Wheelen & Hunger). 3.Marketing – The Church & Dwight marketing strategy has been fairly simplistic since its focus has been on the sodium bicarbonate product lines for over a century. However, with additional acquisitions over the past 20 years, and the expansion into other household products, the brand recognition has become even more important. As a result, â€Å"marketing expenses for 2009 were $353.6 million, an increase of $59.5 million or 20% as compared to 2008† (Craigie). In addition, Church & Dwight caters to people of all ages and backgrounds. This wide range of customers allows them to develop more and more organic products and services with large scale agreements to satisfy those demographics. As the company expands globally, markets for one region could also be satisfied by other regions as production opportunities allowed greater cost-effectiveness. Unfortunately, â€Å"attempts to enter international markets have met with limited success, probably for two reasons: (1) lack of name recognition and (2) transportation costs† (Wheelen & Hunger). Finally, the company began a ground-breaking marketing campaign by airing commercials for condoms on prime-time television. This â€Å"shock† strategy increased its marketing strength and enabled the partnership with Quidel Corporation, â€Å"a provider of point-of-care diagnostic test, to meet women’s health and wellness needs† (Wheelen & Hunger). There are potential problems if various brand names fall into â€Å"the precarious line-extension snare† (Wheelen & Hunger). As the company expands and acquires more product lines bearing the â€Å"Arm & Hammer† trademark, the potential for substandard quality or customer satisfaction could cause a back-lash resulting in reduced sales around the world. Therefore, product marketing is essential to reinforce brand name recognition so consumers never forget the value and quality of a company’s name and its product lines. 4.Finance – Initially, the company’s domestic markets have proven successful. However, in keeping pace with competition in expanding product line markets, acquisition of assets has taken place, which could negatively impact the overall financial picture if profitability is not maintained. In 2009, Church & Dwight’s performance worldwide achieved an increase in sales of 4 percent; organic sales increased 5 percent, gross profit margin increased 44 percent while global marketing expenses only increased 20 percent; and the Net Cash Flow grew to a record level of $401 million (Craigie). Perhaps even more significant to investors is the report that earnings per share grew 23% and dividends on investments increased by 35 percent (Craigie). In contrast to the growing profits and expenses, the comp any also jettisoned noncore assets for the first time, including â€Å"five domestic and international consumer product brands acquired during the 2008 Del Laboratories transaction† (Wheelen & Hunger). This posturing of assets will enable a financially sound balance sheet in the future. Therefore, the financial status of Church & Dwight continues to grow as it has achieved modest gains from year to year, with hopes of even greater revenue and sales. Finally, the CEO remains focused on â€Å"building a portfolio of strong brands with sustainable competitive advantages† and the â€Å"long-term objective is to maintain the company’s track record of delivering outstanding TSR (Total Shareholder Return) relative to that of the S&P 500† (Wheelen & Hunger). 5.Administration – Church & Dwight enjoys a sound management strategy. It incorporates affiliates through agreements to sell its products. In addition, the former CEO, Mr. James R. Cragie, stated â€Å"†¦We have added $1 billion in sales in the past five years, a 72% increase, while reducing our total headcount by 5%, resulting in higher revenue per employee than all of our major competitors† (Wheelen & Hunger). While it may appear unsympathetic to the employee perspective, techno logical advancements allow for increased productivity in various aspects of manufacturing and labor allowing for greater productivity without the added expense of additional manpower. Church & Dwight also continue to operate with an ethical employment code in keeping with today’s expectations of utmost respect for both consumer and employee. The following is the company’s published Ethical Standards: â€Å"The reputation and integrity of Church & Dwight Co., Inc. are valuable corporate assets, vital to the Company’s success. Each Company employee, including each of the Company’s officers and general managers and each Company director, is responsible for conducting the Company’s business in a manner that demonstrates a commitment to the highest standards of integrity. Specifically, we encourage among Company personnel a culture of honesty, accountability and mutual respect. Additionally, we provide guidance to help Company personnel recognize and deal with ethical issues. Finally, we have provided mechanisms for Company personnel to report unethical conduct. Dishonest or unethical conduct or conduct that is illegal will constitut e a violation of these Standards and are grounds for disciplinary action† (Church & Dwight). 6.SWOT a.Strengths – The Church & Dwight Company has many strengths, with brand recognition being their greatest. In fact, Arm & Hammer continues to be their greatest asset and strongest product on the market today; the little yellow box is in over 95 percent of all households across the country. The sodium bicarbonate product line has proven itself for over 160 years with uses in baking, cleaning, and deodorizing, and as an added ingredient for things like drain openers and neutralizing agents. While there may be other similar products, Church & Dwight have virtually cornered the market by holding 85 percent of it. b.Weaknesses – A potential weakness within the company is the overextension of branding into many other product lines. â€Å"Until 1970, it produced and sold only two consumer products: Arm & Hammer Baking Soda and a laundry product marketed under the name Super Washing Soda† (Wheelen & Hunger). The company enjoyed success domestically, but â€Å"in the int ernational arena where growth was more product-driven and less marking sensitive, the company was less experienced† (Wheelen & Hunger). Therefore, they relied on acquisitions and management changes to improve its international footprint and reach. With ever-expanding product lines, suppliers, and retailers, the potential for an inferior product or service can cause a negative reputation, impacting the overall brand. Therefore, brand recognition should continue to be the focus when researching future products or investment avenues to ensure the quality of the product/service in the name of the company. Entire corporations have gone away because of a negative connotation to its brand name in the eyes of consumers. c.Opportunities – The possibilities are endless as Church & Dwight continue to pursue additional product lines in household, personal care, specialty, and international products. Future expansion in acquisitions and assets may prove more advantageous as potential consumer products become even more attractive to increase the profitability as the manufacturing base is expanded around the globe. Perhaps i n 20 years, we may have cars manufactured by Church & Dwight, as well. d.Threats – The primary threat to Church & Dwight is competition. Competitors have an even greater market share and larger marketing campaigns to remain leaders in their respective niche. There are always going to be threats to its business operations, products, services, and reputation. Therefore, ongoing evaluation of partnerships, agreements, consumer satisfaction, quality of production, quality of service, etc. is always continuing. Without a continuous evaluation process, companies may find themselves outsmarted, out-marketed, out-produced, and out of a job. Church & Dwight have done a great deal in maintaining a very loyal customer base through evaluations of consumer trends and ensuring affiliates maintain the highest standards to retain the reputation as the leading household product manufacturer 7.Products or Services – Church & Dwight continue to produce some of the most widely known household care products. These products are based on differences in the nature of their uses and organized into three reportable segments: Consumer Domestic, Consumer International and Specialty Products (SPD) (Craigie). The company currently produces 80 different product lines, in which eight major brands make up a total of 80 percent of its business (Craigie). The most famous of the company’s products is Arm & Hammer Baking Soda. As a company focused on quality and innovation, Church & Dwight has â€Å"a discreet marketing team focused solely on new product development† (Church & Dwight). In addition, the company is focused on goals to develop differentiated products with new and distinctive features, increased convenience and value, and engaging outside contractors for research and development activities (Church & Dwight). B. Problem Definition 1.The Church & Dwight case study identified a corporate problem needing to continue expansion in products and services, while presenting a consistent operating profit and increasing market shares of the household product industry. Expenses were continually evaluated and streamlined to reduce inefficiencies; including product research and development to identify â€Å"new uses/markets for an existing product† (Wheelen & Hunger). Unfortunately, constant pressure from global competitors seeking to enter domestic and international markets, as well as an overall poor economy, is creating an atmosphere where continued growth must be developed through new opportunities for expansion into new geographical markets, new products/uses, all while striving to control increasing transportation costs. 2.In order for Church & Dwight to retain its position as the leading household product manufacturer, it must continue to provide outstanding customer service, excellence in product quality, invest in cutting edge technology to remain a viable resource for consumers, as well as developing new uses for its primary product line to ensure customers remain satisfied with the product, as promised. In addition, expanding its share of other household product opportunities and innovations will be key to any future growth. Yet another opportunity for Church & Dwight to grow is in the business-to-business exchange market for suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to use. By providing this service to its affiliates and partners, they would be able to achieve greater operational efficiencies in their supply chains. 3.As Church & Dwight enjoy a considerably large loyal customer base, competing with Proctor & Gamble and other industry giants to get customers to switch competitors is no easy task. However, with any challenge comes greater innovation and new ideas. Relationships with suppliers, manufacturers and other retailers allow for greater efficiencies in costs by consolidating orders, developing greater discounts on shipping costs, or even creating greater financial incentives for affiliates to increase sales and customer satisfaction rates by increasing consumer awareness of the quality and reliability of services and products available to them. III. SYNTHESIS A. Alternative Solutions Brand recognition for ARM & HAMMER brand products has already been established within the domestic markets of the United States. International markets continue to challenge emerging companies due to cultural differences in market populations, cultural differences in marketing strategies, and language barriers requiring new brand names more suitable for local languages/cultures. With low population growth rates and households in international markets, increasing transportation costs, and intense competition and higher commodities costs, manufacturers are turning to new and innovative processes to increase their share of the household product markets. For example, rising gas prices are a concern since it directly contributes to increased production costs. In response, household and personal care product companies are making efforts to stimulate sales in varying ways, such as entering new markets, creating new product segments, strengthening strong brand image, acquiring businesses, targeting market audiences, and increasing advertising budgets. Another alternative could be to develop joint-business ventures with suppliers, manufacturers, distributers, and retailers. The benefit to this option would be to streamline production and sales and allow the ease of marketing products and services to its affiliates and partners. This option would also allow greater operational efficiencies and translate into lower costs for Church & Dwight and lower prices for consumers. B. Recommendations and Conclusions As Church & Dwight look to satisfy competitive pressures while still reeling from the recent economic crisis, the following recommendation and solution is presented in hopes of reducing expenditures and continuing company growth through new product development and market expansion. Expanding into new markets with â€Å"major competitors jockeying for shelf space and retailers seeking to rationalize their breadth of product offerings, more changes may be considered† (Wheelen & Hunger). Therefore, the best recommendation for Church & Dwight at this point in time would be to implement the first alternative, delving into new product lines both in domestic markets and even greater exploration of international markets. This option would be advantageous because of the limited financial investment required to grow already established footholds in foreign countries to manufacture and transport new product lines. In addition, by improving upon past successes and avoiding past mistakes, a sound marketing campaign could attract additional consumer traffic to its existing retailers and product outlets. Arm & Hammer also has premier brand recognition within the United States, which would look to use its large customer base to compete against Proctor & Gamble or Colgate-Palmolive, and Clorox. Finally, to satisfy any shortcomings in this solution, it is further recommended that Church & Dwight initiate an aggressive marketing strategy incorporating foreign experts in business and marketing development to identify focus groups to better understand cultural differences and expectations in product innovations. Understanding why a specific culture or race chooses one brand over another is key to identifying potential aspects of a new product line that would be warmly received in another country rather than simply pushing an American-made product brand on a culture that has no experience with the product or whose name may have a derogatory meaning in their language. This option could also allow Church & Dwight to market potentially less expensive alternatives to Proctor & Gamble or other foreign corporations specializing in household products in another country or region. This recommendation provides a potential solution to increase sales while growing market share and staying ahead of the competition. References Church & Dwight, Co. Inc. (web). Churchdwight.com. Retrieved on April 8, 2012 from http://www.churchdwight.com/index.aspx Craigie, J. R. (February 24, 2010). Church & Dwight co., inc. 2009 annual report: Churchdwight.com. Retrieved on April 8, 2012 from http://www.churchdwight.com/PDF/AnnualReports/2009-CDH-Annual-Report.pdf Wheelen, T. L., & Hunger, J. D. (2012). Strategic management and business policy toward global sustainability. (13th ed., pp. 19-20). New York, NY: Pearson Hall.

A Study on How Alzheimer’s disease connects To the Human Immune System

A Study on How Alzheimer’s disease connects To the Human Immune System The immune system is the bodies strongest defense against serious illnesses, yet it cannot prevent every serious issue. Even the healthiest of individuals can contract a serious or even fatal non-communicable condition such as cancer and fibromyalgia just to name a few. The immune system is extremely complex in how it operates and defends the body from disease. In recent news, â€Å"fresh evidence that the bodys immune system interacts directly with the brain could lead to a new understanding of diseases from multiple sclerosis to Alzheimers.† If a link between the immune system and a mental degeneration issue can be found, then the possibility of discovering a cure for Alzheimer’s is more feasible than anticipated. The research behind this link is still relatively new, and tests are still being conducted to come to a further conclusion on how the Alzheimer’s condition can be silenced through the immune system. Studies of the brain have established quite a few li nks between the immune system and serious medical condition prevention. To expand on that point, â€Å"a study of human and monkey brains found lymphatic vessels — a key part of the bodys immune system — in a membrane that surrounds the brain and nervous system, a team reported Tuesday in the online journal eLife.† Rigorous testing is only the first step towards discovering a cure or treatment for a serious disease. Furthermore, testing animals is an essential aspect of introducing a new treatment option to the world. For instance, â€Å"the new finding bolsters recent evidence in rodents that the brain interacts with the bodys lymphatic system to help fend off diseases and remove waste. Until a few years ago, scientists believed that the brains immune and waste removal systems operated independently.† Even until recently, the understanding of Alzheimer’s has long been shrouded in uncertainty, and there are several more discoveries to be made on be half of the condition. To find a link between Alzheimer’s and the body’s immune system, the Alzheimer’s issue itself requires examination. What is Alzheimer’s? The Alzheimer’s condition is a more advanced form of dementia, a disease that slowly eats away at the tissues of the brain. Dementia in itself is not that harmful of a condition due to its slow progression. However, Alzheimer’s effects the structure of the brain much faster and more aggressively than the more timid forms of dementia. In fact, â€Å"Alzheimers is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. Alzheimers disease accounts for 60 to 80 percent of dementia cases.† A large portion of the dementia community suffers from the Alzheimer’s condition, making this illness an epidemic. Alzheimer’s cannot be caught, yet it is closely associated with genetics and hereditary traits. Alzheimer’s and dementia are considered to be conditions for the elderly, yet early onset dementia or Alzheimer’s is prevalent in North America among several other countries. A recent study revealed that â€Å"the majority of people with Alzheimers are 65 and older. But Alzheimers is not just a disease of old age. Approximately 200,000 Americans under the age of 65 have younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease (also known as early-onset Alzheimer’s).† This statistic can come across as startling to the individuals that believe that Alzheimer’s and dementia only attack the elderly and mentally ill. The most frightening aspect of the Alzheimer’s condition spawns from the uncertainty of the condition itself. Many individuals know of Alzheimer’s or have at least heard about the condition, yet this disease is not completely comprehendible. By definition, â€Å"Alzheimers is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimers, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their envir onment.† Since the Alzheimer’s disease destroys the fabric of the mind, the once normal bodily functions of the Alzheimer’s patient have been compromised. With the mind compromised, the body will follow the digressive path of the mental health condition. This will also directly influence the body’s immune system, creating a link between Alzheimer’s and the defense system of the body. What Does the Immune System do? The immune system serves as an armor of sorts, and it defends the body against specific irritations. These irritations include bacteria and any foreign element that the body considered harmful. A normal functioning immune system does its best to eliminate and prevent chronic illness such as multiple sclerosis. To expand on that note, â€Å"the immune system interacts with the brain is fundamental to how multiple sclerosis develops and how we treat multiple sclerosis, Reich says. However, the immune system is unable to prevent the body from contracting more damaging conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. As far as Alzheimer’s and dementia operate, the chemistry and the structural integrity of the brain is compromised. For instance, â€Å"these diseases occur as certain toxic waste products accumulate in the brain. And lymphatic vessels appear to be part of the system that usually removes these waste products.† With the brain not operating the way it was des igned, the immune system has almost no chance of defending the body. To elaborate on that point, â€Å"the immune system protects the body like a guardian from harmful influences from the environment and is essential for survival. It is made up of different organs, cells and proteins and aside from the nervous system, it is the most complex system that the human body has.† Each organ works together in order to form a functional body and create a healthy and active human being. The immune system is tangible in the sense of how it can be treated or enhanced. Despite the normal functions of the immune system, a deconstructive mental illness such as Alzheimer’s can destroy the entire body of left untreated. How is the Immune System linked to Alzheimer’s? Since every section of the body is connected through a series of organs and vessels, the immune system plays a major role in how everything in the body is protected. In recent studies, there has been â€Å"some evidence that there are vessels here that are behaving different from blood vessels, Reich says. But we werent sure that they were lymphatic vessels. The blood vessels in the brain are incredibly necessary for the immune system to work as well as it can. Blood provides oxygen to the brain as well as every other organ in the body, only further creating a link between the immune system and serious medical conditions. To put it into perspective, â€Å"without an immune system, a human being would be just as exposed to the harmful influences of pathogens or other substances from the outside environment as to changes harmful to health happening inside of the body.† The brain is perhaps the most important organ in the body besides the heart, which is also controlled by the b rain. Every organ in the body takes its orders from the brain, otherwise known as the control center for the body. The brain is essentially the nucleus for the body, and the Alzheimer’s disease would be considered the enemy to the brains normal operations. Alzheimer’s as a disease is detrimental to the mental state of a once healthy individual. It is widely understood that quality health is a product of a proper and balanced diet, as well as a productive exercise regimen. However, there are exceptions to this basic human principle on a healthy lifestyle. For example, â€Å"illness can occur if the performance of the immune system is compromised, if the pathogen is especially aggressive, or sometimes also if the body is confronted with a pathogen it has not come into contact before.† The immune system attacks almost every foreign entity that enters the body, yet it cannot defend the body against every problem that the body comes in contact with. The research behind how the body reacts to certain substances and diseases is conducted each day. Today, scientists are generating new and innovative ideas to find a link between the immune system and harmful diseases such as Alzheimer’s. For instance, â€Å"scientists inje cted a special dye into the bloodstream, then watched to see where it went. They focused on the dura mater, the outermost membrane that protects the brain and nervous system.† Scientists are currently trying to pin point exactly where the Alzheimer’s disease is developed in the brain. Following the path of the fluids in the brain should serve as an indication of where the actual problem is located. Scientists and researchers found that â€Å"it wasnt clear how these waste products were draining out of the head. Now it appears that at least some of the waste might be exiting through the lymphatic system.† Alzheimer’s appears to be unstoppable in the society of today, yet this is not entirely true. As of right now, there is no cure for the Alzheimer’s dementia condition, but medical science is incredibly close to solving this complication. The Alzheimer’s condition takes so much away from the brain, yet giving up on finding a cure is a memory t hat needs to be erased. As long as an individual is alive, there will always be hope for a cure.

Bribery and Corruption in China's Construction Industry Essay

Bribery and Corruption in China's Construction Industry - Essay Example In the end, the approach proposed in this paper may hopefully provide a new understanding of bribery and corruption in the Chinese construction industry. The contemporary world’s experience of globalisation is a unique phenomenon known only in the last fifty years (Soros, 2002). Globalisation has opened the doors of the global market, which has paved the way for countries across the globe to redefine their national and international trading relations. In this regard, China’s response to the demands and challenges of globalisation has stirred worldwide interest as China’s economic growth in the past twenty years have been considered as remarkable and even to some â€Å"miraculous† (Sachs & Woo 1993). Studies have shown that the fast phase economic growth of China in the past twenty years can be attributed to the coming together of multi-factors that creates the proper ambiance and environment for economic progress and development (Haddad, 2007). However, it is undeniable that China’s economic policy of opening its door to international trade is appreciated as one the strongest and clearly perceptible decisive impetus that drives and hastens China’s economic growth. (Yao 2006; Chen & Feng 2000; Fukasaka ,Soligna, & Lecomte 1996; Liu et al 2002). And in the context of China’s rapid economic progress, the contribution of one industry is undeniable – the construction industry. China’s construction industry plays a pivotal role in the China’s economic progress. The construction industry in China is worth US $ 93 billion, it employs nearly 24 million people (more than 5%of the total labour force); it accounts for more than 6% of the GDP, and has been growing at an average rate of nearly 10%since 1979 (Daud & Zong, 2005). Being such, the high performance of China’s construction industry makes the industry one of the most successful and lucrative

Coca-Cola SCM Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Coca-Cola SCM - Case Study Example It is a functional system that comprises the running of the source materials’ movement into the business, various scenarios of how the products and services are produced, and the management of how the services and the products are delivered to the customer. Hence, functions like obtaining source materials, and the ownership of distribution mechanisms are passed on to other businesses that are specialised with these functions. The regulation of the day to day logistics by the parent business is decreased, while, the number of business partners increases. Supply chain management enhances the speed of the movement of products and goods and minimises the cost. It enables the management of the inventory, transport, supply, customer service, and the distribution (Lambert, 2008). The Coca-Cola Company produces a variety of soft-drinks. Its headquarters is in Atlanta. The company produces the syrups that are used to produce the various soft drinks and sells them to bottlers around the world. It has an estimated 3,500 types of soft drinks under its name. Soft drinks are beverages that contain no alcohol, but are carbonated, have sweeteners and are of different flavours (The Coca-Cola Company, 2011). The Carbon (IV) oxide gives soft drinks their unique taste while the sweeteners provide the calories. Over the years, Coca-Cola has continually produced different soft drinks under various brands totalling to over 500 in nearly every country around the world. The old supply chain management of Coca-Cola Company involved several stages. It included the internal supply chain, the distribution and logistics network, the supply network, and finally to the customers. The internal supply chain was composed of production of the various beverages that it produces, the sourcing of the ingredients, the distribution to its business partners, marketing and sales, and the accounting of all the finances. The marketing and sale of its products have been characterised

Marketing Communications Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Marketing Communications Plan - Essay Example Sony Corporation is the electronics business unit that is responsible for the production and marketing of its video games consoles including the Sony PlayStation. The history of the PlayStation began in 1988 when Sony and Nintendo worked together on a product called the Super Disc. However, Sony and Nintendo parted company and the Super Disc was never launched by Nintendo. In 1991, Sony modified the Super Disk as part of its development of the first Sony PlayStation. Sony launched the long awaited PlayStation 3 in the USA in 2006 just two days before the launch of the Wii from Nintendo. These two new consoles proved to be immensely popular and most retail shops sold out of both within days. Soon afterwards both of the consoles appeared for resale in large numbers on the auction website eBay. The asking prices for some of these resale consoles were up to five times the original retail price. Microsoft's Xbox 360 console had a one-year lead in the market and enjoyed buoyant sales as a result. Nintendo's Wii positioned itself away from its main two competitors through the deployment of its ground-breaking motion-sensing controller (Cheng J, Mark Freeman-Aloiau M, Xin Guo, Pullen A. 2007) In 2In 2009, the PlayStation 3, helped by a $100 price cut, has outsold Nintendo's Wii console for the first time. Sales of the PlayStation 3 more than doubled to 491,800, while those of the Wii fell 33% to 462,800 (Satariano, A. 2009). The PlayStation 3 is expected to give a further boost to Sony's earnings in time for Christmas this year when the latest version of the blockbuster role-playing game for the PlayStation, 'Final Fantasy', is launched in December (iStockAnalyst, 2009). 2.0 Marketing Strategy 2.1 Positioning Strategy Sony uses the newest and greatest technology to appeal to their customers. The people who are most interested in staying up-to-date with the newest technology are usually men of the ages 15-30. To reach that market, they make games that are attractive to men of those ages; these games tend to be the shooters and high action games such as Kill Zone and God of War. However, they do make games for younger children; these games have a more adventure based game play such as Jak and Daxter and Crash Bandicoot. Beyond gaming, Sony also hopes to reach movie buffs with their high-definition movie playback thanks to Blu-ray technology. Blu-ray offers the latest advancement in movie entertainment experience. The detail of these movies is so good that you can literally see individual pores on people's faces. As you might expect, this means detail on everything is very high and movie buffs love this. 2.2 Product Strategy The PS3 offers the most advanced visuals and audio of any other game console and most computers. Hardcore gamers want their games to be more visually pleasing, and that is exactly what Sony has given them. They have changed very little about control setup except they have added some motion sensitivity (after they saw Nintendo unveil this feature in the Wii); this means that people who have played PS1 and/or PS2 won't have to learn how to hold and use the controller all over again. Also, there are a lot of classic games available for download via the Playstation Network (for a

Healthful Eating for Weightlifters Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Healthful Eating for Weightlifters - Essay Example The awareness for such healthy outlook is more universal now than ever before. There are more fitness camps, more gyms in the neighborhood, more health and fitness equipment and facilities, and those who do not have access to these or do not feel their need have viable alternatives in aerobics and yogic stances. (Robert J. Buresh, MS, et al). The first step towards the achievement of good health and physique is proper diet and exercise. This paper is focused on healthful eating for weightlifters. As such, we are going to concentrate on those muscles that help weightlifters. There are muscles for activities such as marathon runners. These muscles are made up of Type 1 fibres and are ideally suited for runners and other activities of aerobic nature. The Type 2 fibre muscles develop for the purpose of short bursts of energy and are ideal for weight lifters. (Jonny Bowden). Therefore, the diet and exercises for weightlifters are framed after examining two factors. Factor number one is the weightlifter. Diet and exercise comprise factor number two. In order to satisfy the criteria for factor number one, the weightlifter's age, sex, height, weight, body mass index, present state of health, health history, and disability (if any) are recorded. The recording of data for factor number two will include present diet and physical activities, heart beat and pulse rates, calories level, and health related problems (if any). 4. Healthy Eating and Exercises It may not be possible to obtain the complete regimen of diet and exercise suitable for a particular person in one day. Getting hold of the regimen is the first step. Gradually, the process may undergo changes as the weightlifter continues on the diet and workouts, and upgrades to diets and physical activities which help in performance improvements. As a first step, the regimen comprises the following. 4.1 Nutrition The nutrition that results from dietary intake in our bodies is necessary for all of us. The body will simply collapse without nutrition. It is necessary for our health. Nutrition helps combat diseases, and cushions the effects of fatigue. It is important that the weightlifter consumes diet of the right nutritional value to suit his needs. The diet has got to be such that the conversion of body fat into muscle is easily achieved when combined with exercise. 4.2 Essential to Long Life A diet that provides healthy nutrition is essential for long life which is free from sickness and infirmities. It is important for the weightlifter to bear in mind a positive lifestyle is one of the key ingredients in performance improvement issues. Performance is not only related to diet and exercises but it is a matter of the mind as well. After

Personal Selling (business marketing) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Personal Selling (business marketing) - Essay Example amateur and professional players). Since this is an online enterprise, buyers may come from different parts of the world, but as a start-up company, the target would be mainly form the United States. Most of prospective buyers are single (about 70%), affiliated with different religious groups and organizations, but primarily Protestants, Roman Catholics, and members of other Christian denominations. Being sports enthusiasts, prospective buyers live an active, disciplined and healthy lifestyle. They are concerned on their physical, mental and emotional health. Their hobbies are geared to improve and excel in the sport activities that they are interested in. With an active and healthy living prospects have an optimistic, â€Å"I can do it,† attitude. They are solution-oriented. Instead of passively handling a problem and trials, they look at it as an opportunity for growth and improvement. With these of traits this target market, the benefits that they find in a retail outlet is ease and accessibility in buying the products that they want. Also, these prospects are enthusiasts, so they are willing to establish a continuous business relationship with sports equipments suppliers. Just Balls can tap institutions that have demand for their products. They can cater to bulk orders coming from athletic institutions as well as the athletic department of different schools. They can also act as suppliers to small-scale athletic supply stores. Knowing the needs and benefits that my customers have, I need to resort to novel ways in presenting my business concept to Vice Presidents of different enterprises that will supply the stocks. The first approach that I will do is to directly submit a proposal stating the new business idea that I will introduce to them. In that letter I will point out the different advantages and benefits of having a website especially dedicated to buying balls for sporting

How and Why Starbucks Is Affected By both Internal and External Essay

How and Why Starbucks Is Affected By both Internal and External Challenges - Essay Example This paper illustrates that increased globalization and trade liberalization of markets has resulted in the facilitated growth of international business. However, together with opportunities for increased revenues and new markets’ potential, many firms have faced with a challenge of managing organizational behavior in different environments. Organizations, especially those that operate in multiple regions or continents are continuously exposed to divergent legal, political and socio-cultural environments. One of the great examples of such organizations is Starbucks Corporation. Starbucks is a leading multinational corporation operating in the specialist coffee retailing sector. Its values share in the world coffee shops category has reached 0.7% in 2013. While the company’s largest business unity is in the US (63% of sales), it has managed to establish a substantial international presence. The company pursues a strategy of global business expansion. As the company opera tes in numerous international markets it faces with various external factors that influence the company’s strategy and operations. In order to overcome all these challenges and other difficulties, it is vital for a business organization to have efficient and appropriate organizational structure. The company has implemented a functional organizational structure and combined it with a divisional approach, whereas organizational structure is comprised of various departments and divisions that are responsible for performing different functions. After Howard Shultz, the founder of the Starbucks returned to the organization as the CEO in 2008, he has introduced some transformational changes to the organizational structure. The company has decreased the number of partners and the number of existing positions, and also reduced its workforce. Furthermore, in 2012, the company has redefined its organizational structure of retail business focusing on geographic principle and identifying three-region structures: Americas (US, Latin America, and Canada), China/Asia Pacific, and Europe, Middle East and Africa. Thus, the company has supplemented its structure with geographically based divisional structure design.

(business information system) DIRECT LINE reviews and system Essay

(business information system) DIRECT LINE reviews and system aquisition - Essay Example Beal’s (the IT director for the company) strategy the company focuses on building software systems in house rather than outsourcing the development. Therefore, according to his vision the company can do much better by developing products in house. It enables them to get a better understanding of the work domain and the exact requirements of the product. Similarly, in house development will also help in reducing non functional errors, as most of the performance related metrics would be known prior to the coding phase. On the other hand, recently the company has diverted from its long followed strategy of custom made in house products to buying vendor made products. Hence, the company has started to consider outsourcing as an option for the system development and acquisitions. The outsourcing of software products is proven from the fact that Mr. Beal purchased CRM software named Chordiant from a US supplier. Hence, the two system acquisition techniques by Direct Line are classified as in house development and outsourcing. Both have their pros and cons, their importance can only be justified when both the techniques are applied to a business problem. Sometimes it may seem feasible to adopt in house development while in others outsourcing might prove to be more efficient. There are numerous reasons for employing the in house development approach for software systems. These include efficient use of the programming and IT staff. By ensuring that products are developed in house the IT staff is not episodically involved rather they are involved throughout the development process and later in the support process. Other reasons include a better understanding of the problem domain and the associated work areas. Therefore, by developing systems in house the IT department can solve the problem more efficiently. Another benefit from in house development to the company is that the development is incremental and it can be easily integrated with the existing

Adidas is one of the famous company in sporting items industry Essay Example for Free

Adidas is one of the famous company in sporting items industry Essay Introduction Adidas manager is requiring me to create and design a training program which will improve and develop their graduate employee existing skills. This report is going to target to non-graduate or college student and giving them chances to join this training program. This program is going to help trainee do their function in sporting industry Adidas Aim They are trying to build the relationship with their employee via passion, diversity. Adidas may find an excellent balance between life and work of the employee and more than that they provide an essential need for their employee such as food, drink, work benefit to encourage them which will increase business productivity Adidas Human Resource Strategy Adidas is one of the famous company in sporting items industry. At the moment Adidas are doing staff recruitment for their store which across all over the world and especially in the UK. In a past few year Adidas Human Resources Department decided to do Functional Training Program (FTP) in short- period time which giving opportunity for graduate student to get foundation and great educational qualification before for they start to become a functional professional career inside Adidas group also co-operate with internship and apprenticeships for non-graduate and student who want to work for Adidas company straight after school. We have developed on National Vocational Qualification that will contribute to the business and individual need. According to Olin and Tucker (1997) state that â€Å"National Vocational Qualification government and organisation figure out NVQ training program will develop specific profile of ability and basic knowledge of employee at any level which associated vocational area† NVQ training program focus on particular business industry or sector, it will help Adidas group to find the right employee for specific role in the sporting industry Demonstrate NVQ contribution to Adidas NVQ will also comfort organization or company decrease company cost, increase the competiveness and company productivity. Adidas group found putting resourcing in staff will change in work environment spirit and staff inspiration, much easier to recruitment staff and enhance communication in workplace. It will also make Adidas group look more professional and stand out compare to another business. In another way, NVQ are enabled to help Adidas proof to the world that business hired staff or employee has reach minimum standard quality. NVQ to individual needs NVQ programme provides the portfolio for learner or employee which help learner or employee able to learn-practical or work- the related task which helps them to develop their skills and knowledge to do a job more effectively. National Vocational training program intended to develop employee existing skills and that will improve business performance, NVQ is going to evaluate the staff able to carry out their job as indicated a set of rule in an organization, which rely on work performance. Adidas can adapt NVQ training program to improve their standard via examination. Main body NVQ training program overall design 164465275336000It has a variety of ways to get NVQ: succeeding a normal training program, blend of casual and informal or starting to have a learning approaches or just based on the past capability. NVQ framework are design to testing learner capacities in the working environment. To achieve a NVQs qualification the employee or learner have to demonstrate that there can do certain task which related to the roles or area that they apply to the company or business. NVQs training program are going to do the evaluation in a blend of courses by portfolios are going to confirm and proof that what you have done in training program and perception, an assessor will check and may give reference to the company that you can do the task that related to the business. Following by Malcom (1996) â€Å"NVQs framework system made as capability are created, course are movement and exchange are distinguished. Framework task is to provide a reasonable sorting for NVQs and facilities delivery and progres sion both external and internal of competence† NVQ are design for adult and young people who want to improve their skills to increase their work performance which will lead to build up business productivity. NVQ are set level for the learner from level 1 to level 5, in lowest level are going to aim at company operation and highest level for manager position. NVQ are suitable for people are working are in college and having a part- time job are at school are fulfilled apprenticeship NVQs training program delivery strategy Focus on employee and trainee ought to acclimate themselves with structure, substance and evaluation requirement of certificate previously planning a training program course NVQs training program is delivery to any trainee or learner in many ways which Meets the learner and trainee need and capabilities Pleased acquired qualification NVQs is going to provide to learner and trainee the other skills that not a part of the qualification but will help them improve the existing skills Literacy / language / numeracy Critical thinking and personal learning Individual and social advancement Employability Where pertinent, this could include empowering the possibility to get to applicable capabilities covering these abilities. 1651004191000 With these detail in overall design and delivery training of NVQs. This program will bring benefit to the Adidas group. This will include manage time to teaching so not spend much time or little time on teaching. If too much teaching due to costly and the material which delivery to training or learner can be confusing. Spend little time on training will not improve and maximise trainee skills. More over this training program is classify trainee or student what their aim in training and link back to business role they apply for. In addition, NVQs training program is measuring the employee and trainee by knowledge, attitude and skills. It’s going to be connect between organisation and employee. Moreover, Jim and Roger (2009) suggested that â€Å"Training program is providing individual chance to perform their task more effectively and it will help an organisation get the current target† Finally, NVQs training program may bring benefit to learner and Adidas group by motiva ting, group or personal to inspect current implementations and working environment. NVQs material and exercise support NVQs objective NVQs are cooperate with many practical organisations to become a leader in development skills. They are doing services to training suppliers, employers and learner over an assortment of sector to satisfy the need in workplaces. NVQs certificate or capabilities are estimated by employers all over the world, helping people to build up their talented and capacities for profession career. NVQ Training plan The NVQs is aiming to the employee of Adidas who contributes to the work performed. As, Mayo (2000) â€Å"training plan may have added by Human Resource Department purpose, weigh into the advantages of an individual group in particular organization†. It is including Personal skills: Knowledge/ skill/experience, ability to do the task and what employee will convey to the work from the other part of their social life Personal motivation: desire, goal, work inspiration. Workplace environment: The background of the business, personal respect, free to renovate. Teamwork efficiency: having a same objective and values, helpfulness, communal respect Essential material need in NVQs Assessment and homework to consider becoming the important material in NVQs. It gives speedy and basic methods for checking employee has the right stuff and abilities to work in an exchange. The specialist gets his or her NVQ Level 2 or 3 by a mix of evaluation and works environment preparing, during which time they give confirm they meet the NVQs requirement. Other material, may aid to the learner or trainee to achieve NVQs qualification such as the computer, pen, folder, tablet, video or textbook Example practical organization NVQs is co-operated with City NVQs Logistic Delivery

Aldi Case Essay Example for Free

Aldi Case Essay Aldi’s organized and simple supply chain allows for fast shipment. However, what makes Aldi unique is that while it carries a diverse set of 1,500 products, it does not compare to the number of products sold by Walmart at 125,000. Therefore Aldi offers an enjoyable shopping experience for its customers. Customers do not feel overwhelmed by all of the choices of products like they may do at a Walmart store. A major difference between the two companies is how fast they replenish their products. Walmart uses an extremely complex system that can create lag time in the supply chain. Also, Aldi strives on promoting its own brand unlike its competitors. 95% of its goods are the Aldi brand. I believe Aldi is different from its competitors because the company is foreign based and that it is a small format. In the New York Times article about why Aldi has succeeded in cities where Walmart has not it says a major reason is because of its small product line. A simple product line has allowed Aldi to be very profitable. Focusing on one genre of products to sell, Aldi can increase the quality of those products. The company does not spread itself out too thin and strives on brining the lowest best quality product to the shelves. )Why have they been so successful over the years? This should be from a consumer perspective. Different from #1 which is from the company perspective. What is the compelling consumer need or perception that they fill in the marketplace. How do they compare to our biggest discounter in food, Walmart? I believe Aldi has become so successful over the years because the company strives on simplicity. Employees of Aldi understand consumer behavior very well. They know consumers are lazy and want to be in and out of stores in the quickest time possible. Therefore, Aldi management has created a shopping experience meant for the â€Å"in and out shopper† which has seen great positive affects. To be the most efficient store, Aldi’s â€Å"do not accept checks or credit cards. There is no butcher or bakery, and fruit is sold in bags to speed checkout. † Compared to Walmart, a store that offers a far less enjoyable consumer experience, Aldi strives to be different. Unlike Aldi’s, Walmart stores can sometimes be intimidating to consumers because of the vast array of product offerings. Consumers find shopping at Walmart to be difficult because there is not a lot of help and that the store is just too large. Aldi’s on the other hand, creates a much more consumer friendly atmosphere by offering only food and household items. Also when you walk into an Aldi store, you are immediately in a shopping aisle. The store is designed so consumers need to walk through every aisle creating more chances of incidental exposure. Aldi stores are not designed to look pretty. The only purpose they offer to consumers is to help them find products that they need. 3)After visiting our local Aldi’s store, why do you think this global powerhouse may struggle to do well in the US? What was your initial impression of the store? Who shops there? After visiting the store, I believe this global powerhouse may struggle in the US because the inside of the store is not very conducive to providing a great shopping experience. The aisles are messy and the products look as if they were pulled out from the back of a truck. The store is dimly lit and seems almost dirty. When I walked into the store, I was originally taken back because I had a mindset that it was going to be very nice. However, I was wrong. I did not enjoy my surroundings and I did not believe that Aldi focuses on the high quality portion of their mission, but only the low cost. Also, the customers that Aldi attracts are lower class individuals. These people shop in bulk and are attracted to the store because of the low prices. They do not care about the sloppiness of the displays just that they can get the lowest price. 4)Knowing what you do about assortment, what part of the ROA equation do you think they maximize? Explain. I believe Aldi maximizes the total assets part of the formula. Because the company strives on stocking it shelves with a limited number of products, their total assets are relatively low. This creates a higher ROA. Aldi has done a very good job at maximizing sales while controlling expenses. The higher the income and lower the total assets shows how well Aldi is producing earnings from its assets. 5)Now, talk to someone that has shopped at a Trader Joe’s, also owned by Aldi. Why do you think this similar strategy with a completely different execution (in store look and feel) might be more successful here in the US. Look at their US locations for Trader Joe’s. How can they continue to have limited assortment and yet cater to a more affluent target than Aldi’s stores? Based on the article you read, why do you think Trader Joes and Aldi’s are so secretive about their business? Many US businesses see it as PR if they are covered in the press, these entities feel this is unnecessary. What would you do if the head of marketing for the parent company, adapt to US marketing standards of transparency builds relationships or keep your image hidden and let your products, locations, etc speak for themselves? (Explain your rationale using marketing principles not just your opinion). I believe this similar strategy with a different execution of Trader Joe’s is more successful here because they are more aware of what American consumers want and how they shop. Trader Joe’s connects with its consumers on a more personal level. Their employees are friendly and their displays are unique, creating an overall enjoyable shopping experience. I think Trader Joe’s is more successful because the company swaps selection for quality. Customers have begun to trust Trader Joe’s in that what ever is on their shelves is the best possible product. Aldi does not have this trust yet. With time, more and more customers will begin to trust the foreign company in that their offerings are of the best quality. Also, I believe Aldi needs to focus ore on creating nicer displays. Currently, these stores are very messy and this could be a reason consumers do not like shopping there. Trader Joe’s can target more affluent people by offering more unique products. Already it offers exotic, affordable luxuries and for it further differentiate itself from Aldi, Trader Joe’s should expand these types of products while cutting back on more common products they sell. Based on the article, I believe Aldi’s and Trader Joe’s are so secretive about how they run their individual businesses because they have been so successful. I believe they do not want larger stores such as Walmart and Target to figure out their key to success. Because Walmart and Target occupy a large sector of the market and are both extremely powerful, Aldi and Trader Joe’s do not want to be overtaken by them. If I were head of marketing I would continue with keeping the companies image hidden for a period of time. If this tactic was not working, I would soon then adapt to a more transparent company. US consumers like to hear from their favorite companies and they like to feel a connection to the upper levels of management, therefore companies who are more hidden from them may not fare as well.

Choosing to become a teacher

Choosing to become a teacher Throughout the years, I began to explore my own world-view and thus started to relate my awareness to daily educational practices. The dynamic shift towards becoming a knowledge society requires new trends in the educational process so pupils will be aligned with these new developments. Therefore as a prosperous teacher, I have to help pupils become capable of adapting and using complex modern technologies and adapt theory in everyday life. The Twin Towers destruction also made an impact on my life since I became more aware of the lack of values some people around us embrace. As a result, I am determined to be a dedicated teacher who not just teach content but also demonstrates values and educate pupils. Since I have the obligation to practise what I preach I need to treat all students with respect, dignity and tolerance. Furthermore I propose to make inclusion possible and provide equal opportunities for all pupils irrespective of gender, religion or race by providing them with diff erent resources, language and assessment. 21% of the Maltese children are experiencing some form of poverty was a striking statement which got me thinking about how this situation is going to affect the learning outcomes of the pupils. This situation shows me that I need to be a successful diagnostician of the students family and social background rather than just of abilities and prior knowledge, in order to plan learning experiences which allow students to learn and develop at their own pace. I plan to endorse child-centred learning and provide open and responsive learning environments so that I will be able to recognize students as individuals, as pointed out in Deweys theory of Education. Keeping in mind the knowledge-driven society, I intend to focus on the longer-term goals of training students for life and thus equipping them with twenty-first century skills for understanding, applying and creating knowledge. These goals can be reached by a number of pedagogies which are life -skills oriented and life-long capable. My Christian catholic faith is also foundational to my worldview and has shaped all aspects of who I am. I feel that my beliefs and goals play a central role in the learning process as these cause the change in teachers practices. As a future teacher, I feel that I should develop self-understanding and self-awareness in order to mould the future of the pupils. Through teaching, I would be able to transfer my love for learning into a love for teaching. I want to be a teacher to inspire learning while at the same time i will be a learner myself. I decided to opt for a teaching career in order to be a positive influence on the students and bring out the best in every one of them. Furthermore I intend to make teaching and learning fun and enjoyable for myself and the puils, while at the same time implement effective learning strategies. For me, teaching is not all about facts and content, but getting students to understand concepts which are applicable to everyday life. I believe that a teacher should be a facilitator in the classroom and provide scaffolding for pupils to move from what the y know to the unknown, through their preferred learning styles and discovery learning. I view teaching as a process of encouraging students to make connections between the real world experiences and the subject being studied, in order for them to keep engaged and motivated. Since early childhood, I always felt inclined towards teaching since I used to play this role for long hours, using dolls as students. I also used to correct my own copybooks and was always willing to help my neighbours children when they had any difficulty in doing their homework. Being the older sister, I forced many times my sisters to play school and teach them new things such as playing basketball or cooking. Therefore the Bachelor of Education course was not an unfamiliar territory for me to join in. Furthermore, seeing my working-class parents stuck for long hours doing tiring and complex jobs was another motivation for me to pursue my career in education in order to help others improve their future wellbeing as well as their families. Being a regular volunteer at a local childrens group also shows the love I have for working with children since it gives me the power to make a difference in the childrens life in order to be better citizens. Apart from this, even my summer job requires tutoring since it entails me to teach English to foreign students and crafts to little children. By being around children and adolescents daily, I will remain knowledgeable about current trends and ideas, therefore it breaks the age gap barrier. I also enjoy the autonomy in the classroom where I can be creative and self-directed each day. Therefore I feel that there is no profession which fits me more than teaching. During my Secondary school years, I was taught by a wide range of teachers, some of which were very inspiring role models whilst others did not want to relate with us due to several barriers they built up. Previous experiences as a pupil were mostly pleasant where I managed to build good student-teacher relationship since I always used to abide by what the teachers instruct me to do. Despite this fact, there were some other teachers whom for them we were only a number. I clearly remember a particular English teacher who used to make us copy notes from the whiteboard during the entire lesson so that we could read them at home. I remember the threats this teacher used to exert power on us, which was an intended strategy for her class management. I recall being called names by her and mocking us in front of others when one of us got a wrong answer or was not paying attention. The fear and inferiority I used to experience during these English lessons were unbearable. Now that I look back , I definitely do not want to be like this teacher and provide a threatening environment for the pupils to learn it. My resolve for becoming a teacher strengthened when I encountered several poor teachers who mostly were ill mannered with the students. Therefore this triggered me the idea that I can do better than these teachers without getting the students bored or irritated. I have chosen to become a teacher since I am a product of some very powerful role models who portrayed themselves well in the classrooms. From my past school years, I still treasure memories of good teachers who were an inspiration when I came to choose my career since they were more of friends rather than teachers. Apart from knowledge, they communicated a number of values such as respect, responsibility and perseverance which helped us, students, develop holistically. One particular teacher who inspired me was a Home-Economics teacher who was very patient with students and never gave up on us. Because of her, I learnt to have confidence in myself and my skills since on many occasions I put my newly acquired skills to practise in the safe environment she created. She inspired me to become a teacher through her hard work and determination to help me succeed. I hope to follow after her example and allow time for the students to develop, same as she did to me. Another important person in my life is Marthese, my classmate from early years, who is a slow learner. By helping her in doing tasks and understanding content, she sealed the deal for me and my future plans since she inspired me to become a teacher in order to help others. Furthermore my parents and other relatives also talked me into the idea of teaching due to my caring attitude and my love for sharing knowledge. Since in Malta, teaching is referred to as a feminine profession, I ingrained myself more in this caring vocation. Without these peoples inspiration, I never would have decided to become a teacher. In my home environment, I managed to find the most excellent teacher who is my mother. She inspires me to be the best at anything I choose to be and aids me to achieve my goals and dreams. I was brought up in a family who not only shared knowledge together. The fact that we got involved in each others lives gives me a good overview on how important it is for the students to make them feel welcome and at ease in a classroom setting. Also, I am nurtured in an environment where lifelong learning is given a lot of importance which makes me aware of the positive influence of supportive adult relationships in the academic success of the students. This home setting helped me in staying motivated and positive and to daily face the challenges education may provide. The school context I was accustomed to as a student was based on supportive relationship with the teachers who provided us with clear and consistent behavioural and academic expectations. There were a number of factors within the s chool context which sustained my positive academic self-perception. These factors included a sense of belonging and caring, meaningful and challenging educational environments and high quality pedagogy and support. As a result, my love for school continued to develop since I never perceived school and education from a negative point of view. The original choice and the subsequent perseverance through training depend mostly on the inner motivating factors including the life-lasting outlook of drives, dreams and duties. Since I want to make an impact on the whole well-being of the individual to contribute to his/her quality of life, I think being a teacher is the ideal job.

Graeme Base and Animalia :: Artists and Artwork, art

Structural Frame Art Materials and techniques: Graeme Base uses air brushes, brushes, scalpels, pencils, water colours, transparent ink, technical drawing pens and some use of the computer. He mixes a lightness of text, sometimes with alliterative tongue-twisters and sophisticated language made up of stylized illustrations full of hilarity and details that challenge readers' point of view. The book, Animalia contains over 1,500 objects including things such as food, musical instruments, and characters as well as the featured animal for each letter. Base also includes an image of himself when he was young as an extra for the watchful eye on every page. Line, tone, shape, colour, texture and pattern: Graeme Base uses lines of different thicknesses to make the drawing look more realistic. He also uses different tones of colours. An example would be from ‘Six Slithering Snakes Sliding Silently Southward’, the main snake’s body and tail contains at least four different colours. He also repeats the way the books are place in the library. Symbolic Meanings: The Lion symbolises royalty, the books symbolise wisdom and the golden fur and mane of the lion symbolises power (because gold is usually worn by rich people). Cultural Frame Graeme Base was born in 1958 in Amersham, England, and moved to Australia in 1966 at the age of 8. he is now an Australian Citizen but when he came to Australia, he said that he felt like an outsider. He went to Swinburne Institute of Technology and studied the diploma of Art. At school, the only way to impress his friends was to study and learn visual arts. He grew fond of flora and fauna and loved the land (which is where he got his ideas from). He then enjoyed poetry and wrote his first picture book; My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch. Graeme Base says that much of what he uses in his illustrations is a result of his childhood. "Everyone is influenced by their childhood. The things I write about and illustrate come from a vast range of inputs, from the earliest impressions of a little child, others from things I saw yesterday and still others from completely out of the blue, though no doubt they owe their arrival to some stimulus, albeit unconscious. I have a great lo ve of wildlife, inherited from my parents, which show through in my subject matter, though always with a view to the humorous—not as a reflective device but as a reflection of my own fairly happy nature.

Machines: Are They Helpful Or Too Much Trouble? :: essays research papers

Machines: Are They Helpful Or Too Much Trouble? The historiography and various phases of the Industrial Revolution were very important. Population increase and the expansion of capital, credit and commerce were one of the phases. The role of entrepreneurs, workers and inventions in boosting production were another phase. Textiles, coal, transport and public services started becoming of value to people. The social consequences included women and children working in factories and mines. Hard living conditions, crowded rooms, and many diseases.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There were many positive effects, new inventions, that helped made living comfortable, and saved many lives. A vaccination was created saving many lives, telephones helped people to communicate, light bulbs gave light at night and when rain was falling. As people needed employment, they traveled to London to find work, which caused the population to increase. Developers built multi story building(apartments), and row houses making streets less crowded, and gave the people a newfound wealth and security. Steam engines made it easy to transport goods, the cotton gin made it easier to clean cotton, and made more money. Then technical schools began to develop, helping young people finish grammar school. Women also started working, they were very obedient and men started giving them more respect.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Along with positive, were also negative. Most people worked twelve to fourteen hours a day, six days a week, they had to pay constant attention to the machines and risked losing limbs in the machines. Child labor was another problem, they usually worked from 6 am to 7 p.m., getting paid only 10 percent wages of men to children. They would be severely beaten, and usually was deformed from machines. Many working-class children were not able to attend schools, because they couldn't afford clothes. Women usually spent long hours away from home and were unable to take care of children. They usually had a deformed chest or rib from the machines, and sometimes their hair and long skirt were caught in the machines. Some people had to work in mines, the mines were damp and ark, workers risked suffocation from the dust and drowning from underground floods. As population grew, people moved into urban areas. This was a very big problem, crimes and diseases increased, sometimes twenty families had to share the same toilets and water pumps.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The industrial revolution had many problems, but here are some solutions I would propose.

Social Concerns in the poems of Kamala Das Essay -- essays research pa

" He ( the poet) is responsible for humanity, even for the animals, he must see to it that his invention can be smelt, felt, heard." ( Arthur Rimbaud) From the queen of erotica to a poetic pilgrim, the critical nexus on Kamala Das?s poetry has oscillated between opposite poles. These varied critical stances reflect that the genius of the poet refuses to be strait-jacketed into a uniform notion. In this paper, I will attempt to reveal the social issues that imbue the oeuvre of her poetry. Kamala Das in her much discussed autobiography, My Story , pointed out: ? A poet?s raw material is not stone or clay, it is her personality.?1 In direct contradiction to Eliot?s theory of poetic creation, Mrs. Das asserts that her poetry is subjective and through it she voices forth her strains and stresses. This, however, does not imply a selfish preoccupation with the self but a melioristic vision that is shocked and disgusted at the plight of fellow mortals. Her sensitive soul is deeply affected by the maladies that lie deeply ingrained in the social matrix. In the poem Afterwards -- no intertextuality with Hardy?s poem -- written when the poet was in her teens, she questions the notions of scientific progress that has ushered the nuclear holocaust: ? Son of my womb, Ugly ... ... Works cited 1. Kamala Das-- My Story, DC Books, Kottayam, Aug. 2004. 2. Kamala Das-- Summer in Calcutta, DC Books, Kottayam, Nov.2004. 3. Kamala Das-- The Descendants, Writers? Workshop, Calcutta, 1991. 4. Kamala Das-- The Descendants, Writers? Workshop, Calcutta, 1991. 5. Kamala Das-- Collected Poems, Vol. I, Navkerala Printers, Trivandrum, 1984. 6. Al Harmony Vol.6, July-Sept,2005. 7. Anthony Perera-- ?Love India, love Sri Lanka?, Sunday Observer, April 29, 1984. 8. Kamala Das-- The Old Playhouse and Other Poems, Orient Longman, 1973. 9. Kamala Das-- Only the Soul Knows How to Sing, DC Books, Kottayam, 1999. 10.Kamala Das-- Only the Soul Knows How to Sing, DC Books, Kottayam, 1999. 11. Presented to the author by the poet as a manuscript.

Living Like Weasels Essay

â€Å"Living Like Weasels†, by Annie Dillard, is a very complex essay with deep metaphorical meaning. In her essay, Dillard takes an interesting view of the way people could live; she describes how a weasel moves through life, suggesting humans take a similar approach. Bringing things back to a more primitive perspective of instinct and simplicity, she explores through symbolic imagery, why humans should latch on to their one passion in life and never let it go. Many people may think it is strange to suggest that a human being should live like an animal such as the weasel. However, a weasel exhibits a variety of desirable traits that we humans yearn to attain. In the first part of Dillard’s essay, she gives a brief introduction of what a weasel is and the sort of tendencies that they have. She then goes on to tell an elaborate story of a man who shot an eagle out of the sky only to find that a weasel was fixed by its jaws to the eagle’s throat. Dillard states, â€Å"The supposition is that the eagle had pounced on the weasel and the weasel swiveled and bit as instinct taught him, tooth to neck, and nearly won.† The weasel acted upon instinct, disregarding the size and power of the eagle. Dillard uses this bizarre image to show her admiration for the instinct and determination of this small creature, as well as a basis for the premise of her essay. Further into her essay, Dillard brilliantly ties her thoughts together. She states, â€Å"Time and events are merely poured, unremarked, and ingested directly, like blood pulsed into my gut through a jugular vein†¦The thing is to stalk your calling in a certain skilled and supple way, to locate the most tender and live spot and plug into that pulse.† Here, Dillard creates a clear picture of what she believes to be the best way to find your one true passion. Somewhat like how the weasel instinctively bit onto the eagle’s neck, she suggests that humans stalk their one passion and then hold on wherever it takes them. Dillard sums up the main idea of her entire essay in the last paragraph. She says, â€Å"I think it would be well, and proper, and obedient, and pure, to grasp your one necessity and not let it go, to dangle from it limp wherever it takes you. Then even death, where you’re going no matter how you live, cannot you part. Seize it and let it seize you up aloft even, till your eyes burn out and drop†. With this statement, Dillard more directly states  that people should do as the weasel does. Just as the weasel grabbed onto the eagle, humans should hang on to their one passion, because even through death and whatever else is to come, what you have grabbed onto will last forever. Throughout Dillard’s essay she uses key phrases such as â€Å"ingested†, â€Å"latch on†, â€Å"grasp†, â€Å"plug into the pulse†, or even â€Å"jaws†. All of these are phrases that allude to the segment earlier in her essay about the weasel that fearlessly latches onto the throat of an eagle, refusing to let go. These phrases create an extremely clear and even somewhat violent scenario, but they are all components to what Dillard believes humans should practice in their every day lives. Through a series of metaphors and symbolic imagery, Dillard is able to convey her philosophy towards life: to latch onto a certain passion and not let it go even through death. Although her idea is very intriguing, even romantic, the type of single mindedness and drive that she suggests could be somewhat dangerous. Having complex minds that are always aware of choices and different paths to take, the human species could not function under such restrictions as a weasel does. Although this is true, humans can strive for their goals and passions with great determination, yet unlike the weasel, have the benefit of having certain awareness for the consequences of their actions.

Melanin-Based Racial Prejudice Essay

Do you think humans are born to be judgmental? We usually make judgments based on what we see first, and most of the time an important factor is skin color. Social racism is known as the discrimination or intolerance of people of other races or skin colors. Racism occurs in many ways; however, it is not always obvious. Where did this type of behavior begin? Racial prejudice has many causes and effects from and on society that are inevitable. There are many ideas thrown around as to how racism began, though the truth lies in the historical facts. From slavery, to imperialism, to wars, we have always felt superior towards others with different skin colors and races. â€Å"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.† (Mandela, 1994). Racism has been a part of history for as long as humans existed and has been enhanced by early capitalism’s use of slaves for plantations and colonies. Back then, the colonists and imperialists used it as a way to show domination, but it resulted in dividing the modern world. A main factor of this division is that people who believe in stereotypes detest any communication with other races, causing a defense mechanism against them, and finally creating tension and animosity. History is proof that colored people have been treated unfairly and tortured over centuries. â€Å"Black† has always been perceived as negative. Black cats are told to be a sign of omen, black clothes are worn to funerals, and hell is pictured as a deadly place filled with darkness; these have all caused misinterpretation and created a wrong impression in people’s minds. Last, but unfortunately not least, pictures from The Holocaust -a genocide where about six million Jews were killed by the Nazis under the command of Germany’s Adolf Hitler- still haunt us (Mukherjee, 2014). Just as kids grow up imitating their parents, upcoming generations will grow up to be racists in a society where each individual thinks they are superior to everyone else if they have lighter skin. It is a never ending cycle that will most probably end in bullying. Children who grow up watching discrimination happen everywhere around them will end up feeling a need to bully classmates of othe r races. Racial discrimination has had several effects on society and employment. Studies have shown that  people with darker skin colors usually have trouble achieving ordinary goals like a job that pays well, a house in a nice neighborhood, and all the basic necessities. Why should a person with a darker skin tone suffer to obtain these essential rights and needs? The unemployment rate for African Americans in 1995 was 10.1 percent compared to 4.7 percent for white Americans (Berry, 1995). It is widely known that colored people face higher rejection rates when applying for jobs and are usually put second to whites with similar credit characteristics and also get paid less (Ross & Yinger, 1999). In addition, racism is associated with poor mental health. Studies show that the victims of bullying based on their skin color are at a greater risk of developing a range of psychological and mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. These conditions can contribute to more serious mental disorders. Therefore, eliminating racial prejudice is vital to improving mental health and emotional stability. Even though all that is happening, proper awareness is still not being taken into consideration. Racial discrimination is often practiced subconciounsly because societies from all around the world have successfully managed to mind wash generation after generation. In movies, for example, people do not realize that the African Americans usually die first. In crime scenes, they are usually the criminal. As a result of this, children are unintentionally forced to believe that dark skinned people are bad. Statistics show that majority of the public believe that African Americans are not accurately portrayed in movies. The use of offensive words regarding the Natives has become very common, as well, especially in modern rap songs. Rappers include offensive and extremely racist words in their lyrics. Another example is advertisements, and how they stress on promoting whitening beauty creams. The racism in this is not obvious, but it is obscene for the people who are not fair skinned. Finally, as a cause of predictable racism, an innocent African American man named Michael Brown was shot fatally by a police officer earlier in August this year. The protesting citizens of Ferguson remain at unrest until this very day due to the injustice that had occurred. In a nutshell, social racism has had many causes and effects throughout the years due to the growing complexity of the world around us. Racial prejudice is surely not a biological characteristic. In other words, humans do not  differentiate between races because of their genetic makeup. In an ideal world, racism would be eliminated and justice would take over. To cut a long story short, why should the amount of melanin is someone’s skin define them? Resources Mandela, N. (1994). Long walk to freedom: The autobiography of Nelson Mandela. Boston: Little, Brown. Mukherjee, R. (2014, June 18). Top 10 Reasons why Racism Still Exists – List Crux. Retrieved October 1, 2014, from http://listcrux.com/top-10-reasons-why-racism-

Consuming Kids

Consuming Kids The video documentary â€Å"Consuming Kids† highlights the impact of media and advertising on the health and well-being of children. Advertising has critically changed comparing from the past to today, as it penetrates children more than adults. Companies have decided to deliver their advertisements to children due to their vulnerable minds. The techniques companies use to attach a child with their advertisement is by using famous role models equipped with their product. This influences a child to grasp that product and evidently the same child becomes a consistent consumer in the marketing world.Not only is advertisement publicized on TV but, also on the internet and cellular mobile devices, making it harder for a parent to neglect its unwanted presence. Science is involved in this documentary as scientists use the â€Å"blinking experiment† to analyze the child’s attention rate. Scientist have mentioned that advertisers use round figures througho ut their commercial, as it has been found that children are attracted to this shape; making it harder for them to neglect the purpose of the advertisement. This is only a small contribution of how advertising has used symbolism to support its function.Using symbolism within an advertisement is very clever because it not only portrays the significance of the product but, portrays the â€Å"positive† lifestyle given when the product is purchased. Age compression plays a huge role in the marketing scheme, as it provokes young kids to feel older, making the product more suitable for the younger consumers. Advertisements affect a children’s mind negatively, as it can impact their vocabulary, cause them to lose their concentration span and eventually diagnose them with ADHD.In this documentary I was able to recognize and understand each and every perspective of how advertisements are abusing children. The media claims that parents are ultimately responsible for what their ch ildren watch, wear, and eat. I believe this is not true, because realistically a parent is unable to guard their child from advertisements every minute of the day. There is a likely chance that advertisement can be viewed at public locations like schools or daycares, making it harder to repel your child from advertisements. From this point, only the government has the ability to control such advertisements.As a society we should embrace the conflict raised from the media and publicize the negative effects of a child watching advertisements. We should ban the usage of advertisements used in schools and daycares so, children are not affected by them. A letter concerning the vital information about the documentary should be sent out to every family, so parents are aware of this cause. What shocked me the most, was the disturbing picture of the little girl who claims she’s trying to be sexy. This picture portrayed a young female child with her back pointing to the camera without a shirt.As soon as I recognized that, my point of view on advertisements harming children has changed enormously. There should be no reason for children to dress inappropriately in modern society. Yes, I feel like I have been affected by advertisements throughout my childhood. From a very young age of 6, I was behaving like the young boys shown in the documentary. Similar to them, I would also commit to violence and aggressive materials, such as movies and video games. At the time, it felt normal but now recognizing the effect of advertisement I am able to comprehend that I was under the influence of media.