Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Chemistry of Batteries and Its Implications on Modern Society free essay sample

Batteries have proven to be the core of modern day technology, without batteries modern day technology and some electronics would have never existed. Nations that invest more in battery run technology tend to have a higher labor productivity rate. This is because battery powered electronics increase could potentially increase the productivity rate of labor and thus an increase in capital goods. Electronics have also been seen as the driving force of emerging economies, in fact almost all Ramp;D expenditure in China is for telecommunications and electronics (Huwai, 2011). For example China’s invest in research and development in electronic factory machines (Industry Innovation, 2007) allowed Chinese manufacturers to boost overall domestic production providing lower cost goods and allowing it to further compete in the global market. A rechargeable car battery (or an automotive battery) is a battery that supplies electrical energy to an automobile and allows us to start up the vehicle’s engine, lights and electrical necessities, cars. We will write a custom essay sample on The Chemistry of Batteries and Its Implications on Modern Society or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The benefits of batteries in todays societies is incomprehensible, whether it be the use of batteries in smartphones to flashlights or even to car batteries, the use of batteries has helped developed and create a modern society that we live in. Without batteries smartphones and mobiles would have never been created and telecommunications would be nothing more than house phones and primitive electronic devices. The convenience of batteries is that they are portable and rechargeable allowing them to be carried with. In sense batteries is just an energy storage device that does not need to be plugged into an energy source to be functional. Chemical energy is stored in the battery and when required the converted energy is released. A battery is made up of one or more electrochemical cells, each of which consists of two half-cells. In the redox reaction that powers the battery cations are reduced (electrons are added) at the cathode while anions are oxided. In this world batteries seem to be the only convenient and portable technology available to power the thousands of different electronic devices that are used everyday. Since its invention the battery has helped create orld-shaping convenient equipment ranging from the flashlight to common childhood toys to car batteries. Batteries have helped mankind accomplish innovative inventions throughout the previous century, and continues to do so, it has also contributed to the development of modern society by constantly powering new trends. However is there a price to all this, and if so, does the benefits of batteries outweigh the costs? Used dead lead batteries are almost always dumped into landfills that can severely damage the environment and the health of well-beings nearby. In fact 20,000 tons of batteries were landfilled annually in the UK alone (Rebatt, 2007), and global lead battery production is approximated to be worth $36. 2 billion in 2010 and is steadily increasing (OakIsland, 2006) meaning that an increasing number of lead batteries are dumped every year. Toxic led batteries can cause dirt contamination that is provoked by the attendance of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or supplementary alteration in the usual dirt environment. Dumped batteries are a toxicant to the environment, which is the result of the continuous human choice of wealth over the environment. Over 120 million people are affected negatively by this exposure of led, 99% of whom reside in developing countries (Rebatt, 2007). Scientific studies display that long-term exposure to even puny numbers of lead can cause kidney and brain damage, hearing impairment, as well as setbacks in children (Mary, 2009). Automobiles worldwide use over one million metric tons of lead every year, in which 90% are attributed to standard lead-acid vehicle batteries (HybridCars, 2011). However, there are other environmental solutions towards dealing with the disposal of lead batteries. Instead of dumping thousands of tons of dead batteries into dreadful landfills, we are able to recycle these batteries therefore getting rid of the disposal problem. By recycling batteries a manufacture could potentially minimize the resources required in creating new batteries. However the process of recycling lead batteries is nearly as toxic as dumping them in landfills. Recycling procedures further discharges tons of lead into the environment. Lead is disappeared and emerging fumes are released into the air. This toxic metal is next obtainable for human absorption as airborne, beforehand resolving in dust and soil (Marry, 2009). The fundamental base of reactions is the movement of electrons from one atom to another. Energy comes in different forms and the battery uses electrochemical cells to convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy via electron transfer (Bellis, 2006). This allows energy to be used to create additional reactions. The battery uses the redox to create electricity portably without needed to be plugged into a continuous electric source. Chemical energy is stored in the battery and when required the converted energy is released. A battery is made up of one or more electrochemical cells, each of which consists of two half-cells (Mary, 2008). In the redox reaction that powers the battery cations are reduced (electrons are added) at the cathode while anions are oxided.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Quality Control for All

Introduction/Executive summary This report involves the statistical analysis of data obtained from the previous jobs conducted by the Allrepairs staff. The performance of individual staff members is evaluated for all the jobs they undertake in terms of the time taken. In conducting this analysis, constraints such as the difficulty of the job are considered alongside the satisfaction of the customer.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Quality Control for All-repairs Mechanics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The other factor put into consideration is the number of years that the individual has been in the field, and this is important in determining their level of expertise. These values are independent random variables obtained by coding the raw data obtained during the data collection stage and is shown by the table provided. This analysis is supposed to show the competence of the individual staff members, who coll ectively determine the credibility of the company. In order to come up with this analysis the hypothesis has to first be determined then tested using the available data. This data will then be evaluated using E-views software which will generate the relevant statistics to be analyzed1. Hypothesis This analysis is aimed at establishing the credibility of Allrepairs staff members in relation to their experience, job difficulty, the time taken to complete the tasks and the customer’s response. The null hypothesis states that the staff members are not equally competent while the alternative hypothesis states that they have the same level of competence. In case the null hypothesis holds, the alternative hypothesis is automatically disregarded and vice versa2. Data Analysis The first table in this analysis is a representation of the general statistics of the data objects. It indicates the mean, median, maximum, minimum, standard deviation the skewness and the kurtosis of the indivi dual objects for the 293 observations. Table 1: descriptive statistics DIFFICULTY SATISFACTION TIME YEARS Mean 1.832765 3.225256 34.05461 8.071672 Median 2.000000 3.000000 32.00000 9.000000 Maximum 3.000000 9.000000 97.00000 12.00000 Minimum 1.000000 1.000000 6.000000 2.000000 Std. Dev. 0.604791 1.405875 15.74466 3.884239 Skewness 0.092354 2.914407 0.959621 0.752124 Kurtosis 2.589877 12.97725 4.128666 1.924974 From this data, the mean difficulty of the jobs undertaken is below the median, meaning that most jobs are relatively easy. The mean for the satisfaction indicates that most of the customers are satisfied with the job while that of the time taken to complete the tasks indicates that a larger percentage of jobs is completed within the required time frame.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More On the years of experience however, the statistics indicate th at most of the employees have not been with the company for long, implying a slightly high rate of labor turnover. The standard deviations likewise indicate that the value for the difficulty level is not very deviant from the mean3. This could be interpreted as the jobs have a difficulty level that is relatively similar to each other. As for the level of customer satisfaction, the standard deviation indicates that a majority of the customers approve the services offered to them. The time and number of year’s deviations, as well, indicate little deviation from the mean. To analyze the interrelationship between any two given objects, we will use the covariance matrix generated as follows. Table 2: Covariance matrix DIFFICULTY MECHANIC SATISFACTION TIME YEARS DIFFICULTY 0.364524 -0.110042 0.044497 7.288996 0.438607 MECHANIC -0.110042 1.305898 -0.102529 -1.992277 -4.083507 SATISFACTION 0.044497 -0.102529 1.969738 0.991112 0.349043 TIME 7.288996 -1.992277 0.991112 247. 0482 6.357861 YEARS 0.438607 -4.083507 0.349043 6.357861 15.03582 The significance of this is in the determination of how the variables change in relation to each other4. The level of difficulty and the satisfaction of the customer seem to be changing in the same direction, implying a proportionate change while that between the mechanic and all the other variables do not change in the same direction. This means that the result of the repair has nothing to do with the mechanic handling the job. We can therefore conclude that the only variable that does not affect the outcome of the job hence the performance of the company is the mechanic. The covariance between the number of years in the company and the time taken to complete the tasks has a high covariance and this can be interpreted to mean that the time changes in the same direction with the years of experience5.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Quality Control for All-repairs Mechanics specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The next element in this analysis is the determination of individual descriptive statistics alongside the histograms so that we can come up with a conclusion on how the individual variables affect the overall reputation of the company. First is the difficulty histogram as shown below. Diagram 1: Difficulty Histogram and statistics From this histogram, the level of difficulty for the majority of the tasks lies at the average difficulty level. The hardest jobs are the least and this implies that the employees in this company have the necessary expertise to handle the jobs at their disposal. The second diagram is that of the mechanics as shown below. Diagram 2: Mechanic Histogram and statistics Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More From this, we can conclude that the mechanics do an approximately equal number of jobs as shown by the bars. The difference in the size of the bars is not significant, indicating a fair policy in the company when allocating jobs6. Third is the time taken shown in diagram 3 below. Diagram 3: Time Histogram and statistics The tasks take different amounts of time to complete depending on the difficulty of the job. Most of the jobs however take a time frame below the average and this is an implication of time efficiency in the company which ensures that completed work is delivered to the customer on time7. Diagram 4: Satisfaction Histogram and statistics From this diagram, we can conclude that the numbers of customers who have expressed dissatisfaction over the work done are the least. A majority of the observation indicate a high level of satisfaction, which may mean that the repairs done never recurred and they were completed on time8. Diagram 5: Year’s Histogram and statisti cs From this diagram, the period of time that the employees have been working in the organization differs greatly, with the gap between the first person and the others being the greatest. This person has however handled the highest number of jobs though by a very small margin compared to the others9. The other three seem to have been in the company for an almost equal period of time. Conclusion From these diagrams, we can conclude that going with the data provided here, the company is performing effectively and it is credible enough to be hired to carry out repairs. The success of this company can be considered to be as a result of the strong workforce, and so, the alternative hypothesis holds true, disqualifying the null hypothesis10. The employees have an almost equal level of expertise as realized throughout the analysis. The result of the covariance analysis indicates that it does not matter which employee is undertaking the task, since the result is always relatively equal, im plying an equal level of expertise among the employees. References List Anderson, TW, An Introduction to Multivariate Statistical Analysis, Willey, New York, 1998. Bowerman, BL, RT O’Connell ML Hand, Business Statistics in Practice, Mc-Grawhill, Boston, 2001. Boyle, RG, Descriptive statistics, Victoria College Press, Burwood, 1998. Bradley, T, Essential Statistics for Economics, Business and Management, John Wiley Sons, Chichester, 2007 Dixon, WJ FJ Massey, Introduction to Statistical Analysis 3d ed, McGraw Hill, New York, 1999. Doane, DP LW Seward, Essential statistics in business and Economics, McGraw-Hill Irwin, Boston, 2010. Edwards, AL, Statistical Analysis 3d ed, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 2009. Lind, DA, WG Marcal RD Mason, Statistical techniques in Business and Economics, McGraw-Hill Irvin, Princeton, 2002. McClave, JT, PG Benson T Sincich, Statistics for Business and Economics, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, 2001. Wegner, T, Applied business statistics, 2nd ed, Juta, Cape town, 2007. Footnotes 1. D Doane L Seward, Essential statistics in business and Economics, McGraw-Hill Irwin, Boston, 2010, p.48 2. T Wegner, Applied business statistics, 2nd ed, Juta, Cape town, 2007, 98. 3. McClave, JT, PG Benson T Sincich, Statistics for Business and Economics, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, 2001, p.62. 4. A Edwards, Statistical Analysis 3d ed, Rinehart and Winston, New York, 2009, p.85. 5. D Lind, W Marcal R Mason, Statistical techniques in Business and Economics, McGraw-Hill Irvin, Princeton, 2002, p. 122. 6. R Boyle, Descriptive statistics, Victoria College Press, Burwood, 1998, p.77. 7. T Bradley, Essential statistics for Economics, business and management, John Wiley Sons, Chichester, 2007, p. 82. 8. W Dixon FMassey, Introduction to statistical analysis 3d ed, McGraw Hill, New York, 1999, p. 54. 9. T Anderson, An introduction to multivariate statistical analysis, Willey, New York, 1998, p. 98. 10. B Bowerman, R O’Connell M Hand, Business statistics in practice, Mc-Grawhill, Boston, 2001, p. 23 This report on Quality Control for All-repairs Mechanics was written and submitted by user Deon S. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Diversity in Colonial Times Essay Example

Diversity in Colonial Times Essay Example Diversity in Colonial Times Essay Diversity in Colonial Times Essay Name: Course: Lecturer: Date: Diversity in Colonial Times There was diversity during the colonial period, even as the country remained sparsely populated. In the third chapter, â€Å"Diversity in Colonial Times†, the author examines different aspects of diversity that were present at the time. In particular, he observes how the scarcity of the English immigrants contributed to the development of the cultural diversity as more people from different European countries migrated to the New World. The author disputes other authors who speak of cultural homogeny during the colonial period. These authors speculate that the country did not have a cultural mix of people, because of the relatively few migrants, and the fact that most of the migrants seemed to have come from the same region. This chapter illustrates how, defining people from the same continent as a single entity, limits the study of the different cultures found within the group. There was diversity during the colonial period, as the migrants came from different countries, spoke different languages, and ascribed to different religions. People in the New World came from different European countries, and all these countries had different languages, cultures, and belief system. Just because the people were from the same continent, and were similar in appearance, did not make them homogenous. The Swedes were different from the French, who were different from the Germans. People from different countries were able to maintain their cultures, by living in clustered communities. They did this even after they learnt the English language, which unified the people. The people spoke different languages, and each geographical location had a majority. Even after they learnt the English language, people maintained their sense of identity by speaking their own language in their clustered communities. They maintained their individual cultures, even after adoption and assimilation. The Africans slaves developed their own way of speaking. They were from different countries, and had different dialects, and they could not communicate well with each other. Their need for interaction contributed to them forming their own language, which enabled them to communicate with each other. This served to homogenize them, as they now spoke the same language. Although this decreased diversity among the African people, it contributed to diversity among the communities. That diversity continues today, as African Americans seem to speak English differently from the white Caucasians. The people had different religions, and this contributed to the diversity among them. Although most of the people were Christians, they were of different Christian backgrounds and denominations, and some of their beliefs were very different. Some of the religions represented during the time included Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Presbyterianism. This contributed to their diversity. The author fails to mention the different religious backgrounds. Although the chapter recognizes some of the diversity among the Africans, especially in terms of their language, it fails to recognize the different religious beliefs, practices, and traditions that existed among the people, and how these differences contributed to their diversity, and future culture. The author uses different historical documents, as well as the work of other authors who have written on the subject. He has included authors who do not depict the presence of diversity during the colonial period, as well as the authors who showed different elements of diversity during the period. This makes his work more objective, in the sense that he has considered all the possibilities. The work differs from the work of others who have attempted to write on the same issue, by including detailed information concerning the immigrants. He has considered the diversity of the African slaves, who were diverse in many ways, having come from different countries. He has observed how their learning of the English language and lifestyle did not stop them from keeping some of the elements of their culture, some of which remain today.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Irish Drinking Toasts and Quotes

Irish Drinking Toasts and Quotes Frank Sinatra said, Alcohol may be mans worst enemy, but the Bible says love your enemy. Well, the Irish certainly love their drink. Is it any wonder then that even their coffee has alcohol? You can see the Irish fondness for alcohol in Irish drinking quotes and toasts. It is tough not to be intoxicated with these Irish drinking quotes. Ed McMahon God invented whiskey to keep the Irish from ruling the world. Winston Churchill We have always found the Irish a bit odd. They refuse to be English. Barry McCaffrey When I get a very generous introduction like that I explain that Im emotionally moved, but on the other hand Im Irish and the Irish are very emotionally moved. My mother is Irish and she cries during beer commercials. Irish Quote When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to Heaven. So, lets all get drunk and go to heaven. Irish Proverb Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you fight with your neighbor. It makes you shoot at your landlord and it makes you miss him. Alex Levine Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups:alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat. Noel Gallagher I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my Mum. I know Ive got Irish blood because I wake up every day with a hangover. Author Unknown For every wound, a balm.For every sorrow, cheer.For every storm, a calm.For every thirst, a beer. Oscar Wilde Work is the curse of the drinking class. Irish Drinking Toasts Heres to me, and heres to you,And heres to love and laughter –Ill be true as long as you,And not one moment after. ~ May your glass be ever full,May the roof over your head be always strong,And may you be in heavenHalf an hour before the devil knows youre dead.

Friday, November 22, 2019

Biography of Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President

Biography of Bill Clinton, the 42nd U.S. President Bill Clinton was born on August 19, 1946 in Hope, Arkansas, as William Jefferson Blythe III. His father was a traveling salesman who died in a car accident three months before he was born. His mother remarried when he was four to Roger Clinton. He took the Clinton name in high school. At the time, he was also an excellent student and an accomplished saxophonist. Clinton became ignited to a political career after visiting the Kennedy White House as a Boys Nation delegate. He went on to be a Rhodes Scholar to Oxford University. Family and Early Life Clinton was the son of William Jefferson Blythe, Jr., a traveling Salesman and  Virginia Dell Cassidy, a nurse. His father was killed in an automobile accident just three months before Clinton was born. His mother married  Roger Clinton in 1950. He owned an automobile dealership. Bill would legally change his last name to Clinton in 1962. He had one half-brother, Roger Jr., who Clinton pardoned for earlier crimes during his last days in office. In 1974, Clinton was a first year law professor and ran for the House of Representatives. He was  defeated but remained undaunted and ran for Attorney General of Arkansas unopposed in 1976. He went on to run for Governor of Arkansas in 1978 and won becoming the youngest governor of the state. He was defeated in the 1980 election but returned to office in 1982. Over the next decade in office he established himself as a New Democrat that could appeal to both Republicans and Democrats. Becoming the President In 1992, William Jefferson Clinton was nominated as the Democratic nominee for president. He ran on a campaign that emphasized job creation and played to the idea that he was more in touch with the common people than his opponent, the incumbent George H. W. Bush. Actually, his bid for the presidency was helped by a three party race in which Ross Perot garnered 18.9% of the vote. Bill Clinton won 43% of the vote, and President Bush won 37% of the vote. Events and Accomplishments of Bill Clinton’s Presidency An important protective bill that passed in 1993 soon after taking office was the Family and Medical Leave Act. This act required large employers to give employees time off for illnesses or pregnancy. Another event that occurred in 1993 was the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement that allowed for non-restricted trade between Canada, the U.S., Chile, and Mexico. A huge defeat for Clinton was when his and  Hillary Clintons plan for a national health care system  failed. Clintons second term in office was marked by controversy surrounding relationships he had with White House staffer,  Monica Lewinsky. Clinton denied having a relationship with her under oath in a deposition. However, he later recanted when it was revealed that she had evidence of their relationship. He had to pay a fine and was disbarred temporarily. In 1998, the  House of Representatives  voted to impeach Clinton. The Senate, however, did not vote to remove him from office. Economically, the U.S. experienced a period of prosperity during Clintons time in office. The  stock market  rose dramatically. This helped add to his popularity. Post-Presidential Period Upon leaving office President Clinton entered the public speaking circuit. He also remains active in contemporary politics by calling for multilateral solutions to issues facing the world. Clinton has also started working with former rival President George H.W. Bush on several humanitarian endeavors. He also assists his wife in her political aspirations as a Senator from New York. Historical Significance Clinton was the first two term Democratic president since Franklin Roosevelt. In a period of increasingly divided politics, Clinton moved his policies more to the center to appeal to mainstream America. Despite being impeached, he remained a very popular President.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Marketing Plan for British American Tobacco Company (BAT) Essay

Marketing Plan for British American Tobacco Company (BAT) - Essay Example The report entails the marketing plan of BAT and considers the current marketing environment, situational analysis and marketing objectives that should be implemented in order the changes in consumer attitudes towards consumption of the traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes and cigars. The report will also outline the marketing mix strategy that BAT should implement in order to attain the marketing objectives. British American Tobacco (BAT) has market presence in more than 200 countries across the world but has received criticism due to its controversial products that have adverse health effects on the consumers. Some of the leading global brands include Lucky Strike, Benson & Hedges, Pall Mall, Dunhill, and Rothmans. BAT has a strong market presence in Britain and entire European market and its traditional products such as cigars, pipe tobacco and cigarettes are experiencing a decline in demand due to high consumer awareness of the adverse impacts of nicotine on their health. In response, BAT has started developing next-generation products that include the heat-not-burn devices and electronic cigarettes. BAT has implemented a new vision strategy that will enable the company to attain leadership of the global tobacco industry and enhance the shareholder value. Marketing is concerned with anticipating and meeting the changing consumer needs and preferences through offering new products, new uses of the product and added benefits to the products.

Web Design Rationale Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Web Design Rationale - Essay Example The laundry business has long been a major source of income for many individuals (Yung, et.al., 2006). The industrial revolution has brought forth the use of washing machines, which has then led to businesses within the laundry services line (Yung, et.al., 2006). To date, this business has grown and expanded. In the current age of computers and the Internet, most businesses have now included online features for their clientele (Yung, et.al., 2006). Significant improvements in these online features have been added throughout the years, including the various options available for customers. This website features a description of the kind of basic services offered by the business, including the types of items which they can clean as well as the prices corresponding to each type of laundry. The website includes a phone number and the address of the laundry service. Other services including the repair of clothes would also be seen on the site. Additional features which would be included i n the website are the following: 1. What they offer. Additional features to be added would include wedding laundry, domestic laundry, restaurant laundry, and hotel laundry. These are distinct and specific types of laundry which often require different types of handling. Wedding laundry would likely include clothes for the bride/groom and the entourage. Items of this nature are delicate and require an enormous amount of care – more than what is usually needed for other types of laundry. The other kinds of laundry mentioned above would have qualities specific to their industry. Hotel laundry would likely include mostly linens; restaurant laundry would likely include items which may be stained with food items or grease and would require stain removal processes. Adding specificity to the website would immediately inform the clients about the possible options they have; it would also entice specific businesses involved, including hotels and restaurants and other institutions who e ncounter specific problems with their laundry (Burge and Brown, 1998). In effect, this added feature would identify clients, often making them feel entitled to specialised and personalised services. Posting these details on the website would also indicate who their target audience is. 2. Contact us. (Twitter, Facebook, email, phone). This feature taps into the social media and the connectivity of telecommunications. The fastest and most popular tool on the Internet these days is the social media, and this tool has become one of the most convenient means by which free and widespread advertising can be utilised (Stephanidis, 2011). Where these contact measures are made possible, greater accessibility is guaranteed. Adding the email and phone features helps cover all the possible options for communicating with the business, thereby ensuring that the clients would have the power to choose which contact means they would use (Stephanidis, 2011). 3. About us. This feature would describe th e laundry house, specify its features and options, and why it is the best choice to fit the needs of any customer seeking laundry services (Lee, 2004). It would also describe the exemplary quality of the laundry services, as well as the favourable reputation of the business (Lee, 2004). This feature would basically introduce the customer to the website and the laundry servic

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Civil and Construction Engineering, Building Studies and Fire Essay

Civil and Construction Engineering, Building Studies and Fire Engineering - Essay Example National Academy for Professional Training I would like to acknowledge National Academy for Professional Training for providing consultants to assist me in the visit to The Torch Hotel. 1.0 Introduction The topic I have chosen for my final dissertation for Civil and Construction Engineering Building Studies and Fire Engineering is a review of The Torch Hotel in The State of Qatar against the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards applicable and the standards implemented in The State of Qatar. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been selected as the best practiced standard for my project due to The State of Qatar implementing NFPA as standard requirements for new buildings in The State of Qatar. The Civil Defence Department in The State of Qatar has recently adopted the NFPA standards and based on such my dissertation on The Torch Hotel will identify if the already completed and approved inspection from the Civil Defence meets the standards set forth by NFPA and any other relevant standards applied by the Civil Defence in The State of Qatar. It has been noted that although the local government Civil Defence has adopted NFPA standards for new building requirements, the equipment used by the Civil Defence is based on British Standards and European Standards. Further reviews shall take place during the dissertation on the differences for certain connection requirements on breeching inlets and hydrants. British Standard Connections are different to NFPA standard connections on hose lines. The Civil Defence Introduction The fire service in The State of Qatar is managed by the General Directorate for Civil Defence, a uniformed service organisation under the Ministry of Interior. The General Directorate for the Civil Defence was named as the â€Å"Extinguishing Police Section† during its creation in 1955. Its name was then changed to â€Å"Civil Defence Department† in 1991 and finally to its present name, General Directorate for Civil Defence in 2005. The General Directorate for Civil Defence is generally mandated by law to discharge the following: - Enforcement of Qatar Fire Safety Regulation through the conduct of review and evaluation of building plans and fire safety inspections on all buildings and/or structure prior to issuance of occupancy or renewal permits. - Respond to fire and emergency calls - Promote public fire safety awareness - Review, approval for certification of fire equipment or any other fire safety standards//requirements before they are installed or distributed in the market. 2.0 Background Code Enforcement and Inspection Procedures At present, Qatar has no Fire Code yet being enforced. The GDCD has adopted the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Codes and Standards to be its referenced Code/standards in the enforcement of fire safety regulations and practices in Qatar. GDCD on its part has a Fire Safety Standards to supplement the NFPA requirements. The local Fire Safety Sta ndard is somewhat generalized in its form and has deviations or modifications against some sections in the NFPA. These modifications are aimed for the purpose of making some enhancement to suit with the country’s special requirements and added safety as well. In cases where a conflict between the requirements under the NFPA Code/Standards and local fire safety standard occurs, the requirements from the latter must prevail and should be followed. Building Plan Review and Evaluation The

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Boutique Law Firm and Title Company in Hohenwald Tennessee Research Paper

Boutique Law Firm and Title Company in Hohenwald Tennessee - Research Paper Example James Mark has a passion for the law and is comfortable with the real estate aspects of it. Specifically title searches, which forms the genealogy of land ownership. As a starting company, Syndicate Law firm will forecast its revenue. Revenue forecast is the amount of money calculated that Syndicate firm expects to receive from its sales. It is almost impossible to predict the yearly revenues of Syndicate Company precisely. It is critically crucial for Syndicate to develop a revenue budget of high quality. Managers of Syndicate will spend their time to assess the condition of the market, conduct analysis and negotiate with superiors to set the revenue expectations. This is possible for the company by setting aggressive but achievable targets. Therefore, revenue forecast plays a crucial in the present economies. It helps Syndicate understand how programs of the company affect the levels of domestic income. It also offers insight into the company’s economic health in the long-te rm and short-term (â€Å"Idaho real estate: practice & law†, 2002). Consequently, revenue forecast is crucial because it enables the managers of Syndicate to re-adjust the company’s annual budget. Adjustments are based on the company’s cash inflow’s estimate and keep off a large deficit of the budget. Syndicate budget team typically performs the procedures of revenue forecast at the end of a financial year. Consequently, the activities of revenue forecast affect the social expenditure and investment of infrastructure that Syndicate Company can develop over a financial year. For instance, when the estimates of revenue decrease, it causes the managers of Syndicate to reduce some of the social programs or even raise sales. Success The Syndicate Law firm will achieve its success by setting goals. Setting goals is part of the Syndicate’s planning process. The managers establish financial and non-financial goals for longer and shorter term. When Syndicat e Law firm has goals in place, it will help the management team to focus on the operational steps it needs to take and the resources needed to meet the target. When Syndicate Company meets non-financial goals, the possibility of meeting the financial target such as profitability and revenues becomes possible. Some of the non-financial goals include customer satisfaction, planning and reporting systems, employee and training development, policies and procedures, long-range vision, and community involvement. On the other hand, some of the financial goals that Syndicate Company needs to achieve include revenue and profitability. The major success of Syndicate Company is to keep their clients satisfied. This offers the chance for repeat business. When a customer is satisfied, they are likely to tell their associates about their experience. Therefore, if Syndicate Company sells to other companies, the endorsement from clients is crucial to close a sale with a new client. Also, the manage rs will create business plans for the company to table to perspective investors, which serve the company as a guide. When Syndicate grows, their planning process also grows. The growth includes the regular gathering of information on competitive activities and comparing the actual outcomes to forecast figures on a quarterly basis. Another success of the Syndicate Law Firm is its revenue growth and its expansion. Revenue growth and expansion creates

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Youth Crime And Delinquency ( Criminology) Essay

Youth Crime And Delinquency ( Criminology) - Essay Example The child saving movement began in the 1880s. By this time, attention had shifted to children welfare and campaigns were evident, advocated by social reformers who advocated for the child welfare. Child-saving movements were aimed at protecting the children from cruelty, removing the children from almshouses, and emphasizing on the transfer of children from institutional care to foster homes. In addition, this movement advocated for the reformation of the juvenile justice system through the introduction of juvenile courts. This essay will discuss the child saving movement and its achievements in the United States between 1880s and 1920s. According to Platt, Ryerson, and Ferdinand (2009, p.4), the child saving movement attempted to achieve the welfare of children; however, it could not have been successful without political and financial support of the wealthy and mighty. Addressing the plight of underprivileged children was the main agenda for the child- saving movement. In addition, achieving order, control, and stability was considered. The modern justice system has risen from various reformations and developments over the centuries. Therefore, it was not until the end of 19th century that the modern system was organized to include the juvenile courts. The 1890s was a period of discoveries of the poverty–stricken areas and misery that existed throughout the towns of United States. During the time, â€Å"scarcity, diseases, ignorance and dangerous influences, were evident throughout the city,† (Platt, Ryerson, and Ferdinand, 2009, p.9). Therefore, the lowest level of human degradation was in existence. As a result, the child-saving movement drew its supporters from professionals and the middle class; however, in order to achieve reforms, the movement required both political and financial support. This support required precedence; for instance in Chicago, some of the lifesavers included Louise Bowen

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Globalization Essay Example for Free

Globalization Essay Effects of Globalization As Candied said (a character created by Voltaire), we must cultivate our garden. Globalization causes diversity between cultures because unfortunately thanks to globalization, the world changes negatively day by day and also cultures are shaped according to this change. In todays world we have to cultivate ourselves In order to exist in society, Cooperation in cultures helps to follow this change and creates new identities. According to Tyler Cowmen, globalization has a cultural benefits for society but in contrast Dry. Stranger argues that globalization creates a monotone identities which people want to attain It. Thus, this change which we call cross-culture has both negative and positive side and from my point of view, Its true that cross-culture has positive effects for creating diversity in cultures but by a majority, globalization has a negative side on us as Dry. Stranger claims. Societys perspective determine women and men roles in society. Before the period of globalization there was a definitive gap between genders. Thus, thanks to globalization, societys point of view changes on man and women positively. Before, women have to look beautiful, made-up and have specific body size which makes them all seem bland and plastic like Barry dolls. They dont have right to work because they are fragile, naive and emotional but In contrast, man has to be a bread winner because they are strong, not sensitive and independent. Therefore Simons De Behavior (French philosopher) used Hedges description of the master-slave dialectic. She compared the terms master and slave with subject and other. She claims The subject Is the absolute. The other Is the inessential. (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2010) Therefore she argues hat there is a huge inequality between genders and this inequality put women into the background. However, after the French revolution, the world started to change. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France was over; people became aware of what they were and what they can do. Thus, this revolution caused a big change in Europe, After this revolution, Europe had entered into three revolutions and the most effective one was is the industrial revolution. Thanks to the industrial revolution, society perspective was shaped differently because states started to cooperate between each other. As a conclusion, society needs more labor and this event caused a change in gender roles. Women may also place in the work place which reduces the inequality between man and women. Also this is a revolution of new identities because we act our social roles how society wants. This revolution causes a change in social perspective, culture, so peoples view Is also change which creates new identities. After all. People developed themselves. As Tyler Cowmen claims Look at a book and ask yourself, where does paper come from, where does printing come from, where do the ideas in the book come from? Whats the religious background of the author? (Really Creative Destination August,2003) Thanks to revolution, Europe made a trade between each other which caused a diversity in cultures. They changed all their view in every subject especially in gender roles. Thus, this interaction caused a change in whole world. People became more open-minded and they cultivate Off Cowmen affirms, these discoveries created more comfortable lives. Consequently, Im agree with the idea that interaction l ead to the development of personality. Its true that globalization has a positive side as has been illustrated, but in my opinion, costly, it has a negative side. For instance, the inequality between rich and poor increases. The Rich get richer and poor get poorer. Economic power causes this difference which influences the culture. Its indispensable that people should protect their own traditions but globalization cause a loss of cultural identities. Most of the world tries to act according to American lifestyle because America has all the economic, politic power. Therefore, globalization can lift people out of poverty but the inequalities between groups get stronger. People wear same clothes; same shoes and eat same foods such as fast food. They follow same trends and same dream so as Dry. Stranger claims As humans we naturally measure ourselves to those around us, but now we live in a global village we are comparing ourselves with the most significant people in the world and finding ourselves wanting. (Bates, 2011). Accordingly, this global village which Dry. Stranger mentions causes a loss of cultural identities because we act and try to be like a dominant culture. In fact, we dont want to be like a dominant culture. They force us to be like them, they manipulate our brains so they make pressure on us that we should act according to their rules. For example; George Orwell explains this situation in one of them his books which is 1984. In 1984, he creates a character which he entitles Big Brother who is a dictator of his own state and he forces his people to obey them. He manipulates their brains and he gives a role to play for existing in society. Thus these people loss their identity also their personality as we do. The another example is sasss Turkey which we experienced the period of wrong westernizes due to media and literary influence. In sasss all of Turkish people try to live like Europe. However, their lifestyle is not laid for our culture so in time family values changed and were mostly lost. Also our language started to get lost their value which is a another negative side of globalization. Languages lost their value day by day and its a big cultural loss because language is the most important element of identity. As Tyler Cowmen approved the cross-culture, he also add In terms of culture, there is a loss. For instance, its absolutely true that a lot of languages are dying. (Really Creative Destination August,2003). Therefore in sasss Turkey people migrate to Europe and if e read the books of this time we will observe that writers use French in order to use Turkish. Also if we regard todays world everyone use English in order to use their tongue. In this manner, I may say that, globalization creates diversity but this diversity also creates a chaos in culture because people start to take someone as a roll-model and try to live like that. In this case, we observe a loss in cultural traditions which makes a negative effects on society. Again Taylor Cowmen argues The Julian Simon point that the gains are much larger than the costs is certainly true. Really Creative Destination August,2003). Im totally disagree with this claim so from my point of view, in this situation, the costs are much larger than the gains because when we lost cultural values there will defends that globalization has a positive effect on cultures because thanks to diversity people make change in their perspective especially, th ey start to know many cultures which help to develop themselves. However Im disagree with this idea like Dry. Stranger. Globalization damages cultural values. Its true that thanks to globalization people are not stay shallow but constantly, it causes a loss in cultural identities. Therefore, I assert the idea of protectionism. Everyone should protect their cultural values and be aware of what they are. Otherwise; in the future, there will be a monotone people as Dry. Stranger asserted. Eventually, this cultural interaction causes a shape in society negatively to the contrary of the claim of Taylor Cowmen. Works Cited Ibuprofen, Debra. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy 2010. Simons De Behavior. Cowmen, Tyler. Really Creative Destruction August September, 2003. Interviewed by Nick Gillespie of Reason Magazine. Bates, Claire. The Daily Mail.

Friday, November 15, 2019

Supplier Relationship Management

Supplier Relationship Management An important feature of a world class organisation is the way the organisation has been able to develop and link its suppliers with its external processes, Peter Hines, World Class Suppliers, (Pitman, 1994). Supplier relationship management can be defined as the relationship that exists between the supplier and its buyer based on long term commitments and trust with the ultimate aim to maximise the potential value of the relationship. This will include the management of different forms of supply relationships such as partnership, joint venture and vertical integration. 1.2 Importance of Supply Relationship Management The critical importance of supplier relationship types to achieve supply chain competitiveness can be viewed under the following headings: The effective use of strategic partnership Typical traditional short term relationship is characterise by irregular or one-off transactions that give rise to supply uncertainties, difficulties in choosing suppliers, and is price oriented making this type of relationship unreliable and unsupported. Organisations can move from this type of relationship towards a long term relationship known as partnership based on trust, shared goals and risks to achieve mutual benefits. Nigel Slack, Stuart Chambers and Robert Johnston, Operations Management, (Pearson, 2010), define partnership as an agreement between two firms that seek to accomplish a common objective. The Japanese, James P Womack et al, the Machine That Changed the World, (Macmillan, 1990) , used the concept of partnership and lean to gain competitive advantage because they realised their partners had the expertise, the technical knowledge and were reliable. Effective partnership with suppliers made them to compete favourably in the market because of good product quality, lo w cost and reliable delivery. Therefore, firms can use this same method to rationalise their supply base and use the lean concept to produce efficiently which will lead to reduce product lead times, reduce inventory and inventory cost. The implementation of new management tools and systems A key element of supply relationship management that gives firms competitive advantage is the implementation of the lean concept of monitoring supplier performance and continuous improvement. Monitoring performance is a post-contractual procedure in which the buyer continuously keeps an eye on the supplier by either managing the suppliers activities to make sure all commitments are met or using a measurement matrix such as key performance index (KPI) to compare supplier progress and divergence from targeted objective. The overall competitive advantage is an operation that is continuously improved in terms of quality, delivery and service. In 1989, Chrysler benching against the Japanese companies, initiated the Supplier Cost Reduction Effort (SCORE) program aimed to reduce cost, quality and monitor supplier performance; Dawei Lu et al, Supply Chain Management module notes (WMG, University of Warwick, 2011). The integration of knowledge and technology to create an all new technology Integration with supplier is all about coordination. Here, the buyer and supplier come together to align their processes thus improving communication and supply chain visibility for both parties. When firms integrate their knowledge and technology they are able to meet the needs of end customers by getting the right product at the right price and quality, giving them a competitive edge. This strategy was used by Bose Corporation 1990 that led to the extension and creation of the JIT2 concept, a logical extension of JIT that eliminates waste in the system, improves communication and reduces demand variability. Efficient consumer response (ECR) to demand variability caused by the forester effect. Firms are always seeking solutions for continuous demand variation and consumer requirements. Through effective supplier and buyer collaboration, firms will be able to achieve competitive advantage by efficiently managing their supplier relationship to meet the needs of the end consumer creating a fluid inventory flow from suppliers to the consumers reducing lead times, demand variability and uncertainty. This has led to initiatives such as Radio Frequency Identification Device (RFID), a tracking technology that provides real time information and location of goods. Tesco, UKs largest grocery retailer has exploited this technology strategy and is piloting pallet-level RFID to manage its logistics; Christos Tsinopoulos and Carlos Mena, Competing Supply Chain Strategy: Tesco, Aldi and Lidl, (ECCH, 2010). Increase competition amongst firms to secure and increase domestic and international market share. Domestic and international market pressures are just other facets that have pushed firms to collaborate and develop strategic partnership with suppliers to gain competitive edge. Using this approach, firms use both local and international suppliers to broaden their sourcing base, reduce product lead time, and stream line cost through cheaper, global and local sourcing alternatives. The benefits are quick response to demand variation and high availability of variety of products at reasonable price and quality. This in turn attracts a greater amount of customers and increase market share. This is a strategy which IKEA, a Swedish international furniture company has successfully used to provide quality products at reasonable price and secure a large market share both domestically and internationally. 1.3 Relationship Management Framework 1.3.1 Introduction A relationship defines an interaction between individuals, organisations and groups; Kenneth Lysons and Michael Gillingham, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (Prentice Hall, 2003). There are many possible supply chain relationship types because very few companies can operate on their own. These relationships can be categorized as business-to-business (B2B), business-to-consumers (B2C), consumers-to-business (C2B) and customers-to-customers (C2C). B2B relationships are most common and have been used in many approaches and models such as IMP, SCOR, HP, GSCF, Service supply chain and IUE-SSE to help explain supplier-customer interaction. 1.3.2 Industrial Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) interaction Approach The IMP interaction approach is a dynamic model of supplier-customer relationship developed in the mid 1970s by a group of five European countries and universities; IMP Group.[online].(http://www.impgroup.org/about).(Accessed 06 Feb 2011). Based on investigations of about 900 business relationships, the IMP group developed a model of an interaction process at both the firm and individual levels creating a dynamic, complex and long standing relationship rather than one based on a short term stable relationship; Bensaou M (1999), Portfolios of Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Sloan Management Review, Vol. 40, 35-45. This relationship is influenced by soft factors such as power, cooperation, closeness and expectations as well as external environmental factors such as market structures, dynamism, internationalisation and position in the market. The IMP Group approach and model provide a good overview of buyer-supplier relationships and have formed the basis of other frameworks like David T. Wilson, (1995) Integrated model of Buyer-Supplier relationships, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science , Vol. 23, 335-345. 1.3.3 Supply Chain Frameworks Customer-supplier relationship management models and frameworks can also be viewed within the context of the different types of supply chain models that exhibit customer-supplier relationship management. This will include a variety of supply chain models which address customer-supplier relationships such as HP, SCOR, GSCF, and IUE-SSC model. These models identify customer-supplier relationships by adopting two differing views; product and service supply chain view. Product oriented models adopt a manufacturing approach that involves the physical movement of goods under uncertainties managed to satisfy customer demands and include the HP, SCOR and GSCF models. The Hewlett Packard (HP) model was developed by the Hewlett Packard Company as a result of spiral inventory and customer dissatisfaction the company was facing with its order fulfillment process. Lee, H. and C. Billington, (1995), The Evolution of Supply-Chain Management Models and Practice at Hewlett-Packard, Business Source Premiere, Vol. 25, 42-63, used this model to demonstrate how suppliers, manufacturers and customers are linked in the flow of goods with multiple warehouses providing inventory at each stage to buffer demand. The Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model is a highly structured and broad model developed by the Supply Chain Council to measure total supply chain performance; Supply Chain Council. [Online].(http://supply-chain.org/f/SCOR%2090%20Overview%20Booklet.pdf ) (Accessed 06 Feb 2011). The SCOR model adopts a process manufacturing viewpoint and identifies supplier- customer relationships by breaking down the supply chain into links, each link made up of processes representing supplier-customer relationships. These relationships are then benchmarked using Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to assess the success within the supply chain. This model, although it improves customer satisfaction through improved supplier-customer relationships, it does not attempt to describe some elements of post delivery customer support, a critical feature of supplier-customer relationship management. The Global Supply Chain Forum (GSCF) is yet another supply chain framework that adopts the process manufacturing approach and identifies supplier relationship management as one of its eight key business processes of product flow. Croxton L. Keely et al, (2001), the Supply Chain Management Processes, International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 12, 13-24, depicts this model as an end-to-end process where each process is linked and managed to interface with key customers and suppliers. This creates eight business processes among which is customer-supplier relationship management to allow the smooth flow of product within the supply chain. 1.3.4 Service Supply Models The above three models define supply chains purely from a traditional perspective of product flow. However, with the growing importance of services and service industry, Ellram et al, (2004), Understanding and Managing Service Supply Chain, The Journal of Supply Chain Management, Vol. 40, 17-32, adapted this manufacturing approach into a new line of service thinking that uses service capacity and delivery, instead of products to classify supply chains as the key processes. This service supply model captures customer-supplier relationship via an end-to-end supplier and customer process that include capacity and demand management, cash flows and service delivery management, and just like manufacturing supply chain, customer relationship management. This is a very good approach that identifies relationship management but limited in that services are intangible and this makes them difficult to visualise and measure. A follow up to the service supply chain viewpoint is the work of Baltacioglu et al (2007), A New Framework for Service Supply Chains, Service Industries Journal, Vol. 27, 105-124, who proposed the IUE-SSC model. IUE-SSC model represents the initials of the affiliated organisation of the authors and Service Supply Chain Model. This model identifies customer-supplier relationships by breaking down supply chain into three basic parts: the supplier, the service provider and the customer. Here, the service supplied by the supplier constitutes a core and supporting service and just like the service supply chain model by Ellram et al, this model identifies a number of activities that includes some customer-supplier relationship management essential to the service supply chain. Relationship types are diverse and could either be of business type such as B2B or consumer type such as C2C. In my thinking the popularity of B2B and the historical context of consumer-supplier behaviour pushed the above mentioned authors to focus exclusively on B2B relationships in explaining customer-supplier behaviours in the models they proposed. But the general shift in consumer behaviour and the impact of globalisation and information technology should trigger a move to contemporary models of consumer-supplier relationships in business-to-consumer, consumer-to-business or consumer-to-consumer. I therefore think that the modern business world would appreciate models build around E-commerce type relationships and a move from product or service approach models that explains consumer-supplier relationship management. 1.4 Relationship Portfolio and Management Approach Conventional thinking suggests that relationships tend to vary with companies and there is no fit for all purpose relationship. A logical step after organisations are able to identify the various types of relationships is to focus on the relationship portfolio they want to build with their suppliers and to effectively manage this relationship for competitiveness. A number of methods and approaches have been adopted ranging from the various types of relationships to more analytic models such as Kraljics Purchasing/supply portfolio-analysis and the power regime. Firms have adopted different approaches to tailor the different types of relationships to fit their particular products, service or markets. These relationships tend to follow a pattern from a short term traditional arms length relationship to a new form of close and long term relationship known as partnership or vertical integration; Alan Harrison and Remko van Hoek, Logistics Management and Strategy, (Pearson, 2008). Others have viewed this trend as a continuum and included additional types such as strategic alliance and joint ventures. Depending on its strategy, a firm might adopt a range of style such as develop strategic partners by rationalising its supply base and dealing only with a few suppliers, a popular approach most firms are now adopting. It might also adopt a variety of relationships style depending on the markets and the products. The Kraljics model analyses the purchasing portfolio of a firms product into high and low supply risk and supply impact on the financial results. The end result is the segregation of products as: strategic, leverage, routine and bottlenecks as shown below; High Low Fig 1: Kraljics model Leverage products Alternate source of supply available Substitution possible Competitive bidding Strategic products Critical for products cost price Dependence on supplier Performance based partnership Routine products Large product variety High logistics complexity Labour intensive System contracting E-commerce solutions Bottleneck products Monopolistic market Large entry barriers Secure supply and search for alternatives Low Supply Risk High Source: Dawei Lu et al, Supply Chain Management module notes (WMG, University of Warwick, 2011). Using this method, management can therefore spend time and develop performance based relationships such as partnership on those suppliers whose products matter most, for example, strategic products and outsource non critical or leverage products. Bensaou M (1999), Portfolios of Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Sloan Management Review, Vol. 40, pp. 35-45 adopted a similar approach based on product and market conditions to create a supplier portfolio of our different relationship profiles; captive buyer, strategic partnership, market exchange and captive supplier. To effectively manage the relationships such as the Captive buyer and Market exchange, Bensaou suggested the use of management practices such as treating each other with respect and fair profit sharing and for strategic partners to regularly exchange information or pay frequent visit creating a social climate that is trusting and collaborative. The ABC analysis method is another commonly used technique by businesses to segment supplier relationship portfolio. Wagner S. and Johnson J. L., Configuring and Managing Strategic Supplier Portfolios, Industrial Marketing Management, Vol. 33, 717-730 adopted this approach using a wide range of factors such as volume, suppliers performance, supplier strategic importance, price and quality to segregate suppliers into category (Cat) A, B and C. Cat A suppliers where suppliers that supplied a total 80% volume, while Cat B supplied 15% and finally Cat C, 5%. Very little time is spent on managing and developing Cat C supplier because of their limited volume. In most cases they are used by the company as a way to reduce cost by either direct sourcing or via e-procurement. On the other hand, Cat A suppliers should be considered imperative by top management and a close relationship or partnership should be developed. This relationship can be monitored through regular and annual meetings with suppliers as well as creating an award for suppliers to maintain motivation. In addition, the buyer can invest on supplier development by either assisting or sponsoring supplier to improve performance. Another approach is that by Andrew Cox et al (2004), Managing Appropriately in Power Regimes: Relationship and Performance Management in 12 Supply Chain Cases, Supply Chain Management, an International Journal, vol. 9, 357 371, that correlates the findings of relationships and performance management strategies in power regimes. In a power regime, a business can decide on the appropriate relationship and relationship management style(s) depending on their power condition, as shown on the fig 3. Therefore, in a business deal where the buyer is dominant or has an interdependence power position, it will be better to choose a relationship approach based on supplier development. Conversely, in a supplier power regime relative to supplier dominance and/or interdependence then the option is for a supply chain management approach to be adopted. A change in the power structure in this technique will lead to a change in the relationship portfolio and this will lead to improve performance outco mes especially when either parties change their behaviour. 2.0 STRATEGIC OUTSOURCING A significant decision facing most businesses today and which have a long term impact on the firm is whether to produce internally (insourcing) or use an outside supplier (outsourcing); Robert Monczka, Robert Trent, and Robert Handfield, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, (Thomson, 2005). 2.1 Outsourcing and Supply Network Design Outsourcing, sometimes referred to as make-or-buy, is a strategy by which an organisations management decides to hand over its non-core activities to a specialised third party that can efficiently provide the service; Kenneth Lysons and Michael Gillingham, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, (Prentice Hall, 2003). Therefore, central to outsourcing is the make or buy decisions and the relationship that is formed between the purchaser and the supplier. The make or buy decision arises because organisations have come to the realisation that they cannot produce or make everything on their own and can effectively spend more time on core competence while non core competence could be outsourced. This decision to outsource or make or buy is a strategic one that will create a new supply network of suppliers and sometimes suppliers suppliers. In this new supply network, the organisation will need to adjust its operation in line with its new suppliers and, where possible, its suppliers suppliers creating a total supply network; Nigel Slack, Stuart Chambers and Robert Johnston, Operations Management, (Pearson, 2010). This strategic decision to outsource brings a whole new chapter within the organisation and will prompt a key design decision; how to configure the new network and how much of the network should be retained by the organisation. This will help management to decide on how it intends to influence and manage the overall new structure . 2.2 Outsourcing Decision Process and Influencing Factors Traditionally, the main outsourcing decision process focused on cost reduction. However, the importance of outsourcing decision to an organisation competitive position has pushed many organisations to consider a number of other factors. The decision process adopted here is one adapted from Robert Monczka, Robert Trent, and Robert Handfield, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, (Thomson, 2005). 2.2.1 Planning phase The initial process in undertaking any outsourcing motive is to initiate a project of a cross functional team and define its scope and objectives. The team should identify activities to be outsourced and present to management for acceptance. Explore the Strategic Implications phase Strategic implications will mean aligning the outsourcing decision with three main factors: The companys long term plans and its impact on other activities and functions. This means if the activity that is being outsourced should disrupt the companys future plan or affects other functions, it is better off being insource. Furthermore, the decision should be in line with an understanding of the organisations core competence. If outsourced activity is not perceived as being core capabilities, the firm might decide to outsource. Analysis of the impact of process technological and how it compares to its competitors for competitive advantage. If analysis shows minimal competitive advantage then the organisation can decide to outsource but in cases where in house process technology provides competitive advantage, the organisation could reconsider to insource. 2.2.3 Tactical implications phase Tactical decision process will consider the following factors, and the ability to test prospective outsourcing initiative. Alternatives to outsourcing: Being tactical is crucial in outsourcing because the final decision to outsource can be very expensive for the organisation. Therefore, before making that final decision, the organisation could reconsider alternatives to outsourcing such as producing in-house, subcontracting or vertical integration. The length of contract: Outsourcing decision could mean being tied down in a long term contract which could impact on other strategic objectives. Impact of size: Also the size of the outsourcing activity can impact on the decision process as management can decide on other options if the activity to outsource is too large and can have adverse effect on core activities. Corporate culture: The impact on corporate culture is another key tactical factor that should be considered on outsourced activity to organisation. This means considering employees feelings regarding the activity to be outsourced. 2.2.4 Cost analysis phase Critical to any outsourcing decision process is its ability to be cost-effective at a quality level competitive in the marketplace. An accurate cost-effective calculation looks beyond the initial and obvious costs and is based on a marginal costing principle; a cumulative costing concept including total variable cost, total fixed cost and operating costs. Other costs will include the opportunity cost which is the potential benefits forgone if the activity being outsourced is done in house. Implementation phase The implementation process will be driven by effective service provider selection and managing post-contractual relationship. Because outsourcing usually involves a long term contract and high investment, selecting the correct service provider is imperative. The selection process will include; Market research: This involves carrying out a thorough market research to determine market price and terms of conditions, and identifying potential service providers with the right expertise, capacity and similarity in corporate culture. Develop a tender request. The tender request should provide in detail the outsourcing requirements as well as general information about the organisation including the scope and the objectives of outsourcing. This document will form a good guide to potential service providers. Conduct site visit. After tenders have been submitted, a site visit to potential service provider will aim to compare reality to what is on paper. It will be an opportunity to look at the corporate culture, its processes, the people, and how they can fit in to the outsourcing organisation. Negotiate. Negotiation will aim to find a common ground for a win-win situation. Central to this will be: quality of service and the performance level, scope for improvement and change, pricing and management style including assimilation of employees. The implementation process is not complete without any form of decision to manage post-contractual relationship which is very important to the sustainability of the whole outsourcing process. The key factor is to develop a key performance indicator (KPI) to continuously measure and monitor performance of service provider so that service quality is maintained and relationship continuously improved. In conclusion, the decision to outsource by a firm is a crucial and strategic one because it affects a greater part of the firm and it can be used as a competitive tool. Traditionally, this decision was based simply on cost and benefits but as discussed above, the decision process is now influenced by many factors and departments. Therefore, for an outsourcing decision process to be effective and efficient, a cross functional team should be selected to be part of the whole process. Implementation Problems Shawn McCray (2008). [Online].(http://www.tpi.net/pdf/papers/Top_10_Problems-with_Outsourcing.pdf).(Accessed 23 February 2011), identifies poor change management and governance as key issues in implementing outsourcing. Some of the problems related to implementation are: Post-contract processes poorly written: This occurs because both parties after signing the contract do not want to work together. The root problem being mutual misunderstanding of contract and the scope of outsourced activities resulting to services not performed and increase frustration amongst staff. Cultural clash: Cultural clash, corporate or international, can tend to produce tension, distrust and misunderstanding. This is problematic especially in a situation of offshoring where communication is limited to email or phones. This will be further compounded in difference in work ethics which if not streamlined will create added tension. Quality of service: A main reason management decides to outsource is to improve the quality of service. Where service provider is unable to achieve this, the whole outsourcing process becomes questionable and creates problems surrounding contractual performance and implementation. Lack of Coordination: Coordination and the lack of a coordinating team present an implementation problem. This is because as soon as the contract is signed, the client quickly shifts all responsibilities to the service provider who is still trying to get started and there is no team in place to coordinate activities. This will lead to a slow start, confusion within the system and poor quality service provided. Loss of talents: Outsourcing decision creates lots of uncertainties which will push some talented employees to look for jobs elsewhere. Moreover, some of these employees may feel de-motivated working for a new service provider. The loss of talent and unsatisfactory employees can cause a drop in the quality of service provided. Service provider lacks required skills: Some service providers may lack the necessary skill and may be depending on hiring new staffs and/or train existing ones. If this process takes too long as in a client retained organisation, service provider may be unable to produce contractual results thus affecting operational implementation. Cost of service: The cost of providing the outsourcing service might actually tend to be high because cost estimations were not properly carried out and certain activities not taken into consideration. Other costs and barriers to operational implementation will be that service provider is unable to deal with the volume of activities, as well as find it difficult to handle and maintain client equipment and facilities. 2.4 Key Benefits and Potential Outsourcing Risks Kenneth Lysons and Michael Gillingham, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (Prentice Hall, 2003), explain that the main benefit associated with outsourcing is that it gives management the necessary time to concentrate on the core business operations. The Outsourcing.Institute.[online].(http://www.outsourcing.com/content.asp?page=01b/articles/intelligence/oi_top_ten_survey.htmlHYPERLINK http://www.outsourcing.com/content.asp?page=01b/articles/intelligence/oi_top_ten_survey.htmlnonav=trueHYPERLINK http://www.outsourcing.com/content.asp?page=01b/articles/intelligence/oi_top_ten_survey.htmlnonav=truenonav=true).(Accessed 23 February 2011) in a survey highlighted some other important outsourcing benefits; Outsourcing of non-core activities to a world class provider encourages reengineering and its associated benefits on improvements in performance in terms of cost, quality, service and speed. Outsourcing can be used by management to reduce huge capital investment on non-core business functions thereby making funds available to areas of the business involved in direct production. Operating cost incurred in outsourced activity is also reduce as expenses such as marketing and research and development are passed to the service providers. Outsourcing could help an organisation build a new capability from start due to lack of internal resources and expertise required to get this activity start up. Also, risks related with government compliance, late deliveries or technology innovation and failures are either reduced or shared as activity is passed on to the expert service provider. Another major outsourcing risk is making the wrong outsourcing decision on what to outsource and what not to outsource and the need to effectively manage relationships. Any wrong decision will be too costly for the organisation. Outsourcing is a crucial decision for any company and it is recommended that the final decision process accommodate a cross functional team that should critically evaluate both the cost and benefits including the strategic and tactical perspectives of outsourcing. REFERENCING BOOKS Alan Harrison and Remko van Hoek, Logistics Management and Strategy, (Pearson, 2008). James P Womack et al, the Machine That Changed the World, (Macmillan, 1990). Peter Hines, World Class Suppliers, (Pitman, 1994). Kenneth Lysons and Micheal Gillingham, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management (Prentice Hall, 2003). Nigel Slack, Stuart Chambers and Robert Johnston, Operations Management, (Pearson, 2010). Robert Monczka, Robert Trent, and Robert Handfield, Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, (Thomson, 2005). JOURNALS Andrew Cox et al (2004), Managing Appropriately in Power Regimes: Relationship and Performance Management in 12 Supply Chain Cases, Supply Chain Management, an International Journal, vol. 9, 357 371. Bensaou M (1999), Portfolios of Buyer-Supplier Relationships, Sloan Management Review, Vol 40, 35-45. Baltacioglu et

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Perfect Motorcycle Essay -- Personal Narratives Automobiles Mechan

The Perfect Motorcycle As long as I can remember, I have always been interested in cars, trucks, and other gear-head type stuff. I think I have liked automotive things because my dad is very mechanical and has taught my brother and I more about cars than we really need to know. Luckily in the past few years I have also taken an interest in motorcycles. This began shortly before my sixteenth birthday when I found out that my brother had secretly acquired one and was keeping it at a friends house. As the story goes, my brother Mike noticed an old rusty bike leaning against a shed in someones yard when he was driving around with one of his friends in our truck. Mike asked the man who lived there if he would be willing to part with the motorcycle, and eventually it ended up at our house. That bike was certainly nothing special to look at and when I first saw it, it really wasnt anywhere near running condition. Through much of my brothers perseverance, and a whole bunch of luck, the bike began to runfirst on one cylinder, then on both. I remember when Mike first got it running my dad and I looked on as he took the first ride around the yard; Im not sure if Mike knew it ahead of time or not, but the bike didnt have a functioning clutch. We soon discovered that rolling the motorcycle down a hill and then dropping it into gear wasnt too violent and was certainly good enough for the time being. Soon after, my dad and I were both allowed to ride; I think we both realized that if Mikes bike had been such a success on such little money (free, plus a few necessary parts) there were motorcycles in both of our futures. About a month later, my dad bought another old Honda in beautiful condition, and about a month after that I bought a ... ... model for under $2000 online. I think that with some luck, I could find a CX500TC for about the same price. Unfortunately, the Turbo bikes are much more rare, and even if not more valuable, they are simply harder to find. I recall that shortly after I purchased my bike, I found a CX500TC for sale in Milwaukee (only about 1.5 hours from where I live) for $1500 at a dealership. I was almost having second thoughts about having just purchased a motorcycle, but I think I made the right decision at that time because I am very happy with my bike and I still enjoy every chance I have to ride it. The next time I am in the market shopping for a motorcycle, I will be sure to see if there are any Honda Turbos available for me to consider. Works Cited Honda CX & GL500 Bulletin Board http://cx500.gobinet.se Honda Milestone Models http://www.hondamotorcycles.com

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Semiotics and Instructional Technology Essay -- Signs Writing Symbols

Semiotics and Instructional Technology Abstract The purpose of my paper is to define and discuss semiotics and relate it to instructional technology. Discussing Semiotics Huyghe says that if you are a semiologist, then you study systems of signs (Huyghe, 1993, p.1). This area of discussion can cover a broad range of topics from hieroglyphic writing to "Masks and the semiotics of identity." "In semiotic terms, an icon is a variety of sign that bears a resemblance to its object; a diagram, for example, is an icon of that which the diagram represents (Pollock, 1995, p. 1). In Bourland-Davis’ article, she draws from Johnson and Hackman to discuss semiotics as a form of symbolic communication (Bourland-Davis, 1998, p. 2). In Bourland-Davis’ article (Bourland-Davis, p. 2), Johnson and Hackman state that ‘human (symbolic) communication †¦ generates new and relevant combinations of associations of existing elements (materials, words, ideas, facts, sounds, movements, colors, lines, mathematical notations, procedures, etc.) through lateral (divergent) thinking’ (as cited in Johnson and Hackman, 1995, p.15). Sometimes the most effective way to represent an abstract problem is by using symbols, as students learn to do in high-school algebra (Matlin, 1998, p. 347). Often by comparing an idea to an object that can be symbolically related somehow, the level of understanding is increased, and then that object can later be used as a trigger mechanism for recalling the specifics of that concept (Matlin, 1998, p. 351). "†¦a visual image can let us escape from the boundaries of traditional representations. At the same time, however, the visual image is somewhat concrete; it serves as a symbol for a theory that has not yet bee... ...of identity. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute: Vol. 1 (pp. 581-597). Scott, Robert Ian. (1995). Messages and meanings: An essay/review – Messages and Meanings: An introduction to semiotics by Marcel Danesi. Et Cetera: Vol. 52 (pp. 482-486). Winn, William. Toward a rationale and theoretical basis for educational technology. ETR&D: Vol. 37 (pp. 35-46). Zenger, Weldon F. & Zenger, Sharon K. (1999). Schools and curricula for the 21st century: Predictions, visions and anticipations. NASSP Bulletin: Vol. 83 (pp. 49-60). Textbooks Used: Anglin, Gary J. (1995). Instructional Technology: Past, Present and Future. (2nd ed.). In Barbara L. Grabowski, Message Design: Issues and Trends. (pp. 222-225). Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. Matlin, Margaret W. (1998). Cognition. (4th ed.). Texas: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.

Monday, November 11, 2019

Effect of Globalization on Media Essay

The globalization since it took over the whole world in its vintage has given new dimensions and shape to varying aspects of Media in its whole vicissitude. As transnational in character, media has crossed all the cultural and political boundaries to reach the world audience with depth in dimensions in the shape, style and pattern of various programs. These intercontinental and transnational media outlets have posed challenges to the boundaries, questioned the territorial integrity and given shape to the media spaces. When many of the media markets all over the world got saturated, the media companies began to look at the global market place to earn revenues for their own firms and industries and global audiences are kept in mind while generating media content. As the accounting and regulatory structures differ in different countries and there is no reliable global financial data, it presented challenge before the media economic researchers. The companies are competing in the global as well as in the domestic market to gain a maximum share of audience and advertisers revenue. The whole gamut of programs seems to be seen as the representation of commercial interests of the bureaucratic elite and rich at the expense of public opinion and democracy. Views and opinions of the people to create their influence on the masses diminish when large media players do not hold themselves accountable to the state regulations. In other words, globalization has become an issue of privatization. Big market players are using the media to gain their commercial endeavors in the form of advertisements. In his Preface to â€Å"The Codes of Advertising† Sut Jhally said, â€Å"The symbolic dimensions of needing and culture and the economic dynamic of capital accumulation are symbiotically intertwined in the new communication age of advanced capitalism. † (1990) Here the advertisements act as the modern mediators between the end consumers and big conglomerates. Shoemaker and Mayfield (1987), for instance, underlined the view that â€Å"Sources of finance like advertisers are generally strongly influential on all aspects of News production and that a funder’s ideology is likely to have an ultimate effect on editorial’s decisions relevant to this ideology. †(McQual 1992: 113) Most of the media content also depends on the advertisers will, their commercial propositions and their market position. The advertisers offer the contents, which are friendly to the audiences and cater to their taste and liking. For e. g. Television soap operas function as advertisements aiming at attracting audiences to stay in tune. The scriptwriters in soaps use the strategies in their writing to keep the viewers on hold. An advertising industry has come under heavy criticism among groups such as Adbursters who accused industry of becoming a powered engine of most complex economic production system. Suggestions are being forwarded by many public interest groups to tax advertisers for their continuous intrusion in the mental space of audiences. The advertisers too are indirectly dependent on the changes in the demographical set up and society in its various shape and magnitude creating tremendous impact on the way media industries capture the moods of the their audiences. â€Å"They have an insatiable appetite for media related content and services and as people live longer and obtain more discretionary income, spending on media will likely rise. These shifts in audience composition and makeup will present new pressures on media firms to develop content that will appeal to these unique and differing audiences. † (Downing, McQuail, Wartella & Schlesinger 2004: 299) Graham Murdock treats advertising more as a cultural and social phenomenon rather than economical. (Jhally, 1990: 3). But the social influence is only a smaller stroke in a big game of Media players. For the New York Times and other companies associated with Media, as said by Naom Chowsky, the products are audiences, and customers as corporate advertisers. The product of New York Times is the paper itself audiences buy and it becomes an information for advertisers and therefore for them, the audiences that buy the products themselves become products for advertisers and it is the advertisers that bring in revenue for the companies. (Shah 2008: online). It would be most appropriate to mention that advertising is a â€Å"Superstructural facade† (Jenks 2004: 299) as they just not only are the expressions of capitalism but also produces and reproduces it. Advertising has reduced the concept of public opinion to cherish the desire of acquiring capital rather than fulfillment of personal desire. In the words of Marx, â€Å"In bourgeois society the commodity-form of the product of labor – or the value-form of the commodity – is the economic cell-form. † (Jenks 2004: 299) Audiences too reciprocate the same way. A certain kind of close relationship is developed between audiences and advertisers. Advertisers have created an image a global way making social relation, as a form of commodity yet creating an incredible influence on the ideological perception of individualism and consumerism. And in this atmosphere, political economy too is opening only a new door on the old platform- a typical characteristic of capitalistic society, whereas the content of media is being modified to keep to the capitalist standard. There is a whole new concept of audience ratings, used by the media companies to make the plans of their programs schedule and for studying the success rate of programs and media products. Government agencies, Government authorities and public service media organizations act as basis for making adequate economic decisions, endorsing regulations, and controlling the mass communications. Audience ratings are merged with research and also used by advertisers as tools to identify their target audience and prepare media plan accordingly. But these rating systems are being criticized on the ground as said by Liina Puustinen in her working paper on â€Å"The Age of Consumer audience† that â€Å"they do not give an adequate image of the consumers and audiences, and they objectify people into numbers and faceless masses†. (Puustinen 2006: Online edition). Number of theories, like audience receptive theories have been propounded to reflect the attitude and perceiving nature of mass audiences, which are contradictory to the rating systems. The rating system only give information of how many people have watched any particular program or advertisement but not how they perceived the program and what value they give to it, therefore the theories rightly said that the rating systems do not accurately represent audience satisfaction. Hypodermic Needle Model states that the media players make the contents of any program, idea or information enter into the consciousness of the people. In other words, audiences are manipulated to the ideologies and thinking of the creator of media product. Hans Robert Jauss and Wolfgang Iser developed the Reception theory by studying the people’s attitude and their receptive tendencies toward programs. The theory delves on the way people adapt to various programs and play their role in actual analyzing of the text. Another theory Culmination theory too deepens down the audience approach on the sensitivity of the programs. If they watch too much of the violence, they would in the years to come make you less sensitive towards violence in the same way if violence towards women are watched on year to year basis then it would make you ultimately less insensitive towards the issue. The audience receptive theory deepens down to the study of the psychological patterns of the audiences and how they reciprocate and adopt the programs and how the media players mould the sensitivity of the audiences to receive what they show. Some critics state that these theories are only based on their preconceived notions and assumptions. For example in 1930’s one of the advertising executive said about radio audiences: â€Å"The typical listening audience for a radio program is a tired, bored, middle-aged man and woman whose lives are empty and who have exhausted their sources of outside amusement when they have taken a quick look at an evening paper†¦. Radio provides a vast source of delight and entertainment for the barren lives of the millions. † (Media studies: Online) It is not just about radio audiences, but we can hear about it for several soap operas or quiz shows. Every human being has his tastes, liking and his own way of perceiving the things. Some may be critical and some may be appreciative. In this scenario, it is the way media players reach their target audience becomes the whole crux of their strategies and plans of their programs. To hit the right audience at the right time, right moment and right situation is the motive of media players around which the whole of media content depends. And it is the only way advertisers are attracted to use the media content for their valuable business propositions for these right audiences. Number of programs like â€Å"Pop Idol† created by impressionist music maestro Simon Fuller became the most popular format for the first show on the European TV and also reached the other continents as well. The craze of the Pop idol carried Americans, Canadians and Australians as American Idol, Canadian Idol and Australian Idol followed by Spanish bonanza â€Å"Operacion Triunfo†, making the Latin and South Americans also to come under their sway. Ipod, a melodious device of new generation and a complete new innovation being carried by the young and old alike in Shanghai as well as Innsbruck rapidly transferred to the new generations across the borders. It is quite true that if digital home cinema has gained so popularity in Japan then why it shouldn’t reach the other continents? Well, it has reached the homes of other continents. (Reding 2005: Online Edition) More than the spread of news, the world of music has imbibed in itself international facets in its thematic expression and lyrical notes. Music has reached new dimensions in the technological advancement. According to Steiner, â€Å"The totally new fact is that today any music can be heard at any time and as domestic background music. †(Nesbitt 2006: 103). The other programs are now more of sensational, individualist and reductionist in nature as these programs touches the heart of audiences. Paul Lazarsfeld, Bernard Berelson, and Hazel Gaudet studied how the voters made the decision during 1940 presidential election campaign and got their results published in paper The People’s Choice. They found out that information did not directly reach the consciousness of the audiences rather modified and passed down by the opinion leaders, which was again passed over to lesser active associates. In 2002, Anthony Giddens, a sociologist in the radio national broadcast made the people feel the essence of Globalization. He said, â€Å"Globalization is like a code-word standing for the reconstruction of our social institutions, going all the way through from the family, gender, sexuality (because after all the changing position of women is surely a global phenomenon as much as any other one) through the economy, the restructuring of business organizations, a restructuring of the nation and government, through the restructuring of international organizations†. (O’Regan 2002: Online edition) The politics since last 2300 years have been influencing the communication processes in the state. But since last few centuries, the relationship between politics and media is being seen in much controversial light than it was seen in the past and it is due to the political influence and control over the content of media and thereby their indirectly control over the public opinion. The political control over media reciprocates the views of Marx who said that media is a product of ruling elite wherein there is no scope of any alternative ideas. In Marx’s own words, â€Å"The class, which has the means of material production at its disposal, has control at the same time over the means of mental production, so that thereby, generally speaking, the ideas of those who lack the means of mental production are subject to it†. (Chandler 2000: Online) Marx further stated that mass media brings to the people’s consciousness false notions and ideas making media as a product of expressions of the ruling class. Graham Murdock too emphasized that economic factors play a determining role in the domination of ruling elite over media messages. The political economists look at ideological messages as superior to the economic criteria. (Chandler 2000: Online). In the 1966 article, Stein Rokkan brought into focus the two ways of decision making in the media circle: corporate system and numerical. In 1996, the whole of media was under the control of one or the other political party. But in the last two to three decades, we have seen number of changes in the way politics is being related to Media. Globalization has touched every sphere of human commodity from increasing a sense of risk to creating uncertainty. Interconnectedness in the global sphere increased the value of the humanity as a whole and an awareness of deep understanding and tensions between Global Diaspora, national and local perception of shared identities. (Gillespie, 1995: 3). It is no doubt a global village and we are all now a part of this global village where not only individual’s perception is taken into account but the perceptions of the whole in all its shades and dimensions is considered as the most virtuous and commercial proposition. REFERENCES LIST Chandler, D. 2000.Media as means of production in Marxist Media Theory. [Online] Available: http://www. aber. ac. uk/media/Documents/marxism/marxism03. html [13 May 2008] Chandler, D. 2000. Media as amplifiers in Marxist Media Theory. [Online] Available: http://www. aber. ac. uk/media/Documents/marxism/marxism05. html [13 May 2008] Downing, J. , McQuail, D. , Wartella, E. & Schlesinger P. 2004. The SAGE Handbook of Media Studies. California, London & New Delhi: SAGE Gillespie, Marie. 1995. Television, Ethnicity and Cultural Change. Routledge. Hjarvard, S. 2003. News Media and the Globalization of the Public Sphere. [Online] Available: http://www. kommunikationsforum. dk/default. asp? articleid=10761 [13 May 2008] Jhally Sut, P. 1990. The Codes of Advertising. Routledge. Jenks Chris, P. 2004. Urban Culture. Routledge. Johnson, P. 2004. Are the media playing politics? USATODAY. com. [Online] Available: http://www. usatoday. com/life/columnist/mediamix/2004-10-10-media-mix_x. htm Media Studies. Audience (Adapted from Steve Baker’s Media Studies website) [Online] Available: http://www. northallertoncoll. org. uk/media/audience. htm McQuail, D. 1992. Media Performance: Mass Communication and the Public Interest. California, London & New Delhi: SAGE Nesbitt, T. 2006. Global Media and cultural change. China Media Research, Chang, et, al, Intercultural Symposium on Cultural Globalization, 2(3): 103. O’ Regan, Mick. 2002. Media and globalisation. The Media Report. [Online] Available: http://www. abc. net. au/rn/talks/8. 30/mediarpt/stories/s678261. htm [13 May 2008] Puustinen L. 2006. The Age of Consumer-Audience. [Online] Available: http://209. 85. 175. 104/search? q=cache:FsxLpxbPeeQJ:www. valt. helsinki. fi/comm/fi/english/WP5. pdf+The+audience+reception+theories+on+ratings+system&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=in&ie=UTF-8 [16 May 2008] Rantanen T. 2005. The Media and Globalization. 1st Edition. California, London & New Delhi: SAGE Reding, V. 2005. The Media and Globalisation. European Forum Alpbach [Online] Available: http://europa. eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction. do? reference=SPEECH/05/469&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en