Saturday, August 31, 2019

Alice’s Adventure of Self Discovery in Wonderland

The bildungsroman novel Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll elucidates the idea of humans needing to be faced with a drastic situation, in order to grow and develop their own identity. Alice begins in the novel as a respectful and naive child, one typical of the Victorian Era. She struggles with adjusting to the new situations, as well as the growth and changes of her body. Alice’s escapades in Wonderland allow her to change her views with regard to authority as well as to understand different life situations. Alice’s time in Wonderland compels her to become more independent as well as to stand up for herself, ergo becoming a mature, self-reliant young woman. Alice’s adventures in Wonderland permit her to understand and accept her body’s baffling changes. As Alice enters Wonderland, a world where nothing is the same, her body changes sizes eleven times, something that is drastic for anyone, not only a young girl. When â€Å"she sat down and began to cry again† (Carroll 17), this was in regard to her body’s rapid and confusing changes. Alice’s body changed, she was completely hopeless as well had no idea on how to deal with the situation, much like a child entering puberty. When a child first enters puberty, they are extremely uncomfortable, but eventually they become more and more comfortable with the changes and in their own skin. Alice proves that she is becoming more comfortable with herself and her identity when she declares, â€Å"Oh dear! I’d nearly forgotten that I’ve got to grow up again! Let me see-how is it to be managed† (39). Alice’s body no longer has control over her, but instead she has control over her own body. Throughout Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice continues to become more comfortable with her body as well as in foreign and unfamiliar situations. Alice’s adventure allows her not only to become more comfortable with her body, but also more comfortable in regard to understanding the role that authority plays in society. When Alice first enters Wonderland, she is a confused, helpless child, who does not understand how to stand up for herself. In the beginning of the novel, Alice is thrown into a world where the strict rules she lives by no longer apply, and as a result does not understand how to act, especially in regard to authority. When the Rabbit makes a mistake of calling to Alice saying, â€Å"Why Mary Ann, what are you doing here? †¦ Alice was so frightened she ran off at once without saying a word† (10), Alice clearly acknowledges and understands the mistake. Due to her strict, traditional Victorian upbringing, she was taught to obey authority at all costs and never to contradict someone who was in a position of power. In Wonderland however, all that Alice thought she knew about authority is tossed aside, as those rules no longer apply. Although Alice indubitably knows she is not Mary Ann, the Rabbit’s maid, she is too afraid to disobey authority and point out the error of his ways. However, further on in the novel, as well as further on in Alice’s growth as a human, she becomes more comfortable with speaking up to authority. When Alice contradicts the Queen and her poor decisions when the Queen exclaims, â€Å"Off with her head! Off with her.. † but Alice barges in and declares that it is â€Å"nonsense. † (72). Alice not only becomes more comfortable as herself, but more comfortable speaking up and against authority, an important aspect of maturing. Alice’s growth and maturing not only depends on her physical size, but it also depends on her ability to adapt to new situations. In Wonderland, all of the new rules that come with these strange games, from the caucus race to the croquet game are metaphors to social situations. At the beginning of Alice’s adventure, Alice is confused by these new social situations, and does not quite now how to react to them. During the croquet game, Alice is unsure and â€Å"rather doubtful whether she ought not to lie down on her face like the three gardeners. † (35). Alice had never been in a situation like this, and she clearly did not know how to react, something that is learned over time as a person matures. Another example further along in the novel is when Alice is thrown into a new situation, where a baby is in danger, irrefutably a situation she had never been in before. Although Alice was unfamiliar with the social protocol, or what one would typically do in such a situation, she was mature enough to trust her instincts and stand up for the child by exclaiming at the Duchess, â€Å"Oh please mind what you’re doing! You nearly took his nose off! † (39). As Alice continues to mature and emerge as a young adult, she begins to trust her intuitions as well as defends her thoughts and ideas. Through Alice’s journey, she becomes more mature and as a result, adapts to new situations more easily. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a fantasy, bildungsroman novel that explores coming of age, in regard to puberty as well as social maturity. Although within the novel, it is Alice’s physical size that changes quite often, she matures throughout the novel while in Wonderland, adapting more easily to new, frightening situations as well as developing her moral courage. Alice begins her adventure as a frightened young girl, one who can barely cope in a situation, and she ends her journey being a strong, fearless and independent young woman.

Friday, August 30, 2019

Minimum Legal Drinking Age Essay

Do you believe the drinking age should be lowered to allow eighteen year olds to consume alcohol, or should the legal age to drink alcoholic beverages stay at the age of twenty-one? Prior to 1984 you were, once you turned eighteen, in most states permitted to purchase alcohol. It was completely up to the state government. At age 18 they are legally an adult, and can therefore abide by their own rules and if they make a bad decision they have to pay the price. Why is it that as an adult you are permitted to purchase rifles, tobacco products, you can vote, enlist in the military, go to a casino, get a tattoo, body piercings, get married and even work in a bar but you can’t buy or consume alcohol? When you think of alcohol and eighteen year-olds what generally pops into mind is underage drinking, binge drinking, wild parties and date rape. But that is only the view of the irresponsible side of drinking, just as there is an irresponsible side of drinking at age twenty-one. At age eighteen you should be allowed to purchase or consume alcohol as you please, because you are legally an adult and responsible for your own actions. The Minimum Legal Drinking Age should be lowered to age eighteen. When you turn eighteen in the United States of America you are legally considered an adult. Until the 1984 Minimum Legal Drinking Age act you were allowed (at least in some states) to buy alcohol when you wanted. Subsequently to the passing of that law every state was forced to raise their minimum age to twenty-one. One of the men who voted for the 1984 Minimum Legal Drinking Age act, Morris E. Chafetz, stated that he â€Å"voted for it; it doesn’t work† and goes on to say that â€Å"it is the single most regrettable decision of my entire professional career†: â€Å"The reality is that at age 18 in this country, one is a legal adult. Young people view 21 as utterly arbitrary- which it is. And because the explanation given is so condescending- because they lack maturity and judgment, these same people who can serve on juries and sign contracts and who turned out in overwhelming numbers to elect our first black president- well they dont buy it. And neither do I.† (Chafetz 554-555) The Unites States military is one of the largest in the world, and has many bases and various stations throughout the entire world. At the age of 18 you must (if you are male) sign up for selective service (the draft) and you are eligible to enlist in the military regardless of your gender. Why is it that you can deploy to another country, fight for your country, get shot, lose limbs and have the memories of that with you for the rest of your life, but you can’t purchase alcohol? If you are old enough to risk your life to fight for your country and fight for the freedoms of this country then you should be able to go buy a beer at the bar with your buddies. Jeff Rainforth, a man who ran for congress, said that â€Å"Since the age was raised, many young adults have drunk more abusively than in the past. Like national Prohibition, it was been counter-productive. Raising the drinking age brought about more problems than it solved.† and went on to say that he recommends that is the legal drinking age was not lowered he recommends that military members can not go to combat until age 21. John McCardell, who founded and is now the director of an organization that exists to lower the drinking age back to eighteen, and also started the â€Å"Amethyst Initiative† talks about his solution to the problem. McCardell has credibility on this topic due to the fact that he is a former college professor and president, and is now a vice-chancellor at the University of the South, who has personally seen the way teenagers on a college campus drink and has an idea what will help with this issue. He says â€Å"Alcohol education is what we need.† This would make teenagers aware of the harms of drinking alcohol and reduce the amount of binge drinking that goes on. Lowering the drinking age would teach teenagers moderation. If they are drinking in a controlled setting where they are allowed to drink and don’t have to hide it, they will be more likely to casually drink. McCardell says that the 1984 Minimum Legal Drinking Age law was â€Å"an abysmal failure; it hasn’t reduced or eliminated drinking, it simply driven it underground, behind closed doors, into the most risky and least manageable of settings.† In the â€Å"60 minutes† interview with CBS, the Boulder, Colorado Chief of Police, Mark Beckner is also an advocate for lowering the drinking age to eighteen. He says that â€Å"we can’t stop it. The best we can do is try to contain it.† According to the 2010 National Survey on Drug use and Health, driving under the influence of alcohol was associated with age. The age group with the highest number of infractions(including wrecks) was the twenty-one to twenty-five year-old group at 23.4% of infractions being drunk/having been drinking as opposed to only 15.1% in the eighteen-twenty year-old group and a mere 5.8% in sixteen and seventeen year-olds. As far as fatal crashes go, the highest percent of drunk drivers that were involved in a fatal car crash was the group of 21-24 year olds. 25-34 year olds came in at 30%, 35-44 at 24% and all fatal car crashes of individuals that were above age 44 and below age 21 was only 14%. Driving under the influence of alcohol was associated with age in 2010. The rate was highest among persons aged 21 to 25 (23.4 percent). An estimated 5.8 percent of 16 or 17 year olds and 15.1 percent of 18 to 20 year olds reported driving under the influence of alcohol in the past year. Beyond age 25, these rates showed a general decline with increasing age. Many other western have long had a much more lenient attitude toward alcohol and alcoholic beverages. Many have set their Minimum Legal Drinking Age at 18, some at 16 and some do not even have a Minimum Legal Drinking Age. In many countries, such as Germany, there are very few drunk driving incidents whatsoever. In these countries parents often consume alcoholic beverages with their children, including beer or wine(in countries like France). By the time Europeans are allowed to drive they have been educated on the effects of alcohol and have been consuming alcohol for several years. Safe alcohol consumption should the same way as safe sex practices and drivers education classes. No one us naà ¯ve enough to think that teenagers will practice abstinence to avoid sexual encounters only in order to avoid a sexually transmitted disease, so why are people foolish enough to believe that teens will avoid alcohol just due to it’s dangers? Lowering the Minimum Legal Drinking Age will cause the teens who drink to rebel against their authorities to not drink as much due to it not being rebellious. Until a solution is agreed upon about whether the drinking age should be lowered, or stay at the age of 21, this will remain a controversial topic. Using these strategies in this essay works well to effectively persuade every single viewer that underage drinking is in fact a problem, and is attributed to the current law not allowing people to buy or consume alcohol under the age of 21. Because of the problems that are created because of this current law, it would be in this country’s best interest to lower the drinking age. This would prevent an increased number of alcohol related deaths due to underage binge drinking in the future. These are just a few of the reasons that the Minimum Legal Drinking Age act of 1984 should be repealed and the Minimum Legal Drinking Age should be at age 18. Works Cited Chafetz, Morris E. â€Å"The 21-Year-Old Drinking Age: I Voted For It; It Doesn’t Work.† Good Reasons With Contemporary Arguments. Eds. Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer. Boston: Longman, 2012. 554-555. Print McCardell, John. â€Å"A Drinking Age of 21 Doesn’t Work.† Good Reasons With Contemporary Arguments. Eds. Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer. Boston: Longman, 2012. 550-553. Print. â€Å"Issue in Focus: Drinking on College Campuses.† Good Reasons With Contemporary Arguments. Eds. Lester Faigley and Jack Selzer. Boston: Longman, 2012. 548-550. Print. CBSNews. (2010, March 01). The debate on lowering the drinking age. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-18560_162-4813571.html-

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Apple

The production concept is a useful philosophy in two types of situation. The first occurs when the demand for a product exceeds the supply. Here, management should look for ways to increase production. The second situation occurs when the product’s cost is too high and improved productivity is needed to bring it down. 2. The Product Concept The product concept holds that consumers will favor products that offer the most quality, performance and innovative features, and that an organization should thus devote energy to making continuous product improvements. Some manufacturers believe that if they can build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to their door. . The Selling Concept The selling concept holds that consumers will not buy enough of the organization’s products unless it undertakes a large-scale selling and promotion effort. The concept is typically practiced with unsought floods – those that buyers do not normally think of buying, such as encyclopedias and funeral plots. These industries must be good at tracking down prospects and convincing them of product benefits. The selling co ncept is also practiced in the non-profit area. A political party, for example, will vigorously sell its candidate to voters as a fantastic person for the job. The candidate works hard at selling him or herself – shaking hands, kissing babies, meeting donors and making speeches. Much money also has to be spent on radio and television advertising, posters and mailings. 4. Marketing Concept The marketing concept holds that achieving organizational goals depends on determining the needs and wants of target markets and delivering the desired satisfactions more effectively and efficiently than competitors do. Also Case Study will describe why Apple Inc. is a very successful company. Surprisingly, this concept is a relatively recent business philosophy. The marketing concept takes an outside-in perspective. It starts with a well-defined market, focuses on customer needs, co-ordinates all the marketing activities affecting customers and makes profits by creating long-term customer relationships based on customer value and satisfaction. Under the marketing concept, companies produce what the consumer wants, thereby satisfying the consumer and making profits. . Societal Marketing Concept The societal marketing concept holds that the organization should determine the needs, wants and interests of target markets. It should then deliver the desired satisfactions more effectively and efficiently than competitors in a way that maintains or improves the consumer’s and the society’s well being. The societal marketing concept is the newest of the five marketing management philosophies. Which orientation do you believe Apple follows when marketing products such as the iPhone and iPad? For most, safest answer will be, â€Å"The Apple Company follows all the marketing orientations, and that’s what made them very successful. † That somehow is true. But particularly speaking, I believe that the Apple Company focuses more on, The Marketing Concept, producing a very innovative, efficient, worthy, and consumer-satisfying product- such as the iPhone and iPad. The price of an Apple product may not be very affordable to everyone, but for whatever price you invest to an Apple product, it’s worth the value. Even though the products don’t go through a lot of promotions and special prices, people sold out Apple products, and most of the time, the company leaves the people asking for more. Apple knows which products to produce, and most especially what will make its’ competitors anxious and disturbed. Apple is with no doubt a big competition in the global industry. Apple Apple The production concept is a useful philosophy in two types of situation. The first occurs when the demand for a product exceeds the supply. Here, management should look for ways to increase production. The second situation occurs when the product’s cost is too high and improved productivity is needed to bring it down. 2. The Product Concept The product concept holds that consumers will favor products that offer the most quality, performance and innovative features, and that an organization should thus devote energy to making continuous product improvements. Some manufacturers believe that if they can build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to their door. . The Selling Concept The selling concept holds that consumers will not buy enough of the organization’s products unless it undertakes a large-scale selling and promotion effort. The concept is typically practiced with unsought floods – those that buyers do not normally think of buying, such as encyclopedias and funeral plots. These industries must be good at tracking down prospects and convincing them of product benefits. The selling co ncept is also practiced in the non-profit area. A political party, for example, will vigorously sell its candidate to voters as a fantastic person for the job. The candidate works hard at selling him or herself – shaking hands, kissing babies, meeting donors and making speeches. Much money also has to be spent on radio and television advertising, posters and mailings. 4. Marketing Concept The marketing concept holds that achieving organizational goals depends on determining the needs and wants of target markets and delivering the desired satisfactions more effectively and efficiently than competitors do. Also Case Study will describe why Apple Inc. is a very successful company. Surprisingly, this concept is a relatively recent business philosophy. The marketing concept takes an outside-in perspective. It starts with a well-defined market, focuses on customer needs, co-ordinates all the marketing activities affecting customers and makes profits by creating long-term customer relationships based on customer value and satisfaction. Under the marketing concept, companies produce what the consumer wants, thereby satisfying the consumer and making profits. . Societal Marketing Concept The societal marketing concept holds that the organization should determine the needs, wants and interests of target markets. It should then deliver the desired satisfactions more effectively and efficiently than competitors in a way that maintains or improves the consumer’s and the society’s well being. The societal marketing concept is the newest of the five marketing management philosophies. Which orientation do you believe Apple follows when marketing products such as the iPhone and iPad? For most, safest answer will be, â€Å"The Apple Company follows all the marketing orientations, and that’s what made them very successful. † That somehow is true. But particularly speaking, I believe that the Apple Company focuses more on, The Marketing Concept, producing a very innovative, efficient, worthy, and consumer-satisfying product- such as the iPhone and iPad. The price of an Apple product may not be very affordable to everyone, but for whatever price you invest to an Apple product, it’s worth the value. Even though the products don’t go through a lot of promotions and special prices, people sold out Apple products, and most of the time, the company leaves the people asking for more. Apple knows which products to produce, and most especially what will make its’ competitors anxious and disturbed. Apple is with no doubt a big competition in the global industry. Apple Apple

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Reaction Paper to A. Gavin's Diasporic Africans and Slavery Essay

Reaction Paper to A. Gavin's Diasporic Africans and Slavery - Essay Example The basis stated for enslaving Africans by a majority of scholars was that Africans were much easier to purchase compared to other indigenous Americans or white slaves (Gavins 92). Africans were also less vulnerable to Europeans’ diseases as compared to the Europeans themselves. According to Raymond Gavins, it is true to say that Africans formed better slave laborers compared to Europeans. Raymond says that it is also a belief that Africans were targeted as slaves since they did not have the technology or advanced skills that Europeans had during the time when slave trade was so common. Africans still live in isolated tribes with restricted or limited communication among other people rather than large cites as the Europeans. Also, Africans never realized that they were being shipped off to the New World to work as slaves (Gavins 93). They realized this once they docked in the New World. This made them more vulnerable to slave trade than any other race. In the past, slave labor was an accepted norm in the Western society (Gavins 94). This was particularly in complex financial systems and areas that needed specialized labor. Europeans who decided to settle in the New World took with them slaves that they had acquired from West Africa. Slavery was essential in the whole southern economy, southern colonies and states, mainly due to agriculture. Agriculture was the main factor of the southern states and economy (Gavins 95). Slaves, on the other hand, were the main laborers when it came to planting. The southern land could not have worked as fast as it did without slave labor. Therefore, in order to drive the economy of the southern states and colonies, it was essential to maintain slavery in the region. African American slaves, in the new world, looked for survival and liberation in a couple of ways. They included economic, environmental and political

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Argumentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Argumentation - Essay Example Critical analysis of these phenomena allows seeing some common prejudices. Men have the necessity to remain behind the mask of masculinity showing no emotions and being aggressive. Women have second roles and are supposed to be treated accordingly and that is why women have no power. These distorted narrative about man and women create many problems for both sexes as it turns out. And the essay is aimed to show which exact problems appear because of this. Boys are taught from the little age to be real men. However, what exactly being a real man means is usually learnt from media. And children unable to understand what is literal and what is not take everything for granted. For instance, Pixar was shooting cartoons with the leading characters being male only. Lonely male creatures in the company of male characters went off on some quest or fought villains in all the Pixar cartoons. Women played secondary roles or sometimes even become final achievements of the heroes. And boys along with girls learn that women cannot be leaders and cannot dream to be presidents. However, since when leadership skills are about power and not about the ability to think analytically and to find resolutions of the problems? And women are equally good in these tasks. Moreover, boys are taught to avoid emotions as emotions are perceived as female feature. However, avoiding real feelings leads to their suppression and to ruining any boy`s personality. The video â€Å"The mask you live in† shows that the results of such changes in psyche are pitiful. Boys are often diagnosed with behavioral disorders and receive medications as treatment, abuse alcohol and drugs and even commit suicides. They are also are more likely to become criminals since they always need to show their masculinity and aggression. The situation with girls is even more critical. Despite feministic movement girls have to fit the stereotypes of womanliness: be gentle and speechless.

Monday, August 26, 2019

An economical analysis of the car market in Saudi Arabia Essay

An economical analysis of the car market in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example The region has been affected by the Arab uprising causing many economies to strain. The move by the government of Saudi Arabia to inject US$37 billion into the economic social initiatives is likely to improve the consumer purchasing power (Hutchison and Davies 42). This has increased the sales and revenues in the motor vehicle sector. Most retailers and importers in the country have started dealership expansion programs. This paper gives an economic analysis of the car market in Saudi Arabia. The car market in the country has been bent towards high-end models. However, there is a propensity towards purchases in the lower-priced family cars. The cars to small and their running cost are economical. The demand for family cars is expected to rise with increase in population (IMF, 2008). In 2010, the market for ultra-luxury cars grew by 39 percent. Porsche and Lexus have opened high-end servicing centers in anticipation for rising demand. Commercial vehicles are responsible for 20 percent of the demand for auto mobile products in Saudi Arabia. The increasing spending in government infrastructure and the demand created by visiting pilgrims continues to be a major boost in the sector. Literature review Saudi Arabia remains the largest importer of vehicles in Middle East (Hutchison and Davies 42). ... This has affected the car industry positively (IMF, 2008). In 2009, about 600,000 units were purchased. This represented a sales rise of 1 percent. However, the demand for vehicles grew by 12 percent in the following year (Ahmed, 103). The flood situation in Thailand and the tsunami in Japan affected the supply chains in the Saudi market (Hutchison and Davies 42). This resulted to 0.7 percent decline. The growth in demand for private vehicles was inversely proportional to the commercial vehicles in 2011 (IMF, 2008). The automobile industry is dominated by Japanese brands (Abushakra, 19). This accounts for over 60 percent. Increased competition from Korean brands is making the automobile industry favorable to the customers (Hutchison and Davies 42). The Korean brands are low priced and offer improved quality (Abushakra, 19). The trends in the automobile market share are changing as new market entrants gain momentum in the local market (Hutchison and Davies 42). The young generation is getting draw to small cars causing a shift of preference. The expansion in the private sector is responsible for the surge in demand for small cars (Hakes, 51). The automotive sector in the Saudi market is expected to grow by about 7 percent in the next two years. The imports are might grow to over one million cars (IMF, 2008). The financial support for the importation of cars is on the increase as banks offer increased credit to support supply levels (Hakes, 51). The oil revenues continue to support the fiscal position of the government. Increased spending on the infrastructure is causing the demand for vehicles to remain high (Ahmed, 103). The modernizing of transport facilities in the kingdom will result in sustainable development (Hutchison and Davies 42). The

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Ancient Chinese Contributions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Ancient Chinese Contributions - Essay Example Among of these ancient Chinese inventions or contributions include the movable type printing, toilet paper, porcelain, harnesses for horses, ship’s rudder, deep drilling, iron pillows, seed drill, compass, and row planting (Listverse Com, 2009, 207-210). Of the identified Ancient Chinese inventions or contributions, the four most ingenious or innovative inventions are the movable type printing, compass, porcelain, and toilet paper. The movable type of printing could be the most useful invention or contribution from the ancient Chinese, specifically from the Song Dynasty. History has a proof of how printing has evolved during the ancient times of Chinese in which, the first printing has produced a printed book from full-page woodcuts. Innovative approaches were tried back then to improve the quality and time of printing. Bi Sheng is one of the person who has developed innovations in the existing printing set up and has made reusable and typesetting techniques to clay-fired char acters (Listverse Com, 2009, 210). Due to its authenticity, the technology was not perfected until 1450s and after the emergence of metal type printing in 1490s. Without the printing technology that was brought to us by the ancient Chinese, historians might not have relay to us historical events, cultures, and customs which were attributed to ancient Chinese and other races. In addition, the discovery of printing technology has been very useful in the transfer of knowledge and in communication among nations. During the feudal period, the invention of a Chinese maritime compass have also been of great help in aspects of travel, exploration, and barter (exchange of goods). Sea explorers have adapted the use of compass at sea during 10th or 11th century to find the countries with rich number of resources or spices (Pelt & Matthews, 2010, 37). It has also been used for on land as a divination tool and as a direct finder. Unaware of the scientific breakthrough which this ancient inventio n has created, compass is ingenious to the ancient Chinese as it has served the foundation for thermoremanence technology. Because of the continuous innovations for the development of compass, ancient Chinese mariners has produced thermoremanence needles to replace lodestone spoons. In addition, the discovery of compass has paved the way for meeting other nations that could help in the exchange of goods, improvement of geographical knowledge, and enrichment of culture. Meanwhile, porcelain could not only be one of the most useful inventions or contributions but the most visible reflection of ancient Chinese influences. Porcelain was invented during the time of Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD) and was made from a mineral compound which was known for strength, translucence, and beauty (Listverse Com, 2009, 209). Chinese porcelain has been valued for its uniqueness as a very specific kind of ceramic was produced by extreme temperatures of a kiln. Back then, ancient Chinese used porcelain for c rockery purposes; but now, it is often used for aesthetic purposes as the beautiful cravings or inscriptions on the porcelain reflect the rich cultural arts of ancient Chinese. In addition, porcelain is also used as a material in the bathroom and in crown replacement for natural teeth in dentistry. Without this beautiful and artistic invention or contribution, pottery would be known to the world and the materials for bathroom or dentistry purposes would not be

Mass production for ordinary consumers (Thesis- I believe that mass Essay

Mass production for ordinary consumers (Thesis- I believe that mass production of food by companies for consumers are putting the life of individual at risk - Essay Example ney and guarantees stability of quality but I believe that mass production of food by companies for consumers are putting the life of individual at risk. Most obviously mass production of food was reasonable and necessary at the times of industrialization when many people were moving from villages to cities. It helped to provide all classes of population with cheap food of a decent quality because it was made under uniformed conditions. However, as a result all local production has become less and less profitable and local cuisine has ceased to exist (Local Shops 1). In all the regions of the United states people can buy Domino`s pizza with the same taste and eat McDonald`s cheeseburgers. Moreover, in all the countries of the world it is possible to buy Coca–Cola and Lay`s and be sure that their taste is absolutely familiar. Supermarkets took places of small bakeries and vegetable stores turning people into robots who do not differentiate between a chicken from a neighborhood farm and a chicken from a big factory. It makes people less aware of what they are eating and it influences their health. As food giants tend to sell as many products as possible they need to save money on ingredients. It is no wonder that food made on factories and prepared in fast food restaurant chains is not expensive and good looking. First, it mostly contains fats, sodium, and sugar that are harmful for health. Moreover, there is a necessity to guarantee that almost all food will be sold that is why food giants make everything possible to extend the shelf life of the products. A number of additives are supposed to make food look more appealing. However, such ingredients as olestra, aspartame, artificial colors and flavors, monosodium glutamate, saccharin, sodium nitrate, sulfites, cyclamate, caffeine, BHA, BHT and acesulfame-potassium, are not natural and can evoke allergic reaction (Bruso 1). Mass production and fast food industry are considered to be the primary reasons of

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Epidemiology and Public Health Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Epidemiology and Public Health - Research Paper Example The monarch lives in Buckingham Palace. Parliament meets in Westminster Palace. The borough has an important railroad terminal (Paddington). In Westminster are the administrative offices of the British Broadcasting Corp.; London's chief shopping district; Harley St., a center of medical practice; and a clothing industry. Westminster School is a leading public school, founded in the 14th cent and reestablished by Queen Elizabeth I in 1560(Encyclopedia). Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Saint James's Palace, the National Gallery, the Tate Gallery, the imposing Central Mosque, the Imperial College of Science and Technology, St. James's Park, Hyde Park, parts of Regent's Park and Kensington Gardens, Mme Tussaud's waxworks, and Kensal Green Cemetery, resting place of several literary figures are other notable features of the borough of Westminster (Encyclopedia) . The data on population other demographic variables of the borough of Westminster have been collected from the office for National Statistics. For the purpose of the course work these data have been rearranged and presented by means of a pyramid (Figure 1.1). The data belong to the period of 2006 and it mainly exhibits the data relating to male and female and their age group. The following table (Table 1.1) and the pyramid (Figure 1.1) exhibits the entire data in a more comprehensible way. Table 1.1- Sex-wise Demographic Data Age Group Male Female Total 0-4 5900 5800 11700 5-9 4600 4500 9100 9-14 4000 3800 7800 15-19 5300 5100 10400 20-24 10800 12600 23400 25-29 15400 16800 32200 30-34 15700 13700 29400 35-39 12200 9500 21700 40-44 8900 7800 16700 45-49 6700 6400 13100 50-54 5000 5400 10400 55-59 5600 5900 11500 60-64 4300 4800 9100 65-69 3300 3600 6900 70-74 2800 3400 6200 75-79 2400 2800 5200 80-84 1600 2200 3800 85 + 1200 2000 3200 Table no.1.2 Population for Westminster, 2006 Age Group Males Females 0-4 5900 5800 5-9 4600 4500 10-14 4000 3800 15-19 5300 5100 20-24 10800 12600 25-29 15400 16800 30-34 15700 13700 35-39 12200 9500 40-44 8900 7800 45-49 6700 6400 50-54 5000 5400 55-59 5600 5900 60-64 4300 4800 65-69 3300 3600 70-74 2800 3400 75-79 2400 2800 80-84 1600 2200 85+ 1200 2000 Total 115900 116000 Total Population 231900 Table 1.3: Resident Population Estimates by Age Group and Sex Westminster Borough MALE FEMALE Age Group Population Total Percentage Age Group Population Total Percentage 0-4 5900 115900 5 0-4 5800 116000 5 5-9 4600 115900 3.96 5-9 4500 116000 3.87 9-14 4000 115900 3.45 9-14 3800 116000 3.27 15-19 5300 115900 4.57 15-19 5100 116000 4.39 20-24 10800 115900 9.31 20-24 12600 116000 10.86 25-29 15400 115900 13.28 25-29 16800 116000 14.48 30-34 15700 115900 13.54 30-34 13700 116000 11.81 35-39 12200 115900 10.52 35-39 9500 116000 8.18 40-44 8900 115900 7.67 40-44 7800 116000 6.72 45-49 6700 115900 5.78 45-49 6400 116000 5.51 50-54 5000 115900 4.31 50-54 5400 116000 4.65 55-59 5600 115900 4.83 55-59 5900 116000 5.08 60-64 4300 115900 3.71 60-64 4800 116000 4.13 65-69 3300 115900 2.84 65-69 3600 116000 3.10 70-74 2800 115900 2.41 70-74 3400 116000 2.93 75-79 2400 115900 2.07 75-79 2800 116000 2.41 80-84 1600 115900 1.38 80-84 2200 116000 1.89 85

Friday, August 23, 2019

The Positive Results and the Expansion of the Company Essay - 3

The Positive Results and the Expansion of the Company - Essay Example Looking at other management styles such as the strategy and democratic, there is a clear indication that the command and control belittle human beings. Kazmi (2008, pg401) asserts that strategists and Democrats in management are more open-minded in that they allow participation of the employees in the development of the organization. He also adds that, in the quest of having the best rules, there must be regular refining of the existing ones. Everyone should be involved in decision making geared to bring change is significant. In the video presentation by Job Stains (public conversation website, n.d.), attention is herein brought on the validity of a participative managing style rather than the command and control. He demonstrates that the mind of a human being works better when relaxed. Once threatened, hormones that would compel the person to revenge are produced. The person may just freeze just like in the military when soldiers are told to do so by their commander. The idea is tr ying to have a constructive conversation to work out properly. Just from the lecture, a good manager should have qualities that allow him to have the audacity to inquire. He should ask what went wrong and what should be done to attain stability. A dialogue formula is the best. Being innovative and proactive will help find solutions amicably. This means everybody will be satisfied, and respect will be upheld. There will be no hatred within the juniors and the superiors. The narrative therapists (Morgan, 2000) have it in mind that, for an appropriate management style, conversations are the key to achievement.

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Recommended procedures for improvement Essay Example for Free

Recommended procedures for improvement Essay As systems turn out to be more programmed and mechanized, those in charge of information system have a tendency to consider that more power will construct their processes better organized. In pulling manufacturing and design en route for computerization, the inclination is to provide as much power as probable to the mechanism and leave the lingering job tasks at hand. This automation viewpoint reduces the information and perceptive capacities of workers and pushes them to dislike the technology. Premises in the field of information system management are significant whether one’s orientation is in the direction of research or practice (Tapscott, 3). The responsibility of an organization is to help out in withdrawing the complication of the world and explaining and predicting proceedings. Given the information that the purpose of information system management management is to lessen the convolution of the empirical world by means of technology can benefit from sound improvement. While the complexity of the information system plan will vary based on the size of the district, it has to include a mission statement and rational, quantifiable goals and objectives that can be attained, in most cases, with obtainable resources. The Alachua’s budget also has to reflect the financial obligation to major technology initiatives included in the plan. Additionally, the planning process must include proceedings that allow decision makers to gauge the benefits of investments in information system and abandon or alter failed strategies for more triumphant ones. Methods of making a Web site secure from hackers It is not that software has turned out to be less protected, and it’s not almost certainly because of potential attackers having increased in number. The reason that hackers are more common is likely because many people do not know how to protect their Web sites. To make a website free from hackers, simply: (1) know your enemy, (2) create ‘strong’ passwords, (3) use good software, (4) update recurrently, (5) use a hardware server-side firewall and (6) facilitate WPA or WEP encryption on wireless network connections. Digital Signature Digital signatures are just like written signatures these are used to provide verification of the related input, typically called a ‘message’ (may be anything) a message sent in a more complicated cryptographic protocol or from an electronic mail to a contract. In cryptography, a digital signature or is a kind of asymmetric cryptography used to reproduce the security properties of a signature in digital than in a written form. Digital signatures usually give two algorithms one for signing that involves a user’s secret (private key), and one for validating signatures that involves user’s public key and the output of the signature method is known as the digital signature. â€Å"Terms and Conditions† or â€Å"Conditions of Use† -Websites and its related services are administered by the Terms and Conditions of Use, and the constant access to websites and its services is put through the user’s agreement to be bound by the Terms and Conditions of Use, as they may alter occasionally. Terms and Conditions of Use is a provision placed on a website notifying users regarding how the website deals with a user’s rights and responsibilities. Some websites characterize their Terms and Conditions of Use allowing users to routinely assess its services offered. If a user does not agree to Terms and Conditions of Use, a user may not use the website or its services. Plans of Alachua County in information system must state who is responsible for implementing and updating the technology plan. The Alachua County District’s technology plan must includes information on individual needs, equitable resource allocation, cost-effective acquisitions, technology funding, infrastructure and networking issues, technology-related professional development, support needs, and information management and delivery. On the other hand, the district’s does not make use of this best practice for the reason that the plan is not complete, is not based on a valid needs assessment, and is not evaluated and updated in a scheduled manner. The constituency should guarantee that the goals listed in the plan are detailed, quantifiable, manageable, rational, and time-bounded. The county also should ensure that the plan is monitored and updated based on valid data related to the district’s technology needs, skills, usage, and fluency levels among district employees. Strategies in the county’s strategic plan relate to technology and are considered the goals for the technology plan. In the district technology plan, the objectives are ambiguous (e. g. : guarantee, renovate, generate, etc.). Few of the objectives are assessable and are not based on detailed standards, making it complicated to document whether the objective was acquired. Additionally, it is imperative to note down that all decision-making in information system management is derived from some embedded premise. For the reason that the consequences by means of vague assumption information system management are better for all assumptions that give understanding may perhaps have even greater importance to all organizations (Tenkasi, 27). If one relies barely on the capability to forecast events devoid of understanding them, there is a greater prospective for making underprivileged, or at least unproductive decisions. The recommendations given are good examples of research that has hardened models of managing information systems in local areas and even in worldwide perspective. Yet there is still a need for more investigations to be able to accomplish a more constructive course of action in business information technology management. Information technology systems and management necessitate of a solid abstract establishment to direct both practice and research. Even though many of the recommendations being proposed by scholars and scientists in this field may possibly be compelling prescriptions for those who are on the lookout for something further than unsystematic information management, unless information management turns out to be strongly stranded in theories of organization. Works Cited: Tapscott, D. (1998) Growing Up Digital:The Rise of the Net Generation. McGraw Hill. Tenkasi, RV (1995) Technology transfer as collaborative learning. NY: Free Press Wesier, P. J. (2003). The Internet, Innovation, and Intellectual Property Policy. 103 Colum. L. Rev 534.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

American Cultures Impact On The Media Cultural Studies Essay

American Cultures Impact On The Media Cultural Studies Essay None cultures are the same every nation has their own distinct and values. The American and American cultures have very vast differentiation between them. While the culture of America is a mixture of different cultures, the Bangladeshi culture is unique and has its own values and customs. One of the major differences that can be seen between American and Bangladeshi culture is in family relations. While the Bangladeshi are very much family and religious oriented, the Americans are individual oriented. In Bangladeshi culture, the family values are given more prominence than the individual values. Bangladeshi respect family and religious values. On the other hand, in American culture the individual value gets prominence than the family values. Indians are more committed to their family where as the Americans are more committed to themselves only (Difference Between, 2010). The United States is a dynamic country, covering the breadth of a continent. Many cultural currents exist and coexist within American life. The sections that follow do not attempt to cover every aspect of American culture, but instead zero in on some phenomena, like television, films and American music, that newcomers can study in order to learn more about American life. American values have developed over several centuries, affecting (and often being enriched by) successive waves of immigrants. The best way to look at it is to realize that while Americans are often open to new ways of thinking, they have a deep culture, and a deep sense of being American, one that is not always that easy to describe (Life in the USA,2010). Bangladesh has a rich, diverse culture. Its deeply rooted heritage is thoroughly reflected in its architecture, dance, literature, music, painting and clothing. The three primary religions of Bangladesh (Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam) have had a great influence on its culture and history. The people of Bangladesh have a rich fictional legacy, with the first available form of literature being over a thousand years old. Bengali literature developed considerably during the medieval period with the rise of popular poets such as Chandi Das, Daulat Kazi an Alaol (Bangladesh.com, 2010). Although, local music is still popular in Bangladeshi culture, the younger generation is influenced by the western songs. Youth of America is inspired by American artists, movies, and musical bands are becoming more popular in Bangladesh. Coca Cola and Michael Jackson are popular now in Bangladesh. Fast food, a product of American culture, is available but only in major cities and hotels. Most of the people prefer local foods and deserts. Literacy rate in Bangladesh is high compared with other developing countries. For males, it is 54% and literacy rates among Bangladeshi women are 41.4% (CIA the World Factbook, 2010). Main Body Impact of American Culture on Bangladeshi Culture, Media, and Language Culture: Culture can be described as the exclusive system of shared values, customs, beliefs, artifacts, and behaviors that the society members use to confront with their world and also with one another. Moreover, they are transmitted from one generation to another through learning. Culture also refers to the overall cumulative deposit of experience, beliefs, knowledge, values, meanings, attitudes, hierarchies, notions of time, religion, spatial relations, themes of the universe, and possessions acquired by a specific group of people during generations through group and individual striving (Bhabha, 2004). Significant differences are found between cultures of Bangladesh and America. Bangladeshi culture is a sophisticated blend of eastern culture and Islamic traditions. American culture, on the other hand, is a typical example of westernization with distinctive traditions, customs, attitudes and beliefs. It is pertinent to mention that culture is dynamic in nature. Cultures do change over time accepting new traditions while rejecting older ones (refà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦). Bangladeshi culture is increasingly becoming influenced by American culture even though the rate of transformation is considerably low compared with other neighboring countries like India and Pakistan. For example, the tradition of celebrating New Year is common feature of American culture. In Bangladesh, the upper-middle and upper class have embraced this ritual arranging functions to enjoy the events. The New Year celebrations are, however, different from those in American society. Drinks are non-alcoholic and food is prepared as per Islamic traditions. The Asian culture is evident in marriages and social gatherings. Night clubs and lounges are becoming popular in the major cities only especially in Dhaka- the capital city. These night clubs are, however, operated only in the main hotels and mostly open to the tourists. The concept of nightlife being a common feature of American culture is also experienced in the large hotels. The middle and lower class along with those living in rural areas are still hesitant and refuse to accept the westernization of culture. Media: Despite numerous symposia Media has become a significant part of daily life in Bangladesh. Fifty years ago, only radio and newspapers represented the media. Today, media plays a significant and dominant role at every level. Similar to American media, all forms including radio, the newspaper, internet, and television are playing their role. The process of change in the style of media is also not high. In America, number of channels is in hundreds if not thousands. Bangladesh Television is the main channel being government-controlled and government-owned medium (ref). Influenced by the aggression of American TV channels and the powerful role played by media to form public opinion, some satellite channels have been established in Bangladesh (Bangladesh.com2010). More than hundred and thousand different not only America they are spreading all over the world but if we think about Hollywood which utterly affecting every corner of the world. World are made about Hollywood move especi ally young star are crazy to see Hollywood movie. Globalisation demands market liberalization and the liberalization of media also. For that, though the government always heavily controlled the state owned radio and television channels but, in the early 90s, they gave permission to broadcast commercially the satellite channels. Before that, the government even started relaying the news of BBC and CNN through the state owned channel Bangladesh Television. As a result Bangladeshi audience were flooded by Immense of foreign channels. Languages: With over 1 billion speakers globally, modern English is the worlds dominant international language for business, science, medicine, communications, media, entertainment, culture, diplomacy, and countless other fields. For many, the ability to communicate smoothly and naturally in English is the first step to securing a better future for themselves and their families for generations to come (ESLA, 2010). Nowadays, English is considered the worlds most widespread second language; it is used in areas as diverse as the internet, television and radio, and international aviation. The success of English throughout the world stems from two major causes: the far reaching influence of the British Empire, and the 20th century (and continuing) dominance of the United States in the fields of business and entertainment. English is used as a second language mostly in upper and middle class of Bangladesh. The mother tongue and national language is Bangla but due to impact of American cul ture inspired from movies, music, and culture, many words of English language have entered the native language. English words like telephone, television, radio, video, and computer do not have a Bengali term and, as such, used commonly by the citizens of Bangladesh regardless of social class (Brady Bashar,2004). Of course, there are positive moments in the influence of American culture, because it is a step forward to receiving the help from the global community to develop the country, to make it more democratic, to open borders and develop society. All above mentioned processes are constructive, but there also exists the negative impact. Bangladesh may lose it cultural peculiarities, original traditions and genuine mentality. It may be a disadvantage for keeping the country really Bangladeshi; it may become American with some elements of Bangladeshi culture. As a matter of fact due to globalization American culture is influencing Bangladesh through the media, lifestyle, culture and languages and will be influencing more and more. Media shows the American style of life with its pros and cons and people may accept them. English language is absorbed by the national language, Bangla words are being replaced by the American ones. This may lead to American acquisition of the Bangladeshi society. Conclusion: American culture are historically encompasses with their traditions, customs, beliefs ideals, values, arts, history, languages and different innovation of modern technologies which adopted by domestically and globally via colonization. American formed around the world largest immigrants who extremely influence by multicultural society and world cultures are integrated through different nationalities. In the earliest 19th century, America experienced massive immigration different part of the world which is one of the important futures of American history and it has given to raise multiculturalism America. Reference/ Bibliography: Bhabha, H, 2004. The Location of Culture, Routledge Haggett, Peter (2002). The Indian Subcontinent. Encyclopedia of World Geography. New York: Marshall Cavendish. Wood, Geoffrey D. (1994). Bangladesh: Whose ideas, whose interests?. Intermediate Technology Publications Lifeintheusa (2010) http://www.lifeintheusa.com/culture/index.html[accese on 06-12-10] Bangladesh (2010) http://www.bangladesh.com/culture/[Accessed on 06-12-10] Metrolingu (2010) http://www.metrolingua.com/tips.htm/[Accessed on 06-12-10] Difference Between (2010) Difference between American and Indian culture | Difference Between | American vs Indian culture http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-american-and-indian-culture/#ixzz17GpIsu7L[Accese on line 05-12-2010] Weekly holiday (2010)http://www.weeklyholiday.net/2008/261208/anniv08/11.html[Accesed on 01-12-2010] English as a Second Language Academy (2010)http://www.eslacademy.com/[ACCESED ON 28-11-10] Nathan Gardels and Nathan Mike Medavoy (2009) American Idol after Iraq: Competing for Hearts and Minds in the Global Media Age [1st Ed.] Maryanne Kearny Datesman, JoAnn Crandall and Edward N. Kearny (2005) American Ways: An Introduction to American Culture (3rd Edition) Douglas Kellner (1995) Media Culture, Cultural studies, identity and politics between the modern and the postmodern. What is Culture (2010) available at http://anthro.palomar.edu/culture/culture_1.htm[accesed on 30-11-10]

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Taiwan: Major Industires

Taiwan: Major Industires TAIWAN: MAJOR INDUSTRIES The major industries in Taiwan are electronics, petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals. We can have a look at the major industries one by one and then do an analysis on the investment opportunities on one of them. SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY Taiwan has truly emerged as a global leader in the semiconductor and microelectronics industry and serves as the home of the worlds top IC foundries, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) and United Microelectronics (UMC), which hold a majority of the market share. Taiwan is also an important player in Mask ROM production, IC packaging and IC testing, accounting for 57.1%, 32% and 36% of global market shares respectively. Taiwan-based Advanced Semiconductor Engineering Inc (ASE) and Siliconware Precision Industries (SPIL) lead the IC packaging industry, while ASE Test and ChipMOS Technologies lead the IC testing industry. Taiwans IC design industry has ranked second only to the US, accounting for 28.4% of the market worldwide. Media Tek, VIA, Realtek and Sunplus are among the top 20 IC design houses. Taiwan ranks as the worlds 3rd largest maker of DRAM components, supplying 17.1% of the market. Taiwan also serves as a key IC market, with a value of US$11 billion in 2002, representing 25.7% of the market in Asia and 8.1% of the global market. Competitive Advantage and Market Strengths Taiwan plays a major role in the global semiconductor industry, as the unique structure of its IC industry fosters close cooperation among diverse yet essential elements in the value chain, ranging from IC design and manufacturing to packaging and testing. Investment Opportunities and Market Potential The National Si-Soft Project was launched in 2003 in an effort to upgrade Taiwans IC industry from mainly contract manufacturing to RD and innovation oriented production. The project aims to make Taiwan the one-stop shop for IC designs, mix-and-match intellectual properties, manufacturing, and testing. The National Si-Soft Project is devoted to developing System-on-Chip (SoC) infrastructure in Taiwan. Specific contents of the Si-Soft Project include automation software, silicon intellectual property (IP), embedded software, and system single chip, which are all essential in IC design. New IC designs will in turn drive the development of information household appliances, photoelectricity, internet technologies, energy, communication, biological chips, and nanotechnology. The project offers various benefits such as: Providing available IP sources and a more simplified transaction flow for the IC design industry (including design services), in order to decrease the time required for IC design. Improving the competitiveness of practitioners in the system industry as they realize the system knowhow in their own SoC Effectively cultivating star IP vendors in the IP industry Attracting more customers with value-added products (more complete IP features) for chip manufacturers Allowing practitioners in the packaging and testing industries to interchange freely and learn about the most advanced technologies relevant to their field in order to further enhance their technological expertise DISPLAY AND OPTOELECTRONICS Taiwan has seen significant growth in its color imaging (CI) industry in recent years. The overall production value of the flat panel display (FPD) industry alone has increased more than twofold since 2001, totaling US$7.39 billion, of which 83.4% came from the production of large size TFT-LCD units. In Q1 2004, the islands Flat Panel Display (FPD) sales reached NT$171.3 billion (US$5.1 billion), a 115% increase on the previous year, and 2004 sales are projected to reach NT$727.1 billion (US$21.7 billion). As Taiwan manufacturers are positioned to start mass production on next generation panels (6th, 7th, and 7.5), the total production value of Taiwans FPD industry will surpass NT$1 trillion. Taiwan is currently expected to account for 41% of large-sized TFT-LCD panel supply in 2004, becoming the worlds largest production base. Major TFT-LCD makers in Taiwan, such as AU, Chi-Mei, CPT, QDI, Hannstar, Toppoly, and PVI, have contributed greatly to the progress of the CI industry. AU, which receives the majority of its funding from Taiwan, is the third largest panel supplier in the world, and is the largest producer in Taiwan. Chi Mei, the second largest producer in Taiwan, is fast approaching AU in terms of production value. Competitive Advantages and Market Strengths Over 30% of the key components for FPD, such as polarizers, backlight modules, color filters and driver ICs, are manufactured in Taiwan, and local component makers such as Optimax (polarizers), Forhouse and Radiant (backlights), Allied Material Technology, Cando and Sintek (color filters), Novatek and Winbond (driver ICs), work very closely with panel makers. These component and finished product manufacturers are clustered around the Taoyuan, Hsinchu, and Tainan areas, creating an integrated supply chain that further strengthens Taiwans position in the global IT industry. Investment Opportunities and Market Potential As Taiwan is the worlds second largest producer of panels and the market for components is quite large, the government is inviting foreign suppliers of materials and equipment to build factories in Taiwan, to enable faster and more effective product and service deliveries. Panel makers in Taiwan plan to establish G5 and G6 production lines, with the goal of becoming the leading panel supplier in the world. The government aims to generate US$40 billion in FPD production value by the year 2006. In the next three to four years, enterprises specializing in advanced components will have ample space for high growth potential. The government offers investors in the color imaging industry special tax reduction and investment incentives. Combined with a highly skilled workforce and abundant experience in the IT industry, Taiwan is the ideal destination for investment in the color imaging industry. Foreign Direct Investments in Taiwan The color imaging industry in Taiwan has grown very rapidly in the past few years. In light of an increasing demand for flat panels in the global market and strong competition, Taiwans vendors realize the importance of improving their technology and producing the right key components. The cost ratio for TFT-LCD components is quite high, with color filters at around 26% and glass substrate near 4%. Taiwans government has been active in soliciting foreign investors to manufacture these key components in Taiwan. BIOTECHNOLOGY AND PHARMACEUTICALS Taiwans concerted policy efforts to develop research, development and production capabilities in the biotech sector have paid off in creating a wealth of investment opportunities. Biotech research at Taiwans top academic institutions is gaining international attention, while development capabilities, fostered through joint industry and government support, are turning these research achievements into commercially viable products. Taiwans mature production and logistics capabilities, evidenced by its over 100 cGMP-awarded pharmaceutical manufacturers, have been widely recognized as powerhouses in this area. Goals for the Coming Decade Having established a solid foundation, the Taiwan government has designated the biotechnology industry for further development into a key industry in its Two Trillion, Twin Stars Plan and Challenge 2008 National Development Plan. Through the combined efforts of government, academia, research and industrial sectors, Taiwan is poised to become a major hub and logistics operations center for RD, manufacturing, and operations in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries within the Asia-Pacific region. The governments plans to promote the industry include achieving targets of NT$150 billion (US$4.34 billion) in investments and 25% annual revenue growth by 2008 and five hundred biotech-related companies within ten years. Competitive Advantages and Market Strengths Superior pharmaceutical production and manufacturing capabilities Geographically positioned close to potential markets in Asia allows for enhanced product development for Asian markets Excellent springboard for entering other Asian markets Ease of communication and reduced cultural barriers Strong venture capital and financial resources Abundance of technical specialists in organic chemistry, optoelectronics, integrated circuitry, automated systems, and other relevant fields Excellent research facilities and well-staffed healthcare organizations TELECOMMUNICATION Taiwan offers much potential in the telecommunications market, with one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in the region. High penetration rates in both the fixed-line and mobile phone sectors have encouraged growth in telecom products and services. Looking to 2004, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has announced plans to make the telecommunications industry one of Taiwans trillion dollar industries, which will nurture the development of wireless applications, 3G, and broadband services. Competitive Advantages and Market Strengths Taiwan is currently the fourth largest producer of PCs. As PC-related IC design and manufacturing technology in Taiwan have reached world standards, wireless communication and broadband communication products, related components/assemblies and systems products manufacturing technology have all been the beneficiaries of a multiplier effect. A growing number of Taiwan manufacturers boast manufacturing and marketing capabilities for research and development of xDSL, DLC, SDHH, DWDM, and cell-phone related products. If these are combined with telecommunications service capabilities of foreign companies, particularly in the area of content services, their ability to enter newly developing markets will surely stimulate a new wave of product demand. Taiwans world-class technological advantages enable it to benefit from US and Japanese RD resources. Taiwans central location in the Asian Pacific region provides ideal access to the emerging Mainland China and Southeast Asian markets and to manufacture highly-competitive communications technology products. For manufacturers advancing into newly developing markets, Taiwan remains the most advantageous base for business operations in the region. Investment Opportunities and Market Potential In order to establish Taiwan as a broadband communications technology island, the government has classified telecommunications as a strategic industry, allowing it to benefit from a host of investment and tax incentives. The Related Industries Promotion Plan is expected to facilitate the establishment of communication-oriented SoC IC design, fiber-optic components/assemblies, production facilities, software and telecommunications service industries innovation. IT product manufacturing is expected to reach its goal of surpassing US$ 30 billion by 2007. At the same time, in order to comply with telecommunications industry liberalization and national infrastructure requirements, Taiwan has in recent years gradually liberalized the 3G and wired network markets. Estimates for 2005 anticipate US$50 billion in equipment purchase orders and US$20 billion in telecommunication service industry revenues. Market opportunities are tremendous, making Taiwan the ideal investment destination for the equipment manufacturing industry and content service providers. MATERIALS AND FINE CHEMICALS The production value of the material and fine chemical industry in Taiwan has averaged approximately US$44.38 billion annually, with petrochemical materials, polymer, electrical materials and fine chemical products as major output. Taiwan is the largest producer of ABS, the second largest supplier of PTAs, and the fourth largest in PVCs, supplying the Taiwan domestic market and the worlds major markets, especially Mainland China. With a well-developed supplier chain and marketing channels all over the world, Taiwan plays a key role in many markets today. In fact, a growing number of leading companies, such as Chi-Mei, Nan Ya Plastics and Formosa Plastics in the material industry, and UPC, Dahin, Lee Chang Yung Chemical in the fine chemical industry, are emerging more visibly in the international markets. In addition, Eternal Chemical and Chang Chun Plastics in the electrical material industry, and Taiwan Shiseido, Grand Glory Biotechnology, Taiwan Sugar, and Taiwan Salt in the cosmetics industry are already well-established in their respective markets. As the IT industry becomes more competitive, Taiwans material and fine chemical industry has been focusing on semiconductors, plane display materials, print circuit boards, nanotechnology materials and other high value-added products. Investment Opportunities and Market Potentials Taiwan is home to a great number of talented RD and design people who are well-educated and possess experience with international companies, making the island more advantageous location for multinational companies to localize as part of a globalization strategy. In recent years, Taiwans IT industry has shown impressive progress the semiconductor, TFT-LCDs, and print circuit board industries are seeing dramatic growth and have reached large-scale production levels, thereby gaining strength in the international markets. The materials and fine chemical industry in Taiwan will be highly essential in supporting the IT industry and meeting its rigorous demands. The Challenge 2008 National Development Plan, a government-support project that shows a list of plans and incentives on land lease, funding, taxes, and other benefits, demonstrates the value that the materials and fine chemical industry brings to Taiwan. Taiwan has created vast opportunities for both international and domestic firms, with Mainland China as the biggest and most prominent market. With its strategic geographical location and experience in world trade, Taiwan makes the ideal center for manufacturing and market development in the Asia-Pacific region. FINANCE, SECURITIES AND INSURANCE With foreign exchanges reserves of over US$200 billion at the end of 2003, and a forecasted 4.5% economic growth rate for 2004, Taiwan continues to maintain a robust economy, due in part to government action on internationalization and liberalization policies. Competitive Advantages Market Strengths As a growing number of global industries are migrating to the Far East, Taiwan is an ideal location to establish a financial base. Multinational companies in Taiwan have access to more precise information on the Asia-Pacific region as they expand their business. In recent years, East Asia has become an important investment location for European and American countries. Taiwans stock market index is covered in both Dow Jones and Morgan Stanleys stock indices, to the benefit of foreign investors. In addition, the government has loosened restrictions on foreign capital in the Taiwan stock market, bringing more attention to Taiwans market. Investment Opportunities and Market Potential In pursuing its goal of becoming the financial center of East Asia, Taiwan is revising its financial policies to bring them to international standards. Examples of such policies include: Lifting constraints on offshore banking units (OBUs) Policies include expanding the depth and breadth of foreign currency market, and broadening the offshore banking units market and foreign currency overnight rate market to attract foreign financial institutions and enhance Taiwans position as a regional funding center. Taiwan will therefore expand its stock and bond markets, improve market regulation and efficiency, and promote the internationalization of the securities market. Foreign investors can buy and sell securities, bonds and public warrants freely without restrictions of time or location, have more versatility in managing investments, and vitalize the market. Ongoing liberalization of capital markets for foreign investors the ROC government has opened up its stock market to foreign investors with minimal restrictions. With the introduction of more financial commodities in the market and more diversified channels for funds, Taiwans capital markets are opening to increasing foreign investors, who are now allowed to manage derivative financial products instead of spot commodities. In addition, foreign capital is now permitted in the private placement market, and these newly available commodities are attracting more foreign investment. Opening the insurance market to foreign investors Fifty-five insurance companies are currently in operation in Taiwan, of which 21 are foreign-owned. Other measures to liberalize the Taiwan insurance market include: relaxing restrictions on the approval of commodities; liberalized rates; investment policies and procedures; the opening of cross-strait insurance exchanges; the promotion of risk-based capital (RBC) systems; information disclosure systems; and a certified actuary system. With monitoring of all foreign insurance companies in Taiwan to ensure compliance with policies on remuneration for Taiwan citizens, the foreign insurance industry in Taiwan can operate in a fair and reasonable business environment. In addition, with the islands excellent location and workforce, Taiwan has the potential to become the Asian insurance market hub for foreign investors. Increasing the liquidity of financial capital in the stock market The Securitization of Financial Assets Law was implemented on July 24, 2002, with the aim of improving and increasing the liquidity of financial assets, including fully liberalized foreign investments in the public and private placement of securitization of financial assets. Several domestic banks are in the process of cooperating with foreign financial institutions in this regard. According to the rules for MFN and National Treatment, foreign invested banks in Taiwan can compete on an equal footing with domestic banks. They are all granted licenses and can operate as fully-functional branches in Taiwan. In addition, as stated in the Banking Law and Financial Holding Company Law, a foreign financial institution may invest up to a 100% stake in a domestic bank. Moreover, foreign banks and financial holding companies that have sufficient experience and a good reputation can hold shares of up to 100% under their original name. Foreign financial groups may merge with Taiwans local financial institutions under the Merger Law for Financial Institutions, which has been established for the purpose of regulating the merger of financial institutions, expanding economies of scale, enhancing the efficiency of financial institutions and protecting proper competition environments. The law provides a friendly legal environment and mechanism for the operation of Asset Management Companies. Flexible government restrictions allow foreign investors to set up their operations headquarters in Taiwan to conduct multilateral trade a growing trend for foreign companies to gain a more competitive edge. ANALYSIS OF THE TAIWANESE BIOTECHNOLOGY SECTOR Taiwans biotechnology industry includes biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and medical devices. In 2003, the total annual revenue for these industries in Taiwan was approximately NT$131.6 billion, of which NT$29.6 billion came from biotechnology0.9 percent of the total global revenue-represented by 223 companies, each with an average revenue of NT$133 million. Business scope covered included genomics, drugs, diagnostics, agricultural biotechnology, environmental biotechnology, protein drugs, contract research organizations, biochips and bioinformatics. The islands pharmaceutical industry returned NT$61.4 billion,0.4 percent of the global total with 429 companies active in this sector, averaging NT$143 million per company. The medical devices industry returned NT$40.6 billion,0.6 percent of the global total, coming from 397 companies, with an average revenue of NT$102 million each. The biotechnology workforce size is 35,610, of which 7,200 are in the biotechnology industry, 14,224 in the pharmaceutical industry and 14,186 working in the medical devices industry. Status of Biotechnology Development in Taiwan (2003) Units: NT$100 million Industry Biotechnology Pharmaceutical Medial devices Total Revenue 296 614 406 1,316 Number of Companies 223 429 397 1,049 Size of work force (number) 7,200 14,224 14,186 35,610 Export value* 113 45 288 446 Import value* 120 339 425 884 Domestic sales vs. export 62:38 93:7 29:71 66:34 Domestic market demand* 303 908 543 1,754 BIOTECH INDUSTRY ANALYSIS: MICHAEL PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL Advantages and opportunities in Taiwans biotech industry Advantages: 1. Active and continuous efforts to build up an attractive investment environment by the government 2. Large input to investment of up- and mid-stream RD and infrastructure 3. Close bond with fast growing Asian markets 4. Sufficient domestic capital for investing from intensive partners 5. Solid foundation and experience from the past development of the electronics industry 6. Proper environment for the development of small- and medium-sized enterprises; and the diligent and aggressive entrepreneurial spirit of the Taiwanese 7. Ample biotechnology and pharmaceutical professionals based both locally and overseas 8. Relatively homogenous ethnic Chinese population, ideal for the development of an Asian-prevalent-disease-related biotech industry 9. Qualified RD personnel who are capable of establishing a knowledge economy to reflect Taiwans uniqueness 10. Advanced traditional agricultural technology to support development of agricultural biotechnology Opportunities: 1. The key industry in the governments Challenge 2008 six-year national development plan 2. The listed incentive industry among newly encouraged emerging strategic industries 3. Rising demand in better living standards in the Asia-Pacific; and growing economy and market for potential development 4. Increasing number of strategic alliances and technology transfer cases 5. RD and precision processing sectors are ready to take advantage of the growing global trend towards outsourcing in the biotechnology industry. 6. Right timing for endless business opportunities in post human gene decoding 7. High value-added, long life cycle and value chain of biotechnology; many points of entry available, from RD to marketing 8. Flourishing biotechnology RD service industries (technical evaluation, RD design, intellectual property services, and start-up incubation services) 9. Many large-sized high-quality medical centers, providing optimal conditions for undertaking clinical trials 10. Clear market segmentation from temperate zone products of advanced countries with Taiwans sub-tropical climate to develop Asian sub-tropical agricultural biotechnology 11. Plentiful related information aggregated from National Health Insurance program 12. Diseases associated with a modern sedentary lifestyle, with potential for drug and disease screening technology platforms Objective. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Although there are a few biotech companies but all of them are small scale operators. Hence a consolidation programme can be started. 2. Since biotech is going to help pharmaceutical companies in a big way hence pharma companies can make a conscious effort to start RD centers with emphasis on biotechnology. 3. Although the government is supportive of the sector but not many FDIs have been invited. The government can specifically invite FDIs in this sector. 4. Large companies like Biocon and Brighton Research labs should be asked to set up facilities. They can be promised access to markets in mainland China through Taiwan. 5. Most of the raw materials required is being imported, so the government can devise strategies to develop auxiliary industries and make the sector self sufficient. 6. Newer and more challenging topics can be taken up to study. Like human genome sequencing which would help in determining the genetic causes for diseases like cancer and AIDS.

Monday, August 19, 2019

Wedding Toasts to the Bride and Groom :: Wedding Toasts Roasts Speeches

Wedding Toasts to the Bride and Groom The Upper Hand The following tidbit began a wonderful and personal toast to the bride and groom: "John, take Emily's hand and place your hand over her's. Now, remember this moment and cherish it... because this will be the last time you'll ever have the upper hand!" Toilet Roll Let us all hope and pray that your married life is like this toilet roll - soft, strong and ever so long. Never Lie, Cheat, and Drink May you never lie, cheat or drink. But if you must lie, lie with each other. And if you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink with us for we all love you and wish you both the love and happiness of which you deserve. Let Us Toast Let us toast the health of the bride, let us toast the health of the groom, let us toast the priest who tied. And I'd personally like to toast every guest in the room." Swear, Steal, Lie May you swear, steal, and lie. Swear by all that's good and true. Steal away your cares and sorrows. And lie in the arms of the one you love. Live as long as you want May you both live as long as you want and never want as long as you live. Today's Love May the love you express to each other today, always be the first thoughts during any trying times in the future. Love that Grows I see the love you both have in each other's eyes and as your love grows for one another, may you look back on this day and know this is when you loved each other the least. Leave It To The Expert I'll be toasting the bride and groom with Shakespeare's sonnets. Shakespeare's sonnet 18 for the bride Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm'd; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd; But thy eternal summer shall not fade Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest; Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou growest: So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this and this gives life to thee. Shakespeare's sonnet 53 for the groom

Casino Development in Massachusetts Essay -- Casinos Gambling Governme

Casino Development in Massachusetts The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is in trouble. As the Big Dig gets closer to completion and the unemployment rate rises in the state, what are lawmakers doing to help boost the economy and close the deficit? Heading into the fiscal year 2005, Massachusetts is facing a record deficit of close to two billion dollars. Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are scrambling for solutions, but seem to be coming up empty handed. With the elections drawing nearer and nearer, and local state contenders vying for seats in the state congress getting more competitive with one another, what can Massachusetts do about this economic crisis. A number of legislators from Massachusetts seem to have a solution to help Massachusetts out of this rut, and boost the struggling economy and job market. That solution is the introduction of legalized gambling and casinos to the state of Massachusetts. The legalization of casinos in Massachusetts would provide the state huge tax profits, provide thousands of jobs to a strug gling market, help boost the states lagging tourism sector, drive local business upwards through millions of new visitors each year, and provide everyone (tourists & local citizens) with quality entertainment. Throughout the twentieth century, legalized gambling has become an excellent source of entertainment. Proponents of gambling argue that casinos provide an outstanding source for job opportunities, direct revenue to state and local governments through taxes and fees, and increased tourism in the surrounding areas. Opponents of the controversial gambling topic focus on the attraction of an unwanted crowd, increased crime rate, and traffic congestion on state and local roadways. Both United States citizens and foreign tourists who want to experience the glitz and glamour of gambling can travel to remarkable Las Vegas or Atlantic City. For many years, Nevada and New Jersey were the headquarters of gambling in North America. However, the corporate gambling world got a facelift on February 15, 1992, when a new casino opened in the New England area that would change the entire legalized gambling world forever. This casino would become the most â€Å"fantastic† gambling venue in the w orld. A Whole New Ballgame Foxwoods Resort and Casino, developed by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Nation, has grown from a small casino to the largest casino i... ... Gives information regarding recent votes and recent legislative moves that directly effect the gaming movement. Van Voorhis, Scott (2004). Gambling biz betting change is for better. Boston Herald. http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=46327ain Discusses recent moves by Thomas Finneran (Fmr. Speaker of the House), which has a major effect on the issue at hand. References (cont.) Gambling Magazine Online. (2003) (http://www.gamblingmagazine.com/managearticle.asp?C=280&A=8441 ) Discusses spending that is happening in Massachusetts to help push casinos to the state. http://www.foxwoods.com Gives General information regarding the casino itself, facilities, and services. Used for a variety of data and information. The Center for Business and Economic Research ,University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2004). Metropolitan Las Vegas Tourism Statistics. http://www.unlv.edu/Research_Centers/cber/tour.html Provides statistical data for tourism in Las Vegas area. http://www.02133.org/issue.cfm?ID=10 Gives good background information regarding the Massachusetts casino movement specifically and also presents good facts and data.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Adolf Eichmann :: essays research papers fc

ADOLF EICHMANN The Holocaust was one of the greatest tragedies the world has ever known. There were many key people who participated in this outrageous genocide however some get more attention then others. Adolf Eichmann is a classic example. Eichmann was a self-proclaimed â€Å"Jewish Specialist† and head of the Gestapo Department. Eichmann was responsible for keeping every train rolling right into the stations of the concentration and death camps during the holocaust. Now we will take a look into Eichmann’s childhood, life experiences, and his later actions to see what shaped into a man of hatred towards the Jewish race. Eichmann was born on March 19, 1906 near Cologne, Germany, into a middle class Protestant family. His family moved to Austria following the death of young Adolf''s mother. He spent his youth in Linz, Austria, which had also been Hitler's hometown. As a boy, Eichmann was teased about his looks and dark complexion and was nicknamed "the little Jew" by classmates. After failing to complete his engineering studies, Eichmann had various jobs including working as a laborer in his father's small mining company, working in sales for an electrical construction company and also worked as a traveling salesman for an American oil company. In 1932 at age 26 he joined the growing Austrian Nazi Party at the suggestion of his friend Ernst Kaltenbrunner. Eichmann then became a member of the SS and in 1934 served as an SS corporal at Dachau concentration camp. In September 1934 Eichmann found relief from the monotony of that assignment by getting a job in Heydrich's SD, the powerful SS security service. Eichmann started out as a filing clerk cataloging information about Freemasons. He was then assigned to the Jewish section, which was busy collecting information on all prominent Jews. This marked the beginning of Eichmann's interest in the Jews. He studied all aspects of Jewish culture, attended Jewish meetings and often visited Jewish sections of cities while taking volumes of notes. He became familiar with the issue of Zionism, studied Hebrew and could even speak a bit of Yiddish. He gradually became the acknowledged 'Jewish specialist,' realizing this could have positive implications for his career in the SS. He soon attracted the attention of Heydrich and SS Reichsfà ¼hrer Heinrich Himmler who appointed Eichmann to head a newly created SD Scientific Museum of Jewish Affairs. Eichmann was then assigned to investigate possible "solutions to the Jewish question.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Managerial Competencies Essay

Question 1. List the three managerial competencies that have led to your success so far in your job. List your strength and, for each strength listed, determine how that strength might get you into trouble and why is it so difficult to become and effective middle manager? Answer Managerial competencies is defined as sets of knowledge, skills, behaviours, and attitudes that a manager needs in order to be effective in a wide range of managerial jobs and various organizational setting. There were six core important specific competencies: the communication, planning and administration, teamwork, strategic action, multicultural, and self competencies. Managerial competencies is useful to me, a current manager of business plan and reporting for Retail Product division in Telekom Malaysia Bhd, also would be useful after my promotion to Assistant General Manager of Business Finance for Technology and Innovation division of Telekom Malaysia Bhd. The competencies will help me to excel on designated job, improve self-management and communication within organisation unit, better planning and administration of teamwork and more sensitive about changing of subordinate behaviour and environment surround them. Three managerial competencies that have led to my success in a job are: a)Communication competencies, b)Planning and Administration competencies, and c)Teamwork competencies. 1.Communication Competencies A communication competency is your ability to effectively transfer and exchange information that leads to understanding between yourself and others. It includes: †¢Informal communication, †¢Formal communication, and †¢Negotiation In 2010, I was given responsibility to improvise Telekom Malaysia Group Segmental Reporting through high accuracy identification of cost drivers for Customer Subscriber’s Equipment (CPEs), Revenue Sharing Out payment, Leased Routers and Product Licensing. It requires a new cost transfer process  between Retail Product to respective Line of Business (LOBs) divisions where involves inter-department cooperation and collaboration to achieve this goals. Further, it requires me to build good working relationship with LOBs in order to be successful. I began by initiating informal communication with various divisions such as Information Technology and Network Infrastructure (ITNT), Service Management and Demand Forecast (SPDF), Group Costing, various LOBs and respective product owner within Retail Product to obtain their views and resources capabilities if the implementation takes place. I realized it is not a straightforward process because it requires a lot of effort to identify allocation drivers to each LOBs segments, limited access to the information and data available is not derived from one single place. In order to overcome these issues, together with my team, we have established strong collaboration between all divisions and communicate with them from time to time to understand problems, ways to minimize the difficulties and setting up moving forward plan and process flow. It takes a lot of negotiation with respective division especially in term of cut off time to provide the data and eligible of drivers that will be used for allocation purposes. Some negotiations with information providers do not take long but there few requires continuous negotiation until the processes are fully stable and ready for service. Once a process flow had been completely implemented and applied by all division, I then started to communicate formally with all TM Group and ready to start the process to improvise Group Segmental Reporting. Meantime, I have received a very positive feedback from Group and all divisions that this exercise really helps them to improvise better profitability as well. 2.Planning and Administration competencies Planning and administration competency involves deciding what tasks need to be done, determine how they can be done, allocating resources to enable them to be done, and then monitoring progress to ensure that they are done. This competency includes: †¢Information gathering, analysis and problem solving; †¢Planning and organising projects; †¢Time management; and †¢Budgeting and financial management We were once facing a challenge from top management to execute 100% 2011 Key Performance Indexes (KPI) for asset tagging achievement by taking consideration a full completion of tagging exercise for assets acquired prior 2006, 2007 – 2009 and 2010. The majority of assets were classified as routers which many of them already been deployed at customer’s premises, lost or not at working condition. This is one of the toughest job to be delivered in 2011 due to in complete information for old assets, problem to identify lost assets and require a high support from vendor whom previously perform installation at customers’ premises and from other division such as Customer Service Operation (CSOC) team. By October 2011, we are only managed to achieved 69% out of 1,821 assets that need to be tag and this situation really give us high pressure since we running out of time and got 3 more months only to complete the remaining of the assets. Further, it has potential Net Book Value (NBV) impact of RM4.5 Mil if the activities was not planned and administered properly. This situation also require Retail Product Finance team to gather all necessary information from various unit, analyzing a result, identify ways to solve a problems within a given timeframe. I took immediate action by putting strategic plan with respective assets owner and design the most achievable timeframe for everyone to follow. My team had table out the proposal to Vice President and Head of Department (HOD) during our weekly management meeting and action had been taken immediately soon as everyone agreed. I started to execute a plan together with my team and assets owner by classifying assets group with potentially not found, not working condition, can be found and available at customer’s premises. Each group of the assets was tackled by different kind of approach and we are monitoring a progress from time to time until end of the process. My team will update the status of assets on weekly basis and report was produced to respective HOD for their immediate attention and action. Any unresolved issues were brought up and thorough checking was performing for each of the issues. Meantime, we are also monitoring the financial impact and ensure asset retirement and depreciation was performed timely. Our hard work and tremendous effort was worthwhile for Retail Product where by December 2011 we managed to achieve 100% asset tagging KPI and manage to recognize RM4.5 Mil NBV in a book. 3.Teamwork competencies A teamwork competency is accomplishing tasks through small groups of people who are collectively responsible and whose job requires coordination. Teamwork competency can become more effective by: †¢Designing teams properly; †¢Creating a supportive team environment, and †¢Managing team dynamics appropriately I have realized that in the past 2 years both Retail Product and Global have been using unreliable forecast driver as a mechanism to allocate International Bandwidth cost among each other. By using forecast drivers, I have difficulties to convince LOBs about cost that should be taken up by Retail business and to ascertain the drivers that being used as allocation basis to them are proper or not. I have approached Bandwidth management team and Global Data Management (GDM) team to relook this matter again and find ways to allocate cost at high accuracy and efficiently rather than using forecast as a basis throughout a year. Realized that this implementation requires strong and high commitment team, I have approached my team member and we have started to initiate several discussions with Costing, GDM, and Bandwidth management team including product owners. We also communicated to LOBs and Group Finance to support us on our mission to change the driver process. Initially, we have difficulties to convince Global Finance about the important of using appropriate drivers and cost allocation since they have been performing the same method for several years already. They were afraid the changes may impact a lot in in their Financial book, require additional tasks and resources. In order to overcome this ambiguity, in the past few months, we have been brief about the existence of new system called ABOR resided at network which able to track bandwidth usage up to service offerings and thus, using this opportunity, we managed to convince Global Finance to start making changes. Further, our management have empowered us to take actions based on the best judgement without always seeking approval from them. We were also been promised by management that the successful of this project will add to our KPI. Finally, with a great support and commitment, both RP and Global have come to consensus about methodology and approach to deliver cost allocation with better cost drivers’ analysis and everyone seems able to accept the new way of doing things. Strengths and challenge to achieve affective middle manager Based on the above 3 competencies, I believe that I possess the following strengths that able to help on self development and assist a company towards achieving strategic goal and objectives. a)Relation-oriented and Change-oriented leadership behaviour; b)Value Innovation and Change; and c)Excellence Relationship. 1.Relation-oriented and Change-oriented leadership behaviour I believe that I possess a relation-oriented behaviour especially on providing a support and encourage my team member when perform difficult task, providing coaching and mentoring, finding time to listen to my subordinate and willing to accept suggestion from subordinates and peers. In change-oriented leadership, I have shown to management that I am able to understand the need to adapt the change of environment, implementing a major change in strategies and encourage and facilitate efforts to implement major change. A challenge to practice this strength in current middle manager position is that top managers such as Vice President and Executive Vice President might sometime have difficulties to accept the new strategies and ways of doing things because they are already complacent with current method and not willing to take a risk with the new approach. Thus, even though my subordinates have a very high motivation to perform the new methodologies but without a strong support and encouragement by top managers may sometime lead to frustration. 2.Value Innovation and Change I am always encourages my subordinates and peers to seek opportunities for different and innovative approaches to address problems and opportunities in Telekom Malaysia and facilitates the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace. I am also able to identify and drives changes needed to adapt strategically to changing of management and internal initiatives, catalyzes new approaches to improve results by changing organizational culture, systems, or products/services. In other occasion, each year we encountered a problem to rationalize our Business Plan number with Information Technology and Network Technology (ITNT) unit because there was  no specific platform being given by TM management that we can discuss and agree among each other during Business Plan exercise period. The outcome is mush worsen when a project start to kick off because somehow part of a project cost neither budgeted at our unit nor ITNT. A lot of staff complaining about this situation and something need to be done to improve the situation. Upon realizing the important of this issues, together with my superior and peers, we started to put up proper plan and drive communication with ITNT during 2011 Business Plan exercise. I have initiated a first discussion with ITNT team where comprehensive rationalization exercises have been carried out several times after that. I have appointed one of my subordinate to compile and execute all information so that both our unit and ITNT can share each other, detail assurance where a cost should be resided was taken into high consideration and the demarcation of project owner was fully identified. No doubt, though we have some problems with a few product owners who resistance to accept this new way of exercise due to time consuming and a lot of pressure was putting back to them, we are constantly persuade them about the important and benefit of the outcome from this newly added exercise. Though Group Finance had provided the platform at a very last minute during BP exercise period, both our unit and ITNT have a very minimal issues and problem to bring up since we have rationalized our number prior to that. At the end of a period, objectives have been fully achieved and ultimately have mutual understanding and co-operate each other with minimum discrepancies. 3.Excellence Relationship I have a capability to initiates and maintains strategic and trusting relationships with stakeholders inside and outside the organization (e.g. TM colleagues, government bodies, regulators, industry players, technology partners, investors, media, customers and alliance partners) to advance business goals. My team members were given responsibility to improvise Group Segmental Reporting through identification of proper cost drivers for Subscriber’s Equipment (CPEs), Revenue Sharing Outpayment, Routers Leasing and Product Licensing. It requires a new cost transfer process and my team felt difficulties to implement due to complication on obtaining the drivers, too manual and limited resources. I have initiated the discussion with various parties like GEMS, IT – Data Warehouse, Service Planning and Demand  Forecast Unit (SPDF) and Retail Product division about possibility to obtain the drivers and identify a method to do it. In order to reduce the difficulties among my team member, I worked with them to identify a methodology to access the information, type of template to extract the data and setting up the deadline to accomplish a job on monthly basis. I always discussed with my team about problems to perform this job and how to overcome such incidents. I told my team members that their effort and contribution towards achieving this goal is very valuable and helps to improvise TM’s reporting. We are started to establish good relationship with data provider parties such as IT, SPDF and product owners so that the analysis can be carried out on monthly basis. My team members successfully implement the new tasks and help to improvise Group Segment Reporting. We have received a positive feedback from various parties in Group Finance and Line of Business (LOBs) since the cost transfer exercise really helps them to establish better profitability Unfortunately, a great challenge that I have to face when putting through this concept in work division is a reluctant from management to accept the changes as every division seems more comfortable to work within their own division rather than to accept changes from outsiders.