Discovering Your Authentic Leadership Essay

The article discussed authentic, original, leadership. It explained the importance of discovering one’s own leadership. To do that, the article points that you should be yourself! Do not impersonate another leader. By doing so, people around you will know that you are trying to behave like someone else, which may lead to mistrust. Authentic leaders are usually passionate about their goals. They make sure to always practice their values, lead with both their emotions and their minds and they aim for long and meaningful relationships. Original leaders give meaning to their lives by overcoming difficult experiences. By giving meaning to their lives, leaders become more effective. Authentic leaders make it a point to develop themselves on their own. They dislike having a plan handed to them that limits them and forces them to follow a certain pattern or procedure set by someone else. They see that as a kind of copying someone else’s style. When making their own plan for development, they install their own values and morals into it. Thus making it easier for them to practice those values and developing them further. It is also essential for authentic leaders to balance their motivation sources. They should balance judgment, criticism and reprisal. Original leaders see their organization as a very important aspect of their lives. This enables them to clarify their beliefs, values and their understanding of important issues. They also give honest feedback to people around them when it is needed. The practical steps of being an authentic leader are to stay grounded , Empower people around to lead, learn from their life, knowing themselves, practicing their values, balancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and finally build a support team.

The Cause of bank failure

One member of the group is normally appointed to act as the managing or lead bank for the syndicate and it is the role of this bank to coordinate all negotiations, payments and administration between parties once the contract has been executed-it Is a multi bank transaction with each bank acting on a several basis, which means that each ann. acts on its own without responsibility for the other banks in the syndicate.If a bank fails to honor its obligations as a member of a syndicate, the other syndicate banks have no legal obligation to satisfy them on that bank's behalf. Syndicated loans are normally used to finance the purchase of capital assets or the acquisition of another business line or company. The syndicated credit market is one of the largest and most flexible sources of capital in the international market place. Loan syndication do happen In Zanzibar but are not very common. PROJECT LOANS – project loans has been used to describe all types of financing of projects, both with and without recourse. A financing of a particular economic unit in which a lender is satisfied to look initially to the cash flows and earnings of that economic unit as the source of funds from which a loan will be repaid and to the assets of the economic unit as collateral for the loan. Involve loans to finance major capital Investment projects for which the cash flow arising from the project will either be the sole or main repayment source.Such projects are usually financed by major banks because of the large amounts involved and the need for full technical evaluation for example building a major dam or prospecting for 011. The loan Is usually provided on a medium or long term basis. There are often other side benefits resulting from segregating a financing as a project financing which may have a bearing on the motives of the company seeking such a structure. These benefits include: – Credit sources may be available to the project that would not be available to th e sponsor.Guarantees may be available to the project that would not be available to the sponsor. – A project financing may enjoy better credit terms and interest costs in situations In which a sponsor's credit is weak. – Higher leverage of debt to equity may be achieved. Legal requirements applicable to certain investing institutions may be met by the project but not by the sponsor. C) LEASING -A lease is a contract wherein, over the term of the lease, the owner of the equipment permits another entity to use it in exchange for a promise by the latter to make a series of payments.The owner of the equipment is referred to as the lesser. The entity that is being granted permission to use the equipment is referred to as the lessee. A typical leasing transaction works as follows. The lessee first decides on the equipment needed. The lessee then decides on the manufacturer, the make, and the model. The lessee specifies any special features desired, the terms of warranties, g uaranties, delivery, installation, and services. The lessee also negotiates the price. After the equipment and terms have 1 OFF

Improving Society: The Goal of Education Essay

From the devastating earthquakes in Haiti, the educational institutions were destroyed. It will take time to rebuild and reestablish the country. This horrible disaster has not only shaken the Haitian nation, but the world. â€Å"Education is at the core of Haiti’s recovery and is the key to Haiti’s development,† said Director-General Irina Bokova of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. The younger generation will become the future leaders of Haiti. They will be responsible for planning, rebuilding, and reestablishing the country. Although classes are not in session, many Haitian students are laying and repairing their nation’s foundation. Marc Lacey describes how students are putting their education to work, in the New York Times article, Education Was Also Leveled by Quake in Haiti. He writes, â€Å"Future doctors are pitching in at field hospitals and helping arrange a major vaccination campaign. Psychology students are talking with displaced people about how they are holding up. Ms. Julme, who studied communication, managed to get a job at the United Nations radio station, although she focuses on music, not news, to get her mind, and the minds of her listeners, off of all the awful things that have occurred.† Students from various fields and career programs are contributing to the relief effort. They are not employing their skills to earn a high salary or to be promoted. They are simply volunteering to help their friends, family, and neighbors recover and rebuild. The ultimate goal of education is to improve society. Martin Luther King Jr. said, â€Å"†¦education has a two-fold function to perform in the life of man and in society: the one is utility and the other is culture. Education must enable a man to become more efficient, to achieve with increasing facility the legitimate goals of his life.† Amidst the wreckage and ruined buildings, people make new goals. They may be simply to survive. Many are worried about their future and their families. Those who can and know how to help can step forward. They can teach others how to help each other. There is the old saying that it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. This simple declaration is true. Those who are educated, no matter what field or skill, can help society improve. We learn in the classroom not to just land a good job, but to help humanity. The skills we learn in school are life saving skills. You may ask yourself how your skills or your career could help you if you were in their situation. You may think to yourself how  you could help others. Whatever your skills or talents, they are needed. It takes artists to find and create beauty. It takes engineers to prepare and build safe structures. It takes police officers to maintain peace. Education is helping Haiti recover. The Haitian society will be rebuilt. It is our duty wherever we live to develop our skills and use them to benefit humanity. Education is not just the means to advance our careers. It enables us to live and work together as a nation and as a world. How can your education help humanity?

Lab Report #2 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

#2 - Lab Report Example Measurement is an essential aspect mainly utilized in the scientific field to quantify diverse forms of matter. This entails determining the objects’, quantity of matter, volume and their densities (Wilson & Cecilia 242). However, an object’s exact measurement despite one being an expert, accuracy mainly relies on the equipments a person utilizes to take diverse measurements. This is due to the imperfections, which result from the equipments’ errors while a researcher is taking measurements of different types of matter or their parts. Therefore, it is essential for the researcher to have adequate knowledge regarding how to minimize errors via being able to manipulate the readings one attains while measuring. Since this varies across the equipments, where some are complex especially if one lacks proper knowhow regarding particular equipment (Wilson & Cecilia 39). The study’s focus encompasses measurements of diverse objects coupled with determining their le ngths, mass, volume and densities. 1. The initial step was to take the readings of a copper wire with the help of a metric ruler. This is by placing the wire on the metric rule, reading the positions of the two sides and estimating the readings to approximately tenth of a millimeter. Then developing four sets of independent measurements to approximately 0.01cm in centimeters by estimating using diverse parts of the meter rule 3. The diameter of the copper wire was measured with the aid of a micrometer caliper where the measurements’ approximation was 0.0001cm. To increase the accuracy of the study, it entailed obtaining six independent recordings in a table. Despite the experiment carried out with high level of keenness to shun any possible errors that may emanate from carelessness or readings’ improper taking, they were inevitable. Mainly, the source of errors in this study that have prompted the results to deviate from the ordinary expected

The Islands Cuba, Barbados, and the Netherlands Antilles Essay

The Islands Cuba, Barbados, and the Netherlands Antilles - Essay Example Many of the original inhabitants died from diseases that were brought to Cuba by the arriving sailors. The first Spanish settlements were established in Cuba in 1511. This corresponds closely to the first arrival of the Spanish in the Netherlands Antilles in the early 1500s. The Spanish also contacted Barbados in 1536. Spanish conquistadors seized the Caribs on Barbados to be used as plantation slaves and by the time the British settlements arrived in the 1620s, the island was uninhabited. Within 100 years of contact by Spanish explorers, all three native populations had been eradicated or enslaved. During the 1600s, the rule of the islands changed hands from the Spanish to other European countries. Cuba remained a Spanish colony while Barbados was settled as a British colony. The Dutch captured the Netherlands Antilles in the 1600s. Under European colonial rule, all three islands experienced similar situations during the years 1600-1900. During these centuries, all three colonies exploited the sugar market. The large sugar plantations necessitated the importation of slavery. The slave labor was primarily from Africa, though Barbados imported slaves from the Celtic nations of Scotland and Ireland. Slavery was abolished in all three colonies in the middle of the 19th century. ... The descendants of the freed slaves continue to dominate the populations of these islands. Descendants of the Celts that were imported to Barbados are some of the poorest inhabitants there today. During the centuries of large sugar plantations and slavery, the islands were ruled by the monarchies of the Dutch, England, and Spain. Cuba, which had come under Spanish rule, suffered during these years from a repressive rule. Barbados and the Netherlands Antilles were under colonial rule that was less oppressive. The Spanish rule in Cuba resulted in a revolt against Spanish rule in 1898, which ultimately resulted in the Spanish-American war. During this period, Cuba ousted the Spanish and it became an American protectorate. Barbados fared better during this period, but the descendent slave population continued to live outside the mainstream political spectrum. Barbados had disenfranchised the female vote and also had an income qualification to be able to vote. Unrest at the beginning of the 20th century led to massive uprisings by the descendants of former slaves. In 1942, the income qualification was lowered and women were allowed to vote. While the English ruled Barbados was moving towards greater freedom, Cuba was inching into a series of oppressive dictatorships. Fulgencio Batista was the military leader and later President of Cuba beginning in 1933. Batista ruled a corrupt and repressive police state. During his rule, he often silenced his critics through violence, which spawned an organized opposition led by Fidel Castro. Castro's supporters were able to oust Batista in 1959 when he fled the country. At the time, Castro was seen as a pro-democracy movement and self-rule was sweeping the Caribbean nations. In 1954 the Netherlands Antilles had become an

Nventory Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Nventory Management - Essay Example il industry has its core competency in the efficient supply chain system; it has developed a highly integrated and IT enabled logistics structure so that the demand and supply of its offerings is efficiently managed. Once the level of any product reaches a pre-determined level, the IT system automatically places an order at the supplier location. The supplier ensures that the goods are delivered within the agreed time period so that the problem of shortage is completely eliminated. Similarly, UPS, the leading postal carrier service provider ensures that it implements the direct-to-store approach effectively. In this approach, the step of distribution center is completely eliminated and the inventory is moved directly from the manufacturer to the consumer; there is no need of warehousing the stock and the holding and warehousing costs are completely eradicated from the supply chain (Muller, 2011). With the help of IT-enabled supply chain frameworks, the supplier-manufacturer relations have strengthened and the orders are fulfilled on time with shorter lead times and excellent level of the operational efficiency is attained. In order to ensure that the appropriate inventory management system is in place, the companies have made it mandatory that the best inventory management technique is implemented. For instance, Continental Airlines has ensured that it has the most efficient Materials Resource Planning (MRP) system within its business operations so that the in-flight services related to food and beverages are efficiently performed. As a result, its cost has reduced by US$40 million on yearly basis. With the help of this system, the inventory is adequately managed and it has been able to enhance its levels of proficiency and customer expectation by a significant amount (Wild, 2012). The Internet-enabled links between the partners of supply chain (inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics and distribution) have enhanced the collaboration and coordination

The film Boys Dont Cry Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The film Boys Dont Cry - Movie Review Example Since its inception, films are determined to encompass a plethora of complete human activities and are saturated with them. Human mind and its excellence at aesthetic paradigm evolve out with multiple hues at length while coming into the interface of any art medium. Films like any other art medium involve human mind in its creation, it displays human action and most importantly they are made to be comprehended and enjoyed by human minds as its audiences. Films are always considered as a wide form of art medium through which the manifestation of the striking moving images decorated with vibrant colors and sounds enables a connection between the film-makers and audience upon the matrix of celluloid and the senses enhanced through the pictorial description of emotions and actions. The intensity of the influence which a film leaves on the minds of its audiences cannot be undermined at any level. Therefore, the sociological aspect of the film, or myriad social psychologies depicted through the medium of the films holds a very important space in the minds of the modern audiences. With the growing complexities of life, the films began to develop with foreboding complexities. Skip Dine Young in his book, â€Å"Psychology at the Movies† mentioned rightly, â€Å"The psychology of film can be unified by thinking of movies as symbols. Movies are symbols that have meaning; these symbols are created by ways do they infuse aspects of themselves into their creations? While it is probable that everyone who works on a movie brings something of him or herself to the activity, I focus on those artists whose individuality is in the foreground- the directors (who make the final choices about how a movie looks and sounds) and the actors (whose visual likeness is so vividl y captured on the screen)† (Young, 2012). A latent symbolic framework does operate within the films upon which the complex social psychology depicted through various modern films gets manifested. â€Å"Boys Don’t Cry† as an independent American drama amazed the audiences in the year 1999 by depicting the story of Brandon Teena, a transsexual man and his predicament evoked the themes of desperation, insensitive attitude and the issues of empowerment and gender equality prevalent in the society of contemporary times. At the same time, the subtle display of psychology operating in terms of dealing with these issues in society forms the crux of the film. Social Psychology and Boys Don’t Cry In October 1999, the American drama, â€Å"Boys Don’t Cry† was first premiered which was based on a real life story. Being the reflection of a true incident, the film mirrored many intricacies and complexities of modern society at length. Directed by Kimberly Peirce and co-written by Andy Bienen, the film stars Hilary Swank in the role of Brandon Teena whose powerful acting paved the way for her receiving Best Actress in the Academy Awards. Brandon Teena was a transsexual man who was allegedly beaten up brutally, raped and tortured by his male partners after they discovered that Teena had a female by body. Depiction of this incident through the medium of film was not a piece of cake. The film did not hint at only displaying the content as a crime thriller. On the contrary, a very strong social message was inherent within the film which evidently develops its social psychology. A strong notion and social perception towards body of a woman specially develops the pivot of the film’s aspect towards prevailing psychology of the society. When America was vouching on the propositions of same-sex marriages and gender equality, the film, â€Å"Boys Don’t Cry† reinstated the hollow pursuits involved with the concepts of gender equality and rights of transsexuals in the American society. If America with its teeming American dreams could not secure the rights of its citizen within a social structure which is so liberal and cosmopolitan in nature, it is quite evident that the future of the minor sexual entities such as transsexual men or women is in

Why the actual budget deficit is not a good indicator of the fiscal Essay

Why the actual budget deficit is not a good indicator of the fiscal stance and suggest any other better alternatives - Essay Example The budget deficit must therefore be subjected to an intense analysis and scrutiny. Unless it is cautiously interpreted, the budget as is conventionally defined deficit can give rise to misleading conclusions regarding fiscal policy stance. Such conclusions may result in erroneous policy prescriptions that cause more harm than good to the economy (Abedian and Biggs 1998). For many years policy makers placed a lot of emphasis on limiting government’s role in the economy and lowering the budget deficit (Easterly and Schmidt-Hebbel 2004). The two were regarded as policy goals necessary to achieve equity, growth and redistribution of resources. The big question as to whether the conventional budget balance is the correct indicator of the fiscal stance however remains. It should be noted that there are several other fiscal indicators were proposed as alternatives to the conventional budget balance. These indicators are already in use successfully by international organizations such as the OECD and the IMF (Abedian and Biggs 1998). This study will aim to explore the possibility of using alternative fiscal indicators in monitoring and evaluating the sustainability of fiscal policies. A critical analysis of the actual budget balance indicates that it is not the ideal measurement instrument with regard to ascertaining the fiscal stance of a country. The term budget deficit also referred to as budget balance appears regularly in news articles, policy documents by the government that usually warn of it being very undesirable (Eisner 1999). ... The term budget deficit also referred to as budget balance appears regularly in news articles, policy documents by the government that usually warn of it being very undesirable (Eisner 1999). The budget deficit is usually blamed for several economic ills, such as high levels of inflation and discouragement of private investment (Eisner 1999). There is rarely any concrete proof produced for all these guilty assumptions. To add on to this, concerned parties pay very little attention to the objective measurement and interpretation of the budget deficit. The method of measurement of the budget balances also raises several conceptual and practical issues, which are compounded by the absence of uniformity in usage among many countries. For instance, one way of measuring the conventional budget balance is by cash basis. Another person may use the accrual/ payment order basis (Agenor and Montiel 1999). In the first instance, the balance will be the difference between fiscal revenue and total cash flow expenditure. For the second case, the balance will reflect accrued income and spending flows, regardless of whether they involve cash payments or not. The accumulation of arrears on revenue or payments is reflected by a higher balance when measured using the accrual basis as compared to the cash-based approach (Agenor and Montiel 1999). Definitions By definition, actual budget deficit is the difference between government revenues and government expenditure. Structural budget deficit is an estimation of what the government’s budget would be at full level of employment in the economy (Abedian and Biggs 1998). The cyclical budget deficit is defined as the component of

UNit 8 Written Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

UNit 8 Written Assignment - Essay Example The clients rights include: to be diligently served in the management of his business; to be informed of its progress, and; that his counsel shall not disclose what has been professionally confided to him. (Garner, 2007) The term witness is defined as one who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced. (Garner, 2007) An example is â€Å"a witness to the accident†. For legal purposes, a witness is :One who is called on to testify before a court; One who is called on to be present at a transaction in order to attest to what takes place; One who signs ones name to a document for the purpose of attesting to its authenticity and an attestation to a fact, statement, or event. (Garner, 2007) The initial interview is, of course, the one unit of service that is constant across all forms of legal service delivery. It is also one of the most critical units of service. The initial interview: (1) shapes client perception of the lawyer; (2) defines the service to be provided in terms of both problem and goal; and (3) is an important opportunity for client education, e.g. confidentiality, substantive legal rights, what the client can do for himself or herself, and the need to preserve evidence. (Alfieri 1991) In many cases the initial interview may in fact be the most significant communication before outcome determinative events such as hearing or settlement. The duty of confidentiality exists to inspire client trust and prompt candor. To achieve these purposes, clients should be informed about confidentiality at the very outset of the relationship. The most important the time to bring up attorney-client confidentiality is when you start asking questions, and offer the followin g sample statement: The witness is not interviewed in the same way as the client. The witness does not have confidentiality protections, thus they are

Wire affects its resistance Essay Example for Free

Wire affects its resistance Essay Current: Current is the movement of electrical charge the flow of electrons through the electronic circuit. Current is measured in AMPERES (A). A current is a flow of electrons, the higher the current the more electrons flow round the circuit every second. Batteries can make electrons move. They can push electrons through wires made of copper and other metals. Materials like copper let electrons flow through are called conductors. The tiny electrons squeeze between the atoms in the wire. Some materials stop electrons passing through, these are called insulators. Plastics and rubber are insulators. The voltage will be measured so I will be able to calculate the resistance using Ohms Law. The current will be kept the same throughout the experiment and then will be used also to help me find the resistance using Ohms Law. (`Wires Wires warm up when a current flows through. Thin wires warm up much more than thick ones, and some types of wires warm up more than others. They warm up because of collisions inside the wire generating heat. If too much current were passed through a wire it would melt. (`ElectricityElectricity is lots of tiny particles called electrons moving along a wire. Electrons are much smaller then atoms. In fact, they are parts of atoms, so there are electrons in everything. (`Circuit A circuit is a path for electrons to flow through. The path is from a negative terminal power source, through the various components and onto the positive terminal. Think of it as a circle, the paths may split of here and there, but they always form a line from the negative to the positive. NOTE: Negatively charged electrons in a conductor are attracted to the positive side of the power source. This helped me to set up my circuit. ( `Conductor A conductor is a material (usually a metal) that allows electrical current to pass easily through. The current is made up of electrons. This is apposed to an insulator, which prevents the flow of electricity through it. Even good conductors have some resistance to flow through it. The conductor that I am going to use is copper wire, which has resistance. Electrons need energy from the power source (in this case a power pack) to travel. The further they have to travel, the more energy it takes so the resistance increases. In Metals The Current Is Carried By Electrons 1. Electric current will only flow if there are charges, which can freely move. 2. Metals contain a sea of Free Electrons (which are negatively charged). And flow throughout the metal if they are given energy. 3. This is what allows electric current to flow so well in materials. ( `Resistance Resistance is anything that causes an opposition to the flow of electricity in a circuit. It is used to control the amount of voltage and /or amperage in a circuit. Everything in a circuit causes a resistance (even wire). It is measured in OHMS (? ). Resistance occurs when the electrons travelling along the wire collide with the atoms of the wire. These collisions slow down the flow of electrons causing resistance. Resistance is a measure of how hard it is to move the electrons through the wire. The resistance of a wire depends on the number of collisions the electrons have with the atoms there will a larger number of collisions which will increase the resistance of the wire. If a length of a wire contains a certain number of atoms, when that length is increased the number of atoms will also increase. E. g. If there is a wire that is half the length of another wire it would also have half the number of atoms, this means that the electrons will collide with the atoms half the amount of times. Also if the length of the wire is trebled or quadrupled then the resistance would also treble or quadrupled. My prediction was derived from this information. All of this information I collected originated from the Website, www. studentcentral. co. uk from encyclopaedias such as The Oxford Childrens Encyclopaedia and computer encyclopaedias such as Encarta. (This scientific information relates to my experiment by stating that the longer the lengths of wire the higher the resistance. (Preliminary Results Length Of Wire (mm): Voltage (V): Current (A): Resistance (? ). (Therefore this information supports my prediction that the longer the length of wire the higher the resistance. Obtaining Evidence: (The variables I kept the same are: (The same material used for the wire, (The same cross-sectional area of wire, (And the same temperature of the wire. (The potential difference from the power pack: 2V. (The current, which measured the rheostat, was kept at: 0. 5A. (The lengths of the copper wire: (0 mm, (100 mm, (200 mm, (300 mm, (400 mm, (500 mm, (600 mm, (700 mm, (800 mm, (900 mm, (1000 mm. (The readings from the voltmeter and the ammeter were measured to two decimal places. Test One: Length Of Wire (mm): Voltage (V): Current (A): (These tests are reliable because you can see patterns, which is as the length increased the resistance increased. (It is a suitable range of lengths because I have done over six sets of results (0 1000 millimetres), so I will be able to identify a line of best fit to show my results. (My results are accurate, as they show as the length of the wire increased the resistance increased proportional to it. Averages: Length Of Wire (mm):Voltage (V): Current (A): Resistance (? ). (To find the resistance I divided the voltage by the current, e. g. Length of wire 100mm: Resistance = 0. 02 0. 5 Resistance = 0. 04 ? (My results show as the length of the wire increased the resistance increased proportional to it. I know this because my graph shows a fairly strong positive correlation, which tells me that as the length of the wire increases the resistance of the wire increases, proportional to it. (Also my results show when I started at zero (0 millimetres) it was a good control to show no change. (The results were not exactly proportional as I expected, but the graph still justices my prediction that as the length increases the resistance increases also. This was because the longer the wire the more electrons there were, subsequently it was more likely that the electrons were going to collide with other electrons, thus there was a higher resistance. (The resistance depends on the number of collisions there were between the atoms of the material, which was copper. The length of the wire affects the resistance because the number of atoms in the wire increases as the length of the wire increases in proportion. Hence there is a higher resistance. Evaluating Evidence: (I think that the procedure of the experiment was fairly accurate as I recorded my results to two decimal places and also because on my average table of results the increase in resistance could be easily identified. Overall I think that my procedure during the investigation was well planned out. (The main problem I had was when I was reading the ammeter and the voltmeter as the readings kept fluctuating and took time for the readings to settle down, which as a result affected my results. (The ranges between my results were small and fairly close on the tables, which indicated accuracy. Although when I converted my results into a line graph I found that six out of the eleven results were anomalous results, which was probably due to human error and probably due to defaults in the meters, as they were battery powered. Also the sensitivity of the meters as they were not very sensitive and therefore my results were affected by this. (Even though there were anomalous results they were fairly close to the line of best fit as they were either just above or just below the line of best fit. Therefore the results were quite accurate and so I felt that I did not need to repeat any of the results and that I did not need to record any more results, as the results still justified my prediction. (Furthermore I could have changed the line of best fit so that more of the results fitted in with the line. (The improvements I could have made to make the results more accurate would be to use a much more sensitive ammeter and voltmeter, so I could have recorded my results to three or four decimal places, which would have made my results more accurate. Moreover I could have had shorter length ranges to show better accurate results, to see how a small increase in length affected the resistance compared to a large increase in length. So I could have use the range of lengths from zero millimetres to twenty millimetres to 40 millimetres and so on rather than the range I chose, which was zero millimetres to 100 millimetres to 2000 millimetres and so on, which therefore would have affected the results (resistance). As a result this would have shown the pattern better, clearer and easier to point out and it would have improved the line of best fit. Wednesday 27th 2001 F. Nazmin Hussain 10. E.

Experiments of Copper (II) Sulphate

Experiments of Copper (II) Sulphate Aim This experiment is to calculate the x which is water of crystallization and the chemical equation is CuSO4 (aq) Â · xH2O (s) and to observed colour changed when complex formation of copper (II) sulphate are formed. Introduction Molar mass is summation of all the atomic masses in a chemical equation. Transition metals are the elements which are found in the d-block in The Periodic Table. The element which is in the first transition series is strong oxidizers and they can form bivalent metal ions which have reducibility and its charge is 2+. Because of empty of d-orbital, transition metals easily form coordination compounds. Copper can form coordination compound; however, its d10 structure is stable so that its highest charge is +3. Hydrochloric acid, its chemical formula is HCl. It is a strong acid and is easily vaporize so that after opening the container which contains HCl, the acid vapour will be seeing very clearly. Because HCl can volatilize, it will combine with the water and form HCl drops (Baidu.Baike, 2009). Copper (II) sulphate often exists as a crystallization as a pentahydrate which means a molecule contains five crystallization of water. It can be sale as blue vitriol which is a chemical material using to produce pigments, battery and so on (Chmicalland21, nd). Ammonia solution is a colourless liquid and has pungent smell. If it is exposing to air it loses NH3 quickly (Down.Food126, 2008). The displacement reaction is a simple substance reacts with a compound, and forms other kinds of simple substance and compound. The Crystal Theory is a theory that search for the chemical bond of the transition metals. The transition metals ions are located on the crystal field and surrounding by anions and dipole molecules. The anions are called central ions, and the dipole molecules are called ligands. These ions can affect the energy which belongs to d-orbital, because of a splitting of energy levels. However, this theory can used to explain the colour changes of the complex (Science.Jrank, 2010). Lister and Renshaw (2000, p469) has pointed out that the molecules or ions use lone pairs to form dative bonds with a d-block metal which is surrounding by a transition metal to form, its a complex. In addition, these kinds of molecules or ions are called ligands. Method Firstly, several apparatus were used in this experiment, for instance, crucible, spatulas, burner, tongs, electronic balance, stand, dessicator, paper clip, conical flasks and pipettes. Secondly, some chemical were used, for example, hydrated copper sulphate, water, concentrate hydrochloric acid, ammonia solution. The last but one, students should wear the coat and safety glasses in the experiment. Part A First, the inside of crucible was cleaned. Second, a paper clip was placed into the crucible and weighed by electronic balance. The weight was recorded down to 0.01g. Third, 3g of copper sulphate was placed into the crucible using the spatula, and was weighed by the electronic balance. Fourth, the burner was lit, and was put under the stand. The paper clip and copper (II) sulphate was placed on the stand and was heated for about 5 minutes. The crystal was stirred with the paper clip. The colour was observed. Fifth, the crucible was placed inside the dessicator for 5 minutes to cool down using tongs (The paper clip was left in the crucible). Sixth, the crucible was weighted when it was cool enough. At last, some water was added into the crucible and indicates the blue colour which is the colour of crystallization of water. Part B Firstly, some copper sulphate and water was put into 3 conical flasks and was shaken to dissolve. Secondly, concentrated hydrochloric acid was dropped into one conical flask using a pipette and observed. Lastly, some ammonia acid was dropped into a second conical flask using another pipette until the colour changed. The colour of this solution should observe carefully after different volume ammonia acid was added. Discussion Part A The chemical formula in part A is CuSO4 (aq) Â · xH2O (l) > CuSO4 (aq) + xH2O (l) Mr 160 + 18x 160 Mass 2.22g 1.4g 1.4 (160 + 18x) = 160 * 2.22 224 + 25.2 = 355.2 25.2 x = 131.2 x = 5.20634 Therefore, x is equal to 5. Here is an explanation of the calculation. The Mr of CuSO4 is 160, and the Mr of water is 18x which the x is still a unknown value. The mass of CuSO4 and water is 2.22g and 1.4g. The number cross multiplies with each other. As a result, the x was come out. Thus, the value of x is slight greater than predict. According to the theory, the right result should be lower than 5 value, maybe the copper sulphate was oxidised, and the water of crystallization was not evaporated enough so that influence the final result. The copper (II) sulphate became black because of the oxidation of the copper. The copper (II) sulphate in the experiment was heated twice in order to make the water of crystallization evaporate completely. If it heated too strongly, the colour of copper sulphate will turn to black. The chemical equation of this reaction is: CuSO4 (aq) > CuO (s) + SO3 (g) Part B One of the reasons why the colour changed is causes by spectrum. The copper (II) sulphate indicated blue in the experiment. Because when the ordinary sunlight passes through the solution, the solution absorbed the wavelengths of the light. The red area in the spectrum was absorbed by the copper (II) ions. However, the sunlight which through the solution and on the other side of the conical flasks made the solution indicates the colour except red. The blue colour is the mixture of wavelengths (Chemguide, 2009). The colour changed in ammonia solution added into copper (II) sulphate is causes by the complex. The light blue colour substance was indicated, and this is basic copper sulphate precipitate. After more ammonia solution was poured into the solution, the precipitate will dissolve and produce [Cu (NH3)4] 2+ which is an indigo colour substance and replaced the basic copper sulphate, and water molecule was replaced by ammonia (Chemguide, 2009). The chemical equation is: Cu2 (l) + 4NH3 (l) > [Cu (NH3)4] 2+ (aq) The transition metals have their own colour causes by d orbital. When the HCl was poured into copper (II) sulphate solution, the [Cu (H2O) 6]2+ was produced, and the colour of this ion is blue. After that, the [CuCl4]2+ was produced, and its colour is yellow. However, the solution was turned to green. Lister and Renshaw (2000, p476) pointed out that the energy gap between d orbital is suitable for the frequency of electromagnetic radiation in the ordinary light, as a result, most of the transition metal has its own colour. Conclusion To summarize, part A shows that how to calculate the water of crystallization, and colour changed between hydrated copper (II) sulphate and anhydrous copper (II) sulphate. In part B shows the definition of ligands, complexes and colour change cause by the spectrum. Reference Baike.Baidu [online] (2009) Available at: http://baike.baidu.com/view/1729.htm?fr=ala0_1_1 Accessed date: December 28, 2009 Chemguide [online] (2009) Available at: http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/complexions/colour.html Accessed date: January 6, 2010 Chmicalland21 [online] (nd) Available at: http://chemicalland21.com/industrialchem/inorganic/COPPER%20SULPHATE%20PENTAHYDRATE.htm Accessed date: January 10, 2010 Down.food126 [online] (2008) Available at: http://down.food126.com/download/view-software-3346.html Accessed date: December 28, 2009 Lister, R. and J., Renshaw (2000). Chemistry for Advanced Level (3rd edition). Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes Ltd, Accessed date: December 28, 2009 Lane, R (2009) Chemistry Practical 2 Handout Accessed date: December 28, 2009 Lookchem [online] (2008) Available at: http://www.lookchem.com/COPPER-II-SULFATE-PENTAHYDRATE-1-1-5-/ Accessed date: December 28, 2009 Science.Jrank [online] (2010) Available at: http://science.jrank.org/pages/13786/crystal-field-theory.html Accessed date: January 6, 2010

Analysis of Ferrous Ferrite (Fe3O4)

Analysis of Ferrous Ferrite (Fe3O4) 1.1 INTRODUCTION: The naturally occurring ferrite is the ferrous ferrite (Fe3O4) as â€Å"Load stone†. In early days it was called as ferromagnetic material. L.Neel, tells us that these materials are â€Å"ferromagnetic† material due to uncompensated anti parallel spin arrangement. Due to interesting intrinsic properties magnetic materials are classified into Ferromagnetic materials, Ferrites. In last decades , in the field of the ferrites expensive development was done by many contributors and found to be technically, commercially useful magnetic material. These materials are at high frequencies, high electrical resistivity of magnetic temperature coefficient of resistance along with low magnetic loss. Basically, Ferrous ferrite (Fe3O4) consist double oxides FeO and Fe2O3 . The properties of these materials are alter by substituting divalent iron ion by divalent cation like Cd2+,Mg2+,Ni2+,Zn2+,Cu2+,Co2+ etc. from transition element. The spinel ferrites are represented as MFe2O4, where M is divalent cations. The magnetic properties are significantly improved by substituting trivalent iron ion by Al3+,Cr3+,Mn4+, Ti4+,Sn4+, Gd3+,Nd3+ etc. for particular applications because of their interesting magnetic and electrical properties with chemical and thermal stabilities[Gadkari A.B et.al. (2010)]. The applications of these materials in fields like electrical components, memory devices, microwave devices telecommunications, electronic industries, dada storage, data processing due to its high resistivity and low power losses. [Ernst Schloeman et al. (2000)] Ferrites are of two type’s,one is hard ferrite and other is soft ferrite. The material which are easily magnetized and demagnetized, it is called soft magnetic material .That means, it can store or transfer magnetic energy in alternating or other changing wave forms. The ferromagnetic materials like iron, nickel, cobalt and some of the rare earths materials shows a unique magnetic behavior. All the magnetic moments of the individual ions or atoms are aligned parallel to some particular direction and the unpaired electron spins line up parallel with each other in the ferromagnetic material. The region in which magnetic dipoles align parallel to each other is called a domain. The structural properties of ferrite are very important. The structural properties of ferrites mainly depends on the manufacturing process of ferrite[Mangalaraja R.V. et al. (2003)]. In fundamental science, magnetic spinel ferrites are of great importance. They are useful especially for find out the fundamental relationship between magnetic properties and their crystalchemistry and structure [ Kalonji G.et.al.(1999)]. They find extensive applications in microwave devices, radar, digital recording, ferrofluids, catalysis and magnetic refrigeration systems [Horvath M.P. et.al. (2007)]. For the spinel ferrite the general formula is AB2O4and it is consisting of an almost perfect cubic closed packed oxygen arrangement, with the cations residing on tetrahedral and octahedralinterstices. Nowadays, magnetic materials are used in various fields. The soft magnetic materials can be attracted to a permanent magnet and the hard magnetic materials become a permanent magnet. In case of soft magnetic materials, the large magnetic fields cannot be generated to the outside but in hard magnetic materials it generates magnetic fields. The magnetic materials like iron, cobalt and nickel ordinarily reveal prominent magnetic property. In industry, the ferromagnetic materials are widely used. In case of metal and alloy magnetic materials, due to their lower electrical resistivity the initial permeability and magnetic flux density is high and loss in eddy current is large at high frequencies. Nowadays, high-frequency characteristics are more useful, so this is occurred in ferrites which is multiplying the thin films. Due to higher electrical resistivity, the soft ferrites has excellent characteristics at high frequency. They are abundantly used for inductors or core materials of trans former. The hard ferrite is also used abundantly as permanent magnets for speakers and motors. The soft ferrite is used into an alternating magnetic field. Ferrites are chemical compounds. They are composed of a ceramic material along with iron oxide as their main component. The magnetic property of the ferrite is due the structure and the arrangement of the ions in the sub lattice. 1.2 SPINEL COMPOUNDS The word spinel which is derived from Italian spinella, diminutive of spine, thorn (from its sharply pointed crystals). In the cubic system, Spinel crystallizes forming octahedral crystals. In spinel super group there are at least 30 oxide minerals included. The majority of spinel compounds belongs to the space group Fd3m. The formula for the principal member of the group has, AB2O4; out of which ‘A’ is a divalent metal ion such as magnesium, iron, nickel, manganese and zinc. The ‘B’ is trivalent metal ions such as aluminium, iron, chromium and/or manganese. Also, titanium Ti4+ and Pb2+ etc. may occupy this site. The solid solutioning which is common process in this group of minerals that means they may contain certain percentages of different ions in any particular specimen [Adams, D. M (1974)]. The oxygen ions are mostly larger than the metallic ions and the spinel structure can be formed by a cubic close packing of O2- ions, in most oxide structures in wh ich the cations (e.g. Co2+, Fe3+) occupy certain interstices. So, the structure of a spinel compound and the highly symmetric structure of diamond is same. The position of the A ions and the positions of carbon atoms occupied in the diamond structure is identical. In this group this could discuss the relatively high hardness and high density. The arrangement in the structure of the other ions shows the symmetry just like diamond structure. This arrangement of the ions verifies the octahedral crystal structure which is the predominant crystal form and also the trademark of the spinels. Now a day, there are well over a hundred compounds are reported of the spinel structure. Most of them are oxides, sulphides, selenides and tellurides and some are halides. There are different cations may be introduced into the spinel structure and several charge combinations are possible, therefore, almost any combination that added and balances eight positive charges of anionic charges [Smyth,D.M.(200 0)],for example Co2+Fe23+O4, Mg22+Ti4+O4, Li1+Al3+Ti4+O4, Li0.51+Al2.53+O4 and Na21+W6+O4, etc. In oxide spinels, there are two types of cations which do not differ in size greatly because the spinel structure is stable only when the cations are rather medium sized and also the radii of the different ionic species in the same compound must be nearly equal. Therefore, similar cation combinations occur in sulphides, e.g. Zn2+Al23+S4 and Cu22+Sn4+S4. Hence, in halide spinels e.g. Li21+Ni3+F4 and Li1+Mn23+/ 4+F4 in which cations are limited to charges of plus 1 and plus 2, give an overall cation: anion ratio of 3 as 4. Most spinels divided into three series determined by a B metal represent aluminate series with Al3+ (Hercynite, Gahnite, Galaxite); a magnetite series with Fe3+ (Magnetite,Magnesioferrite, Franklinite); the chromite series with Cr3+ (Chromite, Magnesiochromite). There is extensive cationic exchange (solid solution) within each series but very little between the series [King, R. J (2004)]. These spinels are classified on the basis of the distribution of cations in the two principal sites which are tetrahedral site (T-) and octahedral site (O-) [West, A. R. (1989)], into three types. 1.2.1 NORMAL SPINEL In normal spinel A (BB) O4, all the divalent (A) cations placed on the tetrahedral (T-) sites and the trivalent (B) cations present on the octahedral (O-) sites. Which can be shown by the formula [A]tet [B2]oct O4. The examples of normal spinel are MgO.Al2O3 = MgAl2O4 (normal, parent mineral) ZnO.Fe2O3 = ZnFe2O4 (normal) FeO.Al2O3 = FeAl2O4 (normal) CoO.Al2O3 = CoAl2O4 (normal) MnO.Al2O3 = MnAl2O4 (normal) NiO.Al2O3 = NiAl2O4 - (normal) 1.2.2 INVERSE SPINEL The inverse spinel, B (AB) O4, the divalent cations occupying on the O-sites and the trivalent cations which are equally divided among the T- and remaining other on O-sites. Which can be represented by formula, [B]tet [A, B]oct O4. The CoFe2O4 is conformably an inverse spinel with a formula; CoxFe1-x (Co1-xFe1+x) O4(with x 0) where x represents the cation distribution factor which discuss the fraction of tetrahedral sites occupied by Co2+ cations [Guire, M. R.D (1989)]. CoO.Fe2O3 = FeCoFeO4 (inverse) NiO.Fe2O3 = FeNiFeO4 - (inverse) MgO.Fe2O3 = FeMgFeO4 (inverse) 1.2.3 RANDOM SPINEL It has an intermediate cation distribution, represented as [B0.67 A0.33]tet [A0.67B1.33]octO4. In this elementary unit cell of spinel structure consists eight tetrahedral and sixteen octahedral sites which are occupied by metal ions and the extreme cases, represent completely normal and inverse spinel, Therefore, the general cation distribution can be represented as [ M(2)iq+M(1)1-ip+]AIV [M(1)p+i/2 M(2)(2-i)/2q+]2BvI O4 where M+(1)p+ and M(2)q+ are the minority and majority cations respectively. Hence, the first quantity in brackets shows the average occupancy of A-sites (coordination number of four (IV)) and the second quantity in brackets shows the average occupancy of B-sites (coordination number of six (VI)). The inversion parameter ÃŽ ³, shows the fraction of A-sites acquired by majority ions.

William Wallace :: essays research papers

William Wallace: What is the True Story? For generations, William Wallace has been a hero to Scotland and a patron of freedom. After Mel Gibson’s portrayal of Wallace in the award winning movie, Braveheart, there was a dramatic rise in the popularity and recognition of the Scottish hero. The story of William Wallace has been passed down through many different generations. These generations include people of English, Scottish, and Irish decent, a few among many. All of these different cultures have passed down different versions of stories and records about William Wallace. Since there are many different stories about the same man, historians and scholars find it difficult to determine the actual truth about William Wallace and his past. As a result, historians are often left with conflicting opinions about who William Wallace really was. Historians, therefore, disagree on such issues as the date of his birth, birthplace, facts concerning Wallace’s elimination of English tyranny in Scotland, and the roles Wallace played in battles with the English. In this paper I am going to show the conflicting views about William Wallace’s life. I will use a wide variety of sources including the movie Braveheart’s script, Internet web pages, and written history in order to support my thesis. I will conclude with the fact that William Wallace was truly a worthy patriot of his native country Scotland. He fearlessly led his fellow patriots into battle, and gained freedom for Scotland from the tyrannical rule of the English King, Edward I. In May of 1995 the film Braveheart came out in theaters. Braveheart is mainly a biographical movie about William Wallace. It portrays Wallace as a tall, strong, and brilliant man and military soldier. On many occasions, it shows Wallace defeating the English Army, which always outnumbered his troops. His most famous battle at Stirling Bridge is what many consider to be his most glorious battle. It is the battle in wh ich he was outnumbered the most and in which he triumphed over this obstacle and managed to win freedom for all of Scotland. Braveheart, however, was written by Randall Wallace and directed by Mel Gibson. Both men are of Scottish decent and thus would have portrayed William Wallace in a great patriotic light. This is not meant to mean William Wallace was not a hero, but the two may have exaggerated such things as battles, intelligence, etc. The movie, however, seems to avoid certain conflictions about his life.

Charles Lindbergh :: essays research papers

Charles Lindbergh, one of the world’s aviation heroes and an American hero, was the first person to make a nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic. He was born on February 4, 1902, in Detroit. He went to school at the University of Wisconsin for two years, but dropped out to attend a flying school in Nebraska. He first started flying in 1922. Within four years, he was piloting a mail plane between St. Louis and Chicago.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In 1919 Raymond Orteig from France offered $25,000 to the first person to cross the Atlantic nonstop between Paris and New York. His offer was set to expire in five years, but nobody even tried. In 1926, he extended his offer another five years. By this time technology was to the point where a flight across the Atlantic might actually be possible. Lindbergh was one that thought it could be done.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After securing $15,000 from the head of the St. Louis Chamber of Commerce, Lindbergh started searching for a plane to make the transatlantic journey. Rather then go with a multi-engine plane like many other aviators were going with, he felt that it only increased the chance of an engine failing. He also wanted the plane to weigh as little as possible, thus increasing the flight range. This also meant he would be going alone.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  By 1927, Ryan Airlines offered to build him a single-engine plane that met his specifications for only $6,000, excluding an engine. Lindbergh met with them and despite the unimpressive headquarters, he walked away impressed. Lindbergh wanted the plane done in two months, rather then the three months Ryan Airlines had wanted, but after much overtime, they finished the Spirit of St. Louis by the deadline.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Because it was being built customized for Lindbergh, the single goal of the Spirit of St. Louis was to reach Paris. Wingspan was increased to hold the extra fuel tanks that would be needed. This would give it a maximum range of over 4,000 miles, more then enough to cross the Atlantic and reach Paris.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  To help keep the plane’s weight down, Lindbergh cut out everything not absolutely necessary. No radio, parachute, gas gauges, or even navigation lights were included. He wore special lightweight boots, and his maps included only the reference points he would need. Even his chair was made out of light wicker, instead of the usual heavy leather.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When completed at the end of April, 1927, the Spirit of St.

The Holistic Medicines

In a lot of conditions, medical cures and treatments have proven more harmful than the disease itself. In looking for other options, people all over the world have been turning back to the holistic way of health and healing. Holistic medicine is the art and science of healing the whole person, or in holistic terms, the mind body and spirit. The practice of holistic medicine integrates conventional and alternative therapies to prevent and treat diseases and promote optimal health. This condition of holistic health is defined as the ultimate free flow of life energy force throughout the mind, body, and spirit. As I mentioned before, three parts make up the whole person. Based on a common law of nature, whole parts are made up of independent parts. The body, which is treated and cared for through nutritional medicine, fitness medicine, and environmental medicine. The mind (mental and emotional health) which is basically behavioral medicine. The spirit is treated with spiritual attunement and social health. When one of these three parts isn†t functioning correctly or is impaired for some reason, the other parts of the person are affected. For example, a person growing nervous or anxious about an upcoming exam can literally give themselves a headache or stomachache. Even Socrates, one of the greatest philosophers in history of time said in order for the whole of a person to be well, the individual parts must be well also. This can be achieved by many things. For example, acupuncture is used to identify and treat disease and improve well being. During acupuncture, needles are inserted into the meridian points of the body. Sickness occurs when the flow of blood or â€Å"chi† is blocked at these points. The pressure applied to these points relieves blockage and buildup thus leaving the patient feeling better. Acupuncture can treat anything from allergies, headaches, sinus infections, stress, insomnia and chronic pain. For those people who don†t enjoy needles or wont tolerate needles at all there is colorpuncture. Colorpuncture is basically acupuncture without needles. Meditation is another accepted form of holistic health. Meditation is using different methods of relaxation to calm yourself and make you healthier inside. Candles, salves, oils and incense are all commonly used during meditation. Meditation is an accepted form of recovery and health promotion in the medical field. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is yet another form of holistic healing. This helps remove conflict and stress from your life and promote success and happiness. Reflexing and resetting is the vibrating and stimulation of the body†s reflexes. It is most commonly done through the feet and can help with sleep disorders. Biofeedback is recognizing and manipulating the body†s signals. It helps to treat migraines, panic attacks, anxiety, hypertension, and A.D.D. Some of the most common methods of holistic healing are resurfacing just about everywhere. Aromatherapy is therapy using scents to relax the mind, body, and soul. There is a line of products in Wal-Mart now called â€Å"aromatherapy† and even well known companies such as Delia†s manufacture aromatherapy pillows. Chiropractors are a readily accepted form of holistic treatment. Chiropractors manipulate the body†s muscles and bones to relieve pain and stress. Massage and is a big part of holistic life. There are deep tissue massages, Swedish massages etc†¦ All of which help muscular posture, balance, stress reduction, increase of circulation and energy flow. Nutrtiion is also an important part in a holistic lifestyle. Health food stores such as GNC are popping up everywhere. With nutritionists come herbalists who also deal with weight management and vitamins. There is holistic dentistry which is generally mercury free and has less exposure to x-ray†s and harmful chemicals. There is even Holistic Veterinary care which treats pets in the same way as humans. Pets said to be lost cases are sometimes revived by this form of veterinary care. Anything from arthritis, skin infections, and allergies can be cured. Feng Shui is not as common in the US yet. It is Chinese consultancy in arrangement of objects in the home or office to achieve harmony. It is said your outer world is a mirror of your inner world. Lots of water fountains are used. Spiritual Psychics, Astrologists, Child Birth, Tai Chi, Yoga, even health and beauty are all reviving to holistic methods. These different treatments all fall under the six specialized areas of holistic healing 1. Bimolecular Diagnosis and Therapy Basically a holistic lifestyle is trying to unite your body with gravity and your heart with your mind. Once all your parts are in harmony, for example the ying and yang, you can achieve perfect health. In my opinion the holistic way of life is a very interesting way of life that really intrigues me. I would like to acquire the skills and self-control some of these methods call for. Some methods really don†t appeal to me, for example acupuncture, but other methods such as meditation, aromatherapy, reflexology, and feng shui, are all valid forms of the holistic way of life that would definitely be of interest to me. Although some people think that this way of life is crazy etc, I think it is helpful and important in every day life. Just about everyone can practice this lifestyle in the easiest of ways. Although many people do not believe in the holistic way of life, even more people are firm followers of these concepts and it is sure to be an evergrowing idea that lasts for generations to come.

Literature Review Influencer Marketing Essay

INTRODUCTION Influencer marketing has emerged as one of the fastest-growing social marketing practices as brand marketers look to connect with consumers and customers in meaningful and authentic ways often through the collective voice of active bloggers that are passionate and vocal about the brands they love. It represents a form of Word of Mouth marketing, which we define as an unpaid form of promotion – oral or written- in which satisfied consumers tell other people how much they like a product, service, business or event. Marsden (2005) says that research shows that word of mouth (WoM) is at least twice as powerful as traditional marketing communications in influencing sales, and given the rise of electronic word of mouth (mobile and internet), word of mouth is now some 50% more influential than it was 30 years ago. This is supported by a Nielsen survey showing the most trusted form of advertising was, recommendations from other consumers, being cited by 78% of respondents. Furthermore, the third most trusted form of advertising (behind adverts in newspapers at 63%) was consumer opinions posted online which was trusted by 61%. Brand Association Maps (BAM) that plot language, attributes and issues around a topic show that, for advertising, attributes like â€Å"false†, â€Å"deceptive† and â€Å"misleading† are highly associated. The fact is that customers are seeking out opinions because they don’t trust marketing as much and thus independent influencers become more influential than ever before. But WoM is not just about referrals to achieve sales, it also adds credibility to a message. A friend or family member talking about a brand or product, or an independent commentator writing about it, tend to be believed more readily than commercial advertisers talking up thei r own brands. Terminology Online word of mouth is called viral marketing and was coined as long ago as 1996 by Rayport at Harvard. Viral marketing describes any strategy that encourages individuals to pass on a marketing message to others, creating the potential for exponential growth in the message’s exposure and influence. It is also defined as â€Å"an alternative marketing strategy supported by research and technology that encourages consumers to dialogue about products and services†. The first viral marketing campaign was the  Hotmail launch in 1996 and it grew faster than any other company in history. Within 18 months it had over 12 million subscribers Offline is where the majority of WoM actually occurs and has the strongest impact and there are a number of terms that are used: Word of mouth (the emphasis here is on personal, relationship related and spontaneous communication) Advocacy marketing (most often relates to social and voluntary sectors) Public affairs (a well-worn phrase asso ciated with political influence) Referral marketing (a classic business-to-business method) Mutual marketing (the co-creation of products and services by producers and users, but also used in public affairs to describe joint activities between two or more organisations with a common cause) Influencer marketing (influencing the mass of prospects or other groups through the influence of a few and/or identifying those with influence and engaging, or when a marketer identifies, seeks out, and engages with influencers in support of a business objective. Influencer marketing can be traced back to 1950s when Lazarsfeld and Katz introduced the concept of the two-step communication process and personal Influence. They stressed that some people have a disproportionate degree of influence on others and can be effective communications channels. INDFLUENCER MARKETING According the annual marketing management survey run by the magazine PR Week, 69% of marketing managers in the US now include the targeting of influencers as part of their strategy. Despite the hype surrounding online viral marketing, it is claimed by WOMMA (the UK trade association) that 85% of WOM activity takes place offline and that offline WoM is more powerful because here communicator is usually known to the recipient and thus the communication has added trust power. A similar figure is reported from the US where according to the Keller Fay Group 73% of marketing-related conversations take place in person, and only 10% happen online. So, the focus of your WoM or influencer marketing strategy should be face-to-face (mouth not mouse), rather than mouse-to-mouse communication Central to most strategies designed to amplify WoM is the notion of influencers, which put simply means targeting those who have the greatest viral impact rather than engaging the masses. However, the theory that there are influencers that have disproportionate impact is not universally accepted, as we shall  discuss later. The Word of Mouth Marketing Association defines an influencer as a person who has a greater than average reach or impact through word of mouth in a relevant marketplace. Malcolm Gladwell, a New York Times journalist and the author of â€Å"The Tipping Point†, first stressed the importance of the so-called â€Å"influentials†. He categorises influentials into three different categories: 1.Connectors are the people who link us to the rest of the world 2.Mavens are the information specialists who accumulate and share knowledge 3.Salesmen are the â€Å"persuaders† who possess the powerful negotiation skills Keller and Berry in their book â€Å"The Influentials† categorise influencers by reference to the nature of their influence: 1.Social influencers (meta trends) 2.Category influencers (in a sector or product area) 3.Brand influencers (which brands are in and which are not) A good advocate or influencer is typically someone who has had a genuine experience of the product or service (or has been told about it by someone they know or trust) and whose opinion is trusted by at least one other person. To make a difference on a large scale a strategy needs to plan to: 1.Bring these advocates together in one place. 2.Trigger their advocacy through active involvement. 3.Create more opportunities for them to influence the more easily influenced INFLUENCER STRATEGY Influencer programs are, by definition, long-term, multi-year commitments designed to build a relationship; they are not marketing campaigns. The first steps are to identify amongst your key stakeholder groups both the easily influenced (after Watts) and the influentials (after Gladwell). Both approaches have merit and are not mutually exclusive. How to identify the easily influenced Many colleges and universities ask new students or business clients who they spoke with or what they read or browsed before enrolling or contracting, but fewer ask specific questions about what or who influenced them and why. It is important to identify who influenced whom rather than merely who communicated with whom. Such questions on your induction or joiner surveys  can help to reveal the connected and trusted sources (the influencers) but also this can reveal who was influenced by word of mouth or personal recommendation and the analysis of this cohort may help to locate the most likely to be influenced in the future. However, the evidence is that all demographic groups are likely to recommend and be recommended to and influenced, so simple analysis based on demographics is unlikely to be very revealing. Any preparatory research also needs to map out a timeline of influence, as education markets are cyclical and seasonal. It is critical to know when influence will be most impactful as that is when you should stimulate chatter. Keller and Berry 2003 have distilled published research into a simple screening profile for identifying connectors (influencers), recently estimated by NOP to make up 10% of a target audience based on their ACTIVE profile: Ahead in adoption Connected (socially and electronically) Travellers Information Hungry Vocal Exposed to media CONCLUSION Exactly what is included in Influencer Marketing depends on the context (B2C or B2B) and the medium of influence transmission (online or offline, or both). But it is increasingly accepted that companies are keen to identify and engage with influencers. As Keller and Berry note, Business is working harder and paying more to pursue people who are trying to watch and listen less to its messages.† Targeting influencers is seen as a means of amplifying marketing messages, in order to counteract the growing tendency of prospective customers to ignore marketing. References 1. Keller, Ed and Berry, Jon. The Influentials, Free Press, 2003 2.Scott Pearson and Duncan Brown, The influence of Word of Mouth, Influencer50, March, 2008 3.Justin Kirby and Paul Mardsen, Connected Marketing, the viral, buzz and Word of mouth revolution, Butterworth-Heinemann , 2005 4.The Nielsen Global Online Consumer Survey, 2009 5.Rayport Prof J, The Virus of Marketing, Harvard Business School, 1996 6.Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point, 2000

English and English Literature Coursework Dubliners Essay

â€Å"These stories are all about escape and how characters are unable to escape.† In the light of this quotation, I am going to discuss Dubliners, with close detailed reference to two of the stories, â€Å"Eveline† and â€Å"The Boarding House.† There are many similarities between these two stories, as well as contrasts. In â€Å"Eveline,† her father is a drunkard and is also the head of the house, whereas in â€Å"The Boarding House,† Polly’s father, â€Å"was a shabby stooped little drunkard† who lives separated from his family. Polly’s father has been cut-off from her life, and Eveline’s mother is dead. The similarity here, is that each child has had one of their parent’s cut off from a period of their life. Eveline wants to escape to Buenos Aires, to get away from her poverty in Dublin. Mr Doran wants to escape from the prospect of marriage. This brings us to one of the main points of the book, the characters inability to escape. Eveline has been given the chance to escape from her life, where â€Å"she had to work hard both in the house and at business.† Poor Eveline, however, finds that she is unable to move forward. She lacks the courage and strength to make that leap that will free her of her oppressive situation. . She’s sees her lover as a possible source of danger: â€Å"All the seas of the world tumbled about her heart. He was drawing her into them: he would drown her.† Instead of an uncertain but hopeful future, her paralysis will make a certain and dismal future that may well repeat her mother’s sad life story. In Mr Doran’s case, the theme of powerlessness is conveyed his situation. As with many other characters in Dubliners, various social pressures, like his job and his reputation, combine to rob him of choice. Mrs Mooney wants her daughter to escape her current poverty and the possibility of a working life for marriage, while Mr Doran wants to escape the tying down of marriage and enjoy his ‘free’ life. Mr Doran nonetheless cannot escape. At the end of â€Å"The Boarding House†, â€Å"Mrs Mooney tells Polly, â€Å"Come down, dear. Mr Doran wants to speak to you.† The reader is struck by the tremendous irony of the situation, since it is clear that Mr Doran does not really want to speak to Polly. He has been bullied and terrified into proposing marriage to her. These simple words are the hallmark of Mrs Mooney’s accomplishment. Frank wants to take Eveline away, but Eveline is unsure. â€Å"It was hard work-a hard life-but now that she was about to leave it she did not find to a wholly undesirable life.† Polly wants to settle with Mr Doran, but Mr Doran is unsure, however he does not have a choice: â€Å"What could he do now but marry her or run away? He could not brazen it out.† Mr Doran has the choice to run away, but this is not an option for â€Å"Dublin is such a small city: everyone knows everyone else’s business.† Both Frank and Mr Doran can be seen as saving the two girls from poverty. Mr Doran and Eveline are both described as helpless. Mr Doran himself says, â€Å"I felt helpless,† while Eveline is described as â€Å"passive like a helpless animal.† At the end of each story, an iron railing is mentioned. Eveline â€Å"gripped with both hands at the iron railings,† using them as an anchor, preventing her from drowning into the seas of the world. The railings help Eveline think of thoughts which keep her from leaving. Polly uses the iron railings as an anchor to clear her thoughts. â€Å"There was no longer any perturbation visible on her face.† Both Mr Doran and Eveline feel that it is their duty to stay and face the consequences. Mr Doran â€Å"longed to ascend through the roof and fly away†¦ yet a force pushed him downstairs step by step.† Eveline finds that she is paralysed by the needs of her father and her promise to her mother â€Å"to keep the home together as long as she could.† â€Å"Eveline† starts a series of stories dealing with various kinds of marriage and courtship. In â€Å"Eveline,† marriage presents the possibility of escape. â€Å"The Boarding House† gives us marriage as a social convention and a trap. â€Å"Two Gallants† reduces marriage and courtship to its animal. â€Å"Two Gallants† gave us men taking advantage of a young woman. â€Å"The Boarding House† gives us a more respectable social setting, but the basic cynicism about love and relationships between the genders remains. The economic conditions are also expressed in â€Å"Eveline† and â€Å"The Boarding House†. To save money in â€Å"The Boarding House,† pieces of broken bread are collected to help make Tuesday’s bread-pudding. The sugar and butter is kept safe under lock and key.† In â€Å"Eveline,† there is an â€Å"invariable squabble for money on Saturday nights.† Eveline’s dead mum controls her while Mr Doran is controlled by Mrs Mooney. Mrs Mooney and Eveline’s mum are both very different people in the sense that Mrs Mooney is strong and independent and Eveline’s mum is weak and dependent. Eveline’s love for Frank leads her to escape whereas Mr Doran’s love for Polly leads him to confine his life with marriage. Eveline is forced into making her decision to stay by duty to her family. Mr Doran has put himself into his situation and it driven further by Mrs Mooney. Both Eveline and Mr Doran have occupational restrictions. Mr Doran â€Å"had been employed for thirteen years in a great Catholic wine-merchant’s office and publicity would mean the loss of his sit.† All his hard work would be gone for nothing. Eveline, however, is oppressed by her employer and â€Å"would not cry many tears at leaving the Stores.† One of the striking elements of â€Å"The Boarding House† is Mrs Mooney’s silence. Her daughter’s respect is not really a concern, because she knows about the affair from the start. What matters to her is trading on her feigned outrage to get a social arrangement that will benefit her daughter. Mrs Mooney manipulates the weaker Mr Doran, using his concern for his job and his fear of scandal. The story concludes with the fact that Mr Doran has spoken to Mrs Mooney and now wants to speak to Polly. This probably suggests a proposal of marriage, and the trap is implied in the final line: â€Å"Then she remembered what she had been waiting for.† Marriage is the price which Doran must pay in order to keep his job, since â€Å"Dublin is such a small city: everyone knows everyone else’s business† The stages-of-life structure continues in â€Å"Eveline†. In previous stories like â€Å"The Sisters† and â€Å"Araby†, children had been main characters. Eveline is an adult, a young woman old enough to get married. Joyce gives us the terrible poverty and pressure of her situation. The weight of poverty and family responsibilities bear down on this young woman heavily and her financial situation is far worse than that of the three boy narrators of the previous stories. She is trapped in an ugly situation, responsible for her siblings and the aging father who abuses her. In conclusion, it can be said that Joyce presents the themes of escape and paralysis in Dubliners. They show how Joyce sees the city of Dublin.

King Louis XIV: One King, One Law, One Faith Essay

King Louis’ reign and goals can be summarized with his desire for â€Å"one king, one law, one faith.† As an absolutist leader, he centered the country around himself, and was successful in his goal. By glorifying his position as king, he achieved â€Å"one king†, by limiting the power of others, he achieved â€Å"one law† and by uniting the French religion, he achieved â€Å"one faith†. Louis XIV was successful in accomplishing this central, powerful French monarchy. To achieve â€Å"one king† in France, Louis formed himself into an absolute and glorified leader, doing wonders for France’s centralization. In 1682, Louis relocated to his new palace at Versailles, magnificent enough to be the home of a god. The sheer size and beauty awed Europe and proclaimed his authority. Rituals, too, at Versailles boasted Louis’ power. Common activities such as dressing and walking required elaborate, showy rituals whose precipitants competed for the honor of their task. These, too, made Louis the center of attention and achieved the loyalty of his subjects. Finally, Louis governed in a matter that did not demand any input from others; he governed in the matter he desired, and superseded the power of the nobility and aristocracy. His efforts were not in vain, people felt honored if Louis were to but merely glance at him, or if they were to but walk with him. Louis exercised much control over his people because of the matter in which he made all affairs revolve around him. Louis XIV desired â€Å"one law†, achieved by his limitation of the powers of nobles and other statesmen and the unification of the military. Louis was but a young boy during La Fronde, a series of uprisings against royal policies and heavy taxation. Nevertheless, it had a significant impact on Louis XIV’s reign; he made sure to never allow another rebellion or let nobles to be as powerful as they had been. He ruled through multiple council of state, but demanded an active role in their decisions. â€Å"That I had no intention of sharing power†, said Louis. Another significant policy of Louis was his housing of the French nobles at Versailles. He demanded that all the nobles stay at Versailles for part of the year so he could survey their activities. Nobles, having no choice, would come and obey their monarch. To further his law policies’ success, Louis regulated the French military by establishing one uniform and training method. This did not allow for the noblemen to threaten his supreme power or question his loyalty. Although Louis claimed he had supreme authority in France, he  relied heavily on the cooperation of nobles to extend his power. Even so, Louis was successful in uniting his â€Å"one lawâ⠂¬ , not influenced by others. Finally, Louis desired â€Å"one faith†. Although Louis was not intolerant to Protestants, he hated division, and oppressed non-Catholics. Most significantly was Louis revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which allowed Huguenots the right to worship in 150 French towns, making a very strong example of Louis’ stance toward Protestants. In addition, Huguenots lost their churches, schools and clergy. Indeed, Louis did not approve of Protestantism. He instead praised Catholicism, as he was a Catholic himself. He required all his subjects to be loyal to the Church and its laws. This united France with a common faith that would continue to shape the religion on France. Though the revocation of the Edict of Nantes had drastic effects on the economy of France, Louis had achieved a unified French faith which he insisted would be vital to the nation In conclusion, Louis XIV embraced a â€Å"One king, one law, one faith† policy toward his gove rning. He was successful in this goal, attributed to his own glorification, the restriction of others’ power and the unity in religion.

Discuss the physiological determinants of Endurance Performance Essay

Discuss the physiological determinants of Endurance Performance - Essay Example An understanding of these determinants and the manner in which they can be influenced is particularly useful in the field of sports, where better endurance performance is the difference between success and failure in competitive activities that place a demand on the endurance capacity of an individual (Coyle, 1999). According to Bouchard et al, 2000, the ability to cope with the demands made during a performance of endurance activity is influenced by many determinants. These determinants are physique, body composition, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), biochemical factors, nutritional status, thermoregulation, sub-maximal exercise tolerance and efficiency, social factors and psychological traits. Furthermore there is realization that each of these determinants is in reality a host of several factors instead of being a single characteristic (Bouchard et al, 2000). This paper restricts itself to the evaluation of maximal oxygen consumption, lactate threshold, exercise economy and thermoregulation as these factors constitute the physiological determinants of endurance performance. Such a view is supported by Tanaka and Seals, 2008, who give maximal oxygen consumption, lactate threshold and exercise economy as the main physiological determinants of endurance performance and Coyle 1999, who contends that thermoregulation is a physiological determinant of endurance performance, due to the intense and prolonged oxidative metabolism that is characteristic of an endurance performance. For the performance of physical activity the body requires energy. In performance sports the physical activity involves aerobic energy production means, where oxygen is a key component. In other words oxygen is used up during physical activity and for sustained physical activity at high intensity higher levels of oxygen requirement and utilization there is a high demand for oxygen. The greater the levels of oxygen that are taken up the more are the energy that is

Financial strategy Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Financial strategy - Coursework Example Since, the two world wars and lot of scientific inventions, risk has been defined in many ways. When we go to the bus stand for the bus, various degree of risk is involved having different severity of accidents. Sometime risks may be voluntary or some risks may be trivial while other may be fatal. It may be argued that since the birth of civilization only risks have been responsible for any major advancement. In ancient times, risk taking cavemen lived with abundance of food and risk averse starved to death. In terms of financial theories and practice the risk management is equating risks with hedging. Organizations prosper not by avoiding risks but by managing risks to their own advantage. Ancient trade across the continents flourished because of risk taking and management. The key reason for Europe’s prosperity is risk management. In 1921, Frank Knight summarized the difference between risk and uncertainty with an example. â€Å"Two individuals drawing from an urn of red an d black balls; the first individual is ignorant of the numbers of each color whereas the second individual is aware that there are three red balls for each black ball. The second individual estimates (correctly) the probability of drawing a red ball to be 75% but the first operates under the misperception† (Knight 1921). ... Risks provide opportunities for a good outcome out of a bad situation. If the reward outmatches the hazard of disaster, people are ready to take risks. If a firm is conscious of the risks it is undertaking, it is going to formulate strategies based on the decision. The Institute of International Finance (December 2009) has defined risk culture as â€Å"as the norms and traditions of behavior of individuals and of groups within an organization that determine the way in which they identify, understand, discuss, and act on the risks the organization confronts and the risks it takes† (2009). It is essential that the risks are challenged by the core group of decision makers with an objective to develop a spirit of nurturing buoyancy and inculcating an environment for continuous improvement, in line with the strategic aims of the organization. Business risk is related to political and social environment of a country. During the war on terror and US attack on Iraq, the air travel bec ame very risky and the insurance cost and cost of flying were many times higher than the previous prevailing rates. Similarly, in today’s world condition in Afghanistan is a threat for any kind of manufacturing business. Thus, no company would like to establish a factory in Afghanistan. Therefore, we observe that a lot of trading is going on these days in this region of the world. The uncertainty of terrorism has created a status of risk in almost the entire world for the last couple of decades, more appropriately since US invasion of Iraq. As a result of risk investment has moved out from this region. Despite the fact the countries in these regions are offering business incentives to the investors but in view of the high risk for capital and life,

Valley Forge in Pennsylvania Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Valley Forge in Pennsylvania - Research Paper Example Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 Valley Forge is among the historical places that marked the American Revolution. Moreover, George Washington and his army spent a harsh winter at Valley Forge in the year 1777 -1778. Furthermore, during this period many of the Continental army perished due to starvation, lack of proper clothing to protect them from the cold and infectious diseases (Webstar 1305). Consequently, the Continental army was reduced to almost half its initial population. However, the conditions at the camp improved when congress sent food at the camp and hygiene standards were elevated. Moreover, the soldiers were drilled and when spring arrived, they were ready and eager to face the British army in the battle field. To this end, the continental army eventually fought with the British army even though they were at draw military wise. The Continental Army left the battle field in high spirits and confidence compared to the previous wars. The subsequent sections will elaborate on the reasons as to why General Washington’s Continental army decided to camp at Valley Forge. Moreover, the challenges they encountered during the encampment at Valley Forge will be discussed comprehensively. Furthermore, the drilling of soldiers by Steuben Baron that took place while they were at Valley Forge will be intricately discussed. Finally, the aftermath of the training process will be summarily discussed. Reasons for Camping at Valley Forge In the 18th century of 1777 George Washington, the general of continental army, moved with his army to the south of New Jersey. His objective was to defend Philadelphia city from the advancing forces of William Howe. Consequently, the two armies clashed at Brandywine on the 11th of September (Hickman 1). As a result, Washington’s army was defeated and flee the city. Washington’s army struck again at Germantown on 4th of October in order to regain initiative but was decisively defeated. Subsequently, with the cold weather approaching Washington moved his army to a winter encampment. To this end, he chose Valley Forge, 20 mile s from Northwest city of Philadelphia. Evidently, the site would easily be defendable from surprise attacks. In addition, provision of food from local farmers would be easy. Challenges at Valley Forge In as much as Washington chose the best place for his soldiers to camp, they still encountered serious problems like lack of food and clothing. The soldiers had little to eat apart from fried dough called fire cakes. Furthermore, the soldiers wore tattered cloths and their accommodation was hastily built. The accommodation consisted of canvas walls and dirt floors that were smoky and cold. Furthermore, the cabins were ideal sites for the spreading of diseases that subjected the soldiers to bouts of cold (Miller 9). In addition, the local farmers were hesitant to give their food in exchange to the almost worthless soldiers. On the contrary, the farmers traded their produce with the British; located miles away Philadelphia; for liquid cash. Furthermore, the local farmers even continued t o hoard food as they waited to earn higher profits in the spring season. Consequently, there were prevalent desertions and deaths from diseases and hunger. This led to a reduction of the continental army to almost one-half of the initial size (Miller 9). In addition, Washington was privately annoyed with the lack of strong commitment from his supposedly patriot fighters. Washington’s Leadership Qualities Questioned Washington’s leadership integrity and qualities were cast openly in doubt by his fellow army officers as well as part of the

Faith Integration Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Faith Integration - Essay Example Today, marketing management is more than the delivery of goods and services to customers. It is the science and art of effectively selecting target markets, maintain and growing customers base by developing, availing and communicating greater customer value (Kotler & Keller, 2012). Thus, the verse correlates to the marketing management principles in a way. The verse gives an assurance to the Israelites whom may be considered as the customers. Joshua is the individual who is developing and delivering to them through communicating the value attached to God’s Promised Land. Joshua was informed that there was an assurance of victory. Likewise in marketing management perspective, there is an assurance of market target and growing customer base through effectively obeying and applying accepted marketing principles. For instance, marketing management should be ethical and never apply malpractices. The book of Joshua talks of, â€Å"Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged". Through analysis, God gives encouragement and hope to the Israelites that He won’t forsake them as long as they trust in Him (Spence, 2013). This particular part of the Scripture echoes to marketing management to be hopeful despite the dynamic business environment that they operate. The dynamic business environment that marketers operate is full of competition and unethical practices, and as such, the verse prepares marketing managers in the world full of intimidation (Sites, et al., 2009). From a religious point of view, the marketing management is required to translate this statement to be a motivation from God, and use the energy to propel the company to a profitable level. Other qualities of marketing management include developing plans, capturing insights, building the brand, shaping the market offerings, and creating Long-Term growth. These tasks also pertain to what Joshua had to do. For example, Joshua had to develop a proper plan in the best way possible to attack Jericho. Likewise,

Journals review in Venture Capital topics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Journals review in Venture Capital topics - Essay Example While many financial venture capital funds are structured as SBICs, their main goals, however, are to ensure the profitability of the corporate parent and make the most investment returns out of the financial expertise and contacts of the corporate staff. Third, corporate venture capital funds are either subsidiaries or stand-alone firms organized by non-financial institutions like industrial firms, for instance. They function as in the case of industrial firms to make early investments and take advantage of new technologies. Finally, venture capital limited partnerships are funds organized by professional venture capital firms who have the capability to organize, invest, manage, and liquidate the capital raised from the partnership. The most predominant type in the market for venture capital finance is the venture capital limited partnership which manages more than half of the total industry resources. Unlike SBICs or financial and non-financial corporate funds which have problems in internal affairs, funding sources, or compensation packages, limited partnerships are the safest choice in venture capital funds. They function solely to maximize earnings from venture investments. Most European venture capital funds are sourced from financial institutions like banks, unlike the US venture capital which sources more on institutional investments like pension funds. In Europe, banks are more dominant and powerful that a significant number of venture capital firms are owned and managed by them. Their investments are diverse and are scattered along many different funds. Aside from having strict financial goals, European banks are also found to have strategic objectives in managing their investments. In fact, almost half of European venture funds in 2000 were sourced from banks, insurance companies, and other corporate investors. In the US, however, institutional investors are the most popular sources of funding. Pension funds, for instance, allot only a

Verizon Wireless Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Verizon Wireless - Case Study Example These are its high quality nationwide wireless network, technological choice of CDMA instead of GSM, constant monitoring of its products and services, and provision of the best product to the customer through an automated software which analyzes customers' calling habits. The company's investment in building a system which takes into consideration the customer service capabilities and coverage has important implications on the company's long-term cost structure. Through these investments, the company is able to provide the best for its clients thereby minimizing churn. The case states that customer loyalty is very important as the acquisition of a customer totals to $300 to $400 each and it takes six to eight months before this cost of customer acquisition is recouped by a business organization. Thus, when a customer stays longer in a service provider, this will mean that the cost of acquisition is covered while the company will not be spending so much in order to acquire new ones. Loyalty also has important implications for a company. If customers are loyal, they tend to spread it to word of mouth allowing the companies not to spend too much on other promotional activities like television advertising. This, in time, reduces the acquisition cost for a business organization. ... This business level strategy is complemented by the functional strategies of quality, efficiency, and responsiveness to customer. The company has invested in quality by checking its signals in nationwide locations through its Test Men as well as having the largest coverage, clearer connections, and fewer dropped calls. Efficiency is also ensured through the employment of CDMA technology which functions better than its GSM counterpart. The company also proves its commitment to customer responsiveness through its consistent communication with clients offering them with the best plans that suit their calling habits. These strengths allow Verizon Wireless to have a competitive advantage in the wireless business. It should be noted that having a nationwide coverage is very hard to be replicated by another player since it will call for a massive outlay of investment in its part. As Verizon has already been operating in this nationwide network, it also enjoys economies of scale which drives down cost significantly. Weaknesses: Verizon Wireless churn rate is 0.87%. Through lower than its competitors, this still indicate that the company is not able to serve all of its clients and meet their requirements. The company should aim and strive to bring down the churn rate to 0% since these aggravated customers through word of mouth can ruin the image of the company which is detrimental in the long run Opportunities: The quality, efficiency, and customer responsiveness can be used by Verizon in order to allow it to go after its rival's customers. It should be noted that the company does not have the most number of subscribers. It can earn more clients through a more intensive

Spaceflight (Commentary Paper Essay) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Spaceflight (Commentary Paper ) - Essay Example r, 2014 on the website of Al-Jazeera America deal with the UK entrepreneur Richard Branson’s response to the crash of the suborbital vehicle SpaceShipTwo developed by his company to conduct tourist flights into space. The focus of the article is Richard Branson’s intention to find out what exactly went wrong during the test flight of the spaceship and what caused the death of the co-polite and severe injuries of the pilot. In addition to this, the article highlights Branson’s plan to continue testing and improving the spaceship as well as his optimistic attitude towards the future of the project. To render Richard Branson’s stance and attitude towards the discussed issue, the author of the article widely quotes Branson’s speech delivered on the press conference on the crash of the suborbital vehicle SpaceShipTwo. More specifically, with the aim to show the audience the UK entrepreneur’s optimism, the author quotes Branson’s statements in which he draws a parallel between the development of aviation and the possible bright future of the sphere of space tourism. Also, the fact that Branson himself is going to flight travel into space on the first flight is used as reasoning. In addition to this, to prove that Branson is actually determined to define the reasons of the crash, the author of the article mentions the fact of the beginning of the investigation. The possible audience of the article is not only the common readers of the periodical but also those who are actually interested in the development of the sphere of space tourism and possible tourist flights into space, such as potential tourists. It is so because the author of the article seems to try to reassure people that space tourism does have a future, especially if the head of Virgin Galactic does not give up on further attempts to improve the spaceship. In other words, the purpose of the article is to reassure the audience that the crash will not happen again as the specialists are working