Enterprise and entrepreneurial management Essay

Enterprise and entrepreneurial management - Essay Example The competition in business industry has grown to a very different level (Chambers, 2008). The laundry business started will operate in London area; laundry and dry cleaning are the components of fashion and textile sector according to the national career service. The level of employment in the field has remained in a stable trend even under the current economic swings. Laundry and dry cleaning industry expects growth and increased employment in the coming years. The region where the business will operate is one of the largest regions in laundry and dry cleaning services in the United Kingdom. The business is launched because, in early childhood days, clothes washing took place at home but there were laundry services around the area. Washing and dry machines mostly considered expensive and hard to maintain. Although, the clothes were clean and smelled fresh the time taken and labor used remained high. According to statistics from the national association of laundry industry, laundry providers have decreased over the past two decades. In the early 1980s, the number was twelve thousand five hundred, but has since decreased by a margin of three thousand. The main reason cited by people in the industry is the cost of starting up a laundry service. The cost of launching a launderette ranges from sixty thousand to a hundred thousand pounds. The cost has minimized of competitors in the industry by a great extent. The family will provide financial support for starting the business through borrowing. The firm’s selling points include the modernization of laundry services from the common traditional forms. Reinvention and innovation are the key factors in the launch of the business. Equipping the business with flat screen televisions, introduction of gaming systems for the kids and having a cafe that serves food and beverages are some of the ways the firm will attract clients. People in the region are used to the traditional laundry services and bringing a new ide a through innovation and creativity will help in establishing a clientele base. Technological advance from the coin slots machine to use of top up cards and credit cards will attract everybody both the young and old. The move from coin slot machines is to enhance customer convenience and confidentiality. The product, price, location and promotion are some of the key ideas factored in the firms launch. Establishing a difference in the factors from the rest of laundry service providers will help in the creation of a differential factor from the rest of providers. SWOT analysis will become handy in the determination of the firms strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The firm will operate in a sole proprietorship, mainly to reduce the time used in setting up the firm (Chell, 2001). The business workers will come from the family members, and they will offer free service until the firm establishes. The firm requires a Rota that will ensure staff members are constantly availabl e, and the firm is not under or overstaffed. The owner with the help of an accountant friend performs the firm’s bookkeeping when it comes to tax returns. Business plan Keys to success The firm has several keys that promise its success, and they include location, convenience, environment and reputation. The location of the firm is strategic such that people will have a glance at it while walking at

Mao's China and Beyond Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Mao's China and Beyond - Essay Example At any point when a nation and its people are faced with times of change, such evolution can be hectic as it moves forward to approach whatever issues, would need to be handled. Each national party and their leader(s), along with the citizenry themselves, would have unique interpretations of what should and shouldn't be there.These changes can and often times do, take many shapes. Such as, resulting issues over social welfare, economic standing, along with the resulting political unrest that transpires alongside everything else. For the citizens of China, they would encounter ramifications of their own, as a result of the advancement of the Communist movement. Over time, the influence of the movement would be determined. According to Maoism, "Deliberate organizing of mass military and economic power was deemed necessary to defend the revolutionary threat, while centralization kept corruption under supervision," ("Communism", p.15). This in itself would appear to be a positive step, b ut only time would tell how much. Any nation, or civilization, possesses cultural structures, for which they would be proud of. The structures that would be set to distinguish themselves from one another and in the process, would act as a unifier for the general masses. From the social standpoint, "As with the New Culture movement, Mao believed that all vestiges of Chinese traditional culture needed to be overturned. These included hsiao, or filial piety, Confucianism, monarchism, ancestor worship, religion, and the authority of elders," (Hooker, p.2). The movement of Mao's ideology, would further be translated politically as well. In viewing the political philosophy set forth, it would appear as if a contradiction in meaning. When most view proposed democracy, they view it in terms similar, if not exact, to the present US structure of government. In essence of this, "Mao himself referred to "New Democracy" as "democratic centralism"," (Hooker, p.3). With every revolution, comes the hope of a new beginning and the progression from old ideas, to new and what may be seen as better ones. The problem would potentially be that, "Democratic centralism essence a dictatorship- "a dictatorship of all revolutionary classes," in Mao's words- power would be concentrated in the hands of a few in order to guarantee that all class interests are represented," (Hooker, p.3). In further study, it would be discovered that part of Mao's policy, would be making both the financial institutions and general industry more on a national scale. Also there would be re-allocation of land coming from the wealthier owners and going to those who would have been at the very bottom of the economic class system. After Mao assumed his power hold in 1949, he re-named the previously mentioned principle of democratic thinking that he saw as being new, to something called the People's Democratic Dictatorship. While the general idea would further go on to make mention of the strength of the people's convictions and what they wanted to be handled by the ruling government, it would still place power within one central force. Question: What was the historical context of the Hundred Flowers

All About Screw Pumps Engineering Essay

All About Screw Pumps Engineering Essay Screw pumps are rotary, positive displacement pumps that can have one or more screws to transfer high or low viscosity fluids along an axis.   A classic example of screw pumps is the Archimedes screw pump that is still used in irrigation and agricultural applications.   Although progressive cavity pumps can be referred to as a single screw pumps, typically screw pumps have two or more intermeshing screws rotating axially clockwise or counterclockwise.   Each screw thread is matched to carry a specific volume of fluid.   Like gear pumps, screw pumps may include a stationary screw with a rotating screw or screws.   Fluid is transferred through successive contact between the housing and the screw flights from one thread to the next.   Geometries can vary.   Screw pumps provide a specific volume with each cycle and can be dependable in metering applications.   The geometries of the single or multiple screws and the drive speed will affect the pumping action required.   The capacity of screw pumps can be calculated based on the dimensions of the pump, the dimensions of the surface of the screws, and the rotational speed of the rotor since a specific volume is transferred with each revolution.   In applications where multiple rotors are used, the load is divided between a number of rotating screws.   The casing acts as the stator when two or more rotors are used.   Based upon the needs of the application, timed or untimed rotors may be chosen. Untimed rotors are simpler in design.   The combination of factors relating to the drive speed, flow, and the characteristics of the fluid transferred may affect the flow rate and volume fed through each cavity. In water and wastewater treatment applications, a less viscous solution will require a lower power drive compared to untreated sewage, excess sludge, or concentrated slurries, which may require a higher power motor.   The viscosity of the fluid transferred and the lift required may affect the speed and power required.   Indicators of pump malfunction include decrease in flow rate or increased noise. The efficiency of screw pumps requires that each rotor turns at a rate that allows each cavity to fill completely in order to work at full capacity.   Theory Screw pumps are a unique type of rotary positive displacement pump in which the flow through the pumping elements is truly axial. The liquid is carried between the screw threads on one or more rotors. The liquid is then displaced axially as the screws rotate and mesh. In other types of rotary pumps, the liquid is forced to travel circumferentially, however the screw pump has an axial flow pattern and low internal velocities. It provides a number of advantages in many applications where liquid agitation or churning is objectionable. Screw pumps are classified as two different types: the single rotor and the multiple rotor. The multiple rotor is further divided into timed and untimed categories. Timed rotors rely on outside means for phasing the mesh of the threads and for supporting the forces acting on the rotors. Untimed rotors rely on precision and accuracy of the screw forms for proper mesh and transmission of rotation (Fraser, et. al., 1986.). History: The screw pump is the oldest type of pump. The first applications, dating back to the third century B.C., included irrigation and land drainage. The screw pump is thought to have been first used in Egypt (Ewbank, 1972). After several other types of pumps were invented, the screw pump was not used as much because these other pumps could handle higher head capacities. However, later it was found that these pumps could not handle wastewater like the screw pump could. Because of this, the screw pump became widely used for such an application. The Dutch were the first to design a spiral lift screw in 1955. After this, double screw units were put into operation for flood control in the Netherlands and in municipal sewage installations in Europe. Based on excellent results from the pumps used in Europe, the trend extended to Canada and United States and are currently used today (Cheremisinoff, et. al., 1992) [2]. How a Screw Pump Works: Screw pumps for power transmission systems are generally used only on submarines. Although low in efficiency and expensive, the screw pump is suitable for high   pressures   (3000   psi),   and delivers   Ã‚  fluid   Ã‚  with   Ã‚  little   Ã‚  noise   Ã‚  or   Ã‚  pressure pulsation. Screw   pumps   are   available   in   several   different designs;   however,   they   all   operate   in   a   similar manner.   In   a   fixed-displacement   rotary-type   screw pump (fig. 1, view A), fluid is propelled axially in   a   constant,   uniform   flow   through   the   action of just three moving parts-a power rotor and two idler   rotors.   The   power   rotor   is   the   only   driven element,   extending   outside   the   pump   casing   for power   connections   to   an   electrical   motor.   The idler  rotors   are   turned   by   the   power   rotor   throu gh the   Ã‚  action   Ã‚  of   Ã‚  the   Ã‚  meshing   Ã‚  threads.   Ã‚  The   Ã‚  fluid pumped   between   the   meshing   helical   threads   of the idler and power rotors provides a protective film to prevent metal-to-metal contact. The idler rotors   perform   no   work;   therefore,   they   do   not need to be connected by gears to transmit power. The   enclosures   formed   by   the   meshing   of   the rotors inside the close clearance housing contain the fluid being pumped. As the rotors turn, these enclosures   move   axially,   providing   a   continuous flow.   Effective performance   is   based   on   the following   Ã‚  factors: The rolling action obtained with the thread design   of   the   rotors   is   responsible   for   the   very quiet pump operation. The symmetrical pressure loading   around   the   power   rotor   eliminates   the need   for   radial   bearings   because   there   are   no radial   loads.   The   cartridge-type   ball   bearing   in   the pump   positions   the   power   rotor   for   proper   seal operation.   The   axial   loads   on   the   rotors   created by discharge pressure are hydraulically balanced. The key to screw pump performance is the operation   of   the   idler   rotors   in   their   housing bores. The idler rotors generate a hydrodynamic film   to   support   themselves   in   their   bores   like journal bearings. Since this film is self-generated, it   depends   on   three   operating   characteristics   of the   pump-speed,   discharge   pressure,   and   fluid viscosity. The strength of the film is increased by increasing   the   operating   speed,   by   decreasing pressure, or by increasing the fluid viscosity. This is why screw pump performance capabilities are based   on   pump   speed,   discharge   pressure,   and fluid   viscosity. The supply line is connected at the center of the pump housing in some pumps (fig. 1, view B).   Fluid   enters   into   the   pumps   suction   port, which   opens   into   chambers   at   the   ends   of   the screw assembly. As the screws turn, the fluid flows between the threads at each end of the assembly. The   threads   carry   the   fluid   along   within   the housing   toward   the   center   of   the   pump to the discharge port [1]. Three Basic Types : Single Screw The single screw pump is more commonly known as the Archimedean screw. It is quite large; typical dimensions include a diameter of 12 inches or greater, and a length up to about 50 feet. It is normally used as a water-raising pump with the screw arranged at an angle of 30 degrees. It can also be used for handling liquids containing solids in suspension with either vertical lift or horizontal transport. The design of single screw pumps allows very little fracturing of particles and little abrasion damage to the pump. One disadvantage is the considerable bulk necessary to achieve high capacities since rotational speeds are of the order of 30-60 rpm (Warring, 1984) [5]. Intermeshing Screw Pump The intermeshing screw pump is commonly called a rigid-screw pump. This type of pump is suitable for a wide range of sizes, and can be run at high speeds. The larger screw pumps are used for bulk handling of oils and similar fluids. The basic type is suitable for handling most clean fluids with low flow velocities and at low heads (Warring, 1984)[5]. Eccentric screw pump The eccentric screw pump is versatile. It is capable of handling a variety of liquids and products with high efficiency. It comprises of a rigid screw form rotor rolling in a resilient internal helical stator of hard or soft rubber with a moderately eccentric motion. It can handle viscous liquids, slurries, pastes, solids in suspension, and delicate products. This is because of the low flow velocities through the pump (Warring, 1984)[5]. Applications: There are several applications of the screw pump that include a wide range of markets: utilities fuel oil service, industrial oil burners, lubricating oil service, chemical processes, petroleum and crude oil industries, power hydraulics, and many others (Fraser, et. al., 1986). Listed below are some typical situations where a screw pump is used. The benefits of using a screw pump in each of these situations are discussed (Cheremisinoff, et. al., 1992)[2]. Raw sewage lift stations: Can handle variety of raw sewage influent, are non-clogging, require little attention, are resistant to motor overloads, and are not affected by running dry Sewage plant lift stations: Used for sewage lifts up to 40 feet and have self-regulating lift capacity (Normal lifts are 30 feet, while high lifts are 40 feet high.) Return activated sludge: Little floc disintegration, nonturbulent discharge into effluent channel, low horsepower requirements, improved activated sludge treatment. Stormwater pumping: Are ideal because of large capacity at low heads, no prescreening necessary Land Drainage: Used for flood control, can pump large volumes of water over levees. Capacity : The delivered capacity of any screw pump is the theoretical capacity minus the internal leakage. In order to find the capacity of a screw pump the speed of the pump must be known. The delivered capacity of any rotary screw pump can be increased several different ways. The capacity can be increased by simply increasing the speed, increasing the viscosity, or decreasing the differential pressure. The capacity of the pump depends on several factors (Cheremisinoff, et. al., 1992)[2]: Diameter of the screw Speed of the screw Number of flights mounted on the screw shaft Flights: Single, double, and triple flights are often used. Flights are also known as helixes. With each increase in flights, there is a 20% increase in capacity. Therefore, a single flight pump has a capacity that is 80% of a double flight pump, which in turn has a capacity that is 80% of a triple flight capacity. The three-flight pump can handle the most capacity in the least amount of space. Angle of inclination of the screw The greater the angle of inclination, the lower the output. The output lowers approximately 3% for every degree increase over a 22 inclination. Level of influent in the influent chamber Ratio of the diameter of the screw shaft to the outside diameter of the screw flights Clearance between screw flights and trough Advantages : Wide range of flows and pressures Wide range of liquids and viscosities Built-in variable capacity High speed capability allowing freedom of driver selection Low internal velocities Self-priming with good suction characteristics High tolerance for entrained air and other gases Minimum churning or foaming Low mechanical vibration, pulsation-free flow, and quiet operation Rugged, compact design easy to install and maintain High tolerance to contamination in comparison with other rotary pumps (Fraser, et. al., 1986)[4]. Disadvantages : Relatively high cost because of close tolerances and running clearances Performance characteristics sensitive to viscosity change High pressure capability requires long pumping elements (Fraser, et. al., 1986)[4]. Characteristics and Efficiency of Screw Pumps: The screw pump has a number of very important advantages compared with centrifugal due to recovery of velocity head at the discharge pumps. In order, however, to appreciate fully pipe are not as great, what the screw pump will do as compared with the centrifugal pump, particularly for low head operation, it is necessary to have a thorough knowledge of the characteristic curves of both types of pumps. The three curves which are reproduced here show an actual comparison between a screw pump and a 36-in. centrifugal pump. A great deal of care has been taken to make this comparison as fair as possible; but owing to the dissimilarity of the characteristics of the two pumps, a perfect comparison is practically impossible. For this reason , wherever it is impossible to make the conditions coincide exactly for the two different pumps, the centrifugal pump has been given every advantage, yet even under rather severe handicaps, the screw still maintains its supremacy under low head conditions. The combined curve shown in Fig. 3 illustrates that at all heads lower than 12.6 ft. the screw pump is the more efficient of the two pumps. It will be noticed that the 42-in. centrifugal has not been compared with the 42-in. screw pump because the screw pumps are designed for such very low heads that the suction and discharge sizes are made larger than the connections for centrifugal pumps which handle the same capacity. In other words, the 42-in. centrifugal pump would have a capacity so much greater than that of the 42-in. screw that comparison would be impossible. All of the total heads which are shown in the three curves are total dynamic heads, and this includes the velocity head. Therefore, the water delivered from the screw pump is moving at a lower velocity because of the size of pipe, and hence it is in a more usable form. The entrance losses of the suction pipe and the losses due to recovery of velocity head at the discharge pipe are not as great. It has often been stated that the speed of a screw pump can be much higher than that of a centrifugal operating under the same conditions. These curves demonstrate this beyond a doubt. It will be noted that the centrifugal pump operates at 224 r.p.m., while the screw pump operates at a speed more than 50 per cent in excess of this, namely, 360 r.p.m. The advantage in the cost and the efficiency of a motor for operating these two pumps is distinctly in favor of the screw pump. Furthermore, the screw pump is a much lighter pump, requiring less expensive foundations, and it is easier to install. The 42-in. screw pump weighs 9,000 pounds, while the 36-in. centrifugal pump weighs 21,000 pounds. This shows that the body of the screw pump is much smaller than that of the centrifugal pump in spite of the fact that the pipe sizes are larger than the latter. In addition to this, the arrangement for pumping over levees, or between canals at different levels, is much more simple for the screw pu mp than for the centrifugal pump. The property through which the canal runs is always long and narrow and the screw pump, together with its prime mover, makes a long narrow installation which lends itself to the shape of the property in which it is to be installed. The centrifugal pump is usually a more costly pump to produce than the screw pump, and this is especially true of the pump with the characteristics shown in Fig. 2 because of the fact that this 36-in. pump has a Francis runner. The Francis runner is known for its efficiency at low heads and in this case the curve reaches the unusually high maximum point of 90 per cent. This is partly due to the special design and partly due to the very careful workmanship and careful testing of the unit in question. The screw pump, on the other hand, had a caststeel runner whose surfaces were only partially smooth. No great effort was made to bring up its point of maximum efficiency, and therefore it does not exceed 76 per cent at any point. Yet, even in the face of these handicaps of workmanship and finish on the particular units which were selected for this comparison, the screw pump is shown to be inherently a more efficient pump at low heads. It does not take a great deal of imagination to see how the screw pump efficiency curve of Fig. 3 would compare with the centrifugal pump efficiency curve had its blades been made of bronze and highly polished so as to reach a maximum point somewhere above 80 per cent. The curves shown in Fig. 3 are out of the ordinary in that they are plotted against the total head rather than against the conventional gallons per minute. This is done because the comparisons are at low heads rather than at a given capacity. By using this method of plotting, it can readily be observed that at low heads the efficiencies of the two pumps can be read directly from the chart. For example, at a head of 6 ft. the efficiency of the screw pump is 57 per cent while that of the centrifugal pump is only 42 per cent. This same information could be taken from the other curves but it would be inconvenient to do so. To get the efficiency from Fig. 1 it is necessary first to read the capacity. At 6 ft. the capacity is approximately 37,000 g.p.m. The efficiency is quite indefinite on account of the steepness of the curve; but it is apparent that it checks approximately with the reading given in Fig. 3; namely, 57 per cent. Also in Fig. 2 it is necessary first to read the capacity and then the efficiency, which checks with Fig. 3 and is 42 per cent. In addition to this, Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 would not make a graphical comparison even if plotted on the same sheet. The important point which should be kept in mind is that these curves may not show up the screw pump to advantage when read in their entirety but that at the extreme right where the points of low working heads exist the advantages of the screw pump begin to assert themselves. It is under these conditions that a screw pump should be used. In general, these curves have demonstrated, directly or indirectly, most of the advantages of the screw pump over the centrifugal as follows: Higher efficiency at low heads, higher speed, lighter weight, smaller dimensions, lower first cost, lower cost of installation, cheaper motor, more efficient motor, low head installation. [6].

Homosexuals and James Baldwins Role in the Civil Rights Movement Essay

During the Civil Rights Movement, James Baldwin wrote many articles and essays on racial issues. His unique and powerful style invoked the thoughts of many people. What also made Baldwin stand out from others was his homosexuality. Baldwin wrote several essays and novels that had a homosexual theme rooted within the story. It was through this method that Baldwin was able to express his homosexuality and at the same time present a view of black culture that was highly unacceptable during that time period. His works gave him much widespread attention but essentially he was not recognized as a prominent leader of the movement. This was a result of stereotyped images of homosexuals and the desire for African American men to align themselves with the image of being powerful and very masculine. Because African Americans were in the struggle for equality and power here in America, to have a homosexual, who is stereotyped to have effeminate features, might prove detrimenta l in the drive for equality. There were a lot of things going on during the 1960s. The Civil Rights Movement was in full steam and the push for African American quality was greater than ever. The mass of appeal for protest was overwhelming and it spread to other causes as well. Movement could be found in other minority groups, women, and homosexuals as well. This period in time was unique because change was being encouraged and many people took advantage of it. James Baldwin was no exception to this motion of change. During this time period he produced many essays and novels, some of which contained a homosexual theme. He was bold in his move because he was one of a few among many who dealt with the topic. It was only until r... ...among other writers in the literary circle and in a sense became a leader that way. In more recent times, Baldwin has been given much praise for his work, he fueled other writers to follow suit and write about issues like race and sexuality. Hopefully his works will continue to be passed on to others and will open the minds and hearts of many. Works Cited Boykin, Keith. One More River to Cross New York: Anchor Books/Doubleday, 1996. Holland, Sharon P. â€Å"(Pro)Creating Imaginative Spaces and Other Queer Acts: Randall Kenan’s A Visitation of Spirits and Its Revival of James Bladwin’s Absent Black Gay Man in Giovanni’s Room.† McBride 265-87. McBride, Dwight A., ed. James Baldwin Now. New York: New York U P, 1999. Spurlin, William J. â€Å"Culture, Rhetoric, and Queer Identity: James Baldwin and the Identity Politics of Race and Sexuality.† McBride 103-21.

Fahrenheit 451 Equality Essay

Why is equality impossible? In both Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury and â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† by Kurt Vonnegut, the government’s try to suppress freedom by calling it equality. Both the characters, Guy Montag and Harrison Bergeron try to oppose their government’s idea of equality. They show that there will always be individuals who rebel, are not the same, and try to start their own society to fight against the government. In these readings, both authors, Bradbury and Vonnegut, suggest that equality is unattainable because there will constantly be individuals that challenge the idea of people being the same in everyway possible. Even as the government concealed knowledge in both readings, individuals rebelled in order to obtain knowledge. Harrison Bergeron challenged the government, all while he wore a tremendous pair of earphones that mentally handicaps intelligent people. Nonetheless he refused to sit still and live his life like everyone else in the world. Instead he wanted to be emperor of the world and fought until his death trying to achieve his vision. Harrison proclaims on television, â€Å"‘I am the emperor! †¦ Do you hear? I am the emperor†¦ Even as I stand here†¦ crippled, hobbled, sickened- I am a greater ruler than any man who ever lived! ’†(Vonnegut 3). Despite the fact that Harrison is only fourteen years old and carried three hundred pounds, he rebelled against the government on account that he loathed the world he currently is in. This shows that even if the government forces people into being equal, people will rise up and rebel against them. In Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag also rebelled against his government. He was not allowed to read or owned books since it was against the law. Knowing this, Guy still rebelled by smuggling books home from his fireman job. Bradbury writes, â€Å" Without looking at [the book, Guy] dropped it to the floor†¦ He kept moving his hand and dropping books on the floor†¦When he was done he looked down upon some twenty books lying at his wife’s feet† (65-66). Though Guy was a fireman and books for a living, he began to doubt and rebel against his government’s idea of equality. As the government burnt books, citizens that normally obeyed the law began to rebel against it and collected books. This shows that even people who enforce the law might rebel against it, if they begin the doubt it. No matter how hard the governments try to suppress knowledge, everyday citizens who want knowledge will find a way to obtain it. Even in the world where everyone is allegedly equal, there will be people that are above others. In â€Å"Harrison Bergeron†, everyone in the world is the same, no one is prettier than anyone else and no one is smarter than anyone else. This is untrue because Diana Moon Glampers, the United States Handicap General, is able kill people. Vonnegut writes, â€Å" Diana Moon Glampers, the Handicap General, came into the studio with a double- barreled ten-gauge shotgun. She fired twice, and the Emperor and the Empress were dead before they hit the floor† (Vonnegut 4). Even though everyone is supposedly equal, the Handicap General has more power than everyone else. She holds the power of life and death in her hands because she is not the same as the other citizens. This shows that there will always be someone that has more power than the rest; thus proving that people will never be perfectly equal. In Fahrenheit 451, the government prevents any person to possess more intelligence than the rest of the population. People who try to gain more knowledge through books are sent to an asylum and their books are burnt to the ground. Montag asks, â€Å"‘ I-I’ve been thinking. About the fire last week. About the man whose library we fixed. What happened to him? ’ [Beatty answers] ‘They took him screaming off to the asylum’† (Bradbury 33). When people try to learn more than others, the government makes sure that they are removed so that no one is smarter than anyone else. Even though they send people in possession of books to an asylum, it does not stop people who want to obtain knowledge from collecting books. This shows that no matter how much the government tries to enforce equality, there will be people that strive to obtain knowledge. No matter how much censorship is used to make everyone the same, certain individuals will always have more knowledge and power than others. As people disagreed with the government’s idea of equality, they band together and form their own society. In â€Å"Harrsion Bergeron†, Harrison Burgeron wanted to start his own empire. He disagreed with the current government and wanted to rule the world. Harrison Bergeron states, â€Å"‘I am the emperor! †¦ I am a greater ruler than any man’†(Vonnegut 3). This shows that Harrison Burgeron wants to create his own world. He opposes the government’s law and plans on creating a different society before he was shot down. Harrsison Bergeron shows that even in the most controlled world, humans who want difference will try to make their own world. When Guy Montag ran away from the society he knew, he encountered a group of people that opposed the way the government works. This group thought that books and knowledge are important unlike the government. Granger says, â€Å"‘We’ll pass the books on to our children, by word of mouth, and let our children wait, in turn, on the other people’† (Bradbury 153). Granger and his group felt that books are important and that individual knowledge is more important than everyone being perfectly equal. They thought that the world is not ready for their knowledge. By having their own group with different ideas from the government’s, they have started a society where people can appreciate books instead of burning them. They have created a society that directly contradicts what he government is trying to accomplish. When people do not agree with the government, they will band together and form a society hoping to overthrow the law. Equality is an unachievable idea due to the fact that there are people who will rebel, be smarter or more powerful than others, and people that band together to form their own ideal society. The more a government forces their citizens to be equal, the more likely people will oppose what the government is doing. In both â€Å"Harrison Bergeron† and Fahrenheit 451, the government tries to censor the amount of freedom and knowledge every individual has, by calling it equality, but people had still rebelled against the government. Both stories show that equality is a truly impossible because certain individuals will always challenge what equality truly is.

Perception, Sensation

â€Å"Perception is more than just a sensation† Introduction Sensation is the passive process of bringing information from the outside world into the body and brain. Perception is the active process of selecting, organising and interpreting the information brought to the brain by the senses. Sensation and perception are two distinct processes, which collaborate to help us make sense of our environment. Perception requires physiological mechanisms and psychological components, these combine to help us understand.Perception is the process of how we acquire and understand information, sophisticated perceptual mechanisms go to work in order for us to gain knowledge. Our perception of the world is â€Å"direct, immediate and effortless† (Mather, 2006). Understanding how perception works is extremely complex and people differ in how they perceive, humans are quick to perceive as Biederman (1990) showed people can recognise and interpret complex novel scenes in as little as 1/ 10th of a second.The differences between sensation and perception are based around the fact that sensation is a physiological process stemming from one of the five senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste and touch. These senses enable us to detect stimuli in the environment. Perception on the other hand involves an understanding of this sensory information, drawing from the stimuli detected from the senses, our minds must process that information and create a mental representation of the senses. How our mind perceives this depends upon our background knowledge.For example if we smell sour milk, our nose picks up the smell which is the sensation, then perception plays its part by telling us that the milk has passed its used by date. Sensory organs absorb energy from physical stimuli in the environment which pass to sensory receptors these detect stimulus energies and convert them into mental impulses which are sent to the brain. Now perception begins, upon receiving the impulses the bra in organises the input and translates it into something meaningful. However perceptions are not always accurate.The picture below is called the Muller- Lynn illusion. People are asked which line is bigger and people immediately answer with the bottom line, when in fact they are even. This shows that perceptions can be deceived quite easily. What we ‘see’ is not the same as what is ‘there’. Perception and reality differ. Numerous illusions show that the human mind can misinterpret information and inaccurately perceive senses, these include the Poggendorf illusion and the Penrose staircase. Muller-Lynn Illusion. PerceptionPeople perceive through sight, which is one of the senses. The physical stimulus for visual perception is light. (Wavelength > colour and Intensity > brightness. ) Light interacts with objects. (e. g refraction, bending of light. ) This forms the basis of how we perceive visually. Colour is the most important component of our visual experien ce, some of the earliest theories of perception were developed from how we perceive colours. In order to explain colour perception one has to be familiar with, 1.Hue – variations in wavelength, difference between colours. 2. Brightness- the intensity of energy, black v white 3. Saturation – purity of colour, difference between pink and red (how much black/white added to the colour) The human can identify approximately 200 hues, 500 intensity steps and 20 saturations, combining to nearly two million colours. Does colour exist? People just assume that because we see colours, they actually exist in the world. Meaning, that when they see the colour red, that red is a real, physical, tangible, â€Å"thing†.But is it, or is colour just a matter of our perception? If we had different types of nervous systems, we would see things differently (literally) and so wouldn't we think those other things we saw were the real â€Å"things†? The Trichromatic theory Thomas Young, a 19th century English scientist suggested that it takes just three colours for us to see all the colours of the spectrum. He demonstrated this through experiments where he showed that people could match any colour by making a combination of just three colours (wavelengths) of light.Similar to a colour wheel explanation of vision taking just three colours and blending them to make any colour. Seventy years before we knew that humans have three retina cones- red, green and blue. Opponent-process theory Herring (1870) suggested cone photoreceptors are linked together to form three opposing colour pairs, red/green, blue/yellow, light/dark. The two stage theory was output of three cone types recoded by another layer of neutral mechanisms into 6 psychologically primary colours. (Hurvich & Jameson, 1957) Perceptual constanciesSize constancy means objects maintain the same size, despite changes in proximal stimulus, people that are further away do not seem smaller than people that a re close. This is exhibited in the Ponzo illusion. The Ponzo illusion. In the Ponzo illusion, two identically-sized lines appear to be different sizes when placed over parallel lines that seem to converge as they recede into the distance. How Does the Ponzo Illusion Work? The Ponzo illusion was first demonstrated in 1913 by an Italian psychologist named Mario Ponzo.The reason the top horizontal line looks longer is because we interpret the scene using linear perspective. Since the vertical parallel lines seem to grow closer as they move further away, we interpret the top line as being further off in the distance. An object in the distance would need to be longer in order for it to appear the same size as a near object, so the top â€Å"far† line is seen as being longer than the bottom â€Å"near† line, even though they are the same size. Depth perception Images projected to our retina are 2D but we interpret this as 3D dynamic scene.In order to perceive depth we use a number of visual cues both monocular and binocular. Gibson & Walk (1960) ‘visual cliff’ experiment suggests depth perception is not present at birth. ’Visual cliff’ Gestalt psychology Gestalt psychology was founded by German psychologists Max Wertheimer, Wolfgang Kohler and Kurt Koffka and focused on how people interpret the world. The Gestalt perspective formed partially as a response to the structuralism of Wilhelm Wundt, who focused on breaking down mental events and experiences to the smallest elements. â€Å"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts† (Wertheimer, 1923).We perceive a visual array in a way that most simply organises the disparate elements into a coherent form. The Gestalt theory puts forward a number of laws. 1. Law of Pragnanz – things are perceived as simply as possible. 2. Law of proximity – Objects near each other will be seen as a unit. 3. Law of similarity – objects similar to each other will be se en as a unit. 4. Law of continuity – we perceive smoothly flowing or continuous forms rather than disrupted or discontinuous forms. 5. Law of closure – we create illusory contours to perceive incomplete objects.Perception has much to do with processing and we use two methods of processing these are, bottom up processing, and top down processing. Bottom up processing is also known as data driven perception. Sensory receptors register a physical stimulus which in turn sends the information to the brain, sensation starts the process but perception takes over and places the parts together when recognition occurs. This is the most basic form of processing. Top down processing is more concerned with higher level mental processes, such as memory and expectation.The information travels down from our brain to influence what we perceive, this is also known as hypotheses driven processing. This is an example of top down processing, this shows how context helps us recognise the le tters in the alphabet. Top down processing speeds up the analysis of the retinal image when familiar scenes and objects are encountered and can complete details missing in the optic array. Perception beyond vision Auditory perception plays a key role in perception, along with the chemical senses- taste and smell.Auditory perception comes from sound, the physical definition being pressure changes in the air or other medium. Sound waves vary in amplitude- loudness, frequency- pitch, timbre- quality of tone. Chemical senses help in our everyday lives by helping us to taste and smell stimuli. Humans are microsmatic meaning smell is not crucial for survival, we typically have ten million olfactory receptors in our noses whereas dogs have one billion which shows how dogs have such keen senses of smell. Taste and smell are seen as the gatekeepers of the body they can induce good or bad responses.Tastes and smells involve a different physiology than vision and sound, this is because the lat ter two are nerve ends tingling, however when chemical senses are induced the person actually inhales some molecules of the smell inducing substance. At any one time there are hundreds of odour molecules in the air, people have the capability to make sense and distinguish between them. This demonstrates perceptual organisation. We can identify approximately 100,000 odours but cannot label all accurately, this is due to our memory not sensitivity.Gender differences can affect ones ability in identifying odours as women are normally better. (Cain, 1982). Due to the fact that memory plays a part in this top down processing is used. Conclusion Sensation is the process by which our senses gather information and send it to the brain. Once the signal is received the brain processes it and allows us to make sense of it. A large amount of information is being sensed at any one time such as room temperature, brightness of the lights, someone talking, an engine sound, or the smell of aftershav e.With all this information coming into our senses, most of our world never gets noticed. We can’t notice radio waves, x-rays, or the microscopic parasites crawling on our skin. We don't sense all the odours around us or taste every individual spice in our gourmet dinner. We only sense those things we are able too since we don't have the sense of smell like a bloodhound or the sense of sight like a hawk, our thresholds are different from these animals and often even from each other.Perception has all the previous components working at the same time so that we can function and make sense of things. How we perceive things can depend upon many factors but without perception nothing would make sense. Sensation differs from perception, but the two go hand in hand to help us gain a greater understanding of the world around us. Perception forms such a large part in our day to day lives and many don’t grasp how important it is to us and how lost we would be without our percept ions.

Is The Ladders Irresistible Or Irrational

Is The Ladders Irresistible Or Irrational Oooh, ah, la la la. Half-clothed men lying on an office floor in evocative poses.   Fully clothed (in office casual) men crawling on top of each other.   Women crawling (yes more crawling) or dancing on desks seductively, wind blowing through their hair.   Overactive wind machines. These images, overlaid upon a sultry â€Å"Oooh, ah, la la la† musical score, comprise a January 2011 television commercial from The Ladders.   It seems some effort was put into infusing this marketing piece with†¦Ã‚   ummm†¦Ã‚   political correctness?   The video is replete with intimations of gay relationships, interracial relationships, and Asian and Black successful careerists. But what’s politically correct about people seeking employment through sex appeal, regardless of how ridiculous it clearly is? I get it.   It’s a metaphor and it’s meant to be outrageous.   Come to The Ladders and we’ll create an â€Å"irresistible† image that will get you the job of your dreams.   But why would anyone want to work with a company that resorts to wacky sexual innuendo to gain clients who are climbing the corporate ladder? I also get that social media has blurred the distinction between private and public lives, and that employers might be able to view a prospect’s â€Å"relationship status† through a quick Facebook search.   Maybe sex and job search are no longer so far removed from each other as I would like to think.   Perhaps that’s a question for The Ladders.   I sent them a trackback so maybe theyll respond here. The small print in the video says â€Å"Be more attractive to $100K+ employers.†   One thing’s for sure, the folks in this commercial could use a LOT of help. I suppose that’s the point. Or perhaps this whole mockery is simply an attempt to create viral video. What do you think?   Is The Ladders irresistible?   Or just irrational?   Would you be more or less likely to hire The Ladders after seeing this commercial?   I would absolutely love to hear your opinions on this one! And if you want solid resume and cover letter help with just the right â€Å"pop† and appeal, consider The Essay Expert’s Resume and Cover Letter packages. Category:Job SearchBy Brenda BernsteinJanuary 10, 2011 6 Comments The Essay Expert says: January 10, 2011 at 12:14 pm James, you got me laughing! Thanks for the comment 🙂 Log in to Reply Judy Cullins says: January 10, 2011 at 6:03 pm Brenda, Thanks for this post.Ive seen this ad, and it was too bizzare for me. I like creativity, but this one went a little far for my palate. I think we all need more creativity in our ads and online promotions, so I take note of this idea. I use captch on my blog for business writing to include eBooks, online marketing, and web writing. I sometimes have trouble with it. Cheers, Judy Log in to Reply Hajra says: January 11, 2011 at 1:46 am Wackymore like awkward. It totally gives the wrong message. It might be hinting at You need to be sexually attractive to be hired. But then, isnt it sending out all the wrong vibesIs it all about your physical attraction or is there more to hiring and the likes. This ad doesnt air in my network (I live in the Middle East), but I wouldnt be surprised if it gets a record number of hits on You Tube. Its high time advertisers evaluate the social and psychosocial impact of their actions. Log in to Reply Rosanne Dingli says: January 11, 2011 at 2:53 am In my opinion, its a pun on the word attractive. These copywriters are rarely as deep as we think. Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: January 11, 2011 at 8:32 am The Ladders website has copy to the tune of, Lying upside down half-clothed on your office desk wont get you a job. Want to make yourself attractive to employers? Sign up with The Ladders. I think the copywriters knew exactly what they were doing, and decided it was worth turning off a few people to get the publicity! Log in to Reply The Essay Expert says: January 18, 2011 at 11:47 pm Thanks for your great comment Tani! You have exactly the perspective and response The Ladders is going for. I actually agree with you (shhh dont tell my readers). Log in to Reply

General Electrics Two

General Electrics Two The Present Strategies of General Electric Marketing/Sales General Electric provides a great variety of products and services to its customers. They include home electric appliances, engines for airplanes, medical equipment, software solutions, etc. Apart from that, the company has established several water cleaning facilities throughout the world (General Electric, 2010, unpaged). At the core of marketing strategies, employed by the management of this organization lies the idea of diversity.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on General Electrics Two-Decade Transformation: Jack Welchs Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is one of the strengths of this enterprise: decline in demand for a certain type of product will have catastrophic effects on the company. However, one should bear in mind that this organization has a very high turnover rate among marketing personnel is very high, and this can be viewed a s a weakness since continuous rotation of the personnel can eventually decrease the performance of the marketing team. To some extent, the turnover rate is the heritage of Jack Welsh’s reign. Manufacturing Operations The manufacturing operations of this enterprise rely on the idea of the so-called â€Å"boundaryless company† in which there are no barriers between manufacturing and engineering (Bartlett Wozny, 2005). Largely, the concept of boundaryless company exemplifies a matrix organization, in which the employees closely cooperate with one another. Furthermore, this company advocates the importance of the lean production and reduction of labor costs. Finance/accounting At the given moment, the net revenue of this organization constitutes the total revenue of this organization $ 157 billion, while the cost of revenue is $ 65,3 billion (General Electric c, 2010, unpaged). It should be noted that in the companies in 2010 the financial performance of this organization has deteriorated especially in comparison with two previous years (General Electric c, 2010, unpaged). General Electric pursues transparent accounting policies. In particular, it reports include not only the information about revenues and operational costs, but also the data about cost of revenue, inventories, debt, long-term reliabilities, and so forth. This transparency enables an investor to better evaluate the efficiency of this organization.Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Human Resources/Personnel The principles of HR management in General Electric were laid down by Jack Welsh. The company pays close attention to the assessment of employee’s performance. Overall, this company greatly relies on the so-called vitality curve, in which the workers are divided into five ranks or groups in terms of their performance (Bartlett Wozny, 2005, p 13). The t hing is those employees, who are continuously put in the third category (C) are most likely to be dismissed. This strategy can be viewed as both strength and weakness of the enterprise. On the one, it allows the management to retain only well-performing employees. However, it also results in the high turn-over rate and tension among employees and poor teamwork. Another important feature, we need to mention is the tendency to downside and delayer the personnel. Innovation At this point, RD (Research and Development) efforts of this organization are aimed at the development of nanotechnologies and more eco-friendly technologies (General Electric, 2010, unpaged). On the whole, such an approach to RD can be explained by the fact that the management wants to secure a leading position in these two burgeoning industries. Management The management of this organization has been significantly influenced the strong personality of Jack Welsh, who has radically transformed the company during eig hties and nineties. We can several out several features of the management in the company. One of them is the so-called philosophy of â€Å"Stretch† (Bartlett Wozny, 2005, p 9). It urges the managers and their employees to continuously improve the financial performance of their departments. Secondly, we need to mention that the management of this enterprise always involves the front-line employees into decision-making. Even though Jack Welsh retired in 2001, its successor Jeffry Immelt do not try to alter his managerial policies and policies. Other It is also important to discuss the quality control in General Electric. The company adopts the so-called Six Sigma approach, which relies on interdepartmental cooperation, orientation toward customer needs, the use of numerical and qualitative methods to assess the quality of products and services. (Bartlet Wozny, 2005, p 11).Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on General Electrics Two-Decade Transformati on: Jack Welchs Leadership specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More New Product/Market Opportunity Alternatives There are several areas to which the management of this organization should pay more attention to renewable energy industry, for example, they may need to engines that would be able to use biofuels. One should remember that in the near future, the demand for eco-friendly technologies would only increase both in the United States and in Europe. Another industry, which could be of great interest to General Electric, is nanotechnologies, since it has applications in various spheres such as electronics, healthcare, IT and so forth. External Threats The increasing importance of renewable energy. General Electronic actively participates in oil production and transportation while a great number of modern manufactures as well as customers are willing to decrease their consumption of oil-related product as it is both expensive and harmful to the e nvironment (General Electric, 2010, unpaged). The adoption of new technologies can greatly diminish the revenues of this corporation. Legal restriction imposed on oil extraction. Again, we need to emphasize an idea that the company is very dependent on the demand as well as supply of oil. In the light of the recent Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the extraction of oil will become even more difficult especially in the United States. The increasing competitiveness in the software market. The company has to compete with such international corporations like IBM, Honeywell International, Microsoft, Apple, etc. IT is one of those industries where the number of market players continuously increases. Mission Statement To formulate the mission statement of this company, we can use the words of its former CEO, Jack Welch, who wanted General Electric to become the â€Å"the most profitable and highly diversified company on earth† (Bartlet Wozny, 2005, p 2). Thus, we may argue that the mi ssion of this enterprise is to retain the status of the world’s leading manufacturer that can respond to the abrupt changes in political, economic , technological and cultural environment. It is also possible to single out several objectives: To strengthen the firm’s position in such industries as renewable energy and nanotechnology. To decrease the turnover rate in the organization. To broaden the range of products and services. Strategies The management can adopt different strategies to achieve these objectives: One of the first tasks is to abolish the use of vitality scales as means of assessing employees performance. To purchase or merge with those companies which specialize in the production of nanotechnologies and renewable energy systems. To invest more capital in the research and development. Internal Environment Analysis The internal environment for GE can be identified through a strengths and weaknesses analysis – the two internal aspects of SWOT a nalysis. Such can be identified with various elements such as management, human resource (HR) strategy, and financials of the internal environment. For GE the first strength include a sound HR strategy that rewards employees based on performance measures that take care of wide array of contribution – e.g. the four E’s (Energy, ability to â€Å"energize others†, edge and execution) (Bartlett Wozny 2005).Advertising Looking for assessment on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Secondly, the entity’s strength lies in a committed leadership with Welch leading from the front, and the support of the management team that he had established. Commitment of leadership team to the values and vision of the organization is identified as a key driver to establishing organizational transformation (Cohen 2004). Thirdly, the strength of the organization lies with its diversification into service businesses that offer enhanced value to the customer. Such services offer the company the opportunity to increase customer satisfaction, an antecedent to establishing long-lasting customer relationships (Gronroos 2004). Finally, the entity’s strong financial performance is critical for supporting its expansion programs across the globe. The entity’s weaknesses on the other hand arise from a centralized decision-making process with Welch at the center of each decision. Such a process is disadvantageous in a number of ways. Firstly, it could limit effective tr ansition with prospective successors being used to a culture of a â€Å"father-figure.† Secondly, such a strategy is limited with the globalization strategy the entity embarked on. With its operations extending into global regions, such a strategy limits the speed of implementation at overseas subsidiaries and may face cultural and political barriers where the organization is perceived to benefit â€Å"foreign† players more. Fig 1:  GE’s Internal Environment During Welch’s Two-Decades at the Helm Strengths Weaknesses Human resource strategy – sound strategy with well-outlined measures of performance and rewards. Management – committed to the organization’s values and vision. Product diversification – Creation of value-adding units e.g. service businesses that could increase customer commitment reading to a long-term relationship. Financials – strong financial performance (appendix for financial ratios). Improved profitability over the period Welch was in leadership. Corporate strategy – centralized with CEO being at the center of all decision-making processes, could affect transition, affect global operations e.g. implementation of strategies may take time if controlled from a centralized place, may also face cultural barriers if not specific to a certain region’s environmental and cultural attributes. External Environment Analysis External environment analysis can be assessed through the opportunities and threats an entity faces – the two external aspects of SWOT. On the threats end, aspects of a political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental nature may affect an entity such as GE. Alternatively, external environment may be assessed for competitiveness based on the porter’s five forces (Dagmar Recklies 2001). These forces are buyers’ bargaining power, suppliers bargaining power, new-entrant’s threats, threat of substi tutes and competitive rivalry between existing players (Dagmar Recklies 2001). From the case study, such aspects that are applicable to GE can be identified on a matrix format. Fig 2:GE’s External Environment Opportunities Threats Expansion to global environments e.g. via acquisitions enhances economies of scale and reduce susceptibility to country-specific macroeconomic shocks, economic meltdowns that provide the company the opportunity to purchase going concerns with a potential at reduced prices as it has previously done (Bartlett Wozny 2005). E-business opportunities – use Internet, social media tools to better customer engagement thus get important feedback to improve its services and product offerings. Use virtual technology to support virtual teams that could have cost-cutting effects. Political – Globalization strategy exposes the entity to different political systems. In countries where there’s political instability, the entityâ⠂¬â„¢s business is affected Economic – though economic downturns provide the entity with buying opportunities, they also present barriers to increased revenues, e.g. in its oil and gas businesses. Socio-cultural – through its expansion into various continents where cultural orientation differs from its home country, GE’s faces a threat of cultural barriers especially with its centralized management that could lead to preference of local providers to the entity. Technology – technological differences in areas the entity operates in may limit the standardization of entity’s process. Such could affect the long-term sustainability of boundaryless strategy that Welch initiated. Environmental – various activities of GE are subject to adherence to set standards for carbon emissions. As environmental policies change (e.g. when emissions trading schemes become altered), the entity could be presented with the pressure of maintaining its business opera tions within allowable limits. Fig 3:Competitiveness Buyer’s power Buyers’ bargaining power is high in a number of its businesses. Customers of rail services and energy products for instance may be governments, which wield high bargaining power. Strategy – form relationship with buyers with high bargaining power such as governments. Supplier’s Power High supplier power in areas such as labor Strategy – enter into agreements with worker’s unions. New Entrants High in some businesses – e.g. credit services by its finance (consumer and business options) could be taken up by many microfinance institutions coming up in many global locations. Low in others – e.g. in rail, oil and gas, and aviation that require high capital investment. Strategy – dependent on the business Substitutes High – e.g., locomotive trains are rivaled by automobile industry in many countries. Water treatment systems can be s ubstituted with chemical purification methods. Strategy – create value-addition services around its products and avoid price wars. Competitor Rivalry GE’s competitors are wide ranging. Financial services have competitors better suited to offer services in that area since it is their core business. Electric distribution – individual countries could have state owned companies that are under protection by the governments. Strategy – invest in competitors, buyout competitors where possible, sell-out to competitors where long-term sustainability is not possible. Conclusion and recommendations Transformational leadership is a core characteristic of successful organizations in the increasingly competitive business environment. This paper evaluated GE’s two-decade transformation during the leadership of Welch (1981-2001). Core strengths of the company noted during the transformation process were a sound human resource strategy, management commitm ent to values and vision of the entity, creation of value-adding units, and strong financial performance. Its centralized management approach during Welch’s time, was however a weakness that could have negatively affected transition and global expansion. Opportunities for the business lie in expansion to foreign markets to enhance economies of scale and reduce susceptibility to country-specific macroeconomic shock, e-business opportunities brought about by increasing impact of the Internet in people’s lives, and using such technology to enhance customer engagement that would help it improve its products. The entity’s threats include political, legal, economic and social aspects brought along by its expansion to global locations. Due to the wide array of businesses that GE is involved in recommendations are wide ranging. In products where the buyer power is high, e.g., where the government is the buyer, GE should create relationship with such buyers by offering i ncentives that would make it the preferred provider. Such incentives could include committing to programs that aim to improve the livelihood of people living in such areas. Similarly, where competitor rivalry is high, GE could evaluate purchasing stocks in local companies that are protected by home-country government policies References Bartlett, CA Wozny, M 2005, GE’s two-decade transformation: Jack Welch’s leadership, Case 9-399-150, Harvard Business School. Cohen, AR 2004, ‘Building a company of leaders’, Leader to Leader, pp. 16-20, influencewithoutauthority.com/images/Building%20a%20Company%20of%20Leaders%203-05.pdf. Dagmar Recklies 2001, Porters 5 forces, Recklies Management Project GmbH, themanager.org/pdf/p5f.pdf. Gronroos, C 2004, ‘The relationship marketing process: Communication, interaction, dialogue, value’, Journal of Business Industrial Marketing, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 99-113. General Electric 2001, GE annual report 2000, ge.co m/annual00/download/images/GEannual00.pdf. General Electric. (2010). The Official Website. Accessed from fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/General-Electric-Company-Company-History.html General Electric. (2010). General Electric Company (GE) annual SEC income statement filing via Wikinvest. Accessed from wikinvest.com/stock/General_Electric_Company_%28GE%29/Data/Income_Statement#Income_Statement Pillai, R Williams, EA 2004, Transformational leadership, self-efficacy, group cohesiveness, commitment and performance’, Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 144-159. Pretorious, M 2009, ‘Leadership liabilities of newly appointed managers: arrive prepared’, Strategy Leadership, vol. 37, no. 4, pp. 37-42. Rowold, J Heinitz, K 2007, ‘Transformational and charismatic leadership: Assessing the convergent, divergent and criterion validity of the MLQ and the CKS’, The Leadership Quarterly, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 121-133.

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake & Sanaysay Essay Example for Free

2004 Indian Ocean earthquake & Sanaysay Essay Earth (355) , Earthquake (45) , Hawaii (26) company About StudyMoose Contact Careers Help Center Donate a Paper Legal Terms & Conditions Privacy Policy Complaints ? A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, generally an ocean or a large lake. Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other underwater explosions(including detonations of underwater nuclear devices), landslides, glacier calvings, meteorite impacts and other disturbances above or below water all have the potential to generate a tsunami.[3] Tsunami waves do not resemble normal sea waves, because their wavelength is far longer. Rather than appearing as a breaking wave, a tsunami may instead initially resemble a rapidly rising tide, and for this reason they are often referred to as tidal waves. Tsunamis generally consist of a series of waves with periods ranging from minutes to hours, arriving in a so-called â€Å"wave train†.[4] Wave heights of tens of metres can be generated by large events. Although the impact of tsunamis is limited to coastal areas, their destructive power can be enormous and they can affect entire ocean basins; the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was among the deadliest natural disasters in human history with over 230,000 people killed in 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean. The Greek historian Thucydides suggested in his late 5th century BC, History of the Peloponnesian War, that tsunamis were related to submarine earthquakes,[5][6] but the understanding of a tsunami’s nature remained slim until the 20th century and much remains unknown. Major areas of current research include trying to determine why some large earthquakes do not generate tsunamis while other smaller ones do; trying to accurately forecast the passage of tsunamis across the oceans; and also to forecast how tsunami waves would interact with specific shorelines. A tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), onto land. These walls of water can cause widespread destruction when they crash ashore. Tsunami are waves caused by sudden movement of the ocean due to earthquakes, landslides on the sea floor, land slumping into the ocean, large volcanic eruptions or meteorite impact in the ocean. Earthquakes Most tsunami are caused by large earthquakes on the seafloor when slabs of rock move past each other suddenly, causing the overlying water to move. The  resulting waves move away from the source of the earthquake event. Landslides Underwater landslides can cause tsunami as can terrestrial land which slumps into the ocean. View our landslide generation animation which demonstrates how a landslide induces a tsunami. Volcanic eruptions Less common are tsunami initiated by volcanic eruptions. These occur in several ways: destructive collapse of coastal, island and underwater volcanoes which result in massive landslides pyroclastic flows, which are dense mixtures of hot blocks, pumice, ash and gas, plunging down volcanic slopes into the ocean and pushing water outwards a caldera volcano collapsing after an eruption causing overlying water to drop suddenly. An earthquake is the shaking of the earth that occurs after pieces of the crust of the Earth suddenly shift. The term earthquake describes the sudden slip on a fault and includes the ground shaking and radiating seismic energy that is caused by the slip. Volcanic activity, or other geologic processes, may cause stress changes in the earth that can also result in an earthquake. Earthquakes can occur anywhere in the world although some areas of the globe are more likely to experience an earthquake than others. Earthquakes occur in all types of weather, in all climate zones, in all seasons of the year, and at any time of day making it impossible to predict with any certainty when an earthquake is likely to occur. The best seismologists (scientists who study earthquakes) can do is to look at the historical record of earthquake activity for any geographical area and use this data to calculate the probability of an earthquake occurring in the future. Earthquake prediction is still in the future. A tsunami is a series of sea waves that can be caused by earthquakes or landslides at or beneath the sea floor. The displacement of the sea floor that occurs during certain large submarine earthquakes and landslides causes displacement of large volumes of the sea water above it producing large, fast moving waves. When a coast line experiences a tsunami it can be due to an earthquake near the coast or due to a quake occurring in a distant part of the ocean. Coastal areas may experience little or no damage from an  earthquake but can be devastated by the resulting tsunami. 2010 Haiti Earthquake Haiti suffered one of the largest earthquakes in more than 200 years in 2010. The 7.0 magnitude earthquake was centered about 10 miles from Port-au-Prince and set off a swarm of tsunamis that killed three people and destroyed several homes. The waves were averaged to be about 10 feet high. 2010 Sumatra Earthquake/Tsunami he October 2010 Sumatra earthquake occurred on the same fault as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. The second time wasn’t as disastrous but there was still substantial damage. This time around the earthquake was 7.7 on the Richter scale and developed a tsunami that struck the Mentawai Islands. The tsunami, which had a wave of 9 feet, destroyed many of the villages on the island. It displaced more than 20,000 people and reportedly killed 435. 2010 Chile Earthquake/Tsunami A 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck Chile on February 27, 2010 with intense shaking that lasted for about three minutes. It triggered a tsunami that destroyed several coastal towns in south-central Chile. The tsunami raced through the Pacific Ocean that 53 countries had to post warning, though there was little damage as it moved past Hawaii, Australia and Japan. The death toll was 521 victims. 2011 Tohoku Earthquake/Tsunami The 9.0-magnitude megathrust earthquake that hit the Tohoku region of Japan on March 11, 2011 was the largest earthquake to have ever hit the country. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan even called it â€Å"the toughest and most difficult crisis for Japan† since the end of World War II. The tsunami that traveled along the Pacific coast of Japan’s northern islands was measured to be at least 9.8 feet high. Entire towns and cities were swept away and about 5,692 are said to be dead, with 9,522 missing and 2,409 injured. 1771 Great Yaeyama Tsunami On April 24, 1771, the Yaeyama Great Earthquake caused the formation of the 1771 Great Yaeyama Tsunami. The tsunami hit both the Ishigaki and Miyakojima Island of Japan and killed a total of 12,000 people. Agriculture was severely damaged and the population decreased about one-third of what it was. The tsunami at Ishigaki reportedly reached a height of 262 feet. 1792 Mount Unzen The 1792 eruption of Mount Unzen in western Kyushu, Japan is the most deadliest volcanic eruption ever in Japan. It caused a megatsunami that reached up to 330 feet and killed 15,030 people. 1896 Meiji-Sanriku Earthquake The 1896 Meiji-Sanriku earthquake hit Japan on a day when the country was celebrating both the return of soldiers from the Sinto Japanese War and a Shinto holiday. The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that took place was small but the tsunami that struck the coast of Sanriku 35 minutes later was much greater. Waves as high as 125 feet were measured and nearly 9,000 homes were destroyed. 22,070 were reported dead and an unusually high count of victims with fractured skulls and broken or missing limbs. Hawaii also suffered some destruction from the tsunami as waves of 30 feet were measured there. 1868 Arica Earthquake/Tsunami The estimated 8.5 to 9.0 magnitude earthquake near Arica (then part of Peru, now part of Chile) in 1868 nearly destroyed all of Arica and its surrounding cities. The tsunami it produced almost completely destroyed the port city of Pisco. It also caused some damage in Hawaii, New Zealand and Japan. About 25,674 casualties were reported. Aug. 27, 1883: Eruptions from the Krakatoa volcano fueled a tsunami that drowned 36,000 people in the Indonesian Islands of western Java and southern Sumatra. The strength of the waves pushed coral blocks as large as 600 tons onto the shore. June 15, 1896: Waves as high as 100 feet (30 meters), spawned by an earthquake, swept the east coast of Japan. Some 27,000 people died. April 1, 1946: The April Fools tsunami, triggered by an earthquake in Alaska, killed 159 people, mostly in Hawaii. July 9, 1958:Regarded as the largest recorded in modern times, the tsunami in Lituya Bay, Alaska was caused by a landslide triggered by an 8.3 magnitude earthquake. Waves reached a height of 1,720 feet (576  meters) in the bay, but because the area is relatively isolated and in a unique geologic setting the tsunami did not cause much damage elsewhere. It sank a single boat, killing two fishermen. May 22, 1960: The largest recorded earthquake, magnitude 8.6 in Chile, created a tsunami that hit the Chilean coast within 15 minutes. The surge, up to 75 feet (25 meters) high, killed an estimated 1,500 people in Chile and Hawaii. March 27, 1964: The Alaskan Good Friday earthquake, magnitude between 8.4, spawned a 201-foot (67-meter) tsunami in the Valdez Inlet. It traveled at over 400 mph, killing more than 120 people. Ten of the deaths occurred in Crescent City, in northern California, which saw waves as high as 20 feet (6.3 meters). Aug. 23, 1976: tsunami in the southwest Philippines killed 8,000 on the heels of an earthquake. July 17, 1998:A magnitude 7.1 earthquake generated a tsunami in Papua New Guinea that quickly killed 2,200. Dec. 26, 2004: A colossal earthquake with a magnitude between 9.1 and 9.3 shook Indonesia and killed an estimated 230,000 people, most due to the tsunami and the lack of aid afterward, coupled with deviating and unsanitary conditions. The quake was named the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake, and the tsunami has become known as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Those waves traveled the globe – as far as Nova Scotia and Peru. March 11, 2011: A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck northern Japan, triggering tsunamis that reportedly swept up cars, buildings and other debris. The Japan Meteorological Society has forecast more major tsunamis in the area, with some expected to reach more than 30 feet (10 m) off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan’s second largest island. A tsunami was also generated off the coast of Hawaii, one that could cause damage along the coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Tsunami warnings are in effect across Hawaii as well. 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake & Sanaysay. (2016, May 26).

Insights and Takeaways Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Insights and Takeaways - Assignment Example In the realm of business communications, context could be understood as the events, circumstances and ideas that are imminent on the way in which a particular business communication is understood and made sense of (Frey, 2004, p. 58). Thereby, while pursuing this course I realized that context happens to be the most vital concept in any type of business communication. In the human communication and more important in business communication, I have realized that context happens to be a really important things as it is the context which enables a person to cull out or deduct meaning from a communication (Frey, 2004). In fact, the business communications do extend meaning only when they are understood and interpreted within a specific context. Thereby, I have realized that the knowledge of and subservience to context in business communication is always important. The other amazing insight I accrued regarding business communication was the relevance and importance of cultural differences in the conveyance and interpretation of business communication. Engaging in effective business communication with people from other cultures could indeed turn out to be a challenge. I realized that the way people think about, interpret and convey communications is to a great extent determined by their cultural mindset and beliefs. Same words and tones could convey different things to the subjects affiliated to different cultures (Schirato & Yell, 2006, p. 18). Thereby, business communication in the contemporary globalized world certainly does have an unavoidable cultural aspect associated with it, which does need to be taken care of by all people engaging in communication with people from different cultures. It was indeed amazing to realize that for a business communication to be fruitful and effective, it does need to be concise, clear and in consonance with the information being

Green & Competitive Qs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Green & Competitive Qs - Assignment Example The Ecomagination initiative is a program was launched in 2005 with an aimed of providing a long-term environmental solution for the sake of future generation. Through this initiative, the General Electrical Company emphasized on clean technology whereby, the company encouraged utilization of solar energy, fuel cells, low engine fuel consumption capacity, as well as application of clean technology to curb environmental pollution (Wittenberg, Russell, Lipsky & Enterprise Sustainability Action Team, 2009). In 2008, the General electric company invested 1.4 billion dollars in clean technology as part of reinforcing its Ecomagination initiative. The company brought numerous products such as Engines that utilized biogas as well as halogen lamps. The establishment of those products into the market obtained a positive response from consumers. This initiative made the company to obtain twenty five billion dollars revenues. The General Electric Company has continued to invest heavily on clean technology and hard started adhering to strict environmental regulations despite the heavy cost involved in promoting an eco friendly environment (Porter, Michael and van, 1995). BP Company is a British Petroleum company with its headquarters in London; the company operates in Petroleum Industry. The company extract and process oil to produce a wide range of products such as motor fuel, petroleum natural gas to mention just but a few. However, the company had been receiving great criticism from members of the general public all over the word because of producing products that are not environmentally friendly leading to water and air pollution. For example in 1999, BP company was charged with one hundred and four claims of oil spills in Arctic Ocean in America, further the company was accused of environmental pollution as well as cases of violation of human right in Columbia which greatly tarnished the reputation of BP company. In an effort to rebuild back its reputation, BP

Maitaining versus withdrawing life support (Florida General rules) Assignment

Maitaining versus withdrawing life support (Florida General rules) - Assignment Example Since, termination of an individual’s life via withdrawing life support adversely affects even the close relatives despite the law advocating acting in the interests of the patient. Additionally, an individual experiencing persistent vegetative state does not imply one cannot regain full consciousness with the administration of the necessary treatments. This is regardless of the anticipated complications that might arise, which in reality may be contrary (Elliott, 2005). However, these cases may be minimal but I tend to belief that not all surrogates act in the interests of the patient despite prove presented to execute their consent in the withdrawing of life support. Since, investigation may not be adequate to reveal deep hidden malicious intentions of the surrogates where some benefit indirectly. Hence, cause long-term trauma to the loved ones especially the young children or beneficiaries after knowing what happened to their loved ones regardless of whether there was a leg al or authorized substituted judgment (Elliott, 2005). I deem, maintaining life support is a depiction of respect for human life where in withdrawing it, may deny an individual a chance to life who was to regain consciousness and recuperate thus it should be maintained. The decision regarding end of life is the mandate of a sane individual prior the appointed time who in accordance to the law will act in the interests of the ailing (Turan, Goldstein, Garber & Carstensen, 2011). Therefore, I strongly deem and advocate that the right person to act in these cases ought to be a parent or close a relative after meticulous investigation to establish their relations. This shuns any deeds guided by malicious gains where the partakers may benefit either direct or obliquely after execution of the intended end of life procedure (McGowan, 2011). However, in some cases, the parents may not be present or close reliable relatives especially to the married people where their

A Project Over Constructing A Bridge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

A Project Over Constructing A Bridge - Essay Example Concrete and steel were the most popular choice on constructing a bridge. Other materials to use include iron, stones, wood, and plastics. The stones are useful in handling the compression forces. Wood, iron, and plastics were only to be used to support the bridge when the construction took over. Steel is more like an iron but has high strength in both tension and compression. Steel is a ductile material where it can be shaped or bent into different forms, unlike an iron that is brittle, meaning it can break suddenly. Steel also deflects or yields before failure. That was why they preferred using steel rather iron, though it is expensive.Concrete was the second relevant material that was to be used. Cement is made of limestone and clay. Cement is a component required in making the concrete. Cement was mixed with water, and the aggregate comprising coarse and fine aggregates and hardened to a mass called concrete. The concrete is a versatile material and was easily shaped into differe nt forms of the bridge setup. The concrete was not made very strong in compression because it would very weak in tension; instead, the steel was embedded into the concrete to handle the tensile forces. The mixture of concrete with embedded steel was referred to as the reinforced concrete. Typical material properties that were usedThe structural engineers used material properties when they were designing bridge members. They considered the stress, strain, Young’s modulus and compressive strength of the material.

Human postural Sway Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Human postural Sway - Essay Example In this paper we present the observation where 10 healthy subjects of mean age 25 are examined to find out a relationship between postural sway during quite-stance and perturbation with and without muscle fatigue. We also observe the effect of vision on postural sway on both normal and fatigued conditions. Human control of upright body posture involves inputs from several senses (visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, somatosensory) and their central interactions. Multiple sensory systems of human body are involved in tandem for controlling quite standing. Studies show that there is an indirect and presumably cognitive relationship between visual effects on posture control and their intersensory interactions (BLMLEA. et al, 2006). During quite stance position, center of mass (COM) is stabilized over base of support by using low level muscular movements and body sways around the point of support like an inverted pendulum (Johansson R, Magnusson M, Akesson M. 1988). This led to the hypothesis of inverted pendulum. Any defect, alteration or malfunctioning of the sensory or motor components increases body sway and hence increases the muscle activity to maintain postural equilibrium (Dietz V. 1992). Minor perturbations occurring during normal stance can be counteracted by the regulation of ankle muscles (Schieppati M et al, 1994 and McClenaghan BA et al 1996). Muscle fatigue is a complex phenomenon that has been defined as a reduction in the force-generating capacity of muscles, regardless of the task performed (Bigland-Ritchie B, Woods JJ.1984). Though, how fatigues affect the postural control system is not clear there are several fatigue related mechanisms involved at different levels of the nervous system that could affect the regulation of these small forces. Muscle fatigue causes failure of transmission of neural signals and disables the muscles to respond to the neural currents (Bigland-Ritchie B, Woods JJ.1984). Muscle fatigue also alters the basic functioning of complete nervous system and causes failure of motoneurons excitement. Effects of a muscle fatigue on human postural sway can be studied by inducing momentary fatigue by physical exertion. Studies show a mild difference in effects of a fatigue on sway with and without vision (Lepers R. and Nardone A. et al). To examine the effects of a fatigue on human postural control, in this experiment muscle fatigue is induced in ankle

Economic Indicators Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economic Indicators - Essay Example The major pro cyclic economic indicators are GDP, Interest rates, Investment, Inflation, Labor etc. While the main counter cyclic economic indicators are Unemployment, International Trade, and Federal Finances etc. The Gross Domestic Product is one of the most significant direct indicators in the economy. It is vital to monitor the growth rate of the GDP. Any deviation from the range tends to have a significant impact on the economy. An increase in the growth rate above the general level may lead to high inflation and poor performance in the rate of growth leads to a recession. Interest Rate is a pro cyclic or direct economic indicator. They are used to manage the booms and slumps in the business cycle and finely tune it. The interest rates fall in recessions and they rise in inflationary periods. International trade is the swapping of goods and services between countries, which tends to have countercyclical nature. When an economy is prospering and experiencing an economic boom then people choose to spend a bigger part of their income on imported and local goods and services, however, exports donà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t have such alterations. This in turn upsets the balance of trade, as net exports are negative, which results in more being imported and less being exported. Whereas, when an economy is in a slump, people tend to spend less on imported goods and services and just focus on the basic necessities. This encourages more goods and services to be exported and has a favorable impact on the balance of trade as less is being imported.

Human postural Sway Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Human postural Sway - Essay Example In this paper we present the observation where 10 healthy subjects of mean age 25 are examined to find out a relationship between postural sway during quite-stance and perturbation with and without muscle fatigue. We also observe the effect of vision on postural sway on both normal and fatigued conditions. Human control of upright body posture involves inputs from several senses (visual, vestibular, proprioceptive, somatosensory) and their central interactions. Multiple sensory systems of human body are involved in tandem for controlling quite standing. Studies show that there is an indirect and presumably cognitive relationship between visual effects on posture control and their intersensory interactions (BLMLEA. et al, 2006). During quite stance position, center of mass (COM) is stabilized over base of support by using low level muscular movements and body sways around the point of support like an inverted pendulum (Johansson R, Magnusson M, Akesson M. 1988). This led to the hypothesis of inverted pendulum. Any defect, alteration or malfunctioning of the sensory or motor components increases body sway and hence increases the muscle activity to maintain postural equilibrium (Dietz V. 1992). Minor perturbations occurring during normal stance can be counteracted by the regulation of ankle muscles (Schieppati M et al, 1994 and McClenaghan BA et al 1996). Muscle fatigue is a complex phenomenon that has been defined as a reduction in the force-generating capacity of muscles, regardless of the task performed (Bigland-Ritchie B, Woods JJ.1984). Though, how fatigues affect the postural control system is not clear there are several fatigue related mechanisms involved at different levels of the nervous system that could affect the regulation of these small forces. Muscle fatigue causes failure of transmission of neural signals and disables the muscles to respond to the neural currents (Bigland-Ritchie B, Woods JJ.1984). Muscle fatigue also alters the basic functioning of complete nervous system and causes failure of motoneurons excitement. Effects of a muscle fatigue on human postural sway can be studied by inducing momentary fatigue by physical exertion. Studies show a mild difference in effects of a fatigue on sway with and without vision (Lepers R. and Nardone A. et al). To examine the effects of a fatigue on human postural control, in this experiment muscle fatigue is induced in ankle

Globalization and Its Effects on Mexico Essay Example for Free

Globalization and Its Effects on Mexico Essay Mexico has the size and assets which could contribute to wealth and prosperity within their borders. The nation has the second longest border with the United States, significant oil resources, and the 11th largest population in the world. Mexico underwent all the necessary free market changes to help support globalization despite initial resistance, but they are yet to complete the interior microeconomic makeover they drastically need. Mexico has many things working for them but continue to underperform when it comes to global power and economy, China out performs Mexico for low-cost manufactured goods and India is often the target for outsourcing jobs and services over Mexico (Biggs, Shiess). After sustained pressure from the United States and the International Monetary Fund, Mexico decided to change their global economic stance to one that supports the free market. They changed their economy to one based upon exports, they eliminated most tariffs while lowering others, attracted foreign direct investment and private state assets, and finally reduced government spending. These steps were taken at an effort for Mexico to join in on the economic benefits of globalization, but Mexico only finished half of the necessary adjustments necessary for economic prosperity. (Biggs, Shiess) Many residents of Mexico may blame their problems on issues such as the drug cartels, the lack of quality jobs, or lack of foreign investment. Although these ideas may contribute to the problems that control Mexico, they are not the true reason. After Mexico completed their globalization efforts by using the ideas of macroeconomics, they had only completed half the necessary adjustments to truly co mpete as an economic superpower in the world today.(BBC News) Mexico has failed in great part due to their stubbornness and interior corruption to evolve their nation from that of an above average Latin American Economic power, to that of one on par with most European nations, China, India, and the United States. The second half of the puzzle that Mexico is missing relies heavily on the ideas of microeconomics. Mexico never created the level playing field for companies within their country and is greatly powered by monopolies which ruins an economy due to lack of competition and innovation. For Mexico to begin to succeed in the free market needs to put resources into banks, education(specifically on technology), mechanisms which will support collaboration between competing companies, and most importantly new laws to disallow the monopolies which control Mexico’s economy. (Biggs, Shiess) Until these steps are taken Mexico remains a country which can be overwhelmingly difficult to do business in, which turns away the majority of investors, and people looking to expand companies into different countries. It is not a good sign when according to the International Finance Corporation Mexico ranks 75 out of 183 countries in the world for â€Å"ease of starting a business†. (IFC) Around the year 2000 when the globalization movement was fully set in motion, Mexico was going through an extreme change in their political stance as well. This was a major problem for Mexico, even though the economic changes which were drastically needed were happening outside Mexico’s borders it is a very difficult task of changing their political institutions at the same time of changing economic institutions. Mexico continues to stand where they are rather than take a step back to allow for future gains, for example Mexico continues to rely on their state owned oil giant Pemex instead of bringing in new companies and investors for an attempt at innovation and competition in their oil industry. (Biggs, Shiess) Until Mexico decides to take a small hit and clean house in regards to their current internal economic stance companies will continue to avoid Mexico at all costs. Startup companies need stability in a political and economic system, and until Mexico is willing to offe r that and put in place fair trade laws, better tax laws, and economic regulations they will continue down the same road. Mexico is greatly reliant on their petroleum exports; this has been called the Resource Curse by many experts. The problem lies in that when they started to nationalize their oil resources, they needed foreign investment to refine petroleum into oil as they lacked the local funds to do so themselves. This results in some economic benefits due to other countries purchasing crude oil for themselves, but the process remains to be quite draining on what could be the road to economic prosperity. Mexico needs to mine the crude oil, export it to outside nations where they can refine it and then re-import it as gasoline. (Biggs, Shiess) The biggest problem that their fossil fuel dependence will bring upon Mexico is that the country is relying on the industry, and because demand and prices are high Mexico has no reason to start new industries. Oil is a fossil fuel and resources are diminishing, and when they are gone Mexico will not be in even rougher shape than they are currently. Mexico is at the crossroads when it comes to their economy and what direction those in power want to take the country in. As of right now the globalization efforts have helped the Mexican economy but due to lack of funds and a change in political scenery at the same time Mexico was unable to fully capitalize on the free market. They may have helped their trading relationships with outside countries, but not enough was done within their own borders to disallow corruption and monopolies. Mexico is stuck in place until they take the necessary short term economic downfall to get the full rewards from globalization. With the constant changing of political motives, problems with drug cartels, and corruption the chances of new businesses starting up is slim. Without new businesses to inspire competition the economy will continue to rely upon oil to sustain the country’s economy, but eventually the oil resources they have will run out and lead to ultimate turmoil within Mexico. Works Cited Biggs, Cate, Ami Shiess, Kelly Korenak, Linda Chang, and Laura Neumeister. World Savvy Monitor. World Savvy Monitor. Ed. Anita Trachte. The World Savvy Board, Aug. 2009. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. . Mexico Country Profile. BBC News. BBC, 09 Apr. 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. . Doing Business in Mexico World Bank Group. Doing Business in Mexico World Bank Group. International Finance Corporation, 2012. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. .