SQL Server Magazine

Database professionals are capable of understanding what an application is and how it should go about. Other than that, they also encounter application errors and problems oftentimes. Since they are the only group who are expected to know everything in a database environment, end users often regard them as experts – someone who knows how to solve any problem that a database environment has (Cyr, 2006). But with so many demands, there should be an appropriate scheme for responding to the issues.In year 2006, SQL Server Magazine released the results from the Salary survey which was conducted a few weeks back. The results reveal that the easiest and quickest way to address an issue is not processed through a straight line method. Instead, it may look similar to a spiral stair case wherein the prior step would mean a foundation for the next step. However, there are a few SQL experts out there who do not share the same strategy on responding issues.Moran, a consultant of Solid Qual ity learning added that one can be considered an expert if he or she is able to fix the problem earlier than somebody else does. Miller, on the other hand, is a research analyst of Wichita State University, who is set to be an expert in every practical-related undertaking (Cyr, 2006). He is a self-taught database professional who managed to serve a group of people sharing a database application problem (Cyr, 2006). Miller and Moran are just two of the many experts of SQL server.Regardless of their respective responsibility and background, they share basic means to build a solid foundation on their expertise. The three most important lessons to learn are: to create a strong understanding of the core technology they work with,, the ability to use various information resources, and connections to the IT community through where they can share ideas. References Cyr, D. (2006, December). What makes you an Expert? Retrieved June 23, 2009, from www. sqlmag. com

Culture Of Madness Midterm Essay

In the course of the week as directed for the midterm assignment, I was able to hear remarks made to imply that something irrational had been said or had occurred. Of all those time there are two that were in my opinion most interesting. They are as follows;- In the first instance the remark that referred to irrationality was made was during a conversation between two girls. One was telling the other of something that a friend of theirs had said the previous day. The two were chatting away excitedly as one described to the other what had transpired. The remark ‘she can’t be serious’ was made by the listening friend. She remarked this when the other friend told her that their friend (X), a girlfriend not present there, had told her that she wanted to seek the services of a palm reader. The conversation then proceeded by girl H saying that that was her reaction too. Girl B wanted to know why their friend wanted to visit the palm reader. An explanation followed where girl H said that their friend X had read in the internet that palm readers could tell what was going to happen in one’s future. X wanted to know what was going to happen to her so that she could prepare for it and avoid disappointment. The internet had described numerous instances when people were saved embarrassment and disaster when palm readers warned them about it. To this, both girl H and B laughed and agreed that that idea was crazy enough. They made fun on what their friend X would be told by the palm reader. They went on talking asking each other questions discussing their views on the same matter and whether they believed in such things. In the second scenario there was a couple, probably a married one, where the lady told the man that she had quit her job. To this the husband remarked ‘You’ve got to be kidding’. The tone of the woman was casual at the start. In making the remark the man seemed to be in disbelief as one who wanted the statement by the woman not to be true. The conversation proceeded with the lady reaffirming her statement and adding that she had handed in her resignation letter earlier. When asked why she had done that, the woman without mincing her words replied that she had had a dream severally, around three times in the previous week that the building in which she worked was going to collapse killing people with it. The fact that the dream had come to her three times, she believed, meant that she was being warned of what would happen in future and so she had to take precaution. It would be wrong for her to ignore the signs only to regret later. Life was more precious than money and that is why she had made the decision. The tone of the conversation turned serious when the man again remarked, ‘that is crazy’. He seemed very annoyed and thought the wife had done the wrong thing and proceeded to tell her so. The tempers were flared as the woman was in pains to explain why she had resigned and the man was either too angry or disappointed to hear her out. The man termed her beliefs as outrageous and insensible which made the woman even angrier. She finally walked out saying that it was meaningless to have such a conversation with someone who did not want to understand. In the first case when the remark was made it made girl H who was narrating the incident even more eager to continue with it. It gave her a chance to explain in detail why their friend had made such a statement. The response seemed to make the conversation more interesting and implied that the one listening to the story was interested in more information. A reaction that was foreclosed or resisted was one whereby the friend narrating the story could refuse to part with more information about the incident in discussion. The remark also made sure that the conversation stayed on course as it showed that the listener was quite interested in what went on , or why their friend being discussed had said that she wished her mother were dead. The response confirmed the intention of the narrator. Who also affirmed that she thought that their friend could not have possibly been serious that she was going to visit a palm reader. The remark made the narrator know that her perceiving the story as one worth sharing was right. This reassurance made the girl even more eager to tell what transpired and to even give her views about the whole incident. In the second case the remark ‘you’ve got to be kidding’ made the woman seem even more serious in her assertion. It made her reiterate her statement that she had quit her job. It also made her want to give an explanation for her desire before being misunderstood by the man. The remark, also made the situation take an even more serious tone as it actually implied that jokes would be inappropriate at that time or the issue at hand was not a joking matter. The reactions that were resisted were those of turning the matter into a laughing matter when it was serious. Also the chance to dismiss the incident as inconsequential was closed out. The remark showed that the man was very serious about the subject at hand and therefore the woman could not easily divert the conversation or wish it away as trivial. After the remark the conversation seemed to take a very serious tone. First the remark showed that the man was not at all in agreement with what the woman had done and would take a lot to convince him that it was the right thing to do. In fact further along the conversation another remark depicting irrationality was made by the man. This made the woman more agitated as she wanted the man to see things from her point of view and she had not had a chance to make him do this. As the conversation continued it seemed to almost generate into a disagreement with the couple trying to keep their voices low in a public place. In the first scenario if the remark had not been made by girl B, the excitement of the story would have taken a dip. A different statement like ‘Oh yes I have been looking for a palm reader myself’, would probably have come as a shock to girl H who thought the idea of visiting a palm reader to be awkward as well. The conversation would then have turned to a discussion or even an argument for and against the practice of visiting palm readers. Because girl H thought visiting a palm reader was ridiculous maybe the argument would have turned out to be serious making the two friends part ways or agree to disagree. The other case would have been for girl B to answer in a way to show curiosity. For example ‘Oh really what does she want to find out? ’ or ‘oh yeah! , do those things work, can they really tell the future by looking at one’s palm? ’ Because girl B would not have shown support or disagree with what X wanted to do the girls would have continued in a discussion to explore different views concerning such practices. They would each give their different views on palm reading. If the concept of visiting a palm reader would not have been ridiculous to both girls, maybe they would have delved into discussions concerning the same with examples of what they had heard about the same. The conversation would have led to the issues about gift in telling the future, the use of magic, sorcery and the like. The girls may have even agreed to join their friend when going to visit the palm reader. In this scenario the two girls were in agreement that seeing a palm reader was crazy. Though I did not have an opportunity to listen to them for long, I think that they would have described the practice as backward and funny. They would have dismissed it as a practice used by the so called ‘future seers’ to steal money from people who were naive enough to believe that such things were true. They would have termed those people who visit palm readers as superstitious. Some people who because they did not have anything they believed in, were looking for some thing to grasp. They would also have dismissed the practice of palm reading as that for those who were afraid of the future and therefore were looking for ways to manipulate it or even find hope and courage if they found that the future had something good to look out for according to the palm reader. For the case involving the couple if the man had responded in a different way say maybe was more interested in the dreams that made the woman quite her job, the woman would have probably passionately described her convictions for what dreams tell about the future,. The conversation would have gone on and on how other people had dreams that made them avoid disasters. The man would have probably shared some dreams as well and their significance in his life. There would not have been an argument over quitting the job during hard economic times owing to ‘irrational beliefs’. The couple would have agreed that the action taken by the woman was the best for that situation and gone on to encourage themselves that they were going to land another better job for the woman. Since they had taken it upon themselves to warn themselves of an impending danger then fate would have directed them to another equally good or even better job. The couple would have gone on to explore the gifting of some people who have the ability to tell what the future hold using dreams or even visions. They would also have discussed whether it was appropriate to tell some of her friends working at the building to follow her steps so as to be saved from injury or even death. They may have even proposed ways of nurturing the gift like reading books or finding other people with the same gift as the woman then forming a support group so to speak. In this case since the man found the idea of quitting a job because of a dream irrational, he may have dismissed it as superstitious when they met later. He would have wished the dream away as a result of what she had been thinking during the day or a movie she had watched. Her mind had just worked on what it had processed during the day and there was real news about the future from the dream. Believing in dream would have been dismissed with the man saying that if everything that people dreamt had been a forecast of the future then no disasters would have ever hurt anyone as they would be averted in time and save people a lot of grief. The woman on the other hand would defend her case by giving examples of instances when something she had dreamt came true in real life. Apart from this she would argue that the fact that the dream was recurrent it was a clear sign that she needed to take action to avoid the impending danger. Yes -not all dreams depict the future, but the one that had made her wake up feeling anxious an indication that there was more to it than she had imagined, she would defend herself: She would dismiss lack of treating the dreams she had as important as a sign that one did not believe in supernatural occurrences yet there were many that had been documented in books even in the present day. References Lessa, W. , and Vogt, E. (1958). Reader in comparative religion- An anthropological approach. New York. Row, Peterson and Company.

Assignment: Law practical writing

Assignment: Law practical writing March 20, 2015 xxxx Dear Mr Carlos Santiago, Mr Alfonso Ribeira owns one hectare land, which he uses for producing ethical foie gras. He does this by using a method of forced-feeding geese. Ethical foie gras is produced by making use of the natural instinct of geese to eat the wild yellow lupines seeds in the winter months. Which is then used for the production of foie gras. Due to the conduct of which occurred on 1 December 2014 – when insecticide was applied on my client’s property by the defendant Mr. Carlos Santiago – my client, Mr Alfonso Ribeira, has suffered losses both towards his geese and his business. Therefore I hereby demand, on behalf of my client Mr. Alfonso Ribeira, a sum of (approximately) ‘10.000,- to compensate these loss(es). This liability is based on the basic rule for tort liability in the Draft Common Frame of Reference (DCFR) found in Art. 1:101, (1): †A person who suffers legally relevant damage has a right to reparation from a person who caused the damage ‘intentionally’ or ‘negligently’ or is otherwise accountable for the ‘causation’ of damage.† The demand has been established on the basis of negligence and causation, which has lead to legally relevant damages. These actions are the following: You were aware of Mr Alfonso Rebeira’s business on his hectare; The insecticide comes with a precaution measure, on when and how to use it – making it evident that it should not be applied on windy days – for which you have ignored. The insecticide was blown on the lupin seeds. You were fully aware that the geese were eating the seeds, and that this would cause in their death, yet no warning was given to your neighbor at the time that the product was sprayed. The death of the geese has caused damage to Mr Alfonso Rebeira’s business and therefore an economic detriment. The fact that you used the insecticide on a day which was prescribed NOT to use, has led to the chain of liable activities. The decision to use the insecticide on a windy day has resulted in negligent behavior, according to Article 3:102: ‘A person causes legally relevant damage negligently when that person causes the damage by conduct. Does not meet the particular standard of care provided by a statutory provision whose purpose is the protection of the person suffering the damage from that damage. Does not otherwise amount to such care as could be expected from a reasonably careful person in the circumstances of the case’ On the one hand you have followed the statutory regulations by applying the insecticide between the required months, as stated in the regional Insecticide Regulation (2008). On the other hand you did not amount to the expected care when you sprayed the insecticide on a windy day regardless of the warning stated on the label. Therefore you have not met the standard stated in Article 3:102 (b). This makes you liable for negligence. Regarding the insecticide regulation, you have had enough time to use the product on a windless day between the months. Furthermore, since you have had more than enough time to spray the insecticide on a windless day after the 1st of December, you have acted negligently. The activity that occurred negligently: on 1 December 2014, (the defendant) Carlos Santiago applied an insecticide to his young olive trees in accordance with the regional Insecticide Regulation (2008) which stated: * Insecticide can be applied only from 1 May to 1 January at the discretion of the user. The label on the insecticide prescribed the following precaution; To spray the insecticide on windless days. Art. 4:101, (1) (1) A person causes legally relevant damage to another if the damage is to be regarded as a consequence of: ‘ (a) That person’s conduct; or ‘ (b) a source of danger for which that person is responsible (2) In cases of personal injury or death the injured persons’ predisposition with respect to the type or extent of the injury sustained is to be disregarded negligence DCFR: Article3:102 Negligence ‘Apersoncauseslegallyrelevantdamagenegligentlywhenthatpersoncausesthedamagebyconductwhicheither: (a)Doesnotmeettheparticularstandardofcareprovidedbyastatutoryprovisionwhosepurposeistheprotectionofthepersonsufferingthedamagefromthatdamage; (b)Doesnototherwiseamounttosuchcareascouldbeexpectedfromareasonablycarefulpersoninthecircumstancesofthecase’ issue rule analyses application conclusion Alfonso Ribeira started a business producing ethical foie gras. – Carlos owns the adjacent hectare. (Ethical foie gras is produced by making use of the natural instinct of geese to eat acorns, different types of grasses and the wild yellow lupines seeds in the winter months) On 1 December 2014, Carlos applied an insecticide to his young olive trees in accordance with the regional Insecticide Regulation (2008). Insecticide can be applied only from 1 May to 1 January at the discretion of the user. here is light wind in these months and therefore the toxic product does not easily spread to neighboring fields. The product labels also warn users to spray the insecticide on windless days. On 1 December 2014 a strong wind hit the region. Carlos, carried out his plan to spray his trees on that day. The yellow lupines were exposed for a few days to the insecticide. Result: 50 geese died because they ate the seeds of the yellow lupines.

Mathematical Formula in Material Cost Accounting and Control Essay

Mathematical Formula in Material Cost Accounting and Control - Essay Example Also, overstocking requires more storage space which, in turn, means an increase in insurance expenses, storage costs and deterioration in quality and depreciation in quantity. On the other hand, if materials are understocked, frequent orders have to be placed in small quantities and there is a chance of "stock outs" also. Hence, the tack of the manager is to find the most economic order which s very essential for cost management and control. The cost of carrying the inventory and the ordering cost is inversely proportional to each other. The costs of placing the order decreases as the size of the order increases, because with the bigger size of the order, the number of the orders will be lower. However, simultaneously the costs of carrying the inventory will go up because the purchases have been made in large quantities. It may be possible to have appointed which provides the lowest total cost and the point, which is the ideal size of the order is known as the Economic Order Quantity(EOQ). The EOQ is one where the cost of carrying inventory is equal or almost equal to the cost of not carrying inventory (cost of placing the order), i.e., at EOQ level, the total of inventory carrying cost and the ordering cost is minimum which can be determined mathematically s follows: The EOQ is 600 units, i.e., 10 orders per year are needed.

Future IT trends Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Future IT trends - Essay Example I have divided my explanation into two large segments, which first describe the importance of the concept and second describe the roles of the concept. I discover that E-Business and E-Commerce have significant and increasing importance toward local and global business and their roles are receiving tremendous support from various private and government entities throughout the world and continue to grow. Within my line of work, you could say that I have great needs over the internet. It is my real-time business communication tool, my promotional utility, my library and even my personal advisor. Today, the internet has been an inseparable part of business. Most of us have heard the terms E-Business and E-commerce. But to what extent do we understand the concept and its role to the business community In my previous study of the subject, I discovered that I know a lot less then I had believed. Within this essay, I will describe how I learn about E-Business and E-Commerce and their role within the world of business. As I surf down the internet, I found that E-Business and E-Commerce are actually parts of the concept 'Information Technology'. The term information technology generally refers to the hardware and software used to store, retrieve and manipulate information. It is an operating system that generally consist of servers, databases, web serving software ('Definition of information technology', 2005). Both terms (E-Business and E-Commerce), are likely to be mixed-up and used interchangeably over everyday conversations, while in fact, the term E-Business has a slight broader meaning than E-Commerce. E-Commerce refers to the activities of buying and selling products or services trough the internet. E-Business, on the other hand, refers to the conduct of business on the internet, which consist of not only buying selling, but also servicing customers and collaborating with business partners ('E-Business Definition', 2005). Next, I will describe what I have learned from various sources of information. The elaboration would describe how the world of business admits the growing importance of E-Business and E-Commerce, and also include discussion of several roles of E-Business and E-Commerce in local as well as global business environments. II. The Importance of E-Business and E-Commerce II.1 Choice of Embarking on E-Business My basic understanding of why people are embarking on the E-Business can be elaborated trough these corporate websites. In its webpage, Solutions Consultant describes, that the choice of having a company website or not is not a technology decision. It is a business decision. The decision is a strategic management movement to ensure future development of a company ('E-Business Overview', 2004). There are actually several common reasons why the trend is so quickly developed. Large companies launch a web site as an extra marketing channel to increase sales, but we don't actually have to sell anything to benefit from the internet. For example, I've learned that factories in different parts of the world use the internet to trade important information almost instantly. Overall, I learned that the internet is a form of competitive advantage that could be developed to safe and produce millions of dollars for companies who know how to properly take

Statistical Analysis of Stock Indices Research Paper

Statistical Analysis of Stock Indices - Research Paper Example On the other hand, according to Pelaez (1999, 232) 'there are many ways to forecast economic series, including extrapolation, econometric models, time-series models, and leading indicator models'. For the issue under analysis in this report, the test for unit root is considered as the most appropriate tool for evaluating the given data series from the Stock indices. The methodology applied has been considered as most appropriate after a thorough consideration of the specific subject involved. A technical overview on the nuances of the unit root test is presented followed by the analysis of the Stock indices given in SPSS v14.0. This method will enable the presentation of both the theories and the practical application using reliable software to ease the process and eliminate errors. Guido (2001, 164) says that 'the composite intrinsic value measure does not appear to be an adequate measure of a stock's or portfolio's value' in his experiment to compare the US and the Australian markets. Several possible reasons are offered for this difference, including the differing market structures, the use of a different index or the use of alternate statistical tests'. In the light of the above arguments, it is clear that for the data set under analysis it is essential to use a strong statistical tool to identify the relationship between the given stock indices. Dickey-Fuller statistic tests for the unit root in the time series data. Pt is regressed against Pt-1 to test for unit root in a time series random walk model, which is given as: Pt = r Pt-1 + ut (1) If r is significantly equal to 1, then the stochastic variable Pt is said to be having unit root. A series with unit root is said to be un-stationary and does not follow random walk. There are three most popular Dickey-Fuller tests used for testing unit root in a series. The above equation can be rewritten as: D Pt = d Pt-1 + ut (2) Here d = (r - 1) and here it is tested if d is equal to zero. Pt is a random walk if d is equal to zero. It is possible that the time series could behave as a random walk with a drift. This means that the value of Pt may not center to zero and thus a constant should be added to the random walk equation. A linear trend value could also be added along with the constant to the equation, which results in a null hypothesis reflecting stationary deviations from a trend. To test the validity of market efficiency, random walk hypothesis has been tested. Unit root test has been conducted on Pt, natural log values of indices price data by running the regression equations of the following type: D Pt = d Pt-1 + ut (3) D Pt = a + d Pt-1 + ut (4) D Pt = a + dPt-1 + b t + ut (5) where, a is constant term and b is the coefficient of trend term. The null hypothesis for each is: H0: d = 0 (viii) The null hypothesis that Pt is a random walk can be rejected if calculated t is greater than the tabulated t. From the aforementioned it is clear that the test for unit root is a reliable analytical tool to test the consistency of the data series. In case of the stock market indices we are analysing, the test for unit root is a reliable tool to test the extent to which the index is speculating. The output from the autoregressive analysis for unit root test reveals that the behaviour of the stock indices it is clear that "OMXCOPENHAGEN" and "MADRIDSEGENERAL" have

Virtual Classroom Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Virtual Classroom - Research Paper Example In modern classrooms, learning has become extremely sophisticated due to implementation of technology in learning. Ideally, almost every aspect of learning has been virtualized. Libraries have been made electronic and traditional libraries only used rarely for rigorous research only. Teacher-student communication has shifted from physical to virtual. Many learning institutions have embraced virtual learning through online modules. The library thesis will consist of the selected topic, review of the literature, a hypothesis will be developed, the variable will be defined, participants will be discussed, measurement instruments will be selected, and data will be collected and analyzed. The results will be interpreted. At the end of this research paper, recommendations regarding virtual classrooms will be provided. Virtual Classroom for Middle School There has been a lot of controversy on whether or not to adopt the system of virtual teaching in K-12 industry. Many factors have contribu ted to this unrelenting debate. In a bid to provide solutions to unequal access to education facilities, many proposals kept coming along. In America, public schools mainly get funds from property tax. This factor makes schools in many developing and prominent neighborhoods benefit. The result is that schools in the rich neighborhood tend to perform better than the poor ones (Jarventaus, 2007). The poor and at-risk students are already struggling with other issues of life and therefore, being at the same level with others may be a mere dream. Certainly, education is the engine of mobility and therefore, embracing new technologies in learning seems to be the way forward in realizing mobility in the modern society. However, due to differences in societal issues affecting education, virtual learning comes in handy albeit with some challenges. In order to standardize learning, should virtual classrooms be adopted? Virtual classroom has both advantages and disadvantages if adopted in an institution. Traditional classroom methods will be compared to the virtual classroom method in hope of shedding more light into the debate on applicability of virtual classrooms especially at lower levels of learning. The question remains if the education system is going towards the right direction with the current technological advancement. Whereas it is possible for students at higher levels of learning to handle the challenges of virtual learning, implementation of virtual learning for grade schools remains a controversy. Therefore, a rigorous approach towards demystifying the controversy needs to be taken, at least to bring clarity into this controversial issue. What are the consequences of embracing virtual classroom technology in lower levels of learning? The controversy here lies on applicability of virtual classroom for students at lower levels of learning. The context of study in this case is in middle school level particularly students between sixth to eighth grade. Lookin g down the history, many can see a situation where learning had to take place in a teacher-student scenario. Learning changed tremendously when technology came up with many ingenious ways to communicate, access information, and disseminate knowledge to students (Cavanaugh, 2009). Seemingly, virtual classroom brought a lot of enthusiasm, as one method that would be time saving and less costly (Jarventaus, 2007

My Education Process Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

My Education Process - Essay Example My education process has illuminated the fact that education can change an individual. The skills and knowledge acquired empowers a person and can acquire a job in his area of study and thus earn a living. Moreover, interaction with many individuals who share different perspectives earns one different attitude that affects one's way of thinking and executing issues. I have been able to be more tolerant of other people’s values and beliefs thanks to education. I have been able to live beyond the values indoctrinated in me by my family background.Education is a process that comes with many experiences. I have witnessed many events and deeds that have turned as of public interest.My interaction with teachers has always come with issues that go beyond the classroom. Having the documentary Capturing the Friedmans into account, one would realize that both teachers and learners are vulnerable to experiences that would change their lives forever. In this particular context, we learn t hat some learners go through sexual abuse, a crime that Arnold Friedman is accused of committing(Jareck, 2003). While teaching computer lessons, this teacher takes advantage of the learners and records some child pornography as alleged. The imprisonment of the Friedmans sheds some light on the many elements that are characterized by the education process. One’s education process is a life commitment that is characterized by knowledge, skills, new attitudes, beliefs, values, and habits that define his personality.

World History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

World History - Essay Example When we talk of the impact which these civilizations had on us we need to accumulate factors concerning political, social, religious, and scientific impact. The people of those ancient civilizations laid strong foundation in the field of astronomy. The Mesopot The concept of living with a multi-cultural society was basically originated in their civilization. Since the Mesopotamians started their dwelling in between the two rivers Tigris and Euphrates, which was already occupied with Assyrians, Aklad Babylonians, Sumerians etc,. Today we could find multi-cultural societies every where .As a result the impact of one culture lays on the other. The art of predicting the future, the study of astronomy [the stellar movements], the learning of atmospheric sciences all came from Mesopotamian civilization. The Greeks seemed to have excelled in every field. Their civilization was the most influential one. They were the pioneers to built multi-storied buildings, formulated trade routes covering large territories such as Turkey, Cyrus, Egypt, Afghanistan and Scandinavia. Athletics and other art of sports such as â€Å"Bull-leaping†, Marathon was given by them and we still conduct these sports world wide .The Greeks were the first to introduce â€Å"Epic poetry† and â€Å"Lyric†. All the credit goes to Homer, the first person to present Greek Literature. The â€Å"Democratic form of government† and the voting system, the meeting of those people who voted was called as â€Å"assembly† was all their contribution and its impact could be felt obviously. The urbanized culture started from their time onwards. One more important impact is the logical and philosophical approach towards every concept of life, was given by them. The philosopher’s quest resulted in teaching an exact way of moralistic life. The Greeks had the view that the state should be

European Labour Market Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5250 words

European Labour Market - Essay Example (Theil, 2008, p. 76) Unemployment in Europe has been shown to be worrying phenomena based on the fact that more than 20 million people are unemployed in the continent. But the most worrying fact has been that this is only affect some segment of the society and especially based on ethic factors. Fore example it has been shown the Italy is one of the European countries where the level of unemployment is affecting some segment of the population and it has been closely liked to certain social components. It has been shown most o the region in Europe with has excess labour supply with exception of France and Spain enjoys full employment while others have very high rate unemployment. (OECD 1997, p. 3) But there is a close relationship between economic performance and the level of unemployment in these European counties. It is to be found the unemployment and economic growth are two non-integrated factors and which are derived by the same autogressive united roots that are present in majority of the growth models. Economic growth and unemployment of any nation are positively correlated and it will be found that in the short run economic growth and unemployment relates in away that the equilibrium rate unemployment rate relates to a decline in the economic growth rates of the country as postulate in the Okun's law. According to studies that have tried to relate the two factors in the European market, it has been found that Okun's coefficient is in line with the estimate of the all the countries in Europe except UK whose label market looks more flexible in the way it accommodates transitory shocks compare to the European labour markets. (Pia 2006, p. 3) The pattern of unemployed in Europe has been attributed to other factor including the social stature of the individuals who depend on the participant the economic system of production and exchange in the society. The high rate of unemployment has therefore led to loss of some social aspects that have acted as the social fabric and hence the more people lose their social values, the more the effect is spreading even to those who are not affected. It has grown from an economic problem to take a social dimension. This paper will look closely at levels of unemployment in France in order to understand the level of unemployment as contributed by economic polices and the labour laws of the countries. It will look at unemployment statistics and relate them to economic theories. Unemployment in France Franc has been one of the largest economies in the world and by 2005, it was estimated the France had a GDP of $1.862 trillion according to the World Bank report which was measure in terms of purchasing power parity. In 2008, CIA Word Factbook rated France economy to be more than $2.067 trillion which means that it was ranked at the eighth targets economy. But the economy of France is place at sixth position by both World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and much other survey have ranked France in the third position in Europe behind German and the UK but in 2006 it was ranked ahead of UK in the second position. The economy of Fran

Strategy Evaluation in the Transportation Services Sector Essay Example for Free

Strategy Evaluation in the Transportation Services Sector Essay Strengths Improvement in technology In the transportation service sector, the improvement in technology has increased the productivity within the industry by reducing order picking, and delivery times of good and services provided. Additionally, with the improvements in technology, such as bar coding, radio frequency identification tags (RFID), and route optimization software can allow for better tracking of trucks, shipped goods, and the transportation of people (University of Phoenix, 2014). Low employee turnover rates Overall, in the transportation services sector the employee turnover rate is low because of the industrys use of benefits packages and the fact that most employees belong to organized unions. However, in individual segments of the transportation industry, such as trucking and warehousing, turnover rates are higher than the rest of the transportation service sector. The reason is due to an aging workforce and recruiting practices (University of Phoenix, 2014). Industry is trending upwards The transportation service sector is trending upward and is rebounding. It is being led by the for-hire trucking industry, which include services provided through the use trucks, railroads, ships (both inland and ocean going), And airplanes. The transportation service sector has increased 27 percent over the last five years. Additionally, air cargo traffic is projected to double by 2033, and the expected international trade volume will rise 3.1 percent in 2014 and 4 percent in 2015 (University of Phoenix, 2014). People and goods are transported by this industry The transportation service sector includes companies that deliver rail, truck, water, and air transportation; transit and ground commuter,  postal delivery, courier, pipeline, messenger services, storage and warehousing facilities. The volume of passengers and goods that are transported are ever increasing providing a long-term viability and sustainability of the transportation industry. Long term relation with suppliers and customers Once, a provider within the transportation service sector has proven their ability and created and established a value to suppliers and customers; a long-term relationship is possible.A long term relationship is possible providing that the established capacity and value remain constant for both parties involved in a transaction. Weaknesses Capacity restraints Capacity restraints can reduce profitability. When providers from the transportation sector are unable to move people or goods because of capacity constraints the possibility of voided freight contracts, and bad customer service reviews exist. A company that does not look forward and see the capacity requirements of their particular division in the transportation industry can lead to loss of potential growth; thereby decreasing their profits (University of Phoenix, 2014). Extensive governmental regulation Transportation service sector businesses are subordinate to many laws and directives dealing with matters extending from safety and labor procedures to ecological policies and restrictions in trade. Such as, the governmental agencies that regulate the airline industry, which is administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Transportation (DOT), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), among others governmental agencies. Combined industries such as deep sea shipping and railroads also draw concentrated examination concerning practices of pricing services and goods(University of Phoenix, 2014). Union influence of workers within the industry Unions have a substantial voice in labor issues, including wages and benefits levels, in many transportation service sector companies. Many of the segments within the transportation industry are labor- intensive.  However, weak union negotiations can lead to strikes by union employees that can harshly impact a company’s undertakings and cash flow (University of Phoenix, 2014). Opportunities Growth in local and regional markets The current growth in population has brought about an increase in city growth. The growth in the towns is opening the demand for more transportation needs for passengers and products in local and regional area that have been lacking transportation and warehousing services due to the lack of population. Growth in international markets The demand for transportation and warehousing is being driven by an increase in international trade as new markets are opening up such as China, Asia, South America and the Middle East. These new market currently do not have enough equipment or building space to handle the increase in international trade that provided for a substantial growth in companies in the transportation service sector internationally. Growth in specialize transportation As new international market begin to open, there is a growing need for more specialized transportation such as transit of a new workforce in other countries. Furthermore, jobs in the warehousing and transportation industry are opening up; hence the need for passenger transport and the need for more transportation of useful goods. Improved online technology As the technology is improved in other areas of the transportation sector, the innovation of online technology has also improved. Therefore, providing for more E- commerce growth in foreign countries than can improve the profitability of companies in the transportation industry. Threats Environmental constraints As the transportation service sector grows to provide for an increase in population, so do environmental constraints such as a rise in pollution created by the addition of more vehicles to the industry worldwide. Likewise, as environment concerns increase so do regulation. A  transportation company must be innovative in designing new equipment looking not only at a rise in alternative fuel vehicles but other green possibilities. Increased competition As new international market open the possibility of new transportation companies opening their doors to business increases. For companies in the transportation industry to be competitive and profitable; they must be open to change and attack these new markets with innovative ideas and an open mind to diversity. Increased security needs As international borders begin to open to trade; so the need to increase security of employee’s persona and company’s assets also is present. Additionally, as more business is crossing borders the needs for stricter guidelines are also required. However, with these more stringent guidelines come increase cost of transporting passengers and goods. As one can see from the SWOT analysis, the transportation service sector is full of potential growth possibilities. However, there are risks and threats that must be avoided when addressing the opportunities that exist in the industry. While the industry is trending upwardly and the strengths outweigh the weaknesses those companies in the industry must strive to be innovative in their approach to the opportunities at hand. One way a company in the transportation industry can address innovation is by embracing diversity. When a business includes diversity, it opens doors to creativity. Moreover, this creativity can lead to new ideas in transportation and warehousing. Being innovative has brought about many new advances in tracking services, goods, and software to promote productivity and profitability in the transportation service sector. Reference University of Phoenix. (2014). Transportation Services Sector. Retrieved from the University of Phoenix, PHL/320 website.

The Role and Importance of the International Law in World Politics Essay Example for Free

The Role and Importance of the International Law in World Politics Essay International law has been of increasing interest to scholars in recent decades, following several incidents that have severely challenged the concepts of how international order, peace, harmony, and justice between nations and states are maintained through the application of an international system of rules and sanctions. (Huysmans, 2006; Slaughter, 1993,1995; Nijman, 2007; Stahn, 2007; Goddard Nexon, 2005) One of the most significant events was the 9-11 Twin Towers attack in the Unites States, which precluded renewed aggression on the Middle East, particularly Iraq and Afghanistan, and all other states considered to be aligned with the axis of evils or coddlers of religious and ideological extremism. The actions of the United States and its allies, particularly the attack on Afghanistan, deprived of international consensus, have understandably raised â€Å"questions about the relevance of international law, the legitimacy of torture, justification for pre-emptive use of military force, the rise of U.S. unilateralism, a crisis of the United Nations, etc.† (Huysmans, 2006:12) In the same manner, this has encouraged many scholars to study â€Å"how power constrains international law (or dooms it to irrelevance), how the powerful can harness international law to their ends, and how international law may reconfigure power in its own right.† (Steinberg Zasloff, 2006:64)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The increased concern over the importance of international law has likewise gained more impetus as the world entered the era of globalization. Indeed, in no other time has the need for laws with global scope become more paramount as in the information age, when the rise of transnational crime syndicates as the direct consequence of a better global information network and communications infrastructure, as well as the widely changing norms and perceptions of many cultures (Bentivegna, 2006: 341) has forced countries to work in untraditional ways to confront challenges and formulate solutions. It is therefore not surprising for the debates over the significance of international law be centred upon what an increasing number of scholars and critics have called â€Å"the politics of international insecurity,† which brings to the fore the problems on the conceptualization of the international legal infrastructure and the enforcement of its rules and sanctions. International Law, Politics, and Power The discourse of international law and its enforcement is necessarily a discourse of political power and its outcomes in the international terrain. In its inception and early stages, however, it was not recognized in its inception and early development that the two had a dialectical relationship, or indeed, that international law enforced and reinforced world politics in the same way that the latter affected the way the international system of policies and sanctions was structured.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Doubtless, there remains a strong consensus today that the very nature of international law is rooted on its dialectical relationship with the political motivations, behavioral patterns and concepts of identity of states. However, in order to determine the extent to which international law remains an important influence in the conduct of world politics, it would be beneficial to examine the development of the concept of international law with respect to its historical and sociological framework. While it may be conceded that there are diverging opinions on the role of international law—or of its consequence, if at all—on international relations, the fact remains that it is presently active today than any other time in history although the reason for its existence has been very much contested.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The classic notion of international law assumed that governing states was as easy as governing people, with its basic assumptions moored on the belief in the peoples’—and states’, for that matter—ability to comply with rules and regulations. Underlying this belief was a concept of people as being inherently conformist based on a fixed set of norms that were universally accepted, largely influenced by those who believed in the rationality of law in the governance of societies which stipulated that â€Å"legal rules and institutions did not arise out of the power of the coercive state but, rather, out of custom, consensus, and private ordering.† (Steinberg Zasloff, 2006:66) International law was therefore optimistic in the outset, with the notion of its power perceived to be a function more of self-regulation among states rather than a product of force or coercion. Another important assumption was of international law’s being a â€Å"neutral, apolitical avenue in which to settle international disputes† owing to its separation from the sphere of politics. (Steinberg Zasloff, 2006: 67) The rise of fascism, however, provided enough reason for a change in viewpoint. At the heart of this was the growing recognition that international law was useless if it had no power at all to stop the aggressive tendencies of some states—or if did not present itself as a threat enough to be able to effectively police nations. Hence, there was an increased popularization and acceptance of the argument that international law cannot be separated from the discourse of politics and of the multiplicity of political agendas within the international community. Scholars such as Morgenthau (1959:502), for instance, suggested that â€Å"universal moral principles, such as justice and equality, are capable of guiding political action only to the extent that they have been given concrete content and have been related to political situations by society.† This mirrored the general attitude of realists, who argued that â€Å"international law could ever play more than an epiphenomenal role in the ordering of international life.† (Slaughter-Burley, 1993:206) Such an assertion stemmed from the core belief of the realists that international law merely reflected the â€Å"interests of powerful states,† (Steinberg Zasloff, 2006: 67) which encouraged some scholars of the realist tradition to assert that international law was inconsequential as it was beholden to the powerful and could be bent to suit the interests of powerful nations. (Slaughter, 1995:1; Kocs, 1994) Morgenthau (1967), for instance, illustrated how the issue of intervention into sovereign states, which was declared unacceptable by the international law, was often violated by powerful entities acting for the preservation of their interests, which suggested that economic and political imbalances in the world—where the richer economies were able to influenc e the political and legal structure and framework of the developing world by dangling foreign aid—made the international law inutile in reflecting the interests of the poor and the rich on an equal scale. There have been departures to these beliefs, naturally, as new criticisms emerged from the constructivist camp which argued that interests and identities were inseparable from social groups and as such, â€Å"international law both reflects and reinforces identities and interests.† (Steinberg Zasloff, 2006: 82) Constructivists underlined the role of â€Å"norms, identities and other socio-cultural phenomena in international politics,† (Goddard Nexon, 2005: 29) which assert that like cultural symbols, norms and identities in international law and politics are constantly created and recreated by its actors. (Kocs, 1994) Therefore, the role of the international law and its influence on the behavior of sovereign states is mediated upon by the prevailing beliefs and concepts of order, justice and peace. The Dilemma of Hegemonic Power: Challenges to International Law Thus, the central role of international law in the world, today when violent conflicts and inequalities have sharply divided the world, has transformed into that of an equalizer of power, an expectation that is held by every individual and every society that ascribes to and believes in the tenets of democracy. The international law, through the international court, also functions as a last repository of justice for societies, and is instrumental in providing elusive justice to victims of human rights violations by despotic leaders and to victims of war atrocities that otherwise could not have sought redress from the domestic courts of their countries. (Stahn 2007) Whether the international law has been able to live up to these expectations is another matter, of course, and lately the power of the international law itself to maintain peace among states has been gravely challenged.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   After the Second World War the United States emerged as the new superpower, which would give the realists their bases for attacking the role of international law other than in maintaining the interests of the status quo. Subsequent events that unfolded in history, from the Gulf War to the war on Afghanistan and the prolonged occupation of Iraq on the ground that it was harboring nuclear armaments have further highlighted the crises of the ability of international institutions such as the United Nations to enforce the international law. Another damning issue is the global climate change and the starkly bullheaded position of the United States and other developed countries on not signing the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gases emission which puts the whole world at more peril than the nuclear armaments supposedly kept by North Korea and Iran that the U.S. has been keen on decimating. These events have therefore raised the questions of whether the U.N. and the international law are, as suggested by the realist camp, prevailed upon by powerful states so that these states are able to enjoy an â€Å"exceptionality† when it comes to demanding compliance by the international community.    In the same manner, recent events such as the Iraq War which the U.S. has failed to justify based on the context of abating a â€Å"clear and present danger,† and despite the absence of consent from the international security council to launch the attack, have highlighted the gross imbalance of power that undermines the very existence of the international court as a mediating body in transnational conflicts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   This is unfortunate indeed not only for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan for all other peoples in the developing world as the current stance of the U.S. and other powerful countries not only tramples upon the very foundations of the international law but sets a dangerous precedent to ignore the rules set upon by the international community. Likewise, it presents a cause with which other countries may willfully violate the sovereignty of others regardless of international laws and based only on its perceptions of insecurity. It is in this context that the role of international law must be evaluated upon, on whether it has balanced out the capabilities of democratic societies to engage in fruitful relationships based on critical partnerships, or it has one-sidedly benefited the more powerful to the detriment of the weak, which it has, in recent years, appeared to be more and more inclined to do so. Works Cited: Bentivegna, S. (2006) Rethinking politics in the world of ICTs. European Journal of Communication, 21(3). Huysmans, J. (2006). International politics of insecurity: Normativity, inwardness, and the exception. Security Dialogue, 37(1):11-29. Goddard, S.E. D.H. Nexon (2005). Paradigm lost? Reassessing theory of international politics. European Journal of International Relations, 11(1):9-61. Kocs, S.A. (1994). Explaining the strategic behavior of states: International law as system structure. International Studies Quarterly, 38(4):535-556. Morgenthau, H.J. (1959). Dilemmas of Politics. International Affairs (Royal Institute of International Affairs 1944-), 35(4):. 502. Morgenthau, H.J. (1967) To intervene or not to intervene. Foreign Affairs, 45(3): 425-36. Nijman, J.E. (2007). Paul Ricoeur and international law: Beyond ‘the end of the subject’ towards a reconceptualization of international legal personality. Leiden Journal of International Law, 20: 25-64. Stahn, C. (2007). The international criminal court and the shortcomings of domestic legislation: Introductory note. Leiden Journal of International Law, 20: 165-166. Slaughter-Burley, A.M. (1993). International law and international relations theory: A dual agenda. The American Journal of International Law, 87(2): 205-239. Slaughter, A.M. (1995). International law in a world of liberal states. EJIL, 6: 1-39. Steinberg, R.H. J.M. Zasloff (2006). Power and international law. The American Journal of International Law, 100(1):64-87.

Events Leading Up to the American Revolution

Events Leading Up to the American Revolution The Origins of the American Revolution Thesis statement: American Revolution brought about by pregnancy and childbirth.† Pregnancy got as a result of the spread of tyranny, corruption, injustice and lack of dignity and freedom imposed by the political rule of Britain. The birth action took place as a result of intellectual transformations and way of thinking of American society. The success of the United States today was the significant result of the revolution. Research question: In what ways did the major events previous to the American Revolution establish the road map that led to the success of the American Revolution? The first spark of the American Revolution can be traced to the year 1763 when the leaders took the reins tightly the British Empire. The conflicts began to rupture relations between Britain and the colonies, especially after the empire became in dire need of money to manage its own affairs. The American Revolution, after two hundred and fifty years, is superficially well-known and inadequately understood. General narratives mostly treat it as a colonial rebellion. They equate it primarily with the growing resistance to imperial policy that led to an outbreak of hostilities at Lexington in April 1775 and concluded with British recognition of the United States eight years later. The achievement of political independence was its grand objective, besides which all other matters paled in importance. According to this familiar story the revolution came to its climax with the declaration of Independence in 1776; there after it was almost synonymous with the war. The American Revolution is considered the first modern revolution in history where people fought for their independence as the universal principles represented by the sovereignty of the people and the rule of law and constitutional rights. [1] [1] Colin Bonwick, The American Revolution p.1 French and Indian War, Navigation Acts, Salutary Neglect is considered as Long Term Causes of the American Revolution Under the circumstances it seemed reasonable to the British government to seek new sources of revenue in colonies and to make the navigation system more efficient in ways the royal officials had long advocated. A half century of what Edmund Burke called salutary neglect had come to an end. Decidedly in March 1765, Parliament by an overwhelming majority passed the Stamp Act, which levied a tax on legal documents, almanacs, newspapers, and nearly every form of paper used in the colonies. Like all duties, tax was to be paid in British sterling, not in colonial paper money. Although taxes had [2] Gordon S. Wood, The American Revolution p.3 [3] The American Revolution p. 23 been used in England since stamp i 694 and several colonial assemblies had resorted to them in the in 750s, Parliament had never before imposed such a tax directly on the colonists. It is surprising, therefore, that the stamp Act galvanized colonial opinion as nothing ever had. This single declared William Smith, Jr., of New York, has lost stroke, Great Britain the affection of all her Colonies. [4] From the book â€Å"1001 Events That Made America† by the American author Alan Axelrod said â€Å"DECEMBER 16 A group of militant Bostonians respond to the Tea Act by dressing as Indians boarding three British tea ships in Boston Harbor, and throwing tea valued at 18,000 $ overboard. The â€Å"Boston Tea Party† galvanizes colonial opposition to the Crowns continued policy of regulating colonial commerce and taxing the colonies, which are not represented in Parliament.† So we can say this act calorized as one of the events that made America what is it like today. Boston Tea Party Currier colored (first primary source) Where not Boston Tea Party, the sense, where it did not offer tea or coffee or other drinks, but it was the beginning of the revolution and the war of liberation and the British colonization in the New World, the continent of North America, currently. Summed up the events of the Tea Party that number of Americans hide uniformed American Indians, and slipped into three British ship anchored in the port of Boston and loaded with boxes of tea, and threw 342 crates of tea nearly $ 1 million worth of money into the sea, rejecting the governments decision to import and pay customs tax prohibitive them. The blatant acts of destruction of British property by American colonists, the mentioned Tea Party, in addition to the Americans disobedience, upset British Parliament that enacted the Coercive Acts. These included closing of the Port of Boston until the substitution of damages caused due to the Boston Tea Party. Similarly, Massachusetts Government restricted the Massachusetts; town meetings and transformed the Governing Council into an appointed body. At the same time, the British officials through the administration of Justice became immune to criminal prosecution in the state of Massachusetts. Finally, the Quartering Action included house and quarter British troops on demand, even if this necessitated American private homes. These in turn led to the outrage of American Patriots. [5] [4] Gordon S. Wood, The American Revolution p.24 [5] The American Revolution by Colin Bonwick p.78-79 The religion can be regarded as one of the major origin of the American Revolution. It had a special role by providing moral punishment for opposition to the British. In addition, the Revolution was being considered justified in the sight of God to the average American. They have been succeeded to convert colonialism resistance into a righteous cause. As well as, this image was transferred to all ranks and in all parts of the colonies. Accordingly, ministers did the work of secular radicalism and served the American cause in many capacities, namely, as members of state legislatures and as military chaplains. The Revolution caused split of the Church of England in which their minister traditionally support the King. In certain places religion flourished because of the present of active ministers, but in other areas, worship suffered due to the churches destruction. [6] (http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion/rel03.html) Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason quote in the appendix This quote is from the famous book â€Å"the Age of Reason† this book published in three parts, this quote is from the second part that has published in 1795. This book has been produced in London; this book is written by the famous American author Thomas Paine. In addition to his revolutionary, he was author, political theorist and an English-American political activist. As well as he was the author of two highly influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution. In fact, he inspired the Patriots in 1776 to declare independence from Britain. These factors lead to make his ideas to reflect Enlightenment-era rhetoric of transnational human rights. The American Revolution succeeded to pursue high morals and legitimate ways and methods to achieve their goals as well as, avoided falling into the trap of revenge and moved away from creating enemies and swirling various problems. The standstill of trade and the dependent of the economy on foreign currency were among the direct short term effects result of the American Revolution War. Some additional effects of this kind were the increase in colonists and that can be found all over the country these simple are short term causes. Some people argue that the American Revolution is a revolution from down (lower class) to up (upper class) either might say it’s from up to down considering George Watsontown as the sage of the American Revolution (father of the Revolution) and other important people in the upper class too. found in republican regime create a nation very different from contemporary European societies, set an ideological agenda for the future, constructed a political frame work sufficiently strong and supple to meet the needs of later generations, and propelled the United States in a democratic direction. These developments were the heart of the Revolution The revolution was rooted in colonial society, politics and intellect at a particular stage, but it took far longer to complete the structure of republic government than to win the war; the development of republican culture was continuous and unending. It would be wrong to exaggerate the extent of Revolutionary change. Americans did not face the same social challenge as the French after 1789 and the Russians in 1917. Anglo-French War (1754-1763) deepened the debt which required the British to get more revenue from the colonies. At the same time, the colonies become less dependent on British protection. found in republican regime create a nation very different from contemporary European societies, set an ideological agenda for the future, constructed a political frame work sufficiently strong and supple to meet the needs of later generations, and propelled the United States in a democratic direction. These developments were the heart of the Revolution The revolution was rooted in colonial society, politics and intellect at a particular stage, but it took far longer to complete the structure of republic government than to win the war; the development of republican culture was continuous and unending.

The Tragedy of Child Abuse and Neglect :: Violence Against Children

Estimates of child abuse range wildly depending on the source of ones information. From one to two million children per year are victims of child abuse. (Dolan p.3) All sources agree on the simple truth that not nearly all cases of child abuse are reported or even estimated. Man cases go unreported, less than 50% by current estimates. (Dolan p.3) The amount of child abuse is staggering to think about, let alone deal with. By the age of eighteen one in three girls will have been sexually molested and one in six boys will have been molested in that same time frame. (WWW site). Although, throughout this paper we shall discuss not only the effects of sexual abuse but abuse in all its forms. These include Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Mental Abuse and Neglect. We will also Touch upon the basic question of this report, and that is, "How has child abuse changed over the last 100 years and what effects has this had on the family?" This brings us to our first research area, change.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is clear that families are undergoing a number of important structural changes: families are smaller than in the past, with fewer children and sometimes with only one parent; parents have children at a later age; more couples live together without the bonds of matrimony which was accepted as a sacred bond so few years in human history. The source of this degradation of such a basic unit of society is unknown throughout all areas of research which I canvassed in my quest. It is a question that one person needs to answer for himself and solve for himself. Something a young child is not capable of doing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Physical abuse has many forms. It may involve the hitting or kicking of a child with the fists or the feet, or with another object; such as belts, shovels, changes, ropes, electric cords, leather straps, canes, baseball bats, sticks, broom handles, or assorted large objects. Other forms of abuse include the pouring of scalding water or coffee on a child's body, holding a child's head under the water of a toilet bowl, stuffed into running washing machines, throwing a child against a wall, shaking a child with extreme force or placing parts of a child's anatomy on hot or burning objects to cause pain. (Author's note: Sometimes in extreme cases the shaking of a child with such extreme force as an aggressive abuser possesses can cause severe brain damage as the brain is crushed from repeated impact against the skull. This type of injury is especially damaging in babies and small children. The Tragedy of Child Abuse and Neglect :: Violence Against Children Estimates of child abuse range wildly depending on the source of ones information. From one to two million children per year are victims of child abuse. (Dolan p.3) All sources agree on the simple truth that not nearly all cases of child abuse are reported or even estimated. Man cases go unreported, less than 50% by current estimates. (Dolan p.3) The amount of child abuse is staggering to think about, let alone deal with. By the age of eighteen one in three girls will have been sexually molested and one in six boys will have been molested in that same time frame. (WWW site). Although, throughout this paper we shall discuss not only the effects of sexual abuse but abuse in all its forms. These include Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Mental Abuse and Neglect. We will also Touch upon the basic question of this report, and that is, "How has child abuse changed over the last 100 years and what effects has this had on the family?" This brings us to our first research area, change.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is clear that families are undergoing a number of important structural changes: families are smaller than in the past, with fewer children and sometimes with only one parent; parents have children at a later age; more couples live together without the bonds of matrimony which was accepted as a sacred bond so few years in human history. The source of this degradation of such a basic unit of society is unknown throughout all areas of research which I canvassed in my quest. It is a question that one person needs to answer for himself and solve for himself. Something a young child is not capable of doing.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Physical abuse has many forms. It may involve the hitting or kicking of a child with the fists or the feet, or with another object; such as belts, shovels, changes, ropes, electric cords, leather straps, canes, baseball bats, sticks, broom handles, or assorted large objects. Other forms of abuse include the pouring of scalding water or coffee on a child's body, holding a child's head under the water of a toilet bowl, stuffed into running washing machines, throwing a child against a wall, shaking a child with extreme force or placing parts of a child's anatomy on hot or burning objects to cause pain. (Author's note: Sometimes in extreme cases the shaking of a child with such extreme force as an aggressive abuser possesses can cause severe brain damage as the brain is crushed from repeated impact against the skull. This type of injury is especially damaging in babies and small children.

Kafka and his Portrayal of Characters Essay -- essays research papers

Kafka’s Portrayal of Characters Franz Kafka, born on July 3, 1883 in Bohemia, in the city of Prague, has been recognized as one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century. Virtually unknown during his lifetime, the works of Kafka have since been recognized as symbolizing modern man's distress and distorted alienation in an unintelligible, hostile, or indifferent world. None of Kafka’s novels were printed during his lifetime, and it was only with reluctance that he published a fraction of his shorter fiction. Kafka went even as far as to request that his unprinted manuscripts be destroyed after his death. His friend, Max Brod went against his wishes and published his works, although many were unfinished (Sokel 35). Kafka came from a middle-class Jewish family and grew up in the shadow of his domineering shopkeeper father, who impressed Kafka the ultimate father figure. The feeling of impotence, even in his rebellion, was a syndrome that became a pervasive theme in his fiction. Kafka did well in the prestigious German high school in Prague and went on to receive a law degree in 1906. He soon found a job at the Assicurizioni Generali Insurance Company in 1907 but soon left, due to the lengthy hours and intolerable conditions. Later in 1908, he began working at the Worker’s Accident Insurance Institute, where he would work most of the rest of his life. He regarded this job as the essence—both blessing and curse—of his life (Gray 78). He would work most of the rest of his life, although only sporadically after 1917, and in June 1922 he was put on â€Å"temporary retirement† with a pension (Gray 81-84). This job, although not great had short hours, and so allowed him time to think and write. In 1911, he was asked by his father to take charge of his brother-in-law Karl Hermann’s asbestos factory, which took up a lot of his time until 1917 and literally almost drove him to suicide (83). Kafka spent half his life after 1917 in sanatoriums and health resorts; his tuberculosis of the lungs finally spreading to the larynx. Throughout his life, Kafka wrote during times he felt frustrated, either by a love, his family, or his sickness (Sokel 133). Kafka’s method of relief from these frustrations was through his writing (133).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Kafka’s coarse relationship with his father dominates his thoughts in life and his works. In the two works, â€Å"The Me... ... his own life, his own views, his own perspectives. He deliberately removes the line between truth and fiction. Tongue in cheek, Kafka used his life as blueprints for his works. In doing so, he has played â€Å"one of the strangest and most daring games a writer ever had played†(Pascal 137). By telling of his life as a fable and commenting about his own style, he raised himself to the level of literature.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bibliography: Brod, Max, Franz Kafka, 2d ed. (1960); Citati, Pietro, Kafka (1990); Flores, Angel, ed., The Kafka Debate (1977); Glatzer, N. N., The Loves of Franz Kafka (1985); Gray, Ronald, ed., Kafka: A Collection of Critical Essays (1962); Hayman, Ronald, Kafka (1982); Heller, Erich, Franz Kafka (1975); Karl, Frederick R., Franz Kafka: Representative Man (1992); Lawson, R. H., Franz Kafka (1987); Pawel, E., The Nightmare of Reason: A Life of Franz Kafka (1984); Politzer, Heiny, Franz Kafka: Parable and Paradox (1962); Sokel, Walter H., Franz Kafka (1966); Udoff, Alan, ed., Kafka and the Contemporary Critical Performance (1987   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  

Colonialism and Imperialism in Heart of Darkness Essay -- Heart Darkne

Imperialism Exposed in Conrad's Heart of Darkness  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" is, as Edward Said says, a story about European "acts of imperial mastery" (1503)-its methods, and the effects it has on human nature-and it is presumable that Conrad incorporates much of his own experience in the Congo and his opinions about imperialism into the story, as another recent critic also suggests: "he seems to approve of Marlow," the narrator (Achebe 1492). These revelations of the author are conveyed to the reader through Marlow's observations, descriptions, reactions, and statements. While "Heart of Darkness" is at times very critical of European imperialism, that criticism for the most part is directed at the false idealistic claims made about the enterprise and the inefficient and savage methods employed by the Belgians; the book does not question imperialism when undertaken competently, particularly by the British. The opening discussion in "Heart of Darkness" between Marlow and his friends, is about an idealistic imperialism of conquerors, especially English, who were "bearers of a spark from the sacred fire"-the fire of civilization (1428). Marlow once too had "tingled with enthusiasm" at the thought of imperialism, as his friends do during their recollection of the past, but that was before his experience in the Congo, where he uncovers the crudeness of the Belgians. Imperialism, to Marlow, is not alw... ...tional support he has for his country. Marlow's idea that the English are capable of competently approaching imperialism has no supportive evidence. In any case, the savage and inefficient methods of the Belgians prove that the idealistic claims of European imperialism are far from true. In this, it is likely that Conrad's experience in the Congo changed his outlook on imperialism, just as it did Marlow. Works Cited Barnet, Sylvan, et al. An Introduction to Literature. 11th ed. NY: Longman, 1997. Conrad, Joseph. "Heart of Darkness." Barnet 1426. Achebe, Chinua. "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness.'" Barnet 1489. Said, Edward W. "The Imperial Attitude." Barnet 1502.

Guiding Procedures for Response to Emergency Situations

GUIDING PROCEDURES TO RESPOND TO EMERGENCY SITUATIONS ON CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS By Maj  ® Muhammad Ijaz Student MS Disaster Management-2012 at NUST (MCE) Introduction Construction projects involve use of heavy machinery, execution of numerous work activities simultaneously. Working environment like in Pakistan where safety culture does not prevail results in increased vulnerability to accidents thus frequent emergency situations on construction projects. The author being a Project Manager on construction projects have experienced number of emergency situation involving loss of life of worker.The Safety Rules requires that the constructor shall establish Emergency Response Procedures for every project, Life Insurance of worker is also mandatory clause of the contract agreement in Pakistan but normally not implemented in letter and sprite. This article will be useful to assist constructors in developing Emergency Response Procedures. Detailed Emergency Plan helps to minimize the human suffering and economic losses that can result from emergencies. It should be understood that the size and complexity of projects, as well as their access and location, have a bearing on the degree of planning necessary for emergencies.It is therefore strongly recommended that the constructor ensure that a member of staff on site assist in developing the emergency response plan. The Planning Process Planning shall begin before any work commences on the project. Although there may be little time between the award of the contract and the start of the project, a good emergency response plan can be generic and, with some minor changes, can be easily adapted to specific sites and readily implemented.This is especially the case where a constructor specializes in similar types of projects. For meaningful Development of Response Plan following considerations should be kept in mind: 1) Identification and assessment of hazard 2) Assessment of resources 3) Mean of communication 4) Implementati on of the plan 5) Basic Principles 6) Sharing the Procedure 7) Post Emergency Consideration Each of these points is explained in the following sections. Identification and assessment of hazardThe process of hazard identification and assessment involves a thorough review that should include, but not be limited to, the following points: †¢ Transportation, materials handling, hoisting, equipment or product installation, temporary structures, material storage, start-up, and commissioning activities †¢ Environmental concerns †¢ Consultation with the client regarding potential hazards when working in or adjacent to operating facilities †¢ Resources such as material safety data sheets (MSDSs) to determine potential hazards from on-site materials. †¢ Proximity to traffic and public ways.Because construction sites are frequently fast-changing, the process of hazard assessment must be ongoing to accommodate the dynamic environment. Once hazards are identified, the nex t task is to assess the potential or risk involved in each. For each hazard identified, ask: †¢ What can go wrong? †¢ What are the consequences? For each potential hazard it is important to identify resources necessary for an appropriate emergency response. For most events in construction, a simple analysis based on the experience of the people involved on the project is likely sufficient.Assessment of resources It is important to identify which resources are available and have contingency plans in place to make up for any deficiencies. The most important resource on most projects will be a provincial rescue system like 1122. It is essential to verify that rescue system is in effect in the area. Most cities of Punjab have a 1122 system in place, but it is important to know the facilities or limitations available in that location. Is a high-reach rescue team available? What is the response time? What must site personnel do in the meantime?Other on-site resources such as fir e extinguishers, spills containment equipment, and first aid kits must be maintained and clearly identified. Construction equipment may be included among potential emergency resources. Personnel, especially on-site medical staff or workers trained in first aid, should be included in the plan. There may be situations where outside resources are so far away that an adequate response is not possible. In these situations, resources may have to be obtained and kept on site. Examples would include fire protection or ambulance/medical resources in remote areas.Whatever the situation may be, people, equipment, facilities, and materials are needed for emergency response. Where they will come from must be determined in advance. Moreover, the people supplying these resources must be made aware of their role in the plan. Mean of communication An important key to effective emergency response is a communications system that can relay accurate information quickly. To do this, reliable communicatio ns equipment must be used, procedures developed, and personnel trained. It is a good idea to have a backup system in place, in case the ystem is rendered useless by the emergency. For example, telephone lines may be cut. The type and location of emergency communication systems must be posted on the project. This will include location of telephones, a list of site personnel with cellular phones or two-way radios, and any other equipment available. Emergency phone numbers and the site address/location should be posted beside all site phones. On large sites, the location of emergency phones must be clearly marked. The poster like Emergency Response can be used to record this and other information.A communication system must be made up of strategically placed equipment and properly defined responsibilities. The emergency response plan posted in a conspicuous place on the project must identify the designated equipment and the people to operate it. Implementation of the plan The task of a dministering and organizing the plan is vital to its effectiveness. The person who has this task will normally be the person in charge of the emergency response operation or may be assigned to Quality Control Manager (QCM).It is their task to ensure that everyone clearly understands their roles and responsibilities within the emergency response plan (a chart may be helpful in this regard), that emergency resources, whether people or equipment, are kept at adequate levels in step with the progress of the project. It is very important to review the emergency plan on a regular basis and especially after an emergency has occurred. Changes may be necessary where deficiencies became apparent as the plan went into operation. Basic Principles An emergency can be reported from any source i. e. orker on site, an outside agency, or the public. Remember that circumstances may change during the course of an emergency. Any procedures you develop must be able to respond to the ongoing situation. T he following list covers basic actions to take in an emergency. These steps apply to almost any emergency and should be followed in sequence. †¢ Stay calm. †¢ Assess the situation. †¢ Take command. †¢ Provide protection. †¢ Aid and manage. †¢ Maintain contacts. †¢ Guide emergency services. Stay calm – Your example can influence others and thereby aid the emergency response.Assess the situation – Determine what happened and what the emergency is. Look at the big picture. What has happened to whom and what will continue to happen if no action is taken? Try to identify the cause that must be controlled to eliminate immediate, ongoing, or further danger. Take command – The most senior person on the scene should take charge and call, or delegate someone to call, emergency services and explain the situation. Assign tasks for controlling the emergency. This action also helps to maintain order and prevent panic.Provide protection †“ Eliminate further losses and safeguard the area. Control the energy source causing the emergency. Protect victims, equipment, materials, environment, and accident scene from continuing damage or further hazards. Divert traffic, suppress fire, prevent objects from falling, shut down equipment or utilities, and take other necessary measures. Preserve the accident scene; only disturb what is essential to maintain life or relieve human suffering and prevent immediate or further losses. Aid and manage – Provide first aid or help those already doing so. Manage personnel at the scene.Organize the workforce for both a headcount and emergency assignments. Direct all workers to a safe location or command post. This makes it easier to identify the missing, control panic, and assign people to emergency duties. Dispatch personnel to guide emergency services on arrival. Maintain contact – Keep emergency services informed of situation. Contact utilities such as SNGPL, SSGPL, Elec tric Supply etc. where required. Alert management and keep them informed. Exercise increasing control over the emergency until immediate hazards are controlled or eliminated and causes can be identified.Guide Emergency Services – Meet services on site. Lead them to emergency scene. Explain ongoing and potential hazards and cause(s), if known. Sharing the Procedure To be effective, an Emergency Response Procedure must be clearly communicated to all site personnel. The following activities should be considered: †¢ Share the procedure with new site subcontractors and new workers to ensure that it covers their activities adequately. †¢ Share the procedure with suppliers to ensure that it covers any hazards that the storage or delivery of their materials might create. Share new work areas in operating plants with owner/client to ensure that new hazards are identified and covered in the procedure. †¢ Share the procedure with the Joint Health and Safety Committee or H ealth and Safety Representative on a regular basis to address new hazards or significant changes in site conditions. †¢ Place the procedure in a conspicuous location. The Emergency Response Procedure for a construction project must continually undergo review and revision to meet changing conditions. Post Emergency ConsiderationThe recovery process, or what happens after the emergency response has been completed, is a critical step in the plan. Many emergency tasks may be handled by people who are not accustomed to dealing with emergencies. People may have seen their work partners and friends badly injured and suffering great pain. Once the emergency is over, the attitude should not be â€Å"Okay, let’s get back to work† or â€Å"Let’s go home. † Some of the people involved may need assistance in order to recover. In some cases professional counselling may be needed.As part of site emergency planning, construction companies should have measures in pla ce to deal with post-traumatic stress. Local hospitals, ambulance services, and medical practitioners may be able to help. Debriefing is necessary to review how well the plan worked in the emergency and to correct any deficiencies that were identified. Debriefing is critical to the success of future emergency response planning. Conclusion Slow response, lack of resources, or the absence of trained personnel will lead to chaos in an emergency.To minimize human suffering and financial losses, all personnel must know their responsibilities under the emergency response plan. Remember – planning for emergencies should include the following points: 1) hazard identification/assessment 2) emergency resources 3) communication systems 4) administration of the plan 5) emergency response procedure 6) communication of the procedure 7) debriefing and post-traumatic stress procedure. The plan should be used to set emergency procedures, implement and communicate the procedures, and ensure th at any required training has been completed.The plan should also be evaluated regularly to ensure that it conforms to current operations and conditions. In any Emergency Response Procedure, the following steps are basic and essential: †¢ Stay calm. †¢ Assess the situation. †¢ Take command. †¢ Provide protection. †¢ Aid and manage. †¢ Maintain contact. †¢ Guide emergency services. Reader must keep in mind that these are generalized guidelines/procedure and not itself an Emergency Response Plan. The plan should be formulated keeping the specific conditions of the project in mind.Though these guideline/procedures are prepared for the professional involved in construction project, however these may serve as useful basis for Emergency Managers working in related sectors like manufacturing plants, quarry sites etc. References Write a manuscript (term-paper) on any article related to disaster response and recovery. Last date of submission is  31 March 2 012. But please must take into an account the following points, while writing the article. –  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The term-paper is an important part of the academic. –  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The article must be in the lines of the course/subject parameter, i. . , â€Å"Disaster Response and Recovery† –  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The article must be of 7-10 pages. Please don’t expand it by giving unnecessary discussion, be brief and to the point. –  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The article must be supported by at least 12 references at the end of the manuscript which should be arranged in alphabetic order, according to the given style;   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For Journal Articles; Name of authors, (year), â€Å"Title of the article/paper†, Journal, volume, page, ISSN For Book/Thesis Articles; Name of authors, (year), â€Å"Title of the book/thesis†, (Publishers) For Conference Proceedings;Name of authors, (year with month), â€Å"Title of the article/paper† (Conference theme) For Web-page Articles; (Complete site detail, with date and time) For citation, please follow the given instructions; For one author,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Ali, 2012)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For two authors,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Ali and Usman, 2012)   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   For three or more,  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   (Ali et al. 2012) O  Very important point:  Ã‚  Ã‚   The â€Å"Similarity Index† (plagiarism check) must  not exceed 15%. In case of more than 15% the article will be rejected and ZERO marks will be award for this activity. Good luck, wish you all the best ARSHAD

Pursuasive Policy

To persuade my audience that the fight against bullying begins at home. Central Problem Statement: Due to the increase in bullying in schools, there is a need to prohibit bullying and create a safe and educational environment. INTRODUCTION Attention Step (Pathos) l. Bullies. Dictionary. Com defines bullies as a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.I will now share a true story with you and I want you to think to ourselves If this story poses as the definition. A few years ago, on the evening of September 9th, 2010, a boy of Greensboro named Billy Lucas committed suicide by hanging. Earlier that day Billy had been suspended from school for cursing at the bullies that were harassing with â€Å"gay† discourse. Channel 8 news reports that a day before Billy committed suicide that his sister told a good friend of Bills that â€Å"He had a chair pulled out from underneath him and was told to go hang himself. Lat er that evening that Is Just what he did. Reveal the Topic II. There are a few absolution policies that are set In the school systems that prevent bulling from occurring, only to limit it. Relevancy (Logos) Ill. Most schools pretty much have the same policy with in their school system, which is called the Anti-Bully Policy. This policy basically states that any student or employee will not be abused psychologically or physically. Credibility I have had personal V. Experience with this as my friend was a victim In a bullying case.Unfortunately for him, he awaited the same fate as Billy as he committed suicide after being pushed to the edge. Preview For the next few minutes, I will share about the frequency at which bullying occurs without interference not only in the state of Indiana but the entire country. I will also state the obvious by saying the policies set in now are ineffective and new policies with new strategic plans need to be unveiled in order to save lives. BODY Need Ste p (Claim) l. Bystanders don't take the necessary actions to prevent bullying from proceeding In schools.Assertion 1: Bullying Is a concerning issue that happens everyday, whether it is reported or not, it happens. Evidence Logos: A. According to a study done by the Response Ability Act, 86% of children have witnessed bullying at least once (RAP Project) Evidence Logos: B. In 2008, there was a study done right here in Indiana that showed how bullying cases led to suicides. From the ages 10-19 there were an astonishing 1,819 suicides relating to bullying In school, which means there are way too many people not doing anything about It. Evidence Pathos: C.As I have already stated, before I moved here, I had a friend that would constantly be bullied and even while I was around, which made me he bystander. This went on for some time until I saw on the news that my friend had committed suicide. It broke my heart because I was just as guilty as the bully for not doing anything to stand up f or what was right and I have regretted not taking action ever since. Transition: Now tattoo know some statistics and my own personal let Like me, in my story, many bystanders lack courage to step into the situation Evidence Pathos: A.Imagine you are the victim in a bullying situation such as the one I previously stated. I mean you are in the midst of a bully string to ingle as much pain as possible into you. You look up and see your classmates laughing and making fun of you, yet you see your best friend Just watching. Evidence Ethos: B. Now let's switch roles for a bit, you're the bystander or the best friend Just watching this take place. Why don't you do anything? Why don't you stick up for your friend? Well according to Recount. Com, the typical bystander doesn't get involved for various reasons.But the most common reasons are â€Å"None of their business†, â€Å"They will come a target†, and â€Å"It will give them an unwanted stigma, such as a tattle tale†. (Recount. Com) Evidence Logos: C. The U. S. Department of Justice shows the between the years of 1999 and 2003 there had been a 2. 1% increase in bullying cases. So we bystanders have to stop this trend. Transition: Now that you know that not only bullying is a problem but also the bystander that does nothing is a problem, let me explain how we can offer help and or implement policies to eliminate these problems. Satisfaction Step: II.Spending the appropriate time with the kids at mom teaching the correct morals and values will put an end to bullying in schools. A. Psychometric. Com states that the best and most obvious way to stop bullying in schools is for parents to change the way they parent their children at home. A. Good kids who don't get in trouble or start any trouble typically come from households in which these morals and values are presented to them almost daily. B. Bullies usually come from families who fight a lot which is seen as the acceptable behavior and is repeat ed in school. B.However my audience here is probably brothers and sisters ND maybe aunts and uncles. A. The same principles really apply, your apart of the family too so you should have a part too. C. So in order to summarize this up, I'm not asking for money or donations, I'm not asking for you to sign a petition, I am Just asking you to spend time with the kids in your household and to make sure you know that they know what is right and how to handle these situations if they were to occur. Transition: Now that you know the root of the problem of bullying, I want to show you a video that puts everything into perspective.

Airbus Case Study

Airbus A3XX case study Group E10, MBA 2011 Airbus A3XX case study, Group E10 Airbus objectives Both Airbus and Boeing, as well as industry experts expected worldwide passenger traffic to grow at an average annual growth rate of 4. 8-4. 9% for the next 20 years (up until 2019). Given that the traffic was expected to almost triple in volume, both manufacturers expected a significant increase in aircraft sales, although their views on the market structure were different. Airbus expected hub-to-hub routes to become the dominant type of transportation in key regions (transatlantic and transpacific), opposing Boeing’s preference for point-topoint routes. Therefore, Airbus forecasted high growth rates in very large aircraft (VLA) segment, that was expected to reach 1,235 aircraft by 2019. Although Airbus had considerably increased its market share by 1999, it still did not have a product to compete with Boeing’s 747 in the highly-promising VLA market segment. Introduction of A3XX could help Airbus capture more than a half of this segment, and given the segment’s very positive prospects, it could position Airbus as the commercial aviation industry leader. FCF model The model estimates Airbus free cash flows associated with the potential implementation of A3XX project in 2001-2020. All calculations are performed in US dollars, net present value is calculated as of December 31, 2000. Given the uncertainty of model assumptions and the long-term nature of the model itself, additional sensitivity analysis was performed in respect of (a) operating margins, (b) discount rate, (c) inflation rate, (d) aircraft sales, (e) investment expenditure, and (f) sale price. Key assumptions Sales & production †¢ Sale price: $216m as of 2006, rising afterwards at the inflation rate. Although some of the first contracts are expected to be executed with a significant discount, this is not factored into the model due to low data availability. Operating margin: 15%, learning curve effect was ignored due to insufficient data (assuming lower margin in early years and higher margin at later stages — averaging at 15% over the forecasted period). †¢ Sales ramp-up: based on the assumptions used in Lehman Brothers equity research reports (25% of ‘steady state’ capacity in 1st year, 75% in the second year). †¢ Production capacity: 53 aircraft annually in â₠¬Ëœsteady state’ (based on a total sales estimate of 730-750 aircraft in 2001-2020). Pre-payments: although a fraction of the sale price is usually paid in advance, this factor was ignored due to insufficient data (all costs and payments are assumed to occur in the year when aircraft is delivered). -1- Airbus A3XX case study, Group E10 Funding & investments †¢ Funding: $11. 9b of quasi-equity, debt is not used in the project. †¢ Launch costs: $11. 0b for research & development, $1. 0 for capital expenditures, $1. 0b for additional working capital (as per Dresdner Kleinwort report). †¢ Additional capital expenditures: assumed at zero after the investment stage (20012008) is over †¢ Discount rate: 11. % as cost of equity (CAPM = 6. 0% risk-free rate + 0. 84 commercial aviation beta * 6% market risk premium). †¢ Depreciation: straight line over 10 years, starts immediately after corresponding capital expenditures are performed. †¢ R&D expenses are n ot capitalised. Other †¢ Inflation: constant at 2. 0%. †¢ Tax rate: 38. 0% (standard French rate). †¢ Terminal value: growing perpetuity where growth is set at the rate of inflation. †¢ Boeing’s response to A3XX launch is not explicitly modelled (assuming this factor is already taken into account through unit sales and margins). Although the market demonstrates considerable cyclicality, this factor was ignored for the sake of simplicity. Modelling results Net present value of the A3XX project is estimated at $528m, consisting of ($1,447m) NPV of 2001-2020 cash flows and $1,975m of terminal value. The break-even number of planes after the investment stage (in 2009 and beyond) is estimated at 48 per year. In this case the NPV of growing perpetuity is expected at $4,702m (annual inflows of $1,061 growing at 2% with 11% discount rate), while the NPV of cash flows in 2001-2009 is estimated at ($4,552). Sensitivity analysis The following tables present bi-dimensional sensitivity analysis of the resulting NPV for model variables that have significant predictability issues and / or likely to cause huge changes in the resulting NPV: -2- Airbus A3XX case study, Group E10 Project launch considerations Implementation of the A3XX project definitely has a very high risk profile. Although the resulting NPV figure is positive under the base scenario, sensitivity analysis indicates that returns on this project are extremely sensitive to the underlying model assumptions (e. g. a drop in operating margin by just 2 percentage points results in negative NPV). Therefore, there is a high risk of negative returns on this project. The project’s profitability may also be undermined by external market factors. The most crucial ones being (a) the response of Boeing to A3XX project launch, (b) growth rate of the VLA market. However, this project is strategically important for Airbus. Over the last several decades, since the introduction of Boeing 747 the share of VLA segment has expanded significantly. Additionally, analysts estimate VLA manufacturing has the highest operating margins — that is commonly used to subsidise production of smaller aircraft. However Airbus is not present in this segment at this time. Therefore, despite a very high-risk profile of the project, Airbus has good reasons to proceed with this industrial launch. It it difficult to estimate the number of firm orders Airbus needs to have before committing to the project. The financial model suggests it needs to sell 300+ aircraft before cumulative non-discounted project cash flow becomes positive. However, taking into account the fact that airlines do not place orders with delivery time exceeding 5-6 years, it is highly unlikely that Airbus secures orders for 300+ planes before project launch. A significant amount of orders (e. g. 50+) is likely to be enough to test Airbus demand forecasts. Potential Boeing response Although Boeing’s estimations of the VLA market are not so optimistic as Airbus’, it should definitely take some actions to defend its dominant position on this market. Boeing is unlikely to undertake a similar development project (i. e. develop a new plane for the VLA segment), since it would be a lose-lose strategy for both companies given limited size of this market segment. Therefore, the most obvious decision for Boeing would be to invest in the ‘stretch’ version of its 747 model. This is likely to take significant amount of orders away from Airbus while keeping the investment costs low. In case Airbus decides not to go ahead with its A3XX project, Boeing has no incentive to incur any investment costs whatsoever, since it already has established presence in the VLA segment with its 747 aircraft. -3- Airbus A3XX case study, Group E10 Financial projections (in US$ mln) 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Revenue Operating pro? t R&D expenses Depreciation EBIT Taxes EBIAT – – – – – 2,808 421 -880 -100 -559 212 -771 8,813 11,910 12,149 12,392 12,640 12,892 13,150 13,413 13,681 13,955 14,234 14,519 14,809 15,105 1,322 -660 -100 562 -214 775 1,787 -440 -100 1,247 -474 1,720 1,822 -100 1,722 -654 2,377 1,859 -100 1,759 -668 2,427 1,896 -100 1,796 -682 2,478 1,934 -75 1,859 -706 2,565 1,973 -40 1,933 -734 2,667 2,012 -5 2,007 -763 2,770 2,052 2,052 -780 2,832 2,093 2,093 -795 2,889 2,135 2,135 -811 2,946 2,178 2,178 -828 3,005 2,221 2,221 -844 3,066 2,266 2,266 -861 3,127 1,100 -2,200 -2,200 -2,200 -1,320 -25 -60 -95 -100 -1,100 -2,225 -2,260 -2,295 -1,420 418 846 859 872 540 -1,518 -3,071 -3,119 -3,167 -1,960 R&D expenses Capital expenditure Net working capital Operating pro? t Taxes Free cash ? ow Discounted FCF -1,100 -2,200 -2,200 -2,200 -1,320 418 -250 -150 846 -350 -300 859 -350 -300 872 -50 -200 540 -880 -50 421 212 -296 -158 -660 1,322 -214 448 21 6 -440 1,787 -474 873 379 1,822 -654 1,168 457 ,859 -668 1,190 419 1,896 -682 1,213 385 1,934 -706 1,227 351 1,973 -734 1,238 319 2,012 -763 1,249 290 2,052 -780 1,272 266 2,093 -795 1,298 244 2,135 -811 1,324 225 2,178 -828 1,350 206 2,221 -844 1,377 190 2,266 -861 1,405 174 -682 -1,755 -1,991 -1,978 -1,030 -614 -1,424 -1,456 -1,303 -611 Aircraft sale price Aircraft sold 216 13 220 40 225 53 229 53 234 53 238 53 243 53 248 53 253 53 258 53 263 53 269 53 274 53 279 53 285 53 -4-