Psychosis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Psychosis - Research Paper Example Suicidal tendency is more among patients with psychosis. It can occur as part of psychological diseases such as bipolar disease, delusions, depression, personality disorders, schizophrenia etc. Lots of reasons are cited for the occurrence of psychosis. Heredity, environment and some physical diseases such as HIV, brain tumor etc can play a pivotal role in causing psychosis. This paper analyses various dimensions such as causes, symptoms, treatment options etc of psychosis. Causes of Psychosis The exact causes of psychosis are still unknown to the medical science. However, psychologists and psychiatrists are of the view that along with biological reasons, heredity and environment also play an important role in causing psychosis. It is not necessary that psychosis is caused by one single reason. In many cases, more than one reason is associated with psychosis. Like most of the other psychological diseases, stress is associated with psychosis. Tough life situations can often generate in tolerable amount of stress. Suppression of stress often results in emotional outbursts or catharsis in the form of psychosis. â€Å"Being born in the winter months, being brought up in a big city, immigration, childhood head injury, stressful life events and use of street drugs† etc are some of the environmental factors which can cause psychosis (What causes psychosis, 2004, p.1). Environment can condition or strengthen some of our behaviors. For example, a person brought up in a city may struggle to adjust with the poor living conditions of a rural area. The luxurious life styles of the city need not be available in rural areas. Sudden changes in living standards or life styles can develop frustration and stress which may lead towards psychosis. I have a friend who has developed psychosis when he got employment in a city. He was an innocent person and was unaware of the malpractices in the city. When he faced challenges from the crooked fellow employees, it was difficult for him to adapt with it and subsequently he developed signs of psychosis and forced to resign from his employment. Genetic factors can also contribute to the development of psychosis. Our brain receives and sends different information and instructions with the help of neurotransmitters, transporters and receptors. Genes, the basic building blocks of our DNA, instruct our body in the protein manufacturing process. Genes can commit mistake in the protein manufacturing process which is often referred as mutation. â€Å"When a mutation occurs in a gene that contains the instructions for a brain protein, like a neurotransmitter, it may contribute to a chemical imbalance in the brain, which is one of the factors in the development of psychosis† (What causes psychosis, 2004, p.1) Alcohol and certain illegal drugs, both during use and during withdrawal can cause psychosis along with Brain tumors, Dementia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, chromosomal disorders, HIV, some pres cription drugs such as steroids and stimulants, Some types of epilepsy and Stroke can cause psychosis (Psychosis, 2010). It is proved scientifically that thyroid problems can cause psychological diseases. In short, heredity, environment and biological factors can contribute to the development of psychosis. Symptoms of Psychosis Confused thoughts, feeling about sped up or slowed down thoughts, preoccupation with unusual ideas, belief in other’

Compensation Management Essay Example for Free

Compensation Management Essay Compensation Management is an integral part of the management of he organization. Compensation is a systematic approach to providing monetary value to employees in exchange for work performed. It may achieve several purposes assisting in recruitment, job performance, and job satisfaction. It is the remuneration received by an employee in return for his/her contribution to the organization. It is an organized practice that involves balancing the work-employee relation by providing monetary and non-monetary benefits to employees. It is a tool used by management for a variety of purposes to further the existence and growth of the company. It may be attuned according to economic scenario, the business needs, goals, and available resources. Compensation Management contributes to the overall success of the organization in several ways. To be effective, the managers must appreciate the value of competitive pay, their human resources, and have an investment view of payroll costs. We want to maintain pay levels that attract and retain quality employees while recognizing the need to manage payroll costs. The increasing competitiveness of the labour market and turnover of employees had resulted in nightmare in compensation planning. Apart from this, the growing demands of the employees and competitive salaries offered by multinational companies had almost resulted in a compensation war in certain industries. Therefore, the human resources managers and tax experts have to evolve proper compensation planning for High end and qualified employees. The components of compensation have to be devised in such a way that, it focuses on the growing demands of employees while retaining the competitiveness and profitability of the company. Compensation management, also known as wage and salary administration, remuneration management, or reward management, is concerned with designing and implementing total compensation package. The traditional concept of wage and salary administration emphasised on only determination of wage and salary structures in organisational settings. Pay is a difficult topic of conversation in most organizations. In fact, the topic is altogether taboo in many workplaces. It simply isn’t discussed unless absolutely necessary. And, when it is necessary, such as when a pay raise (or lack of one) must be xplained to an employee, many managers find themselves at a loss for words. As the dreaded date of such a discussion approaches, managers may begin checking their sick time banks to see if they can disappear for a day or two. While it may be a touchy subject, pay is a critical factor in the work lives of employees. Jobs are accepted or rejected based in part on starting salary and the opportun ity for future increases in pay. Employees compare their pay to that of others in the same line of work. They constantly compare their pay level to their level of contribution, trying to determine whether the ratio of give and receive is a fair one. While it may not be a frequent topic of open discussion, employees think about pay often. Components of compensation:- Basic wages/Salaries:- These refer to the cash component of the wage structure based on which other elements of compensation may be structured. It is normally a fixed amount which is subject to changes based on annual increments or subject to periodical pay hikes. Wages represent hourly rates of pay, and salary refers to the monthly rate of pay, irrespective of the number of hours put in by the employee. Wages and salaries are subject to the annual increments. They differ from employee to employee, and depend upon the nature of job, seniority, and merit. Dearness allowance:- The payment of dearness allowance facilitates employees and workers to face the price increase or inflation of prices of goods and services consumed by him. The onslaught of price increase has a major bearing on the living conditions of the labour. The increasing prices reduce the compensation to nothing and the money’s worth is coming down based on the level of inflation. The payment of dearness allowance, which may be a fixed percentage on the basic wage, enables the employees to face the increasing rices. Incentives:- Incentives are paid in addition to wages and salaries and are also called ‘payments by results’. Incentives depend upon productivity, sales, profit, or cost reduction efforts. There are: (a) Individual incentive schemes, and (b) Group incentive programmes. Individual incentives are applicable to specific employee performance. Where a given task demands group efforts for completion, incentives are paid to the group as a whole. The amount is later divided among group members on an equitable basis. Bonus:- The bonus can be paid in different ways. It can be fixed percentage on the basic wage paid annually or in proportion to the profitability. The Government also prescribes a minimum statutory bonus for all employees and workers. There is also a bonus plan which compensates the Managers and employees based on the sales revenue or Profit margin achieved. Bonus plans can also be based on piece wages but depends upon the productivity of labour. Non-monetary benefits:- These benefits give psychological satisfaction to employees even when financial benefit is not available. Such benefits are: (a) Recognition of merit through certificate, etc. (b) Offering challenging job responsibilities, (c) Promoting growth prospects, (d) Comfortable working conditions, (e) Competent supervision, and (f) Job sharing and flexi-time. Commissions:- Commission to Managers and employees may be based on the sales revenue or profits of the company. It is always a fixed percentage on the target achieved. For taxation purposes, commission is again a taxable component of compensation. The payment of commission as a component of commission is practised heavily on target based sales. Depending upon the targets achieved, companies may pay a commission on a monthly or periodical basis. Mixed plans:- Companies may also pay employees and others a combination of pay as well as commissions. This plan is called combination or mixed plan. Apart from the salaries paid, the employees may be eligible for a fixed percentage of commission upon achievement of fixed target of sales or profits or Performance objectives. Nowadays, most of the corporate sector is following this practice. This is also termed as variable component of compensation. Piece rate wages:- Piece rate wages are prevalent in the manufacturing wages. The laborers are paid wages for each of the Quantity produced by them. The gross earnings of the labour would be equivalent to number of goods produced by them. Piece rate wages improves productivity and is an absolute measurement of productivity to wage structure. The fairness of compensation is totally based on the productivity and not by other qualitative factors. Fringe benefits:- Fringe benefits may be defined as wide range of benefits and services that employees receive as an integral part of their total compensation package. They are based on critical job factors and performance. Fringe benefits constitute indirect compensation as they are usually extended as a condition of employment and not directly related to performance of concerned employee. Fringe benefits are supplements to regular wages received by the workers at a cost of employers. They include benefits such as paid vacation, pension, health and insurance plans, etc. Such benefits are computable in terms of money and the amount of benefit is generally not predetermined. The purpose of fringe benefits is to retain efficient and capable people in the organisation over a long period. They foster loyalty and acts as a security base for the employees. Profit Sharing: – Profit-sharing is regarded as a steppingstone to industrial democracy. Profit-sharing is an agreement by which employees receive a share, fixed in advance of the profits. Profit-sharing usually involves the determination of an organisation’s profit at the end of the fiscal year and the distribution of a percentage of the profits to the workers qualified to share in the earnings. The percentage to be shared by the workers is often predetermined at the beginning of the work period and IS often communicated to the workers so that they have some knowledge of their potential gains. To enable the workers to participate in profit-sharing, they are required to work for certain number of years and develop some seniority. The theory behind profit-sharing is that management feels its workers will fulfill their responsibilities more diligently if they realise that their efforts may result in higher profits, which will be returned to the workers through profit-sharing. Approaches of compensation management There are 3P approach of developing a compensation policy centered on the fundamentals of paying for Position, Person and Performance. Drawing from external market information and internal policies, this program helps establish guidelines for an equitable grading structure, determine capability requirements and creation of short and long-term incentive plans. The 3P approach to compensation management supports a company’s strategy, mission and objectives. It is highly proactive and fully integrated into a company’s management practices and business strategy. The 3P system ensures that human resources management plays a central role in management decision making and the achievement of business goals. Paying for position Paying for person Paying for performance Because it is so important to employees, the issue of pay deserves to be clearly addressed. In spite of their hesitance, managers are capable of dealing with this sometimes difficult issue in a professional and effective manner. By keeping the following basic points about pay in mind, they can address virtually any pay-related topic with their employees in a professional and productive manner. Specificity is Key Pay is a topic with many different shades and a variety of implications. Whenever approaching the subject, it is important to work out the details beforehand so that specifics can be clearly communicated. For the manager, this means that the increase amount is nailed down before discussing a promotion with an employee. No chance of misunderstanding or false expectations can be permitted. Far too often, managers are apt to discuss generalities. â€Å"It will mean a good increase. † What exactly does that mean in terms of the employee’s monthly budget? If care is not taken here, good news can become the source of conflict and resentment. By the same token, if asked for a raise, the manager should request that the employee suggest a specific number that he believes reflects his value. Once the employee provides that number, the manager can do his homework and decide what, if anything can be done. The employee can then be given a definitive response. Pay is Relative What one employee considers a fantastic increase maybe an insult to another? Each individual has a unique set of creativity and competencies. Pay should be based on the performance, position and the competencies/skills the person is having. Pay is Not Created Equal Various forms of pay have different purposes. The two most common forms of direct cash compensation in most companies are base pay and bonus. Base pay is the annual salary or hourly wage paid to an employee given the job he holds, While bonus is typically (or at least should be) rewarded based on the achievement of a goal of the organization. Discussions about bonus payments should be as specific as possible. This is the opportunity to point out particular accomplishments that contributed to overall team or company success. Even if the bonus is paid to all employees based on a simple overall company profit target, the manager should use the opportunity to point out specifically how individual employees helped achieve that target. Distributing bonus checks presents a unique motivational opportunity for a manager. Handing money to an employee while discussing actions and behaviors he would like to see repeated, creates a powerful link between performance and reward. Discussions about base pay increases can be a bit different. Most companies claim to link their annual base pay increases to performance. In reality, however, base pay decisions take into account a variety of factors, including the relative pay of others in the same job, the company’s increase budget, market practices and where the individual falls within his pay range. Even when performance is a factor, the manager is faced with the difficult task of evaluating an entire year’s worth of activity and then categorizing it according to the percentage increase options allowed by the budget. It becomes very difficult to pinpoint specific employee actions or accomplishments as the reason for the increase. For these reasons, it’s appropriate for the discussion about base pay increases to be more general and balanced. Both strengths and weaknesses of the employee should be addressed. The actual increase is then based on an overall assessment, as opposed to a link with one or two specific outcomes. Any other factors that impact the increase percent, such as budget or pay range should be openly discussed as well. Development of a Compensation Philosophy All organizations pay according to some underlying philosophy about jobs and the people who do them. This philosophy may not be in writing, but it certainly exists. Pay maybe treated in a formal and structured manner at one company. At another, any appearance of structure is intentionally avoided so that decisions can be made arbitrarily. Either way, the approach taken reflects a fundamental belief about people, motivation and management. Before an organization actually develops a compensation plan, there are several questions that need to be answered. Taking the time to consider and answer these questions will make the both the process of developing and administering a compensation plan much easier and will result in the development of a compensation plan that more closely matches the organization’s goals and objectives. Managers often want to view each individual as a separate case. It is important to understand, however, that employees operate within a compensation system. A manager is wise to take the time to learn as much as possible about his company’s compensation system.

Fractals: The Organization of Chaos :: Mathematics Geometry Essays

Fractals: The Organization of Chaos Please ignore the references to pictures or figures. I no longer have them, so I could not include them on this page. Thanks. Fractals are a relatively new concept in geometry. Most concepts for Euclidean geomtery, the division of geometry which deals with lines, circles, triangles, and other standard shapes, stem from the Late Greek and Early Rioman times. Considering the age of mathematics, the study of fractals is new becasue it dates to the beginning of this century. However, the age of computers brought about an explosion into this yet untamed universe of math. As Heinz-Otto Peitgen and Dietmar Saupe remark in the preface for The Science of Fractal Images, "Computer graphics has played an essential role both in its development and rapidly growing popularity" (V). Before this, mathematicians could only visualize what they were discussing (Mandelbrot, Fractals: Form, Chance, and Dimension 2). But now, fractals are the mathematician's answer to chaos and therefore can be used to help scientists better understand nuature and the universe. Scientists can define any structure from a snowflake to a mountain o r even an entire planet with this new division in Mathematics. Thus, fractals define our universe. Benoit B. Mandelbrot is a key figure behind the rise of this new science. A Professor of mathematical Sciences at Yale and an IBM Fellow, Mandelbrot is the man who coined the term "fractal" in 1975. Mathematicians, such as Gaston Julia, only defined them as sets before this and could only give properties of these sets. Also, there was no way for these early fractal researchers to see what they were hypothesizing about. As Mandelbrot states in The Fractal Geometry of Nature, "I coined fractal from the Latin adjective fractus. The corresponding Latin verb frangere means 'to break...'" (4). Mandelbrot used this particular root because of how he defines fractals. Unlike Euclidean geometry, which has its figures in a particular dimension (e.g. a square is two-dimensional), fractals have fractional dimensions. They do not exist in just one dimension but can encompass part of another. For example, as Mort La Brecque states in his article on fractals in the Academic American Encyclopedia "a natural fractal of fractal dimension 2.8 ... would be a spongelike shape that is nearly three dimensional in its appearance. A natural fractal of fractal dimension 2.2 would be a much smoother object that just misses being flat" (105-106, Mandelbrot "Fractals").

Napoleon Bonaparte Essay

During Napoleon’s reign as Emperor of the French Empire he made laws, or a set of codes, that applied to all of France. He enacted laws that protected the people, promoted religious tolerance and took away the serfdom and feudalism systems, all of which gave people more freedom over their land to support themselves and their families. The well-being of the people was compromised since the workers lacked many rights, this being evident by the fact that trade unions and strikes were illegal, which encouraged employer abuse. One aspect of Napoleons opening up government positions other than the nobility class was that it would have provided officials who could sympathize with the commoners, and therefore would have brought fresh ideas to the French political scene. A downside to his rule was that he limited the freeness of speech and press by closely monitoring the press and prohibited any ideas that seemed to be against the French Emperor in his eyes; and also the French Police read peoples mail. Napoleon showed a keen interest in learning early on in life. It was primarily based on the desire to learn about new military strategies. On the contrary, he suppressed new ideas and learning from coming into the empire by quieting anybody who spoke or thought differently than himself. For example, Mme. Stael was a writer who had established a salon where European people with influence could come together and share new ideas with one another. Napoleon saw this as a threat to his power, so he shut down the salon and exiled Mme. Stael to Germany where she could no longer write and spread new ideas in his French domain. Napoleon promoted equality by allowing people from all social backgrounds to obtain government careers by based upon ability only as opposed to whose family you were born in, or what rank you had. Another way was by his changing the standards of aristocracy that was based upon ones merit in state service. He contradicted himself by claiming he had when equality for all citizens. Women were considered â€Å"less than equal† in the empire and  lacked many of the rights that men had, and was considered as a minor in court cases. RECOMMENDATIONS 1.If I were to grade Napoleon’s leader based on the principles of the Enlightenment I would give him a C. Because even though he did secure some freedom for the people, he still failed at equality for all people being taking so many freedoms away that the Revolution had made. 2.I would tell Napoleon to change his laws limiting women so much, otherwise he should stop saying â€Å"freedom for all!† 3.Should follow the philosopher Diderot and apply his ideas of social equality that would make a better society.

Free Space Optical Communication Essay

Free space optical communication is the most growing communication because it is easy to install and has a high speed because the signal is transmitted in the air. So that will introduce the atmospheric affect in the optical wave propagation. Atmospheric turbulence causes fluctuations in both the intensity and the phase of the received signal. So we need to study the effect and the limitation if we introduce a free space optical communication system with dual wavelength (980 nm, 1550 nm). Also studying the effect of turbulence when using two different wavelengths. Introduction Free space optical communication is a kind of communication that use light propagation to send data between two points. Free Space Optics are capable of up to 2.5 Gbps of data, voice and video communications through the air, allowing optical connectivity without requiring fiber-optic cable or securing spectrum licenses. So we can use LED’s or Laser for transmission data. Free Space Optics (FSO) technology is relatively simple. It’s built on a laser transmitter and a receiver to provide full duplex capability. Each FSO unit uses a high-power optical source, a lens that transmits light through the atmosphere to another lens receiving the information. The receiving lens connects to a high-sensitivity receiver via optical fiber. Because the transmission in occurred in air it is easily upgradable. FSO send a light beam from one point to another using low power lasers in the teraHertz spectrum. This beam is transmitted by laser light focused on photon detector receivers. These receivers collect the photon stream and transmit digital data. If there is a clear line between the two point FSO can operate on a distance of several kilometers as long we have a powerful transmitter. Features of the laser communications system Information usually in the form of digital data, data is entered to be regulated by the laser source transmitting electronics. Coding techniques can be used directly or indirectly depending on the type of laser used. Output source passes through the optical system in the channel. The visual system usually involves the transfer, beam shaping, and the telescope optics. Beam receiver comes in through the optical system and passed to the detection and signal processing electronics. There is also a terminal control electronics that must manage gimbals guidelines and other mechanisms, and machinery, to maintain and track the acquisition of the operating system designed in the mass of the process. In order to communicate, you must have received enough energy by the detector to distinguish signal from noise. Laser power, optical transmission system losses, pointing out shortcomings of the system, transmitter and receiver antenna gains and losses, receiver, receiver and loss tracking, are all factors that force in the establishment of the receiver power. The required optical power is determined by data rate, detector sensitivity, configuration modes, noise, and detection methods. When the receiver is to detect the signals, it is in fact the decision-making regarding the nature of the signal (digital signal is sent when the distinction between the ones and zeros). There are two types of distributions: one when the signal present (including the amount of photocurrent due to the background and the current detector in the dark), and one when there is no signal present (including sources of no signal current only). A threshold must be developed to increase the success rate and reduces the error rate. Even when there is no signal present, the fluctuation sources of no signal lead periodically to the threshold to be exceeded. This is an error stating that the signal exists when there is no signal present. Distribution of signal may also fall on the other side of the threshold, so any errors stating that the signal is going to happen even when the signal is present. Security FSO systems work in the near infrared wavelength range slightly above the visible spectrum. So, the human eye cannot clearly see the transmission beam. The wavelength range is around 1 micrometer that is used in FSO transmission. The interception of FSO operating systems with narrow beam in the infrared spectral wavelength is by far the more difficult. Small diameter of the beam is usually only a few meters in diameter in the target site are one of the reasons that make it extremely difficult to intercept the communications of the FSO. Intruder must know the exact origin or target of the infrared beam and intercept only within a very narrow angle of beam propagation. Intercept packets directly from the FSO networks between remote locations is impossible mainly because the beam passes through the air usually at a higher altitude than at ground level. Due to the fact that the transmission beam is not visible, and that any attempts to block the beam can occur near the FSO point of acces s and the process of transition poses another obstacle. Capture the signal from the location that does not fall directly within the path of light with photons of light scattered from aerosols, fog, rain, or molecules that may be present in the atmosphere is almost impossible because of the energy levels are very low use infrared through FSO process transmission. The main reason for the exclusion of this possibility of intrusion is the fact that light is an ally and statistically isotropic in different directions from the path of the original propagation. This specific mechanism keeps the total number of photons or the amount of radiation that can potentially be collected on the detector that is not placed directly in the beam path beyond the detection level of noise. Atmospheric turbulence Atmospheric turbulence can destroy the performance of FSO systems. The changes in temperature and pressure in the atmosphere lead to changes of the refractive index along the transmission path. These changes can make the quality of received signal fade and causes fluctuations in the intensity and the phase of the received signal. These fluctuations can limit the performance of the system. The atmosphere is a viscous fluid and it has two state motions: 1) laminar (there is no mixing in the air molecules) 2) turbulent: (there is mixing that creates eddies). Atmospheric turbulence can be physically described by Kolmogorov theory. The energy of large eddies is redistributed without loss to eddies of decreasing size until finally dissipated by viscosity. The size of turbulence eddies normally ranges from a few millimeters to a few meters, denoted as the inner scale and the outer scale, respectively. So the index of refraction n is very sensitive to small scale temperature fluctuations (te mperature fluctuations are combined with turbulent mixing). So, the index of refraction is the most important in optical wave propagation. Because it behaves like a passive additive. So the spectrum of index of refraction can be described by Kolmogorove spectrum ÃŽ ¦n (ÃŽ º) = 0.033 Cn 2 ÃŽ º-11/3 , 1/L0

Employee Rights Supreme Court essays

Employee Rights Supreme Court essays Saint Clair Adams had been hired as a sales counselor by Circuit City Stores, Inc., in California. As a condition of employment, he was required to sign an agreement that any disputes that arose between Adams and his employer would be settled by arbitration. Despite that, Adams sued Circuit City Stores, Inc., in state court for various discrimination complaints. The Ninth Court of Appeals in California held that "Title VII disputes cannot be made subject to compulsory arbitration agreements" as they do not constitute interstate commerce' as specified in the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA). (King, 2001, Jones Day Web site) The facts in the case, as it began, are simple: Adams signed an employment contract that demanded arbitration rather than lawsuits to settle issues between employer and employee. When such an issue arose, however, Adams decided to pursue it in court rather than seek arbitration. Circuit City Stores, Inc., acted to compel Adams to enter into arbitration. The Ninth Circuit Court, contrary to the majority of other Circuit Courts, held that the FAA was written in such a way as to exclude all employment agreements from the reach of the demands of the FAA. The Supreme Court reversed the Ninth Circuit Court's decision, saying that in fact the only agreements not subject to arbitration under FAA pertained to seamen and When the case got to the Supreme Court, it was clear that Adams wanted the Court to find with the Ninth Circuit Court, which would open the way for Adams to litigate the employment issues. Circuit City Stores, Inc., wanted the Court to reverse the Ninth Circuit Court so that it could settle the dispute through arbitration. At that point, the facts of the case as originally filed were almost irrelevant. It did not matter what the specific EEOC violation by Circuit City Stores, Inc. might have been. What mattered at that point w...

Organizational Communication Essays

Organizational Communication Essays Organizational Communication Essay Organizational Communication Essay Organizational Communication Name: Course: Institution: Instructor: Date: Organizational Communication Organizational Communication is the process of conveying, understanding information, and the bonds that tie organizations together (Stoner and Freeman 1992). Most managers spend 75% of their time communicating to their employees, customers and shareholders. Communication and comprehension abilities and skills are extremely important to managers. This is because they are crucial in their line of work. Managers should not depend on their secretaries to do all their organizational communication, as strong writing skills add to the credibility of the manager and reflects positively on a company’s image. Managers must be discreet in their written work and must know how to write effectively, they and should depend little on their secretaries (Dubrin 2000). Through communication, an organization’s activities are coordinated to enable the organization meet its goals. Managers should have excellent writing skills as it creates a good impression on the people around them including their colleagues, employees and clients. Poor communication is the leading cause of problems, and it can be extremely expensive. Organizational communication is the integral element of a manager’s function that means that a manager needs to have a good and effective way of communicating. Communication is the foundation on which the organization, and administration must be built and it should be the first function that managers develop and maintain. This is because it is the process that managers accomplish their work. During a regular working day, managers communicate via email to employees notifying them of different instructions concerning their duties at work. Such messages must be concise and self-explanatory, to enable time saving by avoiding time wastage while asking for further instructions. Business people are busy, and well-written communications helps in saving time (Torrington and Hall 1987). Managers are expected to write reports, emails, letters and memos, which their employees are supposed to read. If this communication is badly structured and written, the employees will waste time interpreting it. Effective communication is created when the intended meaning of the source and meaning of the receivers are the same. This should be the manager’s aim in any communication as good writing skills have a direct impact on their career and future. Reference: DuBrin, A. J. (2000). Essentials of management. Cincinnati: South-Western College Pub. Stoner, J. A. F., Freeman, R. E. (1992). Management. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Prentice Hall. Torrington, D., Hall, L. (1995). Personnel management: HRM in action. London: Prentice Hall.

2015 SAT Scores By State

2015 SAT Scores By State    Approximately 1.7 million students took the SAT in 2015 and the test scores varied greatly according to things like gender, ethnicity and even household income. (If you want to see that report, you can check it out here.) Its interesting, however, to see how students fared on the SAT according to their home state. The data below represents how students fared on the exam in  your  neck of the woods.   SAT Score Note Currently, the  Redesigned SAT uses a scale with a high of 1600. There are two chief areas that receive a score out of 800: Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing. Those two scores are added to get the total.   Please keep in mind that the scores reported in 2015 (those below) are based on the former SAT scoring scale, which had an absolute maximum of 2400. The former test added the Writing, Mathematics and Critical Reading sections, which had maximum scores of 800, to achieve a total score out of 2400. The national average in 2015 was a 1497, so as you can see, many states outperformed the average by significant numbers. Overall:  1497Critical Reading:  495Mathematics:  511Writing:  484 2015 SAT Scores By State State Average SAT Score Out of 2400 Critial Reading Score Mathematics Score Writing Score Alabama 1616 545 538 533 Alaska 1494 509 503 482 Arizona 1552 523 527 502 Arkansas 1688 568 569 551 California 1492 495 506 491 Colorado 1736 582 587 567 Connecticut 1514 504 506 504 Delaware 1368 462 461 445 District of Columbia 1313 441 440 432 Florida 1434 486 480 468 Georgia 1450 490 485 475 Hawaii 1472 487 508 477 Idaho 1372 467 463 442 Illinois 1802 599 616 587 Indiana 1473 496 499 478 Iowa 1755 589 600 566 Kansas 1748 588 592 568 Kentucky 1749 588 587 574 Louisiana 1675 563 559 563 Maine 1392 468 473 451 Maryland 1462 491 493 478 Massachusetts 1552 516 529 507 Michigan 1788 594 609 585 Minnesota 1778 595 607 576 Mississippi 1713 580 563 570 Missouri 1777 596 599 582 Montana 1655 561 556 538 Nebraska 1755 589 590 576 Nevada 1458 494 494 470 New Hampshire 1566 525 530 511 New Jersey 1520 500 521 499 New Mexico 1623 551 544 528 New York 1469 489 502 478 North Carolina 1478 498 504 476 North Dakota 1791 597 608 586 Ohio 1657 557 563 537 Oklahoma 1693 576 569 548 Oregon 1546 523 521 502 Pennsylvania 1485 499 504 482 Rhode Island 1472 494 494 484 South Carolina 1442 488 487 467 South Dakota 1753 592 597 564 Tennessee 1723 581 574 568 Texas 1410 470 486 454 Utah 1708 579 575 554 Vermont 1554 523 524 507 Virginia 1533 518 516 499 Washington 1496 502 510 484 West Virginia 1501 509 497 495 Wisconsin 1771 591 605 575 Wyoming 1737 589 586 562    Should You Take the SAT?   If your SAT scores were significantly lower than those reported by your fellow test-takers, perhaps it would have been better for you take the ACT exam. Although they are both college admissions tests, they differ greatly in both the content, and strategies you should use while studying and taking the tests. Heres a simple, ten-question quiz to help you determine whether or not you may fare better on one or the other.   How to Prepare for the SAT So, you took the quiz and realize that you did, indeed, take the correct college admissions exam. The bad news? You did not adequately prepare for this bad boy, so you did not get the SAT scores that you were really hoping to achieve. Well, here is some good news for you. A little bit of prep work goes a very long way when it comes to SAT prep, and you can choose a variety of ways to get ready. Here are a few of the best ways to get studying so that next time around, you do not get a bad SAT score. The Best SAT BooksSAT Tutoring OptionsSAT Apps Worth The DownloadFree SAT Practice Tests

Dutchtown High School Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Dutchtown High School - Research Paper Example From the discussion it is clear that  Dutchtown High School is located in Geismar, which is an unincorporated area in  Ascension Parish,  Louisiana.  This town has two schools, which are often ranked among the best schools in Louisiana. These are the Dutchtown elementary or Middle School and  Dutchtown High School. The school environment is an attractive scene since the Mississippi river runs across the town.  However, the area where the school is located is vulnerable to hurricanes and the tropical systems since the area is lowly elevated, and has a close location to the coast of southeast Louisiana. The town lies 23 feet above the sea level, which is slightly lower than most areas of United States.This paper discusses that  Geismar in turn is located in Louisiana, a state found in the US, which is found in the southern region. The state of Louisiana is among the most extensive and populous states of the United States. This has contributed greatly in shaping the demogr aphics patterns of Ducthtown High School in that the school boasts of a large population of students and teachers. The average ratio of students to teacher is 25:1, which is actually a moderate ratio. The capitals of Louisiana are found in Baton Rouge whereas the largest city in that state is New Orleans. One interesting political fact is that the state of New Orleans is the only state in the US whereby the three are political subdivisions known as parishes.

Flores v. Reno Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Flores v. Reno - Research Paper Example When the law catches up with the parents, however, society has long struggled with what to do with the children, particularly adolescents, while deportation proceedings are pending. Add to this the reality that there are thousands of illegal immigrant juveniles coming to the United States unaccompanied, which creates an even more muddied position where the law is concerned. There is grave disagreement in society over what to do with such immigrants who are found to be here illegally, yet lacking any strong custodial or family presence within the region. This paper deals with the facts of one such case that has caused America to re-think how they treat adolescents in such cases. Examined with be the facts and background of the case, and analysis of what the recent Flores v. Reno decision means for children of illegal immigrants today, and look at some current organisations that are providing assistance and aid to adolescents who find themselves caught in the middle of this fierce batt le. Facts and Background At the time that Flores (an illegal immigrant and juvenile) was detained, prevailing Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) policy was to hold the individual in a detention center until such time that they could either be deported or otherwise dealt with in a proper and law abiding manner. The issue, however, is that such facilities do not house only juveniles. Both sexes are present, juvenile and adult. The conditions are not conducive to minors, no educational services are provided, and social arrangements are not accommodated. Even thought Flores was an illegal immigrant lacking proper documentation, the argument was that her civil rights were being gravely violated. Interestingly enough, during this time, INS shifted its policy a bit to be more flexible in its provision that an interested adult party, should they be available, could take temporary custody of the juvenile. This was only permitted in special circumstances, however, and rarely acted u pon. The reason was that INS felt the juvenile would not have any reason to turn back up for deportation hearings, so they would be lost inside the system once again. Initially, the courts agreed with Flores, After the government won a series of appeals, however, the Supreme Court did eventually weigh in. In a 7-2 decision, the finding was against Flores and in favor of existing INS policy. While the various courts and Supreme Court Justices certainly wrestled with and sympathized with unaccompanied minor being detained, they did not feel that their rights were being unduly violated. They were to be remanded into INS custody, as deemed appropriate, until proper arrangements could be made for the care and/or return of the immigrants to their own country. The issue remains, of course, whether INS custody in a detention facility is the right place for a scared juvenile from another land. Subsequent to these rulings, the INS has reviewed and modified policies, insisting that they will n o longer subject juveniles to facilities with opposite sex members and an adult population, in exchange for finding them custodians that can more properly care for them. Many critics remain, however, as they have cited cases in at least four different states where the detainment on unaccompanied minors continues to be detrimental to the immigrants emotional and physical well being. Analysis Recent

Sustainable marketing plan for Emirates Airline Essay

Sustainable marketing plan for Emirates Airline - Essay Example Emirates Airlines ensures that passengers have the best experience possible while flying, no matter in which class a passenger is flying. Currently, Emirates Airlines has 1,000 flights leaving Dubai every week to six continents and nearly 40% of airline traffic in the Dubai International Airport consists of flights by Emirates Airlines out of Terminal 3. It is also the largest world-wide operator of the Airbus A380. In continuing its growth in the global airline market, a new Airbus Hub will be opening soon to accommodate Emirates’ large fleet of Airbus planes. The Hub will contain shopping and dining areas, first class and business class lounges that lead right on to the planes, and a first-class hotel with both four-star and five-star rooms for overnight accommodations (Emirates Global, 2012). Fig. 1(Emirates Airbus Hub, 2012) In September 2012, Qantas of Australia signed an agreement with Emirates for joint use of the new hub in Dubai, thus opening up new markets for both c ompanies. As part of the agreement, Qantas now moves its current Airbus hub from Singapore to Dubai, providing world-class seamless traveling to all parts of the globe and include it frequent flyer benefits program. This also means far more traffic through the Dubai Hub, providing customers for its shops, restaurants and its world-class hotel, a huge bonus for travellers making very long journeys who would prefer to stay overnight at the hotel instead of just getting onto another plane. While neither airlines has equity in the other, there will be a sharing of benefits such as the network collaboration of coordinated scheduling of flights, ticket sales and a seamless transition from one airline to another for those travellers who need it ( Dubai Hub, 2012). Currently, the Airbus 380 planes are used by seven global airlines: Qantas, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, Korean Airlines and China Southern (Waugh, 2012). The marketing plan goal: to align Qantas and Emira tes as major brands names in the Airbus airline industry; to create a buzz as offering the best benefits by flying with either airline; and to induce other Airbus 380 airlines to join in partnership with the Emirates Hub (3Bs). This also benefits passengers who receive special high-value benefits by flying through the Hub; promotes international flying on Airbus airplanes as the most valued way to go; and finally, brings in more profits through customer acquisition, Airbus acquisition to the Hub, and sustainable income with profits seen within the first two years of the program (3BL). Marketing Mix = 2000 Hub Customer Plan The marketing mix for customers in this plan consists of all first class and business class passengers who use the Airbus fleets of the two airlines currently signed to the new Emirates Hub. As part of the acquisition, retention and add-on selling process (ARA), the intention is for first-time Airbus Hub flyers to receive exceptional bonuses when flying through th e Dubai Hub for the first time. This first stage will include a free night at the hotel, based on the flying status of the customer, whether first class or business class. This is a major bonus because people will love the hotel once they have experienced its fine services and

Six Thousand Women Missing in Top Management Jobs Assignment

Six Thousand Women Missing in Top Management Jobs - Assignment Example A sizeable proportion of women is not being seen at the top echelons of management in public, private or legal bodies. The phenomenon is being observed across nations despite the development index or political ideology and is also not specific to certain sectors but is spread across sectors with some variations. Equal Opportunity Commission recently in a study (as cited by Curtis 2007) informed that the glass ceiling is holding back women in Britain from top 6000 positions to attain the representative proportion. A survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (2006) showed that in Cyprus, women hold only 12 % of the top executive positions. African women hold only 0.9% of key management positions and the world over the average percentage of women ranges between 10% and less on both sides of the Atlantic. (Mnganga, 2003). Most of these studies also observed that women are entering the workforce with equal qualifications but progress to top echelons is hampered. International Labour Organisation ( ILO) noted in its proceedings (ILO, 1998) that "women's access to top management posts was still severely restricted though they frequently matched or exceeded their male counterparts in terms of formal qualifications and technical know-how". There are three issues attached to this phenomenon requiring incisive inquiry. Where do these women disappear & what happens to them Does it matter and to whom What should be done, if it matters Where do these women disappear & what happens to them Women are valued if they take care of family responsibilities and vice versa. Working mothers try to balance work and family. Visible and often invisible barriers emerge from the sexual division of labor. The work culture also has a long inheritance of male dominance, which celebrates masculine qualities nested in late hours, old boy's network and informal networks. (ILO, 1998). The task of balancing both the worlds take its toll and many women start treading on a stagnated path and do not actualize their potential. Some quit in between to remain at home and in the process strengthening the stereotyped role of women and probably not even fuelling the ambitions of next-generation daughters to conquer the sky. Though some of these women break away to form their own enterprises and studies suggest that these enterprises do remarkably well. Only very few women succeed in breaking the glass ceiling. (Treanor, 2007; Bawden, 2007).  

Case Assessment Guidebook Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Case Assessment Guidebook - Essay Example This study of the criminal profile and behavioral patterns of the criminal assists the investigator in distinguishing him from the rest of the crowd to create the initial suspect list which is the first step in the investigation. Criminal profiling helps in narrowing down the list of suspects in any major investigation. Based on certain studied and proved facts which point to a specific type of crime like a serial murder or offender the clues are studied to identify the person or group, the gender, race and social status of the criminal which help in identifying the person faster. The first stage would be to make sure that a crime has been committed or not and if so the type of crime has to be determined followed by the study of the crime scene to determine the nature of the killer. This evidence is then presented in court which involves an in-depth look into the behavioral profile at all stages which could be interview techniques, lie detection etc. To study the behavior patterns of a particular suspect it requires a sound knowledge of psychology and law at the same time. The motive which plays a key role comes into focus when we start looking into the criminal psychodynamics and psychopathology. The important factor to be kept in mind is the fact that there is no common profile for any type of criminal as each one is a different individual and unique in their own manner. To be close to accurate in the profiling the investigative information has to be faultless. This information coupled with the FBI’s massive database on criminal behavior offers a dis tinct analysis of the behavior profile of the criminal. There are two ways of profiling it could be inductive and deductive reasoning. Inductive is based on the fact that a particular type of crime e.g. serial murders have a behavioral profile that would be similar to all such

Six Thousand Women Missing in Top Management Jobs Assignment

Six Thousand Women Missing in Top Management Jobs - Assignment Example A sizeable proportion of women is not being seen at the top echelons of management in public, private or legal bodies. The phenomenon is being observed across nations despite the development index or political ideology and is also not specific to certain sectors but is spread across sectors with some variations. Equal Opportunity Commission recently in a study (as cited by Curtis 2007) informed that the glass ceiling is holding back women in Britain from top 6000 positions to attain the representative proportion. A survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers (2006) showed that in Cyprus, women hold only 12 % of the top executive positions. African women hold only 0.9% of key management positions and the world over the average percentage of women ranges between 10% and less on both sides of the Atlantic. (Mnganga, 2003). Most of these studies also observed that women are entering the workforce with equal qualifications but progress to top echelons is hampered. International Labour Organisation ( ILO) noted in its proceedings (ILO, 1998) that "women's access to top management posts was still severely restricted though they frequently matched or exceeded their male counterparts in terms of formal qualifications and technical know-how". There are three issues attached to this phenomenon requiring incisive inquiry. Where do these women disappear & what happens to them Does it matter and to whom What should be done, if it matters Where do these women disappear & what happens to them Women are valued if they take care of family responsibilities and vice versa. Working mothers try to balance work and family. Visible and often invisible barriers emerge from the sexual division of labor. The work culture also has a long inheritance of male dominance, which celebrates masculine qualities nested in late hours, old boy's network and informal networks. (ILO, 1998). The task of balancing both the worlds take its toll and many women start treading on a stagnated path and do not actualize their potential. Some quit in between to remain at home and in the process strengthening the stereotyped role of women and probably not even fuelling the ambitions of next-generation daughters to conquer the sky. Though some of these women break away to form their own enterprises and studies suggest that these enterprises do remarkably well. Only very few women succeed in breaking the glass ceiling. (Treanor, 2007; Bawden, 2007).  

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 15

Reflection - Essay Example think over the causal factors as well as the potential impacts of such events as the earthquakes and the cyclones that keep happening from time to time, that I used to overlook before. I have started to realize the importance of knowing what is going on at different points under the surface of Earth around the world and how things are working. I ponder over the state of equilibrium between the internal forces of the Earth and the external factors and forces that instigate them. Before, I thought of Earth as a round shaped mass of rocks whose voids are filled with water. Having taken this course, I realize the different layers the Earth is made up of, and how changes in one layer induce changes in the other. I see the Earth as a big round electromagnet which has its own electromagnetic field. The two Earth science topics that I shall continue to follow after this course are the Weathering and Erosion. Weathering is the process responsible for inducing changes in the rocks’ surfaces that are open to the water or air. There can be several reasons for the occurrence of the weathering action. It can occur because of the physical action, plant action, abrasion or because of chemical processes like oxidation and reduction. I have selected Weathering because it gives sufficient explanation of the way different kinds of rocks were formed. Erosion, on the other hand, is the process that illustrates the causes and patterns of movement of the sediments from one place to another. Gravity is the fundamental force that causes erosion and water serves as the most significant driver of erosion. I have chosen to follow the topic of Erosion after this course because it tells how the rivers and seas were formed and the factors that cause the depth of water in a reservoir to alter ov er the time. The one action item that I would consider doing as critical to helping with the Earth’s preservation in my area, or in general is spreading awareness about the ways people can protect

World Population Essay Example for Free

World Population Essay Today all over the social media, whether a local TV station or a well known magazine such as New York Times, there have been repeated stories and articles circulating through regarding extreme poverty, sanitation and water problems in suffering countries, and other environmental issues such as global warming and possible extinction of many species due to loss of their habitat and water. We have seen it advertised and addressed everywhere. But many of these issues may be contributed to the major problem of our expanding world population. According to studies, the world population will be reaching 7 billion individuals this month. Our knowledge of how to control our increasingly high rate of world population may hold a significant solution on how these world conflicts may be controlled. If the knowledge and prevention of our expanding population seizes to act, our earthly planet may be in for a long road of unfortunate and threatening consequences. The two articles discussed in this essay address how citizens need to take on the challenge of reducing world population and what problems may continue to arise if we do not take action on such matter. First, in Jeffrey Sachs article, he notably states that with the rise of the world population reaching 7 billion that there are many consequences that must be stabilized in order to avoid major issues for our own humanity. Sachs begins his article with clearly discussing the environmental conflicts that we are and will continue to face with a growing population. Sachs states how the worlds agricultural systems are depleting our natural world. Species are becoming extinct with loss of their habitat due to expansion of our industrialized agriculture. As well, greenhouse gases are altering our climates and fertilizers are poisoning our natural elements. Sachs then goes on to discuss how the overbearing population rate is affecting our planets poorest and undeveloped countries. He describes how the poor societies suffer from high child mortality rates, lack of contraception methods, and failure of parents to provide adequate nutrition, education, and health care to their children. Jeffrey Sachs believes that there are two key factors to maintain a planet for a sustainable development. The first part is that he feels there needs to be a technological change to help avoid more environmental harm. Second, there needs to be stabilization in our world population by reducing fertility rates through family planning and contraceptive methods. Next, David Crary discussed the world population hitting 7 billion and also the challenges that are ahead of us as humans. Crary also makes a focus of how a rising population is affecting our undeveloped countries such as sub-Saharan Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. In these poor conditions with a growing population rate, many of the undeveloped countries will be suffer from food and water shortages. In Crarys article, he discusses different issues in various parts of the world. First, Crary discusses the most populous countries on our planet, India and China, and how the overpopulation of humans is causing a gender-gap between the young females and males. This could be a future threat to these countries because there might not be a large enough young population to support the elderly. Although these countries have been reducing female fertility rates, family planning is still crucial. Cray also discusses how Europe and the United States will also have challenges among them with an overbearing population. In Europe, efforts have been made to shrink the birth rate. In Spain and Italy, many couples are finding that they are not having children due to economic issues. In the US, there is a significant population increase, and we are seeing this not through only high fertility rates but also illegal immigration. Overall, Crary does feel that the issue of our population increase is also a challenge that needs to be provided with a solution. Not only does Crary support the importance of family planning, use of contraceptives, or the goal to reduce birth rates, but he also supports the impact of saving our planet environmentally. We need to preserve our natural elements and focus on prevention of saving our Earth. In conclusion, I feel that the issue of our high rising population rates needs to be addressed. I do not feel that this issue is something that should be overlooked. When reading both articles, I was informed of the importance of family planning and the use of contraception. I feel that by providing modern methods of contraception to our un-developed countries, that we would see a significant reduction of birth rates. I feel that this is necessary to keep the poor societies from starving or dying from lack of food and water due to lack of resources. Also, in Crarys article, Crary provides various stats to promote the importance of stabilizing our population. I was shocked by the fact that the International Water Management predicts that 1. 8 billion people will suffer from water shortage. This to me really impacted me, and furthered my support to take action. I truly believe after reading both articles that we as humans need to take action. Our world is going to be impacted environmentally and economically negatively if we do not step up to the challenge of reducing our world population. I hope that all humans will be influenced by this issue, and as well take their part in bettering our world and our future.

Handicraft business in the UK

Handicraft business in the UK INTRODUCTION The objective of this report is to study and prepare the business plan for a handicraft business in UK. This business plan deals with the feasibility analysis, idea generation, and industry analysis at both the local and global level to understand the market and business factors. The market analysis is also done, primarily through the secondary sources to capture the potential demand of handicrafts in the UK market and the trends which the customer are looking for in this industry. After analyzing the demand, the technical analysis was done for the business. For the success of any business, it is necessary that the idea or the basis of the plan should be strong. But it is also imperative that the plan should take into account a true picture of financials to have a strong foundation on which the business can be built upon. Therefore in the report, a detailed preparation of cash flow analysis, profitability analysis and the expected expenditure in the business has been taken care of. The report has taken into consideration the risk factor also which the business needs to consider before commencing on the work. Handicraft is a business which needs not only financial capital but also human capital and it is necessary that skilled labour is available in plenty. The attrition rate is low in this industry provided they are provided with adequate support and wages. In the report I have tried to touch upon that issue as well. Also the manner in which the products would be sold and promoted in the market would be taken care of. We would not be opening our own stores for now and would be selling on to other retailers. However the idea of opening the stores is not discarded as whole for now and would be seen as an option at a later stage in the life of the business. Heavy spending is planned to promote the products in the initial phase of the business and various media vehicles would be tried upon to promote the products well in the market. The business as of now focusing primarily on the UK market and later on in the later stage, the business can be expanded further. Handicraft Industry The handicraft industry is one of the most productive sectors in the economy. The reason being that this sector not only uses the raw materials but also give employment opportunities to a number of people. Thus not only financial capital and raw material is employed but also a lot of human capital is also used in this business (Garrison, 2008). According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Symposium on â€Å"Crafts and the International Market: Trade and customs codification†, Manila, Philippines, October 1997. Handicrafts can be defined as products which are produced either completely by hand or with the help of tools. Mechanical tools may be used as long as the direct manual contribution of the artisan remains the most substantial component of the finished product. Handicrafts are made from the raw materials and can be produced in unlimited numbers. Such products can be utilitarian, aesthetic, cultural, artistic and may have a social, religious and symbolic significance (Robertson, 2002). Industry Analysis UK has been a country with a rich and diverse culture. Lot of migrant population also resides in various parts of the country. It is because of this that handicraft industry has played an important role in this country. The industry provides economic advantage much because of the demand from various strata of the population (Mathias, 2001). Handicrafts have always attracted people much because of their cultural importance and it crosses barriers too. The customers in any market look for handicrafts from not only the local market but also from the other countries (Barlow, 1991). Therefore both the cultural and financial values are attached to this industry. This industry by its mass and production scale lies in the middle class as not much finance and manufacturing facilities are needed in this business. The industry is decentralized and is labour intensive. Not many players fight in this market and only small players operate in this area. The sector employs a lot of people and thus acts as a medium of employment for lot of people. The sector has seen an increase in growth much due to the fact that people have been more open to the culture of other countries and are accepting it more often. The era of globalization has helped in the revival of this industry not only in the UK market but also in other markets too (Andrews , 2009). Classification of Handicrafts Industry Handicraft products can be distinguished into the following: Metal ware Wood ware Hand printed textiles Embroidered and crocheted goods Shawls Carpets Embroidered goods Bamboo products Zari goods Earthenware and jute products Miscellaneous handicrafts SWOT Analysis of Handicraft Industry Strengths Market is diversified and has huge potential Presence of large product variety because of various cultures Low capital investment Flexibility in production of goods as per market demand Low barriers to the entry of new players Products sold are high value ones and have diversified usage Weakness Lack of coordination between government bodies and companies Inadequate information on the current market trends Lack of skilled labour Opportunities Development of domestic tourism sector which helps in boosting sales. Usage of internet and other technologies in boosting the market potential Rising demand because of people becoming more open to cultures Threats Lack of branding opportunities in this sector Threats from the developing countries like India and China in terms of resources Business Proposition We would be dealing in the limited set of handicraft industry as many products come under its purview. Our company would serve the needs of the customers in only the wooden handicrafts market. The reason for choosing this is that in UK market these products are used almost in every home. Products like decorative chairs, desks, beds, sofas which are made by hand are seen as high value products in the market as customers look for something different. Particularly for the UK customer, they need products which not only serve their functional purpose but also add something extra. It is with this that we plan to enter in this industry with this specific set of products. Wooden handicrafts refer to a wide range of wooden items carrying utilitarian and artistic value that are made by hand o with the use of simple tools. They are made by unmatched workmanship, have fine designs and have subtle elegance. The products require low capital investment to manufacture. The wooden handicraft sector provides a high ratio of value addition and has emerged as one of the major sources of foreign exchange in the country too. (Sumption, 2010) Market Analysis Majority of the current players in the market deal in almost all the product categories in the wooden handicraft industry. (Macleod, 2006) Retailing is not done by them and they deal in mostly the production part. They have retailing contracts with other partners which help them sell the products Monthly production units are majorly in the range of thousands of units for all the products combined Wooden and glass handicrafts are majorly in demand in the UK market. (John, 2006) Inventories are usually kept low as these products are sold and produced in lower units in the market. Almost all the players in the market hire the labor at a contractual basis rather than on a permanent basis. Many of the players take the route of exhibition to promote their products to the customers. (Mathias, 2001) These products are high margin products as they are mainly value based ones. Hence high margin and medium volume is generally the trend in the industry Competition The following players currently operate in the market and sell wooden handicrafts in the market. World Art and Crafts Ltd. Java Art Elements Ltd. Demand Analysis and Forecasting During our study we also analysed the demand pattern for the various products in the wooden handicraft market and it came to around 50000 units per month on approximation. There is a demand supply gap in the market as according to our supply the current players in the market are able to provide close to 30000 units only. Hence we consider a huge potential to be catch up in the market.(Boseley,2009) The market is growing closely at an annual rate of 15%. Hence it is decided that the capacity would be initially 60% for the first year and then it will grow accordingly. Marketing Channel As mentioned before, our business involves only manufacturing the products. Therefore we would use a network of retailers called partners to sell our products in the market. These would be mainly big retailers like WalMart, Tesco etc. Strategic Marketing Plan Wooden handicraft particularly the furniture part is an unbranded commodity and hence manufacturers generally do not have to spend too much on the promotional part. It is better for them to increase the margin given to the retailers so that they push the company product more in front of the customers. However in order to differentiate our offering and to capture the customer base, it is necessary to have a basic strategic marketing plan. The following would be the strategies used by us: Steady supply with timely delivery to fulfill the demand in the market thereby providing products with high quality Products would be given emphasis on the design front. Designs would be based on several themes Orders would also be taken online from the customers apart from being available in the retail The company plans to both manufactures the products locally in the UK market as well as import some of it from the Indian market. Indians play a vital role in UK both in terms of trade and demographics and thus there is a market to serve the Indian community. The other reasons to source the products from India are: The demand for Indian wooden handicrafts is evergreen. It is both difficult for the labour in UK to produce these handicrafts as the design in Indian art work is quite intricate. Hence it is decided that some portion of our products would be sourced directly from the Indian producers, mainly based in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Indian being a developing country, both the labour and raw materials are quite cheap as compared to other developed countries. Hence it makes sense to outsource some of the production work. Indian artisans are well known around the world. British make a major portion of the people visiting India every year and hence they come in contact with Indian art and culture too. Thus getting products from market like India helps in understanding the customer taste and keep the product portfolio up to date. Some of the Indian players which have been shortlisted and considered for sourcing of the products are as follows: Khan Arts India Madnik International Goyal India Indus Trade Handmade Crafts Antiquity Handicrafts All the products in the portfolio would be sourced from these six major exporters in India. These players have been selected after thorough search of their business and their financials. They enjoy good reputation in the Indian market and also export to other players in different countries. It is decided to have business with six players as it will help us diversify our risk and help us maintain a steady flow of products from India. These players are from different parts of the country and thus the products served by them would have different designs as India being a vast country has many sub cultures which attract many people worldwide. Technical Analysis Wood carving is a time consuming process as craftsmen take time to make every piece. The process may take a week to months depending upon the level of intricacy in the design. The process use a lot of different tools also like saw, lathes, drills, chain saws etc. Machinery Involved The following machinery would be used by the workers in the business: Chemical treatment plant Seasoning plant Surface planner Grinder Driller Gaze machine Sanding machine Structure and Civil Work Labour Requirements Handicraft is a labour intensive product and thus a lot depends on the kind of labour employed. Financial Analysis Basic Assumptions underlying the financial projections The construction period will last one year The company would work 365 days a year The expected capacity utilization will be 60% in first year, 65% in second year and the increment based on past performance. The term loan would be re-paid in 14 equal half-yearly installments. The interest rate on the outstanding term loan would be 12% The bank finance for working capital will cost interest rate 12% The depreciation rates for company law purpose would be Building 3.34% Plant and Machinery 8% Misc fixed assets 5% The suppliers for raw material would provide credit for 15 days The salvage value is assumed to be 5% of fixed assets. Sales Forecast Sales Forecast (units) Year20102011 2012 Units95001200015000 Conclusion The business plan has been prepared keeping in mind all the factors and taking financials to the best of the present picture. It is therefore expected that the actual outcome would represent the true picture of this outlined plan. Finally, my personal interest in this field will lead to establish my own business. These will result in successful and sustainable business. References Andrews, J.(2009).Handel allinglese, Playbill,. Accessed from: http://www.playbillarts.com/features/article/4236.html (Last Accessed: 5th March 2010) Barlow, I.( (1991) Metropolitan Government. Accessed from: http:// www.new.wales.co.uk (Last Accessed: 5th March 2010) Boseley, S (2009). The question: Whats behind the baby boom? The Guardian. Accessed from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/14/familyandrelationships.women (Last Accessed: 5th March 2010) Garrison, Webb B. (2008).Why You Say It. Accessed from: http://www.readbooksonline.net (Last Accessed: 5th March 2010) MacLeod, Donald (2006). Britain second in world research rankings. The Guardian. Accessed from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2006/mar/21/highereducation.uk4 (Last Accessed: 5th March 2010) Mathias.P (2001). The First Industrial Nation: the Economic History of Britain. Accessed from: http://www.johnbirchall-economist.com (Last Accessed: 5th March 2010) Mathias.P (2001).The First Industrial Nation: the Economic History of Britain. Published by: Routledge, ed.2, pp. 56-58 Mensah. J (2006). British culture on a high rise. Robertson, Kirsty (2006), How to Knit an Academic Paper. Queens University, 30 March 2006 Sumption, M.(2010). The UKs new Europeans: Progress and challenges five years after accession. Equality and Human Rights Commission. Accessed from: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com (Last Accessed: 5th March 2010) Bibliography Bhagat, Usha, ‘Life to a dying art, The Hindu: Folio, 21 March, 1999, pp. 45-56 Rajkumar, Nonika, ‘Life to a Dying Art of Embroidery: The Chmba Rumal, House Calls, Vol 2, No. 1, March-April 2000, pp 12-21. Philippson, Peter, British Gestalt Journal, Vol.1 No.1, July 1990 Chamberlain, A. H., Opportunities and limitations of paper and cardboard in school, Manual Training Magazine, January, 04, p 34 Cremins, J. C, ‘Design in the primary grades, Year Book, Council of Supervisors of the Manual Arts, 2006, pp 74-76. Daniels, J. F., ‘Library handicraft at Greeley, Manual Training Magazine, Jan., 2001. Dodd, A. E., ‘Handwork training for the normal student, Proceedings Eastern Manual Training Association, Ed. 2, pp 93-101 Bailey, H. T., ‘Analysis of modern printing, The Printing Art, May, June, 2007, pp -84-89.

You are Beautiful :: Middle East Culture Feminism Essays

Standing up for oneself is always a challenge, no matter who you are. In some Arab societies certain traditions and customs seem built to keep women on a lower level than men. The truth, as demonstrated by many books written by Arab women, is that every society has outdated customs, or rules, and those rules are what tend to keep oppressed people in check. If it’s not a gender issue then it is a race issue. If it’s not a race issue then it becomes political or intellectual. Sadly, there have always been rules that oppress one group or another, but time are changing and with them people change. The women in two Arab novels, written by Arab women, express their personal experiences in Arab society. Though the novels are fiction they are based on the real life experiences of the authors and can be taken as facts of what events transpired during the lives of the authors. The changes demonstrated by the main characters in Fatima Mernissi’s Dreams of Trespass and Ahdaf Soueif’s In the Eye of the Sun exhibit the Arab woman’s ability to become an independent and psychologically powerful member of society. Mernissi’s Fatima grows up in a harem which would seem to imply a lack of independence, however the women surrounding her act as liberal educators, teaching her never to settle for less than she deserves. Soueif’s Asya on the other hand develops into a woman while being raised in an upper class household, with liberal ideas on only certain subjects. The two women evolve, throughout the course of each novel, into stronger and more independent entities, both physically and psychologically. Fatima Mernissi preserves the feeling of an autobiography by keeping the main character named after herself. For the sake of clarity when referring to the author I will use only her last name. Mernissi’s novel begins with Fatima as a child. Throughout the novel she grows to the age of nine, but that is where the story ends. The first few years of Fatima’s life seem to have been the most crucial in determining what kind of person she was destined to become. Fatima’s experiences in her childhood are dramatic and influence her enough that her life changes drastically. Early in the novel Mernissi states, â€Å"when you hurt a woman you are violating Allah’s sacred frontier† (3). This statement helps to set the tone for the novel.

On the Maintenance of a Small Business Essay

Creative Cuisine Concepts is a small business run by Sharon F. Johnson, employing twenty five staff members, and serving fifteen hundred meals at one of the cafeterias of America Hondo Motor Co. The company was going through severe financial trouble with its mounting debt, inability to make payments to vendors, and mismanagement of financial accounts. Johnson’s business partner left the company, and so she had to cash out her 401(k) retirement savings to save her small business. She also had to borrow money from the small inheritance of her husband so as to maintain her business. Nevertheless, the small business remained in financial trouble. This was before Johnson was advised by her mentor at American Honda to seek help for the financial statements of her small business. Subsequently, the lady hired an accountant for her business and opted for an accounting software program in place of the paper-based system. She also began to take a training course, sponsored by the Los Angeles chapter of the National Assn. of Women Business Owners, to improve her business and leadership skills. Johnson’s failing company began to recover soon after. She expects her business to breakeven in the near future. With the results that she has achieved thus far, she has additionally planned to grow her business from $1. 5 million to $50 million in revenue (Zwahlen). Zwahlen’s article, â€Å"Recovering from Financial Turmoil† about Creative Cuisine Concepts, describes many of the challenges faced by small businesses that are mentioned in the textbook. When Johnson’s business partner left the company, she became a sole proprietor of Creative Cuisine Concepts facing personal financial liability for all business debts. Moreover, the textbook mentions that the owners of small businesses have to be rather creative so as to maintain their businesses in the face of trials, such as mismanagement and cash flow problem. Johnson had to be rather innovative to save her business from the turmoil that it faced. She had to borrow from her husband’s inheritance, and cash out her retirement savings plan. Also according to the textbook, this is the usual route taken by the owners of small businesses who must use up their personal funds to maintain their companies. As compared to public companies, it is difficult for privately owned businesses to raise funds. Lastly, the textbook mentions management problems at small businesses that do not have the funds to hire a large number of competent people. Johnson had to take a business and leadership course to enhance her skills. The course was sponsored by an association of business women, who are known to head a large number of small businesses in the United States, according to the textbook. In my opinion, Johnson should also approach the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help her business meet its new goal of raising $50 million in revenue. As a matter of fact, the owner of the small business should have approached the SBA at the time her business was going through severe financial trouble. SBA could have provided her with a guarantee for a small business loan from a bank or private lender. It could also have helped her obtain a microloan. Furthermore, there are Small Business Investment Companies that Johnson could have approached. Although her creativity to gather the much-needed funds, apart from her motivation to gain new skills and put a new financial system into place must be applauded – the assistance of SBA could have saved her from the worries that she faced.

Islamic Political Thought Essay

The division of spiritual and temporal in Christianity has taken a long time to be enacted into the political theory of the occidental mind. There is a long history of church rule behind today’s secular political thinking. Which recognizes religion as of no significance in the eye of the state. They have taken the sovereignty from God and put it into the hands of the people. In doing so they have declared collective human conscience as their guide and have rejected all sorts of scriptures of divine nature. This is leading these societies to moral ruin. Approval of homosexuality as a legal practice by the legislatures of some western countries is an indication of the moral collapse that awaits them. Although Islam has no division of spirit and mundane but still does not support theocracy or any other form of autocratic rule. It has taken a middle course, which can best be explained by the word â€Å"autonomous†. Giving the absolute power and responsibility of guidance in the hands of God, Islam lets the, Muslims to exercise unlimited sovereignty within the limits of Quran and Sunnah. Introduction This topic seemingly look very simple and the one which can have a straightforward answer. But actually it required a great insight into the historical and the political perspective of Islamic world at large. This proposition can be tackled at a number of levels. One scheme of addressing this question could be to go to the theological injunctions, that is, to argue from Quran and Hadith. The second approach could be of digging into the history and bringing out the relevant examples. There is yet another way of going through this riddle and that is to examine the evolution of political ideology in the world of Islam and comparing it with the political evolution of the other nations or rest of the world. We may adopt any of the above methodology. But in order to get a better view of things and comprehensive answer to this question. We analyze it at all the three above-mentioned levels. This will certainly render us a better understanding of not only this question but also of many other aspects of related political problems confronting the modern Muslim societies. Before beginning with our discussion it is useful that we first determine what sovereignty is? Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary describes sovereignty as: the highest power or fully independent and self-governing. Similarly Webster’s dictionary gives the following meanings to this word: â€Å"supreme leader or the one who exercise authority in a limited sphere†. Quranic Interpretation As for as simplest mind, which goes through the Quranic text, it cannot ignore the fact that the God, that is Allah, is omnipotent, all powerful and all governing. This is the first and the last impression, which Quran leaves on any mind, no matter how naive it may be. Contrary to many doctrines, Quran declares Allah to be the sole authority on every thing that is present not only in this world but the whole of the universe. Many Quranic verses can be quoted in this context. Blessed is the Lord who holds control over all and is Omnipotent. † (Al-mulk) And again: â€Å"Exalted is the One who controls every thing and to Him you shall resurrect. † (Ya-seen) This makes very cleat that every thing lies with Allah. It flows from thence unto His creatures. Same is the case with authority and sovereignty. Allah has send man on this earth as his vicegerent. Allah has given man sovereignty to reign on this world. As Quran says, â€Å"(remember) When your Lord said to angels that indeed I shall appoint a vicegerent on Earth. † (Al-baqarah) Thus, man rules earth on the behalf of his Lord. Therefore he can exercise sovereignty with in certain limits, prescribed by Allah. Once established that sovereignty is a reign were man has been given access. We find out whether men have been given some right to make decisions for themselves or not. Is a ruler selected by Allah and imposed on men or they are encouraged to exercise their sovereign right by some collective means? Now this is an arguable question. Some section may say that a king or some sort of ruler, imposed on the society by one way or the other, has the right to exercise the sovereignty that Allah has bestowed upon men. And we also find such a precedent in the Quran, from the story of Talloot and Jalloot in sura al-baqarah we come to know that kings were imposed on men without their will and consultation, what so ever. One may cite this example from the Holy book to give weight to his argument. But one thing must be kept in minds of the people that it was the practice of Allah for the people of Israel, usually referred to as Banu-Isreal in the Quran. Who were in a stage of evolution that was to culminate at the advent of the last Prophet Muhammad (P.B. U. H)? For us i. e. the ummah of the last prophet, this rule has changed. And the new scheme under which the sovereignty has to be exercised is given in the following verse: â€Å"And they conduct their affairs with mutual consultation. † (Shura) Thus we see that Quran encourages its followers to adopt a scheme of exercising their sovereignty over themselves by a way, which hinges itself over some system of broader consultation. Of the two views, latter is the one, which seems to be accurate and closer to the rationale thinking. From the above discussion, we have reached a conclusion that Quran does recognize the sovereignty of Muslim citizen in an Islamic state and they have to device such a methodology or system, which makes it convenient for them to achieve broader consultation. Quran, similarly, rejects a single person’s claim to sovereignty and authority. Who so ever becomes a ruler of a muslim state must take the views of the society while making decisions? Now the Quran does not let loose Muslims after giving them right to sovereignty. There are a number of responsibilities that the Quran puts on their shoulders. And Quran, in its own brief but effective manner, puts them as: â€Å"Those to whom we give power, must establish the system of prayers and charity and they ask the people to do good and forbid from doing evil. † Guidance from Sunnah Sunnah i. e. Prophet’s life and actions is the biggest source after the Holy (Quran). There fore, we refer our self to this source. As the Quran says, â€Å"Consult Allah and the Prophet in a matter of discord. † At another place it is mentioned: â€Å"Surely there is the best guidance for you in the life of the prophet. † We see that the early part of the Prophet hood of Prophet Muhammad (P.B. U. H) does not give us any clue of the relation of citizens and state. It is only the latter part of his Prophet hood i. e. Medina period, in which he established a city state that we find some form or structure of a government. Now we can have any debate on the question of citizen’s sovereignty in the eye of Islam basing our investigations on this period of Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H)’s life. It has become convenient, for at the very beginning of Medina period there is a record of a political agreement between all the cross-sections of population of Medina. This political document in itself, otherwise, is a very important and valuable document. It gives an insight into the political situation of the Muslims in particular and Medina and it’s surrounding in general. Coming back to the question we are confronted with. We investigate this document to find if it sheds any light on this particular question. The first clause, which defines the parties to the treaty, adequately addresses the sovereignty of the citizens. 1. This is the treaty between the Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H), Aus and Khazraj (the helpers) and Jews of Medina and its surroundings. . Above-mentioned parties would be one group for the defense of Medina. 3. Every body is independent to practice ones religion. 4. Disputes among Jews would be settled according to their laws. It was an unprecedented treaty in respect of its very liberal approach towards communities of other religions. The point, which is very important for our thesis, is that everybody in Medina was treated as an equal party in this treaty. This was going to be the future constitution of that state for the rest of the life of the Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H). Although the Jews broke this accord and had to pay its price. We do not talk about Jews as is mentioned above that they were left to their own laws. But the Divine laws governed Muslims. Which were revealed to the Prophet (P. B. U. H. ) from time to time. Thus we see that Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H) in that state was the sole source of legislation. All the laws came from him. Many people misunderstand this phenomenon and they equate this authority of making laws by the Prophet Muhammad (P. BU. H) (that were revealed) as a precedent for authoritarian government by a single man. No, this approach is essentially flawed and contrary to the practice of the Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H). If we examine his political life and circumstances prevalent at that time more carefully and keenly. Then we get to a conclusion rather different from the misunderstanding that has been indicated above. As we know that Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H) was sent to a people who were totally ignorant, had never experienced any form of collective government and, therefore did not have laws and legislations. Further more, Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H)’s, messaged was meant for all times to come. Thus Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H) was sent to such a neighborhood where he could construct a model beginning from scratch and having no influence of any previous system whatsoever. Now it was Prophet Muhammad’s (P. B. U. H) job to introduce to them a system of laws and governance based on the divine guidance, and through them he was to demonstrate it to all people for all times to come. Laws were of course revealed and Muslims had and have to obey them as such. But when it comes to governance, we have ample examples to quote; Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H) mostly used the method of consultation. And this is what the message is that after the discontinuation of revelation, Muslims have to run their affairs in the light of revealed guidance by mutual consultation. To quote few examples from Prophet Muhammad’s (P. B. U. H) life, in order to support the notion that citizens of an Islamic state do have some rights to exercise sovereignty over themselves, we refer to the following instances from the Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H) life: 1. As mentioned previously, in the very beginning of political history of the state of Medina general public i. e. Muslims were made an equal part in the matters of the governance. Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H) did not make himself the sole representative of the whole Muslim community. 2. Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H) appointed twelve representatives (Naqeebs) among the Ansar to represent them. 3. Before the battle of Badr Prophet Muhammad (P. B. U. H) consulted Muhajreen as well as Ansar. 4. In the battlefield of Badr, the camping place of the army was selected on the advice of Habbad-bin-Munzir. 5. At the time of Uhad , Prophet Muhammad’s (P. B. U. H) own opinion was to fight within the city but the general opinion was to fight outside the city, and that was followed. 6. In the battle of Ahzaab, the strategy of digging a trench for the defense of Medina was again an idea presented by Salman. 7. The method of calling the faithful to the prayer was again a matter sort out by mutual consultation. Hence at end of this chapter we conclude that Prophet Muhammad’s (P. B. U. H) life adequately provides us the evidence that in an Islamic state the power to rule and govern lies with the citizens and not with a single person or family or some creed. Rather it is the right of the people to govern themselves as they please, but of course not violating the Quranic limits set upon them. Those to whom we give power, must establish the system of prayers and charity and they ask the people to do good and forbid from doing evil. † Islamic History and Muslim Scholars We have come out of an academic discussion. Now we shall be analyzing historical events and political realities. As we enter into a new phase of discussion. It will be very useful that we revise and redefine the question we are confronted with. So when we ask this that â€Å"are people sovereign in Islam? † What do we actually mean to imply? What are the other questions, which confront us when we say, â€Å"yes people are sovereign†? Having proved that sole source of power and strength is the Allah Almighty; do we mean to say, that Allah and His angels are physically involved in the governance of a state? Of course not, is the obvious answer. It is the men themselves who shall be arranging for any type of government. After placing theoretically all powers in Allah, when sovereignty is given to citizens it means following things. 1. Any government that is formed will be only due to the consensus of the majority of people. 2. Whenever there is some decision to be made, again it will be referred to people. Whatever a government or the rulers do is accountable to public. 4. As the government or state has functional powers, thus checks and balances on it to safeguard people against any sort of tyranny or exploitation. Now we shall examine different types of governments in Islamic history on the basis of these above points. To begin with, we first analyze first four guided caliphs. Abu Bakr (R. A) was made caliphs and presented him in front of public. His first address is very suitable example. It encompasses almost all the above four points. He said: â€Å"O people! I have been made caliph against my will.

Prohibition and Gangsters Essay

Cheap labour force due to continuous immigration pre WWI, including unskilled labour   Onset of WWI and America’s late entry Reaction to WWI & After:   Set up the League of Nations, but did not join and chose to follow an isolationist policy   Entered late into the war so therefore had a plentiful supply of goods, and no physical damage on American soil Availability of natural resources e. g. oil, coal, wood, iron Sold supplies to fighting countries during the war, as well as loans   Economies in Europe were struggling to rebuild, allowing America to take over as the world’s largest producer of products such as fertilisers. Technological advances made: mechanisation, creation of plastic Economic Management:   Limited government intervention ‘laissez-faire’, with low taxes & few regulations encouraged economic growth in businesses   ‘Rugged individualism’, belief that people succeeded with their own hard work   Tariffs introduced to protect the US economy: import duties on goods to the USA, along with a reduction in income tax rates to allow people to spend more on American goods   Introduction of new production methods: the conveyor belt, which sped up production rates and increased profits. New materials introduced such as plastics and glass, helping create buildings such as skyscrapers   Wages increased along with profits, more people could spend more on consumer luxuries   Electrical power made widespread, usage of oil doubled   People were confident and now prepared to buy American goods and invest in the American economy   Prosperity was a right, not a privilege: people encouraged to spend Return to isolationism:   The US economy was increasingly protected by government intervention in the forms of tariffs   Quota system for immigration, closing the ‘Open Doors’ policy. The Boom & Industries that benefited: Motor industry, building works, stock market   Advertising increased massively to fuel consumerism Low inflation, low unemployment, low interest rates meant that people could afford to buy luxuries   Hire purchase introduced to allow average earners to spend on luxuries   Stock market share prices rose steadily during the 1920s, until in 1928 where it suddenly rocketed   Beginning of speculation, people willing to buy shares using loans Motor industry: Car production relied on other industries such as steel, petrol, glass and rubber. Techniques such as the assembly line lowered costs of production, making cars more affordable Increase in purchase of cars led to more roads being built, as well as hotels/restaurants which were now reachable   Construction industry similarly benefited from the introduction of new materials, as well as greater demand for factories, buildings etc.   Transport services as more was invested into infrastructure such as roads, allowing buses to become common, as well as commercial flights Introduction of department stores, where people helped themselves to goods. Suffering industries: Coal, Railway, Textiles (Cotton/wool), Agriculture ‘Old industries’ such as coal mining began to be in competition with oil * Cars began to take over the railway transport system, lessening the need for coal   Advancement in technology meant less workers were needed for mining -> unemployment begins   Mines began to close down Textiles industries began to face competition when tariffs were lowered New materials such as rayon meant that old textiles fell out of favour in terms of cost and efficiency in production Changes in fashion (short dresses etc.) meant less textiles were needed   WWI led to farmers choosing to produce more, and this rate of production continued into the 1920. While they benefited during WWI, consumption began to decrease as Europe began to recover and stopped relying on American produce, but there was already excess production Technologies such as tractors helped to increase production rates   Farmers were therefore forced to sell their goods at a lower cost, and they refused to lower their production rates as they were unsure that other farmers would do the same. Many farmers became the poorest paid workers in the US and many had to borrow money to pay their mortgages, or face eviction and unemployment Society in the 1920s: Women: Position of women pre 1917 included limited unemployment, limited social positions (accompanied by chaperones), no role in politics as well as being expected to adhere to dress standards After 1917 as the US entered WWI, women were employed to work in the heavy industry and for the first time went out by themselves, smoked and drank in public   Vote given in 1920. Consumer luxuries such as vacuums led to more women having leisure time Introduction of the Flappers: women who challenged traditional attitudes, and were mainly middle and upper class Leisure:   Newspapers & magazines fuelled consumption, as more people wanted to read about the latest issues and famous people   Sport also took over, becoming a focus of newspapers, magazines as well as radio shows. Sporting figures such as Babe Ruth also challenged traditional society, where he was seen smoking and drinking in public. Cinema: visiting the cinema became popular as part of family life, especially with the introduction of ‘talkies’, and sex became a popular focus for movies. Cinemas were refurbished and several film studios were founded Radio: First radio station started in 1920 (KDKA), with many more soon to come. Radio enabled people to listen to sporting events, music, advertisements and entertainment.   Jazz: ‘the jazz age’, when jazz became popular, especially with the flappers despite its African American origins Prohibition and Gangsters: Drinking was largely believed to be hindering work efficiency, as well as being the cause of trouble, including in religion, leading to a ban on alcohol   People were driven to the black market to consume alcohol, including speakeasies which relied on corruption by paying off law enforcement officers   Smuggling of alcohol also became common (rum running), and some doctors provided ‘medicinal whiskey’   Some of the illegally brewed alcohol was not checked and this led to poisoned alcohol   This led to the rise in organised crime, or ‘gangsterism’, with one notable figure being Al Capone: Chicago’s speakeasies, bookmakers, nightclubs etc.