Global Change Essay

The concept of civil society was reinvented in the late 1980s in response to the rapid market development and the end of the Cold War. The collapse of the Soviet Union marked the rapid development of global market due to higher international security. Market development gradually leads to the development of civil society for two reasons: Firstly, the middle class helps to fight more freedom from the government as they want to gain more and more control of themselves. This situation, allows spaces for civil society to develop. Some donors search for NGOs to implement their civic or economic related interests and visions. 1 Secondly, the retreat of the â€Å"welfare† states in western countries further triggers the emergence of civil society as people want to address the problem themselves instead of solely depending on the invisible hand of the free market. Hong Kong, which is recognized as a newly industrialized economy (NIE) has adopted the minimal-interventionist principle in economic development for a long Low tax rate and free market policies are the priorities of the Hong Kong government. Civil society is said to be very important in the implementation of democracy as civil society is a representation of diverse interests of the people. In the planning system of Hong Kong, though the government was willing to involve more public participation in the process with the increasing force of democratization between 1990 and 1997, the role of civil society in planning policy formulation and implementation was not yet clear. According to the experiences of some UK cities, partnership between civil society and the local governments can facilitate sustainable development. It is yet to know whether such kind of partnership is possible in Hong Kong or not. So the aim of this paper is to find out the challenges and opportunities of mobilizing partnership between the government and civil society. Aims of the study This paper aims to explore the challenges and opportunities in fostering partnership between civil society and the government in the planning system of Hong Kong. This paper is based on the central argument that civil society organizations (â€Å"CSOs†) should play significant role in the planning system to explore the challenges and opportunities. It is argued that CSOs are important for promoting more effective idea in the policy planning in terms of reflecting the needs of the locals as well as the moral values neglected by both market and the government. It is believed that the challenges and opportunities are not that straightforward to be understood as they should involve a lot of other factors. These factors are to be examined in order to provide a clearer picture for the analysis. Structure of the paper This study is composed of six sections:- Session I begins with an introduction. It states the purpose of this paper and the content structure. Section II is the theoretical framework established for understanding the theoretical meaning of civil society and the importance of partnership between the government and the CSOs. Section III is the background about development of citizenship in Hong Kong. It is found that the civil society in Hong Kong is becoming mature. Section IV discusses on the six major factors contributing to the challenges in the relationship between the government and the civil society. Section V seeks to study real-life cases to further strengthen the argument that CSOs should play significant role in the planning system. Section VI, the final section of this paper. It summarizes all the key issues discussed in this paper and highlights the importance of the role of CSOs in planning system.   Defining â€Å"Civil Society† The definitions and meaning of civil society in different mainstream theories are explored and outlined in Appendix 1. The interpretation of civil society by Aristotle is now widely recognized as autonomy, not under direct state control. It emphasized on the formation of government based on voluntary willingness of people and universal election in order to guarantee sovereignty of citizens (for Locke) and the freedom of civil society (for Rousseau). The existing political system in Hong Kong is different as the HKSAR government is not directly elected by the citizens. Hong Kong people can only elect some of the legislative councilors, who act as delegates to deal with legislative issues; and district councilors, who are serving as advisors of the government. The sovereignty is just partly in the hand of Hong Kong people. In fact, the situation of Hong Kong is closer to the idea of Hegel that civil society and family together form the state. Civil society is actually functioning as a partly autonomy body under the government of Hong Kong. However, civil society should perform a more active role in the system in order to balance the power of the state and the market for the benefit of the public. So Friedmanns’ definition of civil society will be applied to support the empowerment of civil society. Civil society, as an association of individual interests, should grow up to balance the power of the state. His definition also separates the concept of market from civil society, which is applicable in the situation of Hong Kong. Friedmann(1998) states that civil society must be seen as standing in â€Å"opposition† to the corporate economy. The relationship of civil society and the market should not be neglected when we understand the relationship of the government and the civil society. 2 To sum up, the combination of Friedmann’s and Hegel’s definition of civil society is applied in this paper. Civil society is defined as a sphere without direct state control, but is not totally separated from the state. The participation in civil society is based on voluntary willingness and it is actually an association of various individual interests. It is different from the concepts of corporate economy and family, but they are related to some extent. Civil society may not necessarily oppose to the corporate economy, but they may interplay to produce good results. Civil society should be empowered to balance the power of the government and market.

Development of the Constitutional Position of Caesar Augustus Essay

In 31BC Gaius Julius Caesar Octavian had emerged victorious from the cival wars unmatched in auctoritas and dignitas. By laying down his quasi-legal triumviral powers, he sought to establish his dominance over Rome under the pretext of restoring the Republic and in a manner which respected mos mairum, ancestoral customs. The mistakes of his father would not be repeated and he ensured the range of powers gradually bestowed upon him that provided his constitutional legality, were those offered by the Senate and People of Rome. In 27BC, shortly after his return back to Rome, Octavian laid aside his unprecedented and extraordinary triumvirate powers and as Bradely states wanted to â€Å"have his powers granted to him constitutionally†. In what must have been a staged political play, the Senate denied Octavian’s resignation into private life and instead referred upon him numerous powers. Continues civil war had rid pro-republican support within the Senate, and as Octavian was left without a rival, the Senate had no other course of action but to extend his powers. As Tacitus says â€Å"they [the Senate] preferred the safety of the present to the dangerous past†. Known as the first settlement he was awarded the name ‘Augustus’ and the title of princeps inter pares, the first man amongst equals in the new Republic. Additionally, by senatorial degree, his consulship was renewed yearly, but more importantly he was given imperium proconsulare over the provinces of Gual, Spain, Egypt and Syria, controlling the bulk of Rome’s legions, all under the auspice of his legates comprising of his friends and family. This, in essence was Augustus’ true source of power. He may have claimed to be equal to the other Senators, however this was only to maintain the ‘forma’ of the Republic while changing its ‘anima’, spirit. By keeping the Senate unarmed there was no possibility for new rivals to appear allowing him to constitutionally define his power without recourse for other despotic actions. Like Solon had when reforming the constitution of Athens, Augustus left Rome to allow his position and the new power status quo to settle. In 23BC the conspiracy of Murena and Caepio, prompted Augustus to rethink his constitutional position within the ancestral customs he wanted to observe. The monopolisation of the consulship angered many of the nobiles who were denied access to what was still the highest position within the state. His resignation of the consulship, which he held successively since 33, led to the second settlement. The Senate, of course, compensated for his loss of powers. They decreed his proconsular imperium as ‘maius’, greater, meaning he â€Å"had the first word in his provinces and the last in others†. Additionally he was granted tribunicia potestas, and despite the discrepancies by ancient historians, it seems by 23 it was annual and perpetual. However the seniority of a tribune within senatorial ranking, as Brunt and Moore state, was â€Å"very low† and as a subsidiary right Augustus was granted ‘ius primae relationis’, so to place first motions in Senate meetings. Not that by now it mattered, his ultimate and unmatched auctoritas was enough to weild his powers over Roman politics. Instead, Augustus provided the perception of legality†¦.. in order to avoid the rank of despotism Julius Caesar flagrantly displayed. And legality was essential to the thinking of Roman nobiles so to avoid the perception of tyrant Rome so despised. By 19BC his constitutional powers were complete. However in truth, by 23BC, the powers granted to Augustus were superfluous to his true position in the State, that is they were not reflective of the power that he yielded over Rome. His unmatched actoritas, ultimate patronage of Italy after the ‘oath of allegiance’, and unrivaled military monopoly over the legions, provided the necessary power to define his constitutional position, which was, unquestionably, complete domination over the Roman State.

The Great American Literature

Both, Samuel Clemens, widely known as Mark Twain, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, the premier writer of the twentieth century's Roaring Twenties, focus their writing on American society. They both masterfully handle their novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Great Gatsby, exploring the major societal issues, such as the stratification of classes, concept of American identity to contemporary ethics. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is frequently referred to as a social commentary–Clemens's sardonic view of society guised as an innocent adventure novel.Through careful observation Twain gained insight into the heart of humanity and then regurgitated this knowledge into a wry attack on the immorality he saw in society. That society was intrinsically wrong, Twain had little doubt. Atrocities were committed every day, and not just by the ‘white trash' of the South. The well-to-do Grangerfords and Shepherdsons, the ‘respectable' Sherburn, and the powerful middle cl ass all have sullied pasts. Huckleberry Finn also focuses on the indifferent attitude the citizens have toward their crooked deeds, not just the deeds themselves.â€Å"You didn't want to come. The average man don't like trouble and danger. You don't like trouble and danger. But if only half a man†¦ shouts ‘Lynch him, lynch him! ‘ you're afraid to back down–afraid you'll be found out to be what you are–cowards–and so you raise a yell†¦ and come raging up here. † (Clemens 118) This speech can be applied to more than that particular instance; however, Clemens uses it to expose the protection society provides through sheer numbers. When everyone else is doing it, even if everyone else is wrong, the easier route is to follow along.The majority rules, and the actions of the many set the precedent, amending ethics and demanding conformity. The deliberate callousness of the hard-hearted invades the novel through other characters as well, nam ely the Duke and the Dauphin. Ironically, the American families described see nothing wrong in the killings (even ‘amen-ing' a sermon on brotherly love), indicative of the moral break-down in society. As Clemens conjectures in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, unscrupulous scruples have become normalized by a culture swiftly headed down the river.Fitzgerald's characters display similar corruptness in The Great Gatsby. Each character symbolizes a different cultural category, from the lower orders to the nouveau riche to the old-moneyed class. Fitzgerald exposes the faults inherent in each group, and forces readers to become aware of their own imperfections. Just as the characters in Huck Finn drift through Huck's life as he drifts along the river, so the characters in The Great Gatsby drift aimlessly through life, their restless hearts never satisfied or content.Due to the characters apparent disconnectedness from American society, they feel no remorse for immoral actions. In a culture so ethically depraved, right and wrong drown in a sea of relativity (Clarke, 2004, p. 135). The upper class's bored indifference towards life is exemplified in Daisy's comment, â€Å"You see I think everything's terrible anyhow†¦ And I know. I've been everywhere and seen everything and done everything† (Fitzgerald 22). Fitzgerald takes the Buchanans and applies them to the whole Upper Class, the stratified social club that writes society's rules and then duplicitously violates them behind closed doors.The Great Gatsby alludes to the fact that money corrupts, questioning â€Å"whether dramatic inequalities in wealth [constitutes] a moral issue† (McAdams, 2005, p. 116). The Buchanan's treacherous affairs and subsequent lack of repentance parallel the Grangerford's and Shepherdson's shameless feud. The characters not only commit atrocious acts but see nothing wrong with their actions. In a society that demands conformity and shrouds iniquitous deeds in pie ty, authors such as Twain and Fitzgerald penetrate America's fabricated lie and wave the banner of morality and individualism.Undoubtedly, both Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby could be called the great American novels, both are very symbolic. Nevertheless, I believe that The Great Gatsby is the novel that not only describes but also teaches a lot. In particular, I believe that the American Dream is simply that; a dream and F. Scott Fitzgerald is the best in proving it. Through the tragedy of Gatsby, Fitzgerald shows us what happens when fantasy and reality are brought together. Despite seemingly having everything, Gatsby has nothing.His material wealth cannot compensate for what he lacks emotionally. Like Jay Gatsby, the American Dream will always fail when it is shattered by reality. References Clarke, Richard A. (2004). Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror. Free Press. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. (1993) . The Great Gatsby, Wordsworth Editions Limited, McAdams, Dan P. (2005). The Redemptive Self : Stories Americans Live By. Oxford University Press, USA. Twain, Mark. (2001). Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. University of California Press.

Assignment2 person1 Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Assignment2 person1 - Assignment Example Initially, the target market was Europe, but due to the financial crises that hit the continent in 2011, the country managed to look for other markets, such as Asia, and Africa (Henrichsen and Woodside, 2012). The tourism industry in Mauritius is under the supervision of the Ministry of Leisure and Tourism. The country has a Tourism Promotion Authority whose main responsibility is to organize and conduct some advertising campaigns for the purposes of promoting tourism in Mauritius, both in the global atmosphere, and locally within the state (Haring, 2007). The country also has a Tourism Authority, which has the responsibility of supervising, licensing and regulating the activities of tourism businesses/ enterprises. This also includes canvassers, pleasure crafts and skippers (Boswell, 2008). The success of the tourism industry in Mauritius is based on the fact that the Island has a natural beauty, with a diversified cultural and multi-ethnic population. It has beautiful beaches, a tr opical climate, and a water sports arena (Henrichsen and Woodside, 2012). All these play a factor in attracting tourists in Mauritius. Basing on this background, this paper provides a summary of the tourism industry in Mauritius. This report also includes a summary of tourist arrivals in the country, during the periods of 2010, and 2011. This report also analyzes the impact of political instability in the world, and as a result, the perception of British tourists in regard to tourism in Mauritius. By analyzing this point, this paper focuses on, how the views of people have been shaped due to political unrest in the world, and its impact on the tourism industry in Mauritius. It also focuses on the factors that will encourage or discourage tourism in Mauritius, and the attitude that people have concerning Mauritius as a tourism destination. The reason for writing this report emanates from my roles as the manager of marketing for the Mauritius tourism board, and in preparation for a me eting with the president of the tourism board. In conclusion therefore, the objectives of this paper are four fold. Namely; To analyze the tourism industry in regard to its marketing perspective. To summarize the 2010-2011 tourism arrival in the country. Analyze the impact of political instability and its impact to the Mauritian tourism industry. The perceptions of the British in regard to Mauritian tourism. The methods of collecting data in order to acquire information in regard to these aspects are through library and internet research. Mauritius Tourism Industry: The main target market for the tourism sector of Mauritius is the French and the British speaking people. For instance in 2009, people of the French origin and from the island of Re-Union came to the Island in large numbers. For instance in the year 2009, the country had 871, 256 tourists, and among them, 275, 599 came from France, and 104, 946 were citizens of Re-Union. On this basis therefore, France was the largest ma rket of Mauritian tourism sector, followed by Britain. Visitors from Europe accounted for 67% of its market source. However, as of 2011, the country sought to look for other markets of its tourism sector (Henrichsen and Woodside, 2012). This is because of the economic crises that hit Europe. For instance, in 2011, the Mauritius government managed to set aside a budget of 100 million Mauritian rupees for purposes of advertising their tourist services in Asia, Africa and American countries.

Sales Promotion Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sales Promotion Plan - Essay Example The Product The retail business has many segments under a single banner and a brand name. It usually includes products from the food sector to non food such as clothing, accessories, and cosmetic products. The product whose sales promotion is to be discussed is for the cosmetic segment. The cosmetic segment has been growing and with the rise of retail sector it has find a place and is regarded as one of the important grooming sector. Therefore the product is perfumes and as a sales promotion manager it is the duty to promote and generate awareness about the new perfumes and also maintain the brand value of the existing brands. The perfume introduced will be promoted to both the females and males as it can be used by both the gender simultaneously and is targeted to the premium sector of the society. Hardware/Objects involved Sales promotion would be done with the help of the sales force and to monitor the sales, certain software can be used so that a track can be maintained as to how the sales promotion will be performed and also after effects. Sales force will be mainly responsible for conducting sales promotion in various malls and other places associated with the brand. Apart from the sales force, high technology hardware would be appropriate in determining the results obtained after proving a heavy discount and offers by the business. Activities Sales promotion involves variety of activities in order to promote and increase the sales. The target market is the consumers and so all the activities will be undertaken keeping the consumers in mind. Some of the activities which are often used in sales promotion targeting the consumers include discounts, increase in the product quantity, offering complementary products, issuing discount coupons and vouchers, contest, prizes, gifts and samples. For the sales promotion of the perfume, the sales promotion manager would propose for activities such as distribution of free samples where the company would provide free sa mples to the consumer’s visiting the stores or the segment in the retail outlet. The objectives of free sample are to get the consumers to make purchase of the perfume and make them as regular customers. The consumers visiting the stores would be offered a sample of the perfume and in return give their feedback. The perfume would be designed in a small bottle with attractive packaging in order to attack the customers. The free samples would be distributed in the outlets of the brands. Coupons and vouchers would be used in sales promotions. Coupons will be mainly used to target new customers to try the product and increase the value of the brand in the long run (Schultz, et.al, 1998, p.40). Vouchers are mainly used to introduce the product to a new set of consumers. The discount coupons and vouchers would include 25% off on beauty products on selected brands. By offering 25% off on beauty products, the main idea or objectives of the sales manager is to widen the target market and introduce new customers who would prove to be beneficial for the brand in the long run. In addition to the coupons and vouchers, the sales promotion manger had decided to offer complementary product with the sale of the perfume. This would induce the customers to buy the product as customers get easily attracted toward any complementary gifts or gifts with the main product. The complementary pro

Non-Sovereign small islands in the international economy Essay

Non-Sovereign small islands in the international economy - Essay Example Generally speaking, the OFCs were accused in undermining the stability and inviolability of the global financial system. To manage the situation, a group of initiatives were taken by the Financial Stability Forum, the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Union and the Financial Action Task Force (Woodward 686). In addition to the development of small islands as offshore financial centres, there are some other examples of cases when many small islands have exceeded in small-scale, high-value service and product-niching in various fields of economic activities, including: finance and banking, brokerage, tourism and hospitality (Baldacchino 254). This paper is focused on the research the small islands, performing an important role in the international economy and on the global arena. The more detailed analysis is carried out for the British Isle’s Crown dependencies: the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islands o f Jersey and Guernsey, as well the Prince Edward Island. The Financial Services Sector: the Isle of man, the Channel Islands and New "Havens"Among Developing Small Islands There are many various definitions of the offshore, which is the evidence of the challenges which many scholars and economists face in attempt to explain this concept precisely. For example, Palan defines the offshore as a â€Å"special territorial or juridical enclave†, in which regulation or taxation in the state is either partially or fully withheld (cited by Payne 627-628). While significant stress in the definition of the offshore falls on the territorial dimension, juridical properties is what really matters. Richard Woodward clarifies this view by the statement: â€Å"offshore is a legal as well as physical domain; where an activity takes place is secondary to the rules under which it takes place† (cited by Payne 628). Even though there are some slight variations in definitions, offshore finan cial centres have a set of common characteristics. The offshore financial centers can be characterized by the following attributes: minimal taxes or tax free; bank anonymity and secrecy laws at a high level, a high number of financial institutions, which serve mainly non-residents; flexibility of use of various company structures, the proportions of financial systems are exceeding needs of the domestic economy, light financial regulation (Levin 2), protection of the secrecy of transactions and few or no restrictions of financial transactions (Palan 155). The most successful OFCs are characterized also by stable economic and political climate, support from of a large international financial market, money laundering or drug money scandals free, availability of agreements for avoiding double-taxation with major countries, and are easily reached due to established information-exchange facilities (Palan 156). Referring back to the last item, many OFCs are developing laws and investing in telecommunications for attracting e-commerce providers (Levin 5). Obviously, telecommunications and IT is a very important factor that enables OFCs to respond to the needs of their customers and operatively react to external changes. Financial centres can be distinguished by many different ways. Thus, for example, International Monetary Fund (n.p.) has developed its own way of differentiation of the financial centers by splitting those into three categories: 1. International financial centres (IFCs) – are large internation

Discrimination and the Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Discrimination and the Law - Essay Example The Race Relations Act 1968 extended the scope of the 1965 law by making it applicable to housing, employment and other matters. An improved Race Relations Act was framed in 1976 mostly in accordance with the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975. The three main types of racial discrimination which were to be made unlawful under this act were direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and victimisation. The primary objective of theRace Relations Act of 1976 was to form the legal foundation for protection from racial discrimination in the fields of employment, education, training, housing and the provision of goods, facilities and services. Under this law, 'racial discrimination' means treating a person less favourably than others on racial grounds - meaning race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins. Although this law protects one against people's actions, it cannot change their opinions or beliefs. (Home Office, n.d.) This Act resulted in the setting up of a Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) as a statutory enforcement and implementation body to eliminate racial discrimination and to promote equal opportunities and harmonious race relations between people of difference races. The CRE has the power to undertake formal investigations into discrimination charges and to represent victims of discrimination. The Crime and Disorder Act of 199... The Public Order Act,1986 On 9 June 2005, the Government published the Racial and Religious Hatred Bill which makes incitement to religious and racial hatred an offense under the The Public Order Act of 1986. Thereby, this Act makes it illegal to incite racial hatred, whether through words or action, such as distributing racist leaflets. Penalties are severe for anyone convicted of a racially motivated crime. (BBC, 2003) The race relation and racial hatred legislations have always protected Sikhs and Jews as the Courts have identified them as 'ethnic groups' according to their interpretation of the Act. Muslims, however, are not protected as they are not considered to be an ethnic group under the law. Since hate crimes against Muslims have increased during the post 9/11 period and as Muslims are not considered to be an ethnic group, it poses a serious problem. The Racial and Religious Hatred Bill tries to amend this situation The Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations, 2003 The Employment Equality regulations makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate, harrass or victimise an employee on the basis of any religion, religious belief, or similar philosophical belief. Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 The Race Relations (Amendment) Act provides new powers to tackle racism in public authorities by eliminating unlawful discrimination and promoting equality of opportunity. This Act makes it statutory for public authorities like all government and local government services including the Police to promote race equality. Public authorities should ensure that racial equality considerations are part of everything they do. This Act gives the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE)

Shear box Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Shear box - Lab Report Example Introduction In soil mechanics, the term shear strength describes the magnitude of a shear stress that the soil can sustain (Roscoe 34). On the other hand, shear resistance of a soil occurs as a result of interlocking of particles and particle friction and possibly the bonding or cementation at particle contacts (Roscoe 45). Particle interlocking may cause a material to contact or expand in volume because of being subjected to shear strain (Poulos 560). As soil expands in volume, the density of its particles decreases causing its strength to decrease. This way, the peak strength is followed by the reduction in shear stress. It is always important to understand different values of Shear Strength of a soil sample (Schofield 20). This is because materials differ in their characteristics and tend respond differently when subjected to similar or different load conditions. This means that for one to design a project, he/she must understand the type of soil considering their variations in S hear Strength.In soil mechanics, Shear Strength is given by the formula ?f = c + ?n tan?----------------------------------------------------------------------------(1) c stands for cohesion, ? as an effective normal stress, ? as the angle of friction, ?f as the shear strength, and the shear box test, is defined by BS 1337: This experiment deals with shear resistance of a soil sample. ... The shearing resistance offered by the soil as one portion was made to slide on the other and measured at regular intervals of displacement. It was noted that failure occurred whenever the shearing resistance reached the maximum value that the soil could sustain. After obtaining the Shear strength it was plotted against horizontal displacement and on a separate graph, it was plotted against normal effective stress. The vertical displacement was also plotted against the horizontal displacement. Relevant calculation and interpretation were made and compared for purposes of making inference. Procedure In this experimental set up the first step entailed assembling the empty shear box without an upper and loading platens. In doing this, the two halves had to be screwed together. Screws marked â€Å"L† were in position as this was done. While ensuring that the apparatus move freely on the runners of the shear box, the box was filled with sand, which was then leveled off approximatel y 1 mm below the top of this box. The top platen was then placed on the sand. The platen was loaded on the top platen. The ball bearing was put in place. The hanger was then placed on the ball bearing and the weight was added on this hanger. The apparatus were adjusted to take up slack followed by reducing the proving ring dial gauge to zero. The two screws that held the lower and upper halves of the bow together were removed and screwed in those screws, which were marked â€Å"L†. After resistance was felt, each was adjusted further in ensuring the two halves get slightly separated. The motor was switched on and the maximum reading recorded on a proving ring dial gauge. The hallmark of the experiment when the circuit was switched off followed by slackening off the apparatus.

Crtical analysis in economics Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Crtical analysis in economics - Assignment Example The author puts benefit to the fact that taxing junk food would indeed reduce the rates of obesity, but he questions the duration it will take to see the positive effects. The author then comes up with a number of flaws that in his view would need to be put to consideration before implementing such policies. According to the article taxing junk food raises questions like what exactly needs to be taxed, and how long it would take to see any results. It also raises the possibility of increasing the number of obesity cases, as opposed to reducing them. The author then argues that there is the need to confirm if there is a relationship between obesity and the junk food or else the policy may fail. According to the author, obesity can be linked to lack of exercise such that if people spend more time looking for healthy foods then there will be no time for exercise hence leading to increase in obesity cases.1 The article also touches on accessibility of fresh foods especially by the poor citizens. It also talks about the fact that citizens may not be affected by the prices and will continue to buy junk food all the same. The reasoning behind taxation on junk food focuses on the assumption that it will deter people from buying it and if they do then it will offset the economic costs of managing diseases caused by these unhealthy foods. The main conditions in this case are obesity which relates to high blood pressure and other coronary diseases. The Economist agrees that indeed a tax on calories would reduce cases of obesity. However, the effect would be realized over long periods of time say 20-30 years. He gets support from Brownell, Farley et al. who confirmed that tax on sugar-sweetened beverages could reduce their consumption by around 25% and would in return reduce the cost of healthcare for obesity and overweight diseases. The Economist then goes further to analyze whether there is any relationship between intake of junk food and obesity by asking

Seek Godly Counsel Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Seek Godly Counsel - Assignment Example Most people resort to the result of prayer after seeing that everything else has failed, which, in most cases do not work out. The bible says   â€Å"cursed is the man who relies on his own understanding.†, â€Å"blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly.† Anyone who is in   need of any monetary advice shouldn't seek it from the ungodly people.Pray about something you want to do and talk to godly people about it before executing the plan. Prayers and godly people help one to avoid errors in financial matters. Before purchasing any good or even looking for financial assistance from either individual financial institution, ask a godly person and pray about it. Do not do things impulsively.When entering into a contract with anyone over finances, do not be in a haste to put your signature on any paper until you counter check it thoroughly. Easy come, easy go. Best things in the world take time so do not be hurried in doing something. God took lo ng to deliver Israelites from captivity but it was worthy it so borrow a leaf from there.The bible gives very vital financial advice: Gold and silver comes from God, so start asking God for financial guidance; the more you give, the more you receive, be generous to the less unfortunate; there is joy in sharing; states, â€Å"Where your money is, that's where your heart will be.† Learn to lean not on your own understanding and start incorporating God's counsel in your finances and you will realize that you are enjoying your finances and your financial life is perfect.

Critique a Research Study Essay Example for Free

Critique a Research Study Essay The nursing research study I chose at the beginning of the semester was Impact of health literacy and patient trust on glycemic control in an urban USA population. The research article begins with a description of Diabetes, its consequences of the disease process, complications, economic cost, and the public health crisis that is foreseen over the next few decades. Research has shown that improvement of glycosylated hemoglobin concentration (HbA1c) in diabetics can have a significant positive impact on this impending critical condition. The second component of the article evaluates the impact health literacy and patient trust has on controlling and maintaining glycemic control in diabetics. The purpose of this article was to research a â€Å"quantitative study conducted to examine health literacy and patient trust as predictors of glycemic control (Mancuso, 2010)†. I believe the credibility of the research article was trustworthy, based on the research topics evaluated that are known in medicine to be accurate and valid. As a nurse, I am well aware of the impact health literacy and patient trust effect disease process and glycemic control. The research sample size evaluated by the article included one hundred and two participants with diabetes selected from two urban primary care clinics in the United States. Although I believe the sample size could’ve been larger, the final conclusions of health literacy and patient trust showed how important those factors are in influencing glycemic control. According to Polit, the presumed cause is the independent variable, and the presumed effect is the dependent or outcome variable (Polit Beck, 2014, p. 43)†. The Quantitative type of research design used in this study was Non-experimental/Observational study on the effects of health literacy and trust on glycemic control. â€Å"When researchers study the effect of a cause they cannot manipulate, they design correlation studies that examine relationships between variables. Correlation studies can be detected through statistical analysis ((Polit Beck, 2014, p. 159)†. The independent variables consisted of health literacy, patient trust, knowledge of diabetes, performance of self-care activities, and depression. These variables were measured with testing at the beginning of the study that yielded statistical results used to associate between variables. The dependent variable was the Hemoglobin A1c. Often the dependent variable can have multiple causes, which are examined in the article. The study also considered other related factors such as: demographics, socio-economic status, diabetes knowledge, self-care activities, and depression. I would categorize these variables with health literacy and patient trust as independent variables. The variation of factors can have a significant influence on the final outcome of HbA1c. This is the reason that research is essential for diabetes, to determine the influence these factors have on glycemic control. Evidenced-based interventions and approaches to improving glycemic control in the US population will help improve the current health crisis this country is facing, and will continue to face in the decades to come. â€Å"This was a cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes, utilizing several survey instruments and data sources (Mancuso, 2010)†. These 102 participants with diabetes were chosen from two free primary care clinics in the U. S. that met the criteria for the study. Reading comprehension test, scales, and screening through the use of surveys examined the independent variables. Testing for Hemoglobin A1c, a blood test, was conducted every six months to measure glycemic control for research purposes. I believe the design was appropriate because it was particular on the types of participants used for the study and factors that influenced the outcome according to the research article. Regardless of the level of participants, results of the study based its findings on the needs of the diabetic population. One of the strengths I identified early on in the research article was the research design chosen to evaluate glycemic control. The cross-sectional study of patients with diabetes utilized several survey instruments and data sources. The framework of the study helped to assess and predict the relationships between variables. Second, I felt the methods used to gather data was appropriate and beneficial to the research study. The data received was sufficient enough to research and observe. Finally, another strength I identified in the article was its reliability that correlated to Evidenced-Based data that guides clinical practice in nursing today. The final findings of the article support that the data collected and examined would help patient’s outcomes on increasing their glycemic control. Distinct weakness in the research study I identified first was the size of the sample that was chosen. With only one hundred and two participants from two different clinics, I felt that the sample size could have been more effective with larger numbers studied and in more areas of the country. The study also identified the recruited participants were from an uninsured population and identified the groups to have poor glycemic control. I believe the research study should have had a more diverse population of patients that would demonstrate how the US really is. Finally, the research article was evaluating health literacy; I believe that most patients who are illiterate would have been reluctant to participate in the study for fear of judgment and humiliation, thus not portraying the most accurate recruits. Evidenced-Based research is an essential component for the continual evolution of professional nursing practice. Research provides us with a solid foundation to ensure that nursing practice and interventions are based on scientific principles that have been proven to be effective. As professional nurses, we should strive to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. Through nursing research, we can expand our nursing knowledge and development to deliver healthcare based on guided research decision-making. In studying my research article, I believe that the strengths outweighed the weaknesses because the findings did correlate with Evidence-Based practice already known. After critiquing the research article, I support its findings on health literacy and glycemic control; they definitely contribute to Evidence-Based practice that should be implemented in nursing practice. Diabetes is a major health problem in the United States and also a major risk factor for other types of disease processes related to it. Health literacy, the ability to read, comprehend and comply with medical instructions is directly related to improved glycemic control. The research article I have chosen reflect the effects between health literacy and glycemic control in the United States population. Conclusions from the articles emphasize the need to communicate and educate patients effectively with low health literacy. As an emergency room, healthcare teaching plays an important role when discharging patients home with the correct information and education to manage their symptoms and disease processes. This research article applies to my nursing practice by pointing out the need to assess health literacy in-patients sent home or admitted with Diabetes. When we can determine that health literacy impacts glycemic control, we can take measures to help patients maintain their diabetes effectively. By understanding the relationship between education and health care outcomes, nursing can make a significant impact through effectively assessing the needs to provide adequate healthcare teaching. References Mancuso, J. (2010). Impact of health literacy and patient trust on glycemic control in an urban USA population. Nursing Health Sciences, 12(1), 94-104. doi:10. 1111/j. 1442- 2018. 2009. 00506. x Polit, D. F. , Beck, C. T. (2014). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health /Lippincott Williams Wilkins.

The Benefits of Interventions for Work-Related Stress Essay Example for Free

The Benefits of Interventions for Work-Related Stress Essay Objectives. This quantitative metaanalysis sought to determine the effectiveness of occupational stress–reducing interventions and the populations for which such interventions are most beneficial. Methods. Forty-eight experimental studies (n = 3736) were included in the analysis. Four intervention types were distinguished: cognitive–behavioral interventions, relaxation techniques, multimodal programs, and organizationfocused interventions. Results. A small but significant overall effect was found. A moderate effect was found for cognitive–behavioral interventions and multimodal interventions, and a small effect was found for relaxation techniques. The effect size for organization-focused interventions was nonsignificant. Effects were most pronounced on the following outcome categories: complaints, psychologic resources and responses, and perceived quality of work life. Conclusions. Stress management interventions are effective. Cognitive– behavioral interventions are more effective than the other intervention types. (Am J Public Health. 2001;91:270–276) Jac J. L. van der Klink, MD, MSc, Roland W. B. Blonk, PhD, Aart H. Schene, PhD, MD, and Frank J. H. van Dijk, PhD, MD The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of interventions designed for patients with emotional difficulties is a relevant topic in general practice.1 Such considerations also apply in occupational health care. With the increases in workloads of the past decades, the number of employees experiencing psychologic problems related to occupational stress has increased rapidly in Western countries.2 At the societal level, costs are considerable in terms of absenteeism, loss of productivity, and health care consumption. In Britain, it is estimated that 40 million workdays are lost to the nation’s economy owing to mental and emotional problems.3 At the individual level, there are costs in terms of high rates of tension, anger, anxiety, depressed mood, mental fatigue, and sleep disturbances. These problems, usually referred to in aggregate as distress, are often classified as neurasthenia, adjustment disorders, or burnout. Incidence rates in the Netherlands vary from 14 to 50 cases per year per 1000 patients.4 Interventions designed to reduce occupational stress can be categorized according to focus, content, method, and duration. In regard to focus, interventions can be categorized as (1) aiming to increase individual psychologic resources and responses (e.g., coping) or (2) aiming to change the occupational context. The first category of intervention is usually referred to as stress management training. However, stress management is the common denominator of an assortment of interventions ranging from relaxation methods5 to cognitive– behavioral interventions6,7 and client-centered therapy.8 The second category refers to interventions such as organizational development9,10 and job redesign.11 We distinguished 4 intervention types according to categorizations used in previous reviews12–14: cognitive–behavioral approaches, relaxation techniques, multimodal interventions, and organization-focused interventions. Cognitive–behavioral approaches aim at changing cognitions and subsequently reinforcing active coping skills.6,7 Relaxation techniques focus on physical or mental relaxation as a method to cope with the consequences of stress. Multimodal interventions emphasize the acquisition of both passive and active coping skills. The fourth intervention type involves a focus on the organization as a whole. Several reviews have been conducted of interventions designed to reduce occupational stress.2,5,12,14–16 The general finding of these reviews is that such interventions are effective. However, the reviews have been qualitative in nature and thus provide limited information on which type of intervention is most effective and for whom. Recently, Bamberg and Busch conducted the first meta-analysis on occupational stress–reducing interventions.17 However, they included only cognitive–behavioral interventions in their quantitative analyses. In the present quantitative review, the following research questions were posed: (1) Are stress interventions effective, as suggested by qualitative reviews of the literature? (2) If so, which type of stress intervention is most effective, and on which outcome measures? In addition to these research questions, exploratory analyses were conducted to determine what moderator variables (e.g., job characteristics, preventive/remedial nature of interventions, length of treatment) were related to the effectiveness of the interventions. Methods Search and Inclusion Criteria Two strategies were used to locate appropriate studies. First, 4 databases—Medline (1966–1996), ClinPsych (1980–1996), Current Contents (1997), and Nioshtic (1970– 1996)—were used to conduct a computerized search. Three groups of terms were composed for this search: (1) terms linked to stress-related psychologic problems (psychologic stress, work stress, job stress, neurasthenia, burnout, minor psychiatric problems, mental fatigue, minor depression, neurosis, distress, nervous breakdown, and adjustment disorder), (2) terms related to the intervention (therapy, treatment, protocol, program, intervention, primary care, prevention, and employee assistance program), and (3) terms related to the population (employee, occupational, vocational, rehabilitation, work, job, absenteeism, and sickness leave). Within each group of terms, searches were added. Subsequently, these searches were combined. Second, a manual search of relevant reviews, book chapters, and articles was conducted, with the objective of finding relevant references missed in the computerized search. To be included in our database, a study had to meet several criteria. First, the intervention was required to be specifically designed to prevent or reduce psychologic complaints related to occupational stress. Second, in terms of the target population, participants had to be recruited from the working population because of imminent or already-manifested stressrelated psychologic problems not diagnosed as involving a major psychiatric disorder (e.g., depression or posttraumatic stress disorder) or a stress-related somatic disorder (e.g., hypertension, coronary heart disease). Third, an experimental or quasi-experimental design involving a no-treatment control group had to be used. Within the quasi-experimental studies, we required that the experimental group and the control group be recruited from identical populations and have identical baseline values on dependent variables. In this high-quality group of primary studies, we applied no ranking for methodological quality aspects because the consequent choice of a weighting factor in the quantitative analyses would introduce an element of subjectivity. Fourth, outcome variables had to be well defined and of sufficient reliability. Finally, we required that the study be published as a journal article in English. Definitions The variables used in the meta-analysis included intervention-related variables, outcome variables, and population characteristics. February 2001, Vol. 91, No. 2 Intervention-related variables were (1) type of intervention, (2) total number of hours, (3) number of weeks, and (4) number of sessions. The latter 3 variables could be considered indexes of the intensity and extent of the intervention. Because they were relevant in assessing the cost-effectiveness and practical applicability of a program, we used these variables as moderators in the exploratory analyses. As described earlier, 4 intervention types were included; 3 involved a focus on individuals and 1 involved a focus on the organization. In several reviews, a third focus has been discerned: the interaction between the individual and the organization.14,18 Thus far, however, intervention studies conducted with this focus have been uncontrolled.19 The outcome variables included were placed into 5 categories: (1) quality of work life, including such aspects as job demands, work pressure, job control, working conditions, and social support from management and colleagues; (2) psychologic resources and responses, including measures of self-esteem, mastery, beliefs, and coping skills20; (3) physiology, including measures such as tension, electromyographic activity, (nor)adrenaline, and cholesterol level; (4) complaints, including stress or burnout rates or symptoms, somatic symptoms, and mental health status and symptoms (because of their significance in general health practice, depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were considered as separate subcategories); and (5) absenteeism. A number of population characteristics, such as sex, age, years of employment, occupational status, and baseline stress level, may be important moderators of treatment effects and thus may provide information on which types of interventions are effective and for whom. However, for most of these characteristics, the specific information required was not available in the studies; the exceptions were baseline stress level and occupational status. The predictive influence of these characteristics on treatment effects was investigated in a number of exploratory analyses. In line with Newman and Beehr12 and with Murphy,2 2 baseline stress level categories were distinguished, preventive and remedial. In the present meta-analysis, a study was considered preventive if no participant selection had taken place in regard to stress levels. A study was considered remedial if participants were selected by means of a criterion. As noted by Karasek and Theorell, occupational status may be indicative of level of job control.20 On the basis of Karasek and Theorell’s ratings, we categorized study samples as â€Å"high control† or â€Å"low control.† Two studies involving samples with mixed occupations were classified as low control because most of the participants in these studies had low-control jobs.21,22 Two studies were excluded from these exploratory analyses because of a lack of sufficient information.23,24 Statistical Analysis The Advanced BASIC Meta-Analysis program25 was used in conducting statistical analyses. In this program, several statistics (e.g., F, t, r, and P) can be entered, and a product–moment correlation is obtained. These effect size correlations are transformed to Fisher z scores. Subsequently, mean Fisher z scores are calculated and transformed back to effect size (r) values. If F or t values were reported, we used these values; if such values were not reported, they were computed if the required information was available. If this computation was not possible, P values were used; effects reported as nonsignificant were rated as P=0.5.26 A problem in meta-analyses is that studies with a relatively large number of outcome measures disproportionately affect the metaanalytic results. To counteract this problem, Rosenthal and Rubin27 proposed a method of computing a mean effect size in which the intercorrelation of outcome measures is taken into account.25(pp45–47) For all analyses, outcome variables were combined according to this method. We used all outcome measures reported in a study in calculating effect sizes. We report effect sizes in Cohen’s d, which can be derived directly from r values. Cohen’s d represents the standardized mean difference between the intervention group mean and the control group mean. Thus, a d value of 1 indicates that the intervention group performed 1 standard deviation above the control group on a particular outcome variable. Results Description of Studies Forty-eight studies10,21–24,28–67 conducted between 1977 and 1996 met the inclusion criteria; findings from these studies were published in 45 different articles. None of the 48 studies had a curative orientation in the usual sense (i.e., target population consisting of people seeking help). Four studies were considered remedial, because there was selection in regard to baseline stress level. Forty-one studies involved employees with jobs categorized as high in job control. Five studies evaluated an organizationfocused intervention, 18 evaluated a cognitive– behavioral intervention, 17 evaluated a relaxation technique, and 8 evaluated a multimodal approach. In all studies, several outcome analyses were conducted. The result was 99 intervention–outcome combinations. American Journal of Public Health 271 Twenty of the studies involved a followup assessment. In most cases, follow-up was either uncontrolled or reported in a way that allowed no retrieval of statistical metrics. Therefore, only the first postintervention assessment was included in the meta-analysis. The mean interval between preintervention and postintervention assessment was 9 weeks for interventions that focused on individuals (SD= 6 weeks). This deviation was merely due to dif- ferences in intervention duration. Differences in interval between intervention types were not significant. The interval for organizationfocused programs was considerably longer (38 weeks) owing to longer program durations and longer postintervention assessment intervals. Pretest-to-posttest dropout rates varied from 0% to 40%. The mean dropout rate for programs that focused on individuals was 11%; differences between intervention types were nonsignificant. Organization-focused programs had a mean dropout rate of 26%.

Information Systems Essays Business Information Systems

Information Systems Essays Business Information Systems Business Information Systems (Technology, development and management for the e-business. Business Information Systems is business on the Internet for the benefit of all. It is essentially electronic business. The horizon of e-business encompasses the globe, free from the limited scope of customary bricks and mortar shops. It is the selling of products and services online, which is termed also as e-commerce.   Although the term â€Å"electronic commerce† is related more with business to consumer (B2C) applications IT has enabled this to cross over into the business-to-business (B2B) field as well. Through business information systems, purchasing processes are contoured to handle orders and their delivery, thus resulting in minimal paper work and labour required. Earlier, it was a practice to do business in hard copy for invoices and purchase orders. Now, documents in bulk, with particular format or data keying, are transferred electronically. A business can manage its Catalogue online by maintaining it up-to-date and current on its supplies, prices, discounts, without reprinting its catalogues. The Fine food Company, an established name in the food industry has finally made up its mind to run its business activities on the escalator of latest technology, to keep abreast with the changing times. Earlier, it was operating its business on a paper-based traditional set up. The company wants to increase its turnover by 10% and net profits to 9 per cent and hopes to be accredited for BS5750 within next 6 months. This decision of the management of the Fine Food Company (FFC) will certainly increase its reputation. A food conglomerate has to cater to a varied customer base through its shops and supermarkets, catering to standard and priority orders for quick delivery. A food company, working in a traditional set up has to handle its sales activities through its sales persons, who receive orders, payments, see through the orders to their fulfillment and answer routine questions. Customers are categorized geographically, depending on a customer’s type and product demand. A sales head can change his mindset to change a customer into a different category at any moment. The Fine Food Company has appointed an Information systems expert, to manage the affairs of the smooth running of its newly created IT department. In a paper-based communication, order processing can be quite a cumbersome procedure to follow. Order copies have to be retained by sales people and sent to the warehousing and distribution departments in date-wise format so that at the time of delivery, they are accompanied with an invoice and consignment note. The delivery man has to bring back a signed copy of the consignment. Warehousing involves keeping the produce in different temperature zones and shifting the goods to different locations, upkeep of raw products and finished goods. Card files have to be maintained manually whenever updating is required. David Jenkins has to see that all these complexities can be removed by opting for different solutions that go along with the FFC scheme to incorporate those software solutions with a range of proprietary software like Epicor eWarehouse. A food company’s manufacturing process involves simple repackaging to not so simple enlisting of detail of different recipes.   Keeping this in mind, software should integrate with the central system. To run a micro supply chain, different interfaces are required for the stability of the product. Otherwise, the finances of a food company that is still working on obsolete, labour intensive framework, could be quite complex to handle. Accounts payable are managed with a manual purchase ledger. Financial accounting has to be done by following the legal accounting requirements and Management accounting, which is must to know the inside of the food joint’s accounting information – essential to control a company’s finances. All this requires up-to-date maintenance of manual sales ledger and preparation of weekly reports on the customer’s financial records. Inventory was also checked against its distributor’s location. FFC has multiple distributors, having varied processes at their locations. An e-business food company like Fine Foods may want to know the details of their product’s price, name of the buyer and  Ã‚   the location. Software solutions like Epicor provide a mirror to adjustment transactions. â€Å"Epicor eWarehouse has enabled us to mirror our inventory in remote locations, and we have automated the process of the shipping and receiving of data,† says Cummings of B.C. Hot House. Working of a food house is complex in nature. Farmers sell their products to them; suppliers replenish the stock of packaging material. The entire process of managing the graded and semi-graded products of a range of growers is an uphill task. It involves putting the goods into bins, categorizing them into different packing material etc. To fulfill the demand, and gain a competitive edge over other players in the food industry, FFC has numerous options and tools to choose from like e-business software solution providers Movex B2B solutions. Core ERP solutions offer dialogue with the customers and add value to the business through information via the Internet. Another important tool in the e-commerce arena is Data Synchronization. Leading food giant companies are pushing their suppliers to enlist for electronic data interchange (EDI). As there is a high risk of committing errors in maintaining data manually because different departments have no identical way to save product information. Labour intensive methods of compiling and reconciling the data are prone to human errors. The example of Wal-Mart in data synchronization is a prime example for the Industry to follow. Randy Salley, Vice President of Wal-Mart Information Systems has supported the industry standards set by the GSMP choosing UCCnet as their GS1 GDSN Certified recipient data pool. Implementation of this technology is going to result in exact purchase orders, better invoice matching, better than before replacement of stocks. The process has been made easier than before with the arrival of IBM, GXS and other players developing Product Information Management (PIM) systems. There is the example of Sun Valley Foods, a Division of Cargill, which has also opted for B2B to improvise on its food product’s development and distribution. It has gone for Supply Chain Management (SCM) as well. The software solution has facilitated a safe hosting extranet along with a personalized portal interface, allowing space for product packaging, marketing and research. It will result in better collaboration between different departments such as warehousing, distribution and sales, removing hindrances like determination of the status of an order, late delivery, incomplete orders and wrong products, which were faced earlier. Now, Warehousing would be prioritizing big orders to small ones to speed marketing and on the whole transaction flow. The information technology platform offers a centralized web-based repository of reporting tools, resulting in no manufacturing delays. The SCM technologies improve the grading of a product as well as its marketing timing. The Internet facilitates the booking of orders at once to all departments, to proceed to realize it without getting involved in lengthy phone calls. Websites are used as a marketing tool, to offer the retail customers a place to visit the gallery of products and a platform for wholesalers for ordering information, an online catalogue and online order forms. All this is not possible on a traditional platform of working through hard copy. Now, orders are placed with a user name and password and then forwarded to fill an online purchase form. In fact, it is a wonderful example of assimilation of technology – developed and managed efficiently. Intranets help sales people to know the current financial and sales effect. Real-time financial reports can be generated, eliminating the scope of incomplete sales returns, making Management Accounting an easy task, as accurate information can be accessed and forwarded to all departments. Late publishing of accounts, due to wrong information, is never an issue. Internet and intranet applications have resulted in solid savings and better efficiency. Within the company, the intranet financial report application gives the management sufficient time to go through information in the generated reports and work out a strategy/response accordingly. Future Benefits – The Fine Food Company is hopeful to benefit by the introduction of the latest technology. Benefits include online access to latest information on the inventory, customer contact, credit status, order position and online nets. It will offer to work on system-to-system basis with big clients who have their own ERP solutions, resulting in contouring of EDI process. XML will enable the swapping of invoices, buying orders and shipping notices straight to the clients, online. Smaller customers will also benefit through e-business solutions via the Internet. As they don’t have ERP systems, companies would be able to offer additional customer service through their reach to accounts and sales statistics information over the Internet. Big retailers would be able to forecast their demands through the Internet. Once this becomes possible allover the supply line, the company’s e-business infrastructure will be in a position to forecast their stock needs according to their actual demands, resulting in optimization of stocks. Companies can march towards appreciable consumer response and Vendor Managed Inventory, enjoying the benefits of technology and development processes. Future forecasting for large retailers is quite bright, as e-business infrastructure will enable them to place their orders straight to the supplier, through the Internet. Conclusion: The trend of opting for e-business is catching speed. Businesses are using different forms of Internet-supported services like e-procurement, e-mailing and websites, saving a great deal of time and cost. A business can solve its customer’s technical hardware and software problems by working on virtual computer systems. This trend is going to continue with the advent of latest technologies like Internet enabled cell phones and PDAs. Bibliography: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ebusiness.htmhttp://www.istart.co.nz/b2b-ecommerce.htm#OV)http://www.istart.co.nz/index/HM20/PC0/PV21902/EX245/AR27992http://www.opentext.com/news/pr.html?id=1143)http://www.istart.co.nz/index/HM20/PC0/PV21872/EX232/CS2161

The Victims in McCarthys Child of God Essay example -- McCarthy Child

The Victims in McCarthy's Child of God  Ã‚   In Cormac McCarthy's Child of God, Lester Ballard is a recluse who is shunned by the people of his community. Because of his morose nature and his bizarre habits, he stands out among the small rural community. The rejected Ballard turns from being a harmless recluse to a murderer. While he is clearly a victimizer, he is also a victim himself. He is the victim of his own ostracization from the community that he was a part of. While the victimization that he suffers cannot justify his violent actions, it provides some explanation of how Ballard has reached the point of being a victimizer himself. Lester Ballard is a loner who is forced off his property and takes refuge in an abandoned barn hidden in the woods. He does not have a job and often has difficulty in his associations with the people of his own town. He supports himself from day to day on what provisions he can find in the woods and what he can manage to afford from town. He spends his days wandering through the woods or through town. He rarely associates with any locals and he takes more delight in whisky than in the presence of others. A couple of stuffed animals that he wins at a fair take their place as his only company. The corpse of a young woman that he stumbles upon in the woods becomes his first sexual companion. Ballard treats the corpse as he would a wife, buying clothes for her, whispering into her ear, and laying her down beside him when he goes to sleep. While these actions seem deranged, they also seem to be his way of finding the nearest replacements to the social company that he has been denied in li fe. Unlike the young women in town, the dead corpse of a woman cannot make fun of him or be insulted by his ... ...e would suffer. The people of his community always had low expectations of Ballard to begin with, and they gave him no reason to fear what they might think of him. Lester Ballard is a victimizer of innocent people, and this is the result of his own isolation . Although little insight into his mind is provided, the existing evidence of his way of life has provided some explanations into why he has committed these crimes. The members of his community, wanting to distance themselves from any association with Ballard, has coincided with the evolution of his bizarre actions. Thus Ballard is completely unrestrained by any concept of helping society. He is the product of a society that has turned its back on an individual that they would rather look down upon than be associated with. Works Cited: McCarthy, Cormac. Child of God. New York: Vintage Books, 1973.

The Death Penalty Debate Essay -- capital punishment, 2015

"The death penalty issue is obviously a divisive one. But whether one is for or against, you can not deny the basic illogic - if we know the system is flawed, if we know there are innocent people on Death Row, then until the system is reformed, should we not abandon the death penalty to protect those who are innocent?" --Richard LaGravenese In the United States the death penalty is used as a punishment for capital offenses. These specifically can vary from state to state, but commonly include first-degree murder, murder with special circumstances, rape with additional bodily harm, and the federal crime of treason. (Facts) The goal of the death penalty then, is to deter these crimes from even taking place, to be so feared that offenders think twice about committing such horrible crimes. But does it? In the following paper, the above question will attempt to be answered by looking at the background of capital punishment and the death penalty, the ideas behind it, viable alternatives, and finally, the effectiveness of the death penalty at deterring crime. Early death penalty laws date back to the Eighteenth Century B.C.. The death penalty also had a heavy presence in the Fourteenth Century Hittite Code, the Seventh Century Draconian Code of Athens, and the Fifth Century Roman Law of the Twelve Tablets. (History, 1) Today, thirty-four states in the United States of America still practice the death penalty as a means of punishment for capital offenses and heinous crimes. The death penalty debate is one that Americans are no strangers to; it has been abolished and repealed numerous times throughout our history. Two of the first influential cases dates back to 1968, US v. Jackson and Witherspoon v. Illinois. In each ... ...1. "Facts About the Death Penalty." The Death Penalty Information Center. 16 July 2011. Web. 19 Oct. 2011. "History of the Death Penalty." Death Penalty Information Center. Web. 18 Nov. 2011. Kovandzic, Tomislav V., Lynne M. Vieraitis, and Denise Paquette Boots. "Does the death penalty save lives?." Criminology & Public Policy 8.4 (2009): 803-843. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 17 Oct. 2011. "International Standards on the Death Penalty | Amnesty International." Amnesty International. Amnesty International, 1 Jan. 2006. Web. 23 Oct. 2011. "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights." Welcome to the United Nations: It's Your World. Web. 18 Oct. 2011 "In U.S., Support for Death Penalty Falls to 39-Year Low." Gallup.Com - Daily News, Polls, Public Opinion on Government, Politics, Economics, Management. 13 Oct. 2011. Web. 17 Oct. 2011

Plagiarism and the Internet :: Cheating Education School Essays

Plagiarism and the Internet To plagiarize, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, means â€Å"to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own† or to â€Å"use (another’s production) without crediting the source (Merriam-Webster OnLine).† To plagiarize is a major offense, and many schools and workplaces take it very seriously, or so they claim. For example, at the College of New Jersey, a strict Academic Integrity Policy promises severe punishment to those caught plagiarizing, more severe for intentional violations than unintentional (â€Å"Academic Integrity†). But punishment cannot be given if the person plagiarizing cannot be caught, and throughout the years, many new and easier ways to plagiarize have come about. The invention of the Internet gave students an easier way to copy another’s work and use it as their own. Along with this easier way to plagiarize, however, have come new ways to detect plagiarism. But in spite of all this, plagiarism continues to occur. On many college campuses and in many workplaces, a student or employee must follow an academic integrity policy or an honor code. When one plagiarizes, he goes in direct violation of these policies, doing something that is not only unethical, but also illegal. Copyright laws protect many major pieces of literature and many ideas, making those illegal to copy, but it is also immoral to copy the works of un-copyrighted authors. There can be severe consequences for a plagiarizer if he is caught, and if his professor or employer is willing to follow through with the consequences. People plagiarize, despite the immorality of it and the possible consequences, because it is easier than coming up with their own ideas. Also, when following a strict deadline, plagiarizing can be a fast way to finish a paper or a project. With new technology, plagiarizing has become even easier than it was in the past. With the birth of the World Wide Web came new ways to plagiarize. With a few clicks of the mouse, entire passages can be taken from a web page and placed into a student’s paper in Microsoft Word. With a few minor word changes and alterations, a student might think that he is safe, and that no one will be able to catch his plagiarism.

Plato/Education Essay

Having knowledge is important in every society, whether it be a totalitarian society, or a democratic society. In Plato’s Republic, Socrates and his interlocutors discuss how to educate children. Is it right to keep them censored, or should they be allowed to study all and every subject(s). The education of children is very important because they are the future of the society. They are the possible rulers, philosophers, guardians, and so on. So, it is important to shape them wisely. This concept is no different than what shapes our society today. It is well known that one of the many qualifications of a good leader is that who can improve the country’s educational system. Why? , because the youth are our future leaders and teachers. A parent would rather pick a private school over a public school, and a job interviewer would look more highly on a private school graduate over a public school graduate. You can say that education is important in today’s society, as well as Plato’s society. The youth can be educated in many different ways, either by keeping them in the shadows, or exposing them to the light. this means that the future of the society can be either ruled by a person who is oblivious to the society’s past, or by a person who has been fully exposed to the society’s history. If a person is censored from education, then they love their life as a perfect world. this is best described when Socrates says that a Guardian should be a person who â€Å"must be gentle to their own people and harsh to the enemy. † (375b-c). Socrates wants to educate these Guardians to be noble, righteous, and tentative to their every word, like a robot. He wants to educate them by making them obedient. He also believes that repressing their knowledge of music/narratives, and physical strength will make them grow into smarter adults. Socrates believes that a censored society is a better one. He believes that the city will prosper if it is concealed and trained. He says that people are most limber in their youth. So, he goes on to show that music/stories, and physical training are all things that are stressed in the youth of children. Music begins with stories or tales. â€Å"We won’t admit stories into our cities- whether allegory or not.†, this shows that he wants to cut down the telling of tales because he says that children absorb these tales in a literal sense rather than a hypothetical one. He says â€Å"You know, don’t you, that the beginning of any process is most important, especially for anything young and tender. It is at this time that it is most malleable and takes on any pattern one wishes to impress on it. â€Å". (377b) It’s not that he wishes to rid off all stories, but just censor them so that they all depict a good message, and show no violence or hate. Also, he believes that only moderate melodies are acceptable. (399d) Socrates goes on to say that music and poetry are important, but should only be taught when a person is old enough to tell the difference between right and wrong. After his discussion about music and narratives, he goes on to discuss the physical body, and how it affects one’s mind. â€Å"†¦ a fit body doesn’t by its own virtue make the soul good, but does the opposite. † (403d) This is exemplifies that being having a good soul will make a good body, and that a healthy body leads to a good intellect. This was achieved by gymnastics at the time. So, all in all, a good education can consist of gymnastics and good music. But, isn’t society today based on telling the whole truth and learning everything possible? Our society in the Unites States is democratic, which means that we choose our leaders. To do this, we have to be well-educated in our county’s history. So, in every school music, English, history, and math are required for every student to learn. This is because the government wants people to be well-educated so that they can understand what goes on in society. That is the reason for newspapers, to keep the society informed. This is different from what Socrates believes to be the best way to educate children. We believe that knowledge is at its best when everyone is educated with everything, and Socrates believes that knowledge is at its best when it is cleaned up and censored. So, what is the best way to be educated? Is it to censor society into a â€Å"perfect† one, or is it to teach everything wholly and hope that great wisdom derives from this? Socrates’ idea about society is much different from what society has evolved into. What would become of today’s society if the music and poetry of Socrates’ time was censored into disappearing? I think that people should be taught everything in their youth, because improvement can only be made from mistakes, and also, a perfect society would be a boring one. NEW PAPER Blair KhokerPhilosophy 101 Education? How? Having knowledge is important in every society. In Plato’s Republic, Socrates and his interlocutors discuss how to educate children. Is it right censor what they learn, or should they be allowed to study all and every subject(s). In today’s society the term ‘children are our future† is said a lot. It is important to shape the children of our society wisely, and the educate them well. A parent would rather pick a private school over a public school, and a job interviewer would look more highly on a private school graduate over a public school graduate. You can say that education is important in today’s society, as well as Plato’s society. The youth can be educated in many different ways, either by keeping them in the shadows, or exposing them to the light. this means that the future of the society can be either ruled by a person who is oblivious to the society’s past, or by a person who has been fully exposed to the society’s history. If a person’s education is censored, then they love their life as a perfect world, because they don’t see the big picture. All they see is what others let them see. This is best described when Socrates says that a Guardian should be a person who â€Å"must be gentle to their own people and harsh to the enemy. † (375b-c). Socrates wants to educate these Guardians to be noble, righteous, and attentive to their every word, like a robot. He wants to educate them by making them obedient. He also believes that repressing their knowledge of music/narratives, and physical strength will make them grow into more just adults. Socrates believes that a censored society is a better one. He believes that the city will prosper if it is concealed and trained. He says that people are most limber in their youth. So, he goes on to show that music/stories, and physical training are all things that are stressed in the youth of children. Music begins with stories or tales. â€Å"We won’t admit stories into our cities- whether allegory or not. â€Å", this shows that he wants to cut down the telling of tales because he says that children absorb these tales in a literal sense rather than a hypothetical one. He says â€Å"You know, don’t you, that the beginning of any process is most important, especially for anything young and tender. It is at this time that it is most malleable and takes on any pattern one wishes to impress on it. â€Å". (377b) He wants to censor children from hate and violence . Also, he believes that only moderate melodies are acceptable, because they are calmer and won’t bring about radical behavior. Socrates goes on to say that music and poetry are important, but should only be taught when a person is old enough to tell the difference between right and wrong. After his discussion about music and narratives, he goes on to discuss the physical body, and how it affects one’s mind. â€Å"†¦ a fit body doesn’t by its own virtue make the soul good, but does the opposite. † (403d) This is exemplifies that having a good soul will make a good body, and that a healthy body leads to a good intellect. This was achieved by gymnastics at the time. So, all in all, a good education can consist of gymnastics and good music. But, isn’t society today based on telling the whole truth and learning everything possible? Our society in the Unites States is democratic, which means that we choose our leaders. To do this, we have to be well-educated of our county. So, in every school music, English, history, and math are required for every student to learn. This is because the government wants to educate people about their country, so that they can understand what goes on in society. That is the reason for newspapers, to keep the society informed. This is different from what Socrates believes to be the best way to educate children. We believe that knowledge is at its best when everyone is educated with everything, and Socrates believes that knowledge is at its best when it is cleaned up and censored. So, what is the best way to be educated? Is it to censor society into a â€Å"perfect† one, or is it to teach everything wholly and hope that great wisdom derives from this? Socrates’ idea about society is much different from what society has evolved into. What would become of today’s society if the music and poetry of Socrates’ time was censored into disappearing? I think that people should be taught everything in their youth, because improvement can only be made from mistakes, and also, a perfect society would be a boring one. Word Count: 790.

New Product Marketing Plan Essay

In the continuation of the product marketing plan for Tress Express, the completion of the market segmentation will allow for further development of the necessary elements to introduce the product line into today’s market. As such, the detailing of the business’ target market profile key buying behaviors and organizational target markets will shed light on the potential customers and the methods behind their reasoning for seeking out such products. Along with the management of the Product Life Cycle (PLC), as well as the product mix and positioning statement for Tress Express, this second part of the product marketing plan will expand upon elements of marketing. Target Market Profiles Millions of people worldwide are affected by hair loss or thinning. According to Statisticbrian.com (2014), approximately 56 million men and women experience hair loss. Estimates indicate that by the age of 60, 65% of men and 80% of women will experience noticeable hair loss or thinning. Statistics indicate that as men and women age, the likelihood of hair loss increases. For those not affected by thinning or loss will usually experience graying hair over time. Tress Express Products line of emergency cosmetic hair care solutions targets aging adults affected by hair thinning, loss, and graying. Tress Express Products customers are concerned with health, energy, and wellness. They look for quick fixes that provide instant improvement. They are open to new products that save them time, make life easier, and are cost effective. Tress Express Products customers are motivated by their current life stage rather than their age. Service and low-price items are valued by them. They are less sensitive to prestige. If they feel they are purchasing a superior product at a good value they are less price conscious. Product Life Cycle Four stages exist in the product life cycle: introduction, growth, mature, and declining stage (What is Your Product Life Cycle, 2014). Each of the stages consists of action the businesses take to introduce, manufactures, and market the product to consumers. The first stages starts with product development into the consumer market. During the introduction stage, the business launches the product into the market while providing special consideration to pricing, market segmentation, branding, and promotional requirements (What is Your Product Life Cycle, 2014). Growth follows introduction as the second stage to product life cycle. During the growth stage, the company attempts to increase market share by expanding the target audience, increase product awareness, and enter additional markets (What is Your Product Life Cycle, 2014). The third stage consists of maturity. Rick Suttle characterizes maturity as the saturated stage in the product life cycle process. During the maturity stage, the competition for market share becomes fierce. Businesses adopt alternative business strategies such as lowering product prices, adding additional products into the market, or add new features into the existing product (Suttle, 2014). The decline stage completes the product life cycle process. During the decline stage, the product becomes obsolete and irrelevant. The company can either add new features to the product to entice customer to return or discontinue production. The demand for hair loss treatment products has increased over the years. The increasing demand presents an opportunity for a company to introduce a new product into the market. However, introducing a new product into the market presents various challenges for a business especially if the industry has a leading product provider such as Rogaine. The company needs to plan and monitor the life cycle process to ensure product longevity. Following the four stages of product life cycle with special consideration to product, place, price, and promotion provides a guide to ensure a position and sufficient share in the market. Introducing a hair loss product into the market serves a vital role to the company’s success. The plan requires aggressive medical research, testing, and promotion to ensure product meets consumer expectations. The company needs to focus on product differentiation to distinguish the product from its competitors. Furthermore, the company needs to conduct price comparison with leading  competitors to establish the selling price. The price needs to accommodate the targeted consumer in the introduction phase. Furthermore, the promotion of the product requires an aggressive approach by incorporating multi-media means such as social networking, media advertising, and printing. Growing market shares extends the life of the product. The product life cycle characterized growth as the expansion of the product. The company can accomplish growth by either extending product awareness through additional promotional objectives or expanding product qualities. However, the company needs to examine before undertaking endeavors intended to increase growth. The endeavors may increase the cost of the product that will translate to price increase that will have a negative effect to revenues. During the maturity stage the market becomes saturated with other competitors. If the market demands remained constant and suppliers increases, the demand for company’s hair loss product may decrease. During this stage, the company needs to undertake drastic changes in order to prevent decline. The company needs to reinvest on research and development to introduce new products or increase product differentiation. Furthermore, the company needs to increase its consumer reach or lower the price without compromising the quality of the product to gain market advantage over its competitors. The decline stage ends the product life cycle process. During the decline stage, the company re-invents its product to gain any possible momentum. A study of the market also serves vital to determine if the market remain profitable. The company can end its product manufacturing during the decline stage and sells remaining products in preparation for the end. Product Offering Tress Express Products offers low cost emergency cosmetic hair care solutions. Tress Express currently offers three products to combat gray hair. The Gray Blaster Pen, a gray cover up applicator pen, Gray Away Hair Spray conceals thin spots, and Hairline Concealer kit fills in the hairline with the use of makeup brushes and a palette of hair concealer powders. Tress Express is introducing a new hair dye product called Gray Away Henna Dye. Gray Away Henna Dye is an all-natural hair dye that bonds with your hair and specialty herbs condition the hair and scalp. This product will be available in six hair colors. The hair colors will be black, light brown,  red, auburn, blonde, and dark brown. Developing a natural hair dye product, will appeal to the eco-friendly consumers. The branding will be consistent with the current products developed by Tress Express Product to include logo and company tag line. The Gray Away Henna Dye will be packaged in a box featuring the hair color contained within the box. The box will also emphasize the â€Å"All-Natural† tagging. This product is along the lines of competitive or substitute henna dyes on the market, but Tress Express’s henna dye is safe to mix with other colors and nourishes as it colors. No warranties or guarantees will be offered. This product will provide another low cost option to our emergency cosmetic hair care solutions. Positioning Statement and Justification Thinning and balding hair is a natural occurrence that affects both men and women of all ages. Tress Express caters to everyone who faces hair loss challenges. Tress Express is the first choice for emergency hair solutions. Tress Express is positioned as the premier hair emergency solution that provides quick and easy hair balding products that are cost effective. Tress Express hair care products provide the simplest and most cost effective solutions for thinning hair. Tress Express was created to assist both men and women with achieving their best look. With Tress Express anyone can eliminate embarrassment in an instant. Tress Express will help to create a polished impeccable image for all of its customers. With Tress Express in seconds your appearance will make a lasting impression. Tress Express prides itself on restoring a youthful look and boosting confidence through concealing problem spots for both men and women. Our products can help anyone achieve the appearance of full natural looking hair. References Statisticbrian.com 2014. Hair Loss Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.statisticbrain.com/hair- loss-statistics/ Suttle, R. 2014. Four Stages of a Product Life Cycle. Retrieved on November 2, 2014 from: http://www.ehow.com/info_8123597_four-stages-product-life-cycle.html What is Your Product Life Cycle. 2014. Retrieved on November 2, 2014 from: http://www.more-for-small-business.com/product-life-cycle.html

Ruther-Fraud B. Hayes

â€Å"Hayes was never a solitary, a boy of moods,† wrote biographer H. J. Eckenrode. â€Å"He had no seasons of exaltation followed by depression†¦ All his life he liked society and shone in it in a modest way – not sparkling, not brilliant, but pleasing, satisfying. He had a gift of friendship and most of those he loved in youth he loved in age. † As a young man, however, Hayes went through a period of great inner tension, which he himself attributed to a fear that he would one day lose his mind, as some relatives, on both sides of his family, had done. Overcoming this fear, he matured into a relaxed, easy-going fellow, a good conversationalist, and a keen observer of human nature. He genuinely loved people and was interested in their thoughts and problems. When travelling by train, he invariably sat in the smoking car, eager to strike up a conversation. He had a remarkable memory for the names and faces of the most casual acquaintances. As a politician he respected the opposition and welcomed constructive criticism. Although not regarded as a great orator in his day, he delivered well-planned, reasoned, addresses in a clear, pleasant voice. the honor of success is increased by the obstacles which are to be surmounted. Let me triumph as a man or not at all. † – Rutherford B Hayes Honor, eh? Quite ironic considering that he â€Å"triumphed† in the presidential election by making a sleazy political deal and abandoning black Southerners to decades of oppression and discrimination, causing him to be known to history as â€Å"Ruther-Fraud B. Hayes. † Pros-He signed a law which made it easier for Chinese Immigrants to come into the country (this was repealed with the Exclusion Act). He tied the value of the dollar to gold instead of silver. He supported Reconstruction (After the Civil War). Cons-Great Railroad Strike greatly affected his presidency. Dealt with Conflicts with Native American Tribes. Election Results are disputed There is much more to him. If you are doing a project look more into him, and the United States in general in the late 1800's. Hayes' journal and his emphasis on self-improvement in the journal, along with his strong favor for black suffrage as a congressman in 1867 all lead me to believe that the answer is, â€Å"no†. He was not racist towards blacks Significant events: Munn v. Illinois, 94 U. S. 113 (1876)[1], was a United States Supreme Court case dealing with corporate rates and agriculture. The Munn v. Illinois case allowed states to regulate certain businesses within their borders, including railroads. The Great Railroad Strike of 1877 began on July 14 in Martinsburg, West Virginia, United States and ended some 45 days later after it was put down by local and state militias, as well as by federal troops. Hayes essentially sold out his ideals to the former Confederacy in order to gain the Presidency. He allowed the former Confederate states to return to governing themselves almost the same exact way they had been doing prior to the Civil War. This essentially set the Civil Rights movement back for almost a century, as many â€Å"Jim Crow† Laws were passed to ensure that blacks and other minorities could not rise to the same equality as whites, laws which were enforced in the Supreme Court case of Plessy v. Fergusson, which established the â€Å"separate but equal† mantra, and later overturned in the case of Brown v. the Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas. During his presidency, Hayes signed a number of bills including one signed on February 15, 1879 which, for the first time, allowed female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court of the United States

Unleashing India’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Potential

Unleashing India’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Potential India has been one of the best performers in the world economy in recent years. Indian economy has been one of the stars of global economics growing 9. 6% in 2006 and 9. 2% in 2007. Growth had been supported by market reforms, capital inflows of FDI, rising foreign exchange reserves, both an IT and real estate boom, and a flourishing capital market. Like rest of the world, however, India is also facing testing economic times (economic recessesion) with inflation running at 11%, the highest level seen in a decade . The Indian stock market has fallen more than 40% in six months from its January 2008 high. $6 billion of foreign funds have flowed out of the country in that period, reacting both to slowdown in economic growth and perceptions that the market was over-valued. It’s high time we recognize the growing significance and visible impact of Entrepreneurship and innovation on wealth-creation and employment-generation in India. INNOVATON: Innovation is a process to achieve measurable value enhancement in any commercial activity, through introduction of new or improved goods, services, operational and organizational processes. It is a significant factor in fostering competitiveness, improvement in market share and quality. It reduces costs . Innovation is a key driver of economic growth. It is both creation, commercialization of new knowledge and diffusion and absorption of existing knowledge in new locations. Growth, accompanied by innovations, has been associated with rising living standards and a reduced number of poor people. India is increasingly becoming a top global innovator for high-tech products and services. Still, the country is under performing compared to its innovation potential which has direct implications for long-term industrial competitiveness and economic growth. About 90 % of Indian workforce is employed in the informal sector. This sector is often characterized by underemployment, low-productivity and low-skill activities. Although India has the benefit of a dynamic young population , with more than half of the country’s population under 25 years old, only 17 percent of people in their id-20s and older have a secondary education. To uphold rapid growth and help alleviate poverty, India needs to aggressively exploit its innovation potential, relying on innovation-led, rapid and inclusive growth to achieve economic & social transformation . According to one of the findings the output of economy could increase more than five folds if each enterprise could absorb knowledge existing in India and achieve the level of productivity of top enterprises in their sector. By applying knowledge in new ways to production processes, better and new products can be produced with the same or fewer inputs to meet the needs of all sections of Indian society. The very popular â€Å"Dabbawala† system is an innovative business process which allows 4,500–5,000 semiliterate Dabbawalas to deliver almost 200,000 lunches to workers every day in Mumbai. The Dabbawalas reportedly make one mistake per 6 million deliveries. So remarkable is this delivery network that international business schools have studied the work flows of the Dabbawala system to understand the key to its stellar performance rating. To unleash its innovation potential, India needs to develop following strategies: > > Increasing level of competition to improve the investment climate, supported by stronger skills, better information infrastructure and more public and private finance. Recommended actions to raise competition include removing regulations which are not essential and applying essential ones more transparently in product, land, labor, capital, and infrastructure services markets—for example, easing limits on small industries, restrictions on foreign direct investment (FDI) etc. Limited skills and training are a major bottleneck. Only 16 percent of Indian manufacturing firms offer in-service training, compared with 92 percent in China . The Indian firms that provide in-service training are 23–28 percent more productive than those that do not. This bottleneck could be overcome (i) by providing public matching funds for firms to invest in training and (ii) increasing the fiscal and managerial autonomy of universities and colleges, and increasing private participation in higher education. Better information flows are needed: high-speed national research and education networks accelerate the pace of new discoveries and the expansion of knowledge. Information-related actions could include expediting the allocation of radio and wireless broadband spectrums, increasing targeted subsidies for rolling out rural mobile and broadband, and agreeing on an organizational structure to deploy and manage a national research and education network. gt;> India can benefi t from supporting efforts to create and commercialize knowledge, help in diffusing existing global and local knowledge and by increasing the capacity of smaller enterprises to engross it. Private enterprises need to increase R&D spending. Between 1998 and 2003, multinational corporations spent $1. 3 billion on R&D in India—showing that its valuable assets could be exploited more effectively. Measures to spur private R&D could include consolidating and expanding early-stage technology development programs as well as developing a policy and action plan to use public procurement to promote innovation. New domestic knowledge needs to be converted to commercial use. Of the top50 applicants for patents in India between 1995 and 2005, 44 were foreign firms. Only six were Indian. Actions to promote commercialization and strengthen links among industry, universities and public laboratories could include providing support to technology transfer offices, creating a patent management corporation, developing technology parks and incubators and improving India’s regime for intellectual property rights. India should also consider enhancing support for higher-risk technology R&D and commercialization by strengthening its New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative and by opening the program to international collaboration and giving grants to both research institutions and private enterprises, with sharing of any resulting royalties. The Diaspora needs to be tapped more effectively. About 20 million people i. e. 2 percent India’s population earn the equivalent of two-third of India’s GDP. Steps to tap more efficiently tap India’s overseas talent could include supporting a larger Diaspora network, building on existing groups that aggregate this population’s (NRIs’) talent and capital for use in India. >> India would benefit from fostering more inclusive innovation—by promoting more formal R&D efforts for poor people and more creative proletariat efforts by them, by improving the ability of informal enterprises to exploit existing knowledge. Inclusive innovation can play a critical role in lowering the costs of goods and services and in creating income-earning opportunities for poor people. The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research has developed technology applications for rural India, university and formal private initiatives e. g. e-Choupal. To leverage traditional knowledge into revenue, a policy-oriented intellectual property rights think tank could propose how to implement a cheaper intellectual property regime. Finally, successful technology upgrading programs could be extended to help informal and rural enterprises make better use of existing knowledge. ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Entrepreneurship represents a mindset. It is the skill of finding creative, innovative and profitable solutions to problems and to be paradigm pliant. An entrepreneur is someone who assumes the financial risk of the initiation, operation and management of a business. They aren't generally high-risk takers when they can't affect the outcome of the situation. They tend to set realistic and achievable goals, and when they do take risks, they're usually calculated ones based on facts and experience, rather than instincts. Entrepreneurs are participants not observers, players not fans. And to be an entrepreneur is to be an optimist, to believe that with the right amount of time and resources, you can do anything. Why is the US more prosperous than India? Is it because we Indians are less smart than Americans? No, Indians are universally known for their intelligence. Is it because they have greater resources? No, India is as much if not more rich in natural resources. Then, why is the US more prosperous than India? The US is more prosperous simply because they have more entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs have a big role to play in driving India’s growth. With a slower economy, it is vital that government; academic world and regulatory bodies create a favourable environment for entrepreneurs to flourish. Entrepreneurship is a critical element of a growth economy and India is poised to unlock a Silicon Valley like entrepreneurial boom through the next 10 years. If India needs to eradicate poverty, we have to grow. To grow, we have to employ the unemployed. NASSCOM and CII have estimated that if India wants to be a developed country by 2020, it needs to create 10 million jobs. The million-dollar question is how these jobs are going to be created. Neither the Army nor the police force can soak up such a large number, nor can the Railways or the government. They can only be engrossed by the private sector. The industrial set-up is expanding, but not at the rate that can employ such large numbers. Is there any solution to this grave problem? Fortunately, YES, the answer is entrepreneurship. As per TiE (The IndUS Entrepreneurs- a non-profit organization, promoting entrepreneurship) each entrepreneur creates 30 jobs. An entrepreneur creates jobs, setting stage for a flourishing economy. Over 30% of Microsoft employees are Indians. The NASA relies on Indian brains for its various missions. IIT graduates are considered the worlds brightest. Why do these people flock to the US, simply because the US has more opportunities? What can we do to stop this self-ruining brain drain? The answer lies in promoting entrepreneurship. The beginnings are already in place, steps have been taken in the right direction. There is an overall shortage of start-up entrepreneurs in India compared to the rest of the world. One of the most significant deficiencies an Indian entrepreneur may face revolves around capital. Although there is ample willingness to invest capital in a well-established enterprise, there is little willingness to fund start-ups. The quality and quantity of venture capital in India is low. The benefits of entrepreneurship to the society and the economy as a whole are enormous. Entrepreneurship helps in avoidance of monopolies and cartels and help in checking large corporations and MNCs. Entrepreneurs realize the tremendous demand for goods abroad and help to market the surplus. This will make the Indian market export competitive and at the same time, the MADE IN INIDIA brand more acceptable. The surplus footstock which would have been otherwise rotting in the government storehouse, can be exported, thus earning foreign exchange. The government gets rid of the excess stock while the exporter earns revenue, leading to a win-win situation. An important factor influencing FDI, from developed nations to developing nations is the concentration of entrepreneurship. FDI is directly proportional to entrepreneurship. The highest contributor of FDI is the US. The US readily welcomes Indian exports and also lists Indian companies on American exchanges. No wonder NASDAQ rocks on the beats of Infosys Chairman, NR Narayan Murthy. So, the message is clear; we need more entrepreneurs. It is high time, the government realizes that only and only ntrepreneurship can help it grow at the high rate and rethinks its policies. To unleash its entrepreneurship potential, India needs to develop the following strategies Nurture early stage entrepreneurial ventures based on technology and innovation. Create physical infrastructure and support systems necessary for business incubation activities. Facilitate networking with professional resources that include mentors, experts, consultants and advisors for the incubated companies. Identify technologies/ innovations which have potential for commercial ventures. Promote and foster the spirit of entrepreneurship. Carry out activities that facilitate knowledge creation, innovation and entrepreneurship activities.