Friday, December 27, 2019

Apple with Porters Model and Core Capabilities - 2570 Words

Introduction Apple Inc was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak with another 20 employees, the company started in Steve’s garage. Apple inc and its subsidiaries or collectively Apple is a manufactures, design and owner of variety of high technology included media player, portable music player, personal computer, smart phone, tablet as well as selling the related digital products like software, network services, third party digital content and application for Apple’s products. Apple first announced new innovated laptops called the Mac book and the most important step for further success is the accessing the MP3 player with their own iPod in 2001. Moreover, they even entered the recently mobile phone industry with the Smartphone-†¦show more content†¦Currently, Apple dominates the portable music industry music market with an estimated 90% for hard disk based players, and 65% of the total portable music market. In both the personal computer and portable music markets, component costs are large part of the total hardware costs, but through Apple’s product differentiation and higher pricing they are able to counteract the price wars that usually ensue under such conditions. Finally, there are little to no exit barriers in either market, which could be advantageous in ousting some of Apple’s competition in the future. Competitive Force 2: Threat of New Entrants There are no many large companies that take the huge shares in market, who these are Dell, Hp, Compaq. There are large economies of scale in PC market, and it limits the new threat of entrants. The threat of entry, therefore, puts a cap on the profi t potential of an industry (Porter 2008 p 4). A new entrant have to create advantages to compare the old strong ones in computer market. And that is not the only one barrie which limits new entrant, patents of forms are legal barriers where late rival can not be competitive giant. The more patents on personal computer designs, the more competitive the leaders can get, which is not an easy for new entrant and get over with out huge amount of start-up capital in the modern market. Moreover, basically, there are two mainShow MoreRelatedAnalysis of Apple Inc According to Porters Five Forces1426 Words   |  6 PagesThe Apple Company According to Porters Five Forces Introduction: Apple, Inc. is widely recognized as one of the most innovative technology firms in the world. It owes much of this reputation to the identity of its leadership, and particularly to the sweeping changes wrought by the re-emergence of company co-founder Steve Jobs. For its remarkable influence, its exemplary leadership and its constant evolution as a researcher and developer of technological innovations, Apple is an ideal multinationalRead MoreMicrosoft Corporation : The First Computer Programming Language1519 Words   |  7 PagesCorporation, 2016). Using these leadership skills, Microsoft had previously implemented an effective business model that made them a leader in this industry until the last few years. Microsoft’s management team has now had to restructure and reconsider their business model in order to compete with Apple and Google. The Microsoft business model is now focused on â€Å"freemium† service. Through this model, Microsoft will offer a tier of services that are free to the end user. Users will be able to take advantageRead MoreManagement Information Systems1162 Words   |  5 Pagesdoes Porter’s competitive forces model help companies develop competitive strategies using information system? †¢ Define Porter’s competitive forces model and explain how it works. †¢ List and describe four competitive strategies enabled by information system that firms can pursue. †¢ Describe how information system can support each of these competitive strategies and give examples. †¢ Explain why aligning IT with business objectives is essential for strategic use of systems 1. This model providesRead MoreHow Apple Has Successfully Achieved Global Competitive Advantage1629 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Apple Computers, Inc. was founded by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976 and started as a small computer manufacturing company in California, USA (Richardson, 2015). Over the years, Apple have applied numerous global strategies in order to sustain competition with competitors in the same market sector. This has seen them become more innovative, creating a range of smartphones, tablets, laptops and smart watches to meet worldwide demand. Because of this, Apple is now regarded as oneRead MoreInformation System998 Words   |  4 Pagesthey an invasion of privacy? Why or why not? IS THE IPAD A DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY? 1. Evaluate the impact of the iPad using Porter’s competitive forces model. 2. What makes the iPad a disruptive technology? Who are likely to be the winners and losers if the iPad becomes a hit? Why? 3. Describe the effects that the iPad is likely to have on the business models of Apple, content creators, and distributors. Visit Apple’s site for the iPad and the Amazon.com site for the Kindle. Review theRead MoreNetflix Paper1440 Words   |  6 Pagesthe number of subscribers has increase by 52% and before Netflix was launched in Canada in September 2010, the firm already had approximately 16.9 million subscribers. However, Netflix is now facing a whole new set of adversaries including Google, Apple, Hulu, Flixter, Redbox and Amazon. Given these facts, how long will Netflix be able to sustain this growth and what are the strategies that should be implemented by the company to keep on growing? SWOT Analysis In order to identify the appropriateRead MoreCorporate Level Strategy1199 Words   |  5 PagesAPPLE COMPUTER INC.: - CORPORATE-LEVEL STRATEGY REVIEW - A review on the strategy adopted by Apple Inc. at corporate level to ensure that the company remains at the forefront of the electronic media industry either in terms of innovation and range of products . EXECUTIVE SUMMARY An analysis was done on Corporate-Level Strategies adopted by Apple Computer Inc. (â€Å"Apple Computer†) that has brought tremendous success to the firm since it started. Apple Computer started off in 1976 by Steve JobsRead MoreThe Process Of Strategic Planning3191 Words   |  13 PagesPart 1: The Process of Strategic Planning 1.1 Explain the concept of strategy, vision, mission, goals, objectives and core competencies. Corporate Strategy. Strategy is the direction and scope of an organisation over the long-term: which achieves advantage for the organisation through its configuration of resources within a challenging environment, to meet the needs of markets and to fulfil stakeholder expectations. (Johnson and Scholes, year) Corporate Strategy is the direction and scope of actionRead MoreAssignment Questions On Corporate Strategy2449 Words   |  10 Pages2015 MODULE LEADER: TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 QUESTION 1 - SWOT MODEL 3 2 QUESTION 2 - GENERIC STRATEGIES 5 2.1 Strategy 1 – COST LEADERSHIP 5 2.2 Strategy 2 – DIFFERNTIATION 6 2.3 Strategy 3 - FOCUS 7 3 QUESTION 3 – MULTINATIONAL FIRM ANALYSIS 8 3.1 Key Resources 8 3.2 Capabilities 8 3.3 Core Competence 9 4 QUESTION 4 – DIVERSIFICIATION STRATEGY 10 5 Bibliography 12 Word Count: 2,103 words 1 QUESTION 1 - SWOT MODEL It is important to comprehend general definition of corporateRead MoreStrategic Appraisal of Apple Inc. Essay4798 Words   |  20 PagesStrategic Appraisal of Apple Inc. Introduction The intention of presenting this report is to give a full strategic appraisal and evaluation of Apple Inc. In 1976, the company was founded in a garage in Santa Clara, California. The American multinational corporation mainly involves in designing and marketing consumer electronics, computer software and as well as personal computers. Differentiation is the current strategy position of Apple Inc. There are five main firms in the PC industry and among

Thursday, December 19, 2019

Biblical Allusions in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre Essay

Biblical Allusions in Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre One Sunday evening, shortly after Jane arrives at Lowood School, she is forced to recite the sixth chapter of St. Matthew as part of the daily lesson (70; ch. 7). This chapter in Matthew states, Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? / (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. / But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (31-33) Although these words are not stated overtly in the text, they aptly fit Janes situation. Cast off from the Reed household, Jane is†¦show more content†¦Historian Hugh McLeod, in Religion and Society in England, 1850-1914, writes that Protestants believed that the Bible should be in every home, and that it should be read every day (192). Although the different sects of Protestantism were varied throughout the Victorian era, almost all agreed that the Bible should be seen as the authoritative word of God (McLeod 100). In many upper-class families, the head of the household usually read from the Bible aloud while everyone else gathered around to listen, and even homes where no one could read displayed Bibles proudly. The Bible had appeals for different people. Bronte uses the Bible in Jane Eyre to develop her characters. Some members of society used the Bible to guide their lives, believing that it held all the answers for existence in this life and the next. Others just enjoyed the tales: The Bible provided an inexhaustible supply of dramatic stories, colourful characters, and memorable sayings, to which keen readers repeatedly returned as their own experience provided parallels with what they had read (McLeod 108). Even children were familiar with Biblical stories. As McLeod writes, Education in Sunday Schools, church day schools or Board Schools ensured that almost everyone had at least some knowledge of the Bible (107). Religious historian L. E. Elliott-Binns, in Religion in the Victorian Era, writes that Sunday schoolsShow MoreRelatedReligious Foreshadowing in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Essay832 Words   |  4 PagesReligious Foreshadowing in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Charlotte Brontà « uses several different symbols to foretell events that occur in Jane Eyre. For example, Brontà « uses birds to represent freedom, for which Jane longs and finally finds by the end of the novel. Fire is another symbol used by Brontà «: When Bertha sets Rochesters bed on fire, The image of fire might symbolize signifying first sinfulness, then rebirth (Vaughon). The symbolism most fascinating, however, is the way in whichRead MoreUse of Allusion in Jane Eyre2589 Words   |  11 PagesALLUSION IN JANE EYRE This paper will focus on the use of allusion that Bronte has made in her novel Jane Eyre. The novel is written in first person. The novel has in it elements of the gothic. The gothic novel is an amalgamation of romance and terror. The tradition started with Horace Walpole’s novel ‘the castle of Otronto’. Bronte uses elements of this tradition in Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre digresses from the other novels, writtenRead MoreReview Of Charlotte Bronte s Jane Eyre 10879 Words   |  44 PagesNotes Jane Eyre Background of author Name: Charlotte Bronte Birth/Death: April 21, 1816 to March 31,1855 Facts that connect: Mr. Brocklehurst is based off the Reverend Carus Wilson, the man who ran Cowan Bridge. Bronte lost two of her sisters, Mary and Elizabeth, to tuberculosis at Cowan Bridge. Bronte s brother, Patrick, became addicted to drugs and alcohol before he died. Similarities: She, along with her three sisters, was sent to the Clergy Daughters School at Cowan Bridge. Charlotte Bronte

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Australian Requirements for Business Combinations

Question: Critically evaluate the Australian requirements for accounting for business combinations. In your discussion you should specifically address the following issues: Exclusions from the scope of Accounting Standard AASB3 Business Combinations. The implications of the requirement to use the acquisition method of accounting for business combinations The identification of an acquirer in a business combination The determination of fair values of assets in a business combination The reasons for the choice of fair value to measure assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination The nature and treatment of goodwill or bargain purchase arising on a business combination. The two different ways in which a business combination can be accomplished. Answer: Australian requirements regarding business combination transaction are prescribed in AASB 3 Business Combination. This standard describes accounting treatment and recognition and measurement related to business combination transaction. Motive of this standard to provided comparability, relevancy and fair view of information and disclosure made by reporting entity in reporting of business combination transaction in financial statements. (AASB, 2015) For this solution we are providing some key points related to this standard these key points with description are as follows: This standard excluded following transactions from the scope of application: Transaction related to combination of two companies which are under same control. Transaction related to purchase or acquisition of assets under asset acquisition and this acquisition does not qualify definition of business combination. (Investopedia. n,d,) Transaction related to combined arrangement by two entities are reporting by them in their financial statements Australian standard requires that following must be complied to apply acquisition method: This standard says that to apply acquisition method first recognize which is the entity which obtained control by acquiring interest in other company. When this buyer buys interest in other company then this date is called acquisition date so it is necessary to identify that date because this date has very relevance in applying this standard. Buyer should indentify that which assets and which liabilities have been taken by him because only those assets and liabilities will be considered which have been bought in business combination. If any assets or liability was acquired in other acquisition like asset acquisition then it will not be considered. If Buyer Company has not acquired all the assets and liabilities then it will also recognize the share of non controlling interest in company. After recognizing the acquired property or liabilities now it must be know that at which value those will be valued and recorded in buyers books of accounts. Since every company has its own valuation model so it is fair to use fair value for measuring the acquired properties and liabilities. There are some exceptions for measurement and recognition principle and these exceptions should be treated according to their respective standards. When any equity interest is acquired in any company then this acquisition may be on loss or gain. If buyer pays more that value of net assets then it is considered as payment ofr goodwill and if it pays less than acquired net assets then it is called gain on bargain purchase. So it is compulsory to find out what is the value of goodwill or gain on bargain purchase on business combination transaction. So above are the basis requirements which must be followed by reporting entity while applying this standard in business combination transaction. It must disclose fact regarding the business combination transaction. Determination of buyer or acquirer in business combination transaction: To apply this standard successfully it is necessary to know that which entity is Buyer Company because it is responsibility of Buyer Company to apply this standard and fulfill the entire requirements. A company which buys properties or liabilities of another company is called as buyer or Acquirer Company. This company has strong position in compare to other company has power to control the other company. This company is normally big in size and has sufficient financial position to buy other company. It may be a company which has equity interest in Acquiree Company already but not in majority or it may be a company which acquires fresh equity interest in this company. This company will apply all the requirements related to acquisition method and will fulfill all the conditions. (Accounting learning, n.d.) Measurement of identifiable assets and assumed liabilities on fair value: As we described above it is necessary to know that at which value acquired properties and liabilities will be measured and will be shown in books of accounts of Acquiree Company hence fair value is used as measurement principle to measure these all acquired assets and assumed liabilities. Since all companies may use different accounting principles and accounting policies regarding recording of assets or liabilities and their measurement hence fair value method is used because this method is not affected by any accounting principle and accounting policies and every company accepts this method. Fair value is value which is decided by market condition and demand and supply rule and it denotes value at which any article or thing can be exchanged between two unknown party and both the parties are equally agreed at that price. (Perera, N., n.d.) Why assets and liabilities are valued at fair value only: We need to find out the value of properties and liabilities at which valuation of business combination transaction can be done without any conflict and adjustment. Since all the companies may use different valuation model and accounting policies so it is required to make uniformity in recognition of these properties and liabilities. Hence we used fair value method as this method is free from any adjustment and any company may opt without any adjustment. In this method value is decided by analyzing the position of asset, its life, location etc. and then two knowledgeable persons enter into an agreement to exchange this asset for a consideration which is agreed by every person. (Way, J.n.d.) In accounting world fair value method has very importance because in every valuation method it is first preference of person who values these assets and liabilities for valuation of assets and liabilities. This method considers the present and future position of assets and liabilities and then estimates the approx right value of such asset or liability. Accounting treatment of goodwill and gain on purchase according to this standard: When any equity interest is acquired in any company then this acquisition may result into gain or loss. (Mirzayav, E., 2016) If consideration paid for acquisition is more than acquired properties and liabilities then it will be considered as goodwill. This goodwill be treated as intangible assets in buyers books of accounts and will be shown in balance sheet. (Damodaran, A., 2012) Further it may be possible that Seller Company is under pressure to sale its business and then it may be agree to sell its business at lower price so in this case consideration will be lesser than value of acquired net worth of seller company. Apart from this condition sometimes there is no consideration for business combination then in this case also gain on bargain purchase is possible. So this is the excess of acquired net worth of Seller Company over the consideration paid by Buyer Company. This gain on bargain purchase is shown in income statement for the year in which business combination was completed. (Fazal, H., 2011) Business combination can be carried out in following ways: First is that business combination can be accomplished without consideration. Seller and buyer sign an agreement only and Buyer Company does not pay any amount for such acquisition. This happens sometime because it may be possible that buyer company repurchases its own shares again from Seller Company or both parties only sign the contract of acquisition and there is no combination in actual condition. Second is that business combination can be completed in stages like buyer company holds share in Seller Company already but shares are not in majority but now it acquires business in majority and this will be called as business combination transaction. References Fazal, H., 2011, What is Negative goodwill and its accounting treatment? Damodaran, A., 2012, Acquisition Accounting II: Goodwill, more plug than asset, Perera, N., n.d., THE FAIR MOVE:THE TREND TOWARDS FAIR VALUE ACCOUNTING, Way, J., n.d., Advantages or Disadvantages of Fair Value Accounting, AASB, 2015, Business Combinations, Investopedia, n.d., Asset Acquisition Strategy.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Servo Motors free essay sample

Servo motor This is a small motor in a C-band dish feed assembly. This motor selects whether vertical or horizontal polarization is to be received. Servo motor A Servo is a small device that has an output shaft. This shaft can be positioned to specific angular positions by sending the servo a coded signal. As long as the coded signal exists on the input line, the servo will maintain the angular position of the shaft. As the coded signal changes, the angular position of the shaft changes. Three basic types of servo motors are used in modern servosystems: ac servo motors, based n induction motor designs; dc servo motors, based on dc motor designs; and ac brushless servo motors, based on synchronous motor designs. Figure 9 Typical dc servo motor system with either encoder or resolver feedback. Some older servo motor systems use a tachometer and encoder for feedback. Servomotor Applications 45 ratings | 3. We will write a custom essay sample on Servo Motors or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 49 out of 5 [pic]Print Table of Contents 1 . Press Feed 2. In-line Bottle Filling 3. Precision Auger Filling System 4. Label Applications 5. Random Timing Infeed System 6. Buy the Book Press Feed You will get a better idea of how servomotors and amplifiers operate if you see some ypical applications. Figure 11-90 shows an example of a servomotor used to control a press feed. In this application, sheet material is fed into a press where it is cut off to length with a knife blade or sheer. The sheet material may have a logo or other advertisement that must line up registration marks with the cut-off point. In this application the speed and position of the sheet material must be synchronized with the correct cut-off point. The ball-screw mechanism is also called a lead screw. When the motor turns the shaft of the ball crew, the carriage will move horizontally along the length of the ball-screw shaft. This movement will be smooth so that each of the nozzles can dispense product into the bottles with little spillage. The servo drive system utilizes a positioning drive controller with software that allows the position and velocity to be tracked as the conveyor line moves the bottles. A master encoder tracks the bottles as they move along the conveyor line. An auger feed system is also used Just prior to the point where the bottles enter the filling station. The auger causes a specific amount of space to be set between each bottle as t enters the filling station. The bottles may be packed tightly as they approach the auger, but as they pass through the auger their space is set exactly so that the necks of the bottles will match the spacing of the filling nozzles. A detector is also in conjunction with the dispensing system to ensure that no product is dispensed from a nozzle if a bottle is missing or large spaces appear between bottles. FIGURE 11-91 Application of a beverage-filling station controlled by a servomotor. (Courtesy 01 Electro-craft, A Rockwell Automation Business. ) The servo drive system compares the position of the bottles from the master encoder o the feedback signal that indicates the position of the filling carriage that is mounted to the ball screw. The servo drive amplifier will increase or decrease the speed of the ball-screw mechanism so that the nozzles will match the speed of the bottles exactly. Precision Auger Filling System A third application for a servo system is provided in Fig. 11-92. In this application a large tilling tank is used to till containers as they pass along a conveyor line. T material that is dispensed into the containers can be a single material fill or it can be one of several materials added to a container that is dumped into a mixer for a lending operation. Since the amount of material that is dispensed into the container must be accurately weighed and metered into the box, an auger that is controlled by a servo system is used. The feedback sensor for this system can be a weighing system such as the load cell discussed in earlier chapters. The command signal can come from a programmable controller or the operator can enter it manually by selecting a recipe from the operators terminal. The amount of material can be different from recipe to recipe. FIGURE 11-92 Application of a precision auger filling station controlled by a servomotor. Courtesy of Electro-craft, A Rockwell Automation Business. ) The speed of the auger can be adjusted so that it runs at high speed when the container is first being filled, and the speed can be slowed to a point where the final grams of material can be metered precisely as the container is filled to the proper point. As the price of material increases, precision filling equipment can provide savings as well as quality in the amount of product used in the recipe. Label Applications The fourth application has a servomotor controlling the speed of a label-feed mechanism that pulls preprinted labels from a roll and applies them to packages as hey move on a continuous conveyor system past the labeling mechanism. The feedback signals are provided by an encoder that indicates the location of the conveyor, tach generator that indicates the speed of the conveyor, and a sensor that indicates the registration mark on each label.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Christianity In Roman Empire Essays - Christian Soteriology

Christianity In Roman Empire In St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, he explains that God's justice is "God's way of righting wrong". St. Paul says in Jesus' sacrificial death God " meant by this to demonstrate his justice". According to Paul, human pride is excluded because "the keeping of law would not exclude it, but faith does". St. Paul's reason for this is "that a man is justified by faith quite apart from success in keeping the law. St. Paul also discusses that a person must use their gifts for the good of people. We have to use our gifts because "the gifts we possess differ as they are allotted to us by God's grace". "A teacher should employ his gift in teaching". In Paul's last selection, he explains that "every person must submit to the supreme authorities". He explains that God institutes all authorities, and if you don't follow the law you are resisting "a divine institution". Paul says that if you do right you have no reason to fear the authorities. We pay taxes because "the authorities are in God's service and to these duties they devote their energies." Paul also explains that if you love your neighbor has"satisfied every claim of the law". "Love cannot wrong a neighbor; therefore the whole law is summed up in love." Diocletion was a Roman emperor that persecuted the Christians. He persecuted them by sending out edicts to all the empire saying that all churches be destroyed, Scriptures be burned, people that were Christian and held places of honor be degraded, and citizens that practiced Christianity after the letters went out be taken to prison. Soon after other letters were issued "commanding that all bishops of the churches everywhere" be put in prison and be "compelled to sacrifice [to the gods]". The persecution became worse. The letters demanded that "all the people should sacrifice at once...and offer libations to the idols". In the rise of Christianity, Constantine was the most important contributor to the rise of the new faith. Constantine was a Roman ruler that claimed he saw the Roman sign for Christianity and God spoke to him during a battle. He used Christianity as his backbone of his crusade. He eventually took over the whole Roman Empire and greatly supported Christianity. Constantine issued the Edict of Milan, giving religious freedom to everyone .He especially favored Christians by building magnificent churches and exempting clergy from taxes.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Crito Response essays

Crito Response essays As I read The Crito it seems to me a confusing and somewhat muddled dialogue. The difficulty Plato faced in composing the dialogue was to somehow justify Socrates' decision to stay in prison rather than try to escape after his wrongful conviction. Plato had to draw out a distinction between the just laws, which Socrates must obey by staying in prison, and the unjust behavior of Socrates' accusers, who sentenced him to death. The problem, of course, is that Socrates' accusers have unjustly sentenced him by using the laws. By giving the laws their own voice, Plato hopes to distinguish them as a separate entity, making them something human toward which Socrates might be able to act unjustly. In this dialogue we have the laws following suit with the accusers as the law persuades Socrates that he must face death to avoid breaking them. These arguments, at first seemed to be persuasive and sound. But I think that you can only separate the laws from the people who make and apply them so f ar. And that if both the people and the laws have condemned him, then it would seem that either the people side with the laws or the other way around. Either way it doesnt seem right to say that the laws are just and must be respected but the people are unjust and should not. One questionable argument of Socrates comes when, I think, Crito presents his best argument for escape. Crito says that by accepting the accusers wishes, he would be abetting their wrongdoing. Socrates' reply to this argument is that he would in fact be harming the Laws, which are just. But if the laws are just and the people are unjust, and both seem to be willing the same punishment, then Socrates it seems is caught between a rock and a hard place. If Socrates stays in prison, he will be siding with his unjust accusers, and if he escapes he will be acting against the just laws. But, in the end, he wants Crito to believe that ultimately it is better to ...

Thursday, November 21, 2019

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

Climate change - Essay Example This paper focuses specifically on the Gulf region in the United States, an area in which environment and living creatures have grown inter-dependent on adequate precipitation to effectively sustain lifestyle and longevity. The problem in this region, specifically, is the current water level in the Mississippi River which is significantly reduced due to climate change. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (2002) identifies that the Mississippi River region provides shelter and breeding grounds for migrating birds in the winter. Many different species of birds move away from colder regions to reproduce before returning to these regions to assist in pollination of plants and insect management in the food chain. The adequate waters near the Mississippi River in this region, historically, have provided quality shelter and water sources, thus providing other areas of the country with beneficial species regeneration. Today, however, climate change has shifted the volume of precipitation norm ally distributed within this region, inundating the Northern regions of the U.S. with these much-needed rains. Climatescience.gov (2007) further offers that when trees are exposed to higher carbon dioxide, rather than the highly oxygenated precipitation usually found in the Gulf region, trees alter their wood producing output. Instead of thickening trunks, the trees tend to establish more ground-level roots and smaller twig-like branches. Less oxygen replenishment through precipitation alters the scope of the environment, impacting the availability of building materials and thus impacting human lifestyles and economy. Nonliving dependencies associated with this problem include the infrastructures in this area created for predictable precipitation patterns. Walton (2012) indicates that a group of scientists and the Army Corps of Engineers will be rebuilding levees that were previously destroyed by humans to accommodate for rising water levels in a particular area just a year previous ly. This represents significant costs to destroy and rebuild infrastructure as well as causing problems with the homes and businesses that cannot predict their fluctuating dependency on barrier placement depending on water levels. The lack of predictability in climate change continues to disrupt levee longevity which considerable risks to the community due to depleting precipitation volumes. The human effects in this situation are largely negative, as most scientists and engineers are running on previous assumptions about precipitation predictability and infrastructure development without considering long-term sustainability. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is ever-diligent to attempt to sustain this environment for species migration and breeding, however using age-old sustainability plans that are no longer relevant in the face of dramatic shifts in precipitation distribution. An effective sustainability plan would include dredging of the Mississippi River so as to maintain more control over depth and to tap the underlying water table in this region to feed during periods of drought. Pumping stations designed to draw water from under the soil would be a long-term strategy to combat climate change. At the same time, it would ensure water is

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Journalism, Mass Media and Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Journalism, Mass Media and Communication - Essay Example The occupation of journalism, though, holds a very different perspective about what language is which creates serious concerns for the people that read or watch the news. Most journalists conduct their jobs with hardly any concern being given to the importance of language to the consumer of the news. Most journalists sub-consciously or consciously accept the view of language as a clear channel through which word-ideas are effortlessly sent to a viewer or reader who then experiences reality as the words of the news article depicts them. Even today, references are made about the â€Å"post-9/11† and â€Å"pre-9/11† world. This shows that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 had an enormous impact on the world as a whole. Following the attack, the then American president, George W. Bush, made use of words that would help in convincing the American public to support the American invasion of Afghanistan. Many of President Bush’s statements like â€Å"Whether we bring our foes to justice or justice to our foes, justice will be done†, were played many times in various news networks, thus allowing Americans to become familiar with this rhetoric (Streissguth, 2006). As has been noted by detractors of the war in previous essays, this ambiguous language permitted the president to frame the attackers as well as Osama bin Laden as both wrongdoers who had to be eliminated through military means, and was a precursor to his unmatched and highly criticized â€Å"War on Terror† (Pyszczynski, Solomon and Greenberg, 2003). ... Following the September 11 terrorist attacks, the American news media began determined to create an adequate response to the supposedly unprovoked attack. In order to comprehend why the American public started to believe that all Arab nations were anti-American, it is vital to evaluate the media tactics of American news outlets around that time. To some extent, American citizens of bygone as well as recent generations have always enjoyed a life of relatively more peace than is enjoyed by the citizens of other nations. Virtually every other nation in the world is well acquainted with the horrors of being invaded by other, more powerful states. While America had its navy bombarded at Pearl Harbour in the Second World War, the last time enemy elements actually invaded American territory in large numbers was in 1814. As such, the memory or threat of invasions is not a part of American myths or thoughts. Its tremendous arsenal of weapons has long allowed America to be able to enjoy peace even when other nations were constantly tested by ruthless neighbours. Instead of prompting a grateful disposition, this quality in the past stimulated self righteousness and self absorption on the part of American citizens. For example, America has in the past assumed the right to â€Å"bring enlightenment† to countries that it perceives as being ‘backwards’ or undeveloped. Even the comparative division of the world in terms of â€Å"first† or â€Å"third† world nations is an American creation. American news correspondents have confessed to being amazed when they compare how much more the rest of the world is aware of current world events to the fact that most Americans are only aware of what happens in America because they deem

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Domestic Violence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Domestic Violence - Essay Example Several factors do involve why family violence is kept secret by the family members. It is in this way he/she can tolerate his/her acts of family abuse. Domestic violence is also termed as intimate violence. To consider a misdemeanor as domestic violence, there is the requisite of intimacy between the offender and the aggrieved party. Hence, domestic violence is not only true at the doorstep of the family, but to any relationships or affairs as well. There has been a vast campaign against domestic violence since then, most especially to women and children. Women and children are considered as the weakest human being and often entrenched to physical abuse. The prevailing condition of the society imbibed the legitimacy of man’s figure as the superior form of human being which shall maneuver the society. Women’s activist pushed through in establishing the woman’s figure and worth in the society. Furthermore, since there is an implied paternalism, the criminal justic e has lesser focused on domestic violence. This transfiguration has been contested by many individuals to honor and legislate laws and statutes that shall protect and safeguard women and children’s right. Domestic violence has different variations, the most common type is the physical abuse, and the other form is through emotional abuse. Physical abuse entails the use of force or objects in perpetrating the acts. The physical agility of men display their dominance over their partner, thus it is easy for them to inflict harm to their partners. There has been no postulated reason why men usually beat their wives or partners, but some probable cause or motives is due to financial matters. Grassroots families are more likely to be exposed in domestic violence mainly due to financial constraints. Instead of procuring a job, they turn their anger to their

Friday, November 15, 2019

Application Survey on Data Mining and Data Warehousing

Application Survey on Data Mining and Data Warehousing   Aishwarya.R Survey Report on Bank-Loan Risk Prediction Introduction Data Mining has been the most explored topic for the past decade and has given rise to several new enhancements and techniques in several industries. One such mind provoking arena of high interest is Credit Risk analysis or simply the Bank-loan risk prediction. It has been a pressing need for several banks these days to employ a Credit Risk Analysis simply to make sure that the money they invest to customers as a loan or any form is given to a legitimate customer who is capable of repaying and to avoid any other fraudulent scenarios. Several techniques in data mining have been explored to analyze the customers creditworthiness and a few will be analyzed and emphasized in the further sections. Discussion on Selected Papers In this Section, I have listed the journals, IEEE papers referenced for my study and analysis on Bank-loan risk prediction and categorized various factors for each in Table 1. Table 1. Sources used that focused on Bank-loan risk prediction using different data mining techniques References Objective Data Mining Techniques Employed Authors Number of Citations [1] SAS Enterprise Miner 5.3, Logistic Regression Model and Decision Tree employed in credit scoring models for assessing credit risk. Bee Wah Yap, Seng Huat Ong, Nor Huselina Mohamed Husain. 77 [2] Decision Tree model for credit assessments in a Bank. I Gusti Ngurah Narindra Mandala, Catharina Badra Nawangpalupia, FransiscusRian Praktiktoa. 15 [3] Predictive Modelling technique and NaÃÆ' ¯ve Bayes algorithm for loan risk assessment. Rob Gerritsen 34 [4] Multilayer Feed Forward Neural Network, Support Vector Machines, Genetic Programming, Logistic Regression, Group Method of Data Handling, Probabilistic Neural Network techniques for Financial Fraud assessment. P.Ravisankar, V.Ravi, G. Raghava Rao, I.Bose 147 Expert Systems with Applications: Using Data Mining to improve assessment of credit worthiness via credit scoring models Problem Description: Bee Wah Yap et al.[1] found a recreational club has been facing difficulties in identifying the defaulters who do not pay their monthly subscription fee causing a lot of chaos for the club to manage the funds effectively and divide the fund for any further activities or events in the club. The management decided to evaluate the credit worthiness of the club members by using the past members data as a data set and analyzed using three different data mining techniques in order to conclude the fittest of all[1]. Solution technology: Bee Wah Yap et al.[1] employed Credit scorecard model, logistic regression model and decision tree model using SAS ® Enterprise Miner, a diverse tool to employ several data mining techniques in order to improvise and identify the potential defaulters in the club. Solution Evaluation: Bee Wah Yap et al.[1] in the credit scorecard model, identified the various factors determining a defaulter based on their age, the number of dependents, the number of cars, district of address and most importantly the classification of defaulters and non-defaulters based on the payment status. They then obtained the Information Value as the summation of the probability of good attribute(applicable values from the old dataset taken for prediction) minus the probability of bad attribute(values from the old dataset that have no added value to be included in the prediction) and identified that values greater than 0.02 as admissible values of inclusion on the score card. They then identified the Stepwise selection method suitable of all the other Logistic Regression model and found a wide range of information and conclusions on the type of defaulters. Finally, they applied the Decision tree algorithm in order to classify an if-then rule for the large dataset into smaller segments and obtained the profile of defaulters. Based on the results he obtained from the above three techniques they had clearly identified that Decision Tree is by far a better approach for prediction although all three have no big difference and that Credit scoring model without adequate and proper data sets and old data could never perform well in prediction. Further Enhancements: The study has employed several techniques in order to justify a better model for prediction as a substitute for the Credit scoring model but has overlooked the fact that the data sets used throughout are from past customers which may or may not be legitimate way of prediction and definitely not a sensible way to conclude Decision Tree better over Credit scoring as neither of the arguments is valid and may vary when using a large amount of real-time data from the present to predict the future defaulters. Assessing Credit Risk: an Application of Data Mining in a Rural Bank Problem Description: I Gusti Ngurah Narindra Mandala et al.[2] felt that for rural banks to stay healthier, a certain benchmark has to be set on many factors out of which non-performing loan (NPL) factor played an important role. They identified that lower the NPL rate better the health of the rural bank. In order to employ this, they proposed that banks should approve only the right applicants and thereby increase the profit, credibility, and serve the improvements of their local community where such banks are most used. They were affirmative that banks with less than 5% of NPL are in better condition when compared to other with a greater value of NPL. Solution Technology: I Gusti Ngurah Narindra Mandala et al.[2] chose Decision Tree technique to be employed in a rural bank in Bali and scrutinized the various factors that are currently kept in consideration for lending loans to a customer. Solution Evaluation: I Gusti Ngurah Narindra Mandala et al.[2] found that the current NPL value of the rural bank of Bali is 11.99% very much higher than the expected value for a good performing bank. They made use of 84% of data from a sample data set of 1028 records for evaluation and determined approximately 13 parameters of consideration for evaluating the NPL customers. They developed a decision tree based on the existing parameters but reordered the determining factor as the collateral value and obtained an NPL of 3%, which by far is the most efficient a bank could perform. Further Enhancements: Although the above assessment and conclusion of a healthy bank seem appealing they could have employed a further emphasis on other factors that also contribute to a healthy bank / NPL and predicted the credibility further using various other Predictive and Descriptive modeling techniques which have better analysis and solution for the given scenario than what was obtained. Assessing Loan Risks: A Data Mining Case Study Problem Description: Rob Gerritsen [3] identified that if customers who could not pay their loans bank can be predicted before lending using data mining techniques then the information would be worthwhile. He found that USDAs Rural Housing Service has been lending money to people in the rural areas and USDA realized that the huge number of applicants who are being approved of the loan may or may not be capable of repaying the amount. Hence USDA decided to perform a data mining technique in order to gather the information and predict the vulnerabilities of the customers[3]. Solution Technology: Rob Gerritsen [3] decided to use Predictive Modeling Techniques along with the NaÃÆ' ¯ve Bayes algorithm to come up with a solution for the above problem. Solution Evaluation: Rob Gerritsen [3] was given a sample data of 12,000 based on the existing mortgages of single families and had to train the given data set using the model and then predict the future scenarios. So, he first classified the dataset and applied the NaÃÆ' ¯ve Bayes binning algorithm in order to divide the customer based on loan amounts that are to be paid by each. Initially, he found this ineffective as a huge amount of people fell into a single bin as the bin range values where continuous/uniform in distribution and hence difficult to identify precisely the original defaulters. He further organized the binning range distribution and made a decision tree from the results obtained to conclude the major factors of defaulters. Further Enhancements: Rob Gerritsen [3] himself has identified that the data set taken was too less to conclude the results and further, a wide range of dataset has to be taken along with further factors of consideration for USDA to obtain the verified solution for their problem. Decision Support System: Detection of financial statement fraud and feature selection using data mining techniques Problem Description: P. Ravisankar et al.[4] conducted a study on 202 Chinese companies using a variety of data mining techniques simply to conclude if the financial statements, income statements, cash flow, and various other factors if assimilated could give an better output from the companies and also decide if the loan has to be given to customers based on the results. Solution Technology: P. Ravisankar et al.[4] has employed a variety of data mining techniques namely Support Vector Machines (SVM), Group Method of Data Handling (GMDH), Genetic Programming (GP), Logistic Regression (LR), Multilayer Feed Forward Neural Network (MLFF) and Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN). He made use of a number of techniques for the same datasets in order to identify the best solution for the above problem. Solution Evaluation P. Ravisankar et al.[4] identified that among the 202 Chinese companies taken as a data set 101 were Fraudulent and the remaining were Non-Fraudulent. He then applied the Genetic Algorithm to find the fitness function, SVM to obtain the permissible support vectors, GMDH to classify and obtain a Feed Forward network model(Polynomial Model), PNN and with or without Feature selection in order to obtain the features of fraudulent companies. He has clearly observed that among the several techniques used the main factors that have to be considered is the amount of dataset that is to be used should concede with the capability of the technique and with less time consumption for training and obtaining results from the dataset. Further Enhancements I would abide with P. Ravisankar et al.[4] conclusion of classifying with an if-then rule on the dataset and to apply other hybrid data mining techniques inorder to further enhance the solutions. REFERENCES Yap, B. W., Ong, S. H., Husain, N. H. M. (2011). Using data mining to improve assessment of credit worthiness via credit scoring models. Expert Systems with Applications, 38, 13274-13283. GustiNgurah Narindra Mandalaa, Catharina Badra Nawangpalupia*, FransiscusRian Praktiktoa Assessing Credit Risk: an Application of Data Mining in a Rural Bank / Procedia Economics and Finance 4 ( 2012 ) 406 412à ¢Ã‚ Ã‚  . R. Gerritsen, Assessing loan risks: a data mining case study, IEEE IT Professional (1999) 16-21. P. Ravisankar, V. Ravi, G. Rao, I. Bose, Detection of financial statement fraud and feature selection using data mining techniques, Decision Support Systems 50 (2) (2011) 491-500. Question and Answers Why DM and DW technologies are becoming important tools for todays business world? Todays business world is a competitive environment where right decisions needs to be taken at right time by knowing the answers for what has happened and by predicting what will happen in the future. Data warehousing helps us to identify answers for questions like what, which and how through aggregations. Data mining known as KDD helps us to predict what can happen in future. This is done by discovering and analyzing the hidden patterns. Both DM and DW results are processed from large set of data records from either same or different data sources. What are the main differences between data mining, traditional statistics data analysis, and information retrieval? Data Mining is a process of obtaining a derived / discovering new information based on the existing information by observing the data, identifying the patterns and obtaining meaningful analytics that can be used in business. A traditional statistics data analysis is method of testing a proposed phenomenon or hypothesis to validate and provide a statistically significant data for accepting the outcome. Information Retrieval in simple terms is the process of collecting/retrieving required data from an existing information available in any form. How is data warehouse model different from a relational database model? Why DW technology is more advanced in supporting business management? Relational Database Model: Used for Online Transaction Processing (OLTP) Data stored are generally a fact in a single operational database Tables are normalized SQL are used to query Data Warehouse Model: Used for Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) Data stored in DW are generally consolidated data(aggregation) from multiple databases or sources Tables are de-normalized OLAP tools are used to query The key difference between DW model and relational database model is that, DW is a layer on top of other databases whereas relations database is a database itself. DW technology is more advanced in supporting business management because it provides quick answer for question like WHAT, WHICH and HOW which helps the management to act accordingly on making decisions. i.e. they are very faster in generating reports for answering the management queries. What are the main difference between using OLAP on DW and using SQL on traditional database for supporting business decision making? The main difference is that complex questions which involves multiple aggregations can be answered in ad-hoc environments (i.e. data from different sources) easily in faster way using OLAP on DW

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Roman Religion

Romans were very strict to their religion and beliefs. In ancient Rome, people involved worshiping multiple gods and deities. The religion practice was in two different stages; state and family practices: the state worships were held by the government which were more organized. There were also colleges which would counsel people to the right way of worshiping gods. Roman sought will of their gods in mass prayers such as Olympic games, religious events and sacrificing while in the household every family had their own protective gods. Worshipers would offer prayers and sacrifices to the gods in order to request their favor. In fact, the ancient Roman state's religion were practiced for the well-being of the government and the citizens. They worshiped multiple gods to seek success in all aspects of life, each god had its unique function and had been worshipped for the specific purposes; god of battle, god of love, god of peace and so on. In addition, there had been four colleges which have had control over the public and private religious practices. The two most important colleges were the Pontifices and the college of Augurs. The Pontifices college, as Warrior mentions, â€Å"had authority over the most important matters† (RR 48). Most likely, the accuracy of worshiping and sacrificing were depended upon Pontifices college priest's approval and they would assure that the practice was in its accurate way. The Augurs college was in charge of overseeing and connection between religion and the politics. Most of the member of Augurs college were priests and professionals. Furthermore, in Roman religion, people believed that gods were involved in their daily activities. They had several religious festivals which were accompanied by the Olympic games, these festivals were held by the state authorities and were practiced in the public. One of these events called â€Å"the laughter of god,† which they held to seek the laugher of the god Apollo. According to† Apuleius† in the book â€Å"The golden ass,† â€Å"we are the only people who on this day seek the benevolence of the god laugher in an amusing and joyful ritual† (TGA 38). Among all other religious practices, this event was called the god laugher. In this event, in order to make the god happy, the government would gather all the citizens and held a laughter ceremony for the favor of god Apollo. They would find someone who is not aware of the ceremony and put him in a situation, while he was struggling in the situation they would start laughing to favor the god. The people who gathered knew what was happening but not the stranger who makes the god laugh. In Roman's religion, the state and private practices were performed in many aspects, the religion was sought in different ways and for different purposes. One of the purposes of the state worshiping was sought for success in battles. Before the battle, they would seek the agreement of the god through worshiping and sacrificing in the ceremonies. Priests who were professionals in reading the signs of god would translate the signs, if the signs were suitable for the purpose they would prepare for the action, if not the worshiping and sacrificing were supposed to be redone for corrections. In conclusion, as I mentioned above, Roman worships were divided into the public and the private. Families would honor their household spirits while public worship was held by the government. Rome had colleges of official priests to ensure that its actions met with divine approval. Roman religion involved cult worship. In their religious beliefs, approval from the gods did not depend on a person's behavior, but on accurate observance of religious rituals. The gods were usually imaged in stone or bronze and would put them in a shrine or temple in which they would offer prayers and sacrifices.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Contemporary Healthcare Specific Management and Leadership Practice Essay

If there is one word which describes the American health care environment during the last decade, that word is change. Professionals joining the health care industry during the 1990s will find little resemblance to the work environment their predecessors found a mere 10 years earlier. Physical therapy practice during the 1960s and 1970s was largely limited to three settings: the hospital, private practice and extended care institutions. Private practice followed the medical practice model and served primarily ambulatory outpatients. Hospital-based practice accounted for the majority of practice opportunities. Along with some limitations on professional autonomy, employment in hospital-based practice generally offered the greatest opportunities for variety in clinical practice. Literature Review Change is constant and usually affects an entire organization. Change sometimes can cause chaos and stress, but which must be acknowledged and dealt with in order to make an organization effective. Improving high-quality patient care is the most important issue for everyone in a physical health institution, and this improvement needs to remain a central focus of and the main reason for the change. Discussions with hospital executives reveal: There is a need for an action plan to meet the needs of a more culturally diversed population. Adverse patient care incidents are under-reported because there are different interpretations about what should be reported. The hospital has not been able to invest in training hospital staff on reporting requirements. There are no systematic report mechanisms in place. Further study on the case reveals that the peer review processes of the hospital are weak if not minimally compliant. The number of patient complaints about hospital care has been rising. Complaints are often complex, and may involve the hospital’s other health care facilities, and health professionals, as well. Medication errors have been a major concern for the hospital this lately. Though deficiencies were cited, the potential for patient harm was not clearly identified. Still, it has important influences on the quality of care for the medical facility. Faith also noted that their premium cost are decreasing, and is becoming a significant concern for the hospital. The lack of clear and concise ethics guidelines for medical personnel, especially on issues requiring ethical decisions. Each group of stakeholders has somewhat different concerns. That is, each cares more about some aspects of an organization’s activities and less about others. Customers. Many organizations say that they put the concerns of their customers or clients first. For U.S. companies, that often means improving the quality of the service while keeping costs in check. Interviews with the customers reveal that the health care organization’s Teamwork Competency account illustrates that using teams to improve quality is one approach that organizations can use to address the concerns of customers. Employees. Many of the concerns that employees have today reflect changes in the structure of organizations and the fact that work is a major activity in their lives. How a company treats employees during times of change is a key issue raised by this company. Pay is another area of concern to employees. The desire to receive equal pay for equal work is among the most important of workplace issues, according to a national survey of 40,000 women. Owners and Shareholders. For many organizations, the concerns of owners—that is, taxpayers and contributors—often are essentially those of society at large. But for privately owned companies, and those whose shares are publicly traded, the concerns of owners—that is, shareholders—may be quite different from those of society in general. Most shareholders invest their money in companies for financial reasons. At a minimum, they want to preserve their capital for later use. Because the job of institutional investors is to make money by choosing which companies to put their investment in, their perspective on corporate issues is to make profit generation the firm’s top priority. As professional investors, these shareholders have considerable power to influence management’s decisions. Physical therapy health care service product is a bundle of tangible and intangible benefits that satisfy patient’s needs. Factors as job design, role clarity, and autonomy affect employee attitudes, which in turn affect patient experience in the institution. These observations emphasize the need to look beyond the immediate and obvious aspects of satisfaction and to consider other aspects, which affect patient perception of their experience. In dealing with the hospital’s problems with respect to organizational processes, ethics and communication issues, it must be considered from three perspectives: structure, process and outcome. To assure that the hospital services are being appropriately provided, each dimension of hospital care provision must be considered. Quality of Life has different meanings as compared to the other health-related subject matters. It is used to describe a patient’s health status, a description of how he perceives himself and his point of view about his life.   But Quality of Life Concept encompasses more than the health status or one’s perception about self and life.   This concept analysis nursing paper serves to provide the most comprehensive definition about this concept and how it is used in medical terms at present. Quality of Life Concept has become an â€Å"impressive ‘explosive’ trend† talked about by medical field professionals, published in journals, books and various quality life articles for the last 10 years now.   Within this period, its concept continues to evolve and has reached three phases. In the first phase, there is the formal assessment made and classified as ‘physician’s judgment of the patient’s health’. In the second phase, the points of view of the patients were given focus and the tools used in the study were those applied from psycho-social fields. In the third phase, multi-dimensional questionnaires were adopted and the concept of Quality of Life and health status begin to have different meanings (Apolone and Mosconi, p.66, 1998). Today, the trend continues to evolve as patient-oriented measures are applied and studied from functional disability scales to spiritual quality of life and economic measures. It is also a lot of other possible factors that have effects on a patient’s perception about what quality of life is in relation to his health.   The patient’s point of view in quality and effectiveness is taken into consideration and is treated as a more comprehensive humanistic approach that determines what to him is quality of life (Apolone and Mosconi, p. 68, 1998). Definition of Quality of Life When we speak about quality of life in layman’s terms, it literally pertains to a number of definitions. It connotes with standard of living, available resources or conditions that tell about either the comforts or discomforts of life and such other identifiable meaning and perception about an ideal life.   There are many indicators about what quality of life a patient can perceive and most of these indicators depend variably on one’s cultural values. Defining Quality of Life for the purpose of this nursing concept paper is variable because it pertains to a â€Å"subjective experience†. Hence, it can not be measured with â€Å"object indicators.†Ã‚   Being the case, according to Skevington, studies show that the â€Å"best person to assess quality of life is arguably the individual himself† (Skevington, par. 4, 1999). When questions are asked to a patient and he, in turn, answers the questions, the medical professional likely gets a limited clinical success in the study of the patient’s history because of limited information.   He is unable to get the necessary data that may be of help in assessing the health condition of the patient.   Hence, there is a need to come up with a good quality-of-life measure that will enable health and interventions to be properly evaluated. The World Health Organization (WHO), Geneva, in collaboration with the WHOQOL Group, designed an instrument called WHOQOL-100 that is used in â€Å"multinational clinical trials for the evaluation of quality-of-life outcomes during all types of health care interventions like surgery, counseling and medication.† (Skevington, par.1, 1999).  Ã‚   It is useful also for making cross-cultural function about perceived quality of life relating to health and at a one-to-one level, in improving communications between doctors and their patients in the consulting room (Skevington, par. 1, 1999). The WHOQOL has up come with such instrument and made it as comprehensive as possible to reach out to various global dimensions that are workable internationally. Moreover, it is intended for use by persons with chronic diseases, informal caregivers and people living in highly stressful situations. WHO defines health as a â€Å"state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity†.   On the other hand, the WHOQOL Group defines Quality of Life as â€Å"an individual’s perception of their position in life, in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live, and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns (Sousa).   It is so broad a concept that it affects the patient’s physical health, psychological state, level of independence, and social relationships with his environment in a very complex way.   In addition to this definition, WHOQOL Group has added the sixth domain to the list, which is â€Å"spirituality, religion, and personal beliefs.† (Skevington, par 5, 1999). Furthermore, the WHOQOL 100 is an instrument that is applied to heterogeneous cross-section of sick and well people in order to examine its internal consistency reliability, construct validity , and discriminant power (Skevington, par. 1999).. Concept of Quality of Life in Health Care The Quality of Life came about when the disciplines of sociology and psychology became an issue related to health care. It has emerged into a larger issue when technological advances were aimed at increasing life span. Quality of Life has become a means to guide a patient in deciding on whether to pursue a treatment or not for his or her ailment.   According to clinicians, Health-related Quality of Life is an appropriate focus for a patient who has a disease or who is ill, and whose aspects in life become health-related (Haas, p. 730, 1999). A)  Ã‚  Ã‚   Defining Attributes of Quality of Life. The Walker and Avant’s 1995 method of concept analysis of Quality of Life took note of the various characteristics or critical attributes recurring in the process of their studies and they are grouped according to four recurring themes.   The first theme is the â€Å"multi-dimensional and dynamic nature of the QOL.   Authors have stressed that QOL is a multi-dimensional concept considering that it is â€Å"based on values; is dynamic, ever changing and depends largely on the context in which it is measured† (Haas, p. 733, 1999). The second theme is that QOL includes an assessment.   In this case, the authors include words such as response, appraisal, measure, experience and assessment in defining and using QOL (Haas, p. 733, 1999).   The third theme is centered on the subjective nature of QOL. Grouped within this theme are words like perception, well-being, and satisfaction. (Haas, p. 733, 1999). The fourth and final theme recognizes the objective nature of QOL, with authors using â€Å"behavior, functioning, and environment as measures of QOL.† (Haas, p. 733, 1999). These defining attributes were sourced from the definitions and use of QOL. It mainly shows that QOL is indeed an individual’s current life circumstance. It further shows that it is multi-dimensional in nature and in being so, is based on values and is dynamic. It is also composed of both subjective and/or objective indicators. Finally QOL is subjectively measured by persons capable of self-evaluation.   (Haas, p. 733, 1999) (B) Congruence of the Concept with the Assumptions and Other Concepts within the Model/Theory. The QOL Model was formulated to provide a measure that takes into consideration both the components and determinants of health and well being that are consistent with the concept of Quality of Life. The QOL Model or Profile emphasizes on the person’s physical, psychological and spiritual functioning and his connections with his environments as well as opportunities for maintaining and enhancing skills (The Quality of Life Model, par 3, 2005). The Conceptual framework of the Quality of Life has three life domains which are aimed at providing a person to enjoy the more essential potentials of his life. (The Quality of Life Model, par 4, 2005) Each of the three domains has three sub-domains and they are as follows: (a)  Ã‚  Ã‚   Being pertains to who one is.   Its three sub-domains are: (1) Physical Being, which relates to a person’s or patient’s physical health, personal hygiene, nutrition, exercise, grooming and clothing, and general physical appearance; (2) Psychological Being, which relates to his psychological health adjustment, cognitions, feelings, self-esteem, self-concept and self-control; (3) Spiritual Being, which relates to his personal values, personal standards of conduct and spiritual beliefs. (The Quality of Life Model, par. 5, 2005) (b)  Ã‚   Belonging pertains to the person’s connections with his environment. Its three sub-domains are: (1) Physical Belonging, which relates to his connections with his home, work place/school, neighborhood and community; (2) Social Belonging, which relates to his connections with his intimate others, family, friends, co-workers, neighborhood and community; (3) Community Belonging, which relates to his connections with matters pertaining to adequate income, health and social services, employment, educational programs, recreational programs or community events and activities. (The Quality of Life Model, par 5. 2005) (c)  Ã‚  Ã‚   Becoming pertains to achieving personal goals, hopes and aspirations. Its three sub-domains are: (1) Practical Becoming, which relates to achieving personal goals in domestic activities, in work, in school or volunteer activities or seeing to health and social needs; (2) Leisure Becoming, relates to activities that promote relaxation and stress reduction; (3) Growth Becoming, relates to activities that promote the maintenance or improvement of knowledge and skill and adapting to change. (The Quality of Life Model, par. 5, 2005) Ferrans Conceptual Model of Quality of Life. Ferrans has developed a model based on the adoption of the individualistic ideology, which recognizes that quality of life depends on the unique experience of individuals. He maintains that the individual person is the only accurate judge of his quality of life because people differ in their perceptions and values. (Ferrans, par. 1, 1996)   This model uses qualitative methodology and has identified four domains of quality of life: health and functioning as psychological/spiritual, social and economic, and family. (Ferrans, par 1, 1996)   Patient data are analyzed in relation to these domains of quality of life. Researchers, physicians, policy makers adopt the Quality of Life concept as an instrument that tests the validity, reliability and effectiveness of different and relevant sub-domains for the purpose of evaluating the impact of medical interventions on the population (Apolone and Mosconi, p. 68, 1998). Since the concept is considered non-medical determinant, it is treated as confounder, a complementary way for effectiveness of care to a patient. This is because medicine still plays the major role in determining the final health outcome of a patient. (Apolone and Mosconi, p. 68, 1998) Since patients are the proper judge of their quality of life, there are ways to enhance the well-being of patients who may have a poor quality of life.   Studies show that the presence of positive feelings in patients is the most important feature of the kind of quality of life he has. Patients, with positive feelings most likely enjoy a pleasant quality of life than those who are in-patients and sick. A person has control of his emotions which can generally affect his state of mental being.   It is a matter of developing the positive attitude and containing oneself into thinking of a positive outlook in life.

Friday, November 8, 2019

Esthetics in Quebec essays

Esthetics in Quebec essays Plastic surgery today is often done especially for cosmetic reasons, to remove blemishes or to change contours. Among the most common of the cosmetic plastic surgery operations are rhinoplasty (remodeling of the nose) and face-lifting, to remove the signs of aging. Another cosmetic technique is the removal of obvious scars by cutting out scar tissue and adjusting the wound edges. Nowadays, plastic surgery has become misidentified with beauty surgery. In fact, only a small percentage of plastic surgeons have practices limited to cosmetic operations. As a friend of a cancerous patient deeply suffering and awaiting his turn for obtaining a date for his surgery, I was astonished when I read an article published in the gazette that cosmetic surgeries were being performed in our hospitals. Like many people, I thought such surgeries were done in private clinics. Certain surgeons are considering the amount of money earned from the act of surgery, ahead of the suffering of the patient. Doctors have taken an oath to relieve the pain and to cure life-threatening diseases to the full extent of their capacities. I find no argument to justify delaying the act of elimination of a malignant tumor, replacing a hip, or removing a cataract, for a simple cosmetic surgery that can wait and has no serious complications. I cannot tolerate the fact that cosmetic surgeries are being done before other kinds. Does this mean these procedures should be banned from the operating room of a public hospital? I dont believe so. If there is a vacant operating room, there is no good reason to deny qualified plastic surgeons to perform cosmetic surgeries. The hospital might even turn a small profit from these acts. The point is not to replace or hold the schedules of those suffering humans requiring immediate and essential surgery, and make sure that rental fees are adequate with the real cost to the public. ...

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

When Words Collide

When Words Collide When Words Collide When Words Collide By Maeve Maddox This use of the verb collide in a newspaper article struck me as odd: One driver was able to stop short of hitting the child but her bike collided into another car. The verb collide is from Latin collidere, to strike or clash together. Its most common use is as an intransitive verb. Used without a prepositional phrase, collide signifies an action in which two moving objects strike one another: Two satellites collide in orbit Two NJ Transit buses collided in the Lincoln Tunnel this morning Two Thai F16 jets collided in mid-air and crashed Collide can also be used figuratively: Southern Politics and Personalities Collide in Old Globes Cornelia, What Happens When Political and Humanitarian Goals Collide? When the colliding objects are not of the same kind, or a contrast between them is desired, a prepositional phrase is employed: Fire Truck Collides With a Van birds collide with airplanes As sea floor spreads from the oceanic ridge, it eventually collides against the continental crust or plate. Insurance rates collide with credit scores Pakistani frigate collides against the dock Jeep collides against tree The prepositions with and against are used to introduce the other object in the collision. The use of with indicates that both objects were moving. The preposition against indicates that one of the objects was stationary. The following headline is redundant: 15 Injured after 2 Buses Collide against each other The OED entry includes a transitive use of collide, but calls it rare or obsolete. Changing technology may call this use back from obsolescence. Here are two recent examples of collide used transitively: I simply want to collide a sprite against the edges of the screen. The simulation has determined they are not moving fast enough to warrant colliding them against each other A Google search turns up millions of examples of collide into, but in most instances, the writer may have been reaching for crashed: RAF Tornados nearly collided into each  other What would happen if a planet collided into the sun? Woman who collided into train tested positive for cocaine Some writers use the word in mysterious ways. In the following examples collide seems to be standing in for combined or coalesced: Can tetanus, meningitis, and chicken pox shots be all collided into 1 shot? Our worlds collided into one chat room. Bottom line: If you find yourself placing into after collide, you may wish to reconsider your use of one of the two words. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Great Opening Lines to Inspire the Start of Your Story40 Synonyms for â€Å"Lie†1,462 Basic Plot Types

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Should Red Bull keep on investing in the Formula 1 Championship for Essay

Should Red Bull keep on investing in the Formula 1 Championship for next year - Essay Example The increasing trend of marketing through sponsorships of events is visible to everyone. Around 15 years ago less than 25 percent of events had some sort of corporate support and involvement but today this percentage has increased to 80 percent (McDowell, 1999). These events are an easy way through which an organization can communicate their messages to the customers. Red Bull is a soft drink company that is using sponsorships as a way to market its soft drink. Red Bull sponsors Formula 1 racing events all over the world. They also have many sports teams that take part in sporting events. Red Bull Racing is a Formula 1 racing team that is owned by Red Bull. The company also owns another racing team in Formula 1 known as Scuderia Toro Rosso (Formula 1.com, 2008). The company also sponsors other extreme sport like snowboarding and wakeboarding. The marketing technique of Red Bull is well known and it is known to work for the company. Associating the brand with extreme sports also commu nicates a brand image of the product to the consumers. This is one great advantage of sponsorships of events. Sponsorships of events actually communicate with consumers in a better way than conventional marketing (Meenaghan, 1991). Therefore the efficacy of marketing through sponsorships of events is well established.... It is vital to find the efficacy of this marketing technique in times of financial crisis. This is the main problem that we will attempt to solve. The topic of this research proposal is that whether Red Bull should continue to invest in Formula 1 championships or not in the next year that is 2012. This investment includes the sponsorships of the event and the racing teams of the company. This research proposal will identify the process in which the answer to the above question will be obtained. Aims and objective of the research alongside with a comprehensive literature review on the subject of marketing through sponsorship will be presented. Research methodology will also be discussed in the proposal. Aims and Objective Research Topic The Marketing of Red Bull through sponsorships of sports events like Formula 1 Business Question Should Red Bull continue to invest in Formula 1 championship in the next year? Aim The aim is to help Red Bull make a decision about its marketing techniqu es in the wake of the financial crisis the world is facing today. Objectives 1) To understand what marketing through sponsorships of event it and its importance 2) To seek the economic worth of sponsorship marketing 3) To evaluate the benefit of sponsorships for Red Bull 4) To gain insight on the effect of Formula 1 Championship on brand awareness of Red Bull by collecting responses from customers Literature Review Marketing through Sponsorships Different marketing techniques have been developed over the years and all of them aim at better communication with the target audience. Sponsorship is a way through which a product can be marketed to the customers. Research has suggested that sponsorships do help a product achieve competitive advantage over

Friday, November 1, 2019

Online presentation business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Online presentation business - Essay Example it to emphasize upon specific points during the speech, which only improved the quality of his speech further and helped convey the meaning to the audiences. In addition to that, the light music in the background gives it a perfect presentation appeal so that it does not feel like a traditional online education session. Every second of the video is important and has so much to offer to the audience that the audience cannot risk missing it. The speaker maintains a nice attitude toward the audience and a high level of professionalism in his speech while addressing the audience throughout the video. This is evident from the way he introduces the subject of the video to the audiences in the start and leads them through it to the end making every effort to convey his meaning to them in the best possible way. There is a lot that is conveyed through the visuals rather than the commentary or script that is what makes it a concise and extremely informative video. It is the example of a perfect video illustration of a topic in its

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Ecology - sprawl field trip Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ecology - sprawl field trip - Essay Example Accordingly, this brief essay will consider but a few of these factors with relation to the field trip that was engaged upon by our class outing to the Sprawl site earlier in the semester. The first and most pressing ecological concern is the fundamental way that the Sprawl region and growth of infrastructure and Big Box retailers has fundamental changed the water runoff for the region.1 Although adding parking lots, interchanges, and large multiple thousand square foot warehouses is itself harmful to the ecology and environment of the given region, the particular region in question experiences these negative points in a compound sense due to the overlapping nature of how one big box retailer is practically side by side to another which is side by side to a large highway interchange. This compound effect causes the drainage and water runoff of the region to be fundamentally changed in a highly negative way. Firstly, such a situation means that not only is water flow disrupted from it s normal course but a high number of added pollutants are introduced into the water table as a result of the large number of parking lots that have been added. Although seemingly benign, parking lots serve as collection points for all manner of pollutants and disrupt the flow and absorption of water into the environment in question.2 Due to the fact that cars leave all manner of fluids behind where they have been parked, it is conceivable for everything from trash associated with packaging from the store, to oil, to brake fluid, to transmission fluid, anti-freeze, and a host of other chemicals to collect on the tarmac and find their way into the water table once a healthy rain has washed over the area. Hence, the disruption of the water flow itself is but the first concern; the larger concern is concentric upon the fact that key pollutants are introduced with the presence of a number of parking lots and highway interchanges within the region.3 Of course, the issue is further compoun ded by the topography of the region in question. Whereas a general dilution of these negative environmental aspects would be seen if the topography of the site were more elevated and allowed for a greater diffusion of these pollutants prior to reaching reservoirs of lower lying land, the fact of the matter is that Big Box retailers of course seek the â€Å"perfect site† which will invariably be located in a somewhat flat or low-lying region.4 This is generally the case due to the fact that the Big Box retailers, strip malls, and other such firms want to spend as little money as possible on site improvement and grading. Hence, the ecological impact of this is the fact that the topography of the site and the presence of the pollutants readily find their way directly into the reservoirs and creeks/streams/rivers of the given site. The same can of course be said for the Sprawl site that was visited earlier in the semester. When one considers the map of the site and sees the prese nce of t

Monday, October 28, 2019

Fire Prevention and the Federal Government Essay Example for Free

Fire Prevention and the Federal Government Essay Many government agencies make fire prevention as part of their mission. America has the highest fire death rate is the highest in the world. Fires kill 3,700 and injure over 20,000 people each year. Property loss is about $11 billion per year. The United States Fire Administration (USFA) has helped to reduce fire deaths by half. They have contributed to fire prevention and suppression more than any other government agency. In 1974, Congress established the United States Fire Administration . Their mission is to provide national leadership to local fire and emergency services. It is a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003. Their mission is to â€Å"reduce the loss of life and property and protect the Nation from all hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters† (â€Å"About USFA†, n. d. ). The Department of Homeland Security was formed after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Their primary mission is to protect the country from terrorism. Since the USFA was created for the sole purpose of the prevention, preparedness, and response to fires and other emergencies, it has contributed the most to the cause. â€Å"America’s fire death rate is one of the highest per capita in the industrialized world† (â€Å"About USFA†, n. d. ). Thus, it is still an improvement since more than twenty years ago. In 1971, 12,000 people and 250 firefighters died as a result of fires. USFA continues to make our communities and society safer today. Reference U. S. Fire Administration. About the U. S. Fire Administration. Retrieved August 3, 2008 from http://www. usfa. dhs. gov.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Midsummer Nights Dream :: essays research papers

Midsummer Night’s Dream Questions and Answers 1. What does Shakespeare accomplish by setting most of the action at night and in the wood? Explain thoroughly. Use examples. Setting most of the action at night and in the woods creates a dreamlike world. There is no other place that holds more myth than the forest. Obernon makes clear that nighttime is fairies’ time. Theseus, who is present during the daylight, represents reason.The visions of fairies and magic are all related to the nighttime forest setting. Shakespeare was interested in how dreams worked, in how the events in the play transpired, and how time seems to change and loses track. Throughout the entire play, the young lovers are overcome by the magical power of the woods. They are put into a situation that is unrealistic which leads to bizarre mishaps. Even uncanny incidents happen to the fairies of the woods. Titania is put under a love spell and falls in the love with the ass-headed Nick Bottom. Puck reminds us in the end that if the play has offended anyone, they should simply remember it as being a dream. This helps make the play an incredible occurrence, rather than an intense dra ma. 2. Explain how Theseus represents the voice of reason and moderation. Be specific. Use examples and quotes (include act and line numbers) Theseus represents the voice of reason and moderation in the play because he seems to be the only normal character left. He only appears in the play during the daytime, when nothing magical occurs. He is the only character who shows complete sanity in the dreamlike fantasy world around him. He is the Duke of Athens so many people come to him with their problems. When Egeus comes to Theseus about the problem he is having with his daughter, Hermia, Theseus takes power over the situation. He explains to Hermia that if she goes against her father’s rules, by his words, she will be sentenced to death or sent to a convent. (Act 1, Scene 1, Pages 4 and 5, Lines 30-34). He states, â€Å"For you, fair Hermia, look you arm yourself to fit your fancies to your father’s will; Or else the law of Athens yields you up,- which by no means we may extenuate,- to death, or to a vow of single life.† Hermia is so in love that she can not make a reasonable decision, so she runs off in to the imaginative woods with Lysander.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Barriers Of Implementing Technology In Education

Over the past fifty years or so, teachers and parents have read and heard forecasts of an impending educational revolution each time a new technological innovation arrived on the scene. Fifty years ago, radio broadcasting was suppose to revolutionize education. Soon thereafter, teaching machines were predicted to bring sweeping changes.Next, television was touted as the medium that would solve problems facing education. Now, the computer is being hailed as the next technological innovation to have a major impact on the educational process.Modern education, in fact, has sustained a long-term interest in the use of educational technology as a means to design more efficient learning opportunities for students. There are tools on how to use the new electronic technologies and this includes: skills software; computer graphics; word processors; telecommunications; simulations; multimedia/hypermedia; virtual reality and distributed learning.. In a field with such a wide range of powerful an d complex tools, experts cannot help but disagree about what teachers need to know and even where they should begin.Not long ago, many experts advised teachers who wanted to become capable computer users learn to write computer programs in languages such as FORTRAN and BASIC. To become computer literate, many assumed that teachers needed to know enough about the technical workings of computers to follow. Few people today believe that teachers need this much technical skill, but textbooks still provide wide varieties of information for beginning technology users. The following steps are needed to take by the beginning technology users: †¢ Develop a philosophy.Teachers must observe where current resources and types of applications fit in the history of the field. Then they must begin developing personal perspectives on the current and future role of technology in education and in their own classrooms. †¢ Purchase products. Teachers must become informed, knowledgeable consume rs of computer products and select wisely among available alternatives. †¢ Identify the problems. Teachers must be able to troubleshoot computer systems they use frequently in order to discriminate between problems they can correct and those that will require outside help.†¢ Speak the language. Sufficient understanding of the terms and concepts related to technology allows users to exchange information with other teachers and experts and to ask and answer questions to expand their knowledge. †¢ See where technology fits in education. In perhaps the most important- and the most difficult- challenge, teachers must identify specific school activities where technology can help to improve existing conditions or to create important educational opportunities that did not exist without it. As part of this process, teachers decide what they need to make these changes occur.This process of determining where and how technology fits is known among users of educational technology as integration. Successful integration requires a connection between how people learn and how teachers employ technology to assist and enhance this learning. DISCUSSION Computer networks offer a significant opportunity for improving the educational climate, especially in situation calling for teaching at a distance in settings which are either primarily educational or primarily business oriented. Computer-based education networks are characterized by a large-scale central computer connected by a communication link to remote terminals.Students work at the remote terminals either individually or in groups. The major advantage of computer-based systems to the student is the potential for individualizing instruction.. Student progress can be continuously evaluated and the student can be assigned to appropriate learning activities. Individualization of instruction is possible because of the one-to-one interaction between the educational system and the student. As far as the student is co ncerned, this is a confidential interaction between himself or herself and the system.The fact that the student is one of many persons using the system at the same time, and the fact that a record is often made of the students’ progress, do not seem to detract from the feeling of individuality and confidentiality on the part of the student. The significant problem for many students in using computer-based system, especially adults, is the typing ability required for the use of the system. The need for typing can be minimized by the use of programming techniques that limit the complexity of responses. System malfunctions are another disadvantage of computing networks and are very frustrating to the individual student.Malfunctions can occur either in the computing itself or in the communication links between the computer and the terminal. While the geographic and time-scheduling of computer-based systems can be an advantage, it can also be a limitation. The terminals themselves and communication links are expensive. At present they cannot be universally located throughout the world. The distribution of other educational materials, such as books, can be accomplished with considerably more ease. Information technology (IT) can be a very effective distance learning medium.The IT package consisted of word processing, spreadsheet and communications software (via Telecom Gold) and a personal computer. IT is an interesting teacher. It can make learning easier and more attractive; for example, a resource for learning about animals could include written information about their habitat, and pictures of it. There could be video clips showing the animal running, accompanied by animated diagrams of the operation of their skeletal structure and muscles. IT is also a patient and responsive teacher. Software does not tire of waiting for a response.Computer Aided Learning software can give pupils immediate feedback. Pupils are rewarded as they make incremental progress. T his can be particularly helpful where pupils have learning difficulties. Rewards can be structured so that pupils are motivated to learn. IT is pupil centered. Unlike traditional didactic teching, strategies for teaching IT will emphasize pupil centered, resource-based learning. This helps IT teachers with the particularly exaggerated problems they have in planning and controlling continuity, progression, differentiation, and breadth and depth of learning.After citing some of the benefits derived from using IT, what therefore, has inhibited a greater use of IT in management education? One reason may be a paucity of good quality educational material for use with computers. Another reason may be a lack of incentive or a resistance to change. Economic reason is also a possibility. Until very recently the use of IT as an instrument for individual learning has been prohibitively expensive. However, the reduced purchase price of the microcomputer has helped lower that barrier. Many teache rs are busy with their daily routines and can find any excuse when asked to add something new.â€Å"Why change what is working? † Many teachers find that it is easier to maintain the status quo: staying with what has been comfortable. Some teachers are afraid of taking any risk and exposing themselves as lacking skills, especially in front of their students. According to Rick Maurer, this fear of change can be categorized into three levels of resistance. Level One: â€Å"Resistance to any use of technology. † These teachers do not understand what the administration is trying to accomplish, or doubt if the school realizes how much technology will cost in time or money.They have their own ideas about what the school should do-they like the status quo, and believe the timing is wrong. Their main concern may just be fear of letting others know what they don't know. Level Two: â€Å"Deeper than the use of technology. † These teachers believe the administration has ma de promises before which they did not keep. They are afraid that technology use is really the start of something deeper and fear if they do not use technology, they will no longer be included as â€Å"in. † Actually, many of these teachers may be worn out by taking on so many changes all at once and may not be completely opposed to using technology.Level Three: â€Å"Deeply embedded resistance. † These teachers may have developed deeply entrenched distrust over many years. They fight anything the administration is supporting because values differ from what teachers want and what administration is proposing. Teachers need a great deal of motivation when it comes to implementing technology in the classroom (Gahala, 2001). There are many obstacles to overcome. Technology can be very intimidating for many teachers â€Å"because introducing technology almost always requires new learning† (Dyrli & Kinnaman, 1994).â€Å"Teachers may lack the time and the motivation to learn technology skills . The integration of technology into the curriculum will not succeed without giving teachers ample time to practice, explore, conceptualize, and collaborate† (Gahala, 2001). This can be done by inviting them to join the school technology planning committee. â€Å"Solicit teachers' participation on the technology planning committee and explain why their participation is important† (Conner, 2002). Another barrier to consider is the cost of technology to be implemented.Computer-based systems are more expensive to set-up. Hardware and softwares must be purchased and staff must be re-trained or recruited. Some disturbance and expense can be expected due to the need for the installation of additional electrical power circuits and computer network cabling and redecoration in parts of the school. Besides the high initial cost, the primary problem with investing in technology is the changing pattern of technology usage along with revisions in the associa ted definition of â€Å"adequate resources†.Maintenance and security for existing resources also became important cost issues. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, new directions in technology use replaced the emphasis on microcomputers with the trend toward multimedia and integrated learning systems. Schools now face a dual challenge that seems likely to remain the only constant amid changing educational technology. Monetary costs associated with the implementation of computer-based technology system includes : 1) Capital cost of computer and network hardware and software; 2) Installation cost, including classroom and laboratory renovation.; 3) Hardware and software upgrades; 4) Support personnel for hardware and software installation, repair, and maintenance; 5) Support personnel and facilities for training and support of users (instructors and students). Obsolete computers are replaced with more powerful computers, which include more sophisticated peripherals and networ k connections. These computers, software, and the associated infrastructure require a greater level of training to use and maintain. Public school systems in the U. S. are currently spending $4,100,000,000 on hardware and software [8].A detailed study of K-12 education estimates that a reasonable target spending for technology should be approximately $300/student, compared to $70/student now being spent [9]. A 1996 forecast predicts spending on educational technology by K-12 and higher education to rise from $6Ãâ€"109 to $14Ãâ€"109 by the year 2000 [10]. As a specific example in higher education, Virginia Tech, which has 25,000 total students, is spending $10-million over four years in an Instructional Development Initiative for classroom and faculty infrastructure.Computer projection equipment is being installed in classrooms, and approximately 1500 faculty members are receiving information technology training and a computer. Once all faculty members complete the course, another 4-year cycle will begin. The dollar amount of this initiative does not include money spent by individual colleges, departments, and research groups for information technology for educational use. Oberlin quotes a total expenditure of $40-million on information technology for a Research-I university of 25,000 students [11].This figure translates to $1,600 per student per year, and does not include the money spent by individual students who can afford their own personal computers, peripherals, and software. Whether purchased with government support, tuition, student fees, or personal funds, the use of information technology is increasing the cost of education. Moreover, other problems may arise during the implementation of technology and these include the following: 1) Methods of working are distorted to fit the requirements of the software used.If the software is not sufficiently flexible so that it can be changed to support current or proposed methods of working then these may have to be adjusted to match the requirements of the software. 2) Bringing new IT-based systems into use can be time-consuming, as it is prudent to continue with both the old system and the new system until it is clear that the new system is working effectively. 3) Software may not do what is required of it. This may happen when the software does not work as it should or because new demands are made for additional facilities that the software is not designed to supply.CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION: Nowadays, technology is rapidly moving and we cannot help but to cope with the advancement. It is true that using technology in education is very expensive and time consuming but it was worth the cost. Unfortunately, lack of global long-range planning often amounts to wasted efforts and excessive costs. For an innovation to be successful, teachers need to learn new skills and they may need to unlearn beliefs about students or instruction that have dominated their professional careers (Darling, Ham mond & McLaughlin, 1996).Thus teacher professional development is at the heart of sustaining an innovation. Student support and enthusiasm for the local innovation also played an important role in motivating teachers to continue to carry out and improve the innovation. Teachers want to do what is best for students to enhance their learning. If they believe that students are benefiting from a particular innovation, they in turn will be willing to devote additional time and effort required to maximize the advantage brought on by the innovation.Likewise, educators must resolve many complex issues in order to apply technology solutions to educational problems. They must address many concerns before and during implementation to ensure that technology will have the desired effects on students and schools. These concerns range from funding to selection and placement of technology resources. The author believes that regardless of the downfall of technology, computer-based system of educatio n must go on to continuously improve learning. REFERENCES: 1. Conner, D. (2002, April 12). Technology planning: Closing the communications gap Education World.Retrieved March 19, 2004, from http://www. educationworld. com/a_tech/tech152. shtml 2. Crawford, R. (1997). Managing information technology. London: Roulledge. pp. 131-135. 3. Dyrli, O. E. , and Kinnaman, D. E. (1994, January). Gaining access to technology: First step in making a difference for your students. Technology and Learning, pp 16-50. 4. Crawford, R. (1997). Managing information technology. London: Roulledge. pp. 131-135. 5. Gahala, J. (2001, October). Critical issue: Promoting technology use in schools. Retrieved March 29, 2004, from http://www. ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te200. htm 6. Maurer, Rick. (1995) Beyond the Wall of Resistance: Unconventional Strategies that Build Support for Change. Bard & Stephen. 7. Norton, P. & Sprague,D. (2001). Technology for teaching. USA: Allyn & Bacon. pp. 23-30. 8. Data from a Quality Education Data (QED) report(1996), quoted in J. Chem. Ed. 73, A248. 9. Glennan, T. K. ; Melmed. (1996) A. Fostering the Use of Educational Technology: Elements of a National Strategy; RAND: Santa Monica, CA. http://www. rand. org/publications/MR/MR682/contents. html 10. CCA Consulting Inc.(1996) quoted from News, Resources, and Trends, June 28, 1996, SyllabusWeb, Syllabus Press: Sunnyvale, CA. http://www. syllabus. com/ntr06_28_96. html. 11. Oberlin, J. L. (1996) â€Å"The Financial Mythology of Information Technology: The New Economics,† CAUSE/EFFECT , 19(1) issue of Spring 1996, 21; http://cause-www. colorado. edu/information-resources/ir-library/abstracts/cem9616. html 12. Darling-Hamilton, L. & McLaughlin, M. W. (1996). Policies that support professional development in an era of reform. In M. W. McLaughlin & I. Oberman (eds. )Teacher learning: New policies,new practices. NewYork: Teachers College Press.