Corporate Citizenship Audit - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1324 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/04/12 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Citizenship Essay Did you like this example? Teslas CEO Elon Musk has recently made a tweet suggesting that he was taking the company private once stock hit $420 per share. This has caused uproar with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The central concern for the SEC is that Musk made it seem like he already had the money lined up and the price confirmed, with a shareholder vote being the only thing standing between him and privatizing Tesla. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Corporate Citizenship Audit" essay for you Create order (Irfan 2018). Since this tweet has caused so many issues, Musk has tried to backtrack but people are not letting it go. The Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation and the SEC has now filed a suit against Musk. The SEC has gone through all of the aspects of this scandal including Musk taunting short sellers of companys stock months before the tweet was written. Because of this and many other bizarre turns the SEC has decided that Musk should be fined and banned from serving as an executive or board member of any public company. The main concern with Musks tweet is that he already had everything set up to privatize the company. But this was not the case, few other people knew about the idea, no funding was guaranteed, and prices were not finalized. So Musk made this tweet without any evidence to back it up. This caused uproar for all investors and stakeholders for no reason. Corporate social responsibility is defined as the conscious effort to operate in a manner that balances stakeholder interests. (Lussier 2018). Teslas mission is to accelerate the worlds transition to sustainable energy. (Tesla 2018). Telsa is socially responsible because it focuses on their mission and tries to make the world a better place. On the corporate citizenship scale Tesla would be rated Level 5: Altruistic. Teslas primary corporate mission is focused on creating a better environment. They align all their products to fulfill their mission which is about creating a better environment. Tesla also tailors their marketing and communication towards their environmental protection efforts. Tesla, Inc. addresses stakeholders interests through a corporate social responsibility strategy that focuses on sustainability and environmental friendliness of automotive, energy storage, and energy generation products. (Greenspan 2018). By having this approach, Teslas stakeholders are benefitti ng and their brand image is improving. When the stakeholders benefit, Telsa benefits because the happier they are with the company the more they will put into the company. Teslas main stakeholders, in order of importance, include: communities (highest priority), customers, employees, investors/shareholders and governments. Tesla and communities directly benefit from each other. Communities benefit through development strategies that are made with Teslas cutting edge technology. Tesla benefits from satisfying community needs because it boosts their image. Customers are a direct influence on Teslas revenues so the company works towards creating a better quality product at a better price. Since these consumers have such a direct influence on the company, Tesla gears their corporate social responsibility efforts toward the needs on customers, such as minimizing costs and improving accessibility such as adding more charging stations. Employees are important to Telsa because they directly influence productivity and the companys performance. Tesla then compensates their employees by offering high compensation and offering new career opportunities. Investors and Shareholders are obvious stakeholders of the company because their funds directly helped the company. These investors and shareholders are interested in the profitability and growth of the company. Tesla uses corporate social responsibility to work towards these interests and aims to transform energy and a utomotive business. The environmentally friendly ideals in their corporate citizenship approach is in line with the current trend of being green. This makes Tesla more appealing to green consumers which in turn makes the investors and shareholders more profitable. The government is concerned with Teslas legal compliance and their contribution to economic growth. Being corporately responsible not only benefits citizens and stakeholders but it benefits Tesla themselves. The benefits that come with being socially responsible are: enhanced reputation, customer loyalty, better employee relations, and awards. (Lussier 2018). So Telsa and the stakeholders both have many reasons to be socially responsible. Elon Musks tweet caused problems that are relevant in the economic and social spheres. By stating that the company would be going private once stocks hit $420 per share, Musk caused trading fever. The tweet pushed Teslas stock price up 6% and Teslas trading needed to be halted for an hour and a half until Tesla gave a formal statement. The companys stock price closed at $379.57 on the day of the tweet. (Irfan 2018). The tweet also caused social problems because it makes Tesla seem unreliable. Musk tweeted based off assumptions and contrary to facts that he was aware of. The tweet made it seem like Musk had all funding secured and he was only waiting on a shareholder vote when in fact nothing had been discussed. This impacted Teslas stakeholders. Employees were impacted by this tweet because they were not aware of what was happening and thought that the company was making decisions without first informing them. Also, the tweet caused charges against Tesla which may impact the employee s bonuses and might even cause a few to be laid off. Investors and stockholders were impacted by this tweet because the company they put their money into was changing without their consent. The tweet came as a shock to them because no definite plans of going private were discussed. The government was also impacted by Musks tweet. Governments are interested in the legal compliance of companies and their contribution to economic growth, Musks tweet went against both these interests. The tweet was illegal because companies and executives are not allowed to provide inaccurate information to shareholders about major corporate events. Also, the tweet caused an increase in Teslas stock price and had trading halted for 90 minutes which impacts economic growth. I believe this scandal happened because Musk has never been reprimanded for his actions. Musk accused a British cave diver of being a child abuser with no evidence to back up his statement. The diver, Vernon Unsworth, aided the rescue of 12 teenagers in Thailand from a flooded cave. In July he deleted the tweets but last week he appeared to repeat his allegation, tweeting that it was strange he hasnt sued me after Mr. Unsworth said he was considering legal action. (BBC 2018). This gave the diver a bad reputation based on crimes he did not commit. During a Joe Rogan podcast, Musk smoked weed and drank whiskey and this added to previous concerns about his drug use. This also angered Tesla employees who are subject to drug testing. This showed lower Tesla employees that they are held to a higher standard than Tesla executives. Even though Musk has engaged in these behaviors Tesla has not let go of him. They think that by letting go of Musk, they will lose some of their following. The cu lt of Elon Musk and the belief among many of the entrepreneurs fans that he is a genius who alone can lead Tesla has allowed him to keep a tight grip on the electric car company. Many investors are in Tesla because they believe in Musk, and if he were to exit, its unclear what might happen to its stock price. (Stewart 2018). So they believe having Musk, even with all of his antics, is more important than the trouble he causes the company. I believe that if Tesla punished Musk for his actions he would be more likely to change his behavior. He should be suspended from his company for a period of time or given a large fine. Also, a contract should be put in place limiting what he is allowed to discuss to the public. This way, he cannot leak any premature information and the company can be saved from fines and from legal action. This recommendation is relevant and effective because it will help keep him from damaging the brand further but the company can still keep him for the good publicity that he brings.

Benefits Of The Union Fighting For Health Care - 1328 Words

Health Care Bargaining - Union The two hardest components in any collective bargaining negotiations is wages and health care. Finding a balance between both is even harder and for a company to stay competitive in the long run. The best strategy in negotiations is for the union to know and weigh the pros and cons of both sides and understanding the legislation affecting the issue to properly negotiate. This paper will first look at the pros and cons of the union fighting for health care or an increase in wages, the impact of legislation, and provide the best argument for the union against GMFC. Pros There are some positive outcomes from keeping the current health care plan or negotiating an increase in wages to offset the cost. The†¦show more content†¦On the labor side, if the company gets rid of their health plan, the state health insurance options may not be as comprehensive as the current plan and employees will have to pay more to get the same amount of coverage they are used to. Legislation Understanding the current legislation affecting collective bargaining is very important for unions and management. Bargaining power is decreased on any side that does not fully understand all aspects of current laws and regulations. The three main laws affecting the issues coming up in the future collective bargaining meetings are: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Cadillac excise plan tax, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Some states in 2011, also limited the scope of bargaining for healthcare making it almost impossible for unions to adjust plans. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act The PPACA was enacted to make health care affordable and available to everyone. Commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act, was signed into law on March 23rd, 2010 by President Obama. PPACA also increased the quality of healthcare citizens could receive when their employer does not provide health insurance benefits and regulated the health care system to protect consumers. Cadillac Excise Plan Tax The Cadillac excise plan tax is a part of the PPACA and fines very expensive

Heroism Free Essays

We need heroes in our society, or in any society, because they give us someone to model ourselves after. The average human being, however pushed around or caged in they may be is unwilling to brave the dangers inherent to resolving the problems that plague them. Crime may overwhelm a city, but we do not care until it affects us personally; and even then we only usually worry about whatever facet of it has impact on our own life. We will write a custom essay sample on Heroism or any similar topic only for you Order Now We are inherently selfish creatures, and are possessed of a vile need to protect our own before, or even at the cost of, others. ? However, in the image of a superhero we see somebody who is willing to sacrifice themselves in order to improve our lot. Whether this is a fictional superhero like Batman or Spiderman, or a real life hero such as a soldier who throws himself on a grenade to save those around him does not matter. What matters instead is that we are given role models that exemplify what we know we should morally do, but what we often cannot make ourselves do. We see somebody take the initiative and right the wrongs, despite the dangers to themselves. A society without superheroes is a society without hope, where the human condition inflicts despair and misery alone. Without somebody, real or fiction, to model our behavior after, we will only continue to behave as selfishly as we can. Every religion is based on this ideal, from Christianity to Buddhism to Islam; we follow the example of someone who sacrificed him or herself for a greater cause, and in doing so we improve the lives of those around us. These religious heroes serve just as important a purpose of any other role model; they give us somebody to pattern ourselves after. We have all had a role model at some point in our lives, and many of us still do. They are what we cling to when we face hardship or a difficult decision. They are the people we think of in dark times, and consider â€Å"What would Jesus, or Abe Lincoln, or Jackie Robinson, or even Superman do? † And the answer is the idealized moral choice, one that we see exemplified in another. It is that action, which we see another take, which gives us hope that there can be a choice other than the selfish one, that there is a reason to take the hard path. The mass media influences our society today in what many should look up and follow their steps to. They create role models for the youth to base their decisions in life so they follow their role model’s actions. â€Å"Research on violent television and films, video games, and music reveals unequivocal evidence that media violence increases the likelihood of aggressive and violent behavior in both immediate and long-term contexts† says Anderson, (Anderson, The Influence of Media Violence on the Youth). This generation lacks leaders that positively impact the youth into doing virtuous and productive actions. The media should expose role models that demonstration good qualities to influence the individuals into following them. Instead they show bad role models for people to follow or for the youth to look up to. Quality a modern day leader should possess, Inspiring words, actions and emotions that propel others to go beyond their preconceived limits. The motives of a successful leader should be genuine and not just for show. Good examples of genuine motives to do good deeds are saints, who fit in the classification of respectable role models to follow. If people were exposed to the saint’s actions by the media today, they might be influenced positively than what the mass media shows presently. Whether if it is what we should wear, act, eat, or believe in, the media today dubs a certain â€Å"normal† to it. Rayuso explains, â€Å"Young people are in a stage of life where they want to be accepted by their peers, they want to be loved and be successful. The media creates the ideal image of a beautiful men and women and tells you what the characteristics of a successful person are; you can see it in movies and TV† (Mass Media Influence on Society). Young people look up to celebrities and their identity is reflected on them. Sometimes it’s a good thing and other times it is a bad thing. Celebrities need to function as a role model to their audience because the society today is greatly influenced by them. The media is everywhere and it is difficult for society to ignore. The ideal modern day role model should possess different positive qualities. They should possess characteristics of being model for children by displaying a general care and concern for everyone, openness to communication, and executing good examples of how to deal with certain situations. An admirable leader should inspire someone to mimic their good deeds for the community and bring out the best in them. I think the ideal leader for the 21st century will be one who creates an environment that encourages everyone to stretch his or her capabilities. A role model provides inspiration and motivation to pursue accomplishments. One should treat other how him or her would want to be treated. Treating others with respect no matter where they came from and taking full responsibility for their actions are other qualities. â€Å"You’ve got to have the highest ethical standards to be an effective role model, and have to lead, and create an atmosphere of ethical behavior in the society. Having good morals is the main key in being an ideal role model for those looking up to you. Being a role model goes hand in hand with leadership skills and standing up for your beliefs and taking action. Making poor choices on whom you want to admire and be like, many of the youth go through a rough path because of their role model’s choices in life that they choose to follow too. Good successful leaders are needed to transfer people into choosing decent choices while also respecting them. For example, Successful leaders improved the performance of people by not being forceful or intimidating. Good leaders bring out the best in people through trust, respect, and inspiration. The youth should consider looking up to someone who has heroic like qualities instead of what the mass media is feeding to them. Forbes defines heroes, â€Å"Heroes are people who perform extraordinary deeds or provide selfless examples. They go beyond what is expected. We live in an age that does not want to acknowledge the hero. Rather, we want to look for people’s flaws. The media focusing on the celebrities poor choices and display it for the youth to see, making it common for them to be exposed to bad choices. The motives of the leader are important, and should be for pure intentions such as helping others, and not for the public recognition. Many people just desire to look good and do not really work hard to gain the rightful attention they deserve. he media today display celebrities that don’t have the best ethics or choices for the society to absorb from. The mass media tend to show celebrities partying, drinking, and using drugs, which if anything, influence the youth into following the celebs’ choices instead of encouraging them to do productive activities. They also do not hold up certain qualities needed to make an ideal role model, leader, or hero unlike saints. John water explains, â€Å"The young do not really have models, except perhaps from the television. They do not even know themselves. It is true because courage is an essential quality in heroism. Heroes have courage to be true to themselves. They are celebrated for their courage, nobility, or exploits. Our choice of hero / role model reveal what we value, and what is important to us therefore; we should base our choices on good examples seen in righteous models who have a vision and show their beliefs through their How to cite Heroism, Essay examples

Business Marketing A Diverse Demographic

Question: Describe about the Business Marketing for A Diverse Demographic. Answer: Introduction Canada is a country with a diverse demographic and as such, has a huge market potential for new products and product niches (Crane Matten, 2010). The purpose of the report is to elaborate on the market analysis of this new product, looking at the consumer trends in this market, statistics on consumption, value chain and the barriers to adoption. The segment, target market and positioning of the new product, components of the marketing mix and a marketing plan will also be provided. A few recommendations will be made at the end of this report. Market analysis summary Politically, the intensity of the Canadian government involvement in the economy, lower levels of trade protections, increased number of foreign trade agreements, and policies explicit to the food industry are some of the factors that have an impact on the new product that is to be introduced to Canada. Economically, the leveling of augmentation rates in developed markets together with increased augmentation rates and elevated levels of disposable earnings in developing markets could affect the new entry of the product (Christopher, Payne Ballantyne, 2008). Socially, the consumer trends particularly the healthies, foodies, and the greenies are currently leading to a differentiation advance to product improvement and are establishing a unique inclination towards premiumization (Brennan, Baines, Garneau, Vos, 2008). Technologically and Environmentally, Canada tends to boast of firm agronomy and food science infrastructure in their technology centers, in food companies, and also universities. The product is in the growth stage hence seeking to build brand preference and increase market share of the energy bar. There is at least a 32% market share of the energy bar consumption in Canada, meaning that a large market can be persuaded to go for Snickrers. As a result, revenue of at least CAD368, 420 annually is recorded (Crane Matten, 2010). Snickers is a convenience type of product since people rarely have time to eat a well prepared meal, they would rather opt for an energy bar which offers them similar calories and energy as if they were taking an actual meal. There is a huge chance to replace some of the imported snacks with locally made products which could pose a challenge for Snickers in the Canadian market. The younger generation of consumers is considered to be the innovators and early adopters of Snickers and can be found in various learning institutions. The barriers to adoption of Snickers could be lack of interest from potential consumers (Brennan, et al., 2008). With regards to the value chain, the consumers and competitors have power over the new product. Summary of Proposal The market segment that has been chosen is that of working individuals and the younger generation aged between 15 years to 35 years. With regards to product positioning, it is critical that we ensure that all actions and advertising are commensurate with the positioning strategy mainly because this is the type of image we desire to portray to the public. In our case, we will utilize value positioning as a positioning strategy, whereby the price of Snickers will be below industry averages because we will appeal to potential consumers who are sensitive to price changes. As for the marketing plan of the new product, we intend to vigorously advertise and sensitize the Canadian public of the benefits associated with consuming Snickers. Marketing Mix Place. Snickers will have a great advantage over companies such as Honey Bar and Ruths Hemp mainly because they are heavily organic. This makes the sourcing of their products quite expensive as compared to our Snickers energy bar. This means that snickers has a competitive advantage over Puresource, Honey Bar and Ruths Hemp. Price. Snickers are pocket-friendly as it comes in different sizes. Pricing is also quite economical compared to Puresource, Honey Bar and Ruths Hemp prices which are on the higher side. Promotion. The energy bar promotes itself as an athletes source of energy and rejuvenation which appeals to the younger demographic as opposed to Ruths Hemp and Puresource. It is popular making its position in the market higher. Basis for recommendation I believe that my idea will be a winner because I have endeavored to point out the potential strengths and weaknesses of our entry strategy into the Canadian market and the importance of employing a market positioning which is friendly to the general public. References Abela, A. (2006). Marketing and consumerism. European Journal of Marketing, 40(2). Pp. 5 16. Brennan, R., Baines, P., Garneau, P., Vos, L. (2008). Contemporary strategic marketing. 2nd Edition. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Christopher, M., Payne, A., Ballantyne, D. (2008). Relationship marketing. Oxford, UK: Butterworth-Heinemann. Crane, A., Matten, D., (2010). Business ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Dove campaign for real beauty

Essay on Music

Essay on Music There are many types of essays on music and music papers such as essays on classical music, essays on rap music, essay on hip-hop music, adorno essays on music and others. For writing a persuasive essay on music, you should structure your essay on music. You may divide an essay on music into three parts the introduction, the body of the essay on music and the conclusion. The introduction: For a short music essay, keep your essay very concise and brief. It would be absurd to have the porch bigger than the building itself. It may be simply a sentence, or a very short paragraph. However, it should always be arresting, and pertinent to the subject of music essay. The introduction may consist of a definition or a quotation, proverb, very brief story, or general remark, leading up to the subject of essay on music. The body of the essay on music: this is really the essay itself - the house to which the introduction is the front door, and the conclusion the back door, or exit. In arranging the body of the essay on classical music or essay on rap music, observe proportion; that is let each part have due weight given to it. Divide your essay on music accordingly. Do not give the overall portion to one aspect of essay on music. Closely follow your full outline throughout. The paragraphs should be well constructed and should be related to one another according to the direction of your outline; and, as far as possible, the connection between one and another should be shown. Avoid ‘padding’ and keep to the point. Take pains in selecting words and phrases which exactly express the ideas which you have in mind; and frame your sentences so that they are quire clear and forceful. Avoid the use of necessary words. In revising your essay on music, look out for useless repetitions and redundant expressions, and strike them out from your essays on music. Match the words to the sense, and adapt the style to the subject matter. Do not write frivolously on a serious subject, or ponderously on alight and humorous subject related to essays on music. The Conclusion: As the introduction of essays on music should arouse interest, the conclusion should satisfy it. An effective and satisfying end to essays on music is as important as an arresting beginning. An abrupt or feeble ending may spoil the whole effect of the essay on music. A good conclusion may consist of a summing up of the arguments of the music essays; a final conclusion drawn from the subject matter of music essays; a suitable quotation; a sentence that strikingly expresses the main point you want to drive home. You can get free essays on music from many supporting sites for your help.

Chinese history final essay based on film to live Movie Review

Chinese history final essay based on film to live - Movie Review Example China had conflicts with the USSR with regard to its border. During this period land was freely given to the poor, who engaged in farming. Mao, who had declared to be a Leninist, led discussion on the performance of the party. The educated citizens’ criticism led him to arrest several people. The educated group was under siege. The Mao led group was branded anti-rightists. The educated citizens were threatened of being denied promotions if they were to persist in their demand for their rights. The poor people in the old china had low status in society given that their high social class counterparts controlled them culturally. The communist group was despised regardless of the affluence of their members. The nationalist group was vibrant and determined to fight the radical communist group. According Yimou, the people in the old China held the subjective feudal autocratic perspective that communism was naturally the only way people could be governed (29). The animosity between t he nationalist and the communists compelled the nationalists to consolidate support from the Taiwan and the US government, to defeat the communist group. In addition, the pre-cultural revolution of China was aimed at challenging the male dominance in Chinese society. Women had no option of deciding their position in society because it is the male who decided everything concerning the lifestyles of the women. The pre-cultural China society was male-dominated given that no woman could become emperor of China during that time. In fact, even the juvenile female Chinese could not be given recognition. The negative effects of civil animosity in China were many. This aspect led to great disparities in the social realm. In this regard, the poor were exploited because of lack of financial power. Democracy was not practiced because the majority was poor; hence, they could not manage to marshal required numbers to oppose the rich. Even the labor unions could not protect the rights of the vulne rable workforce because the industrial leaders were corrupt. However, the oppression of the wealthy became unbearable culminating in reprisals from the workforce, and other groups. They capitalized on politics in their advances. For instance, they used the Communist People’s party to present their grievances to the Authorities. These groups faced oppression of different forms like prejudice and social segregation and discrimination. The emphasis of a class society was also a means of oppression and exploitation, especially in their workplaces (Â  Yimou, 25). The unskilled and the skilled Chinese people were discriminated, and their work was not recognized. On the other hand, women were required to take up only housework and other related domestic chores. Moreover, there arose the aspect of socialism which was also a tool of oppression of the poor. This meant that survival was guaranteed only for the elite. The understanding of the oppressors was that competition was warrante d in order for the social and financially fit people to survive while the poor forever remained in anguish and agony. In this regard, any support for the poor from the government side was highly criticized by the high social class people. This implied that it was the wish of the poor to remain in their low social status. However, the farmers who were also oppressed were discouraged by their fellow Chinese

Interview Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Interview Analysis - Essay Example Its curriculum gives students an education that is generally broad with in depth studies to support a student’s professional and personal growth. Its staff, including the interviewee, is highly qualified academics who are experienced in the US higher education style (American University of Kuwait 1). Â   Amer El-Assad Ali is an employee of the American University of Kuwait who was the interviewee for this interview. The interview was carried out at the university using a tape recorder. The interviewee was asked about his experiences before he joined the American University of Kuwait, where he used to work, and how his job was like. The interview was meant as part of a set of interviews that sought to get information on current and past employees at the American University of Kuwait with regards to their experiences, how working at AKU was of benefit to them, and how they benefited the University. The interview took place at the university and lasted for approximately one hour and twelve minutes. The interviewee was quite candid about his experiences at AKU and gave us deep insight into the formation of various administrative departments at the university. Â   Amer began by telling us about his experiences prior to joining the university where he worked at the Central Mall Plaza as an advertising agent. They were forced to close shop because of the Iraq War in 2003 due to reduced business, which left him looking for work. At around this time, he met Emal Hassan, who was the founding HR director of the new start up university, AUK. While his background was in marketing and advertising, this department was not at AUK yet, and Emal told him to apply and see what happened. His only experience working at a university at the time was in student affairs at his former university, which helped since they were looking for people with experience at university level. At this point, he applied for the position of HR coordinator, got an interview with Dr. Shaffie Kab ra, and got the job. After gaining experience at AUK for a year, he again applied for a job in the marketing department and got the job, which he still works in. His experience at Human Resources was almost pioneering at the university since the department was new. He contends that he learnt about HR working in this department, which was easy as most of the work here was about the administration with compilation of CVs and contacting personnel who are willing to work in the faculty positions. However, his best experiences at HR at the time had to do with the interview process, although the routine process like database management did not appeal to him, especially because of his marketing, design, and advertising base. At this point, his previous director recruited him at HR to work on a few designs at her advertising agency, for example, with the faculty fact book and how the faculty would be received into the campus in order for them to get a feel of Kuwait, especially since some w ere from outside Kuwait. By making Kuwait appealing to incoming staff, despite the Iraq war, this helped her to get the job in marketing, as well. While she was not very comfortable working in HR, he was proud that he left a mark on the department since the forms used still had some of her designs. Leaving

Computer Crime Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Computer Crime - Research Paper Example In July 2012 a major security breach took place against Yahoo that resulted in 450,000 usernames and passwords to be disclosed (Gonsalves, 2012). This event raised many questions regarding the precautionary measures taken by Yahoo to protect the security of its users. Instead of storing the passwords cryptographically they were stored as plain texts which made it very easy for hackers to gain access to this confidential data. Usually usernames and passwords are stored using the cryptography technique which encrypts the data thereby hiding the information. This encryption prevents hackers from deciphering the data. Yahoo refused to give an interview but confirmed the breach saying that the data was stolen via its Contributor Network, which is one of the websites owned by Yahoo. Yahoo Contributor Network is a Yahoo website for freelance content writers that write articles for another of its website Yahoo Voice. Although only five percent of the stolen data had valid passwords, Yahoo an nounced that they were taking prompt action to fix the susceptibility that led to the exposure of the passwords. Yahoo notified the other companies about the accounts that had been hacked including LinkedIn, Gmail, Hotmail, AOL, and so on (Gonsalves, 2012). The hacker group called D33Ds Company admitted to be responsible for the breach through a statement that they published on their website. The hackers said that the security breach was meant to be a warning for Yahoo and not a threat. They also alleged to having used the program SQL injection which is normally used to send instructions using the search field or a URL to breach a badly secured website. The SQL injection allowed the hackers to gain access to the database containing the usernames and passwords (Gonsalves, 2012). The event happened just before the annual shareholder’s meetings at Yahoo and the temporary CEO Ross Levinsohn said that they were looking for a transparent strategy in order to bring back their invest or confidence (Chaykowski & Robertson, 2012). According to Jordan Robertson in an interview given to Bloomberg (Yahoo Investigating Security Breach), it is not very embarrassing for a company like Yahoo because the stolen usernames and passwords were of mostly old and inactive accounts and the number 450,000 was not huge because it represented only a small fraction of people who were affected. A spokesperson from Yahoo also previously mentioned that these numbers only made up about only one percent of the total Yahoo active users (Chaykowski & Robertson, 2012). Robertson said that the humiliating factor was the susceptibility of a company like Yahoo through a method called SQL injection. This is because it only involved very basic security measures to be prevented and Yahoo’s inability to create such a security protocol was embarrassing. As a result of the whole security breach event, Yahoo closed at $15.69 in New York and its shares slid down by 2.7% in the same year (Chayko wski & Robertson, 2012). The Yahoo event did not only affect Yahoo Mail users but because its users signed up for the content writing website Contributor Network, the breach also resulted in retrieval of password for email accounts other than Yahoo such as Gmail, Hotmail, and AOL mail. One way this event could have been

The Motorcycle Industry Is A Consolidated Industry Marketing Essay

The Motorcycle Industry Is A Consolidated Industry Marketing Essay Harleys first segment is the motorcycle and related products business. It included designing, manufacturing, and selling primarily heavyweight touring and custom motorcycles and offering a broad range of related products that included motorcycle parts and accessories and riding apparel. The custom products charge a higher price because of its features, styling, and high resale value. New competitors have entered the marketplace because demand for the motorcycles has exceeded production. The demand is prospected to grow in the future, and the switching cost is low. Their customers are mainly male, middle age, married, and have some degree of education. Most buyers hold a motorcycle for recreational purposes rather than for transportation purpose. These buyers are mostly experienced motorcycle riders. Recommendation The international touring market is growing and is significantly larger than the U.S. touring market. Europe has the largest motorcycle, even larger than US. There is high potential in expanding business in Europe. However, the company holds a smaller market shares in the European market. Therefore, continuing to develop the European market should be a major issue for the company over the next few years. The following recommendations could be used in the European market. Not only should they target heavyweight motorcycles market, they can also target sport motorcycles market. The reason is that the European sport/performance market is four times larger than U.S., and is expecting to grow even more in the future. The company could distribute the Buell Motorcycle Companys product to the European market in order to establish a sporty image and able to directly complete with other competitors. Also, the company can build a motorcycle plant in the European by using strategy alliance or joint venture. Building the plant in the European can reduce the transportation cost and increase the companys international experience. Strategy alliances is suitable in this case since the company can create value from transferring competencies or sharing resources between diversified businesses in order to realize economies of scope. Harleys motorcycles are priced slightly higher than competitors. In the U.S. market, since the customers are brand, quality, and style loyalty. Instead of focusing on the price leadership strategy, they should focus on differentiate strategy. Therefore, under the current financial availability, they should be able to generate certain funds to run the Product Development Center, which bring together employees and suppliers to design the fashion products. At the same time, the company should focus on product development and product proliferation strategy. They should concentrate on creating new products or improving existing products in order to attract existing and new customers. The company should continue to build their enterprise. Since the industry does not have significant economies of scale, growth-via-acquisition strategy could be used. Harley-Davidson can merge or acquire weaker rival or smaller players. Taking over the weaker and smaller players will increase the entry barriers. Terms- ideas Competitive advantage is what sets an organization apart, that is, its distinct edge. That distinct edge comes from the organizations core competencies, which might be in the form of organizational capabilities the organization does something that others cannot do or does it better than others can do it. For example, Dell has developed a competitive advantage based upon its ability to create a direct-selling channel thats highly responsive to customers. Southwest Airlines has a competitive advantage because it is skilled in giving passengers what they want quick, convenient, and fun service. Or those core competencies that lead to competitive advantage also can come from organizational assets or resources the organization has something that its competitors do not have. For instance, Wal-Marts state-of-the-art information systems allows it to monitor and control inventories and supplier relations more efficiently than its competitors, which Wal-Mart has turned into a price advantage. Strategy -A Strategy is a long term plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal as differential from tactics or immediate achieve a particular goal, as differential from tactics or immediate action with resources at hand. Strategic Management-It is the process of specifying an organizations objectives, developing policies plans to achieve these objectives, and allocating resources so as to implement the plans. It involves development of mission and strategic vision. It is long run in the nature and provides the organization with a road map Concept of Strategic Management: Strategic Management in the context of the construction industry comprises the following seven areas: Vision, mission and goals -The starting point for all organization endeavors; establishing a vision provides each members with a direction to follow in all business practices members with a direction to follow in all business practices. Core competencies -The Business boundaries for an organization does best and where its strength resides organization do the best and where its strength resides. Knowledge Resources -The Combination of human and technology resources that provide the backbone for completing organization projects. 3. What do I want to do after Graduation?   With todays economy like it is, I have to find ways to stick out from my competitors. Therefore, with a business management degree, also known as a general management degree, I have a lot of different areas I can go into after school. For example, finance, human resources, information technology, marketing, operations management, and strategic management. With this degree I will be prepared to assume a wide range of managerial positions in the business field. But the big question is do I want to start looking for a job, stay in school and change my major or go on to graduate school? But first I have to ask myself what I want to do/ what of my life. The questions I have to ask myself are?   Is there an industry that interests you? For example: Financial services, technology, real-estate, or health care?   What type of company would I like to work for?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For example: Public or private, small or large, domestic or international   Then I need to develop a target list of firms that interest me?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For example: Identify and research the top 10 firms that interest me and also areas that they are located.   What type of job motivates me? For example: Do I want to be an accountant, sales person, financial analyst or marketing research associate? What are unique strengths about me? For example: I need to develop a list of the skills I bring to a potential employer such as time management, communication skills, ability to multi-task, listening skills, ability to get things done. Where do I want to live now an in the future?   The actual job search can be time-consuming and frustrating. However, there are steps I can take to insure I spend my time wisely and efficiently. What do I need to know?    What industry is the target company in? How large is the company? Who are their competitors? What type of products does the company produce/provide? Who are the companys customers / prospects? Is the company an employer of choice? What criteria does the company look for when hiring? Are these companies located in your geographic preference? Where do they have offices? (International) What is their reputation in the market?   A company has competitive advantage whenever it can attract customers and defend against competitive forces better than its rivals.   Companies want to develop competitive advantages that have some sustainability (although the typical term sustainable competitive advantage is usually only true dynamically, as a firm works to continue it).   Successful competitive strategies usually involve building uniquely strong or distinctive competencies in one or several areas crucial to success and using them to maintain a competitive edge over rivals.   Some examples of distinctive competencies are superior technology and/or product features, better manufacturing technology and skills, superior sales and distribution capabilities, and better customer service and convenience.   5. A niche strategy can be competitively attractive because     The focusers specialized competencies and capabilities in serving the target market niche give it strength in countering challenges from larger multi-segment competitors (who may not be easily able to put the capabilities in place to meet the specialized needs of the target market niche and at the same time satisfy the expectations of their mainstream customers). Also targeting the market niche acts as an entry barrier and gives it some measure of protection from other firms wanting to horn in on the niche. Rivalry in the niche may be weaker than in the broader market if there are relatively few players competing in the niche. Difficulties in matching the focusers competitive capabilities in serving buyers in the target market niche present a hurdle that the sellers of substitute products must overcome in order to be a factor in the niche. Examples of Focus Strategies   eBay -Online auctions Jiffy Lube International -Maintenance for motor vehicles Bandag-Specialist in truck tire recapping Porsche -Sports cars What Makes a Niche Attractive for Focusing?   Big enough to be profitable and offers good growth potential Not crucial to success of industry leaders Costly or difficult for multi-segment competitors to meet specialized needs of niche members Focuser has resources and capabilities to effectively serve an attractive niche Few other rivals are specializing in same niche Focuser can defend against challengers via superior ability to serve niche members Risks of a Focus Strategy    Competitors find effective ways to match a focusers capabilities in serving niche Niche buyers preferences shift towards product attributes desired by majority of buyers niche becomes part of overall market Segment becomes so attractive it becomes crowded with rivals, causing segment profits to be splintered 6. The car industry is an ongoing growing market where the environmental issues become more and more crucial due to the apparition of new legislations to preserve nature and avoid Global Warming. Therefore, in this case more precisely work with the niche market of electric vehicles. Actually, carmakers have to face the problem of excess capacity. They are producing more than they are selling. One of the reasons can be the decreasing demand due to the economical regression and also to the fact that cars last longer. Another reason is that they want to produce in large volumes in order to make the production cost decreased. So, they can be competitive on the market. Now, scale economies are a critical issue for car manufacturers. The concerns for the economy and global warming have forced the automobile industry to start developing alternatives for fuel vehicles. At first, the automakers showed a little interest into this concern and they did not want to look into the development of alternative energy sources at all because of the high cost and the many risks involved. Nevertheless, due to new legislations, automakers do not have the choice anymore. They have to come up with new technologies to make fuel-efficient cars or find alternative to normal fuel engines. At the end of the 20th century, car manufacturers came up with new technology to produce internal combustion engines with an electric motor and the development is ongoing. In todays society people are judged on the type of car they choose to drive. Of course, car manufacturers know about that fact and they target their potential customers to market their products. For example, anyone who drives a nice car is perceived by others as being wealthy and no one wants to be seen driving an unattractive car. Consumers also tend to feel better when they are driving a nice or a new car. Another feature of the socio cultural aspect for car is that auto makers have to keep in mind the growing environmental concerns and the need of fuel efficient vehicles. Many environmentalists are worried about the impact that the gasoline cars have on the environment and therefore search for alternatives. The automotive market is characterized by a very low number of entrants. In order to compete in this market the newcomers must be able to achieve economies of scale by adopting a cost saving strategy. Therefore, the car manufacturers must mass-produce to be able to offer cars to the customer at a reasonable price. At the same time, it requires an extreme amount of capital not only to be able to manufacturer the product, but also to keep up with the research and development of new products. 8. There is a HUGE market for tablets.   Many have said this is like a living room computer, as well, as an e-book reader.   It would also be a great entertainment device, on airplanes (if were allowed to use them), on the bus, and around town. Also the iPad will be ideal for bringing to meetings without the intrusion, distraction, boot up or power cables of a laptop. In the future the laptop will be staying in the office. The people that will benefit from this product a lot are doctors and also nurses. I think when the iPad launches it will be a big competitive advantage to the company because of what they have done in the past. Honestly, the iPad, will give Apple more power in the companys product line and also move the company forward toward being the spoke in the wheel that is the world of media and technology. Making something that fits between a smartphone and a laptop has been a goal for the consumer technology industry for more than a decade. The most recent attempt has b een the Netbook. The iPad easily makes Netbooks seem boring and staid, and too close to the same old form factor, the computer. My prediction is that the iPad will really shake up the competitors and really hurt their netbook business in the long run. And, the competitors will really struggle this time to find a way to create tablets that are equally as unique and competitive with Apple. Sure, they will create similar designs, but Apples ability to deliver a complete eco system of hardware, software, apps and services tied to the iPad is their real advantage. And with iPads starting at $499, it will make it much easier for Apple to push a new mobile computing agenda that goes well beyond the interest of techies and will tap into the mobile computing interest of a large market of consumers.The iPad is taking a different tack: taking tasks that were too big for an iPhone and puts them on a device that isnt pocket-sized, but is more convenient to carry around than a 13- or 15-inch lapt op. The iPad poses a real problem to competitors on a couple of fronts. The big one is the fact that Apple uses their own processor to power the iPad. No Intel tax in the bill of materials. I suspect that even with bill of material costs for screen and memory being an issue, Apple is still able to get margins of over 20% for the entry version at $499 because of this vertical integration of Apple internet protocol.   On the other hand, any competitor doing a tablet will have the screen and memory component costs as well as the processor costs and at a competitive price of $499, they would have much smaller margins to work with. Also, Apple is able to tap into its rich eco system of easy to use multi-touch interface and 140,000 apps that give it additional functionality from the start. At the very least, it puts them two years ahead of competitors who will try and create competitive products in this same category with similar app ecosystems. The economy -rich peo young class Apple has created a new market, everyone will soon try to follow. 2. A business has to understand the dynamics of its industries and markets in order to compete effectively in the marketplace. The forces that drive competition, is contending that the competitive environment is created by the interaction of five different forces acting on a business. In addition to rivalry among existing firms and the threat of new entrants into the market, there are also the forces of supplier power, the power of the buyers, and the threat of substitute products or services. The intensity of rivalry, which is the most obvious of the five forces in an industry, helps determine the extent to which the value created by an industry will be dissipated through head-to-head competition. Another point is both potential and existing competitors influence average industry profitability. The threat of new entrants is usually based on the market entry barriers. They can take diverse forms and are used to prevent an influx of firms into an industry whenever profits, adjusted for the cost of capital, rise above zero. In contrast, entry barriers exist whenever it is difficult or not economically feasible for an outsider to replicate the incumbents position. The most common forms of entry barriers, except intrinsic physical or legal obstacles, are as follows: Economies of scale: for example, benefits associated with bulk purchasing. Cost of entry: for example, investment into technology. Distribution channels: for example, ease of access for competitors. Cost advantages not related to the size of the company: for example, contacts and expertise. Government legislations: for example, introduction of new laws might weaken companys competitive position. Differentiation: for example, certain brand that cannot be copied. The threat that substitute products pose to an industrys profitability depends on the relative price-to-performance ratios of the different types of products or services to which customers can turn to satisfy the same basic need. The threat of substitution is also affected by switching costs that is, the costs in areas such as retraining, retooling and redesigning that are incurred when a customer switches to a different type of product or service. Buyer power is one of the two horizontal forces that influence the appropriation of the value created by an industry (refer to the diagram). The most important determinants of buyer power are the size and the concentration of customers. Other factors are the extent to which the buyers are informed and the concentration or differentiation of the competitors. This force is relatively high where there a few, large players in the market, as it is the case with retailers and grocery stores; Present where there is a large number of undifferentiated, small suppliers, such as small farming businesses supplying large grocery companies; Low cost of switching between suppliers, such as from one fleet supplier of trucks to another. Supplier power is a mirror image of the buyer power. As a result, the analysis of supplier power typically focuses first on the relative size and concentration of suppliers relative to industry participants and second on the degree of differentiation in the inputs supplied. The ability to charge customers different prices in line with differences in the value created for each of those buyers usually indicates that the market is characterized by high supplier power and at the same time by low buyer power. Bargaining power of suppliers exists in the following situations: Where the switching costs are high (switching from one Internet provider to another); High power of brands (McDonalds, Coca Cola) Possibility of forward integration of suppliers (Brewers buying bars); The nature of competition in an industry is strongly affected by suggested five forces. The stronger the power of buyers and suppliers, and the stronger the threats of entry and substitution, the more intense competition is likely to be within the industry. However, these five factors are not the only ones that determine how firms in an industry will compete the structure of the industry itself may play an important role. 5 Forces analysis The Porters Five Forces model is a simple tool that supports strategic understanding where power lies in a business situation. It also helps to understand both the strength of a firms current competitive position, and the strength of a position a company is looking to move into. Despite the fact that the Five Force framework focuses on business concerns rather than public policy, it also emphasizes extended competition for value rather than just competition among existing rivals, and the simpleness of its application inspired numerous companies as well as business schools to adopt its use. With a clear understanding of where power lies, it will enable a company to take fair advantage of its strengths, improve weaknesses, and avoid taking wrong steps. Therefore, to apply this planning tool effectively, it is important to understand the situation and to look at each of the forces individually. After identifying favourable and unfavourable forces for the companys performance and industrys attractiveness, it is important to analyse the situation and examine the impacts of the forces. One of the critical comments made of the Five Forces framework is its static nature, whereas the competitive environment is changing turbulently. By thinking through how each force affects a company, and by identifying the strength and direction of each force, it provides with an opportunity to identify the strength of the position and the ability to make a sustained profit in the industry. It is important for a corporation strategists goal to find a position in the industry where his or her company can best defend itself against these forces or can influence them in its favour, or is the goal to become part of the ongoing commerce with the intention to produce innovative ideas that will expand the size of the industry? Is it true that the environment poses a threat to the organisation, leading to the consideration of suppliers and buyers as threats that need to be tackled, or does it offer the ground for a constitutive industry player co-operation? Limitations of Porters Five Force Model Porters model is a strategic tool used to identify whether new products, services or businesses have the potential to be profitable. However it can also be very illuminating when used to understand the balance of power in other situations. At the heart of industry are rivals and their competitive strategies linked to, for example, pricing or advertising; but, he contends, it is important to look beyond ones immediate competitors as there are other determines of profitability. Specifically, there might be competition from substitutes products or services. These alternatives may be perceived as substitutes by buyers even though they are part of a different industry. An example would be plastic bottles, cans and glass bottle for packaging soft drinks. There may also be potential threat of new entrants, although some competitors will see this as an opportunity to strengthen their position in the market by ensuring, as far as they can, customer loyalty. Finally, it is important to appreciate that companies purchase from suppliers and sell to buyers. If they are powerful they are in a position to bargain profits away through reduced margins, by forcing either cost increases or price decreases. This relates to the strategic o ption of vertical integration, when the company acquires, or mergers with, a supplier or customer and thereby gains greater control over the chain of activities which leads from basic materials through to final consumption. Examples of Golf Equipment 1. The threat of new entrants into the market is moderate, indicators point in mixed directions. Companies within the industry can be separated into two parts: golf and sporting goods. To take the largest golf company, for example, Callaway. For a company like Callaway to enter into this market would require significant amounts of investment. One could assume that other sporting goods companies could diversify into golf similar to Adidas and Nike, but there are no large manufactures that are not in the market already. Brand preferences are very important to consumers. Callaway lists brand preferences as one of the top five reasons why consumers buy their clubs, is because of technology, quality, customer service and price. Capital requirements are low the production of clubs are very labor intensive and very little animation is in the manufacturing process. Access to distribution channels are very important the quality of the club which is largely based on the material of the club ar e very expensive. To obtain carbon fiber and specific alloys that few manufactures make would be troubling for a small company to maintain and economies of scale in purchasing power would be most evident here. Essay

The United States Needs a Terrorism Czar :: Argumentative Persuasive Essays

The United States Needs a Terrorism Czar Introduction Drug trafficking activity and terrorism activity have much in common. Both drugs and terrorism have strong national security and law enforcement components, they have military components, border control components, economic and trade components, medical components, and agricultural components. Today there are some 50 federal agencies with some degree of counterdrug responsibilities and at least 12 federal agencies with important counterterrorism responsibilities. This paper examines one model for unifying them under an executive branch, White House director's office, as outlined below. Drug trafficking and terrorism are illegal clandestine activities with strong national security and law enforcement threat components and operational similarities. Terrorists like drug traffickers, need weapons and engage in violence to achieve goals. Terrorists, like drug traffickers, are often involved in hiding and laundering sources of funds. Both terrorists and drug traffickers operate transnationally, and often get logistical and operational support from local ethnic satellite communities. Both groups often rely on the criminal community for support: they may need smuggled weapons, forged documents and safe houses to operate effectively. Finally, both groups need a steady cash flow to operate. In the case of terrorists, where state sources of funding are rapidly diminishing, drug trafficking is an attractive funding option. Increasingly, terrorist organizations are looking to criminal activity and specifically the drug trade as a source of funding. The FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces, a guerilla force) in Colombia are but one of many cases in point. Some experts have looked to the "drug czar" model in seeking to reform government structures to fight terrorism. Counternarcotics efforts have forced local, state and federal agencies to build operable, cooperative, inter-agency relationships. The need to build and maximize similar relationships to deal with terrorism exists and some have suggested that the "Drug Czar" [White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)] model may have applicability to the counterterrorism arena. Legislation is currently before Congress on this issue [H.R. 4210]. It appears that the bill will not be enacted this year but will likely be reintroduced next term. Another structural option might require that federal departments and agencies make their counterterrorism capabilities available for the efforts of the terrorism director.

Finding the Ratio of Moles of Reactants in a Chemical Equation

Finding the Ratio of Moles of Reactants in a Chemical Reaction Purpose: The goal of the lab is to determine the mole ratio of two reactants in a chemical reaction (AgNO3 and K2CrO4). However, the formulas for the products are unknown. Introduction: When determining the molar ratio of a chemical equation, usually the formulas of the reactants and the products are known. With that information, it is particularly easy to determine the ratio. However, since the products and the formulas for the products are unknown, another property of the reaction must be analyzed to find the ratio.This property depends on the amount of the product formed or on the amount of reactant that remains. Properties may include the color intensity due to the product, the mass of the precipitate that forms, or the volume of a gas evolved. In this experiment, the method of continuous variations will be used to determine the mole ratio of two reactants. With this method, the total number of moles of reactants is k ept constant for the series of measurements. The property that is going to be measured is the change in temperature.The temperature change, or the heat produced, will be directly proportional to the amount of reaction occurs and to the total extent of it. The optimum ratio, which is the ratio of the reactants in the balanced chemical reaction, will form the greatest amount of product, or generate the most heat, and will be key to determining the molar ratio. Corrosive liquids, which burn the skin, will be used in the experiment. When this liquid reacts with acid, a toxic gas will formed. Keep away from the gas and protect your skin and clothing.Work in a fume hood or well-ventilated lab. Wear chemical splash goggles, chemical-resistant gloves, and a chemical-resistant apron. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before leaving the laboratory. The molar ratio of the reactants is the ultimate goal of the lab. In order to achieve that, secondary observations on the temperature chan ge will have to be made and analyzed. The data and graph made after the data is attained will assist in that. Procedure: 1) Obtain 2 beakers with 175mL of NaClO in one and 175mL of â€Å"Solution B† in another. ) Measure the temperature of each and make sure they are the same. 3) Measure 5. 0mL of NaClO and 45. 0mL of â€Å"Solution B† with the appropriate graduated cylinders and add them to a Styrofoam cup. 4) Stir the solution with a thermometer, and record the max temperature reached. 5) Pour the solution out, rinse the cup, and repeat steps 1-4 using a different ratio of the two substances, keeping the total volume at 50. 0mL. 6) Continue testing various ratios until you have at least 3 measurements on either side of the peak temperature difference.Conclusion: When the formula of the products are unknown in a chemical reaction, experiments must be done to find the mole ratio of the reactants. In our experiment, we used the method of continous variations to determin e to the mole ratio of the two reactants. The property measured was the change of temperature, as indicated in the data table. The method of continous variations keeps the total number of moles of reactants constant through a series of titrations.Each titration varies the mole fraction of each reaction from mixture to mixture by adjusting the ratio of NaClO to Na2SO3, which is also indicated in the data table. Theoretically, the maximum temperature change occurs when teh mole fraction of the reactants is closest to the actual stoichiometric mole ratio, which signals the mole ratio based on the mole fraction in the titration. According to the analysis, the mole ratio is 1:2 in the order of NaClO to Na2SO3.This ratio was concluded by the graph, in which the lines of best fit were extrapolated to intersect at the optimum ratio point. However, there was room for error when measuring the liquids in each titration. The measurements weren't always exact which could affect the change in tem perature. Also, when measuring the temperature it might not have been exact due to inconsistent stirring. Nonetheless, the goal of the lab was to find the mole ratio of the two reactants and it was concluded to be 1:2.

Health care coverage Essay Example

Health care coverage Essay Example Health care coverage Paper Health care coverage Paper Although there are certain policies that were implemented by the state concerning public health, public access to medical service is still a social problem. In the case of United State, a large growing number of Americans are not enjoying health care coverage. This problem continues to be one of the most compelling and difficult policy and political issue in the United States (Andersen, 2001). As part of the government’s effort to ensure public rights to health services, Medicare was created as a form of health insurance to serve the old and disable population. It covers hospital, medical, and prescription drugs insurance ( medicare. gov/). As insurance, Medicare is very beneficial for because of the fact that hospital fees and prescribed drugs are expensive. Today, our medical industries are closer to monopolies and oligarchies (Unruch, 2007). It means that it is easy for hospital and medical industries to raise their prices. Indeed, expensive medical insurance can offer the best medical treatment and professional services but not for cheap medical insurances. The health care products are not uniform. Each physician or hospital products are different compared to one another (Ibid). Meanwhile we cannot deny the fact that ordinary people who cannot afford expensive medical insurance sacrifice the quality of their health insurance. Because people have little information with which to judge the quality of care offered by health care provider and thus by insurance, they often select insurance based on price and not on quality (Ibid). Meanwhile, we can treat the Medicare program as a form of policy intervention of the government to address community health problems as social and political issues. Most economists agree that policy intervention can be used to address community health problems in market that are not competitive such as the medical industry (Unruch, 2007). Poor people need government policies like public health insurance for them to enjoy their rights to access public health facilities. Resources Journals Andersen, R. M. (2001). Changing the U. S. Health Care System. The Role of Prevention, 17, 1-9. Andersen, R. M. (2001). Changing U. S. Health Care System. Measuring Health Care, Cost and Trend, 3, 3. Unruch, Lynn. , Spetz, Joan. , (2007). Policy Politics. A Primer on Health Economics, 14, 364-368 Electronic Sources U. S. Department of Health and Human Service. Medicare and You 2008. Retrieved November 30, 2007 from medicare. gov/ .

Journal Entry 9 Example

Journal Entry 9 Example Journal Entry 9 – Coursework Example Word Recognition There are three main evidence based practices used in the development of reading fluency and word cognition. They include five areas of interest namely: phonemic awareness, phonics fluency, vocabulary, and text comprehension. The practises are aimed at diversification of a child’s capacity to recognize written texts and accuracy in reading them speedily. Some of the basic tools that enhance the reading capacity of children include the read-alouds, which give the children the confidence to go through prose and books. Since fluency develops gradually, evidence-based practices show that the students are subjected to repetitive reading skill as they continue to break the code. Consequently, the students may be subjected to silent reading, which a scientifically proven method used in improving the capacity of students fluency. Vocabulary comprehension is another way that is efficient in the development of word recognition both directly and indirectly from extensive individual reading, daily oral language, and explicitly learned vocabulary via word-learning approaches. Tutors further develop the student’s capacities of word cognition in the form of paired readings, choral reading, computer aid, etc. in addition to these aids the students are allowed  different books that allow them to increase their levels of understanding. Reading of these independent level books enable students to achieve better word cognition capacities with any advancements they make. According to the evidence-based practices, automaticity, and prosodic reading are used in unison in order to create a round environment that makes the students achieve fluency. Moreover, reader’s aids made significant improvements in students who were subject them. This makes it a significant method of word recognition. In conclusion, evidence-based practices used in development of word cognition are intrinsically unified since they must develop a child in an all round fashio n. Therefore the researches by Hudson and Rasinski assert that the main areas of interest should be developed in unison for better results.ReferencesHudson, R.F., Lane, H.B., & Pullen, P.C. (2005). Reading fluency assessment and instruction: What, why, and how? Put reading first booklet, docdroid.net/v7wr/prfbooklet.pdf.html Rasinski fluency article 2006, docdroid.net/vfdc/rasinski-2006-fluency.pdf.html National Reading Panel (NRP) issued a report in 2000

Nursing theories Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Nursing theories - Research Paper Example The philosophical claims of this theory are based on the facts that people or individuals must always give meaning to every experience they face in life; like in our case, we have patients in intensive care units. Their families may experience anxiety, depression and even signs of post-traumatic stress as they get worried of their loved ones in the critical conditions and sense making philosophically demands that meaning be given to this (Davidson, 2010), philosophically sense making integrates aspects of identity, retrospection and enactment. Others include; the social, ongoing and extracted cues not forgetting plausibility where an individual needs to know enough to enable them make informed acceptance hence achieve relief accumulated in them by way of fear and experienced horror (Dervin, 1983). This is the main concept behind the woman Garcia who has gone to visit their husband in the hospital ICU. It talks about facilitated sense making to help the woman avoid sever psychological outcomes of the realities that may result from the fact that the husband lies in the ICU (Davidson, 2010). The assumptions of the theory include identity and these will require the woman to define who she is because of the situation she faces as well as how and what she thinks. Retrospection comes in as the second assumption and this requires the woman to learn what she thinks looking back into their stand about the same issue earlier. Then enactment of the object in terms of making something out of the situation will be required (Dervin, 1983). This is closely linked to the socialization assumption that demands that another party within the same context must have influenced whatever someone says or believed, the talking also ought to adopt the mechanism of spread across time giving it an ongoing assumption (Brenda, 1998). In addition, the assumption of extracted cues requires that it is only a small portion of the content gets derived for public consumption and lastly we have plau sibility, this will require that Garcia knows enough of the outcomes she expects out of the situation. These assumptions are much testable since they indicate the roots of all the variations and the content of the article all indicate the aspects defined (Brenda, 1998). The definition of all the concepts explained are much consistent with the theory since the theory demands that individuals must always create a common ground for an understanding to enable them land on the position of acting with principles on grounds of information. This explains the need for through research from relevant sources of information about concepts information, which is often stored for future reference (Dervin, 1983). In explaining facilitated sense making, we would apply Roy’s adaptation model, this is a model that mainly and in most cases apply to the sense making model in the nursing practice hence the choice as illness can cause several disruptions in life which requires a period of compensat ion and hence a prospect of adaptation. Based on the duration that the compensation takes, the

Economy in Italy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economy in Italy - Essay Example S&P revised its estimates based on the GDP in Italy which show only an average growth of .7% between 2011 and 2014 which is much lower than what was projected in previous information that the growth would be somewhere around 1.3%. With the upward pressure on the funding costs in private and public sectors and a dampened external demand, in addition to austerity measures that have been put into place by the government, it is likely that the growth will far less than was previously predicted (Ellis). Italy appears to be in trouble and this does not bode well for the next three years. The nation has a great number of resources where its history is concerned, but it appears that its present is in a conflicted state that might make visiting the nation a more difficult or less appealing prospect. With the turmoil in the government, it might be wise to assess the current state of affairs before visiting the country as well as assess the stability of the Euro as it is used in the nation. Showing that the news is ever evolving and connected, Dominic Rushe wrote an article about the economic conditions in Italy in relationship to the way it will affect the entire European economic situation. The credit rating service Moody’s has been the second service in a few weeks to downgrade the Italian rating, creating problems for the idea of lending to the nation and increasing the costs of borrowing for the state. Moody’s stated that it cut the rating because â€Å"sustained and non-cyclical erosion of confidence† (Rushe). An interesting point was made by Italy’s Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who â€Å"criticised Moodys rival Standard & Poors when it cut Italys credit rating last month, saying the ratings agencys action was "dictated more by newspaper stories than by reality" (Rushe). This commentary furthers the idea that much of the economy is

Past Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction Research Paper

Past Terrorist Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction - Research Paper Example Terrorism is a multi-causal phenomenon (Sommer, 2010) and involves a combination of varied factors including psychological, social, cultural, political, economic, as well as religious. Hence explaining the action in a concise and restricted definition would be highly erroneous and disillusioning. For the purpose of this study the term WMD would be defined to include any act of terrorism by an individual or an organization carried out on a large scale using chemical, biological or other weapons intended to cause irreparable damage to the property and lives of human beings; and disrupt the economic and social structure of the targeted region. Researchers have suggested various factors as key causes behind such acts of aggression, in a bid to understand the psyche of the terrorists. These factors range from local ethnic clashes to public outrage and dissent against international forces mainly arising due to differences in religious and cultural ideologies (Cordesman, 1989; DiGiovanni, 1999). Most of the researchers are of the opinion that most of such acts are carried out by individuals or groups belonging to terrorist organizations with a view to achieving their organizational missions (Gambetta, 2006). The use of WMD by terrorists has been in existence for several decades now and continues to remain as a potential threat to the United States as well as rest of the world. This paper aims to assess and analyze the use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists by way of various case studies.

Good VS Evil Essay Example for Free

Good VS Evil Essay There are many different gangs; some only allow certain races or colors to be considered part of the gang. Other gangs require an entrance fee which includes doing something to prove you are worthy to become part of the gang. This is anywhere from sexual acts to thievery to violent crimes to include killing people. The age range of gangs varies tremendously and includes ages from 9 years to 40 years and even beyond in some cases. There is a gang called The Satanic Cult who is based in the Gaithersburg, MD area. Their actions are pretty synonymous with their name. They practice in the ways of ritual animal and human sacrifices. Those that were not Caucasians were not allowed as well as those who had brown hair. The age range varies within this gang and there is no specific entry fee but the moment the gang feels you are no longer part of the gang they will then kill you. The Crips are from Los Angeles and are predominantly African American. This gang is one of the largest in the US and is involved in numerous murders, robberies, drugs and other various forms of criminal activity. They are also always in open warfare with the Bloods, also from Los Angeles. The Bloods are similar to the Crips and were originally the Crips back in 1970 until an internal war started which separated the original gang. The bloods show much disrespect to the Crips and are generally involved in the same thing as the Crips. Both can be found in the US and Military databases as threats. The Mexican mafia, yet another faction in Los Angeles teaches their children from a very young age on how to hold and operate a gun, helps their friends and neighbors with drugs, mainly heroin and is prevalent with car jackings so that the parts can be sold on the black market. Everything this gang does is done broadly and openly among all family members, regardless of their age. In Oregon there is a different type of gang and that is the outlaw motorcycle related gangs. One of these gangs is called the Mongrols and have four different chapter is the Eugene and Central Oregon area. Their ultimate punishment for infractions is to beat to death, the person who allegedly did wrong against the club. Their main operations include motorcycle jackings, drugs, prostitution, trafficking, and assaults and have additional chapters in both Australia and Germany. There is an estimated 1 million gang members throughout the US. The majority of them are involved in various criminal activities and there are only a few gangs who do good. Motorcycle gangs from The American Legions across the US do rides together for the benefit of children. So even though this is a small percentage, it goes to show not all gangs are bad, granted the majority of them are. References Alonso, A. Los Angeles Gangs (c. 1999) http://www. streetgangs. com/history/history. html Mac. Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Flying Colors in Oregon. 2008 http://nwhog. wordpress. com/2008/05/08/outlaw-motorcycle-gangs-flying-colors-in-oregon/

The 21st Century School Librarian Essay -- Education

The 21st Century school librarian is no longer just the caretaker of the book collection. Technology is transforming the education system and the way children are taught. This paper discusses the many roles and issues that the teacher-librarian plays in creating a flexible 21st Century learning environment. 21ST Century School Library Media Specialist The roles discussed in the articles written by school librarians Mashriqi (2011), Ballard (2008), and Marcoux (2010) were similar in strategies needed for running an effective media center today. The common theme was the importance in being able to evaluate what will help the school meet the needs of todays learners and to connect the curriculum with â€Å"hands-on† learning experiences. By demonstrating knowledge and current technological skills the media specialist connects the library with teachers, students, administration and parents with information and resources to promote literacy. Technology integration is accomplished by using resources that reflect content standards. To focus on the relationship between education technology and student learning engaging games is one way to achieve the goals with positive results. Digital Tools Todays’ school library media specialist applies trends related to the use of technology in education to support integration throughout the curriculum. Being literate in the 21st Century involves teaching both â€Å"traditional† literacy and how to read and produce the kinds of texts typical of the emerging information and multimedia age. Benthem (2010) points out that to have an effective school library program it needs to be an ongoing work in progress. Literacy development does impact student learning through the use of digital technologies, includ... ...upport emergent literacy skill development for young children at-risk or who have disabilities. Early Childhood Education Journal, 36(3), 233-239. Peterson, J. (2011). Finding focus: Using digital cameras in library programming. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children, 9(3), 48-51. Poinier, S., & Alevy, J. (2010). Our instruction does matter! Data collected from students' works cited speaks volumes. Teacher Librarian, 37(3), 38-39. Sugar, W., & Holloman, H. (2009). Technology leaders wanted: Acknowledging the leadership role of a technology coordinator. TechTrends: Linking Research & Practice to Improve Learning, 53(6), 66-75. Zabel, D., & Hickey, D. (2011). The reuse evangelist: Taking ownership of copyright questions at your library. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 51(1), 9-11.

Would You Like Ketchup With That Dollar? :: Essays Papers

Would You Like Ketchup With That Dollar? Money does not satiate the stomach, only the food it purchases can. Material possessions contain the lowest number of kilocalories-per-gram (i.e. none) when compared to fatty acids, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Power tends to be nutrient deficient (eggs, however, are quite functional). And, as of yet, science has been unable to show any effects (positive or negative) of elite membership upon the area of the brain related to hunger -- the hypothalamus. Food is the most basic and essential component of human existence, next to air, of course. In the last instance, it -- not wealth, power, or status -- matters most. Period. Yet, its sheer abundance in the core nations of the world remains unparalleled in most or all of human history. So much so, that it goes scarcely noticed anymore. In the market it is viewed as a commodity to be bought and sold, an abstraction of itself, not real or tangible. In the grocery store the abstraction, through clever marketing and advertising, becomes a heavily constructed and objectified notion of reality. Meanwhile, the consumer remains alienated and detached from one of the elements most antecedent to life and existence. I have read of some -- great Yogis of the East, who, through their enlightened communion with the Divine, are able to transcend any physical need of sustenance. But, the revelations of Sages remain lost to most of us, too caught up in the mayhem of capitalistic endeavors to even think about such mysticism. The commodification of food and the industrialization of agriculture have removed us from the cadences of nature. With time, industrial agriculture is proving more and more unsustainable, less reliable and wonderful than it is touted to be. While large agribusiness continues to strive for greater crop yields, increased mechanization, lower labor costs, more acreage, new technologies, consolidations -- maximum profits -- farmers are striving to feed their families, to keep their land, and to justify their existence as farmers. If traditional farming is not dead already, it is surely dying. Yet, there are some who refuse to allow the fields to lay forever fallow.

Demography of China Essay

The demographic situation in People’s Republic of China is one of the burning issues nowadays widely discussed in the global community. Today, China’s population is over 1. 3 billion, the largest of any country in the world. So every 5th person in the world is coming from China. The population of China is greater than the entire world 150 years ago. Every year the population of China increases by 14 million people (the number of people in Texas or Chile). Each decade it increases by about 130 million (more than the population of Japan). About 39,000 new people are added every day. Cultural prerequisites for such family expanding tradition: The Chinese traditionally prefer early marriage, early child-bearing, and large families. Each married women usually raises between five and six children. The Chinese say: â€Å"†¦ more children means great happiness†. Population Problems in China. There is a great number of social, economic and environmental problems evoked by the demographic situation. * High unemployment rate. The competition to find a job is very high and as Chinese people saying themselves: â€Å"I’m frightened for my children`s future, China’s biggest problem is the population†. As a result a lot of people migrate to a bigger cities or to neighboring countries to seek for a job. * Water and food shortages. As the world’s population increases, so too does its need for food and water – the two resources which are absolutely necessary to sustain life. The Asian giant has been warned by one of its own groundwater experts to either cut its food production or else face â€Å"dire† water levels, especially in the dry northwest plains. If not, aquifers will sink to â€Å"dire† levels not seen in 30 years. For example, the yellow river is dying up. The river has been overused and abused. Dozens of dams block its flow, drawing off huge quantities of water to grow cotton in the desert. * Housing shortages. China has an acute shortage of housing, attributable not only to the large annual increases in population (over 10 million a year) that must be accommodated but also to the long-standing policy of directing investment funds into heavy industry rather than into housing and other social amenities. As a result of expensive housing, people are forced o live in poor conditions and share a flat with big number of people. * Chronic air and water pollution problems are now evident in rural and urban areas throughout the country. China didn’t join Kiyoto protocol, so having a well- developed industry it keeps on emitting CO2 in great quantities. Air pollution is all over China, even harming the most picturesque locations. Acid rain is also a common place. * All of these are issues that the Chinese government must struggle and find a lot of solutions in order improve the lives of its people.

Democracy and the Constitution essays

Democracy and the Constitution essays In the excerpt from 21 Debated, the authors discuss their opinions on why the Constitution is such a vital part of our political system. They offer suggestions on how our government could rekindle the passion for the democratic system that was so prevalent during the past century and a half. The authors also acknowledge the apathy displayed by todays citizens over the democratic process as well as reasons for the discontent. I will examine the articles and discuss their meaning. Although the Constitution is a nearly flawless document, the system that was spawned from its creation has issues that need addressing. The Constitution is simply a set of rules about making rules. It is full of regulations and principles, such as the separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism. Overall, the Constitution is the outline of our government and political processes. It is unbelievable how little the Constitution has changed in over two hundred years withstanding all the political turmoil this country has been through. Jonathan Schnell and Sebastian Mallaby view the Constitution in two different views. Jonathan Schnell believes the Constitution yields too much power to Congress. Similarly, Sebastian Mallaby considers the Constitution disallows power to the people by having elections every two and four years. The two authors discuss various faults in our democratic process. Jonathan Schell notes the difference between the impeachments of President Nixon and President Clinton as abuses of power in the office. Whereas Nixon was accused of using government forces to work for him, Clintons crime was more self-disrespecting. In each case however, the bodies of the government became part of a trial. Charges are brought up against the President and the Senate holds the trial. The whole process is presided by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. But to pr ...

Why study policing History essays

Why study policing History essays To study history itself is not to just present facts but allows for interpretations of the past and establishes meanings through the researching of historical documentations left by people of other times and places. To understand the past, is to understand the present and the future to come. History allows for interpretations and evaluation of contemporary way of life and provides sociological perspectives into the many questions that surround the never-ending issues associating with the way things are done in the modern society. Policing dates back during the Anglo-Saxon times in England, where Kings demanded loyalty and obedience from those who were serving him, in return he provided security and protected them from invaders. Kind Alfred the Great (ruled from 871 till he died in 899 ) formulated the codes of law back in that era, thus the type of internal police force evolved prior to what most people would consider the creation of policing. As noted above, the history of policing does not begin with the implementation of Sir Robert Peels principles of policing which established the Metropolitan Police in 1829. For the centuries between King Alfred and Peels principles - law and order depended upon the parish constable who was a household chosen by fellow villagers or townsmen to serve for one year. The constables duty was to arrest wrongdoers and bring them before the justice of peace. Watchmen also were employed to help constables and patrol the streets at night. It is clear that policing has had diverse roles and operations within its historical content, yet the underlying purpose has been to preserve order and stability within the society. The study of policing history is vital because it allows for the past theories of policing to be differentiated from modern policing however the permanence of police organisations, the stability of the profession and the occupational sub-cu ...

Weed Is it Good Or Bad essays

Weed Is it Good Or Bad essays Legalizing drugs in America is one of the talked about topics in todays day and age. With the increase in drug addiction in the United States some say it would be better to just legalize the majority of drugs and tell people of the good and bad side effects so that it will be the consumers fault for taking the drug, not the producer who is rightfully to blame. Others believe that legalizing drugs is the opposite way in which the United States intends to go and that marijuana is a treacherous drug that has permanent side effects and is psychologically addictive. Leading consumers to believe that some drugs are more addictive then other drugs is falsifying facts because all drugs are addictive and all drugs are dangerous that is the same thing as saying not all candy causes cavities when all candy does cause cavities and excessive amounts are harmful. Gore Vidal the author of Drugs says that Yet it seems most unlikely that any reasonable sane person will become a drug addict if he knows in advance what addiction is going to be like. Marijuana better know as weed or pot proves this statement wrong because weed seems to be a harmless drug but in reality it is one of the most dominate and dangerous drugs in todays society. Marijuana is called a gateway drug because it leads to uses of more deadly drugs such as heroin, speed, cocaine and crack just to name a few. It has been stated that The risk of using cocaine has been estimated to be more than 104 times greater for those who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it(NIH 5 ). Once people get all the good side effects from marijuana they will want to get a better longer lasting effect from other drugs which can be very detrimental. Marijuana can be even more treacherous when mixed with other drugs such as coke, PCP, and embalming fluid which is the latest craze but mixing these drugs with marijuana cause s ...

Commercial Law and Transactions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Commercial Law and Transactions - Essay Example 30). This rule states that if a bona fide purchaser unknowingly purchases and subsequently sells stolen goods, he will be held liable in common law for the whole market price of those goods as at the date of transaction (Atiyah, 2005, p. 28). Common law states that the proper owner of the goods retains the legal title; as such, the nemo dat rule applies to the successive bona fide purchasers, implying that the actual owner can successfully bring an action against the fifth bona fide purchaser in trover as decided in Beverly Acceptances Ltd. v. Oakley, (1982) RTR 417.1 Goode (2004, p. 16) notes that even though this rule was put in place to protect the true owners of personal property and to allow them to assert their superior title over anyone else over the property, the rule propagates to a greater extent injustice to bona fide purchasers. Besides, it propagates injustice to third parties who are innocent making them lose their claim the moment the true owner appears to assert his t itle (Sealy, Hooley, and Hooley, 2008, p. 23). Therefore, in order to prevent injustice on the bona fide purchaser and third parties, there are a number of exceptions to nemo dat rule which have been put in place in English law as noted in Lowther v. Harris, (1927) 1 K.B 393.2 It is worth noting that these exceptions only provide a certain degree of protection to the bona fide purchaser and innocent third parties as well as well as the true or original owner (Goode, p. 2009, p. 45). In the English Law, this principle is clarified under the Sale of Goods Act. The Sale of Goods Act 1994 specifies that the seller has to fulfil certain responsibilities before goods are sold legally. Rose (2001, p. 14) says that one of the most important clause of this rule is the ‘retention of title’ that allows the seller to retain the title of goods until the goods have been fully paid for. This clause forms a crucial part of any standard conditions and standard of sale. In Coventry Shepa rd & Co. v Great Eastern Railway Co., (1883) 11 QBD 776 it was decided that the original owner or the person authorised to sell the goods by its owner has the right to sell the goods and the buyer is enabled to enjoy possession of those goods free from any interference from any other party.3 As has been noted, there are several statutory exceptions to the nemo dat rule and they include the following: The first exception is estoppel, which implies that the buyer will acquire the title of the goods if the owner of the goods asserts right to sell. Bridge (1997, p. 18) explains that estoppels may be raised through the following ways; conduct, words, and negligence. Estoppel by conduct is whereby the owner’s conduct indicates that he has the right to sell the goods as decided in Henderson & Co v Williams [1895] 1 QB 521.4 Estoppel by words is whereby there is an express authority by the owner that the seller has the right to dispose of the goods (Markesinis and Munday 1998, p. 34) . Estoppel by negligence arises when the owner carelessly allows his goods to come into possession of a different person and that rogue goes ahead and sells it to innocent third