Small and Micro Enterprises Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Small and Micro Enterprises - Research Proposal Example The state is also the third largest exporter for software parts in a country that is now known as the software hub of the world. Given these accomplishments, despite the absence of big industry names from the overall economic scene of the state the study of the entrepreneurial ability of the small and medium enterprises and their owners would provide a development model that has been tested and has proved its mettle. Entrepreneurial ability and a culture of efficiency and government support to the SME mechanism can prove to be a potent mixture where the economic success of a state set up is concerned. With this hypothesis we present the research proposal. The greatest challenge will be the fact that the research is based on human nature and feedback available from the entrepreneurs and businessmen in the state. There will automatically be issues of authenticity because people in surveys more often that npot state what the think would be the 'correct answer'. The research keeping this in mind will utilize a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods.

American Steel Industry Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

American Steel Industry - Research Paper Example One of the industrial relations patterns that have emerged and which the international leadership of the united steelworkers of America appears to be advocating is a new cooperative partnership, modeled after the 1986 National Steel Agreement. This new industrial relations model includes significant quality and flexibility-enhancing work restructuring coupled with an increased share of compensation linked to firm performance and productivity in exchange for job security guarantees and unprecedented employee and union participation and information sharing at all levels of the company (Anon 2). Economic, technological and institutional changes in the 1980s have fundamentally transformed the industrial relations system in the American steel industry. Prior to the 1980s, the bargaining structure in steel matched the concentrated and centralized nature of the industry as a whole. Not only did a multi-employer bargain set the pattern for the wider industry, but also there was coordination of pay for particular jobs through the co-operative arrangements. The inaccessibility to potential entrants of requisite iron ore supplies of high grade has imposed a major barrier to entry to the American steel industry. In the period since the reconstruction of Europe and Japan following the Second World War, earlier reductions in tariffs on steel have invited the influx of foreign supplies; until at present foreign producers are supplying an appreciable minor fraction of the American market. These foreign suppliers are drawing on iron ore reserves that have not been generally accessible to potential entrant firms that might have produced steel in America. As a result, the barrier to entry to the American steel market that depended on the close holding of domestically available iron ore deposits by established American firms has been appreciably reduced. American steel

CompStat in America Does It Work

CompStat in America Does It Work CompStat was introduced in 1994 by the New York Police Department. Since its implementation it has been used by many law enforcement departments around the country. The New York Police Department claimed a dramatic decrease in crime due to CompStat. With the research available this paper examines whether the use of CompStat actually led to a significant decrease in crime in New York. This research will expose the strengths and weaknesses of the CompStat program to determine if the New York crime reduction was a result of CompStat or a combination of other factors. Results show that although CompStat lead to a decrease in crime in New York it also led to many unethical police practices in order to maintain the decrease in crime rate. Keywords: CompStat, compare statistics, crime reduction, NYPD Introduction CompStat, short for compare statistics, is the New York City Police Departments (NYDP) central management accountability model whereby commanders are held responsible for crime in their areas(Eterno Silverman, 2010, pp. 426-427). Implemented in 1994, the intention of the program was to escalate accountability inside the department with a viewpoint to additional effectual felony lessening. It is important to note that since external conditions, for instance, the economy and changing demographics do have an impact the level of felony in a society, crime rates do not directly reveal how fine a police department is operating. Nevertheless, the focal point of police functions and the deployment of capital may have an effect on the degree of crime. As far as CompStat is concerned, department commanders and department executives convene on an ordinary basis to assess performance capacity. The performance is usually assessed in the form of felony statistics and institutional data. Moreover, they converse tactics for plummeting felony in addition to administration of resources. (Willis, Mastrofski, Weisburd, 2007). The police commissioner and his managerial workforce query any person, whose precinct or department is not doing well, in accordance to their reputable performance objectives. If a department commander has not replied to the Commissioners demand over numerous CompStat assemblies, he might be subsequently detached from his position. Generally the department commander is relegated to a lower rank in the precinct. The latest data permit management to hold junior staff accountable for performance. This capacity to hold overseers accountable for their performance is, in accordance to New York Police Division, a chief motive for the program triumph. Even though CompStat has been mentioned as radical, owing to the lessening in felony rates in New York City, it is actually an application of attempted and genuine management and organizational techniques employed by corporations (Bratton Malinowski, 2008). The Accountability at CompStat In accordance with the New York police department, the primary step in CompStats means of accountability is to build up precise and well-timed intelligence. In order to evaluate performance in any class and expand a tactic for tackling particular objectives, the organization should at first have comprehensive, exact, and the latest information on present circumstances. These data are collected and scrutinized by a data analysis group. The data and outcomes are then submitted at frequently planned gatherings of all precincts leaders. Data are usually presented on charts of the city. The data normally depicts geographic patterns and tendencies over time. The second step of CompStat procedure is augmenting effectual strategies. Strategies are augmented to attempt to resolve any tribulations that are uncovered through data scrutiny. This normally happens during the ordinary planned or strategy tactic gatherings. These strategy tactic gatherings which are a medium or forum for not only endorsing accountability, but for assessing the information and spotting problems. Better still, setting objectives, suggestion of solutions, and harmonization of efforts are also accomplished at these meetings. One of the gains of these gatherings is that management staff from all precincts are in attendance, which makes communication in the precincts more effectual. Under the CompStat procedure, tactic progression is planned around data compilation and performance assessment. The third step in the CompStat process or procedure is fast progression of personnel and capital. After the first step notifies a manager regarding what is going on in their vicinity or precincts, and once more tactics have been augmented, it is vital to permit people in the field to assemble as quickly as possible. The organization yet has a responsibility in organizing the provision of resources. Nevertheless the verdicts regarding how to most excellently make use of the existing resources are frequently made at the inferior management levels. For instance, the patrols that ought to be utilized in a neighborhood and also at what time of the day. Provided that all of the objectives of the organizations are realized, superior management does not worry too much concerning the facts of how situations get resolved. The ending step in the CompStat process is persistent trial and evaluation. Once a predicament is spotted, a tactic augmented and resources marshaled to put into effect, the organization evaluates its evolution. Is the tactic functioning? Are there some problems? Are there some fresh problems? A lot of people inside the New York Police Division believe that follow-up has been the main significant contributing aspect in plummeting felony cases in New York City. Crime Strategy Meeting and the Technology Employed In New York City the police precinct is split amongst seventy-six departments, nine police service regions, and twelve transit districts. Each one of these ninety-seven divisions gather together weekly and evaluates the data for each and every division. Crime strategy meetings are carried out each week, even though not each person gives a presentation at each meeting. This is as a result of the big size of the precinct. Nevertheless, given that presenters at the meetings are called on arbitrarily, each person should be set to present at each assembly. To pool on the data from the ninety-seven divisions, the New York Police Divisions CompStat entity takes fifteen statisticians to evaluate the data. In addition to the statisticians, ten personnel members usually assist in collecting the statistics. Also, three to five personnel members at every division assist in the data compilation efforts. The information in its entirety is published in a weekly CompStat manuscript. The manuscript o r the book is henceforth disseminated at the meetings. The New York Police Division normally makes use of an amalgamation of off-the ledge software such as, Google Maps or MapInfo Professional, pooled with a number of internally augmented data analysis programs(Skogan Hartnett, 2005). Basically, the system permits commanding officials the chance to reply to queries concerning patterns or differences in the data. In addition, the system permits commanding officials the chance to reply to available solutions. Once more, as a result of the size of the New York Police Division, the meetings are moderately planned. The data are split into two classes. The first class is the felony data and the commander profile report (CPR). A departments CPR is comprised of all of the relevant information concerning that commander, as well as meeting dates, years in grade, education, and special training. It also includes administrative data regarding his or her command. For instance, overtime, departmental vehicle accidents, and civilian complaints. Crime data are split into two classes. The first class is chief felonies. The second class is the slight felonies. A top priority of the New York Police Divisions crime averting tactic has been to put into effect infringements of slight f elonies such as, panhandling or public drinking. Imprisoning a person inadvertently prohibits that person from committing any other felonies while off the streets. An illustration of this is a crowd of people on the street drinking beer. One of them begins a brawl and individuals end up being detained for provoked physical attack or sent to the hospital. By apprehending individuals for public use of alcohol, the brawl never happens, and one gets harmed. The crime strategy gatherings are essentially a medium for sharing facts and holding commanders accountable for their departments efforts. In addition, the meetings are meant to decrease felony crime rates and for their administration of their departments performance. Managerial personnel members pose queries concerning felonies and apprehensions. In addition, they do pose questions regarding explicit cases and actions taken up by the commander, so as to depict faults or verify enhancements. Commanders are anticipated to discern precise details concerning felony in their department and augmenting tactics to lessen it. While commanders augment precise tactics, the managerial staff keeps vigil on their accomplishments and disappointments. Incapability to acclimatize to new tribulations opens commanders to censure and probable criticism (Zink, 2004). One of the strategies employed used by managerial staff members during the gatherings is to openly rebuke commanding officials for sub-equ ality performance or deficiency of facts. This disgrace of persons who are not performing which has turn out to be unpopular amongst a number of police precincts, has been mentioned by creators of CompStat as a major contributing factor in put into effect accountability and encouraging officials to do well.(Weisburd Eck, 2004) CompStat in the New York Police Division focused on revealing problems. The New York Police Division has extended CompStat by attracting a number of other precincts to partake in the gatherings. CompStat regularly incorporates crime mapping systems for instance ArcGIS and MapInfo Professional. It has also integrated a database collection system. This system can be home-produced or from off-the shelf providers for instance Information Builders. In some circumstances, police divisions have begun providing information to the general public through their very own web sites (Roberts Roberts, 2007). Hypothesis Hypothesis 1: The New York Police Departments effectiveness was inversely correlated to crime rate. This hypothesis was formulated so as to establish whether the introduction of CompStat has so far led to significant crime reduction in New York City. If New York has a low crime rate it means that the police have been effective in implementing the CompStat crime model. On the other hand, it also means that when the police are ineffective in their implementation of the CompStat crime model the crime rate increases. Methodology The focus of this study of the future of CompStat was primarily conducted using scholarly literature searches, or secondary analysis, of all of the readily available peer-reviewed research. This includes online databases, as well as, web and library literature searches. The literature assessed highlights the positive, as well as, the negative aspects of the CompStat crime model. The research established the disillusion between the theortical concept of CompStat and its actual implementation and the effect that it has on the law enforcement officers involved. The library based.research allowed for the careful selection and application of already established key concepts, prevalent themes and issues for investigation into the subject area (Hobbs, 2008, p. 10). There was no production of new evidence only the examination and integration of existing ideologies. Possibilities and obstacles of CompStat paradigm Ironically, the remarkable achievement of CompStat model raises some possible problems. The first problem is that there is a discrete trend all through American policing to find a number of policies or practices that a different agency has put to good exploitation and to apposite it. Agencies loan these policies from other agencies made of diverse people with a unlike organizational culture and structure. Thus the broad principles of CompStat should be cautiously customized to the precise conditions, situations, and realities experienced by other agencies in other frameworks (Henry, 2002) CompStat doctrines can be extremely adapted and applied to any police agencys specific requirements and goals. As a management model, CompStat has demonstrated its applicability all through the public and private segments. (Weisburd, Mastrofski, McNally, Greenspan, Willis, 2003) CompStat persists to advance and to create outstanding changes in other areas. However, its roots are decisively planted in policing. CompStat persists to develop and to create outstanding challenges in the years to come. The CompStat model stands for a significant chance for the type of flexible and effectual administration style these challenges need. The quality of living enjoyed by those who frequent and stay in New York has turned out to be better over the past ten years. There is a conspicuous positive change in this sense of security and civility all through the city. The greatly enhanced quality of life in conjunction with great decline in serious crime has dramatically improved the New York City ima ge (Herbert, 2005). Even though quality of life pointers are greatly hard to compute than reported felonies, it is apparent that New Yorkers see less graffiti and come across fewer thugs. It is also apparent that the New Yorkers are far less often approached by violent panhandlers than they were some years ago. Not only do New Yorkers have a great deal of lower actuarial possibility of becoming a crime casualty but they feel safer in addition. According to Susan Geoghehan (2006): Two components that are integral to the CompStat paradigm are also key features of community policing: solving problems versus simply responding to them, and recognizing quality-of-life issues as vehicles for criminal activity. The Broken Windows Theory asserts that if deteriorating conditions within a community are left untended, they will lead to more serious crime. The rapid deployment of resources that is a key component of CompStat gets immediate results, as opposed to other forms of community policing that make vague references to the eventuality of change.(p. 46) Conclusion According to Kelling Sousa (2001), the CompStat program is perhaps the single most important organizational/administrative innovation in policing during the latter half of the 20th century(p. 6) but, even the greatest innovations have drawbacks. CompStats making New York Police Division commanders accountable for regulating felony has worsened into a state of affairs where the police leadership presses the junior staff to keep numbers low by any methods essential. The precincts middle managers will do whatever they have to do to evade being hauled onto the carpet at the weekly CompStat gatherings. They are, by nature, determined individuals who yearn for promotions, and rising felony rates wont aid anybodys profession. The other drawback of CompStat is that when it was begun , it didnt foresee the fudge factor.( Cordner Biebel, 2005). Thats the trait that permits local commanders to make it appear as if like felony has reduced when it has actually surged. Furthermore, in the early days, it was simple for a department commander to gain from CompStat. He or she had felony-ridden neighborhoods where basic policing methods might bring felony down. The problem is that once crime is under control the commanders have to become creative to keep their numbers down. No mayor or police commissioner desires to be the one clutching the purse when crime begins shooting up (Zink, 2004). Additionally, no departmental commander desires to be the one to convey the bad news that he or she does not have sufficient police to carry out the task. A major drawback associated with CompStat is that some police managers who spot the magnificent things CompStat can bring to the organization can take on in ritualistic recurrence of the obvious behaviors they have seen while the bigger picture avoids them(Cyr, 2010).

Smoking Cigarettes :: Argumentative Persuasive Example Essays

Cigarette smoking has been identified as the most important source of preventable morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. Smoking-related diseases claim an estimated 440,000 American lives each year, including those affected indirectly, such as babies born prematurely due to prenatal maternal smoking and victims of "secondhand" exposure to tobacco's carcinogens. Smoking costs the United States over $150 billion each year in health-care costs including $81.9 billion in mortality-related productivity loses and $75.5 billion in excess medical expenditures. In the United States, an estimated 25.6 million men and 22.6 million women are smokers. These people are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The latest estimates for persons age 18 and older show: Among whites, 25.1 percent of men and 21.7 percent of women smoke. Among black or African Americans, 27.6 percent of men and 18.0 percent of women smoke. Among Hispanics/Latinos, 23.2 percent of men and 12.5 percent of women smoke. Among Asians, 21.3 percent of men and 6.9 percent of women smoke. Studies show that smoking prevalence is higher among those with 9-11 years of education (35.4 percent) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (11.6 percent). It's highest among persons living below the poverty level (33.3 percent). Tobacco started growing in the Americas in 6000 BC. 100 BC, people started using tobacco leaves for smoking and chewing. Now it has grown in a nasty, hard to break habit. The first paper rolled cigarette was made in 1832. It is widely believed that Egyptians soldiers were the first to make this, now famous past-time. Other historians suggest that Russians and Turks learned about cigarettes from the French, who in turn may have learned about smoking from the Spanish. It is thought that paupers in Seville were making a form of cigarette, known as ‘papelette’, from the butts of discarded cigars and papers as early as the 17th century. In 1856, the first cigarette factory opened. It was in Walworth, England, and owned by Robert Golag, a veteran of the Crimean War. Four decades later, fears about the effects of cigarette smoking aroused in The Lancet. During World War I, smoking became hugely popular with soldiers in battlefields of northern Europe and cigarettes became known as ‘soldier’s smoke’. In 1964, the United States Surgeon General Luther Terry announced that smoking caused lung cancer. Shortly after, in 1965, the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act required US Surgeon General’s warning’s on cigarette packs.

Ford Motor Company and Ambition

Dusty Bowles Mrs. Farmer English 102 10 September 2010 Ambitions As I started out to write a paper based on ambition I had to question myself what ambition really was. What makes people get that extra push to be ambitious, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of being an ambitious person? At first, I must admit it was very difficult to comprehend. In the American Heritage dictionary it states that ambition comes from the Middle English word â€Å"ambicioun,† meaning â€Å"excessive desire for honor, power, or wealth. † After reading this meaning I understood what was stated, but it still did not make a clear meaning to me what ambition was.I have found that after reading a quote by Henry Ford my understanding started to all come together. Henry Ford once quoted, â€Å"Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right. † This quote in itself explains to me that it is a self motivated decision made by one individual. It is ambition that makes us think we can be successful, and lack of ambition that makes us think that we cannot. Many people have different ambitions in life so the word ambition would have different meanings depending on which you ask and how one defines it.An ambition is an eager, and sometimes an inordinate desire for honor, superiority, leading power, or the attainment to seek a goal that is immensely desired. Ambition is something that anyone, no matter his or her age or cultural background has instinctively. Ambition can push towards a driven force for success or in altering views a road to failure. Without an ambition we, human beings, have no purpose to be self driven individuals. Ambition in other words is that motive force needed to propel all to work towards our cherished goals in which we set.Ambition is the explosive inner force that has led many people from all walks of life to make a new path, set a new vision. Ambitious people are those with the hopes of one day conquering their ambition. Am bitious people are confident and because of this, they feel there is nothing that they cannot accomplish. There are many people from many different parts of life that have had ambitions and accomplished them. For example, Donald Trump is someone I admire and is a very ambitious person in my book. Trump is listed as number 33 on the Forbes Top 100 list. Trump did not start out as successful as he is today.Back in Trump’s prime he set ambitions to achieve for what today we call his success. Trump started out going to school and got a degree in â€Å"Bachelor of Science in Economics with concentration in Finance. † School was just the start of Trumps ambitions to learn more, today he is a very successful business executive and entrepreneur. Donald Trump is someone that I respect and gives me that extra push when reading his autobiography. Being able to know that ambitions all start out as a dream until someone makes them a reality makes the possibilities endless. Ambition s can be as easy as a thought away from what the actual turnout can be.To me ambition is a burning desire to achieve ones goals or succeed. Ambition in my theory is related to dedication, motivation, and time. At my age, twenty years young I have many ambitions to achieve in a set period of time. For starters my education, I would like to complete my Bachelors in Marketing with a minor in Finance within the next four years. Time motivates me to achieve my ambitions because I strive to be well accomplished by the age of twenty-five. Ambitions are a big part of my young adult life because I would like to accomplish a lot of things before I get older.Without ambition I cannot achieve a greater milestone in my walk. Everyone has a chance to tell you their own personal story based on their walk. Without ambitions one cannot achieve a greater tomorrow. Understanding the limitations and compromises that come with obtaining any ambition is overwhelming. Putting forth and obtaining an ambiti on is self constructed. With hard work, experience, and overall self control, ambitions are not too far out of reach for any person to grasp. Any one person can achieve their ambitions if they set their mind to it and that gives me the reassurance that I can make it.Depending on whom you ask lets us knows the trials and tribulations one goes through while accomplishing their ambitions. After reading Donald Trumps story and the simple quote by Henry Ford that turned the light bulb in my head on, my understating of ambitions became clear. Ambitions can all be the same or they can all be different. Everyone has their own ambition and how to accomplish them. If one has ambition, one can achieve any goal.Works Cited â€Å"Ambition | Define Ambition at Dictionary. com. †Ã‚  Dictionary. com | Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary. om. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. . â€Å"Donald Trump: Biography from Answers. com. †Ã‚  Answers. com: Wiki Q&A Combined with Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Encyclopedias. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. . â€Å"#33 Donald Trump – Forbes. com. †Ã‚  Forbes. com – Business News, Financial News, Stock Market Analysis, Technology & Global Headline News. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. . Google, By. â€Å"†Whether You Think You Can or Can't, You're Right†Ã¢â‚¬â€œHenry Ford |Strategic Business Lawyer. †Ã‚  Small Business Advice from the Champions of Small Business. 23 Jan. 2006. Web. 10 Sept. 2010. .

A project on night blindness Essay

Introduction: Night blindness also known as Nyctalopia is not a diagnosis, but rather a symptom of an underlying disorder. People with night blindness (also called impaired dark adaptation) see poorly in the darkness but see normally when adequate amounts of light are present. The condition does not actually involve true blindness, even at night. Recovery is fairly rapid when intake is reduced. Night Blindness is commoner than one can expect it to be. Causes: There are many causes of Night Blindness. Night blindness can be linked to a variety of conditions caused by impaired liver function, which in turn reduces vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A deficiency is a common cause for night blindness. Some people are just born with it. Many people who are alcoholics or drink a lot may also get Night Blindness because drinking can damage your liver, which makes it easier to pick up an infection of any kind. Symptoms: Symptoms include difficulty seeing when driving in the evening or at night, poor vision in reduced light. You may have a feeling that your eyes take longer to â€Å"adjust† to seeing in the dark. Initially there is slight difficulty in seeing in dim light later this progresses. The field of vision becomes narrow then later limitations in day vision. If no medication is taken blindness can occur. Toxic symptoms can occur with a large intake of Vitamin A. This is called Hypervitaminosis A, which leads to loss of appetite, a dry, itchy skin often with peeling, intense headaches and an enlarger liver. Typical Sufferers: Night Blindness starts at an early age, around 15 years and progresses into adulthood. Typical sufferers of Night Blindness are the elderly, teenagers and alcoholics. Many younger kids maybe born with night blindness it may  also be an indicator of Retinitis Pigmentosa. Also Night Blindness can also occur if there is a poor intake of Vitamin A. Some people can be born with Night Blindness because it is a genetic disease and runs in families. Treatment: Night Blindness can be treated with therapeutic dosages of the vitamin A. Some types of damage to the retina, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa, are usually irreversible. Many treatments like Vitamin A tablets are being given, but their definite effect has not been documented. Taking supplements of Vitamin A in eye drops is also used to treat Night Blindness. Also just eating healthy and eating more Vitamin A products can improve your eyesight at night, but it is not a permanent cure for Night Blindness. Prevention: Preventions of Night blindness can be a larger intake of Vitamin A. Eating leafy green vegetables such as spinach that is rich in Vitamin A. It contains more vitamin A than most other green vegetables. This vitamin promotes growth and health, specially the health of the eyes. Lack of this vitamin may lead to night blindness. Spinach is thus an effective food remedy for the prevention and treatment of night blindness. Also eating animal livers, milk, and yellow vegetables can improve the intake of vitamin A in your body. These vegetables, which contain carotene, that is a chemically related substance that is converted to vitamin A in the body. Conclusion: If you think you might have Night Blindness and are seeing some of the symptoms you should start eating more Vitamin A. Having too much vitamin A can be bad for your body, because Vitamin A is one of the few vitamins in which excess produces definite and severe effects. Recovery is fairly rapid when intake is reduced. There are many varieties of Night Blindness, some begin earlier and progress faster. Night Blindness is serious and is commoner than one can expect it to be! Bibliography Gottlieb, William. The Doctors book of home remedies. Prevention Magazine Health Books. 2000. Ch. 99 Medical Encyclopedia. 20 Feb. 2003 Night Blindness. 20 Feb. 2003 Night Blindness Gene. 16 Feb. 2003 Upgren, A.R. Night Blindness: Light pollution, the environment, and our experience of nature. The Amicus Journal Winter. 1996. Pp. 22-25 Vitamins. 16 Feb. 2003

Environmental Analysis for Dominos Pizza Essays

Environmental Analysis for Dominos Pizza Essays Environmental Analysis for Dominos Pizza Paper Environmental Analysis for Dominos Pizza Paper Dominos Pizza Analysis Dominos Pizza was founded in 1960 and operates a network of company- owned and franchise-owned stores in the U. S. A. And internationally. Dominos is recognized world wide as the leader in pizza delivery, Reinforced by their well-known slogan, Get the door. Its Dominos. In order to effectively do an environmental analysis, one must look at the companys external environment. The external environment has 3 components: the remote environment, the industry environment, and the operating environment. Each of those three components have their own subcategories. In this paper I will describe some of the external factors that will affect Dominos external environment over the next ten years. In the remote environment will discuss the economic, social, and technological issues that will affect Dominos over the next decade. For the industry environment I will discuss the substitute availability and competitive rivalry facing Dominos. Finally, for the operating environment, I will be discussing the competitors, customers, and suppliers. When combining all of the information, will be able to project some long term objectives for Dominos Pizza. To achieve long-term prosperity, strategic planners commonly establish long-term objectives in seven areas: Profitability, productivity, competitive position, employee development, employee, relations, technological leadership, and public responsibility. Will use a few of these objectives in order to formulate a plan for Dominos Pizza. Remote Environment Economic factors concern the nature and direction of the economy in which a firm operates. Because consumption patterns are affected by the relative affluence of various market segments, each firm must consider economic rends in the segments that affect its industry. World events can affect the consumers purchasing habits in a negative or positive way. Recent events such as Hurricane Strain, and the attacks on the world trade center. These events had a negative effect on our economy, and consumers were spending less money. However, in the next ten years the economy is forecasted to improve, allowing consumers to spend more. Consumers are forecasted to have higher levels of disposable income over the next few years. Real disposable household income is expected to increase y nearly 12% over the next five years resulting in more opportunity for expenditure on home delivered food. Over a twenty to thirty year period, the numbers of older people will continue to increase. The research suggests that firms in the home delivery market can benefit from this by building and keeping brand loyalty amongst a generation of people who have grown up as pizza consumers and whose incomes and affluence are likely to grow. The social factors that affect a firm involve the beliefs, values, attitudes, opinions, and lifestyles of persons in the firms external environment, as plopped from cultural, ecological, demographic, religious, educational, and ethnic conditioning. As social attitudes change, so does the demand for delivery pizza. The research shows that, on average, adults in the US eat out and/or eat delivered/take-away meals around 80 times a year. Researchers look at the impact of freeing up time normally spent on preparing food at home, as creating a time oasis. As Americans become busier with their careers and lives, they have less time to prepare meals at home, and the amount of people eating out or ordering in will increase. To avoid obsolescence and promote innovation, a firm must be aware of technological changes that might influence its industry. Creative technological adaptations can suggest possibilities for new products, for improvements in existing products, or in manufacturing and marketing techniques. A technological breakthrough can have a sudden and dramatic effect on a firms environment. In the short term more people will have access to interactive technologies, up from 70% today to 90%, and the number of broadband users will rise. These people will become better at and more confident about e-commerce and buying food online. The report indicates that home food delivery firms already active in this area are likely to be especially successful. Industry Environment Brand identification creates a barrier by forcing entrants to spend heavily to overcome customer loyalty. Advertising, customer service, being first in the industry, and product differences are among the factors fostering brand identification. Dominos Pizza is a proven entity with a 44-year history. They are reinforced by their slogan, Get the door. Its Dominos. Operating Environment. Although the exact criteria used in constructing a competitors profile are argyle determined by situational factors, the following criteria are often included: Market share. Breadth of product line. Effectiveness of sales distribution. Proprietary and key-account advantages. Price competitiveness. Advertising and promotion effectiveness. Location and age of facility. Capacity and productivity. Experience. Raw materials costs. Financial position. Relative product quality. RD advantages position. Caliber of personnel. General images. Customer profile. Patents and copyrights. Union relations. Technological position. Community reputation. In reviewing each of these items, Pizza Hut is the only competitor Domino has that even remotely compares to Dominos Pizza. Dominos Pizza is the number one Pizza Delivery company in the United States. Perhaps the most important aspect of a companys success is their customers. Dominos exists to fulfill a basic need for their customers to provide a high quality, freshly prepared, hot meal delivered on time, every time. Dependable relationships between a firm and its suppliers are essential to he firms long-term survival and growth. A firm regularly relies on its suppliers for financial support, services, materials, and equipment. In addition, it occasionally is forced to make special requests for such favors as quick delivery, liberal credit terms, or broken-lot orders. Dominos Pizza prefers to develop long-term partnerships with proactive suppliers who anticipate their needs, generate cost-saving measures and solve problems to create mutually advantageous outcomes. Dominos is always interested in the potential to establish similar working relationships with new suppliers. They will award business on a competitive basis. Careful source review and selection is important. Pricing is not the only criteria. They demand the very best from our suppliers. Our decisions are based on the ability of suppliers to meet our needs competitive pricing, high product quality and exceptional service levels. Dominos is committed to developing mutually beneficial relationships with a diverse group of suppliers, including minority- and women-owned businesses. We know that having a diverse supplier base makes both Dominos and the diverse businesses stronger in their communities.

Raising Capital as a Corporation

Raising Capital as a Corporation Large corporations could not have grown to their present size without being able to find innovative ways to raise capital to finance expansion. Corporations have five primary methods for obtaining that money. Issuing Bonds A bond is a written promise to pay back a specific amount of money at a certain date or dates in the future. In the interim, bondholders receive interest payments at fixed rates on specified dates. Holders can sell bonds to someone else before they are due. Corporations benefit by issuing bonds because the interest rates they must pay investors are generally lower than rates for most other types of borrowing and because interest paid on bonds is considered to be a tax-deductible business expense. However, corporations must make interest payments even when they are not showing profits. If investors doubt a companys ability to meet its interest obligations, they either will refuse to buy its bonds or will demand a higher rate of interest to compensate them for their increased risk. For this reason, smaller corporations can seldom raise much capital by issuing bonds. Issuing Preferred Stock A company may choose to issue new preferred stock to raise capital. Buyers of these shares have special status in the event the underlying company encounters financial trouble. If profits are limited, preferred stock owners will be paid their dividends after bondholders receive their guaranteed interest payments but before any common stock dividends are paid. Selling Common Stock If a company is in good financial health, it can raise capital by issuing common stock. Typically, investment  banks help companies issue stock, agreeing to buy any new shares issued at a set price if the public refuses to buy the stock at a certain minimum price. Although common shareholders have the exclusive right to elect a corporations board of directors, they rank behind holders of bonds and preferred stock when it comes to sharing profits. Investors are attracted to stocks in two ways. Some companies pay large dividends, offering investors a steady income. But others pay little or no dividends, hoping instead to attract shareholders by improving corporate profitability and hence, the value of the shares themselves. In general, the value of shares increases as investors come to expect corporate earnings to rise. Companies whose stock prices rise substantially often split the shares, paying each holder, say, one additional share for each share held. This does not raise any capital for the corporation, but it makes it easier for stockholders to sell shares on the open market. In a two-for-one split, for instance, the stocks price is initially cut in half, attracting investors. Borrowing Companies can also raise short-term capital usually to finance inventories by getting loans from banks or other lenders. Using Profits As noted, companies also can finance their operations by retaining their earnings. Strategies concerning retained earnings vary. Some corporations, especially electric, gas, and other utilities, pay out most of their profits as dividends to their stockholders. Others distribute, say, 50 percent of earnings to shareholders in dividends, keeping the rest to pay for operations and expansion. Still, other corporations, often the smaller ones, prefer to reinvest most or all of their net income in research and expansion, hoping to reward investors by rapidly increasing the value of their shares. This article is adapted from the book Outline of the U.S. Economy by Conte and Carr and has been adapted with permission from the U.S. Department of State.

Birth Of A Nation 2 Essay Research

Birth Of A Nation 2 Essay, Research Paper D. W. Griffith s heroic poem narrative told in Birth of a Nation was a flooring one. The film set box office records, taking in over 18 million dollars. When it was released, it was one of the longest movies of all time made, over three hours in length. Some movie bookmans say that it is the most of import movie of all time released. But despite all of these records and accomplishments, the narrative and the manner that inkinesss of the South were depicted obsessed inkinesss for decennaries to come. Showing the black adult male as a sexual marauder to white females was ask foring the South commence with wide-scale lynchings of guiltless black work forces. If a black adult male looked the incorrect manner at a white adult female, so he could be lynched without a idea of justness. This movie advanced the intuition and contributed to the pattern of Jim Crow in the South. Most shockingly, I discovered that the movie is still used by the Ku Klux Klan today for enlisting intents. The portraiture of the KKK in Birth of a State was one of heroes, alternatively of marauding racialists. This appealed to white Americans positions of the mythic South, and helped to hike rank in the KKK. Griffith subsequently released a version of the film without the KKK, but the harm had already been done. Of class, the NAACP attacked the movie, and it was met with picketing upon its release. The elevation of the KKK as heroes while portraying black work forces as sexual marauders was disgusting, and it is astonishing to me that the film is praised as it is. Though the portraiture of both inkinesss and the KKK were highly off path, the film itself was an astonishing work of film for its clip. This was likely the first film to utilize 100s of excess in a conflict scene. These scenes were good crafted by the film maker, and while non to the flawlessness of more modern movies such as Braveheart, the engineering and mastermind that the film maker used rival such movies. To th ink that the film was released merely 50 old ages after the terminal of the Civil War makes the effort seem even more unbelievable. In seeing the immense conflicts, I did non necessitate sound to hear the sounds of conflict in my imaginativeness. It would hold been unbelievable if the film had been made in the epoch where sound came into films. The rubric of the movie is an interesting 1. It is unknown whether the rubric refers to the birth of the reunited provinces, or the birth of the Ku Klux Klan. I tend to believe that the movie has a dual significance. In demoing the KKK as good cats, it is obvious that Griffith was seeking to demo their birth as a positive event for the United States. Besides, he was demoing that the U.S. was one time once more reunited after the war, taking to the strengthening of the state. It forebodes the hereafter, when the South and the inkinesss populating there are kept in cheque by the KKK, doing the U.S. that much greater. Though it would be better to disregard this impression of the birth of the KKK, it can non be due to the movie s content, although the movie does demo a genuinely united provinces. The movie is an unbelievable piece of propaganda for both the KKK and the Jim Crow system. Peoples who knew nil about the KKK or thought of them as white scoundrels before Birth of a State likely changed their heads and donned goons of their ain upon seeing the movie. The mainstream image was likely the best advertizement that the KKK could hold had. The vilifying of inkinesss besides led to the Jim Crow system. When it was portrayed in this film as acceptable, people in the South felt much better about making atrocious workss to black citizens, denying inkinesss their civil rights. Birth of a Nation was a powerful movie that was a technological promotion, but it lacked the right historical prospective. Anyone who made such a film now would be branded a racialist and likely would be hung in image in many black communities.

Managing strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing strategy - Essay Example The second part of the report focuses on internal analysis of Netflix with VRIN framework adopted for conducting an analysis of company resources and capabilities. Based on the identified in the external and internal analysis, part three feature issues and challenges facing Netflix as it strives to remain competitive in the industry. Part four of the report analyses strategic options that will facilitate continued growth and development of Netflix with the ANSOFF Matrix being the analytical tool for identifying the options. Part five of the report evaluates the identified strategic growth options while part six focuses on the selected growth option before lastly making a brief conclusion and recommendation. Netflix operates in video renting and streaming industry with the company offering channels foe distribution of DVD rental by mail order, internet streaming of content through home devices such as PCs and internet TV. The company uses subscription-based services to customers who pay a monthly fee for both DVD rental and streaming services. The company had initially linked the two services, but has separated them in recent years meaning subscribers will no longer have access to both unlimited DVDs and unlimited online streaming in one subscription plan (Thompson, 2013). There are a number of political, economic, social, technological, legal and environmental factors with considerable impact on the operations of Netflix. Political and legal factors in the external market relates to laws and regulations regarding access and distribution of content by Netflix and and other vendors in existing in the industry. There is an increased concern about piracy with companies seeking to enhance their control regarding copyrights, patents, licensing and trademarks. While it is difficult for authorities to eradicate, piracy has a negative impact on revenues collected by vendors as it makes content

Engineering Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Engineering Ethics - Essay Example An engineer’s job is rather complex as they have to not only learn about the technicalities of their subject but also be aware of the ethical issues that are inextricably intertwined with what they produce. The issue is not that straightforward as it may seem. Let us consider a hypothetical scenario where the manufacturer of a refrigerator discovers that if the humidity of the room where the refrigerator is kept exceeds a certain level, owing to faulty insulation, anybody touching the machine might experience electric shock that would, though not be fatal but surely would generate a stinging sensation that would last for at least ten minutes. It must also be mentioned that under normal conditions humidity would hardly ever reach levels that might be dangerous. Now what would the manufacturer do? Would they recall all those refrigerators that they feel might be faulty or would they simply keep quiet as humidity would hardly ever reach such dangerous levels? This is a question of engineering ethics and it acquires a special dimension as any decision to keep silent might harm customers while there will be considerable economic loss if all faulty units are recalled. Engineering ethics like ethics in general has intimate connection with the ethos and culture of the country to which the manufacturer belongs. A recent case in point is the recall of 6, 46,000 City and Fit/Jazz cars by Honda Motor Company for replacement of faulty window switches that might overheat when exposed to liquid resulting in a fire.

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 7

Management - Essay Example Motosuzhou is looking for technical and training opportunities from developed countries such as US. However, the negotiation failed as the negotiation teams failed to come on common grounds due to communication and trust issues. This case study aims to discuss the dissimilarities between both the cultures and how this impacted the negotiation process. Furthermore, this case study would move on to evaluate the reasons for the failure of the negotiation team and how this was impacted by the composition of the team. In the end, the case study would provide strategic alternatives and recommendations for this particular case. What are the main characteristics of Chinese culture? How do they differ from the predominant characteristics of U.S culture? How do these differences relate to the negotiation process? Chinese culture is a culture quite different from that of the American culture. Chinese culture relies on eastern values and traditions while the American culture is more modernized a nd relies of western values. Often these cultures come at a clash with each other due to the inherent differences in the way people within these cultures interact (Lee, Yang and Graham, 2006). The concept of Guanxi is very important for the Chinese. It relates to the building of a network within the business circle. This relationship is built upon mutual obligations that are not necessarily spoken among the people but these obligations are implied and known. Guanxi is developed usually among the Chinese people and foreigners are not included within this network due to cultural and language differences. The Guanxi is a powerful tool among the Chinese to develop trust among each other and to get the job done with minimal issues. In the case of negotiating with foreigners such as the Americans, Guanxi is not present. This means that the negotiation process lacks one of the basic elements and this makes negotiation considerably difficult (Pye, 1982). Trust is also another aspect of the Chinese culture. The Chinese must trust the other person they are dealing with before they sign an agreement with him. Trust is cultivated by spending time together and by belonging to the network. However, the Americans take on a direct approach. They use the law as a means of dealing with untrustworthy people. In the negotiation process, the Chinese take on a slower approach to negotiation as compared to the Americans (Tung, 1982). The Chinese is formal culture as opposed to the informality found within the American culture. The formality within relationships does not imply that the Chinese are pretentious or false. In the Chinese culture, expressing one’s emotion on the face is considered impolite behavior and thus the Chinese have a method of masking their emotions of hurt, anger, frustration behind a mask of neutrality. The Americans on the other hand, are forthcoming with their emotions and they believe in direct expressing of their emotions. While the Americans rely on direct words to convey their message, the Chinese are usually subtle in expressing their thoughts and opinions (Ghauri and Fang, 2001). In a negotiation process, the Americans go about by laying down the basic principles and demands. Once these demands and principles are acknowledged, they move on to the next phase of the negotiation process. In the Chinese culture, people wish to develop mutual understanding and trust before beginning the negotiation p

Kuiper Leda Problem Solution and Defense Case Study

Kuiper Leda Problem Solution and Defense - Case Study Example For increasing profit company has to focus on sales figure. Kuiper Leda built a strong reputation with its clients / customer due to right quality, right quantity & right price. Kuiper's customers are having faith on kuiper's capability. Kuiper decide to launch a new product knows as Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID). Initially kuiper's started with a very small setup for this device. And Kuiper is facing a problem in managing inventory for this new setup. The inventory cost is on the higher side. So Kuiper decide to decrease in inventory cost using effective operation management. Decrease in inventory cost will definitely increase the revenue of the company and its share holder / stock holder. Increasing the revenue of the company, automatically ensure the future growth of the company. Kuiper Leda management team should need to focus on the adequate forecasting of inventory, so that the production process can be run smoothly, without increasing the inventory holding cost. This Effect the future growth of Kuiper Leda. For achieving decrease inventory cost Kuiper Leda instruct the operation Management team to keep track of the production process. During the inspection of production process, team was asked to keep track on inventory also. This team has to focus on the production process & inventory, & need to found how much inventory is required for a specific order. Kuiper Leda asked its team to decrease in over heads in various department like in production, in quality, in inventory, in transportation. Issue and Opportunity Identification Issue Opportunity Reference to Specific Course Concept (Include citation) Concept Kuiper Leda's main issues are the future growth of the company, & future growth of the company is depends on production, inventory, resources & order completion in time To keep the cost down proper inventory management & increased in production is required. This process include to make a raw material store near to the company to keep transportation cost low, & material is available at the time of production process. Removal of Extra production capacity means that only required material or process should be used in production. Capacity of Raw material store should be adequate to handle incoming raw material. Right forecasting of inventory for just-in-time to maintain effective inventory controls (Aquilano, Chase & Jacobs, 2005, ch 8, pp. 60) Inadequate inventory management Need to make a effective Inventory management program Forecasting of inventory for just-in-time to maintain effective inventory controls Aquilano, Chase & Jacobs, 2005, ch 8, pp. 60) Number of suppliers are too large Need to develop a distribution centre Increase communication with suppliers to prevent delays in product to increase production. (Chase, Jacob, and Aquilano, 2006, ch 8, pp. 25). Logistic Control Need to develop logistic Management System Logistic will keep track on cost of delivery of finished goods (Aquilano, Chase & Jacobs, 2006, ch 1, pp. 5) Timeliness delivery of product Need to develop a team who keep track on supply chain Management Team will check each & every process

Elements of Leadership Styles Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Elements of Leadership Styles - Coursework Example The characteristic features of a leader include his ability to withstand the opposition, make the right decisions, ability to hold on to the ground despite the difficulties, and unite people of different kind under one roof regardless of their social and racial differences. On a relatively different scale, the unions that are essential part of organizations seek a leader for putting forward their agendas and serving the rights of labors and workers. This form of leadership applies to the organizational leadership skills. The effective working of unions increases the throughput of the incumbent organization, at the same time lead to employees’ satisfaction. This all is subject to effective leadership skills (Daily, 2005). Leadership styles vary in nature, while some are carrot and stick based; others are purely incentive based, while the rest rely on equal treatment. The best amongst all are those that can bring the best out of an individual, be flexible and adaptive to the nature of changing environments all around (Mehrotra,

Analysis Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Analysis - Assignment Example x) ≠¥ 0 over an interval a≠¤ x ≠¤b, we examine the area of this region that is said to be included in the graph of f(x) and over the interval [a, b] found on the x-axis. The area found under the region marked x = 0 and x = 1 is called the â€Å"area found under a curve†. This is an aspect that makes it related to an integral. An integral refers to associated notion of the ant derivative, a function X whose derivative is x, which is the given function. The use of integrals is a vital part in calculus and was well explained that integral includes rectangles having infinite sums and with infinitesimal width. Riemann stated that this integral basis itself on limiting procedures that appropriates a curvilinear region by approximating its area as it breaks them to thin vertical blocks (Rana, 2002). As explained by the Riemann integration, it is evident that x is a set bound by finite points sets. According to the Riemann integration theorem, the function h is defined as the indicator functions, which are equal to the figures that are on the opposite sides. This integration explains that you can use continuous functions to find and substitute the figures inside. The characteristics function definition has a formula, which gives us the opportunity to compute the value of h if we realize the distribution function Z (Taylor, 2006). Exercise 4.13 you have studied over the last few years how calculus is made rigorous with definitions (of continuity, derivative, integral, convergence, etc) and theorems. Is this necessary and/or important? Why, or why not? The use of differentiation is an aspect that is fundamental in calculus. This is based on the functions used as they are continuous. These formulas help in the derivation of the rules of Leibniz integral. The use of functions, numbers, limits, and integration is a vital aspect also in the calculations of calculus (Pfeffer, 2001). KURTZ, D. S., & SWARTZ, C. (2004). Theories of integration the integrals of Riemann,

Elements of Leadership Styles Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Elements of Leadership Styles - Coursework Example The characteristic features of a leader include his ability to withstand the opposition, make the right decisions, ability to hold on to the ground despite the difficulties, and unite people of different kind under one roof regardless of their social and racial differences. On a relatively different scale, the unions that are essential part of organizations seek a leader for putting forward their agendas and serving the rights of labors and workers. This form of leadership applies to the organizational leadership skills. The effective working of unions increases the throughput of the incumbent organization, at the same time lead to employees’ satisfaction. This all is subject to effective leadership skills (Daily, 2005). Leadership styles vary in nature, while some are carrot and stick based; others are purely incentive based, while the rest rely on equal treatment. The best amongst all are those that can bring the best out of an individual, be flexible and adaptive to the nature of changing environments all around (Mehrotra,

Climax, Symbolize and Theme in the Lottery Essay Example for Free

Climax, Symbolize and Theme in the Lottery Essay â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson is a very famous American short story. It was published in the June 26, 1948, issue of the The New Yorker. Written the same month it was published. It is ranked today as â€Å"one if the most famous short stories in the history of America literature.† It has been studied in preparatory schools and in universities since its publication. It is very controversial. Some like it, others do not. The lottery has climax, mood and theme.The lottery has a really crazy climax. Climax is the point of greatest emotional intensity in plot. I think the climax of story is killing the person who picks the lottery up. When they kill the woman, their eyes are changed to jealous. Someone said ‘Hurry up!’ and then they throw stones to the woman. Among the people, their family included. I was shocked about her family killed their mother. Even if the son’s face was very pitiful, his parents gave a stone and let him cast it. The chilling climax also shows serious mood.The story also has extremely serious mood. The mood is generally defined as the atmosphere in the story. Although weather, surrounding and background in the story are sunny and clear, the electing process of the sacrificial victim is too quiet. The weather is a contrast to the village people. At least, the woman has only a tragic ending. She was killed by her friend and family. I think the best of the scene is children kill her too. It’s impossible, though custom is very important, they shouldn’t have let person sacrifice for their personal goal. These things made me confused to understand the story. The lottery has a theme which is difficult to understand. When I saw the title â€Å"The lottery†, I think this story has a good ending, but woman who won the lottery was killed by stones casted by people who she believes and love. It is very irony. Why they killed who won the lottery? I can’t understand this story exactly. But the author who wrote lottery gives us some message. There is old saying â€Å"Don’t judge a book by its cover† I think this crazy climax and serious mood make me difficult to understand this story.In conclusion, â€Å"The Lottery† is a short story which uses crazy climax, serious mood. I think Shirley Jackson who wrote â€Å"The Lottery† gives us some messages. First, don’t judge by appearance. This story title is â€Å"The Lottery†, but the ending is died who won the lottery. Second, we should remove wrong culture. Wrong culture killed innocent person. So, wrong culture is changed quickly. I searched a lot of information of this story. People say this story is written objectively. I strongly agree with this comment. They were extremely relieved when saw the women who won the lottery. In the movie of last scene, I felt selfishness from them.

Amazon.com is a multinational ecommerce company

Amazon.com is a multinational ecommerce company Amazon.com is a multinational Ecommerce company, which was founded by Jeff Bezos who is considered to be one of the worlds top innovative executives. Amazon.com started as an online bookstore and expanded with time to sell almost everything. The role of information system in this company is a leading role, because the company is an online retailer. The company started as an online store for books to rapidly expand to sell everything such us beauty items, auto parts, apparel, electronics and groceries. Amazon has started as an online book retailer and later on has grown to sell products such as VHS, DVD, Computer software, furniture, food, music CDs and toys. The company has also been able to launch websites in different countries such as United Kingdom, Canada, France, Japan and Germany. By 2001 the market place of Amazon has been launched to enable Amazons customers to sell used books, DVDs and CDs Amazons logo shows an arrow that stretches from A to Z, which also forms a smile to indicate Amazons care for customers satisfaction. eBay on the other hand is one of Amazons rival online companies. Amazon.com has been an innovative company in its domain; therefore it attracted lots of competition from different companies. eBay as an example is a very strong competitor. It is the number one online auction website. It recruited more than 15000 employees. Just like Amazon, eBay provides customers with comprehensive web services such as: Search via keyword or phrase. Submit new items. Re-list items. Provides information about certain seller or bidder. eBay is considered to be the largest online trading company in the world. It was founded in 1995 to become one of the most popular online shopping sites in the world. It has over 100 million registered users internationally. It allows buyers and sellers from the around the word to facilitate sales of services and products and form a diverse international community. In order for users to be able to transfer money to sellers, eBay started up Pay Pal, which became the worlds largest online bank. Until 2005, eBay has enjoyed a decade of online auction monopoly. Right now it is challenged by google and it is no longer the worlds only online auction community. Information system: Amazon uses an information system (MIS) that focuses on the customer supplier relationship. It focuses on increasing intimacy between customers and suppliers. Amazon uses a sophisticated Information system and sophisticated techniques that allow Amazon to standardize the processes it uses in order to give customers high satisfying experiences. The website opens up with a search bar where customers can type down their desired item and then be able to sift through the data base where the item and similar items can be found. The customer once finding the desired item can give the option of ordering the item and buy it through credit card or gift vouchers that can be purchased through cashu. Once the item is shipped, the customer can receive it within few days up to few weeks depending on the destination required. Unlike its competitors, amazon.com does not ship items through warehouses owned by the company. Books for example are shipped directly from publishers; therefore, warehouses ar e not needed. These systems are managed by different technological applicants in order to help Amazons employees work with efficiency. Once a customer places an order, the management system would start working on reserving the item, schedule the shipment, make invoices and update the customers account and record. Amazon uses TPS (Transaction Processing Systems) in the process of the transaction done, as in once picking up the number of items needed the website calculates the total amount. It can also be seen in the preparation of invoices. DSS (Decision Support System) in Amazon can be seen in how Amazon presents its customers with the chance to choose items from a best selling list added to the home page. It is also implemented in a service provided by the website called â€Å"Look inside the book†. Customers are left with the choice to make a decision in buying a specific book or not by taking a look at random pages of the content of the book. It can also be seen in the typ e of shipment that is considered appropriate for the customer. ESS (Executive support system) is seen in the executives handling of queries and answering questions of customers. Amazon uses its own customized database called Amazon S3 (Amazon Simple Storage Service). It is predicted that with time, this system will take the place of Oracle databases because it is simple and less expensive. On the other hand, eBay uses Business 2 Business (B2B) information system. eBay works through a person 2 person process. Customers can search for items via eBay and then directly contact the seller by negotiating the price with other buyers. B2B can be seen through the way processes are made. Customers are in direct contact with buyers and the transaction and money transfer occurs through PayPal, which is an individual website by itself-though it is fully owned by eBay-. eBay has a massive oracle database that includes over 200 million registered users, two petabytes of data, ECRM: Amazon takes the privacy of its customers very seriously. It is true that it keeps a profile about its customers according to what they buy and what items they are interested in, but it does not sell information about its customers to other companies. It also verifies the price of the item ordered to ensure items are not mispriced. This is done to ensure the satisfaction of the customers. Amazon manages knowledge through allowing customers to be able to see pages of the books desired for purchase. On the other hand, customers cannot review a whole book nor can they print the pages. Customers are only allowed to review pictures of the reviewed pages and not the actual page. This method has been used by Amazon to prevent violation of copyrights as well as manage knowledge. E-CRM (E-Customer Relationship Management) can be easily seen on Amazon.coms webpage. Amazon uses E-CRM by suggesting items to the customers based on previous purchases. As an example, previously I have bought the Kindle reading device through Amazon.com. This picture shows recommended items other customers with similar purchases have bought. The second part also shows books that I might be interested in. Amazon.com. 2010. Todays Recommendations For You. [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.amazon.com/gp/yourstore?ie=UTF8ref_=pd_irl_gwsignIn=1. [Accessed 05 May 10]. Amazon has also provided its customers with special features. They are: Products and pricing information retrieval. Customer reviews. Wish lists retrieval. Performing simple and advanced searches. Updating Shopping carts. eBays reputation of being the biggest online auction house in the world has attracted hackers and fraudsters who find it easier to access illegal information about customers and their accounts. This led criminals to sell fraud and sell knock-off and fake items. eBay works hard on detecting fraud activities on its website and considers this as its core activity of its business in order to provide its customers with safety and security. eBay uses whois domain in order to provide its customers with the highest security system. wikipedia. 2010. WHOIS. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whois. [Accessed 23 May 10] eBay uses whois to fight scam and phishing issues because of an epidemic scam that occurred few years back. The scammers used phishing emails that seemed to come from a trustworthy companies asking for customers financial information. With whois system, eBay was able to detect thousands of phishing attacks (1125 in 2005). Management challenges: Amazon has a competitive edge that shows its concern with its customers. This can be seen through making the shopping experience fun and easy for Amazons customers. Most of the online shopping standards were innovated by Amazon. One of the most obvious examples is the 1 click system, which allows returning customers to shop using one click instead of being forced to re-enter their information and payment method. Amazon.com has thought of a very intelligent idea to increase sales on the website. This has been done through inventing Kindle. Customers can purchase books for their kindle only through the website, and this can increase the sales of books sold on Amazon.com. eBay has a famous issue with â€Å"glitches† on its website. Many customers have been complaining about this issue for years. In 2009, the website had a whole day glitch and sellers suffered from losses. What these glitches do is that they disable search for items for a period of time. At some point, a glitch was responsible to delete an 11 years old account of a reliable user. Dan Goodin. 2007. The Register. [online] Available at: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/12ebay_glitches/. [Accessed May 25th 10] Online/offline communication: It seems that Amazon.com takes it customers needs and satisfaction very seriously. Amazon controls all operations between customers and vendors. Customers order the required products through Amazon, while Amazon contacts the specific vendor for the product, the customer does not have a direct connection with the vendor. This type of communication is an online communication, because the customers whole transaction occurs through Amazon.com. Customers are not transferred to the vendors homepage. The transaction does not occur through the vendors homepage as well. The whole process is done fully via Amazon.com, even the final payments and delivery systems. Even though shipments are done through vendors, Amazon.com has given instructions that all packaging happens in a specific way. Hence, the Amazon.com packages and boxes. Shipments can also be tracked through Amazon instead of communicating with the vendor directly. This proves that Amazon.com uses in online communication service with its customers, because it controls all the transaction starting from giving the customer choices for a product and ending with the products delivery, exchange and refunding. eBay works as a broker between sellers and buyers. Buyers and bidders can place their orders via eBay. Sellers ship items to the highest bidder, which means that eBay does not control the process of shipment or money transaction. Money is transferred directly to the seller through PayPal. This means that eBay is not involved in the process, because sellers control the process starting from deciding the price of the product and ending with the shipping of the product. Knowledge Management: There are two types of knowledge management, the usual knowledge management and Customers knowledge management. Amazon uses Customers knowledge management, because it is more efficient and innovative. Managers in Amazon.com are aware of the fact that customers are more knowledgeable than the company can realize. Knowledge is a key to competitiveness. Knowledge is managed through Amazon by motivating customers to share their knowledge by providing products reviews, customers order histories, suggestions based on customers prior orders. Amazon allows knowledge to be exchanged through its customers rather than keeping it within the company. The knowledge does not get lost this way because the more customers the company has, the more knowledge it gains. eBay manages knowledge through providing managers with the playbook concept and providing eBay customers with Whois. Playbook concept is about knowing the steps needed for success. It allows managers to take the necessary steps that would allow eBay to grow as fast as the managers want. Playbook works in setting the suitable conditions of electronic trading in order to allow certain areas to flourish and grow. Playbook consists of hundreds of web pages that include information that are considered to be a collective of wisdom for all eBay managers worldwide. It consists of updated topics about online marketing and management categories. eBay has also provided its customers with free available Whois data base so they can check the legitimacy of websites that are forwarded to them that may be part of a phishing scam. This database provides them with information about websites, if the information is incorrect, then it means that this website is part of a phishing scam. This comes under both eCRM and knowledge management, because it is a service presented to the customers that allow them to identify scammers while at the same time it provides them with the knowledge about which website is secure and which website is a fraud. References: Junnarkar, Sandeep, (2010) eBay taps business-to-business boom, [Online] Available: http://news.cnet.com/2100-1017-238000.html [March 15th 2010] Keith Regan. 2003. ecommerce times. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.technewsworld.com/story/20603.html?wlc=1275082118. [Accessed 29 January 03] Schoenfeld, E, 2005. The World According to Ebay. Enterprise Information System, [online]. 13, 2-4. Available at: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2005/01/01/8250238/index.htm [accessed 17th May 2010] wikipedia. 2010. WHOIS. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whois. [Accessed 23 May 10] Dan Goodin. 2007. The Register. [online] Available at: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/12ebay_glitches/. [Accessed May 25th 10] Gosnell, Denise. (2005) Professional Web APIs: Google ®, eBay ®, Amazon.com ®, MapPoint ®, FedEx ®, Indianapolis, Indiana:Wiley publication, inc. Shanahan, Francis. (2007) Amazon.com ® Mashups, Indianapolis, Indiana: Wiley Publication, inc.

remembering :: essays research papers

Home For the holidays When it comes to giving thanks for what you appreciate there is no better time than thanksgiving, what better way to celebrate than with family, food, and friends. Every year millions of people all across the country come together for a very special reason. This day is when you are to give thanks for all that you have been blessed with, and food is a big part of this day. Without mention this dinner usually includes succulent Turkey, cranberry sauce, spiced stuffing, and very creamy mashed potatoes with gravy. There is nothing like the rising chatter of your family members, or the sweet aroma that billows from behind the kitchen door each time it is opened to let you know you’re home for the holidays.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When you come from a family of Jamaicans you’re going to know how to party, holidays are the times when you look forward to rejoicing and catching up with kinfolk. My older cousins from New Jersey seem to always have energy enough to fill a ball room. Each and every conversation seems to be as exciting and bright as the one prior; it’s surprising they have time to have dinner with the family. My mother and most of the females often rejoice with each other while cooking or preparing the dinner, old hymns gleefully fill the air, reminding them of the isle they have left behind. When my sister and her husband bring my nieces & nephew to visit it’s always a sight for sore eyes, there presence often remind me of when they were born, so innocent, delicate, and precious, like a real white Christmas.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Over the years the location of where we have our thanksgiving has changed drastically. As our family becomes larger and more united we have to find more space to accommodate the guests around this holiday. I can remember a couple of more important times when thanksgiving was extra special. In 1999 me and my most immediate family traveled all the way back to Jamaica to visit my mother’s mother and too spend the holiday with more than 3 generations of family. This was one of the most important times in my life because it gave me a chance to experience and interact with family I don’t see everyday. On a more recent note this year we spent dinner with my mom, and just my cousin.

Jealousy in Ancient Greek Society :: Greek History Studies

Jealousy in Ancient Greek Society Jealousy is one of the harsher and more passionate faces of Love in Ancient Greek Society. Societal norms for love and relationships dictate that older men are the lovers who pursue women and young boys. Love infects the pursuer and causes him to have intense feelings about the object of his desire, but not always vice versa. Consequently jealousy is seen more as the active partner’s disease and is commonly associated as a male emotion. Women also experience jealousy but they are not supposed to be the pursuers in relationships according to societal norms. Since society only excuses the pursuer in the relationship acting on jealous impulses, a women doing so was improper because she was not supposed to be the active partner in the relationship. Hence jealousy was much more widely accepted as a ‘man’s’ disease. By examining the views of society in The Women of Trachis and the Legal Text VIII, Wounding with Intent to Kill: Quarrel over a boy, on love as a sickness, controlling jealousy, and how to win back a lost love, we can conclude that Love’s face of jealousy in Ancient Greek society appears to only be accepted as a predominately male emotion. Society excuses many of men’s jealous and irrational actions because of the widely held belief that Love effects men like a sickness. In The Women of Trachis, Deianira continually excuses her husbands actions, blaming his outrageous deeds on him being poisoned by Love. When Heracles attacked a city so that he could win his mistress, Deianira blames Love for rousing him to such violence. She thinks that it is "love alone which bewitched him into this violence"(355). She has also justified all his past affairs with this same theory. Deianira mentions that Heracles "is sick as he so often is with this same sickness"(543) of love. Society has allowed men to use Love as an excuse for their outrageous actions as well as the legitimate reasoning behind their deeds. Deianira also expresses society's view on Love’s power when she says, "For [Love] rules even the gods as he pleases"(443).

Mean Creek

Film Report ‘Mean Creek' In the film ‘mean creek' directed by Jacob Aaron Estes. We see a group of teenagers who try to play a trick on the bully in the movie, but it goes horribly wrong. A main Idea In the film Is the way the relationships change between everybody from the start to the end of the movie. The director uses 4 aspects, sound, lighting, camera shots and dialogue, to communicate the theme of change in friend/relationships.The director uses camera shot, lighting and sound in the scene where they are all sitting on the river bank after they play truth and dare and George gets pushed overboard by Rocky because he wouldn't shut up about Martyr's father, but then George freaks out and drowns to death. We see a long shot of them all sitting away from catheter. The director uses positioning to show the feeling of Isolation. The director uses this aspect to communicate the beginning of separation between there friendships.They all feel guilty because they had decided not to play the trick on George anymore, because they started to feel sorry for him, but Marty choose otherwise. The director uses the lighting of a blue filter across the screen to show that this a sad moment and everything has been completely messed up. The sounds of Violins and soft music in the background gives us that felling that everything is changing for the worst and that their relationships will probably never be the same again.Also the aspect of lighting and sound links into the theme of separation and contributes to the mood because up to this point there group was always collective, but are now separate. Now they all have different decisions on what happens to George. Some want to bury him and the others want to confess and go to the police so they don't look guilty. After George dies it goes all silent and that's when it starts to et darker. The director uses dialogue and close ups in the scene where Millie runs off and Sam follows her. We hear the dialogue between the m â€Å"Buck you. † â€Å"We can never be forgiven for what we did. We see a the close up of Mile's face and how scared and traumatized she Is. The director uses these aspects to show us how much Millie has changed from the start, when she was day dreaming about her date with Sam. She seemed so innocent and was only concerned about what she was going to talk to Sam about on her date. Millie was the only one who didn't know of the plan until they got to the river. So there Is a sense of betrayal between her and Sam. This shows how murder can change the way people feel and their relationships can be affected in a situation like this.I think the director is trying to show us how people deal with guilt. Millie try's to blame Sam, Sam try's to blame Marty. But really they are all to blame, they were all apart of It. The director uses sound and close ups in the scene where they are paddling back to 1 OFF paddles hitting the water. The director uses the sound of water to remind us that they are surrounded by water, that water is what killed George and they can't get way from what they did. We also see close ups of each of their faces one at a time. We know that each character is going through conflicting emotions.There is no eye contact or emotion between each other. Their faces look exhausted and pale, some with tears down their face. The director uses these aspects to show and communicate the feeling of guilt and disbelief. It almost gives you a sick feeling in the pit of your stomach. The nonexistent dialogue between each other shows the breakdown In their relationships and makes us wonder what they're thinking and feeling. This for me was one of the most powerful scenes throughout the movie, because I know nothing could be the same again.Lighting is used in the scene where they're driving back from the river and its all dark and silent. It gives off a gloomy, uneasy feel almost like that what they're feeling inside and that's being portrayed through the l ighting of the scene. The director used this aspect to communicate the change in all their relationships between one another, because as seen in the start of the movie the lighting is bright and there is lots of color to give Off nice, relaxed vibe. So the darkness and lack of light gives us he feeling that their relationships have somewhat deteriorated since earlier that day.It also shows the passing of time as it was daylight at the start of their trip and now its evening. This could symbolize not only the end of the day, but the end of Georges life. Also the loss of their innocence. In conclusion he director has communicated the theme of the change in all of their friend/relationships throughout the movie with the help of these four aspects, lighting, sound, camera shots and dialogue. I think this film helped me realize that because of a little mistake made by someone, can or will change your life forever. By Messiah Wales

Experiment to Investigate the Validation of Bernoulli’s Equation

TITLE Bernoulli's Principle OBJECTIVE experiment  is  done  to  investigate  the  validation  of  the Bernoulli’s  equation and also to measure pressure distribution along venture tube. INTRODUCTION This experiment is carried out to investigate the validity of  Bernoulli’s theorem when applied to the steady flow of water in tapered duct and to measure the flow rates and both static and total pressure heads in a rigid convergent/divergent tube of known geometry for a range of  steady flow rates.The Bernoulli’s theorem (Bernoulli’s theorem, 2011) relates the pressure, velocity, and elevation in a moving fluid (liquid or gas), the compressibility and viscosity of which are negligible and the flow of which is steady, or laminar. In order to demonstrate the Bernoulli’s theorem Bernoulli’s Apparatus Test Equipment issued in this experiment. THEORY †¢ Velocity of fluid is less fluid †¢ The fluid is incompressible and non- viscous †¢ There is no heat energy transferred across the boundaries of the pipe to the fluid as either a heat gain or loss. There are no pumps in the section of pipe For an ideal fluid flow the energy density is the same at all locations along the pipe. This is the same as saying that the energy of a unit mass of the fluid does not change as it flow through the pipe system. APPARATUS EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE 1, A inspection was done to ensure that the unit was in proper operating condition, so that the experiment will not consist of errors. 2, A hose had to be connected to the nearest power supply. 3, The discharged pipe was then opened. , The cap nut of the probe compression gland was set to such condition, that the slight resistance could be felt on moving the probe, and the water flow created a sound which also helps to determine the flow pressure (by hearing it ). 5, The inlet and outlet valve was then opened. 6, Then the pump was switched on and the main cock was relea sed slowly opened. 7, The vent valve on water pressure gauze was opened and outlet cock was closed with great care until pressure gauze was flushed. , By simultaneously setting the inlet and outlet cock, the water level pressure gauze was regulated, so that neither upper or the lower range limit was overshot or undershot. 9, Pressure at all point were measured and recorded. The overall pressure probe was moved to corresponding measurement level and the overall pressure was noted down. 10, The volumetric pressure flow was determined, by using stopwatch to established time required to raise the water level in the volumetric tank from 3to 7 liters. RESULTS FLOW RATES (L/s)| FLOW VELOCITY AT DIFFERENT MEASUREMENT POINTS (10-3 m/s)| | 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 0. 137| 2. 16| 3. 45| 8. 0| 5. 91| 2. 98| 2. 16| 0. 122| I. 93| 3. 07| 7. 92| 5. 26| 2. 65| 1. 93| 0. 094| 1. 48| 2. 37| 6. 10| 4. 05| 2. 04| 1. 48| 0. 114| 1. 80| 2. 87| 7. 40| 4. 91| 2. 48| 1. 80| 0. 116| 1. 83| 2. 92| 7. 53| 5. 00| 2. 5 2| 1. 83| VOLUME(L)| TIME(s)| FLOW RATES(L/s)| 3| 21. 90| 0. 137| 4| 32. 78| 0. 122| 5| 53. 19| 0. 094| 6| 52. 85| 0. 114| 7| 101. 50| 0. 116| POINT (I)| Di(mm)| A(10-4 m2)| 1| 284| 633| 2| 225| 397| 3| 140| 154| 4| 172| 232| 5| 242| 460| 6| 284| 633| GRAPH DISCUSSION it is known that water is a fluid and all fluids have the properties to take shape of the container or wherever they are stored or flow through.Since the fluid cosses through a given path for duration of time there have to be a pressure lose due to the path design or distance or width. Bernoulli’s principle states that if the rate of flow of the fluid is high the pressure will be low and if the slower rate of flow the fluid exerts more quickly (with pressure). CONCLUSION From the experiment it is found that the difference between the experimental and the calculated value are to high, this could happen due to such factors 1, the reading was not taken accurately or either not taken to the very decimal point or per haps parallel eye reading. , Bubbles those were trapped on the top of the tube and could not have been released or seen. 3, The recording the data time might not be accurate. 4, The internal resistance of the water , those were not taken into account during the calculation. 5, The pressure at each manometer tube might not be stable before reading was taken due to in accurate air flow or pressure flow. All the factors mentioned above could play a great role in effecting the results. There are many ways to improve reading one way can be repeating the experiment multiple times and get the average.Considering all factors and the comparison between data collected via multiple values the experiment is successful, and it proves Bernoulli’s principle of fluid motion pressure. REFERENCES 1, http://camillasenior. homestead. com/Activities_Showing_Bernoulli_s_Principle. pdf 2, http://hyperphysics. phy-astr. gsu. edu/hbase/pber. html 3, http://www. princeton. edu/~asmits/Bicycle_web/Bern oulli. html 4, http://mitchellscience. com/bernoulli_principle_animation 5, http://www. scribd. com/doc/68038037/Experiment-Bernoulli

Poetry and the Marriage of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes Essay

In the introduction of her book Her Husband: Hughes and Plath – a Marriage (2003), Diane Wood Middlebrook wrote that â€Å"poetry had brought Hughes and Plath together, and poetry had kept them together† (Middlebrook, n. pag.). Indeed, the marriage of poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes is best described as a union of two talented but volatile personalities who both competed with and complemented one another through poetry. But this observation was often ignored due to the overly simplistic accounts of their marriage, especially those that focused on the period shortly before and after Plath’s death. Hughes is almost always depicted in these explanations as a philandering womanizer, while Plath is shown as a clingy and overly paranoid wife (St. Clair, n. pag.). The life of Sylvia Plath has often been presented as the struggle of a brilliant mind against madness. Plath was an excellent student, graduating summa cum laude from Smith College in 1955 and obtaining a Fulbright scholarship to Cambridge University shortly afterwards. A gifted writer, she published her poems in magazines and won literary awards since her teenage years. However, these accomplishments were overshadowed by her battle with mental illness (MSN Encarta, n. pag.). Plath began to experience episodes of depression, insomnia and suicidal thoughts during her youth, all of which were possibly triggered by her father’s demise when she was only eight years old. In her junior year in college in 1953, Plath tried to kill herself by hiding under her house and overdosing on sleeping pills. She was afterwards confined in a mental institution for six months, where she was subjected to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Plath’s later writings made a constant reference to her experiences with this treatment (MSN Encarta, n. pag.). Plath made a temporary recovery in January 1954, allowing her to graduate from college and pursue further studies in England. While in Cambridge, she met Ted Hughes. Despite warnings from friends about his fickleness in relationships, Hughes and Plath fell in love with each other and got married in 1956 (Neurotic Poets, n. pag.). Their first child, Frieda, was born in 1960, followed by Nicholas in 1962 (MSN Encarta, n. pag.). At first, Plath and Hughes enjoyed a happy marriage. Theirs was a relationship that was â€Å"fueled by their joint passion for poetry† (John-Steiner, 136). For Plath, Hughes was not just a husband – he was a father figure who can fill the void caused by the premature death of her real father. She revealed this sentiment in an undated letter to her mother, Aurelia: We read, we discuss poems we discover, talk, analyze – we continually fascinate each other. It is heaven to have someone like Ted who is so kind and honest and brilliant always stimulating me to think, draw and write. He is better than any teacher, he even fills somehow that huge, sad hole I felt in having no father. (137) As a result, Plath idolized her husband completely. She had so much faith in his ability as a poet that she worked very hard to have his poetry published in English and American magazines. But according to Vera John-Steiner’s book Creative Collaboration (2000), Hughes’ feelings towards his wife’s efforts was not established (John-Steiner, 137). Unfortunately, later accounts of their marriage implied that Hughes was suffocated with Plath’s excessive clinginess. His sister Olwyn recalled that â€Å"he could not go on the simplest of errands without her grabbing a coat and running after him† (John-Steiner, 137). Consequently, Plath and Hughes fought often and the latter had an extramarital affair with a married woman named Assia Wevill (Neurotic Poets, n. pag.). He eventually left her for Wevill in 1962 (MSN Encarta, n. pag.). Plath described the stormy condition of their marriage before their separation in her poems Words heard, by Accident over the Phone, Poppies in July and Burning the Letters (Neurotic Poets, n. pag.). Plath and her children moved to London in December 1962. She wrote poetry at a feverish pace during this period, with an output of more than 25 poems. What made these poems – which included A Secret, The Applicant and Daddy – noteworthy was that they contained Plath’s brutally honest opinions about her marriage and her father’s passing. In January 1963, her semi-autobiographical novel The Bell Jar was published under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas (Neurotic Poets, n. pag.). Despite these literary accomplishments, Plath’s depression worsened. She killed herself in the early morning of February 11, 1963 by putting her head inside a gas oven (MSN Encarta, n. pag.). It would be fair to say that Plath and Hughes used poetry to asses the effects of their tempestuous marriage on themselves. The Applicant, for instance, revealed Plath’s anger over what marriage does to a woman: But in twenty-five years she’ll be silver, In fifty, gold. A living doll, everywhere you look. It can sew, it can cook, It can talk, talk, talk. (n. pag.) For Plath, marriage and or domestic relationships condemned a woman to a â€Å"living death† (Dobbs, 11). When a woman marries, her â€Å"worth† will be based on how well she takes care of her family. In effect, she is almost similar to a dead person because her identity as an individual is replaced with that of a wife and a mother. The Applicant was probably based on Plath’s dilemma as to whether she should still pursue careers in the academe and in writing even if she was already married or just resign herself to being a full-time housewife. Letters to and the remembrances of friends and family members revealed this conflict. Although Plath was able to maintain a balance between work and family life, she resented her family for making demands that drained her creativity. But at the same time, she felt guilty for harboring such bitterness – her husband left her for another woman probably because she didn’t spend enough time on him. It must be noted that one constant source of their disagreements was that Hughes wanted Plath to stop working and take care of their children instead (Dobbs, 13). Words heard, by Accident over the Phone, meanwhile, is an account of Hughes’ affair with Wevill: Speak, speak! Who is it? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ O god, how shall I ever clean the phone table? They are pressing out of the many-holed earpiece, they are looking for a listener. Is he there? (n. pag.) According to some accounts, there was an instance when Plath heard the phone in their house ringing as she returned from a morning outing with her mother. When she answered it, it was Wevill, trying to disguise her voice. After Hughes finished talking to Wevill, Plath was so upset that she unplugged the phone wire from its socket. It was only during that incident that Plath realized that her husband was having an affair (NeuroticPoets, n. pag.). Burning the Letters showed Plath’s rage over the said discovery: I made a fire; being tired Of the white fists of old Letters and their death rattle When I came too close to the wastebasket What did they know that I didn’t? Love, love, and well, I was tired (n. pag.) Plath was said to be so upset over Hughes’ affair with Wevill that she tore up and threw into the fire the manuscript of the novel that she had been working on (the sequel to The Bell Jar). She also burned all the letters that received from her mother, as well as Hughes’ letters and drafts of poems (NeuroticPoets, n. pag.). Hughes has often been blamed for Plath’s death. This was fueled largely by the women’s movement of the 1970s, which strongly identified itself with her life and poetry. For decades, Hughes kept silent regarding his former wife’s passing. But in 1998, he published Birthday Letters, a collection of his poems that focused on his relationship with Plath and her sad fate. Hughes implied in most of his poems that one of the reasons for the failure of his marriage to Plath was their incompatibilities in terms of personal success. Being the daughter of educators, Plath grew up adhering to conventional standards of achievement. Accounts of her life gave the impression that she wanted nothing more but to establish herself both in writing and in teaching. Hughes, on the other hand, felt suffocated at the idea of a tenured academic job (Rees, n. pag.). Hughes echoed this sentiment in The Blue Flannel Suit. This poem mockingly described Plath’s nervousness during her first day as an English lecturer in her alma mater. In order to project the respectable image of an academic, she wore a badly-tailored suit that she made by herself. Looking back at this incident, he wrote: That blue suit, A mad, execution uniform, Survived your sentence. (n. pag.) But in A Picture of Otto, Hughes lamented that he and Plath separated primarily because he was not able to take the place of her father, Otto, in her life. For him, Otto was inseparable from my shadow As long as your daughter’s words can stir a candle. She could hardly tell us apart in the end. (458) In the end, Hughes finally accepted that Plath will always be her father’s daughter: you never could have released her. I was a whole myth too late to replace you. This underworld, my friend, is her heart’s home. Inseparable, here we must remain. (459) Human relationships are too complex for their failure to be attributed to just one person. While Hughes may have his faults, Plath was already a disturbed character even before their marriage. Their poetry was just a reflection of a couple, who, despite their fame, underwent the travails of any other failed marriage. Hence, the works of Hughes and Plath should not be used as additional fodder to continue a battle of the sexes that was blown out of proportion.