Critical Reading and Response on the Article “Letting Go” Essay

In the article â€Å"Letting Go† that was being published in The New Yorker, Atul Gawande addresses the issues regarding to the current medical care system that fails to meet the needs of the patients with terminal illness. Gawande points out that the patients want to spend more quality time with their family members and having some special last moments rather than struggling to stay alive when they know that the chances are thin. Knowing the time to let go was one of the crucial part of the art of dying which people nowadays has forgotten. Gawande argues that choosing the hospice care would sometimes be a better choice for the terminally ill patients. He uses statistics such that the patients that choose hospice lives longer or than other patients and they tend to suffer lesser to support his argument. Hospice care tends to go with less pain treatment and focuses on the needs of the patients. It increases the quality of life of the patients during the last moments of their live. The patients’ family members are less likely to suffer from depression when they have chosen to go with the hospice care mainly because they have prepared themselves to face the death of the patient when time has come. Gawande’s argument is that the medical care system nowadays fails to meet the needs of the patients. His argument is convincing because he appeals to the emotions of his reader through both his own and others experience and statistics. Gawande reels in his readers’ attention and interest through some of the real life experience before he educates them. That makes it easier for the readers to absorb what Gawande is trying to deliver to his audience. In order to make it even more convincing, Gawande uses two extreme cases as a comparison to prove his point that hospice care would be the better choice for terminally ill patients. He uses the story of the â€Å"lucky† guy-Dave Galloway who died â€Å"at home, at peace, and surrounded by family† contrast with the poor old lady-Lee Cox who was died due to cardiac arrest and followed by a series of actions to bring her back to live. â€Å"They pulled off her clothes and pumped her chest, put a tube in her airway and forced oxygen into her lungs, and tried to see if they could shock her heart back† (Gawande 133). Such contrast comparison and strong words that would impact the readers’ thoughts on how the process of death can vary through different circumstances. After that, he again embraces the benefits of choosing hospice care rather than going to hospital for intensive medical treatments. Other than that, Gawande uses research statistics to support his argument. â€Å"A study led by the Harvard researcher Nicholas Christakis found out that sixty-three percent of doctors overestimated survival time and the average estimate was 530 percent too high† (Gawande 136). The statistics shows that how the medical system is failing to help the patients to get a grasp on how much time they still have in order to achieve the things that they want in live before their last breath. Since the research was carried out within the well-known institution-Harvard University, readers tend to believe the statistics more and agree upon Gawande’s view. By doing this, Gawande was trying to point out the flaw in our medical system so that his reader would be agreeing upon his argument. Gawande also uses different statistics to support his argument. â€Å"Executives at Aetna, the insurance company, started a two-year study on letting a group of policyholders with a life expectancy of less than a year to receive hospice services without forgoing other treatments. The result is that the people that have chosen hospice service leaped from 26 percent to 70 percent† (Gawande 142). The result shows that people were visiting the hospital lesser after they were introduced to hospice care. Gawande was trying to use the statistics to tell the readers that there were a lot of people that was in the same situation as they are, and they have chosen hospice care over hospital treatment after trying it. That implies that the hospice care would benefit the patients more than the hospital would. The overall structure of the Gawande’s article was well organized. He was able to convince his readers by giving a main idea of what he is trying to deliver through stories and then continue by some straight-forward points that he made. He then supports his arguments with examples to further enhance his point. The wording that he uses is simple yet it gives the readers some images that connect with their emotion. For example, â€Å"Sara would always arrive smiling, makeup on and bangs bobby-pinned out of her eyes. She’d find small things to laugh about, like the tubes that created strange protuberance under her dress† (Gawande 137). Gawande was trying to show that how sad it could be when a person is going through those surgery and treatment in order to get â€Å"fixed†. He would then use that emotion to bring up the point that is other solution to this problem which is the hospice care. I do think that the current medical care system doesn’t meet the needs of the patients as there are some miscommunications between doctors and their patients. Doctors were always looking at the bright side of the illness of their patients which is good in some sense but at the same time, they have to prepare the patients for their worst case scenario. It is hard for the patients to accept the truth that their illness were beyond â€Å"repair† and doctors educate them to accept the truth so that they could go through a less torturing path for their spare life. So, what I am trying to say is that we shouldn’t lose hope but at the same time we have to prepare our self for the worst outcome. If prolonging the patients’ life means that they have to suffer from surgeries and treatment that they need until the end of their life, why not just do things that are more meaningful? Despite all the flaws that we had in our current medical care system, hospice care seems to be the solution for the problem because it offers comfort and satisfaction in the ending life of the patients.

Is it ethical to mask your true emotions in order to get along with others? Essay

Honesty is the best policy. Or is it not? As children, we were taught that honesty is telling the truth straightforward. We were told that it is being sincere, genuine, trustworthy, loyal, and fair. We were taught to tell the truth at all times, despite consequences. Our parents taught us to do our own homework, keep a friend’s secret, return stuff we found, and keep our promises. But as we grew older, the line between the truth and falsehood started to blur. We began to tell and accept half-truths. We began to resort to telling white lies to get out of potentially disastrous situations. We are confronted everyday by basic issues of honesty. If a man is forbidden by his wife to smoke, should he confess that he took a few sticks from his buddy’s pack when they were at the bar earlier that night? Is it really imperative that he do so when he only smoked two, maybe three, cigarettes? Does he have to be completely honest with his wife or can he get away with something that insignificant? If you are anti-Bush and attending a formal dinner where every single person at your table is pro-Bush, should you be completely honest and let everyone know your sentiment, at the risk of alienating yourself? Or should you save your Bush-bashing for another time and another place? Should you just go along with the conversation and act indifferent towards the topic? As Saki (1929) said, â€Å"A little inaccuracy sometimes saves tons of explanation†. But is this ethical? Or must honesty always reign supreme? Some people, institutions, and dogmas bolster the virtue of being completely, straightforwardly honest. But is it not also true that sometimes people who are brutally honest find more satisfaction from being brutal than from being honest? The philosopher Immanuel Kant claimed that the telling of a truth is the â€Å"perfect duty†. He said that it cannot be superseded by other values – not even the concern for the life of a friend or the loyalty to someone we love. He insisted that the act of lying is always incorrect morally. However, many scholars have found Kant’s philosophy to be too extreme and self-serving. In the book â€Å"On Moral Grounds†, moral philosophers Daniel Maguire and A. Nicholas Fargnoli (1991) state, â€Å"Very simply, Kant would not be the man you would want to stand between you and someone intent on murdering you – at least if Kant knew where you were. † Furthermore, Maguire and Fargnoli (1991) refer to Kant’s stand on lying to explore the restrictions of universal moral principles. They write, â€Å"Universalization is an unrealistic and inaccurate abstraction that passes over the fact that there are exceptions to valid moral principles. † Also, â€Å"To protect other values, like the life of an intended victim or a legitimate secret, exceptions to truth-telling must be made. † In her book â€Å"Lying†, philosopher Sissela Bok (1978) says, â€Å"The failure to look at an entire practice rather than at their own isolated case often blinds liars to cumulative harm and expanding deceptive activities. Those who begin with white lies can come to resort to more frequent and more serious ones†¦ The aggregate harm from a large number of marginally harmful instances may, therefore, be highly undesirable in the end – for liars, those deceived, and honesty and trust more generally. † For the author, there is danger in all acts of lying because there is a possibility that the telling of even the smallest of lies may affect common discourse. She emphasizes that lies have a tendency to â€Å"spread†. Lies, even the most seemingly insignificant ones, can grow and affect other aspects of our lives. Nowadays, most people are utilitarians when it comes to the topic of honesty. White lies are okay because they probably don’t hurt anyone; but we avoid outright lies that have the possibility of offending or harming others. However, the utilitarian attitude to truthfulness has to have its limitations. As author Austin O’Malley said, â€Å"Those who think it is permissible to tell white lies soon grow color-blind†. Telling a white lie -like reassuring a sick person that he looks much better when, in fact, he doesn’t- is alright; but if it becomes a habit, there could be dire consequences. A person may lose credibility and respect from his partner, family or friends. Masking one’s true emotions to keep the peace in a certain situation or in order to get along with others can be ethical, but there are limits to how far you can go with faking how you really feel. There is a very fine line between truth and fiction, between lies and white lies. Even the Bible makes this distinction. The commandment does not say, â€Å"Thou shalt not lie†; instead, it says, â€Å"Thou shalt not bear false witness. † This means that lies that do not cause harm –for example, telling the hostess that a meal she made is really good when it was, in fact, absolutely horrible- is acceptable. In this instance, the lie is told to make the person feel better about herself and to show appreciation for her efforts. Here, the lie was actually made in attempt to do something good. However, a lie that could have grave consequences –such as when a person who has caused damages to his neighbor’s property does not admit that he did so to avoid having to pay for the cost of repairs- is a sin. To mask one’s true feelings in order to get along with others is fine as long as a person keeps to the boundaries and the motivation behind the lie or the masking of the truth is valid. Another consideration would be the frequency with which the person disguises his true opinions or feelings. If done too often, the person could risk losing his sense of self and authenticity. In â€Å"The Critic as Artist†, Oscar Wilde (1905) says that â€Å"a little bit of sincerity is a dangerous thing, and a great deal of it is absolutely fatal†. For people in relationships, he may have a point. Honesty may not be the best policy when we are hiding aspects of ourselves from the other person, when we do not want to be revealed, to be known completely. Honesty may not be the best policy when we do not want to get into trouble or when we are avoiding conflict. Honesty may not be the best policy when we are trying to spare the other’s feelings, when we do not want the other to feel hurt or disappointed. In a relationship, people may tell lies because they believe that it is the kind thing to do. Robert Brault once said that, â€Å"Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for am I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true. † Noble lies, which are intended for another’s benefit, are usually made under these kinds of circumstances. But while the motivation behind this type of lie may seem valid, there are still those who believe that the concept is flawed. Critics of utilitarianism say that â€Å"people often poorly estimate the consequences of their actions or specifically undervalue or ignore the harmful consequences to society (e. g. , mistrust) that their lies cause† (Mazur, 1993). Also, the concept of lying for the sake of a â€Å"greater good† may cause a further blurring of the line between moral justifications supporting the greater good and empty excuses.

African Poetry

It is a historical irony that the same language serves the African writer in voicing his thoughts and feelings to the world at large. While discussing the future of English, Simeon Porter observes, It will adopt to meet new needs and in that incessant reshaping and adaptation, every speaker and writer consciously or unconsciously will play some part. (181) Today, the prediction of Porter came true of African writing in English. It brought strength and appeal to the English language by adding a large range of new vocabulary and usage. Writing on the problems faced by the African English writers,  Chinua Achebe  the famous Nigerian writer says, The African writer should aim to use English that brings out his message without altering the language to the extent that its value as a medium of international exchange will be lost. He should aim at fashioning out an English, which is at once unusual and able to carry his peculiar experience. (61) It is applaudable that the writers of Africa succeeded in accomplishing the above task set by Achebe, which is by any means not an easy one. Their successful integration of native experience and expression in an alien tongue received worldwide acclaim. Their success proved, as critics like Srinivasa Iyengar pointed out, A shot in the arm of modern English Literature has had to come from West Africans like Amos Tutuola,  Wole Soyinka  and Gabriel Okara. (16) The role of poetry, in African literature, has been highly effective in providing the people with the needful inspiration and the necessary insight. The language of poetry, for the African people, is a source of learning and becoming aware of their destiny that necessitates the knowledge of their past, present and the possible future. These and several other ideas fuelled African poetry in English. For the African poets, poetry became a powerful medium through which they conveyed to the world audience, not only their despairs and hopes, the enthusiasm and empathy, the thrill of joy and the stab of pain but lso a nations history as it moved from freedom to slavery, from slavery to revolution, from revolution to independence and from independence to tasks of reconstruction which further involve situations of failure and disillusion. (Iyengar, 15) When we read African Literature, we should, by obligation remember that, colonization was at its harshest in Africa. As history stands proof, it was highly exploited and savaged by the ambitious white man. This experience is on the minds of all thinking poets. Despite getting uhuru or in dependence, the bitterness returns again and again. The unforgettable colonial past comes angrily alive in a poem by Kenyas poet Joseph Kareyaku thus, It is not as you suppose, your lands, your cars, your money, or your cities I covet It is what gores me most, that in my own house and in my very own home you should eye me and all thats mine with that practiced, long-drawn, insulting sneer. (quoted in Iyengar, 30) In a poem entitled If you want to know me Noemia De Sousa writes ruefully of Africa, by effectively using the literary device of personification thus: This is what I am mpty sockets despairing of possessing of life a mouth torn open in an anguished wound a body tattooed with wounds seen and unseen from the harsh whipstrokes of slavery tortured and magnificent proud and mysterious Africa from head to foot This is what I am. (Narasimhaiah, 137) The much-brutalized Dark Continent is tellingly depicted in the following lines of a poem named The Shapes of Fear by Richard Ntiru. Like an arrested breath when breathing makes silence imperfect and the ear cannot differentiate between the conspiratorial whispers and the winds singing. .. a twig in the courtyard snaps and report of a gun is understood. (Narasimhaiah, 137) Nigerian poet , the Nobel laureate Wole Soyinkas masterful irony skillfully conceals anger at the racist attitude in his famous poem, Telephone Converstion. After negotiating for a house on rent on telephone, he tells the landlady of his being a black African. He was rudely shocked when he was caught foully by the ladys query regarding his darkness thus: HOW DARK? I had not misheard Are you light OR VERY DARK (Narasimhaiah, 149) The ill- mannered silence between the two is filled with images such as stench of rancid breath of public- hide-and-speak, Red booth, Red- Pillar-box, Red double-tiered Omnibus squelching tar that subsume the age-old and still hopeless and violent colour- conflict. The theme of English superiority glares through David Rubadiris poem A Negro Labourer in Liverpool: Here his hope is the shovel And his fulfillment resignation. (Narasimhaiah, 134) One of the most important phases in African poetry is  Negritude, a powerful literary movement founded by Aime Cesaire of Senegal. Among other things, the Negritude poets favoured the theme of glorification of Africa. They worshipped anything African in scintillating rhymes. Anger at injustice meted out to the colonized Africa is also one of the oft-repeated themes of their poetry. Heres an example from David Diops poem Africa. Africa, my Africa Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs. Is this you, this back that is bent This back that breaks under the weight of humiliation This back trembling with red scars And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun.. That is Africa your Africa That grows again patiently obstinately And its fruit gradually acquires The bitter taste of liberty. (Narasimhaiah, 153) Dennis Brutus, a South African poet, was subjected to torture by a cruel regime. His writing is full of images of love contrasted with images of death thus, Desolate Your face gleams up Beneath me in the dusk Abandoned A wounded dove Helpless Beneath the knife of love. (Quoted in Theroux, 2) Great feeling for Africa is felt in Abioseh Nicols poem The Meaning of Africa thus: Africa, you were once just a name to me So I came back ailing down the Guinea coast . You are not a country Africa, You are a concept I know now that is what you are Africa Happiness, contentment and fulfillment. (Quoted in Povey, 39) A poets affirmation of his love for Africa shines radiantly through the following verses. Dark Africa! My dawn is here; Behold! I see A rich warm glow in the East, And my day will soon be here. (Iyengar, 30) Deification of Africa is a fit topic for many African p oets. Perhaps this is their reaction to the self glorification and the civilizing zeal of the imperial powers of Europe. Bernard Dadies poem attains special significance viewed in that light. He says in a poem entitled I Thank God, I thank you God for creating me black. White is the colour for special occasions Black the colour for every day And I have carried the World since the dawn of time And my laugh over the World, through the night creates The Day. (Narasimhaiah, 122) In Africa, the advent of the white mans civilizing mission displaced scores of native societies from their own cultural roots. The impact of the spread of Christianity combined with material benefits such as classroom education and well-paid jobs forced many Africans abandon their own faith and adapt the religion of the pale-faced aliens. This situation is responsible for the natives to suffer from culture shock. Nevertheless, the native is expected to owe allegiance to his own tribal culture and embrace Christianity for material benefits. This cultural confusion is well articulated by Mabel Segun in a poem thus: Here we stand Infants overblown Poised between two civilizations Finding the balance irksome. (Quoted in Povey, 39) Gabriel Okara expresses the same sentiments in a lyric thus: When at break of day at a riverside I hear jungle drums Then I hear a wailing piano Solo speaking of complex ways. (Quoted in Gleason, 143) However, there are poets like Kofi Awoonor Williams of Ghana whose passion for past is expressed in his rediscovery themes with the help of extended rhythms as in the following lines. Sew the old days for us our fathers that we wear them under our old garments after we have washed ourselves.. ( The Anvil and the Hammer) gain, Sew the old days for me my father Sew them so that I may wear them For the feast that is coming. (Quoted in Theroux, 4) He accomplishes the same excellence of evolving extended rhythms in poems like The Long Journey and My Song. Poetic excellence and rare innovative creative ability are seen in  Christopher Okigbo  poems such as The Stars Have Departed. He says, The stars have departed The sky in a monocle Surveys the world under The stars have departed And I- Where am I? ? Stretch, stretch O antennae, To clutch at this hour, Fulfilling each movement in a Broken monody. (quoted in Walsh, 48) Images that can evoke a situation beyond hope which are reminiscent of Eliots war poetry are visible in the following verses from K. Brews poem The Search. The past is but the cinders Of the present The future The smoke That escaped Into the cloud- bound sky. (quoted in Walsh, 50) Some of the poets have realized the futility of fighting over issues such as race, respect and national identity. What more can be more illuminating than the enlightened poets words such as, You must leave the sifting sands of self- seeking and deceit nd erect far mightier mansions on the rock of healthy soil. (Iyengar, 36) Lenrie Peters poems are short on the print but deep on ones mind like the one cited below Open the gates To East and West Bring in all Thats good and best. The memorable lines of Peters poem On a wet September Morning with their sheer beauty of imagery and the underlying thought of universal brotherhood celebrate the oneness of the human family. To c ite a few verses, The echo burst in me Like a great harmonic chord- Violins of love and happy voices The pagan trumpet blast Swamping the lamentation of the horn Then the heraldic drums In slow crescendo rising Crashed though my senses Into a new present Which is the future. After this brief glance at African poetry, we realize that it is not simply an offshoot of British literary tradition. Despite the many disadvantages such as a scarred past, colonial trauma, expression in a foreign medium, inability to travel abroad, unstable economic and political state of affairs in their respective nations, lack of educational opportunities, the African poet has effortless creative capacity. It is an enriching combination of rich oral literature, native experience and imported tradition of writing in English that made African poetry a tremendous success both at home and abroad. The Black Orpheus (African Poets) is no longer an unknown or an unwanted quantity but a fascinating and often enviable and beneficent literary marvel from what was ignorantly termed as the dark continent.

History and Political Science - Critical Summary Essay

History and Political Science - Critical Summary - Essay Example In other words, Canada’s existing electoral system sets an issue of injustice giving the majority of seats to parties that do not represent the will of the voters. The particular view seems fully justified, having in mind that the actual role of elections is to reflect the citizens’ view in regard to the practices of their government; in addition, through the elections citizens can promote their claims for the replacement of persons who have the responsibility for critical governmental decisions. At the next level, it is made clear that the MMP system is often preferred because of its ability to set a balance between the traditional and modern electoral systems (Charlton and Baker 233); this means that the particular system does not lead to radical, and unexpected, changes on a country’s electoral system. The specific characteristic of the MMP system is quite important, guaranteeing the lack of political and social turbulences in the countries that it is first es tablished. Two different views are analyzed. According to the first view, supported by Hiemstra and Jansen, democracy ensures that the government of a state, where democracy applies, represents the majority of people (Charlton & Baker 234). This means, according to the above researchers, that ‘each vote counts’ (Charlton & Baker 234); also, this means that the structure of the House of Commons is aligned with the will of the majority of voters; in the context of Canada’s existing electoral system, there is no such issue (Charlton & Baker 234). The representatives of parties in House of Commons have not, necessarily, attracted the majority of votes. Moreover, it is noted that the MMP system is used in most countries internationally; there would be no reason for Canada to be excluded. Another important disadvantage of the plurality system, the Canada’s existing electoral system, is the limitation of oppositions in a country’s parliamentary body; in th is way, the accountability of the government for its decisions can become unfeasible (Charlton & Baker 236). In general, the plurality system is considered as threatening the democracy (Charlton & Baker 236) and for this reason its replacement by MMP is suggested. There is also the opposite view, supported by N. Wiseman (University of Toronto); according to N. Wiseman, who is a professor of political science, the plurality system guarantees democracy; in fact, it is noted that Canada, due to its current electoral system, is considered as ‘part of an elite group of states that are full democracies’ (Charlton & Baker 248). At the next level, Wiseman notes that the change of Canada’s existing electoral system has been already discussed; it is noted that in 1920s the specific issue was brought before the Parliament for discussion; after a thorough examination of the potential advantages and disadvantages of a PR system, it was held that the country’s electoral system should remain the same (Charlton & Baker 248). Also, reference is made to Canada’s cultural characteristics; it is explained that specific parts of the population, as for example, aboriginals are not expected to participate in elections if these are organized at national level (Charlton & Baker 253). This means that many people in Canada who are loyal to their traditions

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Analysis on Eastman Kodak Company - Case Study Example With invention of Brownie and introduction of a paper rolling film in 1884, Eastman Kodak spurred to higher heights in the photographic industry (Charlene, 2008). Despite the death of George Eastman in 1932, George Fisher followed the footsteps of his predecessor thus making the firm what it is today. The following is a case analysis of Eastman Kodak with emphasis on its industry, Photographic and Optical Equipment/Supplies. This analysis is on the prevailing competition, strategic characteristics, and various alternatives the corporation can take in order to continue being a leader in the industry. From the various alternatives presented in this case analysis, some recommendations are made, which are likely to spur the corporation into even higher levels that it is experiencing in the current 21st century. Analysis of Industry and Competitors Eastman Kodak (EK) is a firm operating under Photographic and Optical Equipment/Supplies Industry commonly referred to as Consumer Durables an d Apparels. The following is an analysis of Photographic and Optical Equipment/Supplies Industry under which EK operates and its level of competition. Industry and Market Segment Photographic and Optical Equipment/Supplies Industry’s products are broadly categorized into five including equipments for taking still picture; motion picture equipment; chemicals for preparing photos; films, paper, plates, and cloths for sensitized photos; and equipment for photocopying and microfilming. Innovative technology has played a great role in enhancing the success of photographic equipments’ markets. For instance, with the new development of digital cameras and the One Time Use (OTU) cameras that are disposable, the market has significantly increased commanding huge number of sales as well as new entrants of firms to meet the growing demand (Congressional Budget Office). Amazingly, digital cameras outsold the traditional cameras in 2003 indicating the role of innovative technology in the industry as well as the markets. Exhibit 1 indicates a growth of 1.5% of the market as compared to previous years (Bureau of Economic Analysis n.d.). In addition, this exhibit indicates total revenue of approximately $ 20,726.90 million with a total of $ 11,057.80 million industry’s gross product coming from about 1,931 establishments and 2,124 enterprises. This indicates that the market is rapidly growing having approximately 86 firms. Within this growing industry and its market there are about 86 companies that have contributed to such positive result. Consequently with the 86 firms in the industry competition has immensely grown leading to quality products through innovative technology that has seen development of digital cameras (Eastman Kodak, 2009). However, the main competitors to Eastman Kodak Company include Canon, Fujifilm, Hewlett-Packard, Ricoh, Sony, Xerox, Nikon, Olympus, Lexmark, and Seiko Epson Corporations amongst others. Exhibit 2 provides a brief ove rview of these corporations and how they are offering significant competition to Eastman Kodak within the industry. Exhibit 3 provides financial performance of five companies in Photographic and Optical Equipment/Supplies Industry, Kodak and four other main competitors. In Exhibit 3, ROA (Return on Assets) and RIC (Return on Invested Capital) are provided that give indication of a bad performance by Kodak in the latest years where the corporation has had

Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Article Example From research notes, Rosenberg points to the danger of a materialist consumer society, an exact parallel to what the Essay says. 3. (a) â€Å"Frances is an unabashed materialist, a high end version of the mildly-obsessed masses in our capitalist society. The pressure to buy and acquire after all, surrounds all but the most isolated American.† This confirms the Essay’s thoughts about vulnerability of people in a consumer society. The more psychologically fragile suffers most, and the affront is directed not only at adults, but the young as well. (b) â€Å"A materialistic lifestyle is associated with an inadequate sense of security, competence, relatedness, and autonomy.† The Essay also hints at the psychological roots of vulnerability to materialistic consumerism. Frances displays these emotional needs and typifies people in a free enterprise capitalistic society. More basic needs like living standards and education suffer thereby. (c) â€Å"We can’t under estimate the influence of corporations that go to great lengths to convert these products to the promise of emotional fulfillment.† The Essay also makes mention of how corporations use advertising to glamorize products. Consumers thereby lose their sense of priorities in human needs, causing poverty instead of wealth. They even fail to see the true worth in people, seeing only their possessions.

The Effects of Global Warming on the Animals in the North Pole Essay

The Effects of Global Warming on the Animals in the North Pole - Essay Example This statement is significant as every living thing, undergoes the process of â€Å"inhaling† and â€Å"exhaling† carbon dioxide and oxygen, thereby resulting in a chemical balance in the earth’s atmosphere. Even a wide variety of human activities, which primarily include the burning of fossil fuels, industrial activities and the cutting down of forest for agricultural purposes and urbanization, are potentially increasing the volume of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, thereby upsetting this atmospheric chemical balance. The details of our complex climate systems are not sufficiently known to facilitate us in the prediction of the precise consequences of global warming in our planet. Our ability to accurately measure the human influence on global climate variation is essentially limited. The forecasted signals are still rising from the phenomenon of variability in climate and the concerned uncertainties. These include the magnitudes and patterns of prolong natu ral variability and the evolving patterns through times; and responses to changes in the concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols. However, it is an essential fact to be noted that, not everyone agrees that the surface temperature of the earth is on the increase. ... Scenario of global warming in the Arctic Circle The Arctic region comprises of the area that is north of the Arctic Circle (66 °34’N), a latitude which is barely 600km from the Shetland Islands. The Arctic Circle covers an area that is approximately 6% of the Earth’s surface, and is populated by almost 4 million humans, which includes indigenous people who have been inhabitants of the Arctic since the past 10,000 years. At the centre are the Arctic Ocean, which partly encloses the five coastal states of Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, and the United States of America. During the past five decades, the average annual temperature in the Arctic Circle has significantly increased by upto 3oC. It has been presumed that depending on the local areas and the carbon emissions in the future, the average annual temperature of the Arctic Circle will increase a further 2-9oC in the present year. The fact to be notified is significantly more than the average rise of annual tempe rature globally, which shows a rise of 1.8 - 3.4 °C. This significant rise in the temperature levels has inflicted global warming in the North Pole, which will also essentially feedback into enhanced global warming mainly due to the melting of ice and permafrost thaw. The degree of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean varies seasonally, portraying greatest in March and at the end of winter, while lowest in September at the end of summer. The analysis of the data of the past 3 decades which were obtained from the views of the satellites shows a significant decline in the sea ice. This decline was notified as beyond the natural variations, averaging 11.7% a decade in summer and 2.7% during the winter. It was

Harley Davidsons Customer-centered supply Chain Essay Example for Free

Harley Davidsons Customer-centered supply Chain Essay 1. How can Harley Davidson marketing and sales, personnel interact with its purchasing personnel to further strengthen the supply chain and improve customer loyalty? To further strengthen the supply chain and improve customer loyalty. Harley Davidson marketing and sales personnel must interact with its purchasing personnel to integrate the supply chain from supplier of raw materials and getting the product delivered into the hand of user at the right time, cost and quality user need it. Harley integrated effort must focuses on people, process and technology to improve supply chain development by enhance quality, reduce cost and improve delivery time to make sure every stage of supply chain reach their objective and satisfy customer need and wants. People The Supply chain improvement effort involves participation from all Harley productions such as marketing, sales, supplier, engineers, transporter and other involver with Harley. All of them must have the knowledge about customer need and wants. Marketing and sales personnel must have a good knowledge about customer need and wants. This is to ensure the best information can be transferred to purchasing personnel for making purchasing material that can suite customers need and wants. Harley marketing and sales personnel make a community marketing; they dont just sell a motorcycle but also selling an ownership experience. Harley Davidson delivers membership in a community, arranges adventure tours and sells a lifestyle for the Harley purchaser, it can be concluded total product far exceeds the motorcycle. All activities are to make sure the marketing and sales personnel kumpulkan data about the customer need and want, and easily transfer to purchasing personnel to make development about the material. Marketing and sales personnel also must make market-based assets, such as strong branding, strong customer base and strong partner networks, when product development from the customers information database launches the new product introduction. It will help maintain firm performance and greater chance of success, as customers are more willing to try a new offer from a strong brand. This supply chain development through enhance quality, reduce cost and improve delivery time can easily be done if the people in the Harley fully participate to achieve it and indirectly improve customer loyalty. Process Harley-Davidson is known for delivering a consistently high quality product. There are a number of different areas in the process that affect their quality, starting with product design. They work to design quality into the products they develop, and they do this through a concurrent pride methodology, which is very specific for both product development and the input that they get on design from marketing and sales people, engineers, manufacturing people, and suppliers. They involve everyone in the early stages, and everyone effectively designs products together to suite customer need and wants and indirectly improves customer loyalty. Technology. Fast information from marketing and sales personnel is important, so Harley use communication technology via web portal to transform customer buying habits through their dealer and supply chain control for their demand on material. It makes all the material came to factory just in time and safe a lot of money. Just in time inventory was driving force of Harley quality-improvement program. As they operate with lower inventories, it becomes essential that all inventories are usable and it all have to be a good one. Harley-Davidson could not compete on price against the Japanese motorcycle producers, so it had to establish other market values and improve quality. Harley had to change from a company which dictated what its customers could have to strategies based on direct input from customers. A marketing philosophy was developed based on the customers desires, gathered through surveys, interviews and focus groups. For example Harley image promotes: a mystique appearance, individualism, the feeling of riding free, and the pride of owning a legend. Harley customer relations give a free 1-year membership to the Harley Owners Group (HOG), which was developed in 1983 as a program to keep people active with their Harley and community advertising campaign. 2. What is the role of technology in Harleys supply chain? What additional uses of technology can you identify that might be useful to Harley focus on dealer and ultimate customer? The role of technology in Harley is to cut on communication and administrative time via their department, suppliers, dealers and customers. Harley use Harley-Davidson Suppliers Network (www. hdsn.com), the portal with web base technology to let all department, suppliers and dealer view purchasing order, inventory and material information order in real time. This should make Harley buying system more efficient, reducing time and reducing the amount of inventory in plant in other worth it enhance quality, reduce cost and improve delivery time. From the technology Harley can easily identified which dealer have a problem from their database. The company implemented a program to concentrate on helping its dealers develop the up-to-date business skills they need to sell motorcycles more effectively. The headquarters sponsored training programs that call Harley-Davidson University via this technology. The dealers are considered to be business partners and the headquarters plays an active role in developing programs, financing improvements, implementing support and management consultants. The dealers also invest their own money into these programs which allows them to feel like apart of the company. Harley-Davidson treats the dealers not only as partners, but also as customers. Harley has developed a very effective marketing strategy, but it is the responsibility of manufacturing to produce high quality and reliable motorcycles. 3. Some of Harleys suppliers also supply key Harley competitors. How can Harley be sure these suppliers will not share competitive information with its competitors? How important is trust between suppliers and business buyers? Global business environment has become more unstable, supplier negotiations have taken important new role on helping improve corporate competitiveness. The goal of most supplier negotiations today is no longer just to get the lowest price. It is also to find new and innovative ways to meet a wide variety of business challenges, often by tapping into the knowledge and expertise of the supplier community and a good relationship. Harley can be sure their suppliers will not share competitive information with competitors on 3reasons. i. Harley is focused on building closer relationships with suppliers. The company does not use contracts but has instead begun to use the master supply agreement (MSA). The MSA is a list of guidelines for the relationship, rules to follow, and resolutions should problems arise, used with ?strategic suppliers with whom they anticipate having long-term relationships. Harley is just beginning to formalize the process of certifying suppliers as strategic, the cycle maker has such relationships with about 250 of its 350 suppliers. These suppliers command special attention from Harley and are invited quarterly for business planning meetings (BP). BPs are thematically organized meetings designed to help supplier understand Harleys strategic issues. They give suppliers an opportunity to provide input and feedback, as well as coordinate on new projects. Strategic suppliers are brought in early to the design phase. They are brought in house, and many even have desks at Harleys Capitol Drive research and design facility. Their input is solicited at the idea phase so that there do not have to be many revisions during the development process. They are also kept informed of the latest Harley strategies through a company newsletter, Harley World. ii. Supplier Management Procurement Strategies of Wisconsin OEMs- Instead of purchasing all the parts for its brake systems and then assembling them in-house Harley would purchase an assembly that it would integrate with other purchased assemblies. Now, entrance into the Harley supply base will increasingly be secured through possession of the technologies and capabilities to build whole systems. Even if a supplier still supplies discrete parts directly to Harley, they will increasingly need to be able to apply new processes to those parts in order to continue doing business with the company, and new suppliers are added yearly as Harley pursues new technological capacities. iii. Suppliers have opportunity to have direct business buyer with full effort to help them to meet demands through its continuous improvement team. Harley good relationship makes them think twice to share competitive information with its competitors. For example Unisource Com. Supplier to Harley has grown from RM1. 5million in 1998 to between RM15-20million on 2001. This opportunity is like a gold mine to let go and broke master supply agreement that they have promise. Trust between suppliers and business buyer have advantage and disadvantage: i. Trust between suppliers and buyers generates significant benefits including motivating better performance and reducing negotiation time ii. Breaking apart, a trusted buyer-supplier relationship can be a significant barrier to entry for competitors. iii. The negative side of trust is that it can blind you to opportunities that arise outside established relationships The important of trust depend on both relationship, are those relationship have the objective to help each other to reach their objective. If yes the trust is most important thing between supplier and business buyer in other word they must have win-win situation.

The Impact Of Social Media Media Essay

The Impact Of Social Media Media Essay In the era of everything instant, the perception of living life has dramatically changed. From the perspective that life is to too hard to live, it has now become an adage that life is easy and living it is should be much easier. Thanks to the comfort of modern technology and globalization, people are becoming more interconnected and interdependent. One of the great features of the unprecedented rise of the global cultures is attributed to the revolution of the Internet and social media. Almost everything has become so easy and so instant. Currently, the worlds by which define our reality have been changed by social media. We can do anything and everything through a globally wired network that enables instant communication. Socialnomics is the value created and shared via social media and its efficient influence on outcomes (Qualman 2010, p. xxi). Moreover, socialnomics is a revolution driven by people and enabled by the social media. A case in point is the most popular social networking site called Facebook. According to a blog in Birds Eye Media (2010), Facebook recently celebrated its six-year online presence. Its growing presence has enabled people to communicate more freely and have access to news and important updates. Information exchange occurs within and among the people we interact with in this new media platform. It provides the opportunity to reconnect with friends and loved ones. Social media works like a digital word-of-mouth where information dissemination is just a click away. In this age of globalization, social media networking has significantly altered the way we view realities and handle our relationships with other people. The Impact of Social Media Social media affects the way we write and speak the written word (Sherman 2010). Sherman noted that writing is more concise because the presence of a limited character spaces in Facebook and Twitter. People are challenged to convey their message to friends and the world within a 140 character limit. The task of writing something in a shorter and concise manner in Facebook as well as in SMS has changed how we communicate using different spellings and abbreviations (Sherman 2010). In another website article, Laurie (2010) cited six aspects in which social media has arguably made permanent effects on the lives of the people and the manner in which it is lived. The first aspect is child literacy. Children of today are more literate than in previous years, according to a survey made by The National Literacy Trust where over 3000 children were included. It was observed that a correlation existed between childrens engagement in social media and literacy. Today, even school-age children have active Facebook profiles. This has become a major turning point as users of social networking media vary from the very old to the very young. Social networking has enabled easy access for children in searching for answers on educational or social questions and in sharing what they know by posting links and videos gathered from the Web. Secondly, social networking has led to ambient intimacy since it allows people to be in touch with loved ones with a different level of regularit y which people would not normally have access to. Communication has become so ambient that we can use it wherever we want it. Facebook culture paved the way for the development of new levels of behaviors in relationship in general. Moreover, relationship statuses can be instantly changed and somehow be regarded that relationships can be had easily. It also becomes a venue for groups and various advocacies to form a niche and have their own chatroom and discussion board. In this manner, information is spread like a viral infection. Another aspect of change impacted by social media is the evident accessibility of knowledge (Laurie, 2010). The quote knowledge is power applies greatly in this Information age. The way information is produced and shared has changed with the advent of the Internet. Instant information can be viewed from popular search engines and knowledge in this manner has become a collaborative effort. The same thing with the advancement in the literacy level of children, anyone can be as knowledgeable as the person speaking in front of a lecture. Our own desire for knowledge is there and we can only ask ourselves if we want it (Laurie 2010). Social media has also reinvented politics (Laurie 2010). Accordingly, younger people are encouraged to be actively participating in matters of politics. Obamas successful election was helped by the proliferation of advocate groups created in support of his candidacy. Different countries used the networking culture to share their political ideologies via Facebook. Fan pages where created where the number of likes is akin to the number of hits in YouTube. This also enables the exchange of dialogues between politicians and the common citizen. Someone can just post a comment and share his sentiment over a wall in a Facebook page and this could be read by all. All these are just signs of the influence of social media in politics and it is not surprisingly increasing from users all over the world. Marketing in the age of Facebook has greatly contributed to the immense popularity of products advertised on it. Businesses now are compelled to engage in social media for marketing and advertisement because the economic potential of social media increases marketability in an easier and cheaper manner (Qualman 2010). Subscriptions to costly newspapers are not relevant when consumers are pushed to a timelier and free service in the net done at the comfort of your home or in the exact point where you are. Marketing and advertising is transforming itself from an industry reliant on mass market channels to one which must embrace the power of the consumer and attempt to engage in conversations (Has Social Media Changed Us 2010). While advertising is not a dying industry, is has changed dramatically in its platform and in that consumers now have the power. The last areas in which Laurie (2010) addressed on the effect of social media is the usage of the news as a cultural currency. Consumers are viewed as active participants of the network created. News can be gathered and can be passed around people within the network. Facebook is a perfect example of this tool as it is our tendency to connect first with our loved one and the people we encounter on a daily basis. Faster than the speed of light, gossip can be spread easily, status updates can be a source of a heated online argument where everyone on the network can track and read the long thread of dialogue. With all these, we have become more sociable, and somehow it is making us an epitome of social (Laurie 2010). Greene (2010) stated that social media has changed the lives of people in three ways. The idea of traditional media being replaced by social media makes it a biased look on how this revolution changed lives. Older people need not be scared of these new social media as the assimilation of both can be done without hints of failure because this is the direction our world is heading (Greene 2010). Moreover, the possibility of making friends around the world other than your workplace opens up your horizons to a better understanding of how to live in the 21st century. That is what Facebook does. Making friends and socializing becomes much easier compared to outside of the networking world. Some may be apprehensive but others are learning the ways and means on becoming more socially active and visible. Engaging social media encourages conversations and exchanges of ideas. A timid person who is afraid to say his opinions can now share his side without the fear of talking to someone in person al way. The efficiency of work and the level of productivity has also increased with the use of social media (Greene 2010). Cohen and Feld (2011) stated that social media has made business world more collaborative, fun and dynamic for everyone. But a level of inclusivity is on the rise in the exclusive world of networking (Greene 2010). The last important area which Greene (2010) tackled was the death of privacy. Today, 92 percent of two-year olds have an online record in the United States. Everything in life can be archived as the years pass. The issue of privacy is a matter that was taken seriously by Facebook administration as well as other popular networking sites. It is an advantage to take a look at the disclaimers popping out when creating an online account as this could cost someones private life. Privacy settings can be changed and the level of privacy in Facebook can be customized according to your restrictions. Even reporting abuse and fraud is incorporated in the interface of the networking sites so that people can block and delete hasty, violent and abusive language. As quoted from Brian Solis, we are entering an era of publicness or publicy, where are solely responsible for creating and defining our online persona (Greene 2010). Casciato (2010) believes that social media has changed the way social discourse is made between and among individuals. Conversations on the Internet are mediated and are available in real time. Social media allows one to make status updates, tweets, and blogs and text messages, without worrying about traditional social conventions such as dress. Conversations initiated over Facebook allows one to interact with another person from another part of the globe even in ones underwear. Social labels have also been change because of social media. In the past, people who are glued to computers for more than the 8 hour a day requirement for jobs are either labeled as geeks or nerds. Nowadays, being cool is being equated to how much time you spend on Facebook and how updated you are in posting status, pictures, or links. Moreover, the dynamics in Facebook can be considered narcissistic because speaking in the third person while updating what you are doing, feeling, or thinking is like staging o nes own reality show (Casciato 2010). Social media networking has also changed the way personal relationships are handled. Casciato (2010) stated that breaking up in the digital age has become unbelievably messy. The dilemma of removing someone from the network friends list, untagging someone from a post in order to separate ones identity from a past love would create a heavy burden of distinguishing reality from the virtual world. Social media has also made an impact on workers productivity. Procrastination in the workplace has become efficient ever since social media networking sites became popular (Casciato, 2010). The first thing that occupies the mind at work is to check and update ones status in Facebook. Meanwhile, features have a tendency to distract, whether it is a chatbox that pops up and engages you in a conversation or a red notification flag which appears to tell you that somebody posted on your wall. The cycle eventually goes on with hours of productivity lost in the process (Casciato 2010). Conclusion Social media or the so-called Facebook effect has changed how we socialize, gather information, and work in many ways. Communication, literacy, business and marketing, relationships, politics and culture are the key areas noted to have been greatly affected by this vast and growing social media hype. It has become a company that has changed social life in the United States and around the world (Kirkpatrick 2010). It has been visible and powerful in shaping how we look at the world. While it has its numerous benefits, social media should be used responsibly without disregarding the basic principles of ethical conduct.

income :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With the average American having a disposable income of $28,277, it is no wonder America has become the consumer nation that it is today (census.gov). In the past nine months American economy has shown an economic growth of 5.6%. Improvements in work industry are providing higher-paying, more permanent jobs than before, with less than 10% of new jobs created in 2005 being temporary (economist.com). With better employment opportunities and steady economic growth, America will become even more of a consumer culture than it is today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Mark Hertsgaard observes a more compassionate side of America when he describes consumer spending post 9/11. â€Å"But the attacks also engendered a new seriousness among the American people, a turning away from self-indulgence and material things in favor of spiritual values and services to others† (Hertsgaard 40). The 9/11 attacks left Americans with feelings of sympathy and remorse, as well as a feeling of unity that was shared throughout the country. Hertsgaard stated that after the attacks, the consequent drop in consumer spending turned the economy into an outright recession (Hertsgaard 40). While the economy itself unarguably suffered an obvious and drastic decline, Americans did not waste much time before they used the attacks on the World Trade Center as a means to make a profit. Millions of products advertised as 9/11 memorabilia were suddenly being sold everywhere. These items were announced as apparent ways for American’s to show their un ity and patriotism, as well as their loyalty and support for their country. Sweatshirts, posters, coffee mugs, and just about anything that could somehow display images or messages were applicable to be sold as keepsakes from the tragic event.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  While a day as disastrous and devastating as 9/11 left most of America with feelings of grief, especially for those who had lost loved ones, the â€Å"American Dream† was far from being forgotten. The American Dream holds different meanings for different individuals, depending on their own opinions and perceptions. Despite the fact that this phrase holds not one particular meaning, and is a somewhat varied idea, it’s accepted interpretation includes achieving prosperity through hard work, courage and determination   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Naturally, American’s strive to be the best they can be, regardless of what it is they are doing. It is normal for a person in any profession to desire a promotion, which is a direct route to their actual goal: a higher salary.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lee Price, of the Economic Policy Institute, holds an opinion which contrasts Hertsgaard’s idea that the 9/11 attacks were completely responsible for the economic decline.

Rebuttal to Killing Them Softly Essay -- Jacob Sullum Tobacco Essays

Rebuttal to â€Å"Killing Them Softly† â€Å"Killing Them Softly,† an essay by Jacob Sullum, addresses the issue of Senator Judd Gregg’s bill to give the Food and Drug Administration control over tobacco products. This bill would allow the FDA to make such decisions as halting tobacco companies’ marketing of safer tobacco products and reducing the nicotine content in cigarettes. Sullum argues that by giving the FDA the power to make such decisions, individual consumers would be disadvantaged and lives could possibly be lost instead of saved. If given control of such decisions, the FDA would not allow the introduction of safer tobacco products as they feel this will increase the number of smokers. They feel more people will begin using these products that are advertised as less harmful substances, whereas Sullum feels it would be better for people to change their habits to these â€Å"safer alternatives.† Sullum fails to consider benefits of relinquishing control to the FDA, however. By c onsidering some of the positive results, Sullum might develop a different opinion and support the bill as he should. One major point that Sullum tries to emphasize is how people’s health will be disadvantaged once the FDA is given control. When making the decision about marketing safer tobacco products, the FDA is concerned about how the introduction of smokeless tobacco will be interpreted by the â€Å"population as a whole.† Sullum, on the other hand, believes the concern should be with individual consumers. He believes smokers could be doing something healthier for themselves if the FDA promoted smokeless tobacco. However, the FDA believes advertising smokeless tobacco as a less harmful substitute for cigarette smoking misleads people and encourage... ...rth thinking about, it is in the best interest of the â€Å"population as a whole† that the Food and Drug Administration be given the rights to control the image that tobacco receives and exploit its negative aspects. Works Cited 1Up Health. Tobacco Use - Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco. 2003. 9 Oct. 2003. . Just Eliminate Lies. A Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control. 9 Dec. 2003. . Kick Butts Day. Campaign For Tobacco-Free Kids. 9 Dec. 2003. . Sullum, Jacob. â€Å"Killing Them Softly.† Reason Online. 19 Sept. 2003. 2 Oct. 2003. . Teens Against Tobacco Use. American Lung Association. 9 Dec. 2003. .

Free-Will Defense Essay -- essays research papers

Free-Will Defense   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Free Will Defense is an attempted solution to the problem of moral evil. Human beings are gifted with free will by God as a condition for genuine morality, trust, love, and the like, though it also makes possible the introduction of moral evil into the world. There are various questions that are asked with the question of God. Many ask questions like- why did God give humans the ability of free will knowing that they will abuse it? Is free will a condition for real humanhood? Could God have made us free and unable to sin? These questions that are frequently asked are left unanswered. People believe all different things.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In the Bible, the first humans made were Adam and Eve, and God gave them free will. Adam and Eve abused their free will, so sin made its way into the world. Everyone after Adam and Eve has inherited the effects of the Fall, including a loss of free will. At least with the first human beings free will was a condition of real human good, though it also meant the possibility of sin. Leaving the question of Adam and Eve’s fall and its consequences for their descendants, this view is basically what is currently called the Free-Will Defense.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  An American Philosopher Alvin Platinga also believes in the idea. He says how there may be a different kind of good that God cannot bring to us without permitting evil. If there is no evil, then how can good be deter...

Challenges faced by Indian IT

1. Uncertain global economy: The Indian IT outsourcing industry gets about 75% of its revenues from US and Europe. The renewed concern regarding the European sovereign debt has led to companies slowing down their IT spending. BFSI segment has been the biggest contributor to Indian IT revenues. As shown in the figure below, the recent turmoil in Europe & US has resulted in slowing demand in BFSI segment. Source: Business Standard 2. Protectionist measures: There have been periodic threats of the US stopping all outsourcing work. Rising US rhetoric against shipping of jobs to low cost locations ahead of US presidential elections in November might result in lower market shares for Indian IT companies. The US Senate will be looking into a bill backed by the Democratic party popularly known as the ‘Bring Jobs Home Act’. If the bill is passed, tax benefits will be extended to companies that shift their work back to the US & will end tax incentives for those who send work offshore. On the other hand, Europe has quietly enforced visa restrictions making people difficult to travel onsite for work. . Tough competition from MNCs: Increasing competition from MNCs like IBM, Accenture who have set up bases in several of the IT zones earlier dominated by Indian IT firms. Also, US wages have been decreasing and are on par with Indian wages for some of the sectors. Outsourcing will be less attractive to American employers. 4. Pressure on billing rates: Discounts from key financial sector clients is pinching IT firms. On 12th July, Infosys claimed that pricing has fallen by 3. 7% in the June quarter from the previous quarter. As the growth in demand has fallen, firms are vying for the small pie by opting for price cuts. 5. Low employee utilization: Increasing bench size has been reported across various IT firms. Employee utilization has fallen down to 67% for lot of Indian companies. Companies have to reserve certain human capital so as to accommodate them in case of future demand. 6. Volatility of Indian rupee against the dollar: Depreciating rupee helps the IT industry. Increase its revenues as most of the companies earn in US dollars. However, as the companies would have already hedged against rupee appreciation in advance, the currency volatility wouldn’t affect much. Planning for the future becomes a problem. Major players in Indian IT: 1. TCS is the largest software company in Asia and was one of the pioneers of the global delivery model. Its Q1 results have been slightly better than expected with 14. 6% increase (over previous quarter) in Q1 profit at Rs 3280 crore with revenues at Rs 14869 crores. TCS has said that it is expecting to beat the forecasts of 11-14% growth in revenues set by NASSCOM for FY13. According to the CEO, TCS has been seeing strong growth from markets like North America, UK & Europe despite the gloomy economic environment. 29 new clients were added in the June quarter. Successful execution of its restructuring much before its competitors has been one of the reasons of success for TCS. Also, it is more flexible than its peers when it comes to pricing. And is more open to the client’s suggestions The fixed component is atleast 8-10% higher than that of its peers. 2. Infosys is the 2nd largest Indian IT service provider and reputed for its work ethics & world class management practices. In the past by exceeding revenue expectations, it kept investors and analysts happy. But by failing to meet expectations in 3 of the 5 recent quarters, it has lost its status as the industry bellwether. It has cut down its revenue forecasts for FY13 to 5% down from its April estimate of 8-10% growth. The company has underlined weak macroeconomic environment, falling clients’ confidence & fall in discretionary spending (spending by corporate which can be held back at discretion and are usually for long term benefits) as the reason behind its fall in revenues. Critics have blamed the poor results on the change in leadership, its inability to motivate its employees when the morale is already down because of delayed and small pay raises, premium pricing in the face of slowing economic growth and its conservatism by not using its excessive cash pile (around $3. 7 billion as of June 2012) to make acquisitions that can make it a global company. The CEO said that Infosys is looking out for opportunities in product, consulting, platform space and system integration. The company’s strategy of positioning itself as a premier global consulting & system integration major has backfired since the economy has still not recovered from the slowdown. 3. Wipro is the third biggest Indian IT firm and its revenues for the year 2011-12 stood at $5. 7 billion. It is betting on regions like Latin America, Asia Pacific and Ghana as they have been contributing almost 16-17% of the total revenues for Wipro. Wipro is also shifting its focus from telecom equipment vendors who have reduced IT spending to telecom analytics & mobile broadband where the end users are telecom operators. . HCL Technologies is the fourth largest Indian IT company. In the last 2 quarters, it has won deals worth $2. 5 dollars and Europe has contributed almost 54% to it. It is strong in total IT outsourcing which comprises of infrastructure services, application development and maintenance. While most of the other Indian IT firms are vying for high-end consulting contracts, HCL has bee n focusing on infrastructure deals. Future prospects : Inspite of the economic upheaval, Indian IT firms still feel that BFSI will bring in the maximum revenues. The optimism is based on the fact that even clients were supposed to have cut spending during the credit crisis time, Indian IT exports have grown $33 billion between 2008-09 to 2011-12. However all the IT firms have to get used to lower margins. Gone are the days when experienced 30% growth. IT firms have so far mainly relied on cost differentiation. To cope up with the various challenges, they need to start innovating. So they have to find new markets, new customers, develop products etc. For eg: Wipro has started offering to IT solutions to the petroleum industry in Ghana. Transformations are taking place as the use of cloud computing & mobile devices is slowly increasing. Infosys has added about 20 new clients in the past quarter in cloud, big data and security. With the increase in use of apps on mobiles, programs are being written for mobile. Also companies have started positioning themselves as IT consulting firms. In the near future, government of India might provide the impetus as it plans to go big on digitization. The immediate future for IT companies may not be as bright as it was in the past. But companies should reboot its systems and log on to new sites The decade of 1990 was the golden era for information Technology in India. With liberalization, privatization & globalization, Indian IT Sector took huge leaps in Information Technology. Today, with total revenues of about $88. 1 billion, Indian IT sector being one of strongest industries worldwide has grown for more than 30% for more than 20 years. Indian IT firms have moved up the value chain from low cost programming in the early years to providing premier global IT consulting services. Before the onset of recession in 2008, the IT industry flourished thanks to the exponential increase in global IT spending. During the recession, companies decreased their IT spending thereby slowing down the growth of IT industry. But this created a pent-up demand for IT. With economic recovery, companies have started spending on IT albeit with great caution. Fig : Statistics of IT & BPO in India Intense competition has impacted growth in billing rates thereby affecting revenues. For the first time in 47 quarters, Infosys missed quarter’s expectations. The major IT firms have reduced their growth expectations for the year 2012-13. The top 4 Indian IT companies grew at 17% in the 3rd quarter and at 14% in the fourth quarter as opposed to 24% in the first quarter in the last financial year and this is a cause of worry. Industry Verticals: The various verticals in IT sector are shown in the pie chart. Achievements of Indian IT sector in 2011: Increase in global sourcing industry from 51% in 2009 to 58% in 2011. * Contribution to India’s GDP has increased from 1. 2% in 1998 to 7. 5% in 2012. Demand & Supply : Due to the expansion in IT sector in terms of form, volume etc, there is a continuous demand for engineering graduates, skilled workforce etc. Being a service oriented industry, this sector is highly dependent on manpower. While there is enough of supply of gra duates, it is very important for the labour to be technically competent and possess soft skills.

The Bear Minimum

Per your request, our group conducted research to determine whether costs or potential costs of the provisions of Big Bear Power’s lease of Goliath Co’s combustion turbine should be included in its minimum lease payments. We have provided a summary of the facts, our conclusion, the basis for our conclusion, and an analysis of possible alternatives to our conclusion as requested. Summary of the Facts Big Bear Power (the Company), a public utility company, is leasing a combustion turbine from Goliath Co. for a 10-year, non-cancelable term. The lease agreement was signed on December 15, 2004, and the company’s right to use the turbine starts on January 1, 2005. Big Bear Power has been financially strong for a number of years, has positive cash flow, and is in accordance with all of its debt covenants. The lease agreement contains three provisions, each of which has associated costs that may potentially need to be included in the calculation of minimum lease payments. The issue at hand is determining whether the costs in these provisions should, in fact, be included in minimum lease payments Conclusion Provision 1 Big Bear Power should not include the $500,000 negotiation fee in its minimum lease payments because, by definition, it is not an obligatory payment to be made toward the asset. On the other hand, the Company should include the $1 million legal fee in minimum lease payments since it is considered an initial direct cost made in connection with the leased property. Provision 2 The lease agreement includes a provision requiring a penalty payment if Big Bear’s bank declares it in default under its primary credit arrangement. This potential cost should be included in calculating minimum lease payments since a lack of predetermined criteria exists to determine default. Provision 3 The lease agreement stipulates Big Bear’s annual lease amount to be increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Because the lease payments depend on the index, it must be included in the calculation of the minimum lease payment at the inception of the lease agreement. Basis for Conclusion Provision 1 In the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 840-10-25-5, minimum lease payments are â€Å"the payments that the lessee is obligated to make or can be required to make in connection with the leased property,† excluding contingent rentals, any guarantees of the lessor’s debt, and executory costs. Although negotiating fees incurred by Big Bear Power are not executory costs, the fees toward its external legal counsel are considered non-obligatory in nature and should be expensed. In contrast, legal fees paid by Big Bear Power on behalf of Goliath Co. an be categorized as initial direct costs under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 91. Being defined as such, they can be included in the general description of payments they are obligated to make in connection with the lease agreement. Provision 2 Big Bear Power is subject to default if there is a â€Å"material adverse change† in its financial cond ition. FASB ASC 840-10-25-14 provides guidance for default covenants relating to nonperformance and provides four conditions as follows: a. The default covenant provision is customary in leasing arrangements. b. The occurrence of the event of default is objectively determinable. c. Predefined criteria, related solely to the lessee and its operations, has been established for the determination of the event of default. d. It is reasonable to assume, based on the facts and circumstances that exist at lease inception, that the event of default will not occur. In applying this condition, it is expected that entities would consider recent trends in the lessee's operations. The Codification states that if the lease agreement fails to meet all of these conditions, Big Bear Power must include the penalty in its minimum lease payments. As already stated in the information provided, condition (a) is met. Upon further analysis, condition (b) and (d) are also met—Big Bear’s bank is an objective third-party that will determine an occurrence of default, and Big Bear Power is financially strong with remote likelihood of default. While the facts imply that â€Å"material adverse change† is a predefined criterion to determine default, it is our contention that the lack of definition in the documents is sufficient evidence to not fulfill the third condition. Furthermore, the absence of a definition implies a lack of objectivity within the criteria; the phrase â€Å"material adverse change† provides no verifiable benchmark to which Big Bear Power can be examined through its operations, as mandated by the condition. Consequently, Big Bear Power should add the maximum amount of the penalty to the minimum lease payments. Provision 3 According to FASB ASC 840-10-25-4, the portion of lease payments that depends on an index, such as the Consumer Price Index(CPI), should be included in calculating minimum lease payments at lease inception. Big Bear’s lease payments are contingent on increases in the CPI, therefore it must follow this rule. The lease agreement states that Big Bear will pay $1 million per year, and the lease amount will change at each year-end by the increase in the index rate. Only the most recent CPI increase at inception will be included in minimum lease payments. Future increases in the index will not be included as they are considered a contingent rental. Analysis of Alternatives Provision 1 Alternative A debate of Provision 1 suggests that Big Bear Power should not include the $1 million in legal fees toward minimum lease payments. Initial direct costs may be considered transactions separate from the lease itself with benefits being realized at the time of exchange (International Accounting Standards Board [IASB], 2009). Their recognition as assets would be erroneous under this premise, and instead would require an immediate expense to the income statement. Still, it remains our team’s recommendation that the $1 million legal fees be treated as described, in accordance with the FASB’s logic behind fees closely-tied to a lease agreement. Provision 2 Alternative It can be contended that the required penalty payment under a declaration of default should not be included in the minimum lease payments. As stated, FASB ASC 840-10-25-14 provides four conditions, which, if all fulfilled, would not include the penalty in minimum lease payments. Based on those facts provided, and regardless of the definition behind â€Å"material adverse change†, it is arguable that a sufficient criterion exists to determine default. Furthermore, the criterion is established by a third-party with no relation to Goliath Company. This would fulfill condition (c). Provision 3 Alternative Alternative treatment of this provision would adjust minimum lease payments annually after 2005 for the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index. For example, if the lease payment in 2005 is $1 million and the most recent CPI increases by 4%, the lease payment would increase to $1,040,000 in 2006, and $1,081,600 in 2007. The reasoning for this approach is to more accurately measure the lease agreement for financial reporting. However, this method is not in agreement with FASB ASC 840-10-25-4, which states a lease dependent on an index should only include the index existing at lease inception when calculating minimum lease payments. References Financial Accounting Standards Board. (n. d. ). Accounting standards codification. Norwalk, CT: Financial Accounting Standards Board. Retrieved February 8, 2010. International Accounting Standards Board. (2009). IASB staff paper: leases – initial direct costs. London, United Kingdom: International Accounting Standards Board. Retrieved February 8, 2010. The Bear Minimum Per your request, our group conducted research to determine whether costs or potential costs of the provisions of Big Bear Power’s lease of Goliath Co’s combustion turbine should be included in its minimum lease payments. We have provided a summary of the facts, our conclusion, the basis for our conclusion, and an analysis of possible alternatives to our conclusion as requested. Summary of the Facts Big Bear Power (the Company), a public utility company, is leasing a combustion turbine from Goliath Co. for a 10-year, non-cancelable term. The lease agreement was signed on December 15, 2004, and the company’s right to use the turbine starts on January 1, 2005. Big Bear Power has been financially strong for a number of years, has positive cash flow, and is in accordance with all of its debt covenants. The lease agreement contains three provisions, each of which has associated costs that may potentially need to be included in the calculation of minimum lease payments. The issue at hand is determining whether the costs in these provisions should, in fact, be included in minimum lease payments Conclusion Provision 1 Big Bear Power should not include the $500,000 negotiation fee in its minimum lease payments because, by definition, it is not an obligatory payment to be made toward the asset. On the other hand, the Company should include the $1 million legal fee in minimum lease payments since it is considered an initial direct cost made in connection with the leased property. Provision 2 The lease agreement includes a provision requiring a penalty payment if Big Bear’s bank declares it in default under its primary credit arrangement. This potential cost should be included in calculating minimum lease payments since a lack of predetermined criteria exists to determine default. Provision 3 The lease agreement stipulates Big Bear’s annual lease amount to be increased by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Because the lease payments depend on the index, it must be included in the calculation of the minimum lease payment at the inception of the lease agreement. Basis for Conclusion Provision 1 In the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 840-10-25-5, minimum lease payments are â€Å"the payments that the lessee is obligated to make or can be required to make in connection with the leased property,† excluding contingent rentals, any guarantees of the lessor’s debt, and executory costs. Although negotiating fees incurred by Big Bear Power are not executory costs, the fees toward its external legal counsel are considered non-obligatory in nature and should be expensed. In contrast, legal fees paid by Big Bear Power on behalf of Goliath Co. an be categorized as initial direct costs under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 91. Being defined as such, they can be included in the general description of payments they are obligated to make in connection with the lease agreement. Provision 2 Big Bear Power is subject to default if there is a â€Å"material adverse change† in its financial cond ition. FASB ASC 840-10-25-14 provides guidance for default covenants relating to nonperformance and provides four conditions as follows: a. The default covenant provision is customary in leasing arrangements. b. The occurrence of the event of default is objectively determinable. c. Predefined criteria, related solely to the lessee and its operations, has been established for the determination of the event of default. d. It is reasonable to assume, based on the facts and circumstances that exist at lease inception, that the event of default will not occur. In applying this condition, it is expected that entities would consider recent trends in the lessee's operations. The Codification states that if the lease agreement fails to meet all of these conditions, Big Bear Power must include the penalty in its minimum lease payments. As already stated in the information provided, condition (a) is met. Upon further analysis, condition (b) and (d) are also met—Big Bear’s bank is an objective third-party that will determine an occurrence of default, and Big Bear Power is financially strong with remote likelihood of default. While the facts imply that â€Å"material adverse change† is a predefined criterion to determine default, it is our contention that the lack of definition in the documents is sufficient evidence to not fulfill the third condition. Furthermore, the absence of a definition implies a lack of objectivity within the criteria; the phrase â€Å"material adverse change† provides no verifiable benchmark to which Big Bear Power can be examined through its operations, as mandated by the condition. Consequently, Big Bear Power should add the maximum amount of the penalty to the minimum lease payments. Provision 3 According to FASB ASC 840-10-25-4, the portion of lease payments that depends on an index, such as the Consumer Price Index(CPI), should be included in calculating minimum lease payments at lease inception. Big Bear’s lease payments are contingent on increases in the CPI, therefore it must follow this rule. The lease agreement states that Big Bear will pay $1 million per year, and the lease amount will change at each year-end by the increase in the index rate. Only the most recent CPI increase at inception will be included in minimum lease payments. Future increases in the index will not be included as they are considered a contingent rental. Analysis of Alternatives Provision 1 Alternative A debate of Provision 1 suggests that Big Bear Power should not include the $1 million in legal fees toward minimum lease payments. Initial direct costs may be considered transactions separate from the lease itself with benefits being realized at the time of exchange (International Accounting Standards Board [IASB], 2009). Their recognition as assets would be erroneous under this premise, and instead would require an immediate expense to the income statement. Still, it remains our team’s recommendation that the $1 million legal fees be treated as described, in accordance with the FASB’s logic behind fees closely-tied to a lease agreement. Provision 2 Alternative It can be contended that the required penalty payment under a declaration of default should not be included in the minimum lease payments. As stated, FASB ASC 840-10-25-14 provides four conditions, which, if all fulfilled, would not include the penalty in minimum lease payments. Based on those facts provided, and regardless of the definition behind â€Å"material adverse change†, it is arguable that a sufficient criterion exists to determine default. Furthermore, the criterion is established by a third-party with no relation to Goliath Company. This would fulfill condition (c). Provision 3 Alternative Alternative treatment of this provision would adjust minimum lease payments annually after 2005 for the annual increase in the Consumer Price Index. For example, if the lease payment in 2005 is $1 million and the most recent CPI increases by 4%, the lease payment would increase to $1,040,000 in 2006, and $1,081,600 in 2007. The reasoning for this approach is to more accurately measure the lease agreement for financial reporting. However, this method is not in agreement with FASB ASC 840-10-25-4, which states a lease dependent on an index should only include the index existing at lease inception when calculating minimum lease payments. References Financial Accounting Standards Board. (n. d. ). Accounting standards codification. Norwalk, CT: Financial Accounting Standards Board. Retrieved February 8, 2010. International Accounting Standards Board. (2009). IASB staff paper: leases – initial direct costs. London, United Kingdom: International Accounting Standards Board. Retrieved February 8, 2010.

Armstrong Family Essay

â€Å"Which is more important freedom or happiness† (Nijinsky 78). Every human has their own definition for â€Å"happiness† and â€Å"freedom†, and that’s what Armstrong and BZRK cooperation’s are fighting for. The Armstrong family fought for ultimate happiness, while BZRK fought for people right and freedom. Characters in this novel were willing to die for freedom and they were also willing to kill for freedom. This novel demonstrates the emerging technologies and makes you think about the implication they may represent in society. It raises questions such as â€Å"Is freedom something worth fighting for? † The theme is freedom, and it’s required for happiness, in BZRK by Michael Grant it convincingly demonstrates through madness, achieving potential, and sanity. Through the character isolation due to their restrictions, they demonstrate that you need freedom to achieve more happiness. Due to the Armstrong’s isolation because of their isolation, they are forcing their will to create a collective human identity. During a conversation between the Armstrong brother’s and their followers â€Å"they are ruthless in a demonic cause, we will unite humanity† (Benjamin Armstrong 66). This helps connect with the outer world as they see and hear about leaders that are imposing their will and taking people’s freedom. Later on in the novel, the reader discovers that Vincent is diagnosed with the disease that makes him unable to feel happiness. Then later on when he defeats the Armstrong brothers, he was able to achieve happiness. He always has a look of disgust but later on the look is surpassed† (Sadie 155). This situation helps the reader visualise the unhappiness in the character because of the inability to achieve freedom. Through lifetime of experiences the potential achieved freedom allows us to live a happy fulfilling life. As a result of his freedom being taken away Alex failed to reach his potential to reach his full potential in the army and was handcuffed in a mental Asylum. Alex’s brother describes Alex situation â€Å"Alex Cotton was in a room and sat on the edge of the bunk. His wrists were handcuffed to steal rings† (Noah 5). This helps the reader associate the prisoners to a lack of freedom and lack of achieved potentials in a variety of all sorts. Likewise, because of Anthony being locked up in his own imagination he wasn’t able to reach his full potential and was satisfied in being a mass murderer. In a confrontation with Burnofsky â€Å"I just rewire people brains. You think I won’t rewire my own if needed! (Anthony 188). This showed the reader a lot about the character of Anthony and that he is willing to do anything to satisfy the Armstrong brother’s Through the sanity of major characters in BZRK, it help it them reach their ultimate goal which was to achieve their freedom. Do to Greg Mclure sanity he was able to create nanobot technology in hope to win battle against the Armstrong family. During a conversation with Anthony â€Å"Burnofsky remember the day he spent with Grey Mclure working in the lab on the nanobots† (Michael Grant 124). This shows the reader that Greg always uses his intelligent to reach his potential and that helps him fight for his freedom against the Armstrong family. Similarly, Vincent always used his freedom of choice and his intelligent to become the best nanobot fighter. In a battle between Vincent and Anthony â€Å"he will find something wrong, he is too smart to fall for this trick† (Anthony 178). Likewise, this shows how Vincent sanity help it him excel in what he does and also help it him finally finding pleasure in his life. In conclusion, the theme is freedom is required for happiness, and it’s demonstrated through madness, achieving potential, and sanity. Firstly, through character isolation due to their appearance and sickness it shows that you need freedom to achieve happiness in life. Secondly, through lifelong experiences the potential achieving helps you live a long fulfilling life. Lastly, sanity helps the character achieve his ultimate goal which was to gain freedom. So, why is freedom worth fighting for? It matters a great deal to everyone one in the world. Freedom brings progress, opportunity, and happiness into people lives.