Gender Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gender Development - Essay Example d mostly make action packed games for the males and only a few computer games are targeting the women community since boys are keener in playing computer games compared to girls. The more emphasize given to the interests of male community is actually steering away girls from computers. Internet and video game operators/manufacturers should focus more on creating games suitable to the needs of the girls also. Online puzzles and interactive activities related to everyday problems may attract more female community towards internet and computers. It is a fact that both males and females have different tastes as far as their leisure activities are concerned. Boys always like action packed activities because of their muscular dominance whereas girls look for developing their soft skills which are connected to beauty and aesthetic concepts. The article calls the video game manufacturers to make more games suitable for the taste of girls in order to stick the women community in front of the computer. At the same time we must remember that such segregation of male and female are not visible in other areas of our social life. Nowadays women are capable and willing to do any type of jobs which were earlier dominated by the male community. This article is right in claiming that boys and girls have different perceptions about relationships. But, I am not sure whether the same thing is right in the case of technology also. Even for the space exploration cases, in most of the missions, women are involved. If women are capable of undert aking such risky jobs, there is no point in generalizing that women have different perceptions about technology. This article generalizes so many things with respect to the attitude of males and females towards computers and internet. It is a fact that different individuals have different tastes. There are males who don’t have many interests in action packed computer games. At the same time there are many females who are interested in action

Descriptive Chocolate Essay Example for Free

Descriptive Chocolate Essay | 1 Â ½ cups crushed chocolate wafer cookies| | 1 tablespoon granulated sugar| | 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted| | | | Filling| | 1 Â ¼ cups granulated sugar| | Â ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder| | Â ¼ cup cornstarch| | 3 Â ½ cups half and half cream| | 4 large egg yolks| | 3 Â ½ ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped| | 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped| | 2 tablespoons unsalted butter| | 1 teaspoon coffee liqueur| | 1 teaspoon vanilla extract| | | | Topping| | 1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream| | 2 tablespoons granulated sugar| | 2 teaspoons instant coffee| | Â ½ vanilla bean| | | | To Serve: chocolate-covered espresso beans| directions:Crust: Preheat oven to 350 F. Add butter and sugar to cookie crumbs and blend. Firmly press mixture into 9-inch-diameter glass or ceramic pie dish. Bake until crust sets, about 8 minutes. Cool. Filling: 1. Whisk sugar, cocoa, and cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in half and half and then the egg yolks. Continue to whisk over medium-high heat until mixture thickens and boils, about 12 15 minutes. 2. Remove from heat and add both chocolates and butter, whisking until melted and smooth. Mix in coffee liqueur and vanilla. Transfer filling to crust. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface of filling and chill until filling sets, at least 6 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled and covered.) Topping: 1. Beat all ingredients in large bowl until peaks form. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewhisk to thicken and smooth before serving, if necessary.) 2. Peel plastic off of pie. Cut pie into fairly small wedges (it is quite rich). Spoon a good-sized dollop of coffee whipped cream on top of each slice. Garnish with chocolate-covered espresso beans and serve.after-thoughts:This pie would also be delicious served with plain, sweetened whipped cream and fresh fruit (strawberries, raspberries, grilled bananas).|

Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Businesses

Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Businesses How and why the financial crisis was transmitted to business? To what extent can the new regulatory framework prevent the same errors from occurring twice? Financial crisis, the word most mentioned during the last seven years, people may asking about why it take so long time to recover and how many businesses were been affected. There is no exactly number about how many business went to bankrupt, but at least we know that in comparison with seven years ago, the business methods have been changed in order to be more prepared and to survive in the financial crisis. The new financial laws come out in different countries in order to improve their economic growth, because nobody wants to live again the difficult moment as seven years ago. Remembering how the financial crisis started, and how it affected our live style, beside of to know how to prevent it we have also started to learn about the mistakes that we have made in order to not repeat it again in the future. Backing in this case, because we are the main actor who create the financial crisis, and nowadays we are taking the bad consequences about it. Focusing on the business, in the context of economic globalization that we are living nowadays, the impact of the spread of the financial crisis has apparent in different business affecting directly to their business activities as well as investing activities and financing activities. Faced with the financial crisis, companies in the business activities have to reduce inventory, lower their labor costs, strengthen management of accounts receivable, in the investment activities, they have to reduce investment spending to improve capital efficiency, to seize the investment opportunities in order to improve equity investments, and in financing activities, they have to increase the proportion of loans and take advantage of payable accounts. As the Wall Street investment bank giant Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, the US subprime mortgage crisis in evolved â€Å"rare way† in the global financial crisis, the world economy has had a major impact. In the context of economic globalization, the companies of different countries have not been spared, the impact of the financial crisis to those companies has become more evident. I will explain in bellow how the financial crisis has affected in different activities in the companies. In this case we can focus on the following factors in order to have a clear analysis. The impact on operating income. There were many uncertainties and potential risks of financial crisis, so that people fear the rise in the degree of risk of future employment status and income expectation. When there is poor earnings expectations, people will reduce unnecessary consumption. The consequences will be that people stop consuming because their future prospects of the financial crisis environment was pessimist, and at same time which caused directly the revenue decline in different business. All those factor contributed the economic decline worldwide. The impact on inventory. From a global market perspective, under the influence of subordinated debt, the developed regions hardest hit, the demand of goods in the business is declining. First half of 2008, affected by global inflation, corporate purchase of raw material prices, freight increase (global petrol prices), leading to increased cost of raw materials companies, resulting in the production of goods and manufacturing costs increase accordingly. If not compensated for the price, corporate profits will be compressed. Enterprises are in a transition process of inflation and financial crisis, the orders from the raw materials were often low because the increase of the price which cause directly the production and the pricing. The value will shrink a lot. The more business preparation, may afford to lose more. If the turnover rate of raw materials business is slow, and the expensive products are difficult to compete with low-cost products, it will make companies get in trouble. In addition, different inventory valuation methods will result in product backlog. For example, according to the FIFO method, the business inventories have to be included in the purchase of raw materials, the product cost, cost to be digested by the high price, and during the financial crisis, people do not want to spend a higher price to the consumption, resulting in product sales is not formed out of the backlog. Impact on accounts receivable. Affected by the financial crisis, overseas corporate default rates began to rise, further deterioration of the business of external credit. According to statistics, in May 2008, the local enterprises overseas bad debt rate have grew by about 268 %. Recovery of the purchase price is the full life line, set up a business in the future, according to the sources of funding, which are basically by loan recovery, expand the market, but there is no corresponding mechanism for the recovery of money, and ultimately to bring liquidity shortage, companies eventually will operate difficultly in this process. Increased bad debts or bad debts, taking up excessive liquidity in the enterprises, SMEs, if financing difficulties will inevitably result in cash flow difficulties of enterprises, companies lose the capital, just as humans lose the blood, many enterprises may walk on the edge of life and death, the company today hey, tomorrow may collapse. The impact on operating expenses. Weaken existing market demand, so companies have to rethink new markets, including international markets and domestic markets. In order to expanding domestic demand, so that export-oriented enterprises to offensive domestic market. In order to place in this market, it is necessary to find a way to open it. And the main action is increase the domestic market share, considering that the best way to open the domestic market is to increase ad spending. Since the original domestic market enterprises in the market accounted for a leading position, export-oriented enterprises will offensive fierce competition with domestic enterprises. Intense competition in the market forcing companies to increase the cost of sales and profit margin compression. Of course, open up new international markets also have to pay more of the cost of sales. Impact on labor cost. Because the financial crisis, it is became more expensive to fire the employers, which makes companies stop hire new employers in order to reduce their labor cost. This action has affected directly to the labor market, because there are still a lot of people looking for a job, as the result, people start looking the better job opportunities in other countries and caused as we know the â€Å"brain drain†. Effect of equity investments. Influenced by investor expectations of the future, surrounding the stock market crash, 2008 in the secondary market for some stock investment companies is a disaster of the year. Not to mention the investment income, many have now lost even the principal. For some enterprises, investment entities, due to the poor performance by investment companies, investment companies are allocated to dividends invested enterprises naturally reduced, or even no bonus. Therefore, some companies are considering the sale of subsidiaries, equity investments decrease. But for some small and medium-sized enterprises affected by the financial crisis, the danger lies opportunity. Now new opportunities for enterprise restructuring and supply chain strategic acquisitions. For example, the Big Three US automakers Chrysler go bankrupt if it originally to Chrysler as the leading supply chain will be interrupted immediately, those who do contract work for Chrysler, spare parts supply, logistics transit, channel, terminal services, and the same for those providers secondary product supply, services and raw materials Distance sub-suppliers, distributors who will completely lose the basis of survival. In order to prevent all the impact that we have mentioned before, the following recommendations could be useful for companies which is operating during financial crisis. They may not going to be the perfect solutions, however, they will give us a clear idea about how to face and how to act in the difficult moment. Reduce the inventory. Product demand weakened, difficult to sell their products at once, in which case only a variety of promotional methods to reduce inventory to net realizable funds as quickly as possible. If there were some unmarketable products, we should act decisively, even if production is discontinued or partial pressure, do not let inventories continue to increase. Because the formation of product inventory, not only harder to sell slow-moving products, more important is the product price, likely to cause new losses. Primary Material inventory too, they do not affect the normal production, it should try to do short-term purchase, so raw material inventory to a minimum line to maximize the amount of funds used to shorten the inventory turnover. Product sales to adhere to the cash is king concept, the implementation of cash transactions, or a shorter period to promote the sale of credit receivables. Reduce the labor costs. During the Financial crisis, the companies had a hard time, enterprises are facing the risk of suspension or discontinued, dismissed or forced to dismiss employees. For businesses, they do not want this to occur, not to mention according to the Labor Contract Law in different countries, the enterprises laid off or dismissed employee cost is not small. Therefore, the enterprise benefit drops or downtime, it can adopt flexible working hours, to arrange staff rotation or waiting list. Choose Payment of wages to workers of all or part of their wages or even just send living expenses, both to reduce labor costs, but also to guarantee the basic livelihood of employees, so that employees feel the caring companies and work harder, but also reflects the companys social responsibility. The financial crisis has brought to the enterprise not only dangerous, but also to business opportunities. For some of the less affected by the financial crisis and better management of the enterprise, then the introduction of senior professionals is a great opportunity, because when people lowest cost. There are always hands-on experience of senior personnel shortage, this time just to dig people abroad. In a sense, at a low price to buy the high-level talent, but also a reduction in labor costs of business performance. Use of personnel for the future development of enterprises to provide a guarantee. Strengthen the management of accounts receivable. Faced with the financial crisis, companies should be based on the idea of cash is king,† according to the market situation and make the appropriate changes, to minimize the amount of accounts receivable and credit terms. The larger the amount of accounts receivable, indicating funds purchase units occupy the unit more; the longer the period of credit receivables, indicating that the longer purchase units occupy the unit of time. Therefore, to strengthen the management of accounts receivable. Existing accounts receivable has been formed, it can promote cash discount to attract each other early payments, such as payments within 30 days, give 2-3% cash discount or a higher cash discount, and more than 30 days is not to discount. For possible bad debts or bad debts, should act as soon as possible, such as debt restructuring mode, can recover how much to recover the maximum extent possible to reduce the losses. For the existing products sold Sale, delivery or the month should do the knot and other payment methods. Cannot pay the purchase price or the ability to pay poor business, under exceptional circumstances rather not accept the order. If the goods issue of money being paid, because the product is easy to form a substantial price dispute, but also easy because of the other closed, bankruptcy and other reasons cannot find the debtor and become headless account, to the enterprise caused undue loss. How to speed up a reflux of funds? First, from starting their own businesses, while reducing inventory and strengthen the management of accounts receivable. In addition to increasing the recovery of accounts receivable, the use of the hands of the receivables in the bank financing is also an effective way to revit alize the capital. Financial approach in investing activities. Faced to the financial crisis, different companies have different investment strategies. For deeply affected by the crisis, and low interest, cash-strapped companies to cut costs, reduce investment spending; for some medium-sized enterprises affected by the financial risk has little effect, and effective, well-funded, should seize the investment opportunities, improve equity investment. To reduce the investments spending and improve the capital utilization. Most of our business is driven by investment growth, and sources of funding such investment, in addition to the majority of enterprises have accumulated bank loans or equity financing. Own funds of enterprises invested substantially all operations. In the context of the financial crisis, the excessive dependence on bank loans and equity financing for investment, is not realistic. Because hit by the financial crisis, the bank credit crunch, the stock market plummeted, and remains in the doldrums. For most companies, limited funds can only be used wisely, enterprises should take the initiative to stop the long investment cycle, large-scale investment projects, the limited funds use security production for survival, protection stamina up. A number of new investment projects should see more than move, blind investment companies into deeper causes. All those advises that have mentioned before could be an effective solution to face the financial crisis, however, fix the actual economic system and more control in the sense of the investment and mortgage in order to prevent that the same error happened for twice. In this case, we are not only talking about the banking or investment entities, but the government. From my point of view, the financial crisis happened not only because the bad management of those financial entities, but the government has also the major responsibilities, since they let the companies follow the crisis trend which means, no one of them has thought about the consequences could be. Of course, nowadays the government try their best in the sense of economic recovery, some of the countries saw the result very soon, but others are still suffering the financial crisis consequences, countries as Greece, Italy, Spain and so on, they are the most affected countries in Europe, people may ask about why there’s some countries only take few years to recover the economic and other which still in the recession. And the only answer will be the government decision making, if they made a correct one, it may benefit to whole country, if not, as we have already see with some countries, cut in public funds, as education or health and so on. So in order to make sure that it is not going to happened again, the main recommendation is to start to stablish some specific financial rules for financial entities as well as for countries, make sure everything are under control and once detect again the appeal of other financial crisis, at least they are ready to face it and make sure the economic damage is going to be as low as possible. Even though we are still in the recession process, and there are still a lot of enterprises fighting for survive in this crucial moment, however we should have an optimistic vision about the future, since Xiao Jing Ye Letter account: 2500 REFERENCES Altunbas, Yener. Manganelli Simone and Ibanez Marques David. (2011).Risk during the Financial Crisis. Do Business matter? European Central Bank. Retrieved: 02/05/2015, from  https://www.ecb.europa.eu/pub/pdf/scpwps/ecbwp1394.pdf Cole Rebel A. (2012) How Did the Financial Crisis Affect Small Business Lending in the United States? DePaul University Chicago. Retrieved: 02/05/2015, from https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/files/rs399tot.pdf Fox Justin (2013). What we’ve learned from the Financial Crisis. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved: 02/05/2015, from  https://hbr.org/2013/11/what-weve-learned-from-the-financial-crisis HONG LIANG YU (2009). Impact of Financial Crisis on Finance corporate. JiangXi Provincial Party School of CPC, Nanchang 33003, China. Retrieved: 02/05/2015, from http://www.nai.edu.cn/mscaaf/info/b2/14.pdf Perlberg Steven (2014). The 27 Scariest Moments of the Financial Crisis. Business Insider. Retrieved: 02/05/2015, from http://www.businessinsider.com/financial-crisis-scariest-moments-2014-9?op=1#ixzz3ZRU8g85g à ¦Ã‚ ½Ã‹Å"à ©Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ªÃƒ §Ã¢â‚¬ ¡Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ (2014). à ¦Ã‚ µÃ¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒ ¨Ã‚ °Ã‹â€ Ãƒ ©Ã¢â‚¬ ¡Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ ¨Ã… ¾Ã‚ Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ Ã‚ ±Ãƒ ¦Ã…“ ºÃƒ ¥Ã‚ ¯Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ ¥Ã¢â‚¬ ºÃ‚ ½Ãƒ ©Ã¢â€ž ¢Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ãƒ ¨Ã‚ ´Ã‚ ¸Ãƒ ¦Ã‹Å"â€Å"à §Ã… ¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ±Ãƒ ¥Ã¢â‚¬Å" . à ¦Ã‚ µÃ… ½Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ -à ¥Ã‚ ¤Ã‚ §Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¦Ã‚ ³Ã¢â‚¬ °Ãƒ ¥Ã… ¸Ã… ½Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ­Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ©Ã¢â€ž ¢Ã‚ ¢. Retrieved: 02/05/2015, from  http://www.diyilunwen.com/lwfw/gjmy/6178.html à ©Ã¢â‚¬ ¡Ã¢â‚¬ËœÃƒ ¨Ã… ¾Ã‚ Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ Ã‚ ±Ãƒ ¦Ã…“ ºÃƒ ¥Ã‚ ¯Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ¸Ã‚ ­Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ °Ã‚ Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ¼Ã‚ Ãƒ ¤Ã‚ ¸Ã… ¡Ãƒ §Ã… ¡Ã¢â‚¬Å¾Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ½Ã‚ ±Ãƒ ¥Ã¢â‚¬Å" Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ Ã…  Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ¯Ã‚ ¹Ãƒ §Ã‚ ­-à ¥Ã‹â€ Ã¢â‚¬  Ãƒ ¦Ã… ¾Ã‚ .à ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã‹â€ 2010à ¯Ã‚ ¼Ã¢â‚¬ °.à §Ã¢â€ž ¢Ã‚ ¾Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ºÃ‚ ¦Ãƒ ¦-†¡Ãƒ ¥Ã‚ ºÃ¢â‚¬Å". Retrieved: 02/05/2015, from  http://wenku.baidu.com/view/f85b9a6448d7c1c708a14544.html

The Story of an Hour :: Literary Analysis, Kate Chopin

Analysis of â€Å"The Story of an Hour† In her story â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† Kate Chopin (1894) uses imagery and descriptive detail to contrast the rich possibilities for which Mrs. Mallard yearns, given the drab reality of her everyday life. Chopin utilizes explicit words to provide the reader a background on Mrs. Mallard’s position. Chopin uses â€Å"She wept at once,† to describe Mrs. Mallard’s emotional reaction once she was told her husband had been â€Å"Killed.† Mrs. Mallard cared for and loved her husband; being married was the only way of life that she knew. Mrs. Mallard had heart trouble, which made it imperative to break the news of her husband’s death, gently. Thus is why Josephine, Mrs. Mallard’s sister, â€Å"told her in broken sentences, veiled hints that revealed in half concealing,† (Chopin, 1894, para. 2). Once she was told the horrible news, Mrs. Mallard was alone in front of her â€Å"open window.† She â€Å"sank into a comfortable armchair,† (Chopin, 1894, para. 4). She was exhausted. Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard’s experience sitting there; she saw the tops of trees; rain in the air; a peddler was crying his wares; the notes of a distant song reached her; and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. (Chopin, 1894, para. 5) The descriptions involve the senses of seeing and hearing, which allow the reader to imagine what Mrs. Mallard’s experience was. Chopin (1894) â€Å"fearfully, she waited for something to come to her.† As she waited, she felt it coming, but didn’t know what it was. She tried to get up, but wasn’t able. Then she realized that she was â€Å"free, free, free!† Mrs. Mallard was in fear, but then become joyous. â€Å"She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death,† (Chopin, 1894, para. 13). She knew that she would be able to live free, without anyone next her. This was something she had never experienced. Chopin (1894) writes, â€Å"She loved him, sometimes; but often she did not.† As Mrs. Mallard was rejoicing, Josephine was concerned about her sister’s health. Josephine was watching Mrs. Mallard through the â€Å"keyhole.† Asking her to open the door, she declined, stating that she was fine. â€Å"She was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window,† (Chopin, 1894, para. 18). Being that Josephine was concerned, she got up and opened the door as if she were a â€Å"goddess of Victory.† Chopin (1894) describes how Mrs.

Assessment and Individual Learning Record Essay

Everyone has someone in their life that they will remember for the rest of their life. A memorable person can be someone you look up to or someone that has had an influence in your life. That person could be a family member, a friend, a firefighter, cop or anyone that has influenced your life at all. My grandpa is a memorable person to me because he was a war hero, always there for me, and a hard worker. One reason Grandpa was a memorable person to me is because he was a war hero. For example, he fought in World War II and the Vietnam War when he was younger. Growing up he would tell me stories of his time in war and how times were really tough. Grandpa would not elaborate on too much of it because I think it hurt him to remember all the bad times and how harsh battle actually was. He will always be my hero because I know he served our country so that I could be free and everyone else can be free. Grandpa is and always will be a memorable person to me because, he was always there for me. To illustrate, the times I remember most with him was when I was little he would take me out to this little pond and we would go fishing. see more:propose improvements to address gaps or shortfalls in systems and processes He would put the worm on the hook for me because I was scared of the worms at that time. He and I would sit out there for hours fishing and just talking about how our day and week was going. I loved getting to sit out there with him and talk, fish, and listen to the water as it splashed against the bank. I could sit out there forever if I could just so I could spend more time with him. Grandpa always will be a memorable person to me because he was a very hard worker. For instance, grandpa was a hard worker all the way up to the day that he passed away and would still be one if he was here today. He worked so he could support his family and make sure everyone had what they needed and wanted in life. Also, he worked because he enjoyed what he did, even if it was just something little he was doing like; gardening, cooking, or cleaning up the yard. My Grandpa is my memorable person in my life. He taught me to support our troops, always be there for the ones you love, and to work hard for what you have. Even though he isn’t around today he is someone I look up to and always will. I know even though he isn’t here he is still looking down on me so he will be my hero till the day I die no matter who comes and goes from my life. 1. Summarise key aspects of legislation, regulatory requirements and code of practice relating to own role and responsibilities 2. Explain own responsibilities for promoting equality and valuing diversity 3. Explain own role and responsibilities in lifelong learning 4. Explain own role and responsibilities in identifying and meeting the needs of learners. 5.  Explain the boundaries between the teaching role and other professional bodies 6. Describe points of referral to meet the needs of learners 7. Summarise own responsibilities in relation to other professionals 8. Explain own responsibilities in maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment 9. Explain ways to promote appropriate behaviour and respect others Understanding Inclusive Learning & Teaching in Lifelong Learning Candidates should understand learning and teaching strategies and approaches in lifelong learning and how to use them to meet the needs of students: 1.  Summarise learning and teaching strategies used in own specialism 2. Explain how approaches to learning and teaching in own specialism meet the needs of learners 3. Describe aspects of inclusive learning 4. Explain how to select inclusive learning and teaching techniques 5. Explain how to select resources to meet that needs of learners 6. Explain how to create assessment opportunities to meet needs of learners 7. Explain how to provide opportunities for learners to practice their literacy, language, numeracy and ICT skills 8. Explain ways to engage and motivate learners in an inclusive learning environment 9. Summarise ways to establish ground rules with learners to promote respect for others 10. Explain ways to give constructive feedback that motivates learners Principles of Assessment in the lifelong Learning Candidates should understand the types and methods of assessment used in lifelong learning, ways to involve students in the assessment process and the requirement to keep assessment records: 1. Explain the types of assessment used in lifelong learning 2. Explain the use of methods of assessment in lifelong learning 3. Compare the strengths and limitations of assessment methods to meet individual learner needs 4. Explain ways to involve the learner in the assessment process 5. Explain the role of peer and self-assessment in the assessment process 6. Explain the need for keeping records of assessment of learning 7. Summarise the requirements for keeping records of assessment in an organisation

Multisensory Teaching Method to Reading

Multisensory Teaching Method to Reading The multisensory teaching approach to reading is based upon the idea that some students learn best when the material that they are given is presented to them in a variety of modalities. This method uses movement (kinesthetic) and touch (tactile), along with what we see (visual) and what we hear (auditory) to help students learn to read, write and spell. Who Benefits From This Approach? All students can benefit from multisensory learning, not just special education students. Every child processes information differently, and this teaching method allows for each child to use a variety of their senses to understand and process information. Teachers that provide classroom activities that utilize various senses, will notice that their students learning attention will increase, and it will make for an optimal learning environment. Age Range: K-3 Multisensory Activities All of the following activities use a multisensory approach to help students learn to read, write and spell using a variety of their senses. These activities feature hearing, seeing, tracing and writing which are referred to as VAKT ( visual, auditory, kinesthetic and tactile). Clay Letters Have the student create words out of letters made of clay. The student should say the name and sound of each letter and after the word is created, he/she should read the word aloud. Magnetic Letters Give the student a bag full of plastic magnetic letters and a chalkboard. Then have the student use the magnetic letters to practice making words. To practice segmenting have the student say each letter sound as he/she selects the letter. Then to practice blending, have the student say the sound of the letter faster. Sandpaper Words For this multisensory activity have the student place a strip of paper over a piece of sandpaper, and using a crayon, have him/her write a word onto the paper. After the word is written, have the student trace the word while spelling the word aloud. Sand Writing Place a handful of sand onto a cookie sheet and have the student write a word with his/her finger in the sand. While the student is writing the word have them say the letter, its sound, and then read the whole word aloud. Once the student completed the task he/she can erase by wiping the sand away. This activity also works well with shaving cream, finger paint, and rice. Wikki Sticks Provide the student with a few Wikki Sticks. These colorful acrylic yarn sticks are perfect for children to practice forming their letters. For this activity have the student form a word with the sticks. While they are forming each letter have them say the letter, its sound, and then read the whole word aloud. Letter/Sound Tiles Use letter tiles to help students develop their reading skills and establish phonological processing. For this activity, you can use Scrabble letters or any other letter tiles you may have. Like the activities above, have the student create a word using the tiles. Again, have them say the letter, followed by its sound, and then finally read the word aloud. Pipe Cleaner Letters For students who are having trouble grasping how letters should be formed, have them place pipe cleaners around a flashcard of each letter in the alphabet. After they place the pipe cleaner around the letter, have them say the name of the letter and its sound. Edible Letters Mini marshmallows, MMs, Jelly Beans or Skittles are great for having children practice learning how to form and read the alphabet. Provide the child with an alphabet flashcard, and a bowl of their favorite treat. Then have them place the food around the letter while they say the letter name and sound. Source: Orton Gillingham Approach

Optical Fiber Corp Case Analysis Essays

Optical Fiber Corp Case Analysis Essays Optical Fiber Corp Case Analysis Essay Optical Fiber Corp Case Analysis Essay Case Analysis: Optical Fiber Corporation Introduction Optical Fiber Corporation (OFC) is a financially successful, albeit relatively small manufacturer of multimode optical fibers. The company was founded in 1990. The founders were able to enter the market largely on the basis of acquiring patent licenses from larger optical fiber firms. These licenses restricted competition between the entities and provided OFC with instant access to optical fiber technology. In return, OFC’s customer base is limited by the license agreements and royalties of 7% on sales of licensed products (recently renegotiated to 9%) are paid to the licensors. Despite these handicaps the firm has grown in size and profitability. OFC makes several types of multimode optical fiber including specialty niche products they have developed outside of any license agreements. All customers are cable manufacturers that convert the fibers to optical fiber cable. Three such firms account for over 70% of OFC’s revenues. Focusing on customer service, quality and product design and process improvements has proved a winning business model to date. OFC now faces a variety of challenges including the expiration of many of the patents that afford most of its profits. This raises the real possibility of new competitors in the market. Further, while in the past multimode and single mode optical fibers have generally been used for data communications and telecommunications respectively and as such were not in direct competition with each other, the advent of cheaper manufacturing processes for single mode fibers coupled with their inherent ability to transmit data more efficiently over longer distances may make them a more appealing choice for some of the uses that historically have favored multimode fibers. OFC is at now at a crossroads where they must decide if they are to stay in the multimode fiber business only, begin producing single mode fibers as well, or even enter the cabling business with a forward integration strategy. Competition in the Optical Fiber Industry The optical fiber industry is perhaps best considered as two industries that are closely related, the multimode fiber and the single mode fiber industries. The multimode industry in which OFC specializes is very competitive. The United States’ 2001 total optical fiber market was approximately 3. 5 million kilometers only 330 thousand of which was multimode. The value of the multimode market was $65 million that year, only a fifth that of the single mode market. Within the multimode market and a number of fiber manufacturers. The main rivals for OFC are the two licensors to whom they pay royalties. These firms are considerably larger and have greater resources with which to compete. Further, they have a competitive advantage in that they are the recipients of royalty payments rather than the firm making those payments. Also they are in a position to control the extent of OFC’s market penetration at least with respect to their licensed products. OFC has responded by creating high quality products and providing exceptional customer service. In addition, OFC has made improvements to the basic design of some of the licensed fibers making them, in a real sense new products. The R and D department at OFC has also been successful at developing new and less expensive manufacturing processes, which has helped to offset the added overhead of the royalty payments. Finally, OFC has developed specialty fibers with medical, aircraft, aerospace and extreme environment applications. These new fibers will not be subject to royalty payments, competition from new entrants until patents expire years in the future, and generally afford higher profit margins than other optical fiber products. New entrants to the market are a threat to OFC and all other fiber producers. New firms must contend with the high capitalization costs of this technologically demanding and exacting industry. One of the costs of optical fiber production is the R and D required to bring successful products to market. Between 1999 and 2007 the patents for many of the basic fibers produced by OFC and its licensors will expire. New firms entering the market will be free to produce the products once protected under those patents without having incurred any R and D costs. These firms will also be free from royalty payments to licensors or any restrictive covenants such as those under which OFC operates. The industry in general, and OFC in particular, must contend with the purchasing power of its buyers. Optical fiber is converted into optical fiber cable. In the United States there are twenty companies that perform this function. OFC sells over 70% of their fiber to just three. The loss of any of these accounts could be devastating for OFC and places them in a weak position when negotiating prices, at least when the products are those which are readily available from other multimode fiber producers. It is doubtful that switching costs would be high for buyers. Favoring OFC and the optical fiber market are the projections for increased demand for multimode optical fibers at least through the mid 2000’s. Sources of increased demand for multimode fiber are anticipated to include: cable TV, undersea cables, local area networks (LAN) as well as general data communications growth such as computer uses. As noted the single mode optical fiber market is much larger than the multimode market. It too, is expected to see significant growth over the next several years. Single mode fibers have the advantage of efficiently transmitting data over long distances, faster transmission rates and other desirable optical properties but until recently have been more expensive to produce. The advent of cheaper production methods will allow single mode fibers to enter markets that were once dominated by multimode fibers. Production of these fibers requires expensive specialized manufacturing equipment and a significant commitment to R and D. The industry includes one of the OFC licensors. Substitute products for single mode fibers include microwaves, and satellites for telecommunications. Impact seems limited. Copper wire can be used as a substitute for the fiber-to-home and fiber-to-curb applications of either multimode or single mode fibers but by the mid 2000’s the lowered cost of production of single mode fibers will likely make this the preferred choice for these functions. Finally, it should be noted that suppliers are unlikely to exert competitive forces on the fiber optics markets. The materials used in the production of fibers are commodities of low value such as glass, certain gases and oxide particles. OFC Strengths OFC has many strengths. The firm is financially strong with record sales and earnings for the last year as well as increased manufacturing capacity. Furthermore, there was a $20 million backlog for optical fibers in the last year and orders are increasing. There was net income of $6. 1million on revenue of $48. million in 2002. The Quick Ratio, a measure of a firm’s ability to meet short-term debt obligations (Current Assets – Inventories)/Current Liabilities = ($31. 0m $6. 6m)/$12. 5 = 2. 0 is very solid. Return on equity (Net Income/Equity) = $6. 1m/$44. 0m = 13. 9% is also very impressive. OFC has developed new specialty products for medical, military, commercial aircraft, aerospace and severe environment uses. These are likely to receive patents and will not require royalty payments and will be protected from competitors for years to come. The firm has a variety of options to confront the challenges of the changing market place. OFC has patent licenses to produce optical cables that would allow for forward integration if they chose to move in that direction. Engineers at OFC have been able to find new ways to produce old products more efficiently reducing production costs. They have also developed adaptations of existing products to create new and unique demands for those products. OFC is in an industry that is expected to enjoy strong growth for at least the next several years. That demand will come from a variety of industries adding stability to the market. The equipment needed to produce optical fiber is expensive and the expertise demanding creating, a relative barrier to entry. Copper wire as a substitute is relatively expensive and as technological advances decrease the cost of optical fibers copper will become a non-entity. Perhaps most importantly, OFC has a strong reputation for quality, service and competitive pricing. OFC Weaknesses OFC is a small company. They were only able to enter the market by virtue of other firms’ products and license agreements. Those licenses have protected OFC from competition but have also limited the scope of its customer base and added significant fixed costs in royalty payments. Royalties will now increase to 9% (after paying a one time $3 million fee) on 85% of sales. Furthermore, while OFC is paying royalties to use these patents new entrants may soon be competing as patents expire. These firms will have essentially no R and D expense and of course no royalty payments potentially allowing them to produce at costs below those of OFC. OFC must also contend with a limited number of buyers. Over 70% of sales are to just three cable producers. The ability of OFC to increase prices to these large purchasers is doubtful. If even one of these customers were lost to an alternative fiber optic producer the effect on OFC could be dramatic. OFC operates in a competitive industry that will become more so with time. Copper wire manufacturers will turn to optical cable production to stay relevant. Overseas producers, already sources of competition to OFC, are likely to play a larger role in the future. Finally, OFC’s success has been built on quality, service and innovation. One or more competitor can potentially offer all of these. OFC’s Core Competencies OFC manufactures multimode, high quality optical fiber for cabling companies that convert that fiber into cable for a variety of data communications uses. The firm has a reputation for low prices and excellent customer service. Much of their success can be attributed to their R and D program, which has developed cost saving production technologies as well as product innovations. More recently, OFC has shown itself to be an innovator, developing entirely new multimode optical fiber products that fill a variety of unique niche functions. To continue producing and selling multimode optical fiber successfully, OFC needs to prepare for increased competition as patent protections expire. As new entrants begin producing many of the higher volume OFC products, likely at lower cost given their lack of R and D and royalty expenses, OFC will need to spend additional resources on developing decreased costs of production if they are to continue selling those products profitably. They will need to maintain their focus on quality and customer service. In part that will require continued product testing. They may wish to explore, however, if testing 100% of products as is current policy is necessary or if testing samples from each batch would serve as well and save money. OFC will need to continue to support R and D to develop new products and patentable improvements on existing ones. Options Available for Growth Pursuit of Niche Markets OFC has already demonstrated an ability to develop marketable niche multimode fibers. Previously created are fibers able to withstand high radiation nvironments for nuclear reactor and military applications, a fiber that can tolerate deep underwater submersion and a third tolerant of high heat conditions. They have also successfully experimented with a fiber capable of transmitting UV light and another with unique medical and scientific uses. To continue their development program for specialty fibers will require annual R and D spending increases of $400,000 and an additional annual expenditure for three new staff totaling $325,000. Outside firms can be hired to handle sales for 10% commissions. When sales volumes are adequate, salaried OFC employees can be used instead. The calculation as to when this makes financial sense for the firm is simple; when 10% of sales exceed the salary and benefit expenses of the needed in-house sales force then sales should become an OFC operation. The advantage of niche products is the lack of competition and relatively higher margins. Develop Single Mode Fiber Capacity OFC could choose to enter the much larger single mode fiber market. It is estimated that this will require a capital investment of $4 million for new plant and equipment. It will take a year for the new facilities to be operational. There will also be a reported one time R and D expense of $2. 5 million. This is a first year expense so it cannot be capitalized. It can reasonably be assumed that there will be additional R and D expenses going forward although presumably these would be considerably lower than the initial expense. Entering the single mode market places OFC in competition with larger firms than it currently faces with greater resources to sell products with thinner margins and would divert OFC resources from their core business functions. Forward Integration A third option for OFC is to produce optical cable. The required patent licenses are available. Two options for this forward integration strategy exist. OFC can commit $5 million in capital investments and plan on spending an additional $500,000 annually for R and D or they can simply purchase a cabling company for an estimated $10 – 15 million in capital expenditure. There is currently an excess supply of cable and cabling firms and several are in danger of bankruptcy and so an acquisition should be feasible. Forward integration raises several concerns. Regardless of the approach taken, entering the fiber optic cable business will be expensive for OFC. This is a market that is already experiencing an excess of capacity so it can be assumed that at least for some time to come profits in the cabling industry will be squeezed. This is not a core business function of OFC but to pursue cable production will be so expensive as to necessarily draw resources away from some of the firm’s core activities, activities that are likely to be more profitable and entail less financial risk. Finally, one needs to consider that all of OFC’s customers are cable producers. If OFC enters this market they will become a competitor of their customers. It seems highly probable that at least some of these optical fiber buyers will respond in a retaliatory manner and switch to alternate suppliers. Most of OFC’s products are not unique and can be supplied by their licensors. The three large buyers would seem in a particularly strong position to adversely respond to any entry into the cabling market by OFC. OFC Policy Statement In choosing a direction for the future growth of OFC several considerations should be kept in mind. First, OFC has been successful in large part because of its focus on quality. Any efforts at growth should not come at the expense of producing high quality products. Second, the firm must continue to provide a high level of customer service. This should include responsiveness to customers’ needs for new products and product features when those offerings are commensurate with the firm’s vision, available or attainable expertise and when economically viable. Finally, the firm should continue to fund R and D efforts to allow for a continuous pipeline of new products and improvements to existing ones in an effort to maintain a unique competitive position in the market. OFC has been successful in competing against larger firms by avoiding head to head competition. Initially this was accomplished through license agreements alone. Later, the firm was able to create unique improvements to existing products and processes that gave it an advantage. Most recently OFC has created unique patentable products. These represent three different ways of avoiding direct competition. Despite their growth, OFC remains a relatively small firm in the optical fiber space and should continue to eschew direct competition when possible, realizing that the market is dominated by larger and better-funded firms. Recommendations OFC should stay out of the cable producing business. This market is the least profitable, most expensive to enter and likely to have the lowest return on investment. It is also likely to result in retaliation by current customers and reduced sales. The single mode market is much larger than the multimode market but as a consequence will bring OFC in contact with larger firms that already have the equipment and knowledge base to produce these products. A small firm with limited resources should not leave its core competencies behind to take on firms that are already in place. OFC needs to continue to make niche products whether they are improvements on old multimode fibers or new fibers with unique properties and functions. This firm will never be a big player in the highly competitive optical fiber industry, they arrived too late and don’t have the capital to displace the dominant firms. Given that projections are for most of the increased demand for optical fibers to occur through the mid to late 2000’s OFC may want to watch for an opportune time to sell to one of these larger entities, perhaps a single mode fiber producer to whom the OFC product line would prove complimentary.

Free Essays on My Learning Experience

My Learning Experience As a child, I was very active and I would participate in any sport or activity that I could. I was always a fast-learner and I would pick up on techniques easily, but the hardest thing that I have ever had to do was learn to swim. Learning a new skill could sometimes be a scary experience. I was always afraid of the water, but I decided that swimming was an important skill that I should learn. I also thought that swimming would be good exercise and help me to become physically stronger, but what I didn’t realize was that learning to swim would make me a more confident person. At the age of eleven, things such as not being able to swim can be very embarrassing. . So, for this reason, one summer my dad and I decided that it was time for me to learn to swim. Before I knew it, I was enrolled in swimming lesson at the Inez pool located in Kentucky. New situations always made me a bit nervous, and my first swimming lesson was no exception. After I changed into my bathing suit in the locker room, I stood timidly by the pool waiting for the instructor and other students. After a couple of minutes the instructor and two other students arrived, and immediately the teacher came over a greeted me with a smile. The other students were both older than me, and they did not seem to be embarrassed about not knowing how to swim. This made me feel more at ease than before. Once we were all acquainted, we got into the pool and the teacher had us put on bright orange water wings to help us stay afloat. One of the other students, Kristen, had already taken the beginning class once before, so she took a kickboard and went splashing off by herself. The other student, Nathan, and I were told to hold on to the side of the pool and were shown how to kick for the breaststroke. One by one, the instructor had us hold on to a kickboard while she pulled it through the water and we kicked. In no time, Nathan was off doing this by himself.... Free Essays on My Learning Experience Free Essays on My Learning Experience My Learning Experience As a child, I was very active and I would participate in any sport or activity that I could. I was always a fast-learner and I would pick up on techniques easily, but the hardest thing that I have ever had to do was learn to swim. Learning a new skill could sometimes be a scary experience. I was always afraid of the water, but I decided that swimming was an important skill that I should learn. I also thought that swimming would be good exercise and help me to become physically stronger, but what I didn’t realize was that learning to swim would make me a more confident person. At the age of eleven, things such as not being able to swim can be very embarrassing. . So, for this reason, one summer my dad and I decided that it was time for me to learn to swim. Before I knew it, I was enrolled in swimming lesson at the Inez pool located in Kentucky. New situations always made me a bit nervous, and my first swimming lesson was no exception. After I changed into my bathing suit in the locker room, I stood timidly by the pool waiting for the instructor and other students. After a couple of minutes the instructor and two other students arrived, and immediately the teacher came over a greeted me with a smile. The other students were both older than me, and they did not seem to be embarrassed about not knowing how to swim. This made me feel more at ease than before. Once we were all acquainted, we got into the pool and the teacher had us put on bright orange water wings to help us stay afloat. One of the other students, Kristen, had already taken the beginning class once before, so she took a kickboard and went splashing off by herself. The other student, Nathan, and I were told to hold on to the side of the pool and were shown how to kick for the breaststroke. One by one, the instructor had us hold on to a kickboard while she pulled it through the water and we kicked. In no time, Nathan was off doing this by himself....

Mobile Commerce Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5500 words

Mobile Commerce - Assignment Example Mobile commerce or m-commerce is considered as the next logical step or advancement of business systems after electronic commerce or e-commerce and refers to transactions with the use of a wireless device and data connection that can result in payments for information, services and goods. Mobile commerce is facilitated by mobile phones rather than the internet and includes services of online buying and selling as well as banking, payments and ticketing. M-commerce or mobile commerce has been projected as the next generation e-commerce or the next phase of buying and selling moving beyond online selling to mobile selling. Mobile commerce refers to buying and selling of services and products through wireless handheld devices such as cellular or mobile phones and personal digital assistants or PDAs. M-commerce enables users to do online buying and selling and also helps in accessing the internet without the need for any kind of plug in devices. The technology behind e commerce is based on the WAP or wireless application protocol and WAP technology is available in most mobile devices in Europe. Mobile phones with WAP technology have devices equipped with Web-ready micro-browsers and can help in furthering online access and browsing to help in buying and selling using handsets and mobile devices. These devices could thus be used for basic buying needs, payments, banking and ticketing as well as for accessing internet, messaging service sand reading email. However for mobile commerce the focus is on buying and selling and making payments using mobile devices and WAP technology rather than using the internet through a traditional computer. The m commerce market potential looks promising and handset manufacturers such as Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola, and Qualcomm have been working with carriers such as AT&T Wireless and Sprint to develop WAP-enabled smart phones. A recent technology has been the Bluetooth technology and smart phones with Bluetooth devices tend to offer fax, phone and email capabilities for m commerce to be accepted within the mobile and business workforce. M commerce allows users to access the internet from anywhere and thus do business beyond borders or limitations of locality. Mobile commerce helps in the delivery of e commerce and online facilities using wireless devices and WAP technology. Major companies have been working in partnership with banks and ticket agencies to take advantage of the retail facilities available in mobile devices. Mobile commerce refers to business transacted with the help of mobile phone networks, or similar communication links allowing considerable mobility amongst the users. Electronic commerce relies on internet connection through phone line and broadband and fixed telecommunications links. Mobile

Discrimination Towards Minorities within the United StatsJudicial Research Paper

Discrimination Towards Minorities within the United StatsJudicial System - Research Paper Example This paper will discuss the practice of discrimination towards minorities, discrimination which lead towards unlawful criminal procedures. It shall particularly discuss the civil liberties which are violated due to race and or class status. This paper is being carried out in order to establish a clear and comprehensive picture of the criminal justice system and its actual applications in the United States. Body Discrimination in the application of criminal justice is sometimes apparent in the legal practice, and in most instances, ethnic, racial, or economic considerations are the reasons why such discriminations exist. Various suggestions from different sources seem to point to the presence of racial discrimination in the criminal justice system. In the aftermath of the Rodney King case, an independent commission of the Los Angeles Police Department established that the LAPD used force excessively, and this unnecessary force was largely attributed to the officer’s racial prej udice (Banks, 2004). A review of police officers in the Los Angeles area revealed that about a quarter of them were racists towards the minorities, and that their racial bias has sometimes led to the inappropriate use of force in their arrests and apprehension of these criminals. In assessing radio communications among LAPD police officers, the content of their remarks reflected a significant number of racially discriminatory remarks and attitudes against minorities (Banks, 2004). Witnesses also claim that police officers often tolerated discriminatory actions against minorities; they also claim that these officers often verbally harassed these minorities for as long as they fit their usual suspects – the blacks and the Latin men (Banks, 2004). Police officers who also belonged to the minority ethnic groups were also discriminated against, and they were treated to biased comments and subjected to racial slurs. A report from New York established that there are double standards which are being applied – one for the whites and another one for the minorities and the poor (New York State Judicial Commission on Minorities, 1991). This report was able to establish the presence of biased treatment as well as injustice in the criminal justice system. The report also pointed out that various minorities were subjected to basement justice with their cases being relegated to facilities which were infested with rats and cockroaches (Banks, 2004). These minorities were also disrespected and not given the proper personnel to handle their complaints and court processes. In some instances, the cases involving minorities were often quickly dispensed, with atleast four or five minutes in court (Banks, 2004). This represents an assembly line in the dispensation of justice. Moreover, black defendants were often made to face their fate in the justice system before a purely white jury. This hardly represents the defendant’s peers. In order to establish whether or not racial discrimination is seen in the criminal justice system, various criminal theorists have carried out research assessing the major decision points in the criminal justice system in the US (Wilbanks, 1987). Most of these reports pointed out that even as racial discrimination exists in the criminal system, the system is not wholly defined by racial discrimination; in effect, discrimination is not extensive (Russell, 1998). However, there are

Return of Hong Kong to China Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 26

Return of Hong Kong to China - Assignment Example Because of this, generous reforms were implemented that proved to be economically successful. Later, younger leaders copied his economic model that earned the criticism of hardcore communists. First, the cities become overpopulated by rural migrants which becomes a housing problem. Household registration is a big concern since the government is trying to control the influx of migrants through the hukou system. Most of the migrants are considered as temporary migrants who would return to their villages one day. There’s also the problem of discrimination since people in the city look down on these migrants. Migrants are often blamed for crimes or any misdemeanor in a community which shows how ethnocentric urban dwellers are in China. First of all, it is hard to control the environmental pollution because this is the price for China’s success. As the country consumes more natural resources to manufacture more goods, it has also to chew out tons of pollution. Health concerns are just one matter as children get sick from different industrial waste. Algal red tide problems along the coastline is another environmental disaster that would be hard to correct. Another issue is Basically, north and south China differ in many ways, namely: geography, climate, and even culture. The northern part of China is mainly characterized by flat plains and grasslands which is suitable for growing wheat. On the other hand, the southern part has mountains and valleys which are conducive to planting rice. Also, irrigation is not a problem in southern China due to the rainy weather. The Yangtze river plays an important role in rice cultivation in southern China. The origins of Japan’s economic success began during the Meiji period when the leaders during that period accepted the concept of free market economy.  

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

Consumerism - Essay Example In America a child spends averagely 10 700 minutes in a week watching advertisements. There are so many advertisements aired daily in America convincing people to buy products from different companies. This is mainly because America is a hyper-consumerist society. An advertisement not only helps companies in product promotion but also gives a new perception about shopping. The advertisement tends to make people believe that shopping is about happiness. Therefore many consumers become obsessed with shopping believing it brings self-happiness (OGuinn et al. 283). The truth of the matter is that happiness is realized even if it is for a while. The good thing is that there is creation of more and more companies, more goods as well as job opportunities. This in turn helps in the growth of the United States economy. Most of the advertisements also are directed by children. Business Corporation uses the nagging idea. This is whereby the corporations use children in their advertisements. In turn the children watching the advertisements will nag their parents into buying the new product. Consumerism has also promoted better housing as compared to some years back. People are also buying more sophisticated home theatre systems, cars as well as clothes (Dwyer 23-46). Consumerism if not well looked at can be a problem to environmental sustainability. Planet earth cannot support the American style of consumption in every nation. There is need for magnitude change in consumption patterns among consumers behavior in buying items. Consumers need to stop buying too many toys and base their consumption on non-renewable resources. However, hyper- consumerism brings up many questions. One of the main questions is the use of money. Toys are bought using money, the money used to buy the toys take time to earn (Veblen 1). Most of the people in the contemporary American society, spend most of their times

Economy Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

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How different races influence each other Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How different races influence each other - Essay Example The rings speak of the Love and Hate war in Radio Raheem’s life. Radio Raheem cultivates love for the black neighborhood and hates Sal and his sons because of their Italian-American race. In addition to that, the phrase, â€Å"Bed-Stuy, So or Die† are imprinted on his t-shirt and the oversized boom box is a necessary accessory of he holds all the time. Not only does he apparently seem to favor the Black race, but also he makes overt expression of his Black pride by condemning the â€Å"Wall of Fame† which lacks faces of the Black people at the Famous Pizza owned by Sal. He plays the anthem on radio while walking in the streets of Bed-Stuy. This is his way of giving base to the African American voice that depicts their hatred for discrimination. In order to take the revenge from Sal, Radio Raheem and Buggin Out get themselves inside Sal’s pizza shop that is closed. They create mess in the pizza shop as an expression of their hatred. The tension they create upsets the customers and they start to yell and make hue and cry. Meanwhile, Radio Raheem’s radio gets broken by Sal’s baseball bat. This provides Radio Raheem with a reason sufficient to trigger a fight with Sal.

Research Portfolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

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How different races influence each other Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

How different races influence each other - Essay Example The rings speak of the Love and Hate war in Radio Raheem’s life. Radio Raheem cultivates love for the black neighborhood and hates Sal and his sons because of their Italian-American race. In addition to that, the phrase, â€Å"Bed-Stuy, So or Die† are imprinted on his t-shirt and the oversized boom box is a necessary accessory of he holds all the time. Not only does he apparently seem to favor the Black race, but also he makes overt expression of his Black pride by condemning the â€Å"Wall of Fame† which lacks faces of the Black people at the Famous Pizza owned by Sal. He plays the anthem on radio while walking in the streets of Bed-Stuy. This is his way of giving base to the African American voice that depicts their hatred for discrimination. In order to take the revenge from Sal, Radio Raheem and Buggin Out get themselves inside Sal’s pizza shop that is closed. They create mess in the pizza shop as an expression of their hatred. The tension they create upsets the customers and they start to yell and make hue and cry. Meanwhile, Radio Raheem’s radio gets broken by Sal’s baseball bat. This provides Radio Raheem with a reason sufficient to trigger a fight with Sal.

A Manifesto for Sustainable Design Essay Example for Free

A Manifesto for Sustainable Design Essay This manifesto proposes an approach to sustainable design that I am interested in exploring during my time studying architecture. The idea of sustainability is a complex one, not without apparent contradictions. This makes it difficult to define in a wholly satisfactory manner. For the purposes of this manifesto I will advert to the definition proposed by Jason McLennan who asserts that sustainable design: â€Å"seeks to maximize the quality of the built environment, while minimizing or eliminating negative impact to the natural environment. † I find this definition particularly useful in the emphasis which it places on quality. By quality, in this context, I mean an approach to building which emphasises not only thoughtful design but also the careful use of materials; these considerations are crucial to achieve sustainable development. â€Å"Quality† as the architect Thomas Sandell says â€Å"is always sustainable†: this holds particularly true if we return to the most basic meaning of that adjective – â€Å"long lasting.† My manifesto would involve seven basic considerations: a structure should be layered, generous, contextual, connected to nature, innovative, stimulating and idealistic. I propose to examine each of these points in turn, aware that they can be generally grouped under the heading of sensitivity. As I see it, a sensitive approach to architecture is one that fundamentally responds to the issues of site, user and impact, while not excluding other concerns – and all this in a way that is considered, thoughtful and restrained. These, then, are the fundamentals of my approach to design. 1. Layered According to T.S Eliot, â€Å"Genuine poetry communicates before it is understood†: I believe the same holds true for genuine architecture. It affects us at a pre-conscious level and its impact transcends the immediate, sensory, effects of the building. As I see it, architecture is not a matter of superficial effects. Its must transcend that which is little more than eye-catching gimmickry. A good example of what I would consider a layered design is Erik Gunnar Asplund’s Woodland Chapel built in 1922 (Fig. 1). Located on the grounds of the Woodland Crematorium in Enskede outside Stockholm, it was built to accommodate the funerals of children. At first, the chapel seems unremarkable in its elemental simplicity – as Simon Unwin puts it â€Å"without pretentions to being anything more than a rudimentary hut in the woods.† However, in quiet and richly suggestive ways, Asplund imbues this seemingly uncomplicated building with a poetic sense of an ancient and timeless place for burial. As J.R Curtis puts it, this apparently simple chapel was: â€Å"guided by underlying mythical themes to do with the transition from life to death, the procession of burial and redemption and the transubstantiation of natural elements such as water and light. There were echoes too of Nordic burial mounds and of Christ’s route to Calvary.† Fig. 1 Erik Gunnar Asplund, Woodland Chapel, 1922  One striking aspect can be found in Asplund’s sensitive treatment of the theme of resurrection. The idea is usually made explicit through the use of iconography; Asplund, however, evokes the notion of rebirth through his use of subtle association. The Chapel, for example, has only one source of light, which comes from above. The eye is therefore drawn upwards, to the heavens. This effect is accentuated by the pervasive darkness of the building. Like Robert Venturi, Asplund opts for â€Å"richness of meaning rather than clarity of meaning.† As a result, his Woodland Chapel has an uplifting rather than a depressing effect. His Chapel becomes an affirmation of life rather than an acceptance of defeat, and this appeals to me very much. It is no surprise to discover that Asplund himself – in a 1940 article on his crematorium building in Byggmà ¤staren – referred to the Woodland Cemetery, in which the Chapel lies, as a ‘biblical landscape’. Whatever else it is, the Bible is a book of hope. 2. Generous â€Å"Design is people† Jane Jacobs Jane Jacobs’s fundamental commitment to ordinary human beings is something I admire. Generous architecture offers an approach which puts everyday people at the forefront of the design. This is an inclusive architecture which does not limit itself only to the client and/or private users of the building.  Nobody is excluded. An example of this kind of what might be described as â€Å"generous† architecture can be found in Norwegian firm Snà ¸hetta’s Oslo Opera House on the waters of the Oslo Fjord, completed in 2007 (Fig. 2). Fig. 2 Snà ¸hetta, Oslo Opera House, 2007 Snà ¸hetta are concerned with the social dimension of architecture and this design imaginatively reinterprets the traditional opera houses that â€Å"conventionally limit their public spaces to exterior plazas or grand lobbies, often only accessible during opening hours.† What is striking here is that their Opera House succeeds in giving back to the city a public space. The sloping rooftop becomes a new public area: a recreation space and viewing platform that you can walk on, sit on, sunbathe on, even snowboard on. As a result anyone, whether interested in Opera or not, can enjoy the space. The building has been called a social democratic monument† by founding partner of Snà ¸hetta, Craig Dykers – and one can see why. In a recent television interview, Dykers went on to remark: â€Å"There is a sense of being able to place your feet onto the building that gives you a sense of ownership. At a certain point you no longer see the building as an architect’s building but as your own building† This is the kind of architecture which interests me. The fact that this building is sited in the middle of a highly populated area shows what can be done to help people live a fuller life – including those who have no focused interest in the Arts. This approach seems particularly relevant as more and more people live in cities and comes as a reminder that a city need not be a soulless, inhuman place. 3. Contextual â€Å"Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan.† Eliel Saarinen Architecture is inextricably rooted to place. An awareness of context then, would seem to be a sine qua non but unfortunately this is not always the case. An understanding of the social, historical, environmental, cultural and human qualities of a place is vital to building to best effect. By  Ã¢â‚¬Å"contextual†, then, I mean an architecture that is sensitive to the history and memory of the site. This would by no means exclude an awareness of the buildings that surround it. I admire Alvar Aalto for his understanding of the importance of relating design to the most significant features of the local site: the kind of features that are, as Michael Trencher puts it, â€Å"either physically self-evident or historically and culturally relevant.† Aalto’s design for the Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, (1959-62), affords a good example of this approach (Fig. 3). Fig. 3 Alvar Aalto, Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, 1959-62 The site for this building was in the old, Neo-Classical centre of the city and Aalto sought to respond to Engel’s buildings on the harbour and to the Church on a nearby hill. Arising out of his respect for the site, the scale of Aalto’s office building derives â€Å"both its horizontal and vertical character from the nearby historical buildings, hence its symmetrical, formal faà §ade.† A more recent example of contextually sensitive design is afforded by Grafton Architect’s proposal for the new Faculty of Economics for the University of Toulouse, still under construction. While envisaging their project, the architects walked from one side of the city to the other, â€Å"gauging the character of the brick facades, the polygonal towers, the transitions from streets to courts and the underlying spatial patterns.† The resulting design offers a sensitive response to the layered history and unique geography of the site. As founding partner Shelley McNamara has put it, the building â€Å"weaves into the mesh of the city.† 4. Connected to Nature â€Å"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.† Frank Lloyd Wright By nature I mean a world predominantly uninterfered with by man. Building in a way that is sensitive to what is natural, its resources and habitats is a key issue in current debates about sustainable design. That said, it is nearly one hundred years since Frank Lloyd Wright offered architectural proposals showing how to live in harmony with the environment. He called this â€Å"an organic architecture†¦of nature, for nature.† Lloyd Wright also understood the connection between nature and  well-being: â€Å"the closer man associated himself with nature, the greater his personal, spiritual and even physical well-being grew and expanded as a direct result of that association.† It is hard not to agree wholeheartedly with Lloyd Wright’s philosophy. As I see it, Architecture must connect to the natural world—not just in terms of the use of resources or in merely avoiding the negative impact of building on the environment—but also, as importantly, in terms of what a connection to nature can offer. His design for the Kaufmann Residence at Falling Water provides an obvious example of Lloyd Wright’s respect for nature and the natural world (Fig. 4). Fig. 4: Frank Lloyd Wright, Falling Water, 1935 At Falling Water, as Neil Levine remarks: â€Å"you do not ask where the house ends and the natural environment begins.† This sensitivity is present throughout his oeuvre, so that his buildings often seem to grow out of the environment and never appear at odds with it. 5. Innovative There is often an assumption that to be truly innovative is to break away from all that went before, to create something totally new. I do not agree. As I see it, the most interesting avant-garde architecture has always been steeped in an understanding of the past. As T.S Eliot said â€Å"To be totally original is to be totally bad.† Just as every human being comes from parents, so every new idea owes something to what has gone before. While not rejecting the achievements of the past, Le Corbusier understood that new challenges require innovative thinking. He proposed radical ideas to enrich modern living, â€Å"from private villas to large scale social housing to utopian urban plans.† Yet his inexhaustible inventiveness, â€Å"that heretical habit, driving-force of all his artistic desires† was always rooted in an understanding of what had gone before. His 1955 design for the Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, in Ronchamp, (Fig. 5) provides a good example, though it marked a profound change in direction from his earlier works and a move away from standardization and the machine aesthetic adverted to in Towards a New Architecture. J.R Curtis even suggests that â€Å"a nostalgia for the giant ruins of antiquity† began increasingly to show itself in Le Corbusier’s  imaginatively forward thinking work. Fig. 5 Le Corbusier, Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, 1955 In a manner similar to the approach of Asplund for his Woodland Chapel, Le Corbusier sought to evoke religious emotions through the play of space, light and form rather than relying on traditional iconography. In my opinion, what particularly makes the building exciting is its mixture of old and new, its daringly original design linking with an organic awareness of past forms. Curtis suggests a synthesis of influences: from Hadrian’s Villa to the mud buildings from the Mzab in Algeria, to Dolmens and Cycladic buildings, to the Parthenon itself. Out of an awareness of these sources, Le Corbusier manages to invent a new vocabulary. Other examples of this syncretism mixed with an innovative approach can be found in his designs for the Villa Madrot in Le Prdet, the Pavillon Suisse in Paris and the Duval Facory in Saint Die. The result has been described as â€Å"a wholly new formal idiom†Ã¢â‚¬â€ and one which owes its impact to the combination of the past and the wholly modern. An interesting contemporary comparison is The Sea Organ, in Zadar Croatia by Nikola BaÃ… ¡ic, built in 2005. The architect consulted master organ makers and Dalmatian stone carvers in his wish to create an experimental installation on the quayside to create a natural musical organ powered by the waves of the sea. Underneath its elegant white stone steps are 35 musically tuned tubes, through which the waves create random harmonic sounds. This kind of architecture excites me: strikingly innovative, yet sensitively grounded to the history of the site and traditions of the local people. 6. Stimulative Stimulative architecture, I would define as that which lifts the spirit, making us feel more alive. It surprises and challenges us even as it makes us appreciate more the needs it fulfils. Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s design for the Glasgow School of Art affords a good example (Fig. 6). Built in two phases from 1897-1899 and 1907-1909, the School still excites not least by its subtle playfulness. Around every corner the visitor is struck by something unexpected. Fig. 6, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow School of Art, 1899 On a closer look, a fusion of opposites emerges. Materials range widely and include leaded stained glass, exposed concrete and painted softwood. Their interplay is matched by an unexpected synthesis of light and dark, mass and plane, the old and the new, the solid and the void. As a result, the building imparts what Denys Lasdun calls â€Å"the brooding air of frozen excitement.† The fundamental stress lies in its manipulation of space. It seems to provide an example of what David Brett describes as a kind of â€Å"poetic workmanship† where structure, features, interiors and furnishings become â€Å"subject to a unifying system of forms, metaphors and unconscious associations.† 7. Idealistic This concept ranges widely and includes respect for people coupled with a hope to advance and uplift. It is the opposite of cynical or purely utilitarian. A building finally is more than something purely functional. It should have a spirit and not turn its back on artistic considerations. I would argue that idealism is the underlying principle to all the approaches of the architects above. Even if idealism is a difficult idea to define, it still has a reality and nowhere is it, and conversely the cynical, more obvious than in architecture. â€Å"The ultimate goal of architecture†, said Aalto in 1957,†¨Ã¢â‚¬Å"is to create a paradise†¦ every house, every product†¨of architecture†¦should be a fruit of our endeavour to†¨build an earthly paradise for people.† This idea appeals greatly to me and would be one of the basic impulses behind my approach to architecture. Conclusion In conclusion, the seven points of this manifesto provide an overview of some approaches to sustainable design that I am interested in exploring during my time studying architecture. These basic considerations propose a design that is layered, generous, contextual, connected to nature, innovative, stimulating and idealistic. These approaches can be loosely grouped under the idea of sensitivity, that is a respect for people, nature, site and  precedent. Examples of these considerations can be found in the work of architects, both past and present: from the timeless profundity of Asplund’s Woodland Chapel to the striking innovations of Le Corbusier and more recent examples from Grafton Architects Toulouse Economics Department and Snà ¸hetta’s Oslo Opera House. This is a manifesto for a lasting architecture. The bottom line is that sustainability is not a design aesthetic, as Robert Stern points out: â€Å"it is an ethic, a basic consideration that we have to have as architects designing buildings†¦ in 10 years were not going to talk about sustainability anymore, because its going to be built into the core processes of architecture†. List of Illustrations Fig. 1: Erik Gunnar Asplund, Woodland Chapel, 1922 (Source: http://www.fubiz.net accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 2: Snà ¸hetta, Oslo Opera House, 2007 (Source: http://www.mimoa.eu accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 3: Alvar Aalto, Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters in Helsinki, 1959-62 (Source: http://www.fubiz.net accessed January 14, 2012) Fig. 4: Frank Lloyd Wright, Falling Water, 1935 (Source: http://www.mimoa.eu accessed January 12, 2012) Fig. 5: Le Corbusier, Chapel of Notre Dame du Haut, 1955 (http://farm4.static.flickr.com accessed January 20, 2012) Fig. 6: Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Glasgow School of Art, 1899 (Source: http://www.glasgowarchitecture.co.uk accessed January 12, 2012) Bibliography Allen, Brooks H. (editor), Le Corbusier: Essays, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1987 Anderson, Jane, Architectural Design, London: Thames Hudson Press, 2011 http://www.architectural-review.com accessed November 22, 2011 http://bigthink.com accessed December 12, 2011 Blundell Jones, Peter, Gunnar Asplund, London: Phaidon, 1995. Blake, Peter, Frank Lloyd Wright: Architecture and Space, London: Penguin Books, 1964 http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca accessed November 11, 2011 Brett, David, C.R Mackintosh: The Poetics of Workmanship, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1992 Brooks, Bruce, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959: Building for Democracy, Hong Kong: Taschen, 2006 http://www.coldsplinters.com accessed 22 November, 2011 ‘Craig Dykers Interview’ GRITtv on youtube.com, 12 November, 2011 Curtis, William J.R, Modern Architecture Since 1900, London: Phaidon, 1996 Eliot, T. S., â€Å"Dante.† in Selected Essays New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950 Elkin, T., McLaren, D. and Hillman, M., Reviving the City: towards sustainable urban development, London: Friends of the Earth, 1991 Gill, Brendan, Many Masks: A Life of Frank Lloyd Wright, New York: Putman, 1987 http://www.graftonarchitects.ie accessed October 25, 2011 Heinz, Thomas A., The Vision of Frank Lloyd Wright. London: Chartwell Books, 2000 Hertzberger, Herman, Space and the Architect, Rotterdam: 010 Press, 2000 Hoffmann, Donald, Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater: The House and Its History, New York: Dover Publications, 1978 Honour, Hugh, A World History of Art, London: Laurence King, 2005 http://imodern.com accessed January 22, 2012 Jencks, Charles, Le Corbusier and the Continental Revolution in Architecture, New York: The Monacelli Press, 2000 Maddex, Diane, Frank Lloyd Wright: Inside and Out, London: Pavilion, 2002 Middleton, Haydn, Frank Lloyd Wright, New York: Heinemann, 2001 McLennan, Jason, The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, New York: Ecotone Publishing, 2004 Pallasmaa, Juhani, The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses, Wiley-Academy, 2005 Pearson, Paul David, Alvar Aalto and the International Style, New York: Whitney Library of Design, 1978 Quantrill, Malcolm, Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition, London: Taylor Francis, 1995 Ray, Nicholas, Alvar Aalto, London: Yale University Press. 2005 Ryan, Zoe, Open: New Designs for Public Space, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004 www.sandellsandberg.se accessed November 22, 2011 http://www.spatialagency.net/ accessed November 21, 2011 Tempel, Egon, New Finnish Architecture, New York, Washington: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968 http://www.treehugger.com accessed November 22, 2011 Trencher, Michael, The Alvar Aalto Guide, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996 Unwin, Simon, Analysing Architecture Venturi, Robert, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture New York: Museum of Modern Art Press, 1966 Wolschke-Bulmahn, Joachim, Places of Commemoration, Washington: Dumbarton Oaks, 2001 [ 1 ]. McLennan, Jason, The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, New York: Ecotone Publishing, 2004, p.5 [ 2 ]. www.sandellsandberg.se accessed November 22, 2011 [ 3 ]. Eliot, T. S., â€Å"Dante.† in Selected Essays New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1950, pp. 199-237 [ 4 ]. Unwin, Simon, Analysing Architecture, p.255 [ 5 ]. Ibid. p. 256 [ 6 ]. Curtis, William J.R, Modern Architecture Since 1900, London: Phaidon, 1996, p. 113 [ 7 ]. Wolschke-Bulmahn, Joachim, Places of Commemoration, Washington: Dumbarton Oaks, 2001, p.1016 [ 8 ]. Venturi, Robert, Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture New York: Museum of Modern Art Press, 1966, p.16 [ 9 ]. Johansson, pp. 59-60 [ 10 ]. http://www.blackwoodgallery.ca accessed November 11, 2011 [ 11 ]. Anderson, Jane, Architectural Design, London: Thames Hudson Press, 2011, p. 129 [ 12 ]. Ryan, Zoà «, Open: New Designs for Public Space, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2004, p. 28 [ 13 ]. Ibid. p. 29 [ 14 ]. ‘Craig Dykers Interview’ GRITtv on youtube.com, 12 November, 2011 [ 15 ]. Eliel Saarinen, Time Magazine July 2, 1956 [ 16 ]. Trencher, Michael, The Alvar Aalto Guide, New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996, p.34 [ 17 ]. Quantrill, Malcolm, Finnish Architecture and the Modernist Tradition, London: Taylor Francis, 1995, p. 122 [ 18 ]. Tempel, Egon, New Finnish Architecture, New York, Washington: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968, p148 [ 19 ]. http://www.architectural-review.com accessed November 22, 2011 [ 20 ]. http://www.graftonarchitects.ie accessed October 25, 2011 [ 21 ]. Middleton, Haydn, Frank Lloyd Wright, New York: Heinemann, 2001 [ 22 ]. Brooks, Bruce, Frank Lloyd Wright, 1867-1959: Building for Democracy, Hong Kong: Taschen, 2006 p. 12 [ 23 ]. Ibid. p.

International Business Management Marketing Essay

International Business Management Marketing Essay 1.0 Executive summary This report details subject of exporting which includes the reasons why companies internationalize and the measures the should undertake before pursuing export strategies. The systematic approach have been discussed in detail. We have talked about the two export strategies available in any organization pursuing the export strategy. We have also talked about the different types of direct and indirect exporting(which are the two main strategies of exporting, indirect and direct exporting). The benefits that the organization gain from pursuing them and how best to go about them. They have been discussed in detail , every advantage comes a disadvantage they have talked about the pitfalls that come with pursuing the strategies. Exporting strategy in general has been discussed . I have used a small company based in the United States to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of exporting. 2.0 METHODOLOGY Mainly the information in this report was from text books. Also through the discussion with fellow colleagues, debates also contributed to the information gathered in the report. The internet through the world-wide web also made contribution to the information contained in the report. 3.0 INTRODUCTION Exporting refers to strategy of producing products or services in one country (often the producers home country) selling and distributing them to customers located in other countries. Many organizations use exporting as an entry strategy . It is flexible and in the case where the product is not doing well due to the changes in the environment the firm can easily put out without incurring sufficient costs. Exporting is one of the cheapest and less risky ways of internationalizing. Internationalizing business refers to the performance of trade and investment activities by the firms across the borders. There are many ways that can lead a firm to internalize. The main reasons are: To seek opportunities growth through market doors diversification, substantial market potential exists outside the home country. To earn high profits, for many types of products and services market growth in mature economies is sluggish or flat These are some of the main reasons why most companies internationalize or export their product. At a broadest level firms internationalize or export to enhance competitive advantage.Cavusgil et al (2008 p5,p17) 4.0 THE SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO EXPORTING According to Cavusgil et al (2008, p.391-394) There is need for an organization to have a systematic approach before exporting the goods and services. The more experienced managers use a systematic approach to improve the firms prospects for successful exporting by assessing potential markets, by organizing the firm to undertake exporting, acquiring appropriate skills and competences and implement export strategies. The following steps are taken and examined in detail: 4.1 First step: Asses global market opportunity Managers will assess the firms readiness to internationalize, then choose the most appropriate country market and partners. The look at the readiness of the firm and its products. Tools like CORE (Companies readiness to export available online at global edge) are undertaken. Managers will assess the most attractive markets , potential distributors and identifies the industry market potential. Visiting promising countries is a significant approach because managers are able to understand the Customers needs, competitive environment and other external factors. 4.2 Second step: Organize for exporting Managers make decisions about what degree of the firms involvement, resources to be committed and the type of domestic and foreign intermediaries to hire, what sort of time-table the firm should pursue to achieve export goals and objectives. 4.3 Third step: Acquire skills and competences The firm acquires skills and competences to handle export operations. It trains staff and engages appropriate facilitating firms (such as freight forwarders, bankers and international trade lawyers) The reason as to why companies do this is because of the complexity of export transactions. The company can either launch a new product or use the adaption strategy when opportunity countries vary in terms of infrastructure; finance in the customer purchases hence the need for managers to gain internationally oriented capabilities. 4.4 Fourth step: Implementing exporting strategy Here managers will make decisions about product adaptation, marketing communities; pricing and supporting foreign subsidiaries and intermediaries. Product adaptation is the modifying a product to suit the needs and tastes of buyers in the target market. A good example is when Microsoft company in Germany, it must ensure that the software is written in Germany. Market adaptation refers to modifying advertising , selling style, public relations and promotional activities to suit individual markets, this of course will depend on the target market, the nature of the product and the firms position in the markets relative to competitors. Identifying and analyzing the four steps available to the organizations (which is known as the systematic approach) will help it decide which export strategy to pursue. They are to main strategies available namely direct and indirect exporting. The both have their advantages and disadvantages . it is important to understand and asses them. Firms selection on which strategy to pursue should be relative to the products or services. Certain products may be favorable with direct exporting while others will not. 5.0 EXPORTING INDIRECTLY With this approach a company engages intermediaries located in the firms home market. The intermediaries or intermediaries or firms are capable of finding foreign markets and buyers for its products. Export trading companies (EMs), export trading companies (ETs), international trading consultants and other intermediaries can give the exporter access to well contracts. Yet the export can still retain considerable control of the benefits of exporting, such as learning more about foreign competitors new techniques and market opportunity. The following are the independent organizations within the exporters domestic market, these are; Domestic-based merchants (export) who take time hire to the products and sell abroad Piggy-banking, this is where the exporter uses the overseas distributing facility of another facility Co-operations organizations, these act on behalf of a number of products and are partly controlled by the producers of primary products such as fruit nuts export through co-operative organizations Domestic-based export agents who sell on behalf of the exporter, these are usually paid on commission. Jobber(2007,p.956) 5.1 Advantages of exporting indirectly Indirect exports dont require a lot of organizational effort , staff workers . even if a company operates on export department, it emphasis only on a small number of employees, as the main work is carried out by foreign trade partners who have obtained an order. Indirect exporting can relatively move out of the market if it turns out that it does not match its goals and objectives. 5.2 Drawbacks of exporting indirectly During exporting, not all goods and services can be sold on the international market. Technically complex goods for example plasma screens, computers and some gadgets will not be suitable for indirect exporting. Although in the of indirect export exit to foreign market demands small financial and human resources it is not always effective in the long run. It leads t de-minimizing returns. Trading partners try to get maximum profits from their services as mediators. This leads to the rise of transfer of goods and services to a retailer with small profits for the enterprise. Besides the latter cannot acquire its own experience in foreign market has no information on the wishes of clients the behavior of competitors and general economic conditions in individual countries. Not all the brokers are usually the optimum market potential and opportunities for marketing. This allows in miscalculations and mistakes in various actions they undertake. This affects the income of producers or exports of goods. A good example is where certain foreign markets are not optimal goods that may be offered to exporters. The price can be set without taking into account specific parts of the market. The company exporting indirectly is deprived of direct communication with the end uses. This includes transition to other forms of work in the markets. Advantages and disadvantages of direct and indirect exports CBS (Anon n.d.) 6.0 EXPORTING DIRECTLY This approach is the most ambitious and difficult. The exporter handle every aspect of the exporting process from market research and planning to foreign distribution collections, substantial commitment of management time and attention is required to achieve good results. However this approach maybe best way to achieve high profits and growth with reasonable assistance and guidance from the department of commerce, state trade offices freight forwarders, international banks and other service groups. 6.1 TYPES OF DIRECT EXPORTING Companies usually use agents and distributors in some or all of their exports abroad. It has been estimated that over 60percent of US companies go for some or their export activity. In the European firms figures it rises to 70percent. Agents may be exclusive, where the agreement is between the exporter and the agent alone; semi-exclusive, where the agent handles the goods along with other non-competing goods from companies ; or exclusive, where the agent handles a variety of goods, including some that they may compete with exporter products. Distributors are different from agents , the take hire to the goods and payment ( to the distributors) is according to the differences between the buying and selling prices rather than commission. Distribution are only appointed when after-sales service is required to they are more likely to posses the necessary resources than agent. The advantages of both agents and distributors are that they are acquainted with local market, customs and conventions, existing business contracts and foreign nationals. They have a direct incentives to sell through either commission or profit margin, but since their remuneration is tied to sales they way be reluctant to devote much time and effort to developing a market for a new product. Also the amount of market feedback may be limited as the agent or distributor may see themselves as a purchasing agent for customers rather than selling agent export. 6.2 Domestic-based sales representatives Since he is a company employer he has direct control of activities. When the company is not comfortable with the way agents and distributors are handling their product they can engage a sales representative to performance most of the activities. Company employs will apply more commitment to the customer; which may seem absent in the distributors and agent consequently they are often uses in industrial markets where there are a fewer large customers that require close contract with suppliers and where the size of orders justifies the expense of foreign travel. 6.3 Overseas sales/marketing office or subsidiary This is a bigger customer commitment in this choice than using domestic-base sales representatives. The major concern with option is the huge amount of investment required . however, the exporter may be seen to be an indigenous supplier, this improves the chances of achieving market success. In some markets, where access to distribution channels is limited selling direct through an overseas sells office maybe the only feasible way of breaking into the market. The sales office or subsidiary acts as a center for foreign based sales representatives, handles sales distribution and promotion and is a customer service center. 6.4 The internet Companies can now export directly to customers through the global reach of the internet. By creating a website overseas consumers are aware of the firms products and can order directly. The internet is not only on demand to market but also used as a useful research tool. Sites like the international growth offer skills and resources for specific industries for example system and computing services companies. Jobber(2007,p.957-959) 6.5 Advantages of direct exporting Through direct export target management and the control of sales become possible which is unrealistic on the case of direct export The exporting company establishes the direct contact with a foreign partner and not only operates through its own foreign trade companies abroad but also has the best opportunities for direct participation foreign transaction. Direct export is applicable to a wide range of goods and services. By exporting a larger number of financial and human resources is covered than in the case of indirect export The advantage of direct exports are especially apparent in the export and supply of company products and services, the sales of which would not have been possible through foreign trade companies and export firms. This applies, above all to those goods and services that have a small degree of standardization and high-line scheme. 6.6 The main drawbacks of direct exporting While direct exporting is applicable to a wider range of goods and services, for certain goods and services direct export is considered inappropriate in the same way as indirect. This applies to goods that are due to short work life and cannot or unlike be exported; goods which may be associated with high transport costs, goods which require complex after sale service which cannot by resellers Direct export is fraught with difficulties for enterprises of economic kind, such are those associated with deterioration of exchange rates. If the rate of domestic or currencies of third countries increases in markets However compared the indirect exporting, the exporter must dedicate more time, Personnel and Corporate Resources in developing and managing operations. Advantages and disadvantages of direct and indirect exports CBS (Anon n.d.) 7.0 THE EXPORT STRATEGY International transactions that involve the exchange of product are home based international trade activities, such as global, sourcing, exporting and countertrade. Here we are concerned about exporting and its advantages and disadvantages available for the firm. For us to understand the advantages and disadvantages we will discuss a company in brief and talk about what benefits and drawbacks exporting provides. Vellus product. Inc, a small company in the USA that makes gloaming products such as customized shampoos, conditioners, brushing sprays and detangles. According to the Doherty(the president of the firm) shampoo for the people dont work well on pets because animals skin is more sensitive than humans and easily irritated. Vellus first export sales was to a Taiwanese importer who purchased $25,000 worth of products to sell at Taiwan toy shows. The word was I started calls from people around world says president. Vellus has become quite familiar with the cultural aspects of various regions. Cavusgil et al (2008, p.381-382) 7.1 The exporting advantages available for Vellus Since Vellus is a small organization which has the potential to grow, exporting will increase its overall sales, improving market share and general profit margins that are often favorable than the domestic market. A good example in relation to Vellus, a Taiwanese importer who purchased $25,00 worth of products and many knew the product and the demand for the product increased. Increase in demand results into growth in market share which would later increase sales volume. Building up on the above advantage would add on to say increase in market share and demand would mean Vellus producing on a a large scale hence increasing economies of scale and reducing cost per unit of manufacturing. Exporting will diversify customer base, reducing dependency on home markets. To date, Vellus has exported its products to Australia, Canada, China, England, Norway and South Africa roughly half of its revenues come from exporting. From this we can say Vellus has diversified customer base in different countries and has also reduced its dependency on domestic market as half of its revenue has come from foreign markets. Exporting also stabilizes fluctuations in sales associated with economic circles or seasonality demand. For example Vellus can offset declining demands at home due to economic recessions or unforeseen environmental factors by refocusing efforts to other countries doing good in their economy. If Vellus faces high risk in foreign markets such as foreign currency fluctuations, unstable political environment into what is happening in the Ireland now where the economy has taken its turn to the worst, or decrease in demand for its product it can withdraw from the market. Exporting minimize flexibility and maximize risk. Since Vellus does not require a physical presence when pursuing an export strategy in foreign markets there is a lower cost of entry. Vellus can use exporting to test new markets before committing great resources through foreign direct investment. 7.2 The drawbacks of exporting Since exporting does not require a firm to have physical presence in a foreign market (in contrast FDI) , Vellus has fewer opportunities to learn about customers, competitors and other unique aspects of the market. Although Vellus has acquired information about some cultural aspects in some markets it may lack the full details which can be important in decision making. Having general knowledge of the target would prove dangerous as significant aspects such as what drives customers specific demand, however do our customers look at our competition and what policies government is pursuing. Exporting requires the firm to inquire capabilities and dedicate organizational resources to properly conduct export transaction. For small firms like Vellus limited resources can limit the way would conduct the export strategy. Exporting requires management to put more time and effort to learn about freight for forwarders, documentation, foreign currencies and new financing methods. The acquisition of such capabilities can put a strain on small businesses like Vellus who might not have the required resources and competencies to meet them. Compared to other entry strategies exporting is much more sensitive to tariff and other trade barriers as well as fluctuations in exchange rates. Into trade barriers Vellus might find it difficult to export to European markets due to unfavorable conditions( barriers) that apply if you are not in Europe or a member of the European union(EU). In relation to the exchange rate we will give an example: the US dollar gained 12% against the Euro and 15% against the Yen. This led to a slow growth of US exports harming those firms that rely heavily on exporting for generating international sales. Exporters run the risk of being priced out of foreign markets. Cavusgil et al (2008, p.389-391) 8.0 CONCLUSION The role of small medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in exporting is growing. In the United States SMEs have less than 500 employees although in Europe and elsewhere where firms may have fewer than 500 employees to qualify SMEs. Many governments have undertaken aggressive campaigns to help SMEs to become exporters. The world bank assists SMEs to develop their business skills. SMEs do not require large export markets they mainly carter for niches. Exporting in general has risen in recent years because its seen as a less risky and most flexible entry strategy.