I Have Long Advocated For Social Equality - 1313 Words

I have long advocated for social equality and been aware of the prevalence of racism. However, my forethought now seems insignificant compared to the degree of racism that James W. Loewen suggests is indoctrinating the minds and classrooms of America’s youth. Loewen takes readers on an enlightening journey through his book, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, that intends to expose the false claims and lack of information in standard American high school history textbooks. He aims to set the record straight on how and why American history is so misrepresented and why it is important to represent history accurately and not limitedly. Throughout the book, he largely focuses on the shortcomings or outright fallacies of historical textbooks in regards to racism, government, colonialism, and patriotism. 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Natural Gas And Its Effects On The United States - 1815 Words

Under the Surface Hydraulic fracturing, or hydro fracking, is a sizeable issue for many. The process includes pumping the fracking fluid, which is a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals deep below the surface to fracture the rock and free the natural gas. People are either in favor or against hydro fracking. There is no in-between. While it is highly controversial regarding the safety of hydrofracking, some argue it’s unsafe because it contaminates the ground water, facts show otherwise. Many tests have been completed and studies have shown in a majority of the cases, that it is safe. However, it questions the overall safety if not all tests were proven successful. It is the social responsibility of the community to modify hydrofracking policies in order for the complete agreement of society’s benefit from it. Hydrofracking should be allowed to take place in the United States despite the environmental concerns. Natural gas is more beneficial to society than oil and coal because it is better for the atmosphere, and the domestic economy within the United States. Fracking is a viable energy windfall that is drilled using safe technology. â€Å"[Hydro fracking] is a technique used to form wells into deep-rock formations to get natural gas, petroleum, and brine† (Hyder). â€Å"This process began in 1947, and in 2012, 2.5 million hydraulic fracturing operations have been used worldwide (1 million sites in America)† (Hyder). Fracturing fluid is pumped into the rock to increaseShow MoreRelatedFracking And The Gas Industry1573 Words   |  7 PagesSince the turn of the millennium, hydraulic fracturing - a process for extracting natural gas- has spread rapidly across the United States. High volume hydraulic fracturing, or â€Å"fracking,† is a process in which water and chemicals are injected into shale formations underground in order to release trapped natural gas. 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Starbucks Managing Resources And Operations - Get Solution

Question: Discuss about the Managing Resources and Operations for Starbucks Operations. Answer: Overview of Starbucks Starbucks was established in the year 1971 with the efforts of Gordon Bowker, Zev Siegel and Jerry Baldwin. The first and the primary store of Starbucks were established in Seattle and were recognized by the name Starbucks Coffee, Tea, and Spice. Slowly and gradually the company developed itself in one the biggest giant in the beverages industry. In 1980, the company holds 4 retail stores and a roasting plant which trade coffee in the regions of Seattle. From the year of its commencement it started making huge profits (Starbucks, 2016). In 1987, Gordon Bowker and Jerry Baldwin thought of selling the Seattles operation market of Starbucks completely including its brand name, roasting plant and the stores. It was immediately bought up by Schultz by raising the capital. The new name given was Starbucks Corporation (Loyd, Jackson andGaulden, 2002). In 1992, Starbucks Corporation went public (Loyd, Jackson andGaulden, 2002). By the year 2005, the company had its business running in more 35 nations with around 10,200 stores worldwide which were licensed. There were offered number of things at all those Starbucks units such as music, teas, coffee accessories, coffee beans, food items and coffee drinks. In only 10 countries, the company had 5,200 business units and out of which US market hold the highest i.e. 80% and primarily by the areas such as airports and shopping centers. By the year 2011, it was recognized that the company holds 8,139 licensed stores and around 8,870 owned stores (Loyd, Jackson andGaulden, 2002). (Source: Cheah, L. (2010). Starbucks: Thriving Coffeehouse, Award-Winning Employer. Retrieved on: 9th September, 2016. Retrieved from: https://leaderonomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/P051.jpg) Supply chain/logistics management from the source to the customer Inbound Logistics: Logistic Centre and Suppliers For the development of the operational and the strategic plans Starbucks possess a formal process which makes sure that it links the requirements of the business with logistics, procurement and manufacturing. Starbuckss material flow initiates from procuring the green coffee, towards the shipping port, at the target destinations the delivery and unloading of the containers, roasting of the coffee beans, the packaging of coffee, brewing of the coffee and serving to customers (Geereddy, 2012). For establishing an efficient and highly organized logistic system, few effective practices are implemented in Starbucks: It makes sure through the updated information systems that the flow of the information is competent but if there is any requirement than the company can revert to its manual processes once again. With the help of the database the allocation of the goods is being controlled by the IT manager in every store and as a result it increases the efficiency of the inventory of Starbucks. The company integrates this with their manual processes so that in any case of emergency the staff can be able to make alternative solutions and arrangements (Janithri, Silva and Fernando, n.d.). The inventorys effective management is ensured through this distribution centers for better fulfilling the needs of all the stores worldwide from a suitable location (Geereddy, 2012). There has been an announcement by the company for establishing a distribution center which will be of 125,000 square foot in the suburban Nashville (Rodrigo, 2012). From Wisconsin to Florida there will be providing services related to shipping and logistics to around 900 locations of Starbucks through the distribution center (Rodrigo, 2012).The companys major distribution center is at Memphis which is also the residence to the recognized international cargo handler, Federal Express Corp. and also one of the largest distribution organizations of the nation, Ingram Micro. It supports Starbucks in attaining effective transportation between the distribution centers and its stores (Rodrigo, 2012). Immense supplier partner and trustworthy logistic partner: The Company always tries hard to develop and maintain good association with its chief vendors, distributors, suppliers and business partners. This practice adds higher values and standardsby having a perception of efficient service and basic backups (Grosse-Ruyken and Wagner, 2010). (Source: Project of operation management, (2011). Retrieved on: 9th September, 2016. Retrieved from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHJOrFuxqrtfnzEZwItrpP1bRFZXKQYETWnu7-b1YbIUozJMbFZE2AGHykuer80EsC6su1611a_X3fgJaaX8CjVoIsVdyz8CM0SVipyEtikCjGRKT1Cwy_GIpfLRiCg8BTihFyBeM3Ao/s1600/ure.JPG) Operations: Products The key strength of the operations of Starbucks is the competence to offer the customers products with high quality and standards across the globe. In each and every store of the company, despite of the location, there is no concern by the customers related to the quality of the products. The consistency and the standardization ensure that the company realizes a reliable status for its merchandises and this robustly strengthens the long-term association with the customers. Outbound Logistics: Distributors In comparison with other various companies, Starbucks is highly flexible related to its distribution channels. There are two divisions of the distribution channels i.e. non-company channels and company-operated stores. Though the channels which are non-company based holds a squat percentage of sales. This non-company based channel includes associations with carious vital distributors, enables the organization to extend its reach to several customers with the help of diversified channels. In North America Starbucks have few of its partners: Direct sales which comprises of online sales and mail order Partnership with Draft Foods, Safeway and Albertsons. Joint ventures with Dreyer, Pepsi and Hyatt Hotel (Rodrigo, 2012). Linkage between the company activities and LB5230 theories The growth and development of the Starbucks Corporation is grounded on its cost leadership as well as differentiation strategy. The stores of the company demonstrate the differentiate strategy by their various activities such as the ideal location for the store to establish, exceptional services, extensively trained staff, great product variety, efficient roasting process, unique process of coffee blending, theatrical atmosphere and exceptional experience. All these things supports in maximizing the companys market share in a particular region and helps in building the companys regional goodwill, which simultaneously upsurge their recognized goodwill to a national level of great status and high prestige. For above mentioned reasons the customers are willing to pay high prices for the Starbuckss products. The companys strategy of cost leadership is represented by the supply chain operations by which the company receives the finest rates of transportation and is also able to attain eco nomies of scale through maximizing the efficiency and eradicating redundancy. Starbucks also established itself as a cost leader because of its good association with the exporters of coffee who were used to be very anxious and concerned to become the suppliers of Starbucks. And thus it facilitated the company to reduce the costs of bean-sourcing and to attain better prices (Katie, 2011). The operational objectives of Starbucks make sure that the tactic goals and the strategic goals are met by the subsequent step in the supply chain. It offers for compliance with the standards of Starbucks, although regularly reducing the costs by managing and controlling the inventories. For securing the smoothness in the operations of ever outlet and distribution channel of Starbucks there is a need that the products quantity must be distributed, processed, delivered, scheduled, planned and forecasted. This objective is delivered by a set of tools which comprises of ERP i.e. Enterprise Requirement Planning systems, TRP i.e. Transportation Requirement Planning systems, DRP i.e. Distribution Resource Planning, automated POS systems, high-tech equipments for grinding and roasting, forecasting accuracy, inventory control accuracy, lean operations, operating systems related to integrated supply chain and RFID for the shipping containers and dark deliveries through the suppliers (Jeboda a nd Hillier, n.d.). Purchasing: One major factor behind the success of Starbucks is the procurement and usage of coffee beans of superior quality. In order to attain the competitive benefit over the companys opponents, there is a need that the procurement personnel must visit the nations who produce coffee on a continuous basis. These visits develop better association with the exporters and the growers. These also facilitate checks on the crop yields and agricultural situations and also aid the search for sources and diversity which can meet the critical standards of Starbucks in relation with the products flavor and quality. With a robust and well-established belief that the success in the business of coffee depends upon the quality of the coffee beans, the company has recognized itself as the leader in relation with promoting and contributing towards the preservation of the community and the environment of the coffee-origin nations. Starbucks implement a policy according to which the small coffee grow ers are paid high prices so that they can have a better living standard and can cover their cost of production. Warehousing and Distribution: In the delivering stage where the product is finally reached to its end customer, the functions of warehousing and distribution are the final steps and again it has relevance in maximizing the returns and reducing the costs. The long-term association with the providers of logistics and distributors of foodservice for example Sysco HAVI, balance the connectivity and arrangement of distribution channels and the retail stores of Starbucks. This comprises of online sales, mail orders, joint ventures, wholesale club accounts and licensing agreements of grocery and retail stores. The various other instances of distribution network include medical facilities, school facilities, airports, businesses, movie theatres, departmental stores and convenience stores (Moon and Quelch, 2003). Sustainability throughout the value chain By analyzing each component of the value chain it has been recognized that Starbucks is highly robust in about all segments of its primary activities such as services, outbound logistics, operations and inbound logistics. There are several competitive benefits attained by Starbucks with its effective value chain, logistics and distribution, products, services and innovation which led the increased sustainability of the company. Sustainability through Logistics and Distribution The company holds more number of distribution channels in comparison with its opponents: Stores which are company oriented: the rapid international growth of Starbucks is highly depended over the licensed store and the franchise stores. Channels which are non-company based such as partnerships with supermarkets, Safeway and Albertsons and joint ventures with Dyner, Pepsi and Hyatt Hotel which have built coffee shops of Starbucks have immensely upsurge its market share. Mail-order and online sales order are the innovative distribution channels which offer the highest convenience to the consumers which increase both the convenience base as well as the sales volume (Modarress, Ansari and Lockwood, 2009). (Source: Taking The Starbucks Experience Digital, (n.d.). Retrieved on: 9th September, 2016. Retrieved from: https://practicenext.com/thinknext/taking-the-starbucks-experience-digital-3/) Sustainability through the products The company offers products of superior quality and standards across the globe: High quality control: For achieving the high quality, the company initiates the practice of selecting their coffee beans by taking one extensive step i.e. by ensuring that the procuring managers must visit and experience the nations from which the coffee beans are supplied although the coffee is not purchased directly from the farms. There is an informal meeting and developing of association with the farmers who cultivate the coffee. With the help of this practice, Starbucks develops robust associations with the suppliers and also attained superior quality control for the coffee beans. This competitive benefit aid Starbucks by continuously offering the customers the superior quality of the products, diminishing the indirect expenses and cost which generated at the time of the process and improving the association among Starbucks and its suppliers (Paryani, 2011). Encouragement of innovation levels of superior products: For meeting the requirements of the customers, Starbucks invest huge amount of capital in developing innovative features and products. The company encourages and promotes a creative mind to facilitate new experiences and environments to the customers for example bringing in cookware selling, music selling and breakfast. This pioneering spirit of Starbucks offers huge competitive benefits to the company and established it as the leader of the coffee industry (Lemus, et al. 2015). (Source: Recycling coffee beans to make milk, (n.d.). Retrieved on: 9th September, 2016. Retrieved from: https://www.sustainablebrands.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/635x300/article_images/starbucks-beans-milk.jpg ) Sustainability through the services Starbucks offers exceptional coffee experience and legendary services to its customers: The only aim of the company is not to provide the best services but to offer legendary services to the customers. The company trained its each employee in a way that he or she must be competent in delivering the elegance and style of Starbucks. The experience which every customer gets from the Starbuckss coffee is special and unique in its own way. The atmosphere, background music and the artistic interior of every coffee shop aims to offer the most stylish coffee drink across the globe (Enquist, Edvardsson and Sebhatu, 2007). Sustainability through innovation Based upon the needs of the customers, Starbucks offers an extensive range of services for example high speed internet facility in the stores, pre-order facility, pre-paid cards and on-line sales. For avoiding the long queues, the customers can even give their orders before entering the Starbuckss store via their mobiles (Berry, et al., 2006). (Source: Tobey, J.S. (2014). Starbucks' New Strategy: 7-Step Plan For 5-Year Growth. Retrieved on: 9th September, 2016. Retrieved from: https://blogs-images.forbes.com/johntobey/files/2014/12/2014-12-31-SBUX-wkly.jpg) Conclusion The strategy of Starbucks to grow and develop is very simple i.e. reach the consumers at the places where they shop, travel, dine and work. These are attained by enhancing the understanding of a product of superior quality, familiarizing the stores with the lifestyle of the customers and reaches and cover the developing regions completely. For achieving the objectives, integration of activities helps Starbucks as in the entire supply chain, integration plays a vital role as failure of any activity of supply chain will put the whole venture at a risk (Gulati, Huffman and Neilson, 2002). The activities which are the part of integration are information sharing and analysis among the participants of supply chain, tactics and strategies, tools for cooperation, establishment of shared goals, eradication of obstacles towards cooperation and building of better and long term association with the suppliers. An instance of these activities at the initial phase of the chain could be the work on the practices related to cultivation with the people who grow coffee which can help in improving the quality of the coffee beans and offers a continuity and consistency. And as a result it better go with the process of roasting, facilitates for making higher payments to the growers which aid in developing a sustainable supply of coffee beans with the help of C.A.F.E. practices etc (Rodrigo,2012). The companies which are socially responsible consider themselves as an element of the community and hence are accountable to the community for their relevant actions. As in consideration with ethics, it is often difficult to construct an agreement upon the scope and nature of social responsibility, provided the diversity of values there in various corporate cultures, businesses and societies. To achieve sustainability in the business, there is a need to develop more responsible and sustainable supplier base so that there can be a pace with the growth of the company. C.A.F.E. practice is one of the examples which offer preference to the verified suppliers through making premium payments to the coffee growers and developing long-term associations with them. The value chain of the company is highly effective and offer number of benefits to Starbucks such as low cost, high productivity, international growth, increased sales and efficient distribution channels (Maloni and Brown, 2006). References Berry, L. L., Shankar, V., Parish, J. T., Cadwallader, S., Dotzel, T. (2006).Creating new markets through service innovation.MIT Sloan Management Review, 47(2), 56. Enquist, B., Edvardsson, B., PetrosSebhatu, S. (2007). Values-based service quality for sustainable business.Managing Service Quality: An International Journal, 17(4), 385-403. Geereddy, N. (2012). Strategic Analysis Of Starbucks Corporation.Retrieved on: 6th September 2016, Retrieved from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/46364420/starbucks_case_analysis.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ56TQJRTWSMTNPEAExpires=1473293256Signature=Bakzpn9dZ2ozm9jq6hEl9h%2Bm1cA%3Dresponse-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DStrategic_Analysis_Of_Starbucks_Corporat.pdf Grosse-Ruyken, P. T., Wagner, S. M. (2010).Does supply chain Fit matter to investors.Supply Chain Quarterly, 4(4), 44-50. Gulati, R., Huffman, S., Neilson, G. (2002). The barista principle: starbucks and the rise of relational capital. Strategy and Business, 58-69. Janithri, W. L. Y., De Silva, D. A. M., Fernando, G. Impact of value chain management on firm cometitiveness. Retrieved on: 6th September, 2016, Retrieved from: https://www.saitm.edu.lk/fac_of_eng/RSEA/SAITM_RSEA_2015/imagenesweb/Theme_7/76.pdf Jeboda, T., Hillier, T. 2) Starbucks Strategies 3 3) Starbucks Strategy in Terms of Its Fit with its Internal Resources/Capabilities and External Environment 4, pp.15 Katie, J. (2011). Starbucks Strategy, Business economics - Marketing, Corporate Communication, CRM, Market Research, Social Media, United Kingdom: University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, pp10. Lemus, E., Von Feigenblatt, O. F., Orta, M., Rivero, O. (2015). Starbucks Corporation: Leading Innovation in the 21st Century. Journal of Alternative Perspectives in the Social Sciences, 7(1), 23-38. Loyd, S., Jackson, W. T., Gaulden, C. (2002, January).Starbucks.In Allied Academies International Conference.International Academy for Case Studies.Proceedings (Vol. 9, No. 1, p. 73). Jordan Whitney Enterprises, Inc. Maloni, M. J., Brown, M. E. (2006). Corporate social responsibility in the supply chain: an application in the food industry. Journal of business ethics, 68(1), 35-52. Modarress, B., Ansari, A., Lockwood, D. (2009). Outsourcing logistics to third-party providers: practitioners perspectives. International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 6(1), 23-38. Moon, Y., Quelch, J. (2003). Starbucks: delivering customer service. Harvard Business School, pp.20. Paryani, K. (2011). Product quality, service reliability and management of operations at Starbucks.International Journal of Engineering, Science and Technology, 3(7), 1-14. Rodrigo, (2012).Supply Chain Management in Starbucks and its impact on Company Performance. The writepass journal. Retrieved on 6 September, 2016 from: https://writepass.com/journal/2012/11/supply-chain-management-in-starbucks-and-its-impact-on-company-performance-2/ Starbucks, (2016).Company Information. Retrieved on 6th September, 2016 from: https://www.starbucks.com/about-us/company-information

Point of Sale Essay Example

Point of Sale Essay SECTION I 1. 1 Introduction Nowadays, data processing uses one or more database at one or more certain organizations. Databases are use in transaction processing where information are stored, retrieved and transmitted at certain time it is needed. Examples of transaction processing systems are airline reservation systems, billing system, payroll system, library system, online marketing and online transaction processing. Handling business is not an easy thing to do. In order to have a successful business, each of its sub departments must have this eagerness to learn new ways of how it will be competitive enough to deal with the ups and downs of the economic world. * Company Profile Dante’s Radiator Enterprises Corporation In 1968, Dante’s Trading began as a trading firm dealing with repair of automotive. Organized by its President Mr. Dante Caguioa, an entrepreneur backed up by skills and sheer confidence. It started as a small shop located at the heart of A. Bonifacio Avenue, the road leading to North Diversion. Since it as located on a busy site, the small shop was improved into a bigger one, for them to accommodate its fast and growing number of customers and clients. Afterwards, the company concentrated on servicing of automotive radiators. From the very first auto radiator, it moved on to making not only Marine radiators, but a fast growing demand for Industrial radiators made the company a name in the automotive service industry. Just recently, the company re-entered to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from Single Proprietorship into a Corporation, one sign of the company’s progress. 1. Background of the Study Small businesses are the heart and soul of the entrepreneurial economy. They create, inspire, and fundamentally change people’s lives. However, small business across the globe including here in the Philippines have problems coping up with the fast pace development because of three major aspects, to be exact: management, non-utilization of technology, and sale s and marketing strategies. Small business owners tend to be involved in every aspect of their business from being the bookkeeper, marketer, human resources manager, mediator, customer liaison officer and cleaner. We will write a custom essay sample on Point of Sale specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Point of Sale specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Point of Sale specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer They tend to do it all and find it hard to hand over these tasks for the main reason of the frown on spending any money. However, many fail to realize that if they invest their money wisely in accessing the right type of goods and services to grow their business and be more effective, they will see positive changes occur over time. They can become more productive and profitable. Small business companies tend not to use technology like computers and other productivity tools or if they tend to use it, they are under-utilized because of poor choices or cost effective decisions. However, the utilization of automation is a matter of perspective. Almost all small business have the mindset of not needing it because what they knew is that the process they are doing is already working for them and adapting change would disrupt the operation. Additionally, they are thinking that these tools are just cost effective move; because they do not know how to use it or even their personnel don’t, though they could learn to use it and yield it to their full advantage. For small business the basic automation process would be point of sales system. Sales or ordering system throughout the world has relied on pens and papers. Problems such as missing orders and information sent to the wrong place arise. Furthermore, some could not be able to handle the massive volume of orders. Under the old manual ordering systems, it takes up too much time to process. Here comes point-of-sale system a company’s gateway to valuable information. When a store POS system isn’t able to share valuable information about customers, sales, and operations with other parts of the organization, it can impact the bottom line. Real time ordering and improved efficiency has been the focus of entrepreneurs. As with many business scenarios, getting rid of paper improves efficiency, reduces human error and allows information to flow to an infrastructure without a time consuming data input process. There is also less chance of handwritten orders being misread and a higher customer turnaround as customers will be served faster. Thus, a POS Point-of-sale system is needed. 1. 3 Statement of the Problem 1. What are the tools needed to develop the Point of Sale? . How will the stakeholders assess the developed system? 1. 4 Statement of Objectives 1. 4. 1 General * Create a POS System that will fit the need of Dante’s Radiator Company. * To simplify the accounting and record-keeping tasks involved in business. 1. 4. 2 Specific 1. To develop a system using the following tools: a. VB. Net b. MSAccess c. Adobe Photoshop 2. To develop a system to be evaluated by the stakeholders in terms of the following: a. Speed b. Accuracy c. Reliability d. Efficiency e. Security 1. 5. Scope and Limitation This Point of Sale system provides log-in process for security purposes and only admin can control the maintenance of the system as well as the process. The main control of the admin is on items; only admin can add, edit and remove item/s. The other access will be for the cashier, he/she can also view the items but unlike the admin he/she is not privileged to manipulate the products inventory. This system will list down all the products the company has. In transaction, the receipt will be filled by inputting the barcode of the product then it automatically displays the item name and the price. When you input the same barcode, it will also be automatically counted and the price will be computed based on how many products were bought. In settings, we can select which printer is available and where we want our receipt to be printed. It also includes the dimension of the receipt and the size of the font. Once it was on the print view we cannot remove or add an item in the receipt else we go back to Fill Receipt tab. We also cannot save the filled receipt unless we select a printer. The system also counts the receipt or transaction held in a particular day by the receipt no. s primary key. The printed receipt will show the receipt number for that day, receipt date, item, price, quantity, sum of each product based on their quantity and the most important the total amount. SECTION II 2. 1 Review of Related Literature 2. 1. 1 Foreign * History of POS Point of Sale Over the years, more enhancements were made to the cash registers until the early 1970s, when the first computer-drive n cash registers were introduced. The first computer-driven cash registers were basically a mainframe computer packaged as a store controller that could control certain registers. These point of sale systems were the first to commercially utilize client-server technology, peer-to-peer communications, Local Area Network (LAN) backups, and remote initialization. In the late 1980s, retail software based on PC technology began to make its way into mainstream retail businesses. Today, retail point of sale systems are light years ahead of where they began. Todays POS systems are faster, more secure, and more reliable than their predecessors, and allow retailers to operate every facet of their business with a single, integrated point of sale system. (*http://www. retailsystems. com/history-of-retail-pos-systems. fm*, July 28, 2009) * 7 reasons to switch to a point-of-sale system If youre a veteran retailer, you know the problem: Your inventory doesnt match your tallies. Sales are going unrecorded. Your staff is spending far too much time chasing mistakes instead of tending to customers Something is seriously wrong, and youre just not sure what the problem is. These a nd other snafus suggest that its time that your business did away with its cash registers and stepped up to a point-of-sale (POS) system, such as Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System and Microsoft Dynamics Point of Sale (POS) . A POS system is a computer software and hardware network that records sales as theyre occurring; it solves a variety of operational and record-keeping headaches. If you need more proof, here are seven signs that your business could boom with a point-of-sale system. 1. Your sudden shrink no longer goes undetected. POS systems such as Retail Management System are designed to immediately record any and all sales. Not only does that mean timely and accurate sales tracking, but a POS system also lets you readily identify inventory levels, particularly when what you have on the books doesnt jibe with actual stock. You see it with the onset of sudden shrink—when you realize that inventory is missing or your numbers just never seem to match up, says John Rarrick of RBS Inc. , a Nyack, N. Y. , consulting concern specializing in startups and small businesses. Almost every modern POS has a receiving and inventory module that, when used properly, can help pinpoint the cause of the shrink. 2. Markdown management is much easier. A common land mine for many small to medium-sized businesses is price reduction—knowing which items have been marked down and recording those discounts accordingly. Rather than wrestling with cash-register receipts at days end, a POS automates the process of introducing markdowns and, in turn, tracking them accurately. The trends in POS are not just inventory accuracy but the use of pricing models to allow for markdown management, says Gary Ruffing, senior director of retail services for BBK Ltd. , a business advisory firm in Southfield, Mich. 3. Promotions can be tracked more successfully. A similar dynamic holds true with promotions. Whether through coupons, special discounts or other vehicles, promotions can be central to attracting and retaining business. Trouble is, managing and reconciling short-term specials—not to mention pinpointing their impact—can be nigh impossible without the automation and immediacy of a point-of-sale system. Many small retailers invest in things such as direct home marketing, Rarrick says. At the end of the promotion, those with manual cash registers are hard pressed to tell you how successful the promotion was. The POS store can pretty much tell you to the penny how they did. 4. You can maintain control in absentia. You may be surprised to discover that you actually run two businesses: one when youre there and its evil twin when you dont happen to be around. Many operations suffer in employee efficiency and customer service when the boss is away. Automating a host of functions via a POS can help boost those areas, no matter where the head honcho happens to be. You simply cant be there all the time, says Jim Melvin, chief executive officer of Siva Corp. , a Delray Beach, Fla. , company which provides point-of-sale systems to restaurants. A POS lets you have that important level of control when youre not there. 5. Your prices are consistent from one location to the next. Nothing can prove more embarrassing than having a customer question why one item has one price at one store, yet a different price at another. If your business operates at more than one location, a point-of-sale system ensures pricing consistency. Even better, a POS system automates overall inventory control, helping to keep stoc ks in proper balance depending on demand and other factors, which can vary from one location to the next. It really lends itself to a better overall customer experience—the sorts of things a customer expects when he walks through the front door, says Melvin. 6. You get many tools in a single package. Buying business equipment piecemeal can be pricey. If you find your checkbook wearing thin from the expense of software and other gear, a comprehensive point-of-sale system may include them in a single package. Most POS systems have add-on modules like payroll time clocks and customer preference databases, says Rarrick. That removes the need for small businesses to invest in separate systems for those purposes. 7. You can make better use of your personnel. Little is more maddening to a business owner than watching his or her staff bogged down with inefficient, unproductive responsibilities, from double-checking inventory disparities to seemingly endless cash-register reconciliati on. Perhaps the greatest advantage to a comprehensive point-of-sale network is the freedom it can afford your personnel to devote their energy to what genuinely matters the most: helping customers. A good POS allows you to allocate your human resources to the customer service area of the business, Ruffing says. That means they no longer have to be counting, calculating, ordering, and checking cash-register accuracy. † http://www. microsoft. com/business/en-us/resources/technology/business-software/7-reasons-to-switch-to-a-point-of-sale-system * Importance of computerization COMPUTERS have changed the world of business. They’ve helped increase productivity, improve recordkeeping, reduce paperwork, track sales, and control inventory. They’ve helped people work more efficiently and profitably than ever before. The world is changing and is changing fast. With the globalization of markets, ever-shifting demands of the market, and the growing use of information and communication, small to medium business must learn to compete in order for them to survive. Especially in developing countries which the use and adaptation of technology is very slow;most small to medium businesses still operate with manual or semi-manual accounting systems. Such systems are labour-intensive to maintain, leave plenty of occasions for errors and create opportunities for abuse. It is difficult for managers to be competitive when they must work with outdated or inaccurate information. The use of information and communications technologies can significantly improve results: they can facilitate the collection, analysis, storage and reporting of information much faster and more accurately than could be accomplished using manual systems. Computerization also can help cooperative managers streamline operations, cut operating costs, enlarge their networks of members and affiliated institutions, increase sales and respond to signals from far away markets. Connecting to the global network of the Internet also has its advantages, allowing faster communication with members, partners and clients at a fraction of the cost. Speaking of cost, of course these benefits are not free; there are costs involved. Fortunately, in terms of hardware and software, the costs are relatively low and within reach of most small t0 mid-sized business companies. Yet they are not the only cost. Yet hardware and software costs are not the only costs. There are also â€Å"people-related† expenses to consider. Since the information processing needs of each cooperative are unique, these other expenses will depend on a host of factors, including: Size of the cooperative and volume of operations; Business activity of the cooperative; The type and number of computers and other supporting equipment to be used and The kind of software selected, whether it is commercially available software or Open Source software. There is also the cost of the upkeep and maintenance of the equipment purchased plus the cost of upgrading the software used as new developments occur. Lastly, there is the cost of the training of the people who will use the system, not just the preparatory training at the start but the continued upgrade training of them as new developments and updates in software occur. These â€Å"people-related costs† are usually underestimated and investing on your people is a must in businesses. Companies should realize that benefits do not come as quickly as might be expected. That happens because computerization is more than just a technical issue involving the installation and linking of a few computers and the development or use of appropriate software. It also means changes in work habits and the way people relate to one another; these behavioural and institutional changes cannot easily be predicted or planned for beforehand. They are the result of experimentation and innovation after adoption of the technology, and this can take time. Plus there is this risks just like in any other business initiative, there is also a risks in computerization. There is always something that can go wrong, and if the process is poorly planned and provisions have not been made to cope with the problem, solving it may end up costing the business companies a lot of money. The main way to manage these risks successfully is to plan carefully and adopt a project approach. Below is a table of computerization projects risks and ways to manage them. Risks Ways to manage risk EXTERNAL Electrical power supply is unreliable or erratic. Purchase of an auxiliary electric generator and/or battery-based uninterrupted power supply (UPS) for the cooperative may be required Unreliable fixed line telephone system. May require the purchase of a mobile telephone set-up, if mobile phone service is available in the area Local Internet service provider too expensive and service is poor. Find another less expensive or more reliable service provider. INTERNAL ACCEPTANCE Staff maintaining manual system fear computer will replace them. Explain that computerization can improve business efficiency which can lead to expanded operations and this will require more staff. Provide job re-training to redundant staff to work in new areas. Some staff feels threatened by new technology. Special on-the-job training implemented in a gradual manner may overcome this resistance. PROJECT MANAGEMENT Project objectives not met and member needs not satisfied. Develop a careful project design before starting and be sure to consider users’ needs. Estimate resources with a certain safety margin Define measurable success indicators at each stage of implementation Define scope and cost of project: What problems have to be solved? Does the coop have the resources to solve it? What will the net benefits be? TIME The project took longer than expected. Prepare a detailed work plan with clear milestones indicated and be sure to define target dates for each. COST The project cost more than expectedPlan carefully. Estimate the time required and costs involved with a margin of safety. Make sure that contracts with external service providers specify what has to be done, by when and by whom, along with penalties for missed targets. MAINTENANCE Post-project maintenance costs more than expectedAssess maintenance facilities before implementation. Plan upgrade (growth) of the computer system, both software and hardware Consider subsequent follow-up support requirements and costs, availability of a reliable service provider in the post-project period If computerization is so risky and costly, then why are businesses computerizing? Mainly because they realize that improving the efficiency with which they collect, analyze and use information will help them achieve their business goals. Below are some list of benefits that business companies can gain from computerization. a) Business services and management: Accounting and management: computerization of accounting and administrative records (payroll, invoicing, accountancy, bookkeeping, purchases and sales) and tax requirements (assessment of taxes and duties) reduces paperwork and offers the possibility of keeping updated accounting records in real time. Inventory control: product stock inventory records can be easily updated and additional information on production factors (agrochemicals, fertilizers, machinery, seeds), included. This allows for a better control of stocks, which can mean financial savings. b) Governance and member relations: Administration of member participation and member shares: computerization allows for the automated tracking of each member’s transactions and balances and calculation of his/her patronage refunds and dividends on shares can be quickly done. This improves the quality of service offered to members. examples are salary and shares) Improving member-management relations: automation allows for more frequent and detailed reporting to members by management and provides individual members with easier access to more detailed and current information on their business transactions. Improved communication and information sharing: computerization also broadens communication channels among members, supp liers and consultants, through the publication of contents on Web sites with restricted access (intranets), delivery of news by e-mail, newsgroups and discussion lists for debating subjects of interest, electronic publications, and so on. ) Policy level: Data access: raw data can be stored in digital format and accessed much faster. Using computer systems larger volumes of data can be easily saved and retrieved. Turning data into policy decisions: data can be more easily organized for analysis or presentation to assist in management and policy decision making. For example, cumulative historic production data can be analyzed and future trends projected in order to plan future scenarios. Networked computers allow for multiple analysis of data in an easy way. Optimization of procedures: the logical setup of computer systems leads to a more unified way of doing things, easier compliance with regulatory and/or legal requirements, and better overall quality of the administration. d) Capacity building in business management Learning: training in the use of computers to solve day-to-day cooperative business and member service problems helps in building new abilities in cooperatives’ staff and members. Real time information: it allows for instant access to real business information that can be used to support staff training processes. ) Communicating beyond the boundaries of the business: E-mail, mailing lists, and newsletters: computers, connected via modems to the telephone system and to the Internet, permit the use of e-mail thus facilitating faster, cheaper and easier communication between managers and distant buyers and sellers of the business’ goods and services. Web sites: a business can easily create its own public Web sit e to provide partners, clients, and potential byers and sellers information on the business performance and services. In summary, there are lots of ways in which computer and telecommunications technologies can help small business companies optimize their business results, solve problems, and assist in creating new member services or improving existing ones. Computerizing agricultural cooperatives: A practical guide by The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations http://articles. directorym. com/Habits_Of_Unsuccessful_Business_Owners_And_Managers_New_York_NY-r971702-New_York_NY. html 2. 1. 2 Local * LevelUp’s POS Integration Makes Payment a Breeze A tech startup is making it easier for quick-service operators to allow their customers to use mobile payment solutions. LevelUp, which created a customer- and business-friendly mobile payment process for restaurants, recently integrated with MICROS, POSitouch, and Dinerware point-of-sale systems. These three constitute 30 percent of all existing POS systems. This integration allows merchants to choose â€Å"LevelUp† on their POS during payment, and then scan a barcode that LevelUp customers have on their phones to complete payment transactions. When we integrate with a point-of-sale system, we supply [businesses] with just a 2D barcode reader that plugs directly into the POS via USB or serial, and it operates just like when you have a credit-card reader attached to your POS,† says Christina Dorobek, LevelUp’s vice president of partner development. In addition to making transactions faster and easier, Dorobek says LevelUp’s integration with POS systems also makes accounting more seamless and analytics more robust. â€Å"LevelUp, at its most basic, is able to track who your customers are, how often they’re coming in, [and] how much they’re spending,† Dorobek says. And one of the really cool net benefits of the loyalty program—the loyalty campaign that is built in to the system—is we see customers coming back, on average, about 20 percent faster, spending about 7 percent more on an average ticket. So there’re very tangible benefits to a business in terms of being able to grow. † LevelUp services around 300,000 active consumers and about 3,800–4,000 businesses nationwide. Though Dorobek says a majority of quick serves are using LevelUp predominately at the counter, many are also using LevelUp at the drive thru. The company has an open API, so any POS system is welcome to integrate, Dorobek says. She predicts that mobile phone use at quick serves will become a norm as time goes on. â€Å"When I look at the way customers are interacting with businesses, especially quick-service businesses, I think there is definitely a shift to consumers using their mobile phones, not only to pay, but also to check the menu ahead of time †¦ or place an order for pick up,† Dorobek says. â€Å"I think that shift to paying with your phone will be an automatic next step, and obviously is already happening, at least with 300,000 LevelUp users. http://www. qsrmagazine. com/news/levelup-s-pos-integration-makes-payment-breeze 2. 2 Review of Related Systems * CREST POS CREST, (Complete Retail Electronic Sales Terminals) these are Self-contained, single unit, self-installing systems, and are available only through us. CREST units are built in a 12 gauge, powder coated steel case, 16 by 16 attached on a stu rdy steel cash drawer of the same dimensions. Inside the case is an Intel computer with POS and Credit card processing software fully installed, configured and ready to use! The touch screen, thermal receipt printer, magnetic strip reader and barcode scanner are all attached and ready to use. Self-Installing means you literally take the unit out of the packing box and plug it into power and the internet that is it! Complete Retail Express Software is standard, and other supported software is available. Different Hardware and software combinations are also available, contact us for specific information. www. point-of-salesystems. com * DELL POS Dell offers three POS solutions. You can choose from versions for QuickBooks, Cash Register Express or Restaurant Pro Express. These are top-of-the-line POS software applications, and the computers Dell offers with the software are better than most POS systems. Through Dell, you can obtain a POS system with up to 4GB of RAM that is quite capable of running other business software. However, if you need a point of sale system but cant afford to pay too much in out-of-pocket start-up expenses, Dell may be a bit out of your reach. The version with the lowest price starts out at about $3,500. Dell does offer financing for those who would like to set up a payment plan. Through Dell, you can customize the computer and any of the peripherals that come with your POS system package to meet the needs of your business. The company offers multiple options for most equipment. The Dell/QuickBooks retail solution comes standard with a 15-inch flat panel monitor, a compact cash drawer, a barcode scanner, a POS keyboard and a thermal receipt printer. You can add upgrades such as increased RAM and speakers. Dell offers a wide variety of peripherals; however, the company does not provide POS products like kitchen printers, kitchen displays, scales, wireless inventory handhelds or PIN pads. Dell also does not provide tablet or mobile versions of its POS software. Unlike some of the other complete POS systems, the Dell systems are fully functional computers. This means you can access the internet, use office applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint and any other software you might consider, including accounting and inventory software. This makes it a practical choice for those who need their system to perform more than one function. Dell hardware comes with a three-year parts-and-labor warranty. If you need technical or customer support, you can contact Dell via phone, email or chat. They have training videos and manuals that you can access to help you get to know how to use their POS system. The POS system information says it comes with Dells Gold Technical support; however, this support service appears to be discontinued. We cannot find a description of this service on Dells website, and the link to the Gold support is a dead link. If you need help with the POS software, the software providers offer that support . pos-systems-review. optenreviews. com 2. 3 Methodology 2. 3. 1 SDLC Implementation Implementation Coding Coding Design Design Analysis Analysis Project Planning Project Planning Testing Testing Maintenance Maintenance SECTION III 3. 1 Description of the Existing System The group had an interview with the company Manager, tackle about their existing system upon getting the orders of the customers for them to start the making of their product, since, they were made -to-order service, and the process of getting the customer’s order needs to be accurate. By then, the company had this system of depending onto pens and papers on their transaction process upon the customers that sometimes lead to some problems: missing order, wrong delivery details, losing of proper information of the products, less security, cannot update easily the total payments made by the customers in the whole day, and lastly the inaccurate computation of bills and inventory of the products itself that could get the company to lost profit. Upon interviewing some personnel, they keep on complaining about their system that it was an old-fashioned type of transaction process where they were all depending on just a sheet of paper that may lost or something, yes they had these computerized transaction using MS Excel 2007 yet it still remains not so organized because redundancy of data occurs. Based on the answers stated by the employees of Dante’s Radiator Enterprises Corporation about the problems encountered by the branch about their current transaction process which is paper and pen dependent, the proponents concluded that the Dante’s Radiator Enterprises Corporation really needs the proposed system. The process of existing system in terms of maintaining the current information of each items are first the checking on the MS Excel 2007 of the current status of the customer, how much is the total sold for each of the items. Second, the cashier will get the payment to the customer then the sold product will be deducted to the total number of stocks of the company. Third, the cashier will save the current changes made to the records. Then lastly, the cashier will issue an Official receipt to the customer as a proof of payment. 3. 2 Use Case Diagram Ordering Sub-System Ordering Sub-System Point of Sale Point of Sale Automation Boundary Automation Boundary Look up for the availability Look up for the availability Create new order Create new order Update Order Update Order Owner Supplier Purchased Sub System Purchased Sub System Point of Sale Point of Sale Automation Boundary Automation Boundary Look up item order Look up item order Update order and price of item Update order and price of item Update Purchased Items Update

5 Reasons to Start a Writing Group

5 Reasons to Start a Writing Group 5 Reasons to Start a Writing Group 5 Reasons to Start a Writing Group By Mark Nichol You know about writing groups folks who meet at regular intervals to share excerpts from works in progress, exchange tips and information, and discuss conventions such as character, plot, narrative, and tone. But you’ve always shrugged the idea off yet it keeps coming back. Maybe you should reconsider. Here’s why: 1. Discipline Starting a writing group helps you develop deadline discipline because you are accountable for being ready for the next meeting. Such a support structure is a great cure for procrastination and practice for turning manuscripts in on time. 2. Motivation Meeting with kindred spirits helps motivate you to keep trying in the face of adversity, whether it’s in the form of a busy schedule or writer’s block. Writing is by necessity a solitary pursuit but only when you’re pecking away at your keyboard. Interacting at intervals with a small community of like-minded people will give you the nudges you need. 3. Support You’ll benefit from the empathy of others who have also received rejection letters or, just like you, have felt that they didn’t have what it takes to succeed. A writing group will encourage you without being ingratiating. 4. Edification You’ll learn from others and feel a boost of confidence when others acknowledge the value of your advice and information. Whether or not you’re comfortable with your grasp of the building blocks of writing character and the other aspects I mentioned above you’ll note alternative approaches, and it’ll make you feel good to offer your own. Besides learning and teaching about the craft of writing, you can exchange ideas about research and taking notes; finding competitions, publications, or an agent; and preparing pitches and proposals. Remember this: Teaching is one of the most effective ways to learn. 5. Feedback Most important, you’ll get objective, instructive feedback not only on your works in progress but also on your pitches. Go ahead and ask your partner or close friends to evaluate your writing, but consider how much more you will get out of honest, informed responses from people without emotional attachments to you. Why Me? Starting your own group, rather than joining a new or existing one, allows you to call the shots at least when it comes to forming the group. Don’t be the mom; just set the parameters: group size and meeting setting, type or length of writing form, method and other ground rules for presenting works in progress, and so on. And you get to select your compatriots for compatibility with you and your goals and guidelines. The Next Chapter So, now that I’ve convinced you about the why, how about the how? Stay tuned. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Writing Basics category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:85 Synonyms for â€Å"Help†34 Writing Tips That Will Make You a Better Writer10 Writing Exercises to Tighten Your Writing

Chinas Treatment of Its Growing Elderly Population

China's Treatment of Its Growing Elderly Population Chinas famous one-child policy had an aftereffect of creating a larger elderly population. Westerners often hear about how much regard the Chinese have for the elderly, but as China grows old, a number of challenges potentially await the emerging superpower. With this review of the elderly in China, better your understanding of how old people are treated in the country and the impact of a rapidly aging population there. Statistics About the Aging Population   The population of the elderly (60 or older) in China is about 128 million, or one in every 10 people. By some estimates, that puts Chinas sheer number of senior citizens at the largest in the world. It is estimated that China could have up to 400 million people over 60 years of age by the year 2050. But how will China address its masses of senior citizens? The country has changed dramatically in recent years. This includes the changing of its family structure. In traditional Chinese society, the elderly used to live with one of their children. But today more and more young adults are moving out, leaving their elderly parents alone. This means that the new generation of elderly people may not have family members to tend to their needs, as young people in the country traditionally have.   On the other hand, many young couples are living with their parents because of economic factors and not because of tradition. These young adults simply cannot afford to buy a house of their own or rent an apartment. Experts say family-based care is now impractical because most middle-aged children have little time to take care of their parents. So, one of the things the elderly have to face in 21st century China is how to live out their twilight years when their families cant take care of them. Older people living alone is not an anomaly in China. A nationwide survey found that about 23 percent of Chinas seniors over the age of 65 live by themselves. Another survey conducted in Beijing showed that fewer than 50 percent of elderly women live with their children. Housing for the Elderly Since more and more elderly  live alone, homes for the elderly arent enough to meet their needs. One report found that  Beijings 289 pension houses could accommodate only 9,924 people  or 0.6 percent of the population above age 60. To better serve the elderly, Beijing adopted regulations to encourage private and foreign investment in homes for the elderly.   Some officials believe that the problems facing Chinas elderly can be solved through combined efforts from family, the local community, and society as a whole. Chinas goal is to establish a support network for senior citizens that provides medical care and helps them avoid loneliness through scholarly pursuits and entertainment. The network would also encourage  senior citizens to continue serving society after retirement age by using the knowledge theyve acquired over the years. As Chinas population ages, the nation will also have to take a hard look at how this shift will affect its ability to compete on the world stage.

Mythology and St. Patrick of Ireland Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Mythology and St. Patrick of Ireland - Essay Example As to Patrick's earliest beginnings, the Catholic Encyclopedia writes that St. Patrick was an, "Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 493. [some sources say 460 or 461.-Ed.]," ("St. Patrick" p.1). In the study of historical figures, whether they are of the religious nature or not, it is most imperative to begin as far back in their lives as possible and moving forward from there. To question how and where Patrick was spiritually enlightened, the following section of the Catholic Encyclopedia best describes both parts. ... Known as a very spiritual man in later years leading to his declared sainthood and death, it is important to observe what lead him to that point and as the previous paragraph shows, it was something as horrible as slavery that lead him to find his spiritual center. Like many believers, St. Patrick found warmth and comfort of a magnitude that he may never have experienced before. As he says, the outside elements became non-existent to him and the power of prayer enveloped him in a protective shield and gave him the faith and courage, as well as the hope that surely was needed for him during such a horrific period of his life. "Admonished by an angel he after six years fled from his cruel master and bent his steps towards the west. He relates in his "Confessio" that he had to travel about 200 miles; and his journey was probably towards Killala Bay and onwards thence to Westport. He found a ship ready to set sail and after some rebuffs was allowed on board. In a few days he was among his friends once more in Britain, but now his heart was set on devoting himself to the service of God in the sacred ministry. We meet with him at St. Martin's monastery at Tours, and again at the island sanctuary of Lrins which was just then acquiring widespread renown for learning and piety; and wherever lessons of heroic perfection in the exercise of Christian life could be acquired, thither the fervent Patrick was sure to bend his steps. No sooner had St. Germain entered on his great mission at Auxerre than Patrick put himself under his guidance, and it was at that great bishop's hands that Ireland's future apostle was a few years later promoted to the priesthood. It is the tradition in the territory of the Morini that

The Cuba-Soviet Unions Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

The Cuba-Soviet Unions Relations - Essay Example Various conflicts have been witnessed in history between nations in the world. During such conflicts, the other nations that are not directly involved in the war often take sides and support their allies against the enemy nations. The situations often lead to further enmity among the rival groups and develop into social and political unrest in the whole world. Such wars led to research and subsequent developments of deadly weapons by nations that could destroy the whole world. Various crises in the world have been seen that follow a period of conflicts between rival nations especially if the rivalry has erupted between two or more industrial powers that are key drivers of the world economy. There are different types of war that can be experienced between two or more nations. These are Hot War, Warm War, and Cold War. A Hot War occurs when there is a complete disagreement between nations and all the attempts to have a peaceful dialogue have failed. It is characterized by physical confrontations between the armies of the rival nations. Warm war is a situation where there is room for dialogue and it is actually being carried out. Meanwhile, the defense of each side is undergoing preparation for the possibility of war that might break. Cold War occurs between two nations that are actually rivals but do not want to face each other one on one as was witnessed between USSR and US catalyzed by the Cuban revolution, more so when U.S refineries refused to process Soviet Union’s oil . Instead, the nations support their allied conflicting nations through weapons and manpower during the wars. The Cold War As has been pointed out earlier, this type of war occurs silently betwe en two nations through other nations that they support. The Cold War refers to the relationship that America and the Soviet Unions had after the World War II until late 1980s. During the Second World War, both the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) and America appeared to be on one side probably due to their common enemy, Nazi Germany2. It would be thought that there would be a good relationship between the two industrial powers after the end of this war. However, it turned out that the two nations were not friends anyway. Their postwar relations and the ideological differences would result into the Cold War. The difference between the foreign policies of the United States and the policies of Soviet Union led to war3. Despite the two nations have such differences, they have never engaged each other in combat war4. The distrust that grew stronger and stronger between the two nations was due to the difference in leadership and governance that was practiced by the two nations, a nd which led to their ideological differences, as either nation flexed muscle to dominate the world5. America was a capitalist state while Soviet Unions was a communist state and this determined their allies and the differences6. The American government was democratic and characterized by free and fair election whereas that of Soviet Unions was autocratic with restricted or no elections. There was a lot of freedom of speech and expression in America compared to the censored moves in the Soviet Unions. The anti-communist states would then be allied to America while pro-communist states would side with the Soviet Unions. During the Cold War period (1945-1991), America would supply weapons to the nations that were invaded by Soviet Unions or other countries supported by the Soviet Unions. Countries like South Vietnam were against the communist culture and received support from America during the war whereas North Vietnam supported communist states and received support from the communis t states like Russia. The government of the United States authorized the support of various anti-communist movements in the countries that were likely to be influenced by the communist movement of

Critical Writting Essay Example for Free

Critical Writting Essay The article Is Facebook Making Us Lonely was wrote by Stephen Marche and was published in the Atlantic. The article catch the eye of the reader because it can be relate to our daily life in this generation. Social network is a medium where everyone involve themselves in. The article is about the loneliness of the people that communicates using the social network. The social network can broaden ones companionship, but it will increase ones loneliness. The article starts with the story of a well-known artiste thats found dead in her own apartment, because shes alone in the house. The social network isolates the connection between a real friendship and a friendship for the sake of connecting. According to a research, loneliness drastically increase in a decade and most of the people are not happy with their life because of loneliness. However, the usage of social network is depending on its user, it can be use for the good, or the bad. The social network proves that theres no way to make one happier, better life or even more liberated version of humanity, but sometimes, it has its own benefits. The author believes that the loneliness is not something that the social network did, but rather it depends on ones themselves. The social network merely a medium to be connected to each other, but it relies on the user itself on how to use that technology on improving oneself. The author stated that one shouldn’t cast the blame of loneliness on the technology itself, because at some point, the technology does help in improving the lifestyle in this current modernise world. According the a study, 35 percent of adults older than 45 were chronically lonely, as opposed to 20 percent of a similar group only a decade earlier. Loneliness itself occurs even without the existence of social network. One’s will still feel the loneliness in oneself after some time. In this article, the author biased towards the Facebook that does make us lonely. Even if there’s some points that the author agreed that the loneliness is not all due to the existence of the social network, but the authors swing her writing towards the idea of the social network does make one feel lonelier. The author agreed that the social network can be the key  to ones solitude, but somehow, it will help to smoothen the interaction occurs between each other. The usage of social network itself defines ones loneliness but at times, it does help to widen the connectivity to other people. Though the social interaction between each others are need, but even so, loneliness still exist. The author doesn’t believe in the idea of a website that offer interconnected world is bogus. It also proven that the social interaction online proportionally increase one’s loneliness. With this, the author conclude that the social network does make one feel lonelier. The author have many sources and references that she refers to. There are few studies of various university included in the article. There are also survey include from the 2010’s AARP. Some of the studies are not relevant, but most of it are related to the topic itself. Though, part of the article was not about the social network that make us lonely, but it also proves that one can be lonely even without the social network or online social interactions. There are many examples given in the article regarding the issues. The author did have a few conflicted argument the references in part of the article. The targeted audience of this article is quite wide. The article itself revolves around the social network interactions where in our current modern world, most people have this kind of interactions and it is what happening in this current modernise world. There speculations on about the article, even in the social network on how it is not relatively related to nowadays lifestyle, but some part of the article did tell the truth. This article is really appropriate for those addicted Facebook user who did not see the bad influence of the social networking. The article is quite informative in my opinion. The author tried to show the positive and the negative side of the addiction to social network and how it affect oneself and make that person lonely. The information provided is packed with data from various sources, supporting and against the issues. Regardless, both side have their own strong points on the issues. It is all up to the audience to judge which is better for their life. There are logics  on each of the points provided, however one’s should know better which is a better choice for his life. In Stephen Marche’s â€Å"Is Facebook Making Us Lonely† article, she wrote that loneliness is a psychological state, not a matter of external conditions. In this contact she claimed that one become lonely because of the psychological matters, and external conditions doesn’t play any role in turning a person to be lonely. In my opinion this is wrong because the external conditions do play some roles in cause a person to feel lonely. Variety of conditions can cause a person to feel lonely. Conditions where causes the person to be neglected, and in time, he will feel lonely, after a while. Negligence of the people surround him will trigger his feeling of being left alone, thus it rose the lonely feeling in him. The author wrote that being lonely is extremely bad for your health. She claimed that if you’re lonely then the chances you get sicks is higher than one who are not, because you less likely doing recreational activities. This is not a right context because even you’re alone, it doesn’t mean that you’re less likely to do recreational activities. It is all depend on one’s will to do so. In this current era, most people who lived alone, like the one who live in studio apartment ( normally for one person only) they usually do have their own recreational activities like gym, etc. So, the writer’s idea of being alone or feeling lonely is bad for your health is wrong. If one’s will is strong enough to do their own health beneficial activities, this problem won’t occurred. In the article, Stephen Marche’s wrote that by using social network, popular kids popular while lonely skulker skulk alone, even on the social network, and she thinks that the social network is primarily only for lonely skulking. If she’s saying that social network can only use for lonely skulking, that’s wrong. The social network has many benefit and can be beneficial in many way. It’s all depends on the person use the social network and how is he going to utilise the function for his own good. The content of social network is wide, so it has it own pro and cons. Though, most people nowadays will fall to its cons, but that is up to that person  himself. For me, this is a good article for all the social network users out there. It will gave them a new light and let them grasp a new idea of how benefiting is the social network itself, and how it can also kill one’s feel and make them feel lonely. It will set a good example on what shouldn’t you do, and how to avoid yourself from feeling lonely. Reference Stephen Marche, (MAY 2012) Is facebook making us more lonely. ATLANTIC MAGAZINE [pic] BAE 1024 Advanced Management English Lecture : Mdm. Dahlia Syahrani Md. Yusof Name: Muhammad Zulthaqif 1081101498 Eddy Wong Chung Yii 1101109375

It’s Time to Stop Corporate Terrorism :: Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essays

It’s Time to Stop Corporate Terrorism Looking at corporate terrorism, homlessness, and the technology gap, it is clear that the profit of large corporations varies indirectly with the improvment of the economy.   When given the opportunity, all companies would take money from the workers and communies and spend it on themselves.   The greed of large corporations is terrorizing communities throughout America.    Corporate terrorism is occurring and millions of people are losing their jobs as corporations claim they need to "stay competitive." (Moore)   Relationships between employers and their employees are dwindling as no credit given to the hard workers. (Terkle)   Instead, their jobs are taken away.   The more profit the company makes the less that goes back to the economic community.   Roger Smith, the CEO of GM, moved his company to Mexico where he could increase profit by paying the workers less. (Moore)   This is a corporate terrorism where "anything goes" seems to the motto.   Corporations are mindlessly discarding whatever is in their way to fulfill their idea of the American Dream. (Derber)   The leftovers are then thrown out to the street with no sense of hope.   The number of homeless citizens increases each year.   â€Å"Homelessness is a problem that is not going away.   There are more homeless people this year than last, and the number keeps growing.† (Grisham)   If corporations would move thier plants back to the communities, new jobs there would to create equal opportunities to all employees where a gap now stands.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚   The technology gap is increasing.   More people are experiencing that what you earn depends on what you learn.   The rich are getting richer and the poor getting poorer.   The gap will not even out. (Alter)   Recently unemployed citizens are experiencing an American Nightmare.   There are no jobs left. (Newman)   As labor positions decrease, employees cannot find anywhere else to go.   When asked to build a Nike plant in Flint, Phil Night’s response was â€Å"Americans don’t want to work in factories.†Ã‚   The truth is factories are the only thing that some people know.   There is nothing left for these people in their own community. The profit of large corporations should not vary indirectly with improving the economy because it harms more people than it helps.   At the time of the layoffs in Flint, Roger Smith gave himself a one million dollar raise. It is unlikely to expect profiting corporations to overcome the childishness of greed.   Instead of finding work for the previous employers of GM, Smith thought only of himself.

Music Concert Report Essay

The highly respected jazz trio made up of pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Kenny Washington and drummer Peter Washington played for about an hour an a half. Their smooth melodies and precise playing worked perfectly together to give a great performance against the New York City skyline at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola. The trio opened up the show with a song called â€Å"I’ll Remember April†. The song was originally written in 1941 by Gene de Paul (Wilson, McElrath, Tyle). â€Å"I’ll Remember April† first performance was in a very atypical setting. The song was not performed in a Broadway play or Jazz Club but rather the 1942 comedy Called Ride ‘Em Cowboy. Actor Dick Foran sang the song in what a critic at the time called, â€Å"I’ll Remember April’ was an oasis of sanity in the madness† (Wilson, McElrath, Tyle). Although an odd start the movie Ride ‘Em Cowboy proved to be significant in the Jazz community for another reason as well. In the movie the famous jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald appeared in her first film role playing an employee at the dude ranch named Ruby (â€Å"I’ll Remember April (1941)†). â€Å" She projected a light, frothy, easy-going humor† in her performance of â€Å"A-Tisket, A-Tasket† (â€Å"I’ll Remember April (1941)†). This movie brought out just how significant jazz music was at the time because it made a mediocre film come to life. This was not Gene De Paul’s first time creating a brilliant jazz song. The pianist, composer and arranger had written many songs before for Hollywood films and Broadway shows such as â€Å"You Don’t Know What Love is† and â€Å"Star Eyes† (â€Å"I’ll Remember April (1941)†). He had worked with many lyricists before but on this particular song Gene de Paul worked with his friend Don Raye and Patricia Johnston (â€Å"I’ll Remember April (1941)†). The lyrics portrays two distant lovers remembering the past and have a close connection with Dorothy Fields â€Å"The Way You Look Tonight† (â€Å"I’ll Remember April (1941)†). The song entered the pop charts in the spring of 1942 after being recorded by Woody Herman and his Orchestra. The song did not catch on quickly because it differed in many ways from the typical pop song of the time. The melody and form separated â€Å"I’ll Remember April† the most from other music of the time. Songs of the time usually followed an A-A-B-A form, repeating a lot giving it a catchy tune. â€Å"I’ll Remember April† however, used a 48-bar A-B-C-D-A-B form making it seem long and dragged out compared to other popular jazz songs. Wilson, McElrath, Tyle) â€Å" Beboppers Charlie Parker and Bud Powell were among the first to explore the song’s unconventional structure, followed by an influential 1950 recording by Red Norvo’s trio with Tal Farlow and Charles Mingus† (â€Å"I’ll Remember April (1941)†). The actually musicality of the song is quite complex with many chord changes and key changes. The song starts off in G but has a â€Å"false key change to Bb major during the first eight measures of the bridge† (Wilson, McElrath, Tyle). The tone of the song is major it moves rather step wise throughout. The chord progression of the song is a twist and turn roller coaster taking you from a G to a E major back to the G then to a D7. This is important because it allows for many different substitutions of chords and improvisations. (Wilson, McElrath, Tyle) One of the most important and defining elements in Jazz is improvisation. It is expected that during any jazz performance one or more musicians will improvise. Improvisation is so common that most of the time a musician will not perform the same piece the same way twice. However the freedom given to jazz musicians does come with some boundaries. â€Å"I’ll Remember April† gives much leeway to improvisation as long as they are â€Å"chosen carefully so as to at least imply a logical harmonic progression† (Wilson, McElrath, Tyle). Typical jazz instruments are the saxophone, clarinet, flute, vibraphone, trumpet, piano, guitar, banjo, tuba, double bass, bass guitar, vocals, trombone and drum kit. The size of the band can vary greatly in jazz however from an ensembles which can have as little as two people to big bands that can have as many as 30 people. The Jazz show that I saw was a trio including a pianist, bassist and drummer. The setting in which I saw â€Å"ll Remember April† performed is much different then the setting I would have seen it in 1942. I saw the song be performed in a rather fancy evening setting at a Jazz Club where there was dinners and drinks being served. The club was modern and well designed. The backdrop behind the performers was a large window outlooking part of the New York City skyline. Around 75 people went to the club to watch a well respected trio play their rendition of â€Å"I’ll Remember April†, as well as several other songs. In 1942 I would not have been able to go to a club one night and be served dinner as I listened to a band play the song. At first the only way to hear the song was in the movies it was featured in. The song was featured in the 1942 film Ride ’em Cowboy as I had mentioned earlier, it was also in the 1942 movie Strictly in the Groove and was again featured in the 1945 movie Eve Knew Her Apples. It is not until later that I would have been able to sit down at a jazz club or concert hall to see the piece be performed. Anita Boyer recording of â€Å"I’ll Remember April† appeared on the album The nat King Cole Trio: The MacGregor Years 1941-1945 disc 4 (Wilson, McElrath, Tyle). Since then â€Å"I’ll Remember April† has been recorded hundreds of times by various artists throughout the years. â€Å"The song’s unconventional characteristics became assets, and it found favor as a bop vehicle† (Wilson, McElrath, Tyle). Each performance of â€Å"I’ll Remember April† takes on its own identity according to the performer. Artists have put their own twists on the song sometimes even implying a â€Å"Latin-feel† or they have stuck close to the original. The aspect of flexibility while maintaining the same brilliant theme makes â€Å"I’ll Remember April† so exciting making artists recreate the classic for years. Before going to the concert I listened to â€Å"I’ll Remember April† performed by Charlie Parker. Charlie Parker was an extremely influential jazz saxophonist. He recorded â€Å"I’ll Remember April† on July 5, 1950. While having the same melody Charlie Parker’s version of â€Å"I’ll Remember April† and the Bill Charlap Trio’s version differed greatly. The biggest difference was the use of instruments. The Bill Charlap Trio did not include a saxophone. I had expected to hear a saxophone so at first it took a second for my ears to adjust when the Bill Charlap Trio began to play the song. I personally preferred the saxophone. I thought it gave the song a very demanding tone catching the audiences attention while at the same time it gave the song a very magically, flowing feeling. The saxophone was also backed up by other instruments like the piano which gave it a full rich sound. The piano, bass, and drums of the Bill Charlap Trio also gave a good performance however I felt it lacked a clear â€Å"lead† instrument how the saxophone did for Parker’s rendition. One aspect I did like more in the Bill Charlap Trio’s version was the elongated piano solo. Solos are very important in jazz music and they occur often. Solos give artists the opportunity to improvisation keeping the piece fresh and giving it an element of surprise. Throughout the Bill Charlap Trio’s performance there were many solos. In â€Å"I’ll Remember April† it was the piano’s time to shine. I enjoyed the solo because it showed off Bill Charlap’s talent and kept the piece exciting. An interesting aspect of his solo was he included a verse from Dorothy Fields’s â€Å"The Way You Look Tonight† which as I mentioned earlier gave inspiration to the writing of â€Å"I’ll Remember April†. Overall I enjoyed listening the piece live better than the recording because it allowed the music to â€Å"come alive† rather than just listening to a recording. Going to the concert opened my eyes to what seems to be a whole new world. I was very anxious and nerve about what to expect when I went to the Jazz Club but when I got there I was pleasantly surprised. The music was entertaining and I loved the experience. Looking up the history of the songs continued to spark my interest. It is very interesting to see how music written seventy years ago is still influential and played in modern settings such as a Jazz Club.

Large Amounts of Money on Consumer Goods Essay

Modern living often leaves us with more money than time. Add the Internet, advertisements and peer pressure, and we end up with a lot of young people who have difficulty distinguishing between needs and desires. Of course, they have the ability to understand money matters, but they still need guidelines. Even if it seems like they are growing up faster than any other generation before them, teenagers are still developing the basic attitudes and perceptions that will form the basis for life-long consumption patterns. It is often at this age that teenagers find their first jobs and start earning an income. Their goals are not typically to save or to invest for long-term financial security. For the most part, parents are still taking care of their teenagers’ needs and are still assuming responsibility for most of their purchases. For young teenagers, though, earning money means acquiring purchasing power. Now they can buy the things that used to require their parents’ permission. It’s one more step towards independence. It’s important for parents to remember that teenagers are still learning how to spend money. Help them focus on the rationale behind the purchases or demands they make. Point out how advertisements and marketing campaigns play an important role in decisions about spending. Advertisers take an almost scientific approach to studying human behavior. Marketing agencies know how to reach their target audiences and they spend large amounts of money to create new markets or expand existing ones. They emphasize image, fun, popularity and a way to be better. Whether it’s on billboards, television, posters or magazines, advertising is omnipresent in the lives of teenagers. There are regulatory and control systems in place, but advertisers still try to make people believe that they must have a certain product. As adults, many of us have probably been sorely tempted to make this kind of purchase, and with any luck, have learned from our mistakes. Teenagers will also make mistakes. But if they are well prepared, they will be more sceptical about advertising. At the very least, if they ever buy  something purely because of advertising or magazines, they will be able to understand why they did so and learn from it. The Internet is a way to communicate, shop, and entertain ourselves with music, games and downloaded movies. It’s also a lucrative arena for marketing and advertising. Advertising on the Internet is the least expensive and most effective technique for exposing goods and services to the largest possible number of people. Young adolescents may be particularly susceptible to unscrupulous Web marketing. It’s estimated that teens spend, on average, a little bit more than five hours per week surfing the Internet. Peer pressure is often thought of as something that affects especially teenagers. Peer pressure often has a big influence on a large portion of our society’s purchasing decisions. People and especially teenagers, often feel the need to keep up with the most modern technical gadgets, and to keep up with the images that we are exposed to every day in the media. It’s crucial to teach children to have self-confidence, and that there are more important things in life than what their friends think, have, or want. Teenagers will learn that while our needs and desires may be unlimited, our resources are not. It is important that they understand clearly that our decisions can’t always be just about our desires.