Free Compare and Contrast Essay Samples Tips & Guide

Free Compare and Contrast Essay Samples Tips & Guide It's possible to just buy compare and contrast essay on the website. The computer software may be used as additional essay help. The topic for a compare and contrast essay will probably be set by the topic or course a student is enrolled. After the essay requires a large number of approaches to explore, it's important to understand how to organize it correctly in an attempt to make sure easy reading. Much like descriptive essay examples and other sorts of academic essays, a comparative essay can be produced in various ways. Writing a great essay might be a bit of cake if you're feeling inspired. The Appeal of Free Compare and Contrast Essay Samples High school is quite a structured atmosphere. Students could be requested to compose essays in practically every region of study. They can typically understand the structure with just a short amount of instruction. They lead busy lives and often forget about an upcoming deadline. Our life is about comparing, so when we, for instance, face a selection of purchasing apples or pears, our decision will likely be influenced by numerous factors. If one looks at women and men from a physiological perspective, merely as an assortment of living matter, it is rather easy to discover the differences. Nonetheless, the key foundations for both types of therapy are similar. When it has to do with disease, women and men vary in their degree of susceptibility. It's common to be assigned to compose essays in every area of study, not just when taking a composition program. Without close examination, both models of counselling may look like completely contrary techniques. In that case, make certain you are evaluating each side fairly. Structuring a compare and contrast essay is a complicated undertaking, especially in case you have several points to contemplate, but we advise you to select an appropriate organization based on your ideas. Free Compare and Contrast Essay Samples - the Conspiracy By taking into account both your targets and your own personal taste, it is going to be easy that you determine which kind of school is best for you. Therefore, without the appropriate guidance, young women and men wind up destroying their fruitful lives. You're given the freedom to not just pick compare and contrast topics all on your own, but you need the freedom to decide on the side of your support in addition to how to contrast it. Here's What I Know About Free Compare and Contrast Essay Samples The thesis of your compare and contrast essay is essential as it assists you to make a focused argument and provide your readers a road map so they don't get lost in the ocean of points that you are just about to make. You may also order a fully written compare and contrast essay and alleviate the quantity of work you must do. For example if you're comparing or contrasting orcas and dolphins you'll be able to observe that both are cetaceous and dwell in water. Your capacity to create a fantastic paper is dependent on structuring an ideal outline. Top Choices of Free Compare and Contrast Essay Samples So as to continue to kee p your essay informative and engaging, you will want to source for factual information which not only impresses the reader but also teaches them something they might not have already known. There are many sources from where it is possible to gather information on your subjects but make certain you always go with facts. Simply take the subject that you're really excited about, as it can help you collect as much details on it as possible. To collect such info, a detailed principal research is necessary. This paper will talk about the similarities and differences between women and men employing physiological, psychological and societal criteria. Before you commence writing, you desire a very clear collection of points for comparing and contrasting. Some essays might only speak about similarities, though others might only speak about differences. A superior compare-and-contrast essay goes beyond a very simple listing of similarities and differences to earn a meaningful statement about a bigger topic. If You Read Nothing Else Today, Read This Report on Free Compare and Contrast Essay Samples A thriving paper always has a fantastic title. You also know how to discover sources and the ideal kind to utilize in your paper to allow it to be relevant and interesting. When it can be simpler to write on a well-known topic, with a little bit of research and organization, a writer can make an essay on a number of subject areas if assigned. A Startling Fact about Free Compare and Contrast Essay Samples Uncovered You can receive some interesting information on the topic you're writing about. You may also choose a single topic at this time and begin practicing. Following that, you can't locate a perfect topic. In the event the topic you're working with is exciting for you, we're sure it is completely simple to work with this. You have to research the selected topic and discover facts to contradict your primary thesis. Before you begin, it's essential to choose topics which you really know well. It's needless to mention your topics ought to be precise and on point. A number of the essay topics below may appear to contain subjects that don't have anything in common.

Diabetes Mellitus Affects Over 20 Million People - 1305 Words

â€Å"Diabetes Mellitus affects over 20 million people in the United States, although approximately 25% of those are underdiagnosed with the condition. More than 50 million people have what is called â€Å"prediabetes,† a condition in which they have a blood glucose higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus, and 35,000 people die from it each year. Diabetes Mellitus is classified into several categories† (Sommers). Diabetes can be summarized as simply as a lifetime condition of high blood sugar levels. However, it is more complex than that. People with diabetes face many symptoms such as constant thirst and hunger. Also, often time’s diabetics will gain or lose a noticeable amount of weight. Along with that,†¦show more content†¦Diabetes is most often caused by heredity, more specially chromosome six, however obesity, acute tension, other disorders can put a person at a greater risk. If diabetes continues to go on not treated it can lead to death. According to Watkins, in ABC of Diabetes, someone with diabetes should, â€Å"Use complex carbohydrates as the main energy source rather than fat or protein, while, avoiding filling up with fatty foods such as cheese or meat containing high saturated fat levels, along with eating fish, especially oily fish. Also, use olive oil in cooking, and always keep sugar to a minimum.† (p.40) There are three main types of diabetes known as Type 1, Type 2, and Gestation diabetes. However, they all have one thing in common, if a person’s body does not break down sugars and carbohydrates into glucose, then the cells will not be able to take insulin and use it at energy. In some cases a person’s body may even produce the insulin, but reasons unknown cannot use the insulin. The least common type of diabetes is known as Type 1. â€Å"The classic symptoms of diabetes emerge when approximately 90% of the ÃŽ ² cells in the islets have been destroyed. Although characteristically such symptoms have a relatively sudden onset, the initiating pathophysiological process leading to the clinical emergence of type 1 diabetes may occur over a prolonged period of time†(Scobie). It affects mostly children and adolescents. It is more commonly known for the

Change Management

Question: What is the process of change management? Explain. Answer: The process of change management is the sequence of activities that a project leader or a team of change management follows. It is done for applying change management to an organization in order for driving individual transitions and ensuring that the organizational project meets the intended outcomes. If the change process serves the purpose and objectives of the organization in order to achieve prosperity and success then it can be stated that the change process is successful. The change process can be in the organizational culture, structure and nature of work (Pollack and Pollack 2015). If that change process succeeds to be efficient and effective for the benefit across the organization then it can be agreed and supported. Feedback is the information regarding the reactions to a persons performance that is used as a basis for the improvement (Horowitz 2013). From the information accumulated from the feedback of organizational employees and the management professionals, the HR dep artment can identify what are the drawbacks in the HR policies regarding salary, promotion, rewards, leave regulations, employee probationary period etc. They can make the necessary changes accordingly to ensure more flexibility in HR delivery.Personal behavior is a strong determinant in the delivery of an employees overall performance in an organization. If an employee maintains ethical standards in his personal behavior while working in an organization then it creates a good impression on the managements mind regarding him (Staub 2013). If it is been noticed that the organization is working consistently maintaining the values and ethics and their employees are not involved in any sort of evil practices, then it can be ensured that the employees personal behavior is consistently ethical and it has reflected the organizational values. The code of conduct is a rule set that outlines the social norms and responsibilities for an individual or organization (Conduct 2012). A dedicated team of professional experts should be assigned the responsibilities to check whether obeying the code of conduct such as minimizing harm, enhancing professional relationships, showing loyalty, acting fairly, acting independently are been practiced throughout the organization. If such code of conduct is maintained throughout the organization, it can be observed through the help of those experts.It should also be ensured that those codes of conduct are included in the companys HR policies so that the employees become bound to maintain them. The code of conducts expectations includes maintaining values and ethical behavior in the organization (Oderanti and De Wilde 2012). Therefore, if maintaining values and ethics are made mandatory in the organization as per the HR policies, it will imply that the code of conducts expectations is incorpor ated in the companys HR practices.In case of financial year ending, when the employees of an organization get monetary increments, promotions, annual incentives and other rewards, a strict level of confidentiality is maintained regarding those information in the organizations HR department. That information is maintained in a secured database so that no other person in the organization can access it (Rashidi-Tabrizi, Mussbacher and Amyot 2013). The requirement of the confidentiality is to avoid any chaotic situation among the people regarding their monetary payments. In case of negotiations of wage with the workers and labor union in an organizations factory, a prompt dealing of the unethical behavior is required. It has been seen that if the demands of the labor union of the workers are not been fulfilled then they go for strike or lock outs in the factory. They dont behave in an ethical manner to their superiors and make a continuous raise of voice (Oderanti and De Wilde 2012). In such situation that tends to be going out of control, should be dealt properly by sitting in a meeting with them and making a negotiation in order to create a trade-off between them and the management principles. It should be ensured that all the employees of a particular organization should be undergone through a rigorous training on the HR policies of an organization. Those HR policies will be based on values and ethics. Therefore, ethical behavior will be a prime concern of the training (Budhwar and Debrah 2013). It will make all the persons responsible to maintain ethical standards in their behavior while working in the organization. The legal and compliance requirements that apply to manage the HR resources are maintaining standards for wages and hours, health benefits, safety, retirement, working conditions, workers compensations, employee rights, record keeping, reporting and the penalties for non-compliance, family and medical leave and employer notice prior to termination (App, Merk and Buttgen 2012).The legal and compliance requirements that apply to manage the HR resources are maintaining standards for wages and hours, health benefits, safety, retirement, working conditions, workers compensations, employee rights, record keeping, reporting and the penalties for non-compliance, family and medical leave and employer notice prior to termination (Rao 2014).Performance management is the systematic method through which a particular agency makes an involvement of its employees as the members and individuals of a particular group (Van Dooren, Bouckaert and Halligan 2015). The method is applied to improve the effectiveness of the organization to accomplish the goals and mission of the agency.The contract management is the method to manage the contract creation, execution and analysis for maximizing the financial and operational performance in an organization (Khan and Khan 2013). The process is done keeping the financial risk reduced. Therefore, contract ma nagement is managing the contracts done with the vendors, customers, partners or employees of an organization. National Camper Trailers Pty. Ltd. has a business objective of maximization of their profits and minimization of costs. The two options presented for staffing levels required for next 5 years in each department are as follows,Hiring quality professionals for each and every department who have ample experience in their respective domain. Those professionals will have a quality contribution towards the departments with which they are associated. Motivating the existing team members to perform better and eliminating those members who stay unproductive (De Waal 2013). This option complies with the policies, business goals and legislative requirements of National Camper Trailers Pty. Ltd.Hiring fresher employees on contractual and temporary basis to perform the daily operational activities in the lower level. The external business environment of a particular company is normally determined by the market situation and the competitors. If the market situation is unfavorable resulting to financial loss of NCT then it makes difficult for the company to bear the cost of manpower (Goetsch and Davis 2014). In such situation, the company will terminate those employees whom they consider being unproductive and whose contributions are minimum. In case, if there are ample opportunities in the market for prospering the business, then the HR department of the company will recruit new professionals for implementing the companys new business venture (App, Merk and Buttgen 2012). NCT has imposed the HR policies and procedures on diversity to make their manpower to be flexible. The company has aimed to resolve the issue regarding continued high turnover in the Assembly and Fit Out Department. In the latest report, they have prioritized the issues stating that the staffs are not fully aware of their responsibilities, no exit interviews were conducted, good performance were n ot rewarded, poor performance was not managed, diversity policies were not properly understood (Armstrong and Taylor 2014). The management has requested that a performance assessment system is required to be implemented with measurable key performance indicators and annual recognition. NCT also required a resource planning and position descriptions at every levels along with appropriate workplace procedures complying with legislative requirements which include safe and respectful work place (Ulrich 2013). The recommendations in respect to staffing levels over the next 5 years are as follows, Expert employees should be recruited who will be able to resolve the critical issues of the company. Proper job training would be given to the employees so that they become aware of their responsibilities (Berman et al. 2015). Rewarding of good performance and management of poor performance should be done.From the options that are been developed, the most suitable option is the Option 1 which s tates hiring quality professionals having notable experience for various departments of NCT (Allen, Ericksen and Collins 2013). Through hiring these quality professionals who have a good level of concept in their respective domain, an initial grooming should be done so that they can adjust in less time in the environment of NCT where they have been involved.The development of the strategy and action plans for the delivery of human resources over the next 5 years will be in such manner that it will have a positive effect on the sales that has declined in the recent years (Bratton and Gold 2012). It will also minimize the production and operating cost in order to enhance the profit margin.Roles and responsibilities of the HR team, senior / line managers and external contractorsThe HR team will have a significant role in the development of the strategy and action plans. NCT has previously suffered from employees who have lack of knowledge regarding the work they are doing (Lengnick-Hal l, Lengnick-Hall and Rigsbee 2013). There were no such proper reward facilities for good performance of the employees. There was also an issue related to lack of management of poor performance. The HR team is now dedicated to fix the issues with improved reward system for the performing employees. They are also in the development to provide compensation facilities and safety for the employees at their workplace (Bamberger, Biron and Meshoulam 2014). They will develop a performance assessment chart with definite Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for evaluating the employees contributions. Moreover, they will recruit the quality professionals who have ample expertise in their respective domain. Those professionals will later lead a whole team to provide a high quality services. Such excellence can be shown in any department, be it the Manufacturing or Finance or Sales and Marketing (Kehoe and Wright 2013). The HR team will also ensure that the professional code of conduct will be stric tly followed in the organization which will create a good environment to work. All the code of conduct will be follow ethical standards.The senior or line managers of NCT will motivate their team members so that they can contribute by giving their best performance in Manufacturing, Assembly and Fit Out, Finance and Administration, HR and WHS, Sales and Marketing (Buller and McEvoy 2012). The line manager of Assembly and Fit Out, Mr. Michael has noticed increased number of employee turnover in the recent years which was quite unexpected. He, therefore, has to take extra initiatives to motivate his team members towards their work so that they have the interest to stay connected with their work. Quality workers should be hired in the Assembly and Fit Out department so that they can make a positive effect in the existing ones in order to boost up their work standard (Flamholtz 2012). The Factory and Manufacturing Manager, Mr. Bill should concentrate on more production whereas Sheryl sho uld make more innovative ideas to refine the Finance and Administrative tasks (Rao 2014). Heather, the line manager of HR WHS should provide directions to her team so that the companys employees make a formation of a group dedicated for the fulfillment of the companys forthcoming plans and objectives (Hendry 2012). Kennedy, being the Sales and Marketing Manager, should be involved in the digital marketing of NCTs vehicles. He should also make planning with the Expo Teams for more promotions of the companys products (Flamholtz 2012). He should also aim for expansion of the national outlets to make a broader market of the company.The external contractors should not loose faith from NCT as it has proven track records regarding its superiority in the market in the past. They should continue with the business agreements with NCT so that the company can regain its position within the next 5 years (Buller and McEvoy 2012). The contractors should provide active support to the management pr ofessionals of NCT in order to come from the evil situation they are undergoing for last few years. The contractors should be proactive in terms of dealing with NCT and should take strategies which will enhance the overall business of the organisation. Communication of information about the HR strategies and services to internal and external stakeholdersThe company should continue its top-down and bottom-up approach for communication of information about the HR strategies. Those HR strategies include restructuring, training and development, recruitment, outsourcing and collaboration strategies (Kehoe and Wright 2013). All these strategies should be communicated to both the internal and external stakeholders so that a transparency gets maintained in the overall environment of the organization (Rao 2014). The restructuring strategies include reduction of staffs through termination or attrition, regrouping of tasks for creation of well designed jobs, reorganization of work units for ma king it more efficient (Bamberger, Biron and Meshoulam 2014). The training and development strategies include providing staff with training on new roles and providing the current staff with development opportunities to prepare them for the future jobs. The recruitment strategies include recruiting new employees with skill and abilities which will be required in future and considering the available options for strategically promoting the job openings and encouraging suitable candidates to apply. The outsourcing strategies include utilizing the external people or organizations for completing the tasks (Lengnick-Hall, Lengnick-Hall and Rigsbee 2013). The collaboration strategies involve working with other companies for preparing future leaders, sharing the training costs for the employee groups and allowing the professionals to visit other organizations in order to gain insights (App, Merk and Buttgen 2012). All these strategies to be implemented as per requirement in the next 5 years should be communicated properly to all the stakeholders of the company.Communication of the service specifications, performance standards and timeframesNCT is basically a company of vehicle services. To improve the share in the market, they have to enhance the level of their service specifications, performance standards and the time frames of order delivery. NCT should make a clear communication of those standards and specifications among its professionals as well as to their customers (Bratton and Gold 2012). The communication will make a clear picture about NCTs image in the customers mind. A positive image will make a good impact in the customers mind. It will tend to generation of increased number of customers for the service (Goetsch and Davis 2014). A good performance of the product and its timely delivery will increase customer satisfaction. Therefore, increased customer satisfaction will eventually make a positive reflection in the overall sales of NCTs products (Allen, Eric ksen and Collins 2013). Therefore, in the next 5 years, the company should practice to make more communication of its product features to its clients and customers so that a formation of a big ground for product sales takes place. Support of training NCT should always encourage in training support for its employees so that all the employees can understand the task assigned to them in a much better way. Training support actually provides the concept to the employees through which they can understand a case in a much better way whether it is in the Manufacturing or in the Finance department (Berman et al. 2015). NCT should encourage its employees in taking various training sessions whether in their organizations or in other organizations so that the necessary skills required for their job gets developed (Ulrich 2013). If the employees have a good level of expertise due to the training sessions then they can contribute to the success of NCT. Monitoring of the quality assurance processes NCT should make a proper monitoring on the processes that aim for quality assurance. Starting from the top level management to the bottom level execution, NCT should implement the process where determining the quality standard will be a prime concern of the management professionals (Rao 2014). A group of quality experts will be dedicated to check whether the work going on in each department is meeting the quality standards. The company should take remedial actions if it detects any defects in the process maintained in the organization (Armstrong and Taylor 2014). Thus, those quality assurance processes will lead to a refined standard of the organization. Identification of the appropriate return on investment of providing HR servicesNCT should make a proper identification of the output against the investment they have made for recruitments in their different departments. The companys HR department has adopted innovative strategies for recruitment in order to hire quality manpower in its each department (Goetsch and Davis 2014). If those newly joined professionals contribute towards the organization to such extent that the company meets its targets and objectives, then it can be said that the company is getting an appropriate return against the investments they have made for the manpower (Allen, Ericksen and Collins 2013). As in the next 5 years, the companys aim is to excel well in its industry through regaining its lost position, it should concentrate well on the investments made on the manpower, checking whether they are giving good results (Khan and Khan 2013). If NCT concentrates on the outsourcing strategy such as hiring manpower from an HR service provider then they should properly evaluate whether the service are serving the companys purpose in a proper way. The company should also check whether the ethical standards are properly maintained by the newly joined professionals (Armstrong and Taylor 2014). As the companys primary objective is to make all the professionals to obey the moral code of conduct in the organization, they should be highly concerned about the matter that compliance is maintained in the organization regarding obeying the code of conduct (Lengnick-Hall, Lengnick-Hall and Rigsbee 2013). If such level of compliance is been maintained then it will signify that appropriate return is been received against the investment on HR services.Service agreements between the HR team, service providers and client groups The company should also concentrate on making short and long term service agreements between the HR people, service providers and client groups to maintain a healthy financial relationship. There will be clear conditions mentioned in the agreements which both parties will obey throughout the agreement tenure (Ulrich 2013). If the HR team of NCT makes an agreement with an external HR service provider, they should clearly state that the service provider will provide quality manpower to them throughout the contract period. If such conditions are not properly obeyed throughout the contract period then the HR terminate the service agreement without making any further proceedings (Flamholtz 2012). The service agreements between the company and the client will be such that the company will stay dedicated to provide quality service to its client in order to make them satisfied throughout the service agreement period for their product (Bratton and Gold 2012). In the next 5 years, the manageme nt of the company should concentrate on preparation of making service level agreements for its HR team, service providers and its client in order to make a good work culture resulting to better growth.Section of agreement of adoption from the CEO of NCTs The CEO of NCT, Mr. Mick has a planning to recover the market share and the position that his company has loosen in the recent years. Due to such reason, he has approved several agreements in order to have a good number of qualified staffs and superior quality services (Kehoe and Wright 2013). In order to gain a good position in the next 5 years, the CEO has concentrated to prepare service level agreements by the help of his operational manager and the respective departmental heads. The CEO has adopted the policies which will provide the way to make agreements with other companies for collaborative support in terms of production, manpower supply (Buller and McEvoy 2012). The policies will also help to make service level agreements w ith the client and the customers for retaining them. Allover, the adoption of the agreements are aimed for the benefit of the company.A performance assessment chart should be prepared for the HR service providers as per the service agreements and NCTs operational plan in order to measure their appropriateness. That chart will show how many manpower have been provided by the service provider during the contract period, how many of them are of superior quality, how many of them are absorbed by the company on permanent basis, how many have resigned immediately after joining and how many candidates have been terminated (Hendry 2012). It should also be assessed how much charges the company is taking for the supply of the manpower. On the basis of the comparison of the assessment reports of the HR service providers, that company should be treated to be the most appropriate which provide maximum number of quality professionals with minimum amount of manpower supply charges.The issues with the HR service provider are as follows, Supply of manpower having lack of seriousness. Improper grooming of the manpower. The rectification of the underperformance of the HR service provider is as follows, Providing clear eligibility criteria of the manpower starting from his academic background to his behavioral aspects (Bratton and Gold 2012). Provide warning to the service provider that if their manpower becomes casual in case of maintaining clean and tidy dress code, then payment for the manpower supply will be not given to him and the manpower supply agreement will be terminated.The systems that will be used to gather and store information required to provide HR services will be an Enterprise Resource Planning software such as the Payroll Processing ERP software (Berman et al. 2015). It will store all the HR information of the employees starting from salary, attendance, compensation, incentives, rewards. The ERP software will also maintain the organizational rules and policie s which can be derived as reports whenever required.The approval for the variation in service delivery from appropriate managers will be received from the CEO, Mick. The request for variation in the manpower has been done by the Sales and Marketing Manager, Kennedy. A request should be placed to the CEO stating that an additional staff member will do the canvassing of a new business (Rao 2014). The benefits of the new business along with the recruitment will be elaborated to him. As the proposal becomes convincing to the CEO in terms of its profitability, he will give the approval.NCTs HR induction manual actually is based on Code of Conduct which follows values and ethical practices in the organization. The company has aimed to integrate the human resource management strategies and the systems for achieving the mission, success and strategies of NCT through meeting their employees needs (Armstrong and Taylor 2014). The company actually tries to ensure adequate human resources for m eeting strategic goals and operational plans of NCT. The company tries to keep up with social, legislative, economic and technological trends that impact on NCT. The companys HR policies also try to remain flexible for managing changes if the future becomes different than anticipated. On the basis of the statements, it can be stated that the Code of Conduct is based to give right judgment to the stakeholders and the employees. All the professionals should maintain ethical standards in their organizational behavior. Good performance of employees should be rewarded, poor performances should be managed, compensation and security facilities will be given to them (Goetsch and Davis 2014). The code of conduct also states of doing no harm to the people in the organization, maintaining proper dress code, maintaining regularity and punctuality in attendance. The online survey is done on 10 employees of National Camper Trailers Pty. Ltd. The survey questionnaire has been developed for determination of the customer satisfactions with the delivered HR services of NCT.Development of the survey References Allen, M.R., Ericksen, J. and Collins, C.J., 2013. Human resource management, employee exchange relationships, and performance in small businesses. Human Resource Management, 52(2), pp.153-173.App, S., Merk, J. and Bttgen, M., 2012. Employer branding: Sustainable HRM as a competitive advantage in the market for high-quality employees.Management revue, pp.262-278.Armstrong, M. and Taylor, S., 2014. Armstrong's handbook of human resource management practice. Kogan Page Publishers.Bamberger, P.A., Biron, M. and Meshoulam, I., 2014. Human resource strategy: Formulation, implementation, and impact. Routledge.Berman, E.M., Bowman, J.S., West, J.P. and Van Wart, M.R., 2015. Human resource management in public service: Paradoxes, processes, and problems. Sage Publications.Bratton, J. and Gold, J., 2012. Human resource management: theory and practice. Palgrave Macmillan.Budhwar, P.S. and Debrah, Y.A. eds., 2013. Human resource management in developing countries. Routledge.Buller, P.F. and McE voy, G.M., 2012. Strategy, human resource management and performance: Sharpening line of sight. Human resource management review, 22(1), pp.43-56.Conduct, C.O., 2012. code of conduct. Policies Procedures Manual, p.39.De Waal, A., 2013. Strategic Performance Management: A managerial and behavioral approach. Palgrave Macmillan.Flamholtz, E.G., 2012. Human resource accounting: Advances in concepts, methods and applications. Springer Science Business Media.Goetsch, D.L. and Davis, S.B., 2014. Quality management for organizational excellence. pearson.Hendry, C., 2012. Human resource management. Routledge.Horowitz, I.M., 2013. Synthesis of feedback systems. Elsevier.Kehoe, R.R. and Wright, P.M., 2013. The impact of high-performance human resource practices on employees attitudes and behaviors. Journal of management, 39(2), pp.366-391.Khan, A.W. and Khan, S.U., 2013. Critical success factors for offshore software outsourcing contract management from vendors' perspective: an exploratory s tudy using a systematic literature review. IET software, 7(6), pp.327-338.Lengnick-Hall, M.L., Lengnick-Hall, C.A. and Rigsbee, C.M., 2013. Strategic human resource management and supply chain orientation. Human Resource Management Review, 23(4), pp.366-377.Oderanti, F.O., Li, F. and De Wilde, P., 2012. Application of strategic fuzzy games to wage increase negotiation and decision problems. Expert Systems with Applications, 39(12), pp.11103-11114.Pollack, J. and Pollack, R., 2015. Using Kotters eight stage process to manage an organisational change program: Presentation and practice.Systemic Practice and Action Research, 28(1), pp.51-66.Rao, T.V., 2014. HRD audit: Evaluating the human resource function for business improvement. SAGE Publications India.Rashidi-Tabrizi, R., Mussbacher, G. and Amyot, D., 2013, July. Legal requirements analysis and modeling with the measured compliance profile for the goal-oriented requirement language.

Romanticism Began In The Early 19th Century And Radically Essays

Romanticism began in the early 19th century and radically changed the way people perceived themselves and the state of nature around them. Unlike Classicism, which stood for order and established the foundation for architecture, literature, painting and music, Romanticism allowed people to get away from the constricted, rational views of life and concentrate on an emotional and sentimental side of humanity. This not only influenced political doctrines and ideology, but was also a sharp contrast from ideas and harmony featured during the Enlightenment. The Romantic era grew alongside the Enlightenment, but concentrated on human diversity and looking at life in a new way. It was the combination of modern Science and Classicism that gave birth to Romanticism and introduced a new outlook on life that embraced emotion before rationality. Romanticism was a reactionary period of history when its seeds became planted in poetry, artwork and literature. The Romantics turned to the poet before the scientist to harbor their convictions (they found that the orderly, mechanistic universe that the Science thrived under was too narrow-minded, systematic and downright heartless in terms of feeling or emotional thought) and it was men such as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in Germany who wrote "The Sorrows of Young Werther" which epitomized what Romanticism stood for. His character expressed feelings from the heart and gave way to a new trend of expressing emotions through individuality as opposed to collectivism. In England, there was a resurgence into Shakespearean drama since many Romantics believed that Shakespeare had not been fully appreciated during the 18th century. His style of drama and expression had been downplayed and ignored by the Enlightenment's narrow classical view of drama. Friedrich von Schlegel and Samuel Taylorleridge (from Germany and England respectively) were two critics of literature who believed that because of the Enlightenment's suppression of individual emotion as being free and imaginative, Shakespeare who have never written his material in the 19th century as opposed to the 18th century. The perception that the Enlightenment was destroying the natural human soul and substituting it with the mechanical, artificial heart was becoming prevalent across Europe. The Lyrical Ballads, published in 1798, was a series of poems that examined the beauty of nature and explored the actions of people in natural settings. Written by William Woodsworth, this form of poetry was free, expressive and without constraint as evident by this passage: "If this belief from heaven be sent, If such be Nature's holy plan, Have I not reason to lament, What man has made of man?" Such passages from his work indicates that poetry and literature was also used as a form of rebellion or distaste for political institutions or social conditions during the 19th century. However, since most poets thrived on the emotional and irrational abstract that they were writing about, there was no specific category that this mode of thinking could fall into. This was a strength since the freedom to explore nature was infinite and without any restriction based on rules, law or doctrine. This invariably led to a re-introduction into religion and mysticism; people wanted to explore the unknown. The Genius of Christianity, written by Rene de Chateaubriand, offered a contrast to Science. He found Christianity to be "the most poetic, most human, the most conducive to freedom, to arts and literature..." of all the religions and deduced that Science was lacking this element which could benefit mankind. The middle ages were regarded as a creative period when humans lived close to the soil and were unblemished with the effects of industrialization or urbanization. Romanticism began to show the people that the Enlightenment had overstayed its welcome by leading the people to a future that offered a vision of mankind as being part of a group rather than an individual. G. W. F. Hegel, a German philosopher, rejected the rational philosophy of the 18th century because he believed in "Idealism". This involved looking at life in terms of the importance of ideas, not thought the narrow tunnel of materialism and wealth. By advocating Idealism, Hegel concluded that mankind could be led by his spirit, his soul, rather than the establishment or the status quo. Although Romanticism was perhaps conservative in nature, every participant of this swift and silent movement could relish in his own free and glorious vision of nature. Romanticism was not a political movement or a reformist package offered by a group of dissidents; Romanticism was a time when mankind could restructure his outlook on life so that he was able to reach new heights of intellectual and political awareness. In the process of doing so, he found answers to practical problems by simply using his heart

9 Signs You Are On The Right Career Path

9 Signs You Are On The Right Career Path Choosing the right career for you can be an incredibly difficult task. There are so many variables and curveballs that will be coming at you from every angle. It’s easy to lose sight of the path you thought you were on- and whether or not you still want to be on it! But whether you’re brand new to the workforce or have been there for years, here are a few ways to know when you’re on the right track in a rewarding career: 1. You wake up happy.Trust us, most people don’t wake up energized and jazzed up to go about their days. If you actually look forward to going into the office, congrats! You’ve done it!2. Your to-do list doesn’t make you cringe.You look at your list of daily tasks and are eager- even excited- to tackle most of them. You get right down to work when you get to work, rather than dragging your feet and putting it off as long as possible.3. The day flies.Before you know it it’s quitting time. Did you even eat lunch? You act ually enjoy the time you spend in the office. And you find yourself wishing you had just another hour to finish off a few loose ends.4. You’re appreciated.It’s clear that your coworkers and boss truly value the work you’re doing. You have their respect. You have their trust and thanks. And sure, hopefully soon, you’ll have that promotion.5. You won’t shut up.You get home or out to happy hour with pals and all you want to talk about is your work and how great it is, or what you’re currently working on. A lot of people can’t stop talking about work because they can’t stop complaining about it. If you’re doing the opposite, you’re probably in the right place.6. You see the future.And it’s huge! You can see a clear and challenging career path for yourself at this company. Maybe not â€Å"all the way to the top,† but certainly to a satisfying end point that you would consider a milestone. If you start ass ociating yourself with your job as part of your identity, and you see the company’s future success as integral to yours, then you’re right where you should be. One with the company!7. You’re positive and helpful.Your coworkers like you because you’re upbeat, positive, and generous with your help. They turn to you first when questions or problems arise. You’re looked to for leadership positions on projects and teams. You routinely go the extra mile- and you like doing it. The added effort only energizes you more. You are desperate to keep proving yourself and not lose your position or esteem.8. You don’t get sad on Sundays.You know those old Sunday afternoon blues? The feeling of dread when you realize you have to go to work tomorrow? If you’re not getting those pangs on a weekly basis, then that’s a pretty good sign.9. You sing your company’s praises.If your company comes up- either for its products or services or as a p lace to work, you can’t shut up about it. You’re constantly encouraging friends or contacts to come work with you. You’re pimping out your company at every turn. If this is you, well, you should probably stay right where you are. In your dream job!

Beside and Besides

Beside and Besides Beside and Besides Beside and Besides By Maeve Maddox Anwar wants to know the difference between beside and besides. Old English had the phrase be sidan, by the side of. OE side meant the flanks of a person, or the long part of anything. By 1200 the phrase was written as one word and used as both adverb and preposition. One meaning for beside in Middle English was outside. This is the sense in the expression to be beside oneself: He was beside himself with worry. He wasnt next to himself, he was outside himself. In modern usage beside is used chiefly as a preposition, while besides can be either a preposition or an adverb. The preposition beside means next to: Joans house stood beside the church. I like to sit beside my friend. As a preposition, besides means in addition to: Besides the administrators, the teachers were allowed to state their views. Besides the prize money, Charlie won a trip to the Bahamas. Besides often introduces a noun clause: Besides what you said, we must consider what she said. As an adverb, besides means in addition, as well as: There is enough for us and all our friends besides. Besides can introduce a further consideration: I dont think Ill attend the conference because it comes at an inconvenient time of year for me. Besides, I cant really afford it. Sometimes besides is a synonym for except or excluding: Besides him, everyone liked the idea. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 Classes and Types of Phrases25 Russian Words Used in English (and 25 More That Should Be)Wood vs. Wooden

Life Problem Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Life Problem - Essay Example Underlying this conflict is the different opinion the siblings have on whether Edith's actions regarding were in accordance to Maurice's wishes. As Edward states, his father would have wanted all his children to benefit from the estate. Thus, Edith's choice of naming Nancy as a joint tenant is a major conflict among children because as the law of survivorship states, the interests of a deceased joint tenant cannot be passed on by will, but should be passed directly to the surviving joint tenant. In this case, all of Edith's jointly owned properties will be passed on to Nancy after her death unless formal actions are taken up to sever the joint tenancy or include the three children as tenants in common. Furthermore, structural conflicts are also present that make communication, and consequently understanding, difficult. Geographically, all three siblings have left Queensland and now reside in other parts of Australia and the world. Hence, physical communication barriers can cause anxiety and strain relationships, especially for the siblings who have not seen each other in more than 10 years. It also increases the window for misinformation. Edward and the others can also feel threatened by Nancy and Rajiv because of Edith's dependence on them, their residence in the estate, and their control over Darlington. It causes Edward to believe they are disadvantage against Nancy. Edith's health conditions also puts time constraints because as their mother and owner of the estate, she is the only person who can enforce changes in the distribution of Darlington through severing her joint tenancy with Nancy or including the three children as tenants in common without damaging relationships. Such circumstances indicate that relational conflicts are brewing because while Edward and the others feel threatened by Nancy, Nancy feels that her siblings are rallying against her or that they do not appreciate her sacrifices for the estate. These conflicts, although seemingly immaterial, plays an important role in the negotiation because it determines each party's attitude and possibly create a negative behaviour among the siblings, hampering communication even more. While there is a number of methods available, negotiations are the most efficient, viable, and appropriate method to resolve the conflict. As Edward explained, a legal proceeding is not only complicated, but their claims may also be weakened because it is be difficult to establish an enforceable trust based on their father's will. Their geographic location also makes legal proceedings difficult logistically and financially. Furthermore, with Edith's old age and health conditions, it will not benefit anyone to place stress on her. Thus, unless the children can come up with a negotiated outcome acceptable to all, and approach Edith with the outcome in hand, further disagreements among the children can only worsen Edith's condition. It is also important for Edward to understand that if taken to court Nancy's contributions to the farm, Edward and his party's absence and seeming lack of interest in the farm and their mother's welfare, and Nancy's residence in the

Effects of Language Difference on Subsidiary Performance Essay - 1

Effects of Language Difference on Subsidiary Performance - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that multinational enterprises investment firms struggle to diversify in their field of investment in foreign countries. This is because they focus on hiring and recruiting new employees of different language backgrounds in their respective nationalities. Language can be termed or described a chosen unique system of conceptual symbols that let individuals communicate effectively. Language generally is the greatest used mediator which facilitates understanding and relation between management, employees, and customers of every given business. A multi linguistic human resource usually gives out benefits, for example, a larger and wider range of perspectives. This workforce also gives a greater competitive ability generally in the marketplace globally. Multinational enterprises that are venturing into new economies are faced with the new language and cultures which should be overcome to ensure organizational goals and objectives are achieved. M ultinational enterprises can be defined as financial firms and entities that are involved in the supply of services and goods in at least two or more economies. These corporations are large in size and they are involved in different forms and fields of business activities in different countries. Increased competition, venturing into new business form and globalization has forced most business firms alongside with their employees to interact with different nationalities. This has been caused by variation in availability of resources. Surveys show that languages play an important part in communication in multinational enterprises. A workforce with different language background may encounter language barrier if working together. This leads to misunderstanding it also suggests that language barrier causes ineffective communication or it may cause miscommunication within a company. According to past studies, they indicate that language does not only facilitate communication. The language barrier will not affect the human resource only, it also hinders effective communication. Customers will find it hard to communicate out their need or even fail to get important information about particular or certain services or products being offered by Multinational Corporation.

Stress management techniques Essay Example for Free

Stress management techniques Essay The three stress management techniques I chose are yoga, swimming and music. These are my favorite activities to do. They are all very relaxing in different ways, mentally and physically. I am currently stressed out with school and by doing yoga; it relieves my stress by relaxing my muscles and allowing my mind to calm down. In yoga I’ve learned the three different ways people breathe depending on their stress: high, low, and middle breathing. The complete breath is the breath you want to use in yoga to get full relaxation. This is definitely one of my favorite relaxation techniques. Another technique that helps me relieve stress is swimming. Swimming involves a lot of endurance which distracts your mind into thinking about things other than school. By maintaining this physical activity it helps to manage the stress caused by life in general. I noticed that when I swam all my stress suddenly went away and I felt relieved. The last technique I used was music, which is my all-time favorite. Everyone has their own type of music that they like to listen to. Whenever I’m upset or stressed I always listens to music and it makes me think about other things. Music definitely is a HUGE stress reliever. The more positive music I listen to the less stressed out I am. In conclusion, after testing out those three stress management techniques, the one I prefer and thought helped the most was swimming. Although, I love music, swimming you’re actually doing something and moving your body. Where with music you’re just sitting there listening to lyrics and sad songs. With swimming your adrenaline is always flowing.

Comparing Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and An American Exodus: A Record

Comparing Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and An American Exodus: A Record of Human Erosion The Great Depression, which began with the stock market crash of 1929 and lasted for the next decade, was a time of desperation and disorientation in America. In an effort to bring the country back on its feet, President Roosevelt initiated the Farm Security Administration (FSA) project. Photographers were hired and sent across the United States to document Americans living in poverty, and Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans were two of those photographers that were sent out. Along with their partners Paul S. Taylor and James Agee they started their projects which were approached through two different methods. Agee and Evans project Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and Lange and Taylor’s project An American exodus: A Record of Human Erosion, are two similar, though different types of work. Both projects are of the poor tenant farmers in the south and the sharecroppers living during the Great Depression during the 1930s. The first difference I noticed is the way the pictures are presen ted in the two projects. By this I mean how they are taken and how Evans and Lange chose which ones that were to be included in the books. A second difference is that Agee and Taylor had two different writing techniques and these are the biggest differences between the two books. Despite the similarities in the two texts presented by the authors and photographers, their work is presented in two various ways. Agee and Evans project was done after living with three tenant families and Evans photographs are completely separate from Agees text. There are not any captions or names and they do not tell us where the photos are taken or who the people in the pictures are. Lange and Taylor’s project on the other hand is written in a way that helps us read the photographs and it is easier to see the connections between the text and pictures. The captions underneath the photos are based on words formulated by the people in the picture. However, the photos that do not have any people in them still have captions, but in this case we can assume that someone has told the photographer or author what to write for each photo. By this method the true meaning of how the turmoil during this period affected the people in question is more precisely illustrated because it inc ludes the words uttered by the people thems... ...f it hurts you, be glad of it. As near as you will ever get, you are inside the music; not only inside it, you are it; your body is no longer your shape and substance, it is the shape and substance of the music.† (101) Here the structure of the text is visible, but to me it becomes messy and confusing. I feel he tries to say more than is needed and the meaning behind the words becomes tedious. In conclusion, all though the projects of the authors and photographers are very similar they are very different as well. The only common element the two books contain is the depictions of the people during the Great Depression. They both try to illustrate the conditions during this time, but that’s were the similarities end. As mentioned earlier, the difference lies in the how the text is written and the methods chosen to present the pictures. I feel that Lange’s and Taylor’s book is a more accurate presentation of the Great Depression than the book written by Agee and Evans is. Agee and Evans’s book seems to be more of a depiction of how they perceived the Great Depression rather than how it really was. Therefore, I feel their project is more of an â€Å"art-piece† rather than a documentary. Comparing Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and An American Exodus: A Record Comparing Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and An American Exodus: A Record of Human Erosion The Great Depression, which began with the stock market crash of 1929 and lasted for the next decade, was a time of desperation and disorientation in America. In an effort to bring the country back on its feet, President Roosevelt initiated the Farm Security Administration (FSA) project. Photographers were hired and sent across the United States to document Americans living in poverty, and Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans were two of those photographers that were sent out. Along with their partners Paul S. Taylor and James Agee they started their projects which were approached through two different methods. Agee and Evans project Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and Lange and Taylor’s project An American exodus: A Record of Human Erosion, are two similar, though different types of work. Both projects are of the poor tenant farmers in the south and the sharecroppers living during the Great Depression during the 1930s. The first difference I noticed is the way the pictures are presen ted in the two projects. By this I mean how they are taken and how Evans and Lange chose which ones that were to be included in the books. A second difference is that Agee and Taylor had two different writing techniques and these are the biggest differences between the two books. Despite the similarities in the two texts presented by the authors and photographers, their work is presented in two various ways. Agee and Evans project was done after living with three tenant families and Evans photographs are completely separate from Agees text. There are not any captions or names and they do not tell us where the photos are taken or who the people in the pictures are. Lange and Taylor’s project on the other hand is written in a way that helps us read the photographs and it is easier to see the connections between the text and pictures. The captions underneath the photos are based on words formulated by the people in the picture. However, the photos that do not have any people in them still have captions, but in this case we can assume that someone has told the photographer or author what to write for each photo. By this method the true meaning of how the turmoil during this period affected the people in question is more precisely illustrated because it inc ludes the words uttered by the people thems... ...f it hurts you, be glad of it. As near as you will ever get, you are inside the music; not only inside it, you are it; your body is no longer your shape and substance, it is the shape and substance of the music.† (101) Here the structure of the text is visible, but to me it becomes messy and confusing. I feel he tries to say more than is needed and the meaning behind the words becomes tedious. In conclusion, all though the projects of the authors and photographers are very similar they are very different as well. The only common element the two books contain is the depictions of the people during the Great Depression. They both try to illustrate the conditions during this time, but that’s were the similarities end. As mentioned earlier, the difference lies in the how the text is written and the methods chosen to present the pictures. I feel that Lange’s and Taylor’s book is a more accurate presentation of the Great Depression than the book written by Agee and Evans is. Agee and Evans’s book seems to be more of a depiction of how they perceived the Great Depression rather than how it really was. Therefore, I feel their project is more of an â€Å"art-piece† rather than a documentary.

Determination of Dissolved Oxygen In a Water Essay

INTRODUCTION In an alkaline solution, dissolved oxygen will oxidize manganese(II) to the trivalent state. 8OH-(aq) + 4Mn2+(aq) + 2H2O(l) ï ¼ Ã¯ ¼ Ã¯ ¼Å¾ 4Mn(OH)3(s) The analysis is completed by titrating the iodine produced from potassium iodide by manganese(III) hydroxide. 2Mn(OH)3(s) + 2I-(aq) + 6 H+(aq) ï ¼ Ã¯ ¼ Ã¯ ¼Å¾ 2Mn2+(aq) + I2(aq) + 6H2O(l) Sodium thiosulphate is used as the titrant. Success of the method is critically dependent upon the manner in which the sample is manipulated. At all stages, every method must be made to assure that oxygen is neither introduced to nor lost from the sample. Furthermore, the sample must be free of any solutes that will oxidize iodide or reduce iodine. Chemicals: Manganese(II) sulphate solution – prepared by dissolving 48 g of MnSO4.4H2O in water to five 100 cm3 solution; alkaline potassium iodide solution—prepared by dissolving 15 g of KI in about 25 cm3 of water, adding 66 cm3 of 50% NaOH, and diluting to 100 cm3; concentrated sulphuriv(VI) acid; 0.0125 M sodium thiosulphate solution; starch solution (freshly prepared). Apparatus: 250 cm3 volumetric flask, 250 cm3 conical flask, measuring cylinders, titration apparatus, magnetic stirrer Procedure: 1.Use a 250 cm3 volumetric flask to collect water sample. Fill the flask completely with water without trapping any air bubbles. 2.Add 1 cm3 of manganese(II) sulphate solution to the sample using a pipette. Discharge the solution well below the surface (some overflow will occur). 3.Similarity introduce 1 cm3 of alkaline potassium iodide solution. Be sure that no air becomes entrapped. Invert the bottle to distribute the precipitate uniformly. [Hazard Warning: Care should be taken to avoid exposure to any overflow, as the solution is quite alkaline.] 4.When the precipitate has  settled at least 3 cm below the stopper, introduce 1 cm3 of concentrated sulphuric acid well below the surface. Replace the stopper and carefully mix until the precipitate disappears. A magnetic stirrer is helpful here. 5.Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes and then withdraw 100cm3 of the acidified sample into a 250 cm3 conical flask. 6.Titrate with 0.0125M sodium thiosulphate until the iodine colour bec omes faint. Then add 1 cm3 of starch solution and continue adding the thiosulphate solution until the blue colour disappears. 7.Record the volume of thiosulphate solution used and calculate the dissolved oxygen content in the sample in mg dm-3. Remarks 1.If the water sample has a low DO value, it is recommended to withdraw 200 cm3 of the acidified sample into a 500 cm3 flask for the titration describe in step 5. 2.This experiment can be further developed into a project to study the extent of water pollution. (a)The water sample under investigation is divided into two portions. One portion of the sample is immediately analysed for dissolving oxygen using the Winkler method. The other portion is stored in the dark for five days. (b)Repeat the analysis with the water sample that has been stored in the dark for five days. The difference between the two measurements is the five-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), measured in mg dm-3.

Nutrition and Diet Therapy Essay

As one can see from this table, my calorie consumption was consistently under or at the maximum limit that Supertracker set for me. Compared to the first food journal and diet analysis that I completed this is a drastic  change for the better. I followed my own recommendation to decrease my daily caloric intake from the first diet analysis. As you may recall from my first diet analysis, I exceeded my total calories limit for each of the five days; one day I consumed over 2500 calories. I was proud to see that I was capable of making such a healthy change by using a little self-control. c) According to the â€Å"five-hundred rule†, in order to lose or gain one pound of body fat per week, one must have a difference of 500 kcalories either way (500 more to gain, 500 less to lose) than the body uses per day for 7 days. This adds up to a difference of 3500 kcalories in order to lose a pound (Lutz & Przytulski, 2011). For day one, I consumed 561 kcalories less than my limit of 180 0 kcal. On day two, I ate 789 kcal less than my limit and burned 822 kcal by biking. On day three, again I ate 565 kcal less than my limit and burned 822 kcal by biking. I ate 480 kcal less than my body used on day four. However, day five consisted of almost the full 1800 kcal (1795 exactly) consumed and expended. For the whole week, this adds up to a difference of 4,044 kcal. In other words, I lost a little over a pound during the week of 10/7-10/11 because I ate 2400 kcal less than my body used and burned 1644 kcal by means of physical activity. As you may recall, I did not engage in any physical activity during the first diet analysis, so doing so played a large role in my success. d)  (United States Department of Agriculture). In comparing the meal summary reports from diet analysis one to diet analysis two, I see that I ate less overall during the time period for diet analysis two. For a couple of the days, I didn’t eat very much for dinner and for almost all for the days, I decreased my portion sizes. For example, on 10/10, I only ate one slice of French toast for breakfast. Before I completed my first diet analysis and recommendations, I might have eaten two or three slices at a time. Also, I ate less fast food during the second diet analysis compared to the first; this fulfills another recommendation (decrease fast food intake). Likewise, I can see in this meal summary that I made the effort to eat fruits and vegetables—another recommendation fulfilled. e) I did indeed change my physical activity for this diet analysis. I rode my bike two nights out of the five for an hour each time. This is an improvement compared to my complete lack of physical activity  during the first diet analysis. I think I made the change because of how awful it looked on paper to not have exercised at all for almost a full week. Additionally, it felt good to be doing something healthy for my body and I’m glad I made the effort. f) The three foods highest in kcalories are listed in the table below: Food Number of kcal Macaroni and cheese 672 Chili with beef, beans, and cheese 635 Chicken pot pie 486 From the first diet analysis, the following were the foods highest in kcal and their number of kcal: Food Number of kcal Double cheeseburger 748 Burrito 628 Potato salad 525 Comparing the two, I see that my food with the highest number of calories for diet analysis two was lower than the food with the highest number of calories from diet analysis one. In other words, I improved in that the foods that I consumed for diet analysis two were not quite as high in caloric count. g) I could still use some tips and guidance as to how to reduce the number of calories that I consume in order to continue to meet caloric recommendations. So, upon researching the topic, I found that according to an article by Harms et al. (2012), there are two simple ways of reducing the number of calories in one’s diet. First, eliminating food items that are high in calories and replacing them with food items that are low in  calories can make a big difference in one’s total calorie count. For instance, I could eliminate about 136 calories for every time that I replace a can of Coke for a bottle of sparkling water. This concept and recommendation is more appealing to me and has a better chance of success than my earlier recommendation from diet analysis one of simply eliminating Coke. Another example of an exchange that I could make is switching from 2% milk to skim milk in order to cut the calories in half while still receiving the beneficial nutrients of milk like calcium and vitamin D (Harms, R. W. et al. 2012). The second way that I could reduce my total calorie count is by reducing the sizes of the portions of food that I am consuming. In the article by Harms et al. (2012), there is a good reminder that as the serving size is increased, the total number of calories increases; so, if I eat double or triple the serving size, I am also eating double or triple the total calories. As I stand right now, I do not read food labels. However, if I would read the food labels of the foods that I eat in order to discover the true serving size and calorie count, I am sure that I would be enlightened. An example of a reduced serving size for me could be eating a 4 inch pancake instead of a 6 inch pancake, eliminating more than half of the calories consumed (Harms, R. W. et al. 2012). Reducing portion sizes was also a recommendation from my first diet analysis, yet I did not know the impact it could have on my calorie count. Another step I can take in reducing the total number of calories that I am consuming is by not skipping meals. As I look at my first diet analysis as well as my second one, I can see where I skipped meals just drinking a glass of milk for breakfast or a can of Coke or a bottle of water for lunch or dinner. This is not a wise choice. Skipping meals makes a person hungrier, in turn making it more difficult to limit portion sizes and make healthy food choices at the next meal. Instead, filling up on foods that are high in fiber and water like fruits, vegetables, and soups can help with satiety while controlling and reducing caloric intake. References 5 ways to cut 500 calories from your diet. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/gallery/500_calories?pg=6 Harms, R. W., Berge, K. G., Hagen, P. T., Litin, S. C., Sheps, S. G., Edwards, B. S., †¦ Pruthi, S. (2012, June 19). Counting calories: getting back to weight loss basics. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/calories/WT00011/NSECTIONGROUP=2 Lutz, C. A. & Przytulski, K. R. (2011). Nutrition and diet therapy (5th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.). Meal summary report. Retrieved from https://www.supertracker.usda.gov/MealSummaryReport.aspx

The Maya essays

The Maya essays Deep within the jungle of Mexico and extending into the limestone shelf of the Yucatan peninsula lie the mysterious temple and pyramids of the Maya. While Europe was still in the midst of the dark ages, these amazing people had mapped the heavens, evolved the only true writing system native to the Americas and were masters of mathematics. They invented the calendars we use today. Across a huge jungle landscape with an amazing degree of architectural perfection and variety. Their legacy in stone, which has survived in a spectacular fashion at places such as Palenque, Tikal, Tulum, Chichen Itza, Copan and Uxmal, lives on as do the seven million descendants of classic Maya civilization. Chichen Itza is one of the greatest ruins of the Maya . I have been to Chichen Itza last year ad I have seen so much great things over there. At the hub of Toltac, Chichen stands it's most important structure. The massive Kukulch pyramid called "El Castillo" (the castle) is roughly at the center of the site. Climbing it is quite a challenge and those who make it are rewarded. Whit a spectacular view of the city and surrounding country side A trip inside the pyramid is quite the opposite. The dark, unbearably humid corridors and chambers are too much for some people. Chichen Itza is a magical place. I had the opportunity wander around the site for two hours. Watching the massive pyramid take shape through the lifting fog is an experience I will not soon forget. Every year over 40,000 people make the trek to the great pyramid to watch in awe as the snake diamond backed body slowly appears. Great for -side temple- pyramid which was dedicated to the cult of Kukulcan. Inside the Castil lo has been discovered on earlier Toltec-Maya pyramids, with beautifully preserved details. Also if you stand facing the foot of the temple and shout the echo comes back as a piercing shriek. And a person standing on the top step ...

A Profile of Paul Williams, Architect to the Stars

A Profile of Paul Williams, Architect to the Stars During an age when racial prejudice ran strong, Paul Revere Williams (born February 18, 1894 in Los Angeles) overcame barriers and became a favored architect in Southern California. In 1923, he was the first Black architect to become a member of the national professional organization, the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and he rose to become a Fellow in 1957 (FAIA). In 2017, Williams posthumously received the Institutes highest honor, the AIA Gold Medal. Paul Williams was orphaned when he was four - his brother and parents died of tuberculosis - but his artistic talents were supported and encouraged by his new foster family. His non-Black public school teachers, however, gave little encouragement to Williams, citing the perceived difficulties of a Negro pursuing an architecture career within a largely white community. Nevertheless, he enrolled in the local engineering school and graduated in 1919 from the University of Southern California. He went on to New York City to become one of the first Black students to attend the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design, an architectural experience modeled after the curriculum of the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Williams was ambitious and self-assured after such rigorous study and especially after winning an important architecture competition when he was only 25. He opened his own practice back in LA when he was 28. As a Black American, Paul Williams faced many social and economic barriers. Williams clients were mostly white. In the moment that they met me and discovered they were dealing with a Negro, I could see many of them freeze, he wrote in American Magazine. My success during those first few years was founded largely upon my willingness - anxiety would be a better word - to accept commissions which were rejected as too small by other, more favored, architects. Much of what we know about Williams process is from this 1937 essay, I Am a Negro. He took to heart what he had been told about clients - that Black people couldnt afford architects and white people wouldnt hire a Black architect. So, he developed tricks to be less intrusive, almost subservient to potential white clients - most famously, he elegantly sketched upside-down to showcase his ideas to white clients while maintaining a physical distance. Perhaps it is this understanding of space that made this architect so successful. He used both physical and psychological tactics - he would consciously stand in a non-threatening posture with both hands behind his back while explaining that he normally doesnt take on projects in the lower price ranges, but hed be glad to offer some ideas. Williams most famously has said If I allow the fact that I am a Negro to checkmate my will to do, now, I will inevitably form the habit of being defeated. Being Black in a segregated industry led Paul Williams to develop salesmanship and become politically active. He joined the Los Angeles Planning Commission and he became the first Black member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). In 1957, he was the first Black architect elected to the prestigious AIA College of Fellows (FAIA). Paul Williams collaborated with other architects on many of his larger, public projects, most famously for his role in designing the Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Some of Williams projects were with architect A. Quincy Jones, who worked with Williams from 1939 to 1940. Although the iconic, futuristic LAX structure is high profile architecture, Williams designed thousands of private homes in Southern California - many of the most beautiful houses in Hollywood are sold an resold to the ongoing star-making machine surrounding Hollywood. Williams designed homes for Lucille Ball, Bert Lahr, and Frank Sinatra, and he became close friends with Danny Thomas, for whom he did pro bono work for St. Jude Childrens Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. While there is no one distinctive look to his buildings, Paul Williams became known for designs that were stylized and elegant. The architect borrowed ideas from the past without using excessive ornamentation. He could make a Tudor Revival mansion look like a manor house on the outside and a cozy bungalow on the inside. Paul Revere Williams retired in 1973 and died in the city of his birth on January 23, 1980 in Los Angeles, California. Although few documents from his practice have survived, architectural scholars have compiled extensive records of Paul Williams life and works, including contracts, letters from clients, plans, and materials related to specific projects. Photographs, bibliographies, and other resources are posted online by the Paul R. Williams Project, coordinated by AIA Memphis, the University of Memphis, and other organizations. In the 1940s, Williams published two small books of plans that have remained in print. Also, author Karen E. Hudson, the granddaughter of the architect, has been documenting Williams life and work. The Small Home of Tomorrow by Paul R. WilliamsNew Homes for Today by Paul R. WilliamsPaul R. Williams Architect: a legacy of style by Karen Hudson, Rizzoli, 2000The Will and the Way: Paul R. Williams, Architect by Karen Hudson, Rizzoli, 1994 (for ages 8-12)Paul R. Williams: Classic Hollywood Style by Karen Hudson, Rizzoli, 2012 Sources Early African-American Members of the AIA (PDF); 2017 AIA Gold Medal, AIA.org; Architect of Hope, St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital; Williams the Conqueror by Shashank Bengali, University of Southern California Public Relations, 2/01/04

Evaluating training, development and learning and their importance at Assignment

Evaluating training, development and learning and their importance at work - Assignment Example or effective and competent employees who can innovative and sustain those innovations through their abilities and respond to the changing environment in a favorable manner. As such, training and development form the cornerstone of success for both the employee’s and the organization’s career. Training in simple words is a tool which aims at enhancing the current knowledge, skill set, abilities and competencies of people to achieve some specific outcomes. Built around specific result expectation, it takes the form of an organized activity with structured and successive stages in between which tend to impart technical, managerial, and inter-personal and such other know-how to the employees. Overall, such skills enable a candidate to better his /her performance through careful decision making and analysis capabilities. In the words of Flippo, â€Å"training is the act of increasing the knowledge and skills of an employee for doing a particular job†. Planned and strategic training programme at work results in the creation of intellectual capital which often supplies competitive advantage to organizations (Noe 2010). With human resources shifting its focus from traditional to strategic viewpoint, need and rationale for training at work puts on greater numbers. Globalization, competition, productivity, quality, cost effectiveness and a lot more have made the training platform more complicated and urgent too (Blanchard & Thacker 2004:117). The foremost concern is to strike a balance between proactive and reactive training measures to be adopted in response to market forces. Factors creating urgency in the rationale of training are: Technology can spell success or failure for a organization and this depends upon how competent and skilled the workforce is in handling the technology and also getting adapted to the fast paced changes taking place. Globalization rests on the continuous development in technology and it automatically calls for a proportionate increase in

U.S. Supreme Court review of Gideon v. Wainwright Essay

U.S. Supreme Court review of Gideon v. Wainwright - Essay Example No history of the right to counsel could be complete without a discussion of Gideon v. Wainwright - one of the best-known and most significant right to counsel decisions rendered by the Supreme Court. The Warren Court's landmark 1963 opinion in Gideon revisited the issue confronted twenty years earlier in Betts v. Brady - the scope of an indigent defendant's constitutional entitlement to government-provided assistance in state court. The Gideon Court's straightforward, unanimous holding constituted the last major step in the historical expansion of the constitutional right to counsel in America. Its forceful reasoning elevated the status of the right to counsel to new heights, giving it an honored place as the most fundamental of all rights guaranteed to the accused.Mr. Gideon was charged with the crime of breaking and penetrating a poolroom with the aim to commit a misdemeanor. He appeared in court without an attorney. Because he could not afford to have a lawyer, he claimed that th e judge appoint counsel. The judge did not accept the request, informing him that Florida law permitted appointed counsel only in capital cases. In the trial that followed, Gideon made an opening statement, cross-examined government witnesses, called his own witnesses, declined to testify, and made a short closing argument. The jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to five years in prison. The Florida Supreme Court denied a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. To reconsider the issue resolved in Betts v. Brady, the Supreme Court granted review. The Court first observed that the facts of Betts and Gideon were so similar that the holding of Betts, if still good law, would require rejection of Gideon's contention that he had a due process entitlement to appointed counsel. The Court then declared, however, that after reconsidering the Betts holding, it had decided that it should be overruled. According to the Gideon Court, the fundamental nature of the right to counsel had been established in Powell v. Alabama - ten years before Betts was decided. Although the Powell Court had limited its holding to the particular circumstances of the case, "its conclusions about the fundamental nature of the right to counsel [were] unmistakable" (cited in Van Gerven 97). Moreover, in subsequent cases, including Johnson v. Zerbst, the Court had made it clear that the assistance of counsel was " 'necessary to insure basic human rights of life and liberty.' " By failing to acknowledge that the assistance of counsel is always essential for a fair trial and concluding that the " 'appointment of counsel is not a fundamental right,' " the Court's opinion in Betts v. Brady "made an abrupt break with its well-considered precedents" (ibid.). In so doing, it had erred. Precedent was not the only reason to declare Betts misguided. "[R]eason and reflection" also led to the "obvious truth" that "in our adversary system of criminal justice, any person haled into court, who is too poor to hire a lawyer, cannot be assured a fair trial unless counsel is provided for him" (cited in Garcia 70). After all, the government deems it essential to have lawyers prosecute criminal cases, and few criminal defendants who can afford them "fail to hire the best lawyers they can get." These are "strong[] indicationsat lawyers in criminal courts are necessities, not luxuries." From the start, American law has put "great emphasis on procedural and substantive safeguards designed to assure fair trials before impartial tribunals in which every defendant stands equal before the law. This noble ideal cannot be realized if the poor man charged with crime has to face his accusers without a lawyer to assist him" (cited in Alfieri 1459). As the Powell Court had observed, the righ t to be heard would mean little if it did not include the right to be heard through counsel. Even intelligent laypersons lack the legal skill and knowledge required to adequately defend against accusations. Although they may in fact be innocent, they

Major depression with poly-substance abuse Assignment

Major depression with poly-substance abuse - Assignment Example He had emotional problems and would cry even for silly reasons according to his wife. He had no job, despite being a graduate. The last job he did was an year ago after which he did not try for any new employment. For the past one week, James ate very little food, was restless most of the times, had easy fatigability and complained of tiredness several times. He was brought to the hospital in view of deteriorating health status. On examination, James appeared dehydrated and confused. He appeared unhygienic, dirty and unattended. he had poor oral hygiene. Pulse rate was 100 per minute, respiratory rate was 20 per minute, blood pressure was 130/90mmHg. He was afebrile. He had pallor and icterus. Systemic examination revealed tenderness in the right hypochondriac region. James was admitted to the psychiatric ward and investigations were sent. Complete blood picture revealed mild iron deficiency anemia, liver function tests were suggestive of acute hepatitis, urine analysis was suggestive of marijuana abuse. Ultrasound abdomen revealed acute fatty liver. James has Major Depressive Disorder or MDD. The condition is a common mental illness that falls into the category of mood disorders. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) IV, 2000, diagnosis of MDD is made as in table-1. Depressed mood, irritability, low self esteem, feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and guilt, decreased ability to concentrate and think, decreased or increased appetite, weight loss or weight gain, insomnia or hypersomnia, low energy, fatigue, or increased agitation, decreased interest in pleasurable stimuli (e.g., sex, food, social interactions) and recurrent thoughts of death and suicide The importance of MDD lies in the fact that it causes considerable impairment in social functioning, role functioning, employment and physical health of the afflicted person (Wells et al, 1989). Experts are of the opinion that depression is actually a

MIS Related Issues

MIS Related Issues ASOS.com MIS RELATED ISSUES à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Despite the spectacular dot-com bust a few years ago, the Internet has markedly changed the way we do business. (Reynolds, 2004, 78) Conducting business in the digital economy refers to the use of Web-based systems, on the Internet and other electronic networks, to accomplish some form of e-commerce. Networked computing is helping some companies excel and is helping others simply to survive. Generally, the collection of computing systems used by an organization is defined as Information Technology (IT). In the developed countries, almost all medium and large organizations use information technologies, including e-commerce, to support their operations. IT, in its narrow definition, refers to the technological side of an Information System (IS); it includes the hardware, software, databases, networks, etc. An IS collects, processes, stores, analyzes, and disseminates information for a specific purpose. It processes the inputs (data, instructions) by using IT and produces outputs (reports, calculations). It includes people, procedures, facilities and it operates within an environment. MIS refers to the management of ISs and it raises a lot of concerns, such as global, e-commerce, software system choices, ethical, social and operation strategy issues. (Turban et al, 2001) The aim of this paper is to examine five selected MIS topics and analyze specifically one or two of the occurring issues of each topic; then, connect these issues to the ASOS.com enterprise. The paper begins with a brief observation of the background of ASOS.com. Initially, the selected topics and issues, derived from relevant literature, will be described. Next, a discussion of whether each issue is a problem for ASOS.com or not is presented. Furthermore, a reflective paragraph follows. The paper ends with the conclusion section and the references. ASOS.com Asos.com, is the UKs largest online-only fashion and beauty store, attracting over one million visitors a week. Its name stands for à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"As Seen On Screen and it was chosen to show the brands intention, to supply the public with outfits similar to the styles of celebrities. Asos.com targets 16 to 34 year olds; it offers womens fashion, menswear, accessories, jewelry and beauty products. It provides potential customers browsing its content, with a number of unique features. For example, individual catwalk model videos of most clothing items on the site, and a fashion blog, which is frequently updated with articles relating to celebrity and entertainment. Asos.com is greatly admired for its large variety of fashion and beauty goods and for the speed at which it keeps up with the latest fashion trends. (http://www.asos.com/) Asos.coms headquarters are located in Camden Town, in North London. The company was launched by Nick Robertson in 2000. Since then, the online company has seen significant growth. Over Christmas season of 2008, it reported a 100% increase in sales and for the financial year ending 31 March 2009, it reported a revenue of  £165,395,000. Asos.com is being run by a board of three directors and two non-executive directors. It is a PLC, quoted on the AIM (Alternative Investment Market) part of the London Stock Exchange. AIM is not as strict in its rules as the main market; it therefore, helps smaller companies to raise capital through the sale of shares. Asos.com chose to use the web channel, since researches have shown that online sales have been increasing faster than any other sector. It has targeted young people, for these represent around 60% of online shoppers. To attract them, it offers a diverse range of brands and products. Above all, it offers a pleasurable shopping experience, by ensuring that the website provides much more than a customer would expect from a shop. The site, also, provides more choices, competitive prices, new styles and, above all, convenience. While growing, Asos.com has developed a more complex structure. It has worked hard to keep up with changes in technology. The website is being kept up-to-date by constantly adding new products and product lines. Moreover, Asos.com uses other communication channels to drive growth. These include a monthly magazine of 116 pages and an e-mail newsletter that is being sent to 1.8 million users each week. In addition, it distributes PR pieces in other publications and encourages word-of-mouth recommendation. (http://www.asos.com/) GLOBAL MIS/RISKS Designing websites for a global audience The designing of successful web-sites that present information about products and services is a relatively recent occupation, which introduced new issues and challenges that designers were called to face. It is well-known that some web-sites seem to be more efficient than others. They are more often visited and more purchases occur. Very little is reported in the literature on web design and the evaluation of the factors that formulate a successful web-site. However, many studies have been made, in order to empirically test the features, often mentioned by trade journals and vendors, as being critical to design a successful web site. The roles of a web-site are many and important; some of them are: marketing research, marketing tool, public relation machine and means of payment. Web sites are basically an interface between the costumer and the firm. The web sites are being designed in order to facilitate organizations, to carry out business activities by using Internet technology. On their web sites, each organization promotes and sells its products or services, provides catalogs, technical support and obtains useful feedback from its consumers. (Udo and Marquis, 2001/2) According to Udo and Marquis, there are eight factors that contribute to the design of an effective web site: * Download Time (response time) * Navigation * Graphics Usage * Interactivity * Cohesion * Consistency * Use of Frames * Amount of Advertisements (Udo and Marquis, 2001/2) According to Tilson, R. principles like simplicity, satisfaction (feedback) and versatility (flexibility) are also very important in designing e-commerce sites. In fact, Tilson describes eight factors, with which the designer achieves the following: * Simplicity: doesnt compromise usability for function. * Support: user is in control with proactive assistance. * Obviousness: makes objects and their controls visible and intuitive. * Encouragement: makes actions predictable and reversible. * Satisfaction (feedback): creates a feeling of progress and achievement. * Accessibility: makes all objects accessible at all times. * Versatility (flexibility): supports alternate interaction techniques. * Personalization: allows users to customize. (Tilson et al, 1998) Asos.com has very successfully designed its website for a global audience. As already mentioned, the website offers to potential customers a large variety of unique features, such as catwalk videos, a fashion blog, a diverse range of brands and products, a pleasurable shopping experience, competitive prices, new styles and convenience, in order to attract more users and set itself apart from other similar websites. The company tries to keep up with changes in technology by frequently updating the website, which is also kept up-to-date by constantly adding new products and product lines, according to the latest fashion trends. Its global success has been recognized through many awards such as: % Sep 2002: E-commerce awards à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Highly commended % Feb 2005: More Magazine Fashion Awards à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Most Addictive Online Shopping % Oct 2008: Aim Awards à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Company of the Year % Nov 2008: Company High Street Awards à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Best Online Shopping % Mar 2009: Cosmopolitan Online Fashion Awards à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å" Best Online Retailer (http://www.asos.com/) E-COMMERCE AND ITS ISSUES à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Electronic commerce is taking off both in terms of the number of users shopping, as well as, the total amount of people, who are spending via Internet based transactionsà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ . (Tilson et al, 1998) E-commerce is gaining importance rapidly, in todays business environment. The practice of e-commerce has been in existence since 1965 and has attracted the interest of many pundits. Most companies accepted and adopted the e-commerce technology faster than any other technology in the history of mankind. The reason is that the benefits are plenty; by creating a web site they can be seen all around the world, reach out to new customers, have lower transaction costs, meet their customers expectations and needs, provide new services and products and therefore, remain competitive. (Khan, 2008) E-commerce presents enormous opportunities for both consumers and businesses in the world. The self-service enabled by it, allows consumers to conduct a wide-range of activities. They can access thousands of online sites and purchase anything, from groceries to books, cars, credit-cards and loans. As Mark Hurst stated: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã…“Its ease of use, its ease of use. Why doesnt the industry get that?à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  (Andrews, 1998) Legal and Ethical issues in E-Business Internet technology has posed new challenges for the protection of individual privacy. Computer information, regarding Internet users, is generated every day through credit card purchases, telephone calls, magazine subscriptions, video rentals, mail-order purchases, banking records and local/state/federal government records. If this information is put together and minded properly, it could reveal a users credit information, driving habits, tastes, associations, political interests and much more. It is possible to record many online activities, including which websites a user has visited, which newsgroups or files he has accessed and what items he has purchased over the Web. Some organizations use this information to better target their offerings. Others monitor the Internet usage of their employees to see how they are using company network resources. A new data analysis technology called NORA (non-obvious-relationship-awareness) offers even more powerful profiling capabilities to the government and the private sector. NORA can take information about people from sources like employment applications, telephone records, customer listings and à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"wanted lists, and correlate relationships to find obscure hidden connections that might help identify criminals or terrorists. Cookies are another noteworthy issue. Cookies are tiny files deposited on a computer hard drive, when a user visits certain websites. Cookies identify the visitors Web-browser software and track visits to the website. When the visitor returns to the site, the website software will search the visitors computer, find the cookie and know what that person has done in the past. Then the site can customize its contents for each visitors interests. There are several more ethical/legal concerns occurring from the use of IT. For example, another issue is the protection of intellectual property such as software, digital books, digital music, or digitized video. It is extremely difficult to protect intellectual property, when it can so easily be copied and distributed. In addition, there is the matter of the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"spam messages and the computer theft/fraud (stealing personal credit card information). (Laudon and Laudon, 2005) Asos.com guarantees privacy and security over credit card purchases for the website visitors. There have been strong movements from the political view to protect the Web users privacy and security. Additionally, the online industry has preferred self-regulation to privacy legislation for protecting consumers. In 1998, the online industry formed the Online Privacy Alliance to encourage self-regulation to develop a set of privacy guidelines for its members. The group promotes the use of online seals, like TRUSTe, certifying websites adhering to certain privacy principles. There has also been created an additional industry association called Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) to develop its own privacy policies to help consumers opt out of advertising network programs and provide consumers redress from abuses. On top of the legislation, new technologies are available to protect user privacy during interactions with websites. Many of these tools are used for encrypting e-mail, making surfing and e-mail activities appear anonymous, preventing client computers from accepting cookies etc. Asos.com plans to use such activities in the short-run, to ensure its visitors privacy. (Laudon and Laudon, 2005) SOFTWARE SYSTEM CHOICES To buy off-the-shelf packages or develop from scratch The acquisition of new software and hardware can bring dramatic applications that will change an organization. Managers must be prepared to make risky acquisitions that will have a significant impact on the firm. There has been some movement towards outsourcing and strategic alliances to reduce the time required to develop vital applications. Buying instead of making is one strategy to bring change more quickly in the firm. However, the purchase decision is one that usually warrants advice from systems professionals. Software can be bought from a large number of companies. Manufacturers of large computers often sell proprietary software for them, especially operating systems. Companies like Computer Associates sell a great deal of software for large-scale computers. The main attraction of buying of-the-shelf packages is to avoid having to develop a custom system. Custom programming is expensive and time-consuming; therefore, when a package is available, it should be considered. The major advantage of using a package is cost savings. The package developer expects to sell a number of packages to recover the investment in developing it. The cost is thus amortized over a number of users. The cost to the developer though is usually higher than the development of a single application would be, since the package must be general enough to be used by a number of customers. This increased generality makes the package larger, more complex and often less efficient to operate than an application specifically developed for a single application. (Henry and Lucas, 2000) The à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"make or buy decision is always a difficult one for management. The availability of new technologies in the marketplace and a movement by firms to get back to their core competencies, have led many companies to select the à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"buy option. Because of the high cost and long time required to develop software, most managers look first at whether they can buy existing software and modify it, if necessary, to avoid programming an application from scratch. (Henry and Lucas, 2000) (Henry and Lucas, 2000) Asos.coms managers had to face all these difficulties in order to make a decision of whether to develop their own custom system or buy existing software and modify it, according to their needs. They could have depended upon outsourcing to develop and operate their applications, or choose to retain part of their IT functions and to partially outsource some activities, which I believe would be the best decision for the company. Unfortunately, there isnt much information in the Asos.com website of how the organizations software systems were developed. ETHICS / SOCIAL ISSUES Information ethics relates to standards of right and wrong in information processing practices. Organizations must deal with ethical issues relating to their employees, customers and suppliers. Ethical issues are of high importance, for they have the power to damage the image of an organization and to destroy the morale of the employees. Ethics is a complicated area, since ethical issues are not cut-and-tried; they vary between people, cultures and countries. What may be regarded as ethical by one person may be regarded as unethical by another. (Turban et al, 2001) Displacement of employees with Information Technology IT offers many benefits to the organizations. A key benefit of IT is for example, the reengineering of work; it provides operations with many benefits such as elimination of production waste and reduction of operating costs. On the other hand, redesigning business processes could cause millions of employees to lose their jobs. As Rifkin (1993) said: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"We will create a society run by a small high-tech elite of corporate professionals [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] in a nation of the permanently unemployed. (Laudon and Laudon, 2005) Some argue that relieving bright, educated workers from reengineered jobs will result in their replacement to better jobs in fast-growth industries. However this does not apply to unskilled, blue-collar workers and less well-educated, old managers. Consequently, IT has created new ethical dilemmas, in which one set of interests is pitted against another. For example, many of the large telephone companies in the USA are using IT to reduce the sizes of their workforces. Voice recognition software reduces the need for human operators by enabling computers to recognize a customers responses to a series of computerized questions. Competing values at work are, therefore, developed and groups are lined on either side of a debate. Companies argue that displacing employees with IT is ethical, since they have the right to use ISs to increase their productivity and reduce the size of their workforce, in order to lower expenses and remain in business. The employees that are being displaced argue that their employers have responsibilities against their welfare and that their displacement with IT is unethical. (Laudon and Laudon, 2005) Asos.com, as an online corporation, occupies much less personnel than traditional fashion and beauty industries. The company hires high-educated, IT experts to run the operating software and keep the companys website updated with the most innovative features. Displacement of employees with IT is not an issue for Asos.com, although, the latest movement of businesses moving into the digital economy, could be an issue for less and less workers are needed. STRATEGY AND IS / INITIATIVES à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‹Å"Competitive Advantage is at the core of a firms success or failure. (Turban et al, 2001) Ensure continued, powerful Competitive Advantage Computer-based ISs have been enhancing competitiveness and creating strategic advantage for several decades. A competitive strategy is defined as a broad-based formula for how a business is going to compete, what its goals should be and what plans or policies will be required to carry out those goals. Through its competitive strategy, an organization seeks a competitive advantage in an industry. A Competitive Advantage represents an advantage over competitors in some measure such as cost, quality, or speed. A strategic IS can assist an organization to gain a competitive advantage through contribution to its strategic goals and the ability to considerably increase performance and productivity. (Turban et al, 2001) M. Porters competitive forces model is the most popular framework for analyzing competitiveness. It is used to develop strategies for organizations, with the purpose of increasing their competitive edge. Porters model identifies five major forces that could endanger an organizations position in a given industry. These forces are: 1. The threat of entry of new competitors 2. The bargaining power of suppliers 3. The bargaining power of customers 4. The threat of substitute products or services 5. The rivalry among existing firms in the industry (Turban et al, 2001) Asos.com is an online-only corporation; this fact alone provides the company with a strong competitive advantage over its (traditional-clothing-stores) competitors. Asos.com possesses a competitive advantage, mainly, in a matter of cost/expenses, since it doesnt own stores and doesnt occupy vendors and other kinds of staff (cleaning staff, security, etc.) For Asos.com, Internet technologies offer very powerful tools that can increase success through traditional sources of competitive advantage. For example, apart from low cost, Asos.com has an excellent customer service and superior supply chain management. Low costs contribute to more advantages such as competitive prices and supreme quality for the companys products. Consider and Decide IT Strategy: be a leader, a follower or an experimenter Strategic management refers to the conduct of drafting, implementing and evaluating cross-functional decisions that will enable an organization to achieve its long-term objectives. IT contributes to strategic management in many ways. For example, it can contribute through innovative applications, competitive weapons, changes in processes, links with business partners, cost reductions, relationships with suppliers and customers, new products and competitive intelligence. Porters model identifies the forces that influence competitive advantage in the marketplace. Managers are interested in the development of a strategy that aims to establish a profitable and sustainable position against these five forces. To accomplish this, a company needs to develop a strategy of performing activities differently from a competitor. There are many different strategies that managers can choose, according to which copes best with their operation. Some of them are the following: Cost Leadership Strategy: Produce products at the lowest cost in the industry. A firm achieves cost-leadership in its industry by thrifty buying practices, efficient business processes, forcing up the prices paid by competitors and helping customers/suppliers reduce their costs. Differentiation Strategy: Offer different products, services, or product features. By offering different-better products companies can charge higher prices, sell more, or both. Niche Strategy: Select a narrow-scope segment (niche market) and be the best in quality, speed or cost in that market. Innovation Strategy: Introduce new products and services, put new features in existing ones, or develop new ways to produce them. There are many other strategies such as Growth, Alliance, Operational Effectiveness, Time Strategy, etc. (Turban et al, 2001) Asos.com has tried to implement Niche strategies. It has chosen a relatively small market segment (it targets consumers aged 16 to 34) in the clothing/fashion and beauty industry and it has tried to be the best in cost, quality, and speed of the deliveries (same day delivery service through the use of MetaPack delivery management software and CitySprints SameDay Courier solution). Given that it is an online enterprise, and it can therefore keep expenses low, it demonstrates very competitive prices and a very wide range of products and brands. It also maintains high standards of quality for its products. (http://www.asos.com/) REFLECTIVE PARAGRAPH I believe that the main lesson learnt here is that the use of IT has many benefits, but also many drawbacks. IT and the use of information systems can bring rapid change to organizations, enhance productivity and reduce costs. A firm established on the World Wide Web has countless advantages, which is why most medium and large organizations and even small ones create a website. In contrast, numerous concerns derive from the exploit of IT. Global, software system choices, e-commerce, strategy and IS initiatives, and ethical, social and political, are only some of the subjects that raise a great deal of issues. However, there are many options to be considered for the use of IT and most of the matters can be resolved. CONCLUSION To conclude, a brief observation of the background of ASOS.com has been given. The five selected MIS topics have been examined and the occurring issues have been analyzed. Moreover, a discussion of whether each described issue is a problem or not for ASOS.com has been presented. Finally, my reflective thoughts have been outlined, in the reflective paragraph. Last of all, mentioning that in the 21st century we find ourselves living in the age of computerization, is essential. There is plenty room for future development of IT and IS. Information and Communication Technologies for Development, for example, refers to the application of Information and Communication Technologies within the field of socioeconomic development or international development and its concept is intimately associated with applications in the developing nations. It is concerned with the direct application of IT approaches to poverty reduction. Information and communication technologies can be applied either in a direct (their use directly benefits the disadvantaged population) or in an indirect sense (facilitates the improvement of general socio-economic conditions). In many indigent regions of the world, legislative and political measures are required to facilitate or enable application of information and communication technologies. References Andrews, W. 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