Snow Removal in Broome County New York

The removal of snow in the towns, cities, and villages of Broome County of New York is a social service that the county owes it inhabitants. It is such services that justify the taxes the people of Broome county pay. Towards achieving the aim of a cleaner, safer and healthier Broome county, several agencies have been set-up to oversee the snow removal services in the county. This service is particularly the responsibility of the Broome county Environmental Management Council (EMC). The EMC was established in 1971 by the Broome County Legislature to preserve, protect, and enhance the local environment.The county’s highway division maintains and preserves the highway in the county and thus removes the snow that lies on the highway in the Broome County. The aim of the highway division is aptly captured in its webpage as thus:† The Highway Division is responsible for the administration, operation and maintenance of highway bridge and capital projects; this includes road wide ning and straightening, resurfacing and patching of existing county roads to ensure that maintenance is at required engineering standards and safety levels.Emphasis is also placed on snow and ice control. The department also assists other local municipalities with specialized equipment and expertise. † Broome County Parks and Recreation is in charge of maintaining and preserving the recreational facilities in the county for the good of the inhabitants of the county. This means it also removes snow from these parks. Division of public waste seeks to manage all the public waste in the county. Snow is handled as one of the solid wastes handled by this division. These solid waste are either disposed or recycled.Department of Public Works is the chief overseer of the divisions mentioned above. However we need to, from this research establish who has the responsibility of removing snow and how best the snow should be removed and will tis method be cost effective. We will with this r esearch seek to ensure that the method adopted will be the most effective, efficient and cost effective. We want to by this research find the most effective way of snow removal: the best way to remove snow without creating hazard or environmental issues.How snow removal will be more efficient so that the snow will be removed promptly. Cost effective so that it will save the county some money so that other pressing needs of the county will be met without straining the resources of the county. The challenge here is to make the snow removal more effective, efficient and cost tolerant. Design questions for this research are as follows: 1. Who are/is currently responsible for snow removal in Broome County? 2. What method do/does the party/parties responsible for the snow removal employ?3. Is the method employed effective? 4. Is the currently used method efficient? 5. How much does it cost to remove snow in Broome County under the current arrangement? 6. From the cost in answer 5, is this method cost effective? 7. Under the current arrangement, what is the average time it takes to remove snow in the Broome county? 8. Can the responsibility for snow removal in Broome County be shared? 9. If answer to 8 above is yes, who are those that can share this responsibility? 10.Does their sharing in this responsibility bring about better efficiency or reduce the cost of snow removal? 11. Is there a more effective way of removing snow? 12. Does this more effective way of snow removal affect the cost of snow removal? 13. If answer to 12 above is yes, by how much? 14. Are the in habitants of Broome County satisfied with the current snow removal arrangement in place? 15. If no, what improvements will you like to see? References 1. Broome County Website; http://www. gobroomecounty. com/; Sourced 18:26 GMT +1

Tolerance Analysis

A Comprehensive System for Computer-Aided Tolerance Analysis of 2-D†¦ http://adcats. et. byu. edu/Publication/97-4/cirp_2_7_97a. html 7. 0 ASSEMBLY TOLERANCE SPECIFICATIONS An engineering design must perform properly in spite of dimensional variation. To achieve this, engineering design requirements must be expressed as assembly tolerance limits. The designer must assign limits to the gaps, clearances and overall dimensions of an assembly which are critical to performance.Assembly tolerance limits are applied to the statistical distribution of the assembly variations predicted by tolerance analysis to estimate the number of assemblies which will be within the specifications. Designers need to control more than just gaps and clearances in assemblies. Orientation and position of features may also be important to performance. To be a comprehensive design tool, a tolerance analysis system must provide a set of assembly tolerance specifications which covers a wide range of common des ign requirements. A system of assembly tolerance specifications patterned after ANSI Y14. 5 has been proposed [Carr 93].Those ANSI Y14. 5 feature controls which require a datum appear to be useful as assembly controls. However, there is a distinct difference between component tolerance and assembly tolerance specifications, as seen in Fig. 9. In the component tolerance specification shown, the parallelism tolerance zone is defined as parallel to datum A, a reference surface on the same part. By contrast, the assembly parallelism tolerance defines a tolerance zone on one part in the assembly which is parallel to a datum on another part. In order to distinguish an assembly tolerance specification from a component specification, new symbols have been proposed.The feature control block and the assembly datum have been enclosed in double boxes. Fig. 9 Comparison of component and assembly tolerance specifications. 8. 0 MODELING PROCEDURES AND RULES The ability to model a system is a funda mental skill for effective engineering design or manufacturing systems analysis. Unfortunately, few engineers know how to construct variational models of assemblies beyond a 1-D stack. This is primarily because the methods have not been established. There is little treatment of assembly modeling for tolerance analysis in engineering schools or texts.Until engineers learn how to model, tolerance analysis will never become widely used as have other CAD/CAE tools. A consistent set of modeling procedures, with some guiding rules for creating vector assembly models, allows for a systematic approach which can be applied to virtually any assembly. The steps in creating a model are: 1. Identify the assembly features critical to the assembly. Locate and orient each feature and specify the assembly tolerances. 2. Locate a datum reference frame (DRF) for each part. All model features will be located relative to the DRFs. 3.Place kinematic joints at the points of contact between each pair of ma ting parts. Define the joint type and orient the joint axes. These are the assembly constraints. 4. Create vector paths from the DRF on each part to each joint on the part. The paths, called datum paths, must follow feature dimensions until arriving at the joint. Thus, each joint may be located relative to the DRF by controlled engineering dimensions. 5. Define the closed vector loops which hold the assembly together. The datum paths defined in Step 2 7 of 14 5/11/2011 4:27 PM A Comprehensive System for Computer-Aided Tolerance Analysis of 2-D†¦ ttp://adcats. et. byu. edu/Publication/97-4/cirp_2_7_97a. html become segments of the vector loop. A vector loop must enter a part through a joint and leave through another joint, passing through the DRF along the way. Thus, the vector path across a part follows the datum path from the incoming joint to the DRF and follows another datum path from the DRF to the outgoing joint. 6. Define open vector loops to describe each assembly tolera nce specification. For example, for an assembly gap, the loop would start on one side of the gap, pass through the assembly, and end at the other side of the gap. 7.Add geometric variations at each joint. Define the width of the tolerance zone and length of contact between the mating parts as required. The nature of the variation and direction is determined by the joint type and joint axes. Other variations, such as position, may be added at other feature locations. Modeling rules are needed to ensure the creation of valid loops, a sufficient number of loops, correct datum paths, etc. For example, an important set of rules defines the path a vector loop must take to cross a joint. Each joint introduces kinematic variables into the assembly which must be included in the vector model.Fig. 10 shows the vector path across a 2-D cylinder-slider joint. The rule states that the loop must enter and exit the joint through the local joint datums, in this case, the center of the cylinder and a reference datum on the sliding plane. This assures that the two kinematic variables introduced by this joint are included in the loop, namely, the vector U in the sliding plane and the relative angle f at the center of the cylinder, both of which locate the variable point of contact in their corresponding mating parts. Fig. 11 shows a similar vector path through a 3-D crossed cylinders joint.A more complete set of modeling rules is described in [Chase 94]. Fig. 10: 2-D vector path through a joint Fig. 11 3-D vector path through a joint 9. 0 MODELING EXAMPLE The process of creating an assembly tolerance model for analysis is illustrated in the figures below for a seatbelt retraction mechanism. The device is an inertial locking mechanism for the take-up reel. One of the critical assembly features is the gap between the tip of the locking pawl and the gear, as shown in Fig. 12. The assembly is of reasonable complexity, with about 20 dimensional variations and several geometric variati ons as contributing sources.The contribution by each variation source depends on the sensitivity of the gap to each component variation. Fig. 13 shows the DRFs for each part and local feature datums which define model dimensions. 8 of 14 5/11/2011 4:27 PM A Comprehensive System for Computer-Aided Tolerance Analysis of 2-D†¦ http://adcats. et. byu. edu/Publication/97-4/cirp_2_7_97a. html Fig. 12 Example 2-D assembly Fig. 13 Part DRFs and feature datums. In Figure 14, the kinematic joints defining the mating conditions are located and oriented. Clearance in the rotating joints was modeled by two methods.In the first case, the shafts were modeled as revolute joints, centered in the clearance, with clearance variation added as an equivalent concentricity. In the second case, the CAD model was modified so each shaft was in contact with the edge of the hole, modeled by parallel cylinder joints, and variation was determined about this extreme position. After the joints have been locat ed, the assembly loops can then be generated, as shown in Fig. 15. To simplify the figure, some of the vectors are not shown. Fig. 14 Kinematic joints define mating conditions. Fig. 5 Vector loops describe assembly. Models for geometric variation may then be inserted into the vector assembly model, as shown in Fig. 16. The completed CATS model, in Fig. 17, is ready for assembly tolerance analysis. 9 of 14 5/11/2011 4:27 PM A Comprehensive System for Computer-Aided Tolerance Analysis of 2-D†¦ http://adcats. et. byu. edu/Publication/97-4/cirp_2_7_97a. html Fig. 16 Geometric variation sources are added. Fig. 17 The completed CATS model. Figure 18 show a 3-D CATS model overlaid on a swashplate cam and follower mechanism. Fig. 18 3-D CATS model. 10. 0 TOLERANCE ANALYSISThe analysis approach used within the CATS system is based on linearization of the assembly equations and solution for the variations by matrix algebra. A detailed description with examples may be found in [Chase 95, 96] and [Gao 97]. The linearized method provides an accurate and real-time analysis capability that is compatible with engineering design approaches and tools. Vector assembly models can be used with any analysis system. Gao used the CATS Modeler as a graphical front end for 10 of 14 5/11/2011 4:27 PM A Comprehensive System for Computer-Aided Tolerance Analysis of 2-D†¦ http://adcats. et. byu. du/Publication/97-4/cirp_2_7_97a. html a Monte Carlo simulator [Gao 93]. An iterative solution was used to close the vector loops for each simulated assembly. Histograms for each assembly feature being analyzed were generated from the computed assembly dimensions. A comparison of the linearized approach with Monte Carlo analysis is presented in [Gao 95]. 11. 0 CAD IMPLEMENTATION Fig. 19 shows the structure of the Computer-Aided Tolerancing System integrated with a commercial 3-D CAD system. The CATS ® Modeler creates an engineering model of an assembly as a graphical and symbolic overla y, linked associatively to the CAD model.Pop-up menus present lists of joints, datums, g-tols and design specs to add to the CAD model. The model is created completely within the graphical interface of the CAD system. There are no equations to type in to define mating conditions or other assembly relationships. CATS is tightly integrated with each CAD system, so it becomes an extension of the designer's own CAD system. Current CAD implementations include: Pro/ENGINEERa (TI/TOL 3D+), CATIAa, CADDS5a, and AutoCADa; (AutoCATS). Fig. 19 The CATS System Architecture The CATS Analyzer accesses the assembly tolerance model that was created and stored in the CAD system.The Analyzer has built-in statistical algorithms to predict variation in critical assembly features due to process variation. It features built-in algorithms for tolerance synthesis, which re-size selected tolerances to meet target assembly quality levels. Matrix analysis gives instant feedback for any design iteration or â⠂¬Å"what-if† study. The user interface is standard XWindows Motif, with multiple windows, scroll bars, pop-up menus, dialog boxes, option buttons, data fields and slide bars for data entry, etc. The designer is in complete control of the tolerance analysis/design process.Graphical plots give visual feedback in the form of statistical distributions, ranked sensitivity and percent contribution plots. Engineering limits are shown on the distribution, with corresponding parts-per-million reject values displayed. The current status of the CATS Modeler and Analyzer, with respect to ease of use by an interactive graphical user interface and internal automation are summarized in Table 1 and Table 2. Table 1. Current status of assembly modeling CAD implementation Modeling Task Graphical Automation Level 11 of 14 5/11/2011 4:27 PM

Essence of Corporate Social Responsibility and CSR Coursework

Essence of Corporate Social Responsibility and CSR - Coursework Example CSR can be defined a commitment made by a company towards the stakeholder to operate in an environmentally, socially and economically sustainable fashion. CSR seeks to integrate workplace culture, communities and human rights to business strategies. In the initial days the many used to treat CSR as arm chair philanthropy, however things have changed drastically. It is treated as an integral part of the overall business strategy. In order to discuss the focal points related to CSR two companies have chosen in the form of Philip Morris and Starbucks. Philip Morris is one of largest tobacco companies. It includes seven leading international brands that include Marlboro, the top most cigarette brand in the world. Starbucks one the other hand is a global coffee chain. They are based on Seattle, Washington. It is also the largest coffeehouse company. It has over twenty thousand stores and operates in over sixty countries. Starbucks shops provide a wide range of products including hot and c old coffee, pastries, snacks, etc. As it can be seen that two companies with distinct product mix and different business model has been chose. The main objective of such choice is to demonstrate the importance and benefits of CSR across various industries. Add to it must be mentioned that as per research the key focal points of CSR activities of both the companies happens to be same, at least to some extent; such as investment in foundations and communities, waste reduction, energy conservation, recycling etc. Here it is needless to say that CSR for Philip Morris is supposed to be a bit trickier as compared of Starbucks keeping the product line in mind (Urip, p. 13). Potential Benefits and Importance of CSR CSR should not be looked upon a leakage of resources. If implemented properly CSR policies can provide an array of benefits such as increase the level of customer retention, enhances relationship with customers, suppliers, stakeholders and other channel partners, differentiates t he company from that of the competitors, improves reputation, generates positive publicity and even helps the companies to get new business. This segement will be of great help to understand how CSR activities benefits Starbucks and Philip Morris to maintain better relationship with the stake holders. Stakeholders include employees, business partners, investors, local communities as well customers. It will also be helpful to analyze the alignment of CSR with the corpora objectives. It will reflect the importance of CSR keeping the overall corporate strategy in mind. Corporate objective can be defined as a realistic objective set by the company that influences key strategic decisions (Heal, p.132). Starbucks views CSR as an opportunity to give something back to the community. As a matter of fact it runs down deep to the company roots. For Starbucks CSR is an approach to fulfill the commitments made to the origins, environment, communities, and partners. Some of the approaches include investments to benefit coffee producers and their families; promoting the concept of recycling, conservation of coffee growing countries; having in store green teams. More than one billion people work at Starbucks. They are not treated as employees; rather they are treated as partners. As a matter of fact the mission statement of the company talks about the commitment to partners. As mentioned before CSR activities for Philip Morris are supposed to be a bit trickier as compared to the other. However the CSR activities of the company are nothing short of impressive. The company actively invests in art

The Curia Regis in 13th century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Curia Regis in 13th century - Essay Example These two major sections are the Bench, which was later known as the Court of Common Pleas. The first section comprised of most of the civil cases, and this was said to be the most-busy medieval court. (Public Records: Common Law Records) The second section was the King's Bench, where pleas were put to the ears of the king. This was called the 'Coram Rege'. This influenced the criminal cases, i.e. the crown side, or pleas of the crown, and also looked into few civil cases mostly those which involved the violation of the king's peace (Public Records: Common Law Records) The common law is a group of legal discretion of each and every legal system that has in recent times reached a level of involvedness. Because of its special characteristic features, the common law is stated to be a body of rule which at no cost can be matched with another similar body of rule belonging to the same legal system. The common law comprises of a precise body of contents which is applied generally outside any particular category. Thus the contents of the common law are not constant and it varies accordingly. (Common Law). During the Renaissance and Reformation period of the European history it was found to be an age of profound revolutionary change. There cannot be any revolution which is understood without analyzing the destruction and modification that preceded them. Only in possession of the knowledge of the middle Ages, the concept of Renaissance and the Reformation could be understood and welcomed. The western European society during the middle ages contributed to a large segment of population which comprised of the tillers of the soil, and the main basis of wealth and political power was the land. The Industry and commerce were not given a significant importance. This was due to the pursuits that prevailed during the Roman times or were to be prevalent in the modern era. Thus there was a term which took its origin in the recent times to describe the type of government that existed in the medieval Europe. This term was called 'feudalism'. (Medieval Civilization and Institutions) The origin of feudalism was put to great debate whether it originated from the Romans or the Germans The response to this question or debate was that feudalism originated from the Germans and later was also put into practice by the Romans. The medieval feudalism was accustomed to a state of society where the land was the source of wealth and the military force which was the basis of power consequently blocking the agrarian society. Further after the breakdown of Rome, and when Western Europe was subject to attacks by Moslems, Norsemen, and Hungarians, the concept of feudalism took shape. This concept could be said successful in maintaining order, until when the thirteenth century came to an end. It was followed throughout in the West and in some areas, particularly Italy where it did not ever take deep roots. Thus only with the help of the oldest inhabitants of a given area, the law applicable to it need not be made, but had to be found. This information could be given by the earlies t uses of the jury, which means a sworn body of men. (Medieval Civilization and Institutions) During the thirteenth-century, the appeal by the king's courts, were of first importance for legal historians and all researchers who were in the

Napoleon Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Napoleon - Essay Example On the other hand, there are a number of other historians who consider Napoleon as a real military despot who was a tyrant, aggressor and autocrat who cared for his fame and popularity alone. This paper seeks to explore the military and personal life of Napoleon and attempts to show how criticisms and interpretations of Napoleon’s life varied from one historian (researcher) to another. Ralph Jean-Paul in his article entitled â€Å"Napoleon Bonapartes Guide to Leadership† suggests a number of reasons why Napoleon should be regarded as one of the best leaders the world has ever seen. For him, Napoleon’s leadership style included â€Å"all of the major and minor characteristics that make a brilliant leader†1. For him, Napoleon was a great motivator and charismatic speaker who could win the trust and loyalty of his generals and soldiers ‘by promising them victory and glory’, employing ‘new ways to make things work’, appreciating and awarding the achievement of his soldiers, and leading the battles from the front. However, Ralph Jean-Paul also argues that it was his deteriorating confidence after his loss to the Russians in the War of the Sixth and his lack of trust in his followers that culminated in his ultimate defeat (Jean-Paul). Similarly, Jared Stenzel tries to answer whether Napoleon was a real hero or a tyrant and he purports that Napoleon was more of a tyrant than a hero. The author argues that Napoleon was very much a tyrant as he never believed his followers and entrusted people to spy on them, either jailed or killed people who opposed him, and never offered freedom of speech and expression to his followers and the newspapers2. Justin Patterson, in this respect offers a balanced view of why Napoleon was considered to be a real French revolutionary who was a hero to his people and loved his nation so much and how he turned out to be a military despot in the latter part of his military career.

Stem Cell Legislation in the US Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Stem Cell Legislation in the US - Essay Example Since 1998, when the scientists in University of Wisconsin isolated cells for the first time from the inner cell mass of the early human embryo, called the blastocyst, and developed the first human embryonic stem cell lines, an enhanced research is being done to understand therapeutic potential of stem cells. Moreover, the interest of scientists is increasing in regenerative medicines so that the stem cell therapy can be brought to clinics. Research efforts have focused on spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and other diseases or conditions. Scientists hope to use specialized cells to replace dysfunctional cells in the brain, spinal cord, pancreas, and other organs. The stem cells are obtained from 2-8 days old embryo created by in vitro fertilization (IVF), 5-9 weeks old foetuses aborted by elective abortion, embryos created by IVF or somatic cell nuclear transfer for research purposes and from adult tissues like bone marrow. U sually the concern is over the removal of stem cells from early stage embryos, because the embryo is killed to extract these cells from their inner cell mass. These cells have the highest potential to give rise to any cell type than the adult stem cells. Prior to President Bush's stem cell announcement in 2001, federal law had prohibited HHS from funding human embryo research. No federal funds were given to support research on stem cells derived from human embryos. Research was done through private funding. Bush announced that federal funds would be available to support limited human embryonic stem cell research (HESC). A detailed history of 107 to 111 Congress House Bills and Senate Bills are summarized in the table below. Congress Bills Description 107 House 1. HR 2059-The Stem Cell Research Act, 2001 2. HR 2096-The Responsible Stem Cell Research Act, 2001 3. HR 2747-To codify Clinton Administration's guidelines governing research using human pluripotent stem cells 4. HR 2838-To require NIH to conduct human embryonic stem cells (HESC) and repeal the human embryonic research ban contained within the labour HHS, and Education Appropriations Act 5. HR 2863-To require the establishment of an additional FDA advisory committee to make recommendation on the field of cell development, including HESC and therapeutic cloning Senate 1. S 723- HESC generation and research 2. S 1359-To maintain a stem cell donor bank containing stem cells derived from adult tissue, placentas and umbilical cord blood 108 House 1. HR 534-Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003 2. HR 801-Cloning of Humans (to prohibit reproductive cloning but allow therapeutic cloning) 3. HR 916-Human Cloning Research Prohibition Act of 2003 4. HR 938-Human Cloning Prevention Act of 2003 Senate 1. S 245-Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2003 2. S 303-Human cloning ban and Stem Cell Research Protection Act of 2003 109 House 1. HR 162-Use of Federal Fund to Research an HESC 2. HR 222-Prohibition of Federal Funding for Research on the Cloning of Humans 3. HR 810-The Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 4. HR 1357-The Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2005 Senate 1. S 471- Stem Cell Research

Compare life in a big city to life in a small town Essay

Compare life in a big city to life in a small town - Essay Example First, city life is different from small town life in their capacity to have access to government institutions. For instance, most people would prefer to be examined by more qualified doctors and be treated in hospitals which have advanced technological equipment which are found in large cities. Additionally, the quality of education offered in large cities is much better than that of small towns. This is because schools in big cities have better qualified teachers and the institutions themselves have far much better facilities compared to those in small towns. This brings up the concept of lifestyle as it will be outlined below. The kind of lifestyle that people experience in large cities is remarkably different from the everyday life that people in small towns are used to. For instance, in small towns, houses have sizable gardens and several pets. Furthermore, there is a respectable distance between houses in neighborhoods due to lack of congestion. However, in big cities, people generally live in high rise buildings. Also, large cities have better social amenities like cinemas, gyms and games compared to those found in small towns which makes the lifestyles of those staying in the big cities sophisticated (Inforbarrel, 2013). In the same way that these two environments differ in their lifestyles, so do they vary in their general atmosphere. The kind of atmosphere that one experiences in a large city and a small town are very different. Large cities are crowded with millions of people and thousands of vehicles, which bring about traffic jams, noise and environmental pollution. In contrast, the roads in small towns are usually quiet with countable vehicles and fewer people present. For this reason, the general atmosphere in the big towns is typically hot, stuffy and smoky. However, people experience a much clearer atmosphere in small towns due to manageable populations and also because

Total Reward (Google) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Total Reward (Google) - Essay Example ng high compensation that is contingent on the performance of the employee; higher salary that what is normally paid for a comparable job and specific performance related incentives, such as bonuses. As Pfeffer (1998) points out, one of the means most companies use to attract high calibre employees to their organization is to offer them high salaries and added monetary benefits. In the case of Google, the Company not only offers a good monetary package, it also offers other rewards such as a sum of up to $8000 a year in tuition reimbursement, unlimited sick leave and 27 days of paid time off after a year of employment. (www.greatplacetowork.com). Additionally, the Company also provides employees the opportunity to avail of a five year leave of absence to pursue an education worth up to $150,000. Additional perks are also available on the job, such as medical, dental and child care facilities, valet parking and free meals. A total rewards programs helps employees to feel motivated and valued. It helps them feel that their organization really cares about them and about their welfare. A study that was carried out by Batt (2002) to examine the relationship between the quit rates of employees in call centres and their organizational performance to the kind of human resource reward practices that were being used at the firm. The findings in this study showed that quit rates were lower and there were high levels of sales growth in those call centres where employees participated in decision making and were offered HR incentives such as job security and high levels of pay. Since there is a great demand for talented employees in the workforce, the level of competition among employers to attract such employees is high and the offer of greater monetary benefits may serve to achieve this objective. Google requires very skilled and talented employees and its higher salaries, bonuses and incentives have proved to be very effective, because it is ranked as one of the best

Implicit cognition Essay Example for Free

Implicit cognition Essay Implicit cognition refers to internal influences that affect an individual’s behaviours. The identifying feature of implicit cognition is that an individual’s past experiences can influence their judgements in   fashion that the individual is not introspectively aware of – i.e. the person is not conscious of the fact that the experiences have affected his/her perceptions in such a way. (Greenwald Banaji, pg 4; 1995) Evidence supports the view that social behaviour and attitudes in particular are often based largely on unconscious attitudes, for example an individual’s attitudes towards a specific ethnic group are prone to be implicitly influenced. Implicit attitudes are commonly thought to mainly effect cognitive bias in a negative way (e.g. racism), however Edward Thorndike (1920) named the ‘halo effect’, upon observing that personality ratings showed a tendency for positive attributes to be associated with other positive attributes more than they should be (Greenwald Banaji, pg 9; 1995). A great amount of ‘halo effect’ research has been based on using physical attractiveness as the objectively irrelevant attribute that influences perception of other characteristics. Studies have shown that attractive people are judged to possess greater social skills as well as being more successful in employment (Dion, Berscheid Walster; 1972). As previously mentioned implicit cognition is caused by past experiences influencing judgement in ways that the individual is not introspectively aware, thus it is imperative to use indirect measures to gauge an individual’s implicit attitudes. The distinction between direct and indirect measures depends on the relationship between what the subject is informed about the purpose of a measure and what the researcher chooses to interpret from the subjects response to the measure (Greenwald Banaji, pg 8; 1995) – the researcher will inform the subject that one attribute is being measured when in fact the researcher will interpret information about another attribute based on the subjects response to the measure. It is necessary to use indirect measures because implicit attitudes are by definition attitudes that an individual is unable to report as they are unaware of their existence i.e. implicit attitudes are beyond an individual’s introspective limits. For the purpose of this essay I have chosen to examine the reaction time based ‘Implicit Association Test’ (IAT) and Facial Electromyography (fEMG) which is based on physiological measurement. Implicit attitudes result in projections of behaviour or judgments that are under the control of automatically activated evaluation, without the actor’s awareness of that causation. The IAT procedure seeks to measure implicit attitudes by measuring their underlying automatic evaluation. A beneficial property of the IAT is that it may resist individuals masking their attitudes using self presentation strategies (e.g. providing false responses in order to gain social acceptance or avoid criticism). In short, the IAT may reveal attitudes and other automatic associations even or those who prefer not to express those attitudes (Greenwald et al, pg 1464-5; 1998). The IAT is performed over a series of five stages; the first stage is called ‘Target Concept Discrimination’ in this stage the target concept is introduced and the subject is instructed to simply pair the stimuli with its corresponding concept, for example a study on implicit attitudes towards sexual preference (Project Implicit – an online database of IATs offering the test to the public, spearheaded by Dr Anthony Greenwald, Dr Brian Nosek and Dr Maharin Banaji) presents the subject with the task concepts ‘gay’ and ‘straight’, the subject is then presented with images displaying gay or straight couples or words such as homosexual and heterosexual. When the stimulus appears on screen the subject pairs it with the corresponding category – picture of a man and wife pairs with straight concept. The next stage in the IAT is ‘Associated Attribute Discrimination’ as previously this stage is presented as a two- category discrimination task. The subject is asked to pair words such as happiness, love, agony, strife with the corresponding attributes good and bad according to which attribute best suits their meaning. Following the introduction to the ‘Target Concept Discrimination’ and to the ‘Associates Attribute Dimension’, the two are amalgamated in the third stage –i.e. gay and good on one side of the screen and straight and bad on the other or vice versa. During this stage stimuli for target and attribute discriminations appear on alternate trials. For example’ a picture of a homosexual couple would be shown followed by the word ‘famine’.   As previously the subject pairs the stimuli with their matching category. The fourth stage consists of reversing the target concepts position in the experiment and the final stage of the experiment combines the ‘Reversed Target Concept Discrimination’ with attribute discrimination. For example the gay concept is now on the same side of the screen as bad. The subject is then presented with alternating stimuli and pairs them with the appropriate concept or attribute. If the target concepts are differentially associated with the attribute dimension, the subject should find one of the combined task (either the third stage or the fifth stage) to be more difficult than the other- this is shown in the subjects reaction time; longer reaction times suggest the subject has higher difficulty pairing an attribute with a concept. The measure of the difference in difficulty is used to provide the measure of implicit attitudinal difference between the target categories (Greenwald et al, pg 1465-6; 1998). In the example of implicit attitudes towards sexual preference, it should be easier to complete the task when straight is combined with good if there is a stronger association between heterosexuals and good meanings than between homosexuals and good meaning, thus showing an implicit attitude of bias towards heterosexuals. Also it is common to use training stages before each of the combined discrimination stages to reduce the effects the order of the combined discrimination tasks has on the IAT results. Since the IAT was first described by Dr. Anthony Greenwald et al in Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 1998 it has grown exponentially in popularity, having been used in over 300 published studies and cited in over 800 articles (Azar, 2008). Among the reasons for the success of the IAT are its relative ease of use, the large effect sizes it creates, its high level of adaptability and its resistance to subject’s faking their responses. To show the validity of the IAT Greenway et al (1998) used the classical known-groups validity measure. This measure consists of using groups whom are known previous to the experiment to differ regarding the construct of interest. Greenwald et al used Americans of Korean and Japanese descent to test the validity of the IAT. The participants had to classify positive and negative words along with typical Korean and Japanese names in the combined discrimination stage, as expected the IAT results showed that individuals of Korean or Japanese descent were prone to hold mutually negative implicit attitudes towards the other ethnicity (Banse et al pg 146; 2001). It has been disputed that the reason for these IAT results is at least partially based on ethnic groups being more familiar with names associated with in their own group, i.e. positive IAT scores may reflect familiarity more so than sympathy with their own ethnic group. Another commonly expressed concern with the internal validity of the IAT is the order in which the combined discrimination tasks appear. Greenwald et al (1998) expressed that all other thing being equal, strengths of associations used in the first of the IATs two combined tasks had a tendency to be stronger than those used in the second combined task. However, in a subsequent study Nosek et al (2005) showed that an increase in the length of the training stages before each of the combined discrimination stages can result the order having less of an effect on the IAT scores. If the pairing order effect is due to the interference caused by learning and becoming accustomed to an initial response set and subsequently needing to replace it with a new response set, then extra practice with the new response set may act to reduce this effect. (Nosek et al, pg 177; 2005). Furthermore the IAT is designed that the order of the combined discrimination task be random.

Kite Runner Themes Essay Example for Free

Kite Runner Themes Essay Ethnic Pride Baba expresses a great deal of pride and attachment to the afghan culture so the move to America fills Amir and himself with a loss of heritage and identity. The escape from the previous culture however allows Amir to escape the incident of rape upon his best friend Hassan which has left a bad taste on his childhood. In America Amir doesn’t turn away from his Middle Eastern culture, and asks Soraya’s father, the general for permission to marry her even though he spurns it slightly by talking to her privately without consent. Amir towards the end, becomes proud of his blended culture. Although he enjoys visiting Pakistan, eating the traditional food and hearing references to childhood legends, he also likes the feeling of hope and freedom he gained from America. Social Inequality From childhood, Amir recognizes the difference in social standing between himself and best friend Hassan. As a Pashtun, Amir enjoys privileges of being a higher class and his father being a successful man whereas Hassan is poor and he and his father face prejudice from people every day. Despite this, Hassan and Ali are content with their lower class life and are good natured human beings. Hosseini is trying to convey that your social standing in society does not determine what kind of person you are and if you are better than someone else. You can only truly be better than someone else morally and having saint-like characteristics. During Amir and Hassan childhood, they’re differences of social class are conveyed by living standards, Hassan being illiterate and physical appearances. These are individually important but as a whole they all convey irony in the fact that it is Hassan who is content with life and Amir who is not. Later in the novel, Hazara prejudice which is taken to the extreme as they are massacred and abused by Taliban officials, such as Assef. When Sohrab returns with Amir to America, Amir is quick to dispel any mention of class as he believes it is has influenced his and Sohrab’s life too greatly and he perhaps finally sees them as his equals which he was afraid to do so as a child(never referring to Hassan as his friend). Personal Responsibility Many of the actions of the main character stem from personal responsibility. Baba takes on the responsibility of Ali from his father, who took him in when he was a child. He lets Ali and his son work for him, offers them shelter and food; making them feel part employees and part family. Air later realises this ‘personal responsibility’ baba showed for Ali may stem from his guilt of betraying Ali and fathering Hassan. Amir feels responsible for all the bad occurrences which happened to Hassan and his father. He feels many of the events which occurred later in the novel are down to him being too cowardly to prevent Hassan being raped. Though many suffer from the Taliban’s ruthlessness, he believes the events that happened to Hassan’s family are his responsibility/fault. The feeling of responsibility is what drives Amir to return to Afghanistan, to rescue Sohrab. Rahim Khan plants this idea in Amir’s head and suggests this is the way to achieve closure and absolution for the past. After he rescues Sohrab, Amir feels responsible for the boy in a different way and wants to protect him from anymore pain; furthermore, he sees Sohrab as a way to fill the emptiness in the marriage from his and Sorayas infidelity. Identity and Self- discovery Throughout the novel the protagonist struggles to find his true purpose and find his identity through noble actions. Amir’s failure to be loyal to his friend at such a crucial moment defines this conflict. His endeavour to overcome his own weaknesses appear in confronting Assef, returning to a war torn country oppressed by the Taliban and even his carsickness whilst during with Farid. The revelation of baba later in chapter 17, allows Amir to discover who his father really was and how alike they were in terms of betraying people who loved and were loyal to the end to them. The return to Afghanistan allows Amir to find out the type of man he can become and to confront his past which he has so desperately tried to bottle up. Family, Fathers and Fatherhood Family relationships play a great part in this novel but mothers are strikingly absent. Amir and Hassan grow up without their mothers and this is exemplified through the tension of Baba’s treatment of his sons. He makes it clear he is disappointed Amir is bookish, cowardly to protect his social standing and stick up for Hassan whilst on the other hand, he never publically acknowledges Hassan as his own son- although he shows a great deal of affection to Hassan. Likewise, General Taheri is a similar traditional, highly critical father who chafes his daughter for rebellious behaviour. The theme of family is then reintroduced when Amir and Soraya are unsuccessful in starting their own- punishment perhaps for their pasts or that Amir has yet to face up to his. The adoption of the troubled Sohrab however, provides them with the attempt to begin a complete family based on love and honesty. Journey and Quest The novel is mostly based around Amirs departure from Afghanistan as a young teenager and his return as a middle aged man to the war-torn country. At the same time, it is a symbolic quest. Amir makes great sacrifices to pursue his quest to atone for past sins by rescuing his nephew Sohrab in the hands of the Taliban. Symbolised at the beginning of the novel with Amir cutting his fingers with the kite string in order to sacrifice himself for his father’s love, sacrifice plays a big theme also. Amir towards the end of the novel again, willingly cuts his fingers, to revive his spiritually wounded nephew who is suffering from depression. By the end of the novel, this significant symbol of sacrifice shows how much Amir has morally developed as he is willing to sacrifice much in order to save Sohrab from a similar fate and to protect him. The most part of the novel is Amir hiding from his past and by returning to Kabul he is taking that all important journey to have complete redemption. Political power and Abuse The events of the novel occur against the backdrop of political change, the rise of the Taliban government. Assef, Hassans rapist and bully, who becomes a high ranking Taliban officer, embodies the consequence of abuse of power and violence and oppression caused by the Taliban. Assef is a sociopath who thrives in the atmosphere of chaos. Interpersonal violence leads to the split of Hassan and Amir; on a national scale the abuse of power by communist backed soviets results in massacres and Afghanistan forces to go into exile. The abuse of power and abuse is an important reference to how the hazara’s have been treated. From humiliation at the beginning of the novel for their looks to being massacred and horrifically abused. When General Taheri demands an explanation for their adoption of Sohrab, he echoes the discrimination against this entire ethnic minority and in a sense, Baba also condones the attitude towards Hazara’s by not admitting that he fathered a Hazara son. Kites After Hassan gets raped while running his kite, Amir cannot separate kite fighting and running from his own betrayal and cowardice. Therefore, even after all of his injuries and trials on Sohrabs behalf, it is the act of kite running that finally makes him feel redeemed. Beyond their significance to the plot, kites have multiple layers of symbolism in the story. One of these layers involves the class difference between Amir and Hassan, which largely dictates and limits their relationship. In kite fighting, one boy controls the kite while the other assists by feeding the string. Just as Hassan makes Amirs breakfast, folds his clothes, and cleans his room, so does he cater to Amir in kite tournaments. Even though Hassan shares in the excitement of kite fighting, he does not actually have control over the kite. Hassan may help the kite lift-and-dive, but Amir is the one who claims a victory. Hassan may catch a cherished rival kite and hold it in his arms, but always to bring it back to Amir, to whom it then belongs. His joy is vicarious, just like his experience of wealth and privilege while living in Babas household. In order to free himself of selfishness and cowardice, Amir must go from being merely a kite fighter-someone who seeks glory-to a kite runner, someone who genuinely does things for others. The activity of kite fighting is violent by nature. The kites battle and so too do the children flying them. The string, which is covered in ground glass, carves deep gashes into the fliers hands as they try to cut each other down, and once kites fall out of the sky, the kite runners retrieve them with the same furious determination as, say, a hunting dog does a slain bird. In its violence, kite fighting represents the conflicts that rage Afghanistan nearly throughout the course of the novel. When Hosseini paints us a picture of hundreds of kites trying haphazardly and with great determination to cut each other down, he shows us also the warring factions of Afghanistan overthrowing one another. At the same time kite fighting is violent, the mere act of kite flying is innocent and speaks of freedom. Amir and Hassan do not have control over the differences between them; in fact, they are both the victims of a lie, and their relationship would have been different had they known they were brothers. Yet despite their differences and the symbolism of their respective kite-fighting roles, flying kites is an activity that brings the boys together. For a moment, they are part of a team. For many years, Amir feels as though he and Hassan are adversaries for Babas love. After the rape, Hassans very existence infuriates Amir because it reminds him of his cowardice. Despite all this, when the boys fly kites together, they are on the same team. They are more like brothers then than perhaps any other time, because the activity is somewhat mutual. It allows them to momentarily escape their differences and enjoy a shared sense of exhilaration and freedom.

Learning a second language

Learning a second language 1 Can learning an L2 cause L1 attrition? Attrition is the non-pathological, not age-related loss of a language. Speakers learning a second language often experience a change in the way they process their native language, a process called L1 attrition. L1 attrition often occurs in migrant individuals, since they immerse themselves fully into another language. It is expected that, as someone learns an L2 in an immersion environment, some crosslinguistic interference might happen. This interference can happen in both directions: just as the L2 is influenced by the L1, the L1 can assimilate to the L2. The present paper discusses the possibility of L1 phonetic attrition caused by the acquiring of an L2. Phonetic attrition is the loss of phonetic segments and/or suprasegmental features and/or the adaptation to other phonetic units. This paper will discuss how phonetic attrition can affect the production of sounds and suprasegmental features, specifically peak alignment. It will also discuss how phonetic attrition can happen in be ginner learners in classroom settings as well as the more expected case of complete language immersion. Mennen (2004) pursued the question of whether Dutch non-native speakers of Greek are able to produce cross-linguistic differences in the timing of peak alignments in both their languages. He conducted two experiments to answer his question. The first experiment tested whether experiences L2 speakers (Dutch non-native speakers of Greek) can produce accurate f0 timing in their L2 (Greek). A further aim of this study was to see whether an influence from the L1 (Dutch) can be observed in the L2. The participants were divided into three groups: five native Dutch speakers (D), five native Greek speakers (G), and five non-native (Dutch) speakers of Greek (DG). All participants in the LG group were late bilinguals with experience in their L2 ranging from 12 to 35 years, used their L2 regularly, and were college educated. The materials used in the first experiment were 20 declaratives in Greek and 40 declaratives in Dutch (further divided into 20 declaratives containing short vowels and 20 declaratives containing long vowels). The participants were asked to read the test sentences twice in a random order. Group D read two sets of sentences in Dutch (declaratives containing short and long vowels), awhile groups G and DG only read the set of sentences in Greek. The readings were recorded and their peak alignment onset measured. The speakers were asked to repeat any mispronounced sentences. When comparing group DG’s alignment data to that of groups G, the results showed clear differences in their peak alignment times. Four out of the five L2 learners aligned their peaks earlier than native Greek speakers. When compared to group’s D data, the peaks alignments were closer in time but still not native-like. This result showed that L2 speakers could not reach a native-like production of peak alignments in their L2, Greek. At the same time, this shows cross-linguistic influence from the L1 into the L2. The second experiment was conducted to investigate if Dutch non-native speakers of Greek were able to maintain correct peak alignment times in their L1. The materials and procedure were the same as in experiment 1, as for the participants, only groups D and DG were required for this experiment. The results from this second experiment showed a difference in peak alignment times in both sets of sentences in Dutch for both groups; this difference however was smaller in the DG group, and therefore non-native like. From both these experiments, Mennen concluded that Dutch on-native speakers of Greek fail to produce native-like peak alignments in their L1 and L2, which can be interpreted as L1 phonetic attrition. In 2012, Chang conducted an experiment with the goal of examining the extent to which the L1 can change during L2 learning in beginner L2 learners, and also if the L1 would be affected within the first weeks of acquisition. For this experiment, two groups of participants were recruited: an L2 learner group, consisting of 36 adult nave speakers of American English learning Korean and a control group consisting of nine native Korean speakers. The L2ers group lived in a South Korean university campus and were starting an intensive six week course of introductory Korean (the equivalent of a semester of college-level Korean classes) The participants had no significant previous exposure to Korean and although they were living in Korea, their interactions were limited to other L2 learners. The materials in this experiment consisted of 22 Korean and 23 English monosyllabic items. There were 15 critical items beginning with plosives. The participants were asked to read the monosyllables and their VOT for the critical items was recorded. The results from this experiment showed that by week five, phonetic attrition of the learners’ English in approximation to Korean. That is to say, the VOT of the learnersà ¢â‚¬â„¢ English plosives stopped being native-like and drifted into being more like the Korean stops they had been learning. The learners’ production of English voiceless stops and Korean aspirated stops lengthened in VOT in a manner that suggests they were coordinated. From this experiment, Chang concluded that phonemic attrition can occur rapidly, in a class-room setting, due to cross-linguistic interference even during the first weeks of instruction. The next study, by Mayr et al. (2013), investigates whether L1 attrition has occurred in the speech of a monozygotic twin who emigrated from the L1 environment 30 years ago. This was tested by comparing her speech productions to those of her identical twin sister, who has been living in the L1-speaking environment all her life. The participants consisted of identical twin sisters MZ and TZ, both of which were consecutive Dutch-English bilinguals. They were 62 years old at the time of the study. Their language background is as follows: MZ and TZ grew up together in the Netherlands, where they acquired their L1. In high school, both were introduced to English as their L2 and later acquired jobs in an international telecommunications company, where they only spoke English. At age 32 MZ left the Netherlands to live in the UK, where she had a daughter (also Dutch-English bilingual). MZ reported to preferring English in her everyday life, but speaks both Dutch and English with her daughter (she also reported frequent code-switching with her daughter). In contrast, TZ stayed in the Netherlands her whole life and stopped using English once she left her telecommunications job. The materials consisted of 20 monosyllabic Dutch target words and 20 monosyllabic English target words. The participants were asked to produc e each target word four times, randomly, in the following fashion: â€Å"I say X† (for English targets) and â€Å"Ik zei X† (for Dutch targets). This resulted in 80 Dutch tokens and 96 English tokens per participant. The researchers measured the VOT of plosives in both languages. The data for each language was recorded in different days (appropriately far from each other) to avoid the effects of language suppression and activation during the process. The results of this experiment showed clear phonetic attrition in MZ’s production of voiceless plosives, which indicate cross-linguistic assimilation patterns. She produced VOT values that are longer than the Dutch norm, while TZ’s VOT values were perfectly within the Dutch norm. MZ’s VOT values were much more similar to her English VOT values than to her sister’s Dutch VOT values. The researchers concluded that this difference was caused by cross-linguistic influences from MZ’s L2 into h er L1, which caused L1 attrition. They also mentioned that MZ’s code switching interactions with her daughter might have a large part in her L1 attrition, since bilinguals that code switch are more likely to be perceived as foreigners or more heavily accented by native speakers. The last study, by de Leeuw et al. (2010), investigated how the acquisition of an L2 affects the accentedness of the L1 in two different consecutive bilingual groups with different L2s by comparing them to monolingual native speakers of their L1. For this experiment, 34 German immigrants in Anglophone Canada, 23 German immigrants in the Netherlands, and five German monolingual controls in Germany were recruited. The speakers were questioned on different aspects of their language usage, such as the frequency with which they used their L1, or if they code-switched between languages (this question was not asked explicitly). A group of 19 German listeners were also recruited. They had a minimal or non-existent knowledge of English and Dutch and were not bilingual. The materials consisted of speech samples of a film retelling (not a script, but a scene to describe spontaneously). The participants were asked to record the speech samples in their own homes to ensure their comfort. One speech sample from each participant was obtained and then presented to the group of 19 German judges, which then assessed the speech samples in a scale from 1(certain of non-native status) to 6 (certain of native status). The results showed that biling ual speakers (both English and Dutch as L2) are more likely to be perceived as foreigners than the German control group. Also, that the amount of informal use of the L1 does not impact on the degree of perceived foreign accent, and that speakers who use this language for professional purposes are less likely to be perceived as foreigners. From these results phonetic the bilingual speakers can be concluded to experience L1 phonetic attrition, which would explain why their L1 production was perceived as foreign. In the present paper, the possibility of phonetic attrition as a result of acquiring a second language was assessed. The results from the previously discussed experiments all point towards the obvious conclusion that phonetic attrition can be caused by cross linguistic influence from the L2 into the L1. The results also show that phonetic attrition can occur rapidly among beginner L2 learners in classroom settings, but that it is more prominent in immersion settings, such as that of immigrants. Although phonetic L1 attrition, and L1 attrition in general, is a common phenomenon among immigrants and there is no evidence that it affects L1 speech in a way that prevents other speakers of the language from recognizing what has been said, there is a prominent negative opinion about the process. This could be caused by the pride that countries take in their languages and how their languages are representative of their traditions. Even then, L1 attrition should be regarded as a completely normal process, as it does not hinder, in any way, the ability of a person to communicate in their L1. Further studies of L1 attrition could help dispel the negative views that surround the subject, as it is an area not yet developed completely. For example, a better definition of the word ‘loss’, used to describe the process, might help dispel the stigma behind attrition. The ‘loss’ of the native language does not give any indication as to how permanent or irreversible i t is. It also does not provide any clue as to how deeply it affects the L1 and how it might impact the lives of those who go through this process. References Chang, C. E. (2012). Rapid and multifaceted effects of second language learning on first language speech production. Journal of Phonetics 40, 249-268. de Leeuw, E., I. Mennen J. M. Scobbie. (2013). Dynamic systems, maturational constraints and L1 phonetic attrition. International Journal of Bilingualism 17:6 Mayr, R., S. Price I. Mennen (2012). First language attrition in the speech of Dutch–English bilinguals: The case of monozygotic twin sisters. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 15.4, 687-700. Mennen, I. 2004. Bi-directional interference in the intonation of Dutch speakers of Greek. Journal of Phonetics 32, 543-563.

Football vs. Soccer Essay -- Comparison Contrast Essays

Football vs. Soccer Athletes who play football share the same goal as athletes who play soccer: score the most goals to win the game. In football, there are two areas on opposite sides of the field where one can score points by bringing the football over the goal line. Soccer shares this same concept by having two nets on opposite sides of the field where one can score a point by kicking the soccer ball into the net. Also, both sports share the concept of having an offense and defense, and both sports each have eleven players on a team on the field at a time. These are only few of many similarities between these two sports, but in actuality, they are significantly different. The rules, rituals, and concepts of both sports distinguish themselves from each other. First of all, the rules of football require one to equip himself with approximately twenty pounds of equipment, including a helmet, shoulder pads, and girdle pads. This is because football has the most contact involved out of all sports. In a football game, the norm is that the home team wears colorful jerseys and the visiting team wears white jerseys. Moreover, if a team’s offense is on the field, their defense is on the sideline. A team’s offense includes a center, who snaps the ball to the quarterback. The â€Å"QB† then has a choice to run with the ball, hand it off to a running back, or throw it to a wide receiver. The quarterback has an offensive line to protect him from the assailing defense. If a teammate happens to score a touchdown, he earns his team six points, which allows for the kicker to kick an extra point, and give his team a total of seven points. However, if the offense fails to travel at least ten yards within four attempts, or â€Å"downs,à ¢â‚¬  they have the opti... ...nd must support both the defense and the offense. In conclusion, football and soccer have their similarities, but these similarities are superficial. There are many fundamental differences, such as the use of one’s hands being illegal in soccer, except for the goalie when he/she is inside his/her respective eighteen-yard boundary. Another example is the alternation of a team’s offense and defense in football as opposed to the simultaneous effort of the offense and defense in soccer. These differences in rules, rituals, and concepts distinguish these two sports from each other. However, there are similarities, such as the fact that both sports allow eleven players on each team to play on the field at a time. Also, the area where one scores is in the same locations in both sports, the end zones of football and the goals of soccer are on opposite sides of the field.

The Atomic Bomb Essay -- Essays Papers

The Atomic Bomb The aftermath: Humanity, the Earth, Nature Some people often hear the word "Atomic Bomb" or hear about the cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki and picture a war torn city and a bomb that killed many. While they are right in connecting the two, the aftermath of the atomic bomb goes much deeper than that. By simply stating that it killed and injured thousands of people is an understatement. The damage from the bomb ranged from high temperature fires that scorched the land to the killing of fetuses due to in-utero radiation exposure. The atomic age, composed of complex and controversial issues, has forever changed the world and the way in which we live. The following is intended to illustrate that the bombing has changed the world and the immediate lives of the many killed and hurt in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The illustrations are an attempt to show the immense strength of one explosion and its ability to totally wipe out any given area. By showing all of the possible injuries that can occur from a nuclear e xplosion, it becomes visible that an atomic bomb is very complex in its destruction. Showing to be the fastest slaughter that we have ever observed, the bomb in Hiroshima killed about 280,000 civilians and 40,000 members of the military. For those not killed by the immidiate consequences of the bomb, radiation destroyed cells within the human body and still claims the lives of people today. It was estimated that by December 1945, around 140,000 people died from radiation related illnesses. One factor that created much immediate damage was the spread of the blast and its shock waves. In only ten seconds after the landing of the bomb i... ...about. In addition, the site provides a list of outside sources that are written about the atomic bombings. - Grolier Interactive Encyclopedia www.grolier.com/ History: WWII This on-line encyclopedia gives a very descriptive history of the atomic bomb. It shows the work that led up to the construction of the bomb and the several projects that led to the actual bombings. Finally, it tells the effects of an explosion and the significanse that the bombs played on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. - Hiroshima C-Das www.hiroshima-cdas.or.jp/ C-Das Major effects of atomic bomb This site provides yet another very informative array of facts. It was one of the most useful as it had a file that was almost a direct answer to the question that this paper applies, what were the major effects of the atomic bomb.

Military Drinking Age

What would happen If the drinking age were lowered for those In the military? Xx xx English 123 Mrs.. Xix 20 Par XX Military Drinking Age 1 What would happen If the drinking age were lowered for those In the military? When I started this paper, I didn't want my own views to sway my opinion on this question. The more I researched, the more I had even my own views expanded. I wanted to know what military people thought about this topic, what civilians thought and even President Obama. I wanted to explore why age 21 was chosen and when the age was lowered and then raised again and why.For many people In the military I am sure have a different stance on this than clansman or maybe not, but this Is why I researched the information that I did. The first thing that I typed in my Google search engine box was, â€Å"Should the drinking age be lowered for the military? ‘ I found that President elect Obama in 2008, sympathized with Army veteran Ernest Johnson about serving his country at age 18, but not being able to come home and have a beer, but that setting the legal drinking age at 21, helped reduce the amount of drunken driving Incidents and that it should remain. Military_com. 008). This peeked my curiosity and I wondered If most law makers felt the same. New Hampshire State representative, James Explains, D-Portsmouth said that it would be hypocritical to have people make life and death decisions in Iraq, but not be able to have a drink in New Hampshire. (Shank, 2005). Both men appreciate the fact that these people help in guarding and serving our country, but both had very deferent opinions on whether it should be lowered. So I wanted to get more points of view on this matter.I found that Jason Gibbs, the spokesperson for the Governor of Vermont, Jim Douglas had the same stance as D-Portsmouth. Gibbs said, â€Å"Philosophically, it's difficult to reconcile the notion that you can enlist in the military, serve your country, go to war, but not go into your l ocal pub and get a draft beer. † Gibbs went on to say, â€Å"Even Gob. Jim Douglas, a republican, might see some logic in the proposal if the federal highway money was not Involved. † (Bullock, 2005). Why would federal highway money be Involved? It didn't make sense to me, so I wanted to explore that further.When I searched for federal highway money, I came upon the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984 (AMANDA). This Act required all states to raise their minimum purchase and public possession of alcohol to age 21 . States that did not comply faced a reduction in highway funds, under the Federal Highway Act. (Hanson, n. D). So this brings me back to one of my original questions, why was the age 21 chosen? I found that becoming a full adult at age 21 dates back to English common law. (Rice, 2 IT Military Drinking Age the age was set at 21 in 1984, when before was it 18 and why was it 18?President Franklin Roosevelt lowered the draft age from 21 to 18 during World Wa r II, eventually during the Vietnam era, people were upset that they were old enough to enlist in the forces, but now old enough to vote, so in 1971 they applied that same logic to drinking and lowered the age to 18. (Tree, 2008). Why would they want to change the age back to 21, I wonder? Apparently, certain states had stricter rules and teens would drive to other states that had less off strict drinking rule, drink and drive back and depending where they lived, the further out they were, the more probable it was for an alcohol related incident. (Tree, 2008).So Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAD) fought to have the drinking age back to 21 and that's when the AMANDA was set forth in 1984. (Tree, 2008). Now that I had all the dates figured out and who prompted the changes, I wanted to see if changing the drinking age actually had an effect on decreasing alcohol related incidents. I found that statistically in 1984, that alcohol related fatalities made up for 54% of all fatalities and 23 years later, in 2007, only 37% of alcohol related fatalities made up for all fatalities. (Alert. Com, 2006). So again, back to one of my original thoughts, I wanted to see opinions from a litany stand point.I came upon some writings from Air Force Colonel Celebrities, who wrote that Junior enlisted, ages 18-24 made up 1/3 of the Air Force and accounted for 81% of the alcohol related incidents. He said that on average, the Air Force has about 5,300 alcohol related incidents annually, so that means 4,293 of those incidents basically belonged to the Junior enlisted. Cool. Celebrities said that the military message, â€Å"Work hard, Play hard,† was sending the wrong message. (Slouchier, 2007). After a long day of work, you go out and play hard, what better of way, than to drink and relax, but there are other ways of relaxing than drinking.As I was concluding my research, still not yet satisfied with my results, I found a website that was written by Jim Hall, from the National Transportation Board, who had all these statistics that stated how alcohol related fatalities had gone down, alcohol related suicides reduced and the number of DEW Military Drinking Age 3 arrests had decreased since raising the age of drinking to 21 . He later stated that the younger a person starts drinking, the greater the chance of that person develops alcohol dependency and or abuses alcohol. Hall, n. D).

Organic Chemistry Essay

For the cycloalkanes, one hydrogen atom has to be removed from each end of the hydrocarbon chain, therefore resulting to a deficit of two hydrogen atoms unlike in the case of alkanes. What is the three dimensional structure of methane? Why? Methane represents a tetrahedral structure. This is because the structure permits the orbitals to be as far apart and the hydrogen atoms directed to the corners of the tetrahedron when the carbon is bonded to four other atoms Name one structural and one chemical difference between acetylene and ethylene. Give reasons. Acetylene has a carbon to carbon triple bond whereas ethylene has a carbon to carbon double bond. Acetylene is made by high temperatures partial oxidation of methane while ethylene is made from the hydration of ethane What is the formula of 1, 3-butadiene? CH2==CH  ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬ CH==CH2 Why is benzene much less reactive than 1, 3, 5-cyclohexatriene? Benzene has a carbon to carbon double bound that is alternating and strongly attracted to another therefore making it unable to undergo an additional reaction like 1, 3, 5-cyclohexatriene who’s covalent bonds allows it to undergo an additional reaction. Why is the benzene molecule represented as â€Å"a flat cyclohexane with a ring inside? † Benzene has alternating double bounds that are usually in rotation in its structure Why do cis and trans isomeric compounds exhibit different properties? In cis isomeric compounds the methyl groups are located o the same side of the molecule while in trans isomers the methyl group are locate on the opposite sides. This in return indicates that the polarity of trans isomeric compounds is canceled out as compared to that of cis isomeric compounds. What is the difference between hydration and hydrogenation reactions? Hydration involves an addition reaction where water is used as the hydrant while hydrogenation involves a reducing reaction where hydrogen is used. Reference Robert Thornton Morrison. (1996). Organic chemistry sixth edition Morrison new jersey

Mas-Cadel Specialty Bicycle

Cadel Specialty Bicycle Management Accounting Systems ACCT2195 Name: Nguyen Thai Son ID: S3296794 Lecturer: Keshav Dayalani Table of Contents Executive Summary3 Introduction4 I. Cadel Specialty Bicycles’ (CSB)5 A. Business mission5 B. Mean of competitive advantage6 C. Key Success Factors (KSFs)8 II. Management Accounting System of CSB9 ?Personnel9 ?Scare resources10 ?Activities11 III. Performance measurement & Reward System (PMRS) and its roles11 1. The factors to be measured12 2. A specific performance target12 . A reward attached to the performance target12 IV. Limitations of current PMRS14 A. Limitation14 B. Dysfunctional behavior15 V. Recommendation for new PMRS16 Conclusion17 References18 Appendix20 Executive Summary Cadel Specialty Bicycle (CSB) is a successful business of which nature is made-to-order bicycles. In other words, each bicycle of CSB is assembled in accordance with customer’s specification. The business aims to target on the niche market in which alm ost people are committed cycling enthusiast.Due the success of the first store located in Doncaster, Victoria, Australia, CSB has recently expand its business by opening two new stores located in Geelong & Black Rock and each store has different potential in the track of development . However, CSB has faced problems of personnel & resources management because the business had not applied the suitable strategies within the expansion. Although, the company plans to implement a new management accounting system (MAS) to deal with these problems, there still are weaknesses contained in the new MAS.Hence, the purposes of this report are analyzing the current system and suggesting new suitable MAS for the business. The first demonstration of the report is Background & Current position of CSB, which is used as a foundation for developing suitable MAS. The business mission of CSB, classified as â€Å"Question mark†, is building as well as increasing the market share. CSB creates its c ompetitive advantage based on the differentiation of product/service and the niche market. However, CSB has not reached the Cost-cum-Differentiation advantage yet.CSB may focus on the five key success factors (KSFs) including Proper decentralization & measurement of manager’s performance, Good relationship with suppliers, Establishing appropriate costing system & minimizing cost, Maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction and Product & Service Quality The second part of the report focus on evaluating the role as well as benefits of tools/techniques of current MAS in supporting the business in term of of personnel, scare resources and activities.Next, the role of Performance measurement & Reward system (PMRS) within the business is clearly analyzed in relation to directional & motivational influences on behavior. The report also states the limitations of the current PMRS which potentially leads to dysfunction behaviors. Finally, the report will suggest the suitable PMRS for the business which may effectively & efficiently support CSB in the track of its success. Introduction One of the most essential factors which guide organizations and businesses toward success is management accounting system (MAS).It is always a smart decision for business to apply integrated MAS which provides accurate analysis report by gathering financial data from operations (sales, inventory & cost). As a result of having MAS, business gains sufficient advantages in streamlining operations procedures, reducing costs and building capital for expansion. Refer to the case of Cadel Specialty Bicycle (CSB), the business mainly focus on selling made-to-order bicycles and guaranteeing the product/service quality.After the expansion (two new stores), the business seems to get into trouble with management as well as operation. This report will demonstrate the business analysis, evaluate the current MAS as well as suggest new potential/appropriate MAS. I. Cadel Specialty Bicycl es’ (CSB) A. Business mission Business mission, â€Å"which usually reveals purpose of operation, value and priorities of company† (John&Richard 2009), can be considered as a fundamental factor in conducting appropriate MAS for the business.The following criteria will clearly illustrate the current mission of CSB (build, hold, harvest, divest): * Importance of externalities One factor that significantly contributes to the potential development of CSB is the external environment. Recently, bike paths have become popular around Melbourne as people tend to reduce using cars. Therefore, there has been a significant growth in the market for bicycles. Utilizing the bike paths, CSB opened two new stores (Black Rock & Geelong) which seem to have great potential for development. * Market share expectationDue to the well establishment, Doncaster store (touring bikes) is highly demanded by customers that provide the store many opportunities to develop. Besides, Geelong store (mou ntain & touring bikes) also has great potential thanks to its advantageous location although the demand is not yet as high as at the Doncaster store. As a result of having great potential, the Market share expectations of the two stores seem to be high. Although CSB does not own a large part of the bicycle market at the moment, the business has a substantial growth rate.Base on facts of the case, â€Å"CSB aim to capture a significant proportion of this growth in the future†. Boston Consulting Group Model Relative Market Share (cash source) Mission = Hold Mission = Harvest Mission = Build â€Å"Dog† Mission = Divest High High Low Low â€Å"Star† â€Å"Question mark† â€Å"Cash cow† Market growth rate (cash user) Overall, CSB has high Market growth rate while owning low market share. Hence, the business can be classified in to â€Å"Question mark† and the business mission of CSB is building as well as increasing the market share. B. Mean of c ompetitive advantageCompetitive advantage is a special characteristic that a business has over its competitors, enabling the business to gain greater sales or profit within the competition. The two common competitive advantage options, which have been applied by CSB, are Differentiation & Niche market. * Differentiation: CSB differentiates its products & services based on certain criteria which are Function & Customer service. * Function Unlike normal bicycle business, CSB primarily applies the made-to-order function for all three stores which assemble customized bicycles based on customer specifications.In order to ensure the timing & success of this approach, a large inventory of different bicycle parts is held by each CSB stores. * Customer service CSB puts much effort on the operating customer service as well as interacting with customers. Cadel- CSB owner spends significant time in taking care of store’s day-to-day operations and often engages directly with customers to make sure that customers can purchase desirable bikes. CSB also sets a limit for the waiting time (time for customized bicycles to be available) which are less than two days of the initial consultation.The applied post-sale service is calling the customer after a week of taking possession of CSB’s products to ensure the customer’s satisfaction, and offering free-of-charge changes if necessary. Additionally, free lifetime after-sales service is also offered in which customers only have to pay for parts required. * Niche Market CSB targets on specific segment of market which is cycling enthusiast through the offer of customized bicycles. This customer group willing to spend more for qualified & desirable product Business competitive advantage Relative Cost Position Cost-cum-Differentiation Advantage Stuck-in-the -middle† Differentiation Advantage Low-cost-Advantage Superior Inferior Inferior Superior Relative Differentiation Position Although CSB gains moderate dif ferentiation advantage, the business did not consider much about the costing system (estimating price without real cost data). Therefore, CSB has not reached the Cost-cum-Differentiation advantage yet. C. Key Success Factors (KSFs) In order to construct appropriate & efficient MAS, business may consider the essence of critical KSFs which determine its success (cost and efficiency, quality, time, innovation).Gaining sufficient knowledge of KSFs will support the business to define the necessity of promoting strengths and competencies that match those factors in order to gain competitive advantage and achieve the business success (Jorge&Donald 1989). Refer to CSB- a growing business with great potential, certain KSFs would be as the following: * Product & Service Quality Cadel spends considerable time in training the store manager and often personally assembles & checks the customized bicycles to ensure the Service & Product quality.As a result, CSB is currently well known as a busines s providing high quality, customized bicycle. * Maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction Giving customers more than they expect is the basic concept of this issue. As Cadel believe that specialized customer service is a KSF of CSB, he put many efforts in maintaining the customer satisfaction such as calling the customer after a week of possession, offering free lifetime after-sales service & limiting the waiting time (2days). Establishing appropriate costing system & minimizing cost A weakness of CSB is that the business operates without real cost data. Hence, establishing suitable costing system has become a fundamental mission in the track of reaching success. Besides, CSB has to consider cost minimization to achieve Cost-cum-Differentiation advantage. * Good relationship with suppliers Since the expansion, the demand for supplies of CSB has increased due to the requirement of more inventories for the two new stores. Therefore, finding and maintaining good relationsh ip with suppliers is also essential. Proper decentralization & measurement of managers performance It is essential that Cadel distributes the authority to store managers properly because the business structure has become more complicated since the expansion and Cadel cannot play all roles of the business. II. Management Accounting System of CSB In order to solve the problems arisen from the expansion, Cadel’s brother has suggested Cadel to develop a MAS which significantly supports the business management in term of personnel, scare resources and activities. The following analysis will demonstrate the roles & benefits of each tool included in the MAS: Personnel * Supplier performance measures (SPM) SPM is a critical initiative for business dealing with multiple suppliers. The main role of SPM is integrating supplier quality which helps the business have accurate visibility toward supplier delivery and avoid hidden cost drivers from poor quality. As a result, SPM directly decr eases business risks and revenue losses Besides, SPM is a vital tool for motivating improvement and ensuring that products meet the required standards. SPM also supports in determining good suppliers so that CSB can maintain relationship with those suppliers.Related KSFs: Product quality; Good relation with supplier * Responsibility accounting system (RAS) RAS is used as an internal system which improves cost control and business’s performance. Its main role is ensuring the responsibility of individual managers toward elements of business performance in which they gain control. In RA, each store/department will be assigned certain stated goals and relevant managers will be judged on how well they meet the goals. As a result, CSB is able to detect the weak areas within the business and make correction properly Related KSF: Proper decentralization & measurement of managers performance Scare resources * Net Present Value (NPV) analyses NPV is an efficient method used in determin ing capital investment decisions. A potential project should be proceeded if its NPV value is positive unless there is a superior investment option offered. NPV allows CSB to make proper investment decision and invest in worthwhile projects because NPV does not only calculate the net cash flow from the project but also considers various associated factors like time value of money, opportunity cost & risk of prospective cash. Related KSFs: Minimizing cost Costing system The main role Costing system within MAs is collecting, analyzing & reporting the cost data that enables the owner and managers to monitor cost for reducing wastage and misuse of resources. Within the operation of business, it is easy to identify direct costs which associate with particular activities. However, indirect costs are those incurred in common or joint objectives so it cannot be clearly identified with particular activities. In order to assign indirect cost to projects accurately, Activity base costing syste m (ABCS) should be applied.ABCS is an efficient method which calculates and reduces operating the cost by finding key activities and its cost drivers. Consequently, the cost can be assigned accurately and the costing system can operate smoothly. Overall, costing system enables CSB to view all expenditures and manage its cost effectively Related KSFs: Establishing appropriate costing system & minimizing cost * Budget preparation The core role of Budget within CSB is tracking all of the money coming into the business along with all of the money going out.The budget can be designed to be detailed enough to cover numerous streams of income & expense. Establishing proper budget can significantly support the business in planning the use of resources, motivating individuals to achieve performance & supporting forecast. * Activities * Inventory management system – Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) The main role EOQ model is providing the most economical quantity of items which CSB should order to maximize value & minimize costs when re-stocking inventory.Applying EOQ does not only help the business to reduce Storage & Holding cost but also support in maintaining sufficient inventory levels to meet customer demand. It seems that customer service can be improved as inventory is available when needed. Related KSFs: Establishing appropriate costing system & minimizing cost; Maintaining the highest level of customer satisfaction * Profit and loss statements (P&L) P&L is one of the major financial statements which clearly demonstrate the profitability (revenue, expenses and profit) of the CSB during a specified time interval.Hence, the basic role of P&L is indicating whether the business is profitable or not. Conducting a proper P&L can enable CSB to notice the areas needing improvement and provide an overall idea of how much the business owes compared to how much it owns. Besides, a truthful P&L report can also support CSB in planning ahead to the next financial period. III. Performance measurement & Reward System (PMRS) and its roles Performance measurement is a process of gathering & reporting nformation regarding the performance of the business & individuals. To be effective, Performance measurement must be combined with Reward system and the rewards provided are based on performance. The overall role of PMRS is to periodically monitor performance to judge how well the business is running and motivate the personnel’s performance by Reward system. Both performance measure and rewards provide directional and motivational influence on behavior. However, each element of PMRS has its own roles which complement the system.PMRS contains three elements: 1. The factors to be measured| The first element clearly demonstrates the factors which will be measured in order to communicate important aspects of the business toward employees. Thanks to that, employees are able to concentrate their work into informed aspects/areas| * â€Å"Directional influ ence on behaviour† is mainly fulfilled by the roles of the first 2 elements (Measured factors & Performance target). Within this method, employees are directed to achieve the desired behaviours. | 2.A specific performance target| The main mission of the second element is narrowing the targeted aspects into specific tasks/activities so that employees can focus, put effort and accomplish these tasks. Besides, the provided criteria in the system is also a base for owner/manager to provide feedback to improve future performances| | 3. A reward attached to the performance target| The Reward system is based on the concept of attracting, retaining and motivating people. As employees can be motivated by intrinsic (e. g. elf esteem) and extrinsic rewards (e. g. bonus), monetary reward is not the only important component of the Reward system. There are other factors which also efficiently encourage employees in improving performance. Based on Theoretical Framework (Khan KU, Farooq SU & Ullah MI, 2010), there are generally four main independent variables of reward which are payment, promotion, recognition and benefits. Promotion seems to be the most efficient motivation as almost people tend to have ambitiousness of getting better positions in the business/company.Moreover, different reward strategies would have a different motivational impact on diverse people. By providing attractive incentives, Reward system encourages individuals to actually undertake the tasks with intensive willing. According to Khan KU, Farooq SU & Ullah MI, 2010, â€Å"there is a statistical significant relationship between all of the independent variables of reward with dependent variable employee work motivation, all the independent variables of reward have a positive influence on employee work motivation†.Overall, Reward system plays role as a way of having people work harder. | * â€Å"Motivational influence on behaviour†, meaning individuals are motivated to intentionally acquire the desired behaviours, is mainly achieved by the role of the third element which is Reward system. | In this case, CSB applies reward strategy in term of â€Å"bonus† providing to each store manager up to 20% of their quarterly income * Meeting sales budget * Bonus of 2% of manager’s quarterly income if they meet the sales budget for each quarter. * Meeting profit budget Bonus of 10% of manager’s quarterly income if they meet the profit budget, prepared at the start of each quarter * Achieving favourable cost variances: * Bonus of 4% of manager’s quarterly income if all favourable variances are less than 10% of the initial budgeted cost; * Bonus of 8% of manager’s quarterly income if all favourable variances are 10% or more of the initial budgeted cost. * Directional influence supports individuals in focusing on the targeted areas and tasks. Besides, Motivational influence helps employees to do the work voluntarily and put much effort to successfully accomplish it.Moreover, Motivational influence is almost always less intrusive than Directional influence. As a result, the business’s personnel cannot be well managed without the combine of Directional influence & Motivational influence. IV. Limitations of current PMRS A. Limitation B. Dysfunctional behavior * Dysfunctional behavior means that individuals within the organization/business do not function properly in accordance with the organization’s direction. Dysfunctional employee behaviors often occur due to the rapaciousness of individuals or conflict between employee’s interest and the organization’s interest.The general purpose of Dysfunctional employee behaviors is gaining benefits (either for personal or department) from organization’s gaps. * In this case, as a result of lack of measurement in input and process stage, managers have opportunities to engage in Dysfunctional behavior. It can be explained by the following situati on: * If there is no mechanism for monitoring the consistency between input and output, managers may provide â€Å"unreliable report† which shows that they have reached the performance target and deserve rewards. Lack of input measurement also leads to the problem that managers purchase low quality material to reduce operation’s costs in order to reach the defined cost target. Consequently, it’s very difficult to discover such Dysfunctional behaviors without proper measurement. V. Recommendation for new PMRS Besides the Performance measure, several common Reward strategies are also suggested below: Conclusion As MAS is essential for business’s operation, CSB cannot successfully expand its business without proper MAS. However, the new MAS, which CSB has planned to implement, still has several weaknesses.Therefore, the main purposes of this report are evaluating the current position (Business mission, Competitive advantage & KSFs) and current MAS (including PMRS). The report also suggests the potential PMRS for the business. References ‘Competitive Advantage’, 2012, Investopedia US, viewed 28 July 2012, . Daniel, H, 2011, ‘Benefits of NPV’, BenefitOf, 27 July, viewed 28 July 2012, .John, AP II & Richard, BR 2009, ‘Strategic management: Formulation, Implementation, and Control’, 11thedn. , McGraw Hill, Singapore. 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Appendix * Porter’s Five Forces model for supporting an analysis of external environment Threats of New Entrants Bargaining Power of Suppliers Bargaining Power of Customers Rivalry among Industry Competitors * Porter’s value chain analysis for supporting an analysis of internal environment Design Production Marketing Distributio n Support Activities: Finance, HR, Legal, IT Motivational influences A number of important motivational influences playing a strong role in encouraging employee include: * Job scope.Improving or enriching the nature of a job substantially reduces absenteeism. * Stress and conflict. Levels of absenteeism are higher in situations of job stress, anxiety, tension, and lack of role clarity. * Leadership style. Your leadership style affects attitudes that affect absenteeism. * Co-worker relations. Mutual tolerance and the absence of tensions among co-workers have a positive effect on attendance. * Pressures to attend. The economy and job shortages will influence a person to be more conscientious about job attendance. * Work group norms.When members of a highly cohesive group view coming to work to help co-workers as a desirable work ethic, job attendance is attractive. * Personal work ethic. A high regard for work as a personal value positively affects job attendance. * Organizational com mitment. Compatibility with the mission, goals, and values of the organization has a positive impact on attendance. You can affect most of these motivational factors significantly by the way you manage your department and supervise your employees. By encouraging open communications, by making employees feel needed and appreciated, by making their jobs as