Having Fun Essay

The story is about Diane and Neil’s relationship. Diane is a beautiful smart girl who is very shy of moving too fast in her relationship with Neil. Diane is just turning 18 years old when she decides to take on a holiday with Neil. Neil is her boyfriend. She is arguing with her mom about that she is old enough for going away alone. She loves Neil but doesn’t want to get married in the start of the story. She wants to be a model but know how hard it is so she decides to get an education first. In the story Diane moves from not getting married before she is older to get married with Neil as 18 years old. She also is more grown up in the end of the story. In the start of the story Diane is thinking about party and having fun, but suddenly when she find out that Neil doesn’t want to wait for her to grow up she realize that she love him and want to start a family and get married. The reason why she grows up is that while she is having fun on the hotel one of the employees are becoming interested in Diane and want to learn more about her. Neil doesn’t like that so he gets mad and leaves her. And then Diane finds out that she wants to get married with Neil because she doesn’t want to end up like her mother. Diane’s Mother lost her husband after getting pregnant so that’s the reason why Diane doesn’t want to have sex before she is sure the guy truly loves her. Neil is more like the fast forward type he loves Diane so much he doesn’t want to wait with marriage. He is not shy and wants to make love with Diane and start a family fast. He is blond hair and got good style. I think he is very romantic and charming to the girls. The end of the story is that Neil and Diane end up getting married. I think that’s a good end and it shows us a lot of that we should take some chances and hope for the best in the persons we love. I think the story is like in all the girls’ movie you see they live happy and then they become angry on each other but in the end they become friends and start a family together. The story is a great because I think a lot of people live the same life as them. A lots of kids don’t know what they want with their life and today you need to find out before you are even 18 years old. I think it is good with this story to show the kids that it will be hard and you should take your time and not just rush into things you don’t want to do. You going to live like that for your whole life.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: Before the Dark Hour

A quote from the boy in the striped pyjamas â€Å"Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows. † This quote states that when you are a kid you do not know much about reason or understand sarcasm and things like that and so the other part of the quote means that instead of reason a child understands only what they see for themselves of what people have told them. This quote is not appropriate for the film because in the film Bruno goes and see a film clip made by the Germans as a joke.And even after seeing it, all the men in the room are laughing about it he still did not understand what was actually going on. So this quote is not appropriate because as the quote says, â€Å"childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights,† and Bruno is not the only child in the movie. Bruno’s sister is only a little bit older than him and she believes everything completely. This quote is inappropriate for this film bec ause the quote says, â€Å"Before the dark hour of reason grows† and in the film when Bruno and Gretel got the tutor, it was hard to see that Gretel is older than him and she got brainwashed.To see a kid who is younger than her not get brainwashed even though the quote says that before the dark hour of reason grows, showing that this quote is inappropriate. This quote fits nicely for the film because the film is about a child who is gullible and thinks that everything that he is told or has seen is true hands down until proven otherwise. So the film is good because he does not understand reason and because he only understands what he experiences over what is logical and obviously right to someone older like his sister.This quote is appropriate for the film because at the end of the quote it says â€Å"before the dark hour of reason grows. † That part of the film is very fitting because all of the adults even the big sister who is only a bit older than Bruno knows the t ruth about the ‘farm. ’ At the end of the film when the adults come looking for Bruno, Mother tries not to listen to reason that something has happened to Bruno that would result in the end of his life. So that is the part of the film that most fits the end of the quote that I mentioned. Childhood is measured out by sounds and smells and sights, before the dark hour of reason grows. † When you think about the quote and look at the points for and against it being appropriate there are more valid reasons for the quote to be considered a good fit for the film. I personally think that he quote is fitting for the film because when you watch the movie and then read the quote you can see all of the similarities between the movie and the quote. By Emma Fletcher

Business System Analysis and Design Notes

Skills by System Analyst:Working knowledge of information technology(The analyst must be aware of both existing and emerging information technologies),Computer programming, experience and expertise,General business knowledge,General problem-solving skills,Good interpersonal communication skills,Good interpersonal relations skills,Flexibility and adaptability,Character and ethics. Info sys architecture:provides a foundation for organizing various components of any info sys you care to develop. a unifying framework into which various stakeholders with different perspectives can organize and view the fundamental building blocks of information systems. Views of knowledge System owners view: Interested not in raw data but in information. (Business entities and business rules) System users’view: View data as something recorded on forms,stored in file cabinets,recorded in books and spreadsheets,or stored on computer. Focus on business issues as they pertain to data. Data requirement System designers’ view: Data structures,database schemas,fields,indexes,and constraints of particular database management system (DBMS). System builders’ view: SQL,DBMS or other data technologies Views of process System owners’view:Concerned with high-level processes called business functions. A cross-functional information system System users’view:Concerned with work that must be performed to provide the appropriate responses to business events. Business processes,Process requirements,Policy,Procedure, Work flow System designers’view:Concerned with which processes to automate and how to automate them. Software specifications System builders’view:Concerned with programming logic that implements automated processes. Application program,Prototyping Views of communication System owners’ view: Who? Where? What? System users’ view: Concerned with the information system’s inputs and outputs. System designers’ view: Concerned with the technical design of both the user and the system-to-system communication interfaces. System builders’ view: Concerned with the construction, installation, testing and implementation of user and system-to-system interface solutions *Basic principles of system development: Get the system users involved. Use a problem-solving approach. Establish phases and activities. Document through development. Establish standards. Manage the process and projects. Justify systems as capital investments. Don’t be afraid to cancel or revise scope. Divide and conquer. Design systems for growth and change. The need to improve: Performance Info Eco/controlcosts Control/Security Efficiency Service Phases for system development: scope definition, problem analysis, requirements analysis, logical design, decision analysis, physical designand integration, construction and testing, installation and delivery. Cross life-cycle activity: Fact-finding, Documentation and presentation Documentation, Presentation, Repository), Feasibility analysis, Process and project management Routes through the basic systems development phases: model driven development strategies (process, data, object modeling), Rapid application development (RAD), commercial application package implementation, system maintenance *Benefits of use case modeling: Provides tool for capturing functional requirements. Assists in decomposing system into man ageable pieces. Provides means of communicating with users/stakeholders concerning system functionality in language they understand. Provides means of identifying, assigning, tracking, controlling, and management system development activities. Provides aid in estimating project scope, effort, and schedule. The relationships that can appear on a use-case model diagram: Use case association relationship, extension use case, abstract use case, depends on, inheritance Use case – a behaviorally related sequence of steps (scenario), both automated and manual, for the purpose of completing a single business task. Steps for preparing a use-case model: Identify business actors. Identify business use cases. Construct use-case model diagram. Documents business requirements use-case narratives *Data modeling(database modeling)–a technique for organizing and documenting a system’s data. Data Modeling Concepts:Entity(class of persons, places, objects, events, or concepts about which we need to capture and store data),Attribute(descriptive property or characteristic of an entity. Synonyms include element, property and field), Data type(property of an attribute that identifies what type of data can be stored in that attribute),Domain(a property of an attribute that defines what values an attribute can legitimately take on),Default value(the value that will be recorded if a value is not specified by the user),Key(an attribute, or a group of attributes, that assumes a unique value for each entity instance. It is sometimes called an identifier),Subsetting criteria(an attribute whose finite values divide all entity instances into useful subsets. Sometimes called an inversion entry),Relationship(a natural business association that exists between one or more entities),Cardinality(the minimum and maximum number of occurrences of one entity that may be related to a single occurrence of the other entity),Degree(the number of entities that participate in the relationship),Recursive relationship(a relationship that exists between instances of the same entity),Foreign key(a primary key of an entity that is used in another entity to identify instances of a relationship),Parent entity(a data entity that contributes one or more attributes to another entity, called the child. In a one-to-many relationship the parent is the entity on the â€Å"one† side),Child entity(a data entity that derives one or more attributes from another entity, called the parent. In a one-to-many relationship the child is the entity on the â€Å"many† side),Nonidentifying relationship(relationship where each participating entity has its own independent primary key), Identifying relationship – relationship in which the parent entity’ key is also part of the primary key of the child entity,Generalization(a concept wherein the attributes that are common to several types of an entity are grouped into their own entity),Nonspecific relationship(relationship where many instances of an entity are associated with many instances of another entity. Also called many-to-many relationship) ,Sample CASE Tool Notations Entity relationship diagram (ERD):a data model utilizing several notations to depict data in terms of the entities and relationships described by that data. Logical Model Development Stages:1Context Data model(Includes only entities and relationships;To establish project scope). 2Key-based data model(Eliminate nonspecific relationships;Add associative entities;Include primary and alternate keys;Precise cardinalities). Fully attributed data model(All remaining attributes;Subsetting criteria). 4Normalized data model Normalize a logical data model to remove impurities that can make a database unstable, inflexible, and nonscalable. First normal form (1NF):entity whose attributes have no more than one value for a single instance of that entity,Any attributes that can have multiple values actually describe a separate entity, possibly an entity and relationship. Second normal form (2NF):entity whose nonprimary-key attributes are dependent on the full primary key,Any nonkey attributes dependent on only part of the primary key should be moved to entity where that partial key is the full key,May require creating a new entity and relationship on the model. Third normal form (3NF):entity whose nonprimary-key attributes are not dependent on any other non-primary key attributes. *Model:pictorial representation of reality. Logical model:nontechnical pictorial representation that depicts what a system is or does. Physical model:technical pictorial representation that depicts what a system is or does and how the system is implemented Process modeling:a technique used to organize and document a system’s processes. (Flow of data through processes,Logic,Policies,Procedures) Data flow diagram (DFD):a process model used to depict the flow of data through a system and the work or processing performed by the system. Synonyms are bubble chart, transformation graph, and process model. The DFD has also become a popular tool for business process redesign. Processes on DFDs can operate in parallel (at-the-same-time). DFDs show the flow of data through a system. Processes on a DFD can have dramatically different timing (daily, weekly, on demand) Context data flow diagram:a process model used to document the scope for a system. Also called the environmental model. Think of the system as a â€Å"black box. â€Å"2Ask users what business transactions the system must respond to. These are inputs, and the sources are external agents. 3Ask users what responses must be produced by the system. These are outputs, and the destinations are external agents. 4Identify any external data stores, if any. 5Draw a context diagram. Decomposition diagram:a tool used to depict the decomposition of a system. Also called hierarchy chart. Business System Analysis and Design Notes Skills by System Analyst:Working knowledge of information technology(The analyst must be aware of both existing and emerging information technologies),Computer programming, experience and expertise,General business knowledge,General problem-solving skills,Good interpersonal communication skills,Good interpersonal relations skills,Flexibility and adaptability,Character and ethics. Info sys architecture:provides a foundation for organizing various components of any info sys you care to develop. a unifying framework into which various stakeholders with different perspectives can organize and view the fundamental building blocks of information systems. Views of knowledge System owners view: Interested not in raw data but in information. (Business entities and business rules) System users’view: View data as something recorded on forms,stored in file cabinets,recorded in books and spreadsheets,or stored on computer. Focus on business issues as they pertain to data. Data requirement System designers’ view: Data structures,database schemas,fields,indexes,and constraints of particular database management system (DBMS). System builders’ view: SQL,DBMS or other data technologies Views of process System owners’view:Concerned with high-level processes called business functions. A cross-functional information system System users’view:Concerned with work that must be performed to provide the appropriate responses to business events. Business processes,Process requirements,Policy,Procedure, Work flow System designers’view:Concerned with which processes to automate and how to automate them. Software specifications System builders’view:Concerned with programming logic that implements automated processes. Application program,Prototyping Views of communication System owners’ view: Who? Where? What? System users’ view: Concerned with the information system’s inputs and outputs. System designers’ view: Concerned with the technical design of both the user and the system-to-system communication interfaces. System builders’ view: Concerned with the construction, installation, testing and implementation of user and system-to-system interface solutions *Basic principles of system development: Get the system users involved. Use a problem-solving approach. Establish phases and activities. Document through development. Establish standards. Manage the process and projects. Justify systems as capital investments. Don’t be afraid to cancel or revise scope. Divide and conquer. Design systems for growth and change. The need to improve: Performance Info Eco/controlcosts Control/Security Efficiency Service Phases for system development: scope definition, problem analysis, requirements analysis, logical design, decision analysis, physical designand integration, construction and testing, installation and delivery. Cross life-cycle activity: Fact-finding, Documentation and presentation Documentation, Presentation, Repository), Feasibility analysis, Process and project management Routes through the basic systems development phases: model driven development strategies (process, data, object modeling), Rapid application development (RAD), commercial application package implementation, system maintenance *Benefits of use case modeling: Provides tool for capturing functional requirements. Assists in decomposing system into man ageable pieces. Provides means of communicating with users/stakeholders concerning system functionality in language they understand. Provides means of identifying, assigning, tracking, controlling, and management system development activities. Provides aid in estimating project scope, effort, and schedule. The relationships that can appear on a use-case model diagram: Use case association relationship, extension use case, abstract use case, depends on, inheritance Use case – a behaviorally related sequence of steps (scenario), both automated and manual, for the purpose of completing a single business task. Steps for preparing a use-case model: Identify business actors. Identify business use cases. Construct use-case model diagram. Documents business requirements use-case narratives *Data modeling(database modeling)–a technique for organizing and documenting a system’s data. Data Modeling Concepts:Entity(class of persons, places, objects, events, or concepts about which we need to capture and store data),Attribute(descriptive property or characteristic of an entity. Synonyms include element, property and field), Data type(property of an attribute that identifies what type of data can be stored in that attribute),Domain(a property of an attribute that defines what values an attribute can legitimately take on),Default value(the value that will be recorded if a value is not specified by the user),Key(an attribute, or a group of attributes, that assumes a unique value for each entity instance. It is sometimes called an identifier),Subsetting criteria(an attribute whose finite values divide all entity instances into useful subsets. Sometimes called an inversion entry),Relationship(a natural business association that exists between one or more entities),Cardinality(the minimum and maximum number of occurrences of one entity that may be related to a single occurrence of the other entity),Degree(the number of entities that participate in the relationship),Recursive relationship(a relationship that exists between instances of the same entity),Foreign key(a primary key of an entity that is used in another entity to identify instances of a relationship),Parent entity(a data entity that contributes one or more attributes to another entity, called the child. In a one-to-many relationship the parent is the entity on the â€Å"one† side),Child entity(a data entity that derives one or more attributes from another entity, called the parent. In a one-to-many relationship the child is the entity on the â€Å"many† side),Nonidentifying relationship(relationship where each participating entity has its own independent primary key), Identifying relationship – relationship in which the parent entity’ key is also part of the primary key of the child entity,Generalization(a concept wherein the attributes that are common to several types of an entity are grouped into their own entity),Nonspecific relationship(relationship where many instances of an entity are associated with many instances of another entity. Also called many-to-many relationship) ,Sample CASE Tool Notations Entity relationship diagram (ERD):a data model utilizing several notations to depict data in terms of the entities and relationships described by that data. Logical Model Development Stages:1Context Data model(Includes only entities and relationships;To establish project scope). 2Key-based data model(Eliminate nonspecific relationships;Add associative entities;Include primary and alternate keys;Precise cardinalities). Fully attributed data model(All remaining attributes;Subsetting criteria). 4Normalized data model Normalize a logical data model to remove impurities that can make a database unstable, inflexible, and nonscalable. First normal form (1NF):entity whose attributes have no more than one value for a single instance of that entity,Any attributes that can have multiple values actually describe a separate entity, possibly an entity and relationship. Second normal form (2NF):entity whose nonprimary-key attributes are dependent on the full primary key,Any nonkey attributes dependent on only part of the primary key should be moved to entity where that partial key is the full key,May require creating a new entity and relationship on the model. Third normal form (3NF):entity whose nonprimary-key attributes are not dependent on any other non-primary key attributes. *Model:pictorial representation of reality. Logical model:nontechnical pictorial representation that depicts what a system is or does. Physical model:technical pictorial representation that depicts what a system is or does and how the system is implemented Process modeling:a technique used to organize and document a system’s processes. (Flow of data through processes,Logic,Policies,Procedures) Data flow diagram (DFD):a process model used to depict the flow of data through a system and the work or processing performed by the system. Synonyms are bubble chart, transformation graph, and process model. The DFD has also become a popular tool for business process redesign. Processes on DFDs can operate in parallel (at-the-same-time). DFDs show the flow of data through a system. Processes on a DFD can have dramatically different timing (daily, weekly, on demand) Context data flow diagram:a process model used to document the scope for a system. Also called the environmental model. Think of the system as a â€Å"black box. â€Å"2Ask users what business transactions the system must respond to. These are inputs, and the sources are external agents. 3Ask users what responses must be produced by the system. These are outputs, and the destinations are external agents. 4Identify any external data stores, if any. 5Draw a context diagram. Decomposition diagram:a tool used to depict the decomposition of a system. Also called hierarchy chart.

Patch Adams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Patch Adams - Essay Example Patch Adams, directed by Tom Shadyac, is a film about this concept. It is about a doctor who does recognize the emotional and spiritual needs of patients with physical illnesses, and how he is successful in the medical world despite a lot of opposition. Shadyac compares and contrasts Patch Adams with the other, more traditional doctors portrayed in the film, to show Adams as an ideal doctor, who is breaking new ground with his non-traditional beliefs about the way doctors should interact with their patients. While there are plenty of good doctors out there who genuinely care for their patients, many people who study medicine are motivated by money. Such people are not necessarily concerned with the needs of their clients. For instance, in Shadyac's movie, a mother is desperate to visit her sick daughter in the hospital room where she is dying. Even though her daughter needs to see a doctor as quickly as possible and her mother wants to be with her to take care of her, hospital policy requires her to finish all the paperwork before her daughter can get proper medical attention. Hospitals often want to make sure that clients have enough money to pay the doctors before they "waste" the time of a physician. People often feel that hospitals and physicians are motivated by money rather than the desire to help people, and for this reason find it difficult to trust their doctor's words. In extreme cases people might see two or three doctors because they find it difficult to trust in them. In telling the story of Patch Adams, Shadyac challenges this view, portraying Adams as a different kind of doctor. He believes in treating the whole person rather than just their physical symptoms, a view which is very different from the one that most doctors hold. He believes in giving people the best care he has to offer. Shadyac uses the house that Patch Adams built as the symbol for this idea and the focal point of the film. The house that Adams builds is a free hospital, a place where "people will come from all over the world to fulfill their dream of helping others, where learning is the highest aim, where love is the ultimate goal." Adams' hospital is a place where all patients are welcome regardless of how much or how little money they can pay, and it is a house with "with no boss or title." Another issue that Shadyac examines in Patch Adams is the balance of power in hospitals - how doctors have it, and patients do not. In the small hospital society, the people who have power are defined by their clothes. The people who wear the long white coats have the greatest power and authority. Shadyac shows how physicians use their power by showing what they think of themselves, for example, a doctor in the film says "Physicians are business men. Patients need doctors to give them prescriptions. They don't need doctors to be their friends." This kind of attitude creates a gap between patients and doctors and makes it hard for patients to see doctors as helpful or caring. Patch Adams believes in the absolute opposite of this. He does not take advantage of the fact that he holds more power than his patients do - to him, "power is [when you]see what no one else sees, see what everyone else chooses not to seesee the whole world anew each day." Adams becomes a doctor because he wants

The United States Prohibition of Alcohol Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The United States Prohibition of Alcohol - Essay Example The law of prohibition does not include the consumption and carrying of alcohol. As a result of this prohibition, the era faced a difficult time which was full of social unbalances. The illegal alcohol became the high income commodity that lead to the black marketing business during that period. The business of the racketeer was rising without any limits, in which strong and powerful groups started corrupting the agencies responsible for the enforcement of law. The demand for alcohol got sky high as it showed great potential to get smuggled. The amount required for the enforcement of forbidden law was quite much and there were little revenues generated from the taxes i.e. $500 million collection every year from the whole U.S. that inversely impacted the economy and government exchequers. In 1933, the law of prohibition of alcohol got reversed through the implementation of 21st Amendment in the constitution. The black market group ultimately lost their shares in the illegal activity i n every state of U.S as each state was enjoying the right to place their own developed rules and laws to counter the use of alcohol and the legal stores were introduced to sell the economical priced alcohol. The illicit criminal groups found it difficult to sustain their profits and started the more dangerous criminal activity by dealing in other products like narcotics and drugs. Not just the formal legal control over the use of alcohol, the colonial America had some informal majors of controlling the consumption of liquor at home and social grounds in the community by maintaining the ideals that use of alcohol is bad and not at all acceptable. It was quite clear in the minds of the people that alcohol is from the God but the negative aspects are derived from the devil along. Therefore, anyone found guilty of consuming alcohol will be punished by God and it is condemned at a greater scale. In case of failure for informal controlling techniques, the legal method was used to counter the effects. The violation was no doubt happening in U.S but the normal sobriety of the people reveals the improvement of the controlling system from formal and informal levels for the population that intakes over 3 gallon of alcohol/ person each annum. This statistic is much higher than the current rate of using alcohol. There were some details that were given by the medical experts. Dr Benjamin Rush, a psychiatrist of the 18th century stated that during the period of 1784, that high consumption of (r is harmful for the physical health as well as physiological health. His idea was related to the moderate consumption instead of complete forbidden (Gerritsen 165). Under the influence of the revelation of Benjamin rush, 200 farmers of Connecticut community created an association in 1789. Same kinds of formations were developed in other states like Virginia in 1800 and in network in 1808. In the next ten years, other associations were formed in more than eight states of U.S. out of whi ch there were some that were accepted to the state level. In 1840, the prohibition movement or dry movement was initiated and expanded by the pietistic religious dominations; the most important one was the Methodists (Gann 358). During the years of 1830 and 1840, most of the associations that were formed started believing in the fact that the only way to avoid the state

Effects of Discrimination and Reverse Discrimination in United States Research Paper

Effects of Discrimination and Reverse Discrimination in United States Politics - Research Paper Example During a recent address to Congress, a Republican Representative Joe Wilson (South Carolina) shouted â€Å"you lie!† at the President when he said that undocumented workers would not receive free healthcare as part of the Administration’s healthcare overhaul. This sort of behavior is unheard of during a Presidential address to Congress and the ramifications for this Representative should have been scathing. Oddly enough, they were not. CNN reports that within 24 hours, Joe Wilson had received more than $200,000 in political donations. Seeking to address the incredible amount of disrespect Barack Obama, the first African-American President of the United States, has to face now, as well as had to face while campaigning in the primaries, former President Jimmy Carter labeled the almost daily assault on President Obama as â€Å"racist†. Is racism alive and well in US politics? If so, what are the effects of discrimination and reverse discrimination on politics in thi s country? Seeking to address these questions and many more, the following will explore discrimination in politics in this country. We now turn to a thorough yet concise overview of what is meant by discrimination and reverse discrimination (CNN, 2009; BBC, 2009). Discrimination in politics is unfortunately much more prevalent than most people think. This form of discrimination means that certain groups of individuals face barriers, both hidden and overt, to their active participation and inclusion in the political theatre. Insidious yet pervasive, discrimination affects all types of people but is particularly harmful to certain group of individuals. Accordingly, people of color, women and people with disabilities face a variety of impediments to their full participation in society. With respect to employment discrimination, affirmative action has been implemented in the United States to

Connection between Neighborhood Crime and academic performance Annotated Bibliography

Connection between Neighborhood Crime and academic performance - Annotated Bibliography Example Bowen, N. K., & Bowen, G. L. (1999). Effects of crime and violence in neighborhoods and schools on the school behavior and performance of adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Research, 14(3), 319-342. doi: 10.1177/0743558499143003 This study examined the relationship between neighborhood and school violence and adolescents' behavior and academic performance. Specifically, the authors wanted to discover how violence affects student's attendance, behavior, and grades. Data on students' self-reported exposure to neighborhood and school violence was gathered from a sample of middle and high school students who completed the National School Success Profile (SSP). The SSP revealed reports of high exposure to environmental danger among African-Americans, males, high school students, school lunch recipients, and urban students. The study found that both neighborhood and school danger predicted attendance and behavior. Neighborhood danger, however, was more predictive of school outcomes than do school danger. This study contributed in the early identification of adolescents living in dangerous school and neighborhood environments. The authors suggested taking an ecological approach in assessing school environments to e ncourage excellent academic performance among adolescent students. Ceballo, R., McLoyd, V. C., & Toyokawa, T. (2004). The influence of neighborhood quality on adolescents’ educational values and school effort. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19(6), 716-739. ... Specifically, associations were found between neighborhood quality and educational values of African-American females. In addition, the study yielded gender-specific results when the model was tested separately for males and females. Dearing, E. (2004). The developmental implications of restrictive and supportive parenting across neighborhoods and ethnicities: Exceptions are the rule. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 25(5), 555-575. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2004.08.007   This study explored the effect of neighborhood crime and income on the relationship between parenting style and child behavior. Restrictive and supportive parenting styles are said to influence a child's emotional well-being and academic performance. Using a longitudinal design, elementary school-age children of African-American, European-American, and Latino-American descent were studied. Positive associations were found between restrictive parenting style and depression, and between supportive parenting s tyle and academic performance. Negative association, meanwhile, was found between restrictive parenting style and academic performance. In riskier neighborhoods, the negative effect of restrictive style in European-American children was exacerbated. On the other hand, both restrictive and supportive styles were found to be  a protective factor among African-American children in riskier neighborhoods. The results for Latino-American children were generally similar with those of African-American. The author concluded that parenting styles and neighborhood context influenced children's development. Eamon, M. K. (2005). Social-demographic, school, neighborhood, and parenting influences on the academic achievement of Latino

Word Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Word Project - Assignment Example I will also learn an instrument with the main preference being a piano as I have always wished to learn to play a piano or guitar. I love volleyball and I will be joining a sports team this summer as one of the activities I will undertake this summer. Other activities I hope to undertake this summer is to take a new exercise and join gym during the preparations or practice sessions for volleyball games. After the day’s activities, when I will not be engrossed in a novel, I would like to watch some latest action movies to unwind and relax after a tough day. I would like to organize an activity with my friends and visit a rocky place, a mountain, or a tourist destination in the vicinity and camp for three days as a means of spending time together and learning from each other. This cannot be possible during class periods and this summer will be appropriate for my friends and me. Towards the end of summer, I would like to get hold of notes and papers on the fall’s classes as a means of organizing myself and familiarizing myself for the classes before hand to avoid frustration and save on time during t he

Our Current Use of Internet Technology and Recommendations for the Essay

Our Current Use of Internet Technology and Recommendations for the Future - Essay Example Knowing fully well that this company, Dixons, is a retail company dealing in electronics, the Internet has greatly helped us in running our business. There are so many ways the Internet has helped our business, but I will talking about how it has helped the marketing department of this organization. Before adopting the Internet, millions of pounds are spent on marketing the company's products and services. Some of these spending could be justified while others were just unnecessary. The forms of advertising adopted were: direct sales, yellow pages advertising, newspaper and magazine advertising as well. Television adverts were also part of the marketing strategies adopted by the organization. Though these strategies worked, they still had their limitations and were consuming so much from the company's purse. The Internet has reduced these limitations and has also cut down the cost of marketing ever since we have been using it. By running our business on the Internet, the cost of advertising has greatly reduced. The cost of running a direct sale campaign is very alarming. Materials have to be printed, packaged in an envelope and then sent to their respective destinations. The Internet has eliminated all these expensive processes and replaced them with relatively inexpensive strategies. One of the marketing strategies we are adopting now, which is v... There are neither printing costs nor any postage stamp to be bought. It has a higher response rate that the direct sales method. The effectiveness of this method is based on the fact of reselling to those who have bought from us, the existing customers. It is conventional wisdom in the high street retail trade that it cost ten times more to attract a new customer than to keep an existing one (Bruce Durie, 2001). Whenever we make a sale, we get the email addresses of the new customer. We get in touch with them on a regular basis and then recommend some other products that may be complementary to what they have bought earlier. This has also afforded us to build relationships with the customers. When we recommend new products to them, they gladly patronize us because of the relationship we have with them. Another online promotional strategy the marketing department is using is banner advertising. The way this is done is that we have our graphics designers design banners that we can place on other people's website for a nominal fee. This is a very simple and inexpensive marketing strategy. There are several high-traffic websites who are willing to give a space on their web pages in order to generate revenue. What we do is that we find out these websites and contact their owners to find out what it will take to place our banner on their websites. We find out that the cost these webmasters charge is very cheap. The opportunity they offer all is great. For a little cost, we are able to expose our products to hundreds of thousands of people every month. This has also generated a lot of traffic to our website and has helped so much with the sales being generated. This form of advertising has greatly

Financial Management Individual Work 1 Week 12 Essay

Financial Management Individual Work 1 Week 12 - Essay Example One of the commonest features is that they at transferring production to individuals who are no longer involved in the process of production. This is a link between the present group of workers with the past workers who have reached the retirement age. Other features include the need for employees to be eligible in order to be part of a pensionable plan and varied statutory limitations that are related to the contribution and the benefit under the plan (Hustead, 2001). Another feature is that participants under the plan accrue contribution and upon attainment of the normal retirement age, they receive the vested portion of the benefits. Pension fund management involves investment of assets in order to achieve the long term goal of providing funding for retirement (Cohen, 2007). Because of the huge amount of importance that pension funds hold over the long term financial well being of the recipients, managing the fund has become very crucial in organizations. However, individuals who oversee pension funds face challenges that keep on evolving with changes in the business environment, for example, challenges driven by factors like national legislation. Another concern relates to good governance because funds need to be well run by skilled employees at the management level and there needs to be effective supervisory board. Lack of skilled employees increases the risk of mismanagement of funds which is depended on by the beneficiaries. Inflation has remained one of the major concerns when managing pension schemes. This is because pension schemes are usually exposed to a rise in inflation as most of the pension funds paid are inflation-linked. Managers need to find ways of dealing with inflation, for example, by hedging through investing in swaps and index-linked bonds. If these options are preferred, another challenge comes up where a question comes up as to whether a company wants to deal with inflation expensively because index-linked bonds and

Testing Rodolpho Essay Example for Free

Testing Rodolpho Essay Catherine doesnt get drawn in by this and goes back to testing Rodolpho; she steels herself as if she is about to say something important and the audience know something is going to happen. She asks him a question that Rodolpho doesnt answer, but he immediately attacks her about Eddie and whether it was him making her ask the question:  Catherine [steeling herself]: Tell me something. I mean just tell me, Rodolpho would you still want to do it if it turned out we had to go live in Italy? I mean just if it turned out that way. Rodolpho: This is your question or his question?  The audience can tell that Rodolpho thinks about Eddie differently now to before the boxing. Before that Eddie was like a potential uncle to him but he has now realised how much Eddie hates him, or hes aware of something that he doesnt understand.  Rodolpho takes his anger for Eddie out on Catherine and he answers her question in a way that the audience dont expect him to and shocks them. Catherine is also shocked and upset that he hasnt told her he loves her. Rodolpho attacks Catherine about Eddie:  No; I will not marry you to live in Italy. I want you to be my wife and I want to be a citizen. Tell him that, or I will. Yes [He moves about angrily.] And tell him also, and tell yourself, please, that I am not beggar, and you are not a horse, a gift, a favour for a poor immigrant.  This shows Rodolpho is upset and angry that Eddie should suggest such a thing. He is proud and frustrated that Eddie and Catherine think of him this way. As he talks Rodolpho walks about showing his frustration and anger. He still doesnt tell Catherine that he loves her although he could be playing for time. The emotion moves on and Catherine talks about Eddie and what he means to her:  Its only that I He was good to me, Rodolpho. Good. He razzes me all the time but he dont mean it. I know. I would just feel ashamed if I made him sad. Cause I always dreamt that when I got married he would be happy at the wedding, and laughin and now hes mad all the time and nasty [She is weeping.]  She doesnt understand why Eddie doesnt like Rodolpho and feels like she doesnt know Eddie anymore. The audience feel her emotion and it makes them feel sad for her. She pleads with Rodolpho to get Eddie to trust him:  Tell him youd live in Italy just tell him, and maybe he would start to trust you a little, see? Because I want him to be happy; I mean I like him, Rodolpho and I cant stand it! The audience can see she is desperate and they feel for her. They want Rodolpho to do what she wants. Rodolpho doesnt seem to take her that seriously:  Oh Catherine oh, little girl  This could be taken as if Rodolpho is protective over her or that he is taking advantage of her.  Catherine tells Rodolpho she loves him but he doesnt tell her he loves her back, making the audience wonder why he didnt:  Catherine: I love you, Rodolpho, I love you.  Rodolpho: Then why are you afraid? That hell spank you?  He is suggesting that Catherine should trust him. Catherine shows she wants someone to treat her like an adult so she can be an adult:  You dont know; nobody knows! Im not a baby; I know a lot more than people think I know. Beatrice says to be a woman, but then why dont she be a woman?  The characters are developing and Catherine doesnt understand and doesnt know what to think. She is trying to understand what is going on and what people are trying to say, but she also wants to prove herself and show she isnt a baby. Things start to get more intimate and Rodolpho relates Catherine to nature and shows what Eddie is doing to her:  Catherine. If I take in my hands a little bird. And she grows and wishes to fly. But I will not let her out of my hands because I love her so much, is it right for me to do? I dont say you must hate him; but anyway you must go, mustnt you? Catherine?  This could also be interpreted as the bird being held like Rodolpho is holding Catherine. They hold each other and Rodolpho leads her towards the bedroom, showing Catherine as being defenceless and he is protective over her. This is a dramatic movement because the audience assume they will have sex. When Eddie comes in the audience can anticipate something will happen because he comes in drunk with many bottles:  [Light rises on the street. In a moment Eddie appears. He is unsteady, drunk. He mounts the stairs. He enters the apartment, looks around, takes out a bottle from one pocket, puts it on the table. Then another bottle from another pocket, and a third from an inside pocket. He sees the pattern and cloth, goes over to it and touches it, and turns towards upstage.]  Catherine enters from the bedroom first and tries to act naturally. Eddie mockingly asks if Rodolpho has been making her a dress, making the point that he thinks Rodolpho is gay. When Rodolpho appears from the bedroom Eddie realises what might have happened and the audience feel tension because they dont know what he will do. There is a dramatic pause before Eddie tells Rodolpho to get out.  Catherine follows Rodolpho and the audience can see that her loyalty is now with him instead of Eddie and she stands by Rodolpho.  I just cant stay here no more. You know I cant. [Her sobs of pity and love for him break her composure.] Dont you know I cant? You know that, dont you? [She goes to him.] Wish me luck. [She clasps her hands prayerfully.] Oh Eddie, dont be like that! This shows her desperation because she loves Eddie and wants him to agree. She doesnt know what else to do but she has decided to be a woman. What just happened in the bedroom with Rodolpho might have helped her to make this decision.  When Eddie intimately kisses her on the mouth he is showing that she is his not Rodolphos. This is a shock to the audience and might cause them to wonder if Eddie wants a relationship with Catherine. Rodolpho pulls Eddies arm away and tells him to stop it. He is appalled by what Eddie has done and might also be jealous. He tells Eddie that Catherine will be his wife, demanding and taking control. Eddie mocks and taunts Rodolfo until Rodolpho flies at him and Eddie kisses him. This is completely unexpected and shocks the audience even more than when Eddie kisses Catherine. The audience are horrified, as is Catherine who has realised that Eddie thinks Rodolpho is gay and she doesnt know what to think. As Eddie leaves the apartment he tells Rodolpho to get out alone, threatening him. The audience are not sure if Catherine is going to go with him and it is almost left on a cliff hanger because they dont know what is going to happen. The lights go down leaving a tense atmosphere.  This scene is particularly dramatically effective because of the fast pace and suspense. There is a lot of varying emotion and the audience never know what is going to happen next.

Stand and Deliver Essay Example for Free

Stand and Deliver Essay In the movie Stand and Deliver, directed by Ramon Menendez, Mr. Escalante who starts teaching math at a poor high school meets several difficulties at the beginning of the movie. When Mr. Escalante is driving down the street on his way to Garfield High School, he begins to notice dirty walls that are full of graffiti, closed shops, gang members, and poor people. When Mr. Escalante arrives at the school, he notices that there is no order in the hallways. Such as students are late for classes, and they are disrespectful to teachers. Mr. Escalante is supposed to be a computer teacher at Garfield High School; however, he is told that this high school does not have any computers. As the result, he becomes a math teacher who is determined to â€Å"change the system and challenge the students to a higher level of achievement. † Mr. Escalante is at first not well liked by students, receiving an immense amount of laughs and tricks. The reason is that students in this high school focus more on entertainment rather than academics. All those tough situations do not defeat Mr. Escalante. He finds his way to solve them step by step. He does not react on the first day, letting the students talk back and throw paper at him. The next day he comes to class with a butcher’s knife and an apron on in order to get the class’s attention. He whacks a huge chunk of an apple out in front of the whole class, which immediately gets the students’ full attention and he begins.

The Tokugawa Ancestral Law Of Seclusion History Essay

The Tokugawa Ancestral Law Of Seclusion History Essay There is widespread agreement in traditional western and Japanese historiography of Tokugawa Japan that during the period 1630 to 1853, the Japanese empire was completely isolated from the rest of the world. Discussions have highlighted the various edicts in the 1630s which on the surface were designed with a secluding purpose in mind, yet despite evidence of the limitations in trade and access as well as the expulsion of Catholics, there is irrefutable evidence which would support an alternative viewpoint. Kazui considers that the term sakoku the most popular term to describe Japanese international relations during the Tokugawa period, since Engelbert Kaempfers works were translated, is in fact not of Japanese origin and its literal definition closing the country diverges from the facts.  [1]  The contemporary term used to refer to the policy was kaikin meaning maritime restriction, appears more applicable when considering evidence of continued trade and diplomatic relations in the period. Historians have commonly come to describe the foreign policies and practices of Tokugawa rulers as based on seclusion and the widespread usage of the term Sakoku has arguably led to the misinterpretation and generalisation of Tokugawa foreign relations. The main historical focus has been limited to the role of Christianity demonstrating an intolerance to Western religion and of the port of Nagasaki as the only window to the world during the period, yet Ronald Toby and other recent scholars have examined the issue from a broader perspective including reference to the context of Japans North East Asian relations with China, Korea and Ryukyu and other examples of maintained foreign intercourse in order to give a clear outlook of the characteristics of foreign exchange during the Edo period. Whether or not the Tokugawa Shogunate intended to seclude Japan from the rest of the world is debateable despite the fact that foreign relations were minimised, especially with Europ e. It is also considered that the fear of foreignness was actually concerned more with the West than Japans Asian neighbours. There must be an appreciation of the individual examples of foreign relations as well as the changing nature of Japans socio-cultural character as a whole. While the traditional historians of the period give evidence for the assertion that the ancestral law of seclusion was rigidly observed, there are those who outline evidence refuting the claim that sakoku defined Japans foreign relations. The cultural and socio-political make-up of Japan was defined by a neo-Confucian feudal system ruled by provincial daimyo meaning self-sufficiency and a system of self-contained policy was naturally kept to during the period. Due to the nature of Tokugawa rule, contact with the outside world was seen as unnecessary, therefore foreign relations during the Tokugawa period are traditionally discussed in terms of developments in Japans European policy. This is understandable as there are two main connecting events which are easily identifiable as practical examples of a pattern of seclusion in Tokugawa foreign relations: the expulsion of the Portuguese in 1639 and the eradication of Christianity. The period is considered to be defined by seclusion, yet this may have been due to a combination of fear concerning foreign elements in society and Bakufu concern for Japans traditional culture. The position of Christianity as a religion influenced from the outside world gradually became untena ble as it was seen as a threat to Tokugawa legitimacy. Under the policies of Shogun Hideyoshi, the success European missionaries had enjoyed in Japan from 1600, effectively ended as the dynamics of Japanese politics were altered: through anti-foreign and anti-Christian policies. The seclusion edicts led to Christianity being persecuted and finally crushed an example of the proposed Bakufu reaction against globalisation.  [2]  The further example of the ban on Portuguese entrance into Japan makes it seem as though sakoku was observed at least in terms of securing the regimes own cultural traditions. Yet by barring the Portuguese and the removal of Christian influences shows the Bakufu leaders sought to eliminate only elements of unchecked intercourse such as the fear of foreign imperialism and Catholicism.  [3]  More favourable elements of foreign relations remained as proven through the allowance of the Dutch into limited ports. In this perspective, historians have come t o consider Tokugawa foreign policy as selective rather than a pursuit of total isolation. The discussion of the strictness of sakoku is not a straightforward one, as those historians who agree seclusion was observed differ in their opinions concerning the benefits and merits of the system. Varley argues that from the 1630s, there was an identifiable policy of national seclusion which actually created the conditions for the Great Peace of more than two and a half centuries. Varley proposes the intention of the Bakufu differed from the literal definition of the 19th Century term sakoku; it is conceivable that the law of seclusion was carried out in order to preserve national hegemony, At the time of its inception, the seclusion policy was more intended to establish a new international order in East Asia, with Japan at the centre than to seal the country off permanently from all but minimal ties with the outside world.  [4]  Furthermore, evidence of increased productivity in the 17th Century, as a result of the policy, makes the seclusion laws seem more positive and not for purposes of isolation. Varley notes that different historiographical viewpoints consider the termination of intercourse with Western Europe along with the repressive feudal controls over its people as arbitrary and reactionary and ignore the economic and social benefits to the measures. In this traditional perspective, the seclusion appears to have been simply for isolationist purposes yet the security of the regime was at stake and the Tokugawa rulers arguably needed to impose seclusion due to these threats. By considering that Japan took until the 19th Century to begin western style technological and scientific developments, the assumption that the seclusion policies were observed rigidly is plausible this must be true in some measure yet as Westerners still saw Japan as in the furthest extremity of the World and therefore inaccessible to an extent geographically, the advancements may not have been hampered by the proposed rigid observation of seclusion. Moreover Japan was no t alone in acting as it did, but one of several countries of the Far East that minimised or restricted trade and cultural ties with the Western world in the 17th Century. As analysis has traditionally been focused on the restriction of European relations, Japans diplomatic relations in Asia have largely been ignored, yet it becomes clear that generalisations about Japans foreign relations based on the exclusion of certain people, are inadequate to explain foreign policy with other Asian countries. For instance it is apparent that the Ieyasus edict expelling Catholics from Japan in 1639 cannot be regarded in the same light as other foreign policy. From the 1970s, Japanese and American historians have challenged the traditional view of a unique isolation policy by showing that Bakufu leaders kept Japan engaged with in trade and diplomacy, in order to emphasise the positive aspects of Japanese foreign policy specifically with neighbours in Northeast Asia. Ronald Toby, considers that an examination of Japans non-European relations highlights there was less discontinuity in Japanese relations in 1630s than is traditionally thought.  [5]  Trade and dip lomatic relations in fact continued in Northeast Asia, with Korea, Ryukyu and China all engaged in intercourse with the Tokugawa Empire. In terms of the development of trade specifically, Kazui refers to the request by the Bakufu for the Dutch to supply silk to the Japanese markets soon after the exclusion of the Portuguese. In this respect, there was undoubtedly a selective motivation for the Edict expelling the Portuguese in 1609, yet as the Dutch were given trading rights instead, the practical observation of the seclusion laws are more complicated under the surface as trade prospered through certain ports. Therefore the term kaikin, meaning maritime restriction is more applicable to the historical context. Therefore, in practice, each Edict should be considered in their own merit and not as part of a general theme of intended isolation. The Bakufu knew that new relations were equally as important to its stability as the foreign relations which it terminated,  [6]  and by ma intaining maritime trade relations with certain countries Japan recognized the advantages and disadvantages to the countrys security, as well as its economical and cultural goals. Recent historiography concedes that some aspects of the Tokugawa ancestral law of seclusion may have been observed rigidly yet highlights that these aspects may have been consistent with Japanese economic relations at the time anyway. The attention to Bakufu political actions, both domestic and international, give a more concrete expression to the sense of legitimacy it was trying to foster.  [7]  Toby deduces that Japans foreign policy goals were influenced by consistent legitimising principles and it was these which were observed and not the proposed isolationist seclusion: The Bakufu genuinely wanted to hold on to Japanese culture and perhaps were only minimally isolated but only because of the determination for legitimacy and security. The limit on foreign trade and ports was another practical means of satisfying the governments legitimisation goals and brought economic stability. The various examples of Japans continued trade: especially with its Northeast Asian neighbours a nd the Dutch, albeit from restricted ports, serve to invalidate the traditional view that that the seclusion laws were observed rigidly and were meant to isolate the country from the rest of the world. Granted, there are examples of changes in relations but these were in line with Bakufu goals in order to preserve national hegemony and secure Japans best economical interests. More recent historiography, both American and Japanese, is tremendously useful in examining the observance of the ancestral seclusion laws. It is arguable that a new generation of historians are able to examine Japan without the traditional emphasis on the countrys failings in comparison with the Western development and focus on the Bakufus eagerness to increase certain imports and the selective process of Japans international commercial activity.  [8]  Ronald Toby highlights that the restraint on Japanese people from travelling abroad is also disputed in Japanese revisionist historiography, questioning a chief representation of proposed isolation in the period. A balanced interpretation of this matter would examine the foreign influence especially of the Dutch in the period, to undo the exaggerations, yet it is conceivable that this element of sakoku did exist: the restrictions of movement under the Tokugawa reign were kept to as part of the fear of foreignness and was considere d at the time to be vital to the great peace and unprecedented economic productivity. There is disproportionate historiographical emphasis on the importance of the arrival of the United States in 1853 making the opening of Japan seen more drastic than it actually was. Hellyer notes that Japan was able to be diplomatically and commercially engaged with foreign nations, The Edo-period system of foreign relations allowed Japanese leaders to remain flexible and pursue nuanced approaches to intercourse with the outside world.  [9]  If Japan was open to trade and diplomatic relations then the seclusion laws could not have been observed in terms of the closed definition of sakoku, as conservative historians propose. However, the policies of the 1630s, exterminating Christianity and blocking European access to trade ports suggest a possibility that these differences were due to rigid observance of the seclusion laws. Yet the Tokugawa rulers limited and tightly controlled the access to political, economical, and ideological influences from the outside world, in particular, the West because they were concerned with the long term process of looking after Tokugawa legitimacy and not because they wanted to isolate Japan. It was these concerns which led to selective observance of elements of the seclusion laws as well as constant changes in diplomatic and trade practices. Furthermore, the stark differences between Japanese and Western development in the nineteenth century do add credibility to the more conservative scholars interpretations. Yet, there are examples of other countries such as China which also fell behind in development, due to its global position. With an appreciation of the instances of continued and in some cases increased commercial activity, there is a strong argument that the law of seclusion was not detrimental and neither were its considered isolationist elements observed with any rigidity.

Alex Hailey :: Biography Biographies

Alex Hailey Journalist, writer. Alexander Murray Palmer Haley was born in Ithaca, New York, on August 11, 1921. He grew up in Henning, Tennessee, and graduated from high school at age 15. Haley studied at State Teachers College in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, for two years, and joined the Coast Guard in 1939. He started out as a mess attendant, Third Class, and in 1952 became the first to hold the title of Coast Guard Journalist. Haley’s friends quickly discovered his writing talent and began requesting his help when writing their own love letters. Haley also used his talents to recount the old tales of sea captains, which turned into his first published story. In the 1950s, Haley served as a public relations liaison, turning run-of-the-mill Coast Guard news into exciting, media-friendly narratives. After 20 years of service, Chief Journalist Haley retired from the Coast Guard in 1959 to pursue his career as a journalist full-time. He wrote stories for Playboy and Reader’s Digest , but his career exploded in 1965 with the publication of The Autobiography of Malcolm X . Haley had interviewed the minister of the Nation of Islam for Playboy, and these conversations expanded into the acclaimed autobiography. Malcolm X died shortly before the collaborative effort went to press. In 1965, Haley resolved to trace the genealogy of his mother’s family. He had grown up listening to his grandmother’s stories about â€Å"Kin-tay,† an African ancestor who was enslaved and shipped to America. Haley embarked on a safari to Juffure, a village in Gambia, to learn more. A local historian was able to tell Haley about his great-great-great-great-grandfather, Kunta Kinte, who was brought to America via slave-ship in 1767. Roots, Haley’s account of his family’s history, was published in 1976, after 12 years of research and creative reconstruction.

The Interview :: essays papers

The Interview I never thought I would have to go as far as Australia to write a story on a fellow High School alumnus, Monica Confides. I was of course always familiar with her track breaking record all through school, but I never had the opportunity to talk with her one on one. Now here I am in beautiful Sydney, waiting patiently with pen and paper in hand for Monica to finish her interview with NBC. It’s a delightful day with a temperature of about 85 degrees, and the sun shimmering down brightly. I can almost feel the same excitement in the air as Monica must have felt when winning the gold metal. Nearly an hour and an half after arriving to the Olympic tent I spot Monica trying to escape a gaggle of anxious reporters. Eventually I get her attention and she calls me over to where she is sitting, the infield grass of the track. After all the congratulations and formalities our interview begins. She is friendly and open so I enjoy her company Immediately. She starts off by telling me of her Uncle who was in the 1976 Olympics running for Poland. â€Å"He was my mentor, whenever I felt my practices were becoming to intense and wanted to quit he was always there to encourage me to thrive for success.† Unfortunately, Monica’s Uncle Peter passed away in 1996, but Monica says that despite the pain she felt she knows her Uncle is smiling down on her today: â€Å"I used to fear the death of a loved one the most, but I realize now that death is a part of life and that a death in this life might signify a birth in another.† Most people don’t realize the nervousness and anxiety that accompany someone to the Olympics. For Monica this plague attacked before her big day. â€Å"I went out to dinner with my teammates that evening. It wasn’t until 2 o’clock that morning when it starting feeling as if the kangaroo steaks I had for dinner were shill hopping around in my stomach.† Monica thought that she wouldn’t even be able to compete in, let win the race the next day. But the key break came when she was awarded the inside position, which saves the runner some advantage at the beginning of the race. What are your plans for the immediate future?

The Importance of Safety in Maintaining Good Health Essay -- utilizing

Utilizing safety precautions is among the factors of obtaining a high degree of physical wellbeing. Facebook posts, blogs, personal experience, and the news are just some of the sources where you hear stories about children, young adults, and grown adults who end up physically hurt, hospitalized and sometimes even dead due to the fact that they were not utilizing safety precautions. Utilizing safety precautions is something everyone is capable of. Those who ignore or choose not to utilize safety precautions are often categorized as adolescents. â€Å"Teen alcohol use kills about 4,700 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined† (CDC). The Century Council says about 43% of teens that drinks do so at a party that is supervised by parents. Often time’s people develop religious belief through their parent or guardian, it was the way their parents were raised, the way the child was raised and the chain usually continues. Parents or guardians with religious faith often refrain from the use of alcohol because their religion or church is not in favor of it, or of their own personal conviction. Parents who refrain form alcohol because of their religion would expect the same of their children. Because of the religion they possess, no party with alcohol would be in the house of those parents, resulting in their child refraining from alcohol use, and thus being able to think while sober and utilize safety precautions. As well as having a sober mindset and implementing safety precautions the adolescents personal religious beliefs, and convictions would refrain them from making choices that would put them in a situation where their safety is at risk. Those with religious beliefs appear to be making choices consistently and rationally thu... ...n[uk]. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2014. . "Washington State University." Wellbeing. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. "What We Believe." The Salvation Army. The Salvation Army, n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. . White, Martha C. "5 Reasons Your Job Is Making You Miserable." Business Money 5 Reasons Your Job Is Making You Miserable Comments. Time Magazine, 28 Oct. 2013. Web. 02 Apr. 2014. . "Why Tim Keller Wants You to Stay in That Job You Hate." Interview by Andy Crouch. Christianity Today. Christianity Today, 22 Apr. 2013. Web. 2 Apr. 2014. .

Intel Corei7 vs. Intel Duo 2 Core

Explanation: (Difference between Intel Core i7 and Core 2 Duo) – The Core i7 is a completely new architecture which is much faster and more efficient than the Core 2 Duo. Currently only the Core i7 920, 945 and 965 XE versions are available. Of that the Core i7 920 is available at just $284 which makes it a great buy. It offers better performance than almost all Core 2 Duo processors. Native Quad Core, More Cache and Hyper Threading: All the Core i7 processors are Native Quad cores (4 cores), which means that they actually have 4 cores on a single die, while the older Core 2 Duo processors like the Q6600 (2? = 4 cores) had two cores on a single die, and two such dies merged together. This increases the processing speed greatly. They also have 256 KB L2 cache per core and a shared 8 MB L3 cache which has proven to be much better than any cache configuration in Core 2 Duo. It also has HyperThreading support which means that each of the 4 cores can process 2 threads simultaneousl y, so you get 8 virtual cores. This helps in running many applications parallely and also in gaming. Quick Path Interconnect (QPI) and On Die Memory Controller:The Core i7 processors sport the new Quick Path Interconnect technology which replaces the FSB (Front Side Bus) to connect the various components in a computer. QPI is much faster than FSB and hence improves the overall performance. It is even faster than AMD’s similar HyperTransport 3. 0 standard. The Core i7 have an On Die Memory Controller which means that it can access memory much faster than the Core 2 Duo processors which had an external memory controller. Intel has borrowed this feature from AMD. All the four cores, memory controller, cache are on the same die which improves the speed and performance greatly.

Advantages of Internet Essay

Science and technology play a very important role in our life. Most of our daily activities are greatly associated with science and technology. One of the contributions of science and technology to mankind is the invention of Internet. With this invention being so widely used, it has both advantages and disadvantages. In this essay, I shall discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet. The first advantage of the internet is that it provides us with leisure. This is because the Internet can provide us with various endless entertainment. For example, we can watch videos in YouTube which has millions of videos from comedy to romance and horror to suit our mood. Not only that, some television networks have their own websites. These enables us to catch up on movies or television programmes on television which we have missed. Radio channels such as Class95 and Perfect10 also have their own sites to listen to radio programmes for those who do not own a radio set. There are also many sites that enable the users especially youths to watch anime or read manga online. This is good as this enables us to save money as the cost of a manga or anime DVD can be quite expensive. These different from of online entertainment will not only gives us leisure but also provide a medium in which we can relieve the daily stress from school and work. The second advantage of the internet is E-commerce which is growing rapidly and becoming more popular. Examples of e-commerce include online shopping and e-banking. Through online shopping, we can buy many things over the net which provides a range of products from all over the world with just a click of the mouse. Examples of famous online shopping sites are Yahoo!, Amazon and e-bay which sells various products from books and furniture to electronic devices and office supplies. Doing shopping online is indeed convenient as we do not need to travel to do our shopping. As a result, time is saved.

External and Internal Analysis Essay

This report will provide an analysis of Bayonne Packaging, Inc and its involvement in the paper packaging industry. The three most important issues facing this company are analyzed which include (i) how can Bayonne strengthen communication among departments and improve overall company culture, (ii) how will Bayonne be able to develop or improve their computerized scheduling system (iii) given Bayonne’s poor delivery performance, how can operational efficiencies be improved in terms of capacity utilization of the machines. In addition to analysis of these current issues, alternative solutions have been developed for each. The alternative that holds the strongest presence is for Bayonne to instill a strong corporate culture and ultimately strengthen communication that will allow for the company to excel in its key performance measures of cost, quality, dependability and speed. Introduction Bayonne Packaging, Inc. is currently involved in the paper packaging industry. Currently a 43 million dollar company, Bayonne has grown from 1982 when sales were just 10 million. Bayonne differentiates themselves in being  a â€Å"specialty packaging† paper converter that produces customized, complex-design packaging that is used by industrial customers for promotional materials, software, luxury beverages, and gift food and candy. By diversifying into new markets Bayonne applied its strength in innovative and difficult packaging design and their ability to fold and glue complex blanks. The main issues facing the company are the following: (i) how can Bayonne strengthen communication among departments and improve overall company culture, (ii) how will Bayonne be able to develop or improve their computerized scheduling system (iii) given Bayonne’s poor delivery performance, how can operational efficiencies be improved in terms of capacity utilization of the machines. I t is thus crucial to fully analyze these issues more fully and examine the factors that have contributed to each in order for Bayonne to gain competitive advantage. Analysis of Bayonne’s Issues 800  I. How can Bayonne strengthen communication among departments and improve overall company culture? Bayonne’s most stressful month of October has caused delivery, cost, and quality to tank. Consequently, Bayonne has not been able to execute their strategy (see section 2.1) well and excel in key performance measures. This is due to lack of communication and coordination between the quality control, sales management, Fold and Glue, and composition departments. There are several factors that contribute to the communication issue at Bayonne. Among other weaknesses of the company such as building a reputation for late delivery and complaints from customers about quality of products (see section 2.3), communication is one of the strongest. Bayonne seems to be failing in the ten essential managerial tasks of the strategy execution process. Moreover, the lack of communication is reflected in their inability to staff the organization (see section 2.5a) as no proper training is realized and departments are working as silos rather than one unified organization. In addition, lack of communication is also causing for Bayonne to build on their organizational capabilities in specialized packaging and scheduling (see section 2.5b). Bayonne has not been able to develop a strong management team that can assess which value chain activities, for example, should be performed internally and which ones should be outsourced (see section 2.5c). The fact that orders were late more  than 20% of the time in October is reflective of poor communication in the company and lack of delivery in key performance indicators (see section 2.1c). Bayonne is losing customers because of communication problems and lack of internal leadership (see section 2.5j). The work climate (see section 2.5i) has become bitter and there is no sign of a strong corporate culture, cohesiveness or collaboration, which is ultimately causing for a large misunderstanding and negative assumptions between departments. II. How will Bayonne be able to develop or improve their computerized scheduling system? Bayonne’s computerized scheduling system is viewed as useless as it reflects inaccurate information and assumptions about orders. This is causing for company personnel to not do their strategic roles as proficiently as possible and instead the individual departments are making their own decisions (see section 2.5g). Employees are questioning whether or not the scheduling system presents to be practical. The schedule that is generated twice a week by the computerized scheduling system may be a leading cause for Bayonne not being able to live up to their vision, mission, and objectives (see section 2.1A). The composition department is particularly concerned because as manager, Sean Quinn explains; between rush orders and ganging the orders to keep the machines running, he cannot afford time-wise to do what the printout says. Essentially, the schedule indicates to employees that they have an order that they have never seen or still have an order that is finished and got shipped. Inaccuracy may be the leading cause of Bayonne not being able to sustain a competitive approach in terms of their business and functional strategies. For example, one of Bayonne’s business strategies is the importance of determining priority of orders by computing critical ratios (see section 2.1B). In addition, this system has become a weakness to the company (see section 2.3) and is also leading to customer value proposition and the company’s cost structure to weaken, especially in secondary activities of the Bayonne’s value chain (see section 2.4, Product R&D, Technology and Systems Development) Not only is the this system causing workers to ignore printouts and raise frustration, it is causing for a lot of time wasted that could be used toward producing higher volumes of products at a level of good quality for customers. III. Given Bayonne’s poor delivery performance, how can operational efficiencies be improved in terms of capacity utilization of the machines? Since Bayonne’s highest volume month is October, the company has not been able to match capacity to its demand requirements also leading for insufficient allocation of resource that contribute to strategy execution (see section 2.5d). Evidence from the computation of machine effectiveness (see financial analysis page) indicates that the Heidelberg presses are operating at 100.29% capacity, essentially making Bayonne’s printing activity the bottleneck of the process. Consequently, this does not give the ability for Bayonne to focus on its core capability of specialized packaging (see section 2.5b) nor deliver on their key performance measures (see section 2.1). In addition, poor use of capacity utilization is also reflected in Bayonne’s decrease in producing good quality products. Producing quality products is essential in keeping customers loyal to the company and is a key success factor in this industry (see section 1.5). The Heidelberg press is slowing down subsequent activities since it can only produce a limited amount of pieces per month, which causes for limiting the inputs that are available for the Die-cut centre. Bayonne’s main resource is their wide range of machines that are supposed to be operating at efficient levels (see section 2.2). These machines are valuable because they contribute to the effectiveness of the company’s strategy. However, with the use of adequate capacity being questioned may be the leading cause of poor delivery performance, which is ultimately the reason that Bayonne occurred a loss in their most stressful month. Discussion of alternative solutions to the issues I. How can Bayonne strengthen communication among departments and improve overall company culture? A solution to this issue would be for Bayonne to reassess their current strategy and instill a strong corporate culture that will bring employees together (see section 2.5i). Bayonne can build on what they already have in place such as the daily production meetings. This is the only chance where employees across all departments come together face-to-face to discuss issues. Instilling a strong corporate culture has its pro’s and cons. The  main advantage is that it can create a strategy supportive organizational structure that Bayonne is currently lacking off (see section 2.5c). Another advantage is that it will also allow for internal leadership to be strengthened. Having a strong leader will set the tone and ensure everyone is working as a team. When communication is improved, Bayonne will be able to delivery on time because the departments will be working collaboratively rather than separately. The only negative to instilling a strong corporate culture is that it wont work unless employees embody the culture and take it seriously and understand that it contributes to Bayonne’s key performance indicators of cost, quality, speed and dependability. II. How will Bayonne be able to develop or improve their computerized scheduling system? An alternative solution to this issue would be for Bayonne to gain adherence to the computerized system by fixing the data that is leading to inaccuracies and introduce a pre-work order jacket. Currently, the work order jacket lists the routing, standard setup and run times, special instructions and ship-to information (see section 2.4, Distribution). If management at Bayonne work toward gaining employee loyalty to this system and introducing a pre-work order jacket based on prioritization where a report would be sent to each department before they begin working on orders and when the prior departments finishes the order, the next department would be aware of what orders are on the way within the next few days –would contribute to proper strategy execution. However, there are some pros and cons to this issue. An advantage of introducing a pre-work order jacket and gaining loyalty of the computerized system would lead to more efficient operating levels at the facility. This will lead to decreased delays, increased quality and better time management. It would enable company personnel to do their strategic roles more proficiently as well; something that Bayonne is not currently acting upon (see section 2.5g). A con with this alternative would be the possibility of initial confusion of how exactly the new system would work. Also, some employees may simply be resistant to adhering to the computerized scheduling system even if it were to be fixed or question whether or not it would be practical enough to sustain high volumes. III. Given Bayonne’s poor delivery performance, how can operational efficiencies be improved in terms of capacity utilization of the machines? A solution in improving capacity utilization would be to make more use of the International Royal and Queen machines. Currently these machines are operating at nearly 50% capacity utilization. Since these are the fastest machines, placing important orders to them would generate higher volumes. Advantages in making these machines the main use would contribute to Bayonne excelling in their key performance indicator of speed (see section 2.1C) and improvement in functional and business strategies (see section 2.1B). The machines are only operating at 44.49% capacity utilization, which means that Bayonne is lacking in improving operational efficiencies that could drive down costs. These machines produce the most pieces at the highest speed so making use of them would be highly beneficial. The main disadvantage of this proposed alternative i s that the volume may affect profit margins of the company –a concern of president Dave Rand (see section 2.4). In addition, these machines are complex and difficult to set up which could interfere with allocation of proper time management. This may result to poorer quality – causing for Bayonne main strength in innovative package design to be diminished. Recommendation According to my analysis, Bayonne must focus on strengthening communication within the company. Bayonne has to instill a strong corporate culture and develop on internal leadership within the company. This will lead to happier more productive employees and will allow for Bayonne to build upon their organizational capabilities. In turn, strong communication will lead synchronization among the departments and employees will work as a team rather than as silos. A strong corporate culture and excellent communication will eliminate misunderstanding and frustration among departments that has been causing for Bayonne to develop a track record for late deliveries and poor quality. Ultimately, communication will be the key in Bayonne’s ability to execute their strategy and excel in key performance measures that are crucial to the profitability in the company. Financial Analysis Overall, Net profit margin has been declining which indicates that the company has depleting cash reserves and may have difficulty paying liabilities. Gross profit margin for Bayonne is declining which may indicate that fewer funds may be available for operating expenses. Due to limited financial data in the case, other profitability ratios (i.e. operating profit margin, net profit margin, return on equity, liquidity ratios (current ratio, working capital), and leverage ratios (total debt-to-asset, debt-to-equity) have not been able to be computed. It is apparent that the Heidelberg press machine is operating at full capacity and is the bottleneck of the process. This is causing for scheduled hours to go overtime. High-speed machines such as the international royal and the international queen (only being used 44.96%) are not being fully utilized to an efficient manner, which may be the cause in late delivery and poor quality. APPENDIX 1. EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT 1.1 – PESTEL Analysis Political: n/a Environmental: severe weather conditions may have a substantial effect on this industry if these conditions were to cause a delay in the transportation process of the package Something like a power outage or blackout could interrupt the flow of the packaging process, which in turn will have an effect on sales and the customer. Sociocultural: Customers to the paper packaging industry seeking to make a greater impact with promotional materials reflects the rapid growth of this industry. Fast-paced society – want things delivered on time with no delays.(not being able to keep up rush-orders may affect sales). Technological: advanced  technology may cause industry profits to decline or no longer be needed (e.g. migration of software sales and distribution from CDs to the internet) Economic: if cost of materials (such as glue or paint) used to do the packaging were to rise; orders from customers may decline (important to stay strategically priced). Legal: not complying with FDA r equirements (about coatings, adhesives, and liners) could have an effect of business within this industry. Overall, the macroeconomic environment of the paper packaging industry presents a few challenges. Despite limited information given in the case on external knowledge of this industry – it seems that this industry has experienced booming growth. This industry may be challenged when it comes to diversifying into new markets if the dot-come bubble continues to burst and migration of software sales and distribution form CDs to internet were to increase. In order to survive, companies within the paper packaging company have to diversify into emerging markets and constantly innovate in design of the package or product. 1.2 – Porter’s 5F Analysis: there is no sufficient information about rivals within this industry in the case that can be applied to this framework. 1.3 – Driving Forces  Regulatory influences and government policy changes Requirements set by the food and drug administration (FDA) can have an impact on costs, operational efficiencies and health and safety concerns if companies within the industry do not comply with the regulations. Product and marketing innovation Additional customer market segments have become available to this industry because of the explosive growth of software packaging and promotional material. Both these driving forces have strategic implications for competing companies in the paper packaging industry. For example, if companies within this industry do not comply with specific industry requirements then they will  not be able to run their business or go into financial debt. Also, it is important that this industry to diversify into emerging markets in order to compete competitively. 1.4- Strategic Group Map: no sufficient data in the case to cover this framework since the case does not talk about competitors. 1.5 – KSF’S  Developing collaborative relationships with customers, who are closer to the end consumer Working closely with industrial customers for companies in this industry is crucial as it has an impact on sales for the company and eventually for the industrial customer. Excelling in global supply chain management Excelling in operational performance It is important to keep track of costs going in and out of the company. For example, if cost of goods sold (COGS) takes up a high percentage of the company’s sales may indicate that the company is not performing efficiently or not earning enough revenue to comfortably run the business. Effectively managing the delivery of products while keeping costs minimized It is important for companies in this industry to develop a track record for constant on-time delivery as this will reflect in the customer being loyal to the company which will drive sales. 1.6 Industry Outlook: overall this industry is conductive of good profitability since many industrial customers need their products to be packaged properly in order to be sellable. It is therefore important to excel in cost, quality, speed, and dependability at a competitive level for companies within this industry. 2. INTERNAL ANALYSIS 2.1 How well is Bayonne’s present strategy working– The present strategy at Bayonne is to out-compete rivals and prioritize in four key performance measures, which are quality, cost, speed, and dependability. This is mainly more of an operations strategy seeing as this company is the producer of the product that the customer sells. It is important for Bayonne to deliver on quality packaging, constantly innovate all while minimizing costs and producing high volume to remain competitive. A) Vision mission and objectives: Vision: although there is not enough sufficient data that states Bayonne’s vision; it can be assumed that based on what is given in the case, Bayonne’s vision might be along the lines of becoming the number one industry leader in specialty packaging by providing the best customer satisfaction, quality and product innovation. Mission: based on what is given in the case, Bayonne’s mission could be being committed to providing innovative solutions to difficult package design while excelling in cost, quality, and delivery. Objectives: financial objectives at Bayonne are to keep costs down as much as possible, while still delivering on quality. Strategically, Bayonne aims to excel in their key performance measure of dependability, cost, quality and speed that’s embedded in their strategy. Overall, they strive in being operationally efficient. B) Bayonne’s Competitive Approach Business Strategies: Working closely with customers to ensure satisfaction and approval in the design on the package Building on competitive advantage by providing additional finishing to the package as a courtesy to the customer. Also tapping into new markets and products such as promotional material Importance of determining priority of orders by computing critical ratios (e.g. lower than 2 indicates concern for the job) Expediting the most important orders in hopes of sustaining customer’s loyalty to the company. Functional Strategies: Ensuring quality is met by checking two pieces every hour and conducting a final inspection Ensuring that the work-order jacket travels with the job at each department Ensuring that if a full delivery cannot be made then at least getting partials out is important When orders need to be completed quickly, then this is done by â€Å"ganging† them up whenever possible. Sales  management department is focused on pricing aggressively to the market in order to sustain volumes. C) Key Performance Indicators Strategic: how Bayonne is doing in terms of their key performance measures Financial/Machine Effectiveness -Quality: quality control reports indicate that 6% of products were found defective due to glue problems, leading to an increase in customer rejects of shipped products. Finishing department has problems in including all pieces of the product. -Cost: cost of goods sold has increased, net sales have decreased from previous years, which has caused Bayonne incurring a loss in 2011. -Speed: there is a lower overall speed of delivery to customers. Machines are not being fully utilized since employees are not given the opportunity to assess which orders to run on what machine. A lot of orders that are expedited causes for a breakup to occur in production leading to extra set up time for the machines. -Dependability: Not doing well. Customers are aware of Bayonne’s inconsistency of delivering packages on time. This is reflective in the company’s worst month; October – where 20% orders were late. – Financially, Bayonne understands that there is a tradeoff in keeping costs down, getting good quality and hitting delivery promises. The ultimate goal is to perform financially well in all three. – Bayonne’s declining net profit margin may be indicative that cash reserves are depleting and they may have difficulty paying liabilities. – Gross profit margins have also declined possibly indicating that raw material costs have increased and manufacturing costs have gone up. – In calculating machine effectiveness, it is indicative that in the print department the Heidelberg press is the slowest of machines, which is creating a bottleneck in the process where capacity utilization is 100.29%. 2.2 – VRIN Resource: Wide Range of Machines operating at efficient levels. Capability: Specialized Packaging (includes innovative, difficult packaging design, and finishing touches) Is it Valuable? The machines pass the valuable test because they contribute to the  effectiveness of Bayonne’s strategy. The International Royal and International Queen are Bayonne’s most important machines that contribute to gaining operational efficiencies and added value to the customers because they operate at a high speed. Bayonne’s specialized packaging capability is very valuable and highly contributes to the effectiveness of their strategy (especially in the quality area). Since this capability is competitively valuable, Bayonne passes this test. Is it Rare? Since these are generic machines, this resource is not rare. It therefore does not pass the test since other packaging companies can invest in the same machines as long as they have the financial stability to do so. Not a lot of companies may take the time to closely work with customers in special and complex packaging design. Also adding personal finishing touches is not something a lot of other paper packaging companies take the time to do. Bayonne therefore passes the rare test. Is it Inimitable? The machines are imitable; therefore this resource does not pass the inimitable test since other companies can purchase the same machines to produce the same quality packaging. There is no uniqueness to them. Capabilities in specialized packaging design is something that other companies can copy as it is not competitively superior to potential rival companies. Bayonne does not pass the inimitable test. Is it Non-Substitutable Although Bayonne may have an efficiency advantage with their machines, it does not pass this test since potential rivals can copy the same machines and produce equally good products at lower costs by locating their plants in countries where wage rates are relatively low. Potential paper packaging industry rivals may also offer specialized packaging capabilities. This means industrial customers can pick and choose with which paper packager to partner with. Therefore, Bayonne does not pass this test. Overall, this framework presents strategic implications to Bayonne indicating that their resources and capabilities are not ones that contribute to Bayonne having a competitive advantage that is sustainable. The company’s  resources of machines and specialized packaging capabilities present to be competitive assets to the company and are central to Bayonne’s strategy. However, by not passing the last two tests of this analysis is indicative that Bayonne may be prone to imitative attempts and efforts from potential rivals. 2.3– SWOT Analysis  Strengths – Working closely with customers – Aggressively entering into new markets – Innovative and difficult package design – Ability to fold and glue complex blanks – Ability to price aggressively – Well managed scheduling in Composition department in terms of being rarely out of stock and re-stocking quickly. – Use of High-speed machines help keep volumes high – Consistent performance from Maintenance team in running inspections and fixing something right away if it breaks down. Weaknesses – Complaints from customers about quality (concentrated in Fold&Glue) leading to defective products – Developing a bad reputation for late delivery time, which is also causing customers to lose trust in the company – Mismanagement and communication problems between departments inevitably causing orders to run late (threats coming from heads of other departments, no synchronization) – Computerized scheduling system appears useless as it conflicts with time management of rush orders – Some machines run slow despite being fast to set up (e.g. Staudes) – Data reported through the shop floor computer terminals is inaccurate Opportunities – Diversifying into emerging markets and taking on new types of customers. – Prospective money to be made in Manhattan in terms of promotional material which can lead to gaining more customers Threats – Possibility of receiving safety concerns for not complying with FDA requirements leading to overall increased costs. 2.4 – Value Chain Analysis: are the company’s cost structure and customer value proposition competitive? Primary activities: Supply chain management: from the limited information provided in the case, there is not much that can be said about Bayonne’s supply chain management. The most relevant fact is that Bayonne’s supplier is International Paper that helps keep the composition department stocked with the necessary materials that are used to make the products. In terms of costs in this area, according to Bayonne’s income statement – the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) significantly increased from 83.2% in September 2011 to 90.7% in October 2011. Since October is also the month in which Bayonne occurred a loss of $365,694 is indicative that the company is not performing well on the cost performing measure. Operations: Bayonne places high value in executing their operations strategy since they are responsible for producing the product itself at their facilities. The goal is to keep margins low while getting the volume. The flow of order through the production department is a system relevant to Bayonne executing their strategy. Quality assurance activities are performed at Bayonne where there are two inspectors on each shift covering the Composition, sheet, print and Die-cut, Fold&Glue, and Finishing departments as well as inspecting the shipping dock. The inspectors check the machines every hour during the production run and a final inspection is performed before the product gets shipped out. Distribution: In order to keep track of the products that Bayonne produces, heavy reliance is held in their â€Å"Work Order Jacket.† For example, before shipping the finished product to the industrial customer, quality control managers check the product against proof in the work order jacket. The jacket lists routing, standard setup and run times, special instructions, and ship-to-information. It also held the customers signed proof along with samples signed by operators, supervisors, and QC at each le vel. Distributing finished products to customers on time is highly important to Bayonne not losing customers; however data shows that in the month of October 2011, they were late more than 20% of the time causing customers to lose trust and expedite orders. Sales and Marketing: although there is not enough information to indicate what Bayonne’s costs, activities, and assets related to sales force efforts are – the products that Bayonne produces directly  impact the end customer. For example, industrial customers who place large orders with Bayonne and pay a high price per piece; place high expectations that Bayonne deliver the product on time in correspondence to say, a promotional campaign that they are launching on a specific date. Its seems that sales management at Bayonne is not developing a good track record for on time delivery because of miscommunication going on between the departments. Also, sales management places high relevance on pricing aggressively to the market, which may conflict with profit margins of the company. Service: Bayonne provides all necessary services such as design assistance and final delivery of the package. It is important for the company to gain customer approval when developing artwork a nd package design as it directly affects profitability. This is why the sales force at Bayonne works closely with the customers showing that the company respects the important decisions that they make since these customers are the ones that make the product sell to end consumers. Profit Margin: President Dave Rand complains about margins, but not about volume. Secondary Activities Product R&D, Technology, and Systems Development: Bayonne’s strength is in innovative and difficult package design and their ability to fold and glue complex blanks. In order to remain innovative and keep volumes high; the company uses high-speed machines such as the International Royal and International Queen. Bayonne also uses a computerized scheduling system, which add up the standard set up and run hours for every order released to the plant and schedules order by priority. However, the use of the computerized scheduling system is having a negative effect in terms of order processing. Human Resources Management: Since Bayonne is mainly a family run business, there are no real HR practices in place. Employees essentially work on a â€Å"do what it takes† system and there are no training procedures. General administration: n/a 2.5- Ten Managerial Tasks of the Strategy Execution Process a) Staffing the Organization Bayonne Packaging began as family business and later grew into a larger organization. However, the lack of cross-functional communication may be indicative that no proper training is realized as the departments work as silos rather than one unified organization. Bayonne recognizes the importance of good upper management seeing as the old VP of operations was fired and replaced by John Milliken who has a background in general manufacturing and seems to exhibit traits of a valuable and talented employee. Since Bayonne incurred a loss in 2011; this may reflect on the fact that management is weak, and employees may not be valued as important assets that tie directly to strategy execution and gaining of competitive advantage. b) Building on Organizational Capabilities Bayonne’s ability to manage people to gain competitive advantage is lacking. Through internal development, Bayonne can build on their scheduling capability. Since each department works in a separate manner, there is no synchronization, which interferes with orders being successfully completed. Second, Bayonne’s capabilities in specialized packaging can also be improved through internal development by having managers at the company set an objective to develop this capability and organize activity around it. Bayonne is able to differentiate themselves by possessing strength in innovation and difficult packaging design (i.e. working closely with customers in the design and adding personal touches in the finishing department) but lack of collaboration and communication in the company have resulted in operational deficiencies. c) Creating a Strategy -Supportive Organizational Structure Bayonne is not properly organizing work efforts in a strategy supportive fashion. In order to excel in the key performance measures of cost, quality, speed and dependability embedded in their strategy – they may have to reassess operational activities. A strong management team has to be built within the company in order to assess which value chain activities, for example, should be performed internally and which ones should be outsourced. Currently at Bayonne their organizational structure is not aligning with their strategy; in part due to communication problems. Also, there seems to be no delegating of authority or facilitation of necessary collaboration and coordination with external partners and strategic allies. d) Allocating Sufficient Resources to Strategic Execution Bayonne is not operating as cost-effectively as possible. Although sales  management may be pricing aggressively to customers by offering a high price per piece – this indirectly affects profit margins at the company. Bayonne is not using their resources (i.e. their machines) in an efficient manner. e) Instituting policies and procedures that drive strategy execution activities There are currently no policies in place at Bayonne, which may hinder good strategy execution. The work climate is not one that facilitates good strategy execution; employees are unnecessarily being yelled at, and pressured to run orders in short notice of receiving them. Bayonne’s procedure for preventing or finding defects is signing off the first good piece the operator runs and then recording it in the Work Order Jacket. However, this shows a degree of carelessness in ensuring good quality as often there is a possibility for more than only one piece being defective. Excelling in cost, quality, speed, and dependability is being compromised by lack of communication and coordination among employees when they disagree on acceptable partials and make up their own â€Å"rule of thumb† that is not in sync with the goals of other departments. f) Adopting best practice and business processes that drive strategy execution activities Bayonne has not adopted any benchmarking methods that would help in implementing best practices. The only common practice at Bayonne is in recognizing revenue when its billed the customer, and billing when the product is shipped. In October 2011, Bayonne was late with their deliveries more than 20% of the time, compared to 2009 with only 5%. This is affecting Bayonne’s ability to excel in the dependability aspect of their strategy; also since customers are aware of this and consequently ‘move up’ their orders g) Installing info and operating systems that enable company personnel to do their strategic roles proficiently The computerized scheduling system at Bayonne is weakening their organizational capabilities. Many employees find the scheduling system to be useless, as the printouts do not accurately reflect what has been finished and what needs to be started. Lack of accuracy and timely information about daily operations does not allow for managers to gauge how well the company is executing their strategy. h) Tying rewards and incentives directly to the achievement of strategic and financial targets There is currently no reward system in place at Bayonne. This causes for lack of motivation and engagement among staff. Employees are neglected and not encouraged for their hard work as  managers are only focusing on expediting orders by getting them authorized by Dave Rand. i) Instilling a corporate culture that promotes good strategy and execution There is no corporate culture in place at Bayonne. The work environment is not strong or positive. Miscommunication leads to misunderstanding among employees and even screaming. Managers are not properly guiding employees in the right direction o f how to do things right and doing the right thing – instead they are focused on their own goals in mind. For example, Wascov only focused on pricing aggressively to the market and expediting orders causing for other departments to rush orders and compromise quality which leads to the upset customers) No commonly held convictions in place of how the company’s business is to be conducted – instead, departments make up their own separate rules leading to incisiveness across the board. j) Exercising the internal leadership needed to propel strategy implementation forward There is no strong internal leadership in place at Bayonne resulting in lack of synergy between the departments. This is why new VP of Operations; Milliken has been put in place. He seems to be staying on top of what is happening by touring the factory and asking relevant questions to department managers in aim of propelling strategy implementation forward. Neil Rand (Dave Rand’s uncle) is not exhibiting traits of a proper executive for Bayonne. Although he does whatever it takes to eliminate work order delays, he does this by randomly showing up and neglecting other important orders. This leads to requests for earlier finishing dates and inevitably leading to an increase in late orders. 2.6 – Strategic Issues 1.How can Bayonne strengthen communication among departments and improve overall company culture? Miscommunication seems to be occurring across different departments, which may be the cause of the increase in late deliveries in October. Lack of company culture may also be the cause in synergy and good energy within the company. 2.How will Bayonne be able to develop or improve their computerized scheduling system? This current system is causing for many inaccuracies, which leads to orders to be expedited. Lack of proper data that the system is generating is causing for unnecessary frustration among employees and quality is being compromised. 3.Given Bayonne’s poor delivery performance, how can operational efficiencies be  improved in terms of capacity utilization of the machines? It seems that the Heidelberg press machine is the bottleneck of the process as it is operating at full capacity, but it is unable to cope with variability in customer orders. Some machines are not be ing fully utilized which affects Bayonne’s performance measures in speed and dependability