Case study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 65

Case Study Example Therefore, for the company to counter the effect of unreliable profits, it should start introducing some other products. For example, USB drives, this because a wide range of products will increase the company’s sales (Milkovich et al., 2013). In addition, the company can build more companies in different continents. This will reduce the risks associated with currency exchange rates. The type of reward system that the company should give this group of employees should be based on money (Milkovich et al., 2013). This is because according to recent studies, some of the best performing companies reward their employees well. Employees who are rewarded very well are motivated and tend to be more creative and work with minimum supervision (Milkovich et al., 2013). In summary, there should be a component of large incentive, if the company wishes to retain the employees. One of the human needs is to live a good life, and most psychologists have argued that employers who invest in their employees’ wellbeing always tend to have very productive

Italy profolio Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Italy profolio - Essay Example Undercapitalization too, of banks in Europe contributed to it as they faced liquidity and debt problems. This also slowed down the economic growth in this zone as it was unevenly distributed within member states. Meanwhile, the governments of states mostly severely affected by this crisis have tried to coordinate their actions. A committee by the name ‘The Troika’ who has constituting member organizations are; European Commission, Central Bank and International Monetary Fund takes care of this issue. Fiscal policy stimulates the slowing of the economy through the tax cuts while the spending the rises. Increase in spending does take place quickly while the tax cuts may take a long time to cause an impact on gross spending and output. In monetary policy, through Federal Reserve Act, The Federal Reserve System and Federal Market Committee should be in the forefront in promoting some excellent employment goals, long term and mode rest interest rates with stable prices. Through this principle, Federal Reserve can regulate the value of money and credit plus their price-interest rates thereby influencing employment, output and general level of prices. The legislature is composed of the lower house, which is the chamber of deputies and the upper house comprising of senate. Despite the houses being legally equal, the Chamber of Deputies has influence that is more political and most Italy’s vocal politicians do fall in this chamber. All house members are elected by popular votes for a term of 5years in office. The Senate has 315 seats while that of Chamber of Deputies has 630 seats and another 10 seats reserved for ‘life members’ who includes past presidents and honorary nominees’. A voter must be of 25years of age to cast his or her vote for Senate while in other elections, 18years is the minimum age to vote. To vie for Senatorial seat, one has to be of 40 years and above, and for the Chamber

Tourism Development In India

Tourism Development In India Part 1: Tourism Development Before going deep into assignment there are some terms which we have to take into consideration. Terms are explained below- Tourism Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four (24) hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. Tourist- Tourist is person who travels from his residential place to non-residential place for pleasure, business or personal reasons, the duration of the stay is not more than six month at non residential place of the traveler. What is rational development? Rational development usually relates to the circumstances that causes development to any destination or place. (Badjatia, 2008) Chosen destination? As per the expectation of the assignment India has been chosen as a destination for the same. Rational for tourism development in India Socio-economic development of areas Tourism conferred considerable socio-economic benefits to the: Community thereby uplifting the quality of life. It can further foster development even in areas where other economic activities would be difficult to sustain. Increasing employment opportunities Tourism industry generates employment directly and indirectly, for almost 13-14 million people. Employment opportunities should be at least double of the present level before the turn of the century. Developing domestic tourism especially for the budget category Domestic tourists form the bulk of world tourist traffic. In India also, facilities for domestic tourists will be improved and expanded particularly the budget category so as to ensure an affordable holiday for them effects of tourism on culture and the environment in India. Development of international tourism and optimization of foreign exchange earnings. International tourism contributes substantially to foreign exchange earnings and keeping in view the countrys requirements, tourism wail be so developed that foreign exchange earnings increase from Rs. 2440 crores to Rs. 10,000 crores by the end of the century (US $813 to 3,333 million @ Rs.30 per US S). Diversification of the tourism product While retaining the traditional image of cultural tourism that India enjoys, diversification of the tourism product would continue, particularly the field of leisure, adventure, convention and incentive tourism, thereby responding to the changing consumer needs. Increase in Indias share in world tourism Presently the foreign tourist arrivals in India constitute only about 0.4 per cent of the total foreign tourists movement all over the world. One of the objectives of the action plan would be to increase Indias share to 1 per cent within the next five years (unesdoc.unesco.org) Preservation of national heritage and environment Tourism would be developed in a manner that our cultural expression and heritage are presented in all its manifestations including support to arts and crafts. Preservation and enrichment of environment should also form an integral part of tourism development. Stakeholders Person, group, or organization that has direct or indirect stake in an organization because it can affect or be affected by the organizations actions, objectives, and policies. Key stakeholders in a business organization include creditors, customers, directors, employees, government (and its agencies), owners (shareholders), suppliers, unions, and the community from which the business draws its resources.( www.businessdictionary.com) Stakeholders in India Creditors Tourists Tourism organizations Government organizations Foreign currency Investors Stakeholders benefiting from tourism in India Getting capital to invest in development of tourist destination. Foreign currency In the country increases resulting into direct development. Generation of employment Better life style of the people in the home country. UNWTO technical manual: Collection of Tourism Expenditure Statistics (PDF). World Tourism Organization. 1995. p. 14. Badjatia, K. (2008). The Rational Development (2 ed.). Indore: A.K. Publishers. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001216/121600eo.pdf http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/stakeholder.html

Essay --

Alison Hennen The Glass Castle Book Review The Glass Castle was overall very strange. Written by Jeannette Walls in her point of view, this book is her memoir that she wrote to share her story with the rest of the world. It won the 2005 Elle Readers’ Prize and the 2006 American Library Association Alex Award. The title comes from an unkempt promise from Jeannette’s father, but rather than seeing it as a letdown, Jeannette remembers it as a hope that things will get better, a trait she must have received from her mother. While The Glass Castle focuses mainly on her immediate family, she later wrote another book, Half Broke Horses, about her grandmother, Lily Casey Smith. The book starts off with Jeannette, a successful adult, taking a taxi to a nice party. When she looked out the window, she saw a woman digging through the garbage. The woman was her mother. Rather than calling out to her or saying hi, Jeannette slid down into the seat in fear that her mother would see her. When asking her mother what she should say when people ask about her family, Rose Mary Walls only told her, â€Å"Ju...

Drug Testing Welfare Recipients †Article Analysis Essay

Jonathon Walters author of â€Å"Should Welfare Recipients be Drug Tested?† published an article on March 13, 2012 for Governing: The State and Localities that provided readers with several points of interest when discussing drug testing welfare recipients. Walters states in his article â€Å"According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, almost two dozen states are considering bills that require drug testing those either applying for or receiving public benefits, a policy that has been cut down in the courts before because the Fourth Amendment grants that every individual â€Å"be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures.† (Should Welfare Recipients be Drug Tested? para 1.) This paragraph explains that states are having difficulty passing this bill because the government feels that it violates American’s 4th amendment. Walters brings up arguments from both a favoring side and an opposing side. Favoring sides would not want to give someone government benefits if they are using the benefits to support a drug habit and could save the government money by denying applicants. The opposing side feels that drug testing would come to a great expense to the government and rather than drug testing an individual who needs help because of their drug addiction other programs such as rehab would save money to local, state and federal governments. The author feels that both are good arguments. To further continue on the opposing side of drug testing welfare recipients; Walters explains that â€Å"Drug testing is expensive. Tests cost anywhere from $35 to $75 to administer, according to the liberal-leaning Center for Law and Public Policy. By their math, it would cost anywhere from $20,000 to $77,000 to catch one drug abuser.† (Should Welfare Recipients be Drug Tested? para. 4). On the favoring side legislators have a different calculation and use evidence that biometric screenings such as finger printing lower numbers of participation among welfare recipients. States that do not participate in finger printing have more people applying for welfare. Walters feels that this would be a â€Å"cynical† way of lowering costs. Opposing sides also feel by isolating those who are at risk, for example ex-felons may lead them down a wrong path again because applying for welfare is much harder, therefore, costing the government more money by putting them back in jail and providing them with treatment. Walters asks how will the government determine who receives welfare and how do we make sure that the wrong person doesn’t receive it? Technology will help determine that mistakes won’t be made. â€Å"The public, in general, supports providing help to those who really need it. In that regard, states and localities are developing much more precise tools — mostly thanks to improved information technology — to ensure that only those who qualify for benefits receive them (and, not incidentally, to ensure that those providing services aren’t gaming the system).† (Should Welfare Recipients be Drug Tested? para. 8). Overall, Jonathon Walters remains neutral throughout the article and provides detailed rebuttals for both opposing and favoring sides. He agreed that both sides had good arguments and in the end it would be up to America in the long run to decide what is best for its people. References Walterss, J. (2012, March 13) Should Welfare Recipients Be Drug Tested? Governing: The States and Localities. Retrieved from: http://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/testing-welfare-recipients-drugs.html

Conflict Resolution (Team Dynamics for Managers) Essay

A major conflict that appears in many, if not most, groups appears to be miscommunication or lack of communication. There are several solutions available to resolve miscommunication. Each member of a team has certain strengths and skills that help resolve occurring issues. When a team is confronted with miscommunication or lack of communication, having a plan is a necessity. Lack of communication can easily lead to miscommunication in a group and cause many reoccurring issues. Certain confliction techniques can be used to not only eliminate the issue, but also understand the underlying issue at hand. Conflict and Solution Personal Strengths to Resolve Issue Creating a detailed learning team charter that involves all members allows each individual to contribute their strengths in problem solving. Generally, charters are mainly used as a tool to contact other members outside of the team environment. The other members offer their information and would be responsible to check into the team in a reasonable amount of time. This is the beginning opportunity to highlight each member’s strengths and especially how willing they are to participate. Participation is one of the main behaviors that help a team strive or fail. How little or how much a person chooses to participate confides solely within them. This is especially true since individuals learn and retain information in different ways; the application of strengths can be applied in separate and unique formats in a team. The most appropriate conflict management would be Jerry Wisinski’s A-E-I-O-U Model, which focuses on collaboration and what he calls positive intentionality, the assumption that other people are not trying to cause conflict (Engleberg & Wynn, 2010). After completing the charter and knowing what is expected of each member, the most appropriate method of communication would be speaking with and checking in with members outside of the group. Conflict Management Techniques Each conflict is special in its nature and requires customized care depending on the situation or context with which the problem resides. â€Å"†¦all managers—whether they be supervisors, middle managers or chief executive officers—must learn to manage conflict if they are to be effective in leading their particular organizational units† (DuBose & Pringle, 1989, p. 1). The idea that a problem should be â€Å"managed† crops up because conflict is a known and necessary part of organizational development. Conflicts shape organizations; but why must an organization go through a difficulty or hardship in order to understand conflict management? â€Å"The term ‘managing’ implies that conflict is not inevitably destructive† (DuBose & Pringle, 1989, p. 1). Conflicts are not unchangingly damaging because it is necessary for growth to come across a few growing pains. Organizations with good management almost always succeed and dreams of growth come into fruition when conflicts are appropriately managed and managers understand the integrality of their interpretation of conflict management and its many different techniques. The team was very natural in its ability to choose a proper technique and utilize it in order to overcome the conflict at hand. The collaboration technique was used successfully as the team was forced to put their heads together and come to a decision with regard to the conflict. The collaboration was effective due to the participants’ unwavering objectivity and understanding of the conflict and how to manage it. Each party had their responsibilities laid out neatly in order to quickly and professionally get the job done. The team was highly prepared for any conflicts and managed them upon manifestation due to the highly comprehensive group. Accommodation is another technique the team productively used. Accommodation is used when the conflict is more important to the other party involved in the conflict and is treated with thoughtfulness by the other members; this technique was also successful because the team was able to â€Å"pick their battles† and strive to meet all the expectations of the team leader, and their teammates (DuBose & Pringle, 1989). Additional Conflict Management Techniques Team communication generally appears to be a conflict that exists within the members of the group. This can only be solved within the members and the willingness to strive, learn, and accomplish together as a group. It takes personal inactive and being open to other’s suggestions to make communication strong and effective. Strong communication would prove to eliminate miscommunication and therefore lack of communication. Setting goals can always be a productive approach to ensuring success and keeping members focused on what needs to be accomplished, and the most effective route to complete tasks. The important balance of goal setting in groups is making sure that personal and team goals do not outweigh one another. Goals are more productive when they are shared and known with other individuals. Making, keeping, and sharing goals in the team environment are essential to success and eliminating miscommunication. In some cases where conflict is stronger than problem solving, it is necessary to seek help outside of the group. Third-party intervention occurs when a group seeks the services of an impartial outsider who has no direct connections to the group, but has the skills needed to analyze the conflict and helps resolve it (Engleberg & Wynn, 2010). In learning team environments, the instructor is the third-party intervention and has authority to make decisions as deemed necessary to help keep the team productive and functioning as a whole. Arrival of Decision The group’s natural understanding of conflict management, and the team leader’s fantastic ability to choose proper techniques, strengthened the team’s ability to get the job done. When conflicts arose, the team effortlessly went through a decision process and effectively outlined the techniques that worked the best. The team was able to utilize all participating members’ strengths to move on with the project after nipping all problems in the bud. While some issues call for more drastic measures, accommodation and collaboration was the team’s two most valuable assets when managing conflict internally. Some issues require an entire modification of the organizational structure which could set back the team, and even the organization, for a very long time. Good management within the organization knows the proper way to take care of problems that arise from conflicts. Good management understands that the symptoms and the disease are two completely different things and should be handled as such. When managers â€Å"settle† problems for lower-level managers, it implies that they do not fully understand the real problem and how to fix it. Symptoms are stopped once the root of the problem is remedied. Conclusion When lack of communication occurs in a group, miscommunication is often followed. Certain personal strengths, such as a willingness to strive and learn from others are important in a group setting. Creating a team charter helps eliminate the issue of miscommunication. Setting goals, being open to other’s thoughts and opinions, and seeking help from outside of the group are all techniques to resolve a conflict in a group setting. The arrival of decisions are done by working as a team, using proper problem solving techniques, communicating, and having a good leader. References DuBose, P. B. & Pringle, C. D. (1989). Choosing A conflict management technique. SuperVision,50(6), 10-10. Retrieved fromhttp://search.proquest.com/docview/195581288?accountid=35812 Engleberg, I. N. & Wynn, D. R. (2010). Working in groups (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn &Bacon.

Free Essays on I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud

like the gentle flower that he is describing. He mentions that the daffodils are â€Å"fluttering† â€Å"dancing â€Å" and â€Å"twinkling,† such terms make the lines flow with a musical eloquence. He is able to make the daffodils come to life in a joyous movement making me feel like I am also swaying along with the flowers. We can see that he holds daffodils and nature in high regard. This poem has a lot of nature images that you can practically see: the trees, the water, the stars, and the daffodils. His tone is merry and flows quickly and nicely. It's like he is creating a painting not a poem. The images around him all seem to be in harmony, and, like he says, "dance" together. The extent of his joy is when he is among the daffodils, but the greater experience he seems to gain is the recollection of that moment of tranquility while with that "jocund company." The cloud he mentions is used not to represent loneliness, bu... Free Essays on I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud Free Essays on I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud William Wordsworth is a famous Romantic English poet known for his imagery. In his poem "I wandered lonely as a cloud," we can see his use of imagery and emotion at its best. This also happens to be one of my favorite poems. This poem's plot is simple. We the reader are being taken along for a magical trip that the author is recounting. The speaker says that while wandering like a cloud floating above hills and valleys he encounters a field of daffodils beside a lake. These dancing, fluttering flowers caught the heart of our speaker. We can obviously see that this moment in his life has meant a great deal to him. He says that a poet could not help but be happy in such a joyful company of flowers. He also says whenever he feels "vacant" or "pensive" the memory flashes upon "that inward eye / That is the bliss of solitude," and his heart fills with pleasure "and dances with the daffodils." The imagery Wordsworth uses is very powerful, making me feel like I too saw this wonderful sight of daffodils. He uses gentle words like the gentle flower that he is describing. He mentions that the daffodils are â€Å"fluttering† â€Å"dancing â€Å" and â€Å"twinkling,† such terms make the lines flow with a musical eloquence. He is able to make the daffodils come to life in a joyous movement making me feel like I am also swaying along with the flowers. We can see that he holds daffodils and nature in high regard. This poem has a lot of nature images that you can practically see: the trees, the water, the stars, and the daffodils. His tone is merry and flows quickly and nicely. It's like he is creating a painting not a poem. The images around him all seem to be in harmony, and, like he says, "dance" together. The extent of his joy is when he is among the daffodils, but the greater experience he seems to gain is the recollection of that moment of tranquility while with that "jocund company." The cloud he mentions is used not to represent loneliness, bu...

Free Essays on Rousseau’s Inequality Among Men

Rousseau’s Inequality Among Men Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s â€Å"Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men,† gives an insightful way to view the way inequality an injustice came about and how we should respond to it. His discourse is, more or less, a critique of the social contract as viewed by some of his constituents. Rousseau agreed with John Locke and Thomas Hobbes on varying ideas regarding the state of nature and the social contract, but his ideas of a social contract are different in many ways. In this essay I will explain Rousseau’s view of human nature, his ideas of private property, and how a civil society came into place and the impact this had. Rousseau did not feel that the state of nature was all that natural. He questions if there ever even was a state of nature and if there was, how do we get back to it. He states that the ‘Holy Scriptures’ mention the first man was given enlightenment and precepts immediately from God and Moses never spoke of this state of nature (414). However, Rousseau does agree with John Locke that all humans are born free and autonomous. Unlike Locke, he feels that there is no reason in the state of nature and that moral or political inequality is not authorized by natural law. Like Hobbes, Rousseau thought that a condition outside of society contains no morality. Rousseau felt that virtues, or natural goods, did exist in the state of nature and two virtues existed prior to reason. He felt that self-preservation and compassion for others were the two natural virtues that existed in the state of nature. Unfortunately, these virtues are altered as we enter a social contract. Ac cording to Rousseau this occurs because Human Nature is malleable. Rousseau’s view of private property gives a better look at how the civil society was created. He did not feel that society was natural rather that the simplicity of the ‘noble-savage’ was preferred to society. ... Free Essays on Rousseau’s Inequality Among Men Free Essays on Rousseau’s Inequality Among Men Rousseau’s Inequality Among Men Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s â€Å"Discourse on the Origin and Foundations of Inequality Among Men,† gives an insightful way to view the way inequality an injustice came about and how we should respond to it. His discourse is, more or less, a critique of the social contract as viewed by some of his constituents. Rousseau agreed with John Locke and Thomas Hobbes on varying ideas regarding the state of nature and the social contract, but his ideas of a social contract are different in many ways. In this essay I will explain Rousseau’s view of human nature, his ideas of private property, and how a civil society came into place and the impact this had. Rousseau did not feel that the state of nature was all that natural. He questions if there ever even was a state of nature and if there was, how do we get back to it. He states that the ‘Holy Scriptures’ mention the first man was given enlightenment and precepts immediately from God and Moses never spoke of this state of nature (414). However, Rousseau does agree with John Locke that all humans are born free and autonomous. Unlike Locke, he feels that there is no reason in the state of nature and that moral or political inequality is not authorized by natural law. Like Hobbes, Rousseau thought that a condition outside of society contains no morality. Rousseau felt that virtues, or natural goods, did exist in the state of nature and two virtues existed prior to reason. He felt that self-preservation and compassion for others were the two natural virtues that existed in the state of nature. Unfortunately, these virtues are altered as we enter a social contract. Ac cording to Rousseau this occurs because Human Nature is malleable. Rousseau’s view of private property gives a better look at how the civil society was created. He did not feel that society was natural rather that the simplicity of the ‘noble-savage’ was preferred to society. ...

Nitrogen in Tires

Nitrogen in Tires Question: What makes nitrogen in tires better than air? I see a lot of tires with the green cap indicating they are filled with nitrogen. Is there any advantage to putting nitrogen in my automobile tires instead of compressed air? How does it work? Answer: There are multiple reasons why nitrogen is preferable to air in automobile tires: better pressure retention leading to increased fuel economy and improved tire lifespancooler running temperatures accompanied by less pressure fluctuation with temperature changeless tendency toward wheel rot To understand why, its helpful to review the composition of air. Air is mostly nitrogen (78%), with 21% oxygen, and smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases. The oxygen and water vapor are the molecules that matter. Although you might think oxygen would be a larger molecule than nitrogen because it has a higher mass on the periodic table, elements further along an element period actually have a small atomic radius because of the nature of the electron shell. An oxygen molecule, O2, is smaller than a nitrogen molecule, N2, making it easier for oxygen to migrate through the wall of tires. Tires filled with air deflate more quickly than those filled with pure nitrogen. Is it enough to matter? A 2007 Consumer Reports study compared air-inflated tires and nitrogen-inflated tires to see which lost pressure more quickly and whether the difference was significant. The study compared 31 different automobile models with tires inflated to 30 psi. They followed the tire pressure for a year and found air-filled tires lost an average of 3.5 psi, while nitrogen-filled tires lost an average of 2.2 psi. In other words, air-filled tires leak 1.59 times more quickly than nitrogen-filled tires. The leakage rate varied widely between different brands of tires, so if a manufacturer recommends filling a tire with nitrogen, its best to heed the advice. For example, the BF Goodrich tire in the test lost 7 psi. Tire age also mattered. Presumably, older tires accumulate tiny fractures which make them more leaky with time and wear. Water is another molecule of interest. If you only ever fill up your tires with dry air, the effects of water arent a problem, but not all compressors remove water vapor. Water in tires should not lead to tire rot in modern tires because they are coated with aluminum so they will form aluminum oxide when exposed to water. The oxide layer protects the aluminum from further attack in much the same way chrome protects steel. However, if you are using tires that do not have the coating, water can attack the tire polymer and degrade it. The more common problem (which I have noted in my Corvette, when I have used air rather than nitrogen) is that water vapor leads to pressure fluctuations with temperature. If there is water in your compressed air, it enters the tires. As the tires heat up, the water vaporizes and expands, increasing tire pressure much more significantly than what you see from the expansion of nitrogen and oxygen. As the tire cools, pressure drops appreciably. The changes reduce tire life expectancy and affect fuel economy. Again, the magnitude of the effect likely is influenced by brand of tire, age of tire, and how much water you have in your air. The Bottom Line The important thing is to make sure your tires are kept inflated at the proper pressure. This is much more important than whether the tires are inflated with nitrogen or with air. However, if your tires are expensive or you drive under extreme conditions (i.e., at high speeds or with extreme temperature changes over the course of a trip), its worth it to use nitrogen. If you have low pressure but normally fill with nitrogen, its better to add compressed air than wait until you can get nitrogen, but you may see a difference in the behavior of your tire pressure. If there is water in with the air, any problems will likely be lasting, since theres nowhere for the water to go. Air is fine for most tires and preferable for a vehicle youll take to remote locations, since compressed air is much more readily available than nitrogen.

Ethcial Issues in the Financial services Industry Term Paper

Ethcial Issues in the Financial services Industry - Term Paper Example It is considered that general people tend to consider the field of financial services as more unethical as compared to other areas of business. This is considered as such mostly because of the fact that the industry is considered to be quite large. 2 Ethical issues are considered to have a huge importance in the industry of financial services because numerous people are considered to be consumers of such services. General people tend to consider this field as more unethical as compared to other areas of business. This is mostly because of the fact that the industry is considered to be quite large. It comprises mortgage lenders, pension funds, investment banks, mutual fund organizations, insurance organizations, securities firms, and banks. The industry is considered to make lot of headlines which tout for its ethical lapses due to its vast size. Intermediaries that operate in the field of financial services must follow standards of the industry, rules of law, and act in an ethical manner. The organizations operating in the financial services industry conduct numerous meetings with regard to marketing of financial services, investment analysis, technology training, and new product training but there is very less importance placed with regard to ethical training. The thinking of organizations must be changed in this regard such that ethical training forms part of conferences in financial service organizations and should have a significant number of attendances. The financial services industry is considered to provide essential services which can be considered as fundamental to modern society and economy. It provides services such as safeguarding money of the general public and providing them with domestic lending services. In this regard, it can be said that considering the vital role that financial service organizations play, it is logical to

Collaboration and decision support Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Collaboration and decision support - Essay Example The managers access and utilise their required information (through data services option) to devise policies and prepare future plans. In addition, the system also identifies what information could be accessed and helpful for executives from different departments. The next support tool is ‘forecasting’, which enables managers to input business data in system so that system application automatically provides forecasts, estimations and certain calculations in the form of text, charts and tables. Hence, the manual process of forecasting is replaced with this new technology, thereby reducing time involved in decision-making and strategic planning. The third major support tool is known as ‘automatic report generation facility’, which provides updated daily / weekly / monthly reports on progress of the firm so that policy-makers will remain updated regarding business performance followed by changes in external environment. Also, the system provides email and conta ct facilities with real experts and other organisational personnel via intranet so that decision-makers could enhance interaction and information sharing before policy formulation. Reference Ba, Sulin, Karl Lang, and Andrew Whinston (1997). Enterprise decision support using Intranet Technology. Decision Support Systems, Volume 20, Issue 2, pp. 99-134

Corporate Social Responsibility Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Corporate Social Responsibility - Essay Example This thought was advanced by economists of the free market school of thought into the neo-liberalism economics. This new school of thought emerged a century later following the burst of free market ideals, growing out of the existing liberalism economics theory. What therefore was this old liberalism theory all about? Economic liberalism prevailed in America in the 1800 and early 1900 granting individuals the right to make profit in an increasingly unregulated market. Profit was therefore pursuable at no restrictions; an anything goes analogy that would soon plunge the world into unfathomed crisis a few decades later. Subsequent to the economic crush of the 1929 occasioned by the crash of the stock market, the world was plunged into major turmoil; this lead to the emergence of two primary concerns as to how to restore balance to economies that had been into chaos. Firstly, that government had the duty and obligation to spend where others (largely the private sector) would not. Second ly, and in stark opposition to this was, that the intervention of state was both pointless in addition to being potentially dangerous in the long-run health of the aggregate economy (Wapshott, 2011). These early debates still linger till now striking strong and ferocious debates and reactions both within the government and amongst corporate bodies. The subsidence of this World crisis and the decline in profitability in industries prompted the elite to revive economic liberalism leading to the development of neo-liberalism economics (Roberts, 2010). The neo-liberalism economics propagated for the exclusive rule of the markets within the economy; deregulation of government role on any aspect that would cut back on enterprise profitability (including workers’ safety, environment safety and workers’ unionization); privatization of public amenities and resources and reduced public welfare expenditure such as healthcare and education. On the global scale, the spread of this new world order was halted by the World Wars. Subsequent to these was the United States’ Marshall Plan that once more made Europe a major trading bloc with the United States. The tide of independence and freedom of markets was meanwhile blowing across the Atlantics greatly positioning the new economic order to states that were alien due to prolonged socialism and colonization (Robbins, 2004). It is against this widespread neo-liberalism particularly by the United Sates (in its newly found capacity as the world’s superpower) that economists such as Polanyi forecasted the setting in motions events that are yet to lead to another world crisis. The blatant permission of free market forces to be a lone determinant of the fate of humanity and the natural environment would ultimately result in the destruction of society (Polanyi, 2001). However, in an apparent contradiction of his prophecy, Polanyi further went to argue that such a societal destruction could not abound since the developments within the system would guarantee the supremacy of society over the economic system.

Geology of China Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Geology of China - Assignment Example The Rift Valley system starts in East Africa, from the Gulf of Aden and ends in Malawi. However, it is seismically vigorous beyond Malawi. The Rift began in the north at the commencement of Tertiary and progressed to the south with time. Therefore, it has its beginning in the far-off hot position as an enormous domal upgrade (Afro-Arabian Dome) covering over 1000 km in width. The oceanic cracks in the Red Sea meet with those in the Indian Ocean. Rift System constitutes the third wing, a compound attribute with two major Rift branches, a Western and an Eastern Rifts. The Eastern Rift has a wide range of volcanoes from Suswa up to Turkana. Subsequent hot spot embodied by the Kenya domal elevation forms the base of the Rift that is elliptical in design and approximately 1000 km broad. It has three Rift wings, two of them establish the main cleft; the third (Kavirondo) suppresses the trending west from the central point of the dome. To the north, around Lake Turkana precincts sedimentation subjugates volcanic production. Consequently, Prospecting for petroleum and gas within a sedimentary block of the floor are starting to occur. The Western split of deep lakes and a small number of volcanoes, changes the course of the eastern border of the Kenyan field: Uganda to Tanzania and progressing south to Malawi. The base of that Rift contains sediments (containing hydrocarbons) that are longer in shape, and occupying a sink of 4.5 km in height, but volcanism is secondary. Apart from that, it hosts Africa’s major active volcanoes around Virunga Mountains. The Rift Valley is a structure of faults edging at 40-60 km wide through, opening outwards in the north region. The Kenyan Rift changes direction and splays towards the north and south Tanzania. Domal improvement and proliferation leads to a fracture in the brittle crust. Subsequently, an array of typical faults resulted in the classic Horst structure of the

TAKE HOME FINAL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

TAKE HOME FINAL - Essay Example In chapter 10, page 191, There is a tendency when reading critical accounts of communication and culture to slip into â€Å"What’s the point of all these?† Or, better yet, â€Å"if this is true, then the problem is too big and we are all doomed.† One’s language will influence their view of the world and how they perceive their surroundings, the environment and even how the think; this is culture. In chapter one page 7 â€Å"Culture is a system of shared meanings and assumptions that draw people together within a social context of shared power.† The above definition points to the fact that culture is reflected in one’s language and reflects on how the particular people perceive the world (Warren & Deanna, 2011). The other point of view is that Culture is reflected in language. Cultural is reflected in language. Cultural requirements do not determine structure of language, but influence how, but influence how it is used. Human beings do not liv e in isolation but with other human beings. This living together brings in the urge to communicate with one another and pass information from one person to another. It is this communication that leads to the development of language. Language is therefore considered a means for communication mostly through verbal means. It is only logical that people who live close to another have a higher urge to communicate to one another and thus higher likely hood of having similar words in their language. It is also likely that the people who live close to one another often share a lot. For instance, they are likely to be living in the same vicinity and thus experience the same climatic conditions. This means if they are farmers, they are likely to engage in farming of similar crops, the same goes to pastoralists, traders, e.t.c. this leads to a particular way of doing things within the given area, hence culture. They tend to have a similar way of living and going about their daily activities. P eople of the same culture are often under the same umbrella of power. They share the same geographical space and as such are likely to be under the same authority. The language therefore that is most likely to emanate from this kind of people is likely to be related if not one. The information they are to communicate is mostly identical. In page 8 chapter one, â€Å"Power is a productive resulting from our different locations within culture (Warren & Deanna, 2011). By productive tension, we mean that our heightened awareness of power in our relationship with one another can be instructive- it can teach us about ourselves and each other, and communication.† The above therefore answers the question on how power, language, and culture is related. The relationship between culture and language is however more compound than the relationship between language and culture (Talk, 2008). In page 197, chapter one, â€Å"the power of communication is just that: power. If we can see the w orld through the lens of constructive theories of communication, if we understand the relationship between communication and culture as important and meaningful (and not just coincidental or easy), then we are faced with the most fundamental, hopeful bottom line: If the world is communicatively constructed, then none of the inequalities or violations or oppressions is given or inevitable and, because this is true we can always create the change we desire.†

How and why is a social group represented in a particular way Essay

How and why is a social group represented in a particular way - Essay Example In this writing, the emphasis will be on Margaret Atwood’s literary writing of The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as on the way Atwood has supported and written against the balace bwteen the two genders. Atwood’s tale main characters are played by the female gender and the story is even based on the same gender and even the narrator of the story is a female. The portrayal of the gender roles in Atwood’s novel is not restricted to the characters and the narrator; it goes far beyond explaining, highlighting, and conflicting with the views of feminism. Atwood does not project a world in which females have the power and ability to stand shoulder to shoulder with the male gender, she rather portrays an image of the society where females are governed by others and are not free and are subordinates to the elites (male gender). The story even projects that the male gender has gained their ability to govern the female gender with the assistance of aunts. Aunts in the novel are those who brain wash the female gender and preach them about how to become perfect slaves of the males. Aunts do not portray a positive image of the female gender as it is quite difficult to identify who they are in the real life. These aunts completely act against the ideas of equal rights for women. They have represent a female world where they are suppressed and live under the command of the male gender. These women are undoubtedly portraying an image of the women which is totally against the empowerment of the female gender in the society. Nevertheless, they have shown such activities which appear to go against men. They are constantly showing a negative taste for the male gender. Aunts have played different roles in the novel at different points of time; one of the roles was to underestimate the importance of female unity as seen throughout the novel. On the surface they seem to be completely against the

TAKE HOME FINAL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

TAKE HOME FINAL - Essay Example In chapter 10, page 191, There is a tendency when reading critical accounts of communication and culture to slip into â€Å"What’s the point of all these?† Or, better yet, â€Å"if this is true, then the problem is too big and we are all doomed.† One’s language will influence their view of the world and how they perceive their surroundings, the environment and even how the think; this is culture. In chapter one page 7 â€Å"Culture is a system of shared meanings and assumptions that draw people together within a social context of shared power.† The above definition points to the fact that culture is reflected in one’s language and reflects on how the particular people perceive the world (Warren & Deanna, 2011). The other point of view is that Culture is reflected in language. Cultural is reflected in language. Cultural requirements do not determine structure of language, but influence how, but influence how it is used. Human beings do not liv e in isolation but with other human beings. This living together brings in the urge to communicate with one another and pass information from one person to another. It is this communication that leads to the development of language. Language is therefore considered a means for communication mostly through verbal means. It is only logical that people who live close to another have a higher urge to communicate to one another and thus higher likely hood of having similar words in their language. It is also likely that the people who live close to one another often share a lot. For instance, they are likely to be living in the same vicinity and thus experience the same climatic conditions. This means if they are farmers, they are likely to engage in farming of similar crops, the same goes to pastoralists, traders, e.t.c. this leads to a particular way of doing things within the given area, hence culture. They tend to have a similar way of living and going about their daily activities. P eople of the same culture are often under the same umbrella of power. They share the same geographical space and as such are likely to be under the same authority. The language therefore that is most likely to emanate from this kind of people is likely to be related if not one. The information they are to communicate is mostly identical. In page 8 chapter one, â€Å"Power is a productive resulting from our different locations within culture (Warren & Deanna, 2011). By productive tension, we mean that our heightened awareness of power in our relationship with one another can be instructive- it can teach us about ourselves and each other, and communication.† The above therefore answers the question on how power, language, and culture is related. The relationship between culture and language is however more compound than the relationship between language and culture (Talk, 2008). In page 197, chapter one, â€Å"the power of communication is just that: power. If we can see the w orld through the lens of constructive theories of communication, if we understand the relationship between communication and culture as important and meaningful (and not just coincidental or easy), then we are faced with the most fundamental, hopeful bottom line: If the world is communicatively constructed, then none of the inequalities or violations or oppressions is given or inevitable and, because this is true we can always create the change we desire.†

The differences in business systems in Asia and the West Essay Example for Free

The differences in business systems in Asia and the West Essay When researching the differences in business systems between Asia and the West it is very difficult to find any material that does not attribute many of these disparities to cultural influences (Davidson, 1987; Ferguson, 1993 and Blackman, 1997). This is due to the fact that it is generally believed that intercultural awareness does contribute to successfully doing business in another culture. However, establishing how and where culture affects business systems is by no means an easy question to answer and many western businesses are in fact currently trying to answer this question in order to successfully integrate into the Chinese marketplace (Dayton, 2006 and Journal of Intercultural Learning, 2006). Therefore, in this essay I will analyse exactly what role culture has in explaining the distinctions between business systems in the West and China and argue that in many cases these discrepancies are incorrectly attributed to cultural reasons when in fact these variations can be explained by using far more obvious economic causes. Harris (2006) notes the eagerness of business journalists to attribute the differences in Western and Asian business systems to cultural factors by stating: the airport newsstand best-sellers and glossy news weeklies are packed with admonishments to preserve face and build relationships and local Chinese writers have jumped on the bandwagon, poking fun at the clueless westerners blundering towards failure in China because they dont understand the local culture. Graham and Lam (2003) concur stating that Western and Chinese approaches to business often appear incompatible. Graham and Lam (2003) also believe that these differences in business systems and attitudes stem from deep cultural origins and in order for western business to successfully interact with their Chinese counterparts they must understand the cause of these differences is in fact their cultural differences. However, Maidment (2006) argues that western Multi-National Companies (MNCs) are succeeding in China because they place little value on the role of culture when conducting business in China, but rather focus solely on business issues when conducting business. Maidment (2006) states that MNCs succeed because they hire the best local talent, pay the highest salaries, and invest the most. They have no culture, no beliefs, and no  predispositions. They are machines. It does seem that too many western businesses are too concerned with recognising cultural differences in China, which often provide no explanation to the difference in business systems. Instead they should just focus on implementing successful business strategies in China, rather than becoming fixated on cultural differences (Harris, 2006 and Dayton, 2006). Recognising that China has a different culture to that of western countries is not a universal explanation to explain the differences in business systems (Baird et al, 1990). In fact, Maidment (2006) argues that traditional Chinese culture is changing so fast that no one understands it. It is therefore debatable whether or not culture plays any part in the difference in business systems, this is due to the fact that the current generation of Chinese professionals has very little in common with the previous one (Maidment, 2006). One could therefore argue that analysing cultural differences to explain the business ones carries very little weight in China (Asian Business Law, 2006). However, Maidment (2006), Harris (2006) and Dayton (2006) all concede that knowing Chinese history and culture is a benefit to conducting business in China but also state that cultural knowledge should not be solely relied upon in order to understand these differences. Given the rapid changes that are occurring in both the Chinese marketplace and Western economies it would seem that understanding the economic forces of the here and now would provide far greater insight into understanding the differences between China and the West, rather than mulling over traditional cultural influences. In contrast the Journal of Intercultural Learning (2006) when contrasting Chinese and Western businesses argues that culture shapes our values, attitudes and our behaviour. It affects the way we communicate with each other, the way we expect to lead and to follow, the way we negotiate, the way we buy and sell, and the way we work together in teams. Nevertheless such a broad statement provides little insight into which specific aspects of culture affects business systems in both Asia and the West. In order to better understand this, a contextual background is needed rather that just  providing stereotypical cultural tips, such as those that are regularly found in many business magazines. Anyone who thinks reading a few books on Chinese culture gives them the measure of the individual Chinese person with whom they are dealing is mistaken (Maidment, 2006). When examining the current differences in business systems between the West and China, differences in educational systems and levels in different localities, the rate of change, the intricacy of different systems in different locations, geographical factors and the widening gap in economic development between Chinas rich and poor provinces all affect business developments to a greater extent than any cultural factors would (Harris, 2006, Dayton, 2006, Ferguson, 1993 and Maidment, 2006). Burton and Scott (2008) do not however share such reservations when glorifying the role of culture in explaining the differences in business systems. Burton and Scott (2008) argue that the Chinese have been conducting business for thousands of years, and their system of business ethics has been shaped by the culture in which it developed — as was the business system in the West. At the centre of these differences is the fact that Chinese culture is far more relational than Western culture, and this difference is especially pronounced in business culture (Burton and Scott, 2008). Indeed, Miles (1999) also recognizes the stark differences in business relationships between the West and China and maintains that this is at the heart of potential differences between the two systems. The type of relationship and networking structure that is referred to by Burton and Scott (2008) and that is such a crucial part of conducting business in China is of course, guanxi. Despite the various definitions relating to guanxi, there appears to be a common consensus that guanxi has its own cultural base and meaning in Chinese culture (Lee, 2006 and Yang, 1994). In order for guanxi to be established between two or more people there needs to be a cultural base and many candidates for guanxi bases are unique to the Chinese culture (Chen, 2004: 308). Therefore, while social networking is important when conducting business in any country throughout the world, the type of networking referred to as guanxi appears to be  exclusively Chinese as it can not be separated from the intricacies of Chinese culture. In fact, Burton and Scott (2008) argue that because of Chinese culture, guanxi defines not only relationships but also how business is done in China. Given these circumstances an d the importance that many scholars place on the role of guanxi in explaining the difference in business systems between the West and China, it would appear that culture is the dominant factor to explain these discrepancies (Backman, 2001 and Chen, 2004). Therein however lies the problem in establishing exactly what role culture plays in explaining the difference in business systems between the West and China. While Backman (2001), Chen (2004), Burton and Scott (2008), Yang (1994) and Lee (2006) all argue that guanxi is inextricably linked to Chinese culture and that culture is the root of the differences in business systems between the West and China, Dayton (2006), Harris (2006) and Maidment (2006) contend that these universal business tips such as guanxi and preserving face are in fact not cultural specific. This is best summarized by Harris (2006) who states there is just hardwork and guanxi, which is good networking, a pretty universal essential to doing business anywhere. Good networking therefore is an interpersonal skill that needs to be used to cross many cultural divides, not just those between the West and Asia. Simply defining the different ways that Chinese businessmen interact as guanxi and attributing this to culture is far too simple, as there are many other factors rather than just culture that are the source of these differences in business systems. Furthermore, Maidment (2006) argues that understanding Chinese culture is is a lot like learning chess. The basic rules are easily memorized; responding to every situation that can arise is very, very difficult. Given the speed that the Chinese economy is moving at, businesses are often searching for answers to explain the differences in business systems and are increasingly falling back on the broad generalization that it can be explained because China simply has a different culture. The truth of the matter however is that these so called predetermined  cultural differences that are so often spouted by western business magazines have huge variations in many Asian countries, particularly China where business and cultural philosophies vary greatly among the rich and poor provinces, the educated and the uneducated and the young and old business generations (Harris, 2006, Maidment, 2006 and Dayton, 2006). Understanding Chinese history and culture is beneficial for understanding Chinas business system, however because circumstances in China change so quickly, staying abreast of Chinas current situation is far more important than knowing its past (Maidment, 2006). There is no doubting that culture does play a role in determining the differences between the business systems of the West and Asia, but all too often these cultural influences are over-exaggerated, and current regional and international economic influences more often than not dictate the differences betwee n Asia and the West. Bibliography Asian Business Law. (2006) Do The Top Ten Cultural Tips For Doing Business In China Really Help? (Online) http://asiabizlaw.blogspot.com/2006/04/do-top-ten-cultural-tips-for-doing.html Accessed [30th April 2008]. Backman, Michael (2001). Asian Eclipse: Exposing the Dark Side of Business in Asia. Singapore: John Wiley and Sons Inc. Baird, I.S., Lyles, M.A. and Wharton, R. (1990). Attitudinal differences between American and Chinese managers regarding joint venture management. Management International Review, Volume 30. Blackman, Carolyn (1997). Negotiating China: case studies and strategies. St. Leonards, NSW: Allen and Unwin. Burton, F and Scott, S. (2008). China: Guanxi and Corporate Security (Online) http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/china_guanxi_and_corporate_security [Accessed 3rd May 2008]. Chen, Xiao-Ping (2004). On the intricacies of Chinese Guanxi: A process model ofGuanxi development. (Online) http://www.iacmr.org/XP_APJM_2004_3.pdf [Accessed29th April 2008]. Daniels, Jack (2007) China is a great place to do business if you know the rules (Online) http://www.chinasuccessstories.com/2007/08/28/tips-for-doing-business-in-china [Accessed 30th April 2008]. Davidson, W.H. (1987). Creating and managing joint ventures in China. California Management Review, Volume 29. Dayton, David. (2006) Culture Wars China Law Blog (Online) http://www.chinalawblog.com/2006/05/chinese_culture_wars_truce_dec.html [Accessed 27th April 2008]. Ferguson, T. C. (1993). Joint ventures in China: when West meets East and encounters the great wall of differing management thought. Journal of Management Inquiry, Volume 2. Graham, John and Lam, Mark. (2003) Negotiating in China Harvard Business Review, Vol 81, No. 10, October, 2003. Harris, Dan. (2006) To Succeed in China Know the Now China Law Blog (Online) http://www.chinalawblog.com/2006/04/to_succeed_in_china_know_the_n.html [Accessed 27th April 2008]. Journal of Intercultural Learning. (2006) Cultural Knowledge is a Plus to Business Success (Online) http://www.interculturallearning.net/2006/05/21/cultural-knowledge-is-a-plus-to-business-success [Accessed 26th April 2008]. Lee, Joseph (2006) The Importance Of Guanxi (Relationship) When Doing Business InChina (Online) http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Lee [Accessed 29th April2008]. Maidment, Paul. (2006) The Real Deal on China Forbes Magazine (Online) http://www.forbes.com/columnists/2006/04/20/china-yuan-hu_cx_pm_0420notes.html [Accessed 29th April 2008]. Miles, Michael (1999) Power and Relationship: Two Elements of the Chinese/Western Divide (Online) http://www.lib.unb.ca/Texts/JCIM/bin/get.cgi?director y=vol3_1/filename=miles.htm [Accessed 2nd May 2008]. Yang, M. M. (1994). Gifts, Favors And Banquets: The Art Of Social Relationship inChina Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.

Magic Methyl Effect: Transition Metal Catalyzed

Magic Methyl Effect: Transition Metal Catalyzed The insertion of a methyl group, the smallest alkyl group, into a C-H bond has been shown to enhance such pharmacological charactistics as bioavailability and potency.1 Traditionally, incorporation of a methyl group into a bioactive compound has required lengthy de novo synthesis. Consequently, synthetic reactions that allow late-stage installation of methyl groups into advanced intermediates are of great potential value in the pharmaceutical industry. In the past two decades interest in directed C−H activation followed by the methylation led to the development of strategies which use precious metals catalysts forarenes ortho-functionalizations.2, 3 Currently, only a few reactions exist which enable such transformations to be achieved in a single step,1, 4 highlighting the difficulty in converting a C-H bond to C-Me bond. Most of these methods require heavy loadings of precious metal catalysts to obtain the desired methylated product (Scheme 1).4 Moreover, some of them use hazardous and toxic methylating reagents1 with strongly basic reaction media what results in a limited scope1,4 and the uncontrolled formation of both mono- and dimethylated products.2 This reflects the need for new methylation methods which will overcome mentioned limitations. Scheme 1. Ortho-methylation with precious metal To address the toxicity and expense of the precious metal catalysis, first row metal-catalyzed C−H functionalization has recently been recognized as a straightforward and a powerful tool for the formation of Csp2 Csp3 bonds in modern organic synthesis. In addition first row transition metals introduce interesting mechanistic possibilities for ortho-methylation; they are readily available and relatively low toxicity.1, 4 Recently Lu and co-workers reported the cobalt (II)-catalyzed direct C-H methylation of unactivated (hetero)arenes using dicumyl peroxide (DCP) as the methyl source, base and most importantly as an oxidant. Cobalt mediated C-H functionalization is a maturing field; however, there exist only two examples of its application to methylation of aromatics, using N-methyl-1-naphthamide and benzo[h]quinolone substrates respectively. The reaction proved to be mild, functional group tolerant and uses a less toxic methylating reagent. The paper reports effective access to a range of ortho-methylated (hetero)aromatic carboxamides (Scheme 2).5 Scheme 2. Ortho-methylation with cobalt catalysts Chatani and co-workers reported the use of aryltrimethylammonium bromide and iodide as new methylating reagents in conjunction with nickel-catalyzed C-H bond activation (Scheme 3). Changing from a palladium6 catalyst to nickel makes the ammonium salt act as a methyl source rather than aryl source for a range of 8-aminoquinoline aryl amides. Unfortunately harsh conditions make it difficult to control the selectivity between mono- and dimethylation at the ortho positions in some cases.7 Scheme 3. Ortho-methylation with nickel catalyst using aryltrimethylammonium iodide as methylating reagent Nakamura and co-workers have reported two separate iron-catalyzed conditions seemingly solving a lot of issues associated with the previous examples. The direct C-H methylation reaction with a picolinoyl or 8-aminoquinolyl directing groups, an iron/diphospine catalyst, and inexpensive 2,3-dichlorobutane as an oxidant furnished an efficient, robust reaction (Scheme 4).8 Unfortunately the method relies upon superstoichiometric methyl equivalents in the form of the pyrophoric trimethylaluminum. Scheme 4. Ortho-methylation with iron catalyst using trimethylaluminum as methyl source Nakamura and co-workers further optimized the iron-catalyzed C-H methylation reaction by screening ligands.9 The tridentate phosphine ligand NMe2-TP in combination with Fe(acac)3 catalyzed the ortho C-H methylation of simple aromatic carbonyl compounds without requiring additional directing groups. This reaction showed wide substrate generality, functional group tolerance, and resistance to catalytic poisons taking advantage of functional groups inherent to the advanced intermediates (Scheme 4).9 This seminar will discuss the scope and limitations of these recently published methods, and assess the progress towards developing general solutions to the challenge of late-stage methyl incorporation. References: Schà ¶nherr H., Cernak T. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2013, 52, 12256 Lyons T. W., Sanford M. S. Chem. Rev. 2010, 110, 1147 Snieckus V. Chem. Rev. 1990, 90, 879 Yan G., Borah A. J., Wang L. and Yanga M. Adv. Synth. Catal. 2015, 357, 1333 Li Q., Li Y., Hu W., Hu R., Li G. and Lu H. Chem. Eur. J. 2016, 22, 12286 Zhu F., Tao J.-L., Wang Z.-X. Org. Lett. 2015, 17, 4926 Uemura T., Yamaguchi M., and Chatani N. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2016, 128, 3214 Shang R., Ilies L, and Nakamura E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2015, 137, 7660 Shang R., Ilies L. and Nakamura E. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2016, 138, 10132 Minds, Brains And Programs: Analysis Minds, Brains And Programs: Analysis Searle is arguing that a computer couldnt understand Chinese. Is this the right way to describe the view that Searle is arguing for in Minds, Brains, and Programs? If not, why not? In his Chinese Room argument, Searle observes that if manipulating Chinese symbols according to formal rules is insufficient for the person to understand Chinese, it is also insufficient for a computer to understand Chinese-both are engaging in mindless symbol manipulation. However, he isnt arguing that a computer couldnt understand Chinese, but rather that their programs themselves cant understand Chinese-symbol manipulation isnt constitutive of or sufficient for minds. Searle is not arguing that computers/machines cant think. In fact, he believes that only a machine can think (namely brains and machines that have the same causal powers as brains); he says that brains are machines, and brains think. However, according to Searle, whether something thinks depends not only on the program that it is running but also its hardware-the nature of the thing running the program. Simply implementing a program that is formally isomorphic to human thought processes, as in the Chinese Room example, is insufficient for intentionality and consequently thought (in this case, understanding Chinese) since a program can be instantiated without mental states-essentially, Searles argument is that formal computations on symbols cannot themselves produce thought. What is the systems response to the Chinese Room argument? Is Searle correct to think that the response begs the question because it assumes that the system understands Chinese? The systems response to the Chinese Room argument acknowledges that the man running the program does not understand Chinese. However, he is a part of a larger system that is comprised of the complete set of components that is necessary for answering the Chinese questions, and which as a whole does understand Chinese. Simply asserting that although the man wouldnt understand Chinese the whole system would, does beg the question. However, Searle is incorrect to think that the complete systems response begs the question-it counters Searles argument by observing that the Chinese room argument is logically invalid, being as its conclusion does not follow logically from its premise. Inferring that the system of which the man is a component does not understand Chinese from the premise that the man himself does not understand Chinese is invalid, because there is no logical connection between the premise and the conclusion. What is the point of Searles Chinese Gym example? What do you think the right response to it is? In his Chinese Gym example, Searle illustrates a hypothetical Chinese gym, populated by monolingual English speakers that follow instructions in English to collectively produce output indistinguishable from that of native Chinese speakers. It is analogous to the Chinese Room example but with more people and involves parallel processing-it can perform many computations at a time. Its purpose is to oppose Strong AI. Searles main argument is that it is self-evident that the only things occurring in the Chinese gym are meaningless syntactic manipulations from which intentionality and subsequently thought could not conceivably arise, both individually and collectively. Using the same method in which Copeland used the systems response to defend Strong AI and respond to the Chinese Room argument, we can respond logically to the Chinese Gym example. In other words, it is invalid to infer that a system (the gym) which consists of entities that dont understand Chinese doesnt understand Chinese, from the simple premise that the entities that comprise the system dont understand Chinese. There is no logical connection between the premise and the conclusion. Question 3 No amount of knowledge of the neural basis of taste experiences (or any other physical information) will enable you to know what Marmite tastes like. Only tasting Marmite can tell you what Marmite tastes like. Why is this an objection to physicalism? Physicalism holds that everything is comprised solely of its physical properties; that is, only physical things exist and everything is explicable in terms of the physical. The Physicalist would argue, for instance, that what it is like for someone to taste Marmite is one and the same as some physical quality-knowing the pertinent physical facts of the taste of Marmite are sufficient for knowing the actual taste of Marmite itself. Therefore the statement in question is an objection to physicalism being as it implies that there arent only physical properties since only tasting Marmite can really tell you what Marmite tastes like-for every experience there exist subjective, phenomenal qualities that one could not know of solely via knowledge, but only through experience. In other words, one will have experiences for which one has no corresponding concept; experiences extend beyond simple, learnable physical qualities. This is an objection to the physicalists argument that for everything in the universe there exist only objective, physical bases for everything in the universe. How would Lewis respond to the argument in (a)? Is this a good response? The argument in (a) is analogous to the Knowledge Argument, which Lewis would respond to with the Ability Argument. His position on (a) is in the middle. He agrees that there are aspects of ability that do not consist simply of information possession, and that we do call knowledge. However, he contrasts possessing a new fact with possessing a new ability-having a new experience does not imbue an individual with any new propositional knowledge, but only a bundle of abilities (to imagine, remember and recognize: know-how). These are abilities you cannot gain except by tasting Marmite, and learning what an experience is like means gaining certain abilities-he is fine with the argument in (a), but simply distinguishes that abilities rather than special phenomenal facts are acquired via experiences. This is a good response because learning what an experience is like means gaining certain abilities but its up for grabs what, if anything, the causal basis for those abilities may represent. There is no proof that tasting Marmite is the only way to know what it tastes like as the experience allows one to acquire special phenomenal facts which cannot be represented in any other way nor taught, other forms of tasting Marmite that lead to the same brain state may exist. What is the hard problem associated with the taste of Marmite, and how does it contrast with easy problems associated with explaining taste experiences? The hard problem questions how and why neural processes lead to certain subjective experiences. In the context of tasting Marmite, it is associated with the subjective experience of the taste of Marmite-facts about conscious experience that cannot be deduced from physical facts about the functioning of the brain. The problem of explaining the subjective taste of Marmite, or why the experience even exists in the way it does, is hard. In other words the hard problem is the problem of explaining why a brain state necessary and sufficient for having the experience of tasting Marmite is correlated with the experience of tasting Marmite and not with some other experience. Here we have no conceptions of how physical goings-on give rise to experiences. This contrasts with the easy problem of experiences, which concerns the objective mechanisms of the cognitive system-everything can be solved or explained in terms of neurological or physical goings-on that stimulate certain responses. In the context of taste experiences, the easy question would state that the experiences come into existence simply when neurotransmitters activate taste buds.

The Nike Co. Essay -- essays research papers

NIKE 1.)Description of Nike. 2.)Definition of Total Quality Management and how Nike implements it. 3.)Definition of the Five Elements of Task Environment and how Nike. implements it. The company: 1-A brief history of the organization 2- Nike’s goals 3- Nike’s objectives 4-Markets 5-Size Compare theory with what we found Conclusion Ø DESCRIPTION Basketball players want to be like Mike, but shoe companies want to be like NIKE. NIKE is the world's number one shoe company and controls more than 40% of the athletic shoe market. The company designs and sells shoes for just about every sport, including baseball, volleyball, cheerleading, and wrestling. Nike doesn't only sell athletic shoes, but a wide variety of sporting goods and clothing; they design, develop, and market high quality active sports apparel, equipment, and accessory products. Their huge lines of products are designed for just about every sport in existence. Their products are made for men, women, and children of all ages. In addition, it operates NIKETOWN shoe and sportswear stores and is opening JORDAN in-store outlets in urban markets. NIKE sells its products to about 19,000 US accounts, in about 140 other countries, and online. Chairman, CEO, and co-founder Phil Knight owns about 36% of the firm. Ø TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT Total quality management represents both a social revolution in the work place and a rigorously effective approach to professionalism and success. Total quality management is a management system that is an integral part of an organization's strategy and is aimed at continually improving products and service quality so as to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction and build strong customer loyalty .In other words, the true Total Quality organization will eliminate all competition other than from other Total Quality giants. Many companies have benefited from an emphasis on TQM; however, it does require a considerable amount of company wide commitment to be successful . The customer doesn't know what is technically or organizationally feasible. So the key, challenge to a competitive organization, is to raise the expectations of the market place by providing goods and services at quality levels higher than those offered by the competition. We can now see that there are two principal elements to Total Quality: a business strategic element base o... ...V ads during professional and college sports events, prime-time programs, and late-night TV programs. The advertising and innovative marketing in the industry should still leave it extremely competitive. The only problem that Nike worries about is customers becoming less brand-loyal and buying cheaper athletic shoe brands. Nike is trying to make the point that it is worth spending more money on better quality made shoe, than buying a cheap shoe that will only last a little while. One major area that brings unlimited opportunities to Nike is the international market. In the United Sates, there are 4 people for every pair of Nikes, France has 11, Japan has 50, China has 11,821, and Lebanon has 40 (reference from manager). Nike distributes to more than 40 branches in Lebanon and they have their own main branch situated in Mid-Beirut. Nike is by far the biggest organization in the shoe industry and far surpases its competetors in profits gained. Nike sells throught the world in more than 110 countries throught a span of six continents. It is known by most consumers as the dominant power in the sports industry and is usually the athelets’ top choice when it comes to sports apparel.

Comparing Seamus Heaney’s Digging and Eavan Borland’s In Search of a Nation :: Comparison Compare Contrast Essays

Comparing Seamus Heaney’s Digging and Eavan Borland’s In Search of a Nation   Ã‚  Ã‚   Seamus Heaney’s â€Å"Digging† and Eavan Borland’s â€Å"In Search of a Nation† focus on issues involving identity.   Boland’s essay reveals an individual uncertain in her personality, sexuality, and nationality while Heaney’s poem depicts a man who recognizes his family’s lineage of field laborers yet chooses the pen over the shovel. The benefit of reading the two works vis-a-vis reveals how Ireland has influenced their lives.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Heaney’s use of â€Å"digging† provides different metaphorical images.   For example, as Heaney sits at the window he hears:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   †¦a clean rasping sound   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When the spade sinks in to gravelly ground:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   My father, digging. I look down  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   5   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Till his straining rump among the flowerbeds   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Bends low, comes up twenty years away   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Stooping in rhythm through potato drills   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Where he was digging (3). Heaney emphasizes the aspect of time claiming that his father has been laboring for twenty years. He implies that during the twenty years a shift took place from the potato drills to flowerbeds.   The shift represents the possible retirement of his father from fieldwork to something more recreational, e.g. gardening, and hints at mortality.   The image of a flowerbed invokes a flower arrangement for a gravesite. The imagery coupled with the use of past tense indicates that his father has passed away.   Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition to the aspect of time the fact that he is listening to his father dig suggests a sense of oral tradition that has been passed on to him.   Heaney describes his father as being â€Å"Just like his old man† linking himself to his own grandfather (3). Though he has not actively participated in his father’s laboring Heaney would have been able to hear the stories of working in the potato fields.   As a result Heaney has learned the historical 1importance of the previous generation. Boland relates well with Heaney in terms of a tradition that in her case is more literary than oral.   In her teen years after reading the poem â€Å"The Fool† by Padraic Pearse she unearths deeply seeded emotions of Irish patriotism:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   What I see is the way a poem about nationhood has suddenly included me†¦ The   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   inclusion is not by address or invocation but by a sweeping and self-proposing act of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   language that speaks to all the longings I have for grandiloquence and certainty (53).

Does the Art of Science Vitiate the Science of Art? Essay

INTRODUCTION   Why there would be ripples in the modern art world, if a 17th century artist is found to have used an instrument to perfect his art? It all started when David Hockney, a British artist, started his research on artists, mainly of the Renaissance Period, when observed some ‘suspicious details’ in the works of Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), an artist of Holland, who, like many of his contemporaries had failed to make his rank in his time and thus struggled all along, before getting recognized and appreciated posthumously. The fact that he could master only 30 paintings indicates about the roadblocks he had before him.   However, he has been ‘rediscovered’ presently and his works are now lauded for its wonderful details, which are found to be one up in his time, mainly for their precision. The Situation It was that precision, which caught the fancy of David the researcher. Stunned by the perfect perspectives and light distortions in Vermeer’s paintings. David delved deep into matter and came out with a conclusion that Vermeer might have used a refracting device, such as a ‘Camera Obscura’, to achieve that incredible degree of precision in the details in his paintings. Camera Obscura It is one of the early optical instruments, presumed to have been invented in the late Renaissance period, around the time Galileo, the inventor of Telescope. However, Hockney`s new evidence seems to suggest that the usage of magnifying tools like Camera Obscura were there well before that. That’s a good finding. The Art of Science Camera Obscura is a light-tight box with a small whole on one side, through which an image of an outside object can be projected onto a wall or piece of paper. The resulting image will be projected upside down. This is due to the fact that the reflected rays of light, which enter the box, do not spread out but traverse and reorganize, before reappearing as an upside down reflection. The size of the pinhole determines the sharpness of the reflected image, as well as the degree of diffraction and the level of light sensitivity. The narrower the passage of light, the lesser sensitive is the image. Moreover, narrow holes result in sharper projections and a better image resolution – since the resulting circle of confusion, the distortion of bright areas caused by the shape of the pinhole, will be smaller. This situation also calls to define the resultant diffraction from a particularly small pinhole, which causes a rather unfocused projection of the image. This phenomenon can be explained by the wave theory of light, which states that light behaves like a wave. Diffraction, in this case, refers to the dispersion of waves (light) when passing through the pinhole, which produces a hologram effect. The smaller and closer to the lights’ wavelength the hole is, larger the proportion is in the diffraction pattern, compared to a larger opening. To further increase the brightness and focus of the image, artists started to use a lens instead of the pinhole. It is really heartening to imagine that some of the artists of the Renaissance Period experimented on such nuances of diffraction towards gaining unbelievably realistic, almost photographic paintings. Vermeer’s Endeavor Situations indeed indicate that Vermeer might have used a Camera Obscura to enhance his paintings. Firstly, Vermeer didn’t seem to have used any sort of sketches or preparatory drawings while on his way towards producing paintings with incredibly realistic details and perspective in them. That couldn’t have happened if such works were done manually. His work, â€Å"Soldier and Laughing Girl†, where an amazingly detailed map can be seen hanging on the wall in the background, consolidates this assumption – even after zooming, the map seems to be an exact replication of a map at the time. How could he achieve such precision at one go, if he didn’t use any instrument? Another indication is the presence of bright, round reflections on reflective surfaces. Almost all the reflections in Vermeer’s paintings have an unusually circular shape. We now believe that these round reflections are circles of confusion, which are caused by the imperfection of the lens through which the image is reflected or can occur when the lens is not focused. Such unusually round reflections are distortions of bright areas caused by the shape of the pinhole of the Camera Obscura. One of the most famous examples of such a circle of confusion is the reflection in the girl’s earring in Vermeer`s masterpiece â€Å"The girl with the pearl earring.† Thirdly most of his paintings seem to take place in the same room. A reason for this could have been the size and weight of the apparatus. It might have been too laborious and time consuming to move the optic device in those days. Furthermore, in his painting â€Å"The Music Lesson†, there is a mirror on top of the piano, which reflects the leg of an object, which could have been a Camera Obscura. Science of Art Even though the indications point towards Vermeer’s using of optical instruments, that should be seen as a bold, and nonetheless creative endeavor, which aligns with the intellectual movements of that period – considering the treatise and texts about optics circulated then – only substantiates Vermeer’s contemporary approach towards his work, when people of 17th century had been exploring the possibilities of mirrors and lenses – it was then, even with low quality lenses and bad resolution, Vermeer and his colleagues would have been able to create incredibly detailed pictures. Lastly, the use of such instrument at that time could not have lessened the value of the art. It is assumed, that the painters using a Camera Obscura, merely used the projection of the image as a foundation, a sketch, on which they would paint. Since the projection of the image would be like a movie in color and every movement of the object would distort the artist drawing, only certain features of the object could be taken down on paper, leaving the rest to be done by the artist him/herself. CONCLUSION Artists of 17th century could not be totally dependent on Camera Obscura – they had to add in their own imagination, creativity and hard, manual labor. Attaining precision was just a part of their whole aim, and the attempt to achieve that by using an instrument cannot be hyped as something demeaning in the approach of the artists who did that. It is clear that those artists simply used Camera Obscura to increase precision or shorten the sketching time. There is nothing more in this useless debate, as the choice and combination of colors, the brush strokes, the shading, the technique and much more that take to make a great image, were done all by the artists themselves. To quote Hockney – â€Å"The lens can’t draw a line, only the hand can do that†, would be enough to block this controversy for once and all. Therefore this has nothing to do with any useless debate on the ethical violation of the creative processes involved in painting. It could have been so, if Vermeer did his works with blood, or stole or plagiarize someone else’s idea.

The Department’s Management is Sound

Obviously, this kind of situation shows lack of strategies in the financial management area of the department. It may be possible that the department is able to provide themselves all the resources they need, thus allowing them to provide satisfactory service that their department is expected to provide. However, beyond the department†s activities of supplying themselves with sufficient resources, there may exist an inability to monitor and effectively handle their financial resources. Therefore, causing the department to go over its budget. Another problem that may exist in the department causing the over budget problem is its inability to evaluate and consider the advantages and disadvantages of every action that they take. For instance, activities such as hiring of new employees may be seen by the department to be constructive for the different projects that it handles. However, considering the cost of hiring new employees may be overlooked by the department†s management. Inability to decide on what is the best solution to take or inability to find alternative solutions for a problem may be another characteristic of the department that causes over budget problem. The success in managing a department does not only depend and cannot be measured only on how a department is able to perform its duties to a company. Instead, the measurement of a real successful management are the efficiency and accuracy of the strategies used to become successful. For instance, allocating sufficient employees to a project may be helpful to a project. It may also be effective because of enough manpower to complete a project. However, is it accurate and efficient for the company†s expense? A drawback of too much employees† idle time may exist. This results to the department spending money for employees† unproductive hours.

Part Two Chapter IX

IX ‘And where are you going?' asked Simon, planting himself squarely in the middle of the tiny hall. The front door was open, and the glass porch behind him, full of shoes and coats, was blinding in the bright Saturday morning sun, turning Simon into a silhouette. His shadow rippled up the stairs, just touching the one on which Andrew stood. ‘Into town with Fats.' ‘Homework all finished, is it?' ‘Yeah.' It was a lie; but Simon would not bother to check. ‘Ruth? Ruth!' She appeared at the kitchen door, wearing an apron, flushed, with her hands covered in flour. ‘What?' ‘Do we need anything from town?' ‘What? No, I don't think so.' ‘Taking my bike, are you?' demanded Simon of Andrew. ‘Yeah, I was going to – ‘ ‘Leaving it at Fats' house?' ‘Yeah.' ‘What time do we want him back?' Simon asked, turning to Ruth again. ‘Oh, I don't know, Si,' said Ruth impatiently. The furthest she ever went in irritation with her husband was on occasions when Simon, though basically in a good mood, started laying down the law for the fun of it. Andrew and Fats often went into town together, on the vague understanding that Andrew would return before it became dark. ‘Five o'clock, then,' said Simon arbitrarily. ‘Any later and you're grounded.' ‘Fine,' Andrew replied. He kept his right hand in his jacket pocket, clenched over a tightly folded wad of paper, intensely aware of it, like a ticking grenade. The fear of losing this piece of paper, on which was inscribed a line of meticulously written code, and a number of crossed-out, reworked and heavily edited sentences, had been plaguing him for a week. He had been keeping it on him at all times, and sleeping with it inside his pillowcase. Simon barely moved aside, so that Andrew had to edge past him into the porch, his fingers clamped over the paper. He was terrified that Simon would demand that he turn out his pockets, ostensibly looking for cigarettes. ‘Bye, then.' Simon did not answer. Andrew proceeded into the garage, where he took out the note, unfolded it and read it. He knew that he was being irrational, that mere proximity to Simon could not have magically switched the papers, but still he made sure. Satisfied that all was safe, he refolded it, tucked it deeper into his pocket, which fastened with a stud, then wheeled the racing bike out of the garage and down through the gate into the lane. He could tell that his father was watching him through the glass door of the porch, hoping, Andrew was sure, to see him fall off or mistreat the bicycle in some way. Pagford lay below Andrew, slightly hazy in the cool spring sun, the air fresh and tangy. Andrew sensed the point at which Simon's eyes could no longer follow him; it felt as though pressure had been removed from his back. Down the hill into Pagford he streaked, not touching the brakes; then he turned into Church Row. Approximately halfway along the street he slowed down and cycled decorously into the drive of the Walls' house, taking care to avoid Cubby's car. ‘Hello, Andy,' said Tessa, opening the front door to him. ‘Hi, Mrs Wall.' Andrew accepted the convention that Fats' parents were laughable. Tessa was plump and plain, her hairstyle was odd and her dress sense embarrassing, while Cubby was comically uptight; yet Andrew could not help but suspect that if the Walls had been his parents, he might have been tempted to like them. They were so civilized, so courteous. You never had the feeling, in their house, that the floor might suddenly give way and plunge you into chaos. Fats was sitting on the bottom stair, putting on his trainers. A packet of loose tobacco was clearly visible, peeking out of the breast pocket of his jacket. ‘Arf.' ‘Fats.' ‘D'you want to leave your father's bicycle in the garage, Andy?' ‘Yeah, thanks, Mrs Wall.' (She always, he reflected, said ‘your father', never ‘your dad'. Andrew knew that Tessa detested Simon; it was one of the things that made him pleased to overlook the horrible shapeless clothes she wore, and the unflattering blunt-cut fringe. Her antipathy dated from that horrific epoch-making occasion, years and years before, when a six-year-old Fats had come to spend Saturday afternoon at Hilltop House for the first time. Balancing precariously on top of a box in the garage, trying to retrieve a couple of old badminton racquets, the two boys had accidentally knocked down the contents of a rickety shelf. Andrew remembered the tin of creosote falling, smashing onto the roof of the car and bursting open, and the terror that had engulfed him, and his inability to communicate to his giggling friend what they had brought upon themselves. Simon had heard the crash. He ran out to the garage and advanced on them with his jaw jutting, making his low, moaning animal noise, before starting to roar threats of dire physical punishment, his fists clenched inches from their small, upturned faces. Fats had wet himself. A stream of urine had spattered down the inside of his shorts onto the garage floor. Ruth, who had heard the yelling from the kitchen, had run from the house to intervene: ‘No, Si – Si, no – it was an accident.' Fats was white and shaking; he wanted to go home straight away; he wanted his mum. Tessa had arrived, and Fats had run to her in his soaking shorts, sobbing. It was the only time in his life that Andrew had seen his father at a loss, backing down. Somehow Tessa had conveyed white-hot fury without raising her voice, without threatening, without hitting. She had written out a cheque and forced it into Simon's hand, while Ruth said, ‘No, no, there's no need, there's no need.' Simon had followed her to her car, trying to laugh it all off; but Tessa had given him a look of contempt while loading the still-sobbing Fats into the passenger seat, and slammed the driver's door in Simon's smiling face. Andrew had seen his parents' expressions: Tessa was taking away with her, down the hill into the town, something that usually remained hidden in the house on top of the hill.) Fats courted Simon these days. Whenever he came up to Hilltop House, he went out of his way to make Simon laugh; and in return, Simon welcomed Fats' visits, enjoyed his crudest jokes, liked hearing about his antics. Still, when alone with Andrew, Fats concurred wholeheartedly that Simon was a Grade A, 24-carat cunt. ‘I reckon she's a lezzer,' said Fats, as they walked past the Old Vicarage, dark in the shadow of the Scots pine, with ivy covering its front. ‘Your mum?' asked Andrew, barely listening, lost in his own thoughts. ‘What?' yelped Fats, and Andrew saw that he was genuinely outraged. ‘Fuck off! Sukhvinder Jawanda.' ‘Oh, yeah. Right.' Andrew laughed, and so, a beat later, did Fats. The bus into Yarvil was crowded; Andrew and Fats had to sit next to each other, rather than in two double seats, as they preferred. As they passed the end of Hope Street, Andrew glanced along it, but it was deserted. He had not run into Gaia outside school since the afternoon when they had both secured Saturday jobs at the Copper Kettle. The cafe would open the following weekend; he experienced waves of euphoria every time he thought of it. ‘Si-Pie's election campaign on track, is it?' asked Fats, busy making roll-ups. One long leg was stuck out at an angle into the aisle of the bus; people were stepping over it rather than asking him to move. ‘Cubby's cacking it already, and he's only making his pamphlet.' ‘Yeah, he's busy,' said Andrew, and he bore without flinching a silent eruption of panic in the pit of his stomach. He thought of his parents at the kitchen table, as they had been, nightly, for the past week; of a box of stupid pamphlets Simon had had printed at work; of the list of talking points Ruth had helped Simon compile, which he used as he made telephone calls, every evening, to every person he knew within the electoral boundary. Simon did all of it with an air of immense effort. He was tightly wound at home, displaying heightened aggression towards his sons; he might have been shouldering a burden that they had shirked. The only topic of conversation at meals was the election, with Simon and Ruth speculating about the forces ranged against Simon. They took it very personally that other candidates were standing for Barry Fairbrother's old seat, and seemed to assume that Colin Wall and Miles Mollison spent most of their time plotting together, staring up at Hilltop House, focused entirely on defeating the man who lived there. Andrew checked his pocket again for the folded paper. He had not told Fats what he intended to do. He was afraid that Fats might broadcast it; Andrew was not sure how to impress upon his friend the necessity for absolute secrecy, how to remind Fats that the maniac who had made little boys piss themselves was still alive and well, and living in Andrew's house. ‘Cubby's not too worried about Si-Pie,' said Fats. ‘He thinks the big competition is Miles Mollison.' ‘Yeah,' said Andrew. He had heard his parents discussing it. Both of them seemed to think that Shirley had betrayed them; that she ought to have forbidden her son from challenging Simon. ‘This is a holy fucking crusade for Cubby, y'know,' said Fats, rolling a cigarette between forefinger and thumb. ‘He's picking up the regimental flag for his fallen comrade. Ole Barry Fairbrother.' He poked strands of tobacco into the end of the roll-up with a match. ‘Miles Mollison's wife's got gigantic tits,' said Fats. An elderly woman sitting in front of them turned her head to glare at Fats. Andrew began to laugh again. ‘Humungous bouncing jubblies,' Fats said loudly, into the scowling, crumpled face. ‘Great big juicy double-F mams.' She turned her red face slowly to face the front of the bus again. Andrew could barely breathe. They got off the bus in the middle of Yarvil, near the precinct and main pedestrian-only shopping street, and wove their way through the shoppers, smoking Fats' roll-ups. Andrew had virtually no money left: Howard Mollison's wages would be very welcome. The bright-orange sign of the internet cafe seemed to blaze at Andrew from a distance, beckoning him on. He could not concentrate on what Fats was saying. Are you going to? he kept asking himself. Are you going to? He did not know. His feet kept moving, and the sign was growing larger and larger, luring him, leering at him. If I find out you've breathed a word about what's said in this house, I'll skin you alive. But the alternative †¦ the humiliation of having Simon show what he was to the world; the toll it would take on the family when, after weeks of anticipation and idiocy, he was defeated, as he must be. Then would come rage and spite, and a determination to make everybody else pay for his own lunatic decisions. Only the previous evening Ruth had said brightly, ‘The boys will go through Pagford and post your pamphlets for you.' Andrew had seen, in his peripheral vision, Paul's look of horror and his attempt to make eye contact with his brother. ‘I wanna go in here,' mumbled Andrew, turning right. They bought tickets with codes on them, and sat down at different computers, two occupied seats apart. The middle-aged man on Andrew's right stank of body odour and old fags, and kept sniffing. Andrew logged onto the internet, and typed in the name of the website: Pagford †¦ Parish †¦ Council †¦ dot †¦ co †¦ dot †¦ uk †¦ The homepage bore the council arms in blue and white, and a picture of Pagford that had been taken from a point close to Hilltop House, with Pargetter Abbey silhouetted against the sky. The site, as Andrew already knew, from looking at it on a school computer, looked dated and amateurish. He had not dared go near it on his own laptop; his father might be immensely ignorant about the internet, but Andrew did not rule out the possibility that Simon might find somebody at work who could help him investigate, once the thing was done †¦ Even in this bustling anonymous place, there was no avoiding the fact that today's date would be on the posting, or of pretending that he had not been in Yarvil when it happened; but Simon had never visited an internet cafe in his life, and might not be aware that they existed. The rapid contraction of Andrew's heart was painful. Swiftly, he scrolled down the message board, which did not seem to enjoy a lot of traffic. There were threads entitled: refuse collection – a Query and school catchment areas in Crampton and Little manning? Every tenth entry or so was a posting from the Administrator, attaching Minutes of the Last Council Meeting. Right at the bottom of the page was a thread entitled: Death of Cllr Barry Fairbrother. This had received 152 views and forty-three responses. Then, on the second page of the message board, he found what he hoped to find: a post from the dead man. A couple of months previously, Andrew's computing set had been supervised by a young supply teacher. He had been trying to look cool, trying to get the class onside. He shouldn't have mentioned SQL injections at all, and Andrew was quite sure that he had not been the only one who went straight home and looked them up. He pulled out the piece of paper on which he had written the code he had researched in odd moments at school, and brought up the log-in page on the council website. Everything hinged on the premise that the site had been set up by an amateur a long time ago; that it had never been protected from the simplest of classical hacks. Carefully, using only his index finger, he input the magic line of characters. He read them through twice, making sure that every apostrophe was where it should be, hesitated for a second on the brink, his breathing shallow, then pressed return. He gasped, as gleeful as a small child, and had to fight the urge to shout out or punch the air. He had penetrated the tin-pot site at his first attempt. There, on the screen in front of him, were Barry Fairbrother's user details: his name, his password, his entire profile. Andrew smoothed out the magic paper he had kept under his pillow all week, and set to work. Typing up his next paragraph, with its many crossings out and reworkings, was a much more laborious process. He had been trying for a style that was as impersonal and impenetrable as possible; for the dispassionate tone of a broadsheet journalist. Aspiring Parish Councillor Simon Price hopes to stand on a platform of cutting wasteful council spending. Mr Price is certainly no stranger to keeping down costs, and should be able to give the council the benefit of his many useful contacts. He saves money at home by furnishing it with stolen goods – most recently a PC – and he is the go-to man for any cut-price printing jobs that may need doing for cash, once senior management has gone home, at the Harcourt-Walsh Printworks. Andrew read the message through twice. He had been over it time and again in his mind. There were many accusations he could have levelled at Simon, but the court did not exist in which Andrew could have laid the real charges against his father, in which he would have presented as evidence memories of physical terror and ritual humiliation. All he had were the many petty infractions of the law of which he had heard Simon boast, and he had selected these two specific examples – the stolen computer and the out-of-hours printing jobs done on the sly – because both were firmly connected to Simon's workplace. People at the printer's knew that Simon did these things, and they could have talked to anybody: their friends, their families. His guts were juddering, the way they did when Simon truly lost control and laid about anyone within reach. Seeing his betrayal in black and white on the screen was terrifying. ‘What the fuck are you doing?' asked Fats' quiet voice in his ear. The stinking, middle-aged man had gone; Fats had moved up; he was reading what Andrew had written. ‘Fucking hell,' said Fats. Andrew's mouth was dry. His hand lay quiescent on the mouse. ‘How'd you get in?' Fats whispered. ‘SQL injection,' said Andrew. ‘It's all on the net. Their security's shit.' Fats looked exhilarated; wildly impressed. Andrew was half pleased, half scared, by the reaction. ‘You've gotta keep this to – ‘ ‘Lemme do one about Cubby!' ‘No!' Andrew's hand on the mouse skidded away from Fats' reaching fingers. This ugly act of filial disloyalty had sprung from the primordial soup of anger, frustration and fear that had slopped inside him all his rational life, but he knew no better way to convey this to Fats than by saying, ‘I'm not just having a laugh.' He read the message through a third time, then added a title to the message. He could feel Fats' excitement beside him, as if they were having another porn session. Andrew was seized by a desire to impress further. ‘Look,' he said, and he changed Barry's username to The_Ghost_ of_Barry_Fairbrother. Fats laughed loudly. Andrew's fingers twitched on the mouse. He rolled it sideways. Whether he would have gone through with it if Fats had not been watching, he would never know. With a single click, a new thread appeared at the top of the Pagford Parish Council message board: Simon Price Unfit to Stand for Council. Outside on the pavement, they faced each other, breathless with laughter, slightly overawed by what had happened. Then Andrew borrowed Fats' matches, set fire to the piece of paper on which he had drafted the message, and watched it disintegrate into fragile black flakes, which drifted onto the dirty pavement and vanished under passing feet.