Strategic planning Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Strategic planning - Assignment Example Strategic planning is an instrument incorporated by management to ensure that all of its components are working towards realizing an organization’s goals. It has long been used to transform, and revitalise organizations in many areas of the world. Businesses, whether profit or non-profit, are incorporating these strategies in order to better their situation in the global market. The political and economic standing in many countries, today, has caused the change in many organization’s plans (Grant, 2005). This is in order for them to have a piece of the market pie while capitalizing on the same. This paper will review strategic planning as a tool, and how it helps organizations grow and develop. Scenario planning is a process of tactical planning that involves the creation of long-term goals/objectives. It helps combat uncertainty in an organization through the short period that it is incorporated. The need to create such a tool is to help an organization find the perfec t environment in which their products, goods, or services can sell and make a profit. Those who practice with the use of such a tool enjoy the benefits it accrues. The need to prepare for the future ensures that analysts and strategists create scenario development in an organization (Grant, 2005). This is to prevent any drawbacks that may try and affect the organization after a certain period. During the implementation of such a tool, driving forces in the economic market are identified. This makes analysts aware of the environment in which the organization is dealing with, and how to penetrate such a market (Grant, 2005). This provides them with adequate time and response to what they need to do in order to make the organization rake in profits. An example of an organization that incorporates the use of scenario development is the Shell Oil Company. They are involved with the purchase and sale of oil in many parts of the world. They have admitted to using strategic analysis to help them in long range decision making processes (Grant, 2005). It is through this admittance that traditional methods of planning are found to be highly ineffective. This is as some other companies confess. The company has praised this tool of planning by saying that; the market identification process is much easier than it was before its inception. Managers of the company claim that the strategy allows them to view future environmental uncertainties; hence enabling them to be more effective than they were before employing such strategies. The utilization of such a technique is seen above with the forecasting of future environmental changes. Managers ascertain that the environment is mostly unpredictable (Grant, 2005). Utilizing such a technique will ensure that the company holds an upper hand over other companies. These are the companies that still incorporate traditional forms of environmental, future forecasting. How does the military deal with barriers to effective decision making In order to have uniformity in a unit, it is imperative that the military commanding officers have jurisdiction over a vast area. However, there are areas in which the decisions made by a commanding officer may present a problem to many in the same base. Some of the barriers to effective decision making include; responsibility bestowed on individuals (Porter, 1998). This is a frighteningly hard problem that many people are exposed to in the military. They are often assigned tasks that many may think are above them. However, once this barrier is broken, since it is a psychological one, everything seems to fall into place for all those involved. Another problem that affects effective decision making for many officers in charge of an army base is the problem of overconfidence. This can be a problem to those around individuals given certain tasks. This is because their overconfidence when it relates to their job can be overly harmful to others. The negative factors that affect

Experience at clinical hospital Neurological ward Essay Example for Free

Experience at clinical hospital Neurological ward Essay I was a specialist at a children’s clinical hospital ward. Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. This hospital offers services to children such as inpatient neurology, neurosurgeon, radiology, neuropathology and paediatrics neurology with the children department. This work as it sounds is highly specialized and can only be achieved in a center with high and excellent academicians and research done regularly. Some work such as Neuro-radiology is highly specialized and is only provided in a few centers in the U.  K. Which dictates regular increase knowledge by consulting references, identifying learning resources within the center and making use of them. I was a neurologist which means I attended to Brain and Nervous system diseases. Due to the fact that they are few centers taking care of Neurologist. Difficult cases are referred to our clinics. For instance stroke, brain saving treatments are available if the patients are seen, scanned and diagnosed on time in specialist centers. As a neurologists, I was interested in dealing directly with emergency care but hospital senate was usually interested on how many patients are attended which leaves the emergency care to non-specialists. On this particular week I was on duty or what this center called a call. That means for 24 hours a day and 7 days am available for emergency referrals. On Monday that week a very young child was aged 9 years had a brain biopsy, he was on the intensive care unit. I was not sure what is wrong which was a difficult time for me and his family. I requested for a brain test, which helped me diagnose the problem. I had an interest on multiple sclerosis. Children will have an attack once an year, eventually there was no treatment but now we had it only that it is too expensive, money had run out for the treatment, how cumbersome!. In the afternoon, I had a general neurology clinic at the hospital. I was also following on the patient who were fourteen in number those that I had been treating but seventeen have booked in. This was so frustrating because I would not give my patients attention as desired. In the evening I would return to the ward to see a patient I have not been there so files had really piled up. At night I received a call concerning a patient who have fever and there are no doctors so I went back. Tuesday I was on call for emergencies but routine work went on, Traffic was very built up so I had to leave early to get there by 8. 00 am. and its 10 miles. Tuesday afternoon a child with a bad headache was admitted, I was worried she had a clot in her head. Radiologist said the brain scan could stay until morning but I objected and supported an immediate brain scan. Wednesday I began by paper work then proceeded to give attention to my patients in the ward. In the afternoon there was multidisciplinary Neuro inflammatory clinic at 2pm. As the hospital had 15 beds, I could not pay attention to all these patients so I gave advice to those who were in General medicine. I was called to see a patient with a weak leg he had a scan which ruled out an operation but we dint know why the leg was weak I recommended some more scans. Thursday We get to the office and do paperwork, I saw some of the patients, had a long talk with a couple whose child had a massive brain cycles. Friday I had a clinic in the morning. I tried to be as responsible as possible to all our patients. We were attending to three patients each week to assess new symptoms to see if the patients will need a treatment. We also collected disability date with use of questionnaires which we then did a careful neurological examination. I got a call from the bone marrow transplant unit to see a child who had been in a coma for 24 hours. The question was whether he was epileptic. However he was given a sedative treatment for that day. We arranged an emergent brain test and it looked like the coma was from infection or metabolic problems given that his liver was not functioning well or maybe he was reacting from yesterday’s drug. While working at the hospital, the pharmacist working in the department,gave medication to a patient who I had been treating, but the patient died. The family was convinced that the medication was the main reason as to why the child died. The family went ahead and sued him and the regarded it as a second degree manslaughter. He chose me as his attorney as I was the one in charge of neurological childrens ward which I reluctantly accepted. I found myself so confused, I was not sure I wanted to do this but due to the fact that I was in charge neurological ward for children I had to. To be the attorney defending the pharmacist. I was not sure which way to go I was caught up in a moral dilemma. I felt that the pharmacist would have been more careful in serving the customers in accordance to the domains of conduct and competence. On the other hand, I felt that I should be with him in that trying time. It was also a difficult time for me. It was a real test for my ethical standards. This is because I felt so carried away by the family’s reaction which I felt were justified. The second degree manslaughter, is a difficult case an attorney can take. Defending a person against murder charges whether attempted murder or manslaughter requires every possible weapon even if the prosecution is weak. This involuntary manslaughter usually carries four years. The Pharmacist was so worried and nervous feared for the worst since the prosecution seemed very strong. When he stood in the docket to testify, there was nothing he said that seemed to satisfy the judge, which placed us in a worse situation than we were already in. This was the first time I was being an attorney in any ones case so that particular morning I was so confused. I tried to relax and get all the facts right concerning the case. When my time came to stand in the docket I was very composed. So I gave my testimony as the neurosurgeon who was in charge that week. I argued that they were many conditions that surrounded the death of the boy. The death was not necessarily caused by the medication the patient was in bad shape which may have mainly contributed to his death. At this juncture it looked like am convincing the judge who then asked me to give a document backing my testimony which I handed over to him. The patient who was a ten year body had suffered from stroke which was very serious. The pharmacist seemed to relax a little bit when the judge finally started to nod his head in agreement. I concluded my testimony by stating that the death of the patient was surrounded by many instances which was hard to draw any conclusion. The prosecutors were given a chance to give their evidence, they argued that the boy was fine until he took the medication. We were told to came back in the afternoon to hear the judges verdict. We came back at two in the afternoon. There was anxiety and tension in the court room as we awaited the judge verdict. The Judge threw out the prosecution as murder charge which he said the evidence was inadequate to support such a conviction of murder. The prosecutor could not take that and vowed to appeal, calling the judge decision as â€Å"ultra vires†. The lead prosecutor complained to the judge accusing him of committing the offense of negligence. We were very excited and drove to the hospital feeling very achieved. This two experiences gave me more confidence to face future challenges, it was very hard in the beginning. With time I was able to learn so much, the reason I included the week when I was in duty is because it gave me the most experience it was a week of career growth without depending on the more experienced specialists. This week also, I was able to measure my performance and how I could improve. In addition, I discovered my weakness which I hope to overcome as I advance in my career. I also noticed the importance of giving high quality services to my patient as it gives satisfaction and happiness to know that you did you did your best. When I needed to top up my knowledge I consulted other more experienced specialists or visited the hospitals library. which had enough resources. This helped me improve on my knowledge, which I hope to widen further as a advance in my career.

Hanoi: History and Culture

Hanoi: History and Culture HANOI A, Introduction about Hanoi Chapter 1: History 1, Modern History As it had under Chinese rule, Vietnamese nationalism simmered quietly throughout the country, waiting for an opportunity. Young Nguyen Tat Thanh, better known by his alias Ho Chi Minh, thought that the end of WWI was a good opening, so he tried to present a plan for an independent Vietnam to US president Woodrow Wilson at the 1919 Versailles Peace Conference. Evidently, self-determination was for Europeans alone. When France fell to Nazi Germany in 1940, the Vichy government allowed the Japanese to put troops in Vietnam. The United States knew enough not to count on any French resistance, instead opting to pump arms and funding into the communist-dominated Viet Minh forces. Our leader, Ho Chi Minh, graciously accepted and began harassing the Japanese mercilessly. After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Uncle Ho called for a general uprising known as the August Revolution, and on September 2, 1945, Ho Chi Minh and his National Liberation Committee (with US officials at his side) declared the Democratic Republic of Vietnam independent at a rally in Ba Dinh Square. The French were not pleased, and fought the Viet Minh tooth and nail for eight years, despite a massive military aid package from the USA and formal recognition by both China and the USSR. On May 7, 1954, the French threw in the towel and surrendered North Vietnam to the Viet Minh. Fiercely anti-communist leader Ngo Dinh Diem was elected (more or less; a lot of dead people voted in that election) president of South Vietnam. Soon afterward, the USA closed its consulate in Hanoi. In 1959, Southern cadres asked that the North Vietnamese join them in armed struggle against the Diem regime. Hanoi responded by agreeing to help the National Liberation Front (NLF), also known as the Viet Cong, who were mainly communist South Vietnamese resisters with little training. Without French troops, however, the South Vietnamese army was incredibly weak, and the Western world looked on nervously as Diem began losing control of the situation. The USA sent 2000 military advisers to South Vietnam in 1961, the number swelling to 23,000 by 1964. By then, Hanoi was no longer helping the NLF out with guns and training; they were sending trained North Vietnamese troops across the border. Despite small victories, Hanois war didnt seem winnable until the 1968 Tet Offensive, when Hanoi gained the upper hand. The USA continued to throw warm bodies to the tune of 3.14 million men and women at the increasingly bloody conflict until the 1973 cease-fire. The USA evacuated almost all troops out of Vietnam in return for Hanois commitment to keep communism above the 17th parallel. They also cut off most financial and other aid to South Vietnam. By 1975, the southern half of the country was r unning on fumes. North Vietnam launched a massive attack on the South on January 1975; Saigon surrendered in April. No one, least of all the leadership in Hanoi, was prepared for reunification. At least two million Vietnamese had died in the conflict and scars ran deep; the environment and economy were shambles. The violence wasnt over, either: In 1979, answering for Vietnams 1978 invasion of Cambodia, China attacked Hanoi. The Chinese were repelled within 17 brutal days. The 1980s witnessed a devastating famine that left Hanoi with rice shortages and strict rations, a continuing guerrilla war with the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia and the opening of European communism. Surprisingly, Vietnam finished the decade in much better shape than it started. In February 1990, the government called for more openness and criticism, but was unprepared for the seething discontent behind the floodgates. Hanoi backtracked, but began allowing more economic openness while keeping government structure (and media access) in a lockbox. In 1992 Vietnam signed a peace treaty with Cambodia, and in 1994, the USA lifted economic sanctions on the country. The two former enemies now maintain diplomatic relations. 2, Recent History As the economy continues to open to foreign investment and private ownership, Hanois leadership remains in the hands of hard-line communists. The economys command structure insulated Vietnam from the worst of the Asian economic crisis (though its currency was devalued twice); the crisis actually increased confidence in the Communist Party. The growing private business sector in the city makes it obvious; however, that capitalism is making sturdy inroads into Vietnam. While the government is eyeing Most Favored Nation status with the US and, eventually, membership of the WTO, its human rights record is bound to be a stumbling block. 3, Pre 20th Century History Human habitation of Northern Vietnam goes back about 500,000 years according to archaeological evidence. The site of present-day Hanoi has been populated for at least 10,000 years. These first inhabitants formed a feudally organized society that first relied on hunting, fishing and gathering, later developing animal husbandry and agriculture. These tribes developed in relative isolation until about 2000 years ago. The Han Chinese set up a military garrison near present-day Hanoi in 214 BC, using it as a base of operations that would eventually control most of modern Vietnam. The next 1000 years of Chinese rule introduced important technological innovations to the Vietnamese, including ploughs and irrigation systems. But rebellion simmered in every town, and the millennium was punctuated by revolution and resistance. This tradition of rebellion shaped Vietnams national character. Vietnamese rebels saw their chance when Chinas Tang dynasty collapsed. In 938, revolutionary leader Ngo Quyen gave the Chinese a sound whipping and established an independent Vietnamese state, but after his death the region fell into anarchy. In 980, Vietnam became a semi-independent client state of China, stabilizing the situation all for the cost of a biannual tribute. For the next 400 years, the site of present-day Hanoi served as the administrative seat for all of Vietnam. The Grand Royal enclosure, now the citys Old Quarter, was constructed and the nations first university, the Temple of Literature, was founded during the first century of home rule. Attacks by the Khmers, Chinese and even Kublai Khan were repelled by national forces. All this was done with little Chinese interference. The Chinese never forgot their plum province, however, and in 1400 they captured Hanoi again. National hero Le Lois guerrilla tactics and peasant support eventually reclaimed Vietnamese independenc e. A period of nationalism and renewed interest in Confucianism followed a reaction to increased discontent with Europeans, their values and their missionaries. The missionaries didnt take the hint, however, and in 1858 several were killed. The French had an excuse to invade, and by 1867 South Vietnam was a French colony. Hanoi was captured in 1874. The impotent imperial court was allowed to remain, indulging itself in various coups and capers, but the French controlled the nation. Chapter 2: Geography and climate Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam. It is located at 20Â °25 latitude North and 105Â °30 longitude East in the plains of North Vietnam. There are many rivers flowing eastwards to the sea. This is a convenient transport cluster for all the Northern provinces. The climate is tropical and affected by monsoons. There are four seasons in Hanoi, there are: Spring; it starts from February to April; average temperature is from 15Â ° to 20Â °C (59Â ° -68Â ° F), drizzle is frequent with wet weather. This is the season of the Lunar New Year holiday and many folk festivals. Summer; it starts from May to August; average temperature is from 30Â ° to 36Â ° C (86Â ° -97Â ° F). There is much rain and sunshine. Autumn; it starts from September to November; average temperature is 25Â ° to 36Â ° C (75Â ° 97Â °F). It is cool, clear and dry. This is the best season in Hanoi, but it is short, lasting no more than 50-60 days. Winter; it starts from December to January; the lowest temperature is from 10Â ° to 15Â °C (48Â ° -59 Â °F). The weather is cloudy and wet. The monsoons c ause many phases of cold. The annual average rainfall in Hanoi is 1800 mm. In the past, many rivers flowed through Hanoi, but they changed their currents from time to time, therefore the ground is mainly deposited by alluvium and there are many lakes. These rivers and lakes give Hanoi a natural beauty. In the flood season, the water level of the largest rivers flowing through Hanoi (the Red River, the Duong, Nhue, Day Rivers) rises very high. During ancient times, the Vietnamese people have built thousands of kilometers of dykes by the river banks. Nowadays, in the city, some sections of the ancient dykes have become traffic roads Chapter 3: Administrative zones At the present time, Hanoi comprises 7 inner districts and 5 suburban districts. Nevertheless, districts may be increased in number as the capital is developing fast together with the country. The 7 inner districts of Hanoi are: Hoan Kiem district: This is a trade, cultural and administrative centre. The Municipal Peoples Committee, the Central Bank and important state offices are located in this district. It also includes theatres, railway stations, markets and busy commercial streets. There are two bridges link Hoan Kiem district with the other side of the Red River. Hoan Kiem Lake in the centre of the district is considered as the heart of the capital. Its ancient streets still keep deep imprints of Hanois millenary history; therefore they should be protected as historical relics. The Hoan Kiem lake description will be explain further in next chapter. Ba Dinh district: Ba Dinh district is located at South of West Lake, a zone where many highest state bodies and diplomatic office s are located. The Mausoleum and Museum of Ho Chi Minh and the Hanoi old citadel are also located in this district. The Western part of this district is being reconstructed through large projects. Hai Ba Trung district is situated of Hoan Kiem Lake including trade and administrative zones. It is developing southwards, covering some industrial and population localities between the National Road 1 A and the Red river. Dong Da district. This is a Southwest expanded part of the city including many common living quarters, colleges, hospitals and factories built in the 1960s and 1970s. Large transport routes and multi-storey buildings are now under construction in this district in the Southern part of Dong Da lake. Recently, the districts of Tay Ho, Thanh Xuan and Cau Giay have been formed on the territory of the old districts and precincts to satisfy the development demands of the city. In these new districts, the construction tempo has increased on the basis of the better planning. The suburban districts of Tu Liem and Thanh Tri are located in the South of the city; Dong Anh and Soc Son districts are in the North; and Gia Lam districts are in the East. Formerly, these districts were agricultural areas, providing the capital with food and vegetables. At present, new factories, industrial and export processing zones are being established in this district. http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/learn_about_vietnam/geography/ha_noi/ Chapter 4: Hanois people There was a long period in the northern part of the country of relative isolation from the west. Thus Vietnamese in Hanoi and its surrounding areas tend to be quite curious about westerners. Travelers should expect to be watched and commented on, and to be asked questions considered somewhat intrusive by western standards (how old are you, are you married, how much money do you make, why do you have those children, etc.). None of this is meant to cause offense; it is just a simple curiosity. Vietnamese live much more out in their neighborhoods than do typical westerners, who live and work in closed-up buildings and travel everywhere by car, and are avid observers of (and commentators on) life around them. Hanoians are overwhelmingly honest and good-natured people. There is no animosity toward Americans left over from the war. People tend to be forward-looking and prefer not to dwell on the past; they are pragmatic, down-to-earth, and extremely hard-working, particularly women. Adults almost universally dote on children. Travelers can expect to have their babies taken away to be held, and their children of all ages entertained in shops, restaurants, and hotels. Merchants and peddlers do see western travelers as great sources of income and relatively easy marks. They bargain aggressively and overcharge without mercy (but will scrupulously count change when the bargain is struck). Small children selling postcards and shoe shining services can be quite ruthless. People asking for hand-outs are very persistent and at times unpleasant. Travelers who walk purposefully, say no firmly to unwanted offers, and make minimal eye contact are fare best. * * * B. Special features in Hanoi Chapter 1: Hanoi 36 streets 1, History of Hanois Old quarter As the oldest continuously developed area of Vietnam, Hanois Old Quarter has a history that spans 2,000 years and represents the eternal soul of the city. Located between the Lake of the Restored Sword, the Long Bien Bridge, a former city rampart, and a citadel wall, the Old Quarter started as a snake and alligator-infested swamp. It later evolved into a cluster of villages made up of houses on stilts, and was unified by Chinese administrators who built ramparts around their headquarters. The area was named Dominated Annam or Protected South by the Chinese. The Old Quarter began to acquire its reputation as a crafts area when the Vietnamese attained independence in the 11th century and King Ly Thai To built his palace there. In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives, or guilds. Skilled craftsmen migrated to the Quarter, and artisan guilds were formed by craftsmen originating from the same village and performing similar services. Members of the guilds worked and lived together, creating a cooperative system for transporting merchandise to the designated streets in the business quarter. Because inhabitants of each street came from the same village, streets developed a homogeneous look. Commoners homes evolved out of market stalls, before streets were formed. Because storekeepers were taxed according to the width of their storefront, storage and living space moved to the rear of the buildings. Consequently, the long and narrow buildings were called tube houses. Typical measurements for such houses are 3 meters wide by 60 meters long. The Old Quarter has a rich religious heritage. When the craftsmen moved from outlying villages into the capital, they brought with them their religious practices. They transferred their temples, pagodas and communal houses to their new location. Each guild has one or two religious structures and honors its own patron saint or founder. Therefore, on each street in the Old Quarter there is at least one temple. Now, many of the old temples in the Old Quarter have been transformed into shops and living quarters, but some of the old buildings religious roots can still be recognized by the architecture of their roofs. Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the 36 Old Streets, there are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36 came from the 15th century when there might have been 36 guild locations, which were workshop areas, not streets. When streets were later developed, the guild names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the 36 to a more abstract concept. The number nine in Asia represents the concept of plenty. Nine times the four directions makes 36, which simply means many. There are now more than 70 streets in the area. Some streets have achieved fame by their inclusion in popular guidebooks. Han Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products. Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious objects and clothing. To Thinh Street connects the above two and is still the wood turners street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead. Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives, or guilds. The Old Quarterbegan to acquire its reputation as a crafts area when the Vietnamese attained independence in the 11th century and King Ly Thai To built his palace there. In the early 13th century, the collection of tiny workshop villages which clustered around the palace walls evolved into craft cooperatives, or guilds. Skilled craftsmen migrated to the Quarter, and artisan guilds were formed by craftsmen originating from the same village and performing similar services. Members of the guilds worked and lived together, creating a cooperative system for transporting merchandise to the designated streets in the business quarter. Because inhabitants of each street came from the same village, streets developed a homogeneous look. Commoners homes evolved out of market stalls, before streets were formed. Because storekeepers were taxed according to the width of their storefront, storage and living space moved to the rear of the buildings. Consequently, the long and narrow buildings were called tube houses. Typical measurements for such houses are 3 meters wide by 60 meters long. The Old Quarter has a rich religious heritage. When the craftsmen moved from outlying villages into the capital, they brought with them their religious practices. They transferred their temples, pagodas and communal houses to their new location. Each guild has one or two religious structures and honors its own patron saint or founder. Therefore, on each street in the Old Quarter there is at least one temple. Now, many of the old temples in the Old Quarter have been transformed into shops and living quarters, but some of the old buildings religious roots can still be recognized by the architecture of their roofs. Although the old section of Hanoi is often called the 36 Old Streets, there are more than 36 actual streets. Some researchers believe that the number 36 came from the 15th century when there might have been 36 guild locations, which were workshop areas, not streets. When streets were later developed, the guild names were applied to the streets. Others attribute the 36 to a more abstract concept. The number nine in Asia represents the concept of plenty. Nine times the four directions makes 36, which simply means many. There are now more than 70 streets in the area. Some streets have achieved fame by their inclusion in popular guidebooks. Han Gai Street offers silk clothing ready-made and tailored, embroidery, and silver products. Hang Quat, the street that formerly sold silk and feather fans, now stuns the visitor by its brilliantly colored funeral and festival flags and religious objects and clothing. To Thinh Street connects the above two and is still the wood turners street. Hang Ma glimmers with shiny paper products, such as gift wrappings, wedding decorations and miniature paper objects to burn for the dead. Lan Ong Street is a sensual delight of textures and smells emanating from the sacks of herbal medicinal products: leaves, roots, barks, and powders. 2, Some streets in Old Quarter -Hang Bac Street A majority of the street names in the Old Quarter start with the word hang. Hang means merchandise or shop. The guild streets were named for their product, service or location. Hang Bac, one of the oldest streets in Vietnam, dates from at least the 13th century. Bac means silver, and appropriately, this street started as a silver ingot factory under the reign of Le Thanh Tong (1469-1497). Village people, called the Trau Khe silver casters, were brought into the capital to cast silver bars and coins. After a ceremony to transfer their craft from their village of Trau Khe to Hanoi, they set up two temples to honor the founders of their craft. At one communal house, the silver was molten and poured into molds. At the other communal house, the molds were further processed for delivery to the Prime Minister. The crafters went to great lengths to keep their methods secret to avoid counterfeit products. At the turn of the 18th century, the street took on more varied functions. In addition to the casting of silver ingots, the street attracted more jewelry makers and money exchangers. Money exchangers thrived, since in the old days, paper money was not used. Instead, currency consisted of bronze and zinc coins and silver ingots. When merchants needed a large amount of money for business transactions, they would exchange the heavy metal bars on Hang Bac. During the French time it was called Exchange Street. Although paper currency was later used, the word for it included the word bac. Hang Bac also has jewelers of different types: engravers, smelters, polishers, and gold-leaf makers. The first jewelry makers were the Dong Cac guild, which settled during the Le dynasty (1428-1788). They founded a temple dedicated to three brothers who learned their art in China in the 6th century, and who are considered the patron saints of the Vietnamese jewelry making profession. There are several famous buildings on this street. In the communal house on Hang Bac, there is a stone stele, built in 1783, telling about a Mandarin who forcibly took over the communal house. The locals took him to court and won back their building. The Dung Tho Temple is dedicated to Chu Bi, a Taoist deity. At the end of the French colonial period, this temple had been named Truong Ca, after a person who watched over the temple and served the best noodle soup. One building on this street is the pride of contemporary history-the Chuong Vang (Golden Bell) Theater, which still hosts traditional Vietnamese theater performances. The former traditional-venue theater, the To Nhu (Quang Lac) Theater built in the 1920s, also is on this street but has been transformed into apartments. -Hang Be Street In the mid-19th century, the guild of bamboo raft makers was located on this street outside the My Loc gate, one of the many sturdy gates to the city. The cai mang raft consisted of 12 to 15 large bamboo poles lashed together by strips of green bamboo bark. Their anterior was slightly raised by heating the wood, and the aft was rigged with three quadrangular sails made of coarse linen dyed with extracts of sweet potato skins. Bamboo rafts were sensible for Hanois shallow rivers, lakes and swamps, which can not provide solid anchorage or natural shelter from storms. The flat design better weathered the seasonal typhoons that lash the northern part of Vietnam, and is better adapted to coastal and river fishing. The bamboo poles from which the rafts were constructed were sold one block east on Hang Tre Street. -Cau Go Street Meaning Wooden Bridge, Cau Go Street is located one block north of the Lake of the Restored Sword, and was in fact the location of a wooden bridge. About 150 years ago, the bridge crossed a thin stream of water connecting the Thai Cuc Lake with the Lake of the Restored Sword. Dyers from the neighboring Silk Street set out their silk to dry or bleached their fabric beside the bridge. Under the French occupation, the lake and stream were filled as health measures and to increase buildable land. The little wooden bridge became a regular street. On the edge of the lake, women in wide brimmed hats once sold armfuls of flowers to the French for a few coins. Today a flower market exists where the Cau Go alley intersects with the main street. Other historical sites on Cau Go are the secret headquarters and hiding place of the 1930-45 Love the Country resistance movement. Cau Gotoday is a commercial street specializing in womens accessories. -Hang Dao Street This street is one of Vietnams oldest streets. It serves as a main axis running from north to south, cutting the Old Quarter in half. In the French Colonial time, Hang Dao Street was a center for the trading of silk products. On the first and sixth days of the lunar month, there were fairs for the sale of silk items. Shops also sold other types of fabric such as gauze, brocade, crepe, and muslin. Almost all the non-silk products were white. In the beginning of the 15th century, this street was the location of the silk dyer guild from the Hai Hung Province, which specialized in a deep pink dye. Dao, the name of the street, refers to the pink of apricot blossoms, which are symbolic of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year. The demand for this special color was so high that the fabric had to be dyed at other locations as well. Hang Thiec is the street of tinsmiths. The craftsmen originally produced small tin cone-shaped tips which were used to preserve the shape of the traditional conical hats By the 18th century, the dye colors diversified. In the 18th-century work Notes About the Capital, the author wrote that Hang Dao guild does dying work. It dyes red as the color of blood, black as Chinese ink, and other beautiful colors. In the 19th century, Hang Dao was lined by about 100 houses, of which only 10 or so were constructed of bricks. The rest were of thatch. On the side of the street alongside the now filled-in Hang Dao Lake, the foundations of the houses have visibly sunk lower than the road. By the turn of this century, Indian textile merchants opened shops for trading silk and wool products imported from the West. This street now specializes in ready-made clothing. -Dong Xuan Street/ Market Street This street originally belonged to two villages-the even numbered houses were occupied by the Nhiem Trung village, and the odd numbered houses were occupied by the Hau Tuc village. The Dong Xuan market, Vietnams oldest and largest market, occupies half of the street. River networks formed the economic hub of Hanoi by providing a system of waterways which fed the city and markets. Located at the confluence of the To Lich and Red Rivers, the Dong Xuan market was once one of the busiest urban areas in Southeast Asia. The French required merchants to bring their goods inside the fenced perimeter of the market in order to facilitate tax collections. When the number of merchants swelled, the market was enlarged. In 1889, a structure was built over it, and five gates were built leading to it. Each of the five market gates was used only for specified goods. In 1992, the market was renovated and a new facade erected. -Hang Mam Street Hang Mamis the union of two old streets: an eastern offshoot called Hang Trung and the original Hang Mam. The name is derived from the various kinds of mam, or fish sauces, that are produced and sold here, as well as other sea products. The street was originally on the riverside, close to the days catch. Nuoc mam, or fish sauce, is made from fish that are too small to be sold individually which are placed in clay vats with water and salt. Boiled water is poured over the fish and weights are placed on top of the mixture to compress it. The concoction distills for days, and the result is a clear amber juice that is rich in protein, vitamins and minerals. With aging, the fierce ammoniac odors of the fish become mellow, and like brandy, the flavor improves. The first pressing, which is the clearest and purest, is called nuoc mam nhi, or prime. The sauce was stored in barrels made on adjacent Hang Thung Street. In the 1940s, new specialties appeared on the street. A small ceramics industry appeared along with those of memorial stone etching, coffin, and tombstone manufacturers. -Ma May Street This street also is a union of two old streets. Hang May sold rattan products, and Hang Ma sold sacred joss (paper replicas of money, clothing, even stereo sets) to burn for the dead. Ma is burned in front of the altar of ancestors accompanied by prayers. Around the turn of the century, the streets became one: Ma May. On the edge of the lake, women in wide brimmed hats once sold armfuls of flowers to the French for a few coins. In the French time, this street was called Black Flag Street because the soldier Luu Vinh Phuc had his headquarters here. Luu was the leader of the Black Flags, a bandit unit operating around Hanoi in the late 19th century. They were essentially pirates who made a living robbing villagers and merchants. In the 1880s, the Black Flags cooperated with the Vietnamese Imperial Forces to resist the French who were attempting to gain military control of Hanoi. In the middle of the street is the Huong Tuong temple, established in 1450, which honors Nguyen Trung Ngan (1289-1370), a governor of Thang Long, the former name of Hanoi. -Hang Thiec Street Hang Thiecis the street of tinsmiths. The craftsmen originally produced small tin cone-shaped tips which were used to preserve the shape of the traditional conical hats. A neighboring street, Hang Non, made the hats, and both streets comprised the Yen No hamlet. Hang Thiec Street also produced oil lamps, candle sticks, and opium boxes. Tin shops sold mirrors, which they still do today, along with sheet metal, zinc, and glass. The street echoes busily with the clanging of hammers against the sheet metal. Workers spread out on the sidewalk shaping metal storage boxes and other objects to custom order. -Hang Thung Street In the old days, on this block inside the Dong Yen gate, barrels were manufactured. The barrels were used for storing and carrying water and fish sauce. The communal house and the temple of the barrel makers guild is located at 22 Hang Thung, but is hidden behind newer buildings. The street is shaded by the leaves of the xoan tree which has a fluffy cream colored cluster flower and bright red berries. The tree has various English names: Margosa, Bead, or China Berry tree. In May, the tiny flowers fall to the ground like yellow confetti. The furrowed bark is often scraped off by local residents, who dry and boil it to make a medicinal infusion as a vermifuge. The Old Quarter is a precious legacy of Hanois ancient past, but the area is challenged by rapid changes. Today, handicraft production is increasingly replaced by restaurants, repair shops, and mini hotels. Historic buildings have become mass living spaces and schools as the population increases. Craft workers now constitute nine percent of the neighborhood. Traders make up 40 percent.With the new economic policies, a dramatic building boom has begun, threatening the charm of the district. Local, national, and international agencies are now formulating plans to preserve the historic ambiance of the Old Quarter. Meaning of the 36 streets (just old name but in fact more than there) Street Name: Description: Bat Dan Wooden Bowls Bat Su China Bowls Cha Ca Roasted Fish Chan Cam String Instruments Cho Gao Rice Market Gia Ngu Fishermen Hai Tuong Sandals Hang Bac Silversmiths Hang Be Rafts Hang Bo Basket Hang Bong Cotton Hang Buom Sails Hang But Brushes Hang Ca Fish Hang Can Scales Hang Chai Bottles Hang Chi Threads Hang Chieu Mats Hang Chinh Jars Hang Cot Bamboo Lattices Hang Da Leather Hang Dao (Silk) Dyer Hang Dau Bean

Abbie Hoffman: A Present Day Monologue :: essays research papers fc

My name is Abbie Hoffman. Steal this speech while square dancing in the Ice ages, it’s soon to be a major motion picture†¦ Yippie! Do you know what that means? That means that there’s a revolution on, that we can change an H to a Y., that we can bring more than 10,000 people to Lincoln Park in Chicago on a myth, a rumor, a story. Yippie! It means the home of the FREE and the land of the BRAVE. Chicago was a place for the brave to fight for their freedom. When we came to chicago, we thought, hey, they’ll put up some resistance, but they’ll give us a permit to have our little Yippie! get-together in the park. I mean shit, it’s our right. Mayor Daley, he didn’t give a shit about our â€Å"rights† he didn’t want one goddamn hippie in his city, let alone 10,000. He didn’t want chicago to have that reputation, HE didn’t want to have that reputation. Do you know what happened in Chicago? According to Mayor Daley, only a few minor injuries due to resisting arrest and rioting; according to some outside sources, and my own count, a couple people died and a lot of people were wounded because the pigs were beating on us for practicing our right to assemble peacefully. Hell, we were peaceful, a damn sight more peaceful than the cops. We were assembled to protest war, all we wanted to do was get together and smoke a little weed. The cops, they came at us with arms swinging. But I get ahead of myself. You’re all so young, you don’t know about Chicago’s other, meaner side.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Chicago, we Yippies wanted to have a rally, and Chicago was really central to the movement, so we petitioned the Chicago Parks Department for a permit to have bands come play during the week of the Democratic Convention in 1968. They stalled, and pretended to have little problems with the permit. No one was fooled. We sued them for denying us our constitutional rights; but we withdrew our suit when we saw who our judge was. His name was Judge Lynch, and he was mayor Daley’s friend or cousin or something. Very ironic...the next judge that we went before because the city was stalling was Judge Stahl. S-T-A-H-L. So in a nutshell, we said â€Å"can we have a get-together in the park?

What Does Patriotism Mean to Me

The very definition of patriotism cannot simply be defined by a dictionary. In fact, no two people you meet will have the same explanation of what it means to them. From America’s Founding Fathers to courageous everyday heroes serving in our military at home and overseas, patriotism fills their hearts with the will to protect our country’s freedom. Patriotism is an immeasurable personal characteristic shown by unselfish acts in which a person serves their country and its people.I believe love for all people is why Neil Armstrong stated the infamous phrase, â€Å"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. † However, planting the US flag gave every engineer, fellow astronauts and millions of citizens on earth, an overflowing sense of pride to be an American. This act of not only symbolizes we were the first nation to visit the moon, but unified a patriotic spirit held deep inside us all. In my opinion, Mr. Armstrong recognizing the efforts of everyone at N ASA and the support of all Americans in one sentence was genius, and very patriotic.During World War II, there was a vast shortage of workers needed to produce munitions supplies to help the Allies win the war. Out of love for their men put in harm’s way, millions of women stepped up answering the call for their country. This grueling hard skilled labor included building ships, aircraft, vehicles and weaponry. What would you call the desire which filled their hearts, giving them strength and bravery to do so called man’s work?I would declare these women were just as patriotic as the 400,000 women served in the armed forces and 460 who lost their lives. Patriotism is in all our hearts, which is where I think â€Å"Red-Blooded Americans† clichà ©, must derive. From early colonists fighting the tyranny of England rule to fallen well known-veterans like Pat Tillman, they were driven by a common bond. You and I may not realize it within ourselves, but the most unsel fish act for one’s country or fellow people, can awaken the patriotism in all of us. What Does Patriotism Mean to Me The very definition of patriotism cannot simply be defined by a dictionary. In fact, no two people you meet will have the same explanation of what it means to them. From America’s Founding Fathers to courageous everyday heroes serving in our military at home and overseas, patriotism fills their hearts with the will to protect our country’s freedom. Patriotism is an immeasurable personal characteristic shown by unselfish acts in which a person serves their country and its people.I believe love for all people is why Neil Armstrong stated the infamous phrase, â€Å"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.† However, planting the US flag gave every engineer, fellow astronauts and millions of citizens on earth, an overflowing sense of pride to be an American. This act of not only symbolizes we were the first nation to visit the moon, but unified a patriotic spirit held deep inside us all. In my opinion, Mr. Armstrong recognizing the efforts of everyone at NA SA and the support of all Americans in one sentence was genius, and very patriotic.During World War II, there was a vast shortage of workers needed to produce munitions supplies to help the Allies win the war. Out of love for their men put in harm’s way, millions of women stepped up answering the call for their country. This grueling hard skilled labor included building ships, aircraft, vehicles and weaponry. What would you call the desire which filled their hearts, giving them strength and bravery to do so called man’s work?I would declare these women were just as patriotic as the 400,000 women served in the armed forces and 460 who lost their lives. Patriotism is in all our hearts, which is where I think â€Å"Red-Blooded Americans† clichà ©, must derive. From early colonists fighting the tyranny of England rule to fallen well known-veterans like Pat Tillman, they were driven by a common bond. You and I may not realize it within ourselves, but the most unself ish act for one’s country or fellow people, can awaken the patriotism in all of us.

Marketing goals Essay

In order to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound) goals, it is highly important that there is a compatibility between the marketing and business goals. (Write Market). The broader marketing goal is to become a cost leader and gain a larger market share in the market of toy manufacturers (Locally) in 25-30 years since the company at present is at its infancy stage. Company’s focus at present unlike its competitors is to give customers â€Å"More for less† in terms of value. However, this long-term goal represents where the company wants to be in the future. The short-term goals include enhancing external positioning in the toy market by conducting ATL (Above the line marketing communication strategies like advertising, working on store ambiance and layout to make them more consumer friendly, etc) and BTL (Below the Line advertising like events, stalls, discounts, etc), maintaining and enhancing relationships with suppliers. Stakeholder engagement, Up-to-date Knowledge about market trends, customer needs and changes in customer needs are also important marketing goals. It is also important that the toys Unique Selling Proposition i. e. low price, environmental friendliness, distinct benefits of using ORIGIN, innovative uses, etc are clearly communicated.

The eNotes Blog Poets in Black and White Remembering Lucille Clifton and RobertFrost

Poets in Black and White Remembering Lucille Clifton and RobertFrost Lucille Clifton and Robert Frost At this month, we are taking some time to remember two great American poets:   Lucille Clifton and Robert Frost.   Clifton passed away on February 17, 2010, and March 26 marked Frosts birthday. Seldom have two writers articulated their view of the United States in such unique and memorable ways. Lucille Cliftons often highly personal poems focused on what it was like to be an African-American woman living in the twentieth century. Her voice has been characterized as earthy and reminiscent of the rhythms of  the black oral tradition.   One of her poems that embodies all three of these characteristics is The Lost Baby: the time i dropped your almost body down down to meet the waters under the city and run one with the sewage to the sea what did i know about waters rushing back what did i know about drowning or being drowned you would have been born in winter in the year of the disconnected gas and no car we would have made the thin walk over the genecy  hill into the canada winds to let you slip into a strangers hands if you were here i could tell you these and some other things and if i am ever less than a mountain for your definite brothers and sisters let the rivers wash over my head let the sea take me for a spiller of seas let black men call me stranger always for your never named sake Cliftons collection of poems  Good Woman: Poems and a Memoir, 1969-1980 was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1988.   Twelve years later, in 2000, Blessing the Boats: New and Selected Poems, 1988-2000 won a National Book Award. Like Clifton, Robert Frost too also wrote of the American experience, but from the vantage point of a white New Englander. However, where Clifton is typically sparse and direct, Frosts poems are frequently long and colloquial.   And while he is often thought of as Americas kindly grandfather poet, in fact, Frost could be quite dark and brooding.   For example, consider his poem Acquainted With the Night: I have been one acquainted with the night. I have walked out in rain and back in rain. I have outwalked the furthest city light. I have looked down the saddest city lane. I have passed by the watchman on his beat And dropped my eyes, unwilling to explain. I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet When far away an interrupted cry Came over houses from another street, But not to call me back or say good-bye; And further still at an unearthly height, A luminary clock against the sky Proclaimed the time was neither wrong nor right. I have been one acquainted with the night. Robert Frost won the Pulitzer Prize four times: 1924 for New Hampshire: A Poem With Notes and Grace Notes 1931 for Collected Poems 1937 for A Further Range 1943 for A Witness Tree Frost died on January 29, 1963. He was 89 years old.

American Government Journal Topics

American Government Journal Topics Journal topics can be another method  for students to learn about American Government. The following topics can be used in Civics and American Government courses: Democracy to me means†¦An alien has just landed. Explain to that alien the purpose of government.Identify a need in your school that you believe should be addressed. Write in your journal what changes you believe should be made as if you were presenting this to your principal.Describe what you believe life would be like in a dictatorship.What questions would you specifically like to ask the President of the United States?Taxes in this country are†¦If I could add an amendment to the constitution it would be†¦Capital punishment is†¦Which is more important to your daily life: local government, state government, or federal government? Explain in our journal why you answered as you did.The state of _____ (fill in your state) is unique because†¦I consider myself (republican, democrat, independent) because†¦Republicans are†¦Democrats are†¦If you could step back in time, what questions would you ask the founding fathers?Which Founding Father or Foundin g Mother would you most like to meet? Why?What three words would you use to describe America? Explain how you plan to participate in government as you grow older.Public opinion polls are†¦Imagine that the school board has decided to eliminate your favorite program from school. For example, they might have decided to do away with art classes, band, track and field, etc. What could you do to protest this move?A president should be†¦

The Animal Usage in Scientific Experiments Term Paper - 7

The Animal Usage in Scientific Experiments - Term Paper Example One of the most significant advantages supporting scientific research using animals is the fact that it leads to the invention of fundamental medical solutions. For instance, the germ theory emerged by use of anthrax introduction to sheep. Further, in the treatment of diabetes, insulin was isolated from a dog, which led to the discovery of its treatment. Hormone discovery emerged from the use of dog experiments by Bayliss. This would have been impossible had scientists not experimented on animals. Animal-based scientific study is also the best choice amongst known research alternatives. For example, although computers are known to be amongst the most intelligent of machines, they have not been able to fit in as alternatives which could operate on their own. This is due to their inability to function as live organs in living things as well as their inability to model the interaction between inner and outer environments. The use of rodents such as the rat reflects a ninety-nine percent match to human genes. The results obtained from the experiments match what would happen in a human being, only with a difference of little magnitude (Abbott 146). Further scientific research on animals is advantageous since it plays a significant role in advancing genetic and biological knowledge. In genetics, animals benefit from the experiments. This is evident from the fact that genetic modifications make it possible for the improvement of animals; in the sense that they receive valuable traits for adaptation to their environments. They are also improved in terms of productivity. In addition, genetics research also assists in the advancement of tissue repair, which is useful to patients suffering from major injuries that necessitate reconstruction. According to scientists, animals lack consciousness thus do not suffer as much as a pain as humans. This means that experiential research on animals is more feasible than subjecting humans to the same form of research. Additionally, not only live animals are used in research, but also dead ones. Scientists also inject the research animals with anesthesia, thus relieving them of pain.

Implementation and Analysis of The Fiscal Cliff contained in the U.S Essay

Implementation and Analysis of The Fiscal Cliff contained in the U.S. Budget Control Act of 2011 - Essay Example Bush had enacted a string of tax cuts during the period of his administration in the United States. The question that is of concern at present is that which of these tax cuts are to extended and or what period. The provisions of the tax cuts reinforced in the years of 2001 and 2003 had been extended until the end of the year 2012 (Levit, 2011, p. 12). These tax cuts considerably reduced the rates of personal income taxes and eliminated the estate tax. It also had created low rates of tax on dividends. Critics of this tax system, mostly the Democrats, held responsible such reduction in taxes for fuelling the federal budget deficit. It has been found that the increase in â€Å"the top two marginal tax rates† (Huang & Marr, 2012) would not adversely affect many small businesses. If the Bush tax cuts are allowed to be extended then it would keep many affluent individuals’ income out of the taxable income zone. For the small businesses to thrive, they require the boost of hi gher sales. It is not likely that small businesses would expand following a tax cut, thereby creating more employment opportunity by hiring more workers, if they do not find a good market for selling their products. Tax cuts on high income brackets are not effective enough to boost economic growth in the long run. Therefore the argument is strong for the expiry of the Bush Tax cuts. From the extension of these tax cuts, it is estimated that almost $1trillion would get added to the deficits over the ten years from 2013 to 2022. Spending Component of the Act – Across-the-Board spending cuts in the Federal government budget â€Å"The Budget Control Act (BCA) of 2011† (Saturno & Heniff, 2009, p. 17-5) presents the methods in which the across-the-board cuts in spending would be implemented. The across the board cuts on spending would be triggered if the Joint Committee fails to reach the agreement on deficit reduction. The report has two parts. The first part of the report outlines the method to be followed for the FY2013 and the second part caters to the process to be followed in the period of eight years between FY2014 to FY2021. The procedure planned for the span of the next eight years is quite different from that of the year fiscal 2013. The deficit reduction proposal released by President Obama in April 2011 includes the two components; â€Å"spending cuts and tax reform† (Levit, n.d., p. 4). This proposal includes a â€Å"Debt Failsafe† technique. This incorporates a debt-to-GDP ratio which is to be stabilized by the FY2014 and decline after that year. However, if it is not accomplished, â€Å"across the board spending cuts† (Levit, n.d., p. 4) would automatically be triggered and tax expenditures would also be reduced simultaneously. There would be an approximate cut of nine percent annually in non-defense programs as well as another nine percent in defense programs (Kogan, 2011). For FY2013, the funding for each of the di scretionary programs would be reduced proportionally. In this year the president can allow the military personnel funding to be exempted from the sequestration. Depending on this the cuts in spending on other defense programs would increase. In the fiscal years from 2014 to 2021, in each year there would be â€Å"reductions in the statutory cap on total funding for non-defense discretionary programs† (Kogan, 2011). â€Å"Sequestration† – what does it mean? Sequestration is a process in which certain policy goals of the budget are met or enforced through

The Scarlet Letter (1995) Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Scarlet Letter (1995) - Movie Review Example In it, Hawthorne describes the Puritan society and the cultural aspects defining it. In addition, he expounds on the role cultural expectations play in an individual’s life by focusing on the character Hester Prynne. Hester was a young married woman who had an affair with a local Rev. Dimmesdale when she feared her husband dead, which resulted in the birth of a child, Pearl. On her re-entry into society with her child in her arms, other society members met her with looks of disapproval. Her refusal to name her adulterous partner resulted in her future humiliation. The novel revolves around Hester’s life and her path to self-discovery after condemnation and ex-communication from the society. She strived to exhale, provide a life for her daughter and reclaim her dignity (Hawthorne 40). The Puritan society, a sect that emerged from the Protestant Christians advocated for its members to live a pure life free from sin. They shunned secular practices in their society; for example, adultery, stealing among other secular practices. However, they did not stress on some practices highly regarded by Protestant Christians; for example, mandatory attendance of church regularly. The Puritan culture defines people’s identity setting expectations for them. These expectations provide guidance on how people handle the prevailing societal issues. Hawthorne defines the Puritan society as a patriarchal society. Meaning, this society valued men more than it valued women. The society’s view of women was, therefore, discriminatory in nature especially because it ascribed two basic roles to them. They include; role of a mother and role of a wife. When playing the role of a mother, women cared for their children, nurturing them while socializing them to the Puritan culture. Moreover, when playing the role of a wife, the society expected women to remain submissive and faithful to their husbands. Societal values also expected them to procreate; providing heirs for their husbands. These heirs ensured the continuation of their family legacy. These two roles defined the society’s expectations of women and guided their behavior. Women were to remain silent unless the society needed them to speak. The irony in this is baffling (Hawthorne 70). Just like modern, contemporary, real societies, societal expectation

Orem-Nursing Grand Theory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Orem-Nursing Grand Theory - Assignment Example With this concern, the assignment intends to describe, evaluate and discuss the application of Orem-Nursing Grand Theory. The assignment also provides a detailed analysis and evaluation of the theory along with its application in diverse fields.   Orem’s General or Grand Theory of Nursing comprises three condensed theories, namely â€Å"self-care theories†, â€Å"self-deficit theory† and â€Å"nursing theory†. The theory was developed by Dorothea Orem. The theorist Orem was born in Baltimore in the year 1914. In 1934, she obtained her diploma in nursing from Washington D.C.’s Providence Hospital School of Nursing. In 1939, she received her bachelor of science in nursing education and in 1945 she obtained her master of science in nursing education from Catholic University of America. It is worth mentioning that she had a wide-ranging background in terms of clinical practice which included adult med-surge, private duty, pediatrics and ER supervisor. She also served as an administrator of nursing service as well as supervisor of the school of nursing at Providence Hospital in Detroit. In the year 1949, Orem joined Indiana State Board of Health, Hospital Division where she functioned as a sup port agent for upgrading and improving the nursing services in several hospitals in Indiana. During 1958-59, Orem rendered her service as an advisor to â€Å"the Office of Education†, â€Å"Department of Health†, â€Å"Education and Welfare† in Washington and was involved in enhancing practical nurse training. This work inspired her to strive for identifying the conditions influencing the decision about the need for nursing care. As an answer to her quest resulted in the generation of the idea in which she expressed that a nurse is â€Å"another self†.

Social Media Usage, Over-Usage and Addictive Patterns Essay

Social Media Usage, Over-Usage and Addictive Patterns - Essay Example The study revealed that majority of the students use social networking websites in colleges and universities. Facebook was found to be the most commonly used social website among students. The study also revealed some main positive and negative aspects of using social media for long hours. In the end of the report, the researcher also gave some recommendations to overcome the negative consequences of using social networking websites. Table of Contents Contents Page No. 1. Introduction 1 2. Literature Review 2 3. Methodology 3 3.1 Research Method 3 3.2 Data Gathering Instruments 4 3.3 Tool for Data Analysis 4 4. Findings and Interpretation 4 5. Conclusion 9 5. Recommendations 9 Social Media Usage, Over-Usage, and Addictive Patterns 1. Introduction Social media has influenced the life of almost every person in today’s world. There are many types of social media which help people communicate with each other and develop personal and business relationships. Some of the main types o f those media include emails, Skype chat, and social networking websites, such as, Facebook, Twitter, and Orkut. Among all of these types of media, social networking websites have played the most dynamic and influencing role in the lives of people no matter what field of life they belong to. The impact of using these websites and other forms of social media is both positive and negative on people depending on the usage of these media and the level of addiction. Facebook is none of such social networking platforms, which I being heavily used by the people of all age groups. According to Myers (2010, p. 1), â€Å"Facebook is a social networking website intended to connect friends, family, and business associates†. Although this website and other social networking media provide many benefits to people, such as, developing kinship and other relationships, information sharing, entertainment, social interaction with people from different societies, and facility to find old friends, but there are also some harms associated with the heavy use of these media. Some of those harms or negative effects include development of unhealthy relationships, wastage of time, and threat to private security. In this paper, I will discuss the positive and negative effects of making heavy use of social networking media. I will base my judgments on the findings from the sample on which I will conduct the research. I will also give some recommendations to escape from negative consequences of social media. 2. Literature Review Computer mediated communication enhances interpersonal communication (Walther 1996). Social networking media helps people in forming imagined communities and networks, as well as long-lasting relationships. Although all social media play some role in the lives of people, but social networking websites hold the maximum share. Facebook is one of the main examples of such media which has intruded itself in the home and office of almost every person. Alba and Sta y (2008, p. 24) state, â€Å"Facebook is a networking platform†. It is a fact that Facebook has made people less individualistic (Miller, 2011, p. 190). People can form communities with no boundaries and geographical limitations. Facebook enables interaction between people from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries. â€Å"The site makes chatter faster and more public -- two aspects that may have an impact on

Assessments instead of online discussions and seminar Essay

Assessments instead of online discussions and seminar - Essay Example The purpose of an industry analysis is to assist an industry’s management to create and maintain a competitive advantage that helps a company to prosper in the market. Industry analysis needs to understand the structure of an industry and its attractiveness because it determines the profitability of a business (Hill and Jones, 2010:41). The level of industry profitability is not random but it rather has a systematic influence of the Industry’s structure, which eventually determines the entry and exit barrier. This paper will analyze the industry analysis applied to different industries in European markets (1) - Industry Analysis Analysis of five forces using UK Airline industry as our case study Porter arguers that there are five forces that determines an industry’s competitiveness that may change over time as the industry conditions change. These forces are entry threats, rivalry from existing competitors, threat of substitution, bargaining power of suppliers an d the bargaining power of buyers (Porter, 2008:6). This paper will outline the five forces that the European airline industry put into practice. Competitive rivalry (European airline industry) Competitive rivalry will be the first force to analyze. The purpose of competitive rivalry is to assess the rate of competition within an industry (Porter, 2008:29). Airline industry’s is among the prominent industries globally that exist in an intensive competitive market. In Europe, the top three airlines are Air France, Lufthansa, KLM and British Airways. These airline companies compete against each other for the same customers through prices, technology, in-flight entertainment customer service and other services (Rothkopf, 2009:213). Entrants’ threat New entrants invade the existing market and bring competition and changes in the market environment. The cause of new entrants is the profitability in certain industries, which in turn attracts other businesses who intend to joi n the industry (Porter, 2008:7). European air industry has improved tremendously which has led to attraction to new entrants; however, the cost of entry is becoming higher. The required capital for an airline entering the industry is quite expensive. Competitive substitute The products and services provided in a particular industry usually have the same substitutes elsewhere. This substitute products and services pose a threat because they limit the ability of a firm and their prices (Porter, 2008:25). In our case, the main substitutes that offer other forms of transport are road, rail and marine. The distances between European destinations are relatively small, and people prefer other transport services. More so, the substitute means of transport tend to be cheaper than air transport. Additionally, environmental factors affect air travel because customers tend to see the environmental impacts of air travel as crucial disadvantage. These factors pose threats to the British airways i n the business market. Supplier bargaining power Bargaining power is the ability to influence setting of prices because it assesses the ease of suppliers to hike prices (Porter, 2008:26). Suppliers can influence the profitability of a firm by exerting pressure for both higher and lower prices. The airline industry have little control over the rising fuel prices because there is no alternative source of fuel so far hence leading to the strength of supplier power (Porter,

Orem-Nursing Grand Theory Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Orem-Nursing Grand Theory - Assignment Example With this concern, the assignment intends to describe, evaluate and discuss the application of Orem-Nursing Grand Theory. The assignment also provides a detailed analysis and evaluation of the theory along with its application in diverse fields.   Orem’s General or Grand Theory of Nursing comprises three condensed theories, namely â€Å"self-care theories†, â€Å"self-deficit theory† and â€Å"nursing theory†. The theory was developed by Dorothea Orem. The theorist Orem was born in Baltimore in the year 1914. In 1934, she obtained her diploma in nursing from Washington D.C.’s Providence Hospital School of Nursing. In 1939, she received her bachelor of science in nursing education and in 1945 she obtained her master of science in nursing education from Catholic University of America. It is worth mentioning that she had a wide-ranging background in terms of clinical practice which included adult med-surge, private duty, pediatrics and ER supervisor. She also served as an administrator of nursing service as well as supervisor of the school of nursing at Providence Hospital in Detroit. In the year 1949, Orem joined Indiana State Board of Health, Hospital Division where she functioned as a sup port agent for upgrading and improving the nursing services in several hospitals in Indiana. During 1958-59, Orem rendered her service as an advisor to â€Å"the Office of Education†, â€Å"Department of Health†, â€Å"Education and Welfare† in Washington and was involved in enhancing practical nurse training. This work inspired her to strive for identifying the conditions influencing the decision about the need for nursing care. As an answer to her quest resulted in the generation of the idea in which she expressed that a nurse is â€Å"another self†.

Assessments instead of online discussions and seminar Essay

Assessments instead of online discussions and seminar - Essay Example The purpose of an industry analysis is to assist an industry’s management to create and maintain a competitive advantage that helps a company to prosper in the market. Industry analysis needs to understand the structure of an industry and its attractiveness because it determines the profitability of a business (Hill and Jones, 2010:41). The level of industry profitability is not random but it rather has a systematic influence of the Industry’s structure, which eventually determines the entry and exit barrier. This paper will analyze the industry analysis applied to different industries in European markets (1) - Industry Analysis Analysis of five forces using UK Airline industry as our case study Porter arguers that there are five forces that determines an industry’s competitiveness that may change over time as the industry conditions change. These forces are entry threats, rivalry from existing competitors, threat of substitution, bargaining power of suppliers an d the bargaining power of buyers (Porter, 2008:6). This paper will outline the five forces that the European airline industry put into practice. Competitive rivalry (European airline industry) Competitive rivalry will be the first force to analyze. The purpose of competitive rivalry is to assess the rate of competition within an industry (Porter, 2008:29). Airline industry’s is among the prominent industries globally that exist in an intensive competitive market. In Europe, the top three airlines are Air France, Lufthansa, KLM and British Airways. These airline companies compete against each other for the same customers through prices, technology, in-flight entertainment customer service and other services (Rothkopf, 2009:213). Entrants’ threat New entrants invade the existing market and bring competition and changes in the market environment. The cause of new entrants is the profitability in certain industries, which in turn attracts other businesses who intend to joi n the industry (Porter, 2008:7). European air industry has improved tremendously which has led to attraction to new entrants; however, the cost of entry is becoming higher. The required capital for an airline entering the industry is quite expensive. Competitive substitute The products and services provided in a particular industry usually have the same substitutes elsewhere. This substitute products and services pose a threat because they limit the ability of a firm and their prices (Porter, 2008:25). In our case, the main substitutes that offer other forms of transport are road, rail and marine. The distances between European destinations are relatively small, and people prefer other transport services. More so, the substitute means of transport tend to be cheaper than air transport. Additionally, environmental factors affect air travel because customers tend to see the environmental impacts of air travel as crucial disadvantage. These factors pose threats to the British airways i n the business market. Supplier bargaining power Bargaining power is the ability to influence setting of prices because it assesses the ease of suppliers to hike prices (Porter, 2008:26). Suppliers can influence the profitability of a firm by exerting pressure for both higher and lower prices. The airline industry have little control over the rising fuel prices because there is no alternative source of fuel so far hence leading to the strength of supplier power (Porter,

Role of Parliament in Germany Essay Example for Free

Role of Parliament in Germany Essay This article is about the current parliament of Germany. For the governing body of the Germany. Confederation from 1815 to 1866, see Bundesversammlung (German Confederation). Confederation from 1815 to 1866, see Bundesversammlung (German Confederation). The Bundestag (Federal Diet; pronounced [ˈbÊŠndÉ™staË k]) is a legislative body in Germany. In practice Germany is governed by a bicameral legislature, of which the Bundestag serves as the lower house and the Bundesrat the upper house. The Bundestag was established by the German Basic Law of 1949, as the successor to the earlier Reichstag. It meets in the Reichstag Building in Berlin. Norbert Lammert is the current President of the Bundestag. With the new constitution of 1949, the Bundestag was established as the new (West) German parliament. Because West Berlin was not officially under the jurisdiction of the Constitution and because of the Cold War, the Bundestag met in Bonn in several different buildings, including (provisionally) a former water works facility. In addition, owing to the citys legal status, citizens of West Berlin were unable to vote in elections to the Bundestag, and were instead represented by 20 non-voting delegates, indirectly elected by the citys House of Representatives. The Bundeshaus in Bonn is the former Parliament Building of Germany. The sessions of the German Bundestag were held there from 1949 until its move to Berlin in 1999. Today it houses the International Congress Centre Bundeshaus Bonn and in the north areas the branch office of the Bundesrat (upper house). The southern areas became part of German offices for the United Nations in 2008. The former Reichstag building housed a history exhibition (Fragen an die deutsche Geschichte) and served occasionally as a conference center. The Reichstag building was also occasionally used as a venue for sittings of the Bundestag and its committees and the Bundesversammlung, the body which elects the German Federal President. However the Soviets harshly protested against the use of the Reichstag building by institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany and tried to disturb the sittings by flying supersonic jets close to the building. Since 1999, the German parliament has again assembled in Berlin in its original Reichstag building, which dates from the 1890s and underwent a significant renovation under the lead of British architect Sir Norman Foster. Parliamentary committees and subcommittees, public hearings and faction meetings take place in three auxiliary buildings, which surround the Reichstag building: the Jakob-Kaiser-Haus, Paul-Là ¶be-Haus and Marie-Elisabeth-Là ¼ders-Haus. Together with the Bundesrat, the Bundestag is the legislative branch of the German political system. Although most legislation is initiated by the executive branch, the Bundestag considers the legislative function its most important responsibility, concentrating much of its energy on assessing and amending the governments legislative program. The committees (see below) play a prominent role in this process. Plenary sessions provide a forum for members to engage in public debate on legislative issues before them, but they tend to be well attended only when significant legislation is being considered. The Bundestag members are the only federal officials directly elected by the public; the Bundestag in turn elects the Chancellor and, in addition, exercises oversight of the executive branch on issues of both substantive policy and routine administration. This check on executive power can be employed through binding legislation, public debates on government policy, investigations, and direct questioning of the chancellor or cabinet officials. For example, the Bundestag can conduct a question hour (Fragestunde), in which a government representative responds to a previously submitted written question from a member. Members can ask related questions during the question hour. The questions can concern anything from a major policy issue to a specific constituents problem. Use of the question hour has increased markedly over the past forty years, with more than 20,000 questions being posed during the 1987-90 term. Understandably, the opposition parties are active in exercising the parliame ntary right to scrutinize government actions. One striking difference when comparing the Bundestag with the British Parliament is the lack of time spent on serving constituents in Germany. This is in part due to Germanys electoral system. A practical constraint on the expansion of constituent service is the limited personal staff of Bundestag deputies. Despite these constraints especially those deputies that are elected directly normally try to keep close contact with their constituents and to help them with their problems, particularly when they are related to federal policies or agencies. Constituent service does also take place in the form of the Petition Committee. In 2004, the Petition Committee received over 18,000 complaints from citizens and was able to negotiate a mutually satisfactory solution to more than half of them. In 2005, as a pilot of the potential of internet petitions, a version of e-Petitioner was produced for the Bundestag. This was a collaborative project involving The Scottish Parliament, International Teledemocracy Centre and the Bundestag ‘Online Services Department’. The system was formally launched on 1 September 2005, and in 2008 the Bundestag moved to a new system based on its evaluation.[1] ELECTION : Members serve four-year terms; elections are held every four years, or earlier in the relatively rare case that the Bundestag is dissolved prematurely by the president. The Bundestag can be dissolved by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor if the latter has lost a vote of confidence in the Bundestag. This has happened three times: 1972 under Chancellor Willy Brandt, 1983 under Chancellor Helmut Kohl and 2005 under Chancellor Gerhard Schrà ¶der. All candidates must be at least eighteen years old; there are no term limits. The election uses the MMP electoral system. In addition, the Bundestag has a minimum threshold of either 5% of the national party vote or three (directly elected) constituency representatives for a party to gain additional representation through the system of proportional representation. Thus, small minority parties cannot easily enter the Bundestag and prevent the formation of stable majority governments as they could under the Weimar constitution. Since 1961, only two new parties (Bà ¼ndnis 90/Die Grà ¼nen and PDS/Die Linke) have entered the Bundestag. The most recent election, the German federal election, 2009, was held on September 27, 2009.[2] Distribution of seats in the Bundestag Half of the Members of the Bundestag are elected directly from 299 constituencies (first-past-the-post system), the other half are elected from the parties’ Land lists in such a way as to achieve proportional representation for the total Bundestag (if possible). Accordingly, each voter has two votes in the elections to the Bundestag. The first vote, allowing voters to elect their local representatives to the Bundestag, decides which candidates are sent to Parliament from the constituencies. The second vote is cast for a party list; it determines the relative strengths of the parties represented in the Bundestag. At least 598 Members of the Bundestag are elected in this way. Parties that gain more than 5% of the second votes or win at least 3 direct mandates are allocated seats in the Bundestag in proportion to the number of votes it has received (dHondt method until 1987, largest remainder method until the 2005 election, now Sainte-Laguà « method). When the total number of mandates gained by a party has been determined, they are distributed between the Land lists. The distribution of the seats of that party to the 16 Lands is proportional to that partys second vote results in the Lands. The first of the mandates allocated to each Land go to the candidates who have won direct mandates in that Land. The rest are assigned in order to the candidates on the Land list put forward before the election. In addition to this, there are certain circumstances in which some candidates win what are known as overhang seats when the seats are being distributed. If a party has gained more direct mandates in a Land than it is entitled to according to the results of the second vote, it does not forfeit these mandates because all directly elected candidates are guaranteed a seat in the Bundestag. ORGANISATIONS : Parliamentary groups The most important organisational structures within the Bundestag are parliamentary groups (Fraktionen; sing. Fraktion), which are formed by political parties represented in the chamber which incorporate more than 5% of the Bundestag legislators; CDU and CSU have always formed a single united Fraktion. The size of a partys Fraktion determines the extent of its representation on legislative committees, the time slots allotted for speaking, the number of committee chairs it can hold, and its representation in executive bodies of the Bundestag. The Fraktionen, not the members, receive the bulk of government funding for legislative and administrative activities. The Bundestags executive bodies include the Council of Elders and the Presidium. The council consists of the Bundestag leadership, together with the most senior representatives of each fraktion, with the number of these representatives tied to the strength of the Parliamentary groups in the chamber. The council is the coordination hub, determining the daily legislative agenda and assigning committee chairpersons based on Parliamentary group representation. The council also serves as an important forum for interparty negotiations on specific legislation and procedural issues. The Presidium is responsible for the routine administration of the Bundestag, including its clerical and research activities. It consists of the chambers president (usually elected from the largest fraktion) and vice presidents (one from each fraktion).

Information Systems Essays Business Information Systems

Information Systems Essays Business Information Systems Business Information Systems (Technology, development and management for the e-business. Business Information Systems is business on the Internet for the benefit of all. It is essentially electronic business. The horizon of e-business encompasses the globe, free from the limited scope of customary bricks and mortar shops. It is the selling of products and services online, which is termed also as e-commerce.   Although the term â€Å"electronic commerce† is related more with business to consumer (B2C) applications IT has enabled this to cross over into the business-to-business (B2B) field as well. Through business information systems, purchasing processes are contoured to handle orders and their delivery, thus resulting in minimal paper work and labour required. Earlier, it was a practice to do business in hard copy for invoices and purchase orders. Now, documents in bulk, with particular format or data keying, are transferred electronically. A business can manage its Catalogue online by maintaining it up-to-date and current on its supplies, prices, discounts, without reprinting its catalogues. The Fine food Company, an established name in the food industry has finally made up its mind to run its business activities on the escalator of latest technology, to keep abreast with the changing times. Earlier, it was operating its business on a paper-based traditional set up. The company wants to increase its turnover by 10% and net profits to 9 per cent and hopes to be accredited for BS5750 within next 6 months. This decision of the management of the Fine Food Company (FFC) will certainly increase its reputation. A food conglomerate has to cater to a varied customer base through its shops and supermarkets, catering to standard and priority orders for quick delivery. A food company, working in a traditional set up has to handle its sales activities through its sales persons, who receive orders, payments, see through the orders to their fulfillment and answer routine questions. Customers are categorized geographically, depending on a customer’s type and product demand. A sales head can change his mindset to change a customer into a different category at any moment. The Fine Food Company has appointed an Information systems expert, to manage the affairs of the smooth running of its newly created IT department. In a paper-based communication, order processing can be quite a cumbersome procedure to follow. Order copies have to be retained by sales people and sent to the warehousing and distribution departments in date-wise format so that at the time of delivery, they are accompanied with an invoice and consignment note. The delivery man has to bring back a signed copy of the consignment. Warehousing involves keeping the produce in different temperature zones and shifting the goods to different locations, upkeep of raw products and finished goods. Card files have to be maintained manually whenever updating is required. David Jenkins has to see that all these complexities can be removed by opting for different solutions that go along with the FFC scheme to incorporate those software solutions with a range of proprietary software like Epicor eWarehouse. A food company’s manufacturing process involves simple repackaging to not so simple enlisting of detail of different recipes.   Keeping this in mind, software should integrate with the central system. To run a micro supply chain, different interfaces are required for the stability of the product. Otherwise, the finances of a food company that is still working on obsolete, labour intensive framework, could be quite complex to handle. Accounts payable are managed with a manual purchase ledger. Financial accounting has to be done by following the legal accounting requirements and Management accounting, which is must to know the inside of the food joint’s accounting information – essential to control a company’s finances. All this requires up-to-date maintenance of manual sales ledger and preparation of weekly reports on the customer’s financial records. Inventory was also checked against its distributor’s location. FFC has multiple distributors, having varied processes at their locations. An e-business food company like Fine Foods may want to know the details of their product’s price, name of the buyer and  Ã‚   the location. Software solutions like Epicor provide a mirror to adjustment transactions. â€Å"Epicor eWarehouse has enabled us to mirror our inventory in remote locations, and we have automated the process of the shipping and receiving of data,† says Cummings of B.C. Hot House. Working of a food house is complex in nature. Farmers sell their products to them; suppliers replenish the stock of packaging material. The entire process of managing the graded and semi-graded products of a range of growers is an uphill task. It involves putting the goods into bins, categorizing them into different packing material etc. To fulfill the demand, and gain a competitive edge over other players in the food industry, FFC has numerous options and tools to choose from like e-business software solution providers Movex B2B solutions. Core ERP solutions offer dialogue with the customers and add value to the business through information via the Internet. Another important tool in the e-commerce arena is Data Synchronization. Leading food giant companies are pushing their suppliers to enlist for electronic data interchange (EDI). As there is a high risk of committing errors in maintaining data manually because different departments have no identical way to save product information. Labour intensive methods of compiling and reconciling the data are prone to human errors. The example of Wal-Mart in data synchronization is a prime example for the Industry to follow. Randy Salley, Vice President of Wal-Mart Information Systems has supported the industry standards set by the GSMP choosing UCCnet as their GS1 GDSN Certified recipient data pool. Implementation of this technology is going to result in exact purchase orders, better invoice matching, better than before replacement of stocks. The process has been made easier than before with the arrival of IBM, GXS and other players developing Product Information Management (PIM) systems. There is the example of Sun Valley Foods, a Division of Cargill, which has also opted for B2B to improvise on its food product’s development and distribution. It has gone for Supply Chain Management (SCM) as well. The software solution has facilitated a safe hosting extranet along with a personalized portal interface, allowing space for product packaging, marketing and research. It will result in better collaboration between different departments such as warehousing, distribution and sales, removing hindrances like determination of the status of an order, late delivery, incomplete orders and wrong products, which were faced earlier. Now, Warehousing would be prioritizing big orders to small ones to speed marketing and on the whole transaction flow. The information technology platform offers a centralized web-based repository of reporting tools, resulting in no manufacturing delays. The SCM technologies improve the grading of a product as well as its marketing timing. The Internet facilitates the booking of orders at once to all departments, to proceed to realize it without getting involved in lengthy phone calls. Websites are used as a marketing tool, to offer the retail customers a place to visit the gallery of products and a platform for wholesalers for ordering information, an online catalogue and online order forms. All this is not possible on a traditional platform of working through hard copy. Now, orders are placed with a user name and password and then forwarded to fill an online purchase form. In fact, it is a wonderful example of assimilation of technology – developed and managed efficiently. Intranets help sales people to know the current financial and sales effect. Real-time financial reports can be generated, eliminating the scope of incomplete sales returns, making Management Accounting an easy task, as accurate information can be accessed and forwarded to all departments. Late publishing of accounts, due to wrong information, is never an issue. Internet and intranet applications have resulted in solid savings and better efficiency. Within the company, the intranet financial report application gives the management sufficient time to go through information in the generated reports and work out a strategy/response accordingly. Future Benefits – The Fine Food Company is hopeful to benefit by the introduction of the latest technology. Benefits include online access to latest information on the inventory, customer contact, credit status, order position and online nets. It will offer to work on system-to-system basis with big clients who have their own ERP solutions, resulting in contouring of EDI process. XML will enable the swapping of invoices, buying orders and shipping notices straight to the clients, online. Smaller customers will also benefit through e-business solutions via the Internet. As they don’t have ERP systems, companies would be able to offer additional customer service through their reach to accounts and sales statistics information over the Internet. Big retailers would be able to forecast their demands through the Internet. Once this becomes possible allover the supply line, the company’s e-business infrastructure will be in a position to forecast their stock needs according to their actual demands, resulting in optimization of stocks. Companies can march towards appreciable consumer response and Vendor Managed Inventory, enjoying the benefits of technology and development processes. Future forecasting for large retailers is quite bright, as e-business infrastructure will enable them to place their orders straight to the supplier, through the Internet. Conclusion: The trend of opting for e-business is catching speed. Businesses are using different forms of Internet-supported services like e-procurement, e-mailing and websites, saving a great deal of time and cost. A business can solve its customer’s technical hardware and software problems by working on virtual computer systems. This trend is going to continue with the advent of latest technologies like Internet enabled cell phones and PDAs. Bibliography: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ebusiness.htmhttp://www.istart.co.nz/b2b-ecommerce.htm#OV)http://www.istart.co.nz/index/HM20/PC0/PV21902/EX245/AR27992http://www.opentext.com/news/pr.html?id=1143)http://www.istart.co.nz/index/HM20/PC0/PV21872/EX232/CS2161