Electrical Rotary Actuators Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Electrical Rotary Actuators - Essay Example Actuators are devices used for driving various types of objects to obtain a desired amount of displacement. This displacement may be of a linear or rotary nature. The driving force of an actuator may be generated by either an electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic input. The rotary actuators discussed here, are concerned with applications where a rotary displacement with a desired angle of rotation is required, and use electrical energy to generate the driving force. Construction: The basic components of an electric rotary actuator are a motor and a reduction gearbox mechanism. Electric rotary actuators drive components rotationally via electromagnetic power from a motor. The reduction gear translates the speed and torque of the motor to the required scale. Suitable damping and spring return mechanisms are also built in. The rotational element can either be a shaft or a table. Circular shafts often include keyways, while tables provide a bolting pattern to mount other components. They usually provide control and indexing capabilities to allow multiple position stops along strokes. Other auxiliary components include return springs, seals, limit switches for both ends of rotation span, etc. A simple rotary actuator model using a DC motor is considered for the study and analysis of the device. The DC motor directly provides a rotary motion. For practical application, this rotary displacement is transmitted into suitable transitional motion by attaching an output coupling mechanism, consisting of wheels or drums and cables. The figure 1 shows the electrical circuit of the armature, and the free body diagram of the rotor of the DC motor.Electrical circuit of Armature Free body diagram of rotor Figure 1. In the electrical circuit of the armature, the resistance of the armature coil is represented by R in ohms, and the inductance is presented by L in henrys. The input source is shown as a voltage V. The back EMF produced, is shown as a voltage source, which opposes the input source. For the rotor free body diagram, the torque developed is T and rotation angle is . The effect of the moment of inertia of the rotor and damping method employed is also taken into the account. The damping is provided to avoid large overshoots of the rotational displacement. For the purpose of sample study, the following values of other parameters are initially assumed as: 1. Moment of Inertia of the rotor, ( J ) = 3.2284E-6 kg m^2 / s^2. 2. Damping ratio of the mechanical system, ( b ) = 3.5077E-6 Nms 3.

Blind Date Script Essay Example for Free

Blind Date Script Essay Far From The Madding Crowd Blind Date Script. Graham: Its Blind Date! And here is your host, Miss Cilla Black! Cilla: Hello ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Blind Date. In a moment well be meeting the lucky lady who gets to pick from one of these gorgeous guys! So, lets meet the boys! So, hello number 1; whats your name and where do you come from? Bo: Good Evening, Cilla. My name is William Boldwood, and I am from Weatherbury. C: Nice to meet you, William. So tell everyone a bit about yourself. Bo: Well, Cilla, I am a 42 year old bachelor, I own a large farm, and. Im incredibly wealthy! C: And, I understand, correct me if Im wrong love, that you have had a nasty experience involving a Valentines card? Bo: That is correct, Cilla. I once received a Valentines card through in the mail, and I had no idea who the sender was. I was a little afraid, you see, it could have been anything. So, I erm, placed it on my mantelpiece. Well, then I couldnt stop thinking of it, so I stared at it for quite some time. C: How long for, love? Bo: For a matter of days, Cilla. C: Oh dear. Well I for one am always scared when the postman comes, I mean, when them bills get posted through my door I know Im too terrified to open them for a week! C: Alright love, well, best of luck tonight, and please dont be scared of the date cards if youre picked cause weve only got so long, you know. Okay, number two, whats your name and where do you come from? T: Hello, Cilla, my love, my names Frank Troy and Im from Weatherbury too! C: Hiya Frank. Tell us all a bit about yourself, love. T: Well, Im 31, Im a Sergeant in the Army, so I travel a lot, and I enjoy sword fighting, so I spend a lot of my spare time practising that, and, Im quite skilled if I may say so myself. C: Oh really? Come on, then. Show us some moves! (Troy shows off with sword techniques). C: Wow, I wouldnt want to be on the receiving end of that lot! Eh, thanks very much love, well done. Best of luck tonight, but if you win, leave the sword at home, wont you? Hello number three, whats your name and where do you come from? O: Eh Cilla, me names Gabriel Oak an I be from Weatherbury as well. C: Hiya, chuck, why dont you tell everyone a bit about yourself? O: Well, Im 28 an I work on a farm in Weatherbury, Cilla. C: And I heard that you used to own your own farm, is that right? O: Ay, that be correct, Cilla, I used to ave some lovely little sheepies, but, sadly, most of em died in a tragic accident. C: Awwwwww (Sympathy) O: Yer, so maybe, even though I dont ave a lot, shell still be willing to ave me. Then Ill know she be genuine an all that. An it could get me a few sympathy votes as well, But I wont let on until after the show, just in case. C: A man with a plan! Well, you probably wont even need to use the sheep story Gabriel, Im sure youll be fine. And may the best fella win. Good luck to all of you. Now, guys and girls, lets meet the lucky lady who gets her pick of one of these gorgeous guys! (Bathsheba enters) C: Hello love, and you are Bathsheba, is that right? B: Yes Cilla, thats right. C: And where are you from, Bathsheba love? B: Im from Weatherbury Cilla. C: Oh I didnt see that one coming. Now, what sort of thing are you looking for, and hoping to find tonight in one of our top-class bachelors? B: Well, Im looking for someone who will flatter me but also stand up to me. Im very independent. C: Oh, thats right, you own a farm, dont you? B: I do indeed, Cilla. C: Well, lets hope those three blokes over there stand up to you more than your farm animals do. And lets hope they smell better an all. B: well I wont know until the date, but lets hope so. C: Alright love. Lets get on with your three questions then. Fire away! B: Hello boys! ALL: Hello Bathsheba! B: Okay, my first question is; If I was an animal, I would be a tiger, because I could definitely use a little taming. If you were an animal, what would you be, and why? That goes to number 1, please. Bo: Well, Bathsheba, I would be a snake, a boa constrictor, so I would be able to wrap myself around you, and squeeze you as tight as I can. B: And to number 2, please. T: Well, I would be a fox, most obviously because of my red coat, but also because I hunt my prey and always get what I want. B: And, lastly, to number 3, please. O: Well, I would probably be a sheep, because, apart from being cute n cuddly, I would follow you round as a sheep does and always be with you. B: Okay, 2nd question. If I were a type of food, I would be a curry, because I am hot and spicy! What food would you be, and why? That is to number 2, please. T: Well, I would be Egg and Soldiers, so you could have a dip in me anytime! B: And to number 3, please. O: Okay, if I was a food, I would be Shepherds Pie, because I be a shepherd, and I be warm, tasty and simple. So, heat me up, and itll be dinner for two. B: And lastly, to number 1, please. Bo: If I was a sort of food, I would most certainly be Toad in the hole, because once you dig down to my deep centre and kiss the toad, I would be your handsome prince. B: And my last question is; I am a woman who likes to be pampered and showered with gifts. If you could give me one thing, what would it be and why? To number 3, please. O: Well, I dont ave a lot, you see, but I would give you my heart of gold, because that be all I wantin in return. B: And to number 1, please. Bo: I would give you anything you want, anything your heart desires. And the greatest gift any woman could wish for ME! B: And last but not least, to number 2, please. T: I would give you the sheath to my prized possession, my sword, because then I would be allowed to put my things inside yours. C: Oh well, Bathsheba, thats all your questions. But dont make your mind up yet, heres a bit of help from Our Graham! G: So Bathsheba, will it be Toady number 1, who will give you himself and squeeze you tightly, just dont send him any mail! Or, will it be foxy number 2, who likes nothing better than putting on his Soldier coat and doing sword tricks just keep the toast away from his yolk. Or, will you decide on warm and simple number 3, and if on your date his sheepy antics get on your nerves, you could always sell that gold heart he gave you. THE DECISION IS YOURS! C: So who will it be love 1, 2 or 3? B: Im going to have to go with number 3, Cilla. C: Oh, but what about the two you turned down? (introduces Troy, then Boldwood they leave) C: So here is your Blind Date, you picked number one, that was Gabriel Oak from Weatherbury come in Gabriel! (Gabriel and Bathsheba meet) C: Alright, are you pleased? (Both nod). Okay then, lets pick a date! Which one will be picking? O: Ill let the lovely lady here pick. (Bathsheba picks) B: A sightseeing trip to London! (Hands envelope to Cilla) C: It says here that the two of you will be seeing all the sights of the Famous London! Have either of you been there before? (both say no). Good. Then after that, youll be shopping til you drop and then staying in a luxury hotel! It says here lets hope that the two of you arent calling each other pigs by the end of the week! Okay, lets have a round of applause for Bathsheba and Gabriel!

Military Leaders in Developing Countries Essay -- Military Politics Ar

Military Leaders in Developing Countries The role of the military in any country is one of prestige. Unless having been through it personally, one could not imagine willingly subjecting oneself to the rigorous training received by so many young men and women today. The role played by the military is always to protect, defend, and assist its country in both war and peacetime, but in developing nations there are quite different roles as well. To be a leader in the armed forces, one must be strong both physically and mentally, as well as having a certain charisma, or skill with people. This is true because in order to lead, one must appeal to those he or she is leading. Not only does a developing country have armed forces for defense, but on occasion, the leaders of third world militaries use them for the overthrow of their own government. Currently serving as a soldier(reservist), I can identify with the saying, "spilling blood in the mud ," as we are trained, contracted, and sworn to do so on command, but if ever asked to he lp plan or execute an act against our government, I would be appalled. This is exactly what several third world country military officers have done. Momar Quadaffi was a Lieutenant in the Libyan military and with the help of some other lower ranking officers, he successfully staged a revolution. Which is not at all bad because he is so popular he can drive around in his Volkswagen Convertible without any type of security but could you imagine Bill Clinton riding a bike down Pennsylvania Avenue without the secret service along for the ride ( I apologize if I have just created a bad mental image)? The point is, where on earth could a group of officers secretly join together and overthrow the government, oth... ...itself. One could make several connections between Castro's military background and government. In conclusion, there are many ideals and virtues that are instilled when one goes through formal military training, and these involve leadership, charisma, and a fair sense of judgment. All of these virtues can be shown in several developing nation's leaders as they themselves have gone through rigorous physical and mental training in order to help them better defend their country and its way of life. Though each leader may differ in terms of race, color, creed, or culture, their primary objective and ideologies are quite similar. While each leader has his or her country's best interest at heart when making policies and decisions that have long-standing ramifications, one can be assured that these leaders and their policies are based upon their firm military training.

Management Challenges and Concerns Report Essay

The purpose of the Management Challenges and Concerns Report is to indicate the responsibilities of management and how to meet or exceed company goals. This report includes details of management challenges within a company. In addition, this report specifies possible causes and solutions to internal issues at work. This report shall prove how strategic planning, goals, productivity, and evaluating issues play a significant role in solving issues in human resource management entities. Some of the responsibilities of human resource management consist of providing employees with information on the company’s vision, goal, HIPPA privacy rights, and mission statement. In addition, employees receive information on safety rules, insurance benefits, compensation, employee relations, training, and orientation classes. These responsibilities are significant and require patience along with strong leaders. Human Resource Managers has to acquire a bachelor’s or master’s degree in management, management classes, and pass test. Also human resource management requires the following characteristics: positive, consistent, prompt, role model, team player, and strong leaders. Performance Management consist of appraisal system, driving appraisal process, evaluating employee performance, and performance counseling (Brewster & Soderstrom, 1994). Internal issues pertaining to employees consist of productivity, abiding by company rules, safety, passing training classes, and positive work ethics. Human Resource Management has rules and regulations in the company handbook to ensure consistency at work. These rules and regulations set the pace for a productive and professional workplace environment for employees and management. Internal issues may arise; however it is human resource management responsibility to solve any issues before any escalate. Employee Relations play an important role in solving internal issues by evaluation and resolution. Employee Relations consist of the following duties: grievance handling, discipline management, managing absenteeism, managing attrition, and employee termination (Brewster & Larsen, 2000). Strategic planning is vital because it provides a forecast for the company to follow in efforts to exceed goals and gain a competitive advantage. Goals and productivity shall be reasonable and achievable by following rules and the company mission statement. Management shall evaluate and solve internal issues with good decision-making and by the company handbook accordingly. In conclusion, this report specifies the responsibilities of human resource management in thorough details. The elements of solving internal issues consist of following strategic plans, goals, rules, and mission statement. As a result, the company shall gain a professional workplace environment, productivity, and competitive advantage. This report proves that following strategic plans and enforcing company guidelines are the foundation to positive work ethics and suceess. Reference Brewster, C., & Larsen, H. H. (2000). Human Resource Management in Europe: The Role of the Line. Human Resource Management in Northern Europe: Trends, Dilemmas and Strategy, Oxford, Blackwells . Brewster, C., & Soderstrom, M. (1994). Human Resource and Line Management. Policy and Practice in European Resource Management, London, Rourledge .

Apple Strategy Management Essay

Formerly known as Apple Computer, Apple Inc. has effectively became a successful company in a competitive consumer electronics industry. The firm managed to outsell others by being innovative and differentiating its products through superior service standards and high quality products. To ensure standards are met, Apple outsourced its manufacturing to a reliable third party electronics manufacturing company, Foxconn Technology. In recent years, the smartphone industry is moving towards commoditization. This resulted in intense competition where constant innovation is required to withstand its business marketability. Apple’s strategic capabilities such as having tailored hardware/software systems has enabled the corporation to position itself in term of value, rarity, inimitability and non-substitution. However, to continue gaining its market share as the best smartphone, the corporation might need to review its business suitability, so as to maintain its market leadership in t he industry. This strategic analysis and evaluation report will hence review Apple’s performance and sustainability through using business level strategies before strategic recommendations are decided upon. In order for Apple to continually retain its market position, the corporation might need to consider its business suitability such as its strategic direction. Through market development, the company can increase its presence in new market segments. There is a need to look into its R&D (Research & Development), so that new products with unique features can progressively developed. Table of Contents Introduction (300words) 372 Background Information Apple Inc. is a technological company that had achieved great success in designing, producing and selling its wide range of products categories including Mac, IPad, IPod and IPhone, which brings innovations in computers, media tablet, Portable music players and mobile phones respectively. In addition, Apple also offers a variety of related software, applications, services, networking solutions, peripherals and third-party digital content which represent a revolutionary era for innovation and differentiation of Apple. (reuters). Although touch screens in mobile devices are not new, Apple managed to be the first to achieve mass market adoption for that technology by creating and launching the first IPhone series in January 2007. The IPhone was so much ahead of its time that it virtually created a new category in the market leaving everyone else playing catch up (Elliot, 2012). The Apple’s target market includes teenagers, college and university students, business people, young children and kids and adults. As of September 29, 2012, it had 412 retail stores in 14 countries around the world. (Financial Report 2012) At the same time, Apple had an extensive 72,800 regular employees and an additional 3,300 temporary employees or contractors worldwide (Apple 3 year PnL). Financial Performance According to the financial report, the company recorded total net revenue of $156,508 million during the fiscal year 2012, which shows an increase of 63% over fiscal year 2011. In which net profit accounted for $41,733 million, a 61% increase over fiscal year 2011 (Apple 3 year PnL). As observed from the report, Apple’s gross profit margin had rise from 40.5% to 43.9% in the past 2 years. This is mainly the result of effective implementation of cost-leadership and differentiation strategy over the years. (Find source). Culture The firm’s pervious CEO, Steve Job (from 1997 – 2011) had created a culture in which vision are understood and is live by their employees. He believes that communicating the vision to the employee is almost as important as coming out with new products (Elliot. Jay, 2012). This culture was kept alive even when Tim Cook took over as CEO (from 2011 – current) which essentially kept all Apple’s employees on the same page and enact the vision with true passion (Elliot. Jay, 2012) which is key to strategic management (Find that book) Macro Environment Analysis (700words) 803 PESTEL Analysis PESTEL analysis will be used to understand Apple’s external environment and gain an insight of Apple’s future business potential, market situation and operations directions. There are six elements in the PESTEL analysis; Political, Economical, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal (Find source). Considering developments, trends, indicative incidents at the global levels, we identify that Social, Technological and Legal element of the PESTEL analysis pose a much significant impact on Apple’s mobile phone SBU as compared to the rest. Social Apple’s social environment is one of key contributor for its success today and will continue to lead it into greater height in future (wei kang, 2013). It’s ‘think different’ slogan is the unique combination of simplicity, creativity and luxury image into the product that reflects the user’s individual identity and the desire to be different (Schneiders, 2011). Apple’s pervious CEO Steve Job always had a sense of what consumer really wanted and adjusted the company’s products line to meet their wants. In other words he tells them what they should love (VERGANTI, 2010). This is a phenomenon known as the cult marketing in which people do not know their wants until cult marketers present it to them (RAGAS & BUENO, 2005). In simple terms, Cult marketing is actually a tool used in strategy to strengthen customer loyalty (Schneiders, 2011). This element has significant positive impact as it allows Apple to have the strongest customer loyalty in the world and achieve the highest repurchase rate in the electronic field (MacNN, 2006). This effect can be seem worldwide whenever Apple launch their new product, Apple’s fans would camp for days in front of the store only to get one of its newest innovation. This shows that Apple’s users really love Apple unlike most others (NUSSBAUM, 2005). In addition, due to the technology development, Apple’s Products such as the IPhone are no longer being viewed as luxuries but real necessities goods (source). To succeed in the long run, Apple should follow and abide to its guiding principle; ‘don’t follow your customers; Lead them’ which implies that consumer need to be shown a superior alternative which Apple distinguishes itself and provide these alternatives (MacVarish, 2009). Technological The market for mobile phone and other electronic products that Apple offers puts them in a hyper competition environment driven by the fast pace of technological changes. Companies like Apple which manufacture such products will have to continually invest substantial amount of money on research and development (R&D) to produce better performance, new feature and better design products to counter the short life cycle and frequent introduction of new products in the market (source). According to MacVarish, one of Apple’s guiding principle for their innovation strategy was ‘Be your own toughest Critic’. In which, Apple aims to offer new product lines that replaces older products making their them obsolete and thus preventing competitor from doing so. With this principle to beat itself, Apple managed to beat its competitors too (MacVarish, 2009). Ultimately this enable Apple to lead the market as it did in the launching of the different generation of IPhone especially IPhone 5 which become the world’s best-selling Smartphone worldwide during the 4th quarter of 2012 (Maisto, 2013). As a result, Apple’s R&D expense increases exponentially from $1.782 billion in 2010 to $3.381 billion in 2012 (Apple 3 year PnL). Due to their research intensive nature to keep innovation ahead of competitors, Apple becomes less cost-effective in saturated markets and is exposed to greater risk if it’s R&D does not come through (source). Legal The intellectual property war has long being used as tool in technology and management strategy by companies such as Apple to gain strategic advantage against their competitors. Apple alone has filled as many as 250,000 patents for the IPhone and other Smartphone covering the design and functionality of these products (Cusumano, 2008). Apple had lawsuits all around the world with its competitors such as Samsung, Motorola and Nokia both suing and being sued over violation of each other’s patents (source). One such case is the lawsuit in the U.S between the Apple and one of its top smart phone competitor; Samsung in which the jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damage and ordered some of Samsung’s Smartphone products off shelf in parts of the US (source). This verdict allows the IPhone to gain distinctive advantage in the US market and at the same time helped Apple in advertising and broadcast IPhone originality. In addition the amount of damage awarded to Apple could be counted as revenue which eventually increases the profit margin significantly for of Apple that quarter. In conclusion, while most lawsuits Apple filed comes with little success, any court decisions that verdict in favor of Apple’s patents will likely allow IPhone to remain distinctive in the market (Cusumano, 2008). Industry (Competitive) Analysis 815 Michael Porter’s 5-forces model Apple’s competitive position and its attractiveness in the smart-phone market can be explained in analyzing the Porter’s 5-Forces framework (Porter, 1980). Using the competitive forces, it would identify the competitiveness and its ability to position itself with diversification. It will show its sustainability and profitability of its iPhone series. Threat of Potential Entry/Barriers to entry – LOW The smart-phone industry is saturated and poses strong barriers to potential entrants who are keen to enter the market. Presently, there are a few well-established competitors that have a large market share and economies of scale which limits new entrants from entering. Its strong brand presence and consumer loyalty is a hindrance to potential entrants (Bostic, 2013). New entrants require a large amount of capital investment, so as to compete against the market leaders. Due to large economies of scale, it is nearly impossible for this new entrants to enter and gain substantial market share. Sometimes, there is a need for new entrant to innovate such as creating distinctive features or software to compete. But this usually brought about by lack of resources as investing in ample resources does not come cheap. Legal terms such as patents and trademarks serves as a barrier to new entrants. New entrants also face barriers such as legal terms. These are usually patents or trademarks that the dominants players have. This market leaders such as Apple Inc have patents on its designs of iPhones including software such as iTunes. This prevents any infringements from new entrants to copy similar ideas. After all, Apple is still a dominant player in the smart-phone market and competing against Apple really requires a new entrant high start-up costs. Reference: Bostic, K, (2013), â€Å"Study finds 20% of Apple iPhone users switched away from Android in past year†, Apple Insider Porter, M, (1980), â€Å"Competitive Strategy: Techniques for analyzing industries and competitors†, Free Press, Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group Rivalry between competitors – HIGH The smart-phone market is very well-developed and there is a high degree of concentration. It is controlled by a few large competitors which are Apple’s strong rivalry. This are dominant smart-phone players such as Samsung, LG and HTC Mobile which has high capital investments. Smart-phones have become a commodities item that any person will require. As such, dominant players have been placing an emphasis on competitive pricing. This will enable them to gain an edge over competitors. These competitors are generally of comparable size with Apple in its operations. Due to stiff rivalry, Apple will differentiate itself in terms of design features and functionalities. Its competitors have also aggressively seek a leadership position in the smart-phone market by constantly innovating and seeking new changes. The result of technology advancement has also caused an increased competition to seek change in the industry. This in turn results in rivalry among smart-phone players to stream line its products and constantly refreshed its gadgets to meet the demand, so as to stay in competition. (Apple Inc Report, 2009). References: Apple Inc. SEC 2009 Form 10-K Filing Page 16 Threat of substitutes – MODERATE It may seems that Apple has a variety of substitutes in the market, but the nature of Apple’s products sets itself apart from competitors. Although it may seem that Apple has an extensive array of substitutes in the market, but its proprietary nature of products sets itself apart from competitors. Presently, its threat of substitutes of its smart-phones (e.g: iPhone5) are still moderate. But competitors are already riding on its successes by constantly innovating and substitutes it with a similar product in the market. In general, Apple sources its parts from various suppliers, thus keeping itself unique in the smart-phone market. As such, Apple still have to constantly stay innovative and price conscious so as to effectively positioned itself against other competitors with a strong branding and following. As such, its differentiation strategy can effectively diversified itself from others. Bargaining Power (buyers) – LOW There are many smart-phone brands in the market that is a substitute to Apple’s iPhones, but the bargaining power by buyers remain low. The main fact is that Apple’s focuses on differentiating its products from its competitors. Its unique designs, features and cult marketing are testimony to its loyalty by buyers. Its niche market in the smart-phone industry also makes buyers less sensitive on product pricing. Customers or loyal fans of Apple are still willing to pay regardless of the price. Although major retailers or businesses have some relative power to bargaining due to its bulk volume, individual buyers still have no control especially on their product pricing. Apple’s lack of third party options also means that buyers have less options for other product. Bargaining Power (Suppliers) – LOW Apple relies on a variety of suppliers in its manufacture for smartphones. Usually, it is not limited to just one single supplier for various components in the assembly of its smartphones. As such, this leaves Apple’s suppliers with less bargaining power over prices. This enables Apple to successfully create a competitive advantage over its competitors in the market (Apple Annual Report, 2012). Due to its bulk quantities of components, Apple Inc can have a leverage over suppliers through negotiating better terms and pricing. This allows Apple to have a lower cost structure and ensures a higher profit margin as compared to its competitors. Apple’s Strategic Capabilities 684 Analysis Apple’s integrated system of hardware and software has enabled the firm to successfully market and develop to be their most valuable strategic resources (Dhaliwal, 2009). It was their former CEO, Steve Jobs that pulled Apple’s back to the growth stage. Apple’s talented team of software engineers, programmers and designers are the firm’s key resources in innovating. This enables Apple to utilize their knowledge to successfully create a tailored hardware and software system which serve as its key capabilities. Its integration in its key capabilities has allowed Apple to create a competitive advantage and sustainability in the market (â€Å"Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition,† 2009). Resource/Capability| Value| Rare| Imitate| Non-substitution| Relationships with OEMs| √| | √| | Retail locations| √| √| √| | Tailored Hardware/Software Systems| √| √| √| √| Figure 1: VRIN Table Applying VRIN, The VRIN model, a four key criteria resource-based view, examines if Apple Inc. uses its strategic resources to create a competitive advantage. Relationships with OEMs Apple holds good relations with its OEM business partners in China. It includes companies such as Foxconn and Hon Hai Precision Industry. This close relationships that the firm maintains with its partners assures that the outputs produced are superior and of high quality. This allows Apple to be ahead of other smart-phone manufacturers who prefers not to outsource production. Value: Its strong relationships maintained with its business partners allow Apple to take advantage of opportunities by Foxconn, such as cheap manufacturing costs. This ensures that the firm can provide a sustained value in its products and thus reducing any threats (Barney, 1991). Inimitability: Competitors can still imitate by following Apple’s strategy of finding an OEM partner. But what sets Apple apart from the rest, is its ability to maintain its development of software, which others has problems imitating despite having an OEM partner. The intention of Apple Inc. is to integrate multiple functions into developing an Apple product. This will ensure Apple’s users get the most value when they purchase the final product. Apple Inc. ability of combining all 5 aspects of key strategic resources/capabilities into one, allows the firm to be ahead of competitors due to its sustained value and its success in taking opportunities and reducing threats. (Barney, 1991). Retail Locations The introduction of Apple’s retail stores provide the corporation with a physical presence and convenience to its customers. It allows Apple to create a store image by providing an attractive store front and superior customer service. This key resource serves as an important value to Apple which is a relative rarity in the industry. Value: Its strategic locations of its retail stores worldwide provide consumers with the ability to reach its products easily. This gives Apple a competitive advantage against competitors. Rarity: Apple’s strategy in positioning its store and differentiating its products ensures that the firm is in a leadership position. Its unique factors of its strategic retail location are a rarity to the organization. Talented software development teams Apple has a capable team of software developers. This are often carefully chosen by the corporation and serves as Apple’s most talented programmers. They assist Apple with introducing important products. But often developers of this caliber are not rare in the IT industry, neither are they tough to imitate. Hence other smart-phone manufacturers such as Samsung Mobile can also train or hire strong caliber of developers too. Industrial Design Capability Industrial design capability is one of Apple Inc. strategic resource that serves as a function of its innovation ability. Its capability of its innovative design teams are valuable to the corporation. Its innovative design teams also have strong teamwork which forms one of Apple Inc. strategic resource too. This enables Apple to indeed be very valuable, rare among its competitors and also its difficulty in imitation. Tailored Hardware/Software Systems Apple Inc. competitive advantages among competitors are having a tailored hardware and software systems. It is one of Apple’s most important abilities as it is only specifically designed and built in its integrated products. Its ‘closed system’ styles also form its specialty as most competitors relied on third party software. One example would be Samsung Mobile adopting the Google’s Android market. Its capability of combining its own design, software development, hardware programmers ensures its competitive advantage. Value: The benefits of having its own hardware and software ensure that the firm provides value to its consumers. Rarity: The rarity of having a dynamic team of talented staff allows the firm to develop specialized hardware and software which are unique to the company. This are important factors which identifies Apple’s power in the industry. Inimitability: Apple’s inimitability in most of its strategic capabilities allows the firm to be of a competitive advantage than its competitors. In particular, its tailored software, iOs app store was developed ahead of its competitor, Samsung mobile who adopted the Google Play store. Though Apple has a talented team of software developers, this is still inimitable as competitors can train and develop staff. In general, Apple’s strong strategic capabilities still prevent competitors from intimidating. Non-substitution: In general, Apple’s products are substitutable with alternative products. The reason that sets apart from its competitors is its brand identity and its tailored hardware and software. This development serves as a unique factor which no third-party can substitute. Sustainability as Competitive Advantage To successfully sustain Apple’s continued performance and competitive advantage, its management may consider seeking exclusive partnerships or arrangements with its OEM partners to bring costs down and probably reaching out to more countries with expansion of Apple’s stores. These strategies will allow Apple to continually lead the market with its dominance and market share. Value The intention of Apple Inc. is to integrate multiple functions into developing an Apple product. This will ensure Apple’s users get the most value when they purchase the final product. Apple Inc. ability of combining all 5 aspects of key strategic resources/capabilities into one, allows the firm to be ahead of competitors due to its sustained value and its success in taking opportunities and reducing threats. (Barney, 1991). Rare In the smart-phone industry, there are many brands that compete directly with Apple iPhones. But what stands out against competitors is Apple’s ability to position and differentiate its products. Its innovativeness in industrial design, specialized hardware/software and its strategic retail location allows Apple to gain its uniqueness in the market. This assures Apple Inc. as a successful organisation due to its brand identity and superior quality.Inimitate Apple’s inimitability in most of its strategic capabilities allows the firm to be of a competitive advantage than its competitors. In particular, its tailored software, iOs app store was developed ahead of its competitor, Samsung mobile who adopted the Google Play store. Though Apple has a talented team of software developers, this is still inimitable as competitors can train and develop staff. In general, Apple’s strong strategic capabilities still prevent competitors from inimitating. Non-substitution Generally, Apple’s products are substitutable with alternative products. The only reason that sets apart from its competitors are its brand identity and ability to keep hold of Apple’s fans. Its talented teams of software developers and tailored hardware/software are an uniqueness to Apple and no third-party can be substituted. Business Strategy 781 Strategy Statement An analysis shows that there is a strategy shift in Apple for its smart Phone business as the company had a change in leadership since 2012. Apple’s current goal is to give its consumer the best product experience by offering superior high and low-middle end products that are user friendly, innovative in design and feature, integrate seamlessly and excellence sales and post-sale support experience for consumers (forbes). Generic Competitive Strategy Apple’s is pursuing a hybrid combination of product differentiation and cost leadership strategy. With the combination of the 2 strategy, Apple managed to achieve high profit margin where it produces its smart phone cheaply and selling them at a premium price. Competitive scope (broad target) Under Tim cook’s (CEO of Apple from 2012- current) lead, Apple started to explore new territory by building on the success of its current smart phone business unit and expanding it into emerging markets. This strategy is seen to be put into action with the announcement of the IPhone 5s and IPhone 5c (a watered-down version of the IPhone series) launch (Apple main website). With the dual launch of the IPhone 5s and IPhone 5c, Apple managed to position its product in both the premium and non-premium category respectively that offers 2 price points. The IPhone 5s will continue to address their current market while the IPhone 5c will catered to more price sensitive customer base especially from the emerging market. Competitive Advantage (Lower cost and Differentiation) Given that Apple will be having a dual IPhone launch with almost the same design, features and running on the same operating system (ISO 7), it will achieve economies of scope where cost factors such as advertising and research and development will be shared. In addition, the 2 IPhone caters to different market segment, allowing Apple to have a larger addressable market where economies of scales can be achieved by driving supplier’s cost down with the promise of increase order quantity. These factors will help Apple deliver cost leadership in the smart phone industry. However despite the increasing effort in research and development to bring about innovation and to differentiate their smart phone, Apple failed to produce sufficient uniqueness and dimension that is valued by their consumer. In fact, Apple is replicating its previous IPhone model with minimum introduction of ‘game-changing’ features. The company’s reduce pace of innovation can be inferred fro m its latest launched flagship IPhone, the IPhone 5s which retains the dimensions and design of its pervious flagship; Phone 5 with little addition to its feature and performance (yahoo news). Value Chain Apple.inc has been able to perfect the chain of activities in innovation. Apple starts from its new ideas of product design through R&D with its strategy capability and extensive funding. Then manufacturers it and finally markets it wholeheartedly. The process of transforming inputs into outputs compromises a number of primary and support activities† (Hill and Jones, 2001, p.133). Each value is considered to be a source of competitive advantage. Value chain analysis is a powerful tool for managers to identify the key activities within the firm which form the value chain for that organisation, and have the potential of a sustainable competitive advantage for accompany. Therein, competitive advantage of an organisation lies in its ability to perform crucial activities along the value chain better than its competitors Technology Development Buying and R&D Inbound Logistics Most components are generally available from multiple sources; a number of components are currently obtained from single or limited sources. Hardware products are manufactured by outsourcing partner primary in Asia e.g. Foxconn. Delegate raw materials acquisition – Apple works with its OEM partners to delegate the raw materials acquisition process but provides some supervision for quality control purpose. Automated receiving systems – Apple has implemented sophisticated automated receiving systems to speed up the receiving process and reduce facility footprint and storage space requirement That is a concern for suppliers. Apple’s smartphone margins are the highest in the industry. But as those margins come under pressure, Apple will push suppliers to cut costs. Flat-panel televisions followed a similar pattern, with margins for screens eventually falling to near break-even levels, says Alberto Moel, an analyst at Bernstein Research.( http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323610704578625540722848194.html) Outbound Logistics Apple used variety of direct and indirect distribution channel, such as retail stores,online stores and direct sales force, 3 Rd party cellular network carriers, wholesalers, retailers and value added resellers. Apple continue to expand and improve its distribution capacities by expanding the number of its own retail stores worldwide in order to ensure a high quality buying experience for its product. Economical packing – Apple employed teams of design and engineering experts who develop product packaging that’s slim and light yet protective. Efficient packaging design not only reduces materials and waste, it also helps reduce the emissions produced during transportation. Marketing & Sales http://www.docstoc.com/docs/121102555/Apple-Computer-Value-Chain http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/30/us-honhai-idUSBRE83T08K20120430 References used: Dhaliwal, A. (2009). â€Å"Apple’s Q4 results beat analysts? Estimates; quarterly profit rises to $1.67 billion.† Top News, retrieved on September 14, 2010 from: http://topnews.us/content/27794-apple-s-q4-results-beat-analysts-estimates-quarterly-profit-rises-167-billion â€Å"Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition.† (2009). Electronic Industry Code of Conduct. retrieved on September 14, 2010 from: http://www.eicc.info/PDF/EICC%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20English.pdf Barney J, (1991), â€Å"Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage†, Journal of Management, vol. 17, no1, p99-125 Identifying the strategy Generic Competitive Strategy Apple is pursuing a broad differentiation strategy. Apple differentiates by offering high-quality, exceptional design, and personalized service. The scope of their strategy is broad targeting customers ranging from unsophisticated beginner users to specials needs power-users. 1) Cost-leadership 2) Differentiation Business Suitability Apple Inc. is concerned with which strategic directions and methods suggested addressed the issues the corporation faced (Johnson & Scholes, 2008). It assists in determining the business suitability of strategic choices which relates to the strategic position. To test on Apple’s suitability on its proposed business strategies, the Porter’s value chain model is chosen to consider the internal factors of the organization. Strategic Directions Market Penetration Presently, Apple’s infrastructure is very well established and developed. But the corporation should still continue in its infrastructure developments, so as to achieve back its high market share in the smartphone industry. Its market penetration business strategy relies heavily on its primary activities such as inbound logistics, outbound logistics; and sales and marketing. To continue moving towards the market penetration direction, its support activities do play apart. The technology development will then be in a position to assist the support to the proposed strategy. Product Development Apple may need to consider a strategic drift to gain a competitive advantage in its business strategy. The product development strategy gets its assistance from support activities such as developing new products to meet customer demands. To increase its firm performance and market share, Apple is introducing new features such as finger sensor on its new iPhone5s and also colored version of its iPhone5c (Apple.com). This new features or product development somehow serves a determining factor whether Apple will achieve its business strategy or affects its corporate performance. Market Development At present, the firm is adopting the market development strategy. It assists Apple in venturing into new market segments. Thus, there is the importance to focus especially on the primary activities of inbound and outbound logistics, sales and marketing. Apple is still able to rely on its OEM partners for resources especially in manufacturing, which serves as Apple’s key competency. To move ahead, Apple might need to enter or develop new market, such as in developing markets which it has zero presence. With its strong alliance partner, such as Foxconn, Apple is able to utilize its logistics part and its strong sales and marketing to open up new market. Hence, these three suggested business strategies are suitable to evaluate the value chain, and Apple can carry any of these strategies ahead. Apple will need to consider which strategy will achieve its overall business objectives to sustain itself in the market. Conclusion Reference List 1) http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?symbol=AAPL.O (reuters) 2) http://files.shareholder.com/downloads/AAPL/2634031917x0x444195/E7A8FE5F-8835-46AB-ACC2-6FA28DFB546D/Three_Yr_Financial_History.pdf (Apple 3 year PnL) 3) Porter. ME, (2008), ‘The Five Competitive Forces that Sharpe Strategy’, Harvard Business Review, vol. 86, no. 1, pp. 78-93, Business Source Complete, (online) Available at: EBSCOhost database [Accessed:15 sept 2013] (Porter, 2008) 4) MacVarish, B. (2009, August 13). Guiding Principles of Apple Innovation.brucemacvarish.com. Retrieved January 29, 2010, from http://www.brucemacvarish.com/2009/08/guiding-principles-of-innovation-at-apple1-dont-follow-your-customers-lead-themapple-tends-to-place-less-emphasis-on-evide.html (MacVarish, 2009) 5) Cusumano, M 2008, ‘Technology Strategy and Management: The Puzzle of Apple’, Communications Of The ACM, 51, 9, pp. 22-24, Business Source Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 16 July 2013. (Cusumano, 2008) 6) http://www.forbes.com/sites/mobiledia/2012/02/19/nuts-apples-ceo-reveals-future-strategy-google-to-expand-into-hardware/ (forbes) 7) (http://sg.news.yahoo.com/photos/apple-unveils-iphone-5s-iphone-5c-slideshow/five-colors-iphone-5c-cases-photo-181338126.html) (yahoo news) 8)

Amyloplast Definition and Function

Amyloplast Definition and Function An amyloplast is an organelle found in plant cells. Amyloplasts are plastids that produce and store starch within internal membrane compartments. They are commonly found in vegetative plant tissues, such as tubers (potatoes) and bulbs. Amyloplasts are also thought to be involved in gravity sensing (gravitropism) and helping plant roots grow in a downward direction. Key Takeaways: Amyloplast and Other Plastids Plastids are plant organelles that function in nutrient synthesis and storage. These double-membrane, cytoplasmic structures have their own DNA and replicate independently of the cell.Plastids develop from immature cells called proplastids that mature into chloroplasts, chromoplasts, gerontoplasts, and leucoplasts.Amyloplasts are leucoplasts that function mainly in starch storage. They are colorless and found in plant tissues that do not undergo photosynthesis (roots and seeds).Amyloplasts synthesize transitory starch which is stored temporarily in chloroplasts and used for energy. Chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis and energy production in plants.Amyloplasts also help to orient root growth downward toward the direction of gravity. Amyloplasts are derived from a group of plastids known as leucoplasts. Leucoplasts have no pigmentation and appear colorless. Several other types of plastids are found within plant cells including chloroplasts (sites of photosynthesis), chromoplasts (produce plant pigments), and gerontoplasts (degraded chloroplasts). Types of Plastids This image of vertical section of a leaf was taken with a scanning electron microscope. Chloroplasts (green plastids responsible for photosynthesis) and other organelles are seen inside the cells. Clouds Hill Imaging Ltd./Corbis Documentary/Getty Images Plastids are organelles that function primarily in nutrient synthesis and storage of biological molecules. While there are different types of plastids specialized to fill specific roles, plastids share some common characteristics. They are located in the cell cytoplasm and are surrounded by a double lipid membrane. Plastids also have their own DNA and can replicate independently from the rest of the cell. Some plastids contain pigments and are colorful, while others lack pigments and are colorless. Plastids develop from immature, undifferentiated cells called proplastids. Proplastids mature into four types of specialized plastids: chloroplasts, chromoplasts, gerontoplasts, and leucoplasts. Chloroplasts: These green plastids are responsible for photosynthesis and energy production through glucose synthesis. They contain chlorophyll, a green pigment that absorbs light energy. Chloroplasts are commonly found in specialized cells called guard cells located in plant leaves and stems. Guard cells open and close tiny pores called stomata to allow for gas exchange required for photosynthesis.Chromoplasts: These colorful plastids are responsible for cartenoid pigment production and storage. Carotenoids produce red, yellow, and orange pigments. Chromoplasts are primarily located in ripened fruit, flowers, roots, and leaves of angiosperms. They are responsible for tissue coloration in plants, which serves to attract pollinators. Some chloroplasts found in unripened fruit convert to chromoplasts as the fruit matures. This change of color from green to a carotenoid color indicates that the fruit is ripe. Leaf color change in fall is due to loss of the green pigment chlorophyll, whi ch reveals the underlying carotenoid coloration of the leaves. Amyloplasts can also be converted to chromoplasts by first transitioning to amylochromoplasts (plastids containing starch and carotenoids) and then to chromoplasts. Gerontoplasts: These plastids develop from the degradation of chloroplasts, which occurs when plant cells die. In the process, chlorophyll is broken down in chloroplasts leaving only cartotenoid pigments in the resulting gerontoplast cells.Leucoplasts: These plastids lack color and function to store nutrients. Leucoplast Plastids This false-color transmission electron micrograph shows an amyloplast (large central body), a starch- containing plastid, found in a cell from the root cap of an onion. Amyloplasts contain large quantities of starch (blue globules). Dr. Jeremy Burgess/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Leucoplasts are typically found in tissues that dont undergo photosynthesis, such as roots and seeds. Types of leucoplasts include: Amyloplasts: These leucoplasts convert glucose to starch for storage. The starch is stored as granules in amyloplasts of tubers, seeds, stems, and fruit. The dense starch grains cause amyloplasts to sediment in plant tissue in response to gravity. This induces growth in a downward direction. Amyloplasts also synthesize transitory starch. This type of starch is stored temporarily in chloroplasts to be broken down and used for energy at night when photosynthesis does not occur. Transitory starch is found primarily in tissues where photosynthesis occurs, such as leaves.Elaioplasts: These leucoplasts synthesize fatty acids and store oils in lipid-filled microcompartments called plastoglobuli. They are important to the proper development of pollen grains.Etioplasts: These light-deprived chloroplasts do not contain chlorophyll but have the precursor pigment for chlorophyll production. Once exposed to light, chlorophyll production occurs and etioplasts are converted to chloroplasts.Proteino plasts: Also called aleuroplasts, these leucoplasts store protein and are often found in seeds. Amyloplast Development This image shows starch grains (green) in the parenchyma of a Clematis sp. plant. Starch is synthesized from the carbohydrate sucrose, a sugar produced by the plant during photosynthesis, and used as a source of energy. It is stored as grains in structures called amyloplasts (yellow). Steve Gschmeissner/Science Photo Library/Getty Images Amyloplasts are responsible for all starch synthesis in plants. They are found in plant parenchyma tissue which composes the outer and inner layers of stems and roots; the middle layer of leaves; and the soft tissue in fruits. Amyloplasts develop from proplastids and divide by the process of binary fission. Maturing amyloplasts develop internal membranes which create compartments for the storage of starch. Starch is a polymer of glucose that exists in two forms: amylopectin and amylose. Starch granules are composed of both amylopectin and amylose molecules arranged in a highly organized fashion. The size and number of starch grains contained within amyloplasts varies based on the plant species. Some contain a single spherical shaped grain, while others contain multiple small grains. The size of the amyloplast itself depends on the amount of starch being stored. Sources Horner, H. T., et al. Amyloplast to Chromoplast Conversion in Developing Ornamental Tobacco Floral Nectaries Provides Sugar for Nectar and Antioxidants for Protection. American Journal of Botany, vol. 94, no. 1, Jan. 2007, pp. 12–24., doi:10.3732/ajb.94.1.12. Weise, Sean E., et al. The Role of Transitory Starch in C3, CAM, and C4 Metabolism and Opportunities for Engineering Leaf Starch Accumulation. Journal of Experimental Botany, vol. 62, no. 9, 2011, pp. 3109–3118., doi:10.1093/jxb/err035.

Explain and critically discuss by reference Essays

Explain and critically discuss by reference Essays Explain and critically discuss by reference Essay Explain and critically discuss by reference Essay Explain and critically discourse by mention to the construct of builder s liability in carelessness, with full and appropriate treatment of instance jurisprudence, the intents and map of and practical justification for indirect guarantees in the building industry: The liability of a builder and their sub-contractors can be seen in regard to basic carelessness jurisprudence, the JCT and indirect guarantees with interested 3rd parties. This treatment will discourse the basic carelessness and contract rules under the JCT and how this applies to the builder, sub-contractors and the proprietor of the edifice. It will so concentrate on indirect guarantees and how these protect interested 3rd parties, in regard to carelessness and contract rules. The JCT has a double function in building and planning jurisprudence, the first to guarantee that sub-contractors do non mistreat the rights of the original contract between the building house and the proprietor of the belongings. The other function is to guarantee that the sub-contractor or contractor do non conflict the demands as set by the planning section, every bit good as planning and environmental ordinances. The undermentioned treatment will see the recent alterations in the JCT, every bit good as protecting the environmental and planning ordinances. One of the chief jobs when covering with sub-contractors is who is apt for defective work, the contractor or sub-contractor? In relation to the original contract between the proprietor of the belongings and the contractor the contractor is apt because they have employed the sub-contractor to make the specified work and if it is defective the owner’s contract is with the contractor and can non action a 3rd party, i.e. the sub-contractor. However the contractor will hold the ability to action the sub-contractor for defective work, as they have made a direct contract with the sub-contractor. However in relation to breaches of environmental or planning ordinances the path for departmental action is non so convoluted, because the planning and/or environmental sections can action the sub-contractor straight. The indirect guarantee, which has been strengthened with the protection of 3rd party to contract Torahs will exemplify a instance when the proprietor can be protected against the sub-contractor if this is signed between the two parties. This is because the collateral guarantee binds the sub-contractor to a party outside the contract. In add-on the contractor and sub-contractor can be bound to renters of the edifice, by indirect guarantees, if an interested 3rd party. Then the regulations of carelessness and contractual responsibilities are merely the same as between the contractor and the proprietor o f the edifice or in the instance of a sub-contractor and contractor. The footing of utilizing of a indirect guarantee to adhere 3rd parties in the edifice industry was with the determination of Woodar Investment Development Limited V Wimpey Construction UK Limited [ 1 ] , Lord Scarman stated that he hoped the instances which stand guard over this unfair regulation would be reviewed, where indirect guarantees were seen as valid contracts. Yet without this the 3rd party is non bound and it indicated the demand for legal reform, which occurred in 1999. In add-on action can be taken against the contractor for the actions of the sub-contractor because they employed them to execute the work ; therefore a causal nexus can be created to the direct breaches or negligent breaches of environmental or be aftering jurisprudence. The contracts between contractors and sub-contractors are regulated by the JCT, whereby specific signifiers and information, every bit good as mediation and actions are taken through this organic structure. The formation of this organic structure was to make a cohesive construction for traffics between contractors and sub-contractors. The instances that have been expeditiously been dealt with have included deceit [ 2 ] ; arbitration by an adept [ 3 ] ; contract disputes [ 4 ] ; 3rd party differences [ 5 ] ; environmental issues [ 6 ] ; amendss between the parties and 3rd parties [ 7 ] ; negligence [ 8 ] ; and the inquiring of a nexus between the contributory carelessness between contractors and sub-contractors. [ 9 ] In the instance associating contractor’s liability with sub-contractors it was found that it did non do concern sense to happen both parties liable merely those who had straight contributed to the leaks ( the sub-contractors ) these leaks caused considerable harm to the belongings every bit good as environmental harm. However because the individuals apt for the leak were sub-contractors and non employees therefore the contractor played no direct nexus to the harm caused. This makes really small sense because if the sub-contractors were direct employees so the contractor would be apt ; how different is this for a sub-contractor, because the contractor in world employs them? The undermentioned subdivision is traveling to see some recent developments in environmental jurisprudence, which ensures that all parties involved are someway apt for environmental harm, hence making a possible case in point in associating contractors to the sub-standard work of sub-contractors. However u nder traditional JCT jurisprudence a contractor would non be found apt for defects in a edifice unless physical hurt is evident and merely hold to transport out fixs to a point where the edifice is equal for its intended usage: A builder is non apt in civil wrong for the cost of rectifying defects in a edifice constructed by him if the defects do non present an at hand menace of physical hurt to the edifice s residents and the lone intent of the remedial plant is to render the edifice tantrum for its intended usage[ 10 ]. This seems to be the present tendency in English tribunals, nevertheless to supply a nexus from the liability of a sub-contractor to a contractor may turn out to be a spot excessively far for the English tribunals, particularly if there is no governing from the European tribunals because a batch of the consumer and occupier protection determinations have originated from Europe. However without the opinions coming from Europe there is the possibility that there will merely be enforcement for the sections of planning and the environment against the sub-contractor and non the contractor, which is the antonym for the proprietor of the edifice. The JCT creates comprehensive protection for the contractor, sub-contractor and proprietor of the belongings, but is less equipt to guarantee that all environmental and planning ordinances are adhered to. If there is a breach of planning and environmental ordinances, either by the contractor or sub-contractor the appropriate section has to acquire involved and the assorted countries of jurisprudence for action may do confusion whereby there is inefficient protection for the environment, dwellers and concerns of the community. Therefore this trumpeters that building, planning and environmental jurisprudence is non sufficient in its protection, hence either at that place needs to be a individual bureau covering with contractors and their possible breaches of different countries of jurisprudence. This seems to be the initial ground for the JCT but this seems to be focused on the contractual demands of the sub-contractor and contractor and breaches in the contract. The recent alterations in the JCT that have been made focal point on guaranting that the rights of the sub-contractor and contractor are upheld and there is no confusion in the contracts. This seems to be the focal point of the Major Project Form which outlines the responsibilities of the sub-contractor and contractor whereby: The JCT Major Project Form was launched last twelvemonth and prepared to react to the specific demands of those Employers who have in-house contractual processs and on a regular basis undertake major undertakings, and the Contractors with whom they work.The Sub-Contract reflects the format and attack of the Contract and anticipates that the Sub-Contractor will be likewise experienced in set abouting work on major undertakings and have the direction anvitamin D other resources necessary for the successful executing of this type of work.[ 11 ] The basic principles of contract jurisprudence hold that a contract is a adhering understanding between undertaking persons. The job with contract jurisprudence is when there are 3rd parties that could be affected as this means that perchance the contract is more than the understanding between the catching parties. Traditionally 3rd parties can non action against a contract ; nevertheless in the modern epoch when contracts are going wider this is non needfully the right method. An illustration is in consumer jurisprudence whereby an point is bought as a gift and because the individual having the point is non party to the contract the actions taken was limited. To counter this consumer protection Torahs were brought into drama, but this is non plenty because rental understandings or house gross revenues may besides impact 3rd parties. Therefore reform was necessary, which were cemented in theContracts ( Rights of Third Parties Act 1999 ( CRTPA ). The CRTPA 1999 appears to hold fulfilled the reforms and precautions of protecting involvement 3rd parties. In Section 1 ( 1 ) where purpose of confabulating a contract on a 3rd party is present or a term purports it is valid, which the footing of a indirect guarantee is. In Section 1 ( 2 ) it is held that if there is no original purpose so the contract will non be conferred on the 3rd party. In Section 1 ( 3 ) it is held that if the individual ( s ) is non identified by name, category, or description so no benefit can be conferred ; hence making the demand for there to be express purpose and designation of those 3rd parties that can action on the contract. The usage of the indirect guarantee holds those who have contracted to the edifice work to guarantee the safety and involvements of the 3rd party. This means that the sub-contractor may hold to subscribe a indirect guarantee with the proprietor and all renters, which means they are bound under the CRTPA 1999. It is possible to rea son that with the CRPTA that the collateral guarantee is no longer needed ; nevertheless there needs to a contractual indicant of including the 3rd party, which indicates that the collateral guarantee has merely been strengthened by the CRTPA 1999. Therefore with the JCT, CRPTA and the collateral warranty the 3rd party is protected if involvement is sufficient, which is of import for the liability between groups such as sub-contractor and proprietor of the edifice or builders and renters. Bibliography: J. Beatson, 1998,Anson’s Law of Contract ( 27ThursdayEdition ), Oxford, Oxford University Press Chappell, 2003,Understanding JCT Standard Building Contracts ( 7ThursdayEdition ), Taylor A ; Francis JCT,hypertext transfer protocol: //www.jctltd.co.uk JCT, 2004,The Sub-Contract for usage with the Major Project Form is published for JCT by RIBAE and is now available,hypertext transfer protocol: //www.jctltd.co.uk/stylesheet.asp? file=23032004120803 Lunney A ; Oliphant, 2000,Tort Law: Text A ; Materials, Oxford Uni Press J. Poole, 2000,Casebook on Contract ( 4ThursdayEdition ), London, Blackstone Prosser A ; Keeton, 1999,The jurisprudence of Tort 5ThursdayEdition, West Law Swarb, UK Law online,Construction,www.swarb.co.uk/lisc/construction Teubner G. ,Law as an Autopoietic System, ( 1993, Oxford, Blackwell ) Uff, J, 2002,Construction Law ( 8ThursdayEdition )London, Sweet A ; Maxwell Stephen Weatherill ( 2000 )Cases A ; Materials on EC Law ( 5ThursdayEd ), London, Blackstone Press

Cognitive Grammar - Definition and Discussion

Cognitive Grammar - Definition and Discussion Cognitive grammar is a  usage-based approach to grammar that emphasizes symbolic and semantic definitions of theoretical concepts that have traditionally been analyzed as purely syntactic.Cognitive grammar is associated with wider movements in contemporary language studies, especially cognitive linguistics  and functionalism. The term cognitive grammar was introduced by American linguist Ronald Langacker in his two-volume study Foundations of Cognitive Grammar (Stanford University Press, 1987/1991). Observations Portraying grammar as a purely formal system is not just wrong but wrong-headed. I will argue, instead, that grammar is meaningful. This is so in two respects. For one thing, the elements of grammar- like vocabulary items- have meanings in their own right. Additionally, grammar allows us to construct and symbolize the more elaborate meanings of complex expressions (like phrases, clauses, and sentences). It is thus an essential aspect of the conceptual apparatus through which we apprehend and engage the world.(Ronald W. Langacker, Cognitive Grammar: A Basic Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2008)Symbolic AssociationsCognitive grammar . . . chiefly departs from traditional theories of language in its contention that the way in which we produce and process language is determined not by the rules of syntax but by the symbols evoked by linguistic units. These linguistic units include morphemes, words, phrases, clauses, sentences and whole texts, all of which are deemed inherently sym bolic in nature. The way in which we join linguistic units together is also symbolic rather than rule-driven because grammar is itself meaningful   (Langacker 2008a: 4). In claiming a direct symbolic association between linguistic form (what it terms phonological structure) and semantic structure, Cognitive Grammar denies the need for an organizational system to mediate between the phonological and semantic structures (i.e. syntax).(Clara Neary, Profiling the Flight of The Windhover. (Cognitive Grammar in Literature, ed. by  Chloe Harrison et al. John Benjamins, 2014)​ Assumptions of Cognitive GrammarA Cognitive Grammar is based on the following assumptions... .:The grammar of a language is part of human cognition and interacts with other cognitive faculties, especially with perception, attention, and memory. . . .The grammar of a language reflects and presents generalizations about phenomena in the world as its speakers experience them. . . .Forms of grammar are, like lexical items, meaningful and never empty or meaningless, as often assumed in purely structural models of grammar.The grammar of a language represents the whole of a native speakers knowledge of both the lexical categories and the grammatical structures of her language.The grammar of a language is usage-based in that it provides speakers with a variety of structural options to present their view of a given scene.(G. Radden and R. Dirven, Cognitive English Grammar. John Benjamins, 2007)Langackers  Four PrinciplesA primary commitment to Cognitive Grammar is . . . to provide an optima l set of constructs for explicitly describing the linguistic structure. Its formulation has been guided throughout by a number of principles thought to be helpful in achieving such optimality. The first principle . . . is that functional considerations should inform the process from the outset and be reflected in the frameworks architecture and descriptive apparatus. Because the functions of language involve the manipulation and symbolization of conceptual structures, a second principle is the need to characterize such structures at a reasonable level of explicit detail and technical precision. To be revealing, however, descriptions must be natural and appropriate. Thus, a third principle is that language and languages have to be described in their own terms, without the imposition of artificial boundaries or Procrustean modes of analysis based on conventional wisdom. As a corollary, formalization is not to be considered an end in itself, but must rather be assessed for its utility at a given stage of an investigation. That no attempt has yet been made to formalize Cognitive Grammar reflects the judgment that the cost of the requisite simplifications and distortions would greatly outweigh any putative benefits. Finally, a fourth principle is that claims about language should be broadly compatible with secure findings of related disciplines (e.g., cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology). Nevertheless, the claims and descriptions of Cognitive Grammar are all supported by specifically linguistic considerations.(Ronald W. Langacker, Cognitive Grammar.  The Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Linguistics, ed. by  Dirk Geeraerts and Herbert Cuyckens. Oxford University Press, 2007)

Analytical Report on the core reasons for the dilution of the Assignment

Analytical Report on the core reasons for the dilution of the Singaporean spirit in youths and for them being uncomfortable in t - Assignment Example The most recent estimates place foreigners claiming at least 40 percent of the Singaporean labor force and more than a quarter of the 5 million residents registered in Singapore. (Chong 2010, p. 145) This phenomenon is not entirely surprising and is actually demonstrated in the experiences of countries who have adopted the same strategy – that of actively attracting immigration and pursuing foreign workers. The resulting multiculturalism and plurality in their respective societies have generated problems especially for native citizens. The seemingly universal consequence of this phenomenon is explained by the following perceptions: It is believed that the influx of foreign immigrants would mean less political and economic opportunities for the native citizens; Immigration erodes traditions and a nation’s way of life; Language and other cultural artifacts are endangered; Immigration would lead to a lowered quality of life, low standards in education, and so forth. (Hirsc hman, Kasinitz and DeWind 1999, p. 394) Most of the concerns that have been outlined above are actually valid. For instance, the sheer number of foreign residents in Singapore can hold hostage the government with regards to some policy issues by simply refraining to work. An excellent example is when a group of 100 Bangladeshi migrant workers gathered outside Singapore’s labour ministry, protesting for the release of their severance salary. (Reuters 2009) The protesters were not arrested and no further reports were made as to what the government did especially given the fact that Singapore has strict laws against this kind of activities. Writing for Temasek Review, a Singaporean, Fang Zhi Yuan (2010), questioned this development, stating: â€Å"Singaporeans will be wondering why the foreign workers are not arrested for assembly in a public area which can potentially lead to social unrest and disorder while the government and media often kick up a ruckus over a couple of loca ls committing the same deed.† The political consequence of having a sizable number of constituents that come from elsewhere is indeed a threatening prospect for Singaporeans. This is also true in other areas such as the economic and cultural. The prevailing opinion is that these mass of foreign workers brought with them an equally sizable coterie of customs, beliefs, culture, point of view and so forth that could potentially clash with the native’s own. On the other hand, it is also important to underscore that some adverse reactions and perceptions towards immigration or the government’s policy to invite more foreign workers are misplaced. For instance, there is the myth about the damage to economic opportunities for Singaporean. As Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, in his speech at the NTU Students Union Ministerial Forum last October 2010, foreign labor is crucial in the overall health of Singapore’s economy. Then, there are also the misconceptions about m ulticulturalism.

The Fundamentals of Character, Deliberation and Moral Problems in Essay

The Fundamentals of Character, Deliberation and Moral Problems in Training - Essay Example They will all be analyzed here forthwith. II. The â€Å"Slippery Slope† The â€Å"slippery slope† is basically a domino effect that takes place after one moral principle is compromised, leading to other compromises in principle. As stated by Delattre (2002), â€Å"[T]he slippery slope of corruption begins with any gratuity, including the well-known cup of coffee† (pp. 77). This particular example is referring to police, although many different public servants could also be considered on par with police so much so that they indeed do receive special treatment as a member of a certain group of public servants (i.e., judges, lawyers, senators, Congresspersons, city board members, aldermen, etc.). For example, if a judge was given a bribe in order to help sway the decision of his very first court case, this could be a premier example of the slippery slope. The judge isn’t really supposed to do that, but perhaps the judge figures it’s just a one-time act ion. Later on, when other lawyers petition the judge with more bribes in the form of financial assistance, that judge may be hard-pressed to say no. However, while some people accept gratuities to be a simple fact of life in order for public officials to perform (sometimes illegal) favors in return—performing these favors in return for gratuities are a form of bribery and should not be tolerated. Although people may be used to giving gratuities which they may deem harmless, the damage has been done. III. The Society-At-Large Hypothesis Within the society-at-large hypothesis, the main idea here is that society corrupts people with political or otherwise hierarchical powers. According to Delattre (2002), O.W. Wilson stated, â€Å"[For example, in Chicago] it had been customary to give [people in public service] gratuities†¦[with a] certain progression of events [to] follow†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (pp. 69). This allowed certain public officials to get away with crimes that went unch ecked. Without a doubt, nepotism and cronyism still play a large part in politics in several different cities and nations, due to the nature of the job. It has long been considered standard to offer, for example, that free cup of a coffee to a cop on the beat by a local food mart. However, that may be taken as a sign that public servants deserve more than just that, in effect producing a society which expects its leaders to take bribes or be corrupt—effectively proffering corruption. IV. The Structural/Affiliation Hypothesis The structural or affiliation hypothesis, developed by Arthur Niedenhoffer, posits that corruption is indoctrinated into new recruits of organizations by the higher-ups. For example, if a rookie cop sees his superior shaking down drug dealers for monetary gain, he might very well start doing the same thing by way of affiliation. The corruption is also a structural problem which is built in to the police culture. Other organizational cultures—for ex ample, in corporate offices—might have similar structural difficulties. Enron is a great example of a company that had corruption increasing the farther one went up the chain of executives. V. The Rotten Apple Theory The rotten apple theory basically states that there is poor hiring, training, and supervision within an organization, effectively putting individuals who already have a track record of corruption in positions of power. The rotten apple

Ethical issues in Financier by Theodore Dreiser Essay

Ethical issues in Financier by Theodore Dreiser - Essay Example He went to friends of his at the Century Company and proposed they commission Dreiser to write for the Century Magazine three articles on Europe which might eventually be expanded into book length, and at the same time he directed Dreiser to ask Harper's for an advance on The Financier. The result was that on November 18 Century sent Dreiser a check for a thousand dollars for three articles and the option on any book he might write about his trip, and Harper's, upon his depositing with them the first part of his manuscript, agreed to advance him two thousand dollars on The Financier and five hundred dollars against the earnings of Jennie Gerhardt. In addition Harper's prepared to reissue Sister Carrie. When Richards suggested to Dreiser that even the Nobel Prize was now within his grasp, Dreiser re gained his confidence and on November 22 sailed with Richards on the Mauretania, explaining to an interviewer before embarking that in his new novel "I'm doing the man as I see him. . . . And when I get through with him he'll stand there, unidealized and uncursed, for you . . . to take and judge according to your own lights and blindnesses and attitudes toward life." In this spirit he was seeking to observe the "color of life." (Markle 10) Yet, baseless as Dreiser's worries mig... He remembered all the writing that he wished to do, wrote Mencken asking whether he would read the manuscript of The Financier, and although Richards tried to persuade him to visit the Hardy country, decided early in April that he must take the first available ship back to America. This ship happened to be the Titanic, but since it was on its maiden voyage, Richards thought it might be uncomfortable and preferred to secure Dreiser passage on the Kroonland, which arrived in New York at the end of the month, when Dreiser began at once completing The Financier. Dreiser wanted to call his whole trilogy The Financier, and the first volume simply "Volume One," but Harper's insisted that was commercially inadvisable. Dreiser wanted to shorten his novel so that it would not run to 800 pages, but Harper's was giving him no time to make adequate cuts. Mencken, however, was abroad when Dreiser returned from Europe, and it was not until May 7 that Dreiser could write to him from New York: "Lord[,] I'm glad to know you[']r[e] back. . . . I wish I could talk to you. I have a whole raft of things to discuss not the least of which is the present plan of publishing this book in 3 volumes -- 1 volume every 6 months. . . . For heaven sake keep in touch with me by mail for I'm rather lonely & I have to work like the devil." Mencken did keep in touch, and while during the summer Jug returned in what was the final attempt to solve the problem of loneliness, Mencken encouraged him in his work, read galleys, suggested the excision of irrelevant details and the expansion of certain incidents, and assured him: "You have described and accounted for and interpreted Cowperwood almost perfectly.

International HRM Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

International HRM - Term Paper Example It is a great idea to offer HRM consulting services to private-sector employers located in England and France. It will diversify the operations of the organization and will open up new opportunities for growth and development. By all means the organization must go ahead with this initiative as companies all over the world are looking for HR consulting organizations to assist them with managing global workforce. Global cultural competencies will definitely grow and this is a great opportunity to stay ahead of the competition. At the same time there are various issues that need to be considered for this initiative to be successful. First and the foremost, it is an obvious fact that HRM has only been a part of the organization and not the core business. The core business of the organization has been IT consulting; hence, HR consulting is not the expertise of the company. It also has to be noted that IT consulting has limited clients in the U.S. and Canada. Therefore, venturing into an e ntirely new market with a new service is very risky and calls for caution. There are numerous factors that need to be considered and acted upon for the company to be prepared and competent in order to meet the needs of clients in England and France. The current HR team will not be sufficient to handle the workload and, hence, new recruitments are essential. The HR team will not be addressing issues with respect to internal employees but employees of clients which are international organizations. Hence, now qualified HR professionals need to possess numerous essential competencies, such as â€Å"knowledge of HR strategies, models, methods and techniques; problem-solving skills; people management skills; and, finally, the ability to adapt to international contexts† (Tyler, 2011). Another crucial requirement regarding HR personal is the development of global mind-set. When dealing with people from different cultural backgrounds it is essential to understand their culture. Hence, HR personal needs to be taught global mind-set skills, even though they will be working from offices and visiting the client sites. In order for our HR team to manage or consult on issues with respect to international workforces, there are three main aspects they need to be good at: â€Å"self-awareness, second languages and multicultural savvy† (Tyler, 2011). It is very important to ensure that the above factors are taken into consideration while hiring new HR personnel. HR professionals with an international HR degree would be handy for this project but it is not an absolute necessity. There is no need for a compulsory HR degree courses but it is essential for professionals to at least attend workshops that last from a day to a week. Such workshops, which focus on topics related to globalization, are vital as they help HR professional to better understand international cultures (Tyler, 2011). There are various other factors that need to be considered, such as cultural faux pas. What is considered as good manners in one culture might not be the same in another culture. Hence, cultural competency becomes vital when dealing intercultural organizations. Cultural competency is the ability of an individual to effectively interact and communicate with people from different cultural backgrounds (Tyler, 2011). Effective HR personnel are those who are not only aware of one’s background, views, as well as preferences and bias but also of the whole lot of other important nuances. Only then he/she will be able to effectively understand and manage the human resources in the 21st century organization. Second language acquisition is another important aspect of cultural competence. For example, while dealing with clients from France, it is important to be able to communicate in French. Talent management is a challenge with respect to international management as different practices are employed in different cultures and this leads to divergence of ideologies. V arious factors, such as

Managing abd training development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing abd training development - Essay Example This demographic shift will result in the drop of by about five percent in employees of the age group 25 to 39 and at the same time the percentage of employees in the age group 50 to 65 could go up by twenty percent. This anticipated shift in the percentage change of age groups among employees is expected to have a positive impact on training of employees. Older employees will need to be trained and retrained to keep pace with the ever-changing work environment to retain them as part of the workforce. This retention of the older employees would cause enhanced competition in jobs among the younger people with minimal educational qualifications, low-level skills and limited work experience. (Newton, B., Hurstfield, J., Miller, L., Akroyd, K. and Gifford, J. 2005. Training participation by age amongst unemployed and inactive people). The significance of training at the workplace has received an impetus in the last ten years, as a result of developments that have occurred all around the world. The factors that have contributed to the transformation seen at the workplace include the growth of the knowledge economy, the impact of globalisation, and the increased use of high performance working techniques in the planning and implementation of work objectives as a result of the dramatic developments in the field of information and communication techniques. (Workplace Learning and Training). The United Kingdom continues to languish on the international league table of qualifications particularly in comparison to France and Germany, despite the efforts put for improvement in recent times. The older workforce in the United Kingdom has a larger role to play in this not too happy position with relation to qualifications and skills and display essentially two groups of over lapping deficiencies namely in terms of poor basic skills and lack of qualifications. The concern of the government can be seen and its

Rules that the baby boomers rejected Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Rules that the baby boomers rejected - Essay Example The Vietnam War was one of the costliest war in terms of resources and human loss that America has ever engaged in. Moreso, it was an unnecessary war because America does not have to engage Vietnam in conflict. American involvement in the war was not a matter of security threat but rather an ideological differences with the communist as they attempted to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam to contain communism. It was viewed by the Vietnamese instead as a colonial takeover instead of ideological containment and fought American soldiers. It was a costly war for America in terms of human lives and resources. Back in the United States, the war also did not have a popular support from the baby boomer dominated population. The liberal and â€Å"hippie peace† environment during that time prevailed with the milieu of Beatles song calling for love, peace and equality instead of war. Protest after protest headed and populated by the boomers ensued during the Vietnam War until the government stopped the war and suffered a humiliating loss. Another meaningful protest that the baby boomers engaged in was the counterculture protest. Counterculture was the rule at that time. As the baby boomers matured, they began to resist the consumerist suburban indulgence. In a way, it was a spiritual age as people tended to root back to the basics and essentials of life. Instead of engaging in mundane endeavors, the baby boomers called on for the â€Å"social, economic and political equality and justice for many disadvantaged groups: African-Americans, young people, women, gays and lesbians, American Indians and Hispanics† (history.com 2013). Without the baby boomers counterculture protest movement concept such as womens liberation, American sense of equality and justice, equal pay for equal work, non-discriminatory workplace and others socially important issues would not have prospered to be adopted by the

Managing abd training development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Managing abd training development - Essay Example This demographic shift will result in the drop of by about five percent in employees of the age group 25 to 39 and at the same time the percentage of employees in the age group 50 to 65 could go up by twenty percent. This anticipated shift in the percentage change of age groups among employees is expected to have a positive impact on training of employees. Older employees will need to be trained and retrained to keep pace with the ever-changing work environment to retain them as part of the workforce. This retention of the older employees would cause enhanced competition in jobs among the younger people with minimal educational qualifications, low-level skills and limited work experience. (Newton, B., Hurstfield, J., Miller, L., Akroyd, K. and Gifford, J. 2005. Training participation by age amongst unemployed and inactive people). The significance of training at the workplace has received an impetus in the last ten years, as a result of developments that have occurred all around the world. The factors that have contributed to the transformation seen at the workplace include the growth of the knowledge economy, the impact of globalisation, and the increased use of high performance working techniques in the planning and implementation of work objectives as a result of the dramatic developments in the field of information and communication techniques. (Workplace Learning and Training). The United Kingdom continues to languish on the international league table of qualifications particularly in comparison to France and Germany, despite the efforts put for improvement in recent times. The older workforce in the United Kingdom has a larger role to play in this not too happy position with relation to qualifications and skills and display essentially two groups of over lapping deficiencies namely in terms of poor basic skills and lack of qualifications. The concern of the government can be seen and its

Evidence-based practice in nursing Research Paper

Evidence-based practice in nursing - Research Paper Example The motivators for evidence-based practice in nursing, also called evidence-based nursing (EBN), come from political, professional and societal factors (McSherry et al., 2006 cited in Scott & McSherry, 2009, p.1085). This paper explores the pros and cons of evidence-based practice in nursing. It analyzes the concepts of clinical expertise, patient preferences, and caring in the context of evidence-based nursing. It also examines the impact of these practices on the art of nursing as a practice. Pros and Cons of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing Evidence-based practices, when applied to nursing, can enhance patient outcomes by improving clinical decisions (Scott & McSherry, 2009, p.1087). Evidence-based practice is a combination of patient values and clinical conditions with the best research evidence in clinical decision making (Brown et al., 2010, p.1945). Patient preferences are also used in making decisions. The processes of evidence-based practices concern practical steps that m aximize the best evidence. Evidence-based practice starts with asking an answerable question in a specific clinical situation, collecting the best relevant evidence, critically evaluating the evidence, and using the evidence in consideration of patient preferences in clinical decision-making (Brown et al., 2010, p.1945). The systematic approach in finding and evaluating the best evidence is critical to producing quality patient results (Scott & McSherry, 2009, p.1087)... its framework (when and if it is defined and mandated by organizations) and actual implementation (Rolfe, Segrott, & Jordan, 2008; Scott & McSherry, 2009). McKenna (2010) argued that evidence-based practices create confusion, because of the delimiting definition of evidence. Rolfe, Segrott, and Jordan (2008) studied nurses’ understanding and interpretation of evidence-based practice (EBP). Findings showed that tensions and contradictions in nurses’ understanding of evidence-based practice were prevalent. National and local guidelines, nurses’ own experiences and patients’ preferences continue to dominate the practice of nursing for their sampling. Brown et al. (2010) noted from their studies that personal and management barriers hinder the implementation of evidence-based practices. Evidence-based practice in nursing reduces the importance of soft approaches to nursing practice (McKenna, 2010). Paley (2006) examined the well-known concepts of expertise and clinical judgment, which evidence-based practice tend to undermine. For him, evidence-based practice should not overlook the value and role of clinical judgment in making quality patient decisions. He stressed: â€Å"†¦clinical expertise is interpreted as that which is required in order to integrate the research evidence with professional experience, context, circumstances, patient preferences, various holistic considerations, and so on†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (p.87). Kitson (1997) suggested that evidence-based practices cannot be simply transferred directly to individual components of health care (i.e. nursing and midwifery) and merely translating evidence-based management as evidence-based practices in nursing may be inaccurate without changing some elements that underlie the conceptual framework of evidence-based practices

Reaction Paper to Common Schools Essay Example for Free

Reaction Paper to Common Schools Essay When I first started watching this video, I thought that it was just going to be another boring homework assignment like in all my other classes. To my surprise, the video actually wasn’t boring at all. I enjoyed watching it and would recommend it to anyone to watch. I enjoy informative videos and documentaries. What stands out in my mind about the video is how God was actually brought up and taught in the schools back then. The children were given the book The Primer and the hornbook which had a prayer in it. It’s crazy how much has changed since that time. Now in many schools when the Pledge of Allegiance is said, people will leave out â€Å"under God† because nobody wants to offend anybody who doesn’t believe in God. Even now when I look back at my elementary days, times have changed quite a bit. I remember when my teachers would have the class pray before we would go to eat lunch. As I child, I never thought that it was a bad thing to do. If anything, it would make children feel a little more appreciative of what they have instead of what they do not have. There was also times around Christmas and Easter when we would do projects that would involve God but nobody would ever make a big deal about it. Recently I have gone back and observed in a few classrooms in my hometown and it is totally different. Teachers don’t mention religion at all. Children don’t even say the Pledge of Allegiance and if children have a conversation about religion amongst themselves, the teacher has them stop talking about it. As a child that had religion in school, I feel grateful I was able to have that. Some children don’t have parents that take them to church or have anything to do with it and that little bit of prayer in school was the only thing they had. That gives children a sense of comfort that there is a higher power that is on their side. As a future educator, I feel like I know the boundaries as to where to draw the line with religion and school. I know not to be pushy or make any students feel uncomfortable about religion when they don’t believe the same way as someone else.

Childhood in Robert Frosts Birchess and William Blakes The Chimney Sw

Childhood in Robert Frost's Birchess and William Blake's The Chimney Sweeper Robert Frost's view of childhood is much different than that of William Blake, as expressed in their respective poems, "Birches" and "The Chimney Sweeper". Living in the late seventeenth century, Blake saw some hard times; and as such, paints a very non-romantic picture of childhood. Frost, however, sees things differently. The result is two glaringly different poems that goes to prove how very different people are. Blake's portrayal of childhood is far from happy. A small child's mother dies while that child is still very young; this is sad but not all together strange. However the child's father then, very soon after, sells him off to be a chimney sweeper. Blake does not stop here; after a description these children's living conditions few emotions are left except for pity. As Americans living in the twenty first century, this all seams very strange. We see childhood as a time of joy, and innocence; a time to embrace, and to not let slip by too fast. We see childhood as Robert Frost does. Childhood, a time of adventure; a time when the world is large and mysterious, and there is always more explore; a time when there is no wrong that could not be righted by a mother's kiss. This is the childhood described by Robert Frost. He describes this through a portrayal of the child's game of riding birches; a careful climb, a well timed jump, and an exhilarating swing. Then he describes the loss when one ages. How one by one this boy subdues the trees until there are none left to swing from. Frost then finishes off by showing his longing to return to those days. How is it that two poems, written on the same theme, could be so incredibly d... ...about an ideal childhood, or that of a friend; and Blake could have done likewise. However, because they both wrote about the childhood they experienced, this validates our other theories on time and location. The difference between these two views of childhood are like night and day. One is a pleasant time, and the other is not. One is a time to hang on to, the other is a time to get passed. One is a time of joy, the other is one of hardship. Looking back on how my life has played out so far, I am glad that I should have the privilege of Frost's childhood, and not that of Blake; but one is by no means the norm and the other not. The primary factor causing the difference between Blake's and Frost's childhood was location, location in time and space. And, though as unfortunate as it may be, when the world is viewed in 4D Frost's childhood is hardly normal.