Thursday, October 31, 2019

Establishing a Business Continuity Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Establishing a Business Continuity Plan - Essay Example The prioritizations of the services or the products that are initially identified are based on the lower delivery levels and higher time period of the services. In order to conclude the significant ranking related to the services the information is needed for the determination of a distracted impact on the service delivery, loss of revenue, additional expenses and intangible losses. 1.3  Classifying Business Impacts for Interruptions or IncidentsThe disruption impact on significant services or the products helps in the verification of how long functions of an organization can work without services or products. It is essential for the business continuity to find out the time period before major impact on the unavailability product is experienced.1.4  Business Impact Analysis (BIA)The function of the BIA is to recognize the authorization and the significant services or products of the business. In addition, the identification of the internal as well as the external disruption and t he priority services or products ranking for the fast or continuous delivery of the products is identified and controlled by the BIA.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   1.5  Classify DependenciesThe delivery of services depends upon internal and external dependencies of significant services or products. The internal dependencies comprise of availability of staff, information, equipment, applications, transport, human resource, security and information technology (IT) support services. On the other hand, external dependencies consist of contractor, management facilities.

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

The Political Economy of Global Communication Essay

The Political Economy of Global Communication - Essay Example It has become a catch-22. As Peter Wilkin (2001) states, the "means of communication is a dangerous weapon to be placed in the hands of private institutions driven by profit interests as much as it is when placed in the hands of monopoly state power." The news media is this profit-driven organization, and its threat is real. The arena now is Iraq, now in the third year of a war sprung from the fear of a threat. Today, the relationship between the state and the media in terms of supporting each others interests. The available body of literature indicates that security issues have changed since World War II. The perceptions of people in the East differ greatly from those in the West due, in part, to media and communication as a whole. Prevention is often overlooked as an integral part of security. The case study will evaluate the role of the media in global security. Oftentimes ownership of media, whether public or private, plays a role in the kind of communication people may receive. In addition, wealthy investors, owners, and sponsors can skew the presentation of communications messages both locally and globally. The media is a powerful and influential player in high stakes political games but is also a tool in which a civil society gets information about global issues which now may affect them. Finally, this paper will examine how the Iraq crisis of 2002/2003, when the possible manufacture and stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction came to a peak, was both created and shaped by the me dia of both the United States, the aggressor in this conflict, and Germany, the largest member of the European Union and a staunch opponent of the war. SECTION TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW According to a study compiled by the World Watch Institute, security tops the lists of concerns for most nations (State of the World, 2005). National security is frequently referred to as the military, or the military and homeland security and has resulted in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in the United States. However, according to Anita Dancs, (2006), director of the National Priorities Project and Security Policy Working Group member, "securing our nation has three components: the military, homeland security and preventive measures." Preventive measures refer to actions, plans and policies that neutralize or prevent violent conflicts (Dancs, 2006). Undoubtedly, the media plays a new role in global security by virtue of its position in the communications marketplace. They determine public opinion and can shape decisions and alter perceptions of problems. For example, Paul Rogers (2005) reports that even though North Americans typically respond to surveys that violence is on the rise both nationally and internationally, worldwide violence is actually diminishing. The Human Security Report reveals that "the number of armed conflicts has decreased by more than 40% , and the number of major conflicts(which it defines as resulting in 1,000 or more battle-deaths) has declined by 80%" (Rogers, 2005). The report also notes that the number of autocratic regimes is decreasing as well. This is an important consideration because, as Stephen Krasner (1983) has delineated, regimes are based upon norms and principles which do not change without a revolutionary impetus. For example, if a terrorist regime acts upon the principles of their religi on and seek to fight a holy war, such as in the tragedy of 9/11,

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Porters Five Forces: Non-Conventional Energy

Porters Five Forces: Non-Conventional Energy The Suzlon story being in 1995 with just 20 people; and in a little over a decade has become an epic. A company of over 13000 people, operations across the America, Asia, Australia and Europe, fully integrated manufacturing unit on three continents, sophisticated RD capabilities and market leadership in Asia, ranked 5th in terms of global market share. The seeds of the idea that became Suzlon were sown by Mr. Tanti venture into the textile industry just as began in its booming years. Faced with soaring power costs, and with infrequent availabilities of power hitting his business hard Mr. Tanti looked to wind energy as an alter native. His first brush with wind energy was as a customer, having secured two small- capacity wind turbine generators to power his textile business. The company registered revenues of INR 12 Crore in the first year, and has since achieved consistent growth, registering revenue of USD 1,405 in FY2008- just a decade after inception. The company went public with a highly successful IPO in September 2005. The issue was oversubscribed over 46 times, and led Suzlon to rank amongst the Top- 25 Indian corporations in terms of market- capital. Today Suzlon is being ranked the 5 leading wind power equipment the manufacturer with a global market share of 7.7%. The company seized market leadership in India over 2,000 MW of wind turbine capacity in country. The company adopted innovation at the very core of its thinking and ethos. Suzlon combined this with another visionary step full backward integration of the supply chain. Suzlon by this approach has developed comprehensive manufacturing capabilities for all critical components in our wind turbines bringing into play economies of scale, quality control, and assurance of supplies in an increasingly supply restricted market. Taking this focus forward, Suzlon acquired Hansen Transmission of Belgium in 2006. The acquisition if the world second leading gearbox marker gives Suzlon manufacturing. Suzlon RD strategy brings emphasizes the need to lower the cost per- kilowatt- hour, in order to create ever more competitive technology and products. This step has success in the rapid global expansion of Suzlon business with orders from Australia, Brazil, China, Italy, Portugal, Turkey and the U.S.A We have set forth to fulfill the vision of company as global as the wind. Starting as unknown player in a nascent industry in India, Suzlon grew to become the leading player on India wind power stage, and from there has grown to rank among the Top- 5 wind turbine manufacturers in the world. Mission of Suzlon Moved to towards the state where being a socially and environmentally responsible citizen is integrated within all our day to day to day business processes. Establish a truly Indian company producing Windmills with Technology suitable for India and to manufacture and market in our own brand name. Mission Minimum 20% Net Margin Minimum 50% Asian market share Minimum 60% Indian market share Minimum 25% Global market share Minimum 40% Growth Vision of Suzlon Suzlon is today a major force in the global wind industry, from human beginnings in 1995, to ranking 5 worldwide, with 7.7% of the global market share in just over a the decade. Already among the top five, Suzlon vision is to be a technology leader, to be among top 3 wind energy companies in the world by leveraging technological leadership and commercial acumen to exceed customer expectation and most respectable brand which grows fast is the most profitable company employing the best team in the sector. Vision Statement:- To be the technology leader in the wind energy industry. To be among the top 3 wind energy companies in the world. To be the most respected brand and preferred company for all stakeholders To be the best team and best workplace. To be the fast growing and most profitable company in the sector. COMPANY PROFILE SUZLON ENERGY LIMITED- OVERVIEW Suzlon Energy Limited traces its roots back to 1995, when the company took its first step on renewable energy stage with its incorporation. Suzlon began journey to the forefront of the wild energy industry with a small but significant project to supply wind turbine generators for a 3.34 MW wind farm project in Gujarat, India. In little over a decade, Suzlon has grown to rank as the world 5 leading and India the and Asia leading manufacturer of wild turbine, with over 2000 MW of wind turbine capacity supplied in India and across the world of USD 675 million, CFS FY 2006, with current order book exceeding USD 1.7 billion. Technology- Suzlon today develops and manufactures technologically advanced, high-performance and cost- efficient wild turbine, to meet the diverse need customers all around the world. In India, Suzlon offers customer end-to-end wind energy solutions, including wind resource mapping site identification, site development and installation, and finally operation mainten ance services. This allows Suzlon to offer Indian customer economies of scale, and eliminates the need for customer involvement in the complex process of wind far m development. Wind farms- Suzlon has developed and impletion several large-scale wind farms throughout India the integrated solution approach. The principal advantage of this approach is the economy of scale: the larger the wind farm and more the number of WTGs- the lower the infrastructure cost per-wind turbine. Similarly, larger project have lower operation and maintenance costs per kWh due to the efficiency obtained in managing a larger wind far m. Among Suzlon many large project are: The Kutch Wind Farm, Gujarat: Asia largest wind farm developed and operated by Suzlon, it has more than 750MW of wind power Capacity, already installed, furthers capacity addition is in progress. This wind farm comprises of Suzlon time tested wind turbines of 600kW, 1250kW, and 1500kWCapacity. The Dhule Wind Far m, Maharashtra: The Dhule wind farm is Asia second largest wind farm with an installed capacity in excess of 675 MW. This wind farm comprises of Suzlon time tested wind turbines of 600kW, 1250kW and 1500kW capacity. New Products- Suzlon aims to drive global market share growth through expanding its product line with models customized to meet customer need as well as specific wild regimes, as seen in the new S52 600 kW and S82 1.5 MW wind turbine models. In addition to this, Suzlon aims to improve the cost efficiency of generating power from wind through technology enhancements, and optimizing locations and sitting, to the end result of maximizing power generation while driving down the cost of power generated from the wind. Technology integration- Suzlon as an developer of WT Gs has developed design, development and manufacturing capability for all major components, development and manufacture of rotor blades, turbine, and tubular towers, control equipment and Nacelles covers. The company has implemented a far reaching backward-integration strategy that has brought the manufacture of all critical components in-house. Today the company, in association with subsidiaries, manufactures rotor blades, tower, nacelle covers, generators, gearboxes and all other critical components in its value chain. The QA department at Suzlon not only takes measures about the quality control i.e. the product is good or bad, accepted or rejected, but it gives assurance to the customer for the quality electricity production backed by revenue generation. Regular audits are also conducted by QA inspectors at various sites for the scrutiny of tools, equipments and processes. Suzlon backward integration strategy is driven from the point of view of increasing in-house manufacturing and allied capabilities leading to lowered WT G costs, greater quality assurance, and a secure Supply Chain. While Suzlon looks to vertically integrate, the company is also pursuing a distributed manufacturing strategy with dedicated manufacturing facilities set up at key locations across the world to supply and service international high growth markets. Today, Suzlon has facilities in Belgium, China, India, and the United States manufacturing everything from components that go into turbine, to complete wind turbine generators, and supply markets around the world. Suzlon integrated wind turbine manufacturing facility in Tianjin, China; and rotor blade manufacturing facility in the Pipestone, United States are geared to support these high growth regions with dedicated delivery capability, enabling a flexible to the local markets, and lowered logistics costs. Suzlon today develops and manufactures technologically advanced, high- performance and cost- efficient wind turbines. These services are developed to specifically meet the diverse need of customers all around the world. Suzlon offers customers end to end wind energy solution, including wind resource mapping, site development and installation, and finally operations maintenance services in India. This allows Suzlon to offer Indian customers economies of scale, and eliminates the need for customer innovation in the complex process of wind far m Development. Suzlon order book position is a reflection of its strong market position and consistency in delivering to their customers. The order book stands at around USD 4,335 million. Suzlon domestic order book position is for a capacity of 441 MW and international orders For 3,726 MW. Suzlon primary customer s in India include companies that have manufacturing facilities with high power consumption. These companies have high profitability and seek investment opportunities with stable returns. In India, Suzlon casters to leading corporate houses like the MSPL Limited, Bajaj Auto Limited, Tata Group and Reliance, to name a few. Suzlon has driven a focused effort to make wind turbine more reliable, consistently delivering availability rates to customers, beating global standard higher than 95% on an average. Suzlon has set new standards with record breaking contracts that have been signed with top wind companies around the world. Majority of the orders have been signed with top wind energy compa nies in the state. Suzlon Wind Energy Corporation has signed agreements with Edison Mission Group (EMG) of Irvine, California and after repeat orders EMG holds more than 630 MW of Suzlon wind turbine capacity in the United States. Similarly Suzlon relationship with John Deere Wind Energy (JIDW) started with its investment in several Minnesota wind power projects, but quickly expanded to Texas and recently Missouri. Suzlon has successfully entered the Chinese Market, which is one of the world fastest growing economies, with five important contracts with a total of 233.75 MW, of which 12 MW ar e installation and 221 MW are planned installations in 2007. A contract with Australian Gas Light marked Suzlon entrance into the Australian Market. Another key high-growth wind energy market Suzlon has entered into is Brazil though a contract signed with SIIF Energies do Brazil Ltd. The project is poised to double Brazil current installed capacity of 200 MW. Suzlon has adopted an innovative ap proach to its value chain, enabling the company to deliver customized solution to a variety of needs across the world. Suzlon has developed a fully integrated value chain with control over all critical components- gearbox and generator technology, to tower, rotor blades and in the end complete wind turbine. India, the world 5th largest market of wind energy is Suzlon largest Asian market and a critical hub for manufacturing. The Suzlon group head quarters is situated at Pune, in Maharashtra. State-of-the-art research and development centers, manufacturing facilities, wind farm projects, training campuses and a network of offices are spread across India. Suzlon has been the market leader in India with more than 4400MW of installed wind energy projects in 8 states. In India wind energy sector, Suzlon has maintained its No. 1 position with the highest year-on-year market share since 10 consecutive years. In FY 2008-09, Suzlon had a market share of more than 50% in the Indian market. Suzlon has grown its cumulative installed base by 400% in the last 5 years since FY 2004-05. Key Customers Suzlon revolutionized the wind energy segment in India with its unique end-to-end solutions. This hassle-free business model has enabled over 1300 customers from a variety of industry sectors and regions within India to invest in the wind energy sector with ease and confidence. Suzlon customers in India include small, medium, large scale businesses, private and public sector companies, power utilities, independent power producers (IPPs) and even high net worth individuals (HNI). Many of these customers do not have prior exposure or expertise of the power sector. But they clearly saw a big opportunity in the power generation business in a fast-growing, energy-starved market like India. Suzlon supported them with its proven technology, expertise and the comfort of end-to-end solutions to help them harness this opportunity. Following is a list of some key customers who have relied on Suzlon experience and expertise for their wind energy projects. Porters Five forces model Bargaining Power Of Supplier Is It difficult or costly for Suzlon to switch to another supplier? Towers are very costly as it accounts for 26.3% of the total cost and its partial demand is met by in house production but in that it is going for expansion by year 2009, but upto that time it has depend upon other supplier, the cost of rotor blades account for 22.2% and for the rotor blades its complete demand is met by in house production located in India, China and U.S so for that it does not have to depend on any supplier. Gear box manufacturing costs 12.9 % and also it is manufacture by only two companies and from that one is acquired by suzlon itself but for the partial demand it has depend on only one supplier so in this case bargaining power of supplier is high. In the case of generators there are many manufactures and also many companies are specialized in it. Moreover it account for only 3.44% of the total cost and in yr 2009 it is going for expansion so in this case bargaining power of supplier is moderate to low. Thus overall we could say that the switching cost is modera te to low. Demand Supply Gap:- According to Tulsi the major challenge face by the wind power industry is not the market but the short supply of the products. Also GEs order book is full for the year 2008, 09 and also half year of 2010. Thus clearly there are certain inputs are in short supply. Gear box :- Acc. To CEO with gearbox its not as easy to increase capacity as it is with other components. You need a lot of equipment, from gear cutting machines to heat treatment facilities that may it is a very capital intensive business. So increasing capacity involve a huge investment compared with, say, blade manufacturer and that take time. Thus there is clear pressure in the Gear box manufacturing facility. But the company has acquired Hanson ltd so partial demand is met by suzlon itself and also it is going for expansion so for only partial demand it has depend on other supplier so there is a less problem of short supply of gear box for suzlon as compare to other producers. Rotor blades :- A crucial component requiring sophisticated production techniques, global supply is dominated by independent blade maker LM Glasfiber, which has about 27% of the market. All the major turbine manufacturer apart from GE energy and RE power produce most of their own blades. But suzlon is going for capacity expansion by 2009 so for that it does not have to much rely on other supplier. Hence the bargaining power of the supplier could be considered moderate to low. Generators:- Supplied to the wind industry by a number of large companies such as ABB and Siemens, and dedicated supplier like Gamesa and suzlon . No signs of a shortage of supply. And also suzlon going for capacity expansion by 2009 so most of the demand is met by itself. Thus the bargaining power of the supplier is low. Tower:- There are many manufacturers of the towers in India and also across the world as it does not need high precise engineering as in the case of gear box. And in tower also it is going for capacity expansion so for that also it do not have to rely on other suppliers. Thus we can say that the bargaining power of the supplier is Low. Controllers:- The controllers are made by many industries so it is not the key issue for the company. In this case the bargaining power seems low. Thus the overall we could see that the bargaining power is moderate to low. Whether it makes good economic sense for the industry to integrate backward? The cost of the switching is low to the products it can be proved from the above graph. So the buyers can easily move from one company to another company. The number of buyer is small volume is high In the case of big wind turbine manufactures they do not take order of less than 750kw which is considered to be a big amount by most of the suppliers. Thus the client buying the turbine are important to the wind turbine manufactures. Thus the bargaining power of the buyer is generally high in case of particular customer. Also there is strong demand from the buyer which could be seen from the strong growth rate of the company. Thus we should take advantage of both and we would obtain average of it i.e moderate. Buyer demand is weak or seller are scrambling to secure the market: The cumulative growth rate of the industry is around 25%. Thus it could be considered it is an high growth rate industry. Thus the buyers demand is high. In case of seller it is found that the challengers and its few challengers are only increasing their market share where as small or mid size companies are scrambling to secure the market. Thus in this condition the buyers bargaining power could be considered moderate. Buyer are well informed regarding the prices, costs and products The customer are well informed regarding the products of suzlon; they can directly go to the companys website and get the required information of the product. In case of prices they are not shown at the website at the same time while contacting to the company person also they give round about prices of the wind turbine. In case of total costs of wind turbine it largely dependent on the land acquisition cost, set up cost, logistics cost etc and hence it is very hard to get exact cost. In this case the buyers bargaining power could be considered moderate. Buyer cannot easily go for backward integration There is a low threat in integrating backward for the company which have not been up till now in this particular industry because of following factors High Entry barriers: only to set up a gear- box manufacturing plant it takes more than 100 million dollars. To set up a rotor blades plant of 350 sets it take an investment of 35 crores. So like this all the other parts like tower, generator, panel etc also required huge investment. So there is not easy for any buyer to go backward. Unavailability of skilled labor: The skilled labor in this industry is not adequately available as per the Vestas CEO. Thus in this case it seems that the buyers bargaining power because of skilled labours and high entry barriers is low. Thus overall the bargaining power of buyer could be considered to be between low to moderate Threat of new Entrants into the Industry Brand Preference : There is a clear brand preference in the wind energy industry it could be understood by the market share of the company. The market share of Suzlon is 48%, Enercon is 27.6% and NEG- Micon it is 11.9 %. Thus overeall there are 3 companies which shares 87.51 % of the industry, Even in the remaining 12.5 % 5.54% is of Vestas. Thus the clearly the customer have brand preference of this four companies compare to other brand . Thus for new competitors the threat to enter the industry is high. Exit barriers : Exit barriers in this Industry are very much high because it required a huge investment to start the business and the payback period is also long about 8 years. So for every player its not easy to exit from this highly capital intensive Industry. So due to that the threat from new entrance is low. Capital Requirement: The capital requirement in the wind turbine industry is very high. To set up manufacturing facilities of rotor blades set of 350 set is 65 crores. Similarly to set up a gear box unit it requires 100 million dollars. Thus the potential entry of the new company is low. Access to distribution channels: all the companies are using direct distribution channel, hence it is not possible for a new entrants to access the distribution channel of other company. In this case also the potential entrant is low. Regulatory Policies Government Regulation of Energy Markets: clean energy companies are highly dependent on government subsidies and support to bring in revenue, given that oil, coal and nuclear are cheaper, well established energy sources and hold oligopolistic control over the world- wide energy market. Given this dependence on the government, many environment and social movement are focusing on pressuring the government to pave the way for a transition to renewable. Furthermore, many government endorse local renewable as an alternative to foreign fossil fuels, in an attempt to create energy independence. Government support of renewable is taking place on local, national and global scales. In this case the entry of the potential entrants is high. Tariffs and international trade restrictions: The international trade and tariffs are supportive thus the companies are benefited from it. The government through out the world are giving high incentives to this industry. Thus in this case because of supportive nature to encourage this industry the threat from the new entrants is moderate. Thus overall the threat from new entrants is from low to moderate. Rivalry in the same industry Oligopoly market: suzlon is market leader in wind energy having 48% stake followed by enercon having 27.6% and than NEG-Micon with 11.9% stake. So if one company change its strategy than it is immediately followed by other companies. So from that we can say that rivalry among competitors is strong. Differentiation: suzlon has differentiated itself and got the benefit of vertical integration through backward integration in terms of in house production that is done by its own subsidiaries and in the form of services having end to end solution that is from selection of sites to setting a wind farm according to the requirement of the customer. So from this we can say that the rivalry among competitors is moderate to low. In this case the threat from substitute product is between medium to high.But the operating cost is higher in the substitute product compare to the wind power. Also the procurement of the raw material is an important factor for the company like Bagasse co-generation, Biomass gasifier and wate-to-energy. Where as in case of small hydro power and solar photo voltaic the cost is higher than the wind turbine. Thus the overall we could say that the wind turbine is a unique product and the substitution from the substitute product is low. Thus overall threat from substitute product is b/w Medium to high.

Friday, October 25, 2019

Flannery O’Connor and Working-Class Literature :: Biography Biographies Essays

Flannery O’Connor and Working-Class Literature Although Flannery O’Connor could not herself technically be called a member of the working class, the majority of her characters exist as â€Å"good country people† or those who have been displaced from the city to the farm. Whatever the situation of the characters, rural, working-class life is nearly always the focus in her work. Just a few of the critical elements of the working-class genre that O’Connor offers in her pieces include: a show of the many differences between classes, chiefly the ideas that working-class people are happier in their station in life and also experience less loneliness than those of the upper classes, and a heavy focus on the authentic dialogue of the southern working classes. She employs these elements expertly in her work. O’Connor’s texts often address the differences between the working classes and the â€Å"owning† classes. In their article, "Toward a Theory of Working-Class Literature," Renny Christopher and Carolyn Whitson comment that â€Å"working-class culture does not celebrate individuality. It instead recognizes the interdependence of units of people: family, community, friends, unions† (76). O’Connor confirms the benefits of community that the working class offers by showing upper-class loneliness. In â€Å"Good Country People,† the farm owner’s well-educated daughter is very depressed and lonely but chooses to be so. When her mother and she walk the fields together, the daughter’s â€Å"remarks were usually so ugly and her face so glum.† She rigidly interacted with her mother, not showing any signs of family, community or solidarity with her at all. She informs her mother, â€Å"if you want me, here I am – LIKE I AM† (274). There is no willingness to commune. Loneliness is also shown among many other middle-class characters in O’Connor’s work – the farm owner in â€Å"The Displaced Person,† the teacher Rayber in â€Å"The Barber,† and Mrs. Turpin in â€Å"Revelation† are some additional examples. Christopher and Whitson claim that â€Å"working-class culture has its own exceptional people who do not choose to leave their culture.† O’Connor’s pieces support this idea. Often she paints the middle-class characters in her pieces as ridiculous or unhappy where the working-class is seemingly well-adjusted and satisfied with their place in life. Old Dudley, in the story â€Å"The Geranium,† finds himself living in â€Å"better† conditions in New York City, having left the poor country life as a boarder and fix-it man in Georgia.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Marriage boundaries Essay

Important boundary principles helps couples build a strong marriage for the goodness of the family without compromising on their freedom, truth or integrity. Marriage boundaries may either be physical or emotional depending on how they are drafted by the two individuals. The physical boundaries entail the protection of the marriage from intruders (parents, in-laws, other people, external affairs or even children to some extent) who might disrupt the normal activities within the marriage. Emotional boundaries are complex to define and are usually confined to personal feelings, sexual satisfaction and how to deal with issues that may affect the family. In any perspective, marriage boundaries help to ensure that ea thriving family is achieved. There is other various marriage boundaries which dictate the extent to which the couple in the marriage are suppose to meet. These boundaries might range from sexual, family or societal relations which explain that married couples should remain as faithful as possible to each other. Unfaithfulness is believed to be the main contributor to marriage breakups and high divorce rates currently being experienced. Marriage identity Marriage identity is the legal aspect of the union between the two couples. Married people identify themselves as one and are related through love. Partners usually identify themselves as a family when children come to the scene . People marry either in a religious, social or judicial system and are awarded a marriage certificate. This is the legal identity in a marriage setting that identifies two people-husband and wife. Some societies also use children as an identity of their marriage and the family at large. These groups of people name their children after their parents. This will ensure that there is continuity of the family values and history for the generations to come Alliances Alliances in a marriage are very common these days due to increased collaboration of couples through religious, educational or geographical groupings. These alliances are can be good or bad for the family. Alliances can also be through corporations with the grandparents, extended family members and the community in general. Depending on the type of alliance developed in the marriage, good values or norms may be possible to be obtained. Some people in the alliance might use it as a weapon to ‘kill’ the morale of the other couple assuming that couples form alliances with one another (group marriage). There is always the issue of mistrust and spreading of propaganda among people in an alliance and the consequences are usually dire to the existence of a marriage Spouse differences Differences between the spouses may lead to family breakups . Spouse differences may come as a result of financial misappropriations or lack of it. In many societies, the spouses are taught to remain together as a couple despite the challenges that might be faced. Other wide and complicated factors have recently contributed to the emergence of spouse differences especially if they are not sorted out during courtship. Family differences and cultural disparities are the most common ones. It is also possible that the each partner in the marriage could associate himself or herself with a specific political group which may not be meaningful to the other partner. Such simple issues may result in huge misunderstandings in the marriage and by default the family at large. Many and more parents are increasingly incorporation their married children to their own settings so that they may be taught how to handle each other. Although this may be considered interference from the parents and the fact that those marrying are already grownups and can take care of them, it is important for the development of the family marriage Marriage economics Marriage economics is an issue that may in one way or another affect the family. Most cultures, historically makes sure that the family of the husband pays dowry to the family of the wife. Dowry is considered a token or gift for the wife’s family in order to allow the parents of the lady to have a ‘compensation’. Other cultures require that the family of the bride pays dowry to the family of the man marrying their daughter. But in both cases, the family of the groom and the family of the bride do the financial transactions without involving the bride. Recently issues of financial management between a husband and a wife have become a subject of discussion. People argue that the couple should have a joint account in order to make any financial decisions together. Excessive perfectionism Any marriage ensures that the families resulting from it benefit squarely. Children are the ‘fruits’ of the marriage and with that, the couple may want the children to live happily in future by investing in their good upbringing, education, behaviors, financial investments etc. In that process, there is a temptation of the parents to be over protective. Each of the partners would want to play their part in the child protection, upbringing and other roles of within the marital boundaries. Studies have shown that irresponsible children will most likely become irresponsible parents in future Marriage roles Marriage roles are dependent on the kind family it is considered. In a polygamous family, the father is the sole provider of the whole family and gets support from the wives. But in a monogamous marriage, the husband and wife share most of the roles. The husband in a traditional society is given more roles; security, provision of basic needs, building the houses among others. The wife on the other hand sires the children, prepare food and ensure that all household work is perfectly done. With increased levels of education, modernization and equality activists, things are changing and the roles of each member of the family is becoming insignificant. Marriage rules Depending on the two married partners, rules may differ from one marriage setting to the other. A marriage counselor once said that ‘the Dutch soccer principle’ applies in marriage. This principle means that any player can attack when an opportunity strikes and any player can defend when there is need to. The same applies in married where the husband or the wife can do the ‘attacking’ and ‘defending’ when necessary. Marriage rules are defined religiously, socially or legally through set policies by the government. Religious groups believe that the bible outlines how a husband and a wife must live together in harmony. One of the ten commandments of the bible clearly describes how one shall not covet his or her neighbor’s wife or practice any form of adultery, it is considered to be sin. Individuals also set their own marriage rules when they are beginning their married life i. e. to be faithful, committed, loving and considerate to each other.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Analysis of the Poem “Variations on the Word Love” Essay

The writer of the poem Margaret Atwood was born in November 18, 1939 in  Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She is not only a poet, but also a novelist, a literary critic,  an essayist and an environmental activist. And she is an excellent writer, a winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award and Prince of Asturias award for Literature. Her genres of writing include historical fiction, speculative fiction, science fiction, and dystopian fiction. The theme of the poem â€Å"Variations on the Word Love† by Margaret Atwood  is that there is a wide range of types of love that are expressed differently. The poem mainly composes of two parts. Firstly, she explores the word â€Å"love† and how widely it is nowadays used. And secondly, Atood related her own personal experience about love. In the first stanza, Atwood described the commercial side of love, making â€Å"love† seem insignificant. An example would be one of her line: â€Å"for those red heart-shaped vacancies on the page that look nothing like real hearts.† This line shows that how commonly that the symbol of love is used in commercial ways, thus depreciating the value of love. Later in the poem, Atood also described the patriotic feeling that soldiers in the battle fights upon in the line â€Å"they shout it. Love! Love! Sing the soldiers, raising their glittering knives in salute. This shows that there are other types of love exist beside the romantic ones. As well in the last stanza, Atood explored her relationship with her husband within the topic of the deep connection they shared with each other. Through the poem, Atwood had revealed several forms of love, and how love can take on different meanings. She portrayed the theme effectively through her outstanding writing. Many poetic devices were used in the poem include enjambment, repetition, and imagery. Enjambment is used throughout the whole poem. For example, in the last line, Atwood used line breaks abruptly and meaningfully to emphasize  the phrase â€Å"hold on or let go†. This invites the readers to focus on the struggles of love. Also, the poetic device, repetition is also used in the poem. The word â€Å"love† is repeated several times in line 11, 19, and 34. In line 23 and 24, â€Å"too† is also repeated. And in line 34, repetition is used through the word â€Å"again†. Some examples of imagery are used in this poem as well. Such as in line 19 and 20 of the poem, Atwood describes soldiers’ love for their country through a very vivid image â€Å"Love! Love! Sing the soldiers, raising their glittering knives in salute.† Another example would be in line 31 to 36 of the poem, the complicated feeling of love was described by Atwood as â€Å"Itâ€⠄¢s a single vowel in this metallic silence, a mouth that says O again and again in wonder and pain, a breath, a finger-grip on a cliffside.†

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Samford University Admissions Facts - What It Takes

Samford University Admissions Facts - What It Takes With a high acceptance rate of over 90 percent, Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama may appear to be accessible to almost all of those who apply each year. That said, students who are admitted tend to have grades and standardized test scores at or above average. Along with an application and test scores, interested students will need to submit letters of recommendation and a personal essay. You can calculate your chances of getting in with this free tool from Cappex. Admissions Data (2016) Samford University Acceptance Rate: 91  percentGPA, ACT and SAT Graph for Samford AdmissionsTest Scores: 25th / 75th PercentileSAT Critical Reading: 520 / 620SAT Math: 500 / 618SAT Writing: - / -What these SAT numbers meanCompare Alabama SAT scoresSouthern Conference SAT score comparisonACT Composite: 23 / 29ACT English: 24  / 31ACT Math: 21 / 27What these ACT numbers meanCompare Alabama ACT scoresSouthern Conference ACT score comparison Samford University Description Samford University is the largest private university in Alabama. Located in Birmingham, Stamford has students from 47 states and 16 countries. The university was founded by Baptists and 1841 and maintains its identity as a Christian university. Undergraduates can choose from 138 majors; nursing and business administration are the most popular. The university has a 12 to 1 student/faculty ratio, and despite the universitys masters and doctoral programs, no classes are taught by graduate assistants. Samfords tuition and fees are less than many comparable private institutions, and the school often ranks highly among best value colleges. On the athletic front, the Samford University Bulldogs compete in the NCAA Division I  Southern Conference. Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 5,471  (3,341 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 35 percent male / 65 percent female96 percent full-time Costs (2016-17) Tuition and Fees: $29,402Books: $1,000 (why so much?)Room and Board: $9,830Other Expenses: $4,664Total Cost: $44,896 Samford University Financial Aid (2015 -16): Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 97  percentPercentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 96 percentLoans: 35  percentAverage Amount of AidGrants: $14,122Loans: $8,953 Academic Programs: Most Popular Majors:  Accounting, Biology, Business Administration, Family Studies, History, Journalism, Nursing, Psychology, Teacher Education What major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Graduation and Retention Rates: First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 89 percent4-Year Graduation Rate: 59 percent6-Year Graduation Rate: 73 percent Intercollegiate Athletic Programs: Mens Sports:  Golf, Football, Basketball, Baseball, Cross Country, Track and Field, TennisWomens Sports:  Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Basketball, Golf, Cross Country If You Like Samford University, You May Also Like These Schools: Auburn University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphVanderbilt University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUnion University: Profile  University of Georgia: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphMississippi State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of Alabama: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphTroy University: Profile  University of Mississippi: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphClark Atlanta University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphUniversity of North Alabama: Profile  Furman University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT GraphBerry College: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph Samford University and the Common Application Samford University uses the  Common Application. These articles can help guide you: Common Application essay tips and samplesShort answer tips and samplesSupplemental essay tips and samples Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

Monday, October 21, 2019

Types of Computer Viruses essays

Types of Computer Viruses essays A computer virus is a program that is designed to damage your computer, programs, and files. Like a virus in a living thing, a computer virus can spread if it is not removed. Some viruses are more dangerous than others. One of the most common places for a computer virus to appear is on a file found on the Internet or attached to an E-mail. For example, you may have a virus that just pops a message box on your screen, and then the virus is disabled, or you can have a virus that deletes half of your hard drive. Computer viruses didnt really exist until the mid 1980s. The first computer viruses were created in university labs to demonstrate how much of a threat the vicious code could be. There are many kind of viruses that exist today. Some of the most common of Computer Viruses are: File Viruses, Boot Sector/Partition Viruses, Multi-Partite Viruses, Trojan Horses, File Overwriters, Polymorphic viruses, and Stealth Viruses. A File Virus is the most common kind of virus. These kinds of viruses usually infect .EXE and .COM files, which are the main component of a program or application. A file virus can insert its own code into part of the file, so that when the infected program file is run, the virus is executed first. Most file viruses are memory resident. Because of this, they can easily attach themselves to other programs that are being run and start to infect that file. A simple virus will overwrite and destroy a host file, immediately letting the user know that there is a problem because the software will not run. Because these viruses are immediately sensed by the computer, they have a less chance to spread. More complex written viruses will cause more damage, spread easier, and are harder to be detected. Boot sector viruses infect hard drives and floppy disks by putting itself on the boot sector of the disk, which has the code that is run at boot up. Booting up from an infected floppy, allow...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

Dont monkey around with fonts - Emphasis

Dont monkey around with fonts Dont monkey around with fonts According to childrens literacy website Reading Rockets, when kids start to read, they like to mirror the writing they see around them. So, if they see you writing a list, they may well write one too. If youre writing in your diary, theyll probably have a pretend one too. Most parents will help their children get better at writing by practising forming letters with a variety of mediums: paper, sand, snow or even in the air. Its also good to read things which just happen to be around and might well catch the eye like cereal packets, for instance. So, how confusing is the font for Kelloggs Adopt a Monkey campaign? As a marketing idea the Adopt a Monkey campaign is a cracker. It ticks all the boxes: cuddly animals, conservation and charity. But who designed the font? With capitals D, N, H, P and G slung with gay abandon in the middle of words on both the Kelloggs and Born Free sites, theyre making reading and writing just that bit harder for a major part of its target audience. Do you baulk at, KeePiNG WiLDlife in tHe WiLD, or BorN Free, or is it just me? Do you feel this curious choice of script is designed to make a younger audience feel at ease because these are the kinds of mistakes kids make when theyre learning to write? In that case we could soon be going down the crumpled paper, smudge-infested route. Perhaps with the odd dribble or bogey on: thats common in kids efforts too. So: Adopt a Monkey great idea, guys. But rein in those designers or youre only making an already complicated system even more difficult for those just starting out.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

The influences of Chinese culture on leadership style Dissertation

The influences of Chinese culture on leadership style - Dissertation Example It was likewise found that private sector employees experience all leadership styles more than their public sector counterparts. These outcomes are relevant to ensuring the satisfaction and retention of staff. Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 Background of the Study Cross-cultural research has emphasized how culture can be strongly associated with leadership behaviours. Aside from practical needs, it is also of great importance that the influence of culture on leadership is investigated. The notion on the concept of leadership has now highlighted the fact that attitudes, behaviours, and values of leaders can vary due to national cultures (Liu, Fu, and Wu 2008). Moreover, it has also been asserted that leaders’ effectiveness considerably differs due to the culture with which such leaders function (Fikret-Pasa, Kabasakal, and Bodur 2001). Because strong evidence exists regarding the impact on national culture on the behaviour of leaders, the influence of Chinese culture on their style s of leadership has been widely documented (Wang, Tsui, and Xin 2011). The considerable transformation of the People’s Republic of China with regards to their political, economic and social aspects has caught the world’s interest over the previous years. Due to a planned economy that has become increasingly competitive during the past two decades, the country’s activities have become more incorporated into the global economy and has been observed to be a very significant player in the international market (Tsui and Lau 2002). China also remains to be the world’s largest Communist nation and is committed to function with its cultural influences in controlling and managing businesses. Nonetheless, traditional firms in China have continued to experience major organisational transformations as well as an increased competition due to numerous new and fresh entrepreneurial companies (Tsui and Lau 2002; Moody 2003). Such conditions develop a sense of uncertainty for firms and establishes a setting in which their leaders must possess and demonstrate a high level of good judgment to positively influence organisational outcomes (Boal and Hooijberg 2000). The more effective and cautious leaders are, the better their influence on decisions, and behavioural decisions will be, hence, better outcomes for their firms (Boal 2004). Moreover, traditional Chinese culture allow leaders to have dominant control and authority over their firms and have the main responsibility of making decisions as their subordinates expect guidance and consent from them. Leaders represent important figures in any organisation whose actions and decisions are observed and adopted by others (Farh and Cheng 2000). Chinese leaders were selected as the main topic for the current study as they function in a working environment that is characterized by constant environmental changes (Tsui, Schoonhoven, Meyer, Lau, and Milkovich 2004), yet their commitment to operate in accordance with cultural beliefs and values cannot be overemphasized. In environments characterized by ambiguity and instability, leaders are expected to provide their firms with a vision and direction for the future. China’s major transformation into free market competition has

Friday, October 18, 2019

Sex education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sex education - Essay Example of learning about sex, how it makes males and females different from each other, yet attracts them to each other and involves deep feelings, desires, sexual identity, relationships and intimacy.19 Puberty is the stage in a child’s life when physical and emotional changes are sudden and unsettling, and to an unprepared child, this can be very unnerving.18 For adolescents who have just entered into the age of puberty, proper and age-suitable sex education can reassure them that what they are experiencing is normal, and most importantly, can prevent them from becoming victims of teenage pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases, which are among the most prominent problems faced by the younger generation today..11 In my opinion, there is no such thing as â€Å"too much† sex education. It is an on-going process.2 I think sex education should be part of a school’s curriculum and should ideally inform about 4 topics: sexual development, reproduction, contraception, &

Concepts and Operations management principles in Mcdonalds Essay

Concepts and Operations management principles in Mcdonalds - Essay Example For instance, as noted Preliminary results statement, 2006, it offers a range of quality menu choices along with our convenience and brand affordability. Its performance reflects its continued commitment to leverage its operations and process engineering through adoption of the current technology in its systems and procedures. For instance, there is a close monitoring of its chain of operations through advanced techniques to ensure that there is timely delivery of products to customers’ complaints, queries. As the CEO , Jim Skinner noted in the Financial highlights of the year 2011, ‘During 2011, McDonalds continued momentum drove higher profitability and market share gains as we fortified our leadership position around the world. The ongoing strength of McDonalds results is rooted in our Plan to Win with a relentless focus on what matters most to our customers. We are enhancing the customer experience – from our menu and service to our value and convenience – while giving more people more reasons to visit McDonalds more often’. Said McDonalds Chief Executive Officer,. This implies that the chain store constantly pursue customer excellence strategy. The Financial highlights 2011, notes that its success is a result of a diversification to ensure that customers have a variety of food variety to satisfy their needs are satisfied. The recent growing competition from its rivals has necessitated the need to differentiate its products, offer excellent quality customer services, have wider, and more distributed chain stores with uniformity of services across the globe. A wide coverage and presence of several chain stores in region reaches out to more customers than its main rivals do. An examination of some of product offering includes cheers, salads and other breakfast options. Through continued efforts to innovate, it has created a

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Do Students lose more than they gain in online writing classes Essay

Do Students lose more than they gain in online writing classes - Essay Example In the chapter text, Keifer writes, â€Å"questions about the efficacy of online education have been ignored in the face of pressures† (Keifer, 2007, p. 142). I am in agreement with the author’s statement that the schools, confronted by rising intake of students and governmental pressure, have been under pressure to embrace online learning. However, such efforts, to provide alternative models of learning, should be guided by efficiency and not by the current boom in student populations. Globally, few learning institutions with online learning programs have integrated efficiency of content delivery in their e-learning approach. Kiefer identified three deficits in the online writing system that makes it a less desirable learning platform. One of these deficits is the nature of the classroom software. It feels that the author has overly criticized the role of software in a classroom. A good quote is, â€Å"We have all had moments when we question why technology, especiall y software seems to distract energy away from the focus of our work as writers and teachers† (Keifer, 2007, p. 148). The author sees that technology disguises the interest of students in coursework and that through an online platform; students can pretend to be engaged in the learning process. Kiefer also critiques software used in online writing, citing that such software is not developed with the writing teachers in mind and does not provide for interaction between the students. While this may have been true when the article was written.

Financial Reporting Systems and Economic Development Essay

Financial Reporting Systems and Economic Development - Essay Example The role of the financial reporting system, as supported by accounting standards, the law and the ethics, in economic development is reviewed and analyzed in this paper. Particular emphasis is given on faithful representation, as an indicator of the reliability of financial statements. Also, the circumstances under which true and fair override apply are identified and explained. It is proved that faithful representation, in its current form, is something more than simple a compliance with accounting standards. One of the most critical issues when having to evaluate the quality of financial statements is that these statements should achieve faithful representation. In order to understand the role of ‘faithful representation’, as an element of the financial reporting systems, it would be necessary to refer to these systems, as the basis on which a firm’s financial practices are usually based. In accordance with Uddin et al., two major financial reporting systems are considered as the most credible for businesses in all sectors: the US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) and the IFRS.1 The use of one of these systems, which have been appropriately tested as of the effectiveness in financial reporting, results to the increase of credibility of the local economy. From this point of view, it has been proved that the use of these systems within a particular country leads to the increase of the foreign direct investment (FDI) to the above country. Thus, accounting standards and financial reporting are closely related to the performance of the local economy, of course under the terms that global financial markets are stabilized, i.e. that these markets do not suffer from delays in the implementation of financial and other projects. In the literature the term ‘faithful representation’ has been given various explanations, which are all similar. For example, in the study of Hussey reference is made to the use of the term fait hful representation in order to show the reliability of the financial statements involved.2 In other words, the specific term is used in order to indicate the fact that the information included in the financial statements is accurate and responds to the actual financial status of the organization. Apart from reliability, the term ‘faithful representation’ also reflects the completeness of information included in the financial statements.3 The financial statements are considered as complete when they include all necessary information.4 A similar approach in the description of faithful representation is included in the study of Needles et al. In accordance with the above researcher, the term ‘faithful representation’ means that the financial statement involved is ‘complete, neutral and free from error’.5 It is further explained that the phrase ‘free from error’ does not imply the full accuracy of the particular financial statement, a s such requirement is quite difficult, almost impossible, to be achieved since financial statements are highly based on estimations.6 At this point, the following problem appears: how the reliability of financial statements is proved? The fact that there are some transactions that cannot be measured, at least not precisely, is highlighted in the study of Hussey.7 On the other hand, the availability of the data involved is an issue that needs to be carefully considered when having to

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Exam Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Exam - Coursework Example It’s not mentioned whether the printer supports Wi-Fi or not so we are going to assume that printer supports Wi-Fi printing so we wont need any extra hardware for printer as well. Now we will assume that Louise have three children as well as office at the home so definitely he won’t be needing disturbance in his office at the time of working so he will have a house of minimum three floor which in hardware terms increase our one more need of wireless switch with boosters in order to increase wireless signal strength on other floors. In Software terms we will be needing only Child locks for Louis children in order they dont accidentally land on sites which they are not supposed to visit. Remaining software needs like protecting wireless network by locking it with password and making it compatible for only 9 systems can be done from the settings of the wireless router. So For Wireless Router we will just need is one Ethernet cable to connect Broadband modem with the Wireless Router thats all because everything else will be connected to the wireless router using wireless connection. So in order to protect such use of their internet they will have to lock the security with using any password which is difficult for others to guess other than family members, as well as they can specify the MAC address of all 9 systems in the Router settings and bar any other service requests other than these 9 systems/devices. 2) PII is an Information about a person that recognizes, links, relates, or is exclusive to, or describes him or her, e.g. a passport number; age, police rank, civilian, marital status, race, salary, mobile numbers. Social engineering- is an act of manipulating people into performing actions or divulging information, rather than by breaking in or using technical cracking techniques e.g. via email, phone, dumpster diving, online, reverse, USB

Financial Reporting Systems and Economic Development Essay

Financial Reporting Systems and Economic Development - Essay Example The role of the financial reporting system, as supported by accounting standards, the law and the ethics, in economic development is reviewed and analyzed in this paper. Particular emphasis is given on faithful representation, as an indicator of the reliability of financial statements. Also, the circumstances under which true and fair override apply are identified and explained. It is proved that faithful representation, in its current form, is something more than simple a compliance with accounting standards. One of the most critical issues when having to evaluate the quality of financial statements is that these statements should achieve faithful representation. In order to understand the role of ‘faithful representation’, as an element of the financial reporting systems, it would be necessary to refer to these systems, as the basis on which a firm’s financial practices are usually based. In accordance with Uddin et al., two major financial reporting systems are considered as the most credible for businesses in all sectors: the US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (US GAAP) and the IFRS.1 The use of one of these systems, which have been appropriately tested as of the effectiveness in financial reporting, results to the increase of credibility of the local economy. From this point of view, it has been proved that the use of these systems within a particular country leads to the increase of the foreign direct investment (FDI) to the above country. Thus, accounting standards and financial reporting are closely related to the performance of the local economy, of course under the terms that global financial markets are stabilized, i.e. that these markets do not suffer from delays in the implementation of financial and other projects. In the literature the term ‘faithful representation’ has been given various explanations, which are all similar. For example, in the study of Hussey reference is made to the use of the term fait hful representation in order to show the reliability of the financial statements involved.2 In other words, the specific term is used in order to indicate the fact that the information included in the financial statements is accurate and responds to the actual financial status of the organization. Apart from reliability, the term ‘faithful representation’ also reflects the completeness of information included in the financial statements.3 The financial statements are considered as complete when they include all necessary information.4 A similar approach in the description of faithful representation is included in the study of Needles et al. In accordance with the above researcher, the term ‘faithful representation’ means that the financial statement involved is ‘complete, neutral and free from error’.5 It is further explained that the phrase ‘free from error’ does not imply the full accuracy of the particular financial statement, a s such requirement is quite difficult, almost impossible, to be achieved since financial statements are highly based on estimations.6 At this point, the following problem appears: how the reliability of financial statements is proved? The fact that there are some transactions that cannot be measured, at least not precisely, is highlighted in the study of Hussey.7 On the other hand, the availability of the data involved is an issue that needs to be carefully considered when having to

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Comparison Between Gold Rates and Sensex Essay Example for Free

Comparison Between Gold Rates and Sensex Essay Correlation : Correlation is a statistical technique that can show whether and how strongly pairs of variables are related. Correlation is computed into what is known as the correlation coefficient, which ranges between -1 and +1. Perfect positive correlation (a correlation co-efficient of +1) implies that as one security moves, either up or down, the other security will move in lockstep, in the same direction. Alternatively, perfect negative correlation means that if one security moves in either direction the security that is perfectly negatively correlated will move in the opposite direction. If the correlation is 0, the movements of the securities are said to have no correlation; they are completely random. Regression analysis: It involves identifying the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. Case Analysis The initial analysis compares two Asset index prices the SENSEX and the GOLD. The Sensex has the top 30 stocks. The Gold is an important Asset in terms on Investment as it also offers the benefit on diversifying the Portfolio risk. To apply the Correlation and regression concept, we consider an investor who plans to invest in Gold looking at the rise in the gold prices. He is still reluctant if he should choose Gold as an investment option or if he should consider investing in some other investment options based on Sensex. as on 15th September 2012. Hence, he plans to carry out a research on the same, for which he attends a seminar on â€Å"Investment Opportunities†. There was a debate amongst the Financial Analysts â€Å"Does Sensex rates affect Gold prices?† Analyst1 : Gold prices have been on an uptick since 2000, while the stock market declined from 2000 to 2003 and then again in 2008. Hence, Sensex fluctuation does not determine the Gold prices i.e. rise in Sensex might not always lead to rise in gold price. Analyst 2: Through the recovery phase that commenced in 2003, gold prices kept rising. Analyst 1: Gold prices normally appreciates in value. Analyst2: Fluctuations in Gold prices are determined by the fluctuations in Sensex i.e.: Decline In sensex. This created a confusion. Hence, to clarify the confusion he plans to study the price trends of the Gold rates and the Sensex for the dates ranging from June 1st’2012 – August 31st2012. After checking the correlation he found that the correlation between the closing prices on Gold and Sensex was 0.24 which was weak. Thus, he decided that Sensex rates was not the only factor to consider investment in Gold. Otherwise, Gold is a good option for investment as it provides diversification and hedging in investment. Conclusion: Correlation between Gold and Sensex is 0.24 which is positive and weak. Thus, based on this correlation change in Sensex has an effect on Gold rate but it is very small.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Case Study of Monopolistic Competition in India

Case Study of Monopolistic Competition in India Hindustan Unilever Limited being the leading company in the FMCG sector is the prime focus of our study. It is the largest share holder of the FMCG sector in the Indian market. It was founded in November 1956 and its based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The mission statement of HUL is, add vitality to life. In this report we have analyzed the life cycle of HUL, along with its strong presence in the market due to its highest shares in the FMCG market. Research in this report consist of analyzing the competitors with respect to HUL through reference book, internet research which gave a proper direction to our study. Our major finding includes that HUL has a strong market base which is spread strategically in all the market segments under soaps and detergents due to so many brands by HUL. Also we see there are a lot of emerging competition to the HULs soaps and detergent market share and how it has and will continue to tackle these competitions. Additionally we see the HUL firms life cycle, along with an understanding of a monopolistic market. Furthermore we see into one of the competitors downfall in the soaps and detergent market. In conclusion, this study shows HUL has a strong market share in the soaps and detergent sector.HUL in the light of all the competition, is constantly innovating new products so as to dominate the market. Unlike other companies, HUL has its base under all the segments, thus targeting a wide range of consumers. Abstract Hindustan Unilever Limited is the largest FMCG Company with market leadership in the Soaps Detergents Industry. The report focuses on the evolution of HUL as the market leader in light of the Life Cycle of a Firm and analyses how it managed to sustain its position with emerging new entrants in a monopolistic competitive market. Problem Statement Among several leading national and global brands, HUL is the largest company in the FMCG Sector and it is the market leader with 46% share in the soaps and detergents industry. The underlying factor for its success is the strong customer base. It : Provides wide range of products Continuously innovates to respond to the competitive pressures by providing value additions to its existing products Has established its target audience to every segment: premium, mid-priced and popular Introduction Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is Indias largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Company based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It is a subsidiary of Unilever, a British-Dutch company which controls 52% shareholdings in HUL. Unilever is worlds largest supplier of fast moving consumer goods across 100 countries in the world. In Home Personal Care Products and Foods Beverages, HULs 35 power brands are spread across 20 different consumer categories such as detergents, shampoos,soaps, skin care, toothpastes, coffee, tea, ice creams etc. The company aims to create a better future every day as it provides for nutrition, hygiene, and personal care that help people feel good and look good. HUL touches the lives of two out of three Indians. These brands are manufactured over 40 factories and operations consist of 2000 suppliers and associates. It covers 6.3 million retail outlets reaching the entire urban population and 250 million rural consumers. HUL has over 16000 employees and an annual turnover of around Rs.21736 crores(as per financial year 2011-2012). Life Cycle of HUL Life Cycle can best be explained as the course of events that bring a new firm into existence and follows its growth into maturity to capture the mass consumers. The most common steps in the life cycle of a firm include the following phases: Introduction Development Maturity Growth Sales volume 1988 1930 1991 2000 Time Development Phase Firms in the development phase are likely to be characterized by small levels of sales and are more speculative in nature. The firms enter the market as they see a market opportunity. Unilever the parent company of HUL viewed the Indian market with tremendous potential. Thus, it launched Sunlight Soap in 1988. This gave rise to an era of marketing branded fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). It further introduced Lifebouy and other brands like Pears, Lux and Vim came into market in 1985. Vanaspati and Dalda were also launched in 1918 and 1937 respectively. Introduction Phase In 1930s the introduction of the firm as Hindustan Lever Limited came into existence with the merger of HindustanVanaspati Manufacturing Company, Lever Brothers India Limitedand United Traders Limited.It became the first foreign subsidiary company to do so. Today, the company has more than three lakh resident shareholder. Growth Phase In 1991, with the liberalization of the Indian economy,a drastic change in growth curve of HUL was witnessed as the company explored every single opportunity in the product segment,without any restriction in the production capacity. HUL and its largest competitor Tata Oil Mills Company (TOMOCO) merged together,and the acquisition took place in 1994.In 1996,a 50:50 joint venture was formed, with Lakme Limited to market cosmetics andwith US based company Kimberly-Clark Lever Ltd to marketHuggies Diapers and Kotex Sanitary Pads.HUL also set up a subsidiary as Unilever Nepal Limited (UNL). The UNL factory manufactured HULs products like Soaps, Detergents and Personal Products both for the domestic market and exports to India. The company witnessed crucial mergers, acquisitions and alliances after 1990s , on the Foods and Beverages front. Maturity Phase HUL entered the maturity stage in early 2000s. Since it reached upper bounds of its demands, it undertook various projects and initiatives to maintain its brand image. The increasing demand is not entirely affected by the advertising. For instance,HUL undertook Project Shakti in 2001,a rural initiative which targeted small villages. Presently, 45,000 Shakti entrepreneurs are working,which covers over 100,000 villages across 15 states and reaching to over 3 million homes. In 2002, HUL made its entry into Ayurvedic Health Beauty Centre category with the Ayush range and Ayush Therapy Centers. In 2003,it launched Hindustan Unilever Network, Direct to home business , launching Pureit water purifier in 2004. In 2007, the Company name was formally changed to Hindustan Unilever Limited. Brooke Bond and Surf Excel showed Rs.1000 crore as a sales mark followed by Wheel which crossed the Rs.2000 crore sales milestone in 2008. HUL has completedmore than 75 years of corporate existence in India. HUL-Monopolistic Competition Monopolistic competition is a market situationin which there are a large number of sellers and a large number of buyers for the products and services. The firms in a monopolistic competitive market are generally small in size. All firms provide similar products i.e. the products are close substitutes of each other. However they can be differentiated on the basis of color, packaging, features, and brand price and so on. The Indian FMCG Market is a perfect example of monopolistic competition. It is a highly crowded market with a large number of national and global players competing on margins. The stock turnover is high as FMCG products are frequently consumed and have a short shelf life. The main features of FMCG in light of monopolistic competition can be viewed as follows: Large Number of Sellers In a monopolistic competitive market, there is abundance of sellers producing differentiated products. The presence of large number of sellers is highlighted by the fact that the Indian Soap and Detergent market has 700 companies competing to sell their products. The major players across the globe are: ITC Limited, Procter Gamble and Hindustan Unilever Limited. Freedom of Entry and Exit There are low barriers to entry and exit of firms in monopolistic competition. If the profits are attractive, the firms can enter the industry. Increase in disposable income in hands of both rural and urban consumers, gave an opportunity to the rural consumers to shift from unbranded unorganized products to branded FMCG products. The increasing demands, leads new firms to enter the market. When the competition increases the existing firms are forced to reduce their price in order to meet the competition. Thus free entry and exit maintains normal profits in the market in the longer span of time. For instance, Nirma was launched in the detergent industry at a low price targeted to cater to the needs of middle-priced and popular segment. The success of Nirma forced HUL to launch an even lower priced product. Thus, Wheel and Rinwere introduced by HUL to maintain its market share. Selling Costs Due to product differentiation in monopolistic competition, firms are required to incur some additional costs such as advertising, sale promotions, salaries of marketing staff etc. to promote the product. The main aim is to inform, persuade and remind the buyers of the availability of the product. The strategy of aggressive advertising is adopted. HUL and Procter Gamble are two renowned companies for portrayal of advertisement war. Aggressive television commercials were shown targeting each others brand. Even in print the prices of detergents such as Tide and Rin were compared to influence the customers buying habits. It is highly believed that advertisements are factual and help buyers make an informed choice. Product Differentiation It is regarded as the most important feature of monopolistic competition. The products in monopoly are homogenous in nature whereas in monopolistic market it is heterogeneous in nature. The products are close substitutes; however every seller tries to differentiate his product from the competitors product. They maybe different in terms of colour, packaging, features, pricing, size and shape. For instance, Ariel, the detergent laundry line for PG, is available in a variety of forms. Ariel Colour is a detergent used mainly to protect colour of clothes, Ariel Stain remover is a stain pre-treatment product, ArielQuickwash is used to wash clothes in the quick wash cycle and so on. Therefore, Ariel has been able to expand its laundry line depending on the use of the detergent. By adding various features to the existing product, Ariel has been able to distinguish itself from the competitor. Absence of Interdependence The firms operate on the basis of their own marketing policies and production. No firm is influenced by the other firm. Since a large number of firms enter the market, the size of each firm varies. Thus, no firm is dependent on the other. Falling Demand Curve A firm in monopolistic competition, has a downward sloping demand curve. This is mainly because the sellers are the price makers i.e. they are influential enough to affect the price of the product. The demand curve is highly elastic as substitutes are available.This means one can sell more at low prices and vice-versa. Competitors analysis HUL has a large share of market in soaps and detergent segment, but it still faces a growing number of competitions from various Competitors in the market. In the detergent sector it faces competition from Procter and Gamble (PG), Henkel, RohitSurfactancts Pvt. Ltd. (RSPL) and Nirma (now out of the market). In the soap sector it faces competition from Godrej, PG, Wipro, ITC and Nirma (now out of the market). HUL faces just one competition in the health care sector of the soap industry and that is from Reckitt. Detergents Market Past HUL captured the Indian detergent market in the year 1957 and maintained its monopoly in terms of quality till 1980s with its product SURF. However by 1980s a company named Nirma Chemicals brought out a detergent Nirma which was priced much lower than HULs Surf with a very catchy advertisement on TV, claiming great quality at affordable rates. It soon became a very popular jingle, catching the imagination of the masses. By 1985 Nirma had replaced Surf from the number one position in the detergent market. HUL then changed their strategy and introduced cheaper detergents named Wheel and Rin, and managed to regain some of the lost ground in the detergent market. This shift ultimately resulted in HULs Wheel replacing Nirma from the top position of the detergent market in early 2000. But soon there emerged a threat from a product named Ghari which was launched by RSPL in 1987. Present In the current market scenario, Ghari holds the number one position at 17.3%, followed closely by Wheel which holds 16.9% of the market share. Nirma on the other hand had witnessed a huge downfall and it now just commands a market share of less than 6%. Tide launched by PG is now at the third position in the market after Ghari and Wheel, with a share of 13.5%. The Indian detergent market is broadly classified into four different segments namely:- Premium, examples- Ariel and Surf Mid-price, examples- Henko, Rin and Tide Popular, examples-Wheel, Ghari, Nirma and Mr. White Regional and small unorganized players Premium, Mid-price and Popular account for a market share of 15%, 40% and 45% respectively against each other. All the above three segments combined form 60% of the market share, while the rest 40% share is held by the regional and small unorganized players in the market. HUL is still a major player in the market with its Wheel, Rin and Surf in all three main segments, but RSPL is now the overall leader due to Ghari. Soaps Market The soap market in India is divided into various categories that is mens soaps, ladies soap and common soap. There is also a small share in the soap market which is held by specialty soaps like baby soaps, sandal soaps, glycerin soap etc. The market growth of the soap sector is estimated to be 7% p.a. and it is observed that rural market constitutes 60% of the soap sales. There are about 700 soap manufacturing companies in India. The Indian soap markets value is estimated to be around 60000 crores. In this huge market there are just a handful of key players who control the major chunk of the market share. These are HUL, Godrej, Wipro, PG, Nirma and ITC. HUL enjoys over 54.3% of the market share with its brands such as Lux, Lifebuoy, Rexona, Breeze, Pears, Haman and Dove. Godrej Consumer Product Ltd.(GCPL) comes in second position with 11% of the market share with its brands such as Cinthol, Fairglow, Nikhar and Allcare. GCPL is among the biggest manufacturer of toilet soaps and it launched Fairglow, which was the first fairness soap in India. Wipro with its brands such as Santoor and Chandrika has a strong base in the soap market sector. Procter Gamble (PG) and Nirma are the other competitios with a strong presence in the market share. ITC is a fairly new entry into the soap market with the launch of its brand named Vivel. According to AC Nielson a global marketing research firm, Vivel soaps have witnessed a growth rate of 70-80% within a short period of time. ITC is now the fastest growing company in soap the soap market. Case Study: Downfall of Nirma Detergent Powder The purpose of this case study is to highlight the factors that led to downfall of NirmaDetergent Powder. How ignorance of factors like consumer behavior, innovation, product differentiation immensely affect the existence of any firm in the cut-throat competitive market. Nirma detergent powder was launched in 1969 by Nirma Chemicals at a price far lower than the market leader-Surf. The aim of Nirma was to create a brand at affordable price. The strong popularity of Nirma among the cost conscious Indian consumer, gave rise to competition. No company is interested in losing its market share. Thus, recognizing the threat, HUL, the undisputed leader in FMCG, launched Wheel detergent to try and establish itself in the low end of the market. Nevertheless, it forced Nirma to exit the market. The main reason for this are highlighted as under: Lack of Innovation: With the increase in disposal income in the hands of the consumers, a shift was seen in the demand of products. The consumer desired aspirational products focused on viability and divisibility instead of economy brand products focused on affordability. Nirma suffered from the inability to innovate products to meet the new demands of the consumer. It failed to think beyond pricing. On the other hand, HUL was able to establish products in all segments; Popular:Wheel , Mid-Priced: Rin and Premium:Surf. Lack of Advertising: Nirma did not have a strong brand promotional strategy. It failed to capitalize on the trademark jingle i.e. failed to convert its recognition earned into sales. With the increase in competition, Nirma did not introduce new and improved advertisements. Even the visibility on TV channels reduced. Lack of Product Differentiation: On the one hand where the sales of HUL increased, there was evident decline in those of Nirma. Hul along the way changed its technology and added features to its existing products. Surf went from Surf to Super Surf to Surf Excel. Even though Nirma advanced to Nirma Blue, the differentiation was not visible. Lack of Price Increase:Nirma locked itself to the conventional low price plank. Overtime with the increase in prices of LAB ( linear alkyl benzene) and Palm Oil, both ingredients used for the making of detergents, Nirma did not increase the price of the detergent. Naturally the company faced complications in terms of revenue generation as the costs were higher than the profit derived from it. What Nirma could have done? Compete on Quality: A company like Nirma can easily increase sales by highlighting improved quality in its product. It could emphasize on the performance risks in the low priced segment and mention the cost advantages. Strategic Positioning: A company must position its product well. The target audience for Nirma was the low income group. It should aim at increasing sales in the rural markets by increasing availability in villages. Moreover it should tap the untouched cheaper and unorganized markets. Attractive Advertising: Advertising plays an important role in creating consumer awareness. The way HUL changed the packaging of Lifebouy from a masculine product to a family product (as shown below),Nirma should change the conventional image of a Nirma dancing girl to something more appealing. C:UsersDIVNEETDesktopold_lifebuoy_ad_mazhar khan.JPGC:UsersDIVNEETDesktopLifebuoy_soap.jpg Co-opt Contributors: A company can easily form strategic partnerships with dealers, suppliers and resellers by offering exclusive deals and offers. Grammage in Packaging: Many a times, companies reduce the quantity of the product and sell it at the same price. Reduction in quantity is generally unnoticed by the consumer. For example: Selling Half Kg detergent for Rs.7 instead of One Kg. SWOT analysis of HUL Soaps and Detergent Market Strengths Established target audience in various market segments Largest company in FMCG sector Top position in soap and detergent market share Wide range of products Continuously innovates Global presence Popular among the masses Weakness Few popular products appealing to the mass has been kept in premium pricing range, due to which people prefer cheaper products offered by the rival companies Opportunities As the masses are becoming more hygiene conscious, the sales expected to rise Rising demand of premium and mid-priced products in the rural areas Downfall of Nirma will help them to regain lost market shares Soap sectors growth is expected at 7% p.a Threats Rising competition from other emerging companies Losing top position in the market share of detergents to Rohit Surfactants Pvt. Ltd.(RSPL) ITCs sudden growth in the soap market Conclusion In this report, it can be easily observed that HULis a market leader in the FMCG industry in soaps detergents. Its evolution can be seen through various phases and currently operating in its Maturity phase. However, its evolution began in 1988 with launch of sunlight soap by Lever brothers and today we see a wide range of products starting with soaps and detergents, home personal care and food beverages. We see how continuous innovation and close study of consumer behavior has helped HUL exist in this competitive market as a leader in its field. Grabbing right opportunities at the right time and optimal utilization of available resources is the also one of the key critical success factors for any firm to be successful. HUL was able to capitalize on its products because of their approach towards target segmentation. HUL targeted the mass audience with products available in all income groups-low level, middle level high level.HUL have managed to balance margin pressures in the detergents segment, through product mix changes by good quality of a huge product and brand portfolio. Recommendation

Sunday, October 13, 2019

A Prolonged Civil Conflict :: essays research papers

The reasons why the Vietnam War lasted so long is a very controversial subject among Americans. There is no simple answer to as why the war lasted so long. Many factors have to be considered when analyzing the war. The first factor that has to be considered is whether or not the U.S. really belonged in the Vietnam War in the first place. The initial reason that the U.S. became involved in Vietnam was because they thought that North Vietnam was going to Russia and China, which were communist countries, for support. Because of the containment policy, the U.S. felt it had to defend South Vietnam from communism. They thought that Russia was trying to take over Europe and make it one communist state. Herring says, “The United States formally committed itself to he containment of Soviet expansion in Europe, and throughout the next two years attention was riveted on France, where economic stagnation and political instability aroused grave fears of communists takeover'; (11). However, all Ho and North Vietnam wanted was for their country to be reunited. “For the Vietminh, unification of their not only represented fulfillment of the centuries-old dream of Vietnamese nationalists but also was economic necessity'; (8). The Vietminh asked the U.S. for support but because they thought that North Vietnam was influenced by Russia, the U.S. turned them down. It was not until later that the Vietminh went to Mao Tse-tung’s Chinese Communists for support out of desperateness. From the very beginning, “the U.S. had attached itself to a losing cause'; (19). Because the U.S. was obsessed with the domino theory and a communist threat in Southeast Asia, they became involved in and were partly to blame for prolonging a civil conflict.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the U.S. had initially become involved in Vietnam’s civil conflict, they kept getting more and more involved. Besides several bomb raids the U.S. also kept sending more and more troops into South Vietnam. The massive bomb raids and the continuous flow of troops into South Vietnam established the U.S.’s policy; they were willing to give full support to South Vietnam and fight in a war in order to stop the spread of communism. As Herring says, the U.S. also insisted “that an important interest had been established that had to be defended for the sake of U.S. credibility throughout the world'; (309).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This leads to the second factor to as why the war lasted so long.

Saturday, October 12, 2019

harmful legalization Essay -- essays research papers

Harmful Legalization The United States government has seen fit to pass laws prohibiting the sale, manufacture, and possession of dangerous and destructive substances such as marijuana. In opportunistic and negligent haste, fringe aspects of society are seeking to undo laws regarding the restriction of marijuana. These factions have ignored the risks associated with marijuana, falsified information regarding its medical use, and ignore the greater issue with regards to the legalization of harmful substances. LSD, angle dust, and cocaine have several things in common, not the least of which is like marijuana, they are each responsible for the deaths of countless individuals. While a subject will find it difficult to outright end his life with marijuana, it does cause harmful damage to both the user and those around him. Each marijuana cigarette is exponentially more damaging to the lungs of the smoker and those around him than a typical tobacco cigarette. Further, contrary to claims of the harmlessness of marijuana by some advocates, each time it is used, it obliterates a portion of brain cells that can never grow back. Also the active ingredient in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, has been linked to fetal damage, hormonal swings, a slight addiction rate, lower sperm counts and accelerated heart rates, none of which are anything approaching good health for a user. Other aspects besides a user’s physical body suffer when he or she decides to use marijuana. The emotional damage marijuana causes can be best summed up by a quote from researcher Damon Linker â€Å"†¦it (marijuana) does produce a pathology of the soul† (Linker). Everyone around the user suffers, because while he or she is in a drug-induced haze he or she neglects his or her friends, family and responsibilities. By escaping the subject simply dulls his or her pain from various troubles for a moment and does nothing to solve that which plagues him or her. Because of this, users will find themselves trapped within a vicious, unending cycle of getting high and forgetting, to coming down and needing the next fix, to getting high again. Upon realizing that the marijuana isn’t what is required to take away their pain, some will turn to other harder drugs such as cocaine. There may be other reasons for people to start using marijuana, but there is an unacceptable large risk that some of these new users w... ... For to claim the latter logically leads one to the bizarre judgment that Mother Teresa is no more and no less virtuous than Adolph Hitlerâ€Å"] (Beckwith). This way of thinking is detrimental to our society as a whole. When we refuse to take a stand against something that is morally wrong, we in fact, aid that cause. This allows the minority to dictate the terms to the majority. Look at Germany, 1932; Hitler was elected to power, because only fifteen percent of the country came out to vote. In our own country less than one-third of the people are in favor of marijuana legalization; of that number surely not all of them will ever use marijuana. We know that marijuana physically and emotionally harms people, has no medicinal value, and only a small minority of people of the country will use this drug, so why should it be legalized? The answer obviously is that it shouldn’t. Nor should we let the minority dictate terms to the rest of the country. This situation reminds me of a quote I heard from my grandpa: â€Å"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.†  The chart above shows the Ohio drug-violation arrests starting from 2000 to 2004.

Friday, October 11, 2019

Facebook and Harmful Effects: Internet Addiction Essay

Unlike reading books and long magazine articles which requires the ability of critical thinking, social networks such as Facebook are the new addiction among people. With its limitless quantities of photos and status updates, which are bright-colored candies for the mind, it’s been difficult to recognize how toxic and harmful Facebook and other social networks can be. In the last five years, researchers from the United States, Europe, South America, China, and other locations have conducted studies related to internet addiction, social media use, and Facebook. From the review of literature detailed in these studies, many researchers have suggested that a new form of internet addiction related to Facebook use has emerged globally. Determining how much use of Facebook is normal and what type of behavior represents addictive or abusive activity is not a simple issue, as work patterns, artistic creativity, photography, text messaging, and family activities can all be involved. The negative consequences of addictive social media use may not be immediately apparent to casual users. With debate ongoing as to whether to include social media addiction as a mental illness in the forthcoming version of the DSM used in clinical psychiatry, a review of current research in psychology and sociology is required to learn the characteristics, symptoms, and treatments for this growing problem. By reviewing individual case studies and surveys of cultural groups, more information about the modern diagnosis of Facebook addiction globally can be found. People are not rational enough to be exposed to Facebook, which can lead to a change of behaviors. When these changes become negative to the life experience or health of the individual, professionals in mental health care have begun questioning whether social media addiction is a problem that must be addressed in large numbers. Psychological research into internet addiction begins with case studies of individuals that are then reviewed in large groups to combine quantitative and qualitative methods in statistical  results. For example, the study by Karaiskos et al. (2010) looked at the example of a 24 year old woman who used Facebook for 5 hours per day, with over 400 friends. The woman had lost her job because of excessive Facebook use, posting status updates and other details to her profile. (Karaiskos et al., 2010) The woman had used the internet for many years without developing addiction to other sites before using Facebook. The Karaiskos study concluded that â€Å"Facebook addiction can be considered as an ‘urge-driven disorder’ with a strong compulsive component†¦ another subcategory of the internet spectrum addiction disorders.† (Karaiskos et al., 2010) Recent research by Kuss & Griffiths (2013) found â€Å"internet addiction appears as mental health concern for UK university students† and that â€Å"3.2% of the students were classified as being addicted to the Internet.† (Kuss & Griffiths, 2013) These researchers concluded that there was significant evidence that supported â€Å"the inclusion of ‘Internet addiction’ in the DSM-V.† (Kuss & Griffiths, 2013) Thus, a wide range of research in psychology and sociology is developing that identifies Facebook addiction as a serious mental health problem. Facebook consumption is a competitive disadvantage, where the less time spent on Facebook, the bigger the advantage people might have. The case study of the woman given by the Karaiskos study showed how people could use their job because of too much Facebook use. However, the impact of overuse of Facebook and the loss of personal productivity in the workplace can also be found in enterprise studies. For example, companies whose employees are addicted to Facebook may check frequently their profiles or friends’ information as to be viewed as wasting time and reducing office or workplace efficiency. The Sherman study (2014) showed the influence of workplace factors related to â€Å"personality type, values, boredom and procrastination† in employees. (Sherman, 2014) Recent studies by Kuss and Griffiths (2013) suggest that as much of 21.5% of the differential shown in addictive use to Facebook varies according to personality type. (Kuss & Griffiths, 2013) Sherman identifies neurotic individuals, women, and people prone to procrastination activities as most influenced by or susceptible to symptoms of Facebook addiction. (Sherman, 2014) Kuss & Griffiths (2011) found another characteristic that was indicative of increased susceptibility to Facebook  addiction in ecommerce and online shopping frequency. (Kuss & Griffith, 2011) From these and other studies, it is increasingly evident that the mental health issues related to Facebook addiction have an impact on worker productivity across both white-collar and blue-collar sectors. Continued research is required to determine the degree of impact in different industry from social media addiction. People who develop internet dependence may isolate and refrain from real-world activities, which can increase their risk of negative outcomes. While it may seem paradoxical that social media can lead to individual isolation, there are major issues with new technology use that have not been studied in long-term social impact or effect on individual mental health. Social media and Facebook usage are both relatively new phenomena, as are the rise of the internet and mobile phones globally. With these new technologies come new risks for people who are not critically prepared to monitor and condition their own behavior. Where isolation may also lead to addiction in other areas as an escape from personal problems, social media is then just one of many forms of abusive activity that can develop through negative mental health patterns. In this way, Facebook addiction may derive characteristics and causes in individual psychology on pathways similar to those that are found in other types of neurosis. (Kuss & Griffiths, 2013) Job loss, neglect of loved ones, friends, and family, or other problems can develop from people who become overly immersed in Facebook, while this can also lead to financial concerns, academic performance issues, or loss of contact with social groups in the â€Å"real world.† The problem with Facebook and social media addiction is further linked to narcissistic behavior in isolated individuals and environments that are mediated by new technologies. Facebook status updates are overwhelmingly about things you cannot influence. The daily repetition of notifications about things that people can’t act upon makes them passive. The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) looked at a set of 18 variables that related to Facebook addiction, including â€Å"the six core elements of addiction (salience, mood modification, tolerance, withdrawal, conflict, and relapse).† (Andreassen et al., 2012) The group found a high relation of correspondence between neurosis in  individual mental health and social media addiction. To a lesser degree, extroversion was also seen as a personality trait that can contribute to Facebook addiction, whereas conscientiousness would be a trait that would preserve people from falling into the problem. (Andreassen et al., 2012) From studies such as this, it becomes evident that increasing conscientiousness or critical thinking abilities in people could help them mentally balance activities and avoid internet, social media, or Facebook addiction. Sleep and regulated bed times were also seen as significant variables in these studies. (Andreassen et al., 2012) Social conditioning can have a large impact as it varies with personality traits in individuals to both encourage and discourage the development of Facebook and social media addiction. The primary antidote to what is unconscious, need-driven neurotic expression in Facebook addiction can be found in critical thinking. The more time people spend on Facebook, the more they exercise their ability to skimming and multitasking while ignoring the ability used for reading deeply and thinking with profound focus. This leads to a reduced ability to concentrate that may impact work performance, academic testing, memory, or other issues. The Kuss and Griffiths (2011) study found narcissism and neuroticism as related root causes of Facebook addiction. â€Å"Extraverts appear to use social networking sites for social enhancement, whereas introverts use it for social compensation, each of which appears to be related to greater usage, as does low conscientiousness and high narcissism.† (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011) Whether or not critical thinking is capable of addressing deeper root neurotic tendencies is currently under debate by these researchers, leading for many to argue for the inclusion of social media addiction into the DSM-V to reflect clinic and counseling environments. Critical thinking can be seen as a wider solution which does not address the neurotic elements at a root level of treatment, needing for the inclusion of social media addiction as a new mental illness category. Facebook can severely affect memory, disrupt concentration, and weaken comprehension. Developments in neuroscience and psychology can be applied to diagnose instances of social media addiction and to study the neurochemical or behavioral changes induced by the neurosis. In studying the individual  effects of Facebook addiction in MRI scans or neurochemistry, scientists can shed new light on the physiological issues associated with this problem. However, the phenomena is still new and related to technological innovations which require further studies worldwide in individual psychology and collective sociological issues involved. The â€Å"decrease in real life social community participation and academic achievement, as well as relationship problems† are seen at this stage as the most apparent symptoms of Facebook addiction as a mental illness concern. (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011) These conclusions may change as more research in neurophysiology, pharmacology, and neurochemistry are applied to social media addiction. Debate as to whether to include Facebook addiction as a mental illness in the forthcoming version of the DSM-V used in clinical psychiatry are strong, as the problem of internet addiction is well established. The problem of social media addiction has roots in narcissistic and neurotic behavior, and can lead to decline in performance in the workplace or school. Personal relationships can also be neglected when people become morbidly obsessed or addicted to their Facebook status and profile settings. The social media websites have an addiction percentage that may be as high as 3.5% of the population, which can represent serious mental health and economic consequences for millions of people. In addition to this, those who need help and treatment for this disease must have official psychiatric recognition in order for insurance coverage to pay for treatment, counseling, and prescriptions. Therefore, current research developing the characteristics, signs, and symptoms of Facebook addiction should be closely monitored in order that appropriate treatment responses may be applied. Works Cited ANDREASSEN, C.S., TORSHEIM, T., BRUNBORG, G.S., & PALLESEN, S. â€Å"DEVELOPMENT OF A FACEBOOK ADDICTION SCALE.† Psychological Reports, Volume 110, 2012, pp. 501-517. Aug. 03, 2014 . Karaiskos, D., Tzavellas, E., Balta, G., & Paparrigopoulos, T. â€Å"Social network addiction : a new clinical disorder?† European Psychiatry, Volume 25, Supplement 1, 2010, Pages 855. Aug. 03, 2014 . Kuss, D.J. & Griffiths, M.D. â€Å"Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature.† Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2011, pp. 3528-3552. PDF. Kuss, D.J., Griffiths, M.D., & Binder, J.F. â€Å"Internet addiction in students: Prevalence and risk factors.† Computers in Human Behavior, Volume 29, Issue 3, May 2013, Pages 959–966. Aug. 03, 2014 . Sherman, Erica. â€Å"Facebook Addiction: Factors Influencing an Individual’s Addiction.† Honors Thesis Program in the College of Management, Paper 5, 2011. Aug. 03, 2014 .