Positions of Individual versus Society in Terms of Cognitive Essay

Positions of Individual versus Society in Terms of Cognitive Development - Essay Example This concept leads to several questions. Piaget saw the child as a solitary learner and discoverer, and on the contrary, Vygotsky emphasized on the social and cultural nature of the development. According to Vygotsky, a child's psychological development happens within social interactions, not through the unfolding of the innate structures. Development is a phenomenon that cannot be separated from its social and cultural contexts. Therefore as per his theory, individual is a part of the sociocultural matrix, where social interactions play important and fundamental roles in the development of cognition. It can said that not only the genetics and the environment, cognitive development is a manifestation of the influence of a mix of social forces surrounding the individual. The environment and individual change continuously, rather not in a staged fashion as prescribed by Piaget, and with these qualitative changes, the individuals produce new developmental accomplishments and mark new developmental milestones. If one compares these two paradigms, it will be evident that Piaget believed that the child him or herself is the most important source of cognitive development. ... Piaget relied upon the clinical method where he used probing questions to discover what the children understood, and Vygotsky on the contrary was concerned with the historical and social aspects of the human behavior that is unique for human nature. By his theory of genetic epistemology, Piaget studied the mechanism of acquirement of knowledge and was interested in errors that children make and suggested that these were nonrandom. He was on the look for a systematic pattern in the production of these errors and worked towards providing a logical and internally consistent explanation of these errors. In Piaget's view, development is a natural process with extension of the child's ideas from the child to the world with an invariant sequence of mental development in stages. On the contrary, as has been mentioned earlier, Vygotsky was concerned with the historical and social aspects of unique human natures. His theory suggested that social and cultural factors contribute to the developme nt of intellect, and speech is a tool of thought, and in that sense, development of speech carries culture in that it stores the ancestry of experience in the social context. Human being, in that sense, is unique because they use these tools to create artefacts to change life conditions. Thus, according to Vygotsky theory, ideas originate as a dialectical process of social, cultural, and historical factors in an unending and orderly pattern. Piaget believed that intelligence arises in a progressive fashion in a child's repetitive activities, and the child developmentally acquires concepts of space, time, causes, and physical objects and begins to have fantasy and symbolism right in the infancy. These can be interpreted by

GWF Hegel and the Development of Moral Integrity Essay Example for Free

GWF Hegel and the Development of Moral Integrity Essay Moral integrity is the core and purpose of Hegel’s moral writing. The point is to reconnect mankind with the nature and purpose of their development, something that Bookchin shares. Moral integrity is a process, a process that develops only through institutions, and hence, is perfectly a part of this paper: ethical integrity is a social integrity, both created by and mediated by institutions (Horowitz, 1966, 8). For Hegel, these institutions are three-fold, the family, the civil (economic) society, and the state itself. These three things work together to form to integral personality and mediate it through the various elements of day to day life. While often highly rarified and theoretical, it seems that Hegel, in reality, is the most practical of all the writers we have examined. The moral personality as an integral unit is mediated through, first, the family. Initially the moral personality is seen as the opposite of integral: completely and absolutely free to adopt any end whatsoever. This is not a good things, but is the very source of capriciousness and arbitrariness. The entire point of building the morally integral person is to provide this otherwise empty will with purpose and content. The first institution to do this is the biological family. In this first and vital institution, the human person is shaped to love and to see oneself in the other. Mutual aid is a fact in the family, and such mutual aid seeks no profit, but exists in and of itself, helping and assisting for the sake of loving (Horowitz, 1966, 12). But this institution, as significant as it is, is not self-sufficient. In order to function and survive, it needs to be a part of the broader society and its productive capacities, hence, it passes over into what Hegel calls â€Å"civil society. † This second institution is similar to Locke’s principle of productive property. This is the realm of free action, of the drive to manifest one’s personality in work. Here, it is morally legitimate and useful for a person to seek gain and profit. The family was the arena for love and self-sacrifice, civil society is the arena for its opposite. But, just as the family is not self sufficient, neither is the market. The market leads to oligarchy ane the domination of capital. If unchecked, as Bookchin reminds us, the market will take on a life of its own, and all things will be valued on the basis of their monetary value. Hence, the economic life of the people will finally resolve itself into the state, a far more complex manifestation of the family, headed by the king, a patriarch (Yack, 1980, 710-712). The state manifests the universal mind of the people. Locke and Proudhon hold that the true nature of the natural law has its repository in the people: here, it is the people coming together in the state, the state as the ultimate integral individual. So while all three of the above writers saw the state as a problem, Hegel views it as the solution. If natural law and moral integrity are a single concept with basically a single content, then the central state becomes all important as the physical manifestation of this. What is significant is that all four of these writers got to their conclusions in the very same way, through the application of natural law in the construction of morally integral beings. 5. Conclusion All four of these writers used natural law. All four denounced the world of market capitalism that is not restrained by natural law. All four sought to define the integral individual. Locke sought to define this in the property owner, virtuous in the respect that he would not judge in his own case, but he will be a part of a limited state that would objectively apply civil law to criminal cases. Proudhon rejected the state, and defined the integral person as a producer, a part of a guild or organization based around economic function, operating in a free arena where goods and services are exchanged via contract. The morally integral person, then, functioned as an honest broker, one who maintains his promises and promotes the good of all in so doing. For Book chin, the morally integral person was a real citizen: the balance between market goods, the natural world, political rights and communal responsibility. The morally integral person limits his needs to what is good for the community and what preserves the natural beauty around him. Lastly, Hegel sees the morally integral person as a developmental entity: someone who has all his natural attributes, the lover and the fighter, synthesized in the state and the national culture. Bibliography: Bookchin, Murray (1993) â€Å"What is Social Ecology? † in Environmental Philosophy: From Animal Rights to Radical Ecology. ME Zimmerman, ed.Prentice Hall Forde, Steven. (2001) â€Å"Natural Law, Theology and Morality in Locke. † The American Journal of Political Science 45, 396-409 George, William (1922). â€Å"Proudhon and Economic Federalism. † The Journal of Political Economy. 30, 531-542 Horowitz, Irving. (1966) â€Å"The Hegelian Concept of Political Freedom. † The Journal of Politics. 28, 3-28 Proudhon, Pierre (1977) The Principle of Federation. The University of Toronto Press. Seliger, M. (1963) â€Å"Locke’s Natural Law and the Foundation of Politics. † The Journal of the History of Ideas. 24, 337-354 Yack, Bernard (1980) â€Å"The Rationality of Hegel’s Concept of Monarchy† APSR 74, 709-720

Cancer and NMR Spectroscopy Essay -- Biology

Cancer is a disease that will most likely affect each and every one of us throughout our lives. There are approximately 560,000 people that die from cancer each year. To put it in perspective, between 1/4 and 1/3 of all Americans will die from this deadly disease. These statistics could be greatly reduced if people would stop smoking. Approximately 35% of all cancer cases are direct results of tobacco use. Many people do not fully understand what cancer really is. Cancer is simply a mutation in the cells which causes them to replicate continuously without bond. Many people relate cancer with tumors, and rightly so. A tumor is basically just a lump of mutated cells which eventually grows so big that it blocks the functions of the organs around it (a benign tumor) or begins to invade tissues surrounding it (a malignant tumor). Although there has been extensive research concerning cancer, nothing has been found that can cure cancer 100%. The reason for this is because a cancer tumor carries many different cancer cells. Every cancer cell reacts differently to each method of treatment, so while chemotherapy may kill some cancer cells in a tumor, other "subpopulations" of cells in the same tumor may not be affected at all. Another problem with cancer is that the cancer cells are able to travel throughout the body, an event known as metastasis. This means that cancer cells in the breast or lung are able to travel to the heart. This means that the cancer can spread throughout the body very easily, making treatment very difficult. While we have no true cures for cancer, there have been a few methods of treatment that have been somewhat successful. One such treatment is the drug cyclophosphamide (which is actually converted to 4-hydro... ...solution, nonradioactive method (NMR), the metabolites can be monitored noninvasively. NMR spectroscopy basically allows one to look at certain certain nuclei, such as phosphorus and carbon, and show resonance. Since there are high levels of both of these elements in cancer cells, the NMR method allowed for clear observation of GSH levels. In addition to cancer cells, many other cell lines have high levels of metabolites containing phosphorus and carbon. With this in mind, NMR spectroscopy is clearly the tool of the future for noninvasive observations of cells. Namely, it can be used for studying molecular dynamics, kinetics, microstructures, and equilibrium levels of chemical reactions. Through the use of more advanced methods and technology such as NMR, medical researchers can begin to piece together the puzzles of biology and medicine within the human body.

Massive Tourism Essay

In this globalized world the stress caused by the workload and the problems that occur everyday in our social environment, have a direct effect on the health of the person, who tries to find a way to release the tension. This is why many doctors recommend recreation in the form of travel to avoid harm to our health. Nowadays Tourism has a key part in the lives of every person, but mostly business people. They use it as a way to connect with their children and at the same time, recover their lost energy. These believe has spread all over the world and now Massive Tourism has become an important issue in the Government plans and the Tourism Industry. Massive Tourism happens when large masses of tourist arrive to visit a place. Travel Agencies offer tour packages to groups of people to get lower airfares, room rates, etc. Massive Tourism has a direct effect on the economy of the country, by increasing the incomes and providing more work. But many countries aren’t prepared to receive large groups of people, which causes damage to the culture, infrastructure and also to the environment. Advantages of Massive Tourism  For People Tour Operators and Travel Agencies offer Tour Packages to tourist around the world, to visit and enjoy another countries culture without the need to plan all the activities, transport or accommodations by themselves and by traveling in large groups they get lower costs. This is why the number of tourist has increased, because nowadays it is easier to travel, not to mention cheaper. What most people look for in a trip is to leave all worries and problems behind, and just enjoy and relax for a determined amount of time in another city or country and away form their normal lives. Tour operators can offer lower costs because by making these tour packages they an agreement with the hotel, airlines, museums, etc, who are part of the package. These companies offer the operators a lesser cost, in exchange of promotion, which they get with this tour packages. Both the companies and the tourist benefit from this packages. Also because you travel with a group that will share the same activities and interests it is probable to form relationships and friendships with new people. For Governments Large groups of people arrive everyday to a country, and they expend money by realizing various activities during their stay. For example food, museums, discos, shopping, transport). This is why the country benefits from massive tourism because it has a positive effect on the economy of the country by increasing the incomes. The Tourism Industry is ever growing, which results in more job openings and increases the interest of studying tourism related careers to improve the service given in their country and also to have a bigger involvement to incentive the tourist activities and at the same time, protect the natural patrimony. In addition, massive tourism boosts other kinds of tourism, such s eco tourism which increases investments to create new recreational, and tourist areas. Another advantage of massive tourism is that it improves the relationship between countries. Disadvantages One disadvantage is the rapidly spread of the diseases because of massive tourism. Most people who travels likes to go to a completely different place. For example, they want to visit exotic places. But they do not know the real consequence of their adventure. Sometimes, they are taken by the emotion of the trip and they don’t inform well about the places they are going. One case took place in China. There was a new virus, very contagiously, which spread fast due to the tourists who travel around the world. That way, virus could reach cities like Frankfurt, Toronto etc. As we can see massive tourism helps diseases to expand. Besides humans, animals are also affected by new diseases brought by tourists of other countries. Another important effect of massive tourism is the one on the culture. Now we are living in a globalize world. This means that many aspects are the same in different countries. When many tourists arrive in a country like ours, the people of the host country start to behave like them. Little by little they start changing their image. The impact caused by tourist is strong in some places. For example in our jungle many amazon tribes have lost their traditions. Now they make presentation of typical dances of their tribes only for tourists. Once the tourists leave their tribe, these people start to behave as if they were from the cities. Their naturalness is lost. Same case happens in the highlands. Language is also affected by massive tourism. Nowadays most people understand English. In one way this is very practical for tourists but on the other hand English absorbs the other languages. The attraction of a country, in some cases, is based on the language. If one person wants to go to France in order to learn French, he will find that most people like to speak English or Spanish. The language is part of the culture in a country and it shouldn’t be change. When you see only tourists in one place, you will realize that the lifestyle s affected too. Being surrounded by tourists changes the way you act. This case is presented everyday in Ibiza. This international place has very few Spanish inhabitants. For this little population, life has acquired a different face. Their neighbors are no longer Spanish people but tourists. The way you treat tourists is not the same as you treat people from your country. That is why the lifestyle changes in places like Ibiza that receive mass ive tourism. One of the biggest effects of massive tourism is on the environment. Massive tourism can imply more incomes but is also means more people to attend and too much garbage. Too many people in one place can cause a mess. In fact the more disturbed is the people of the host country. The infrastructure suffers and is damaged because it can not stand multitudes. To illustrate this point Macchupichu is a good example. Recent investigation has revealed that Macchupichu and the whole city of Cuzco are suffering the consequences of the disorganized coming of tourists, especially in the high season. Conclusion Nowadays people are looking for ways to canalize their energy and just for a couple of days, get away from their problems, and meet new cultures and new people. As we have seen massive tourism is an alternative for people that has tight schedules and no time for recreation or just stop to breathe. This is why massive tourism does not only benefit individuals but also the whole society and encourages the population to take interest in the tourism industry and the protection of their culture. Nevertheless Massive Tourism also has a negative aspect for the countries if it is not treated as it should. An organize tourism brings benefits for sides, tourists and countries. Sometimes the solution isn’t in the quantity but in the quality of the services and the experience. In Peru’s case, this negative impact has taken a toll on the infrastructure in some important cities like Cuzco. This is way the authorities have started to develop new plans to organize these cities to receive an organized tourism without damaging the city.

Haw Par Value Chain & Financial Ratios Analysis Essay

1. PART ONE 1.1 Introduction Haw Par Corporation Limited is a multinational corporation engaged in healthcare, leisure businesses securities and real estate investment, among which we will mainly focus on Haw Par’s traditional business sector-the healthcare segment, which includes 9 subsidiaries (Annual report, 2010). Based on revenues generated and locations of manufacturing facilities, two prominent geographical markets, Asia and America, are selected for discussion. We will look into the competitive environment of the corporation, and the generic strategies adopted to survive in the environment. Then we will investigate operations within Haw Par by analyzing its value chain activities, and propose improvements to enhance its competitive advantages. Lastly, we will identify the top risks imposed to the corporation. 1.2 Competitive Environment – Michael Porter’s Five-Forces Model 1.2.1 Threat of New Entrants Initial capital requirement of entering the healthcare industry is high, including investment in property, plant, equipment and research and development. Moreover, compliance burden with various regulations is heavy, as illustrated by the warning letter received by Haw Par from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US. Besides, its scale of business, well-establish brand and distribution network are difficult to imitate. Thus, the threat of new entrant is low. 1.2.2 Threat of Substitute Currently, Haw Par’s healthcare products mainly consist of traditional herbal medicines and newly developed chemical products. The substitutes of herbal medicines are mostly western chemical medicines. We can see that Haw Par is actively responding to the challenge of chemical medicines. However, the existing pharmaceutical companies are very strong, and their products are more competitive on the whole. Therefore, the threat of substitutes is medium. 1.2.3 Bargaining Power of Buyers The products of healthcare division are mainly traditional Chinese medicine oil and its related products, as well as muscle rub, spray and gel (Hoover’s, 2011). As the products are generally medications for daily use, the majority of buyers are individual consumers. Hence, the buyers’ bargaining power is weak. However, if the buyers’ group is large, for example, wholesalers or retailers, the bargaining power of buyer could be moderate or high (ME Porter, 2000). 1.2.4 Bargaining Power of Suppliers Due to Haw Par’s broad product lines, it would have contracted with vast suppliers for the procurement of various crude materials. The main ingredients are common Chinese medicines (Alternative Health Supplies, 2005). The company may choose from a wide range of suppliers. In general, bargaining power of suppliers is low. 1.2.5 Industry Competitors Haw Par has distinguished itself from small and medium size medicine oil businesses by its branding and broad market distribution, yet it is still involved in intense competition with business of comparable market share, for example, Biosensors International and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Limited which is a main competitor both in Asian and American market. In 2010, Sun Pharmaceutical’s deal with Taro Pharmaceutical Industries boosted Sun’s dermatology and topical products in U.S which might deeply affect Haw Par’s extension market. Generally rivalry among existing firms is high (Hoover’s, 2011). 1.3 Competitive Strategies – Michael Porter’s Three Generic Strategies The general global economic climate took a favorable turn in 09-10, boosting the consumer confidence. On the other hand, the competitive environment of the business is challenged by the intense competition and rising costs (PM Danzon, 2000). To enhance the performance of the business, Haw Par had responded â€Å"by introducing more products that will appeal to a larger group of consumers and by conducting more intensive marketing† (Wee Cho Yaw, 2010). The generic strategy adopted by the business is focus differentiation. The business focused on selective markets and products to raise entry barrier. For example, Haw Par launch a new product in 2011—Tiger Balm Active Muscle Rub which focused on a certain buyer segment—sporting enthusiasts. It also endeavored to distinguish itself by branding as well as adding uniqueness and value to products. One such example comes from Tiger Balm Medicated Plaster, a product with combined functions of energizing body and relieving pains. To do branding, Haw Par increased popularity by sponsoring public events such as marathons in Singapore, and advertising in national magazines in America (Haw Par, 2010). Besides, it also undertook social responsibility by contributing to charities, such as organizing the fundraising event â€Å"The Tiger Balm Record Roar† which supported the Society for the Physically Disabled (Haw Par, 2010). This focus differentiation strategy helped lower the degree of substitutability of other companies’ products and reduce the level of competition. 1.4 Top Three Business Risks The top risk was the intense competition from existing companies, as this would directly affect the percentage of market share owned by Haw Par, and hence its profitability. The second risk was the rising cost of raw materials, which was also an industry-wide problem that might limit a company’s development. Another risk was the failure of compliance with regulations, which had only emerged in the US market, but certainly reflected defects in Haw Par’s internal control. 1.4.1 Intense Competition from Existing Companies Haw Par Corp Ltd faced strong competition from a number of multinational corporations. According to the Competitive Landscape Singapore, in 2011, Haw Par ranks the third in the healthcare sector for market capitalization. The companies listed in Appendix 1 are the major competitors of Haw Par Healthcare Limited in Singapore. Besides, although Haw Par’s healthcare products were distributed to 150 countries via 70 distributors, it still faced high risk from competitors which could render its market share shrink in the health-care area (Haw Par, 2010). To mitigate this risk, Haw Par managed to boost its market shares through improvement of Tiger Balm brand by advertising, sales promotions and the extension of manufacturing line. Another strategy adopted was to diversify product line to broaden customer choices so that consumers would be more likely to choose Haw Par’s product and hence this risk would be minimized. 1.4.2 Increase in Costs of Raw Materials Due to upwards general inflationary pressure, unit price of herbal materials for traditional Chinese medicine was expected to rise. Haw Par also expressed serious concerns in its annual report on rising costs of raw materials and operating activities that would erode its profitability in healthcare sector. This would be one of the reasons why gross profit slipped 3.52% while net profit raised 88.50% in 2010, compared with 2009. To neutralize the negative impact, Haw Par put emphasis on expanding its product portfolio to cater for more customers (The edge, 2011). 1.4.3 Failure to Comply with Regulations and Provisions When Haw Par was expanding its market in foreign countries, it faced challenges in conforming to the different regulations and standards. For example, an inspection on Haw Par’s manufacturing facilities by FDA, discovered â€Å"significant violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations for finished pharmaceuticals† (FDA, 2010). Failure of conforming to regulations would pose a potential threat of being banned in specific markets, which would negatively affect revenue, brand image and social acceptance. To mitigate this risk, Haw Par shall immediately review the unqualified production and procurement practice while proposing appropriate remedies. Furthermore, Haw Par shall also seek opportunity to make appeal to the public so as to restore and conserve its corporate image. 1.5 Value Chain Activities – Primary Activities 1.5.1 Inbound Logistics For Haw Par’s health-care segment, inbound logistics contains management of raw materials, inventory control, warehousing and even returns to suppliers. Efficient inventory management system is an essential factor in boosting profits for Haw Par, by enhancing efficiency and thus reducing expenses. 1.5.2 Operations In the operating process, value is created through transforming the raw materials into final products. Unfortunately, Haw Par Healthcare was warned by FDA about mislabelled products and inadequacies (FDA, 2010). In this case, Haw Par failed to show itself â€Å"to be capable to detecting potential impurities†. Therefore Haw Par Healthcare should improve its testing and packaging operations, so as to maintain its product quality to secure current market position (CBS Interactive, 2010). 1.5.3 Outbound Logistics Though possessing a worldwide distributing network covering 70 countries, Haw Par continued expanding its markets. Nevertheless, Haw Par’s healthcare manufacturing facilities were centralized in its major markets, so as to reduce the costs and improve the overall efficiency. 1.5.4 Marketing and Sales Haw Par focused on marketing activities to boost sales and build brand image, as discussed in competitive strategies. According to the General Manager Ah Kuan Han, Haw Par would intensify substantial advertising activities to enlarge consumer bases (The Business Times, April 1st 2010). According to the horizontal analysis of income statement, the sales and marketing expense increased by 6.00% in 2010. Furthermore, with the already widespread fame, Haw Par was striving to expend its market in UK, America, Caribbean and other parts of world through its comprehensive marketing and sales strategies (The Business Times, 2009). 1.5.5 Service Haw Par has built the Tiger Balm website to facilitate serving its customers. The website provides a wide range of information about its products. Haw Par also provides experience sharing service on its website, through which past users can share their experience with others. 1.6 Value Chain Activities – Support Activities 1.6.1 General Administration A strong and effective board of directors would bring Haw Par to success, by supporting the whole Haw Par Corporation through the activities including planning, general management, risk management, and so on. Good management and information systems would increase operating efficiencies as well as improving the company’s image. 1.6.2 Human Resource Management Haw Par has been recruiting a large pool of staffs. More significantly, Haw Par emphasized on maintaining high quality employees, as evidenced in its advertisement of hiring o-level and above diploma holders as laboratory technicians. (Jobstreet.com, 2011) 1.6.3 Technology Development Haw Par has been actively engaged in technology development, indicated by its â€Å"launching of line extensions on a slate of new products that would address lifestyle needs of modern consumers† (Haw Paw, 2010), which would secure Haw Par’s long term competitiveness in the market. Yet Haw Par shall continue its efforts in innovation to further strengthen market power and improve efficiency. 1.6.4 Procurement As the ingredients of Haw Par’s product are mainly traditional herbs supplied from China, India and Malaysia, the cost of materials from these suppliers is relatively low. However, the procurement activity still needs to be further improved. As mentioned above, Haw Par received a warning letter from FDA which identified a problem of unqualified suppliers. Thus, apart from outsourcing cheaper raw material from suppliers, Haw Par should keep monitoring its suppliers regularly to ensure reliability. 2.2 Financial Ratios Analysis The following sessions will assess the profitability, liquidity (including operating efficiency) and solvency of Haw Par in 2009 and 2010, and account for any substantial fluctuation emerged, through analyzing relevant financial ratios respectively. One of Haw Par’s major competitors – Sun pharmaceutical industries Ltd. is also referred to for comparison. 2.2.1 Profitability Analysis Ratios adopted here include net profit margin, gross profit margin, return on assets, return on equity and earnings per share. The net profit margin of Haw Par nearly doubled from 46.10% to 86.90%. Such a rise is aligned with the increase in sales revenue from $124m to $130m, mainly due to the recovering global economy. As the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated, the world real GDP growth is 1.4% and 2.5% for 2009 and 2010 respectively, while for Asian countries the growth was estimated to be 5.5% and 7.0% (Michael Mussa, 2009). As an Asian company, Haw Par has benefited greatly from the economic recovery. However, the gross profit margin displays a slight decrease from 58.25% to 56.20%. This can be partially attributed to rising material costs and operating expenses. Haw Par reported a 7.51% increase in costs of sales while Sun Pharmaceutical reported a 28.3% rise in the costs of sales. Consistent with the trend shown in profit margins, the return on assets, return on equity and earnings per share ratios are also nearly doubled, owing to a better economic environment. Though the total assets and owners’ equity increased due to the market expansion in America, the increase is insufficient to offset the effect of a strong rebound in net income. In short, ratios concerning the profitability manifest a rising trend, and thus we conclude that Haw Par’s profitability has improved from 2009 to 2010 by tapping the opportunity of the warming global economic climate. It also outperformed its competitor, Sun Pharmaceutical, which reported an 8.62% fall in income from operation in 2009-2010(Sun Pharmaceutical, 2010). 2.2.2 Liquidity and Efficiency Analysis Ratios adopted here comprise of current ratio, quick ratio, assets and fixed asset turnover, inventory and receivable turnover, average days in inventory, and average days of receivables. Quick ratio and current ratio are used to assess group’s ability to pay the current liabilities due within one year. The current ratio of Haw Par dropped from 12.57 to 12.09 because of the fair value losses in its investment in United Overseas Bank Limited and disposal of available-for-sale financial assets (Haw Par, 2010). However, the quick ratio, a more stringent measure on liquidity, indicated a rise from 2.70 to 3.31. The contradictory result is actually justifiable on the basis of the very reasons just mentioned. Due to an increase in cash and net accounts receivable, the quick ratio increased, it can be concluded that Haw Par demonstrated a greater capability in meeting its short term bond obligations. The assets turnover and fixed assets turnover ratios assess the group’s ability to generate revenue for each dollar invested in assets and fixed assets respectively. Haw Par’s assets turnover experienced a slight drop from 0.07 to 0.06, while its fixed assets turnover increased from 2.73 to 2.91. Possible explanation would be the group’s heavier investment in subsidiaries and inventories, which increased the total assets, resulting in lower asset turnover ratio. Since the fluctuations on both indicators are insignificant, it is unconvincing to say that Haw Par’s management efficiency improved. The inventory turnover ratio and average days in inventory assess how fast the company is selling its inventories. From 2009 to 2010, the inventory turnover declined from 8.19 to 7.41 and average days in inventory lengthened from 44.59 to 49.29. This is attributed to a 52.30% increase in inventory. These two indicated that Haw Par’s inventory management became less efficient. However, Haw Par might have accumulated inventory purposely to counteract the negative impact of rising raw material costs. The receivable turnover and average days of receivables both indicated the improved efficiency in collecting receivables. While the receivable turnover rose from 6.17 to 6.99, the average days of receivables fell accordingly from 59.20 to 52.23 days. It is discussed earlier that sales revenue increased sharply. Besides higher sales revenue, another factor accounting for this may be a better economic situation under which fewer customers face liquidity problem. In all, though its current ratio decreased slightly, Haw Par still retains its ability to cover short-term debt. However, there is still room for Haw Par to enhance its operating efficiency. It may improve the inventory and receivable management system to boost its business performance. 2.2.3 Solvency Ratio Analysis Ratios adopted for solvency analysis are debt to assets and cash acquisition. The debt to asset ratio reflects the degree of reliance on creditor finance. Haw Par’s debt to asset decreased from 0.047 to 0.045, indicating Haw Par’s improvement of financing strategy by financing more on equity. Two possible explanations for that change may be: (1) Sufficient cash flow allowed Haw Par to rely less on loans. (2) The promising trend in economy helped restore confidence of shareholders who in turn invested actively, as evidenced by the rise in share capital. The cash acquisition ratio nearly doubled from 5.92 to 9.40. The numerator, net cash from operation, plummeted by more than half; however, the denominator, cash paid for PPE, fell more dramatically by two thirds. The two fluctuations as a whole resulted in a rise in cash acquisition ratio, giving a positive indication on Haw Par’s solvency situation. As the two ratios suggested, it seems plausible that Haw Par has improved its solvency. However, its competitor Sun Pharmaceutical, with the debt to assets ratio of merely 0.026, has outperformed Haw Par in solvency. It is still possible for Haw Par to improve further. 3. CONCLUSION To conclude, though benefited from the overall economic recovery, Haw Par was also surrounded by risks and challenges in the competitive environment. However, it has been actively engaged in product innovation and adopted pertinent strategies, especially in marketing sector. Haw Par’s responses were fairly effective in tackling the above-mentioned problems, as proven by its successful financial year. So far, Haw Par has been tapping the benefits of economies of scale, enjoying the opportunities in the emerging Asian market and taking advantage of the global economic recovery. Yet in the contestable market where the barrier to entry is minimal in the long run, Haw Par should continue to strive hard so as to maintain its competitiveness in the ever-changing business world.

Camels Adaptations to Extreme Environments Essays

Camels Adaptations to Extreme Environments Essays Camels Adaptations to Extreme Environments Paper Camels Adaptations to Extreme Environments Paper Easel as adapting to very dry notations, Organisms in a desert ecosystem have also adapted to hot temperatures. The temperatures range from as high as ICC during the day to as low as below freezing during the night due to lack of cloud cover. Evolution: As wrote by Long Savage (1986) in the late Eocene period and to the end of Miocene, camels evolved and diversified solely in North America. During this time they were similar in size to rabbits, and their feet contained four toes. In Oligocene times, camels were similar in size to goats, with the lost of the lateral toes, with the remaining digits showing signs of evolution. During the Miocene time, camels adapted a new of walking it is know as pacing gait. This is where the camel moved both left or both right legs in one movement, instead of opposite legs. During this time camels feet produced pad like structures, which helped them from sinking in soft terrain I. E sand. Then they arrived in South America during the Polio-Pipestone times. This is where they diversified into 2 more genus under Camellias family of the more known species, llama and alpaca, and 2 less known, guano and vicuà ±a. As this happened, they crossed into the Old World, where they then spread across Europe, Asia and Africa, this is where they branched out into the single humped Camels Dromedaries, and double humped Camels Bacterias. Characteristics of Camels Dromedaries: An animal that has adapted well to this environment is the Camels Dromedaries. Wilson (1984) as cited by K ¶heel-Rollovers (1 991 ) describes the features of the camels body. Dromedary camels have a shoulder height of at least 1. Mm, with the hump extending a further CACM. They can weights upwards Of keg. Dromedary camels have a long upward curved neck, with a single hump on its back. This is all supported by their long, strong legs and did webbed feet. Body Temperature / Water Conservation: In the desert temperatures fluctuate. On average, a dehydrated camels body temperature fluctuates by up to ICC in a single day, it can increase from an average of 34-36 to ICC. There is less of a fluctuation if the camel is hydrated (ICC). If camels did not tolerate this fluctuation in temperature and instead tried to keep the body cool, up to 5 liters of water could be lost due to sweating. This allows the camel to concerns water and energy. The camel then takes advantage of the cool evenings to dissipate heat, with no energy cost. Camels, like all other mammals do sweat to maintain an acceptable temperature, however, it is not continuous. (Mares, 1999). Composition of Camels Hump: Mares (1999), reports that a common misconception associated with camels is that their hump is composed of Water, this has been disproved, and instead replaced with the fact this it is fat. Another common misconception associated with a camels hump is that water is produced by the oxidation of fat. This is has been proven to be false, or at least, partially untrue as the oxidation of fat requires an increased oxygen intake, this results in an increased rate of breathing, which increases the amount of water lost as vapor from the lungs. This nullifies the effect of the metabolize fat, yielding no net gain in water. As previously discussed, camels have adapted to keep their bodies cool, without sacrificing water. Another adaptation that is seen with camels is that their main fat store is their hump. A camel does not store fat on other parts of their body. This is because the fat would act as insulation and reduce the amount Of heat lost at night, at a time when the temperature is cooler, and most heat dissipation occurs. Excretion in Camels: Richards (1973) as cited by Masks-Magenta (1981) explores the fact that camels are able to produce urine that contains twice as much salt as sea water. It was noted by Masks-Magenta (1 981 ) that the Kidney is composed of Henley loops of varying lengths. Camels are seen to contain a lot of longer loops than any other species, so there is a bigger potential for water to be reabsorbed, and the urine becoming concentrated. This coincides with the camels ability to facilitate water and plants with a salt content higher than normal. Schmidt-Nielsen (1964) as cited by Masks-Muggers (1981) marred the volume Of urine excreted by the camel while hydrated and while dehydrated. The camel while hydrated, excreted up to 4 liters of urine in a single day, compared to the when it was dehydrated, where it excreted up to half a liter of urine. It was also noted that the camel produced faces, almost completely absent of water. It was composed of a large number of pellets approximately CM in length. As they lacked water, they were light to lift, with a shiny appearance. Conclusion: Camels like animals in other extreme environments have adapted well to suit their environment of temperature fluctuations and a lack of water. Camels have evolved in such a way that moving has been made easier, they do not sink into the sand, so they do not expend more energy than is needed. The camels adaptation to a large fluctuation in body temperature allows water to be conserved as it is not lost as sweat. The camels hump proves as an invaluable energy source when food sources are scarce, as is common in desert ecosystems, the fat is metabolize and used as energy. Its all these adaptations that allows the camel to live in such an extreme environment. The absence Of one or more of these adaptations would lead to the inability of camels to survive in this environment. In this day and age global warming is increasing the average temperature of the earths atmosphere, if there was a significant increase, could these organism handle an increased temperature fluctuation?

Free Essays on The Hurricane

The purpose of this paper is to dissect the film, â€Å"The Hurricane†, and attempt to analyze it through the scope of crime and/or victimization, with hopes of applying various principles, theories, and paradigms associated with crime and/or victimization. First, I will have to give a brief synopsis of the two and a half hour film as to give an idea of the time frame that this film occupies because historical and biographical context are important if we want to look at the film in this particular light. The Hurricane is an emotionally charged drama, which takes a look at the life and wrongful incarceration of boxing legend Rubin â€Å"Hurricane† Carter. The film starts by recalling Carters’ defeat of welter- weight champion of the world Emile Griffith, while the story simultaneously flashes to Carters’ incarceration. The next scene is of the crime in 1966 that Carter is wrongfully convicted of committing where three people are killed in a local bar. Consequently, Rubin Carter and John Artis are both tried and convicted of three counts of murder. The film then shows Carter writing his memoirs, which lead to release of his book â€Å"The Sixteenth Round†. Seven years later a teenager (Lersa Martin) from Brooklyn, New York and three Canadian liberal activists (Terry, Sam, and Lisa) who read Carters’ story are convinced of Carters innocence and are determined to help set Carter free. Eventually, in 1985 Rubin â€Å"Hurricane Carter is exonerated of the charges and set free. In the everyday terms we would normally say that Rubin Carter was just the victim of a crooked justice system but we must look at this with better eyes and extract more thorough meanings of crime and/or victimization. First, lets take a historical look at this films setting. The murders and Carters conviction and imprisonment took place in the turbulent times of the late sixties when blacks were fighting for their civil rights. With so much social unrest ... Free Essays on The Hurricane Free Essays on The Hurricane The purpose of this paper is to dissect the film, â€Å"The Hurricane†, and attempt to analyze it through the scope of crime and/or victimization, with hopes of applying various principles, theories, and paradigms associated with crime and/or victimization. First, I will have to give a brief synopsis of the two and a half hour film as to give an idea of the time frame that this film occupies because historical and biographical context are important if we want to look at the film in this particular light. The Hurricane is an emotionally charged drama, which takes a look at the life and wrongful incarceration of boxing legend Rubin â€Å"Hurricane† Carter. The film starts by recalling Carters’ defeat of welter- weight champion of the world Emile Griffith, while the story simultaneously flashes to Carters’ incarceration. The next scene is of the crime in 1966 that Carter is wrongfully convicted of committing where three people are killed in a local bar. Consequently, Rubin Carter and John Artis are both tried and convicted of three counts of murder. The film then shows Carter writing his memoirs, which lead to release of his book â€Å"The Sixteenth Round†. Seven years later a teenager (Lersa Martin) from Brooklyn, New York and three Canadian liberal activists (Terry, Sam, and Lisa) who read Carters’ story are convinced of Carters innocence and are determined to help set Carter free. Eventually, in 1985 Rubin â€Å"Hurricane Carter is exonerated of the charges and set free. In the everyday terms we would normally say that Rubin Carter was just the victim of a crooked justice system but we must look at this with better eyes and extract more thorough meanings of crime and/or victimization. First, lets take a historical look at this films setting. The murders and Carters conviction and imprisonment took place in the turbulent times of the late sixties when blacks were fighting for their civil rights. With so much social unrest ...

Carbon Dioxide Poisoning Causes and Treatment

Carbon Dioxide Poisoning Causes and Treatment You are exposed to carbon dioxide every day in the air you breathe and in household products, so you might be concerned about carbon dioxide poisoning. Heres the truth about carbon dioxide poisoning and whether its something you need to worry about. Can Carbon Dioxide Poison You? At ordinary levels, carbon dioxide or CO2 is non-toxic. It is a normal component of air and so safe it is added to beverages to carbonate them. When you use baking soda or baking powder, you are purposely introducing carbon dioxide bubbles into your food to make it rise. Carbon dioxide is as safe a chemical as any youll ever encounter. Then Why the Concern Over Carbon Dioxide Poisoning? First, its easy to confuse carbon dioxide, CO2, with carbon monoxide, CO. Carbon monoxide is a product of combustion, among other things, and is extremely toxic. The two chemicals are not the same, but because they both have carbon and oxygen in them and sound similar, some people get confused. Yet, carbon dioxide poisoning is a real concern. It is possible to suffer anoxia or asphyxiation from breathing carbon dioxide, because increased levels of carbon dioxide may be related to decreased concentration of oxygen, which you need in order to live. Another potential concern is dry ice, which is the solid form of carbon dioxide. Dry ice generally is not toxic, but it is extremely cold, so if you touch it you risk getting frostbite. Dry ice sublimates into carbon dioxide gas. The cold carbon dioxide gas is heavier than the surrounding air, so the concentration of carbon dioxide near the floor may be high enough to displace oxygen, potentially posing a danger to pets or small children. Dry ice does not pose a significant hazard when it is used in a well-ventilated area. Carbon Dioxide Intoxication and Carbon Dioxide Poisoning As the concentration of carbon dioxide increases, people start to experience carbon dioxide intoxication, which may progress to carbon dioxide poisoning and sometimes death. Elevated blood and tissue levels of carbon dioxide are termed hypercapnia and hypercarbia. Carbon Dioxide Poisoning Causes There are several causes of carbon dioxide poisoning and intoxication. It may result from hypoventilation, which in turn may be caused by not breathing often or deeply enough, rebreathing exhaled air (e.g., from a blanket over the head or sleeping in a tent), or breathing in an enclosed space (e.g., a mine, a closet, a shed). Scuba divers are at risk of carbon dioxide intoxication and poisoning, usually from poor air filtration, not breathing at the normal rate, or simply from having a harder time breathing. Breathing the air near volcanoes or their vents may cause hypercapnia. Sometimes carbon dioxide levels become imbalanced when a person is unconscious. Carbon dioxide poisoning can occur in space craft and submarines when scrubbers arent functioning properly. Carbon Dioxide Poisoning Treatment Treatment of carbon dioxide intoxication or carbon dioxide poisoning involves getting carbon dioxide levels back to normal in the patients bloodstream and tissues. A person suffering from mild carbon dioxide intoxication typically can recover simply by breathing normal air. However, it is important to communicate a suspicion of carbon dioxide intoxication in case the symptoms worsen so that proper medical treatment may be administered. If multiple or serious symptoms are seen, call for emergency medical help. The best treatment is prevention and education so that conditions of high CO2 levels are avoided and so you know what to watch for if you suspect the levels may be too high. Symptoms of Carbon Dioxide Intoxication and Poisoning Deeper breathing Twitching of muscles Increased blood pressure Headache Increased pulse rate Loss of judgment Labored breathing Unconsciousness (occurs in under a minute when CO2 concentration rises about 10%) Death Reference EIGA (European Industrial Gases Association), Carbon Dioxide Physiological Hazards - Not Just an Asphyxiant, retrieved 01/09/2012. Key Points Carbon dioxide poisoning results in a condition called hypercapnia or hypercarbia.Carbon dioxide intoxication and poisoning can elevate pulse rate and blood pressure, produce a headache, and result in poor judgement. It can result in unconsciousness and death.There are multiple causes of carbon dioxide poisoning. Lack of air circulation, in particular, can be dangerous because breathing removes oxygen from the air and adds to its carbon dioxide content.While carbon dioxide can be toxic, it is a normal component of air. The body actually uses carbon dioxide to maintain proper pH levels and to synthesize fatty acids.

Causes and Effects of College Dropout Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Causes and Effects of College Dropout - Essay Example A. Lack of motivation One of the primary reasons why there are many cases of college dropout is due to the lack of motivation. Nearly half of young adults drop out of college because classes seem to disinterest them. As a result, they find no motivation to study; this triggers young people to drop out of college since they find no need to be in class (Feldman & Newcomb 291). This may result from the youth spending time with friends who may not have any interest in school work or classes. The friendships of other students who do not like classes always lead to high chances of college dropout. Students may lack interest in school work since it may be demanding and they cannot be able to handle the pressure of academics. The lack of motivation may also result from the lack of inspiration to work hard in class (Miller 23). In most cases, this leads to discontent with schoolwork; consequently, such youths may drop out of school. Moreover, feeling unmotivated may result from the belief of the young adults that school is boring. As a result, the young person may refer to school as irrelevant and a place where they learn nothing. In addition, the graduation requirements of a school may lead to lack of motivation by the students.... Students may lack interest in school work since it may be demanding and they cannot be able to handle the pressure of academics. The lack of motivation may also result from the lack of inspiration to work hard in class (Miller 23). In most cases, this leads to discontent with schoolwork; consequently, such youths may drop out of school. Moreover, feeling unmotivated may result from the belief of the young adults that school is boring. As a result, the young person may refer to school as irrelevant and a place where they learn nothing. In addition, the graduation requirements of a school may lead to lack of motivation by the students. Therefore, students who fail to achieve the college requirements may be forced to quit since they cannot meet the required standards. B. Employment Another cause of high cases of college dropout includes securing employment while still in college. Students who get decent jobs while studying may prefer to quit college and concentrate on the job, which the y prefer more than education. In the initial stages, such students may combine schoolwork with the job they have. However, after sometimes, they realize that the job gives them more benefits than education (Miller 24). As a result, they find it being more preferable to work than to study. After they start working, they may not be able to leave their job since they need the money they earn from the job. In some instances, they may realize that working will enable them to have a better lifestyle than studying. Dropping out of school because of getting employed may result from poverty back at home. Most students who drop out of school to secure employment include those from poor backgrounds. Their parents may be struggling to get

Childhood Obesity on the rise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Childhood Obesity on the rise - Essay Example The cyber culture where the dream imaginations are virtualized to create the thrill made children to stick to their desks playing online and video games on computer and T.V that made them to be more addicted to their Computers wiping thoughts of venturing out in the open skyes to sweat their energy deposited in their bodies. The ready-to-eat high calorific valued food served induces more of fat and carbohydrates into the body than required. As the children lack the physical exercise to spend these calories the body weight increases rapidly. Parents in this growing mechanical culture have no time to monitor the food habits of their children. The new generation has no time to spare for preparing food for their family members in turn their inability has created a new business opportunity in the form of Ready to eat packaged food. The food items were mixed and processed with chemicals and preservatives which create adverse effects on the bodies of the children who consume the same. Ready-to-eat packaged food and snack items that were packed with high calorific contents, the average intake of these food items leads to high deposits of carbohydrates' and proteins that leads to Obese. Obesity, a per the dieticians can be an hereditary symptom which carries over to their next generation. The majority of adults in developed countries were suffering obesity which clearly indicates the negligence on their part to be fit. The unawareness of the parents with respect to fitness made them perceive the child health in the same ignorant lines which lead to child obesity. Mechanical life styles in the developed countries lacking time to concentrate on the physical fitness of the parents

William Caslon typeface analysis Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

William Caslon typeface analysis - Term Paper Example The process of type founding by William Caslon constituted four separate tasks. The first stage in this intricate step was punch cutting which involved carving the mirror image of a character, letter or figure in relief. This process was done on the end of shank annealed steal that was later tempered. The second process in production of type entailed chasing which involved ornamenting metal by tools and a hammer crafted for indenting. Following this process was casting which entailed placing the matrix in mold hand and consequently the chamber mold was realigned to fit the dimensions of the cast character. The eventual pieces were designed to be a three dimensional product of the character cast from the punch. The final operation consisted of dressing the type which included type press preparation such as breaking off the jet and filing off mold protrusions. It is of importance to note that the Caslon types symbolized functionality, strength and presence of legibility. Calson proceeded to cut very many non-Latin types such as Armenian, Coptic, Arabic, Greek and Hebrew. Some of the notable fonts by William Caslon included the ; Big Caslon, Caslon Graphique, Caslon Old Face, ITC Caslon no. 224, ITC Founders Caslon, ITC Founder’s Caslon Ornaments. The fonts designed by Caslon exhibited a modelling delicacy and a design variety that was not evident in the Dutch types. One of the distinct differences between the Caslon types and Dutch types was monotony. In effect, the Caslon types were less monotonous compared to the Dutch types which were characteristically monotonous. To this end, the smaller size Caslon letters when analyzed were not perfect individually. However, their mass effect was agreeable. The Caslon Old style no. 471 is regarded as the metal version that is considerably related to William Caslon’s originals. Furthermore, the Caslon Old style Italics and Romans are produced from the original

Job application Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Job application - Essay Example the financial scenario of the present is closely associated with the political world around use, I believe that my knowledge in politics might be of great help for my sustenance in the banking business. One can easily find that by looking at the current global crisis where the financial breakdown has been associated with wrong government policies. Again, my management degree has taught me the structure of a business organization in the financial scenario. I have also developed the corporate ethics essential to work in a business structure. Both my degrees complement one another in terms of the knowledge gathered. Last of all, I can assure you that I shall dedicate my utmost efforts to sustain myself in your organization and at the same time add some value to the same. I shall therefore be obliged if you kindly consider my application for the post of a trainee in your bank and let me know the necessary procedure I need to follow. Attached herewith is my CV for further details. Awaiting your kind

Should the companies proclaim policy for protect the worker's family Essay

Should the companies proclaim policy for protect the worker's family and what's the effect - Essay Example Failing to protect the worker and the worker’s family could be very disadvantageous to the company in terms of image and brand because the general public will be appalled with a company’s labor practice that disregard the welfare and protection of its employees and its immediate dependents. When the general public will perceive the company as uncaring, they will be turned off with the company and will cease patronizing its products. When customers no longer patronize or buy a company’s product or service, its sales will decline and it follows that when sales decline, the profitability of the company will also decline and it will not be long before the company will go bankrupt. In addition to customers who would be put off with a company that does not proclaim the protection of its employee and their families, investors and the general public will begin to have a negative perception of its shares of stock and it will follow that its stock price will decline due to the negative perception of the market. When that happens, returns to the shareholders will also decline. When the returns of the shareholders investment will decline, they will withdraw their money from the company and will look for other companies to invest it in where it could be more profitable. Thus, the evil cycle will begin with shareholders leaving the company aggravating the already negative perception on the company. In the end, the company may even go bankrupt just because of the market’s negative perception of the company with its uncaring labor practice with its employees and their families. The refusal or failure of the company to protect the worker and their families come in many ways. For the worker’s family’s refusal or inability to protect them by the company, this could come in the form of non recognition of health insurance coverage and in today’s case refusal to implement Obamacare. In effect, this law mandates that companies are all required to protect all their workers and their families from rising medical cost despite their medical condition. Failure to cover its employees would tantamount to paying fines which the law will impose on the company. This is important to mention because this is the new context that businesses will be operating in terms of providing health insurance to their employees and their employees. It meant that companies will have to cover all of its employees including those who were previously uninsurable and those who have pre-exisitng conditions and that includes their families. This may mean an added cost in terms of paying premiums as employees who were not uninsurable has to be insured now that companies may be tempted to renege it to save on cost. The consequence proved to be more expensive because companies who refused to provide medical insurance protection to their employees and their families were fined heavily such as the case of big companies such as AT&T and Caterpillar who decided to stop providing health coverage for their employers because of its additional cost. As a result, it was slapped with penalty and mandated to pay heavy fines that were very costly (Colvin 125). Big companies are considering this option because the forced coverage of the new law on health insurance on all of its employees including those who were previously uninsurable would mean huge addition of cost due to the scale of its employees. Such, they deemed it more

Logistics and Supply Chain Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Logistics and Supply Chain Management - Essay Example It is observed that storage cost increases when transportation is available but on the other hand, no cost cutting is experienced when the stock density is good, given the better accessibility through transportation of goods (Skipper, 2008). Holmes (2011) explains the trade-off between storage density and immediate accessibility of products throughout the Wal-Mart’s network. Wal-Mart’s strategy has been to leverage through the dense chain of its stores. The stores are vertically involved into distribution. Analysis of its distribution and warehouse network reveals that the general goods are supplied by Wal-Mart’s own regional distribution centres (RDCs) while the groceries for supercentres are delivered via its own food distribution centres. When stores are densely stocked, it is not hard to start a distribution chain that keeps stores near to a distribution centre and when the Wal-Mart stores are near to a distribution centre, it can spare the transporting costs . Other than that, such closeness permits Wal-Mart to react fast to demand jolts. Fast reaction is hugely known to be a leading trait of the Wal-Mart model. It needs to be appreciated that Wal-Mart restocked its shelves with American flags on the very day of 9/11. While stating the benefits of storage density of Wal-Mart, the job is tough as the Company does not reveal inside information out for information purpose. A direct analysis of Wal-Mart’s data pertaining to logistics cost to density is, therefore, not easy. Even if the Company readily reveals the information over the supply chain network, the leverage it is getting by reacting fast to demand jolts can not be approximated with the available accounting figures. Wal-Mart’s revealed priority can only be ascertained indirectly. Density allows leverage but it comes at a price. A testing of Wal-Mart’s attitude of unseen trade-off against the seen cost can help in getting the clue over how it succeeds in gettin g the leverage from the trade-off (Holmes, 2011). In the case of Wal-Mart, the high storage density is created when stores are in close proximity and their market fields converge. It offers the opportunity to new stores to benefit from the convergence, increasing their sales from established stores. The limit of such leverage can be measured by sourcing relevant data from different providers such as getting store level sales output from ACNielsen and regional data from the U.S. Census at a quite zeroed-in degree of geographical location. This information can be used to approximate a model of demand wherein consumers select among all the Wal-Mart stores in the general region where they reside. The demand model suits the data finely. Further, inherent meanings can be explained for the limit of leveraging from the store density with specific revelations made by Wal-Mart in its yearly reports. Analysis of the sales model helps in finding how Wal-Mart faces crucial diminishing returns in sales from its storage density because of the nearness of the stores to the adjoining area (Holmes, 2011). Wal-Mart worked on a changing structure for its stores across the time ranging from 1962-2005. The structural model of Wal-Mart developed by Holmes (2011) is quite huge. It can find out the correct position of each single store and the position of each distribution centre, the kind of store (routine Wal-Mart or supercentre), and the type of distribution cent

Should the companies proclaim policy for protect the worker's family Essay

Should the companies proclaim policy for protect the worker's family and what's the effect - Essay Example Failing to protect the worker and the worker’s family could be very disadvantageous to the company in terms of image and brand because the general public will be appalled with a company’s labor practice that disregard the welfare and protection of its employees and its immediate dependents. When the general public will perceive the company as uncaring, they will be turned off with the company and will cease patronizing its products. When customers no longer patronize or buy a company’s product or service, its sales will decline and it follows that when sales decline, the profitability of the company will also decline and it will not be long before the company will go bankrupt. In addition to customers who would be put off with a company that does not proclaim the protection of its employee and their families, investors and the general public will begin to have a negative perception of its shares of stock and it will follow that its stock price will decline due to the negative perception of the market. When that happens, returns to the shareholders will also decline. When the returns of the shareholders investment will decline, they will withdraw their money from the company and will look for other companies to invest it in where it could be more profitable. Thus, the evil cycle will begin with shareholders leaving the company aggravating the already negative perception on the company. In the end, the company may even go bankrupt just because of the market’s negative perception of the company with its uncaring labor practice with its employees and their families. The refusal or failure of the company to protect the worker and their families come in many ways. For the worker’s family’s refusal or inability to protect them by the company, this could come in the form of non recognition of health insurance coverage and in today’s case refusal to implement Obamacare. In effect, this law mandates that companies are all required to protect all their workers and their families from rising medical cost despite their medical condition. Failure to cover its employees would tantamount to paying fines which the law will impose on the company. This is important to mention because this is the new context that businesses will be operating in terms of providing health insurance to their employees and their employees. It meant that companies will have to cover all of its employees including those who were previously uninsurable and those who have pre-exisitng conditions and that includes their families. This may mean an added cost in terms of paying premiums as employees who were not uninsurable has to be insured now that companies may be tempted to renege it to save on cost. The consequence proved to be more expensive because companies who refused to provide medical insurance protection to their employees and their families were fined heavily such as the case of big companies such as AT&T and Caterpillar who decided to stop providing health coverage for their employers because of its additional cost. As a result, it was slapped with penalty and mandated to pay heavy fines that were very costly (Colvin 125). Big companies are considering this option because the forced coverage of the new law on health insurance on all of its employees including those who were previously uninsurable would mean huge addition of cost due to the scale of its employees. Such, they deemed it more

Human Resource Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Human Resource Development - Essay Example Comparative analysis of two academic articles is the main thrust of this paper. Workplace or Individual development in learning organization is the common argument of these two articles. The development of HRD theory and practice will also be discussed. Comparative Analysis First Article. According to Alkire (2002, p.182), â€Å"One fundamental reason for serious account of dimensions is to give secure epistemological and empirical footing to the multidimensional objective of human development.† This is the reason why there are several dimensions mentioned in the first article. HD framework is important for HRD considering that the latter is expected to handle the human capital of the organization, and it is the responsible department that will oversee the development of individuals (Laird, et al., p.7). This concept is also justified through Sen’s capability approach, Finnis’ notion of human flourishing and dimensions of development. As described by Alkire (2002 , p.184), Sen’s capability approach is one of the developmental approaches that refers to freedom as to what the individual prefers. Sen resisted further that his approach is all about the many capabilities an individual possessed which can be used in the development process. The Sen’s and Finnis’ approaches are somewhat related in terms of values and reasons for actions. The human flourishing approach of Finnis is all about the basic values that â€Å"provides standards for choice and action because the integral directiveness of basic practical principles enables us to identify intermediate moral norms that exclude ways of choosing that are incompatible with a will towards integral human fulfillment† (George, 2004, p.271). The argument in the article constituted on how these... This paper stresses that authors of the two articles both conveyed different theory development, and the ways of developing varied from each other. The first article is concerned about problem-solving theories not just within the corporate sector or individual development but also in the global perspective. In fact, its definition of HRD involved the whole humanity and the public good. On the other hand, the second article is focused on the problem-solving process within the boundary of merging organizations. The argument lies in the public and private corporations and data from NHS. However, the intersecting point of two authors has meet when they talked about training and development, culture, and values. The arguments of the first article are justified by presenting theories while the basis of the second article is through the conduct of research. Both of them explained the importance of human development framework in the field of human resource development, and the outcome has be en successful. This report makes a conclusion that the first article is using different approaches and arguments that will serve as a guide to the reader. It also managed to define terms that are in broad context particularly the given approaches. The arguments are clearly defined and examples are best illustrated. However, the human resource management literature review of the article is not thoroughly explained, and some of the presented theories are omitted. The article is addressing different arguments but not all of them are discussed. The relationship between HD and HRD are not clearly answered particularly in the part of conclusion. Human Resource Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words Human Resource Development - Essay Example This required recruitment of line managers with defined technical skills and hence developing new skills became mandatory. The management became aware that the changes implemented over the recent years have altered the nature of the company. To cope up with these issues, a new human resource manager has been appointed who plans to initiate the learning and training programmes for the employees to enhance their organizational performance. The company’s induction programme lasts for two days and covers topics such as the history of the company, mission statement, organizational objectives, company ethics, rules of the organization and human resource policies (Basadur, Wakabayashi and Graen, 2008). The objective of the study is to compare different learning styles, explain the role of learning curve and access the contribution of learning styles and theories in scheduling and designing a learning event for the company’s workforce. The aim of the study is to compare the tra ining needs of the staff of Green and Company, review the success of the evaluation of training event in the company. Learning curve refers to the geometrical progression which discovers that there is a gradual decrease in cost for achievement of a given repetitive operation as the similar operation is steadily repeated. The quantity of decline will be less with every successive unit manufactured. The decision curve slope is expressed in percentage (Hayes and Allinson, 2011). This curve is a measure of experience gained in production of a product in an organization. Along with more production of units, individuals involved in the manufacturing process become more efficient. It proves to be very effective in the manufacturing industries and where the task is repetitive in nature with same equipments and tools such as in Green and Company. Green and Company can use the learning curve theory for setting standards in the learning

Face and Social Media Essay Example for Free

Face and Social Media Essay #1: Product – not just another knock-off Competing only on price was not what XiaoMi has chosen as their core strategy. Surely, their phones and tablets are cheaper than Apple’s and Samsung’s but, by far, not the cheapest ones in the market. There are cheaper smartphones that flood China, however all of them have a major flow – poor quality. Essentially, those devices are reverse-engineered versions of Samsung models built from cheaper materials. By coming up with a good quality phone at lower price range was the key strategic move that put XiaoMi firmly on the map. The phone has a robust case, high quality screen and a reasonable battery. It doesn’t break easily, unlike cheaper copycats that start having issues after just a few months of use. By building it’s own Android-based OS called MIUI, XiaoMi phones got new exciting features not found on standard Android devices as well as plenty of customization options. #2: Price – pay less now, pay more later XiaoMi has also realized that selling cheaper phones near their actual cost was not a sustainable long term strategy, so they decided to go with the Amazon’s model – just cover the cost of the devices and make money from selling content. Although, XiaoMi is often compared to Apple, especially considering the fact that their founder, Lei Jun, resembles Steve Jobs in his style and charisma, it is clear that XiaoMi’s true inspiration comes from Amazon. Also, XiaoMi mostly sells online which further reduces cost of sales and overheads related to brick and mortar stores or dealing with distributors and retailers. XiaoMi has also managed to harness the power of social media by not only broadcasting their messages and announcements but by actively engaging with their customers. Engineers are routinely encouraged to speak directly to consumers and use gathered feedback to refine software. #3: Place – gain strength at home first Although there are rumors of XiaoMi’s inevitable coming to North American and European markets, the company seems to stay focused on China with 97% of the shipments locally. It has been mentioned that their next target will be in South East Asia and, most likely, other BRIC countries. Recently, ex-Google executive, Hugo Barra, who himself hails from Brazil, has become new XiaoMi’s international face. It seems that the company is not in a rush to  go to more developed markets dominated by Apple and Samsung and prefers staying focused in its home base where the market is still booming. Perhaps, potential IP related troubles stemming from frequent accusations of possible infringements, also play role in choosing to stay away from US and EU for now. #4: Promotion – the power of word of mouth OK, this one got to be my favorite so I have to break it down. First of all, early on, they have pioneered flash style sales which were done with little or no advertising. Flash sales basically mean selling limited quantities during limited periods. They always create anticipation and urgency – great factors to win consumers’ minds and hearts. Needless to say, the units were sold quickly and talked over a lot all over China’s vibrant social media. Word of mouth marketing worked very well for XiaoMi and they continue to take full advantage of it. #5: Promotion – active use of social media XiaoMi has also managed to harness the power of social media by not only broadcasting their messages and announcements but by actively engaging with their customers. Engineers are routinely encouraged to speak directly to consumers and use gathered feedback to refine software. #6: Promotion – dedicated brand advocates Through its active role in social media, XiaoMi has also succeeded in building a dedicated fan base. Those Mi-fans are very active in social media and are, in some ways, similar to those hardcore Apple advocates that we are all familiar with. Mi-fans are always present at XiaoMi’s product launches where they are known for loud cheering and applauding. #7: Promotion – CEO as the face of the brand Last but not least, XiaoMi’s charismatic boss, Lei Jun, does a great job in making his brand look cool and current. He has put a face to a brand, something that traditional executives in China wouldn’t feel comfortable doing. Lei Jen’s similarity to Steve Jobs in the ways he talks about the brand is not a coincidence – the late Apple’s founder still holds an almost iconic image among Chinese.

The Metamorphosis of Johnny Tremain :: Tremain

The Metamorphosis of Johnny Tremain Johnny Tremain is like a butterfly; he went through a transformation. Johnny Tremain is a book by Esther Forbes about a crippled boy during the American Revolution and the events he endures. Johnny Tremain was a very dynamic character because people and events affected him. People change main characters in many books. Johnny Tremain is no exception. In Johnny's case it was the Lyte and the Lapham families. Both the Lapham family and the Lyte family probably did not mean to change Johnny, but they did. Johnny was orphaned after his mother died but was able to stay in the Lapham's house and to be an apprentice to Mr. Lapham, an elderly silver smith who educated Johnny in this art. He was always Mr. Lapham's favorite because Johnny was the finest apprentice out of the three that were there until Dove, one of the apprentices, passed Johnny a cracked crucible. Johnny's thumb then got grown into his palm when he healed. After the injury, Mr. Lapham and the whole family found Johnny useless and queer (because of his thumb). " `Don't touch me! Don't touch me with that dreadful hand!' Issanah squealed." After then Johnny grasped the fact that he went from the top to the bottom in a matter of days. It taught him that nothing is forever. Furthermore, M rs. Lapham a widowed mother of four, was probably the cruelest Lapham of all, after he got crippled. She told him that he was only good for picking rags. She also virtually shooed Johnny out of the house. This made Johnny go find a better life outside of the Lapham's shop. It also taught him to be independent. There is usually more than one family that changes a dynamic character like Johnny. The Lyte family also helped Johnny in his transformation. The Lyte's are Johnny's rich relatives that claim they are not related to Johnny. Johnny has a silver cup to prove his relation, but the Lytes still deny any relation to Johnny and claim that he stole the cup from them. When Johnny was first looking for a job, he thought he could go to the Lytes and ask for some money.

Subliminal Advertising :: essays research papers

Subliminal advertising: A collective term for public announcements designed to promote the sale of specific commodities or services while being integrated below the threshold of perception or awareness. To sell products, merchants consciously use subliminal advertising as a basis for general consumerism. This seems like an unnecessary task, but when taken into consideration all the people, who have expressed their disbelief in its effectiveness, it is obvious to see how vital and necessary such a task commands. Through this, corporations must take on new strategies and methods of persuasion and justification. The importance is that advertisers rely on a trust relationship with consumers in order to successfully subliminally sell products. In other words, those who don't believe in subliminal advertising, are its likely victims. The effect of subliminal advertising on the individual and the culture has been influenced and promoted by many different elements. Let it be magazines, newspapers or radio; but the most prominent in this field is television. Television advertising influences the choices we make, perhaps more so than anyone cares to believe. It may not be so obvious, but even teachers face competition with advertising. Television stations, for example, have some four billion dollars a year from industry to spend on programming for the same students that teacher’s face. Nicholas Johnson, a former Federal Communications Commission Commissioner from 1966 to 1973 writes that television is diametrically opposed to almost everything a teacher tries to do: TV tells them that the only thing necessary to give them all the joys in life and the values that are important is the acquisition of yet another product. TV is telling them to sit still and don't think. TV is telling them that they are to be treated as a mass. He writes that it is extremely important to understand this force in our society if a teacher is to deal with it. He writes the most important thing to know is that advertising is a business. Johnson continues: It is the business of selling. But what it is in the business of selling is you and your students. You are the product being sold. Who are you being sold to? You're being sold to an advertiser. It is the advertiser who is the consumer in this equation. The advertiser is buying you. The advertiser is buying you from the broadcaster. And why the advertiser is buying you is because he wants you to look at his message; his billboard, his magazine ad, and in this instance, his TV commercial.

Globalisation and English Essay

According to the researchers from the Levin Institute, globalisation is defined as â€Å"a process of interaction and integration among the people, companies, and governments of different nations, a process driven by international trade and investment and aided by information technology. This process has effects on the environment, on culture, on political systems, on economic development and prosperity, and on human physical well-being in societies around the world.†1 Coleman (2006: 2) considers that globalization is characterized by the compression of time and geographical distance, the reduction of diversity through intensified trade and communication, and new social relationships marked by reduced local power and influence. Gray (2002: 152) considers that a series of factors are associated with this phenomenon, including the rise of transnational corporations (which challenge the autonomy of the nation-state), the interconnection which goes beyond national boundaries, the development of technologies which compress space and time and make communication instantaneous and increasing cultural hybridization. The combination of these factors generates two visions on the present and future, an apocalyptical dystopia or the image of the humanity at the beginning of a new era of civilisation. Berger (2003: 2) describes the utopian perspective as the promise of an international civil society, conducive to a new era of peace and democratization. The dystopian nightmare implies â€Å"the threat of an American economic and political hegemony, with its cultural consequence being a homogenized world resembling a sort of metastasized Disneyland (charmingly called a â€Å"cultural Chernobyl† by a French governme nt official).† As Berger and many others rightfully notice, there is indeed an emerging global culture, with an American origin and content, which Berger describes using a phrase belonging to the Chilean historian Claudio Veliz: â€Å"the Hellenistic phase of Anglo-American civilization†. The formulation is clearly dissociated from any interpretation in terms of imperialism, as Greece had no imperial power by the time the civilized world was described as Hellenistic. Even though the United States have today a great deal of  power, its culture is not imposed globally be means of force. During the Hellenistic times, the main vehicle for cultural propagation was language, the basic and vulgar Greek, Koine. The nowadays koine seems to be English, that new lingua franca for the new emerging global culture, which the world population learn for practical reasons. English has become the medium of international, economic, technological and scientific communication, however much this may enrage intellectuals in certain places or the world, such as France or Quebec. Millions of people all over the world learn English because they want to take part in this global communication, not because they want to read Shakespeare in the original. As Fishman puts it, â€Å"whether we consider English a â€Å"killer language† or not, whether we regard its spread as benign globalization or linguistic imperialism, its expansive reach is undeniable and, for the time being, unstoppable. Never before in human history has one language been spoken (let alone semi-spoken) so widely and by so many.†(cf. Fishman, 1999: 26) Crystal (1997: 13) notices that the reason why a language becomes a global language does not have much to do with the number of people who use it. It is much more important who those speakers are. Latin became an international language throughout the Roman Empire, but this was not because the Romans were more numerous than the peoples they subjugated. The writer goes on arguing that language has no independent existence, living in some sort of mystical space apart from the people who speak it. Language exists only in the brains and mouths and ears and hands and eyes of its users. Consequently, when they succeed, on the international stage, their language succeeds. When they fail, their language fails with them. A language does not become a global language as it possesses special intrinsic structural properties, or because of the size of its vocabulary, or because it has been a vehicle of a great literature in the past, or because it was once associated with a great culture or religio n. These factors can motivate someone to learn a language, of course, but none of them alone, or their combination can ensure a language’s world spread. A language has traditionally become an international language for one chief reason: the power of its people – especially their political and military power. Still,  according to Crystal, the international language dominance is not entirely the result of military might. It may take a militarily powerful nation to establish a language, but it takes an economically powerful one to maintain and expand it. This was the case in the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries, when economic developments began to operate on a global scale and supported the new communication technologies – telegraph, telephone, radio – and fostered the emergence of massive multinational organizations. The development of a competitive industry and business led to an explosion of international marketing and advertising. Also, the technology, chiefly in the form of movies and records, fuelled new mass entertainment industries which had a worldwide impact. As Crystal rightfully underlines it, any language at the centre of such an explosion of international activity would suddenly have found itself with a global status. English, he sustains, was in the right place at the right time. During the nineteenth century, Britain had become the world’s leading industrial and trading country. At the end of the century, the population of the USA was larger than that of any of the countries of Europe, and its economy was the most productive and the fastest growing in the world. During the twentieth century, this world presence was maintained and promoted through the economic supremacy of the American superpower. Politics was replaced by economics the chief driving force. And the language behind the US dollar was English. The American English, as any other language, carries with it a cultural freight of cognitive, normative and emotional connotations which insinuate themselves in the consciousness of those who speak it. According to Berger (2000: 427), it makes sense to assume that the attractiveness of English, especially of its American form, is due at least in part to its capacity to express the sensib ilities of a dynamic, pluralistic and rationally innovative world. The prospect that a lingua franca is needed for the entire world emerged powerfully during the twentieth century, when various international bodies (such as United Nations, UNESCO or UNICEF) came into being. The need to adopt a unique lingua franca in order to facilitate communication in such contexts is obvious, as the alternative would be expensive and impracticable multi-way translation facilities. The need for a global language is particularly appreciated by the international academic and business communities, composed of members with a large variety of mother tongues, as well as in the  thousands of individual contacts being made daily around the world, as people nowadays have become more mobile, both physically and electronically, due to the invention of the Internet. There are many considerable benefits which would flow from the existence of a global language; but several commentators have pointed to possible risks which may emerge from the existence of a unique lingua franc a. Johnson (2009: 132) has identified three paradoxes of thought regarding the status of English as a so-called lingua franca, each of these conflicts being interlinked with the others. The first paradox is an illustration of the widespread disagreement on whether English should be considered a powerful economic tool for development and commerce, or its rise is a dangerous mechanism which reinforces and creates new inequalities based on English-proficiency. There is also a risk that that those who speak English as their mother tongue will automatically be in a position of power compared with those who have to learn it as an official or foreign language. For example, a scientist with another native language than English will need more time to assimilate a report in English and consequently, less time to carry out his or her own scientific research. Moreover, if his or her work is written in other language than English, there is a chance that he or she will have his or her work ignored by the international scientific community. A different scenario could be that of the senior managers who do not have English as their mother tongue and find themselves working for English-language companies; these persons could find themselves at a disadvantage compared with their mother-tongue colleagues, especially when meetings involve the use of informal speech. Crystal (2007: 16) claims that there is already anecdotal evidence to suggest that these thi ngs happen. Knowledge of English is a powerful tool for development and advancement throughout the world and fluency in English is seen as a step forward in the people’s struggle for self-sufficiency and success. The increase in global interactions has stimulated demand for more efficient communication across lingual borders. A second reason for the popularity of English among the world population is the language’s association with all things â€Å"modern†, most likely thanks to American pop culture. But recently, observers of the spread of English have pointed that English is not only helpful but is becoming increasingly necessary for success in the nowadays world, leaving those who do not speak  it behind. Researchers have noted that publications written in languages other than English have a considerably lower impact, being less cited than English-language works. Various advertising companies make intensive use of the lingual imagery, using English when they want to express globality, modernism, and progressivism. In this manner, the English language continues its growth, owing its popularity to the financial benefits of those using it and to the attractive lifestyle images attached to it. For many, from rich business executives to low-income students, English and its command has been constructed as â€Å"language power of opportunity, free of the limitations that the ambitious attribute to their native languages† (cf. Johnson, 2009: 134). The English-only systems are accused of violation of the equality of opportunity and lingual rights should be protected like other human rights, instead of being left to market forces, but on the other hand, the role of English in bringing pr osperity to those who use it cannot be ignored. English, like any other economic tool, is not equally and universally available and may function as a new dividing line in the quest for progress. Fishman argues that â€Å"spreading languages often come to be hated because they can disadvantage many as they provide advantages for some.† (1999: 28). The analysis devoted recently to the spread of English has got precisely to the point that English is not only helpful but is becoming increasingly necessary for success in the working world, leaving those who do not speak it behind. This system which rewards English-speakers and leaves the rest outside is highly questionable. On the one hand, all skills, including lingual ability, should be awarded; on the other hand, the ability in a language which is native to some and the educational access to which is nor fairly spread should not count for more than one’s field-related expertise. A second conflict Johnson draws attention upon has emerged with regard to culture. There are voices claiming that English language is an imperialist and homogenizing force detrimental to the world’s diversity of cultures, while others consider that the English language is separating from its culture of origin and actually facilitating cross-cultural dialogue. English is considered the carrier of the images of globalization, threatening not only to make those who speak it more alike, but to mould them in the culturally-specific American image that it carries in its syntax. English  may be the tool for communicating used by the international elite, and consequently the language of choice for those who aspire to gain this status, but languages are more than mere modes for communication. They are also the carriers of entire perspectives upon the world, the containers of culture and identity. â€Å"While this means that decreasing lingual diversity can lead to the loss of irrepl aceable bodies of knowledge and tradition, it also reinforces the influence of those who hold such power.† (Johnson, 2009: 137) As there is a direct but also a subtle connection between the way the speakers understand the world around them and the language they speak to communicate, using lingual power is a particularly effective modality to spread one’s influence. Many scholars fear that the brand of Americanized â€Å"cosmopolitanism† threatens not to celebrate diversity, but to destroy, or dilute in the best case-scenario, the cultures in its path. On the positive side, the rise of English is considered a positive development for culture, linking people who come from a wide range of backgrounds and allowing speakers to share their culture and ideas with a larger audience. But many of modern English students are not very interested in becoming culturally American but more eager in learning English for international purposes, many times related to their careers. International communication through English is more and more characterized by interactions between those who speak it as a second language rather than by communication between native speakers. It is true that the balance of power may have determined that English would become the dominant global language, but the language in itself can no longer be understood as functioning exclusively to serve the interests of English-speaking states. In sport, business, entertainment or advertising, English is being more and more used as a communication tool, and various scholars in the field claim that this is only strengthening global cultural awareness and the appreciation of diversity. But, according to Graddol, (1997: 3) the language is at a critical moment in its global career: within a decade or so, the number of people who speak English as a second language will exceed the number of native speakers. The implications of this shift are very important: the centre of authority related to the lan guage will move from speakers to the global resource. Their literature and television may no longer provide the focal point of a global English language culture, their teachers no longer form the unchallenged authoritative models for  learners. The increasing adoption of English as a second language by people belonging to various communities, where it takes on local forms, is leading to fragmentation and diversity. The third conflict noticed in the analysis of the rise of English has to do with the permanence of its ascendancy. Many observers believe that English is â€Å"just another lingua franca† but there are persons who worry that its rise with the rapid globalization means that it is a more permanent, and probably more dangerous, phenomenon. Phillipson (1996: 429) notices that English has acquired a narcotic power in many parts of the world, an addiction that has long term consequences that are far from clear. For some scholars the pre-eminence of the English language is nothing more than a passing phase. Johnson (2009: 141) cites Fishman, who claims that â€Å"historically, languages have risen and fallen with the military, economic, cultural or religious powers that supported them.† Russian, for example, was the indisputable language of power from Berlin to Beijing until the fall of the ideological system that supported it. Since then, English has taken its place, supporte d by the political and economic forces behind it. But there are many reasons to believe that the heyday of the English language will not long outlive the powers that have propelled it. Other languages, large or small, may gain more importance, and one sign of this future development is that the widespread popularity of English means that ability in other languages will become equally, if not more, valuable for employment in specific fields. Even though English is the tool of today’s global communication, regional lingua francas like Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, or Swahili are more effective modes to reach greater, even if less affluent, groups of people. Fishman claims â€Å"Indeed, for all the enthusiasm and vitriol generated by grand-scale globalization, it is the growth in regional interactions —trade, travel, the spread of religions, interethnic marriages— that touches the widest array of local populations. These interactions promote the spread of regional languages.† (1999: 39) Regional languages are gaining more importance as the societies who speak them gain economic influence and power on the global level. It is agreed that it wonâ €™t be long before they become major competitors to the English language. Johnson (2009: 142) also sustains that lasting English language dominance is  unlikely because of the basic human tendency to resist domination. According to her, â€Å"trends that are perceived as hegemonic can have the indirect effect of producing a backlash, prompting groups to hold on more tightly to their local identities.† Fishman (1999:40) explains that languages â€Å"serve a strong symbolic function as a clear mark of ‘authenticity’ †and are inextricably tied to a community’s sense of identity. Still, no other language in recorded history has ever been spoken as widely as English. Many of the languages existing in the world have lost the vocabulary to describe certain realities and the non-adaptation of new or technical English terminology to other languages can mean the disappearance of many scholarly traditions belonging to these cultures. As Crystal (1997: 139) underlines, there has never been a language so widely spread or spoken by so many people as English. There are therefore no precedents to help us see what happens to a language when it achieves genuine world status. The way the global use of English will influence the world is not an answer to be found easily, but being aware of its importance will help us maximize the benefits and minimize its costs. Graddol (1997: 3) describes two competing trends which will give rise to a less predictable context within which the English language will be learned and used: on the one hand, the use of English as a global lingua franca requires intelligibility and the setting and maintenance of standards; on the other hand, the increasing adoption of English as a second language, where it takes on local forms, is leading to fragmentation and diversity. Therefore, there is no way of precisely predicting the future of English since its spread and continued vitality is driven by s uch contradictory forces. The future of English is likely to be a complex and plural one. The language will probably grow in usage and variety, yet simultaneously diminish in relative global importance. We may find the hegemony of English replaced by an oligarchy of languages, including Spanish and Chinese. In economic terms, the size of the global market for the English language may increase in absolute terms, but its market share will probably fall. Fishman (1999: 39) tries to look ahead into the future making guesses about the future of the global language of the contemporary world. In his opinion,  English may well gravitate increasingly toward the higher social classes, while the members of the lower classes will turn towards regional languages accepting more modest gains. He fears that most non-native English speakers may come to like and accept the language far less in the twenty-first century than most native speakers are ready to anticipate. The premises are already obvious: the Germans are alarmed by the fact that their researchers are using overwhelmingly English in order to publish the results of their studies. Also, France seems to remain highly resistant to English in mass media, diplomacy, and technology. Much as English may be learned today, it could become even more widely disliked. Resentment of both the predominance of English and its tendency to spread along class layers could in the future prove a key factor against its further globalization. After the regional rivals of English experience their own growth, there is no reason to assume that the language will still be necessary for technology, higher education, and social mobility. Fishman rightfully comments that civilization will not sink into the sea if and when that happens. When French language experienced a decline from its peak of influence this did not mean an irreparable harm on art, music, or diplomacy. Similarly, the decline of German did not harm the exact sciences. The scholar brings into discussion the examples of ancient Greek, Aramaic, Latin, and Sanskrit which were once world languages representing military might, sophistication, commerce, and spirituality and which are mere relics in the modern world. Likewise, the power of English will not outlive for long the technical, commercial, and military supremacy of the Anglo-American giant, when a stronger power appears to challenge it. Fishman concludes that the fact that the use of English around the world might decline does not necessarily determine the values associated today with its spread to decline at the same time. Ultimately, democracy, international trade, and economic development can flourish in any tongue. Bibliography: Berger, P., 2000, Four Faces of Global Culture, in O’Meara, P., Mehlinger, H., Krain, M. (eds.) Globalization and the Challenges of the New Century: A Reader, Indiana University Press, Bloomington Berger, P., Huntington, S. 2002, Many Globalizations: Cultural Diversity in the Contemporary World, Oxford University Press, New York Coleman, J. A. 2006, English-medium  teaching in European Higher Education. Language Teaching, 39(1), pp. 1–14. Available at http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1017/S026144480600320X Crystal, D. 1997. English as A Global Language. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Fishman, J. A. 1999. The New Linguistic Order. Foreign Policy, 113 : 26–40 Graddol, D. 1997. The Future of English? The British Council. Retrieved at http://www.britishcouncil.org/de/learning-elt-future.pdf Gray, J, 2002, The Global Coursebook in English Language Teaching, in Block D, Cameron, D (eds.) Globalisation and Language Teaching, Routledge, London Johnson, A. 2009, The Rise of English: The Language of Globalization in China and the European Union. in Macalester International: Vol. 22, Article 12. Available at: http://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/macintl/vol22/iss1/12 Phillipson, R. 1996. English Only Worldwide, or Language Ecology. TESOL Quarterly 30: 429–452.