A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management Essay Example

A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management Essay A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management Anil Gurung University of Texas at Arlington Department of Information Systems and Operations Management, College of Business Administration Office: Room 630 Business Building Box 19437 701 S West St. Arlington, Texas 76019-0437 Voice: 817. 272. 3528 Email: [emailprotected] edu ABSTRACT This paper analyzes the impact of information technologies (IT) on logistics by conducting a survey of literatures on academic logistics journals and practitioner journals. The literature survey and practice find that third party logistic providers have better opportunity to leverage IT since they need to have interoperable IT systems with their customers. The business philosophy of Just-In-Time (JIT) has also contributed to the impact of IT in logistics. Further, information technologies are identified that has benefited the logistics. Future directions of logistics are discussed. INTRODUCTION The proliferation of information technologies (IT) and the internet technologies have provided impetus and challenges to the logistics. New technologies present new means to manage the flow of information. IT as a productivity tool can be utilized to both increase the capability and decrease the cost at the same time (Closs et al. , 1997). It has been widely accepted that firms can achieve competitive advantage by cost reduction or differentiation with the proper implementation of IT (Porter Millar, 1985). Enabled by IT the logistics has become a source of competitive advantage for many firms. Two streams of research are identified that highlights the role of IT in logistics. We will write a custom essay sample on A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on A Survey of Information Technologies in Logistics Management specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer First stream relates to just-in-time logistics information system (Anderson Quinn, 1986; Bookbinder Dilts, 1989; Das Handfield, 1997; Gomes Mentzer, 1988; Perry, 1988; Schwarz Weng, 2000; Spencer, M. S. et al. , 1994; Spencer, M. S. et al. , 1996; Takahashi Nakamura, 2000; Titone, 1996; Wafa Yasin, 1996). The other stream is the third party logistics (Lewis Talalayevsky, 2000; Peters et al. , 1998; Sauvage, 2003; Sink Langley, 1997; Vaidyanathan, 2005). Importance of IT in logistics has grown to some extent by business philosophy of Just-InTime (JIT) by firms. With the emphasis of firms on JIT, the impact of logistics has grown as it is increasingly recognized as a source of consistent, low lead time, damage free deliveries (Bardi et al. , 1994). In pursuit of competitive advantages, firms outsource their functions which are noncore competencies so that they can focus on their core competencies. A recent survey found that 83 percent of the surveyed Fortune 500 companies reported having at least one contract with a third-party logistics provider (Lieb Bentz, 2004). Over the years, the use of third-party logistics has been increasing. Similar survey of Fortune 500 companies taken in 1991 had only 38 percent of the respondents reporting the use of third-party logistics provider (Lieb, 1992). The 618 third party logistic operators attempt to harness the capability of information technology to provide superior services to their customers. The objective of this paper is to study how IT has impacted logistics. To this end, literature review of both leading academic and practitioner logistic journals is conducted. The next section will report the framework of logistics. The following section will analyze the IT enablers in logistics. Then, the implications of ecommerce are discussed followed by a section on future directions for logistics. REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE A classification scheme logistics functions provides a meaningful way to study how IT has impacted the various functions of logistics. Previous research in logistics have categorized the use of information systems in logistics in different ways. A system of logistics functions can be divided into following five broad areas (Bowersox, 1974): facility location, transportation, inventory, communication and material movement. Based on the problem areas that application addresses, seven areas of logistics has been identified as facility location, inventory control, order entry, vehicle scheduling, warehouse layout planning, freight rate retrieval, and product and shipment tracing (Ballou, 1976). Another survey identified five categories as facility location, inventory control, transportation, production scheduling, and total physical distribution (House, 1978). These categories treated each category as individual entities rather than a whole system. Noting this shortcoming, Stenger (1986) proposed another classification consisting of transaction systems, short-term scheduling and inventory replenishment systems, flow planning systems, and network planning and design systems. Expanding on the framework developed by Bowersox, Novack et al (1992) divided logistics function into two categories. The first category refers to physical activities that are required various utilities of customer need. These will include inventory, transportation and customer service operations. The second category refers to flow of information or transaction activities that follow or initiate the physical activities. The physical and information flows in logistics function is well-depicted in Figure 1 that shows the categorization of logistics functions as described by Vaidyanathan (2005). As shown in the figure, information flows between logistics function are managed, coordinated and supported by various logistics technologies. 619 Inventory and Logistics Management: Freight Consolidation Freight Distribution Shipment Planning Traffic Management Inventory Management Carrier Selection Order Entry/ Management Information Flow Customer Service: Freight Payments Auditing Order Management Fulfillment Help Desk Carrier Selection Rate Negotiation Information Flow Warehousing: Packaging Product Making Labeling Warehousing Material Flow Transportation: Fleet Management Cross Docking Product Return Figure 1: Categorization of Logistics Functions (adapted from Vaidyanathan 2005) IT enablers in Logistics The literature in logistics is full of instances where information technology has been touted as a means to enhance logistics competitiveness (Bowersox, 1974; Closs et al. , 1997; Rabinovich et al. , 1999; Stenger, 1986). Yet there has been few empirical studies that relates logistics information capabilities to logistics competence (Closs et al. , 1997). A popular framework in information systems discipline put forward by Gorry Morton (1989) place logistics decisions as structured and varying from operational to strategic. The role of logistics information systems as operational and strategic enablers in different areas of the firm’s supply chain has been stated in the literature (Langley et al. , 1988). There has been a shift of IT from being an enabler of operational and material handling functions to being an enabler of decision-making and activityplanning functions within the supply chain (La Londe Auker, 1973). Logistics Information System Logistics Information System (LIS) is the application component of logistics information technology. An effective LIS facilitates the proper information flow between inventory, 20 Information Flow warehousing and transportation to realize the high level of customer service. The ability to optimize the logistics cost and service levels is affected by the LIS of the firm and its partners. Firms that provide better logistics services at a lower cost can have competitive advantage over its competitors (Bardi et al. , 1994). Two classes of LIS has been recogn ized in the literature (Closs et al. , 1997). Logistics operating systems (LOS) refer to transactional applications such as order entry, order processing, warehousing, and transportation. Logistics planning systems (LPS) refer to coordinating applications such as forecasting, inventory management, and distribution requirements planning. EDI Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) has successfully enhanced the communication between firms which is essential for logistics. This technology requires firms to have common data formatting and transmission standards or protocols. Such technologies have been employed by companies to coordinate their value chain activities including logistics. Early applications of EDI has been on transmitting vehicle location information by railways to their customers. Other types of logistics information carried by EDI are purchase orders/releases and changes, advanced shipping notices, bills of lading, and invoices. Timely and accurate information is crucial in decision making about complex logistics problems. Japan Airlines (JAL) adopted EDI to manage their complex value chain logistics required for their operations, including procurement and just-in-time delivery of aircraft fuel, repair and maintenance aircraft parts, food catering and other customer requirements (Chatfield Bjorn-Andersen, 1997). The competitive advantage gained by companies employing EDI is cited in the literature. Firms utilizing EDI were better able to fulfill greater number of services to their customers (Rogers et al. , 1992). Bar coding Bar coding is one of the most IT enablers to date and has made significant impact in the practice. Starting in 1960’s some of the earliest implementation of bar codes were in rail road cars. Nowadays it is rampant in anything that needs to be identified and tracked. The different type of bar codes are available, known as symbologies, for different purposes. In practice, most firms prefer to use industry standards rather than proprietary standards for most of their bar codes on their products. By following industry standards, bar codes reduce the complications inherent in the use of multiple standards and thus provides a strong foundation for integrating the corporate logistics and the supply chain (Closs Kefeng, 2000). Real-time communications capability The logistics IT capability of real-time communications is essential for maintaining the flow of information. As noted by Dudley Lasserre (1989), one of the important roles of logistics IT is to substitute information for inventory. To make real-time tracking of goods, logistic information systems of business partners should have real-time communications capability. The business partners require an integrated messaging architecture which exchanges business data while customizing business flows and format transformation. Real-time communications also allows for schedule plans to change in dynamic routing and scheduling system when the vehicles are 621 already out on the road. Any last minute changes in routing and scheduling system or constant tracking has been possible only with real-time communications ability of the respective systems. RFID RFID helps to identify, track and locate items automatically. The use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is expected to increase rapidly in coming years. Often referred to as the next step in the evolution of bar-coding, RFID is growing rapidly in the automatic data capture and identification market (Srivastava, 2004). RFID is not a new technology, in fact, its use dates back to 1940’s but only now it is starting to make a significant impact within the supply chain. The growth in use of RFID will be enhanced to some extent by mandates from large retailers such as Wal-Mart and Target, and the US Department of Defense, who require their suppliers to adopt this technology within the next few years (Asif Mandviwalla, 2005). Among the companies that are piloting RFID in their supply chain management prominent ones are WalMart, Procter Gamble, Coca-cola and Gillette. Although the biggest driver in the popularity of RFID has been supply chain, companies are experimenting in other applications as well. Other applications are theft detection, asset tracking, mobile payments, in-process inventory tracking and luggage tracking. Dell, Seagate, Boeing and Ford are among other companies that are using RFID to track their in-process inventory in manufacturing. An RFID system includes transponders or tags that can identify items ; antennas that allows tags to be interrogated and to respond; and software that controls the RFID equipment, manages the data and interfaces with enterprise applications. RFID has lots of potential to improve the efficiency in the supply chain and reduce waste. For example, efficiency would result from automatic update of inventory system when products with RFID tags are unloaded from trucks into stores. The advantages of RFID over bar coding are as follows: RFID tags can provide longer read distances; store more data; require no direct line of sight between tag and reader; and can collect data from multiple sources simultaneously (Asif Mandviwalla, 2005). There are some technical and business challenges to overcome before RFID can be ubiquitous. Technical issues include problems of interference, security and accuracy while business issues relate to costs and lack of standards. Another significant business challenge in adopting RFID faced by managers is to work out a business case for the executive board. Early adopters of these technologies are marred by problems such as possible adverse consumer outbursts to perceived invasion of privacy, reliability of the RFID system, and issues related to health, safety and IT integration. IMPLICATION OF ECOMMERCE ON LOGISTICS The growth of ecommerce pose opportunities and challenges for logistics. As internet retailing increases the companies are accepting orders from their clientele across the borders. In many instances the location of clients are not covered by any existing distribution system of the companies. On such occasions the companies have no resort but to turn towards third party logistics operators for physical flow of goods. As for the information flow, the companies need to have capabilities for ecommerce applications. The group of technologies and processes for coordinating logistics information flow has been named e-logistics. An important web 622 technology that facilitates the exchange of business data among logistics business partners across different platforms is extra markup language (XML). For example, UPS is exploiting the power of the web services to streamline its information flows for logistics activities such as RFQ, shipping and tracking. Changing Trends in Logistics Consultants are beginning to take an active part in helping out the shippers select third party logistics operators. Shippers hire consultants to help them align business processes with supply chain strategies. The newly coined term â€Å"4PL† for consultants stands for dominant role that consultants will be taking in managing the resources, the technology and the processes in the supply chain. It is yet to be seen whether the shippers will let the consultants manage all the logistics processes. Instead of handing over the authority to manage the logistics processes to the consulting firms, shippers may choose to develop alliance with the third party logistics operators and maintain the supply chain themselves. The key thing that will allow coordination between shipper firms and the third party logistics will be information technology and management skills to run the supply chain effectively. This implies that firms should also have proper logistic technologies in place to enjoy the full benefits of use of third party logistics. FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS The research directions that are available for researchers in logistics are numerous. Before companies implement new logistic information technologies such as RFID it is important to assess the viability of adopting the technology. What would be the expected benefits? What is the ROI? Researchers can come up with various econometric models to predict the outcomes of adopting logistics technologies. Modeling techniques can be used to assess the scenarios that would be beneficial for adopting new technologies. As companies are entering into ecommerce, better coordinating techniques are required to streamline logistics activities for transactions taking place on the internet. Collaborative technologies for supporting e-logistics would greatly enhance the future logistics. Multi-agent systems (MAS) provide an interesting avenue of research that is applicable for supporting logistics technologies on the internet. Intelligent software agents can be used to assess the bids offered by multiple third-party logistics operators. To support global ecommerce the companies need to have different options for global logistics. The best way to traverse the geographical distribution is through technology. What are the communication channels and technologies that would benefit the company in terms of monitoring and coordination logistics functions? More empirical evidence will be preferred to establish the direct link between organizational performance and logistics information systems. Researchers can seek to examine the complex relationships between logistics technologies and performance from different paradigms and theories. The perspective of organizational learning can be used to evaluate the performance gained by employing logistics information systems. 23 CONCLUSION The objective of this paper was to observe the impact of information technology on the logistics functions. A literature review of the academic and practitioners journals was conducted. The information technologies that have been used to support logistics functions were discussed. It is evident that academic researchers are aware of new tec hnologies in practice such as RFID. Development in technologies offer sources of competitive advantage for companies. Adoption of new technologies provide challenge and opportunities for the companies. Proper business case and calculation of ROI needs to be done to assess the expected benefits from new technologies. Changing trends in business in terms of ecommerce open new markets for firms for all sizes to expand their market share. Strategic use of information resource would bear results of competitive advantage and thus leading to success stories. The best practices in logistic information technologies need to be adopted by firms in alignment of their strategic goals. Future trends in logistics may prompt companies to rethink their logistics strategies. Firms may choose to use third party logistics in order to focus on their core competencies. However, firms need to have logistics information systems in place that is compatible with the third party operators in order to fully benefit from their services. REFERENCES Anderson, D. L. Quinn, R. J. 1986, The Role of Transportation in Long Supply Line Just-InTime Logistics Channels , Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 68-88. Asif, Z. Mandviwalla, M. 2005, Integrating the Supply Chain with RFID: a Technical and Business Analysis, Communications of the AIS, vol. 15, pp. 393-427. Ballou, R. H. 976, Computer Methods in Transportation-Distribution, Transportation Journal, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 72-85. Bardi, E. J. , Raghunathan, T. S. Bagchi, P. K. 1994, Logistics information systems: The strategic role of top management, Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 7185. Bookbinder, J. H. Dilts, D. M. 1989, Logistics Information Systems in a Just-In-Time Environment , Jo urnal of Business Logistics, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 50-67. Bowersox, D. J. 1974, Logistics Management: A Systems Integration of Physical Distribution Management and Materials Management, Macmillan Publishing, New York, NY. Chatfield, A. T. Bjorn-Andersen, N. 1997, The impact of IOS-enabled business process change on business outcomes: Transformation of the Value Chain of Japan Airlines, Journal of Management Information Systems, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 13-40. Closs, D. J. Kefeng, X. 2000, Logistics information technology practice in manufacturing and merchandising firms An international benchmarking study versus world class logistics firms, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 30, no. 10, pp. 869-86. 624 Closs, D. J. , Goldsby, T. J. Clinton, S. R. 1997, Information technology influences on world class logistics capability, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 27, no. 1, pp. 4-17. Das, A. Handfield, R. B. 1997, Just-in-time and logistics in global sourcing: An empirical study, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 27, no. 3/4, pp. 244-59. Dudley, L. Lasserre, P. 1989, Information as a Substitute for Inventories , European Economic Review, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 67-88. Gomes, R. Mentzer, J. T. 988, A Systems Approach to the Investigation of Just-In-Time , Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 71-88. Gorry, G. A. Morton, M. S. S. 1989, A Framework for Management Information Systems, Sloan Management Review, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 49-61. House, R. G. 1978, Computer Models in Distribution Management, Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 129-52. La Londe, B. J. Auker, K. 1973, A Survey of Computer Applications and Pr actices in Transportation and Distribution, International Journal of Physical Distribution, vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 92-301. Langley, C. J. , Carlisle, D. P. , Probst, S. B. , Biggs, D. F. Cail, R. E. 1988, Microcomputers as a Logistics Information Strategy, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Materials Management, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 11-7. Lewis, I. Talalayevsky, A. 2000, Third-Party Logistics: Leveraging Information Technology , Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 173-85. Lieb, R. C. 1992, The use of third-party logistics services by large American manufacturers, Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 29-42. Lieb, R. C. Bentz, B. A. 004, The Use of Third-Party Logistics Services by Large American Manufacturers: The 2003 Survey, Transportation Journal, vol. 43, no. 3, pp. 24-33. Novack, R. A. , Rinehart, L. M. Wells, M. V. 1992, Rethinking concept foundations in logistics management, Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 233-67. Perry, J. H. 1988, Firm Behavior and Operating Performance in Just-In-Time Logistics Channels , Journal of Business Logistics, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 19-33. Peters, M. J. , Lieb, R. C. Randall, H. L. 1998, The use of third-party logistics services by European industry, Transport Logistics, vol. , no. 3, pp. 167-79. Porter, M. E. Millar, V. E. 1985, How information gives you competitive advantage, Harvard Business Review, vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 149-60. Rabinovich, E. , Windle, R. , Dresner, M. Corsi, T. 1999, Outsourcing of integrated logistics functions, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 29, no. 6, pp. 353-73. Rogers, D. S. , Daugherty, P. J. Stank, T. P. 1992, Enhancing service responsiveness: the strategic potential of EDI, International Journal of Physical Distribution Logistics Management, vol. 22, no. 8, pp. 15-20. 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Direct Managers Letter of Recommendation for an Employee

Direct Manager's Letter of Recommendation for an Employee SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips What does a good recommendation letter look like? Below you’ll find a sample letter written by a direct manager for an employee who works in software sales. If you’re responsible for managing or leading a team, chances are you’ll be called upon to write similar letters. Read on to see how this manager endorses one member of his sales team, and then check out the breakdown of what this letter does well. Sample Letter #1: Written by a Manager for a Full-Time Employee Ms. Greta JohanssenSales ManagerStreambase Corp.66 Western BoulevardSanta Fe, New Mexico 87500 Dear Ms. Johanssen, It’s my pleasure to provide this letter of recommendation for James as he seeks employment in software sales with Streambase. As James’s sole direct manager at Waretech, I’ve worked closely with him over the past three years, sharing the same open office space the majority of the time. James showed excellent communication skills and consistently exceeded company quotas. On a personal level, he’s charismatic and well-spoken, both qualities that have served him well in his role as software sales professional. Due to his wife’s cross-country transfer, James is seeking employment out west. All of us at Waretech will be sad to see such a valuable employee go, but our loss is truly your gain. Allow me to point out three examples of James’s strengths. First, James brought great value to Waretech by consistently exceeding quotas and selling in the top 15% of his peers. James has an understanding of market trends and instincts for identifying and pursuing qualified leads. Not only does he provide stellar service to existing clients, but he’s established a number of new business-to-business and business-to-customer accounts during his time at Waretech. Last fall, for instance, he added Voxacorp to our client list, a huge acquisition, and has been working closely with its IT department ever since. James has the combination of business acumen and communication skills that makes him an outstanding salesperson. Second, James has a very strong grasp of technology. He knows our software inside and out and helps relay technical information to customers in an accessible way. He explains our products clearly to customers and makes the most of technological avenues to gain new leads and customize his sales pitch to clients. During an early review, I observed him discuss in detail with a prospective client the specific ways that our software could boost the sales of her online bakery. By monitoring clients’ presence across our website and blog, he provides each one with personalized service to meet his/her needs. James makes the most of technology to find new prospects, provide modern solutions, and drive results. Finally, James has proven himself to be a strong cultural fit here at Waretech. He’s always ready to lend a helping hand to his teammates and contributes during brainstorming sessions and meetings between the sales and marketing teams. Last month, James co-led an enlightening meeting on content marketing and account management. Outside of official events, James also takes turns leading weekly spin classes at our in-house gym. James is an active member of the Waretech team and supports his colleagues professionally and personally (not to mention athletically!). In closing, I’d like to restate my strong support for James’s application to the role of software sales professional with Streambase. I’m confident that he will surpass your expectations in this new role. James is driven, self-confident, proactively helpful, and smart, and I know he will continue to find success in sales. Please feel free to contact me at (866) 8-5546 or ssaasman@waretech.com with any other questions. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Samuel SaasmanSales ManagerWaretech, Inc.ssaasman@waretech.com(866) 8-5546 Based on this letter, should James pack his bags and get ready to move out west? Recommendation Letter 1: The Breakdown This first recommendation letter sample represents a common type of letter,one written by a direct manager for an employee who’s applying to a new company. Right off the bat, the writer gives a strong statement of support for James by saying that it’s his great pleasure to provide the recommendation. If he started by simply saying, â€Å"I am writing this letter of recommendation for James,† it wouldn’t have quite the same impact. Samuel Saasman incorporates the first key feature of strong letters by stating who he is and how he got to know James. He also indicates the reason that James is applying elsewhere. Including this information can be useful for the hiring manager, especially if it’s followed by a statement of support like, â€Å"Our loss is truly your gain.† Samuel structures his letter by presenting three of James’s major strengths: his sales record, his use of technology, and his relationships with his co-workers. This structure can be an effective one for recommendation letters; some writers might choose to use bullet points to clarify their thinking. Samuel writes about James’s qualifications while incorporating specific examples in each paragraph to illustrate his work performance. Since James is applying to a similar position in software sales, all of the strengths described relate directly to the requirements of his target job. Samuel recommends James with highly positive language. He repeats his strong support of James several times and his confidence in his future success. He seems to have chosen with words carefully, using strong descriptors like â€Å"charismatic,† â€Å"driven,† and â€Å"proactively helpful.† As is the custom for recommendation letters, he concludes by inviting the hiring manager to contact him with any further questions. Overall, Samuel writes a glowing letter for James’s application to a new job in software sales. His high opinion is evident, and his examples prove that James has the qualifications to excel in his next position. What's Next? Ready for the next recommendation letter sample? Click hear to read a sample letter written by a principal for a teacher applying to a new school. Want to learn more? If you want to readabout what goes into a strong letter of recommendation or find additional samples, you can head tothe full guide here. Want to provide a strong recommendation for your employee, but don't have the time to craft the perfect letter? PrepScholar's new recommendation tool, SimpleRec, takes you from good intentions and a blank page to a fully written and formatted letter of recommendation in under 5 minutes. All you need to do is give us some simple pieces of information about your employee and your experience working with them, and we'll do the rest. Try out SimpleRec risk-free today: Have friends who also need help with test prep? Share this article! Tweet Rebecca Safier About the Author Rebecca graduated with her Master's in Adolescent Counseling from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has years of teaching and college counseling experience and is passionate about helping students achieve their goals and improve their well-being. She graduated magna cum laude from Tufts University and scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Get FREE EXCLUSIVE insider tips on how to ACE THE SAT/ACT. 100% Privacy. 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What is 'Globalisation' and why is it said to be so important for Essay

What is 'Globalisation' and why is it said to be so important for current international relations - Essay Example Globalization of Economy has taken place thanks to the improvement in transportation technology, and due to the concept of a Free-market society which the WTO is currently promulgating. When different nationalities begin to manage their economic decisions along the same procedures or guidelines or when the economy becomes internationally interconnected globalization of economy is believed to have taken place. There are different viewpoints as to whether the globalization of economy is beneficial or not. In a study conducted by IMF it was discovered that in the last two decades income inequality has risen thanks to financial globalization and technological advancements (which is a factor of Economic Globalization). However it was also discovered that the per capita income has also seen an increase even in the poorer classes. Inequality is on the rise between the different income classes as the well-to-do have a steeper rise in their per capita income as compared to the middle classes. Globalization has raised the eyebrows of even its supporters as they believe that its gains must be more widely distributed to actually encourage other countries to promote globalization. (Falk, 2007) Initially the responsibility of national governments was to protect the citizens of the state by outsiders, provide shelter and to take care of their needs. But as the global scenario has been changing over time the responsibility of the governments has also included becoming members of global organizations for their survival. This has been due to the global ecological changes, an integrated global economy and other global trends decision making has progressed to the global arena. Institutions such as IMF, European Union, United Nations, and World Bank are the major decision makers and enforcers of policies which should be established by member countries. This factor of globalization is the most related to International Relations. With the entrance of America into

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

Columbia - Essay Example can exacerbate civil wars.† The United States has experienced limited tactical success in fighting the drug menace, by dismantling drug cartels, pressuring the Colombian Government to attack these cartels and fumigating the coco crops. But this has not diffused the problem because drug production continues despite the crackdown measures of the U.S. Government, with drug production shifting inland into territory controlled by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and aiding in the insurrection of this Party against the Colombian Government. How then can the proliferation in coca production and thereby increase in drug traffic be curtailed? Studies appear to suggest that it is the economic benefits that are to be gained by coca production which is the causal factor that increases production, therefore one of the ways to tackle this problem appears to be by providing better economic incentives. Another reason for the explosion in drug trafficking is the civil war in Colombia which enables the coca and poppy growers to escape the crackdown by the Government and law enforcement authorities. Lastly, the most important reason why the drug trade is flourishing has to do with the strong demand that exist in the United States. This is the major reason why drug production thrives, therefore it appears that coca eradication and aid to end the civil war in Colombia may not be as effective in eliminating the drug problem as tackling the problem of the demand that exists in the United States, through a comprehensive drug eradication policy. Therefore, the best way to control excess production of illegal crops in Colombia is for the United States to clamp down on the growing demand within its own territories. 1. It appears that it is largely economic factors that are propelling the proliferation in growth of coca in Columbia and the concomitant violence that ahs been the result. In a recent, comprehensive study conducted by Holmes et al (2006), the relation between

Social entrepreneurship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Social entrepreneurship - Essay Example While this aspect may seem obvious, the distinction interests me deeply because of social entrepreneurship’s potential to produce breakthrough outputs that could solve the perennial social problems such as income disparity, monopolies and so on. We should remember that we have been under some economic systems but our world is still confronted with issues such poverty, exploitation and so forth. In the course of my studies and research in this field, I have come across a lot of business models that sought to define what constitutes business and its purpose. There has been some degree of confusion for me since it seemed logical and reasonable to follow the popular economic theories, such as those of Milton Friedman’s which place profit as the main objective of a business’ existence. This was where things got interesting because the concept of the social entrepreneur disproved some widely accepted notions, say, in terms of the stakeholders in an enterprise. For the traditional business people, the sole stakeholder in a business organization is the stockholder or the owner of the capital and that the management is working for his benefit. In social entrepreneurship, the stakeholder is not only the entrepreneur but they include the community, the employees, their clients and all the participants in the organization and its operation. The attributes cited by William Drayton, which differentiates an entrepreneur from the social entrepreneur further underscores my point: â€Å"Social entrepreneurs have the same core temperament as their industry-creating, business entrepreneur peers but instead, use their talents to solve social problems.† (Drayton, 2002) If this concept would be refined into a successful business model and integrated in the mainstream, then there is a chance of a radical positive change not just in business but in the society as well. In line with the previously mentioned â€Å"pearl† the second important point that I would like to discuss

Printing Industry Is The Uks Fifth Largest Manufactur Marketing Essay

Printing Industry Is The Uks Fifth Largest Manufactur Marketing Essay The aim of this project is to present a feasible idea to increase the brand awareness and profile of the social enterprise PrintIT, a printing company which is part of The AppleBy Trust. To achieve this research was carried out on the printing industry, analysis on the current firm and marketing activities and consideration of a potential new customer base for PrintIT to target. This would enable establishment of an alternative marketing strategy for PrintIT which is hoped to be successful. Printing Industry Analysis The Printing Industry is the UKs fifth largest manufacturing industry. It employs over 160,000 people in 12,000 companies most of which are fairly small. It is a vital manufacturing sector and has strategic importance to the economy catering for public authorities, retail, distribution, financial services, travel etc. In Northern Ireland Printing is a long established and mature industry and many of the companies that operate within the sector are long serving and have been involved in printing for a number of decades. http://www.britishprint.com/page.asp?node=297sec=Essential_facts_on_the_UK_printing_industry See Appendix 1 Johnston, Michael, Chief Executive, BPIF, The Marketing Managers Yearbook 2007, The BPIF, The Voice of the Printing Industry in the UK, See Appendix 2 http://www.investni.com/sector_profile_-_print___packaging.pdf Demand in the industry is greatly influenced by the level of activity taking place in the economy and subsequently demand for the sector did fall from early 2008 due to the economic downturn. Printing companies are losing contracts as organisations go into administration. Declines are inevitably likely 2010, 2011 with full recovery and possible increases in 2012. Fenn, Dominic, Key Note Marketing Report 2010, 15th Edition, Printing, April 2010 ISBN 978-1-84729-608-5, See Appendix 3 The industry is hugely affected by macroeconomic factors and Printing is expected to advance in the future. Below is a PEST Analysis which explains the most crucial factors affecting the industry:- Political Legislation IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Integrated Control) is the most crucial and looks at resource and energy efficiency, accident prevention and minimisation of other pollutants including noise and heat. envirowise.wrap.org.uk//Integrated-Pollution-Prevention-And-Control- IPPC.html New powers have been given to the ICO (Information Commissioners Office) which could see Printing companies face major fines therefore Printing firms processing personal data need to ensure it is adequately protected. Nias, Simon and Sheahan, Tim, Printers could face  £500k fines under new powers given to ICO, PrintWeek article 4 December 2009 (20 Nov)See Appendix 4 The Printing Industry is a hugely polluting industry and environmental issues include:- Water Large quantities of water are used in most printing processes and Water charges are being introduced at the end of the year in Northern Ireland See Appendix 23. The alternative would be waterless printing nevertheless the printers are expensive to purchase and run. Waste Relatively high levels of waste are generated by the printing process. This is also a social issue. Emissions VOCs are believed to come from the Printing Industry. These can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and much more serious affects if exposed to for long periods of time. environmentalchemistry.com/yogi//200602airpollution.html Ink Heavy metals and non-renewable resources in ink. The alternative would be vegetable based inks however not used by all printers. Economic The economic downturn is the most evident with approximately 200 companies already going into administration with 3000 jobs lost. This is contributing to the high levels of unemployment the UK is facing. See Appendix 5 from PrintWeek.com which is the official website for the British Printing Industries Federation. Mitting, William, Unemployment hits 2.38m with thousands of jobs lost from print printweek.com 15 July 2009 Printing Paper rises Several major paper suppliers have announced price increases. Paper giant Sappi said it will raise the price of certain types of paper by at least 10% in March next year however Printing companies will find it hard to increase their prices as there is continual undercutting of prices to secure contracts. See Appendix 6 Morris, Helen, Paper manufacturers set to impose further price increase printweek.com 19 February Interest rate rising Small print firms could be hit by a further crush on borrowing. This is the result of a move by the Treasury to reduce its exposure to the EFG scheme. See Appendix 7. Energy and fuel rises The industry has high energy dependence from the machinery it uses, a majority of which is electrical. Tucker, Wesley, eHow Contributor, Challenges in the Printing Industry 31st May 2010 http://www.ehow.co.uk/list_6570986_challenges-printing-industry.html Social Do It Yourself With disposable income lower and a wide more diverse range of packages available, consumers can choose to print for themselves whether it be using templates available on Microsoft or Desktop Publishing etc. Technological Advancement in technology has an unavoidable impact in the industry. It is needed to survive and ahead of competition. A Marketing Week article reports that the trend of digital technology and printing will ultimately open up new markets. A Printing Impressions article and Converting magazine abstract explain that digital enhances image and quality, has a faster turnaround and saves costs. See Appendices 8,9 10. The internet is another technological factor. 73% of households in the UK have it with 30 million adults using it daily therefore an opportunity for the industry to exploit. See Appendix 11 which details the National Statistics of Internet access. The Printing Industry could use the internet as an online ordering tool which is a trend in demand. The internet could too be used as a medium, for example a campaign online could be enhanced with a printed one to match. See Appendix 12 which explains that the internet is not a threat but can be used as a complimentary medium. Ultimately all the factors would need to be strongly analysed and considered in order to survive in an environment which is rapidly changing. With regards to the Social Enterprise sector, they have a vital role to play in the countrys economic recovery as they tackle social unemployment and crime or environmental issues and still support financial growth. The survey in Appendix 13 found that despite the recession, social enterprises are twice as confident of future growth as small to medium enterprises, with 48% of social enterprises reacting positively as opposed to just 24% of SMEs. Since the economic downturn began, 56% have increased their turnover from the previous year whilst less than 20% have seen it go down. State of Social Enterprise Survey, Nov 2009, Social Enterprise Coalition http://www.socialenterprise.org.uk Firm and Marketing Analysis Strengths Latest Product Technology In House Professional Design System Competitive Prices Online Uploading Service Weaknesses Instability Limited to Employee Abilities Limited To Expansion Very little Cash flow Very Little Marketing Ability Resource Independent Opportunities Seasonal Greetings Cards T-shirt Printing Charity Fundraisers Postcards Threats Stable / Well Known Competitors Work Related Legislations Increase in at home Printing Struggling Economy Above is a SWOT analysis of PrintIT. Strengths include the latest product technology. PrintIT offer digital printing and An In House Professional Design Service which indicate they are advancing with changes in technology in what is a dominant trend in the industry. They also have an online uploading service which enables faster and more convenient printing for the enterprise and the customer. Weaknesses include very little cash flow and marketing ability. PrintIT have a small sum of  £300 per annum for their enterprise spending budget. Opportunities including seasonal greetings cards. A Keynote Market Focus 2008 report (Appendix 14) states that Christmas and New Year cards sector record the greatest sales in volume terms and a rapidly growing population will ensure volume and value growth. Other opportunities include T-shirt Printing which PrintIT could use in the future when they more business. Threats include increase in at Home Printing As mentioned earlier there are programs available to enable consumers to print for themselves. Current Marketing Activities From assessing PrintITs current marketing activities, they market in three ways: Via the Appleby PrintIT website, a quarterly newsletter and distribution of leaflets. According to a recent Measurement of Marketing Effectiveness report, managers now more emphasis on the marketing activities of the organisation. This trend is the aspiration to achieve sustainable profit and develop their own firm to compete harder. See Appendix 15. As explained earlier the Internet is used by a vast majority of consumers. PrintIT have a very detailed website with a lot of facitlies available including quote request, services provided, portfolio of work and a price list. This is good service accessibility and a competitive advantage over rivals in the area of Armagh, as main competitors TrimPrint and Instant Print do not have websites at current, therefore if a consumer was looking for a Printing firm via an online search engine PrintIT would be the only company to offer one. This is a marketing activity which is delivered better than local competitors. From an extensive review of the website there seemed to be no link from PrintIT to the AppleBy Trust. We feel as a charity and social enterprise there needs to be a stronger link between the two, this is vital. Newsletters are distributed to existing customers of PrintIT quarterly. This enables them to maintain a relationship with their current customers and act as a tool for customer loyalty and repeat business. Newsletters are valued and an approach which is popular among marketers. PrintIT newsletters have a corporate design and are informative in that they show clients who they are supporting by including Trainee News and Trainee of the Month features. It can be used as a marketing strategy to communicate offers, new features etc. Two newsletter articles (Appendices 16 17) explain how newsletters are being introduced by companies of all sizes to communicate with customers and best prospects and how they are credible for a company with a limited budget. PrintIT also distribute leaflets. This is a method of marketing which could be very effective for business as this could be a way of advertising the firm for those that do not know or are aware of it. To prevent customers disposing of it PrintIT could include a discount code or money off coupon for an extra incentive. Paper is PrintITs forestay therefore leaflets will be very cost effective for the business in distributing to consumers. They are too a good form of communication. Customer Analysis Demographics of customers show that PrintIT are used by local consumers, beauty salons, hairdressers, pizza places etc. These are small local companies which PrintIt should continue catering for however should consider extending their customer base to local communities, churches, schools and colleges. PrintIT could create a bigger public awareness by using sports events at schools etc to advertise the brand. A recent Segmenting Volunteer Fundraisers at a Charity Sport Event journal explains how Charitable organizations are increasingly using sport events as an approach to generate funds and raise awareness. Researchers have suggested that sport events are mainly attractive to volunteer fundraisers because they provide an opportunity to engage in two important activities at the same time. This could evitably increase PrintITs customer base Wood, Laura Snelgrove, Ryan Danylchuk, Karen, 2010. Segmenting Volunteer Fundraisers at a Charity Sport Event . Journal of Nonprofit and Public Sector Marketing, 22 (1) p38 Appendix 24 For churches, PrintIT could offer to print order of services for weddings and eulogies for funerals. Weddings and funerals are constant therefore printing would always be in demand. See Appendices 21 22 which show that the rate of weddings and deaths in Armagh was particularly high, and bigger compared to other areas in 2008. This would be an opportunity for PrintIt to exploit and use their service to generate more business. http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/InteractiveMaps/Population_Migration/mortality/atlas.html http://www.ninis.nisra.gov.uk/mapxtreme/InteractiveMaps/Population_Migration/marriages/atlas.html For schools and colleges PrintIT could also offer the service of printing for example school plays, PTA letters and also offer the service of printing coursework for students. In order to reach customers PrintIT could create and deliver a portfolio and welcome pack to the local communities etc to view the work PrintIT offers and does. Price V Quality PrintIt at present charge a low price for printing therefore this could give the impression to consumers that the quality is low therefore an increase in prices could generate thought of higher quality products being offered. PrintIt are a social enterprise and part of a charity fund therefore consumers will be willing to pay more if they know its for a charity linked brand. See Appendix 18 which explains how cause related marketing can in the short term boost sales immediately and why consumers are willing to pay more for a charity linked brand. Strahilevitz, Michal, The Effects of Product Type and Doation Magnitude on Willingness to Pay More for a Charity-Linked Brand, Journal of Consumer Psychology, 8 (3) 215-241 1999 Marketing Strategy From analysing all of the above and looking at alternative marketing perspectives the team concluded that rebranding the social enterprise PrintIT by creating a new name, logo and business slogan would be the most effective strategy. To provide further information on rebranding, recently rebranded charities were reviewed to enable the team to see the reasoning behind rebrand and also the strategy and approach used in doing so. Examples of Rebranding The first charity was The Printers Charitable Organisation It changed its name and introduced a new logo. The charity provides relief for aged or poor people who are or were printers or persons employed or formerly worked in the printing or publishing industry. http://www.fundraising.co.uk/newswire/2010/03/24/printers-charitable-corporation-pcc-rebrands-printing-charity (28 Nov) The corporation changed its name to reflect its desire to appeal to a wider group of people and their children in todays Printing, Publishing trade The corporation changed its name to The Printing Charity. They said that the word printing was inclusive but also built on their legacy of supporting people. http://www.theprintingcharity.org.uk/docs/PrintingCharityAR2009.pdf The logo which beolow incorporates the four CMYK printing blocks used in the colour printing process. Each block represents one of the four cornerstones: Homes, Help, Link and Futures. ::::Downloads:PrintingCharity.logo_.jpg The charity thought the new name and logo was critical to the people it was set up to support. The rebranding is also an attempt to raise the profile and increase the number of people it supports financially. Other charities who have rebranded include Help the Aged which rebranded to Age UK, Parkinsons Disease Society which rebranded to Parkinsons UK and Macmillen Cancer Relief which rebranded to Macmillen Cancer Support. This rebrand was very successful, the charity had been underperforming considerably and the rebrand enhanced awareness and helped with publicity. Research has shown rebranding can vary in price and is time consuming. http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/994464/Charity-rebranding-change-vision-strategy/ PrintITs Rebrand From analysing PrintIT,a rebrand of the enterprise was decided. The original name does not specifically imply that it is supporting people with learning difficulties or that is it connected or originated from the AppleBy Trust. A suggestion is that PrintIT change their name to Print4Charity as this is simple and instantly indicates that the enterprise is a company printing for charity. Print4Charity has a meaning which is significantly different from the other traditional printing companies in Armagh and the surrounding area, is relevant to the enterprise and embeds it in the community. According to Hollensen 2003 the role of branding is to distinguish a companys offering and differentiate a particular product/service from its competitors. It creates awareness and helps with the promotion of the product/service. A brand is a complex symbol that signifies a range of ideas. Printing4Charity could strengthen the enterprises image with customers and communicate value. The rebrand is distinctive and has the potential to gain competitive advantage in the area as making a profit is a factor which is essential in keeping the enterprise up and running. Hollensen, Svend, Marketing Management, A Relationship Approach, 2nd Edition, Pages 409-410 From reviewing the enterprises website, newsletter and leaflets there is no distinctive logo and firm slogan. The enterprise strives to help disadvantaged people by providing vocational training therefore the team thought of an attentive firm slogan to match. Keller et al 2009 explains slogans to be those that are an extremely efficient means to build brand equity. Kotler et al, Marketing Management, European Edition, Pearson, Page 435 When designing the logo the fact that Print4Charity is part of the Appleby Trust was considered and that it gives disadvantaged people the opportunity to grow and flourish in real life work experience. Due to this the team created a logo and slogan that incorporates this: :PraÃÅ'ˆsentation_Logo_Leaflets:ThirdDraftPrintIt_Logo.jpg The new corporate colours used are green, yellow and red which the team felt indicated warmth and displayed professionalism. The Apples link the enterprise to Armagh as they are a distinguishing feature of the city. This could gain customer loyalty. The firm slogan A Chance to Ripen conveys emotion and connects with customers. According to Hollensen 2003 company slogans tell the firms story. Cost of Rebranding Rebranding can vary in price and be time consuming however the enterprise will benefit from it hugely in the future and could advertise the new brand via leaflets etc or use the buses the enterprise has to put the rebranded name no therefore this is a free form of advertising. Rebranding to Print4Charity is an opportunity to exploit and is a chance to really influence the point of the enterprise. Relaunching brand could sharpen the attention of existing and potential users Bradley, Frank, Marketing Management, Providing, Communicating and Delivering Value, Page 546 Other Marketing Strategies Other marketing strategies that were considered were publicity. The enterprise could get journalists from local newsletters and magazines to write an article about Print4Charity. See Appendices 16 17 which convey why newsletters are an effective form of communication. The enterprise should create an online social network presence in the form of Facebook, Twitter etc. See Utalkmarketing.com article in Appendix 20 which explains why social networks are valuable and important for business. The enterprise should also consider getting involved with the Social Economy Network. Its a membership based organisation that draws its membership from Social Economy organisations throughout Northern Ireland. It seeks to build, support and strengthen the Social Economy sector, it is too getting support and recognition by the Assembly. What Is Social Economy? As discussed earlier stronger connection with schools, local clubs etc and participation at local community and sporting events via trade exhibitions etc of the enterprises work. See Appendix 19 which conveys how a trade exhibition is a good way to market a company. Regarding pricing the enterprise should increase prices because as mentioned earlier consumers are willing to pay a little bit more if its for charity. The product range of the enterprise could be enhanced and broadened via printing seasonal greetings cards etc. See Keynote report as Appendix 14. In conclusion, if all the alternative marketing strategies were implemented PrintIT would see a rebrand to Print4Charity and have a vary of ways in promoting its service and receiving more business. These in effect will contribute more to the enterprises funds which would enable more expenditure for new technology etc in order to move forward and compete in what is a fast changing environment.

Informative Speech COM 1301

COM 1301, Section 05 October, 9th 2012 Mars Search Laboratory (MSL) Life on earth is getting more and more difficult, earth is overpopulated and global warming is treating our existence on earth every day. Living on another planet is on the solution that may pop out in our mind, this solution is what a space rover is trying to answer. In exactly one month and three days ago, a high technology rover lander on Mars, for those who did not hear about it let me show you some pictures (showing pictures to the audience), the rover is about 1000kg and a car size.Curiosity is special because it process information for itself and then sends the result back to earth. Two main objectives of Mars are1. Discover traces of past life.2. Analyze Mars habitability It is difficult not to get excited about NASA’s Mars Curiosity rover, it’s the most ambitious exploration vehicle yet sent to Mars.The big science question for the Mars Exploration Rover is how past water activity on Mars has i nfluenced the red planet's environment over time.While there is no liquid water on the surface of Mars today, the record of past water activity on Mars can be found in the rocks, minerals, and geologic landforms, particularly in those that can only form in the presence of water. That's why the rover is specially equipped with tools to study a diverse collection of rocks and soils that may hold clues to past water activity on Mars. Project scientist Grokzinger says: â€Å"Curiosity is not a life detection mission. We are not actually looking for life, we don’t have the ability to detect life if it was there. But let me show you something (shows picture of river ) this river is located in Spain, it reaches high temperatures about 40 °C and it’s very acidic, it has a Ph about 2, knowing that the Ph scale goes from 0 to 14 from the most acidic to the least acidic. Well, surprisingly this river holds life! Scientists have recently taken a sample from this water and disco ver bacteria in it! This can be the absolute evidence that life can emerge from extreme conditions.A part from discovering traces of past life, the other mission of Curiosity is to identify if Mars can be a shelter of life, Mars Science Laboratory is equipped with an instrument that measures the level of radiation. This will be critical to put a man on Mars and determine the type of protection. At last but not least, Scientists expect from Curiosity a major discovery, it involves analyzing rocks of the landing area, hoping to discover traces of past life and analyzing Mars habitability.To conclude let me show you the latest picture received from the rover (showing picture: trace of robot step) as you may see, this is a trace of the robot on the sandy surface of Mars, this is a small trace of a robot, a giant leap of mankind, Thank you.

Mapping an Argument Essay

The real issue here is rather or not marijuana should be legalized. There are both pro’s and cons with legalization of marijuana, many would argue that alcohol is more dangerous and damaging to the body that marijuana is while others would argue that marijuana is an addictive drug, and a gateway to other more serious drugs. The pros of medical marijuana seem to outweigh the cons being how more and more states are starting to legalize the use of it. Also, it was found that it does help with serious medical issues. The premise would be the fight for legalizing marijuana, and the unstated premises would be medical marijuana. The federal government says that marijuana has a high potential for abuse and has no medical value but â€Å"As of 2012 sixteen states, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana†. The bottom line is that a large group of Americans support the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes and many Americans support marijuana for recreational purposes as well. In fact, the state of Colorado was the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes therefore in my opinion that has to soften a lot of people’s opinion regarding the use of medical marijuana. According to the Great Falls, Montana,  Tribune, at an October 2009 medical marijuana health screening in that city, a Dr. Patricia Cole of Whitefish examined 150 patients in 14 and half hours who were there to see if they qualified to receive medical marijuana. Many find it hard to believe how easy it is to receive medical marijuana, â€Å"Some submitted paperwork and payment for the â€Å"examination† and an additional $25 registration fee is all it takes to be issued a card, as no formal medical records are required, only a stated complaint such as chronic headaches or insomnia or back pain†. Urban and small towns are affected the most by these medical marijuana controversies â€Å"Missoula, population 70,000, is home to the University of Montana. There are a dozen storefront outlets and 400 registered caregiver/growers serving 1,800 (and growing) card carriers. † The premise would be medical marijuana and the unstated premise would be the legalization of medical marijuana. Since the legalization of medical marijuana many small towns across America have been affected in a negative way. A lot of people started to see dollar signs and a lot of medical marijuana dispensaries were open. The opening of these medical marijuana dispensaries in these small towns and all across America caused a huge uproar and made many people go against it. The bottom line is that a lot of these small towns learned their lesson and made tougher standards regarding medical marijuana and started to do a better job in regulating the use of it. http://ic. galegroup. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/ic/ovic/ReferenceDetailsPage/ReferenceDetailsWindow? failOverType=&query=&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Reference&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=true&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&action=e&catId=GALE%7C00000000LVXO&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CPC3010999128 ttp://ic. galegroup. com. ezproxy. apollolibrary. com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow? failOverType=&query=&prodId=OVIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&limiter=&currPage=&disableHighlighting=true&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010753218

Event Reflection Essay

Event Reflection Essay Event Reflection Essay James L’Erario Event/Lecture Reflection RHA Meeting 11/10/14 Every Monday at 9:55, the Residence Hall Association for Davidson Hall meets in Davidson A on the Busch campus. I live in Davidson Hall A and I am the Davidson Hall A Representative. There are four separate halls on Davidson. To start off the meeting, we form a circle and the Davidson RHA President, Ronack, passes out a Hall Government Meeting Agenda paper slip. After everyone becomes situated and shows up, we start the meeting off with a question of the week. For this week, the question of the week was, â€Å"What would you have done differently over the past week?† We then go around the room to share each of our responses. For me, I would have started planning my essay sooner that I did. After the question of the week, we talked about what went well at our first program that we held, which was The Bonfire Bash that took place in the Davidson field. We all agreed that we had a good DJ, good food, good hot chocolate, and an overall good first event. Then w e discussed what we could have improved upon during the program. Not many had responses but the president emphasized that most people needed to be on time for their shifts and not late, as time management is key. Next, we discussed the Big Pink event that is being held soon. This is a volleyball tournament for breast cancer. Then, we discussed ideas for our next program, and we came to a consensus that we should throw a de-stressing party before finals. My job is to

How to Make a Real Lava Lamp

How to Make a Real Lava Lamp There a recipes all over the internet for easy lava lamps, but they arent the real deal. Thats because true lava lamps are a bit trickier to make. If youre ready for the challenge, heres what you do. Lava Lamp Materials Benzyl alcohol4.8%  saline solution40-60 Watt light bulbGlass containerOil-soluble markerGlass bottleTin canDimmer switchPlywoodTools How to Make the Lava Lamp Break open an oil-soluble marker or pen and place the inked felt into a container of benzyl alcohol. Leaving it in longer will give a darker color, but will also increase the tendency to bleed into the brine.A few minutes is usually a good time to leave the inked felt in the alcohol. A Sharpie bleeds too much into the brine, so choose a different type of marker.The benzyl alcohol, specific gravity 1.043 g/ml, and 4.8% salt water (brine, specific gravity 1.032 g/ml) go into the glass container. A bottle about 10 inches tall is good.Build a base to hold the bottle over the lamp using a tin can and plywood. A dimmer on the light will allow you to control heat.You may wish to place a fan at the top of the bottle to cool the liquid at this location.You will need to experiment to get the best distance between the heat source (light) and the glass container.You want about 150 ml benzyl alcohol and the remainder of the liquid to be brine. Seal the bottle, but allow airspace.Try about 1 inch of air space at the top, to allow for expansion of the fluids. The amount of airspace will affect bubble size. Responsible adult supervision is required! Because the materials may be toxic and there is a flammability hazard, this project is not intended for young or inexperienced investors. Tips for Success Alternatives to benzyl alcohol include cinnamyl alcohol, diethyl phthalate, ethyl salicylate, or nitrobenzene.An oil-based ink may be used instead of the marker.If the benzyl alcohol floats to the top and stays there, add more water. If the alcohol stays at the bottom, add more salt (NaCl).A trace amount of an antioxidant, such as BHA or BHT, may be added to the liquid to add color and increase contrast.Please read the  Material Safety Data Sheet  for benzyl alcohol before performing this procedure. Have fun and be safe!

Critically assess the Prime Minister's powers, Review the role of the Essay

Critically assess the Prime Minister's powers, Review the role of the media in British politics, Is the higher civil ser - Essay Example This work will focus on the powers of the prime minister and other political issues in the United Kingdom, specifically Britain (Adams, 2000). Powers of the prime minister The office of the prime minister in the United Kingdome is not in the constitution meaning there is no reference or a proper legal document that describes all matters that pertains to this office. Due to this, it remained uncommon to majority until the 20th century when the relation between the prime minister, sovereign government, cabinet and the parliament was appreciated. Prime minister’s powers include: the head of the government, meaning he is the chief officer of the executive and legislative arm of the government or the head of the cabinet. Here the prime minister signs policies debated upon by the legislators into full law. In some nations, the prime minister and the president or head of state must both agree with the policy before it actually becomes a full law. But in the United Kingdom, the Monarc hy is a relief from active role in governmental affairs, hence it is the prime minister to solely sign such policies to full law. ... The second group laments that the prime minister is a senior government official whose wishes or orders ought to be done without further questions (Negrine, 2002). The best solution to this debate is to establish a vetting procedure through which qualified people are vetted before being appointed by the prime minister, further more, the constitution should protect the cabinet members from official exploitations by senior most governmental powers, prime minister being one of them. He organizes business between the executive, civil service and legislators among other important governmental departments. The prime minister represents the Queen or monarchy in both domestic and international affairs. He has the overall control over the cabinet office, which is headed by the secretary of the cabinet, also the head of civil servants. Here the head of civil service must present some issues to the prime minister before the final verdicts are made. Since the head of civil servants is appointed by the prime minister, no aspirant would dare oppose the Prime Minister (Stephen, 2000). Politics is real where some leaders agree and disagree for the sake of good governorship. In my opinion a one sided governorship is more of a dictatorship or the state of psycho fancy. A majority of both appointed and aspiring senior government officials will always support the prime minister despite the infeasibilities. The constitution should be amended to protect the senior officials from such oppressions. A good government is that which cabinet and other senior officials are free to make their personal opinions for the sake of the citizens in general. Role of media in British Politics Britain is of the countries where media sector is at full liberty to

The Power of the U.S. Supreme Court WK6 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Power of the U.S. Supreme Court WK6 - Essay Example Consequently, the U.S. courts interpret the United States Congress inspired laws. The court’s decision includes preventing the police officers from forcibly and illegally conducting illegal search evidences and forcing self-incriminating confessions. The federal courts should accept the concept that the United States Congress’ constitution ensures the police officers should not abuse the citizen’s rights against illegal searches and illegally obtained evidences and confessions. The Miranda law continues to be one of the significant victories for the rights of suspects, a stunning win of the U.S. Supreme Court over Congress. The Courts’ interpretation and implementation of the constitution includes making decisions on the 2000 United States presidential elections, abortion, affirmation action, as well as elimination of school segregation policies. Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s Dickerson decision has implications for the federal exclusion rule. The Dickerson case affirmed the constitutionality or legality of the Miranda Doctrine1, enforcing the fourth Amendment. Dickerson filed a complaint stating a police officer DiFilippo attached a GPRS tracking device under his car, without permission, to track the travels of the suspected drug dealer, Dickerson. The rule states that all evidence taken without a search warrant, including the Dickerson drug evidences, illegally violated the suspect’s Miranda rights to self-incrimination (http://w.info.com/) In addition to the above discussion, The United States Congress can modify the laws that do not conflict with constitutional provisions2. The Circuit court incorporates Professor Cassell’s insistence that Miranda Rights reduces conviction of voluntary confessors by stating the United States Congress’ Act 3501 expressly overrides the Miranda Doctrine by focusing on the overall situation, not the Miranda Doctrine (https://wsws.org/). In short, the victim’s voluntary confession,