Best Practices and the SDLC

It has long been accepted that constant change is fundamental to IT. While most IT managers understand that change is part of the norm, the organizations that employ them often resist it. Successful IT development calls for having a clear blueprint for proper IT direction of an organization. By using a System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) model and sound best practice methods, an IT manager can define that blueprint and make the best possible IT decisions. According to http://www. bigpedia. comthe SDLC relates to models or methodologies that people use to develop systems, generally computer systems.A number of SDLC models have been created: waterfall, fountain, spiral, build and fix, and rapid prototyping. There is not a definitive correct model, but most models will include the following steps or at least a variation. The first step is the projects planning stage, in this stage the project manager (PM) decides which SDLC model to use. The PM will also survey and gather information i n regards to the current team’s skill and experience, any concerns or issues perceived by upper management, such as cost, and a process for following up the work agreement. The next step is the analysis of the system.During the system analysis the PM breaks down the entire project in to small pieces and assigns each department their applicable tasks. This step is where the plan is finalized and the PM begins to move onto the systems design. Understanding the systems design is essential to developing the system. At this step, each department head devises a plan on how their section can help develop the system. In the third step, the architectural design, these individual plans are spliced together to form the completed plan. Also during this step the work of building the system takes place.The PM’s focus shifts from planning the project to managing the development of the project. During the next step, the testing of the system takes place. This will ensure that all the bugs and flaws are removed before the deployment of the system. During the deployment step the system is used for its intended purpose. As with all systems the final step, is the maintenance of the system, which last for as long as the system is used. During this step, routine maintenance is performed to include updates. Either during or after the development of a system, certain methods or techniques are discovered to be better than other nes. In the IT industry, these ideas are sometimes called best practices. In a book titled â€Å"Electronic Government† by Jack Rabin best practices are described as an idea that suggests that there is a technique, method, or process that is more effective at delivering a desired outcome. The idea is that with proper processes, procedures, and testing, a desired outcome can be delivered with fewer problems. Best practices can also be defined as the most proficient and effective way of accomplishing a task, based on principles used repeatedl y by numerous people.Best practices are a way for a company to create standardization within their operating procedures. A great example of a best practice was displayed by Sprint recently. In August of 2008, Sprint created a guide to the infrastructure management layer to automate and speed the production of resources from within their data centers. By creating this guide, they were able to quickly manage, back up, and produce their data sets associated with each test environment build. As a result, Sprint has improved customer satisfaction, reducing the time it takes to fill requests.Another example of a best practice was in 2004 the Air Force decided that it need it network administrators (admins) to pass quality checks before allowing them to operate on Air Force domains. Each Air Force base decided to test their network admins differently. This created a lot of confusion and large amounts of money for each Air Force base because they acted independently. Therefore, the Air Forc e decided to open a best practice suggestion program, which allowed each Air Force base to submit their procedures for quality checking their network admins.Less than six months after the process started, the best practice tag was awarded to Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Fl. They were allowed to implement their procedures Air Force wide. In the end, Eglin saved the Air Force six million dollars with its best practice procedures. As the term best practice has become more popular, some organizations have begun using best practices to refer to what are in fact rules, causing creativity to hamper. This will never be the case with Google.Google believes that giving their employees freedom to move about the company without middle management following them around has actually prompted creativity. In a interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, Google CEO Sergey Brin explained that Google provides free gourmet breakfast, lunch and dinner—all prepared by gourmet chefs. They get free medical care, daycare, and there is even a massage chair in the lobby. All of these benefits spur creativity, which has made Google one of the World Wide Web pioneers.Google does not use best practice because they are too rigid and do not allow employees to â€Å"think outside the box†. Some best practices are needed though. This was the case with Microsoft and Netscape. They used a synchronize and stabilize method created by David Yoffie and Michael Cusumano to orchestrate a massive overseeing and managing of source code. This method allowed the two corporations to work efficiently in a parallel. During their research, they found that both companies were doing very similar tasks nightly.By creating a best practice model both companies could use they reduced production time by 15 %. Best practices along with the SDLC can help lay a great foundation for IT development. There are no set rules or guidelines for IT development. However, there is a certain structure that most successful IT projects have in common. The first step to planning a good IT project is the project selection. During this process the PM must analyze if there is a need for the system. Does someone already have a system similar that the team could use or buy?After this step if the justification for the system is still necessary, then the team must move onto the next step, which is the planning of project controls. According to the paper Indentifying Best Practices in Information Technology Project Management, project controls are defined as an estimate, estimating, and budgeting. The estimate considers how many resources are needed to accomplish this project, the act of estimating is combining the results of post project reviews, metrics, consultation, and informed assessment to arrive at time and resource requirements for an activity, and budgeting is the total cost of the project.Following this evaluation, you should assemble the team. It is important to compile a team that w ill be effective to the specific project. The team must understand the project goals and expectations. The next step is accessing the stakeholder’s involvement in the project. The stakeholder can be anyone from the management of the company to an actual customer. Some stakeholders will want as much control as the PM while other, will be hands off allowing the PM to make all the decisions.These guidelines are not all inclusive but they are a start to developing a successful IT project. Designing a good IT development project takes time and an excellent PM. There are many good models to follow, like the Arkansas best practices model. These models give a small or unorganized company the structure it needs to develop a good plan. If you follows these models along with a good SDLC you will be well on your way to creating a solid project. These two models can lay the foundation you need for a successful blueprint.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Working in Teams

According to the text, a team is a â€Å"unit of two or more people who share a mission and collective responsibility as they work together to achieve a goal.† The team’s performance is a sum total of each individual’s contribution to the group. (Bovee, Thill and Mescon, Ed. 2007, p. 269).Team work has several advantages for businesses and the people who work for them. Higher quality decisions are usually the result of several people sharing their input based on their individual life and occupational experiences that may provide a broader perspective of the problem at hand.Many companies have learned that engaging employees to participate in decision making results in increased commitment to solutions and changes at various levels of the company. Other benefits include decreased competition because of collaborative efforts and interdependence, and improved flexibility based on a lack of permanence within the company, as compared to formal departments. (Bovee, Thi ll and Mescon, Ed. 2007, p. 273).Key disadvantages for forming teams include inefficiency and groupthink. If the teams consist of employees who are not motivated to complete tasks on target goal and budget, the teams will spend more time discussing the problems than actually implementing problem solving strategies. This can manifest in socializing, politics, structural disruption rooted in friction between departments, and the dreaded â€Å"groupthink.†Groupthink happens when individual team members are pressured into going along with the majority perspective to achieve consensus. Sadly, this leads to diminished individual motivation (team members believe their say is irrelevant). Further, teams can cause excessive workloads because employees are required to participate in the team action items in addition to their regular job responsibilities. (Bovee, Thill and Mescon, Ed. 2007, p. 273-4).Thus, working in teams can be a good thing, so long as the teams are able to perform th e tasks within the scope provided and participation in the teams doesn’t cause strife among the employees.

Brown Vs. Board Comes Up Again Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Brown Vs. Board Comes Up Again - Essay Example The other side argues that they are trying to integrate schools as said by Brown vs. Board. They see it as trying to keep segregation from happening, not making it happen. The case was defeated in two smaller courts, but now is in the hands of the Supreme Court. Ethically, the lines between the two sides are muddled, unclear, and hard to walk. The most taken ethical standpoint is that all segregation is wrong. The idea that segregation is ethical would not cross many minds at all. In fact, the ideas of ethics combat the very ideals of segregation the core. Segregation always makes one side left out and short changed, not a very ethical stand point at all. The Supreme Court has huge ethical obligations here. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial power in the country, and being so its rulings at looked at with great esteem and should be made with the proper wisdom and patience of any such huge decision. The Courts also have the ethical obligation to review all the facts and the stories of both sides, to make sure that this case is done fairly and receives its proper due process of law. Ethically the people on the court have a duty to the people in the case, the people on each side of the argument, and really the entire country. If an incorrect or hasty decision was to be made, the ill effects would ripple through the country, and possibly have ill effects on the future and other decisions. The image of the Court as a high ruling power may also be tarnished if the proper ethical obligations are not held. This ruling is to have far reaching effects, as it turns out many schools use such programs to help keep schools even. How ever, is it fair to say that a policy that tries to support integration is unfair to some kids If kids are not allowed in a school because of color, that is segregation. However, maybe the policy simply needs to be revised and looked at, and parts of it change. I do not think the parents are upset over the entire policy, just the fact of the affirmative action and their kids not being accepted based on color. The obligations of the court must be to the Constitution and other ethical material. This ruling could affect many school policies, and could also have the potential to stop affirmative action for students of color on the high school, or any level. This is going to be an interesting case, and the outcome will be a milestone for the future of affirmative action

Special Education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Special Education - Essay Example 164)†. As a special education student, Isabella narrates how education in this kind of setting can be hectic. The additional theme herein is the nature curriculum that the special education schools or class offer (Strax et al., 2012). In essence, they are different from the regular curriculums. Sub theme: The sub themes in this story are the challenges that are faced with this kind of education. She said, â€Å"My difficulties were focusing, sitting still, confidence, independence (Strax et al., 2012, Pg. 164)†¦.† Moreover, in the category, there are challenges faced while interacting with others (social interaction that is full of discrimination and lack of respect to disable persons). Marty’s Story Theme: Everything about disability is special Sub theme: All these special programs of the disable persons are usually challenging to the disable persons themselves. Moshe’s Story Main theme: Moshe also addresses the special school life and the nature of l earning involved. However, she picks her story from middle school (Strax et al., 2012). She also addresses the different or varied nature and attitude of special education teacher, for instance, at a point she said, â€Å"†¦ the middle school totally sucked (Strax et al., 2012, Pg. 172)†. For instance, she noted that some of these teachers usually compare them with the normal students in a derailing ways. Sub theme: Challenges faced by disable students and their families. Bentina’s Story Theme: special school and classroom life and the associated challenges Sub theme: the Story addresses different challenges and a clear cut in these challenges. For instance, it notes that the classroom challenges... This paper approves that the main theme is story is the education life of disable persons in the special education school. Isabella begins her story by saying â€Å"I will tell you some of the highlights in the special education systems. As a special education student, Isabella narrates how education in this kind of setting can be hectic. The additional theme herein is the nature curriculum that the special education schools or class offer. In essence, they are different from the regular curriculums. It will be vital to include children with disability fully in all aspects of other children. It is worth noting that the nature and degree of inclusion of these children will at a greater extend defined and determines the nature and levels of interaction and acceptance of the disable persons in the community. As a special education student, Isabella narrates how education in this kind of setting can be hectic. The additional theme herein is the nature curriculum that the special education schools or class offer. In essence, they are different from the regular curriculums. This paper makes a conclusion that including the disable children and persons will increase levels of understanding that these persons are never in their conditions due to their making, but due to natural circumstances. Moreover, some levels of sympathy that may be in other children may lead to high level of creativity and innovation with the aims of helping these persons towards reducing challenges that they often face. It worth noting that it is only through acceptance that the challenges experience by the disable will reduce or be eradicated completely.

Saguaro Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Saguaro - Essay Example They may even be familiar with a more detailed view that would include the fluted way in which this column rises from the ground, the thick, waxy texture of its skin or the sharp, fingernail-like points of its spines. What they may not realize is the extreme nature of the world in which this particular plant lives and how uniquely suited it is for just this type of world. The saguaro has many unique characteristics that make it a perfect icon for survival in the harsh landscape of the Arizona desert. Getting as large as two feet in diameter and 30 feet tall, it is perhaps surprising to a media-educated audience to discover that the saguaro only grows on desert slopes and flats in primarily Arizona and that it actually seems to prefer a rocky environment. According to DesertUSA (â€Å"Saguaro Cactus†, 1996), the cactus â€Å"is supported by a tap root that is only a pad about 3 feet long, as well as numerous stout roots no deeper than a foot, emanating radially from its base. More smaller roots run radially to a distance equal to the height of the saguaro. These roots wrap about rocks providing adequate anchorage from winds across the rocky bajadas.† These shallow roots enable the cactus to absorb scant rainwater from a larger area before it has had a chance to evaporate or sink beyond reach – â€Å"a mature plant may soak up as much as 200 gallons of water during a storm† (Epple, 1995). The fluted nature of the columns is also developed to help collec t more water as these sections expand to allow the plant to absorb water during the wet season and shrink like an accordion to reduce moisture loss and provide some cooling in dry times. The cactus also grows very slowly, living for as long as 200 years. This, coupled with the supporting structure of the plant itself provides biologists with a chance to study climate change. This also allows the plant to flower each year. The flowers are about three inches wide and have creamy white petals that surround a

Random Numbers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Random Numbers - Essay Example While practicing the use of random numbers it is highly advisable to choose few random number generators that have an acceptable reputation. Indeed, deriving an excellent random number is still a plight since computation of a series of random numbers cannot be generated by computers. True random numbers generation has turned to be one of the important factors in the increasing levels of innovation. The increase in innovation has made the developing of algorithms that generate random numbers that entail all properties of being true random numbers (Haule, 2014) Malcolm (2010) argues that all output produced by the machines including computers today are totally predictable hence making it impossible for them to generate true random numbers. In today’s world there are various methods of generating random numbers being used. Various methods have been innovated to produce true random numbers and they include use of radioactive decay or quantum system, Lehmer’s multiplicative congruently algorithm from which lots of random number generators are based, pseudo-random generators which are simple and when used together with Monte Carlo or multidimensional integration give a much satisfying result. There are several others like the numerical inversion method which is mostly used to generate Gaussian distributed random numbers. From a real experience of random number generating machine that is online, the resultant random number is quite unpredictable from the start. A continuous use of the random number generator revealed a slight clue of predictability as the results seemed to be shifting towards the larger integer out of the two keyed in. This could probably be due to the narrow integral limit of the numerical algorithm. Pseudo-random generator being one of the easiest random number generators to use and being readily available in various libraries is an excellent generator and is used by several institutions in the globe. They

Online clothing Business Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Online clothing Business Plan - Essay Example House of Stella will employ the best managers to handle the various interdependent departments. It will capitalize on the internet and e-business by creating a website that will cater to the needs of the target market. It will further highlight customer service, with highly trained online customer service specialists to handle online queries and providing fashion inputs among the target market. This is the company’s key to getting personal with the client base. Since House of Stella will utilize the online business, it will tie up with other companies having the same business interests. Partnerships with media entities such TV and Magazine Publications will prove to be the driving force for the company’s success. Efforts such as this will spark interest in the market and establish word of mouth and referral among viewers and patrons alike. House of Stella will run under sole proprietorship, with its owner and Chief Operating Officer also one of the principal designers who will create different product lines for the company. Its Headquarters and Manufacturing Hub shall be located in Los Angeles, California. The aim of the company is to provide a wide array of product choices to its target market, which are primarily working women whose age ranges from 21 to 45 years old. The product lines range from the hip-casual, vogue corporate to chic glam. There will be items for all occasions, from everyday wear to formal gowns and apparel. The company will employ the services of the new and upcoming fashion designers fresh from school and just starting out their career. It will tie up with top universities to employ top student designers to undergo on-the-job trainee and apprenticeship with House of Stella, for them to collaborate on designs fit for the target market. 70% of the designers will come from this roster, while the rest will be its in house fashion designers who have already established brands and have their

Discussion Board 8-2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Discussion Board 8-2 - Essay Example The eating disorders examined were based on a continuum of self-esteem and perfectionism. According to the study, a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) design was used (Peck & Lightsey, 2008). With this type of design, the researcher investigates multiple dependent variables at the same time. Based on the study, there are three dependent variables studied which include eating disordered (EDO) women, the symptomatic, and the asymptomatic. An interesting finding in the study was the relationship between eating disorders and perfectionism. Under ordinary circumstances, eating disorders are associated with self-esteem. Many studies show that individuals with eating disorders usually have low self-esteem because they feel that their bodies are different from those of others. This aspect explains why most eating disordered individuals have abnormal eating habits such eating too much and inducing puking. However, the aspect of perfectionism has not largely been explored as it relates to eating disorders. From the study, it was found that women with eating disorders exhibit perfectionist attitudes so as to achieve the â€Å"perfect body† shape (Peck & Lightsey, 2008). This interesting finding show that individuals with eating disorders fear making mistakes, are doubtful about their actions, become concerned about criticism, and like to put things in order (Peck & Lightsey, 2008). Indeed, this is a critical aspect tha t healthcare professionals should use when treating patients with eating

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is both a Essay

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is both a grants statute and a civil rights statute - Essay Example (1)) Not only does the 2004 Act consider the students themselves, but takes an holistic view of the developmental environment, taking into account the role of parents, pre-school services, adaptations in the classroom and supporting high-quality, intensive pre-service preparation and professional development for all personnel who work with special students and an emphasis on the use of scientifically-based instructional practices. Like its previous enactment, IDEIA 2004 makes federal funding available for the provision of free appropriate education of disabled students. It also contains detailed due process provision to reinforce free appropriate education for disabled students. However, at the same time that the Government prepared to make more money available the Wall Street Journal3 reported that The Department of Education reports that states are currently sitting on nearly $6 billion in unspent federal education funds acquired between 2000 and 2002. Some $2 billion of this is Title I money that's designated for the most disadvantaged students. Congress enacted the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)-formerly the EAHCA-in 1975 partly in response to Mills v. Board of Education, 348 F. Supp. 866 (D.D.C. 1972), and Pennsylvania Ass'n of Retarded Children v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, 343 F. Supp. 279 (E.D. Pa. 1972). Pennsylvania and Washington allowed schools to refuse admission to students with IQ scores below 70 until said students reached 8 years old. Once admitted to school, many of these children were expelled because they could not learn how to read4. IDEA 1975 limited coverage - and funding - to students who were educationally5 disabled. Importantly, as part of the funding deal, the provider had to ensure that the child's carers had access to a due process procedure in the event they wished to challenge the child's free appropriate public education assessment. Each student was to be given an individualized education plan (IEP) and educated in the 'least restrictive environment'. Public schools were required to provide learning aids, suitable tests and assessments. There was considerable disgruntlement in some quarters, since for the first time parents of educationally disabled students were empowered to the apparent detriment of parents of able students Despite the success of the 1975 Act in providing free places in mainstream education for students with educational disabilities, there was increasing concern that low expectations and insufficient focus on applying proven methods of teaching for students with special educational needs were limiting the attainment of these students. Buried deep within the 2004 Act is the real reason - and some alarming statistics - explaining why the Government has finally moved on this matter. Sec 682, 12: (A) Greater efforts are needed to prevent the intensification of problems connected with mislabeling and high dropout rates among minority children with disabilities. (B) More minority children continue to be served in special education than would be expected from the percentage of minority students in the general school population. (C) African-American children are identified as

Persuasive Essay on Global Warming Essay Example for Free

Persuasive Essay on Global Warming Essay Recent news all around us gives rise to much concern about global warming. Personally, I am alarmed at the rate that the earth is now deteriorating. For example, there is the fact that the second warmest global surface temperature in more than a century was recorded in 2001. News such as these should not only affect me, but the entire world. Starting from individuals like me, every little effort towards avoiding global warming would count and make a difference. On this note, it is nice to learn that there are many groups and institutions that actually endeavor to develop new technologies that could help prevent global warming. The whole world should join in this effort to save the environment. There are many issues that are bothering the human population nowadays, such as terrorism, war, economy, and others. However, there is no other issue that so pervades human consciousness recently than the issue on global warming. Many celebrities and international organizations are exerting efforts to build awareness around the world that there is a real danger to our planet, and that the time is ripe for all to take action. Everyone should be concerned about global warming, especially considering the various deleterious effects it poses on life in the planet. The gravity of the situation calls upon nations, as big movers and possessors of power in large scale, to put more effort into developing new technologies to prevent further global warming. On the small scale, recent news on global warming should be enough to wake everyone from slumber and do their part in saving our environment, which is becoming more dangerous because of continued global warming. The gravity of the current situation is shown by the fact that the second warmest global surface temperature in more than a century was recorded in 2001. Previous decades, particularly the period between 1951 and 1980, registered cooler climates. This trend of warmer climates is seen as a consequence of anthropogenic causes such as the emission of greenhouse gases (Hansen, Ruedy, Sato, and Lo 275). Such trend is alarming and should wake people up from their inaction, because the recent calculations of temperature increase foretell the possibility of even greater temperature in the coming years (King 780). Moreover, as the facts recorded at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hilo, Hawaii tell, carbon dioxide levels consistently rise at a rate of about 2 p.p.m. per annum (King 780). These data show a marked increase in the rate of carbon dioxide levels, that are way above recorded levels in previous warm periods (King 780). These facts also show how warm global temperature has gotten since the last century, which further confirm the realization of the greenhouse effect theory (King 780). It is appropriate to note that the theory of climate change can be traced as far back as 1827, when a French mathematician named Fourier thought about the possibility that the earth may be absorbing the heat that should be sent back to space (King 779). At the time, Fourier built upon the observation of British scientist Tyndall that minority gases in our atmosphere, namely, carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor, cause the greenhouse effect (King 779). This theory is fast demonstrating its reality, as shown by the above observations. Globally, there are observed environmental changes that have become worse in time. Among these are deforestation, greenhouse gas-induced warming, loss in biodiversity, and desertification (Grimmond 83). These environmental changes are caused largely by the rapid increase in human population (Grimmond 83). The effects of all these environmental changes are being felt both in large and small scale. The effects of these changes in small scale climate change can be seen at the urban level, wherein broader environmental changes are being felt in greater magnitude (Grimmond 83). Urban climates have changed. Among the effects of urbanization on climate are the alteration of energy and water exchanges and airflow due to surface and atmospheric changes and urban warming due to direct anthropogenic emissions of heat, pollutants and carbon dioxide (Grimmond 83). While there are some cities that can be considered lucky, because their large spaces of irrigated greenspace provide cooler temperature, a majority of the cities experience up to a 10-degree-Celsius difference in temperature (Grimmond 83). The materials chosen and used in the construction of buildings and other infrastructure in urban locations and other factors such as the distances between such structures all contribute to urban warming (Grimmond 86). The morphology of cities, particularly in terms of the width, height and density of the buildings therein, affect solar access in daytime and the cooling rates at night (Grimmond 83). Unfortunately, urban warming has grave implications to inhabitants, such as those relating to their well-being, health and comfort (Grimmond 86). Compared to rural environments, urban locations are warmer by an average of 1 to 3 degrees Celsius (Grimmond 83). One of the scariest implications of urban warming is felt mostly by the poor (Grimmond 87). For example, heat waves swept all over India in 1998 and caused injuries and deaths (Grimmond 87). The same catastrophe occurred in France and Spain in 2003 (Grimmond 87). With regard to the effect of urban warming on human comfort, there is involved a vicious cycle. The intense heat makes people uncomfortable. Thus, they would want to use airconditioning systems (Grimmond 87). The increase use of airconditioning, on the other hand, generates more heat and demands more energy through increased generation of electricity, which again would cause increased urban warming (Grimmond 87). Indeed, this is not an unjustified fear. The increased use of airconditioning had already been observed in large continents such as Asia, Europe and North America (Grimmond 87). Such increased demand has been observed to cause amplified electricity generation (Grimmond 87). This, in turn, results in the production of more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which again leads to intensified global warming (Grimmond 87). With the continued abuse by people of the environment and the continued generation of heat, risks greater than the heat waves experienced in many countries are very likely to arise (Grimmond 87). It may be considered that the contribution of urban development and urban warming to the global scenario is small; however, the dangers tat urban warming poses should not be ignored (Grimmond 87). Gases from urban areas, such as pollution and greenhouse gas emissions are the leading anthropogenic sources of global warming (Grimmond 87). Moreover, as discussed above, the experience of warmer climate in the cities lead to increased consumption of energy, which again causes global warming (Grimmond 87). The combinations of many factors, including those occurring in urban zones, would surely give rise to global consequences and implications (Grimmond 87). It is important, in any effort to convince people into action, to make them understand the implications at stake (Grimmond 87). The strategies towards solving the problem of global warming cover a wide range, and any move should involve the participation of all stakeholders (Grimmond 87). For example, in the community level, each person can do his small but significant part in mitigating global warming, by avoiding or minimizing the use of airconditioning in order to reduce consumption of energy. Reduced demand for airconditioning would lead to decreased demand in energy supply, which would lead to less production of greenhouse gases (Grimmond 87). Thus, a simple act of minimizing the comforts of the modern world could do wonders in preventing further global warming. The threat of continued and sustained global should be enough to raise concerns among all people, because of the extreme events that we should be prepared for as a consequence of global warming (King 780). For one, global warming causes more water vapor to remain in the atmosphere, which is exactly what the greenhouse effect means (King 780). Increased water vapor is a result of increases in the level of carbon dioxide in the air, and comes alongside the increase of temperature in the seas and the earth (King 780). Deforestation is another negative effect of global warming (King 780; Saxe, et al.). The increased temperature leads to decreased rainfall, which leads to dryer conditions and more forest fires (King 780; Saxe, et al.). Increased global heat contributes to easier catching up of large fires in the forest. In turn, deforestation again increases global warming, like a vicious cycle. Deforestation deprives the planet of vital carbon sinks, which are required to balance the global carbon budget (Saxe, et al. 389). Fortunately, this can be reversed through the planting of more trees and building more density in the forests, in order to counter the production and existence of carbon in the atmosphere (Saxe, et al. 389-390). Global warming can also cause the loss of the Greenland ice sheet (King 780). This would cause serious problems because it could raise the sea level around the globe by approximately 7 meters over a period of about a thousand years (King 780). It could also cause enhanced retreat of glaciers in some places (King 780). Further effects of global warming can also be observed in the oceans, through increased acidity (King 780). The increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere cause a corresponding increase of the same in oceans, thereby increasing their acidity (King 780). Thus, there are already observed effects on coral reefs and plankton population, while wider impact on marine life and on the food chain is yet to be observed (King 780). To date, a documented total of 17 coral reef ecosystems have been found to be degraded around the world. This is a huge blow to the planet, since it is estimated that â€Å"coral reefs provide support to ecosystems worth more than $375 billion per annum to the global economy (King 780).† These terrible consequences should be enough to make everyone concerned about global warming and its deleterious effects on all aspects of life in the planet (King 780). People should be concerned about destroying life and support systems in different ecosystems, which would eventually affect human lives. Having seen the scary possibilities that come alongside global warming, everyone should join the movement towards making this planet greener and healthier. People should be moved by stories of forest fires, destruction of ecosystems, and deaths due to heat waves, that are occurring all over the world (King 780; Saxe, et al. 389). The planet is becoming less safe with each passing day that people live in ignorance of the damage they are causing the environment. Continuous apathy and inaction could lead to more catastrophic deaths and further destruction of the planet, which possibilities should raise alarm and concern in all mankind. Each person can definitely do his share in minimizing the anthropogenic causes of global warming. We have seen how a simple act of minimizing the consumption of airconditioning could have positive effects on the environment. It is time that each of us does our share to save our home. This is the only way that future generations could still enjoy earth as we know it. Works Cited Grimmond, Sue. â€Å"Urbanization and global environmental change: local effects of urban warming.† Cities and Global Environmental Change: 83-88. Hansen, J., Ruedy, R., Sato, M., and K. Lo. â€Å"Global Warming Continues.† Science, New Series 295 (2002):275. Kellomaki, Seppo, Rouvinen, Ismo, Peltola, Heli, Strandman, Harri and Rainer Steinbrecher. Impact of global warming on the tree species composition of boreal forests in Finland and effects on emissions of isoprenoids. Global Change Biology 7 (2001): 531-544. King, David. Climate change: the science and the policy. Journal of Applied Ecology 42 (2005): 779-783. Saxe, Henrik, Cannell, Melvin G. R., Johnsen, Oystein, Ryan, Michael G., Vourlitis, George. Tree and forest functioning in response to global warming. New Phytologist 149 (2001): 369-400.

Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM)

Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM) Robert Konstandelos Operation A sample is made to oscillate using a vibrational unit extended on a rod. The sample is placed between two electromagnetic pieces which are used as the applied field for this this experiment. With the sample oscillating induces a voltage between the search coils which creates a signal to determine the magnetic properties of the sample. Reference coils are used to create a reference signal such that noise generated from the signal can be filtered using a lock-in amplifier [1]. Because the signal and the reference signal are directly related through its voltage and amplitude means that precise measurements can be recorded using a voltmeter. Calibration methods are important to determine the relation between the voltages induced by the magnetic field and the sample and their magnetic properties. Calibrating the applied field is done by increasing the voltage in steps measuring the field until reaching a maximum. The system is calibrated using a nickel standard normally as a number of vo lts per unit of magnetic moment. Many materials such as types of barium ferrite or alnico materials can be placed inside to determine properties. These properties include remanence, coercivity, intrinsic coercivity and operating points once the system has been calibrated. Advantages and Disadvantages in terms of experimental facets The key advantage is the precision and accuracy of VSMs. Taking measurements at a range of angles once detection arrangements for the coils have been devised can be done. The advantage of sample vibration perpendicularly to the applied field can be found once the detection coils have been arranged appropriately. This means that there is the ability to test the sample at different angles. The positioning of the coils are done in a way to reduce the effects of sample position variation and external field variation- essentially deep into the applied field shown in figure 1. Disadvantages are that they are not well suited for determining the magnetisation loop or the hysteresis curve due to the demagnetising effects of the sample. Another problem is that, particularly for the VSM used in the third year laboratory is that temperature dependence cannot be controlled. Figure 1. A schematic layout of the VSM 2. B-H Hysteresis Loop Tracer Operation The B-H hysteresis loop tracer is essentially two coils, one with a sample and the other which is empty for comparison. The insertion of a sample into the pickup coils causes a voltage proportional to the rate of change of the vector field to occur across the difference amplifier. After passing through an integrator, a voltage proportional to the intrinsic induction is passed to the Y-amp of the oscilloscope. This voltage combined with an X-voltage representing the magnetising field generated from the solenoid without the sample results in the generation of a hysteresis loop on the oscilloscope. Calibration is through a balance and phase adjustment to establish a trace on the oscilloscope. They are done to make sure that the magnetising field is linear and that every vector corresponds to the applied field. Measurements for the magnetic properties can then be made. Advantages and disadvantages in terms of experimental facets The coils have the ability to heat the sample such that temperature variance can be observed in the way that the material behaves when influenced by a magnetic field. On the other hand, this could cause overheating of the system which could result in a failure. Using a BH-looper can give the user a more improved visualisation compared to a VSM of the way a material behaves. The values plotted on the scope are only proportional to the absolute values, therefore display yields qualitative not quantitative information about a material magnetic properties. The precision is generally low compared to a VSM. Because a hysteresis loop is viewed using an oscilloscope means that observations of whether the material is a soft or hard magnetic material. And this is why it is used in quality control testing industries like the control of ferromagnetic oxides in a magnetic tape factory. Figure 2. A schematic layout of a BH loop tracer [2]. 3(I) Difference between concepts of Vector Field B, Magnetisation M and the magnetising field H The vector field B represents the magnetic induction. Magnetisation M is the magnetic moment per unit volume of a solid. Magnetising H field is the magnetic field strength. These three quantities are related by the equation. With ÃŽ ¼0 being the permittivity of free space. To show the difference between these quantities, hysteresis loops for a magnetic material shown in figure 4 are used. One of the key differences shown is that the magnetisation saturates whereas the B field increases at a constant rate for certain values for H. The magnetisation is generated by the spin and the orbital angular momentum of electrons in the solid. H is generated outside the material by electrical currents[3]. Therefore, from the equation above, the B field is the combination of H and M which shows the difference between the quantities with the inclusion of the permittivity of free space. A way to show the difference between the 3 parameters is through the representation of a bar magnet in a magnetic field shown in figure 3. Unfortunately, due to the age of the diagram, the labels are a bit old. Hence the ‘True’ field denotes the vector field B and the Applied field represents the magnetisation M. However, the arrows represent the direction and strength of each parameter. It is clear from figure 3 that the Magnetisation is much stronger than the demagnetising field. Figure 3 An example of a magnet being demagnetised in an applied field From figure 4, the two sketches representing of B and M against H can give an understanding of other magnetic properties of the material. The curve on the left can show the saturation of the magnetic material as well as the remanence Mr the remaining magnetisation after the applied field has been turned off. The right hand diagram can show the remanent induction Br and the saturation point of the applied field. In terms of the difference between the parameters, M, B and H, they yield different properties of the material in question. Figure 4 Hysteresis loops showing (a) M and (b) B field against H 3(II) The difference between the susceptibility and relative permeability The relative permeability ÃŽ ¼r and susceptibility χ are very closely related as shown by the equation below: The relative permeability represents a characterisation of magnetic materials. Paramagnetic or diamagnetic materials have permeabilities close to the permeability of free space. However for ferromagnetic materials, the permeability is large in comparison. It represents a multiplication factor. For example, the use of an iron core with a relative permeability is 200 times greater than just an air coil used. So this is a measure of the actual magnetic field within a ferromagnetic material. Susceptibility is a measure to an extent to which a material may be magnetised in a magnetic field. It represents a ratio of how much a material is magnetised compared to the applied field on that material [4]. So the susceptibility specifies how much the relative permeability differs from one as shown in the equation above. References [1] Foner S 1959 Versatile and Sensitive Vibrating-Sample Magnetometer* Rev. Sci. Instrum. 30 548–57 [2] Howling D H 1956 Simple 60-cps Hysteresis Loop Tracer for Magnetic Materials of High or Low Permeability Rev. Sci. Instrum. 27 952 [3] Jiles D 1990 Introduction to Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (Chapman and Hall) [4] Magnetic Susceptibilty http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/357313/magnetic-susceptibility

An Investigation of Wachovia :: essays research papers fc

An Investigation of Wachovia Table of Contents 1.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Background 1.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company History†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1 1.2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Driving Force†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..........  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1 1.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Location†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..........  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1 1.4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Quick Summary of: 1.4.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Employees†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  1 1.4.2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Revenues Growth†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2 1.4.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Income Growth†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2 1.5  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Website†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.2 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Products/Services 2.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Major Categories of Products/Services†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  2 2.2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Target Marker†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  3 2.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Important Characteristics of Wachovia†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4 2.4 Differentiation from Competitors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  4 2.5 Market Share†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5 2.6 New & Upcoming Features†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  5 3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Market Analysis 3.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Industry Characteristics†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦6 3.2 Current State of Technology†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  6 3.3 Competitive Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  7  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   3.4 Social/Legal/Ethical Issues†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  9 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Financial Information 4.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ownership Structure†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  12 4.2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Income Statement & Balance Sheet Analysis†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  12 4.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Trend for: 4.3.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Share Price†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦13 4.3.2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Investment Performance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  14 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Recommendations 5.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Current Technology & Improvements 5.1.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Strategic Management†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  14 5.1.2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Products & Service Offerings†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  15 5.1.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Customer Relations†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  16 5.1.4  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Human Resources†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  17 5.1.5  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marketing & Sales†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  18 5.1.6  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Accounting and Finance†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  19 5.1.7  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Distribution of Money†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  19 5.1.8  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Alliances & Partnerships†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  20 1.1  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Company History Wachovia was formed in 2001 by the merger of Wachovia Corporation and First Union Corporation. Wachovia National Bank was formed in Winston, North Carolina in 1879. The name Wachovia came from the Latin name for the German word Wachau. In the mid eighteenth century Moravian settlers gave the name Wachau to a tract of land in North Carolina because it resembled a piece of land along the Danube River called Der Wachau. First Union Corporation was formed in the early Twentieth century funded by a $100,000 stock issue. The company’s first headquarters were in a hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company later merged with First National Bank of Ashville to form First Union National Bank of North Carolina. 1.2  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Driving Force The current Chief Executive Officer of Wachovia is Ken Thompson. Thompson has been with the company since 1976 and previously held the CEO position at First Union Corporation. Wachovia is the fourth largest holding company in the U.S. and is the third largest full-service brokerage based on assets. 1.3  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Location Wachovia headquarters is located in Charlotte, North Carolina, but the company has operations internationally. The company operates 3,900 financial centers and retail brokerage offices in forty-nine states and around the globe. 1.4.1 Employees Wachovia has 95,000 employees world wide. Of those ninety-five thousand, there are ten thousand-five hundred registered financial service representatives. 1.4.2 Revenues Growth In 2003 Wachovia had revenues of 24.4 billion dollars compare to 23.51 billion dollars in 2002. The increase in 2003 was the third consecutive year that Wachovia has seen year-end revenue growth. Currently, Wachovia has experienced fifteen percent revenue growth in the first two quarters of 2004 and an eleven percent decrease in revenues in the third quarter.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1.4.3 Income Growth Wachovia has seen income growth for nine consecutive quarters dating back to the second quarter of 2002 when compared to prior year income. Net Income in 2003 was 4.2 billion dollars compared with 3.6 and 1.6 billion dollars in 2002 and 2001. 1.5 Website The Wachovia corporate website is www.wachovia.com 2.1 Major Categories of Products/Services Wachovia Corporation is one of the nation’s largest providers of financial services to retail, brokerage, and corporate customers.

Macbeth - Images and Imagery :: Macbeth essays

MacbethL Imagery One of the most important tools in literature is imagery. It is not just in there to fill up paper; rather, there is at least one dramatic purpose for each image and there are many different types of imagery. This essay seeks to prove that in the play Macbeth the author William Shakespeare uses darkness imagery for three dramatic purposes. Those three purposes are, to create atmosphere, to arouse the emotions of the audience and to contribute to the major theme of the play. The darkness imagery in Macbeth contributes to its ominous atmosphere. In the very beginning of the play the three witches are talking and the first witch says "When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?" (Macbeth 1. 1. line 1). This is a good example of darkness imagery because when you think of the crashing thunder, lightning and rain, they all remind you of evil and ominous things. Later on the Sergeant is talking with Duncan and Malcolm when he states "Ship wrecking storms and direful thunders break" (1. 2. l26). Again this darkness imagery contributes to the ominous atmosphere of the play, having reference to thunder and dark storms. Finally, Lady Macbeth and Macbeth are talking in the scene just before the murder of Banquo and Macbeth says "Light thickens, and the crow makes wing to the rooky wood: Good things of day begin to droop and drowse, whiles night's black agents to their preys do rouse" (3. 2. l50-53). This example of darkness imagery is saying that the day is turning into night, all the good things are going to sleep, and the evil creatures are coming out . The evil in this previous quotation and the two before adds to the ominous atmosphere. Since the imagery creates an ominous atmosphere it would then lead to the second dramatic purpose, to arouse the emotions of the audience. Darkness imagery is a very good tool for arousing the emotions of the audience. It enables people to create a mental picture of the what they are reading. For instance, in this instance of darkness imagery Duncan and Macbeth were talking when Macbeth says aside "Stars, hide your fires! Let not light see my black and deep desires" (1. 4. l50-51). When words like dark and desire are put in that context it creates many horrible mental pictures about murders and fights which arouses peoples emotions. Ross is later talking with an old man when he states "By the clock `tis day, and yet dark night strangles the traveling lamp" (2.

Julias Caesar :: essays research papers

cripay dividends for the remainder of his career, Cromwell demanded that both officers and men meet the highest standards of moral character and honesty. He expected instant responsiveness to commands and forbade looting, swearing, or an Despite his age, Cromwell, at forty-three, raised a cavalry troop, his first military command. Following criteria that would pay dividends for the remainder of his career, Cromwell demanded that both officers and men meD or was born in the year 100 BC into a patrian family who claimed decendancy from the kings of Alba Langa and through them, Aeneas of Troy whose mother was the goddess Venus. Caesar's name Julius comes from Iulius, the family name. This comes from Iulus, the name of Venus' son. At the time of his birth, Rome was still a republic and the empire was only really beginning. The senators ruled, motivated by the greed of power in the hope of becoming either a consul or a praetor, the two senior posts which carried imperium, the legal right to command an army. From these posts it was possible to, with the help of the army at your command, conquer new territories and so gain a triumph and the pleasure of knowing that your name would be remembered forever in statues and inscribed monuments, paid for by the spoils of the war. et the The most used method of transport the romans used was the horse and the chariot. Simply because they did not have much other ways to travel. When people traveled they also could have walked but it is tiring and that would of affected the way they would of fought performance wise. When they wanted to travel they used a sailing ship or a row boat. This was also used by the Roman Army because it was powerful and affective. ghest standards of moral character and honesty. He expected instant responsiveness to comma From early times right down to the 3rd century A.D, the Roman army was based on its legions. A legion varied in strength from 4,000 to 6,000 men, and was subdivided onto ten cohorts. Its leader used the title of legatus. His staff officers were called tribuni. Senior non-commissioned officers were called centurions, who varied greatly in rank. The soldiers of the legion were specifically picked men. They were all Roman citizens and received a higher pay than the auxillary troop s - that is, foreigners who serve with the Roman army.

Criminal Justice Communications Essay

Communication is part of everyday life. Though we all have the ability to communicate, it is communicating effectively that matters most. Whether you are giving a speech, teaching a class or having a conversation with a co-worker, communicating effectively can make the difference between being understood and being dismissed. Therefore, it is important to understand the principles of effective communication and how you can apply them in your everyday conversations. Show Respect When speaking to another person or a large crowd, show respect to your audience. Use wording and verbiage that correspond to the same educational level as your audience. For instance, you wouldn’t use complex financial terms with a group of fifth graders to explain how a bank works as you would with a group of college students. Never Interrupt Whether communicating one-on-one or with a group is it impolite to interrupt anyone while they are speaking to you. This includes cutting someone off when she is asking a question you already know the answer to. Allow the individual to finish making her point before responding. Otherwise, the communication becomes one-sided and ineffective. Show Kindness Start your communication by making yourself friendly and approachable. This can include smiling and beginning communication with honest praise. When the situation warrants a serious conversation, such as reprimanding a student or employee, be professional about it and keep the tone non-confrontational and informative. Do not let emotions or outside thoughts affect how you communicate with the individual and keep the conversation geared toward the issue. Show Interest Communication does not just revolve around what you say but how you act while another is speaking to you. Show that you are interested in what the person is saying by giving him your full attention. Maintain eye contact with the person you are talking to and do not allow yourself to be distracted by people walking by or other activities in the room. Nod your head to let the speaker know you understand what he is saying. Choose Your Time Select the right time for your communication. Typically, cornering someone at the end of the day when she wants to go home or during a stressful part of the day will make the communication less effective or put pressure on both parties to curtail the discussion. Do not try to communicate to people who are preoccupied with other tasks or try to listen to someone while you are so occupied. Have an Objective There is an objective with every form of communication, even the simplest one. If your objective is to teach a coworker how to use a new spreadsheet, and then make sure you are prepared to teach him how to use it with notes or by showing him physically. Use clear and concise wording and ask for feedback. Do not allow yourself to get off task from your objective or  distracted. Once you’ve delivered your message or instructions, either have your co-worker review what you’ve told him or have him demonstrate the task hands-on to show his understanding.

Eating Right Essay

Kelsey Schmidt English Noon Forum Report The second noon forum I attended was called â€Å"My Plate† and was about making healthy choices in meals or food we choose in college. A dietician, Rachel Pinos, from Hyvee was there to give us the presentation. She talked about how extremely important it is to eat healthy in college. She discussed how kids are away from home for the first time and don’t have mom’s home cooked meals, so they won’t choose the right servings of each food, simply because they don’t know how. Others will get stressed easily in college over studies or relationship issues and will eat unhealthy foods to make themselves feel better. Rachel showed us a normal plate with an example of the servings of each type of food we should have. She said we needed a type of grain, fruit, vegetable, and source of protein. She discussed balancing calories in foods, what foods to increase, and what foods to decrease. She sent us back with her business card, a sheet over the 10 tips for healthy meals, and a packet with all of the slides she covered in her presentation. I also liked this noon forum, because eating right is another factor that college students seem to ignore. There are many circumstances in which college students make the wrong choice in eating unhealthy foods. Whether they are too busy or running behind and don’t take the time to eat, overload on sugars and desserts to overcome stresses, or don’t get the right amount of fruits and vegetable, there are many times when kids our age don’t eat healthy meals. I think this is a subject that I could personally work on myself. I need to force myself to have a type of vegetable, fruit, grain, and protein at every meal without overloading on one or another. This noon forum was very informative and will be extremely helpful to me while in college and in the future when planning meals for myself or a possible family.

Food Prices and Supply

Food Prices and Supply Kirk Condyles for The New York Times Updated: July 26, 2012 In the summer of 2012, scorching heat and the worst drought in nearly a half-century sent food prices up, spooking consumers and leading to worries about global food costs. On July 25, the United States government said it expected the record-breaking weather to drive up the price for groceries in 2013, including milk, beef, chicken and pork. The drought has affected 88 percent of the corn crop, a staple of processed foods and animal feed as well as the nation’s leading farm export.The government’s forecast, based on a consumer price index for food, estimated that prices would rise 4 to 5 percent for beef in 2013, with slightly lower increases for pork, eggs and dairy products. The drought comes along with heat. So far, 2012 is the hottest year ever recorded in the United States, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, whose records date to 1895. That has sapped t he production of corn, soybeans and other crops, afflicting poultry and livestock in turn.The impact of the hot and dry weather on the nation’s farmers has put new pressure on Congress to move ahead on a pending five-year farm bill. But House Republican leaders have been reluctant to act because of divisions within the party’s rank-and-file about the cost of the nearly $1 trillion bill. The legislation includes several federal agriculture programs that farmers have come to expect, though it does not include any specific drought assistance. Several important disaster relief programs expired at the end of 2011, leaving farmers and ranchers who have lost cattle or grazing land with few options without Congressional action.For now, analysts said they expected the broader economic impact of rising food prices to be modest. Americans spend just 13 percent of their household budgets on food. Economists fear a far greater impact outside of the United States because America is a major exporter of a broad variety of agricultural products. Experts Warn of a Global Spike in Food Prices In early September, agricultural experts  urged international action to prevent the global spike in food prices from causing global hunger.The directors of three major United Nations food and agriculture programs sounded the alarm both on the immediate problem of high food prices and the â€Å"long-term issue of how we produce, trade and consume food in an age of increasing population, demand and climate change. † Agricultural production fell in a number of major crop exporters during summer 2012. Besides damaging the corn crop in the United States, droughts also hit Russia and Ukraine, hurting the wheat harvest, as well as Brazil, affecting soybean production.Low yields have translated into high prices. In late August, the World Bank reported that food prices climbed 10 percent from June to July, with the price of both corn and wheat jumping 25 percent to records. So ybean prices climbed 17 percent over the same period, and rice prices declined moderately, the Washington-based institution said. The World Bank and the United Nations food agencies — along with other development and aid groups — have urged countries to prepare for what seems likely to become the third food price shock in five years.Low-income countries that rely on agricultural imports should invest in safety-net programs for the poor, they recommended. They also urged countries to bolster local production. Groups including the World Bank and the United Nations have also warned against trade protectionist policies in light of climbing food prices. International groups increasingly see inconsistent yields and drastic swings in food prices as a problem driven by climate change — and a global challenge that is not intermittent, but here to stay.Since the food crisis in 2007 and 2008, they have bolstered international cooperation to help foster more stable food sup plies and keep the most vulnerable countries prepared. Oxfam, the international nonprofit, issued a report in early September estimating how extreme weather events might affect food prices in the coming decades — forecasting that the prices of a number of food staples could surge far beyond the projected increases. The United Nations agencies warned that too few countries were producing too large a proportion of staple crops — leaving the world more vulnerable to droughts and floods.

Boeing corporation crisis Essay

Attached is a report of the biggest crisis that the Boeing Corporation has ever faced in its existence. First it will describe the events leading up to the problem before it became a public issue. Then we will discuss in extensive detail exactly what the problem is that Boeing is facing and how they can overcome it. The team of xxx completed the research and the written report of the crisis. Boeing is an international supplier of commercial airline planes, military defense aircraft, and surveillance. Partially due to the September 11th attacks on the United States, the Boeing Corporation will be laying off 30,000 employees from their nationwide facilities. The layoffs will affect cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, Houston, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and will affect employees from entry level to executive offices. The announcements of these issues have caused Boeing’s stock to fall to a surprising low and production levels to drop dramatically. XXX would like to thank XXX for giving us the opportunity to complete this research assignment. The research helped us learn how to more efficiently utilize the different databases available to us and put it into a format so it can be presented to a public organization or the media. The skills learned in the duration of completing this report will be able to be utilized when presenting to upper management a detailed issue and solutions to a specific problem. Boeing Corporation Crisis Cal State Fullerton Jean Fuller May 28, 2002 Executive Summary Today the Boeing Corporation is facing one of the largest crises in the history of the company. They are in the process of laying off a total of 30,000 employees from their facilities nationwide. The layoffs will take place in cities such as Los Angeles, Seattle, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. Most of the layoffs affect the commercial airline division, but the military defense and aerospace divisions will also be affected. The plan for the reduction in employee size began in July 2001, but the attacks on the United States on September 11th left the company having to lay off more employees. At the present time, Boeing is mainly focusing on reducing the amount of mandatory layoffs. This is going to be hard to accomplish because of the reduced demand for the company’s goods and services. In the future, Boeing’s focus will be on returning to a high level of production and profitability. They will be focusing on competing with the competition by increasing product innovation and reducing expenses that the company incurs during production in an effort to keep prices low. Due to economic slowdown and reduced spending by consumers, the Boeing Corporation was beginning to experience loss in revenues and a decline in production. Not more than three months later, the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York impacted the demand for commercial aircraft because of fear to travel by airplane. Also, heavy competition with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, Boeing is not being awarded as many contracts with the United States military, which is causing a decline in revenues for the aerospace and military defense divisions. There are not many ways to overcome the entire problem, but there are some alternatives that the company can consider in order to reduce them. The alternatives are to distribute hours equally among the employees, reallocate employees into different divisions, offer severance pay, and to continue to layoff employees. Boeing has to be careful in the way that this particular situation is handled. If employees feel as though they are being treated unfair, they will not have job satisfaction and production may decrease. The best possible solution for the Boeing’s problem is to equally distribute the hours among the employees. By doing this employees will maintain their jobs. This will result in higher job satisfaction than other alternatives, and Boeing will not have to go through an extensive process to rehire when they return back to a stage of profitability. Boeing Problem Statement As Boeing faces one of the greatest financial crises in the history of the airline industry, Boeing plans to cut production workers, engineers and support staff by mid-2002 (Nyhan, September 2001). Because of a declining economy as well as terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11th, Boeing is laying off a total of 30,000 employees in all divisions of the corporation: aerospace, commercial aviation, and military defense. The layoffs will happen in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Seattle, Oklahoma, and the Puget Sound area, and will affect everyone from salaried executives to the hourly paid maintenance employees. Layoffs are a sign of company turmoil and should be avoided to maintain the company stockholders. Short and Long-Term Goals Boeing’s primary short-term objective is to maintain a reasonable level of profitability given the recent occurrences. It will attempt to accomplish this by reducing the amount of dollars that are paid to the current employees by either reducing their hours, or completely terminating their employment with the company. Because of current supply and demand of the company, profits will be reduced if the current level of employees is maintained. Boeing’s long-term objective is to be the number one supplier of commercial, aerospace, and military aircraft and technology. They aim to accomplish this by maintaining a level of profitability that satisfies the stockholders and corporate executives. They also want to maintain a high level of competition with the current competition: Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. If Boeing loses government aerospace and military defense contracts to the competition, there is a high probability that the company will become insolvent and declare bankruptcy. Details of the Problem Prior to September 11th, Boeing was going through trying times. Their satellite manufacturing operations were in a recession. This was due to the bursting of the internet and telecom bubbles (Laing, 2002). The Commercial Airline Industry was also facing a slowdown. This was a result of high fuel prices, labor cost increases, a softening of the national economy and low passenger traffic (Smith, 2001). Also, improvements in production efficiency for Boeing led to a plan to decrease up to 15% of its employees in the commercial-aircraft business. This efficiency in production was due to the industry’s first ever-moving assembly line for the final phase of the production process, which cuts unneeded steps (Holmes, 2001). Likewise, by the end of 2001, Boeing lost out on the largest military contract ever when the Pentagon picked rival Lockheed Martin to build the Joint Strike Fighter for shared use by the Air Force, Navy and Marines. This next generation manned fighter is expected to flow more than $200 billion in revenues over the next 20 years (Laing, 2002). But most traumatic for Boeing were the terrorist attacks on September 11th. They transformed what had been shaping up as a mild downturn in commercial jet orders into a veritable collapse in demand (Laing, 2002). After the attacks, the need to fly drastically declined due to fear and security issues that made flying a nuisance. This left the US Airline Industry in a serious crisis. Companies such as Continental, US Airways, American, and Delta cut up to 20% of their capacity (Smith, 2001). Source: www.bloomber.com The terrorist attacks resulted in Boeing’s stock to plummet. Prior to September 11th, Boeing’s stock was falling because of the downturn in the economy. From the graph above, we can see that the attacks made the stock price to fall from $50 a share to $30. This was a sign that investors knew the impact the terrorist attacks had on Boeing’s industry. After September 11th, Boeing planned to respond to these problems by cutting production rates by 50 percent (Nyhan, November 2001). On September 18th, one week after the attacks, Boeing announced at a press conference that it would layoff up to 30,000 employees by the middle of 2002 (Smith, 2001). On that day, Boeing reduced the level of employees by 12,000: 3,000 through retirement and attrition, and 9,000 through layoffs (Farley, 2001). Boeing also stated that their jetliner orders would decrease drastically. In the next three years 80% of their 2001 orders would be delivered (Smith, 2002). They also planned to cut their monthly production of aircraft by half, from 48 to 24. The director of people at Boeing’s commercial airplane unit said, â€Å"In order to match our reduced production rate, we will need to accomplish the majority of the 20,000 to 30,000 reductions in 2002 employment by midyear†. Members of the Associated Press and Kiro 7 Eyewitness News stated, â€Å"Last week Boeing officials announced plans to layoff as many as 30,000 employees, mostly in the Puget Sound area, by the end of next year because of plummeting demand for new planes and postponed deliveries since the terrorist attacks.† Boeing’s commercial airplane division is not the only division that the layoffs will effect. Surprisingly 5,000 of the 30,000 layoffs are predicted to come from the military division. The military division cutbacks are also due to the September 11th attacks, but they are mainly due to global economic slowdown (Klein, 2001). This comes as a surprise because the military division is expected to grow in a time of war or terrorist attacks. Stockholders may assume that the government will request an increased level of production of fighter jets and military bombers so that the United States can dominate in the war against terrorism. In addition, the layoffs will not only affect the Boeing employees, but also people outside the company. As many as 20,000 of the Boeing layoffs may occur in the Seattle area alone, resulting in an additional 34,000 jobs lost by Boeing suppliers, subcontractors, and others (Klein, 2001). Alternatives Before Boeing implements any solutions they must maintain a good level of communication with their employees. The employees must know the reasons for a particular action taken by Boeing in order to avoid any mistrust and confusion (Hoffman, 2001). For example, an employee will wonder why layoffs are taking place when Phil Condit, Boeing’s CEO, is making an annual bonus of $1.13 million (Webber, 2002). Boeing must carefully explain their plans and what they are hoping to accomplish through their actions. Boeing can reduce the amount of layoffs by implementing any of the following solutions: Distribute Hours Among Employees The first solution for Boeing is to spread the hours among the employees for each department. Every department is given so many hours it can use for each week at the beginning of the quarter, depending on the amount of business Boeing has. If those hours taken and spread among the employees for each department, not as many layoffs will occur. The hours will be spread out by reducing the workweek from five days to four. By cutting one day out of an employee’s schedule Boeing is able to give those hours to another employee, which under the circumstances would be laid off. Once four employees each receive a deduction in their workweek one employee will be able to maintain their job and not be laid off. The advantage to this solution is that fewer employees will have to be laid-off. Employees will have their hours cut according to seniority. Some employees that have been with the company for a number of years will not be affected by the action. By holding onto the employees and not laying them off Boeing will be prepared to handle new contracts as they arise. Boeing is predicting that the recent decline in contracts is only short-term and business will soon return to their previous levels. The disadvantage to the solution is that some employees will not be able to afford a reduction in hours. In this scenario employees will not be satisfied and hold each other responsible for less hours. If employees are not satisfied then their production will decrease due to their dissatisfaction. Re-Allocate Employees The second solution for Boeing is to train employees in other departments within the company. This will allow Boeing to reallocate employees in different departments rather than laying them off. With the commercial airline department being hit the hardest by the recent terrorist events, employees in that department could transfer to other departments if they possessed the knowledge. The advantage in training employees outside their departments is the value it will add to the employee. If an employee has the knowledge and know how to be productive and efficient in other departments, not just his own, they become an instant asset to the company. Due to their flexibility Boeing can move the employee around in accordance with demand. A disadvantage to this solution is that Boeing will incur high costs for training employees to do other jobs. A slowdown in production will also result due to the time spent on training. The transition for an employee to move from one department to another is difficult because the employee will not be as efficient. Severance Pay Early retirement packages will be available to qualified employees. The retirement packages to be offered will vary depending on the number of years an employee has with the company. For each full year of service an employees has with the company, up to twenty-six years, they will receive one week of pay (Hoffman, 2001). The employee can take the severance pay in either a lump sum or as an income continuation. The single lump sum plan pays the severance pay to the person in one check within one month of leaving the company. The income continuation plan will pay the severance pay on the regular paydays every two weeks (Boeing, 2000). The advantage to this solution is each individual makes their own decision and they have total control of what they want to do. Also high salaries will be eliminated as management personnel take the package. Once management leaves, the ones that find early retirement appealing, Boeing will be able to promote employees into those positions without having to pay the large salaries. The disadvantage to this solution is that not many jobs will be saved because not many employees will go for the early retirement package. Boeing will also lose experienced managers if they decide to take the early retirement package. If this solution is implemented Boeing will continue to layoff employees because not enough jobs will be cut. Continue Layoffs The last solution is to continue to layoff employees as necessary. This will allow Boeing to keep revenues high because the layoffs will occur according to the market. If Boeing does not get as many contracts as they expected for a particular quarter, the layoffs will help the company’s finances. The disadvantage to this alternative is the potential of business picking backup. The market for commercial jetliners is expected to boom in two years and Boeing needs to be able to handle the new contracts. If Boeing has to constantly train new employees as business increases, in an effort compensate for the ones that were laid-off, they will not be operating at full efficiency. Solution Boeing realizes that layoffs can’t be completely eliminated, however they want to reduce layoffs to the lowest possible amount. Boeing will accomplish that by distributing the hours in each department among the employees. This solution will allow Boeing to save jobs by reducing the employee’s workweek from forty hours to thirty-two hours. The management of each department will determine the hours to be cut and the number of employees that are affected. This will be implemented on June 1, 2002 throughout all departments. Most employees will be affected by the reduction in hours, and management must be prepared to cope with the initial negative reaction. In order to measure the results of the solution, Boeing must evaluate the impact on its bottom line along with the toll it’s taking on their employees. An evaluation will occur every six months and will be lead by top executives and the department managers. Once evaluated, a decision will be made by the board of directors on whether or not to continue with the reduction of hours or to incorporate a different action. The thirty-two hour workweek is expected to be temporary as analysts are predicting a turn around in demand for planes (Holmes, 2001). As production returns to capacity, hours will be returned back to employees according to seniority.    Reference List Airlines slash workforces. (n.d.) retrieved April 10, 2002, from www.proquest.com . Airwise News. (2001, September 22). Majority of Boeing layoffs in aircraft sector. Retrieved April 10, 2002, from www.dowjonesinteractive.com Associated Press Newswires. (2002, March). More Boeing layoff notices. Retrieved April 10, 2002, from www.dowjonesinteractive.com. Article No. A71327300 Associated Press Newswires. (2001, September). First Boeing layoffs set to take effect Dec. 14. Retrieved May 7, 2002, from www.seattleinsider.com/news/boeing.html Boeing Company. (2002). A Brief History. Retrieved April 8, 2002, from www.boeing.com/companyoffices/history/boeing/html. Boeing Company. (2002). Layoffs Benefits Plan. Retrieved May 7, 2002, from www.boeing.com/companyoffices/benefits/boeing/html. Carlton, D.R. (2002, January) Boeing bleak outlook. The Economist, 362 (8257), 58. Corliss, B. (2002, April). Boeing deliveries drop 10%. Retrieved May 7, 2002, from www.msnbc.com Farley, G. (2001, December). Union leaders file grievances. The Associated Press. Retrieved April 15, 2002, from www.king5.com/cgi-bin/gold.cgi Genna, C.A. (2002, April 19). More layoff notices to be issued at Boeing. Retrieved May 8, 2002, from www.latimes.com Gillie, J.F. (2001, November). Lost jobs in Puget Sound area. The News Tribune, Tacoma. Retrieved April 10, 2002, from www.dowjonesinteractive.com Gillie, J.F. (2001, December). 1,700 new layoff notices today. The News Tribune, Tacoma. Retrieved April 10, 2002, from www.dowjonesinteractive.com. Article No. TCMA0135500 Global general aviation industry delivery breakdowns for jets. (n.d.). Retrieved April 10, 2002, from http://rdswebl.rdsinc.com/texis/rds/suite.html. Hoffman, R. (2001, June 29). The Dynamics of Downsizing. Retrieved May 18, 2002, form www.hradvice.com Holmes, S.C. (2001, November 26). Aerospace industry downsizing. Business Week, (3759), 108-109 Klein, A. (2001, October 13). Boeing faces massive layoffs. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 15, 2002, from http://detnews.com/2001/business.html. Laing, J.R. (2002, April). Gaining Altitude: Corporate profiles. Barron’s, 82 (17), 21-25. Lloyd, M.K. (2001, December). Losing Altitude; Aviation. The Economist, 361 (8253), 81-83. More Boeing layoff notices going out. (n.d.) Retrieved April 26, 2002, from www.seattleinsider.com Nyhan, P.J. (2001, September). Boeing expects to layoff up to 10 percent in commercial division. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved April 10, 2002 from www.dowjonesinteractive.com. Article No. SEPI012700. Nyhan, P.J. (2002, February). Boeing lays off 1,000 local workers. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved April 10, 2002, from www.dowjonesinteractive.com. Nyhan, P.J. (2001, November). Majority of Boeing layoffs to hit by June. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved April 10, 2002, from http://seattlepi.nwsource.com Schneider, R. (2001, December). Losing Altitude: aftershocks from September 11th. The Economist. Retrieved April 10, 2002, from www.infotrac.com. Article No. A81118376. Smith, B.A. (2002, January 21). Boeing continues its production cost focus. Aviation Week & Space Technology, 156 (3), 43-44. Smith, B.A. (2001, September 24). Boeing cuts delivery estimates, prepares for major layoffs. Aviation Week & Space Technology, 155 (13), 29-32. Song, K.M. (2001, December). Boeing layoff face challenge. The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 10, 2002, from www.dowjonesinteractive.com. Article No. SETL0135600. Song, K.M. (2002, April). Effects from Boeing cutbacks felt. The Seattle Times. Retrieved May 18, 2002, from www.dowjonesinteractive.com. Article No. SETL0211100. Standaert, J. (2002, January). Boeing trims 2,300 more jobs. The News Tribune, Tacoma. Retrieved April 10, 2002, from www.dowjonesinteractive.com. Article No. TCMA0201900. Thomas, G.D. (2002, April). Tough times ahead. Air Transport World, 39, (4), 31-33. Webber, J.P. (2002, April 19). Boeing hurt by slowdown. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2002, from www.latimes.com

Electronic and Mobile Commerce Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Electronic and Mobile Commerce - Essay Example In response to the growing need for mobility by consumers, mobile commerce emerged out of e-commerce. According to Tarasewich, Nickerson and Warkentin (2002), M-commerce is â€Å"the ability to conduct commerce, using a mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone, while on the move.† in order to remain relevant most organization strive to establish their presence online, which as become a major competitive tool with the ever changing consumer behavior in the competition-ridden market. This paper explores tools and skills necessary to implement electronic and M-commerce in business. There are numerous sites, such as Google places, that present the chance for business organization to connect with their target market online. Such tools enable the company to stay online making possible to draw a large audience for the business. The organization should stick with chosen sites that are popular and not bother with many others. The organization can decide to stick with Facebook and Twitter, which are supposedly the most popular social media sites. Photographs tend to draw more attention than status updates. They are usually vivid, precise and welcomed by many users of social media. The fashion and music industries can reap big from using photography approach rather than posting mere status updates. Nonetheless, organizations in other industries can also make use of this approach by posting pictures of their products. This approach is likely to attract a large number of online communities into the organization. The second way to create an online presence for an organization is through creation of a website. A properly designed website can be a crucial marketing tool that can instill confidence in the business process and also act as an online storefront. All prosperous online business organizations have a fundamental platform that connects all social media profiles. The company’s website should appear formal, certified and established. To gain popularity, an organization

Week 3 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Week 3 - Assignment Example Main goal behind this article is to understand the transition between careers and particularly assessing the self-preparation, identifying the gaps and filling these gaps by developing the activities. Another source of self-preparation is the creation of unit professional program for individual development through education and training. Critical skills required for an individual build up for cyber domain include the knowledge on the computer networks, enterprise networks, cyber community, cyber command operations, cyber policies, hackers’ strengths and weaknesses, exploiting the data collection from opposite sources, kinetic military operations and new trends in emerging technologies (Conti et al., 2011). Authors do not encourage the students to adopt the cheating from adversaries. They want the students to learn creatively about the behavior of adversaries about cheating. Conti and Caroland (2011) have precisely pointed out the realm about cheating. Cheating techniques used by students in an exam present their intellectual advancement about how to use cheating means, even these are not allowed by exam laws and policies. This exercise of an exam enhanced the student capabilities to analyze the environment and benefited from weaknesses found in the system. Trust was another security principle, which is left open for exploitation of online as well as physical world. Student showed diversity of skills as they used different means of cheating in the class exam. Human beings always prove themselves as a weakest link in a given security system. Students are learnt how adversaries used cheating by violating the rules. In addition to this, students learn how their instructors provide them an environment to use the cheating in the exams. Exercise used in this article was only for one time and not for other exams or graded events. Realism and stress were increased as they occasionally walked among the students. Unfair and

Analysis of the Easy Jets mission statement's significance Essay

Analysis of the Easy Jets mission statement's significance - Essay Example Analysis of the Easy Jet’s mission statement's significance to current circumstances The mission statement of an organization can very crucial for a number of reasons. This can be a very effective tool for getting senior managers to talk about their differences and thrash out a common viewpoint. Mission statements are more usually an expression of a companys purpose and ambition. The mission statement of a company is a sort of company flag to rally round and a signpost for all stakeholders. Mission statement defines the values and behaviour standards for managers and stakeholders. A good mission statement is an influential document designed to give lucidity and evoke an emotional response. A mission statement must not be too far ahead of the current situation or it will be dismissed with If they think thats how we work around here, they are as crazy as I always thought they were.2 Hence, one of the salient objectives of the mission statement of an organization is to spell out the purpose of the organization. A mission statement also guides a signpost for the stakehol ders. â€Å"To provide our customers with safe, good value, point-to-point air services. To effect and to offer a consistent and reliable product and fares appealing to leisure and business markets on a range of European routes.† It is evident from the mission statement of EasyJet that the company’s target segments are the people who travel for pleasure and the business people who travel from one city or country to another city or country for business purposes.

Company's Changes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Company's Changes - Essay Example Organizational change can be defined as a conscious effort on the part of the management of change agents of an organization to keep a constant watch on the environmental forces of an organization to audit their impact and influence on the business concerned and to find out actions programs through strategies to maintain the balance between the two different forces. The present study has been conducted in lieu to analyze the various forces influencing the change within an organization; the various factors causing hindrances in the process of change and looks to propose an action plan through which the organization can identify and overcome the forces against change and implement the process of change to achieve the desired organizational objective (McMillan, 2008, p.108). System theory is a particular concept that was initiated from economics, biology and engineering. These aspects used to explore several significant laws and principles, which can be comprehensively, implemented acro ss several organization systems (Burke, 2010, p.61). .On the other hand, complexity theory can be defined as the assessment of diversity or the heterogeneity and several external and internal environment factors, such as customers, departments, socio-politics, suppliers and technology. Most importantly, the complexity organization change theory used to focus on the micro-level parts in a complex organizational system. This theory can be applied after the overall outcome and engagement behaviour. In terms of the specific multinational organization basis on the case study, it is feasible that several operational, marketing and human resource problems are affecting the business performance of the organization. It is feasible from the case study that, the organization is tending to expand their business in retails. Moreover, the organization is focusing on the customer development aspect as they are tending to enter in the global retailing sector (Bell, 2008, p.22). Therefore, it is nec essary for an organization to develop an effective marketing strategy. Moreover, the organization needs to implement effective HR policy n order to provide effective business output. It is feasible from the case study that, the organization is suffering from several problems, such as in adequate establishment of marketing and support activities, lack of flatter and virtual organizational hierarchy and poor HR policy. In order to overcome these issues, the multinational organization needs to implement organizational change in order to achieve the business objective. The major objective of the study is to propose an organizational change process strategy and idea for the specific multinational organization in order to overcome those problematic issues. Moreover, as the organization is tending to enter in the retailing business and trying to establish customer development process in their global business process, therefore, an effective organizational change process is importantly requ ired. Challenges Experienced By Company’s Management and Critical analysis Organizational change is critical to the success of an organization. However there is very little doubt over the fact organizational change is usually inflected by various external and internal challenges. The organization discussed in the present context of the study is also not an exception when it comes to dealing with challenges (Buchanan and Huczynski, 2010, p. 221). One of the major problems faced by the organization is of over capacity. Over capacity is a phenomenon in which

The Effect on Job Satisfaction Among Urban Police Officers Dissertation

The Effect on Job Satisfaction Among Urban Police Officers - Dissertation Example This research will begin with the statement that historically, police officers work is to protect life, liberty, and property, the role of police officers comes with many challenges such as fighting, deterring and preventing crimes. In the course of fulfilling this role police officers are exposed to various work situations which require different mental and physical abilities to handle their work efficiently and effectively. According to Gibbons and Gibbons, stress is associated with how an individual appraises situations and the coping strategies utilized to address the situation. Malach-Pines and Keinan stated that police officers are exposed to various occupational stressors which impact negatively on the health and the performance of the individual police officer. According to Rollinson, stress can be defined as a reaction to an external occurrence or any physical or mental demand, while Malach-Pines and Keinan, and Waters and Ussery defined stress as an adverse reaction people may have to excessive pressure or other demands placed on them. In this context, occupational stress or workplace stress refers to stress that is experienced as a direct result of their occupation. Previous research conducted by Malach-Pines and Waters and Ussery, indicated that stress results from a negative workplace environment and interactions at work constitute a major problem for police officers. Some stress can be regarded as a positive motivator, known as eustress, but in general stress is regarded as a destructive distress and may even function as a life threatening event. Police work has been classified as one of the professions rated highest in job stress next to air traffic controllers and firefighters (Gulle, Tredoux, & Foster, 1998). By the very nature of the profession, police officers are exposed to a variety of duty-related stressors that differ significantly in quality and quantity from those experienced by the general population. Examples of such stressors include killing someone in the line of duty, having a partner killed in the line of duty, managing or addressing public concerns on a daily basis, shift work and disruption of family time/family rituals, and lack of support by the department and supervisors (Gulle et al, 1998). Police officer stressors can further be categorized into two areas: internal and external work environment. Internal work environments are those areas that are related to organizational structure, climate, and supervisory support which can be an even greater source of stress for police officers than regular calls for service such as: a stolen car, missing person, and theft reports (Cooper, Davidson, & Robinson, 1982; Violanti & Aron, 1994; Kirkcaldy, Cooper, & Ruffalo, 1995). Lack of recognition, lack of resources, lack of promotion, and excessive paperwork are among the top internal stressors faced by police officers (Waters & Ussery, 2007; Stotland & Pendleton, 1989). External work environments include areas such as: weather, health problems, physical and psychological well-being (Bartol & Bartol, 2004: Waters & Ussery, 2007). Emotional intelligence (EI) has become of widespread interest to psychological research in recent years (Mayer & Salovey, 1997). Emotional Intelligence is the ability to process emotional information as it pertains to the perception, assimilation, expression, regulation, and management of emotion (Mayer & Cobb, 2000; Mayer, Salovey, & Caruso, 2000). According to Goleman (1995), EI is referred to as emotional literacy. Mayer and Salovey (1997) posit that emotional intelligence is one of the important factors that determine success in life and psychological well-being. Individuals with EI are therefore, able to relate to others with compassion and empathy, have well-developed social skills, and use this emotional awareness to direct their acts and behaviors. According to Ciarrochi,