Advance system engineering Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Advance system engineering - Coursework Example This activity normally connects the technical management effort and the overall acquisition efforts of the system. This is achieved through provision of key events in the development process whereby the design viability can be assessed. The viability of these baselines is a major input for the acquisitions management milestones decisions. It also involves a review of the system design, preliminary design and the critical design of the system. Development usually progresses through three major levels which include the conceptual level, the system level and the subsystem level. The system engineering process is the heart of integrated by Systems Engineering Management. It normally transforms requirements into specifications, architecture and configuration baselines. It is able to provide the control and traceability in order to develop solutions that meet customer needs. During the systems engineering process, the architectures are generated to give a better description and understanding of the system. The third activity involved in integrated by Systems Engineering Management is the lifecycle integration. It is very necessary in order to ensure that the design solution is viable throughout the life of the system it includes the planning associated with product and process development. It normally integrates multiple functional concerns into the process of engineering. The benefits that are realized from the integration of the lifecycle include: Reduction of the product life cycle time and the reduction of the need for redesign. Lifecycle integration is usually achieved through concurrent consideration of all the lifecycle needs during the process of development. An interdisciplinary team is used to enhance concurrent consideration of all the lifecycle needs during the process of integration of Systems Engineering Management. a. Based upon a labor rate of $20,000 a month for a senior engineer

Benefits of Coffee Essay Example for Free

Benefits of Coffee Essay How much coffee have you consumed already this morning? One cup? Or maybe even two? Like most college students I enjoy my cup of Joe in the morning! Coffee is one of the greatest sources of antioxidants in the global diet. Consuming large amounts is not advised, but having reasonable amounts everyday can be very beneficial to your body. Today, I would like to inform you about some of the benefits of drinking coffee. 1. Lower Chances of Death. a. Let’s face it we are all going to die b. Appears to lengthen time for people with heart disease and diabetes c. Kristen Kirkpatrick said that a study in 2012 showed that three or more cups of coffee a day lowers the risk of death regardless of whether participants drank caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee. 2. Makes your reproductive system happy d. Men would you like a drink that could lower your chances for prostate cancer? And ladies wouldn’t you like to lower your risk for endometrial cancer? e. Kirkpatrick also says that a 2011  study  found that men consuming at least six or more cups a day reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 20 percent! Another  study  published in the  Journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention  found that women who drank more than four cups of coffee a day had a 25 percent lower risk of endometrial cancer. 3. Lower risks of Type 2 diabetes. f. A 2012  study  found that a compound in coffee can actually help block a substance in the body called human islet amyloid polypeptide that may play a role in the development of diabetes. Further  studies  have  demonstrated  that caffeinated coffee consumption is linked to decreased diabetes risk as well. 4. Protects your brain. g. When you wake up to the smell of coffee in the morning do you usually smile? h. Coffee drinkers are less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimers later in life according to a study done in 2009 i. The smell of coffee can help reduce stress that could be associated with loss of sleep 5.   Good for skin. j. Drinking coffee may help you to ward off basal cell carcinoma So, the next time you are wondering whether you should have that second cup of coffee to perk you up, relax. At least now you know how it could help you!

Literature Review On Social Networking Media Essay

Literature Review On Social Networking Media Essay The way people live these days is definitely different than the previous, people now tend to share their daily life events, news and even feelings and emotions with others. Social networks site (SNSs) has provided the facility of enabling them to do so. The Social Data Revolution (SDR) is the shift in human communication patterns towards increased personal information sharing and its related implications, made possible by the rise of social networks in early 2000s. While social networks were used in the early days to privately share photos and private messages, the subsequent trend towards people passively and actively sharing personal information more broadly has resulted in unprecedented amounts of public data. Janet Fouts in her book defines the social media as people engaged in conversation around a topic online. (Fouts, 2009). Her definition is a generalization to the whole topic, so there is another definition by (Boyed and Ellison, 2007) that is Social network sites are defined as wed-based services that allow individuals to three main points the first is to construct a public or semi-public profile within a system, the second is to formulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and the third is to view and cutoff their list of connections and those made by others within the system. This definition describes in specific the way people connect through the social network sites, and the nature and classification of these connections may vary from site to site. While we use the term social network site to describe this phenomenon, the term social networking sites also appears in public discourse, and the two terms are often used interchangeably. We chose not to employ the term networking for two reasons: emphasis and scope. Networking emphasizes relationship initiation, often between strangers. While networking is possible on these sites, it is not the primary practice on many of them, nor is it what differentiates them from other forms of computer-mediated communication (CMC). The term social network site is interchangeably used with the term social networking site, but they are not the same. The term networking somehow refers to the Or just remove the whole paragraph!! What makes social network sites unique is not that they allow individuals to meet strangers, but rather that they enable users to articulate and make visible their social networks. This can result in connections between individuals that would not otherwise be made, but that is often not the goal, and these meetings are frequently between latent ties (Haythornthwaite, 2005) who share some offline connection. On many of the large SNSs, participants are not necessarily networking or looking to meet new people; instead, they are primarily communicating with people who are already a part of their extended social network. To emphasize this articulated social network as a critical organizing feature of these sites, we label them social network sites. While SNSs have implemented a wide variety of technical features, their backbone consists of visible profiles that display a clear list of Friends who are also users of the system. Profiles are unique pages where one can type oneself into being (Sundà ©n, 2003, p. 3). After joining an SNS, an individual is asked to fill out forms containing a series of questions. The profile is generated using the answers to these questions, which typically include descriptors such as age, location, interests, and an about me section. Most sites also encourage users to upload a profile photo. Some sites allow users to enhance their profiles by adding multimedia content or modifying their profiles look and feel. Others, such as Facebook and twitter, allow users to add modules (Applications) that enhance their profile. The visibility of a profile varies by site and according to user discretion. By default, profiles on Friendster and Tribe.net are crawled by search engines, making them visible to anyone, regardless of whether or not the viewer has an account. Alternatively, LinkedIn controls what a viewer may see based on whether she or he has a paid account. Sites like MySpace allow users to choose whether they want their profile to be public or Friends only. Facebook takes a different approach-by default, users who are part of the same network can view each others profiles, unless a profile owner has decided to deny permission to those in their network. Structural variations around visibility and access are one of the primary ways that SNSs differentiate themselves from each other. After joining a social network site, users are prompted to identify others in the system with whom they have a relationship. The label for these relationships differs depending on the site-popular terms include Friends, Contacts, and Fans. Most SNSs require bi-directional confirmation for Friendship, but some do not. These one-directional ties are sometimes labeled as Fans or Followers, but many sites call these Friends as well. The term Friends can be misleading, because the connection does not necessarily mean friendship in the everyday vernacular sense, and the reasons people connect are varied (boyd, 2006a). The public display of connections is a crucial component of SNSs. The Friends list contains links to each Friends profile, enabling viewers to navigate the network graph by clicking through the Friends lists. On most sites, the list of Friends is visible to anyone who is permitted to view the profile, although there are exceptions. For instance, some MySpace users have hacked their profiles to hide the Friends display, and LinkedIn allows users to opt out of displaying their network. Most SNSs also provide a mechanism for users to leave messages on their Friends profiles. This feature typically involves leaving comments, although sites employ various labels for this feature. In addition, SNSs often have a private messaging feature similar to webmail. While both private messages and comments are popular on most of the major SNSs, they are not universally available. Not all social network sites began as such. QQ started as a Chinese instant messaging service, LunarStorm as a community site, Cyworld as a Korean discussion forum tool, and Skyrock (formerly Skyblog) was a French blogging service before adding SNS features. Classmates.com, a directory of school affiliates launched in 1995, began supporting articulated lists of Friends after SNSs became popular. AsianAvenue, MiGente, and BlackPlanet were early popular ethnic community sites with limited Friends functionality before re-launching in 2005-2006 with SNS features and structure. Beyond profiles, Friends, comments, and private messaging, SNSs vary greatly in their features and user base. Some have photo-sharing or video-sharing capabilities; others have built-in blogging and instant messaging technology. There are mobile-specific SNSs (e.g., Dodgeball), but some web-based SNSs also support limited mobile interactions (e.g., Facebook, MySpace, and Cyworld). Many SNSs target people from specific geographical regions or linguistic groups, although this does not always determine the sites community. Orkut, for example, was launched in the United States with an English-only interface, but Portuguese-speaking Brazilians quickly became the dominant user group (Kopytoff, 2004). Some sites are designed with specific ethnic, religious, sexual orientation, political, or other identity-driven categories in mind. There are even SNSs for dogs (Dogster) and cats (Catster), although their owners must manage their profiles. While SNSs are often designed to be widely accessible, many attract homogeneous populations initially, so it is not uncommon to find groups using sites to separate themselves out by nationality, age, educational level, or other factors that typically segment society (Hargittai, 2008), even if that was not the intention of the designers. A History of Social Network Sites The Early Years The first recognizable social network site launched in 1997. SixDegrees.com allowed users to create profiles, list their Friends and, beginning in 1998, surf the Friends lists. Each of these features existed in some form before SixDegrees of course. Profiles existed on most major dating sites and many community sites. AIM and ICQ buddy lists supported lists of Friends, although those Friends were not visible to others. Classmates.com allowed people to connect with their high school or college and surf the network for others who were also joined, but users could not create profiles or list Friends until years later. The first to combine these features was SixDegrees. SixDegrees promoted itself as a tool to help people connect with and send messages to others. While SixDegrees attracted millions of users, it failed to continue, the service closed in 2000. Looking back, its founder believes that SixDegrees was simply ahead of its time (A. Weinreich, personal communication, July 11, 2007). While people were already flocking to the Internet, most did not have extended networks of friends who were online. Early adopters complained that there was little to do after accepting Friend requests, and most users were not interested in meeting strangers. From 1997 to 2001, a number of community tools began supporting various combinations of profiles and publicly articulated Friends. AsianAvenue, BlackPlanet, and MiGente allowed users to create personal, professional, and dating profiles, users could identify Friends on their personal profiles without seeking approval for those connections (O. Wasow, personal communication, August 16, 2007). Likewise, shortly after its launch in 1999, LiveJournal listed one-directional connections on user pages. People mark others as Friends to follow their journals and manage privacy settings. The Korean virtual worlds site Cyworld was started in 1999 and added SNS features in 2001, independent of these other sites (see Kim Yun, this issue)*come back to this ref. Likewise, when the Swedish web community LunarStorm refashioned itself as an SNS in 2000, it contained Friends lists, guestbooks, and diary pages (D. Skog, personal communication, September 24, 2007). Ryze.com was the beginning of the next wave of SNSs, it was launched in 2001 to help people control their business networks. Ryzes founder reports that he first introduced the site to his friends, primarily members of the San Francisco business and technology community, including the entrepreneurs and investors behind many future SNSs (A. Scott, personal communication, June 14, 2007)*revise this ref. In particular, the people behind Ryze, Tribe.net, LinkedIn, and Friendster were tightly interrelated personally and professionally. They believed that they could support each other without competing (Festa, 2003). In the end, Ryze never acquired mass popularity, Tribe.net grew to attract a passionate niche user base, LinkedIn became a powerful business service, and Friendster became the most significant, if only as one of the biggest disappointments in Internet history (Chafkin, 2007, p. 1). Figure 1. Distribution of work task interruption Figure 1. Timeline of the launch dates of many major SNSs and dates when community sites re-launched with SNS features That was a brief history of the general SNSs. The following section discusses Friendster, MySpace, and Facebook those are the three key SNSs that has shaped the business, cultural, and research background. The Rise (and Fall) of Friendster Friendster launched in 2002 as a social complement to Ryze. It was designed to compete with Match.com, a profitable online dating site (Cohen, 2003). While most dating sites focused on introducing people to strangers with similar interests, Friendster was designed to help friends-of-friends meet, based on the assumption that friends-of-friends would make better romantic partners than would strangers. Friendster gained trust among three groups of early adopters who shaped the site-bloggers, attendees of the Burning Man arts festival (Who are these?), and gay men (boyd, 2004)-and grew to 300,000 users through word of mouth before traditional press coverage began in May 2003 (OShea, 2003). *find this ref and try to make changes to the prev. paragraph As Friendsters popularity raised, the site encountered technical and social difficulties (boyd, 2006b). Friendsters databases and servers were not well equipped to handle its fast growth, and the site faded out regularly, that caused frustrating users who replaced email with Friendster. ** rephrase this paragraph à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬Å" Because organic growth had been critical to creating a coherent community, the onslaught of new users who learned about the site from media coverage upset the cultural balance. Furthermore, exponential growth meant a collapse in social contexts: Users had to face their bosses and former classmates alongside their close friends. To complicate matters, Friendster began restricting the activities of its most passionate users. The initial design of Friendster restricted users from viewing profiles of people who were more than four degrees away (friends-of-friends-of-friends-of-friends). In order to view additional profiles, users began adding acquaintances and interesting-looking strangers to expand their reach. Some began massively collecting Friends, an activity that was implicitly encouraged through a most popular feature. The ultimate collectors were fake profiles representing iconic fictional characters: celebrities, concepts, and other such entities. These Fakesters outraged the company, who banished fake profiles and eliminated the most popular feature (boyd, in press-b). While few people actually created Fakesters, many more enjoyed surfing Fakesters for entertainment or using functional Fakesters (e.g., Brown University) to find people they knew. The active deletion of Fakesters (and genuine users who chose non-realistic photos) signaled to some that the company did not share users interests. Many early adopters left because of the combination of technical difficulties, social collisions, and a rupture of trust between users and the site (boyd, 2006b). However, at the same time that it was fading in the U.S., its popularity skyrocketed in the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia (Goldberg, 2007). SNSs Hit the Mainstream From 2003 onward, many new SNSs were launched, prompting social software analyst Clay Shirky (2003) to coin the term YASNS: Yet Another Social Networking Service. Most took the form of profile-centric sites, trying to replicate the early success of Friendster or target specific demographics. While socially-organized SNSs solicit broad audiences, professional sites such as LinkedIn, Visible Path, and Xing (formerly openBC) focus on business people. Passion-centric SNSs like Dogster (T. Rheingold, personal communication, August 2, 2007) help strangers connect based on shared interests. Care2 helps activists meet, Couchsurfing connects travelers to people with couches, and MyChurch joins Christian churches and their members. Furthermore, as the social media and user-generated content phenomena grew, websites focused on media sharing began implementing SNS features and becoming SNSs themselves. Examples include Flickr (photo sharing), Last.FM (music listening habits), and YouTube (video sharing). With the plethora of venture-backed startups launching in Silicon Valley, few people paid attention to SNSs that gained popularity elsewhere, even those built by major corporations. For example, Googles Orkut failed to build a sustainable U.S. user base, but a Brazilian invasion (Fragoso, 2006) made Orkut the national SNS of Brazil. Microsofts Windows Live Spaces (a.k.a. MSN Spaces) also launched to lukewarm U.S. reception but became extremely popular elsewhere. Few analysts or journalists noticed when MySpace launched in Santa Monica, California, hundreds of miles from Silicon Valley. MySpace was begun in 2003 to compete with sites like Friendster, Xanga, and AsianAvenue, according to co-founder Tom Anderson (personal communication, August 2, 2007); the founders wanted to attract estranged Friendster users (T. Anderson, personal communication, February 2, 2006). After rumors emerged that Friendster would adopt a fee-based system, users posted Friendster messages encouraging people to join alternate SNSs, including Tribe.net and MySpace (T. Anderson, personal communication, August 2, 2007). Because of this, MySpace was able to grow rapidly by capitalizing on Friendsters alienation of its early adopters. One particularly notable group that encouraged others to switch were indie-rock bands who were expelled from Friendster for failing to comply with profile regulations. While MySpace was not launched with bands in mind, they were welcomed. Indie-rock bands from the Los Angeles region began creating profiles, and local promoters used MySpace to advertise VIP passes for popular clubs. Intrigued, MySpace contacted local musicians to see how they could support them (T. Anderson, personal communication, September 28, 2006). Bands were not the sole source of MySpace growth, but the symbiotic relationship between bands and fans helped MySpace expand beyond former Friendster users. The bands-and-fans dynamic was mutually beneficial: Bands wanted to be able to contact fans, while fans desired attention from their favorite bands and used Friend connections to signal identity and affiliation. Futhermore, MySpace differentiated itself by regularly adding features based on user demand (boyd, 2006b) and by allowing users to personalize their pages. This feature emerged because MySpace did not restrict users from adding HTML into the forms that framed their profiles; a copy/paste code culture emerged on the web to support users in generating unique MySpace backgrounds and layouts (Perkel, in press). Teenagers began joining MySpace en masse in 2004. Unlike older users, most teens were never on Friendster-some joined because they wanted to connect with their favorite bands; others were introduced to the site through older family members. As teens began signing up, they encouraged their friends to join. Rather than rejecting underage users, MySpace changed its user policy to allow minors. As the site grew, three distinct populations began to form: musicians/artists, teenagers, and the post-college urban social crowd. By and large, the latter two groups did not interact with one another except through bands. Because of the lack of mainstream press coverage during 2004, few others noticed the sites growing popularity. Then, in July 2005, News Corporation purchased MySpace for $580 million (BBC, 2005), attracting massive media attention. Afterwards, safety issues plagued MySpace. The site was implicated in a series of sexual interactions between adults and minors, prompting legal action (Consumer Affairs, 2006). A moral panic concerning sexual predators quickly spread (Bahney, 2006), although research suggests that the concerns were exaggerated. A Global Phenomenon While MySpace attracted the majority of media attention in the U.S. and abroad, SNSs were proliferating and growing in popularity worldwide. Friendster gained traction in the Pacific Islands, Orkut became the premier SNS in Brazil before growing rapidly in India (Madhavan, 2007), Mixi attained widespread adoption in Japan, LunarStorm took off in Sweden, Dutch users embraced Hyves, Grono captured Poland, Hi5 was adopted in smaller countries in Latin America, South America, and Europe, and Bebo became very popular in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia. Additionally, previously popular communication and community services began implementing SNS features. The Chinese QQ instant messaging service instantly became the largest SNS worldwide when it added profiles and made friends visible (McLeod, 2006), while the forum tool Cyworld cornered the Korean market by introducing homepages and buddies (Ewers, 2006). Blogging services with complete SNS features also became popular. In the U.S., blogging tools with SNS features, such as Xanga, LiveJournal, and Vox, attracted broad audiences. Skyrock reigns in France, and Windows Live Spaces dominates numerous markets worldwide, including in Mexico, Italy, and Spain. Although SNSs like QQ, Orkut, and Live Spaces are just as large as, if not larger than, MySpace, they receive little coverage in U.S. and English-speaking media, making it difficult to track their trajectories. Expanding Niche Communities Alongside these open services, other SNSs launched to support niche demographics before expanding to a broader audience. Unlike previous SNSs, Facebook was designed to support distinct college networks only. Facebook began in early 2004 as a Harvard-only SNS (Cassidy, 2006). To join, a user had to have a harvard.edu email address. As Facebook began supporting other schools, those users were also required to have university email addresses associated with those institutions, a requirement that kept the site relatively closed and contributed to users perceptions of the site as an intimate, private community. Beginning in September 2005, Facebook expanded to include high school students, professionals inside corporate networks, and, eventually, everyone. The change to open signup did not mean that new users could easily access users in closed networks-gaining access to corporate networks still required the appropriate .com address, while gaining access to high school networks required administrator approval. (As of this writing, only membership in regional networks requires no permission.) Unlike other SNSs, Facebook users are unable to make their full profiles public to all users. Another feature that differentiates Facebook is the ability for outside developers to build Applications which allow users to personalize their profiles and perform other tasks, such as compare movie preferences and chart travel histories. While most SNSs focus on growing broadly and exponentially, others explicitly seek narrower audiences. Some, like aSmallWorld and BeautifulPeople, intentionally restrict access to appear selective and elite. Others-activity-centered sites like Couchsurfing, identity-driven sites like BlackPlanet, and affiliation-focused sites like MyChurch-are limited by their target demographic and thus tend to be smaller. Finally, anyone who wishes to create a niche social network site can do so on Ning, a platform and hosting service that encourages users to create their own SNSs. Currently, there are no reliable data regarding how many people use SNSs, although marketing research indicates that SNSs are growing in popularity worldwide (comScore, 2007). This growth has prompted many corporations to invest time and money in creating, purchasing, promoting, and advertising SNSs. At the same time, other companies are blocking their employees from accessing the sites. Additionally, the U.S. military banned soldiers from accessing MySpace (Frosch, 2007) and the Canadian government prohibited employees from Facebook (Benzie, 2007), while the U.S. Congress has proposed legislation to ban youth from accessing SNSs in schools and libraries (H.R. 5319, 2006; S. 49, 2007). The rise of SNSs indicates a shift in the organization of online communities. While websites dedicated to communities of interest still exist and prosper, SNSs are primarily organized around people, not interests. Early public online communities such as Usenet and public discussion forums were structured by topics or according to topical hierarchies, but social network sites are structured as personal (or egocentric) networks, with the individual at the center of their own community. This more accurately mirrors unmediated social structures, where the world is composed of networks, not groups (Wellman, 1988, p. 37). The introduction of SNS features has introduced a new organizational framework for online communities, and with it, a vibrant new research context. Previous Scholarship Scholarship concerning SNSs is emerging from diverse disciplinary and methodological traditions, addresses a range of topics, and builds on a large body of CMC research. The goal of this section is to survey research that is directly concerned with social network sites, and in so doing, to set the stage for the articles in this special issue. To date, the bulk of SNS research has focused on impression management and friendship performance, networks and network structure, online/offline connections, and privacy issues. Impression Management and Friendship Performance Like other online contexts in which individuals are consciously able to construct an online representation of self-such as online dating profiles and MUDS-SNSs constitute an important research context for scholars investigating processes of impression management, self-presentation, and friendship performance. In one of the earliest academic articles on SNSs, boyd (2004) examined Friendster as a locus of publicly articulated social networks that allowed users to negotiate presentations of self and connect with others. Donath and boyd (2004) extended this to suggest that public displays of connection serve as important identity signals that help people navigate the networked social world, in that an extended network may serve to validate identity information presented in profiles. While most sites encourage users to construct accurate representations of themselves, participants do this to varying degrees. Marwick (2005) found that users on three different SNSs had complex strategies for negotiating the rigidity of a prescribed authentic profile, while boyd (in press-b) examined the phenomenon of Fakesters and argued that profiles could never be real. The extent to which portraits are authentic or playful varies across sites; both social and technological forces shape user practices. Skog (2005) found that the status feature on LunarStorm strongly influenced how people behaved and what they choose to reveal-profiles there indicate ones status as measured by activity (e.g., sending messages) and indicators of authenticity (e.g., using a real photo instead of a drawing). Another aspect of self-presentation is the articulation of friendship links, which serve as identity markers for the profile owner. Impression management is one of the reasons given by Friendster users for choosing particular friends (Donath boyd, 2004). Recognizing this, Zinman and Donath (2007) noted that MySpace spammers leverage peoples willingness to connect to interesting people to find targets for their spam. In their examination of LiveJournal friendship, Fono and Raynes-Goldie (2006) described users understandings regarding public displays of connections and how the Friending function can operate as a catalyst for social drama. In listing user motivations for Friending, boyd (2006a) points out that Friends on SNSs are not the same as friends in the everyday sense; instead, Friends provide context by offering users an imagined audience to guide behavioral norms. Other work in this area has examined the use of Friendster Testimonials as self-presentational devices (boyd Heer, 2006) and the extent to which the attractiveness of ones Friends (as indicated by Facebooks Wall feature) impacts impression formation (Walther, Van Der Heide, Kim, Westerman, in press). Networks and Network Structure Social network sites also provide rich sources of naturalistic behavioral data. Profile and linkage data from SNSs can be gathered either through the use of automated collection techniques or through datasets provided directly from the company, enabling network analysis researchers to explore large-scale patterns of friending, usage, and other visible indicators (Hogan, in press), and continuing an analysis trend that started with examinations of blogs and other websites. For instance, Golder, Wilkinson, and Huberman (2007) examined an anonymized dataset consisting of 362 million messages exchanged by over four million Facebook users for insight into Friending and messaging activities. Lampe, Ellison, and Steinfield (2007) explored the relationship between profile elements and number of Facebook friends, finding that profile fields that reduce transaction costs and are harder to falsify are most likely to be associated with larger number of friendship links. These kinds of data also lend themselves well to analysis through network visualization (Adamic, Bà ¼yà ¼kkà ¶kten, Adar, 2003; Heer boyd, 2005; Paolillo Wright, 2005). SNS researchers have also studied the network structure of Friendship. Analyzing the roles people played in the growth of Flickr and Yahoo! 360s networks, Kumar, Novak, and Tomkins (2006) argued that there are passive members, inviters, and linkers who fully participate in the social evolution of the network (p. 1). Scholarship concerning LiveJournals network has included a Friendship classification scheme (Hsu, Lancaster, Paradesi, Weniger, 2007), an analysis of the role of language in the topology of Friendship (Herring et al., 2007), research into the importance of geography in Friending (Liben-Nowell, Novak, Kumar, Raghavan, Tomkins, 2005), and studies on what motivates people to join particular communities (Backstrom, Huttenlocher, Kleinberg, Lan, 2006). Based on Orkut data, Spertus, Sahami, and Bà ¼yà ¼kkà ¶kten (2005) identified a topology of users through their membership in certain communities; they suggest that sites can use this to recommend additional communities of interest to users. Finally, Liu, Maes, and Davenport (2006) argued that Friend connections are not the only network structure worth investigating. They examined the ways in which the performance of tastes (favorite music, books, film, etc.) constitutes an alternate network structure, which they call a taste fabric. Bridging Online and Offline Social Networks Although exceptions exist, the available research suggests that most SNSs primarily support pre-existing social relations. Ellison, Steinfield, and Lampe (2007) suggest that Facebook is used to maintain existing offline relationships or solidify offline connections, as opposed to meeting new people. These relationships may be weak ties, but typically there is some common offline element among individuals who friend one another, such as a shared class at school. This is one of the chief dimensions that differentiate SNSs from earlier forms of public CMC such as newsgroups (Ellison et al., 2007). Research in this vein has investigated how online interactions interface with offline ones. For instance, Lampe, Ellison, and Steinfield (2006) found that Facebook users engage in searching for people with whom they have an offline connection more than they browse for complete strangers to meet. Likewise, Pew research found that 91% of U.S. teens who use SNSs do so to connect with friends (Len hart Madden, 2007). Given that SNSs enable individuals to connect with one another, it is not surprising that they have become deeply embedded in users lives. In Korea, Cyworld has become an integral part of everyday life-Choi (2006) found that 85% of that studys respondents listed the maintenance and reinforcement of pre-existing social networks as their main motive for Cyworld use (p. 181). Likewise, boyd (2008) argues that MySpace and Facebook enable U.S. youth to socialize with their friends even when they are unable to gather in unmediated situations; she argues that SNSs are networked publics that support sociability, just as unmediated public spaces do. Privacy Popular press coverage of SNSs has emphasized potential privacy concerns, primarily concerning the safety of younger users (George, 2006; Kornblum Marklein, 2006). Researchers have investigated th

How Descartes Tries to Extricate Himself from the Skeptical Doubts He H

How Descartes Tries to Extricate Himself from the Skeptical Doubts He Has Raised [All page references and quotations from the Meditations are taken from the 1995 Everyman edition] In the Meditations, Descartes embarks upon what Bernard Williams has called the project of 'Pure Enquiry' to discover certain, indubitable foundations for knowledge. By subjecting everything to doubt Descartes hoped to discover whatever was immune to it. In order to best understand how and why Descartes builds his epistemological system up from his foundations in the way that he does, it is helpful to gain an understanding of the intellectual background of the 17th century that provided the motivation for his work. We can discern three distinct influences on Descartes, three conflicting world-views that fought for prominence in his day. The first was what remained of the mediaeval scholastic philosophy, largely based on Aristotelian science and Christian theology. Descartes had been taught according to this outlook during his time at the Jesuit college La Flech_ and it had an important influence on his work, as we shall see later. The second was the scepticism that had made a sudden impact on the intellectual world, mainly as a reaction to the scholastic outlook. This scepticism was strongly influenced by the work of the Pyrrhonians as handed down from antiquity by Sextus Empiricus, which claimed that, as there is never a reason to believe p that is better than a reason not to believe p, we should forget about trying to discover the nature of reality and live by appearance alone. This attitude was best exemplified in the work of Michel de Montaigne, who mockingly dismissed the attempts of theologians and scientists to understand the nature of God and the universe respectively. Descartes felt the force of sceptical arguments and, while not being sceptically disposed himself, came to believe that scepticism towards knowledge was the best way to discover what is certain: by applying sceptical doubt to all our beliefs, we can discover which of them are indubitable, and thus form an adequate foundation for knowledge. The third world-view resulted largely from the work of the new scientists; Galileo, Copernicus, Bacon et al. Science had finally begun to assert itself and shake off its dated Aristotelian pr... ...dged by us as a failure - the fact that he addressed topics of great and lasting interest, and provided us with a method we can both understand and utilise fruitfully, speaks for itself. Bibliography 1. Descartes, Ren_ A Discourse on Method, Meditations and Principles of Philosophy trans. John Veitch. The Everyman's Library, 1995. Descartes, Ren_ The Philosophical Writings of Descartes volume I and II ed. and trans. John Cottingham, R. Stoothoff and D. Murdoch. Cambridge, 1985. Frankfurt, Harry Demons, Dreamers and Madmen. Bobbs-Merrill, 1970. Curley, Edwin Descartes Against the Skeptics. Oxford, 1978. Vesey, Godfrey Descartes: Father of Modern Philosophy. Open University Press, 1971. Sorrell, Tom Descartes: Reason and Experience. Open University Press, 1982. The Oxford Companion to Philosophy ed. Ted Honderich. Oxford University Press, 1985. Cottingham, John Descartes. Oxford, 1986. Williams, Bernard Descartes: The Project of Pure Enquiry. Harmondsworth, 1978. Russell, Bertrand The History of Western Philosophy. George Allen and Unwin, 1961. 11. Kripke, Saul Naming and Necessity. Oxford 1980. Word Count: 4577

With the Old Breed Book Report

â€Å"With The Old Breed† begins with the start of the author’s military career. Eugene Sledge was a freshman at Marion Military institute, his family pushing for him to eventually become an officer in the United States Army. But the authors desire to serve his country in battle with the enemy before the war was over was strong enough to make him end his college career and begin anew in the Marine Corps. Already while reading this book I felt closer and more understanding of the, because I too left college in the fear that if I didn’t join now, I would never have another chance to serve my country. Eugene sledge started school at Georgia Tech to eventually become an Officer. But realizing that he would spend most of the war sitting in classrooms instead of fighting the enemy, he intentionally flunked out to become an enlisted marine. Already, even though he hadn’t even been through boot camp yet, Eugene Sledge exhibited the three Marine Corps values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment. Honor for wanting to serve his country. Courage for stepping off the path laid out by his family. And Commitment for not giving up and trying his hardest to get in a position to fight the Japanese. The next section of the book details Eugene Sledge’s transformation into a Marine while in boot camp. Through most of the book I could only learn and read about the author’s experiences in war, but this section was one that I could relate to and compare. Eugene Sledge graduated Marine Corps Recruit Depot Sand Diego on December 24, 1943, and was shipped off to infantry training at Camp Elliot, a small installation located on the northern edge of San Diego. It was here that the author chose to become a 60mm mortar man, whose primary job is to provide indirect fire to support the rifle man. After being attached to 1st Marine Division, 3rd battalion, 5th Marines, he is sent to pre-combat deployment to Pavuvu. Here the author and his fellow marines learn the basics of amphibious landings. After learning the basics for a short while, Eugene Sledge boards a ship and heads off to invade Peleliu, a small island in the pacific. It is here that he learns the true chaos, confusion, and terror of war. His experiences from this point on in the book are something that members of any branch of service can learn from when seeking knowledge on what war is like, especially during the pacific campaign. Sledge and his company spends three days on Peleliu before they are relieved and sent to another island, but during these three days he witnesses the first aspects of war. On one occasion he witnessed a Marine kill another Marine at night after the Japanese broke through their lines. I think that this is something that unfortunately happens more often than it should on the battlefield, both in the past and modern day. Situations like that can only be avoided through a more constant focus on the situation and situational awareness. Eugene Sledge is greatly disturbed by this event and it causes him to realize the waste and cruelty of war. Although perceived by the author as a terrible thing, the Pacific Campaign showed Eugene Sledge several things a normal man usually wouldn’t notice. Throughout the book marines are seen on litter duty; volunteering to run into the midst battle with a stretcher to carry out dead or wounded Marines. This mindset of never leaving someone behind is still taught today. What it comes down to at its basic level is the love and loyalty that brothers in arms share with one another. Examples of such selflessness can be seen today still, with the example of Corporal Jason Dunham. In 2004 Corporal Dunham jumped on a grenade to save the lives of the Marines around him, dying in the process and receiving a Medal of Honor. In his memoir Sledge mentions several instances where his company or squad had to risk their lives in extremely dangerous ways. One of these instances is while he was on Okinawa, during the final days of the war. The author’s team of mortar man had to dash across an open draw in order to set up a position to effectively cover the rest of the company’s attack on Japanese defenses. This act of bravery and courage in order to complete the mission is a lesson that all Marines can learn from. It’s an example of a concept that is still drilled into recruits at boot camp today: mission accomplishment no matter what. There are several instances I can remember in boot camp where we were giving seemingly impossible tasks. But in the end we were able to complete them after hard work and thinking. Training like this, while possibly viewed during my life in boot camp as a waste of time, teaches and trains us to have the mindset that with enough hard work and drive, we as Marines can complete the mission even when it seems impossible. Something that I think gets overlooked a lot when people mention the Pacific Campaign is the insurmountable misery of the Marines due to the humidity and the rain. Eugene Sledge mentions the constant rain and humidity often during his memoir, and how it negatively impacted the moral of him and his men. He describes how Marines would almost constantly have trench foot and malaria. The high humidity also caused bodies to rot at a severe rate, and in one part of the book the author describes with disgust how bodies would sometimes just fall apart when picked up, turning into a mess of maggots and rotten flesh. With this came a constant stench of death throughout the author’s campaign. Combined with the severe jungle fighting that took place, it’s surprising to see how the men could have kept going on for days and weeks with no relief. The rain also increased the amount of work that was required to do normally simple things. Vehicles carrying desperately needed supplies on the battlefield got stuck in the mud, and already exhausted Marines had to carry boxes of ammunition and supplies miles through mud and heat to the frontlines. Because of this, Eugene and his squad run out of ammunition and supplies several times throughout the book. At one point they resort to drinking water that was used to wash out an oil drum, and several Marines get sick. While on the frontlines, the mud made their mortar and other weapon systems inaccurate, as the recoil from each shot drove the weapon into the mud and threw the aim off. Marines are trained from boot camp to be used to miserable conditions, and in fact we take a perverse pride in it. It is this fact that I believe helped Sledge and his fellow Marines make it through the Pacific Campaign. In boot camp and MCT we learn what it is like to be constantly filthy and dirty and eventually become accustomed to it. It is training like this that I believe helped all the Marines in the Pacific. I also believe that the Marine Corps combat training that taught them to kill efficiently and to try to survive. But training also taught them loyalty to each other and love. It trains to be abke to be dependable on the battle field. The esprit de corps sustained them though the fighting and kept the men together when spirits where low, and I think every Marine can take something away from that. Eugene Sledge survived his tour of the pacific unwounded and eventually came back to the United States after months of hard fighting. He was a member of the 26 Marines left of the first landing at Peleliu. The intense warfare had claimed the lives of 14, 191 Marines and attached navy personell. It is estimated that over 107,500 Japanese were killed on the final attack of Okinawa alone, not including the other islands in the campaign, like Peleliu and Pavuvu. With The Old Breed† was in my opinion an exceptional book, however I think that there were some issues with it that could have been omitted in order to make the book easier to read. The biggest one is that the author spent a lot of writing describing the deployment of Marines across the battlefields, and the descriptions were long, confusing, and only slightly i nteresting. There are several things that I learned from â€Å"With The Old Breed†, both about war itself, and how it changes the Marines involved in it. All of the Marines involved in the fighting came out changed men. The biggest thing, however, is that I learned through the author’s experiences to never give up on yourself. Eugene B. Sledge faced many adversaries throughout the book, both in how he can achieve his goal of serving his country and the many difficult things he faced once he was on his own path. From reading Eugene Sledge’s memoir of the Pacific Theater I think we can apply his qualities like courage, selflessness, and honor to our lives in order to make us better marines.

Private finance initiative

PFI PrinciplesThe PFI, known as Private Finance Initiative, is a type of Public Private Partnership procurance method implemented in UK building industry in 1992. ( Chinyio and Gameson, 2009 ) As an of import portion of Government ‘s scheme for presenting high quality populace services, Private Finance Initiative requires the private financers to set its ain capital at hazard to present clear defined public undertakings for a long term period, guaranting the quality of the work delivered within the clip and budget. ( HM Treasury, 2009 ) OGC ( 2007, p.6 ) defined PFI as â€Å" Where the public sector contracts to buy quality services, with defined end products from the private sector on long term footing, and including maintaining or building the necessary substructure so as to take advantage of private direction accomplishments incentivised by holding private finance at hazard. † PFI has now covered most of public services such as wellness, instruction, defense mechanism, prisons and transits. Typically, PFI procurance involves undertaking the full undertaking bundle including design, building, finance, operation and care, to a group of private companies which consists of a reasonably skilled building house and a installation direction house, for a long period of 20 – 30 old ages. The authorities besides provides specifications bespeaking the services and criterions it requests, and leave the control right of design and building and operation entirely to the private group for the contract period. ( Bennett and Iossa, 2006 ) It is merely recommended for undertakings to take PFI path when the capital cost is likely to transcend & amp ; lb ; 20m. ( OGC, 2007 ) Bennett and Iossa ( 2009 ) say that it ‘s more likely to utilize PFI procurance if the outwardness is positive and the invention on residuary value is big.AdvantagesLong-run RelationshipPFI is non merely concentrating on the value for money, it besides stressed the development of long term relationship between public sector and private sector. Robinson and Scott ( 2009 ) indicates that long-run relationships in PFI undertakings can supply a powerful inducement in order to larn from each other, portion the cognition, innovate and continuously better the public presentation between private sector and public sector in project bringing. Partnering is a important key of PFI procurance, the good public presentation of which will take to the success of the undertaking. Spackman ( 2002, pp.283-301 ) addresses â€Å" Success can be achieved merely if the public authorization and the contractor attack the undertaking in a spirit of partnership, humor apprehension of each other ‘s concern and a common vision of how best they can work together. †Public SavingPFI/PPP procurance has the possible to cut down the cost, and present better quality work with the same cost in o ther procurances. ( Bing and Akintoye, 2003 ) Research shows that the authorities ‘s investing utilizing PFI procurance in the UK is now about 10-14 % in its entire investing. ( Grimsey and Lewis, 2005 ) Local governments are acute to utilize PFI to present a undertaking via partnership as they do non necessitate to borrow money from the Bankss. Spackman ( 2002 ) finds the authorities constrains its adoption because it concerns about future revenue enhancement, economic demand, costs of the adoption, and flexibleness reacting to future economic system dazes. The involvement cost of public debit in UK is at 2-2.5 per centum, nevertheless for the cost of private 1 is merely approximately 1 per centum. ( Spackman, 2002 ) Anon ( 2009, p.3 ) declares that â€Å" In the UK, deficiency of hard currency is coercing the authorities to look at utilizing PPPs for more loosely. † The economy for the authorities is non merely from the adoption revenue enhancement facet, but besides in entire value of the undertakings compared with traditional procurance. Parker and Hartley, 2003 ( in Grimsey and Lewis, 2005 ) claim that PPP contracts for UK defense mechanism services save cost scope from 5-40 per centum compared traditional public procurance.Private Net incomeOne of the benefits for private sectors to take PFI is that under the long term ownership, they can derive incomes and net incomes under their direction and operation, or exchange benefits with the local governments. Carrillo at EL. ( 2008 ) indentifies that one of the cardinal drivers for the motive of the PFI is the steady and long term income watercourse and higher returns and profitableness. Spackman ( 2002, pp.283-301 ) besides mentions â€Å" it ‘s easier to increase charges to run into a contract with a private operator than by voting in local or national authorities, and private moneymans might see income from users as a less hazardous beginning of gross. †Better Management SkillsAs p rivate financers are more capable for direction in concern in assorted Fieldss, the authorities believes that the private sector has a better function to offer project direction accomplishments, advanced design and installation and hazard direction. ( Carrillo at el. , 2008 ) Spackman ( 2002 ) stresses that the monitoring force per unit areas on contractors from private sectors may be stronger than those from the populace sector which is taking to a quality work.Long Term ContractIn PFI, contractors are tied into a long-run committedness, so that it reduces that a contractor can walk off during the undertaking if no sufficient support is in topographic point. Even though contracts might curtail this from go oning, but it is hard to plan and enforce wide articles and clauses in the contract for a long contractual period. ( Spackman, 2002 )Hazard TransportationHazard transportation is besides an of import component for presenting a good PFI undertaking. Carrillo at EL. ( 2008 ) claim that PFI will cut down the hazard degree carried by the authorities and reassign it to the contractors. Grimsey and Lewis ( 2005, pp.345-378 ) concludes that â€Å" The transferred hazard is frequently a cardinal determiner of value for money in PPPs, and one that may necessitate to be updated as dialogues processed, to let for fluctuations in hazard allotment. † Apart from public procurance cost hazard, there are besides other hazards such as site usage, site operation and entree, edifice criterions, operations and direction, fiscal conditions, cares and services, residuary value and gross etc. ( Grimsey and Lewis, 2005 ) Those hazards can all be considered and transferred to private side. In UK, there is a long list of samples for public funded undertakings being delayed or finished with over budget. Such hazards being transferred from public sector to private sector through a PPP path is considered to be adding value for money for public undertaking, as private sector will entirely pull off the undertaking cost, clip and quality. ( Grimsey and Lewis, 2005 )Less Construction TimePFI is considered to be one of the procurances which can present undertaking under or on clip. MacDonald, 2002 ( in Grimsey and Lewis, 2005 ) reviewed 50 big UK public procurance undertakings in the past 20 old ages, and found 11 were utilizing PFI/PPP, norm of which were completed under-time. HM Treasury, 2003b ( in Grimsey and Lewis, 2005 ) reviewed 61 PFI undertakings, 89 per centum of which were completed under or on clip. Compared with traditional procured undertakings, 30 per centum of which delivered on clip, PFI undertakings could be completed on clip with a 76 per centum. ( UK National Audit Office, 2003, in Grimsey and Lewis, 2005 )Delivery against BudgetPFI is besides considered to be one of the procurances which can present undertaking under or on budget. HM Treasury, 2003b ( in Grimsey and Lewis, 2005 ) reviewed 61 PFI undertakings, all of which were all finished within the budget. Compared with traditional procured undertakings finished with 27 per centum on budget, PFI undertakings completed on budget with a 78 per centum. ( UK National Audit Office, 2003, in Grimsey and Lewis, 2005 )Innovation ApproachPFI strategies allow the private bidders to research their appetency to develop creational and alone undertakings which can besides run into the needed criterions from the authorities. ( Bing and Akintoye, 2003 ) When the undertaking is under the ownership of public sector, renegotiation between the private moneymans and the public clients must be carried out before the invention is applied. However, when the undertaking is the ownership of private sector, following authorities ‘s specifications, private moneymans has ain power and freedom to implement an advanced attack to run into its ain demands. ( Bennett and Iossa, 2006 )DisadvantagesTime TakingResearch shows that most providers complain that during the procurance, the PFI procedu re takes excessively long for direction determinations. ( Spackman, 2002 ) Li ( in Bing et al. , 2005a, pp.25-35 ) claims that the most negative factor associated with PFI/PPP procurance is â€Å" a batch of direction clip spent in the contract dealing, length holds in dialogue and high engagement cost † . Furthermore, Carrillo at EL. ( 2008, pp.138-145 ) province that PFI undertakings are complex than traditional procurance taking longer lead-in clip before the start of the building. It besides adds â€Å" It is unsustainable for a private company to hold staff involved on a undertaking for a 5 old ages period without a positive result † .Hazard AllotmentIt is an advantage for public sector that their hazards during PFI have been allocated off to private subdivisions. However, it would be a defect for private bidders to transport the hazards someway. OGC ( 2007, p.10 ) indicates that: â€Å" building undertakings are undertaken by the private sector, which are incent ivised by holding private finance at hazard. †High CostHarmonizing to research from Bing et Al. ( 2005b ) , PPP/PFI procurance has jobs such as high stamp cost, complicated dialogue, invention cost restrains and conflicting in aims between stakeholders. Carrillo at EL. ( 2008 ) besides find complain from both of client and contractors that the costs for the command, design and building are higher than the traditional procurances.Lack of ExpertnessThere are still many public professionals non experienced with PFI as it is so complex to get by with. Carrillo at EL. ( 2008 ) indicates that deficiency of expertness in public sector in footings of experience is one of the issues for PFI procedure. It adds further that the deficiency of expertness has negative impacts on the PFI undertakings, and the local governments who are limited with the experience are besides fighting to maintain up the private spouses, which influences the partnering development.Government InfluenceThe author ities is someway bombarded that it is seeking to demo positive sides of PFI every bit much as it can in order to promote execution of PFI. The research and surveies carried out so far by the authorities have been utilizing a limited sum of undertakings with certain focal point. It is recommended to name for more independent and 3rd party surveies for a broad scope of undertaking research and roll up feedback from the clients in all types of undertakings to analysis the PFI public presentation. ( Carrillo at el. , 2008 )Procurement ComparisonIn order to secure the undertaking of residential development for Wulfruna University in UK, PFI and Design and Build are taken into history for the undertaking procurance. Comparison and analysis are carried out as following.Design & A ; BuildDesign & A ; Build is one of the popular procurance methods implemented in the building industry. Since April 2000, D & A ; B has been nominated as one of the procurement recommendations along with PFI and Prime Contracting by the authorities organic structure. ( OGC, 2007 ) The basic rule of D & A ; B procurance is, as fig.1 shown, the client sets up the demands and criterions, and so send on them to the D & A ; B contractor for the bringing of the work. There is ever possible option for client to confer with other design professionals for initial inventions and design constructs. Once, the client is contracted with the D & A ; B contractor, its duty of design engagement is wholly reduced. Risks displacements to the D & A ; B undertaking squad, dwelling of interior decorators, providers and subcontractors, who will take full duty to transport out the design and building of the undertakings. ( OGC, 2007 )Brief AnalysisWith the purpose of analysis the brief, following cardinal points have been indentified:Existing 12,500 pupils with 800 hall of abode and 450 on proposalExisting 65 % males and 60 % full timersProposed 450 bed hall of abodeProposed edifice with comprised different types of adjustmentProposed edifice with a modern criterionProposed edifice to engage out to tourers or public members during vacationsAnalysis:The current pupil figure is 12, 500, and full clip pupil is about 7,500. But the figure of the halls is merely 1,250 ( including the 1 on proposal ) . This figure is merely approximately 16.7 % of the current full clip pupil figure, if 1,2500 suites are wholly counted as individual units. There is a possibility of future development of more student halls of abode.If current full clip pupil figure is about 7,500 who need pupil adjustment, there could be about 4,875 male pupils. It is common that the care and cleansing for the suites rented out for male pupils are more likely harder and hard than the 1s for female pupils. So that the proposed edifice should be quality ensured with good care strategy in topographic point.450 bed hall of abode with modern criterion and assorted types of suites could increase the undertaking cost, and it is likely to o ver the & A ; lb ; 20m bound. Such a figure of pupil ‘s adjustment besides needs a good direction and disposal.The demand of different types of adjustment might affect fluctuation during design phase of the undertaking.A modern criterion might affect client into the design for its appetency of invention attack and criterion.Renting out tourers and other public members could increase excess income for the proprietor. Good direction and operation are required from experience direction houses to supply professional services.PFI versus Design & A ; BuildUndertaking TimeIt is clearly indentified in the old subdivision that the bulk of PFI undertaking delivered under or on clip. D & A ; B comes with 2 options for viing undertakings usually. One is fixed monetary value undertaking ; hence, the undertaking will be delivered decidedly within the budget or no excess costs for the clients if it ‘s over. But the clip of the undertaking is unsure. The other option is fixed clip under taking, which can vouch the undertaking clip, but the cost of the work could be more than what clients expects. Therefore, in footings of undertaking clip, both PFI and D & A ; B are all suited for the undertaking.Undertaking CostPFI is considered to be cost efficient bringing, and it ever meets the budget or even under the budget. But it may be more for the command cost for the contractors. D & A ; B can use fixed monetary value option so that both procurement methods can run into the demand of cost even though the cost demand is non clear in this brief. However, and once more, the clip will non be guaranteed.Undertaking QualityDue to PFI is involved a long term contract for the contractor and private moneymans, it guarantee the quality and care of the undertaking. However, D & A ; B is someway has more opportunity to present a less choice work depending on the morale and motive of the contractor, contractor might cut down the quality of the work in footings of stuff or skilled lab ors etc to salvage a net income for its ain. Harmonizing to the analysis B, PFI is more favorable for the quality work in this undertaking.Client ‘s EngagementWhen the private moneyman claims the ownership, engagement of design is more likely to go on in order to input invention attack to accomplish the appetency of moneyman ‘s ain. Therefore fluctuation is allowed to happen within the PFI. However, D & A ; B contractor procedure the undertaking from design to building, there is non involvement for the client. Any fluctuation for the undertaking will take an excess fee to be implemented by the contractor. Harmonizing to the brief analysis vitamin D and vitamin E, PFI is decidedly better for D & A ; B in this instance.Hazard AllotmentIn PFI, hazards will be transferred to the private moneyman for the development. In D & A ; B, client merely have a individual contractual nexus with the contractor, shown as in fig. 1. The hazard the client carried is small and passes most o f it to the contractor.Undertaking NaturePFI procurance is suited for complex undertaking, in which the undertaking cost is more than & A ; lb ; 20m harmonizing to the debut from OGC. D & A ; B, nevertheless, is besides suited for the complex undertaking. As in the brief analysis degree Celsius, it indicates complex types of adjustment demand, both PFI and D & A ; B can secure this undertaking.Partnering ApproachIt is no uncertainty that PFI is the merely one procurance which required partnering for undertaking compared with D & A ; B. Good partnering can take to exchange of acquisition, cognition sharing and betterment of bringing. In the brief analysis a, there is a possible development of pupil halls in the hereafter if the figure of pupils supports increasing. Good partnering and relationship are the keys for quality bringing. PFI is so better than D & A ; B to be selected.Management Operation & A ; MaintenancePFI is a long term contractual pattern which involves design, buildin g, direction, operation and care for a period of 20 to 30 old ages. Private sector sometimes has better direction accomplishments than public sector. Analysis degree Fahrenheit stresses the demand of good Management and Operation, and besides analysis B once more claims the importance of care. PFI, hence, is one time once more the lone option for this demand contrasted with D & A ; BChoice RecommendationHarmonizing to HM Treasury ‘s Central Unit on Purchasing, 1992 ( in Masterman, J.W.E. , 2002 ) , choice of an appropriate procurance method can be achieved following the undermentioned stairss:Reappraisal of contract schemeAnalysisOptionsChoice of best schemeExecutionThe papers suggests clients or undertaking directors to hit how each procurance method meet the demand of the aims in assorted facets, in which manner the rating of the procurance is carried out. ( Masterman, J.W.E. , 2002 ) As fig. 2 shown, each criterion standard has its ain demand ‘s comparative weighting scope from 1 to 4. A satisfaction mark scope from 1 to10 should so be given to the procurance fiting with the standard standards. After the marking, a computation should be done by utilizing the procurance mark on one of the standards multiplied by the deliberation for the matched standards. Then add up all the consequences to acquire a entire mark. For case, in fig. 2, the underlined figures show the timing weighing for the undertaking and traditional procurance ‘s mark on this facet for the undertaking, so it should be calculated as: 4 X 4 = 16, and 16 is the entire mark for the traditional procurance ‘s public presentation on timing. Then add the remainder scores for fluctuation, undertaking nature etc. The more the mark is, the more suited the procurance will be. It is recommended that the client, the Wulfruna University, should foremost analysis and place the importance of each aim for the full undertaking, and supply the graduated table weighing on the object standards harmonizing to the importance degree. Then follow the sample shown above to name common procurance methods and give a mark to each one. In the terminal, to take the most scored procurance for the pupil hall of abode undertaking. However, there are besides other types of choice, but the chief rules are all similar to each other.DecisionIn this study, it has reviewed PFI procurance. The reappraisal has recognized PFI can supply quality undertaking within the clip and budget graduated table, freedom of invention, long term relationship, hazard transportation from public sector to private sector etc, but has besides underlined some drawbacks such as long determination devising, high command cost and deficiency of experience for both side etc. Meanwhile, it has compared two chosen procurance types PFI and Design & A ; Build, both of which are recommended by the authorities organic structure. Harmonizing to the brief analysis, it has listed some cardinal points and demands for the undertakings and comparing against each demand between PFI and D & A ; B are carried out. It is clearly that PFI can supply more to run into the demand of the undertaking brief. Furthermore, a recommendation for procurement choice is besides provided with an illustration of how the procurance is selected is besides presented. The recommendation stressed the importance of the analysis and designation of of import demand of the aims and criterions for the undertaking.MentionsAnon ( 2009 ) The large hiccup.Public Private Finance [ online ] . February 2009:3. P.3 [ accessed on 25th November 2009 ] Available from: Business Source Premier, EBSChost. ISSN 17420334.Bennett, J. and Iossa, E. ( 2006 ) Building and managing installations for public services. Journal of Public Economics, 90 ( 1 0-11 ) , pp.2143-2160.Bing, L. and Akintoye, A. ( 2003 ) An Overview of Public-Private Partnership. in Akintoye, A. , Beck, M. and Hardcastel, C. ( explosive detection systems. ) Public-Private Partnership Managing Risks and Opportunities. Oxford: Blackwell Science Ltd. pp.3-24.Bing, L. , Akintoye, A. , Edwards, P. J. and Hardcastle, C. ( 2005a ) The allotment of hazard in PPP/PFI building undertakings in the UK. International Journal of Project Management, 23 ( 1 ) , pp.25-35.Bing, L. , Akintoye, A. , Edwards, P. J. and Hardcastle, C. ( 2005b ) Critical success factors for PPP/PFI undertakings in the UK building industry. Construction Management and Economics, 23 ( 5 ) , pp.459-471.Carrillo, P. , Robinson, H. , Foale, P. , Anumba, C. and Bouchlaghem, D. ( 2008 ) Engagement, Barriers, and Opportunities in PFI: The United Kingdom Experience. Journal of Management in Engineering, 24 ( 3 ) , pp.138-145.Cartlidge, D. ( 2006 ) Public Private Partnerships in Construction. Abingdon: Taylor & A ; Francis Group.Chinyio, E. and Gameson, Rod. ( 2009 ) Private Finance Initiative in Use. in Akintoye, A. and Beck, M. ( explosive detection systems. ) Policy, Finance & A ; Management for Public- Private Partnerships. Chichester: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp.3-26.Grimsey, D. and Lewis, M. K. ( 2005 ) Are Public Private Partnerships value for money? : Measuring alternate attacks and comparing academic and practitioner positions. Accounting Forum, 29 ( 4 ) , pp.345-378.HM Treasury ( 2009 ) Public Private Partnerships [ online ] . [ accessed on 24th November 2009 ] . Available at: & A ; lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/ppp_index.htm & gt ;Masterman, J.W.E. ( 2002 ) An illustration of contract scheme ( procurement system ) choice. Introduction to Building Procurement Systems. 2nd ed. , New York: Jack W E Masterman. P.175Masterman, J.W.E. ( 2002 ) Introduction to Building Procurement Systems. 2nd ed. , New York: Jack W E Masterman.Morledge, R. , Smith, A. and Kashiwagi, D.T. ( 2006 ) Building Procurement. 1st ed. , Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd.Morledge, R. , Smith, A. and Kashiwagi, D.T. ( 2006 ) Design and Build. Building Procurement. 1st ed. , Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. p. 118.OGC ( 2007 ) 06 Procurement and Contract Strategies [ online ] . [ accessed on 24th November 2009 ] . Available at: & A ; lt ; hypertext transfer protocol: //www.ogc.gov.uk/documents/CP0066AEGuide6.pdf & gt ;Robinson, H. S. and Scott, J. ( 2009 ) Service bringing and public presentation monitoring in PFI/PPP undertakings. Construction Management and Economics, 27 ( 2 ) , pp.181-197.Spackman, M. ( 2002 ) Public-private partnerships: lessons from the British attack. Economic Systems, 26 ( 3 ) , pp.283-301.

Free Exercise Clause Definition

Free Exercise Clause Definition The Free Exercise Clause is the part of the First Amendment that reads: Congress shall make no law ... prohibiting the free exercise (of religion) ... The Supreme Court has, of course, never interpreted this clause  in a completely literal way. Murder is illegal, for example, regardless of whether it is committed for religious reasons. Interpretations of the Free Exercise Clause   There are two interpretations of the Free Exercise Clause: The first freedoms interpretation  holds that Congress may restrict religious activity only if it has a compelling interest in doing so. This means that Congress may not, for example, ban the hallucinatory drug peyote that is used by some Native  American traditions because it has no compelling interest in doing so.  The nondiscrimination interpretation holds that Congress may restrict religious activity as long as the intent of a law is not to restrict religious activity. Under this interpretation, Congress can ban peyote as long as the law is not specifically written to target a specific religious practice. Interpretation largely  becomes a non-issue when religious practices stay within the confines of the law. The First Amendment clearly protects an American’s right to worship as he chooses when the practices of his religion are in no way illegal. It’s typically not illegal to confine a venomous snake in a cage at a service, for example, provided all wildlife licensing requirements are met. It might be illegal to turn that venomous snake loose among a congregation, resulting in a worshiper being struck and subsequently dying. The question becomes whether the worship leader who turned the snake loose is guilty of murder or – more likely – manslaughter. An argument can be made that the leader is protected by the First Amendment because he did not set the snake free with the intent of harming the worshiper but rather as part of a religious rite.   Challenges to the Free Exercise Clause   The First Amendment has been challenged numerous times over the years when crimes are unintentionally committed in the course of practicing religious beliefs.  Employment Division v. Smith, decided by the Supreme Court in 1990, remains one of the more noteworthy examples of a bona fide legal challenge to the first freedoms interpretation of the law. The court had previously held that the burden of proof fell to the governing entity to establish that it had a compelling interest in prosecuting even if it meant infringing upon the individual’s religious practices. Smith changed that premise when the court ruled that a governing entity does not have that burden if the law that was violated applies to the general population and does not target the faith or its practitioner per se.   This decision was tested three years later in a 1993 decision in Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye v. City of Hialeah. This time, it held that because the law in question – one that involved animal sacrifice – specifically affected the rites of a certain religion, the government did indeed have to establish a compelling interest.

College Degrees Essays - Bachelors Degrees, Vocational Education

College Degrees Essays - Bachelors Degrees, Vocational Education College Degrees INTRODUCTION Many adults who graduate from high school immediately enter careers that do not require a college degree. Indeed, the majority of the adult population of the United States of America does not have college degrees. And the lack of degree is not a stigma. Vocations usually do not require degrees. Certainly the many trade vocations in the building industry do not require college degrees, but instead either vocational training, on-the-job training, and combinations of both. The same applies to manufacturing, clerical, retail, and service positions. And one does not need a degree, college, nor indeed high school, to become President of the United States, or any other elected official! A degree is usually required for professional positions, such as physicians, lawyers, engineers, scientists, accountants, teachers, among others. Many professions require advanced degrees, like masters, and doctoral degrees. There may come a time, however, when an adult who is working full- time decides that it is time to pursue a college degree. There may be several reasons for such a conclusion. Many job descriptions in business and industry specify that a certain degree is required for advancement. Perhaps an airplane mechanic would like to be promoted to a management position that requires a college degree. Or a bookkeeper may wish to become an accountant. Or a nurse may desire a bachelor degree, beyond her R.N. certification; indeed, more hospitals are now requiring that their nurses hold bachelor, and in some cases master degrees. How does a nurse, or bookkeeper, or airplane mechanic who is employed full-time pursue the required college course work that will lead to a fully accredited bachelor degree without taking up residency in a college full-time four years? FULLY ACCREDITED Fully accredited without residency is the objective of the pursuit of a non-traditional college degree. A college must be validated by one of six regional accreditation associations approved by the United States Department of Education in order to grant full accredited degrees. The six associations are: New England Association of Schools and Colleges Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. North Central Association of Colleges and Schools Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges All of the colleges and universities in this country that offer fully accredited degrees do so by authority of one of the above geographical associations. There are several colleges that offer bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees that do not come under the authority of a regional accreditation association. Some of these colleges are authorized to offer degrees by the states in which they reside, mostly in California, Hawaii, Missouri, and Louisiana. However, degrees from these colleges are usually not recognized as bona-fide by most business, industry, and professional organizations that require college degrees as a requirement for employment. Therefore, this report will deal with the limited number of colleges in the United States that will grant a fully-accredited bachelor degree without any residency requirement. There are many other colleges that offer alternate college degrees to adults, but have a short, medium, or extensive residency requirement. These colleges will not be covered in this report. For those interested in colleges with limited residency requirements, they will find useful a manual by John Bear, Ph.D., College Degrees by Mail, [See Recommended Reading at the conclusion of this report]. REQUIREMENTS FOR A BACHELOR DEGREE There are many Bachelor programs that can be pursued, among them: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology, Bachelor of Science in Human Services, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and other programs that may be specifically designed by the student and college. Most bachelor programs include specializations, such as Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Bachelor of Science in Aviation. Usually, 120 semester hours of credit are required for a degree. Typically, one college course, like Algebra, is worth three semester hours. Therefore, it is likely that 40 courses, each worth three semester hours will be required for a degree. This may sound simple, but it really isn't. Virtually all colleges require proper distribution of credits. One cannot take 40 of the easiest courses and walk away with a degree. There are core subjects that are required, as English, Mathematics, History, Literature, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy. English subjects include

Analyzing The Sopranos First Episode

Analyzing The Soprano's First Episode Perhaps a theme of the first episode of The Sopranos is the idea that even people who do bad things and kill others suffer stress and love their families just like anyone else. This is particularly emphasized with the periodic scenes with the psychiatrist and with the number of times depression is discussed. I imagine the tone of this show to be a dark comedy. As such, I would visually create a dark atmosphere with dim lighting and an overall gray hue. I would also make sure that actors’ performances are not too dramatic or poignant and I would emphasize the physical comedy, such as the scene in which Chris and Big Pussy struggle to get Emil’s body into a dumpster and end up just propping it up against the side. Additionally, sound and music choice has an enormous effect on tone. I would make sure that the accompanying score is light and not too emotional in order to ensure that the comedic aspect of the potentially dark show is not lost on viewers. Because I found the scene, as written, so amusing, I decided to analyze the one describe above in which Chris and Big Pussy try to dispose of Emil. In the show itself, I was underwhelmed by the physical humor of trying to toss the body into the dumpster. It makes realistic sense that the body would not be flung very high, but I imagined it flying higher which, for some reason, seems more humorous to me. As if they almost could have gotten the body in. Seeing the situation, however, it seems a little ridiculous that they’re even trying, which is likely the true intended humor. I found it a shame that they cut all of the rest of the messing with the body (though I notice that throughout the show, they have made many cuts to keep the action and story tight). Aside from this, the actor of Chris does a good job appearing very proud and determined (with his â€Å"sleeps with the fishes† quote) and Big Pussy sufficiently exasperated. This is emphasized by Big Pussy’s la bored breathing. I also found that the line change at the end of the scene shifted the power dynamic a bit. While the script made it seem like Big Pussy felt Chris was beneath him and unworthy of hearing an answer (â€Å"I’m gonna tell you?†) the show’s (â€Å"Why would you even ask that?†) is far less condescending. In terms of camera work, I love the way wide shots establish how high the trash bin is. Additionally, the cut to a shot of the body falling over when Big Pussy explains that there are differences in between the current situation and the one from The Godfather emphasizes the ridiculousness and humor in their own pathetic situation. In this respect, the camerawork allows the full extent of the comedy displayed by the actors to be blatantly obvious for the viewers. If I had to direct someone else in how to maintain consistency for the show, I would begin with maintaining the overall humorous tone. As a suspected before I even watched the episode, having a lighthearted soundtrack is paramount to keeping this dark series comical. Additionally, big contrasts in brightly lit shots and dark, shadowy ones in scenes of â€Å"normal† family fun versus scenes of murder, for example is also key to underscore the dichotomy in the characters’ own lives. In terms of performance, the show also hinges on Tommy successfully executing a depressive, anxious role blanketed by an often false-feeling, almost distracted kind of happiness serving as his self-proclaimed â€Å"sad clown† exterior. Carmela, meanwhile, should be simmering with sorrow, displeasure, and even anger as she watches her family her cheating husband, her distant daughter drift from her. There are a number of plot threads established in this first episode that could grow into a full story. To begin, Carmela’s relationship with her daughter should be followed. Additionally, viewers likely would want to see Tommy continue to visit a psychiatrist and see if the Prozac begins to work. (If it does, it would be good to see how that changes the way he acts.) It would be interesting to see whether Chris will ever earn Tormmy’s respect and then, of course, there’s the question of what Junior plans to do to â€Å"take care† of Tommy.

Outlined and it varies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Outlined and it varies - Essay Example However, in the case of emotion, it is usually much difficult to really create the link. For instance in making decisions through emotions, one can be driven by such factors like nostalgia while they might be well aware (through cognition) that such a decision is not really the best (Norman, 2005). The traditional hard science approach in decision making faces much antipathy in the conventional practical situation. It relies much on positivism and logical sense. However, in today’s science, decision making and decision calls for more than mere objectivism. The world is indeed inundated with many situations and options which have made human beings to be accustomed to different experiences. In this regard, in making decisions and designs, it is important to demonstrate a subjective mind that highly promotes experientialism. It is further realized that the reaction of human beings to design normally occurs in three different levels: visceral, behavioral and reflective. The viscer al level is very important as it creates the first impression in terms of appearance. In this case, one is attracted by what their see before they can consider such aspects like functionality. Secondly, people are also driven by behavioral factors which include the ability of the item to perform the required needs. Lastly, the reflective level regards the effects of the item on the self-image and satisfaction of the individual. The subjective and post-positivist approach is realized in the design of such products like watches and autos in which case the mere functionality of the item does not really drive people to be interested. In the technological field, image and sound are some of the most fundamental factors that drive people to purchase specific items like computers and phones. The designers of these products should therefore move away from the traditional focus on objectivism and realize the very importance of creating an item which lures people through sight, sound and perfo rmance. The products used in everyday life should therefore be designed in a way that evokes certain emotions on the users. Most designers still hold on to the traditional objective ideas regarding science where emotional concerns of the users are not given much consideration in the design process. However, companies like Apple have realized this crucial value and are not only enhancing functionality but also image and visual characteristics of their products. The results are basically the increase in sales as people tend to be attracted visual efficiencies of such products. The subjective orientation places much focus on creating experience on the part of the users. For instance, in information technology, the designers should make products which are identified with specific features such as efficiency. Therefore the present usability design places greater emphasis on such critical factors that create a mental attitude on the part of the consumers who are then driven to purchase su ch items. PHILOSOPHY--A CRASH COURSE Philosophy is normally a subject of many debates and questions regarding its very nature and its importance in conventional human practice. While some people normally feel that it is almost unnecessary owing to its excessive indulgence in rational argument, the core of the matter is basically with respect to the importance of philosophy in

Immigration in the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 4

Immigration in the US - Essay Example People have generally developed a negative perception about assimilation over the years. Assimilation has been largely viewed as a process of wearing a fake identity. Nevertheless, assimilation has played a fundamental role in the integration of ethnic minorities in the advanced societies. In this way, social assimilation enables the ethnic minorities to achieve cultural solidarity without having to compromise upon their indigenous cultural values and norms. Pluralism, by definition is the inverse of assimilation. Ethnic pluralism is the term used for such circumstances that enable the ethnic minorities to keep their original values and sustain ethnic heterogeneity. Ethnic pluralism is misunderstood as a social process which isolates one ethnic group from the rest. A more rational way to define ethnic pluralism is definition of a particular group in a larger society. This is the reason why ethnic pluralism gives rise to a multiethnic society instead of distorting one large society into several small societies. Different ethnic groups are interlinked by the economic and political systems in the society. Although American society is by large an assimilationist society, yet pluralistic elements are quite evident at several levels in the structure of the society. Whether an individual is inclined towards assimilation or ethnic pluralism fundamentally depends upon his/her choice. People that prefer to hold ethnicity as the most prominent fac tor of identification are more of ethnic pluralists than assimilationists. Assimilation and ethnic pluralism resemble each other in that both entail numerous forms and dimensions. Several dimensions including the cultural and structural dimensions can be defined for both assimilation and ethnic pluralism. Differences among individual ethnic groups sustain in both social systems. Both assimilation and ethnic pluralism are variables for societies and groups and both occur at different

Introduction to Bussines Ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Introduction to Bussines Ethics - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates how this information can be presented to the CEO and managers in a meeting and the actions recommended rectifying the situation and giving the customer notification. Presenting the situation to the executive would involve first acknowledging that the situation exists and explaining the implications that such a case may have on the organization. For instance, if the organization left the defective product to get into the market without being checked, then they may negatively affect the clients and in extreme case even cost their lives. This is very unethical. In case this happens, the customers may sue the business in a court of law where the organization gets to pay huge fines or may even be dissolved. All these are bad consequences that the organization need to avoid in order to thrive. After explaining the implications of the problem at hand, I would proceed to give the extent of the problem. Give details on which products are perceived to have potential harm on the customers, whether they have been dispatched already or are still in the stores. In order to deal with the current situation, several actions need to be implemented immediately. The first thing to check is whether there are defective products that have already reached the end users. In such a case, the organization would seek a way of reaching these customers by contacting the main distribution points in ensuring that the end users are made aware of the situation. The second step would be to stop the sale of all potentially defective products in the company stores and the main distribution points. These products should be taken back to the warehouse for the problem to be rectified. In order to ensure that such a situation does not occur in future, there is the need to ensure that there are effective quality control and assessment tools. There should also be a strict procedure that requires all products to be tested before being distributes to the suppliers. This will reduce the risk of selling potentially harmful products to our client. This will make it possible for the company to give out clients’ value for their money and ensure continued growth in the company revenues. In order to ensure that ethicality is maintained when dealing with the customer, the guiding principle should be giving the best service and products to them. This because the company needs to threat the clients as its employer without which it cannot even exist. There is also need to create a definite system that should be used in case of the repeat of such an incident in notifying the customers of such instances and a way in which they can be compensated. Compensation of the clients is important in promoting the good faith between the company and the customer. This helps in ensuring that the organization d0esn not lose its market to the rival companies. The customers need to feel that they get real value for their money. Since it has been noted that the organization does not have a definite ethical guideline, it is important o develop a strategy of developing a tradition of ethicality through organizational change. This would be an involving process which goes beyond the creation of a code of ethics to be followed by the employees. The manger first need to study the current ethical culture I the organization to recognize the limiting factors that influence in making ethical decision. It is also important to learn which factors support ethical

Designing and managing networks Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Designing and managing networks - Essay Example ere are principles that are consistent with standards set by the UK public inquiries Act and according to Justice Cory criteria for conduction of public inquiries. These principles are (Longworth, 1999); It should also be understood that public inquiries are neither prosecutions nor trial cases but rather seeking answers about a criminal or civic liability of any organisation or person hence it does not express any solution (Hamerton-Kelly, 1999). It operates by way of public hearing and that members of the media or public are invited to participate in the hearing process. Evidence is heard by the public inquiry panels commonly referred to as commission counsel. It also operates the way a court of law conducts its business but the rules here are different because no individual pleads guilt or not guilt. Witnesses are cross examined one by one until all parties are satisfied that they have exhausted the evidence required (Hamerton-Kelly, 1999) Organisations and governments usually form public inquiries with the sole purpose of investigation and reporting any matter with substantiality of interests within among members of the public which relate to any public organisation within a specific jurisdiction or good governance violation (Schà ¶n, 2001). Most public inquiries work under the terms and reference orders specified by either the government or the organisation that ordered the inquiry. Public inquiries are paid by the government or institutions it is intended to advice on the matter. (Derksen, 2005) Organisational learning is the acquisition and development of knowledge and skills within a given organisation in order to improve their outcomes with reference to the goals and objectives of the company. These outcomes may be the overall efficiency of the organisation, creating and maintaining competitive advantage, better performances etc. in the face of changing situations, organisational leaning helps restore settings and resolve any problems that might exist.

U.A.E United Arab Emirates Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

U.A.E United Arab Emirates - Essay Example There are very many cultural aspects that the UAE shares with other larger Arab cultures and their neighboring Arabic countries. The paper will review the history of United Arab Emirates based on cultures, traditions they celebrate, clothing, food and other historical aspects. In the early 19th century, the U.AE was inhabited by resourceful and proud nomadic Bedouin groups, date farms and fishing villages. Abu Dhabi had hundreds of Barasti huts commonly known as palm huts, several buildings and the famous Ruler’s Fort. Dubai, on the other hand, was the trading hub because it was geographically located along the creek. This ensured that it offered a safe haven against the Straits of Hormuz and others (Abdulla 58). The current UAE has very little resemblance to the Emirates that existed 40 years ago. Widespread changes have taken place across time and place, leading to rapid transformation of the country. Studies have shown that the UAE was in existence even in the 3rd millennium BC with its history being characterized by tribes that practiced fishing, herding, and nomadism. These constituted the primary economic activities in the region during the periods near the 3rd millennium. Bedouins were definitely the main building blocks and pillars of the UAE community. The term Bedouin refers to a desert dweller. Thus, Bedouins took the active part in the construction of the United Arab Emirates. These early desert dwellers moved between the desert, ocean and the oasis. The three environments were critical for their survival since they provided conducive conditions for their economic activities. When near the ocean they would concentrate on fishing and pearl diving when in the desert they would search for grazing areas for their herds and camels. When in the oasis the Bedouin tribe would irrigate and farm vegetables and dates. The luxuriant farms and terraced gardens found in the mountain Wadis and Al Ain are proof

Introduction to Bussines Ethics Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Introduction to Bussines Ethics - Research Paper Example This paper illustrates how this information can be presented to the CEO and managers in a meeting and the actions recommended rectifying the situation and giving the customer notification. Presenting the situation to the executive would involve first acknowledging that the situation exists and explaining the implications that such a case may have on the organization. For instance, if the organization left the defective product to get into the market without being checked, then they may negatively affect the clients and in extreme case even cost their lives. This is very unethical. In case this happens, the customers may sue the business in a court of law where the organization gets to pay huge fines or may even be dissolved. All these are bad consequences that the organization need to avoid in order to thrive. After explaining the implications of the problem at hand, I would proceed to give the extent of the problem. Give details on which products are perceived to have potential harm on the customers, whether they have been dispatched already or are still in the stores. In order to deal with the current situation, several actions need to be implemented immediately. The first thing to check is whether there are defective products that have already reached the end users. In such a case, the organization would seek a way of reaching these customers by contacting the main distribution points in ensuring that the end users are made aware of the situation. The second step would be to stop the sale of all potentially defective products in the company stores and the main distribution points. These products should be taken back to the warehouse for the problem to be rectified. In order to ensure that such a situation does not occur in future, there is the need to ensure that there are effective quality control and assessment tools. There should also be a strict procedure that requires all products to be tested before being distributes to the suppliers. This will reduce the risk of selling potentially harmful products to our client. This will make it possible for the company to give out clients’ value for their money and ensure continued growth in the company revenues. In order to ensure that ethicality is maintained when dealing with the customer, the guiding principle should be giving the best service and products to them. This because the company needs to threat the clients as its employer without which it cannot even exist. There is also need to create a definite system that should be used in case of the repeat of such an incident in notifying the customers of such instances and a way in which they can be compensated. Compensation of the clients is important in promoting the good faith between the company and the customer. This helps in ensuring that the organization d0esn not lose its market to the rival companies. The customers need to feel that they get real value for their money. Since it has been noted that the organization does not have a definite ethical guideline, it is important o develop a strategy of developing a tradition of ethicality through organizational change. This would be an involving process which goes beyond the creation of a code of ethics to be followed by the employees. The manger first need to study the current ethical culture I the organization to recognize the limiting factors that influence in making ethical decision. It is also important to learn which factors support ethical