Wednesday, July 31, 2019
A Hmong Child, Her Doctors and American Tragedy Essay
Introduction            America is known for having a culturally diverse society. The Hmong Group is among the population of the said society. In the story entitled â€Å"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down†, which was written by Anne Fadiman, the main character came from the said ethnic group. The Hmong ethnic tribe is known for their knowledge and practice of traditional and primitive medical processes in healing their sick members. Based upon their beliefs of spirits, they usually create their medical observations on the patients and later on apply the practices they know are needed for the patient’s recovery. The question is that â€Å"since their traditional practices have been proven effective for many members of their group for the past years of their history, does it guarantee that their ways of healing the patients that they treat are better than that of medical processes? Is there any possibility that the medical practices of the modern medicine be integrated with the cultural ways of the ethnic groups and still gain better results on the patient’s recovery later on? How effective could the said kind of medical processes be when it comes to actual application? These questions with regards to culture and its effect and influence towards medication would be the main topic of this paper and the subject of the discussions that would follow. About The Case            The story, as written by Anne Fadiman involves a young child who is afflicted with a serious illness. The girl’s name is Lia, a preschooler who has been experiencing developmental delay since she was in her younger years. As she grew up, she developed more serious health problems such as major seizures every now and then accompanied by several series of severe convulsions and cerebral Anoxia. Because of the said situation, the young child was profoundly impaired and physically incapable of doing the normal things that a young child naturally does. She was not playful and she had fewer chances when she used to react on the situations that are happening around her.            The parents of Lia, who were traditional Hmongs, believe in their cultural medication. Hence, whenever she passes out, or looses her consciousness, they claim that it is simply because she has ‘lost her soul’ and thus needs to  receive ritual practices to be able to regain her own self. For several times of having seizures, the ethnic elder of their tribe has tried reviving the young girl through ceremonial ministries and application of herbal medicines which were prayed over for her benefit.            Upon knowing this, the medical experts who used to handle Lia’s case before she went home believed that the further developments of her illness towards becoming worse was caused by the neglect of her parents in giving her anti-convulsant medications. The said anti-convulsants are known to be strong and really affect the system of the child as it tries to ‘repair’ the damaged brain tissues of the child every time she looses her consciousness.            Later on, the medical practitioners who were supposed to both evaluate and take charge of Lia’s health situation was moved to get the child from her parents and bring her to a medical center where they believed she could be more closely observed and cured as well.            However, the medical processes used by the said practitioners were not as successful as they believed it would be. As for a fact, the terminality of the case of Lia even pushed to a worst condition until her parents were advised to take her back home, especially when they started to believe that her case could not be met anymore and that there is only a little time left before she dies.            Upon coming home, the tribe or the ethnic group of Lia performed several rituals again which they strongly believed would help her recover. As a result [as the tribe members claim] is that the young girl did not die. However, she was brain dead. This means that although she still breaths, her brain does not function anymore making the other systems of her body useless as of the said moment.            Knowing the situation behind Lia’s case, a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) Protocol shall be created regarding her case. Hence, by doing so, the author of this paper hopes to help in turning the situation around by answering the question â€Å"What could have been done that could have contributed better on the progress of the healing process of Lia?†The DSM Protocol            The process of pre-medication and therapeutical approach towards the illness shall be applied on the DSM protocol that follows: Interview The interview shall be performed for the sake of creating a basis for the creation of the medical protocol that needs to be applied for cases such as that of Lia. The interview then would be addressed to several parties that are involved in the direct healing practice that needs to be applied for the patient. The said interview is subdivided into three major sections. Interview with the Parents of the Patient Since they are the ones who regularly attend to the patient and are also the ones who are directly affected by the illness of the child, it would be best to know how they are able to give the child’s needs amidst her health situation. It would also help if they would be asked on what kind of ‘home nurses’ they are to be able to meet the medical requirements of their child’s health status. The interview shall help the psychology experts to understand the environment of the child and thus identify what factors [may include emotional and social] affects the healing development of the patient. Interview with the Physician The Physician’s records as well as his own opinion towards the health situations of the patient are among the important sectors of this research. To be able to know the medical observations that they have done towards the patient’s situation, the development of the therapeutic process would be more practical and medically authorized. Interview with the Elders of the Ethnic Group An interview with the elders or the chief leaders of the ethnic group that the patient is joined with would help the person analyzing the situation to gain some knowledge about the basic cultural background of the patient and how the said traditional practices could be incorporated into the medical practice that would be applied to then patient afterwards. Tests The tests would involve oral, practical and medical tests: Oral tests This would be done with the patient [Lia]. This test would measure the development of the child with regards to the mental reasoning that she is able to use as she is asked some questions. [the author of this paper preempts that the patient is still at the first stage of her illness when she is still having slight seizures pertaining to the developing status of her illness. Practical tests This test involves both the parents and the child. They would be asked on how they are able to meet the challenges of the situation together. It should also include the ways by which they are able to treat their child during situations wherein their child experiences seizure and other health problems relayed to it. [It could be an inquiry on what they value better, the medical ways of healing their child or the traditional ways of dealing with the said health problem] Medical Tests The medical tests are almost the same as that of the interview with the physician attending to Lia’s case. Only this time, it would be based from the hard copy of the medical tests that have been made to identify the child’s sickness. Observation The observation on the patient would be based on both the written output of the interviews and tests that were done on the earlier part of the protocol, as well as with the actual observation of the situation of the patient during regular days. Life Records This mainly involves the observation and analysis of the life of the child as an infant and how she was taken care of by her parents. It would also be a measure on how the tribe tried to help in the child’s recovery through the application f traditional practices and cultural beliefs. This would allow the one working on the analysis to understand the possible sources of the aggravating health situation of the child. Assessment This process involves a more in depth observation of the situation. Assessment of the results that were collected would be incorporated within the healing [therapeutic] processes of medicating the patient. Clinical Inference After all the processes are done, it could be expected that the clinical application of the healing process could already be done.  The pre-trial and the actual application would help the patient, the relatives and the physicians involved in the case understand the importance of working together to be able to complete the healing process.            With the application of the said protocol comprising of six major processes, it could be noticed that the author of this paper aims to integrate some of the cultural practices within the healing process not only to avoid ethical issues and cultural conflicts in the progress of the healing the patient but also to evaluate ways buy which some of the cultural practices of the said ethnic group could help in the process of healing. Hmong Cultural Sensitivities            There are three major ways by which the Hmongs treat their patients. Most often, they tend to base this from their own diagnosis of the situation. As for Lia’s case, they believed that every time she passes out or losses her consciousness, she looses her soul. Thus they have to apply the three major practices to be able to regain her back. The three practices are as follows: Herbal Medicine application (A leaf that has been prayed over is applied on Lia’s body to regain her strength) Ceremonial Ministrations of a traditional practitioner (involves the prayers ad some group rituals that the ethnic tribe does to call the spirit of Lia back to her body) Sacrificing of Animals (Most often that not, this rituals are focused towards the gods of the tribes as a way by which they ask for the guidance of their gods for assistance in healing the sick member of the group) With the three major traditional ways that the Hmongs use, it could be noticed that the most important factor there is that has strong possibilities of being incorporated in a medical process is the use of herbal medicine. The reason behind this shall be tackled in the paragraphs to follow.            ON HERBAL MEDICATION            Although man’s use of synthetic drugs is a modern medical development, plant extracts have been used as cures for common ills for thousands of years. Early Assyrian records describe the use of the common anemone to alleviate pain. And Egyptian medical papyri from the time of the Pharaohs reveal a widespread use of medicinal plants. (Duke, 54) The World Health Organization has recorded the use of about 20,000 medicinal plants worldwide. In Britain alone an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 tons of herbs are used annually as ingredients in some 5,500 different herbal products, and in the United States, it has been reckoned that over half of all doctors’ prescriptions are for medicines derived from plants. With as many as 250,000 known species of plants in the world, each possessing a potentially unique chemistry, scientists constantly look for clues to find useful medicines (Mowrey, 87). One of the obvious ways is to study how people treat ailments using plants growing in their locality. The discovery of cocaine started with the observation that chewing coca leaves deadened hunger pangs and eased fatigue. By isolating and modifying the structure of the cocaine molecule, chemists produced a synthetic derivative for use as a local anesthetic. Much valuable information on the use of plants is still filed away in botanical collections. Scientists who spent over four years examining 2.5 million specimens in the Gray Herbarium and Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University were able to pinpoint more than 5,000 plant species previously overlooked as potential sources of medicines. (Duke, 54) Another line of inquiry compares the chemical contents of plants. If one species contains useful compounds, related species may also be valuable. When work on a north Australian tree, the Moreton Bay chestnut, isolated castanospermine, a poison displaying antiviral activity, botanists searching for related trees suggested looking at the South American Alexa. (Chevallier, 63) It could be noted that the use of herbal medicines could out do some of the effects of the strong anti convulsant medicines that Lia received from her physicians. Hence, through the incorporation of herbal medication in the healing process it could be expected that the process would yield better results. New Culturally Sensitive Protocol            In any healing process, it should be realized that the involvement of the family, the relatives as well as the society that roams around the patient is a very important factor of the restoration process for the patient being treated Hence, in this section, a more culturally sensitive protocol shall be created: Creation of a Physician-Parent relationship This would help the physician and the parents of the patient work together through the incorporation of the cultural practices of the family in the medical process. The physicians must study if the herbal medicines would do no harm in reaction to the existing medical processes applied towards the patient. In a way, this could take time, but carefully considering things with regards the issues involved in the medication could even shorten the period of healing that is required for the patient. Integration of the Processes Close enough to the first stage; this involves more of the cultural or ethnic chieftains of the group where the patient belongs to. Their realization of the fact that some of their rituals may not be that applicable on the situation of the patient and thus would not be incorporated into the system, would help them cooperate with the healing process provided by the medical experts. Evaluation of the Strengths and Weaknesses of the New Protocol            As clearly seen, the process involves in depth study which may require time and stress on the physicians since they are at some point controlled with the way they are supposed to deal with the situation. However, thru realization of the fact that emotional and social acceptance is important for the patient’s recovery would enable them to meet with the said challenge to their profession.            However, if carefully applied, this process could help both parties [medicine and culture] see the importance of each sectors of medication and thus create better ways of healing the patients based form then practices that both social sectors accept. Conclusion            In this analysis, it could be noted that at some point, giving importance to the cultural background as well as the cultural practices of an ethnic group with regards to medicine could help in the development of medical practices that are used towards patients today. It is seen that by doing so, the integration of two worlds to result to better medical development could be considered as a way by which medicine could further progress its practices.            After all, the ancient times when people lived longer lives and dealt with less complicated diseases, people appreciated herbal and other traditional ways of medication even before modern medicine was discovered. Going back to the original cure would sure not be a hindrance to further medical progress in the future. BIBLIOGRAPHY Anne Fadiman. (1998). The spirit catches you and you fall down. http://www.spiritcatchesyou.com/bookexcerpt.htm. (December 15, 2006). Growth House Incorporated. (1999). A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures. http://www.growthhouse.org/books/fadiman.htm. (December 15, 2006). Books: Andrew Chevallier. (2000). Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine: The Definitive Home Reference Guide to 550 Key Herbs with all their Uses as Remedies for Common Ailments. DK ADULT; Revised edition. James A. Duke. (1998). The Green Pharmacy: The Ultimate Compendium Of Natural Remedies From The World’s Foremost Authority On Healing Herbs. St. Martin’s Paperbacks. Daniel Mowrey. (1986). Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine. McGraw-Hill; 1 edition.
Okonkwo “Falls Apartâ€Â: The Tragic Hero Essay
Psychology teaches us that we retain information presented to us in an emotional and compelling manner. Facts and figures may speak to the mind, but stories speak to the heartâ€â€.the heart of individuals and the heart of humanity as a whole. Why have books and authors endured for centuries, outlasting nearly every other form of entertainment? Books are the faithful guardians of humanity’s timeless bonds, and in their words and their images resonate core human principles. For this reason, novels are among humanity’s most powerful history books. Emotions are, after all, what make us human. Who better to speak to these unstop- pable forces than tragic dramatists, who capture the universality of human emotions in their timeless â€Å"life-in-capsules†: .their stories. Classic masters like Sophocles and Shakespeare may have introduced us to the tragic hero, but contemporary storytellers have transcended race, regions, and centuries to gift modern society with its own tortured messengers. In Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, the struggle between the late nineteenth century Igbo people of Nigeria and the white colonialists who sought the tribes’ conversion to Christianity are docu- mented. However, it is the rise and fall of one great Igbo warrior, Okonkwo, that truly drives this modern tragedy†¦. and demonstrates how a â€Å"tragic hero†is often anything but â€Å"heroic.†Much like Shakespearean tragic hero Macbeth and many others, Okonkwo is a multidimensional blend of light (good) and dark (evil). The clan leader is admirable in his self-made status (a unique fulfillment of the tragic hero’s usual noble nature) and his determination to create a better future by shunning his father’s questionable actions. Achebe presents Okonkwo and his tribesmen as a people who value thought and artistry: â€Å"Among the Igbo the art of conversation is regarded very highly, and proverbs are the palm-oil with which words are eaten†(12).  During the era of imperialism and romanticism, many dismissed indigenous Africans as the â€Å"noble savage†â€â€beings high in morality but low in intelligence. Achebe’s tale challenges both of these assumptions. Achebe peppers his tale with Igbo language and words, to illustrate the vital role which communication played in the Igbo community and culture. Such a representation is a far cry from the dull-witted and language-less â€Å"savage†of popular lore. Despite these positives, the reader may be left with an uncomfortable feelingâ€â€and even an active dislikeâ€â€of the novel’s protagonist. He beats his wife (although he is punished for it); he constantly berates his son for not being masculine enough; he wishes his daughter (although he adores her character and strength) was a son; he rarely shows emotion (because he perceives feeling as weakness)â€â€and that very fear leads him to remorselessly participate in the premeditated murder of his favored surrogate son Ikemefuna. Two of the aforementioned events are particularly crucial in Okonkwo’s path of development, demonstrating the cruel interaction of fate and choice that guides the tragic hero. During his formative years, Okondwo firmly captains his own destiny by building himself up as a respected and well-regarded warrior and provider, although these actions are fueled by the disrepute of his dishonest father, a background over which Okonkwo has no control. This secret shame is the first mark of the warrior’s spiritual wounding (parental issues similarly drive other celebrated tragic heroes such as Hamlet and Oedipus). Spiritual hurt instills Okonkwo with a tragic flaw that damages his decision-making process. And, as with all tragic heroes, the crossroads (the point of decision) is everything. When the warrior is faced with a choice regarding how to handle his wife’s presumed negligence, his pride leads him to one brutal conclusion: a beating. The action shatters a sacred time for Okonkwo’s tribe, and, more importantly, fractures their trust in an important leader. As a result, the warrior has only wounded himself more, a fact for which he repents but does not yet truly recognize.Only Okonkwo’s second crossroads will irrevocably alter the story, and the man himself. After all, how could a man look into the eyes of a child whom he has sheltered, mentored, and admiredâ€â€a child, with no blood ties, who is still no less a â€Å"son†to his â€Å"father†â€â€how could such a man look into the past and future and allow his pride to deal that child a fatal blow? How could a piece of that manâ€â€of his soulâ€â€not die with his child? For Okonkwo, the answer is clear, and his tragic recognition of the consequences of this action (his moment of truth) sets the ensuing chain of events on its inevitableâ€â€and unavoidableâ€â€course. The warrior has further severed the tenuous connection with his family; more death befalls his family; the â€Å"fates†punish him with a tragic accident, which leads to his exile; and he must watch passively as his people are swindled by questionable outsiders. Yet the repeated emotional pummelings have reawakened within the warrior two important virtues: honor and courage. Through his revolution of one (his final choice, his final act of defiance), Okonkwo both finds himself and, ultimately, loses himself forever.  In some regards, Okondwo’s self-murder is the murder of humanity’s hope: The fall of the Igbo peopleâ€â€and their once mighty warriorâ€â€represents a slower, more devastating form of humiliation and subtle slavery. Two passages in particular speak to the colonialist impact: â€Å"And at last the locusts did descend. They settled on every tree and on every blade of grass; they settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground†(71); â€Å"He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together and we have fallen apart†(164). The first passage indicates how suddenly these indigenous peoples found themselves in the midst of colonialists (like the locusts), while the second passage laments how easily the outsiders were able to turn loyal tribesmen against one another. In the story, the tribesmen were at first seduced by the kindly ways of Mr. Brown (who respects the tribesmen yet lures away the tribe ‘outsiders’ first), but then they fall victim to the much more aggressive Reverend Smith. Once under Smith’s leadership, the tribe converts’ actions become much more disreputable and disloyal (such as when Enoch unmasks the egwogwu), and the leaders of the tribe eventually lose their will to fight the colonialists, leading to Okonkwo’s suicide. But it is perhaps the final lines of the book which most symbolize the â€Å"falling apart†of this once proud people: â€Å"He had already chosen the title of the book, after much thought: The Pacification of the Primitive Tribes of the Lower Niger†(224). The tribe is reduced to some white man’s conquest, while the very symbol of that tribe’s former strength, Okonkwo, becomes â€Å"a paragraph or two†â€â€a mere footnote in colonialist history.  In this sense, Okonkwo’s suffering (like many tragic heroes) is instilled with greater meaning because he serves as a symbolâ€â€a symbol of his culture’s greatness and its inevitable, tragic demise. Two words best summarize the complex creation of Okonkwo: tragic hero. Within this man is a piece of every individual, past and present. The audience relates so well because they see themselves in Okonkwo’s shortcomings, flaws, and basically imperfect human nature. In watching this memorable character’s own struggles against the   insurmountable, generations of audiences have found an outlet for their own hopes and fears.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Industry Analysis: Airline Companies Essay
The airlines industry contains diverse types of players that compete in distinctive niches each with different business models. Airline companies owned by the State characterized the airlines industry into the 1980s. Because of privatization, this model no longer exists in Europe or in the U.S., but it is still present in Asia and Africa. Standard airline companies offer scheduled flights with flight connections, at least two classes on board, and other services such as in-flight entertainment, frequent flyer program airport lounge, food, etc. The majority of their revenues are earned through ticket sales. Low-cost airline companies offer scheduled flights with only one class on board and without additional service on board like in-flight entertainment, frequent flyer programs, airport lounges, etc. Their business model is different from the standard company because they have a different form of income through the ticket price. Ryanair and EasyJet fall into this category. Regional airline companies offer scheduled flights, usually with small airplanes and for short distances; they previously worked on behalf of other big airline companies (standard, major, government-owned) some of which owned a regional company to provide short route flights. Examples are US Airways Express owned by US Airways and Air Dolomiti owned by Lufthansa. Cargo airline companies offer freight transport. Some cargo airlines are divisions or subsidiaries of larger passenger airlines like Air France Cargo or Alitalia Cargo, but there are also independent companies like DHL and FedEx. Industry competitors are also known to build alliances. Reasons for airline companies to build alliances: scale economies, access to markets or technology, market power, and lower operating costs. Many alliances start as a code-sharing network whose benefits are cost reductions from sharing of sales offices, investments and purchases in order to negotiate extra volume discounts, operational staff (g round handling personnel and check-in and boarding desks), and operation facilities (catering or computer systems). We can find drivers for different types of alliances and divide them into three categories: deregulation of the industry, changes in customer preferences, and changes in technology and infrastructure. Deregulation has opened up the market and led to intensifying competition and consequently a battle to secure market presence and decreased costs. Changes in customer preferences comprise such factors as overall globalization of businesses, the diminishing role of airline nationality in customers’ choices and the preference by customers for high flight frequencies, and seamless connections to nearly any point in the globe. Technological and infrastructural changes include the introduction of medium size long-range aircrafts and the development of sales and distribution technology (i.e. the Internet and many airports in many areas). The strength of buying power that firms face from their customers, and thus the sharing of the value created by the transactions, depends on two fa ctors: buyer’s price sensitivity and their relative bargaining power. The airline industry shows two sources of potential price sensitivity. First, the importance of flight cost as a proportion of total cost of travel; this is exemplified in leisure travel where price typically represents twenty-five percent of total travel costs. The exact percentage varies depending on the length and type of travel, and increases in the non-liberalized markets. Secondly, the low or non-existent differentiation perceived by the customers increases the willingness of the buyer to switch airlines on the basis of price. Deregulation has increased price competition and has exposed buyers’ price sensitivity. A study by Gillen, Morrison and Stewart found substantial demand elasticity. It established that business travelers are usually less price-sensitive (less elastic) than leisure travelers, and that elasticity on short-haul routes are generally higher than on long-haul routes, a result explained by the presence of potential substitute for the first. The bargaining power of buyers relative to that of the seller is considerably by the size and concentration of buyers relative to producers as well as the buyers’ switching costs. The airline industry has achieved 598 billion of revenue in 2011, carrying 2.75 billion passengers. These figures clearly show that a large number of buyers have very small individual purchases compared to industry revenue, thus losing a single traveler has a low impact on the total revenue. Although we can say that this first factor is favorable for the airlines, in the airline industry switching costs are relatively low, because of the minimal search costs to find alternative suppliers, and learning costs, linked to the specific knowledge required to use a product, as well as the total absence of emotional cost, and psychological and social risk. Airline companies have successfully tried to increase them through frequent flyer programs, which create advantages to the customer for their loyalty. Finally we can state that the relative bargaining power of buyers is medium, because of the opposite effects of the two described factors. However, when considering the high price sensitivity and the relative economic power of buyers their share of the created value is relatively high. Prices and profits within an industry depend on buyers’ propensity to substitute its products with existing alternatives based on their prices and performance. Air transportation does not have any perfect substitutes for intercontinental flights, however, short-haul routes, have potential substitutes: car, bus, and train. Cars are higher in convenience, allowing the traveler to reach the place nearest the final destination, but are limited by potential traffic and other complications. Moreover the trend of rising gas prices in recent decades has dramatically reduced the feasibility of driving. Busing is a similar substitute to driving, but is less convenient though frequently less expensive. We consider trains to currently act as the main substitute to air transportation. The development of high-speed rails, mainly in Europe and Asia, allows for a huge decrease in the transportation time by train. Considering that trains are often cheaper than flights and allow travelers to reach a destination nearest their final one, they represent a formidable substitute for air transportation. We observed the existence of high supplier power in the airlines industry. These suppliers predominantly consist of airplane providers, airports, labor unions, and fuel providers. These suppliers increase competition in the airline industry as well as decrease the profit potential for airlines by raising prices, decreasing product quality, and by making products scarce. Boeing (US) and Airbus (EU) largely dominate the global airline supply industry. The reduction in product availability resulting from long waitlists, including Boeing’s three years waiting period for the 777 jet, and design/production delays cause complications for airlines attempting to update or expan d their fleets. The new airplanes are designed to increase fuel-efficiency therefore, delays to upgrade may result in higher fuel costs and airlines that do not plan accordingly may also spend more on maintenance and repair costs. Airlines’ technological competitive advantage may largely depend upon being at the top of the waiting list. Boeing and Airbus have the advantage of scarce product availability and expensive prices which gives them high supplier power. Airlines must pay airport-landing fees. Each airport has different rates for landing fees that are based a measurement of aircraft size that is also unique per airport. In 2007 IAD charged $2.13 per 1,000 pounds of maximum landing weight. This price is on the lower end of a spectrum that can peak around $4.59 charged by DFW the same year. High traffic airports will charge greater airport-landing fees knowing that airlines will pay them in order to have access to those customers. Although the airports’ supplier power is not as high as the airplane providers, they still have a high supplier power because they are able charge higher prices. In addition, the majority of airline industry labor is unionized, which contributes to high supplier power in the industry. This means that in the event of disagreements between airlines and their employees there is an organized system for the employees to unite under. Unions include, Association of Flight Attendants, the Air Line Pilots Association, National Association of Air Traffic Controllers, and the Transport Workers Union. Collective bargaining by these unions raises the cost of labor for airlines making it more difficult to compete on a low cost strategy. Rising fuel costs are also a constant struggle for airlines to maintain. Fuel costs are estimated to be approximately thirty percent of operating cost for each airline. Some companies combat this by hedging costs, but even with these measures airlines have very little control over fuel prices. The ability of fuel providers to decrease the profit potential for airlines and increase fuel costs gives them high supplier power. The capital investment required to start an airline industry alone is a huge barrier to entry. Some of the required equity includes many fixed assets that lead to low profit margins and perhaps the lowest return on equity among competing airlines. The industry is also characterized by a large contribution margin; variable costs are particularly low compared to fixed. Variable costs are: landing fees, paid by the carriers according to the number of passengers, and catering and selling fees, paid mainly to online sellers and travel agencies. Staff, fuel, airplane maintenance and leasing, and amortization and depreciation determine fixed costs. Given the high contribution margin, volatility in the volume of passengers seriously impact companies’ operating profit losing a customer means a large loss for the company. Government regulation limited competition with rules about prices and routes, but deregulation drove the industry towards ticket price competition. Because of this the traditional business model became unsustainable for almost everyone already present in the business. The deregulation of the airline industry has also given rise to the competitive pricing environment, which enables airlines to freely set price s in order to compete. Airlines have created complex pricing models that essentially improve their service to customers. With the combination of affordable ticket prices and increased availability of travel options, the total customer base has increased significantly. Moreover this difficult situation is compounded because of the low switching cost and lack of brand loyalty. Depending on geographical location and competition, the airports and airplanes comprise such a significant portion of the cost that it is very challenging for any airline to make a profit. Large airlines are able to offset these costs with economies of scale. Airlines must invest in R&D, technology, and management in order to provide services to customers at some profit. Large airlines have also established a global presence that makes it extremely difficult for small, local startup airlines to gain some degree of advantage. A hub of concentrated alliances in vital geographical locations also make it difficult for new airlines to compete. Such alliances provide a network among allies that enable them to efficiently capitalize on their marketing and advertising strategies. Large marketing and advertising efforts are spent in the hope of capturing a large share of the market, and frequent flyer programs are created in an effort to secure this market share. Nevertheless, the regulatory hurdles within the airports are extremely challenging for new entrants. There are a number of federal requirements that airlines must obtain within an airport to include the use of airfields, terminal facilities, limitations on capacity, specifically take-offs and landings, to resolve the issue of air traffic congestion. In addition, the bargaining power of suppliers makes it difficult for new airlines to enter. Today, the two major airline suppliers, Airbus and Boeing, have already established exclusive agreements with firms within their value chain that make it very difficult for new entrants to enter the industry. The high-risk of the airline industry is one of the aspects that make it very unattractive. In the firm analysis we wish to focus and understand how a traditional flagship company and a new low cost carrier has faced this strategic challenge in an unattractive industry. Ryanair The Ryan family with little capital and a staff of twenty-five people founded Ryanair in 1985. In 1986 Ryanair obtained permission from the regulatory authorities to challenge the British Airways and Aer Lingus, flagship of Ireland, a high fare duopoly on the Dublin-London route. In 1991, after an uncertain start and loss accounts, Michael O’Leary got the task of restructuring the company by adopting the economic model â€Å"low fares / no frills†, which was used successfully by Southwest Airlines. In 1995, Ryanair overtook Aer Lingus and British Airways to become the largest passenger airline on the Dublin-London route (the biggest international scheduled route in Europe) proving that Ryanair’s low fares, high frequency formula continues to win acceptance in every market between Ireland and the UK. The European Union finally completed the â€Å"Open Skies†deregulation of the scheduled airline business thereby enabling airlines to compete freely throughou t Europe. In January 2000, Ryanair launches Europe’s largest booking website – www.ryanair.com and becomes the only source of low airfares in Europe. Ryanair spotted opportunities in the market arising from the inefficient traditional business model adopted by the flagship companies; issues such as inflexible labor roles, high staff numbers and salaries, and extravagant airport fees could work adequately only within the previous regulatory constraints. In this environment Ryanair has been able to build a cost competitive advantage that offers air transportation services that are more valuable to its customers than similar offers for a simple reason, price. The airline, in its effort to achieve becoming the lowest cost European airline, has implemented a double faced strategy: it has completely changed its core and complementary services mix and it strives to reduce costs in any possible way, thus dramatically reducing its the core service, air transportation, price, and created new sources of revenue. Ryanair has a different kind of revenue in respect to the other airline carriers. For standard airline companies revenue is made by ticket prices, but not for Ryanair. The goal of the firm is to grow the number of passengers through cost reduction, which allows the company to offer low-ticket prices. Ryanair targets price sensitive consumers, such as young people or occasional travelers that usually use substitute products like trains and cars. The company offers tickets for a price that does not allow them to cover all operative costs, but their cost structure is built so they get other revenue from additional services. Ryanair charges their customers for the accessory services they offer; the only service that is included in the ticket price is the flight. There is no food service during the flight, there are no assigned seats on the plane, customers must pay for checked baggage, and they pay an extra fee for booking with a credit card. These service charges account for the thir ty percent of the company’s total revenue. On average they charge every passenger 10.8â‚ ¬ when the normal price of a one-way ticket is 50â‚ ¬. With this business model the company does not need to hire as many employees because some the services are provided by the customers, one example is the check in line that is mandatory if you do not want to pay 50â‚ ¬ for every boarding card. This has brought the company to an important cost advantage position with respect to competitors, and their cost structure allows them to win every price war battle. Under the guidance of O’Leary, Ryanair has always sought to reduce its costs, sometimes â€Å"maniacally†. The first element of this effort is their fleet. The company’s fleet history can be split into two epochs. In the beginning, Ryanair followed the behavior a lot of small low-cost companies and bought whatever best met its needs in terms of price, passenger volumes, and financing abilities, this resulted in a fleet with many different types of aircra fts with many different capacities and requirements. This attitude changed in 2002 when Ryanair ordered a hundred of Boeing 737-800, its first move in creating a standardized fleet. Currently the airline has a fleet of 305 Boeing 727-800s with a unique design characterized by having the maximum density possible and the lowest average age among competitors. All these features allow for lower maintenance costs, training costs, fuel consumptions, and cheaper parts and equipment supplies. Regarding aircraft usage, Ryanair has some particular features, mainly focused on reducing turnaround time and fuel consumption, such as choosing to land at secondary, less congested, airports, avoiding large hubs, relying on point to point routes thus maximizing aircraft flying time, and imposing strict fuel consumptions limits on its pilots to avoid repetitive refueling. Ryanair’s human resource policy clearly shows its effort to cut costs. Personnel, both cabin crew and pilots, has a dominant variable component on salary, this is based on hours flown, the same or increased duties relative to other airline employees, training, uniform costs at the employees own expense, and no trade union representation. Despite the inevitable high turnover ratio and disgruntled employees, these policies allow the company to have a very flexible and relatively cheap labor force. Another important cost advantage is in flying to secondary airports; this policy allows the company to dramatically reduce its fees cost. Frequently Ryanair is the only one that carries in these airports, therefore their and all the linked business’ subsistence revolves around the company having a large bargaining power and some government subsides. Ryanair changed the environment of the industry. Before air transportation was perceived like an elite way of travelling, in fact high prices of the tickets pushed people to use substitutes for the short haul routes, such as car and train. Ryanair’s prices changed the people mind, allowing airplanes to be used more often for short vacation on weekends or even daily. Its main competitor is EasyJet, which uses a â€Å"lighter†low cost business model, focusing on different kind of customers such as business travelers, although with lower margins. The two main differences are its use of primary airports, giving more convenience to the customers, and its unionized labor force. Our analysis regarding to the potential recommendation for Ryanair has started from the consideration that its business model has been successful in facing the challenge and we have identified three possible directions. First, Ryanair could enter into the intercontinental market with new routes between Europe and the U.S. This market is characterized by high ticket prices (a minimum of 500â‚ ¬ round trip). Although the company could utilize some of its sources of cost advantage, such as intercontinental point-to-point routes, personnel policy, revenue from supplementary services, its cost advantage is not completely replicable in this context. Indeed it would have to buy new long distance carriers with more capacity. Sacrificing their fleet standardization and intercontinental flights requires high turnover time for refueling, and the possibilities of using secondary airports are limited by legal issues concerning the necessity of opening new borders. Another potential recommendation is to enter the Chinese domestic market which is a fast growing market (forecasting states that it will represent the 23% of the worldwide growth in passenger number in 2010-2020) and the second largest air travel market in the world behind USA. However, there are some current constrains, mainly that airport systems are still in development, with a total number planned to increase from 175 to 270 in 2010-2020, and a relatively restricted middle class, only 10% of the country population although strongly growing. According to the present market environment we believe that this might be the best alternative in 5 to 10 years. We believe that currently the best recommendation is maintain its focus on Europe, increase its market share in countries mainly served by Easyjet, such as Turkey and East Europe. We recommend that Ryanair enter the intercontinental market, characterized by high-ticket prices, with new routes between Europe and the U.S. Ryanair could benefit by utilizing some of its sources of cost advantage. Ryanair could use secondary airports in the U.S. and through its intercontinental, point-to-point, routes focusing on the main tourist and business cities. Its personnel policy could also be applied in this market; by offering low core service prices they could increase their revenue with supplementary services. Ryanair could develop an alliance with Southwester Airlines using the same airport and split their transatlantic flights, thus increasing the passenger volume for both companies in their core business continental flights. Lufthansa Since its inception in 1953, the Lufthansa German Airline has been regarded as a premier airline company that has become the largest airliner in Europe. They have diversified both locally within Europe and globally. Their key strategic efforts have led them to be the founders of the world’s largest airline alliance, Star Alliance. They have diversified into various business segments to include â€Å"passenger airline groups, logistics, MRO, catering and IT services. With this combination of efficient business segments, the airline group has been able to generate more than 30.1 billion euros, the highest revenues compared to other European airlines. Lufthansa’s main strategy is to increase the equity/value of the company, maintain and also improve their exceptional reputation on customer satisfaction, be very robust during economic fluctuations, and maintain profitability. In an industry involving high operational costs; where competitors are increasing moving towards c ost advantage strategies Lufthansa aims to meet their strategic goals through a differentiation advantage that emphasizes customer service, alliances, and its reputation as a premium full-service airline. An important resource for Lufthansa is its extensive fleet. Lufthansa Passenger Airlines has a fleet that currently consists of more than four hundred aircrafts; they also enjoy a first-mover advantage by being the launch customers or early adopters of many different aircrafts. These include acting as a launch customer for Boeing 747-8I in 2006 and being the second to operate the Airbus A380 in 2010. By consistently participating in fleet renewal Lufthansa is able to regularly update to more cost-efficient and more environmentally friendly aircrafts. In July of 2011 a Lufthansa Airbus A321 was used in a six-month bio fuel trial expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1,500 tons in the trial period. Lufthansa’s extensive and modern fleet enable the airline to have extensive global reach, cutting edge aircraft technology to increase efficiency, and environmentally conscious technology to define a new environmental industry standard. This attention to fleet quality ensures that customers have an excellent flying experience that is not hampered by old and inefficient planes. Passengers are also able to enjoy the distinctions accompanied with first, business, and economy class. First class seats convert into a bed and seats in all classes feature personal Audio-Video-On-Demand screens. In addition, attentive staff on all flights generously offers a wide range of complimentary food and beverage. Many terminals include lounges for First Class flyers; Frankfurt Airport even features a First Class Terminal that sports a full-service restaurant, bar, cigar lounge, relaxation rooms, offices, and even bath facilities. 55,236 employees as of 2012 are trained to deliver the highest quality customer service. Lufthansa operates as an upscale airline and is therefore able to charge premium pricing to absorb the costs of providing such exceptional customer service. Despite the higher ticket prices the services and ease of use for customers are incomparable to other airlines and often leads first time passengers to become loyal users. Lufthansa services eighteen domestic destinations and one hundred and ninety seven international ones. Its global reach is one of Lufthans a’s key resources; it allows the company to provide greater and improved service to customers. These resources are greatly supplemented by the abilities of the other activities of the Lufthansa Aviation Group and by their participation in the Star Alliance. The Lufthansa Aviation Group is a parent company made up of the passenger airline business, logistics, maintenance, repair, and overhaul, catering, and IT services. The ability of these sister companies greatly supplement the resources of the passenger airline business. The Star Alliance is another key resource that now operates with twenty-eight partners and services four hundred and ten worldwide destinations. The alliance captures twenty-eight percent of the global market measured by revenue passenger kilometers. Because the frequent flyer program Miles & More is transferable among all members it aids to broaden the scope of Lufthansa’s reach. The alliance makes up the world’s largest airline alliance and is the world’s first multilateral airlines alliance. The abilities of Lufthansa’s othe r alliances would not be possible without OAG, who describe themselves as, â€Å"the most powerful schedule connections analysis tool for modeling flight connections between every airline flight, anywhere.†OAG’s services provide them with current, detailed, and accurate data that enables Lufthansa to drive efficiency and optimize its business processes. The changes Lufthansa makes from this data analysis increase customer satisfaction while reducing costs and increasing revenue. It helps monitor competitor activity, identifies codeshare opportunities, and manages partner schedule synchronization. Due to the timeliness of this data the firm has the capability to quickly react to market changes and counter-attack other competitors’ advantages. Excellent customer service is ensured through the critical connection of this data that enables Lufthansa to continuously improve the customer completion and baggage processing metrics. Lufthansa’s fleet renewal, customer service, terminals, and alliances are scarce resources that are difficult to imitate. The fleet, terminals, and alliance are difficult to imitate because of the sheer size and scale of these resources, whereas its service is costly and would be difficult to incorporate into any firm that does not have the cost structure and capital resources to support it. As the majority of airlines already compete by cost advantage, we feel that Lufthansa would be disadvantaged if they attempted to replicate that strategy. Therefore, we recommend that Lufthansa expand its premium customer service differentiation advantage by partnering with hotels that also provide excellent customer service in areas near its terminals. As Lufthansa’s fliers already value their premium customer service this partnership would ensure that passengers’ luxury experience would not end upon reaching their destination. The range of hotels to partner with will correspond with flight class and frequent flyer status. First Class passengers will have the option to stay in top tier hotels and Economy Classes will have the option to book with upscale hotels that are more price sensitive. The Miles & More program will be expanded so that fliers earn credits by staying with these luxury partner hotels. The hope is that the fliers will have such a wonderful experience with the complementary services that they will express their delight to current hotel customers. As the hotel customers already value premium customer service it is our hope that in the future they will be inclined to book with Lufthansa as they offer such service. The success of this partnership has the potential to result in a revenue sharing agreement, in which Lufthansa will receive a percentage when passengers book with a partner hotel through Lufthansa. Their risk will also be reduced, as they are engaging in a partnership instead of attempting to enter this foreign industry alone. Although this partnership would be Lufthansa’s first non-aviation venture we believe that they will benefit by offering such a complementary service. The goal of this partnership is to connect customers that value upscale customer service with Lufthansa, who enjoys a reputation as an upscale full-service airline, to increase the ir market share; market share that their cost advantage competitors sorely need.
Monday, July 29, 2019
College students should have complete freedom to choose their own Essay
College students should have complete freedom to choose their own courses and create their own curriculums - Essay Example (Robertson & Smith, 1999, p.69) As the system functions today, college students are forced to conform to an educational model that was not designed in their interests. In other words, the existing educational system serves to indoctrinate young minds into obedient servants of the established social order. At the top of the social pyramid are the business and political elites, whose interests are reflected in the design of curricula. Hence, though it might lead to radical social upheavals, allowing greater freedom of choice within college campuses is the right way to go. Let us look at the rationale offered by those against freedom of choice in curricula and identify flaws in their arguments. A prominent advocate for less academic freedom was the sociologist Mortimer Adler, who stated that, left to their own choices, some students â€Å"will ‘downgrade’ their own education; therefore, adults should control these crucial choices so that such downgrading does not occur.†(Noddings, 2006, p.285) This fear is overstated, for college authorities can devise ways of ensuring that certain basic standards are met. Moreover, by what criteria are courses judged good and bad? In other words, the notion of ‘downgrading’ is very subjective. As John Dewey noted in his lectures, â€Å"a course in cooking, well planned and well executed, can induce critical thinking, increase cultural literacy, and provide valuable skills - it can be a "good" course. In contrast, a course in algebra may discourage critical thinking, add nothing to cultural literacy, and lead students to despair of acquiring useful skills - it can be a "bad" course.†(Noddings, 2006, p.285) Considering that John Dewey was the most influential educationist of last century, his views have to be heeded to. The essence of Dewey’s argument is that by there is more merit than what is apparent in courses such as
Sunday, July 28, 2019
The Lloyds Building of London Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words
The Lloyds Building of London - Essay Example These features are made to represent and replace decorative elements for the outer faà §ade. The focus on the mechanical elements is a distinguishing feature of the Modernist movement while its recognition that everything is in a constant state of change, requiring the ability to quickly change out parts, is a characteristic of the Postmodern. Located in the center of London’s financial district and originally intended to serve as headquarters for a large insurance firm, the context of the structure again emphasizes Modern ideals with its focus on monetary, capitalistic values. Yet its design functions to make the building highly flexible, quickly and easily converted into any number of different uses and ready for the addition of any newly developed technology, such as fiber optic internet which wasn’t developed until well after completion, placing it again within the realm of the Postmodern. It is only through a very close examination of the building that one can det ermine the structure is actually more Modern than Postmodern even though it reflects the major attitudes and emphasis of each era. Modern ideas suggest that everything important to human life can be categorically classified into specific categories and definitions. â€Å"Modernity is a project, and not only a period, and it is, or was, a project of control, the rational mastery over nature, the planning, designing and plotting which led and technocracy†(Beilharz, 2001: 6). The basic ideas of Modernism were to analyze the various processes that comprised human existence in the mechanized and standardized world to discover the universal truths that could then be applied to all cultures. Clean lines and clear boundaries were expected to be found that would then be canonized and applied throughout the world as a means of developing a perfect global civilization.
Saturday, July 27, 2019
Whats Holding Back Small Businesses Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Whats Holding Back Small Businesses - Article Example The hardest hit is small businesses due to the small capital base as they are not able to invest in big research projects to propel the business entity forward and continue to maintain their market share or better still increase the market share (Shleifer, 2004). The major challenge according to the article is not related to overregulation or taxation but low demand for business products. Over thirty percent of American small businesses attributed their underperformance mainly to poor sales. However, the research carried out by the National Federation of Independent Business also attributed the underperformance to competition from large businesses, financing and interest rates, insurance cost and availability, red tape, government requirements, cost of labor and quality of labor among others. All these factors are mostly attributed to the global inflation facing the world economy. The debate in the recent past on how to improve growth of small businesses and encouraging hiring has concentrated on transforming the tax picture to be more business-friendly. However, from the research, small businesses attribute underperformance to other factors other than taxes. Only a small percentage, about 17-22%, of the businesses attribute underperformance to the amount of taxes paid to the government. Though the government has imposed hefty taxes on the businesses, the amount paid to the authority as tax has little impacts on the performance of the businesses. Businesses are just tax collection agencies to the government as the amount of money collected from the client is that which is paid as tax. Businesses transfer the tax burden to their clients and thus businesses do not pay taxes but collect tax from their clients on behalf of and later submit their collections to the government. The other factor holding down small businesses is the accessibility of loans to stimulate growth in operations.
Friday, July 26, 2019
See below Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 8
See below - Essay Example It discusses the behaviors portrayed by the corporation. It also discusses and gives suggestions to the ways the corporation has to do to the environment. And finally, the essay gives the most important considerations a corporation has to consider. Having a strong desire for more wealth, possessions and power more than a person’s needs can lead to a person to do things that will harm other people just to satisfy that desire. Being greedy can lead a person to do actions such as sacrificing the safety, happiness and the rights of other people for the sake of satisfying one’s self. Monsanto is a big business that can be found all around the world. It is a corporation that has existed in the year 1901. A 42-year-old, John F. Queeny, whose job is to purchase under the Drug Company of the Meyer brothers started this business. The name was taken from the last name of his wife for the reason that the last name of his wife is well known to other people especially to the Germans that are responsible in supplying goods. During that time, they named their companies using their last names. They had been discovering and manufacturing products in connection to the farms and cattle for fast production that leads them to higher profits. From the very beginning, Monsanto Corporation has been claiming that their main purpose is for the sake of the farmers and for the environment. Their main goal is to help the farmers in every possible way in order to produce more crops. One of their goals is to use as little of the resources such as the soil and water as possible so that these resources will last a long time. But the corporation is the number one violators of their goals. They did the opposite for the sake of higher profits. They torture the farmers for the sake of profits by suing them to court and asked them large amount of money. The amount of money that both parties agreed to pay is not revealed to the public which means that the corporation is only
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Business and Academic Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words
Business and Academic Skills - Essay Example The person working as the Sales Manager in a company is required to have knowledge and skill in application of numerical sets for it helps the manager to forecast the future sales conditions depending on the existing sales situation. The sales manager in turn is required to broadly quantify the different anticipations for the sales in relation to different categories. The customer relationship manager is required to keep large databases of different types of consumers relating to different regions and sectors. Thus effective database management in regards to the purchase behaviour of the consumers along with the different offers set from time to time constitutes an important activity of the customer relationship manager. ... Teamwork also helps the sales manager in gaining effective feedback through which sales strategies can be modified. The customer relationship manager is required to work effectively in a team consisting of the marketing manager and also of the operations manager. Teamwork taught in the business management course helps in maintaining effective coordination between the different departments to achieve the business objective. Self-management The Business Analyst working in an analytical environment needs to manage his own skills by rightly updating them to help find potential business solutions. The skill sets can be better enhanced through enhancing one’s knowledge parameters based on different software that has been developed relating to statistical and mathematical model formulation. Self-management is highly required for a sales manager in regards to encouraging and providing enthusiasm to the workers and sales officers to perform well in a particular territory. Self discipli ne of the sales manager can only help in streamlining and synchronizing the sales operations of the officers working in the different territories. The customer relationship manager is required to manage own set of responsibilities to help satisfy and sustain the different consumer groups for the concern. Thus self-management on our part in meeting established responsibilities is highly required for being a customer relationship manager. Business & Customer Awareness In regards to the parameter for business and customer awareness the person working in a Business Analyst profile is required to understand the analytical requirements from both the market and business perspective and thereby render adequate analysis. Moreover the Business Analyst
Anti-trust behavior of Microsoft Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Anti-trust behavior of Microsoft - Essay Example Further, there were no technical barriers to enter into the market as the product was not developed by using some unique skills or material which were not available to other suppliers in the market. (Chan, The Seattle Times)There are however, certain other conditions to be met if one can completely characterize a firm as a pure monopoly. One of the key characteristics of monopoly market structure is the high barriers to entry either through technological sophistication or through other legal barriers. Further, seller must have the ability to discriminate on price by either reducing the quantity or price in order to sell more. It was the overall quality and ease with which a general consumer can use Microsoft’s operating system which made it the number one choice for the consumers. The price as well as the graphical user interface of the operating system actually made it simpler for the end users to operate the system.Monopolies could be good because they are quick to achie ve the economies of scale and avail lower average variable cost. Low cost therefore could result into the low prices therefore monopolies could be helpful in allowing consumers to enjoy lower prices. For example, Google’s search engine services are offered free of cost despite the fact that Google also has achieved the virtual status of a monopoly in the search engine market. Though Google is a monopoly however, its services are offered free of cost to every user therefore this type of monopoly can be good.
Wednesday, July 24, 2019
Using Your adopt a Business Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words
Using Your adopt a Business - Assignment Example On that note, pre-purchase involve an awareness of the clients such as the products and services they want. Additionally, in sensitization of awareness, the retailer must learn the preferences and tastes of clients and receive a reliable feedback (Jefferson). That aspect brings us to information search. In order to gather a database related to customers, the business retailer should venture in the field and ask questions. Similarly, after information search an evaluation of alternatives and decision concerning purchase is significant. Furthermore, in a service encounter stage, an evaluation of contacts in terms of low and high should be considered. This assists in understanding of the servuction system and implications on service delivery in the business and how it affects clients. Additionally, in the post-purchase stage, a strict analysis of service performance is imperative in order to plan for future intentions. However, in Flower of Service Model there are various dimensions of how the business fits. For example, starting with business core service, payment before any delivery is extended to the customers. Furthermore, in terms of customer satisfaction, when one petal of the flower is broken such as hospitality during service, clients are bound to complain. Therefore, in applying Flower of Service Model, the retailer receives information through consultation from various sources (Mary). In addition, the retailer should consider taking orders earlier to avoid running out of stock. This will involve recording billings of stock and purchases made and profits and losses incurred. Alternatively, in terms of enhancement and facilitation of customer processes, the model, customers need to given relevant information connected to commodities and services offered by the retailer. Additionally, information should cover issues of sales, product change, warnings and reminders among others. There are numerous
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
What does Intel's presentation of their financial information tell you Essay - 1
What does Intel's presentation of their financial information tell you about how they use financial information in decision making - Essay Example The information technology industry in 2006 generated approximately $3 trillion, a figure that is expected to increase to $4 trillion by 2009 (Plunkett Research, 2008). Such a profitable market attracts many new firms into a very competitive industry with thousands of companies competing for market share. Countries such as India have created economic models for growth based on the exporting of information technology into markets such as the US, Europe and Canada. It is very in this industry for a company to generate revenues based on a projects which represents revenue generating contracts of IT services. The Ansoff matrix is a strategic marketing tool which could very useful for IT managers. The first payoff of the matrix position (1,1) is know as a market penetration strategy. The market penetration strategy is a strategic move to seek greater market share of an existing product a firm offers. In the 1990’s the IT firm which was the most successful at achieving market penetr ation in its main product offering was Microsoft Corporation which was able to achieve a market penetration of above 90% for a prolonged period of time. The market penetration strategy can be exploited by the IT manager in companies whose product offering is above the competition offering, the company has many competitive advantages over the rest of the players in the industry including good economic resources to pay for the high advertising expenses and other marketing initiatives required to successfully implement a market penetration strategy. The second position of the Ansoff Matrix (1,2) is called product development. This strategy is based on an IT manager developing a product in an existing market. Such a strategy can be extremely profitable. Microsoft Corporation is currently in the last stages of product development for a new product called IPTV which is broadcasting channels similar to those
Monday, July 22, 2019
Does the UN hold relevance in today’s world Essay Example for Free
Does the UN hold relevance in today’s world Essay After the failure of League of Nations, the necessity of an international organization of wider character was felt. This need was fulfilled with the creation of UN in 1945. It had the responsibility to maintain international peace and promote cooperation in solving international economic, social and humanitarian problems. The UN has completed fifty seven years and apparently seems to be more assertive, confident and visible, both in its approach and actions. The recent manifestations of this confidence have been its interventions in Kuwait, Somalia, Angola, Rwanda, Zaire and Afghanistan Apart from few highlights the UN has always been in question for its power to handle the disturbing issues around the world. The founders of the UN had envisaged that the organization would act to prevent conflicts between nations and make future wars impossible, however the outbreak of the Cold War made peacekeeping agreements extremely difficult because of the division of the world into hostile camps. The UN has also drawn criticism for perceived failures. In many cases, member states have shown reluctance to achieve or enforce Security Council resolutions, an issue that stems from the UNs intergovernmental natureâ€â€seen by some as simply an association of 192 member states who must reach consensus, not an independent organization Looking at the past it can be said that UN has failed in serious issues but nevertheless it has made progress toward world cooperation and has adapted to changing circumstances that were not dreamed of by its founders.
Sunday, July 21, 2019
Agile methodology
Agile methodology Agile methodology is an approach to project management, typically used in software development. It refers to a group of software development methodologies based on iterative development. Requirements and solutions evolve through cooperation between self-organizing cross-functional teams, without concern for any hierarchy or team member roles. It promotes teamwork, collaboration, and process adaptability throughout the project life-cycle with increased face-to-face communication and reduced amount of written documentation. Agile methods break tasks into small increments with no direct long term planning. Every aspect of development is continually revisited throughout the lifecycle of project by way of iterations (also called sprints). Iterations are short time frames (timeboxes) that normally last 1-4 weeks. This inspect-and-adapt approach significantly reduces both development costs and time to market. Each iteration involves working through a complete software development cycle characterized by planning, requirements analysis, design, coding, unit testing, and acceptance testing. This helps minimize overall risk, and quicker project adaptability. While iteration may not have enough functionality necessary for a market release, aim is to be ready with a release (with minimal bugs) at the end of each iteration. Typically, the team size is small (5-9 people) to enable easier communication and collaboration. Multiple teams may be required for larger developmental efforts which may also require a coordination of priorities across teams. Agile methods emphasize more face-to-face communication than written documents when the team is in the same location. However, when a team works at different locations, daily contact is maintained through videoconferencing, e-mail, etc. The progress made in terms of the work done today, work scheduled for tomorrow and the possible roadblocks are discussed among the team members in brief sessions at the end of the each working day. Besides, agile developmental efforts are supervised by a customer representative to ensure alignment between customer needs and company goals. Software Development was initially based on coding and fixing. That worked well for smaller software, but as the size and complexities of software grew a need for a proper process was felt because the debugging and testing of such software became extremely difficult. This gave birth to the Engineering Methodologies. The methodologies became highly successful since it structured the software development process. One of the most popular models that emerged was the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) that developed information systems in a very methodical manner. Waterfall method is one of the most popular examples of Engineering or the SDLC methodology. A paper published by Winston Royce in 1970 introduced it as an idea. It was derived from the hardware manufacture and construction strategies that were in practice during the 1970s. The relationship of each stage to the others can be roughly described as a waterfall, where the outputs from a specific stage serve as the initial inputs for the following stage. During each stage, additional information is gathered or developed, combined with the inputs, and used to produce the stage deliverables. It is important to note that the additional information is restricted in scope; new ideas that would take the project in directions not anticipated by the initial set of high-level requirements are not incorporated into the project. Rather, ideas for new capabilities or features that are out-of-scope are preserved for later consideration. Agile Methodology: Engineering methodologies required a lot of documentation thereby causing the pace of development to slow down considerably. Agile Methodologies evolved in the 1990s to significantly eliminate this bureaucratic nature of engineering methodology. It was part of developers reaction against heavyweight methods, who desired to drift away from traditional structured, bureaucratic approaches to software development and move towards more flexible development styles. They were called the Agile or Light Weight methods and were defined in 1974 by Edmonds in a research paper. Some of the most popular agile methods that subsequently evolved were Scrum in 1995, Extreme Programming in 1996, Adaptive Software Development, Dynamic Systems Development Method and Feature Driven Development. In 2001, a team of 17 pioneers in agile software development coined the terms Agile Software development and agile methods. An Agile Manifesto was declared that was regarded as a set of canonical rules for agile software development methods and accompanying principles. Similarly, some of these people formed The Agile Alliance, a non-profit organization that promotes agile development. Extreme Programming: One of the several popular agile processes which stresses on customer satisfaction is Extreme programming. It improves a software project by focusing on communication, feedback, simplicity, courage and respect. Empowerment of the developers ensures speedier responses to changing customer requirements. Teamwork and collaboration is an integral part of extreme programming that improves the productivity and efficiency of the problem solving approach. Comparing Agile With Waterfall Model; Agile methodology can be compared and contrasted with traditional Waterfall model under the following heads. Conceptual Difference: Sequential Vs Iterative: Waterfall method is a sequential process of software development. Similar to a waterfall, the development team in such a model proceeds to the next stage of development once the first step is entirely accomplished. The waterfall model phases of software development are: requirement specification, conception, analysis, design, coding, testing debugging, installation and finally maintenance. A good amount of time is spent in each stage of development, till all requirements are met. Compared to this set-in-stone approach of waterfall models, the agile models focus on adaptability and agility during development. As an alternative to one rigid development schedule, agile models involve multiple iterative development schedules. Each iteration goes through the entire steps of design, coding and testing. A closely-knit, cross functional and self-organizing team structure exists. Documentation: Substantial Vs Minimal: While emphasis is placed on documentation at every stage of software development in a waterfall model, agile methodology emphasizes increased face-to-face communication and reduced documentation. Suitability: Predictive Vs Adaptive: While waterfall model is suitable for development of stable programs, agile methodology is best suited for web based applications because of its iterative nature that helps in incorporating correcting the different bugs that arise over time. Nature: Process oriented Vs People oriented: Waterfall Methodology is Process-oriented as it focuses on pre-planning of processes in great detail and subsequently coming up with a defined overall process to be used by whosoever uses it. Agile Methodologies on the other hand are People-oriented as they believe process definition is not an independent thing and the development of software relies heavily on the skills of the development team rather than on defined processes. Agile Methodologies use processes only to support the development team in doing their work more effectively and efficiently. Process never takes a lead in agile methodologies. Efficiency: Low Vs High: Efficiency is determined by the quality of software product, the lead development time and the number of bugs. Due to the adaptability of agile methods and the rigid development cycle of waterfall model, agile methods can incorporate changes and release products in lesser time. http://www.extremeprogramming.org/. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/waterfall-model-vs-agile.html.
Analysis of the Doppler Effect
Analysis of the Doppler Effect Assignment 3: topics and themes in physics- oscillations and waves Doppler radar A Doppler radar is specialized radar that uses the Doppler Effect to produce data about an objects velocity at a given distance. Doppler radar works by bouncing microwave signals at the desired target and then listening to its reflection, then the returning frequency is analysed to see how it has changed from the original signal. This variation gives direct and highly accurate measurements of the radial component of a targets velocity relative to the radar. The Doppler effect (or Doppler shift), named after the famed Austrian physicist Christian Doppler who proposed it in 1842 and is the difference between the observed frequency and the emitted frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the waves. It is commonly heard when a vehicle sounding a siren approaches, passes and dulls from an observer perspective. When a wave with angular frequency É and phase velocity c propagates in a medium, an observer moving with velocity v parallel to c experiences a shifted frequency É1 = É (1 − v/c) (1). They do not depend on the relative velocity as other circumstances do occur. Electromagnetic waves share with sound the same property which is propagation velocity. It is independent of the motion of the source . Einstein formulated his extended principle of relativity stated that all physical and electromagnetic forces should depend on relative velocities. From this he created Lorentz transformation. Sound vs. Light There are three differences between acoustical (sound) and optical (light) Doppler effects: The optical frequency change is not dependent on which is moving the source or observer either is it affected by the medium through which the waves are moving, but acoustical frequency is affected by these things. Optical frequency changes are affected if the source or observer moves at right angles to the line connecting the source and observer. Observed acoustical changes are not affected in such a situation. Applications of the Doppler phenomenon include the Doppler radar and the measurement by astronomers of the motion and direction of celestial bodies. Light itself travels at 186,000miles a second (, but unlike sound light doesn’t need to travel through a medium. Whereas sound cannot be transmitted into space light can be in the form of radiation and also a form of energy that is put through a vacuum. The Doppler effect of light is more commonly known as the relativistic Doppler Effect. The Doppler Effect In Astronomy In astronomy, the Doppler Effect was originally studied in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Today we can the see the use of the Doppler shift(Doppler effect) applies to all parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Also, because of the inverse relationship between frequency and wavelength, we can describe the Doppler shift in terms of wavelength. Radiation is red shifted when its wavelength increases, and is blue shifted when its wavelength decreases. Astronomers use Doppler shifts to calculate very accurately at what rate stars and other astronomical objects are moving towards or away from Earth. For example the spectral lines emitted by hydrogen gas in distant galaxies is often observed to be considerably red shifted. The spectral line emission, normally found at a wavelength of 21 centimetres on Earth, might be observed at 21.1 centimetres instead. This 0.1 centimetre redshift would indicate that the gas is moving away from Earth at over 1,400 kilometres per second (over 880 miles per second). The red shift As an object moves further away from an observer the light waves emitted are affected by the Doppler Effect. In 1923, American astronomer and physicist Edwin Hubble (1889-1953) observed that the light waves from distant galaxies were shifted so much to the red end of the light spectrum that they must be moving away from the Milky Way, the galaxy in which Earth is located, at a high rate.(10) After these finding he then furthered his studies and came up with a mathematical formula in which he could determine how far away and at what rate they were moving away from the galaxy and how far towards the red shift. This formula is known as Hubble’s constant. From this a lot of other astronomers have come together and came up with the theory that the universe emerged instantly in a sort of bang, therefore coming amount the big bang theory. My research of galaxies the sun itself contains helium. This is proven as on the spectrum scale there are black lines in which the sun has absorbed light through the helium The Doppler Effect in aerospace Sonic booms, usually produced by airplanes passing through the sound barrier, are another example of the Doppler Effect. As a plane approaches the sound barrier the sound waves become increasingly compressed at the front of the plane. Pilots have also reported that they feel noticeable wall or barrier as they approach the speed of sound, and this is due to this intense compression of the sound waves. When the plane reaches the speed of sound, and passes through, it is said to go supersonic. There have been high speed photos taken of high velocity objects such as planes and bullets approaching, then breaking through the sound barrier. In these, the compression of the sound waves are clearly shown in the front, with the concomitant lengthening at the rear, just as would be expected by the Doppler Effect. Doppler Navigation System uses the Doppler effect to measure an aircrafts ground speed and heading. The Doppler radar functions by continuous measurement of Doppler shift and converting the measured values to groundspeed and drift angle. In early systems the aircrafts departure point was loaded into a navigation computer, which then converted the aircrafts heading and Doppler ground speed/drift inputs into a continuous display of aircraft position; this was then displayed as latitude and longitude, and/ or as distance to go along track and position left or right of track, in nautical miles. Aircraft navigation systems such as these are very important because they are key in getting the aircraft from one location to another safely. Doppler navigation is also one of the systems that air traffic controllers use, its allows then to see an aircraft’s exact heading, air speed and altitude. This allows the aircraft controller to give keep aircraft in clear and uncongested air which s ignificantly reduces the chances of in air collisions. DOPPLER RADAR The police also utilise the Doppler Effect in the form of Doppler radar to calculate the speed of passing car and to check whether they are obeying the speed limits. This technology is not only used by the police but also by meteorologists. The change in frequency experienced as a result of the Doppler effect is exactly twice the ratio between the velocity of the target (for instance, a speeding car) and the speed with which the radar pulse is directed toward the target. From this formula, it is possible to determine the velocity of the target when the frequency change and speed of radar propagation are known. The police officers Doppler radar performs these calculations; then all the officer has to do is pull over the speeder and write a ticket. The development in Doppler radar has also helped to helped to eliminate aviation crashes associated with microburst. A microburst is a very localized column of sinking air caused by a small and intense downdraft within a thunderstorm. The crash Delta Air Lines Flight 191 , which a microburst was the primary cause for the crash of the Lockheed L1011 Tri-Star was key factor in the push for developing microburst detection system. As a result of the crash, planes are now fitted with Doppler radar as standard. It allows pilots to prepare for microburst and allows then to increase power to the engines to stop the plane from crashing. The Doppler radar system of the plane is usually located in the planes ray dome. Meteorology Meteorologists use Doppler radar to track the movement of storm by detecting the direction and velocity of raindrops or hail, for instance, Doppler radar can be used to determine the motion of winds and, thus, to predict weather patterns that will follow in the next minutes or hours. But Doppler radar can do more than simply detect a storm in progress: Doppler technology also aids meteorologists by interpreting wind direction, as an indicator of incoming storms. Meteorologists use a similar principle to read weather events. In this case, the stationary transmitter is located in a weather station and the moving object being studied is a storm system. This is what happens: Radio waves are emitted from a weather station at very specific frequency. The waves are large enough to interact with clouds and other atmospheric objects. The waves strike objects and bounce back toward the station. If the clouds or precipitation are moving away from the station, the frequency of the waves reflected back decreases. If the clouds or precipitation are moving toward the station, the frequency of the waves reflected back increases. Computers in the radar electronically convert Doppler shift data about the reflected radio waves into more useful pictures which show wind speeds and direction. Doppler radars are also a lot more sensitive to movement of targets in general, whether they are moving towards or away from the radar site which things such as birds, insects, or just clouds when they are operated in certain modes. Doppler radars measure a targets velocity, which both is the speed of movement the direction that its moving. These types of radars allow meteorologists to see a lot of the in detail movements that go on inside thunderstorms, this then allows the meteorologists to predict how those thunderstorms will behave in the future. Doppler Echocardiogram A traditional echocardiogram uses sound waves to produce fairly accurate images of the heart. In this procedure, a radiologist uses a transducer to transmit and receive ultrasound waves, which are reflected when they reach the edge of two structures with different densities. The image produced by an echocardiogram shows the edges of heart structures, but the down side it cannot measure the speed of blood flow as it makes its way through the heart. In a Doppler echocardiogram, sound waves of a certain frequency are transmitted into the heart. The sound waves bounce off blood cells moving through the heart and blood vessels. The movement of these cells, either toward or away from the transmitted waves which then results in a frequency shift that can be measured. This helps cardiologists determine the speed and direction of blood flow in the heart which is the most significant difference between the traditional echocardiogram and a Doppler echocardiogram. Transverse and longitudinal waves A transverse wave is a moving wave that consists of oscillations occurring at right angles to the direction of energy transfer. If a transverse wave is moving in the positive x-direction, its oscillations are in up and down directions that lie in the y–z plane. For transverse waves in matter the displacement of the medium is at 90 degrees to the direction of propagation of the wave. A ripple in a pond and a wave on a string are easily visualized forms of transverse waves. Examples of transverse waves include S (secondary) waves, and the motion of the electric (E) and magnetic (M) fields in an electromagnetic plane wave, which both oscillate perpendicularly to each other as well as to the direction of energy transfer. Conclusion In conclusion this reports through my many hours of research, talks in detail about the history and the useful applications of it. Aircraft and aerospace engineering as they use Doppler radar is a very interesting and a wide range of applications and I have toughly enjoyed researching about it especially since these are topic areas which i am particularly interested and other practical uses with the speed guns used in the police force and also the sirens on the motor vehicles. The application of the Doppler Effect and its applications in aerospace are a very interesting subject and something which i very much look forward to looking and working on in am going into university.
Saturday, July 20, 2019
Analyzing Spartacus Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Essay -- Post-trau
The character I have chosen to analyze having post traumatic stress disorder is Spartacus, who is played by Andy Whitfield on the hit series Spartacus Blood and Sand on Starz. Spartacus Blood and Sand is directed by Grady Hall and Rick Jacobson. Spartacus is a Thracian solider who was punished for his betrayal against the Roman Commander Legatus Claudius Glaber, played by Craig Parker. Spartacus was to be executed in the gladiatorial games and his wife Sura, played by Erin Cummings, was to be sold as a slave. However, Spartacus successfully defended his life by killing four-top notched gladiators in the arena. After his victory he was bought by Baticitus, played by John Hannah. Spartacus was to be a slave trained to be a gladiator in Baticitus’ ludus. When Spartacus began bringing great fortune from his winnings and social advancement to Baticitus’ ludus, he was promised to be reunited with his wife, Sura. After Spartacus became champion of Capua and being undef eated, he came to the realization that Baticitus was not going to keep his promise of reuniting him with his wife because too many victories had passed. Spartacus later found out in a recurrent flashback and current images that Baticitus had Spartacus’ wife Sura, killed. An analysis of Spartacus’ behavior of nightmares, insomnia, and haunting memories reveals that Spartacus has post traumatic stress disorder. The first behavior which proves Spartacus has post traumatic stress disorder is the nightmare of not being reunited with his wife. Most of his nightmares were of his wife being by his side during these trials and she would give him advice on how to survive and them being reunited again. His nightmares seemed to be prophesy or warnings of what would happen ... ... have a person feeling so overwhelmed, burnout, and overworked that they will â€Æ' PSTD treatments range from intricate psychobiologic features make therapy difficult. The three arms of treatment are patient education, pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy (Cabaltica, 2000). Pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy have been shown to alleviate the three clusters of PTSD symptoms: reexperiencing, avoidance and hypervigilance (Cabaltica, 2000). Works Cited Cabaltica, R, Lange C, Lange J. AAFP.org. American Academy of Family Physicians. September 1, 2000. Mayo Clinic Staff. Mayo Clinic.com. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. April 10, 2009. Myers David. Exploring Psychology 7th Edition. Worth, 2008. Print
Friday, July 19, 2019
Surrogate Motherhood Essay -- essays research papers
Surrogate motherhood refers to that condition of a fertile (footnote) woman who has been contracted to become impregnated via reproductive technologies such as donor or artificial insemination. It is that condition wherein that fertile woman also has agreed to transfer her rights on the child to the biological parents after giving birth. This is bounded by a contract that was signed by the contracting parents and the surrogate. The reasons for this generally fall into two categories. Either the contracting couple is unable to produce a child or they would prefer to eliminate or enhance certain genetic traits. My argument would apply to either case. For the purpose of this paper, the motivations are irrelevant and the logic following applies to both. The possibility of surrogacy has gotten people into quite a tizzy with furious debates concerning issues such as the commedification of a woman’s reproductive organs, the physiological & psychological harm, and its social impa cts on a religious definition of marriage. I will defend the claim that surrogacy is an immoral action which places a socially constructed and therefore arbitrary value on the natural phenomenon of human reproduction, the implications of viewing the natural in terms of the artificial can be seen through the increase psychological and health risks of the women that contract. Prior to discussing the ethical issues, I must discuss the scientific process involved. There are actually various types of reproductive technologies women can undergo. These would include, as mentioned earlier, donor or artificial insemination, assisted hatching, in vitro fertilization, gametra fallopian transfer, zygote intrafallopian transfer, intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo micromanipulation. These are actually the technologies employed in the process of surrogacy (Hinman, 2001). Surrogacy or surrogate motherhood, like reproductive technologies, can be further classified as gestational surrogacy, traditional surrogacy, and egg donation. Gestational surrogacy, as defined by various references, would refer to the surrogacy condition wherein there in absolutely no genetic link between the child and the carrier. This may be in the form of the following (Canadian Surrogacy Options, Inc.) Traditional surrogacy, on the other hand, would refer to the surrogacy condition wherein ... ...definition of Motherhood†. The Journal of Philosophy, Science and Law. February 2002, vol. 2. Lecture Notes in Business Ethics. 2004 McDowell, Janet Dickey. â€Å"The Procreations Ethics Series: Surrogate Motherhood.†The Journal of Lutheran Ethics. http://www.elca.org./jle/alc_lca.procreation_ethics_surrogate_motherhood.html O'Neill, Terry (ed.). Biomedical Ethics: Opposing Viewpoints. Greenhaven Press, Inc., San Diego CA,  © 1994. pp. 185-196. Ragone, Helen. 1994. Chasing the blood tie: Surrogate mothers, adoptive mothers and fathers. American Ethnologist. Richardson, Herbert. On the Problem of Surrogate Parenthood: Analyzing the Baby M Case. 1987. Squire, Susan. "Whatever Happened to Baby M?" Redbook, January 1994. Whitehead, Mary Beth, with Loretta Schwartz-Nobel. A Mother's Story: The Truth About the Baby M Case. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989. Surrogate Motherhood. < http://www.debatabase.org/details.asp?topicID=93 > Surrogate Mothers. Types of Surrogacy. The Canadian Surrogacy Options, Inc. http://www.canadiansurrogacyoptions.com/SurrogacyTypes.asp The Case of Baby M: 1988. Women's Rights on Trial, 1st Ed., Gale, 1997, p.312.
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