The Marine Pollution

Ocean Dumping The practice of ocean dumping should be banned. Marine pollution is at the heart of interest in today†s search for a clean environment. Not only does ocean dumping add to the unsightliness of the once beautiful and pristine waters; it also kills the marine life which inhabits those waters. Pollution on a grand-scale is wreaking havoc on the Earth. The ocean is not an exception. In 1996, a bill, which would ban the dumping of dredge spoils in the Long Island Sound, was submitted in congress by Michael Forbes (Freedman). At that time, Congressman Forbes predicted that all dumping in the United States would end in the foreseeable future. He sees ocean dumping ending in the 21st century (Freeman). Unfortunately, ocean dumping is the least expensive way to dispose of dredged materials and other pollutants (Freeman). Although an uphill battle, ocean dumping should be outlawed altogether. In New York City, proposed building of treatment plants was conceptualized (Murphy). This allowed an alternative to ocean dumping; since ocean court decisions and legislation (Murphy) had banned dumping. The sludge may be transported to other states for use as fertilizer (Murphy). Treatment plants are less of an eyesore than pollutants in the ocean. Unfortunately, no one wants a treatment facility in â€Å"his back yard†. Many miles of beaches have been closed over the years, due to ocean dumping. For communities where beaches are tourist attractions, this causes devastating economic consequences. At one point, medical debris washed ashore (Bauman). Congress passed a law at that time that banned the dumping of sewage into the ocean (Bauman). In 1987, an international agreement was signed and a national law was enacted to prevent ocean dumping (Miller). As late as 1995, ocean dumping continued to remain a serious threat (Miller). Tons of trash continued to pollute the nation†s beaches. The trash not only threatens marine life; it also threatens the lives of humans (Miller). There was no national plan for managing vessel waste. Enforcement powers for ocean dumping is spread among several agencies. This severely hampered the situation. The Marie Conservation Volunteers scoured more than 95,000 miles of United States coastlines on September 16, 1995 (Miller). More than 140,000 volunteers were involved in this campaign (Miller). In 1994, over 2. 8 million pounds of trash were picked up off of lakes, estuaries, and ocean beaches (Miller). This shows that the problem of ocean dumping is not a small one. This is a huge environmental problem. The Environmental Protection Agency should require ocean waste-management plans, in addition to those that have been created for land (Miller). Plastic particles, particularly six-pack rings, are damaging to marine animals. When ingested, plastic is harmful to marine animals. Discarded fishing gear leads to a high mortality rate among birds, fish, turtles, whales, and dolphins (Miller). Unfortunately, humans are also at risk from this form of pollution, due to the fact that trash, which surfaces on the beach, can easily be stepped on. This garbage could (and does) contain such contaminates as syringes (Miller). In 1996, a dispute halted the dredging of shipping channels in New York and New Jersey. This allowed silt to pass into the channels and made them too small for large ships. One hundred eighty thousand jobs were threatened, as well as $20 billion in freight business (Bauman). The collapse of ocean fisheries is a major environmental problem. Environmental issues such as ocean dumping are a public concern. Ocean dumping is not only an issue of concern for America. The entire world must take a stand. International cooperation is vital for the preservation of marine life. Environmental concerns are evidenced to shape international treaties. The Montreal Protocol; the UN Summit on the Environment; agreements to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) attest to this fact (Burnett). There is a commonality in most global problems. This commonality occurs when resources are owned by many, or when no one owns the resources. Unfortunately, self-interested behavior can lead to environmental degradation when resources, such as the ocean, are the property of several or none. No one is the protector; therefore, all should be the protectors (Burnett). Flushing untreated waste in the streams, rivers, and ultimately, the ocean, is disruptive to nature†s balance. Nitrogen and phosphorus support algae blooms and thus a depletion of oxygen (Benchley). Many parts of bays are practically dead zone already. Marine life cannot survive this! Toxic chemicals also contaminate the fish, making them inedible (Benchley). Commercial fishing is a worldwide industry. It is in decline due to ocean dumping. This growing problem affects all nations. Almost 70 percent of the world†s marine fish stocks are either fully fished, over fished, depleted, or recovering modestly. This is no small problem. Technology is increasing the number and range of the world†s fishing fleet (Burnett). Ocean dumping kills off the fish that are left. Across the nation, coastal cities have routinely disposed of sewage and trash by dumping it into the ocean. This has been happening for many years. After a while, the oceans begin to show the affect of this. It is frightening to think what dangers have yet been uncovered. Criminal charges should be enforced when anyone dumps waste into the ocean. This would help deter this activity. Illegal pollution is a crime. More people need to realize this. More laws must be made and enforced. Has anyone considered how fragile marine and coastal environments are? Has anyone considered the amount of waste that can be dumped into the ocean without causing damage. The ocean can not indefinitely take dumping of waste without serious consequences. Oil spills are another threat to oceans. Much of the oil used in the United States is exported. Tankers do this. The increase in tanker traffic causes concern over oil spills. Birds are even affected when there is an oil spill. Marine animals die from the sludge or are trapped on land. The ocean is the place for swimmers, scuba divers, sailors and those scientists who enjoy its study. The ocean is blue. It is emerald green. It is almost black. Its beauty is unsurpassed. Smelling the clean salt air and feeling the ocean breeze is one of the best experiences anyone can have. The ocean is home to the dolphin, tuna, porpoise, shark, whale, and octopus. Reefs of coral are found in many areas, Hawaii being one. Stories have been written about the ocean. Many have lost their lives at sea. The ocean is deserving of much respect. It needs protection, not pollution. Sight must not be lost of the global environmental concerns. An ocean, which has been used as a dump, is a tragedy. Sight must not be lost of the global environmental concerns, which affect the ocean, its life, and its beauty.

Radiance Reconstructive Surgery

Reconstructive surgery, a trend that has been developed over the years has reached a new level; radiance reconstructive surgery. This new trend in reconstructive surgery is literally what the name suggests, radioactive. Radioactive waves are used to perform and complete the reconstruction process. There are various methods which can be used to achieve the objective of popularizing the method; campaigns to educate and inform the public as well as helping them understand the process and a question and answer session to give any further information needed.As well as procuring new clients, it will also help the company reassure and build confidence in the current clients. Lifestyle, sponsorship and even marketing are what Radiance should focus on; these are extremely important aspects to any company. These areas help to ensure a firm not only care about the community but garnering profit as well. The venues would include such places as training facilities and gyms.However, they should pl ace their marketing wisely as to not encourage children to believe their bodies are anything less than what they should be given the amount of influence that any type of media has on the perception of young people. Melissa should employ a number of damage control techniques to help change the perception of the company by its stakeholders.The steps to take would be; make absolutely certain the public relations are dealt with, build a campaign that show empathy but tell the story as the company sees it, take steps that will improve the image of the company. While waiting for time to pass would seem like the reasonable solution, â€Å"waiting for time to pass would be a bad idea (Kang & Sakai, 2000); the damage is done and the company has let it slide which gives the public the idea that the company is culpable. Radiance would see either positive or negative changes in as little as a few months by taking these steps.

Existence precedes essence Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Existence precedes essence - Essay Example Throughout Sartre’s philosophical writings, from Being and Nothingness to Nausea, Sartre develops and argues in favor of this concept. This essay considers my personal belief in existence precedes essence, implementing one of Sartre’s seminal texts, Existentalism is a Humanism as reference. In considering my personal concept of whether existence precedes essence, I realize the truth is a complex issue. Through Existentialism is a Humanism, Sartre in large part argues from an atheistic perspective. For instance, he writes that the, â€Å"atheist existentialism is rather more coherent. It declares that God does not exist, yet there is still a being in whom existence precedes essence, a being which exists before being defined by any concept, and this being is man or, as Heidegger puts it, human reality† (Sartre, web). In my personal formulation of the concept, I tend to side with Sartre in denying a creationist concept of reality that has an intended purpose for liv ing beings. However, I also recognize that simply because Sartre denies the existence of an objective God, this does not also prove that existence precedes essence.

The audit of not-for-profit organization-AuditingAssigment Essay

The audit of not-for-profit organization-AuditingAssigment - Essay Example 62). It involves high level of testing and application of audit procedures which results in high level of assurance, providing reasonable assurance on financial statements that financial statements are true and fair in all material aspects. However Assurance Engagement is expensive, so companies which are exempt from statuary audit may go for a Review Engagement. â€Å"The objective of a review engagement is to enable an auditor to state whether, on the basis of procedures which do not provide all the evidence that would required in an Assurance Engagement, anything has come to the auditor’s attention that causes the auditor to believe that the financial statements are not prepared, in all material respect, in accordance with an identified financial reporting framework† (Puttick, Van Esch, & Kana 2007 p. 73). As it is less expensive so it involves application of less detailed audit procedures than an Audit and provides moderate level of assurance which is expressed in t he form of negative assurance. The review engagement is hence, suitable for small NFPs to ensure the donators and volunteers of their fairness of operations and activities to achieve the goals of the organization. Non-Profit Organizations There are many forms of business organizations and non-profit organizations are one of the sorts which are increasingly gaining attention by authorities. Non-profit organizations include charities, local government bodies like councils and other government funded bodies like housing associations. Broadly speaking, NFP’s include bodies whose aim is to provide some educational, health or other social service with an intention to aid the society rather than generating wealth or profits of the organization (Wood & Powell, 1989). Charity is of the most common forms in not for profit organizations. The major differences between a company and a charity when it comes to auditing involve the presentation criterion which differs for both. Charities ar e normally tax exempt hence auditing changes for the charities. Auditing scope and method changes greatly as charities rely on cash donations and grants for the regular operations of the organization (Becker & Terrano 2007, pp. 1-5). However, larger NFPs and charities must have good internal control system to prove the controls reliable for the audit purposes reducing the overall work requirements for the audit engagement. Objectives of Non-profit Organizations Non profit organizations are either public sector organizations or other organizations whose primary purpose is to benefit the public rather than generating profits, which differentiate them to profit organizations whose main objective, is to maximize share holders’ wealth. Not just they differ from commercial organization; non-profit organizations differ from other non-profit organization for example: Local councils and public services organizations’ objective is to provide local services to a budget based on p ublic money which is likely to be based on value for money. While clubs, associations and unions’ objective would be of furtherance of the aims of club and to provide services to members which may include managing subscriptions paid and

Workshop 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Workshop 5 - Essay Example Part of the restructuring that happened in the auto industry is the changing of the labour regulations and practices to enable the auto industry cope and compete with the new economic environment. The major labor regulation change in the auto industry was the Labour Conract Law which stipulate open term contract. It meant that employer-employee relationship mist be written in a contract the failure to do so would mean the indefinite employment which employers cannot just terminate. The law also stipulated labour dispatching which requires the labour contract between the service provider and the employee will be fixed for more than 2 years and the employee will be remunerated monthly even if there is no work to be done. In the labour practice, globalisation has provided employers greater latitude to easily reduce its workforce depending on the demand of the market. Where before workers had job security, it is now underpinned by a one year contract as stated by the new Labour Contract Law. 2. What is the role of unions in China? How does China’s Political System impact this? Should unions be founded on supporting the workers in China or the Organisations/Government? Justify your answer. The role of unions in China is to motivate employees to achieve the objective of the enterprise rather than represent and perform functions that are typically associated to HR in capitalist countries. This means that unions are still subordinated to the Communist Party, an arrangement compounded by the This set up of unions being subordinated to the Communist Party defeats the very purpose of union of why they were set up. Even in the former Soviet Union, workers were represented by the union whom in turn are represented in the Communist Party. With the current set up in China, workers are virtually powerless and voiceless to air their grievance or plight or to even make suggestion to make their conditions

Na Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 4

Na - Essay Example 149). Therefore, the acknowledgement of moral consequences leave men with self-defence as the only reason to lie. Sullivan (1989) presents the theory of Kant, who is a philosopher, on lies. In Sullivan’s report, Kant distinguishes between untruth and a lie. â€Å"Every lie is an untruth, but not every untruth is a lie.† (Sullivan, 1989, pp. 173). One great difficulty with Kant’s moral philosophy is that it implies that our moral obligations leave us powerless right in the face of evil. According to Kant’s theory, we are to live up to the high ideal of conduct regardless of what others are doing. ‘Rigorism’ is a well-known example of Kant’s stand and is also termed as Kant’s concerns on our duty to tell the truth (Sullivan, 1989, pp. 174). Personally, I agree with Penzera (2012) that lying is morally justifiable when it involves self-defence. I also side with Sullivan (1989) on the idea that we should never do something because someone is perpetuating it. Furthermore, white lies just as half-truth are equally lies. This discussion has been able to convince me that we must not always stick to honesty especially when conditions become

Marketing Influences Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marketing Influences - Essay Example This paper will discuss Levi jeans for men based on personal influences as opposed to rivals as well as segmentation and targeting initiatives. Levi jeans for men have been around for many years and are still popular today. Various brands have come and disappeared, but the Levi jeans brand is still dominant in the market, showing that the company has considerable market power. The brand satisfies and appeals to the needs of its male clients regardless of the age brackets with diverse style senses. The name of the brand is what makes one to purchase the jeans. Since they have existed in the market for quite some time, the name has acquired the trust of consumers from different parts of the world. When one sees the name of the brand, he thinks of quality and picks the product for that reason. The brand receives this major benefit for addressing the requirements of its clients for many years (Fuller, 2011). Levi jeans are attractive since they provide various types of cuts. One has a broad range of denim cuts to select from, meaning that you can select the cut that you are most comfortable with. Although other jeans provide various cuts, they do not offer a broad selection as in the case of Levi, particularly because it is always updating, offering, and adjusting (Fuller, 2011). Levi has undertaken processes, which other brands struggle with while trying to keep their brands relevant in the marketplace. Levi jeans are popular because one is aware that they offer a broad range of relevant styles. Most jeans brands arise and disappear since they fail to get in touch with the client. As such, they cannot keep producing products that clients do not need. Levi is unlike its rivals in the marketplace. It has managed to provide great jeans and relevant styles that are appealing to clients in different parts of the world (Fairchild, 2014). The prevalence of

Discussion 1 Week 9 Impact of Government Regulation Assignment

Discussion 1 Week 9 Impact of Government Regulation - Assignment Example For Katrina’s Candies, facts revealed that the decision makers are reflecting on the possibility of expansion, either through capital investment or through merger. As such, it was commendable that different sites and links were provided to assist in the review and evaluation of various options open for Katrina’s Candies in their decision for potential merger in another country. At the onset, the site on export.gov provided crucial information for U.S. companies which are reflecting on exporting in other countries (Country Commercial Guide, n.d.). Since Katrina’s Candies signified intentions to expand in the international market, the site could provide them with needed assistance in determining the most appropriate country in the European Union area that would give the most viable opportunity to contribute to the shareholders’ wealth and profitability in the long run. The assistance could be provided in terms of research assistance on the markets to enter, as well as in determining regulatory requirements for the venture option that has been decided on. The site on â€Å"Doing Business in the European Union: 2011 Country Commercial Guide for U.S. Companies† is replete with information which includes trade regulations and standards in chapter 5 that would help organizations, like Katrina’s Candies, to determine and comply with the needed regulations that would facilitate establishment of a business venture in the European market (Doing Business in the European Union: 2011 Country Commercial Guide for U.S. Companies , n.d.). Another relevant site that was mentioned about government regulations is the official website of the Federal Trade Commission (Federal Trade Commission, n.d.). The information on the site focuses on the premerger notification and reviewing the merger process. As such, for Katrina’s Candies growth prospects of venturing into a

Different Cultural Identities Dilemma Essay Example for Free

Different Cultural Identities Dilemma Essay The memoir Farewell to Manzanar, written by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston, tells of her experience at Manzanar internment camp after the Pacific War broke out. During the internment of Japanese-Americans, their living standards fell drastically; moreover, they faced Japanese and American values and identity conflicts. It was hard for these Japanese Americans to maintain two different cultural identities for several reasons. In the first place, they suffered from racial discrimination. In the 1940s, mainstream society and the government discriminated against Japanese Americans who were viewed as potentially dangerous people who might betray the US. Thus, Japanese Americans found it was hard to be accepted by others in America. In addition, they largely insisted on their own cultural identities. They were not willing to give up Japanese identities after arriving in America. Chinese immigrants would like to get together and formed Chinatown for the same reason. In the article, Two worlds, one family, Jen Maldonado was imposed on pressure by her Taiwanese friends who insisted on Chinese culture, when she wanted to develop a cross-cultural relationship with an American. It is hard to successfully balance two different cultural identities because of racial discrimination and the adherence to peoples former culture as will be shown using evidence from Farewell to Manzanar, Two worlds, one family and my personal observations. In the 1940s, Japanese-Americans suffered from racial discrimination; thus, they had a hard time getting into mainstream society and balancing their cultural identities. The government never showed full trust towards these immigrants who were viewed as threats to American national security. In order to supervise Japanese-Americans and prevent any potential danger, the government relocated Japanese Americans to internment camps, which exacerbated cultural conflicts and undermined basic human rights. The racist decision that the government made led Japanese Americans to feel that they were incompatible with American culture. Because of the racial discrimination the government initialized, many Japanese immigrants thought they were i nsulted, and so they struggled to accept their American identities. Some of them even wanted to get rid of American identities and went back to Japan. As a result, racial discrimination threatened their American identities. Houston and her friend Radine shared many qualities in common and became the best friends. Although they were socially equal, they were treated in completely different ways because of racism. Houston was not culturally accepted by mainstream society as Radine was. Boys were more likely to ask Radine to the dances, even though they flirted with Houston. Houston was barred from sororities, but Radine was admitted to join them. Houston said that, Watching, I am simply emptied, and in the dream I want to cry out, because she is something I can never be(172). Houston never stopped attempting to retain American identity; however, prejudice of her oriental characteristics obstructed her effort. She looked forward to fulfilling her American identity, but she was too helpless and powerless to challenge enormous racial discrimination, Other than prejudice against Japanese-Americans, another reason that caused people from different cultures to struggle to balance two cultural identities was adh erence to their own culture. After arriving at the continent and staying there for years, many Japanese immigrants still considered that they were more Japanese than American. They were not willing to give up their own culture, and so they confronted cultural conflicts. A minority of people in the camps labeled members of the Japanese American Citizens League inu for having helped the army arrange a peaceful and orderly evacuation(67). Inu meant collaborator or informer in Japanese. The hatred towards these pro-American Japanese immigrants and disrespectful insult words revealed their strong belief in Japan and hostility towards America. To people’s surprise, the authors father who stood up to defend the point of view that immigrants should be loyal to American government was assaulted and condemned by his peers. Although these pro-Japan immigrants had been in America for many years, they still insisted that they were more Japanese. It was the thought that some Japanese Americans were not capable of integrating into American culture and balancing two identities. Chinatown exemplified that Chinese immigrants insisted on their own culture. Chinese immigrants were viewed as a group of conservative and un-American people after they first came to America. They showed keen interests in preserving Chinese culture, but they would not adapt themselves to American society. Therefore, their refusal to give up Chinese identity led to their isolation and failure to balance two cultural identities Their adherence promoted the formation of Chinatown, a Chinese world in alien countries. In the article, Two worlds, one family, Jens Taiwanese friends started giving her grief for dating an American. They were strict about Chinese culture and rejected the cross-cultural marriage. Jen was also warned that she needed to stick with someone from her own culture.' By this, her friends hoped that Jen could retain her Chinese identity by narrowing down her dating range. However, many cases had proven that the cross-cultural marriage played an important role in balancing different cultural identities. When people with different cultural backgrounds decide to form cross-cultural families, they build a bridge of cultural communication. Thus, her friends thoughts undermined cultural exchange. To conclude, it is hard to successfully balance two different cultural identities. Racial discrimination stopped Japanese Americans from balancing their cultural identities. In the wartime, the mainstream society held hostility towards these immigrants, and so they were isolated by the majority. Moreover, some peoples adherence to their former culture became the obstacle of integrating into American society. Chinese always struggled to have cross-cultural communications proceed effectively and successfully due to their insistence on Chinese identity. In the article, Two worlds, one family, Jen was hoped that she could date Chinese persons by her friends. However, their insistence seemed to be stubborn because it blocked effective communication between people from different cultural backgrounds. In order to balance two different cultural identities, people should be more lenient with newcomers and more open to new culture.

Claudius Speech - Hamlet Essay Example for Free

Claudius Speech Hamlet Essay Claudius, the former ruler, husband of his sister and brother of the recently perished king gives a speech at the beginning of Act I. II of Hamlet. Shakespeare’s use of literary devices allows the reader to comprehend the intentions behind Claudius’s figurative language within his coronation speech. The opening scene in Hamlet portrays Denmark to currently be critically unstable and with militaristic chaos; however, in Claudius’s speech he disposes that idea and conveys confidence in the stability of the nation. This chronological set up introduces the theme of appearance vs.  reality as Claudius efforts to manipulate the kingdom into trusting that he has everything under control is carried mischievously yet successfully throughout his speech. Aware of the presence of the rightful king, young Hamlet, Claudius commences his speech with an ambiguous line that strikes the attention of Hamlet. Once he is aware of young Hamlet’s attention, he continues to approach the courthouse. He seemingly shows a state of grief as he acknowledges his dead brother. â€Å" My dear brother’s death† the use of alliteration makes us aware that Claudius has used that line several times before in order to show a sign of loss. He wants to appear that has suffered too from this death, he mentions that â€Å" the memory be green† this metaphor is placed to represent the idea that the memory is fresh and it has not been long since he perished, while also leaving a gruesome image of the old kings decomposing body. His first use of anti-thesis is then exposed in line 6, when he mentions â€Å" the wisest sorrows† in that line he is understanding those in grief but reminding them to think of themselves and the future of Denmark instead. After respectfully mentioning the death of Hamlet, and expressing his condolence to the kingdom he deceitfully moves on to the second important announcement: his wedding. Uneasy, Claudius is trying to go about his speech like a metaphorical obstacle course hoping there is no interference or opposition, while still being able to appear as confident. Efficaciously, he presents his marriage â€Å" Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, Th’ imperial jointress to this warlike state. † Using the state of war as his alaby to the marriage of his brother’s wife he is able to convince the courthouse that it is for the greater good and that his actions are a form of self-sacrifice for the nation. Continuing to justify his marriage as a cause and affect matrimony instead of acts of incest he mentions the â€Å" mirth in funeral † and â€Å"dirge in marriage†. This literary device is important within his speech because it is his second antithesis, and a paradoxical clause. In this he is suggesting that he brought happiness to this sad event for the benefit of his people. â€Å"In equal scale, weighing delight and dole† Claudius is trying to banish the aura of unsteadiness and declares balance. He makes up for the sorrow of his dead brother, by marrying his sister. Even though it is an obvious unusual event, Claudius reflects enough confidence as king and successfully manages avoid any opposition. A good strategy used was his the frequent use of â€Å" we†. This indicated that the king was not only speaking for himself, but he was speaking for everyone like a good statesman would. In reality however, he was doing so to make everyone aware that it was of â€Å" better wisdoms† to agree with him, and that those with worst wisdoms would not face good consequences. Claudius gently expresses his supreme control over Denmark and threatens anyone who dares oppose him in a non-aggressive way. He later finalizes the topic of marriage by dismissing the awkward topic of the table like a typical political â€Å" For all, our thanks† As king, Claudius then addresses the issues with Norway. Assertively, he informs the kingdom of his plan of action. He repeats the line â€Å" dear brother’s death† giving it little sentimental value. He then quickly states that Norway believes that Denmark is â€Å" disjoint and out of frame. † He assures the courthouse that the case is not so, and that they will successfully deal with Fortibras. The irony behind that is that Denmark is weak, regardless of what Claudius wants his people to believe. In order to seem like a man of action Claudius puts his future plan forward â€Å" Thus much the business is we have here writ to Norway, uncle of young Fortibras. † By doing that he convinces many that he is a potent king. Writing to Norway makes him seem like he is aware of what he is doing and that the nation does not need to worry. To complement his assurance he appoints two messengers to deliver a letter, this is significantly important because his objective is to prove to the court that he trusts his officials, ironically thought, he is purposely sending two people incase of a betrayal. Claudius’s speech had a successful outcome. He was able to gently hide his inner insecurities and expose himself as a good statesman and valiant leader. His word usage was essential to the deliverance of his speech as it allowed him to get his awkward points across like unusual marriage to his sister. His use of antithesis did make the reader question the sincerity of his grief, but it did not seem to affect the opinion of the courthouse. He showed clear superiority over everyone within the courthouse, especially Hamlet, while making himself clear that he would not tolerate any disagreement of his coronation. Most importantly, he put an action plan forward and proved himself as king.

Molluscan Assemblage on the Intertidal Zones of Butuan Bay

Molluscan Assemblage on the Intertidal Zones of Butuan Bay MOLLUSCAN ASSEMBLAGE (UNIVALVIA AND BIVALVIA) ON THE INTERTIDAL ZONES OF BUTUAN BAY, AGUSAN DEL NORTE, NORTHEASTERN MINDANAO ARIEYL C. JAMODIONG INTRODUCTION Coastal zone is one of the marine environments where the most intense and harsh conditions in the world occurs. This aquatic biome often deals with the changing of tide daily allowing extreme exposure to sunlight so that high temperature, increase salinity (due to intense evaporation) and low water supply is often experienced in this area. Moreover, this part of the aquatic world is open to strong action brought about by the wave thereby making this region the most severe environment to live in. In spite of this, vast array of animals exist because they are well adapted to these extreme conditions. Among these diverse organisms are the molluscs which are the most familiar form of invertebrates on earth. This group of animal is very important ecologically and economically since they create a vital link in the marine food web (Burkepile 2007; Castell Sweatman 1997) and the edible forms are source of protein for human consumption, while the shells are known for its use as raw materials for poultry feeds, cement producer, fertilizers, ornamentals (Paul et al 2014; Tabugo et al 2013; Del Norte-Campos et al 2003; Floren 2003; Schoppe et al 1998) and even has the potential as antiviral drugs (Chatterji et al 2002). Due to these, the coastal zone can therefore be considered as the most productive and since it is easily accessible, this region is vulnerable to impacts of anthropogenic activities (Vaghela et al 2010). Without a doubt, exploitation of natural resources (i.e unregulated harvesting) are now causing catastrophic effects on the molluscan fauna of the intertidal zone (Doloroza Dangan-Galon 2014; Jontila et al 2014; Gomez Mingoa-Licuanan 2006) as a result of rapid increase in human population, tourist development and commercial demands. Interplay among environmental (sediment size, wave action, salinity of the interstitial water, organic matter and calcium carbonate contents of the sediment) and biological factors (predation, competition and recruitment) affects the temporal and spatial changes in species abundance in biological communities (Flores-Rodrà ­guez et al 2014; Esqueda-Gonzalez et al 2014; Rahman Barkati 2012; Batomalaque et al 2010; Rios-Jara et al 2009; de Arruda Amaral 2003; Azouzi et al. 2002). In the Philippines, intense human activities (for instance, harvesting, tourism and fishing) has resulted to un-controlled over exploitation of natural resources especially commercially important species despite international and local laws that banned the harvesting of these valuable commodities. In order for sustainable use of marine and coastal living resources to become successful, sufficient information on biological diversity must be done. Studies on diversity and abundance on molluscs in the country a re inadequate which include the works of Dolorosa Dangan-Galon (2014), Picardal Dolorosa (2014), Dolorosa Jontila (2012), Batomalaque et al (2010), Dolorosa Schoppe (2005) with relatively few works done in Mindanao, Philippines (Manzo et al 2014; Tabugo et al 2013). Therefore, the aim of this study is to do assessment on the abundance of molluscan assemblage (gastropods and bivalves) in the intertidal zone of Butuan Bay with the following objectives: (1) to measure the physical and chemical parameters of the water (DO, temperature, salinity and pH), and the sediment contents (total organic matter, calcium carbonate and grain size); (2) to come up with a list of gastropods and bivalves by identifying collected molluscs; (3) to compare the abundance and diversity of these molluscan assemblage between established sites; and (4) to identify which among the physical, chemical and sediment contents that may control or influence the distribution and abundance of gastropod and bivalve a ssemblage. It is hoped, that monitoring molluscan biodiversity of any marine ecosystem specifically the easily accessible intertidal zone will allow appropriate assessment of the effects of anthropogenic (e.g., pollution, unregulated harvesting, habitat degradation and fishing practices) as well as natural (e.g., hurricanes and currents) factors on species diversity and abundance. MATERIALS AND METHODS Description of the Study Area Butuan Bay is located in the northeast section of Mindanao and is part of Bohol Sea. It has a latitude of 9 °04†²N and longitude of 125 °22†²E (http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Butuan_Bay). The well-known Agusan River, which is the longest river in Mindanao, brings freshwater into Butuan bay. The bay is an important fishing ground where most of the fishermen catch tuna and sardines (Wernsted Spencer 1967). Sampling Stations Four sampling sites will be positioned on the intertidal zones of Butuan Bay, Agusan del Norte for the assessment of molluscs (Figure 1). These sites will be chosen on the basis of the type of substrate and presence of industries, beach resorts and bamboo houses or shanties constructed along the coastline. Station 1 will be situated at Barangay Pook, Tubay where San Roque Metals Inc. is present. The company is involved in nickel mining which dumped its wastes directly into the coast causing the water to turn into a brownish coloration. The intertidal flat is composed largely of broken corals and is characterized by rubble substrate that may have resulted from the mining demolition. Station 2 will be established along Barangay Marcos, Magallanes where Eurasia Match Inc. (EMI) is located. The company is one of the biggest Figure 1. Geographical locations of the four sampling sites in the intertidal zones  of Butuan Bay, Northeastern Philippines (http://www.maphill.com/philippines/region-10/agusan-del-norte/simple-maps/silver-style-map/) distributor of match in the country. About 250 meters away from this station is the outlet of Agusan River which was reported to have carried with it run-off waters contaminated with residues of mercury and cyanide believed to have come from Mt. Diwalwal, the biggest mining site located in Compostela Valley (http://www.bar.gov.ph/digest-home/digest-archives/94-2003-4th-quarter/3282-oct-dec03-mercury-contamination-in-agusan-river). The intertidal flat is distinguished by a muddy flat substrate. Station 3 will be established at Barangay Sta. Ana, Nasipit where the Aboitiz floating power barge was situated. The barge makes use of petroleum to provide electricity to the entire province of Agusan del Norte during long episode of power shortage. Fish pens are also visible along the area. This area is made up of muddy flat with mangroves situated along the shoreline. Station 4 will be placed at Barangay Vinapor, Carmen where the intertidal zone hosts diverse species of corals and seagrass b ed. This site is devoid of any industries although several beach resorts are present. Establishment of Transects and Quadrats Three transects, with lengths of 50 meters and positioned perpendicular to the shore, will be placed on the intertidal flat of each sampling site. The interval between transect lines will be 50 meters. Along each transect, four 11 meter quadrats set 10 meters apart from each other, will be laid. Within each quadrat, all environmental parameters, sediment samples for analysis of sediment contents, and all molluscs seen will be quantified â€Å"in situ† and will be gathered, respectively. Forty-eight quadrats (48 m2) will be laid down on the intertidal zones for the entire sampling sites during low tide. Employing a GPS (Garmin GPSMAP 76S), coordinates for each sampling sites will be taken. â€Å"In situ† determination of environmental parameters and the contents of the sediment Determination of the physical and chemical factors namely, dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and salinity will be done directly on the field using the portable DO meter (AMSTAT, AMT07), pen type pH meter (PH-009) and refractometer (ATAGO), respectively. Fifty grams (50g) sediment samples will be collected for the analysis of total organic matter and calcium carbonate using a plastic corer. Soil samples for the grain size determination will be obtained by gathering 200g sediments using a grab sampler. Sediment collected will be placed separately in a Ziploc bag and labelled properly. Three sediment samples for the sediment content analysis will be obtained in every quadrat and will be placed inside the freezer until laboratory analysis. Field collection of Molluscs samples Samples for the collection of epifauna molluscs will be done by means of picking up live organisms seen on the sediment inside each of the quadrat. Specimens gathered will be stored inside a labelled plastic container and will be preserved with 10% formalin-seawater solution. Conversely, infauna species will be collected using a grab sampler which will be pushed to a depth of 15cm in the center of the quadrat. Sediment sample for the infauna species will be placed in a Ziploc bag. Laboratory analysis of Molluscs samples Infauna species will be removed from the soil by sieving through a sieve with a 500 µm mesh opening. Molluscs retained on the sieve will be transferred to a tray and each species encountered will be hand-sorted and preserved in 10% formalin-seawater solution. Immediately, all molluscs will be cleaned, identified to species level and counted. A voucher specimen of each representative species will be set aside and its soft tissues will be removed, its shells will be cleaned and measured to the nearest 0.1 mm using a Vernier caliper and then pictures will be taken using a digital camera (Sony Cyber-Shot, 16 MP). Counts will be expressed as numerical and relative abundance. Numerical abundance will be expressed as number of individuals per m2, while relative abundance for each species will be calculated as a percent of total molluscan species present. Molluscs will be identified using the standard works of Springsteen Leobrera (1986) and the illustrated guides to marine gastropods (ht tp:// www.gastropods. com.) and seashells (www.seashellhub.com, www.jaxshells.com.). Laboratory analyses of organic matter contents in the sediments and grain size Determination of calcium carbonate concentration and total organic matter will be quantified using the method described by Moghaddasi et al (2009). Calcium carbonate will be done by drying the sediment samples inside an oven at 70 °C for about 8 hours. Then, around twenty-five grams (25 g) will be weighed (W1), mixed with HCl (0.1 N) and will be stirred until no CO2 bubbles appeared before it will be stored. After 25 hours, the sample will be filtered and the upper liquid phase discarded. The residual sediments will be dried at 70 °C for 8 hours and reweighed again (W2). Calcium carbonate percentage will be measured by the following formula: CaCO3 (%) = 100 (W1-W2) / W1 For the total organic matter (TOM) analysis, a pre-weighed crucible (C) half-filled with the sediment samples will be dried at 70 °C for 24 hours and afterwards reweighed (A). Subsequently, sediment samples will be placed in a furnace at 550 °C for about 12 hours, then will be allowed to cool before it will be reweighed again (B). The total organic matter will be calculated as follows: TOM (%) = 100 (A-B) (A-C) Grain size will be determined following the method described by Das (2009) using 100g oven-dried sediment which will be sieved using series of screen sieves of 3.35 mm, 0.841 mm, 0.595 mm, 0.31 mm, 0.149 mm, and 0.074 and 0.053 mm mesh opening. Soil particles retained on each sieve will be taken and weighed separately. The percentage of each particle fraction will be computed as shown below: Percentage weight= Dry weight of grained sediments x 100 Total dry weight of sediments Particle size will be determined based on the USDA Soil Textural Triangle. Statistical Analyses Index for diversity profiles will be calculated using Shannon-Weaver Index, Margalef Index and Menhinick Index in order to determine changes in the composition of molluscs species. Variation on the abundance of molluscan species between sampling stations will be analyzed using One-way ANOVA. To know which among the environmental parameters and sediment contents that may influence the numerical abundance of molluscan assemblage, the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) will be used. Similarities among molluscan assemblage will be determined using the Cluster Analysis (Wards Method). PAST (PAleontological STatistical) software version 2.17 will be employed for all the statistical analyses (http://folk.uio.no/ohammer/past/) (Hammer et al., 2001). LITERATURE CITED Azouzi L., Bourget E., Borcard D., 2002 Spatial variation in the intertidal bivalve  Macoma balthica: biotic variables in relation to density and abiotic factors. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 234:159–170. Batomalaque G. A., Arce B. G. P., Hernandez M. B. M., Fontanilla I. K. C., 2010.  Survey and spatial distribution of shoreline malacofauna in Grande Island, Subic Bay. Philippine Journal of Science 139 (2):149-159. Burkepile D., E., Hay M. E., 2007 Predator release of the gastropod Cyphoma  gibbosum increases predation on gorgonian corals. Oecologia 154(1):167–173. Castell L. L., Sweatman H. P. A., 1997 Predator-prey interactions among some  intertidal gastropods on the Great Barrier Reef. J. Zool. 241(1):145–159. Chatterji A., Ansari Z. A., Ingole B. S., Bichurina M. A., Marina S., Baikov Y. A., 2002 Indian Marine Bivalves: Potential Source of Antiviral Drugs. Current science 8(10):1279-1281. Das B. M. 2009 Soil Mechanics Laboratory Manual. 7th Edition, Oxford  University Press Inc, New York. de Arruda E. P., Amaral A. C. Z., 2003 Spatial distribution of mollusks in the  intertidal zone of sheltered beaches in Southeastern of Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Zoologia 20(2):291-300. Del Norte-Campos A. G., Declarador M. B., Beldia R. A., 2003 Catch  composition, harvest and effort estimates of gleaned macroinvertebrates in Malalison Island, Northwestern Panay. University of the Philippines Visayas J Nat Sci 8:129–141. Dolorosa R. G., Dangan-Galon F., 2014 Species richness of bivalves and  gastropods in Iwahig River-Estuary, Palawan, the Philippines. International Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Studies 2(1):207-215. Dolorosa R. G., Jontila J. B. S., 2012 Notes on common macrobenthic reef  invertebrates of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Philippines. Science Diliman 24:2:1-11. Dolorosa R. G., Schoppe S., 2005 Focal benthic mollusks (Mollusca: Bivalvia and  Gastropoda) of selected sites in Tubbataha Reef National Marine Park,  Palawan, Philippines. Science Diliman 17:2:1-10. Esqueda-Gonzalez M. D., Rios-Jara E., Galvan-Villa C. M., Rodriguez-Zaragoza  F. A., 2014 Species composition, richness, and distribution of marine bivalve molluscs in Bahia de Mazatlan, Mexico. ZooKeys 399:43–69. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.399.6256. Floren A., 2003 The Philippine shell industry with special focus on Mactan, Cebu.  Coastal Resource Management Project of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. United States Agency for International Development, 50 pp. Flores-Rodrà ­guez P., Flores-Garza R., Garcà ­a-Ibà ¡Ãƒ ±ez S., Valdà ©s-Gonzà ¡lez A.,  Violante-Gonzà ¡lez J., Santiago Cortà ©s E., Galeana-Rebolledo L., Torreblanca-Ramà ­rez C., 2012 Mollusk species richness on the rocky shores of the State of Guerrero, Mexico, as affected by rains and their geographical distribution. Natural Resources 3:248-260. Gomez E. D., Mingoa-Licuanan S. S., 2006 Achievements and lessons learned in  restocking giant clams in the Philippines. Fisheries Research 80(1):46-52. Hammer O., Harper D. A. T., Ryan P. D., 2001 PAST: paleontological statistics software package for education and data analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica 4:1-9. Jontila J. B. S., Gonzales B. J., Dolorosa R. G., 2014 Effects of poaching on  Topshell Tectus niloticus population of Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan, Philippines. The Palawan Scientist 6:14-27. Manzo K., Estandarte M. H., Dalipe R. E., Ulangutan J., Lecera J. M., Acob A.,  Diamalod J., Salmo W., Jumawan J., 2014 Survey and diversity of  intertidal mollusks in Alabel and Maasim, Sarangani Province,  Philippines. AACL Bioflux 7(6):449-457. Moghaddasi B., Nabavi S. M. B., Vosoughi G., Fatemi S. M. R., Jamili S., 2009 Abundance and distribution of benthic foraminifera in the Northern Oman Sea (Iranian side) continental shelf sediments. Research Journal of Environmental Sciences 3(2):210-217. Paul P., Panigrahi A. K., Tripathy B., 2014 A study of marine molluscs with  respect to their diversity, relative abundance and species richness in North-East coast of India. Indian Journal of Applied Research 4(12):538-541. Picardal R. M., Dolorosa R. G., 2014 The molluscan fauna (gastropods and  bivalves) and notes on environmental conditions of two adjoining protected bays in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2(5):72-90. Rahman S., Barkati S., 2012 Spatial and temporal variations in the species  composition and abundance of benthic molluscs along 4 rocky shores of Karachi. Turk J Zool 36(3):291-306. Rios-Jara E., Navarro-Caravantes C. M., Galvan-Villa C. M., Lopez-Uriarte E.,  2009 Bivalves and gastropods of the gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexico: a checklist of species with notes on their habitat and local distribution. Journal of Marine Biology 1-12. Schoppe S., Gatus J., Milan P. P., Seronay R. A., 1998 Gleaning activities on the  islands of Apid, Digyo and Mahaba, Inopacan, Leyte, Philippines. Philipp Scient 35:130–140. Springsteen F. J., Leobrera F. M., 1986 Shells of the Philippines. Carfel Shell  Museum, Philippines, 377p. Tabugo S. R. M., Pattuinan J. O., Sespene N. J. J., Jamasali A. J., 2013 Some  Economically important bivalves and gastropods found in the island of Hadji Panglima Tahil, in the province of Sulu, Philippines. International Research Journal of Biological Sciences 2(7):30-36. Vaghela A., Bhadja P., Ramoliya J., Patel N., Kundu R., 2010 Seasonal  variations in the water quality, diversity and population ecology of intertidal macrofauna at an industrially influenced coast. Water Science and Technology 61(6):1505-1514. Wernsted F. L., Spencer J. E., 1967 The Philippine Island World: A physical,  cultural and regional geography. University of California, Barkeley Press, 742p. http://folk.uio.no/ohammer/past/ http:// www.gastropods. com. http:// www.seashellhub.com http:// www.jaxshells.com.). http://en.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Butuan_Bay http://www.maphill.com/philippines/region-10/agusan-del-norte/simple-maps/silver-style-map/ http://www.bar.gov.ph/digest-home/digest-archives/94-2003-4th-quarter/3282-oct-dec03-mercury-contamination-in-agusan-river

Justice In Platos The Republic Essay -- Plato Republic Justice Philos

Justice In Plato's The Republic Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote â€Å"One man’s justice is another’s injustice.† This statement quite adequately describes the relation between definitions of justice presented by Polemarchus and Thrasymachus in Book I of the Republic. Polemarchus initially asserts that justice is â€Å"to give to each what is owed† (Republic 331d), a definition he picked up from Simonides. Then, through the unrelenting questioning of Socrates, Polemarchus’ definition evolves into â€Å"doing good to friends and harm to enemies† (Republic 332d), but this definition proves insufficient to Socrates also. Eventually, the two agree â€Å"that it is never just to harm anyone† (Republic 335d). This definition is fundamental to the idea of a common good, for harming people according to Socrates, only makes them â€Å"worse with respect to human virtue† (Republic 335 C). Polemarchus also allows for the possibility of common good through his insistence on helping friends. To Polemarchus nothing is more important than his circle of friends, and through their benefit he benefits, what makes them happy pleases him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upon the summation of the debate between Polemarchus and Socrates, Thrasymachus enters into the fray. He states that justice â€Å"is nothing other than advantage of the stronger† (Republic 338c), and also that the greatest life is that of perfect injustice, to be found in the life of a tyrant. This definition leaves no room for the common good because it creates a life of compet...

Benefits of Hybrid Cars Essay -- Fuel Energy Driving Gas Pollution Ess

Benefits of Hybrid Cars Transportation is very important to our every day lives. Throughout the history, many evolutions and changes have been made in transportation technology, and it continues growing at a rapid pace. At first, people used horses and horse trailers as their main transportation. Then in the Industrial Revolution, the steam engine was invented. Later, there was the invention of the combustion engine, and it is the beginning of the automobile industry. Many changes and improvements have been made in the development of automobiles. However, until today, the 21st century, people are still using gasoline as the many fuel for cars. Now in 2005, we have hybrids, a new generation of automobiles. Hybrids are fuel efficient, fuel economic and environment friendly, and they are the dominant cars for the next two decades. Here we are going to discuss the major benefits of driving a hybrid. A hybrid can be simply defined as a vehicle with two sources of power combined. A modern hybrid vehicle, such as a Toyota Prius, uses both an electrical motor and a gasoline engine, and they work together to provide the power needed for a comfortable ride. Hybrids actually have been around longer than we think: From 1897 to 1907, the Compagnie Parisienne des Voitures Electriques (roughly, Paris Electric Car Company), built a series of electric and hybrid vehicles, including the 1903 Krieger. With front-drive and power steering, the Krieger wasn't built in much quantity. One model ran on alcohol, and there was another version with what has been described as a gasoline-turbine engine; in those times, the term "turbine" sometimes meant â€Å"generator."(History of Hybrid,  ¶ 4) Before the full development of gasoline vehi... ...o provide us a better world with cleaner air and greener grass. With features of hybrids, people can live longer and healthier under better environment; with limited resources, people can travel longer in lives and have more opportunities to explore lives as well as the world. Hybrids are the car for the future. Works Cited How Hybrid Cars Work. Retrieved November 14, 2005, from http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hybrid-car5.htm History. Retrieved November 14, 2005, from http://www.hybridcars.com/history.html Progressive Casualty Insurance Company (2005, April 11). Research Finds Higher Horsepower Cars Involved In Fewer Accidents. Retrieved from http://pressroom.progressive.com/releases/Hi_Horsepower_05.asp History of Hybrid. Retrieved November 14, 2005, from http://www.modernracer.com/features/historyofthehybrid.html

Coffee and Starbucks Essay

Starbucks has been the most successful coffee chain using their aggressive expansion strategies to surpass its competitors. Through its expansion, Starbucks has focused on creating a dense network of stores all around US, while also opening up new locations all around the world. However, Starbucks’ aggressive expansion strategies have posed major threats to its financial health such as tight cashflows, increase debts, poor liquidity ratios and etc. In addition, this approach can exacerbate competition among close Starbucks stores. Due to the aggressive expansion, Starbucks has lost its internal focus in its core business coffee and its unique â€Å"Starbucks Experience – third place†. The issues are how Starbucks can stay profitable in the future and at the same time sustain its dominant position in the gourmet coffee industry. We have examined the industry analysis that focuses on the industry trends, the firm competitive environment and followed by a SWOT analysis on Starbucks. Finally, we look at the company strategy analysis that focuses on the Starbucks’ strategic intent and its strategic position. From these analyses, we recommend a few options where Starbucks should pursue moving forward in order to avoid further decline and sustain its dominant position. .:Company Background & History:. Starbucks Coffee, Tea and Spice was established in 1971 by Jerry Baldwin, Zey Siegel and Gordon Bowker in Seattle to sell roasted coffee beans and coffee machines. (See Exhibit 1 for timeline) At that time, the founders’ philosophy was to provide high quality coffee and educate the public the art of appreciating fine coffee. It was the founders’ passion and strong commitment on educating the public that attracted Howard Schultz to join Starbucks in 1982 as the head of the marketing department, overseeing the company’s retail stores. On one of his business trips to Milan, Italy, Schultz stumbled upon an opportunity to revamp Starbucks and shift its focus from its original business activities. Schultz’s new business proposition for Starbucks was to serve freshly brewed coffee at their outlets which he sold to the founders without success. After many unsuccessful attempts, he left the Company. In 1987, Schultz acquired Starbucks from the founders and changed its name to the more abbreviated ‘Starbucks’ and modified her logo to what we see today. After the acquisition, he introduced the idea of ‘The Starbucks experience’ to all Starbucks’ outlets; that is to create a comfortable atmosphere for patrons to relax. From then on, every Starbucks outlet was the perfect duplicate of this concept. In 1992, Starbucks had launched an IPO and its common stock was being traded on the Nasdaq. In 1995, Starbucks venture overseas and formed a joint venture with SAZABY Inc to open Starbucks stores in Japan. In 1996, Starbucks first oversea outlet was opened in Tokyo. Today, Starbucks has a total of 7,087 Company operated stores and 4,081 License stores in US. Additionally, it has 1,796 Company operated stores and 2,792 Joint Venture and License store operating in other 43 countries. .:Definition of the Industry, Competitors and Scope of Analysis: Generally, Starbucks is in the Food and Beverages industry. However for the purpose of this paper, we would define Starbucks to be in the gourmet coffee industry with the following competitors : †¢Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; †¢Costa Coffee; †¢Caribou Coffee (See Exhibit 2 for a brief write up on reasons for the choice of these competitors and some background information of them) For the purpose of this paper, our analysis will be focusing on Starbucks in US and Australia. The next section provides an overview of the gourmet coffee industry and the competitive environment in US and Australia. .:Overview of the Industry:. .:Political Forces:. Generally both the US and the Australia political situation appeared to be well established and stable. This will provide a good platform for both current businesses and new businesses to operate in. In US, despite the current verge of recession, the political mood is still likely to favour increased regulation of businesses. In addition, even though international tensions are likely to remain but their impact on political stability and economy will remain minimal. Similarly in Australia, the political climate is likely to remain relatively stable. Although the relationship between the federal government and the states had been rocky in the past; it has improved after the introduction of a more stable formula for revenue distribution. .:Economical Forces:. US: Real economic growth is expected to slow from an estimated 4% in 2008 to 3. 8% in 2009. The modest slowdown reflects the impact of lower demand from its trading partner. As these exists imbalances in the economy and the poor short-term outlook for growth, it is assumed that conditions in the US are now recessionary and that growth will remain very weak in 2009. This will in turn affect the GDP and the disposable income of its residents. Australia: Traditionally, rapid growth in Australia has been slowdown recently due to recession. Improved monetary and fiscal management have reduced macroeconomic volatility, but risks and imbalances are present. The low domestic savings rate renders the banking system dependant on foreign financing. The current account deficit is large, and international financial markets may start to worry about the underlying causes. Bubble conditions also seem to exist in the housing market. .:Socio-cultural Forces: Consumers’ Perceptions and Disposable Income:. US: There had been an increase in coffee consumption in the US market though the rate had slowed down in 2005 posing threats to coffee retailers. Recently, US consumers had increasingly opt for healthier hot drinks such as tea and RTD beverages which affect coffee consumption rate. The trend is likely to continue, leading to decline in coffee consumption. Australia: Coffee sales had experienced quite lukewarm growth from 2000 to 2005. The culture of cafe had caused more people to opt for on-trade sales coffee at the cafe instead of home-brewed coffee. According to BIS Shrapnel, people increasingly tend to go to cafes for their coffee and there is an increase of 50% within 2 years in coffee consumption. .:Technological Forces: Technological Developments:. Technological changes have created many new products and processes. It helps to reduce costs, improve quality and lead to innovations which in turn benefits consumers as well as organizations. Many organizations in the gourmet coffee industry had recognized the importance of providing wireless internet access and Wi-Fi hotspots to its patrons. These technology advances had created a leisure place for patrons to surf net or hang out after home and work. Most of the organizations had also introduced automated coffee machines to speed up the brewing process so as to shorten waiting time. To further improve business operations and efficiency, some organizations have also make use of information technology systems to help them run their businesses more smoothly. .:Environmental Forces:. With major climate changes occurring due to global warming, many organizations in the gourmet coffee industry had increased their environment awareness by reduced the usage of disposable cups to serve coffee and increased the use of ceramic mugs. Furthermore, the organizations had also reduced the size of their paper napkins, paper bags and in store garbage bags. The organizations were also encouraged to purchase Fairtrade certified coffees so as to promote responsible environmental and economic efforts. The following section presents our analysis of gourmet coffee industry with the aid of Michael Porters 5 Forces model. .: Analysis of Gourmet Coffee Industry- Porter 5 Forces:. Please refer to exhibit 3 for the criteria used for the scoring of each forces and an analysis of each forces. Force #1: Threat of New Entry:. †¢Threat of new entry is high. †¢High start up cost involved in purchasing equipments, sourcing for coffee beans and training barista. †¢Strong brand identity leading to high switching cost for consumers Score: 10 Force #2: Threat of Substitutes:. †¢Substitutes are gourmet coffee of a different brand †¢Current gourmet coffee industries is saturated †¢High switching cost. †¢Threat of substitutes considered to be relatively high Score: 6 Force #3: Bargaining Power of Suppliers:. †¢Majority of commercially available coffee beans come from a few industrializes countries. †¢Increase the cost of coffee houses in sourcing and gaining access to these high quality coffee beans. †¢Bargaining power of suppliers is relatively high Score: 5 Force #4: Bargaining Power of Consumers†¢Bargaining power of customers is relatively neutral. †¢Current player gained brand loyalty †¢Product differentiation helps to retain current customer and attract new customers. †¢However price sensitive customers might seek for cheaper alternative. Score: 0 Force #5: Rivalry between Competitors:. †¢Intensity of rivalry is moderate. †¢Brand identity and high switching cost is relatively unfavorable to new player that has just entered the market. Score: 3 Conclusion:From the above analysis, we noted that the threat of new entry, the bargaining power of the supplier and threat of substitutes are relatively high. On the other hand the bargaining power of the consumers is neutral and the intensity of rivalry is moderate. Hence from the above.

Web Conferencing Programs Research Memo

In our meeting last week we discussed moving to different Web Conferencing software in an effort to become more user friendly to our remote users, and to enable cost savings in our telecom and IT infrastructure. I undertook the assignment to research the available software solutions and have found one that I believe will allow our company to achieve the objectives set forth during our meeting. During my research I came upon four different programs that I thought would meet our criteria. I will explain which one I believed was the superior choice and then explain what led me to that conclusion. I have included a table listing the top four in the reference pageThe software that I believed was the best fit for us is Netviewer Meet 6. 0. My criteria that my decision was based on were: Features, Usability, Security, Support, Price and Trial availability. I will explain my choice based on two of them, features and price. Feature wise almost all of the four under consideration had, for the most part the same features between them. The Online Meeting Tools Review (n. d) website indicated a that Netview Meet 6. had by far the best set of features that could be found in one program, based on the chart given on that websites page titled â€Å"Functions and Features of the 5 best web conferencing services†. Some of those features were that it allowed for desktop and selected application access as well as the ability to change presenters instantly and to be able to transfer mouse and keyboard control as well as a being user friendly with †w ide-ranging options that can be hidden and revealed using the profile manager† (Online Meeting Tools Review website, n. ). The price on the service was a key factor in leading to my decision as well. It has a monthly subscription fee of $49 per month which allows for 100 participants which was the best price per user from a cost standpoint. Also there is no need to purchase additional hardware or reconfigure firewalls and proxy settings as it supports most current configurations. By utilizing Netview Meet 6. 0 our department can enable more efficient remote collaboration thru more advanced web conferencing software.

Nature of the Consumer Decision Making Essay

Introduction Now more than ever in such a highly competitive business world were each product and service offered is competing with similar and alternative products, it is crucial from the businesses point of view that their product or service is of the highest standard possible. Correctly marketed a product could be infinitely successful, whilst on the other hand a poorly marketed product could be the death of it. From a marketers perspective it is them making the product what it is, from deciding consumer’s wants and needs, to interpreting these in an end product that satisfies these needs. In order for this to happen marketers must take into account the vast amount of cognitive processes the consumer goes through before, during and after making a purchase. This report provides a view into the consumer’s decision making process, looking more depth into the role motivation plays in these decisions and the various theoretical model frameworks that are used in this process. The repor t will also outline how a marketer can use this knowledge to assist consumers in their purchasing choices and decisions throughout the report when applicable. The consumer decision making process Four views of consumer decision making The consumer decision making process is one that the consumer makes when making a purchase. There are different models that have been produced in time to support this idea, with four generalist views of consumer decision making, each highlighting different variables. These are the ‘Economic view’ which focuses on the idea that the consumer makes decisions based on rational behaviour, i.e. cost verse benefits, will I get a good enough product service for my money?. Another view that marketers hold is the ‘passive view’ in which opposes the economic view by believing consumers to be submissive to all marketers input, stating that consumers are impulsive buyers, easily manipulated with marketing efforts. Thirdly is the ‘Emotional view’ which may be seen as irrational behaviour based on feelings rather than any logical reasoning, i.e. decisions based on love, hope, sexuality etc. Fourth and probably the most prolific one would be the ‘5 stage (cognitive process)’. The 5 stage process outlines the cognitive procedure consumers go through when making decisions. Marketers will often refer to  this model when considering how to effectively influence the consumer’s choices. It shows that more consideration goes into the decision making process than just a purchase decision and even continues post-purchase. Although the consumer does not always necessarily follow each stage, sometimes they may skip stages when making more impulsive decisions or routine purchases. For example when considering this model it would be naà ¯ve to think the consumer will put the same amount of thought into buying a pack of chewing gum at a newsagent to buying a new car. The purchase of chewing gum is generally an impulsive decision that does not require much previous thought, whereas the purchase of a car is less routine and requires a lot of thought into varying factors such as cost verses benefits. (Consumer Decision Making Process, 2008) Schiffman and Kanuk describe the process as being viewed in 3 distinct but interlocking stages, the input stage, process stage and output stage. Below is an extended model of this process, which includes external influences and psychological factors. Figure 1 External Influences Before the consumer even has the thought of making a purchase, they are already influenced by two sources subconsciously, the first being the firms marketing efforts (the four P’s) which creates an awareness for the product via marketers attempts to inform and persuade the consumer through products, promotion, price and channels of distribution . Secondly, sociological influences reveal an underlying fundamental need to fit in to certain social groups, lifestyles, cultures etc. that are not directly commercially related i.e. A neighbour or friend owning a product that an individual likes, therefore perhaps creating a want for it. Consumer decision making model The decision making model as shown in figure 1 could reflect not only the cognitive view to decision making, but also the emotional view as it incorporates various socio-cultural input (as previously mentioned) that could be described as emotional based, and also psychological processes(discussed later)involved when actually making the decision. Looking at figure 1 the first stage of the decision process is the ‘need  recognition’, this is where the consumer realises a need for something. This could come from perhaps running out of something and needing more, or receiving information on a product from an external source that leads them to want it. This would logically then lead the consumer to the second part of the process ‘the pre-purchase search’, this is the point where the consumer begins to process the thought of what product may satisfy their need, they may base their ideas on previous experience and memories (psychological factors), or may opt to s earch for useful information to help in their decision (basic internet search). At this point the consumer is drawing up information from external sources and at the same time has psychological factors influencing their decision. i.e.Consumer’smotivation, perception, learning, personality and attitudes. Solomon (2006) addresses the fact to how much actual searching takes place, stating that younger, better educated people will spend more time searching/fact finding before making a decision in comparison to an older person, who has less available channels to search. He also says that women are more inclined to research products. A generalisation that is worth keeping in mind from a marketer’s perspective as based on this theory it would be logical to focus marketing efforts at these for a more effective result. For example it would not be cost-efficient for a business to waste money trying to advertise a product to a social group that tends to have limited internet access, i.e. older people. The third stage of the process ‘the evaluation of alternatives’ is probably the longest part of the decision making process in terms of time as the consumer has multiple factors to consider. At this point the consumer, given previous knowledge built up in the previous stage, now has to filter from the potentially hundreds of available possibilities. Perhaps using basic cost v benefits and perceived risk of alternatives, or even more complicated cognitive processes requiring more effort. The considered sets of choices are known as the ‘evoked set’ The fourth stage enters the output area of the decision making process, this is where the consumer has made a decision and makes the purchase from the set of possibilities acknowledged in the ‘evoked set’, this would be classed as a ‘trial purchase’ as the consumer has not previously tested the product. The other type of purchase would be the ‘repeat purchase’ in which the consumer skips steps of the process because they already have a want for the product due to already  using it and needing more (brand loyalty). Once purchased the next and final stage of the process would be ‘the post purchase evaluation’, consumers now evaluate their purchase decision, deciding whether they are totally happy with the product, or perhaps would have preferred one of the alternatives. At this point it is vital for the marketers to make sure the consumers feels they made the right decision in choosing their product, as next time they will take their business elsewhere. Psychological factors The psychological factors in the human psyche that influence the input stage of the model are key tools that a marketer can use to utilise their relationship with the consumer. A good understanding of each can help the marketer focus efforts based around the consumer’s way of thinking. Consumer Personality – this is what separates humans and reflects individual differences, personality is always consistent and enduring. Sigmund Freud famously split the complex subject into three interacting parts, ID, Superego and Ego. The ID being your basic needs (hunger, thirst and sex). Superego being the way the people act out their primitive needs in a socially acceptable manner (restraining impulsive ID feelings). Lastly the Ego is the consumer’s conscious ability to control the demands and constraints of the previous two. Freud believed that an individual’s successfulness in tackling each stage will in turn reflect personality. For example a person can be fixated in later life through a dissatisfaction of needs in development stages in early life. i.e. if a child does not feel loved when developing it could leave them striving to feel it in later life, or perhaps opposing this lead them to not seek love due to not experiencing it (a defining characteristic in any personality). From a marketers opinion a person could be easily manipulated in later life due to decisions they have made in earlier stages. Consumer Perception – â€Å"†¦the active psychological process in which stimuli are selected and organised into meaningful patterns†, (Buchanan, 1991). Perception is how humans interpret information they make pick up through sensations like sight, taste, hearing, smell and touch, and then respond to accordingly to create a perception. For example from the marketer’s perspective, it is crucial that the perception of their product or service to the consumer is good i.e. effective stimul i,  as if the consumer gains a bad perception of a good they will not wish to purchase. Marketers can seek to improve brand perception through trials i.e. if consumer enjoys the product they will re-purchase based on previous experience. This would be one example of assisting a consumer in a purchase. Consumer Learning – refers to a human’s capacity to pick up knowledge, through information or experience on a product, directly or indirectly i.e. a consumer does not have to have tried a product to have a perceived familiarity with it, they may know somebody who has a familiarity and has told them about it, given them enough of an understanding to either like or dislike it. The general idea that when a product is completely unknown to the consumer that the quality of it is reflected in price. Consumer Attitudes – An attitude in marketing terms is defined as a general evaluation of a product or service formed over time (Solomon, 2008). An attitude satisfies a personal motive—and at the same time, affects the shopping and buying habits of consumers. Dr. Lars Perner (2010) (Understanding Consumer Attitudes, 2010). For the marketers it is up to them to understand why certain attitudes exist and either work with them or seek to change them. Consumer Motivation – defined by Schiffman and Kanuk (2010) as being ‘the driving force within individuals that impels them to action’. It could be referred to as the processes that cause people to behave as they do, from a psychological need to how they seek to satisfy it. Marketers can use identified motives to develop a better marketing mix giving them a better targeted marketing strategy. The role of motivation Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Dr Abraham Maslow formulated this hierarchy of needs as a theory behind how human motivation works, a theory now widely accepted. Similarly to Freudian beliefs (the ID) that basic physiological needs have to be fulfilled in order to reach higher satisfaction. i.e. food, water, air, shelter and sex. Generally these needs are satisfied by the majority (unless homeless, then these would be entire needs). Once satisfied the next stage would lead to safety needs not only physical safety but also safety in terms of finance, stability, education etc. Once an individual believes the previous needs are  met they then consider social needs. These needs include love, affection and acceptance, all of which are socially desired by everyone as we are motivated to find good relationships. Once these needs are generally met, the ego needs of human nature come into play. The ego needs can be of two types, inward directed i.e. self-esteem, success, personal satisfaction, or outwardly directed ego ne eds such as prestige, status and reputation. The ultimate need is for humans to reach self-fulfilment, to become the best of their potential (according to Maslow this need is rarely satisfied because generally ego needs are not fully satisfied) Alderfer (1972) describes there being two types of needs, a basic need (innate), innate needs being the basic level of needs relating to survival i.e. hunger, thirst and sex, and also Acquired needs which are picked up in life as a response to the environment and cultures. A theory echoed by Freud and also Maslow. Although Alderfer revised the latter stages of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs by realising some of the middle stages overlap, confusion of these needs could lead a marketer to appeal to the wrong type of consumer. So Alderfer changed Maslow’s five stage process into a more simple three stage one, which is similar in the fact it represents levels of needs (pyramid). Although Alderfer’s model states that humans may be motivated by more than one need and non-reliant of satisfaction of each need for progression i.e. an artist who may place growth needs above existence. An article by Mark Rodgers called ‘Challenging Maslow’ refers to the period of time in which Maslow has created this theory on motivation, stating that given the time in which it was created would not depict modern views to human motivation. Rodgers believes that Maslow produced his theory in a time when his home country had just emerged from a world war and out of the greatest depression of the 20th century, needs at this time would be lower as in physiological and safety. Whereas nowadays with more than 50 years of economic growth, the average person enjoys a more stable lifestyle and allows them to have higher focused needs such as egoistic and self-actualization. (Rodgers, 2004) How marketers can apply understanding of these processes and motivation to assist consumers in purchasing decisions Developing on what has been previously touched upon it would be a fair  judgement to say that marketers have the ability to manipulate consumers entirely. Once they have understood consumers’ needs and wants they can use them again when producing a marketing plan to reposition a product or perhaps launch another. Using theories such as Maslow’s, marketers can advertise to specific motivational needs, using powerful marketing tools such as advertising. Advertisements are cues used to arouse needs, marketers therefore creates ads to aid consumer choices. Advertising techniques can attract attention by appealing to needs (innate) or perhaps having such an image to create a new need or desire (acquired). They can advertise a product to directly stimulate levels of motivation i.e. Maslow’s self-fulfilment or Freud’s super ego through making a product seem visually emphasised as a certain amount of perfection which would satisfy top level needs. Physiological arousal can be used to stimulate consumers most basic needs, for example a visually ‘sexy’ advertisement would attract the attention of most adults, or perhaps an advertisement of a new burger at a fast food chain would focus to basic biogenic hunger needs. Cleverly marketed an advert can appeal to multiple needs, making a product seem vital for a consumer to own as it is seen as satisfying many needs, creating a strong chance of consumers purchasing this product. Looking into an emotional arousal view of marketing it can be seen that a lot of charity based organisations use emotional advertising to trigger a sad response from the audience. For example an advert seeking to create an awareness and revenue for starving children of third world countries would seek to discomfort the viewer by highlighting their struggle to find satisfaction of their biological needs and contrast this with our perhaps unnecessary ego and self-fulfilment needs. This in turn triggers an emotional response, and perhaps self-disappointment which would lead the individual to donate sympathetically. Conclusion To conclude, there has been a build-up of various consumer decision based theory and framework in this report that helps give an understanding to how the processes work, leading into motivation and various theory and models behind them. The theory can be applied directly when producing a marketing mix or segmenting the market, as it offers a clear insight into how the  human mind operates when considering purchase decisions. Another key aspect of marketing, by gaining an understanding of the consumers wants and needs before creating a product and marketing campaign that could ultimately fail and cause substantial losses financially. Marketers nowadays have to be at the top of their game due to flooded markets with similar products they have to be able to communicate the benefits of their product to the consumer and how it may differentiate from competitors. Marketers have the ability to create a want for a product that would not previously have been desired and therefore have the ability to manipulate people’s needs throughout their lifetimes through this incredibly strong tool and the added benefit of ease of distribution channels of information through advancements in modern day technology.

To What Extent Do Modern Versions of Virtue Ethics Address

To what extent do modern versions of Virtue Ethics address the weaknesses of Aristotle’s teachings on virtue? Aristotle’s idea of Virtue Ethics was influenced by his belief that all things and all humans have a purpose (a telos). For him a complete explanation of something has to include its final cause or purpose which essentially is to realise its potential. Virtue Ethics itself is concerned with the characteristics of a person rather than how a person behaves and it is this he outlined in his book Nicomachean Ethics. A ‘’virtue’’ are qualities that lead to a good life e. . courage and honesty. Aristotle explains for a person to adopt these qualities into their own lives is to maximise their potential to achieve a happy life and he goes on to explain Eudaimonia as being a quality of this happiness. However Aristotle then explains that a person should not act virtuously just to achieve a particular end because he believes this to be a subordi nate aim. A person that acts in a way to achieve goodness Aristotle explains is a superior aim and it is these people that act ‘’good’’ because it is the right way to act not because they ought to.Following on from this Aristotle goes on to explain the key to goodness and virtue is to follow the ‘’golden mean’’. This is when as a person we act between two extreme vices for example the midpoint between shamelessness and shyness is modesty, this therefore is the golden mean. Aristotle also distinguished between two types of virtue, moral virtues and intellectual virtues. The first being those cultivated through habit whilst intellectual virtues are those cultivated through instruction. In the later twentieth century Virtue Ethics suffered a revival.It was questioned whether Aristotle’s teachings on Virtue Ethics had any weaknesses and some modern perspectives on Virtue Theory can be seen to highlight these flaws. Although no t to a great extent, I do believe some modern versions of Virtue Ethics address the weaknesses of Aristotle’s teachings and my view is shared by many scholars who have criticised Aristotle’s Virtue Ethics for being too ‘’relative, vague and self-centred’’. Elizabeth Anscombe believed that ethical codes laying stress on moral absolute laws are outdated in a society where effectively a belief in God has been abandoned by the majority.She believed that we need to return to a morality which is based on human flourishing. However Anscombe did believe a return to achieving Eudaimonia was required and working from the basis of Aristotle’s work she believed morality is best based on a person (agent) rather than an act or outcome. Similarly Philippa Foot argued that although virtues cannot guarantee happiness, they can go some way to achieving it and she too uses Aristotle’s roots but updates them accordingly.She explains that virtues ca n only be virtuous when used in the correct way; she used the example of courage when applied to somebody robbing a bank, in this instance courage is therefore not a virtue and cannot be seen as virtuous. Alasdair MacIntyre encourages a return to the basis of Aristotle’s understanding of virtue and encourages the development of virtues that are relevant to contemporary times. He believed when compared to other ethical theories Virtue Ethics are more realistic and applicable to peoples everyday situations.I would agree with MacIntyre here that a virtue-approach is more suitable in our society. Naturalistic theories of ethics are time consuming and overly complexed and therefore difficult to apply, Virtue Ethics however is not. For MacIntyre morality should be focused on developing your telos, this echoing Aristotle’s teachings. When referring back to the question, to what extent do modern versions of virtue ethics address the weakness of Aristotle’s teachings, Ma cintyre’s work can be used to show that Modern versions of virtue ethics can do the exact opposite.Aristotle’s teachings are seen throughout Macintyre’s work so how therefore can Aristotle’s work be criticized for having weaknesses? However not all modern philosophers use Aristotle’s work in their own and many would argue against my view that it is without weakness. J. L Mackie, Louden and Sidgewick have criticized Aristotle’s teachings for being too vague for any application and Sidgewick went on to say it only indicates the whereabouts of a virtue. The belief that is doesn’t provide accurate guidance can also be seen in Rosalind Hursthouse’s work.She believes Aristotle’s work on Virtue Ethics doesn’t explain how a person would or should act but only how a virtuous person would think about the dilemma. However she like Foot and Anscombe is a supporter of Aristotle’s approach to morality using his work but adapting it to suit a modern society. When looking at Aristotle’s teachings, they can be seen as very cultural dependent. The change in culture in our society today can be seen as a barrier for reviving this ethical theory. During the time of Aristotle communities were consistent in what they believed and this made virtues applicable to all.However in relation to our own communities today is there this consistency? In my opinion I do not believe so. For this reason I would argue that Aristotle’s idea of Eudaimonia in today’s society would be interpreted differently by many and one virtue for somebody may be a vice for another. From modern scholars such as Anscombe, Foot and MacIntyre we can see that Aristotle’s ideas are still prevalent in their own and it is for this reason that I disagree modern versions of virtue ethics addresses the weaknesses of Aristotle’s teachings to a large extent.Whilst using his ‘roots’ but changing it to su it a modern society may be seen ,by some, to be a weakness in my opinion this is a strength. Aristotle’s teachings have stood the test of time and are still predominantly used in this century with only a few appropriate changes. The counter argument however would be that Aristotle’s teachings are outdated for the community we live in now. The difference in community now compared with that of Aristotle’s provide a weakness in his theory and I understand that to a small extent weaknesses can be found, using modern versions of Virtue Ethics, in Aristotle’s teachings.

Topcoder Case Study

If you were a senior manager at TopCoder, what are the main capabilities you would need to develop to succeed at running the firm? Are these capabilities similar or unique from managing a more traditional firm In order to develop and execute the highly non-traditional business approach and vision of TopCoder, the senior management has to regularly challenge existing industry practices and innovate better methodologies to improve the quality of deliverables to the client. . Since the business model for TopCoder is highly reliant upon participation from the develop community they need to keep a continuous track of the activities in their forum and need to devise the competition in such a way that it attracts more and more better quality coders. To make this happen, the senior management has to develop high level of marketing skills so that they can promote their product and keep the coders interested. 2.The main challenge which company faces is that though the customers are getting hig h quality defect free products in a short span of time they are usually suspicious of the product quality since they do not have any relationships and in person/on call interaction with the developer community. Due to this suspicious outlook of the customers, the management needs to have high level of negotiation and convincing skills so that they can keep the customers. 3. Software product requires regular maintenance and updation after certain period of time and thus vendor selection for development is a long term investment.Now, the customer knows that the developer community of TopCoder is usually interested in complexity of the competition and intellectually challenging tasks and thus the top coders in the community might not take up such tasks. Thus, it becomes very important for TopCoder management to keep the clients interested. 4. The TopCoder community is innovation and competition driven, thus managing innovative and creative people who can be blunt and too direct to the customers may diminish and even destroy the reputation of company with he customer thus they need to be capable to handling not only the customer but the coders, who are primarily independent and can move out at any given time, given a better opportunity Most of the capabilities required by the senior management at TopCoder are rather similar to managers at a more traditional IT company, but the fact that they have to manage both the customer relationships, as well as the virtually located coder community, which can be challenging.Also, they have to additionally handle the feedback from both these communities and have to keep a balance between these two parties, which I not desired to such an extreme from a normal IT manager. What are barriers to entry in this type of a business? TopCoder is competing with in the tough and saturated space of IT Product development and Services. Gaining a market share in the high tech industry with already established and trusted brands along with re latively newer but technologically advanced businesses is a mammoth task. The entry barriers are the result of competitive behavior by existing businesses within the marketplace.TopCoder faces a variety of entry barriers that must be overcome or adapted to in order for its non-traditional business approach to create trust and standing with the customers and gaining a foothold within any given marketplace. According to the Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, the most common entry barriers are: 1. Established businesses attempt to prevent new competitors from entering their market because they could lose business and profits. 2. Absolute cost and capital advantages of existing business 4. An existing large company with high bench strength is more capable to cope ith new competitors by developing high complexity products at a lesser cost than a new company. 4. High entry barriers present a difficult challenge for new businesses to overcome to be profitable in the market. If t he barriers are too high, incumbent businesses in the market have a distinct advantage over any new entrant which can prevent the new business from being a significant threat to their market position 5. There can be many customers, who prefer contracts of multiple projects with an established brand which may prevent them to source their requirements to a relatively smaller new company, 6.Several times the processes and specialized business knowledge available with established companies are aligned with the processes and business needs of the customer and they prefer to work with each other. 7. Having worked in multiple projects together and knowing the quality of deliverables customers develop a preference to certain companies 8. Some customers, such as banks, have a lot of sensitive and secure data which they want to share with only already established and trusted IT firms 9. Usually high performing IT firms have a highly sophisticated infrastructure and quality control mechanism i n place.

News Paper Economic issue Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

News Paper Economic issue - Article Example While discussing the proposed payments and buying of the assets, the article also deals with how the government would like to have control over the banks at a scale â€Å"not seen since the great depression of the 1930’s†. This is significant as they have been questions over the way the government has been bailing out banks without asking for accountability in return. The article is disapproving of the way in which the government is silent on â€Å"specifics† on how and where the money from the stimulus package is going to be spent. From an economic point of view, the government is well within its rights to print more money and flood the economy with liquidity. However, it would be prudent to consider the inflationary effects of such a move. Further, the direct involvement of the government in the running of the banks may be a welcome sign in these times when reckless corporate greed and unethical behavior have undermined the credibility of financial institutions in the United States. The effect of such governmental intervention may not be exactly in the spirit of laissez faire economics but the current situation is that it would not be a bad idea if the rampant speculation and recklessness are reined in. This paper is in response to the article, â€Å"To Fix Detroit, Obama is said to drop plan for ‘Car Czar’â€Å"that appeared in the New York Times on Feb 15, 2009. The article discusses the cancellation of the appointment of an ombudsman to oversee the restructuring of the Big three automakers: GM, Ford and Chrysler. Instead, the article points out that the president himself would like to oversee the restructuring of the troubled automakers and thus there is no need for a â€Å"Car Czar†. The article is economic in nature as it pertains to the rescue of GM and Chrysler from near bankruptcy and their bailout under a federally guaranteed scheme. The article