Coffee delight Essay

I agree with Lisa’s view to a certain extent that the marketing budget is the most important component in the marketing plan. Harry has set a market objective of two million subscribers by 2015; a target that is very ambitious to achieve a fifth of the forecasted market share which is seen as very unrealistic with a basic marketing budget and Robert media plc will need to do a higher proportion on research than normal which will cost a lot more than usual. Another reason why the marketing budget is so important is that Roberts’s media is changing from print format to digital as they seek to achieve their object of increasing ROCE to 8%. Digital media is a new market for the business and therefore will need extensive research to see what the target markets’ needs and wants are. Although the marketing department had previously won awards for the way it promoted print magazines, but was concerned that the new technology would require a very different approach. As digital is completely different to print media, it obviously needs research conducted. However, Harry is being stubborn and dismissive stating that the marketing budget is un-important and will not provide additional funds. This could therefore mean that the businesses target the wrong people and that their objective to increase the ROCE to 8% could be dented and un-applicable. The rivals of Roberts media plc are already one step ahead of the business as they were already launching their own digital magazines within the next sic months and had already started their marketing campaign. This will have a big effect on the Roberts media as their targeted customers are already being targeted by rivals which could therefore mean fewer sales in the future. As the business is behind its rivals, a big promotional campaign will be needed in order to attract potential customers away from rivals. A big promotional campaign will require a big marketing budget but is what is needed in order to out beat its competitors in the race for customers. However, I agree with Harry not to provide addition funds to the marketing budget as the financial situation of the business is not very stable at this moment in time. The return on capital has fallen from 10% to 2% meaning that it will not be wisely to invest as it’s not really worth it to invest. Along with the poor state of ROCE, the current ratio is also in a bad state fallen from 1. 5:1 to 0. 5:1. This means for every 50p of current assets the business had ? 1 of liability. Having such a poor financial position will rupture the finance available and will need to use the scares finance available wisely. To conclude, I certainly agree with Lisa that the business’s marketing budget is the most important feature on the marketing plan. This major change from print to digital will cost a lot and will be in need of a big marketing budget to be successful. Also, Roberts media is already behind its rivals on its marketing and therefore will need something big to attract customers. Finally, Harry has set a very ambitious objective and therefore it will need a big marketing budget to be able to fulfil its purpose. Although the financial state of the business is poor, harry will need to help its marketing team and provide which they feel what is needed as the long run.

The American Sign Language

The American Sign Language or ASL is a formal and structured means by which people are able to communicate. Like all other languages, the ASL also follows specific structures or guidelines that set how this particular system is used to communicate. Over the years, there had been various definitions presented framing what the ASL is all about, as mentioned by Harry Markowicz in his transcript. However, Markowicz strongly discloses how established and generalized definitions of the ASL are, in actuality, myths that should be debunked in order to give way to the formation of a clear and factual connotation of the ASL.In Markowicz’ transcript, he revealed six myths about the ASL, thoroughly discussing justifications as to why widely held beliefs and ideas about ASL or simply sign language are, most of the time, inaccurate and false. According to Markowicz, sign language is not a universal language which is utilized and understood by the deaf populations all over the world. Like al l other languages, ASL differs from other systems of sign languages in other countries, just as the English language differs from the German, French, Spanish, etc. languages in form and in structure.Another myth is the widely held belief that since language is based on the meaning of words or sentences expressed, the sign language is also based on the conveyance of words or sentences through gestures. Some other beliefs relate to the idea that the ASL is a translation or a transposition of the English language. However, the sign language does not work that way. Communication through sign language, or the ASL for that matter, is based on concepts or impressions that may be expressed singularly through gestures. (Markowicz, 1980)The third myth has something do with how people often undervalue the sign language as merely a system of language through arbitrary gestures diminishing its formal and systematic structure. Markowicz revealed how the sign language follows various rules that co nstitute a succession of concurrent body movements, facial expressions, gestures, etc. Another myth is how the sign language is regarded as simply iconic or graphic. However, Markowicz argued how considering the sign language as simply a visual means of communication does not justify the system’s purpose of facilitating communication for the deaf.He rationalized that if the sign language is truly and simply iconic or visual, then people without hearing problems would be able to understand the language. This means that the sign language is not merely a visual stimulus, but a succession of meaningful concepts that are conveyed through the process of communication. (Markowicz, 1980) The fifth myth limits the communicative process facilitated by the sign language. Many people believe that the sign language is only capably of transmitting concrete and discrete ideas, leaving out the abstract and conceptual ideas that are easily expressed through words.Markowicz discounts this view by proving how the ASL has formal signs or gestures for abstract ideas such as love, faith, and such. The last myth discussed by Markowicz again touches on the issue of the form and structure of the sign language. People overlook the structural aspect of the sign language by disregarding how it is formed under grammatical rules and expressions. Markowicz justified his position by stating examples on how a particular thought differentiated by various patterns of inflections may be expressed through sign language according to their correct word arrangements. (Markowicz, 1980)The aforementioned arguments and justifications of Markowicz may be further proven by looking into other research studies, discussions, or transcripts concerning the sign language. For instance, the research study conducted by Padden and Ramsey (2000) regarding the ability of deaf children to read textual data as it is related to methods and strategies of instruction, has revealed how the sign language is not uni versal and word-based. The results and conclusions obtained from the research study have revealed how the competencies of deaf students differ according to their culture, family, and school environment.This means that based on discrepancies or gaps concerning sign language competencies among deaf students, they may not be able to communicate effectively even through shared sign language. Moreover, this particular research study proves that the sign language is not word-based since deaf students who read texts do not express the ideas from the book through the exact words or sentences in the text, but through various concepts or whole ideas gained from reading them.(Padden & Ramsey, 2000) Moreover, this also means that if deaf children are able to translate written texts to concepts in sign languages, this means that sign language is not simply a representation of concrete ideas, but also complex abstract thoughts and ideas that originated from the thinking process involved in unders tanding, analyzing, and judging written texts. The discussion relayed by Bellugi and Klima (1975) also supports Markowicz’ arguments by revealing how the sign language is formed or structured, debunking myths of it being merely glorified gestures and ungrammatical.According to Bellugi and Klima, the signs or gestures are translated into notational representations that form a complete thought or idea which is distinguishable in the English language. In addition, for each word or though represented through signs or gestures, there are proper and exact portrayal of simultaneous movements as observed in the figures included in Beluggi and Klima’s discussions. (Bellugi & Klima, 1975) Liddell (1980) explored the grammatical structure of the sign language comprehensively by analyzing the syntactic components of the ASL alongside the English language.On the other hand, the research study of Pettito (2000) discredits the myth about the sign language as iconic, which means that communication through the sign language is simply visual in nature, eliminating the form, structure, the grammar, and the formal learning process behind it. According to Pettito, babies will not be able to exhibit the formal and structural nature of either signed or spoken language, unless they are exposed to sign language or spoken language within their immediate environment.(Pettito, 2000) This rationalization supports Markowicz assumptions that a child will not be able to fully understand the concept of milk, unless he is exposed to the nature or processes behind the word. (Markowicz, 1980) References Bellugi, U. & Klima, E. S. (1975). â€Å"Aspects of Sign Language and its Structure† In: Kavanagh, James F. ; Cutting, James E. (eds. ). The Role of Speech in Language. Cambridge: MIT Press [335 pp. ], pp. 171-203. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://old. lib. ucdavis. edu/access/reserv/courses/90334. pdf Liddell, S. K. (1980) American Sign Language Syntax.The Hague: Mou ton, [194 pp. ], pp. 10-23, 68-80. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://old. lib. ucdavis. edu/access/reserv/courses/90335. pdf Markowicz, H. (1980) â€Å"Myths about American Sign Language† In: Lane, Harlan; Grosjean, Francois (eds. ). Recent Perspectives on American Sign Language. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum, [170 pp. ], pp. 1-6. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://old. lib. ucdavis. edu/access/reserv/courses/90333. pdf Padden C. & Ramsey, C. (2000) â€Å"American Sign Language and Reading Ability in Deaf Children† In: Chamberlain, Charlene; Morford, Jill P. ; Mayberry, Rachel I.(eds. ). Language Acquisition by Eye. Mahwah, N. J. : Lawrence Erlbaum [276 p. ], pp. 165- 168, 177-189. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://old. lib. ucdavis. edu/access/reserv/courses/90337. pdf Petitto, L. A. (2000) â€Å"The Acquisition of Natural Signed Languages: Lessons in the Nature of Human Language and its Biological Foundations† In: Chamberlain, Charlene; Morford, J ill P. ; Mayberry, Rachel I. (eds. ). Language Acquisition by Eye. Mahwah, N. J. : Lawrence Erlbaum [276 p. ], pp. 41-50. Retrieved February 20, 2009, from http://old. lib. ucdavis. edu/access/reserv/courses/90336. pdf

Mediquip Case

1) The major strength that Thaldorf possesses is that the model of the CT scanner is the latest one. It is two years in advance, so that, there would be no risk of obsolescence for a long time. Moreover, they enjoy the word-of-mouth from their current consumers, i. e. other hospitals in the similar size of LUH. However, unlike their competitors, they do not understand the market situation and decision-makers well. There are more than one person involving in the decision making process but they do not know which one possesses the most of the power. Also, their price is not competitive enough.The price range of a CT scanner is wide and Mediquip charges at the upper end which could not meet expectation of price-sensitive buyers. 2) There are altogether 3 people in the decision making process. Professor Steinborn: a nationally-known radiologist. He is the one who use the scanner so he cares the quality and functions the most. Though he shows his favor to Mediquip, Mediquip still lost the order, so it seems he does not own a great power. Dr. Rufer: a physicist. His primary concern is the patients’ safety if the scanner could meet the technical specifications that he raised. Mr.Hartman: the general director of LUH. He put price as the top priority and also the durability of machines and delivery. It seems like he possesses the greatest power in the whole decision making process since price is the very major reason of the loss of order. 3) Generally speaking, Thaldorf could have effective and positive interaction with the above-mentioned persons. Though Professor Steinborn was once shocked that the price could not be discussed, he was soon pacified and even talked about his vacation. And he even told the Sigma’s price to Thaldorf, it shows his favor to Mediquip. ) September 3 Firstly, it was told by the secretary that there were a lot of heated discussions. It implies that there might be even arguments between Hartman who concerns price and Steinborn who favors Mediquip. And obviously, Steinborn lost from the discussions. And so, Hartman just like put-off Thaldorff asking him to give a final offer but the decision was made actually unless Mediquipp could really offer a competitive low price. 5) From this case, we should understand that, sometimes, possessing the newest model may mean nothing and we have to understand our customers better.You may encounter a lot of people during the process, but the important thing is to get the most powerful decision-maker pleased and favor to your product. Only that could bring you the order. Cause sometimes even your product is the best among the competitors, your customer may not know it. Therefore, the best practice is to formulate different strategies according to different customers, like if he is price-sensitive and do not know much about the product, different models with different prices could be introduced. And the customer could just choose whatever within his budget.

The Continuum from Legitimacy to Fraud Research Paper - 9

The Continuum from Legitimacy to Fraud - Research Paper Example This essay demonstrates that the suitability of an accounting policy under the requirements of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) draws a line on the continuum that distinguishes legitimate earnings management from fictitious accounting transactions. The process of determination of whether or when earnings management dealings do cross the line is essentially difficult to ascertain legitimacy to fraud, especially in certain situations on financial transactions. Legitimate earnings management in an entity translates to quality in earnings but with no reference to whether there has been a fair presentation of the financial statements that are convenient to the generally accepted accounting principles. Auditors’ roles with regard to quality of the entity’s earnings are important though their responsibilities are spelled out in detection and reporting of fraud. Auditors need to address their judgments about quality and the acceptability of the entity’s pr inciples of accounting and all the financial estimates that underlie the statements. Auditors should always inform the committee on the audit on the unacceptability approach at the end of the accounting period so as to improve the overall effectiveness of the corporate body on audit committees. The communication between the auditors and the committee on the audit is seen as an avenue for enhancing clear understanding of the quality of earnings and all the issues related to it hence improving the level of financial reporting. ... ?†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦42 4.0 Question #4 Overview: Ethical Considerations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..45 4.1 Recommendations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦46 4.2 Corporate mechanisms to avoid fraudulent Earnings Management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.50 4.3 Board oversight†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.51 4.4 External Audit and internal Audit reporting to Audit committee of Board†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..52 4.5 Whistleblower procedures†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.52 4.6 Code of conduct and ethics of Financial Officers†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.53 4.7 Philosophical Stance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.54 4.8 References†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..55 Question #1 Overview —Theoretical and Conceptual Knowledge Introduction (Overview) Earnings management entails an extensive range of illegitimate and legitimate actions undertaken by companies and business organizations’ management s, affecting the entire legal entities’ overall earnings. In understanding this phenomenon of earnings management, it’s important to have a wide overview of the legitimate managerial activities carried out in an entity and the fraudulent reporting that is spearheaded by accountants and the entire management of an organization. The management of earnings leans on the credibility of financial information which is adversely affected by legal or illegal undertakings. All managerial activities within an organization have various implications and potential effects on earnings management.

Strategies mplemented to assist the labouring woman progress Essay

Strategies mplemented to assist the labouring woman progress - Essay Example Midwives are making a very important input to interdisciplinary attempts to encourage normal birth as well as reduce the nervousness that frequently encircles maternity care these days. Confidence in the normal childbirth procedure is essential for the beliefs as well as practice of midwifery, â€Å"the language midwives speak and the care they provide to women† (Walsh, 2007). For midwives, the idea of normality is within the physiology of labor in addition to the ability of women to give birth with their individual control. Women looked after by midwives are always more apt to labor with no main interference and analgesia or anesthesia, and expected to have a natural vaginal birth. Latest research in Australia as well shows that when midwives are actively involved with the health care system, midwife-attended deliveries, both at residence as well as in hospital, require considerably lesser rates of interference and, simultaneously, quite low rates of â€Å"maternal and neona tal/perinatal morbidity and mortality† (Reuwer et al, 2009). Likewise, midwives appear to attain related normal birth results with women all over the socio-economic scale, within countryside as well as secluded locations in addition to large metropolitan centers. 2. Women Centered Care Woman centered care is a notion that indicates that: It is concentrated on the woman’s personal exceptional requirements, hopes and objectives, instead of the requirements of the associations or occupations concerned It identifies the woman’s rights of independence with respect to preference, power, and stability of care from recognized caregiver(s). It includes the requirements of the infant, the woman’s relatives, her spouse and society, as recognized and discussed by the woman herself It pursues the woman â€Å"across the interface between institutions and the community† (Coad & Dunstall, 2011), during every stage of pregnancy, delivery and the postnatal phase. Hen ce, it entails group effort with other health care experts when required It is holistic when dealing with the woman’s communal, expressive, physical, psychosomatic, sacred and cultural requirements as well as beliefs. 3. Strategies for Promoting Normal Birth 3.1 Continuity of Care It is the practice of guaranteeing that a woman identifies her maternity care givers and gets care from the similar source, or small team of providers, during pregnancy, labor, delivery as well as the postnatal phase. This relationship helps in the normal release of oxytocin hormone. Oxytocin creates sentiments of affection as well as selflessness; no matter what facet of love one thinks about, oxytocin is involved. Oxytocin is formed in the hypothalamus, deep within our brains, and â€Å"stored in the posterior pituitary, the master gland† (Fahy et al, 2008), from where it is discharged in pulsations. In the normal procedure, oxytocin appears in waves causing ‘rests and bursts’, facilitating to increase the endorphins in return. During the last part of the second phase, oxytocin has an enormous spike. Nothing of this sort takes place with the synthetic procedure, its â€Å"pump driven and adding nothing to the body’s natural pattern† (Conrad & Gallagher, 1993). Oxytocin is released in huge amounts during pregnancy, as it works to improve nutrient inclusion, lessen anxiety, and preserve energy by creating the feeling the sleepiness. Oxytocin as well creates

The Power of the Fourteenth Amendment Research Paper

The Power of the Fourteenth Amendment - Research Paper Example The fourteenth amendment granted equal civil and legal rights as well as citizenship to the African Americans and the slaves of the American civil war. They were thus included in the phrase all persons born or naturalized in the United States had the right to be given American citizenship. The power of the fourteenth amendment is well expressed in its five sections: The section one argues that all individuals born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are United States citizens and citizens they live in according to Wagner (2000). It forbids the state from exercising a law that abridges the United States citizens’ privileges and immunities. According to this section, the state has no right to deprive individuals their property, life or liberty without following the legal process. It also ensures that any person within a state’s jurisdiction is equally protected. Since the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1971, the fourteenth amendment remains the most important amendment in protecting the rights of the individuals. The amendment was driven by the incidence of civil wars in the United States. Initially, this section only defined citizenship and offered protection to the civil and political rights of the individual hence less powerful. Its limitation was that the Africans could not possess United States citizenship and could not enjoy any citizenship privileges and immunities. ... Under the initial constitution anyone regarded as a United States citizen was first to become a citizen of a certain state in the country. This could not apply to the emancipated citizens, the need of the clause to define citizenship. It meant that a United States’ citizen was also a citizen of a state he/she resided in. The power of the clause has been subjected to different interpretations. It author argued that it had similar content with the original one and it only varied in wording. According to Bosniak (2008), the meaning of this clause was tested in 1884 to establish whether a person born in the United States was automatically granted national citizenship. It was held by the Supreme Court that the Native Americans who left their tribes voluntarily could not automatically acquire national citizenship. The court also claimed that under this clause, a person born in the American soil to a Chinese citizen permanently leaving in US on business and not under official or dipl omatic employment were guaranteed American citizenship. The same was also meant to apply to children who belonged to foreign national but not of Chinese descent. The power of this clause also maintains it that, children neither of United States citizens nor foreign diplomats, but born there were guaranteed citizenship after birth. However it was argued under this clause that, Children belonging to ambassadors as well as foreign ministers were excluded from citizenship. Loss of citizenship is another powerful clause section one of the fourteenth amendment. This clause gives two conditions under which individual can lose their citizenship. These conditions are Fraud in the process of naturalization

The Impact of High Oil Prices on Global Economy Essay

The Impact of High Oil Prices on Global Economy - Essay Example Goods movement across a country or between international countries depend on transporting vehicles like, ships, train, cargo planes, trucks etc; all require oil as fuel. Any price hike in oil and gas price can increase the transportation cost and thereby the cost of the goods also. Oil is also required for the production of electric power which is the most important component of every industry. Many other essential commodities of everyday life like plastics, medicines, clothing, cosmetic items; all depends on oil for its production. Thus global economy is directly proportional to oil price. 1973 -1975 oil price hike has shocked the world economy. The growth rate fell to 2.1% in 1974 and to 1.45 in 1975. The worldwide trade growth rate also dropped heavily from 12% in 1973 to -5.4% in 1974 and -7.3 in 1975. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has dropped from 40% in 1973 to half of it in 1974 (Oil prices and global economy) The above statistics clearly shows the relation between oil price and global economy. In fact oil is the blood of global economy. The world is moving with the help of the energy provided by the oil. Most of the activities in the industrial world, and the real life situations are heavily depend on the availability of oil. For example, consider the case of transportation activities without oil resources. In fact 99% of the transportation facilities depend oil for the fuel needs. All the vehicles which use petrol or diesel engines require oil and any scarcity of oil or price hike of oil may affect the transportation industry drastically. Higher oil prices affect the global economy through a variety of channels: There will be a transfer of income from oil consumers to oil producers; There will be a rise in the cost of production of goods and services in the economy (IMF Research Department) Oil price hike will positively

MPH522 - Public Health Law and Policy, Mod 4 Case Assignment Essay

MPH522 - Public Health Law and Policy, Mod 4 Case Assignment - Essay Example He did challenge this decision in several courts but lost and was ruled against by the Supreme Court (Barnes et al, 1993). We will attempt to show that this decision falls under the utilitarian ethics principle. Utilitarian ethics can be defined over all as a decision that is made as the best decision for the most people. The case is a utilitarian ethics case though it also has the element of paternalism which is deontoligic in nature. In this case, it could only be seen that they were making this decision for the greatest good because it was a decision that ruled against the single person and saw the law in the light of a bigger picture. The Supreme Court, in this case made a decision that did not agree with the single employee because it would have led to a loss of the ability to protect future employees from injury that they themselves may not protect themselves against. This is the way public health law works. The public, the law, as well as the courts have had some difficulty in determining what justice is when it comes to a case like this one (Kass, 2001). Does this also protect the company? The answer is of course yes. However, this again is a decision that is made for the largest nu mber, not for the individual. It does not feel right to us because we have a tendency to look for justice in the sense of the single human instead of the group. It is also so easy to see that the company is not only concerned about the employee but that this is a serious illness brewing and if allowed to continue will be a large burden on the resources of the company so in the end the decision is meant to protect the employee, the company and employees of the future. The second part of the Utilitarian principle is that the decision is extrinsic in its features and that the outcomes of the decision were extrinsic in nature. This is certainly true here. This decision will affect

The Concept Of Property In The Philosophy Of The Enlightenment Essay

The Concept Of Property In The Philosophy Of The Enlightenment - Essay Example John Locke is considered one of the precursors of American democracy, and his political concept is based predominantly upon social contract theory and natural rights of human beings. He believed that the state should have legislative and executive power, as well as the right to decide whether to start military actions or not (the right for war and peace). However, it is very important that he refused to grant the state with the right to handle people’s lives and property: according to J. Locke, these two were the natural rights of people, and they could only be restricted if the security of other citizens was endangered. In Locke’s ideal state, therefore, the government could not take property from people, nor could it even collect different kinds of payments without previous agreement of the majority of people (or their representatives) to pay this money. Talking of freedom as the natural condition for all the citizens of his ideal state, John Locke stated that the main natural right of people (the right of property) should necessarily be secured using legal regulations, so that no conflicts arise. Locke believed that the political society is formed by means of concluding a "social contract", and as a result the government is formed which has to be responsible to people: "The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but to have only the law of nature for his rule. The liberty of man, in society, is to be under no other legislative power, but that established, by consent, in the commonwealth; nor under the dominion of any will, or restraint of any law, but what that legislative shall enact, according to the trust put in it." (Chapter IV (Of Liberty), Section 22) All in all, John Locke's idea of state was concluding this social contract that would restrict the freedom of people to a certain extent, but the right of property was viewed by him as the right that can by no means be violated. J. Locke believed that the reason why some people have more property than others is because though all children are born equal, in the process of development some of them get more knowledge and prove to have better abilities, and therefore the result of this labour (property) should not be alienated from its owner. it is very easy to conceive, without any difficulty, how labour could at first begin a title of property in the common things of nature, and how the spending it upon our uses bounded it. So that there could then be no reason of quarrelling about title, nor any doubt about the largeness of possession it gave. Right and conveniency

Ethnic group Essay Example for Free

Ethnic group Essay The general argument made by Leonard Pitts Jr., in his work, Don’t lower the bar on education standards, is that states are trying to fix education by lowering their expectations per certain group of students. More specifically, he argues that they’re creating separate and unequal performance standards for their black, white, Hispanic, Asian, and disabled children. He writes, â€Å"Florida set a goal of having 86 percent of white kids at or above grade level by 2018. For black kids, the goal is 74 percent. † In this passage, he is suggesting that schools are wrongly establishing lower education standards and are even varying the standards between races. In conclusion, Pitts’ belief is that this â€Å"reverse racism† gives kids of minorities the mistaken idea that they carry some inherent deficiency that renders them unable to compete with other kids on an equal playing field. Look more:  ethnicity example essay Pitts is right, because it is wrong to lower standards to make students appear smarter. More specifically, setting different standards for different ethnic groups is also infuriating. For example, an analogy Pitts’ used was that athletic directors have noticed a decline in white kids going out for basketball. They feel like they can’t compete with the black kids. What if we addressed that by lowering the rim for white kids? This analogy displays a situation similar to that of the education standards. Overall, no one wants to know that they are inferior at something just because of their race. Therefore, in conclusion, Pitts makes a wonderful argument on why lowering these standards is wrong. Ultimately, they can’t fix education by lowering the bar. They must do it by lifting the students.

Nutrient Cycle of an Isolated Cave

Nutrient Cycle of an Isolated Cave Introduction The caves are simple natural laboratories. The climate of the cave is very stable and easy to define. Cave environment is composed with a twilight part close to the entrance, a middle part of full darkness and unstable temperature, finally a part of full darkness and stable temperature in deeper. The twilight part is the biggest and most diverse fauna container. The middle part contains some common species which can move to the earth. The deeper dark sides, which are the unique aspect of the cave environment and contain obligate (trolobitic) fauna. Green plant can’t live in stable darkness. So, the food reserve here in other forms (Poulson and White, 1969). Animal communities in the caves look remarkable chances for the investigation of community dynamics because of their relative simplicity. A comparatively small number of species is involved in even in most complex cave community but exceptionally large numbers of colonies of bats are present here. In absence of light, prima ry producers are absent or at least limited to chemosynthetic autotrophs. Sulfur and iron bacteria are present in some caves but their quantitative significance as producers has not yet been established (Barr Jr, 1967). The superficial nutritive part of cave clay in the blind amphipods of the genus Niphargus show that juvenile stages burrow widely and probably eat the clay in the bottom of cave pools. Presumably the juveniles utilize the bacterial content of the clay rather than the mineral material itself; and in any case, continued survival of the adults is dependent upon the presence of additional food (Barr Jr, 1967). In addition to absence of light, the physical environment of a cave is characterized by silence, relatively constant temperature which approximates the mean annual temperature of the region where the cave is located, high relative humidity except near entrances, is accompanied by an exceptionally low rate of evaporation (Barr Jr, 1967). Cave Habitats and Ecology Different types of caves contain variety of habitats within them and differ in amount and types of energy level. Cave supports heterotrophic microbial populations in the presence of huge input of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus due to accumulation of guano and dead bats, if a cave has substantial or modest populations of bats (Cheeptham, 2012). Guano is a organic deposit common in cave derived from mainly feces of a variety of animals specially bats that visit or live and provide habitat rich in nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus that’s are nutrients for many insects (Cheeptham, 2012; IUCNSSC, 2014). Ecological classification of cavernicoles was first prepared by (Schiner, 1853)and improved and promoted by (Racovitza, 1907).They splits them into (1) troglobites, which are obligate species to the cave; (2) troglophiles, which live and reproduce not only in caves but also in cool, dark, moist microhabitats outside of caves they termed as facultative species; (3) trogloxenes , species those use caves for shelter throughout the day but feed outdoor at night; and (4) cave accidentals, which Confused with those species that certain small troglobites are also phreatobites (Barr Jr, 1967). Figure-Different zones of a cave The major energy sources of cave ecosystems are (a) organic matter flounced underground by sinking streams, and (b) the feces, eggs, and dead bodies of animals those are persist in the cave for shelter but feed outside (trogloxenes). In temperate region caves flooding and the entering of cold air throughout winter and initial spring interrupt the comparatively constant physical conditions of the cave environment (Barr Jr, 1967). The security of roosting sites is a vital element of any policy for the conservation of bats. Since caves are the foremost roosts for numerous bat species (Dalquest and Walton, 1970; Kunz, 1982). There are various types of bat species and large number of bats found in different cave, Seventeen species of bats roost in the caves of Yucatan, Mexico. The conservation of these types of sites should be of principal attention for the protection of chiropteran species (Arita, 1996). Cave communities Connectivity among communities is continued by the rearrangement of biomass, frequently by mobile animals that eat resources in one habitat and then reproduce, urinate, and/or defecate in other surroundings. This transmission of organic material affects the nutrient budget of a community and effects population and food web dynamics (Emerson and Roark, 2007). Cave-roosting species spent half of their lives inside the caves (Kunz, 1982). The security of cave atmospheres is essential to guarantee their conservation. In a parallel fashion, the presence of bats might be an essential state for the existence of cave environments. In channels with no bats, biomass thickness in a typical North American cave can be as little as 1 g/ha in ponds or 20-30 g/ha in terrestrial zones (Poulson and White, 1969). In contrast, passageways covered with bat guano present an excess of nutrients and provide very diverse groups of arthropods (Barr Jr, 1968; Harris, 1970; Poulson, 1972). For endogenous primar y manufacture by chemosynthetic bacteria is insignificant, cave communities depend completely on exogenous origins of nutrients for their maintenance (Culver, 1982). Figure-Cave communities and feeding cycle Nutrients can be occupied into a cave in the form of detritus and plant material passed by watercourses, as dissolved organic matter infiltrating through minute cracks or exuding from tree roots (Howarth, 1972; Howarth, 1983), otherwise they can be placed inside caves as feces of trogloxenes, for example cave crickets, bats, birds, and other animals (Harris, 1970; Poulson, 1972; Culver, 1982). In various tropical caves, bat guano is by far the most significant source of nutrients. By carrying tons of organic matter to the caves, bats act as transferable links concerning cave environments with the external world (Arita, 1996). Any animal existing in a cave can be said as a cavernicole. Troglobites, which are obligate cavernicoles, are the emphasis of this appraisal. Many troglobites are offspring of troglophiles. Facultative cave populations are able to alive in or outside caves. Trogloxenes are consistent cave inhabitants that return intermittently to the exterior for food; bats and cave-crickets are examples. Main taxonomic collections of animals with various troglobitic species comprise collembolans, turbellarians, millipedes, spiders, pseudoscorpions, gastropods opilionidsisopods, amphipods, diplurans, decapods, beetles (Pselaphidae, Carabidae, Leiodidae), salamanders and fishes.(Barr and Holsinger, 1985) Cave Nutrient Cycle Food contribution into a cave ecosystem is attributable to two chief sources- sinking watercourses, which wash twigs, logs, bacteria, leaves and epigean animals (including zooplankton) into caves; and trogloxenes, which deposit their eggs and feces in caves and frequently die there and donate their bodies to the ecosystem (Barr Jr, 1967). Species from exterior sources include the bulk of the plankton in the Cave (Scott, 1909) and rivers inside Cave (Kofoid, 1899). Smaller individuals of the blind cavefish, Amblyopsis spelaea, feed mainly on copepods in this plankton (Poulson, 1963). Plant fragments are placed along the banks of subterranean streams, where they are gradually decomposed by bacteria and fungi. The decomposers provide food for detritus-feeding animals (e.g., diplurans, milli-pedes, and collembolans) which are then eaten by predators (e.g., opilionids, spiders, carabid beetles, pseudoscorpions). Bats and the eastern cave crickets of the genus Hadenoecus (Park and Barr, 19 61) are important guano manufacturers in caves of the United States. Few troglobites are able to use the guano directly, while guano is usually populated by a characteristic assemblage of troglophiles which may be eaten by predatory troglobites (Jeannel, 1949). Seasonal differences in the physical atmosphere and food supply of temperate zone caves are often unexpectedly drastic. During late winter and spring overflowing of rivers Cave, typically raises the water level 5 or 6 m, and a maximum rise of nearly 15 m has been recorded. Additionally the flood is a drop in temperature of the water and small increases in pH, entire alkalinity, and dissolved oxygen (Barr Jr, 1967). A much longer existence time in a riparian species of cave beetle when the riparian species and another species usually found in drier, higher cave galleries were immersed in water. Many species of Pseudanophthalmus and Ameroduvalius (troglobitic Carabidae) normally feed on little tubificid annelids in the damp sil t along cave streams (Barr Jr and Peck, 1965). The effects of flooding on aquatic cavernicoles, suggesting that spring floods may trigger their reproductive cycles (Poulson, 1964). Winter poses additional hazards for terrestrial troglobites. Food supplies vary seasonally in caves. Guano deposition by bats is limited to summer months, and Hadenoecus spp. feed outside the caves less often throughout winter than in summer, so there is minimum guano supply in winter. Conversely, deposition of organic detritus by watercourses is improved in winter because of flooding, but decomposition of the fragments takes place gradually over the time of several months or years. A great plankton count in Echo River of Mammoth Cave occurs only throughout late spring or summer floods, when plankton manufacture in Green River, which provides the flood waters, is great (Barr Jr, 1967). The genus Pseudanophthalmus covers about 175 species (many of them not yet described) and is known from Indiana, Kentucky , Illinois and Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Ohio (Barr Jr and Peck, 1965). Ameroduvalius, limited to south- east Kentucky, has only three species; Nelsonites, from the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee and Kentucky, has two; and Neaphaenops and Darlingtonea, from many parts of Kentucky, are monobasic. All of these beetles are predatory troglobites and are supposed to be remnants of a well-known soil-and-moss-dwelling periglacial fauna (Barr Jr, 1965). Figure- The cave food pyramid Guano Bat guano supports an accumulation of organisms that differs depending on the species of bat manufacturing it. Alterations in guano composition propose that guano from bats in unlike feeding guilds can affect ecosystem configuration and dynamics differently (Emerson and Roark, 2007). Allochthonous effort of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which are found in comparatively high concentrations in bird guano, increases primary productivity in terrestrial ecosystems by improving the quality and quantity of vegetation (Polis et al., 1997). Nutrient input through guano deposition by seabirds has also been shown to increase the abundance of organisms such as detritivorous beetles on islands used by roosting seabirds (Sà ¡nchez-Pià ±ero and Polis, 2000). In addition to its effects on primary and secondary productivity, allochthonous nutrient input can also influence community structure the presence of birds and nutrient-rich guano significantly alters the structure of intertidal communities by enhancing algal growth and settlement of invertebrates in dense algalmats (Bosman and Hockey, 1986). Such consumer-driven nutrient recycling via fecal deposition by bats also affects community structure in guano-based ecosystems. Bat guano forms the basis of a food web consisting of bacteria, fungi, protozoans, nematodes, and arthropods (Harris, 1970). Cave salamanders consume guano of grey bats (Myotis grisescens) and incorporate the nutrients they obtain through coprophagy into body tissues (Fenolio et al., 2006). The diversity of organisms associated with guano has been shown to vary depending on the diet of the bat producing it, with guano of sanguivorous, insectivorous, and frugivorous bats supporting different assemblages of invertebrates (Ferreira and Martins, 1998). Differences in guano composition (C, N,P, and mass ratios) most likely resulted from dissimilarities in nutrient composition of the diets of each bat species (Studier et al., 1994). Variation in nu trients and stoichiometric nutrient ratios of guano from bats in different feeding guilds could have considerable effects on producers, consumers, and decomposers living on or in guano. Figure- Collection of guano from cave As highlighted by (Sterner and Elser, 2002) and subsequently in reviews by (Vrede et al., 2004) and (Moe et al., 2005), relationships among elemental nutrients have the potential to regulate processes at many ecological levels, including production, individual and population growth, coexistence of species, rates of decomposition of organic matter, and nutrient cycling. Primary production in terrestrial ecosystems (as in marine systems) is thought to be limited by the availability of N and P (Vitousek and Howarth, 1991), and the input of these nutrients by fecal deposition can have considerable bottom-up influences in detritus-based ecosystems. Ecosystem-level effects of different nutrient contents could also result from differences in rates of conversion of nutrients in guano from biologically unavailable to available forms (Vitousek et al., 1988). Differences in guano nutrient profiles could have considerable ecological consequences ranging from effects on the growth or productivity of individual residents of guano piles to effects on ecosystem-level processes like decomposition and nutrient cycling (Emerson and Roark, 2007). REFERENCE ARITA, H. T. 1996. The conservation of cave-roosting bats in Yucatan, Mexico. Biological Conservation, 76, 177-185. BARR JR, T. C. 1965. The Pseudanophthalmus of the Appalachian Valley (Coleoptera: Carabidae). American Midland Naturalist, 41-72. BARR JR, T. C. 1967. Observations on the ecology of caves. American Naturalist, 475-491. BARR JR, T. C. 1968. Cave ecology and the evolution of troglobites. Evolutionary biology. Springer. BARR JR, T. C. PECK, S. B. 1965. Occurrence of a troglobitic Pseudanophthalmus outside a cave (Coleoptera: Carabidae). American Midland Naturalist, 73-74. BARR, T. C. HOLSINGER, J. R. 1985. Speciation in cave faunas. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics, 313-337. BOSMAN, A. HOCKEY, P. 1986. Seabird guano as a determinant of rocky intertidal community structure. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 32, 247-257. CHEEPTHAM, N. 2012. Cave Microbiomes: A Novel Resource for Drug Discovery: A Novel Resource for Drug Discovery. Springer New York. Available: https://books.google.com.bd/books?id=QQuk4rk-OCgC. CULVER, D. C. 1982. Cave life: evolution and ecology. HARVARD UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, MA(USA). 1982. DALQUEST, W. WALTON, D. 1970. Diurnal retreats of bats. Southern Methodist Univ. Press, vii. EMERSON, J. K. ROARK, A. M. 2007. Composition of guano produced by frugivorous, sanguivorous, and insectivorous bats. Acta Chiropterologica, 9, 261-267. FENOLIO, D. B., GRAENING, G., COLLIER, B. A. STOUT, J. F. 2006. Coprophagy in a cave-adapted salamander; the importance of bat guano examined through nutritional and stable isotope analyses. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 273, 439-443. FERREIRA, R. L. MARTINS, R. P. 1998. Diversity and distribution of spiders associated with bat guano piles in Morrinho cave (Bahia State, Brazil). Diversity and distributions, 235-241. HARRIS, J. 1970. Bat-guano cave environment. Science, 169, 1342-1343. HOWARTH, F. G. 1972. Cavernicoles in lava tubes on the island of Hawaii. Science, 175, 325-326. HOWARTH, F. G. 1983. Ecology of cave arthropods. Annual Review of Entomology, 28, 365-389. IUCNSSC. 2014. IUCN SSC Guidelines for Minimizing the Negative Impact to Bats and Other Cave Organisms from Guano Harvesting. IUCN, Gland. Available: http://www.batcon.org/pdfs/GuanoGuidelinesVersion1.pdf#page=1zoom=auto,-82,842 JEANNEL, R. 1949. Les fossiles vivants des cavernes. Gallimard. KOFOID, C. A. 1899. Plankton Studies III. On Platydorina, A New Genus of the Family Volvocidae, from the Plankton of the Illinois River. KUNZ, T. H. 1982. Roosting ecology of bats. Ecology of bats. Springer. MOE, S. J., STELZER, R. S., FORMAN, M. R., HARPOLE, W. S., DAUFRESNE, T. YOSHIDA, T. 2005. Recent advances in ecological stoichiometry: insights for population and community ecology. Oikos, 109, 29-39. PARK, O. BARR, T. 1961. Some observations on a cave cricket (Abstr.). Bulletin of the Entomological Society of America, 7, 144. POLIS, G. A., ANDERSON, W. B. HOLT, R. D. 1997. Toward an integration of landscape and food web ecology: the dynamics of spatially subsidized food webs. Annual review of ecology and systematics, 289-316. POULSON, T. L. 1963. Cave adaptation in amblyopsid fishes. American Midland Naturalist, 257-290. POULSON, T. L. 1964. Animals in aquatic environments: animals in caves. Handbook of Physiology, 749-771. POULSON, T. L. 1972. Bat guano ecosystems. Bulletin of the National Speleological Society, 34, 55-59. POULSON, T. L. WHITE, W. B. 1969. The cave environment. Science, 165, 971-981. RACOVITZA, E. G. 1907. Biospà ©ologica: Essai sur les problà ¨mes biospà ©ologiques. I. Schleicher frà ¨res. Sà NCHEZ-PIÑERO, F. POLIS, G. A. 2000. Bottom-up dynamics of allochthonous input: direct and indirect effects of seabirds on islands. Ecology, 81, 3117-3132. SCHINER, I. R. 1853. Fauna der Adelsberger-Lueger-und Magdalenen-Grotte. SCOTT, A. 1909. The Copepoda of the Soboga Expedition. Late EJ Brill. STERNER, R. W. ELSER, J. J. 2002. Ecological stoichiometry: the biology of elements from molecules to the biosphere. Princeton University Press. STUDIER, E. H., SEVICK, S. H., RIDLEY, D. M. WILSON, D. E. 1994. Mineral and nitrogen concentrations in feces of some neotropical bats. Journal of Mammalogy, 75, 674-680. VITOUSEK, P. M., FAHEY, T., JOHNSON, D. W. SWIFT, M. J. 1988. Element interactions in forest ecosystems: succession, allometry and input-output budgets. Biogeochemistry, 5, 7-34. VITOUSEK, P. M. HOWARTH, R. W. 1991. Nitrogen limitation on land and in the sea: how can it occur? Biogeochemistry, 13, 87-115. VREDE, T., DOBBERFUHL, D. R., KOOIJMAN, S. ELSER, J. J. 2004. Fundamental connections among organism C: N: P stoichiometry, macromolecular composition, and growth. Ecology, 85, 1217-1229.

Organisation structure of the bakhresa group of companies

Organisation structure of the bakhresa group of companies Identify the strand of organisation structure and innovation approach used by the Bakhresa Group. Is it organic or mechanistic structure followed by the Bakhresa Group? Among the two which one is more suitable to innovation and why? How can Bakhresa Group manage the tension between the need for creativity and efficiency? Discuss the main organisational characteristics that facilitate the innovation process in the Bakhresa Group. Explain the key individual roles within the innovation process and the activities they perform in the Bakhresa Group. How did Bakhresa Group establish innovative environment that propagates the virtuous circle of innovation? Explain its features. This is a case study analysis report of the Bakhresa Group of companies of Tanzania, with special focus of its innovation management that led it to achieve a remarkable growth and market leadership in the country and beyond. Bakhresa Group is one of the leading Industrial Houses in Tanzania, East Africa. Started in a humble manner with a small restaurant in the Port City of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in mid-seventies, it has now emerged as a respected business group in the Region. The Group has its operations spread in Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia and most recently in Mozambique. Plans are in place to spread its wings to other countries. The group now boasts of a turnover of more than Three Hundred Million United Sates Dollars and is a proud employer of more than two thousand employees associated directly. There are several companies under its umbrella and have investments mainly in Food and Beverage Sector, Packaging, Logistics and Real Estate. The study will analyse the role of organisation structure, the organisational characteristics in general and individual roles that propagate and facilitate innovative environment within the Bakhresa group and how successfully they have managed it. The analysis is based on the hand-out information about the group prepared for this purpose, as well as the Bakhresa Group website (2010). Most of the concepts and theories that precedes each item of analysis are based on the textbook by Paul Trott-Innovation Management and New product Development -4th Edition (2008); others textbooks and websites have been used to complement the mentioned references. This report starts by providing background information about the group, regarding its organisations; products and services in section one. To be followed by five sections one for each analysis item, that is; organisation structure and innovation, managing the tension between the need for efficiency and creativity, organisational characteristics that facilitate innovation, the key individual roles within the innovation process and establishing an innovative environment that propagate virtuous circle. BACKGROUND BAKHRESA GROUP OF COMPANIES TANZANIA Bakhresa Group is composed of Said Salim Bakhresa Co.s, Bakhresa Food Products ltd and large collection of other companies of various industries such as transport and logistics and real-estate. The group started in 1980s and ever since it has steadily been expanding its borders from Tanzania to the neighbouring countries and has been gaining a lot of market force over time. The group currently operates in the Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia and Zanzibar Mission To increase and sustain the living standards of Africans by providing them with essential products and services of global quality at affordable prices. To exceed customers expectations through innovation and harnessing technology. Vision To be one of the internationally respected and professionally managed companies in the African Continent. To spread our wings to the other parts of the globe. Their values include passion for success, commitment to stakeholders and employees as well as mutual trust and social responsibility. Figure 1. Subsidiaries companies under Bakhresa Group Source (Bakhresa.com 2010) In the Bakhresa Group, the organization is treated as an instrument for achieving established goals, in which the members of the organization are made to serve these goals and rewards are given to motivate them. The organization structure contributes to the dominance of the technology-push model of innovation. On the one hand Bakhresa Group requires stability and static routines to accomplish the daily tasks efficiently and quickly and on the other hand, Bakhresa Group also needs to develop new ideas and new products to be competitive in future and it needs to nurture a creative environment where ideas can be tested and developed. The channel of communication is highly structured, there is restricted information flow, and operating styles are uniform and restricted. Authority for decision is based on formal line management position and the management is reluctant to adapt to changing circumstances. The management of the Bakhresa Group is committed to long-term growth rather than short-term profit and the organization is willing to invest in the long-term development of technology and is aware of its threats and opportunities. The Bakhresa Group engages commercial scanner, gatekeeper and project leader and sponsor to facilitate the innovation process. The Bakhresa Group, given the importance of innovation, has spent enormous sums of money trying to develop an environment that fosters innovation. The Bakhresa Group is aware of developing a reputation for innovation which helps propagate a virtuous circle that reinforces Groups abilities. The Bakhresa Group has established companies dealing with variety of products from manufacturing of Food and Beverage Sector, Packaging, Logistics and Real Estate and has become a market leader because of innovation and entrepreneurship. Figure 2 below shows a variety of products/ services offered by the Bakhresa group. Source (Bakhresa.com 2010) The new and different product added to the list of achievements marks the creativeness abilities and adds to value, and enhance the competitive edge of the company. For example, the launching of state of the art packaging industries for food and beverage products as well as the technological advancement on the telecommunication via satellites. 1. ORGANIZATION STRUCTURES AND INNOVATION Identify the strand of organisation structure and innovation approach used by the Bakhresa Group. Is it organic or mechanistic structure followed by the Bakhresa Group? Among the two which one is more suitable to innovation and why? Organizational Structures Organizational structure refers to the way that an organization arranges people and jobs so that its work can be performed and its goals can be met. When a work group is very small and face-to-face communication is frequent, formal structure may be unnecessary, but in a larger organization decisions have to be made about the delegation of various tasks. Thus, procedures are established that assign responsibilities for various functions. It is these decisions that determine the organizational structure. In an organization of any size or complexity, employees responsibilities typically are defined by what they do, who they report to, and for managers, who reports to them. (Referenceforbusiness 2010) Innovation Innovation is the act of developing a new process or product and introducing it to the market. It is essentially an entrepreneurial act, whether it takes place in a start-up firm, a large organization, a not-for-profit, or a public-sector agency. Innovation means change: sometimes radical change, such as the development of the computer, and sometimes incremental change, such as the modification of existing computer software (Referenceforbusiness 2010) Innovation is the act of introducing something new or doing something in a different way. Innovation in business differs from creativity in that the latter is generally associated with the generation of new ideas. In contrast, innovation refers to taking those new ideas and actually implementing them in the marketplace. Thus, creativity is simply one element of the innovation process through which new ideas lead to new products, procedures, or services. Business scholars often attribute company success to innovation. Because of growing  international competition,  innovation became even more vital for companies toward the end of the 20th century (Referenceforbusiness 2010) Organizational Structures and Innovation The structure of an organization is the sum total of ways in which it divides its labour into distinct tasks and then achieves coordination among them. One of the problems is recognizing that different groups within an organization behave differently and interact with different parts of the wider external environment. None the less, there have been numerous useful studies exploring the link between the organizational structure and innovative performance. (Trott 2008) Organizational structures can be sorted between organic and mechanistic. Organizational cultural also plays a big role when implementing change. Some resistance forces we are likely to encounter are within our organization. Once the organizational structure and cultural attribute is determined then the designing process can begin. Organic and mechanistic are on different ends of the spectrum. In contingency theory, the term organic structure is used to describe an organizational structure that is designed to promote flexibility so that employees can initiate change and adapt quickly to changing conditions (George Jones, 2005, p. 508). This flexible structure is more like a team environment in which all the employees are able to handle any of the tasks. In contingency theory, the term mechanistic structure is used to describe an organizational structure that is designed to induce employees to behave in predictable, accountable ways (George Jones, 2005, p. 508). All of the employees working in a mechanistic structure have assigned duties that they must perform and are prohibited to take on additional duties unless they are told so by management.(associated content 2010) Through their Theory of Mechanistic and Organic Systems, Tom Burns and G.M. Stalker (1961) have provided a way to understand which organization forms fit to specific circumstances of change or stability. In their highly influential work The Management of Innovation, they provide the following characteristics of Mechanic vs. Organic Systems: Mechanistic vs Organic Organization Structure Mechanistic Organization Form   / Management System Organic Organization Form   / Management System Appropriate Conditions Stable Changing Distribution of tasks Specialized differentiation of functional tasks into which the problems and tasks facing a concern as a whole are broken down Contributive nature of special knowledge and experience to the common task of the concern Nature of Individual task The abstract nature of each individual task, which is pursued with techniques and purposes more or less distinct from those of the concern as a whole: i.e., the functionaries tend to pursue the technical improvements of means, rather than the accomplishment of the ends of the concern The realistic nature of the individual task, which is seen as set by the total situation of the concern Who (re)defines tasks The reconciliation, for each level in the hierarchy, of these distinct performances by the immediate superiors, who are also, in turn, responsible for seeing that each is relevant in his own special part of the main task The adjustment and continual redefinition of individual tasks through interaction with others Task scope The precise definition of rights and obligations and technical methods attached to each functional role The shedding of responsibility as a limited field of rights, obligations and methods (problems may not be posted upwards, downwards or sideways as being someone elses responsibility) How is task conformance ensured The translation of rights and obligations and methods into the responsibilities of a functional position The spread of commitment to the concern beyond any technical definition Structure of control, authority and communication Hierarchic, Contractual Network, Presumed Community of Interest Locating of knowledge Reinforcement of the hierarchic structure by the location of knowledge of actualities exclusively at the top of the hierarchy, where the final reconciliation of distinct tasks and assessment of relevance is made Omniscience no longer imputed to the head of the concern; knowledge about the technical or commercial nature of the here and now may be located anywhere in the network Communication between members of concern Vertical; i.e., between superior and subordinate Lateral; i.e., between people of different rank, resembling consultation rather than command Governance for operations and working behavior Instructions and decisions issued by superiors Information and advice rather than instructions and decisions Values Insistence on loyalty to the concern and obedience to superiors as a condition of membership Commitment to the concerns task and to the technological ethos of material progress and expansion is more highly valued than loyalty and obedience Prestige Greater importance and prestige attaching to internal (local) than to general (cosmopolitan) knowledge, experience, and skill Importance and prestige attach to affiliations and expertise valid in the industrial and technical and commercial milieux external to the firm It is evident that among the two organisation structures, the Organic one is more suitable for promoting and fostering innovation within an organization as it encourages creativity; has values of Commitment to the concerns task and to the technological ethos of material progress and expansion that mostly requires creativeness and new innovations; allow free flow of communication and flexibility and adaptation to changing circumstances; The Bakhresa group seems to follow the Mechanistic organization structure, because their channel of communication is highly structured, there is restricted information flow, and operating styles are uniform and restricted. Authority for decision is based on formal line management position and the management is reluctant to adapt to changing circumstances. Mechanistic organization structure tends to offer a less suitable environment for managing the creativity and the innovation process. Because of its degree of formalisation, centralisation, Size and complexity of its organisation, Formalisation There is some evidence of an inverse relationship between formalization and innovation. That is an increase in formalization of procedures will result in a disease in innovative activity. Complexity Where these are several different type of professional groups are working in an organization, it would represent a complex organization Centralisation It refers to the decision making activity and the location of power within an organization. In a decentralized organization fewer levels of hierarchy are usually required: This tends to lead to more responsive decision making closer to the action. Organisational Size A small business with fewer employees differs significantly on terms of resources from an organization which is big size is a proxy variable for more meaningful dimensions such as economic and organization resources, including number of employees. (Trott 2010) MANAGEMENT TEAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS STRUCTURE Chairman, Bakhresa Group of Companies SAID SALIM AWADH BAKHRESA is the founding father and the Chairman of the Bakhresa Group Of Companies. He is a well-known industrialist in the mainland of Tanzania and island of Zanzibar. With a humble beginning as a small restaurateur in seventies, he created the business empire within a span of three decades. He is the mastermind behind the success of all the businesses within the group. His vision and excellent managerial skills contributed to the growth of this group to great heights. Executive Director of SS Bakhresa Co. ltd MOHAMED SAID BAKHRESA is the Managing Director of Bakhresa Grain Milling (Uganda) Limited and is the Executive Director Of Said Salim Bakhresa Company Limited. He is also holding Director-Ship in most of the Group Companies. Mr Mohamed is a graduate in finance, law and accounting from Southbank University, United Kingdom. He is a well-known industrialist in Uganda and Tanzania and is successfully managing Bakhresa Grain Milling (Uganda) Limited, which is the largest wheat milling industry in Uganda. Mr Mohamed is also actively involved in the policy decision making process of the Bakhresa Group Of Companies. Managing Director of Bakhresa Grain Milling ltd ABUBAKAR SAID SALIM BAKHRESA is the Managing Director of Bakhresa Grain Milling (Malawi) Limited and Bakhresa Grain Milling (Mozambique) Limitada. He also acts as Executive Director of Said Salim Bakhresa Co. Ltd. Mr. Abubakar has done his B.Sc in Business Administration, majoring in Finance from Georgetown University, Washington D.C., USA. He is primarily involved in the wheat milling businesses of the Group and looks after the wheat procurement for the Group. Executive Director of Logistic Division of Bakhressa Group OMAR SAID SALIM BAKHRESA, a Mechanical Engineer, is the Executive Director in charge of the Logisitic Division of Said Salim Bakhresa Co Ltd. He has over a decade of experience in logistics transportation industry. Managing Director of Bakhresa Food Products Ltd YUSUF SAID SALIM BAKHRESA is the Managing Director of Bakhresa Food Products Limited and is holding Director-Ship in other Group Companies. He is actively involved in the day to day operations of Bakhresa Food Products, which is based in Tanzania and is successfully managing its operations. Senior Management Each Group Company/Division is professionally managed by a full complement of local/expatriate managers having expertise in their respective fields. Regardless of the mechanistic structure in use by the Bakhresa Group, its great achievements are obviously due to its continuous innovation in new products and new markets. One can conclude that due to the large size and complexity organisation of the Group as a whole, it is necessary to apply the centralisation and formalisation. But the style of operations and management at the subsidiary companies level may be allowing certain flexibility that is promoting creativity and innovation. 2. MANAGING THE TENSION BETWEEN THE NEED FOR CREATIVITY AND EFFICIENCY How can Bakhresa Group manage the tension between the need for creativity and efficiency? The Dilemma of Innovation Management Within virtually all organizations there is a fundamental tension between the need for stability and the need for creativity. On the one hand, companies require stability and static routines to accomplish daily tasks efficiently and quickly. This enables the organization to compete today. For example processing of millions of cheques by banks every day or delivery of food and beverage products by multiples to their retail outlets all over the country by the Bakhresa Food Products Ltd, demands high levels of efficiency and control. On the other hand, companies also need to develop new ideas and new products to be competitive in the future. Hence they need to nurture a creative environment where ideas can be tested and developed. This poses one of the most fundamental problems for management today. That is managing the tension between the need for creativity and efficiency. Efficiency gains The efficient day to day operations within an organization require stable routines which can be achieved in stable and controlled environments The development of new products/services requires creativity and room to try out new ideas this is achieved in a loose and flexible environment Creativity gains Take any medium to large company and examine its operations and activities. Every company has to ensure that their products are carefully manufactured to precise specifications and that they are delivered for customers on time day after day. In this hectic, repetitive and highly organized environment, the need to squeeze out any slack or inefficiencies is crucial to ensure a firms costs are lower than their competitors. However the long-term economic growth is dependent on the ability of firms to make improvements to products and manufacturing processes. This means that the firms need to make room for creativity and innovation, that is, allow slack in the system. Here then is the dilemma: how do firms try to reduce costs and slack to improve competitiveness on the one hand and then try to provide slack for innovation on the other? The firm has to do balancing: The firm needs to ensure there is a constant pressure to drive down costs and improve efficiency in its operations. At the sa me time it needs to provide room for new product development and improvements to be made the most obvious way forward is to separate production from R D. However there are many improvements and innovations that arise out of the operations of the firm. On the one hand Bakhresa Group requires stability and static routines to accomplish the daily tasks efficiently and quickly and on the other hand, Bakhresa Group also needs to develop new ideas and new products to be competitive in future and it needs to nurture a creative environment where ideas can be tested and developed. The Bakhresa group has shown that it can effectively manage this tension by the way it has been producing new and innovative products, while also managing to efficiently distribute its food products throughout the region. The diversification of the industry by entering into new businesses that support or complement existing businesses, such as manufacturing of packaging products by the Omar Packaging industries, as well as diversification of product range in the juice factories; at the same time the Group timely deliveries through its wide distribution network and logistic system shows that the Bakhresa Group well manages the tension between the need for need for creativity and efficiency. The group can do better management of this tension by ensuring that there is just enough slack at the subsidiaries or functional organisational level to foster creativity, but have stringent control at the higher management level of the Group to maintain its efficiency. Because this higher management which is the board of director of the group is the one that oversees the cross functional collaboration and integration of the various units that collaborate or complement each other in achieving its missions. For example the need to have frequent ferries to Zanzibar, so that fresh breads and ice-cream could be delivered on time. 3. ORGANISATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS THAT FACILITATE THE INNOVATION PROCESS Discuss the main organisational characteristics that facilitate the innovation process in the Bakhresa Group Organizational Characteristics that Facilitate the Innovation Process The innovation process is complex in nature as it involves the relationship between the stimulus, capacity and performance of such innovation. This complex relationship need to be nurtured by favourable characteristics of the organisation such as growth orientation, vigilance, commitment to technology, acceptance of risk, cross functional cooperation, receptivity, slack, adaptability and diverse range of skills. Growth Orientation This is characterized by a commitment to long-term growth rather than short-term profit. Not all companies first and foremost objective is growth. Some companies are established merely to exploit a short-term opportunity, other companies would like to maintain the company at its existing size: the objective of innovative companies is to grow the business the actively plan for the long-term. Vigilance It is characterized by the ability of the organization to be aware of its threats and opportunities. Vigilance requires continual external scanning e.g. within the marketing function the activity would form part of market research and competitor analysis. Collecting valuable information is one thing, but relaying it to the necessary individuals and acting on it are two necessary associated requirements. An open communication system will help facilitate this Commitment to Technology It is characterized by the willingness to invest in the long-term development of technology. Most innovative firms exhibit patience in permitting ideas to geminate and develop overtime. These needs to be accompanied by a commitment to resources in terms of intellectual input without a long-term approach it would be extremely difficult for the company to attract good scientists. Acceptance of risk Acceptance of risk is characterized by the willingness to include risky opportunities in a balanced portfolio. It means the willingness to consider carefully risky opportunities. Ability to take calculated risks and include them in a balanced portfolio of projects. Cross-functional Cooperation It is characterized by mutual respect among individuals and a willingness to work together across functions. Inter-departmental conflict is a well-documented barrier to innovation. Often conflict has been observed between marketing and RD functions as the two groups often have very different interests. Receptivity: It is characterized by the ability to be aware of, to identify and take effective advantage of externally developed technology. Most technology based innovations involve a combination of several different technologies. It would be unusual for all the technology to be developed in house. That is why business are witnessing an increasing number of joint ventures and alliances. Slack It is characterized by an ability to manage the innovation dilemma and provide room for creativity while organizations place a great emphasis on the need for efficiency, there is also a need for a certain amount of slack to allow individuals room to think, experiment, discuss ideas and be creative. Adaptability: It is characterized by a readiness to accept change. The development of new product innovations will invariably lead to disruptions to established organizational activities. Major or radical innovations may result in significant changes, although the two are not necessarily linked. The organization must be ready to accept change in the way it manages its internal activities. Otherwise proposed innovations would be stifled due to a reluctance to alter existing ways of working or to learn new techniques. Diverse Range of Skills: It is characterized by a combination of specialization and diversity of knowledge and skills organizations require individuals of a hybrid nature who are able to understand a variety of technical subjects and facilitate the transfer of knowledge within the company. It is the ability of the organization to manage this diversity of knowledge skills effectively that lies at the heart of the innovation process. The management of the Bakhresa Group is committed to long-term growth rather than short-term profit and the organization is willing to invest in the long-term development of technology and is aware of its threats and opportunities. The Bakhresa group is heavily investing in its profitable companies such as those of grain mills, by purchasing newer and higher capacity plants, as well as by expanding into new markets abroad. They have bought and renovated grain mills in Malawi, and build a new one in Uganda and Rwanda. Bakhresa group is vigilant on its environment, and has been able to capture emerging opportunities of privatisation programmes in Tanzania and elsewhere (Malawi) to start businesses. Has been able to capture the interest of International financing partners to start a business at the port of Nacala in Mozambique. The group is investing in latest technologies across all the industries its operating, it has purchased new plants and mills from Italy and Sweden, it has ordered brand new ferry boats from Australia. Its communication company SatAfrik ltd is utilising latest satellite, GPS and GSM technologies; and it effectively support its transport and logistics companies. The group has strong Cross-functional Cooperation; because most of the companies were established with a view to integrate with the existing companies and businesses. Packaging company was established to support grain mills and food products, transport and logistics companies to run efficient distribution and supplies Bakhresa group has good receptivity of technologies developed in other areas such as Europe and Australia. It provides some amount of slack for creativity behaviour although it does not easily adapt to changing environment. The group shows the diverse range of skills from its top management to the other members of functional areas. It has business management experts, engineers, logistics, marketing and great sales force. 4. KEY INDIVIDUAL ROLES WITHIN THE INNOVATION PROCESS Explain the key individual roles within the innovation process and the activities they perform in the Bakhresa Group The Role of the individual in the innovation Process Innovation process is essentially a people process and that organizational structure, formal decision making processes, delegation of authority and other formal aspects of a so-called well-run company are not necessary conditions for successful technological innovation. The study of Rubenstein has revealed that certain individuals had fulfilled a variety of roles that had contributed to successful technological innovation. (Trott 2010) GATEKEEPERS These people collect and channel information about changes in the technical environment. They stay current with events and ideas through personal contacts, professional meetings, and news media. When gatekeepers find relevant information, they send it to the appropriate person or unit for follow up. IDEA GENERATORS This role involves analysis of information about new technologies, products, or procedures in order to yield a new idea for the company. The fresh idea may be innovative solution to an existing problem in product or business development or the identification of a new marketplace opportunity. CHAMPIONS Champions advocate and push for the new idea. This role involves obtaining and applying the resources and staff to demonstrate the ideas feasibility. Champions are concerned about results, not risk, and do not spend time studying the consequences of failure. Their mission is to remove obstacles. PROJECT MANAGERS Someone has to draw up schedules and budgets; arrange periodic information session and status reports; coordinate labour,

where the red fern grows :: essays research papers

In the story, Billy was walking home one day when there was a dog fight in the ally and he went to investigate to see what was going on and there was a bunch of dog’s beating up on one dog so he decided to get involved and break it up. They all scattered away when they saw him coming. The dog that was getting beat up and was lying on the ground and it was hurt. He went to the dog and saw it was a beautiful hound dog. He also noticed that the dog wasn’t hurt that bad, just scared.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When Billy was a boy he always wanted a pair of hound dogs. However, as much as he wanted a pair of hounds he did not receive them. Every now and then he would hear the neighboring dogs calling treed to their masters, and their masters whooping back to them to tell the hound that they were on the way. This encouraged Billy to want a hound even more. His dad told him one day that his grandpa wanted to see him soon. Once he got to his grandfather, his grandfather told him that he had seen an ad in the newspaper for some hound dog pups. So he went and got an old tin can and started putting money in it that he made from working in the fields. Over the next year he had saved up enough money to buy his hound dog. He hiked over the mountains to the nearest town post office because that’s where his dogs where going to be until he picked them up. He got to the post office and put them in a potato sack bag and headed for home. His grandpa had given him a coon trap so he could train his dogs. He named his dogs Little Anne and Old Dan. By the time hunting season had come he had his dogs trained and ready to go. The first night they treed their first ringtail coon. He skinned the coon and took it to his grandfather for money. He gave the money to his father. After about a year his dogs had become very good at hunting. The neighboring kids thought that their dogs were the best dogs. He told them that his dogs could catch any coon. So they challenged him thinking that they were going to get five dollars out of him.

An examination of how Sherlock Holmes abilities and techniques, :: English Literature

An examination of how Sherlock Holmes' abilities and techniques, allied to his personal characteristics, enable him to solve crimes There are many reasons to explain why Sherlock Holmes is one of the world's most famous fictional detectives. However, the main reason for this is that not only are the stories complex, but the actual character of Sherlock Holmes has extreme depth, with some subtle elements of his character only becoming apparent when he is in certain situations. This is why Sherlock Holmes is one of the most, if not the most interesting fictional characters to study. One of Holmes' most famous professional characteristics is his power of observation. An example of this is where Holmes is examining a room "Why, it's a dummyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦it is fastened to a hook" (The Speckled Band). This is a very unlikely thing for a normal person to observe; but not for Sherlock Holmes! However, Holmes' powers of observation would be worth nothing without his excellent reasoning and deduction abilities. An example of this is connected to the quote above (from The Speckled Band). After Holmes discovered that the bell pull (rope) was a dummy, and taking into account only facts that may be considered, by lesser men, insignificant he solved the mystery of a woman's death. "It would crawl down the rope.... sooner or later she must fall victim" (The Speckled Band). It is by Holmes' use of reasoning and deduction that one of his most famous personal characteristics also comes to light. This is his characteristic of making people around him feel beneath him, in other words, Holmes has a high level of self-esteem. He astounds people with his intelligence. He pretends that he does not mean to do this "I do not wish to make a mystery" (A Scandal in Bohemia). There is but one case that I have come across in which Sherlock Holmes is outwitted by someone, and when he realises that he has been outwitted, he is amazed "Holmes staggered back, white with chagrin and surprise" (A Scandal in Bohemia). He is especially amazed that it is a woman that has outwitted him. This has some, but only a slight, effect on his belittling characteristic "He used to make merry over the cleverness of women, but I have not heard him do it of late" (A Scandal in Bohemia). Holmes has a great store of knowledge that he has acquired over many years at his disposal, and this helps him greatly in his cases "my special knowledge of tobacco ashes enabled me to pronounce as an Indian cigar" (The Boscombe Valley Mystery). This yet again proves just how intelligent Sherlock Holmes is.

Alternative Energy

The future of humanity Is at stake due to the high consumption of energy sources that are used to get us through our everyday lives! Our most common methods of generating energy are polluting our beloved planet Earth and tearing up the ozone layer. Also, many of these methods we are currently abusing to generate energy are non-renewable. That's means we could run out any day now. This is a formula for complete disaster, but don't be scared. Like most things we can fix this situation we have put ourselves into with alternative energy sources. Sorry Captain Planet it looks like you will be sitting this one out.There are many different forms of clean and renewable alternative energy. Fortunately it look likes we may be headed down the right path to saving humanity. Some of these forms of alternative energy that can definitely help solve the problem are: wind energy; hydrogen; solar power; wave energy. Currently wind power only provides about 0. 15 percent of the worlds electricity but I t has become one of the fastest growing forms of clean, alternative energy. Gigantic windmills, also known as wind turbines are sprouting up all across the land and seas of the world.These towers can be a massive one hundred meters tall. One f these towers alone has the ability to produce 1,650 kilowatts of power. That Is enough electricity to adequately power roughly 350 European homes. Since 1992, more commercial wind farms have been installed in more countries than ever before. There are now 40,000 turbines in 40 countries, and the world's wind energy capacity is growing at nearly 27 per cent annually. In 1998, it topped 10,000 megawatts (MM), about the total energy producing capacity of a country like Denmark.The 1999 figures are not all in, but we know that 1998 was a boom year for the wind power Industry. Equipment sales topped $2 billion and there ere 35,000 Jobs In the sector worldwide. Growth Is expected to continue at about 25 per cent a year. (Madsen, Pa. 6) In Europe the re are plans to have forty thousand megawatts of wind power Installed by the end of 2010. Wind is one of the best sources sources of alternative energy due to the fact it is completely environmentally friendly and we will never run out of wind. Denmark, the wind energy pioneer, covers 10 per cent of its electricity consumption from wind power, delivered from an installed capacity of some 1,700 MM(Madsen, Pa. 8). † Not far behind are also Germany and Spain due to the terrain and steady flow of mind. While everything is working out great for wind power over in Europe things aren't going quite as well here in the U. S. A, unfortunately. Currently wind power only provides about 0. 1 percent of the continents electricity needs. This is due in large part to a congressional argument every couple of years about a tax break to help boost the wind power Industry. Wind turbines produce electricity in California for between 4. 5 cents and 4. 8 cents per K-H, roughly the same as the cost o f power from a coal-fired plant. Emory Loves of the Rocky Mountain Institute In Colorado lives that a new generation of sugarless wind turbines will improve efficiency and the U. S. A. Is not the only area slacking in the wind power industry. Asia, South America and Africa are even farther behind, in regards to wind power, than the U. S. A. Experts believe that twenty percent of the entire worlds energy needs could be supplied by wind power.There is enough wind to provide twice the expected global electricity demand for 2020. Even if only 10 percent of energy needs were met by wind power, the world would be spared about 10 billion tons of carbon emissions (out of a total of 60-70 billion tons). To achieve this goal, 120 times more wind capacity would have to be installed than there is would be very high, but operation and marginal. (Madsen, Pa. 12) today. The initial investment required maintenance costs would be As with every industry, the technology of wind turbines has improved g reatly over the years.The manufacturers have been building bigger and better turbines and as a result of this the price of wind power has been dropping by about twenty percent since 1999. This makes wind power not only a great environmental choice but also a great economical choice. In the long run wind power is much cheaper than rotational ways of generating energy like coal power plants. Once the turbines are installed they require very little maintenance and fuel does not need to be purchased or gathered to allow them to create the energy we need. As far back as Jules Verne, visionaries have predicted that society will someday be utterly transformed by energy based on hydrogen. â€Å"(Strip, Len. 1) We have more hydrogen in the universe than any other element. Hydrogen is extremely clean and produces mostly Just water vapor when it is burned. Fuel cells power by hydrogen will be able to solve many energy problems that we currently face. The technology is already in place and rea dy right now to allow to hydrogen to take over as the main resource for generating energy.It may take a while to be able to convert most everything we depend tog e through our daily lives, but for a cleaner more efficient future it is definitely the right path to take. The first step down the hydrogen path would be to outfit fuel stations for hydrogen powered vehicles, which there are a few that were recently put out on the market. Manufacturers being able to mass produce the hydrogen fuel cells will also be a big boost as it would greatly decrease the cost for the mass market. Around the industrialized world, the seeds of oil displacement are already visible.Next year, for instance, three major energy companies in Scandinavia plan to build a pilot plant to make hydrogen from wind power. While it's only a start, the implications are huge: Denmark, the world wind-power leader, already gets nearly 15% of its electricity from the wind. Use that electricity to produce hydrogen, and the Danes would have the energy equivalent of the Euro: an energy currency that can be efficiently swapped for heat or locomotion, or turned back into electricity. And while electricity is hard to store n large quantities, hydrogen is easy.The Scandinavians plan to use it in fuel- cell that equipped buildings and vehicles–such as the hydrogen-powered buses Demolisher's expects to roll out in Europe next year. (Strip, Pa. 8) Another great thing about hydrogen power is that it can be used to drive other produce hydrogen. That benefits everyone in two ways. First, producing hydrogen while harnessing the power of the wind or the sun does not produce and harmful emissions that can damage the ozone layer. Secondly, electricity is hard to store but hydrogen is very easy.Today, 20 percent of all units sold to heat pools are solar. The potential value of the technology is shown in Israel, where solar hot water heaters displace 6 percent of the country's total electricity consumption. (Ham mer, Pa. 9) Not only is solar energy heir savings. It is estimated that by 2020 there will be over 1 50,000 Americans employed in the photovoltaic industry. (Hammer, Pa. 9) â€Å"Wave energy has been hailed as the most promising renewable source for maritime countries. It does no environmental damage and is inexhaustible?the waves go on for ever.It is invariably popular with the public, which has a sentimental love of the sea. â€Å"(Ross, Pa. 1) Getting energy from the wave of the ocean is probably one of the oldest and best ideas for alternative energy. The first patent for wave energy was filed by a father and son during the time of the French Revolution. Ross, Pa. 2) Unfortunately, there was was little progress in converting this great resource into usable energy until the last quarter century due to little knowledge of what a wave really is and how it worked(Ross, Pa. 3).Harnessing the massive of power of waves to generate energy has been a daunting task so far because of the harsh conditions the equipment must be able to endure. There has been success though. Yogis Massed, from Japan, invented the oscillating water column (OCW)? effectively a chimney which stands on the seabed and admits the waves through its base. As they rise and fall in the open sea outside, the n opening near to height of the column of water inside rises and falls too. As the water level rises, air is forced up and out through a turbine which spins and drives the generator.As it falls again, air is sucked back in from the atmosphere to fill the resulting vacuum and once again the turbo-generator is activated. Professor Alan Wells of Queen's University, Belfast, greatly improved the efficiency of the invention by devising a turbine which spins in the same direction regardless of whether the air is being pushed out or sucked back into the chimney. (Ross, Pa. 6-7) This is Just one of the many ways of of generating power room waves that is currently in use or under development by resea rchers around the world.One of the more interesting methods that is currently under going testing and development is the Salver's Duck, invented by Professor Stephen Salter of Edinburgh University. His invention consists of cones called ducks that are built around a spine that is connected to a central generator. As the ducks bob up and down while they are they on the waves they drive the generator(Ross, Pa. 9). The biggest hurdle that wave power faces now is not the lack of knowledge to put the technology into use but the lack of financial backing. Like most new developing cosmologies it is very expensive to get going at first because the fact that it is new.Wave power however is a great investment because it has the potential to produce incredible amounts of electricity without harming the environment. The well being of our planet should come first. It's pretty hard to argue against the fact that something needs to be done help the planet we live on get back to a healthy state. Th e way we produce energy to get through or daily lives, not Just in America but the whole world, needs a face lift to rival that of Joan Rivers. Yes, it is true that face lifts are are not cheap and may not fix al the problems we currently have with how we create energy.But, everyone knows that something needs to be done. There is a chance that many of these ideas for alternative energy may end being in the rough that could turn out to be the next Brett Fare of the alternative energy industry. We need to take a chance on some of these unproven technologies for the future of the human race and our planet Earth. Not only will these new sources of energy help the planet but the economy as well. Thousands of new and exciting Jobs will be created. In conclusion, alternative energy sources can be the true savior of the human race. Alternative Energy Continuously coughing while driving down the road, Maggie, a seventy-year-old woman presently living in Bend, Oregon makes her way towards the physician. Twice a month she has to drive just three blocks down the street to the doctor's office to pick up her medication. Maggie has to use the medication to ease her breathing problems caused by the devastating pollution in the big city. Only fifty years ago, Bend was a beautiful, small city with clear skies and thousands of lush, green trees. In the winter, hundreds of tourists would flock to the town for winter sports at Mount Bachelor. Now, Bend is a terribly polluted mass of buildings, streets, and people. Instead of tourists visiting in the winter for skiing and snowboarding, they come for the warm temperatures and a fresh tan. Over the years, the pollution build up from nuclear power plants and the carbon dioxide from automobiles caused the city to have hideous smog problems. The constant exhaust protruding from the tail pipes of millions of cars across the globe caused the year-round temperatures to shoot up unstoppably. If the human race does not change the current lifestyle, this sad tale could one day be a reality. To prevent this from happening alternative energy sources should be used more frequently throughout the world. Alternative energy sources are underutilized resources that need to be embraced and used before too much harm is done to the earth, and it is too late to reverse the effects. Although many people think that it is too costly to convert to an alternative energy source, such as solar power, the money that is spent to switch from one source to another is eventually regained due to lower electrical bills. A couple living in Pennsylvania has a solar photovoltaic system mounted on their roof, which generates the power needed to live. The generator then sends any extra power back to a main electrical grid causing the electric meter to spin backward, thus saving the couple hundreds of dollars. In one year, the couple generated almost five hundred more kilowatt-hours of electrical power than they needed. Having the extra electricity meant virtually no electrical bills for the entire year; the two only had to pay sixty-one dollars of customer-service fees in 2001, rather than 560 dollars of electrical bills in 1993 (Heavens). If one couple's electric bill were that high in 1993, imagine how much higher it would be now. With solar power as a main source of energy, hundreds of dollars a year can be saved on electricity, eventually saving vast amounts of money for users. Some people may agree that using an alternative energy source, such as solar power, will save money, but do not want to convert because forms of alternative energy are not very widely and readily available. While it is true that there are not large amounts of various forms of alternative energy available, it is also true that more are defiantly needed. Recent blackouts have shown that there are too many people and not enough energy. According to a national trade group for utilities, the Edison Electric Institute, â€Å"[t]housands of small neighborhood blackouts occur each year in the USA, lasting from a few seconds to a few hours† (Iwata 3b). Along with those small blackouts, there were also 324 large and midsize blackouts and more than a dozen super-blackouts from 1984 to 2000. All of these blackouts are still occurring, even though the North American grid is regarded as the most advanced in the world (Iwata 3b). If there could be more energy available, then there would not be as many blackouts across the nation and people would not have to deal with going without power. While many alternative energy sources can help reduce blackouts, they can also help people maintain a healthier lifestyle by cutting down on smog problems. While driving in a car, more fuel-efficient driving habits can help a great deal in reducing pollution and smog in the city. For every one-liter of fuel that is saved, almost two and a half kilograms of carbon dioxide are kept from entering the atmosphere. Keeping the carbon dioxide from entering the air prevents smog problems, and with less smog problems numerous health problems can be reduced in the population. Many people suffer from asthma and respiratory illnesses because of so many automobiles across the globe, and, 5,000 people in Canada alone die a year from smog in the city (â€Å"Breathe† 16). If Canada has 5,000 deaths per year from smog, then thousands more people die across the world just from the pollution-causing exhaust fumes trailing out of vehicles around the planet. If more people use alternative fuel cars or hybrid electric cars, hundreds of people can be kept healthier because of less pollution. Along with being healthier for people, alternative energy sources help save the ozone layer, preventing more damage to the earth from occurring. According to estimates, the overall global temperature has increased five to nine degrees Fahrenheit since the last ice age (Stevens 60). This temperature fluctuation does not seem like a big deal, but with another one to six-degree raise in temperature expected by the year 2100 (Stevens 59), ocean levels could raise destroying wildlife habitats, ocean ecosystems, and seaside cities. Also, tropical storms could become more severe, destroying any lasting cities along the coastal regions of the earth (Stevens 60). When using alternative energy sources, people can help to save the ozone layer from too much damage, helping the entire planet. Not only do alternative energy sources help to save the ozone layer, but they also help to prevent nuclear wastes from harming the earth. Nuclear power plants use radioactive materials to create energy, and after they are done with the materials, they are buried in the ground. The radioactive material that is buried in the ground, depending on the type, can cause death to many organisms by slowing killing all the cells due to radiation. For the organisms that do not die, they can either get cancer, or some sort of mutation in their reproductive cells causing damage to future generations (Weber 22). Some of the wastes from nuclear power plants can be harmful for three to five hundred years and other can be up in the millions (Weber 26). If the waste is harmful for hundreds or even millions of years, than we not only have to worry about health risks for current generations, but also the future generations across the globe. For the future generations, if the waste is harmful for so many years, the less populated areas that are now used for disposing of these wastes may one day be extremely populous regions around the country. When using nuclear power there are large amounts of harmful wastes to worry about, but with an alternative energy source, there are no harmful wastes that put risks to people's health and environmental health. There are many different forms of alternative energy sources, all of which need to be more widely embraced and applied to current methods, otherwise too much irreversible damage could be done to the earth. The environment and the health of the human population both need protection from pollution, otherwise cities which are currently relatively small and still have clear skies and green trees, may one day end up with little amounts of trees, overgrown populations and terrible pollution problems. The global climate will rise and land destroyed by nuclear wastes could still be harmful if humans have too much contact with the area. If the human race does not discover better, less destructive ways of creating energy, then who knows what the world may one day look like?