Epidendrosaurus - Facts and Figures

Epidendrosaurus - Facts and Figures Name: Epidendrosaurus (Greek for reptile in the tree); articulated EP-ih-DEN-dro-SORE-us Living space: Forests of Asia Recorded Period: Late Jurassic (150 million years back) Size and Weight: Around 6 inches in length and a couple of ounces Diet: Likely omnivorous Recognizing Characteristics: Minuscule size; long arms with ripped at hands About Epidendrosaurus Archaeopteryx gets all the features, yet theres a persuading case to be made that Epidendrosaurus was the main reptile to be more like a flying creature than to a dinosaur. This slight theropod was not exactly a large portion of the size of its increasingly well known cousin, and its a definite wager that it was secured with quills. Most remarkably, Epidendrosaurus seems to have been adjusted to an arboreal (tree-abiding) lifestyleits little size would have made it a straightforward issue to jump from branch to branch, and its since quite a while ago, bended paws were likely used to pry creepy crawlies from tree husk. So was the late Jurassic Epidendrosaurus actually a winged creature as opposed to a dinosaur? Likewise with the entirety of the feathered dino-flying creatures, as these reptiles are called, its difficult to state. Its better to think about the classes of feathered creature and dinosaur as lying along a continuum, with certain genera closer to either outrageous and some smack in the center. (Coincidentally, a few scientistss accept that Epidendrosaurus ought to really be subsumed under another dino-flying creature variety, Scansoriopteryx.)

Economic consequences of immigration on socioeconomic activities

Chapter by chapter guide Introduction Wages settlers get Treatment by standard American culture Occupation of untalented outsiders Long-term financial portability The work they give Works Cited Introduction Immigration starting with one nation then onto the next affects the monetary status of the host nation. For the most part, movement centers around two parts of the economy, which are impact of migration on work market and its impact on financial market. Movement impacts the work advertise on the off chance that it influences the dispersion and size of the goal country.Advertising We will compose a custom paper test on Economic results of migration on financial exercises explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More The monetary market takes a gander at the outcomes on the maintainability of the open spending plan through the commitment of the migrants. Workers add to monetary market through assessments and then again, they get open exchanges, which at long last bring the issue of manageability and dissemination in the nation (Polachek 2006). Wages foreigners get Migrant laborers get exceptionally low pay in the US. Foreigners who work in ranches are the ones who are for the most part influenced. They work in the ranches since ranch work is accessible and their installment is under the table and beneath the lowest pay permitted by law necessity. There are work allegations about the measure of cash paid to the outsiders with many pushing for low wages because of their freshness. Treatment by standard American culture There is an expanded degree of enthusiasm for settlers by the network particularly the neighborhood government because of their potential monetary commitment. Network pioneers additionally see outsiders as adding to social life due advantages, for example, social trades, nourishments and diversion which at long last increment intercultural understanding. Then again, migrants are seen as security dangers. They are individuals who are a dan ger to national security particularly after the September 11 assault on the US (Polachek 2006). Control of untalented foreigners Most of the outsiders speak to an enormous number of individuals in the work power. There is a typical conviction that workers do tasks that Americans won't do. They work in family benefits, angling, cultivating, and ranger service. Migrants in these occupations are modest paid and they work for extremely extended periods. Different occupations where settlers work are in workmanship and specialty, fix and upkeep, exactness creation, managerial help, constructing agents and machine administrators. It isn't consistent with state that outsiders just do tasks that not done by Americans. Settlers have work as specialists and medical caretakers, in cheap food stores and in retail outlets around the nation (Smith 2009). Long haul financial versatility Economic transients moving to America experience gains in salary. Their word related status in contrast with loca ls generally has a descending portability at the purpose of relocation. Because of this, they work in low salary occupations and they face a great deal of joblessness than the locals. This descending versatility brought about by a few components. Most outsiders have no conventional training and they need experience in this way managers do no search for them.Advertising Looking for article on business financial aspects? We should check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Second, a significant number of them need language aptitudes to perform employments. Hence, they descend the word related stepping stool to occupations that needn't bother with correspondence. Different explanations behind the social financial portability are advertise disappointments. Foreigners experience issues in acquiring accreditations required in the market. Thirdly, most workers need information on nearby work market or they need arranges that would interface them with emp loyments that need their abilities. The work they give Most of the migrants are prepared to give work in all parts. They are prepared to acknowledge low wages and, businesses look for workers for their work. Passage of migrants in the work advertise doesn't dislodge locals since they give their work in particular segments of the economy. Be that as it may, this supposition that is profoundly defective since the economy won't into two employment types, one for locals, and the other for foreigners. It is hard to draw an away from between the kind of occupations done by the locals and those done by foreigners. The untalented foreigners give adaptable work to numerous organizations. The foreigners have no mastery and consequently they do a large portion of the manual employments that are incompetent (Smith 2009). Works Cited Polachek, Solomon. The Economics of Immigration And Social Diversit, New York: Emerald Group Publishing, 2006. Print. Smith, James . The New Americans: Economic, De mographic, and Fiscal Effects of Immigration. New York: National Academies Press, 2009. Print. This article on Economic results of movement on financial exercises was composed and put together by client Mitchell Avery to help you with your own examinations. You are allowed to utilize it for research and reference purposes so as to compose your own paper; be that as it may, you should refer to it as needs be. You can give your paper here.

Better Targeting your Customers with CRM Value Chain Model

Better Targeting your Customers with CRM Value Chain Model “A business absolutely devoted to Customer Service Excellence will have only one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large.” Sir Henry Ford. © Shutterstock.com | BecrisThis article you will learn the following about CRM Value Chain Model in the following sections: 1) what is CRM, 2) how CRM works, 3) CRM strategies and models, 4) what is CRM Value Chain Model, 5) 5 primary stages for implementation of CRM Value Chain, 6) supporting conditions, 7) criticism for CRM Value Chain Model.WHAT IS CRM?A customer these days is very smart and is already well informed and ready to make decisions before he approaches a business. The Customer Relation Management or CRM is the fundamental business policy that incorporates internal procedures and functions as well as external systems to generate and provide value to targeted customers while making a profit for a business. CRM is enabled by softwares and Information Technology, which uses customer data derived from the internet and various other sources. It is used in all aspects of customer relations from identifying customers, building customer relationship, providing information to c ustomers to changing and influencing customer perception of the business and its products or services. CRM requires understanding customers and their need as well as their expectations, to provide service or product that has value to them.Aims of CRMCRM is an essential part of marketing, especially online marketing. The main purpose of any business is to sell its product or service to a customer in order to generate income or revenue. The aims of CRM are derived from this need of the businesses to have customers who are strategically significant. CRM aims to understand the customer, retain them by providing a satisfying customer experience. It also aims at attracting new customers, convert inquiries into business opportunities, increase profitability and reduce the cost of managing customers. CRM is the tool through which a business can build up a mutually beneficial relationship with its strategically significant customers.HOW DOES CRM WORK?Lead generation and customer data are ess ential for CRM to work. Without understanding and analyzing the customer or market requirements, a business cannot hope to optimize customer experience and, therefore, generate new business. CRM isn’t only about marketing, it is an integration of all the processes that deal with customers, which include â€" sales, marketing, customer service and support as well as collecting customer data, analyzing it and implementing the findings to the business process.Marketing: CRM has its base in marketing and is closely related to it. Marketing has evolved over the years from focusing on direct sales to customer relationship marketing. The focus has now shifted to creating loyal customers by offering not just a product, but an experience.Sales Force Automation: The job of the sales department is to create strategies to maintain and build customer relationships in order to generate revenue. In order to fulfil this part of their duties, the sales department needs to be automated, collect data regarding the customers, their age, sex, address, phone numbers, personal details, professional details, preferences and spending patterns etc. to create a profile that can be used to enhance customer relationship.Customer Service and Support: One of the most important factors for customer satisfaction is customer service and support. The after sales service and support offered by a business determines the continuing customer relationship. If the service and support system is not adequate, the customer relation will suffer.Insights and Analytics: The entire CRM process is dependent on information technology and data analysis. All the customer data is collected and analyzed using the software. This gives businesses insights into their customers, their preferences and buying patterns, providing it with guidelines to improve overall customer experience.CRM STRATEGIES AND MODELSCRM strategies are about building a customer relationship model that is so successful that it is hard for com petitors to break the customer loyalty. There are five basic models on which CRM of any business can be based. These models are not hard and fast rules, but should be adapted as per the requirements of a business. These models are:IDIC ModelThis model was established by Pepper and Rogers in 2004. The IDIC model is a four-step approach to CRM. These four steps are:Identify your customers and understand them and their individual requirements.Differentiate your customers based on their value to the business and what they require from it.Interact with the customer to understand their expectations and values.Finally, customize your services and products to reflect the needs of your customer.QCi Customer Management ModelQuality Competitive Index Model or QCi is a model of CRM that focuses on the customer rather than processes. QCi is based on three activities, which are Acquisition, Retention, and Penetration. These are the activities that a business needs to perform so as to retain and a cquire customers. It also needs technology to assist the processes. QCi Model includes activities that are related to employees, people, organization, and technology.Payne’s Five Process ModelPayne’s five processes model is based on the fact that the aim of CRM is to enhance acquisition and retention of customers by building and maintain a relationship with a valuable customer. The process is divided into five processes that are:strategy development process,value creation process,multichannel integration process,performance assessment process and finally,information management or analytical process.Gartner’s CRM ModelThis model was developed by Gartner Inc., a leading IT company. According to this model, a business needs to focus on 8 things to successfully implement CRM. These include â€" developing CRM vision, CRM strategies, designing valued customer experiences, creating CRM processes, CRM Technology, CRM information, CRM metrics and organizational collaboration.Buttle’s CRM Value Chain ModelButtles CRM Value Chain model is probably the most commonly used model for CRM. There are two stages to the model â€" the primary stage and the secondary stage. The secondary stage is created to provide support to the primary stage. Both the stages have to work together to enable CRM.WHAT IS CRM VALUE CHAIN MODEL?The concept of a value chain was derived by Michael Porter. He put forth the idea of the value chain as a means of identifying all actions, processes or stages that are involved in creating outputs from inputs. These outputs are offered to a customer who is at the end of the line of the value chain. The amount a customer is willing to pay for a product or a service is its value. The revenue for a business is the total value less the cost that it has incurred in providing the product to the customer. CRM Value Chain Model is a set of strategies that a business ought to follow when developing their CRM strategies. Most modern businesses work on the princ iple of Customer Relationship Management as it helps to deliver value to customer and creates, as well as, manages the relationship of a business with its customers in a more effective manner. A valuable relationship with one strategically significant customer can lead to customer loyalty, retention and finally to referrals to other potential customers. Based on Buttle’s CRM Value Chain ModelThe CRM Value Chain Model looks at all the stages that are required to build a relationship with a customer. These can be categorized as Primary Stages and Support Stages.Who is a strategically significant customer?A customer who creates great value for a business is deemed to be a valuable customer for the business. In order to retain such a customer for a period of time, the business has to follow some strategies. Only about 20% of all the customers of a business can be said to be strategically significant customers. They generate more revenue, value and loyalty for a business and the business has to deal with them in an entirely different manner than the rest of its customers. Strategically significant customers (SSC) buy more, are trend setters, and act as referrals for the business.There are four types of SSC. The one on top is the High lifetime value customer as these customers create the greatest value for the business. Lifetime value p otential of a customer is derived by calculating the present value of all future profits that a business might earn from one single customer. One thing to consider is that not all high volume customers can be regarded as high lifetime value customers. The next type of SSC is known as Benchmarks. These are the well-known customers, and that other consumers are likely to emulate. The third type is the Inspirations. These are customers who inspire a company to change its products or reduce costs. The last of the SSC are what are referred as the cost magnets. These customers pay for a large percentage of fixed costs so that the product can be sold to smaller consumers at a profitable margin.5 PRIMARY STAGES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF CRM VALUE CHAINThe CRM Value Chain Model consists of several stages or processes. These are divided into two main categories Primary Stages and Secondary Stages. Above is a diagrammatic representation of the CRM Value Chain Model.Primary Stages of the CRM value chain include the following processes:Customer portfolio analysis,Customer intimacy,Network development,Value proposition development and finallyManage customer lifecycle.Each of these stages has many concepts, processes and tools that are used to enable the strategy. These primary stages help to locate and study a customer and his habits, interact with the customer to develop a relationship. Once the relationship is established, to provide the customer services that would mutually benefit the customer and the company, and finally to maintain the relationship. CRM needs to be supported by a strong will to serve the customer and the desire to build a lasting relationship. CRM can only succeed if the customer is satisfied and happy with the product and the service of the business. Let us look at how this is achieved.Stage 1: Customer portfolio analysisThe first thing that a business needs to do is to identify the customers that it needs to target. These are the customers who create th e most value for the company, and the company sees them as the most desirable customers. This stage is implemented through analysis of data that the company has collected about its customers. It gives insights to companies so they can define their strategies to interact more effectively with a customer, to understand the customers and their needs and also to discover the high lifetime value customers of the business.Stage 2: Customer intimacyOnce all the information about the customers is in hand, it is time to engage with the customers and interact with the ones that are most valuable, to know them and to provide them greater value than the competitors would, in order to retain them. The business needs to know its customers well if it wishes to retain them. This is done through collecting and mining data through various channels. All relevant data regarding a customer is provided at the point of contact in order to create a better relationship between a customer and the business.St age 3: Network developmentThe term network here includes all stages of interaction between the business and its customers. It includes all your strategy partners, the suppliers, staff, investors, partners and anyone who can influence interaction between the business and the consumer. The aim is to ensure that the customer enjoys the interaction with the company and is satisfied and happy with the business, its services, product, and employees. With the customer data available at all points of contact, it would make it easier for the network to work together in order provide better service to the customer.Stage 4: Value proposition developmentOnce a business has learned as much as they can about a customer and have made a decision about who they would prefer to serve, they can now identify and create sources of value for their chosen customers. This can be done by creating tailor-made offers and experiences that will meet all the requirements, preferences and expectations of the cust omer. This is a shift in business policy from the traditional strategy of concentrating on a product to focusing on providing better service to the consumer and concentrating on reducing process costs and improving service to create more value. The focus is on creating value for the customer.Stage 5: Manage customer lifecycleThe lifecycle of a customer is defined as his journey from the stage of being a prospect right through to the end of the line where the prospect has become a customer, and is subsequently happy and satisfied with his relationship and experience with the business and its services, and is ready to turn into an advocate for the business. To manage the lifecycle of a customer, the company needs to look at both the processes and the structure of its organization. The processes will require attending to the acquisition, retention and finally the development of the customer. The structure will need to focus on the ways to manage the customer relationship.SUPPORTING CON DITIONS FOR CRM VALUE CHAINIn order for the five primary stages of CRM to work and the business to experience the full benefit of CRM, they need to be supported by certain secondary stages or conditions. These are:Leadership and cultureThe leadership and culture of the business determine the focus of the business. It is up to the leaders to provide direction and prioritize CRM within an organization. If the leadership is inclined towards CRM, it will provide the direction that is required to implement customer relationship, inculcate a culture for customer satisfaction and guide the rest of the organization to follow the example.Relationship between Leadership and CRMThere is a direct relationship between CRM and leadership. The leadership will decide which direction to choose and guide their employees to follow suit. Without the interest of the leadership, it will not be possible to implement CRM in an organization and hope for it to succeed. All the policies and guidance has to co me from the leadership regarding the ways and means to provide the customer the value they demand.Customer-Centric CultureIt is important for a business to have a customer-centric approach within its organization in order for CRM to be successful. The leadership needs to provide a work environment that places customer satisfaction as its most important agenda. This would require placing systems in place to provide information about the customer to employees dealing with them. CRM will be properly implemented if the various departments of an organization work together. The employees who deal with customers need to be trained so that they know how to interact with a customer properly. Customer interaction at all points has to be friendly and easy, this includes dealing with customer complaints and feedbacks, managing delivery and service to the customer, providing incentives and offers that will add value to the customer’s experience. Employee behavior is one of the most important p arts of the customer experience. It is the duty of the leadership to ensure that the employee behavior leaves a positive influence on the customer. ProcessesAll the tasks or activities that go on to create something of value are called processes.What are business processes?A business process is a set of tasks or activities that work together to produce a particular service or product. The product may be generic, which is meant for all the customers, or custom made according to the specifications or preferences of a particular customer.Classification of processesThere are three types of business processes in every business. These processes need to work together for an organization to function properly.Vertical and horizontal: This is the flow of work from top to the bottom of the management chain as well as a linear division of work and command. The policies that are created at the top have to flow through the organization right down to the bottom of the pyramid.Front and back office: The front office is where the customer relations takes place, but it cannot function without proper support from the back office staff. The Sales, Marketing, and service department need to work with the accounts, procurement and manufacturing to provide complete customer satisfaction.Primary and secondary: Primary processes include the core business practices that are supported by a secondary process such as recruitment, technical support, customer care, etc.All the systems need to be in sync for CRM to be implemented fully.Analytical CRM processesThese are processes that are employed by the back office, or departments that do not deal directly with the customers. Analytical processes are designed to dig deep into customer data and discover the real intentions and behavior of a customer. Based on the findings of the analysis, the business can improve its profitability. This is done through:Customer profiling: finding and recording all relevant data about a customer;Opportunity management: Creating opportunities and marketing channels or products to attract more customers;Campaign management: create sales and marketing processe s that are designed to attract more customers.Employees / peopleThe people in any business are the one who interact with the customers. How they interact is one of the most important parts of CRM. Whether it is the sales staff or the marketing staff, the delivery, and logistical staff or the support or service departments, customers will at some point of time interact with people in each of these departments. It is essential that the people or employees be trained to deal with customers to ensure a positive interaction. It is not always possible for a positive interaction, but the employees need to know how to deal with all kinds of the situation so that the customer feels that the business cares about its customers.Data and Information TechnologyCRM is totally dependent on Data and Information technology. Data provides all the insights that are essential for CRM. High-quality data is the main requirement of CRM. It needs to the acquired, stored, analyzed, maintained, improved and d istributed properly to be of any value. Customer information is what drives CRM and determines all the strategies that need to be implemented for CRM. The data requirements for CRM are determined by the actions taken at the primary stages.Role of data in CRMIn order to gain insights into customers and create a relationship with them, it is essential to understand them, their preferences, their requirements, and their demographics. All this is made possible only by collecting data and managing it. Data is required for both business operations and analysis.Business operations: Data provides important information regarding the customers, the processes, and the services of the company and their efficiency. It allows companies to gauge what the customers want and change their policies to reflect customer demands and values.Analysis: Data allows the companies to analyze its business processes and cut costs where possible to improve revenue while providing better value to customers.CRITICI SM FOR CRM VALUE CHAIN MODELToday CRM is seen only as a software and IT solution for front and back office. This limits the application of CRM to only some business processes, excluding a lot of others. The benefit of the CRM value chain can be fully derived only if all the processes are integrated to work together to create greater value for the customer.

Battle of Trenton in the American Revolution

The Battle of Trenton was fought December 26, 1776, during the American Revolution (1775-1783). General George Washington commanded 2,400 men against a garrison of about 1,500 Hessian mercenaries under the command of Colonel Johann Rall. Background Having been defeated in the battles for New York City, General George Washington and the remnants of the Continental Army retreated across New Jersey in the late fall of 1776. Vigorously pursued by the British forces under Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis, the American commander sought to gain the protection afforded by the Delaware River. As they retreated, Washington faced a crisis as his battered army began to disintegrate through desertions and expiring enlistments. Crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania in early December, he made camp and attempted to reinvigorate his shrinking command. Badly reduced, the Continental Army was poorly supplied and ill-equipped for winter, with many of the men still in summer uniforms or lacking shoes. In a stroke of luck for Washington, General Sir William Howe, the overall British commander, ordered a halt to the pursuit on December 14 and directed his army to enter winter quarters. In doing so, they established a series of outposts across northern New Jersey. Consolidating his forces in Pennsylvania, Washington was reinforced by around 2,700 men on December 20 when two columns, led by Major Generals John Sullivan and Horatio Gates, arrived. Washingtons Plan With the morale of the army and public ebbing, Washington believed that an audacious act was required to restore confidence and help boost enlistments. Meeting with his officers, he proposed a surprise attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton for December 26. This decision was informed by a wealth of intelligence provided by spy John Honeyman, who had been posing as a Loyalist in Trenton. For the operation, he intended to cross the river with 2,400 men and march south against the town. This main body was to be supported by Brigadier General James Ewing and 700 Pennsylvania militia, which were to cross at Trenton and seize the bridge over Assunpink Creek to prevent enemy troops from escaping. In addition to the strikes against Trenton, Brigadier General John Cadwalader and 1,900 men were to make a diversionary attack on Bordentown, NJ. If the overall operation proved a success, Washington hoped to make similar attacks against Princeton and New Brunswick. At Trenton, the Hessian garrison of 1,500 men was commanded by Colonel Johann Rall. Having arrived at the town on December 14, Rall had rejected his officers advice to build fortifications. Instead, he believed that his three regiments would be able to defeat any attack in open combat. Though he publicly dismissed intelligence reports that the Americans were planning an attack, Rall did request reinforcements and asked that a garrison be established at Maidenhead (Lawrenceville) to protect the approaches to Trenton. Crossing the Delaware Combating rain, sleet, and snow, Washingtons army reached the river at McKonkeys Ferry on the evening of December 25. Behind schedule, they were ferried across by Colonel John Glovers Marblehead regiment using Durham boats for the men and larger barges for the horses and artillery. Crossing with Brigadier General Adam Stephens brigade, Washington was among the first to reach the New Jersey shore. Here a perimeter was established around the bridgehead to protect the landing site. Having completed the crossing around 3 a.m., they began their march south toward Trenton. Unknown to Washington, Ewing was unable to make the crossing due to the weather and heavy ice on  the river. In addition, Cadwalader had succeeded in moving his men across the water but returned to Pennsylvania when he was unable to move his artillery. A Swift Victory Sending out advance parties, the army moved south together until reaching Birmingham. Here Major General Nathanael Greenes division turned inland to attack Trenton from the north while Sullivans division moved along the river road to strike from the west and south. Both columns approached the outskirts of Trenton shortly before 8 a.m.  on December 26. Driving in the Hessian pickets, Greenes men opened the attack and drew enemy troops north from the river road. While Greenes men blocked the escape routes to Princeton, Colonel Henry Knoxs artillery deployed at the heads of King and Queen Streets.  As the fighting continued, Greenes division began to push the Hessians into the town. Taking advantage of the open river road, Sullivans men entered Trenton from the west and south and sealed off the bridge over Assunpink Creek. As the Americans attacked, Rall attempted to rally his regiments. This saw the Rall and Lossberg regiments form on lower King Street while the Knyphausen regiment occupied Lower Queen Street. Sending his regiment up King, Rall directed the Lossberg Regiment to advance up Queen toward the enemy. On King Street, the Hessian attack was defeated by Knoxs guns and heavy fire from Brigadier General Hugh Mercers brigade. An attempt to bring two three-pounder cannon into action quickly saw half the Hessian gun crews killed or wounded and the guns captured by Washingtons men. A similar fate befell the Lossberg regiment during its assault up Queen Street. Falling back to a field outside of town with the remnants of the Rall and Lossberg regiments, Rall began a counterattack against the American lines. Suffering heavy losses, the Hessians were defeated and their commander fell mortally wounded. Driving the enemy back into a nearby orchard, Washington surrounded the survivors and forced their surrender. The third Hessian formation, the Knyphausen regiment, attempted to escape over the Assunpink Creek bridge. Finding it blocked by the Americans, they were quickly surrounded by Sullivans men. Following a failed breakout attempt, they surrendered shortly after their compatriots. Though Washington wished to immediately follow up the victory with an attack on Princeton, he elected to withdraw back across the river after learning that Cadwalader and Ewing had failed to make the crossing. Aftermath In the operation against Trenton, Washingtons losses were  four men killed and eight wounded, while the Hessians suffered 22 killed and 918 captured. Around 500 of Ralls command were able to escape during the fighting. Though a minor engagement relative to the size of the forces involved, the victory at Trenton had a massive effect on the colonial war effort. Instilling a new confidence in the army and the Continental Congress, the triumph at Trenton bolstered public morale and increased enlistments. Stunned by the American victory, Howe ordered Cornwallis to advance on Washington with around 8,000 men. Re-crossing the river on December 30, Washington united his command and prepared to face the advancing enemy. The resulting campaign saw the armies square off at Assunpink Creek before culminating with an American triumph at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. Flush with victory, Washington wished to continue attacking up the chain of British outposts in New Jersey. After assessing his tired armys condition, Washington instead decided to move north and enter winter quarters at Morristown.

Odepius Rex Demonstrates Success Leads to Folly Essay

â€Å"Oedipus Rex demonstrates that success leads to folly, arrogance and mistakes in behaviour.† Discuss. Oedipus the King is a play that recognises the importance of humility and recompense. Oedipus’ acknowledgement of the Gods’ superiority is evident in his fear of the prophecy coming true, indeed, he flees from Corinth for precisely this reason. But at the same time through Oedipus’ self-blinding (where he â€Å"alone† is responsible for his fate) there is a sense of wilful defiance in the face of the omniscient gods. The sane voice of the Chorus sheds light on the people’s fear and awe of the gods. And what of those who foolishly question prophets and fate? As we see in Jocasta, providence does not provide. Certainly, the success of humanist†¦show more content†¦Success is subsidiary to an immovable fate, and Oedipus’ past success leads him into an honourable search for Laius’ killer, a search that gradually intertwines with his own past. Promising the citizens of Thebes he will â€Å"fight† for Laius â€Å"as if he we re my [his] father†, Oedipus gains inspiration from his past success and believes finding Laius’ killer is another opportunity to demonstrate his intellectual ability. In this sense, success does contribute to Oedipus’ downfall, but one must be careful to measure this aspect of the play against the will of the gods. Unlike Oedipus, Jocasta arguably lacks the courage to deal with the consequences of their incestuous relationship, opting for suicide rather than Oedipus’ self-inflicted punishment. As Jocasta questions the infallibility of the gods’ manifestation on earth however (by mocking prophets and oracles), her humanist character is equally strong. But Oedipus is the arbitrator searching for an objective truth. Conversely Jocasta does not desire the truth, pleading with Oedipus to â€Å"Stop – in the name of god, if you love your own life, call off this search!† For Jocasta ostensible success in thwarting prophecy by sending her only son Oedipus to die on Mount Cithaeron has led her to question the reliability of prophets and oracles, a position that would be seen as perilous by Greek audiences at the time. Her

India Foreign Trade Policy Free Essays

India: Foreign Trade PolicyAlthough India  has steadily opened up its economy, its tariffs continue to be high when compared with other countries, and its investment norms are still restrictive. This leads some to see India as a ‘rapid globalizer’ while others still see it as a ‘highly protectionist’ economy. Till the early 1990s, India  was a closed economy: average tariffs exceeded 200 percent,  quantitative restrictions on imports  were extensive, and there were stringent restrictions on foreign investment. We will write a custom essay sample on India: Foreign Trade Policy or any similar topic only for you Order Now The country began to cautiously reform in the 1990s, liberalizing only under conditions of extreme necessity. Since that time, trade reforms have produced remarkable results. India’s trade to GDP ratio has increased from 15 percent to 35 percent of GDP  between 1990 and 2005, and the economy is now among the fastest growing in the world. Average non-agricultural tariffs have fallen below 15 percent, quantitative restrictions  on imports  have been eliminated, and foreign investments norms have been relaxed for a number of sectors. India  however retains its right to protect when need arises. Agricultural tariffs average between 30-40 percent, anti-dumping measures have been liberally used to protect trade, and the country is among the few in the world that continue to ban foreign investment in retail trade. Although this policy has been somewhat relaxed recently, it remains considerably restrictive. Nonetheless, in recent years, the government’s stand on trade and investment policy has displayed a marked shift from protecting ‘producers’ to benefiting ‘consumers’. This is reflected in its  Foreign Trade Policy for 2004/09  which states that, â€Å"For India to become a major player in world trade †¦ we have also to facilitate those imports which are required to stimulate our economy. â€Å"India  is now aggressively pushing for a more liberal global trade regime, especially in services. It has assumed a leadership role among developing nations in global trade negotiations, and played a critical part in the Doha  negotiations. Regional and Bilateral Trade AgreementsIndia  has recently signed trade agreements with its neighbors and is seeking new ones with the East Asian countries and the United States. Its regional and bilateral trade agreements – or variants of them – are at different stages of development:   * India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement, * Trade Agreements with Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldives, China, and South Korea. * India-Nepal Trade Treaty, * Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with Singapore. Framework Agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Thailand and Chile. Preferential Trade Agreements with   Afghanista, Chile, and Mercosur (the latter is a trading zone between Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay). World Bank InvolvementAs a number of research institutions in the country provide the Government with good, just-in-time, and low-cost analytical advice on trade-related issues, the World Bank has focused on provid ing analysis on specialized subjects at the Government’s request. In the last three years, the Bank has been working with the Ministry of Commerce in a participatory manner to help the country develop an informed strategy for domestic reform and international negotiations. Given the sensitivity of trade policy and negotiation issues, the Bank’s role has been confined to providing better information and analysis than was previously available to India’s policymakers. World Bank ReportsOver the last two years, the World Bank has completed two reports:Sustaining India’s Services Revolution: Access to Foreign Markets, Domestic Reforms and International Negotiation:  The study concludes that  to sustain the dynamism of India’s services sector, the country must address two critical challenges: externally, the problem of actual and potential protectionism; and domestically, the persistence of restrictions on trade and investment, as well as weaknesses in the regulatory environment. From Competition at Home to Competing Abroad: The Case of Horticulture in India:  This study finds that the competitiveness of India’s horticulture sector depends critically on efficient logistics, domestic competition, and the ability to comply with international health, safety and quality standards. The study is based on primary surveys  across fifteen Indian States. A third study, dealing with barriers to the movement of professionals is under preparation. The Bank has also held a number of workshops and conferences with a view to providing different stakeholders with a forum to express their views on trade-related issues. | | | | | Permanent URL for this page:  http://go. worldbank. org/RJEB2JGTC0| | Publications| * Studies on India-Bangladesh Trade (Vol. 1 of 2)   * Studies on India-Bangladesh Trade (Vol. 2 of 2)   * Sustaining India’s Services Revolution  | | | | | | * Home  |   * Site Map  |   * Index  |   * FAQs  |   * Contact Us  |   * Search  |   *   RSS| How to cite India: Foreign Trade Policy, Essay examples

Recommendation Plan for American Airlines

Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Situation Analysis Strategic Plan Marketing Strategies Conclusion Works Cited Executive Summary The airlines industry is experiencing far-reaching consolidation. The consolidation is necessitated by competition in the volatile industry. However, the aim of establishing airline businesses is profit. The events in the airlines industry force companies to enter into mergers to gain dominant market share and have competitive edge through synergy.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Recommendation Plan for American Airlines specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The US Airways and America Airlines are such companies that have entered into merger negotiations to establish one company called the American Airlines. This paper explores the events that led to the need for the merger (situation analysis), the market strategies the companies are employing and the recommendations th at the resultant company should implement as a strategic plan to ensure the profitability and survival of the company. Introduction Domestic airlines in the US have been struggling financially for years. The global financial recession significantly affected the companies leading to the alternative methods of ensuring the survival and profitability of the business ventures. One of the strategies typically employed by companies is mergers. Mergers ensure that the participating companies build capacity to serve customers with increased assets and convergence of corporate strategies intended to increase profitability. Customers’ choice of flights is limited in most routes leading to increased profitability of the resultant company. One such merger involved the America Airlines and the US Airways to form American Airlines (Fried 46). Situation Analysis The airline industry is often faced by challenges in operations for profitability, market share and competitive advantage. The eme rgence of many local airline companies as a result of the few limitations of entry entices investors to enter the profitable and rapidly growing industry. The talk of the merger between the America Airlines and the US Airways began in 2011. The America founding company called AMR Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy security. The company consequently ran into trouble with employees and unions. The long and often difficult processes of pairing down the company’s high cost structure and renegotiating fresh labor deals with unions proved challenging for the company. Upon learning the difficulties the America Airlines was facing, the US Airways Chief Executive Officer and chairperson Doug Parker initiated the merger talks with the America Airlines (Walker 25). To Parker, entering into such a high profile deal would make sense.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In fa ct, it would present the companies with the opportunity to develop an airline of equal measure and competitiveness to rival the mega-carriers mergers of North West Airlines/Delta Airlines and Continental Airlines/United Airlines. On the contrary, the America Airlines’ CEO and chairperson Tom Horton maintained the talks as almost improbable. During the announcement of the merger, the CEO revealed that he initially opted to stay out of the talks after it became apparent that America Airlines required undergoing extensive restructuring alongside putting the house in order before any successful merger. The situation at the America Airlines required the talks to be deferred for almost two years. The merger talks were restarted after the American Airlines had made sufficient restructuring progress and entering into new labor deals that made the talks meaningful. The profitability of the America Airlines had continued to dwindle. When the talks were resumed, Horton felt that it was the right time for the right deal. Transitioning the agreement from mere talks and handshakes to a single airline demands a master plan of coordination. The coordination and collaboration is essential in ensuring that the right things are in the right place at the right time considering the scale of the merger between the two companies. The magnitude of the merger involved in the deal would book a place in the history of airline industry. Putting the Airlines together was challenging. However, the highly experienced personnel and personal dedication of managers involved in sealing the deal diminished the level of difficulty. The companies’ shareholders also contributed towards the successful merger that would see the value of their shares improve dramatically. The best people were placed in appropriate corporate positions to get the deal sealed, operations launched and profitability realized. The success of the merger would see the America Airlines emerge from bankruptcy with more strength to compete with global airlines. Strategic Plan The emerging company also called the American airlines would result in the company becoming the largest airline globally in terms of passenger traffic. The American Airlines had planned to purchase more Airbus 320 airliners. In order to achieve this, it filed bankruptcy to be allowed to realize this objective.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Recommendation Plan for American Airlines specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The strategy may not be viable as the company may sink deeper into bankruptcy if the current resources are not properly managed to recover from the bankruptcy.   It would be prudent for the company to realign its activities with the resources it already possesses.  The cooperation of employees is essential for successful mergers. Employees feel insecure, as they are uncertain of their predicament in terms of employment and job securit y. It is hence imperative for the human resource function of both companies to communicate incessantly with employees about the importance of the merger and assuring them of their job security. Apparently, more than 36,000 employees will be affected if the transition clauses are not addressed adequately. The stability and confidence of the employees in the resultant company is critical for the future of the company. The merger will result in the company being among the top three airlines that will control three-quarters of the US airline traffic. The company will gain market share and have competitive advantage given that it will service all the routes the original companies served without competing against each other. There will be synergy between the companies in terms of resources, ideas, operations and the delivery of the company goals.  The two companies have distinct characteristics in customer service. The core services offered by both companies should be merged to ensure t hat the resultant company indiscriminately serves all the existing customers of both companies. The management of the two companies should draft a program for the implementation of the plan. The plan should be introduced and implemented in phases to allow employees and customers adjust to the new structures and operations of the company. Marketing Strategies The consolidation of the airline industry has resulted in competition among airlines. The competition arises from enhanced technology used by the airlines since merged companies have the financial capacity to implement new technologies. Airlines that are not financially endowed risk losing market share to large companies. Large companies with financial might poach for competent employees from smaller companies who bring with them knowledge resources. This helps them to propel the companies to higher levels of performance, service delivery and profitability. Merged companies compete among themselves for competitive advantage. It is hence imperative for companies to develop a marketing strategy that fits the market of operation.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The success of American airlines will depend on the internal marketing conducted by the company. The company must focus on the expanded pool of employees to ensure that they are assisted in adapting to the new company structure before focusing on the customers (Tokhi 17). The services provided require ensuring that workers possess the attitude, expertise and commitment necessary to meet the anticipation of the customers. The American Airlines will expect to encounter superior services to what the separate companies provided prior to the merger. This will ensure the sustenance of customer loyalty and assist in attracting the prospective customers. The employees need to be developed through training to integrate both cultures for efficiency and productivity. Management, coaching and leadership will play a critical role in the success of the merger. Considering the huge fleet the American Airlines will have, the company should consider expanding its operations globally. Inherently, air line mergers result in the reduction of flights and shrinkage in the selected hubs. However, the merger between the America Airlines and the US Airways is somehow different since only twelve of the hundred routes the companies operate overlap (Associated Press 24). The company should maintain and upgrade all the hubs currently operated by the companies. Previously, companies that merge often downgraded some hubs. The move does not mix well with the customers served by these hubs leading to the loss of customer confidence in these companies. The airliners operating in the overlapping routes should be reassigned to completely new routes in the emerging airline markets such as Asia and Africa. Apparently, the Asian market is attracting many airline companies due to the attractive business atmosphere that is rapidly emerging in the Gulf following the relative political stability. The United Arab Emirates has opened the market for airlines by intentionally failing to legislate on air pol icies. Dubai is an international business hub attracting millions of tourists and businesspersons. This presents the American Airlines with the opportunity to venture into the market.  Despite the size of the resultant company, there is need for the company to offer competitive prices. This is essentiality considering that there are many competitors in the industry and the consolidation of the industry further enhances the competition. However, to attain a competitive advantage over rivals, the company must improve the quality of services offered. This will make the company an airline of choice for customers. The customer base will increase significantly. It is also important for the company to conduct an environmental scan. This will help the management to determine and evaluate the events taking place outside the company. These events include what the competitors do as well as the level of customer satisfaction.  Conversely, it is imperative for the company to dedicate more hu man resources and invest extra finances into promotions. These resources will play a central role in creating brand awareness. The company may consider erecting billboards in strategic locations particularly in cities and airports. Additionally, it should engage the services of creative advertisement producers to create modern adverts that capture the attention of the audience.  The two companies are popular among many air travelers. However, the change in the company names may confuse a considerable percentage of potential customers. The company should therefore make the public aware of the merger and try to explain the benefits the customers will enjoy from the merger. The benefits that the company may pursue should be clarified to the customers through adverts in the mass media. The fact that they will be able to travel to diverse locations that single companies did not serve prior to the merger should be well articulated. In view of promotions, the company should consider intr oducing incentives to fly with the airline. These may include allocation of points to customers for every flight, which may eventually be converted to cash or air ticket. The company should also consider giving its loyal customers complimentary tickets and allow them to choose their desired destinations.  The internet has presented organizations with the opportunity to market products. Service industries such as the airline industry stand the chance to market its services to prospective customers through social media available in the internet. The company will have a large customer base. The customers will inherently have concerns that they require the company to address. Customer care centers may not sufficiently address all the concerns over the phone. In this respect, the company should consider creating a website and portal where customers may post their complaints as well as interact with each other regarding the services offered by the company. The information collected by t he company in the company portal will be essential in helping the company to improve the services. The information will also be instrumental in evaluating customer satisfaction levels. The information collected in the portal may assist the company in tracing the purchasing trends of customers in specific markets and put the information in a database. The analysis of the data will help the company to narrow its market strategy in specific target markets. Customer relations management (CRM) is an essential element of marketing. Customers must get the value for their money in order to make repeated purchases of the services offered. In this respect, it is important for the company to establish a customer care center that will address customer concerns of any nature. This requires the company to train part of the workers on the handling of customers and attending to their needs. The center should operate around the clock to ensure that customers are attended to without any delays. Custo mers are satisfied when their concerns are addressed even if immediate solutions are not available. The word of mouth is a strategic tool for marketing. Customers interact in social circle and spread the news of the services offered by airlines. Satisfied customers usually recommend the services of a delivering company to friends and relatives. The ultimate end-state objective of the American Airlines is becoming the leader in the airlines industry globally. This is possible if the data collected, evaluated and produced by the CRM system is utilized to effect positive changes in the company. One of the company’s end goals is the formation of alliances with successful global marketing companies to help the company reach customer in all the target markets. Conclusion The increasingly challenging economic conditions in the airline industry have forced several companies to run out of business. Other companies that are determined to remain in business consider mergers as an avenue to gain market share, become profitable and gain competitive advantage. Companies that enter into mergers require having a strategic plan that will facilitate the attaining of the company goals and objectives. The plan should include marketing strategy that will help the company increase profitability through the development of a competitive workforce that delivers the objectives of the company.  Contemporary, there is a wide range of marketing strategies that a company may employ to market itself to the current and prospective customers. These include internal marketing of the employees through training, coaching, promotions, and appropriate customer relations management. However, the success of mergers between airline companies primarily depends on the ability of the resultant company to adopt the past successes into the new company as well as support from stakeholders and employees. Works Cited Associated Press. â€Å"Merger Could Bring Stability, Finally.† FW Business Press, 25.6 (2013): 23-24. Print. Fried, Brandon. â€Å"Positive Outlook is Key in Sorting out American/US Airways Merger.† ACW, 1.2 (2013):46-47. Print. Tokhi, Milay. â€Å"A Case Study on Classic Airlines: Practical Marketing Solutions.† Journal of Business Studies Quarterly, 1.1(2009): 16-25. Print. Walker, Karen. â€Å"The New American.† ATW, 2.1(2013): 24-27. Print. This report on Recommendation Plan for American Airlines was written and submitted by user Kyler Wise to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

5 Words from the Kitchen

5 Words from the Kitchen 5 Words from the Kitchen 5 Words from the Kitchen By Mark Nichol Words most people associate primarily with the kitchen have multiple nonculinary connotations as well. Here are five words you may find useful in other contexts. 1. Apron This name for a garment worn to protect the wearer’s clothes from food stains (or one that is purely decorative) also applies to similar protective attire. From this usage stems meanings for structures with similar form and/or purpose, including a piece of wood under a windowsill, an extension of a bathroom fixture, the part of a pier or wharf along its edge, an erosion barrier, or the part of a stage that extends past the proscenium arch (the opening between the stage and the audience area). 2. Cook This is not just a verb for the action of preparing food and a noun describing a preparer; it also refers to a process for producing a substance or a material, such as the act of cooking methamphetamines. It’s also a slang term used a as a synonym for happen or occur (â€Å"What’s cooking?†), for doing well (â€Å"That band is really cooking!†), or for falsifying documents, especially financial records (â€Å"He was caught cooking the books†). 3. Glass The word for an often tall, narrow container for drinking liquids from, regardless of material, also applies to the mixture of materials used in making clear or tinted glass. Glass may also apply to another item made wholly or in part from glass or a similar substance, such as a mirror (or looking-glass), a basketball backboard, an hourglass, a telescope (or spyglass), or eyeglasses; a barometer is often called a glass. The word also denotes a container full of a liquid (â€Å"Have a glass of beer†). 4. Plate A plate is a shallow, mostly flat dish for serving food, but it also refers to other usually flat, thin items such as a piece of armor or a body part that is similar to armor, any flat structural piece, a part of Earth’s crust, and precious metal, and has other meanings, including the figurative reference to matters and responsibilities â€Å"I have a lot on my plate right now.† 5. Table In addition to the meaning of a piece of furniture with a flat surface, often used for dining, table refers to any such surface, such as a geographical feature (tableland). It also has figurative meanings for eating (â€Å"Sit down to table†) and assembling (â€Å"Sit at the bargaining table†). Table also refers to a list or an arrangement of data. Table is used as a verb to describe entering data in a table. It also refers, in American English, to remove from consideration during a formal meeting or other procedure; in British English, curiously, its meaning is the opposite: It denotes placing an item on an agenda. There’s also a small but rich list of idioms that include table, including â€Å"lay (one’s) cards on the table† (â€Å"to be candid†) and â€Å"under the table† (â€Å"intoxicated,† or â€Å"secretive†). Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Punctuating â€Å"So† at the Beginning of a SentenceHang, Hung, Hanged30 Nautical Expressions

The Persian Empire of Ancient Iran

The Persian Empire of Ancient Iran Irans history as a nation of people speaking an Indo-European language did not begin until the middle of the second millennium B.C. Before then, Iran was occupied by peoples with a variety of cultures. There are numerous artifacts attesting to settled agriculture, permanent sun-dried- brick dwellings, and pottery-making from the sixth millennium B.C. The most advanced area technologically was ancient Susiana, present-day Khuzestan Province. By the fourth millennium, the inhabitants of Susiana, the Elamites, were using semipictographic writing, probably learned from the highly advanced civilization of Sumer in Mesopotamia (ancient name for much of the area now known as Iraq), to the west. Sumerian influence in art, literature, and religion also became particularly strong when the Elamites were occupied by, or at least came under the domination of, two Mesopotamian cultures, those of Akkad and Ur, during the middle of the third millennium. By 2000 B.C. the Elamites had become sufficiently unified to destroy the city of Ur. Elamite civilization developed rapidly from that point, and, by the fourteenth century B.C., its art was at its most impressive. Immigration of the Medes and the Persians Small groups of nomadic, horse-riding peoples speaking Indo-European languages began moving into the Iranian cultural area from Central Asia near the end of the second millennium B.C. Population pressures, overgrazing in their home area, and hostile neighbors may have prompted these migrations. Some of the groups settled in eastern Iran, but others, those who were to leave significant historical records, pushed farther west toward the Zagros Mountains. Three major groups are identifiablethe Scythians, the Medes (the Amadai or Mada), and the Persians (also known as the Parsua or Parsa). The Scythians established themselves in the northern Zagros Mountains and clung to a seminomadic existence in which raiding was the chief form of economic enterprise. The Medes settled over a huge area, reaching as far as modern Tabriz in the north and Esfahan in the south. They had their capital at Ecbatana (present-day Hamadan) and annually paid tribute to the Assyrians. The Persians were established in three areas: to the south of Lake Urmia (the tradional name, also cited as Lake Orumiyeh, to which it has reverted after being called Lake Rezaiyeh under the Pahlavis), on the northern border of the kingdom of the Elamites; and in the environs of modern Shiraz, which would be their eventual settling place and to which they would give the name Parsa (what is roughly present-day Fars Province). During the seventh century B.C., the Persians were led by Hakamanish (Achaemenes, in Greek), ancestor of the Achaemenid dynasty. A descendant, Cyrus II (also known as Cyrus the Great or Cyrus the Elder), led the combined forces of the Medes and the Persians to establish the most extensive empire known in the ancient world. By 546 B.C., Cyrus had defeated Croesus*, the Lydian king of fabled wealth, and had secured control of the Aegean coast of Asia Minor, Armenia, and the  Greek colonies  along the Levant. Moving east, he took Parthia (land of the Arsacids, not to be confused with Parsa, which was to the southwest), Chorasmis, and Bactria. He besieged and captured Babylon in 539 and released the Jews who had been held captive there, thus earning his immortalization in the Book of Isaiah. When he died in 529**, Cyruss kingdom extended as far east as the Hindu Kush in present-day Afghanistan. His successors were less successful. Cyruss unstable son, Cambyses II, conquered Egypt but later committed suicide during a revolt led by a priest, Gaumata, who usurped the throne until overthrown in 522 by a member of a lateral branch of the Achaemenid family, Darius I (also known as Darayarahush or Darius the Great). Darius attacked the Greek mainland, which had supported rebellious Greek colonies under his aegis, but as a result of his defeat at the  Battle of Marathon in 490  was forced to retract the limits of the empire to  Asia Minor. The Achaemenids thereafter consolidated areas firmly under their control. It was Cyrus and Darius who, by sound and farsighted administrative planning, brilliant military maneuvering, and a humanistic worldview, established the greatness of the Achaemenids and in less than thirty years raised them from an obscure tribe to a world power. The quality of the Achaemenids as rulers began to disintegrate, however, after the death of Darius in 486. His son and successor, Xerxes, was chiefly occupied with suppressing revolts in Egypt and Babylonia. He also attempted to conquer the Greek Peloponnesus, but encouraged by a victory at Thermopylae, he overextended his forces and suffered overwhelming defeats at Salamis and Plataea. By the time his successor, Artaxerxes I, died in 424, the imperial court was beset by factionalism among the lateral family branches, a condition that persisted until the death in 330 of the last of the Achaemenids, Darius III, at the hands of his own subjects. The Achaemenids were enlightened despots who allowed a certain amount of regional autonomy in the form of the satrapy system. A satrapy was an administrative unit, usually organized on a geographical basis. A satrap (governor) administered the region, a general supervised military recruitment and ensured order, and a state secretary kept official records. The general and the state secretary reported directly to the central government. The twenty satrapies were linked by a 2,500-kilometer highway, the most impressive stretch being the  royal road  from Susa to Sardis, built by command of Darius. Relays of mounted couriers could reach the most remote areas in fifteen days. Despite the relative local independence afforded by the satrapy system, however, royal inspectors, the eyes and ears of the king, toured the empire and reported on local conditions, and the king maintained a personal bodyguard of 10,000 men, called the Immortals. The language in greatest use in the empire was Aramaic. Old Persian was the official language of the empire but was used only for inscriptions and royal proclamations. Darius revolutionized the economy by placing it on a silver and gold coinage system. Trade was extensive, and under the  Achaemenids  there was an efficient infrastructure that facilitated the exchange of commodities among the far reaches of the empire. As a result of this commercial activity, Persian words for typical items of trade became prevalent throughout the  Middle East  and eventually entered the English language; examples are, bazaar, shawl, sash, turquoise, tiara, orange, lemon, melon, peach, spinach, and asparagus. Trade was one of the empires main sources of revenue, along with agriculture and tribute. Other accomplishments of Dariuss reign included codification of the data, a universal legal system upon which much of later Iranian law would be based, and construction of a new capital at Persepolis, where vassal states would offer their yearly tribute at the festival celebrating the spring equinox. In its art and architecture, Persepolis reflected Dariuss percept ion of himself as the leader of conglomerates of people to whom he had given a new and single identity. The Achaemenid art and architecture found there is at once distinctive and also highly eclectic. The Achaemenids took the art forms and the cultural and religious traditions of many of the ancient Middle Eastern peoples and combined them into a single form. This Achaemenid artistic style is evident in the iconography of Persepolis, which celebrates the king and the office of the monarch. Envisioning a new world empire based on a fusion of Greek and Iranian culture and  ideals,  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹Alexander the Great  of Macedon accelerated the disintegration of the Achaemenid Empire. He was first accepted as leader by the fractious Greeks in 336 B.C. and by 334 had advanced to Asia Minor, an Iranian satrapy. In quick  succession,  he took Egypt, Babylonia, and then, over the course of two years, the heart of the  Achaemenid EmpireSusa, Ecbatana, and Persepolisthe last of which he burned. Alexander married Roxana (Roshanak), the daughter of the most powerful of the Bactrian chiefs (Oxyartes, who revolted in present-day Tadzhikistan), and in 324 commanded his officers and 10,000 of his soldiers to marry Iranian women. The mass wedding, held at Susa, was a model of Alexanders desire to consummate the union of the Greek and Iranian peoples. These plans ended in 323 B.C., however, when Alexander was struck with fever and died in Babylon, leaving no heir. His empire was d ivided among four of his generals. Seleucus, one of these generals, who became ruler of Babylon in 312, gradually reconquered most of Iran. Under Seleucuss son, Antiochus I, many Greeks entered Iran, and Hellenistic motifs in art, architecture, and urban planning became prevalent. Although the Seleucids faced challenges from the  Ptolemies of Egypt  and from the growing power of Rome, the main threat came from the province of Fars (Partha to the Greeks). Arsaces (of the seminomadic Parni tribe), whose name was used by all subsequent Parthian kings, revolted against the Seleucid governor in 247 B.C. and established a dynasty, the Arsacids, or Parthians. During the second century, the Parthians were able to extend their rule to Bactria, Babylonia, Susiana, and Media, and, under Mithradates II (123-87 B.C.), Parthian conquests stretched from India to Armenia. After the victories of Mithradates II, the Parthians began to claim descent from both the Greeks and the Achaemenids. They spoke a language similar to that of the Achaemenids, used the Pahlavi script, and established an administrative system based on Achaemenid precedents. Meanwhile, Ardeshir, son of the priest Papak, who claimed descent from the legendary hero Sasan, had become the Parthian governor in the Achaemenid home province of Persis (Fars). In A.D. 224 he overthrew the last Parthian king and established the Sassanid dynasty, which was to last 400 years. The Sassanids established an empire roughly within the frontiers achieved by the Achaemenids  [c, 550-330 B.C.;  with the capital at Ctesiphon. The Sassanids consciously sought to resuscitate Iranian traditions and to obliterate Greek cultural influence. Their rule was characterized by considerable centralization, ambitious urban planning, agricultural development, and technological improvements. Sassanid rulers adopted the title of shahanshah (king of kings), as sovereigns over numerous petty rulers, known as  shahrdars. Historians believe that society was divided into four classes: the priests, warriors, secretaries, and commoners. The royal princes, petty rulers, great landlords, and priests together constituted a privileged stratum, and the social system appears to have been fairly rigid. Sassanid rule and the system of social stratification were reinforced by Zoroastrianism, which became the state religion. The Zoroastrian priesthood became immensely powerful. The head of the priestly class, the  mobadan  mobad, along with the military commander, the  eran  spahbod, and the head of the bureaucracy, were among the great men of the state. Rome, with its capital at  Constantinople, had replaced Greece as Irans principal Western enemy, and hostilities between the two empires were frequent. Shahpur I (241-72), son and successor of Ardeshir, waged successful campaigns against the Romans and in 260 even took the emperor Valerian prisoner. Chosroes I (531-79), also known as Anushirvan the Just, is the most celebrated of the Sassanid rulers. He reformed the tax system and reorganized the army and the bureaucracy, tying the army more closely to the central government than to local lords. His reign witnessed the rise of the  dihqans  (literally, village lords), the petty landholding nobility who were the backbone of later Sassanid provincial administration and the tax collection system. Chosroes was a great builder, embellishing his capital, founding new towns, and constructing new buildings. Under his auspices, too, many books were brought from India and translated into Pahlavi. Some of these later found their way into the literature of the Islamic world. The reign of Chosroes II (591-628) was characterized by the wasteful splendor and lavishness of the court. Toward the end of his  reign  Chosroes IIs power declined. In renewed fighting with the Byzantines, he enjoyed initial successes, captured Damascus, and seized the Holy Cross in Jerusalem. But counterattacks by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius brought enemy forces deep into Sassanid territory. Years of warfare exhausted both the Byzantines and the Iranians. The later Sassanids were further weakened by economic decline, heavy taxation, religious unrest, rigid social stratification, the increasing power of the provincial landholders, and a rapid turnover of rulers. These factors facilitated the Arab invasion in the seventh century. Data as of December 1987Source: Library of Congress Country Studies Corrections *Jona Lendering  points out that a 547/546 date for the fall of Croesus is based on the  Nabonidus Chronicle  whose reading is uncertain. Rather than  Croesus  it may have been the ruler of Uratu. Lendering says the fall of Lydia should be listed as the 540s. **He also advises that cuneiform sources start to mention Cambyses as sole ruler in August 530, so the date of his death the following year is wrong.

Short-Term and Long-Term Post-MBA Goals Personal Statement

Short-Term and Long-Term Post-MBA Goals - Personal Statement Example   I set my long term goal to become such a mayor-a leader of change, devoting myself in refocusing a service government which fulfills its responsibilities on economic regulation, market supervision, social management and public welfare based on service. Furthermore, I aspire to bridge my city from landlocked West China to the global stage. To get prepared for such a vision, I set my short-term goal to become a strategist, stepping up to the senior executive assistant after completing my MBA. I will serve as the chief strategic officer in my hometown and a strategic partner to the mayor, creating, communicating, executing, and sustaining the city's strategic initiatives. For me, the strategy is more than forging new city developments, working relationships, and synergies across government functions; it also involves establishing greater transparency and accountability. The Chinese government thirsts for a new generation of government... My step up into government requires further preparation to learn to balance my business philosophy with my government mission. In this regard, Columbia Business School serves as the best venue to achieve both as it offers holistic education. I admire the educational institution's innovative approach to learning because I believe that the latter should evolve in order to accommodate the emerging needs of students and the international business arena. By becoming a venue for active learning, entrepreneurial training, and bridging research and practice, I believe that Columbia Business School will equip me with the necessary knowledge and skills which will enable me to attain both my short term and long term goals. T

Art21 Blog Post Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Art21 Blog Post - Essay Example She uses her painting to educate others on gender and social, political condition in her country. She plots her work in advance and takes long in her paintings making sure that they are produced to perfection. She also includes different characters in her paintings based on materials and color. Viewers should learn various principles from her line of work. Foremost, she does not take advantage of her job to strive economically but instead has an emotional connection to her paintings. She takes her time while preparing paintings since there are hidden messages in her paintings. She also promotes American cultural history through her paintings on American folk-art traditions Viewers can easily recognize the artist due to her work. Information can be gathered from her painting where she has been featured in the power category of artists. She uses her work to provide knowledge and increase awareness to her viewers. She claims that one has to let the portraits come up automatically without forcing anything. Consequently, her work has been featured in various museums in the U.S providing her viewers with breathtaking scenes in her

Arguments For And Against National Minimum Wage

Arguments For And Against National Minimum Wage Supply of labour is elastic and can be moved across the region at the same wage. When minimum wage goes down firms can recruit more labour but as seen in below chart when its go up, it move from E1 to E2. That means at the set new minimum wage firms can only afford E2 number of labours. In UK, demand of skilled labour and supply of skilled labour does not reach equilibrium. Skilled labour from European Countries has been migrated in the UK to fill the gap in between. Over the past couple of decades migrated skilled labours supply increased which result in unemployment. Source: LPC estimates based on ASHE with supplementary information, low-pay weights, UK, April 2006 To get the skilled workforce in action, government has to decide a minimum wage at which they are happy to migrate and work in the UK. As UK is short of skilled labour, government decided fair minimum wage rate which keeps changes every year and increased by some percentages, to get the skilled labour motivated and provide them with the good intensives. Source: http://www.guidance-research.org/future-trends/logistics/info/printAll?lang=en, 25th September 2010 If demand of labour is relatively inelastic as per the above diagram then reduction in employment is less than if demand for labour in terms of employers is elasticity in accordance with the changes in wage level. NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE In UK national minimum wage set  £ 3.60 in 1999. This law has been aim to remove poverty in long term as a result of that we can see from a graph below, constant growth in the National Minimum Wage. Source: http://www.poverty.org.uk/01/index.shtml, 22nd September 2010 ARGUMENTS FOR THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE Arguments in favour of National Minimum Wage suggest that it may have a more ambiguous effect on employment. Dolado et al (1996) Social Arguments: Government Evidence suggests that the minimum wage has had a small positive impact on public sector finances. Which means more jobs, result in increase employment in various parts like full time, part time and self employed. As it has positive impact on public sector more jobs in full time and part time can be seen in the below table. Source: http://www.guidance-research.org/future-trends/education/printAll?lang=en, 25th September 2010 If the firm is paying National Minimum Wage then it has an incentive to raise productivity of employees. This result in investment rise in personnel. Social injustice and unequal pay distribution among the society is the key reason of the poverty, in order to equally divide income across the society. As income increases, the government gets more income tax and national insurance so that it can spend it for its expenditures. The better trained are the workforce, the higher the reward for everyone. Economic Arguments: To 1.5 million jobs benefited in October 2001 through increase in NMW which as a result increase the aggregate wage bill by upto 0.11%. The following year nearly 1 million people in fewer jobs are benefited. Actually the solid increase in 2001 is supported by small increase in previous year 2000 and another small increase in following year 2002. Over 90,000 jobs secured by 18-21 year olds in October 2001 and labour market is slightly relieve in following couple of years. Below chart shows % of jobs paying at or below national minimum wage and size of the firm. Source: LPC estimates based on ASHE with supplementary information, low-pay weights, UK, April 2006 ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE NATIONAL MINIMUM WAGE Arguments against the National Minimum Wage rely on a neoclassical framework. Card Krueger (1995) Social Arguments: For certain industries, increase in National Minimum Wage NMW means increase in marginal cost so they try to redundant employees and cut the hours of existing employees which results in increase number of unemployed. The higher the national minimum wage is marginal cost for hiring new employee considerably more. Another issue is Pay-leap frogging, mean expert workers in the field command higher wages in order to maintain the difference between their wages and national minimum wage. Cost of living varies from region to region, for example renting 3 bedroom house in London wont cost you same as renting it in outside London. And NMW is set the same across the UK. So cost of living in London is higher and still they are getting paid similar NMW as other parts of the country. In the time of recession company go for recruiting experienced workers rather than recruiting fresher, because fresher requires training and firms try to cut such costs by recruiting experienced workers. Majority firms subject to particular region and if the employees are not happy with their wages then they just move on. According to the economist, High benefits and low pay leads to a culture where people manipulate the system and stay on benefits. As minimum wage increase by  £0.13, many forms choose to have office in the UK and set up manufacturing plant in some other country like Bangladesh or import directly from china. The minimum wage is still less than one can get through the benefits. Everything ends with the consumer and he doesnt have anything to spend then everyone is going in loss. Millions of potential jobs dont exist because of government rules which also includes minimum wage. Get rid of majority of them and as a result, firms start hiring people like anything and the problem of unemployment would go away. Minimum wage is equal for everyone, which means unskilled labour worth of  £2.00 an hour must be paid  £5.93, same as the skilled labour who are worth it. There was a famous example a few months ago in the US. A teacher was complaining about being paid too little but emphasized that she was a teacher for the children and not for the wage. Well, you cant have it both ways. Either you do it for the love of it, or you do it for the wage. When you know the wage is low, you can always choose a different career. Economic Arguments: In 2004, 520 companies were surveyed which shows result that the NMW increase has considerable effect in terms of costs and the most harm done in large firms such as 5 hours cut a week, it means 40 hours full time employee has to work 35 hours a week. As per new minimum wage, working 37.5 hours a week gets you  £11563.50/ year which is after Tax and NI receivable around  £9903.02, which is not good enough to live a standard life. CONCLUSION After discussing arguments in favour and against the national minimum wage, from the social point of view increase in NMW is necessary; for living fairly standard life. The life style here in London and in Bangladesh cannot be compared because the market is totally different here. Thats from the societys point of view but from the business point of view; it is investment in people at the end of the day which motivates labour and increasing the productivity which helps firms to earn more profit. With this conclusion I am in favour of increase in the national minimum wage. REFERENCES: BOOKS Bazen, S. (2000), the impact of regulation of low wages on inequality and Labour market adjustment Lloyd, C., Mason, G., Mayhew, K. (2008) Low wage work in the UK Russell Sage Foundation Manning, A. (2003), Monopsony in Motion Blais, A., Cousineau, J. and McRoberts, K (1989) The determinants of Minimum wage rates, Public Choice Boeri, t. and Burda, M. (2009), Preferences for Collective vs. Individualized Wage Setting, The Economic Journal, forthcoming. Silbermann, J. and Durden, G. (1976) Determinining Legislative Preferences On the Minimum Wage: An Economic Approach, Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 84(2), pp. 217-229. ONLINE http://ivythesis.typepad.com/term_paper_topics/2009/06/the-impact-of-national-minimum-wage-on-uk-labor-market-and-uk-economy.html, 20th September 2010 http://www.suffolkobservatory.info/sda_pdf/workforcedeprivation.asp, 21st September 2010 http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/audio/2010/oct/01/focus-podcast-minimum-wage-audio, 21st September 2010 http://www.lowpayunit.org.uk/minwage/campaign.shtml, 22nd September 2010 http://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/budgeting/minimum-wage.htm/printable, 22nd September 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6211250.stm?lsm, 23rd September 2010 http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=174645page=3, 23rd September 2010 PART B TREND EXTRAPOLATION Extrapolation can be defined as to conclude the future from the past history, assuming that the technological change is in steady stream and will continue now. Statistical Cure Fitting As name suggests, this method using statistics data for forecasting, such as Indianapolis 500 mile race data as per shown in the below graph: The beginning of the World War 1 Indy race cars have exponentially increased to get pole positions. In the graph above, two technological innovations and ideas are shown quite clearly in the data. One of them cars out of the two was a rear-engine car. The first car of this sort appeared firstly in 1961. The qualifying speeds for Indy race cars were about 150mph which a hard target to achieve. In 1964 a rear-engine car won a pole position for the first time attaining close to 159mph. Limit Analysis All growth has some kind of limitation whether it is recognised or unrecognised. Sooner or later, projections must replicate the improvements that may even get close to the limit but mustnt exceed the limit. The trend of lower temperature is inadequate, of course by an absolute zero. For example, a movement of growing energy conversion efficiency cant exceed to 100%. The trend is presented in the below chart: The trend line looks and analysis aspects of the larger field of development. The trend line attempts to extend the boundaries of the data points beyond their regions in the timeframe. For Example is recently US and China relation, which looks in curve graph like below: Source: http://www.sublimeoblivion.com/2010/08/18/underestimating-china/, 25th September 2010 Some common types of trend: Constant trends  are those where there is no net increase or decrease. Polynomial trends  are those best modeled by a polynomial equation. They may be second-order (quadratic) equations of the formy  =  ax2  +  bx  +  c, resulting in a parabolic shape: Consensus Methods The method is a set of values for significant familys abilities to pay for colleges. From last couple of years, trend line shows decrease in variance in need analysis. The participating corporation believe that the agreed opinion approach, when applied in a consistent manner, serves to decrease or reduce the indifferent results that threaten the long-lasting tradition of awarding help on the basis of need. The desire and the need to serve for the greater good, rather than serve individual academic or institutional needs and capabilities have required some areas to be compromised, but 568 Group strongly believes, the consequential methodology remains true to both the institutional and professional principles and aspects that underlies its co-operative efforts. For example, student wish to study in university, university go through the savings through the applicants family. Lets say the university fee per year is  £30,000 and familys income per year is  £ 50,000. In which parents have to sign the statement that they are going to fund for their childs accommodation, fees, travel and other required expenses. Family need to demonstrate their household expenditure to show that they can spare  £ 30,000 each year plus other expenses comes through the education loan or scholarship from university. In total of all have to be reached  £30,000 a year plus other expenses like travel. Through simple diagram below I can understand consensus method better way.

Lead and Manage a Team Within a Health and Social Care Setting

The features of effective team performance are set out in Brian Tuckman’s phases of team development theory, ‘Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing. ’ This outlines the phases that a team will go through in order to become effective and reach maturity. At the ‘Forming’ stage of team development individual roles and responsibilities are unclear and each member of the team is concerned to avoid conflict with each other. From this point the team will go through the ‘Storming’ phase which is when they start to conflict as individuals put forward ideas which will be challenged by others in a bid to gain power and position over others. After this the ‘Norming’ phase follows and it is at this point that individual roles are defined and accepted and ground rules and conduct are agreed. After each of these stages the team then reaches the ‘Performing’ stage which is where they are all working towards the same shared goal. This theory shows that for all teams to be effective each individual needs to be clear on their role, responsibilities and shared end goal. This is achieved through positive leadership, utilising the skills of the team and addressing weaknesses to make the team more effective. The challenges experienced by developing teams are often due to organisational change. Staff may be resistant to change such as moving to join a new team or working with people they do not know. A health and social care organisation needs to identify the skills and knowledge that are required for the service plan and recruit staff according to this to ensure that the diversity and skill mix needed is met to fulfil the service outcome. Newly appointed staff should complete an induction that ensures they understand and comply with the organisations values and objectives and their role and support systems should be clarified as quickly as possible to ensure they can contribute as quickly and effectively as possible to the team. An established team experiences different challenges to a developing team. They may have more difficulty maintaining staff enthusiasm and momentum. To overcome these challenges the organisation needs to be aware of changes to workload and conflict between individuals to resolve issues quickly before they impact on other staff and then service users. Also feedback should be given to staff in order for them to maintain or improve performance levels and recognition should be expressed for good work to maintain a high level of staff morale. Once momentum is built then it is easier to maintain and helps staff to remain enthusiastic and continue o communicate and trust their colleagues and manage their time efficiently and keeps them orientated to the important work tasks. Challenges to effective team performance can be overcome by the organisation being clear about the values and objectives in relation to staff and service users and communicating these and the time frame in which these are expected to be achieved. Support should be given to those who are capable of sharing the organisations objectives so they can become committed to ensuring that the service outcomes are met. If this is not done then it can be difficult to maintain effective team working. Dawes and Handscomb performed a review on team leadership in 2005 and suggested that these difficulties stemmed from competing professional interests. In different settings they reviewed the relationship between team working and care outcomes and it was found that within a long term care setting the care outcomes required effective team working to be met. It is considered that management styles can be divided into three categories. * Autocratic- characterised by individual control over all decisions and little input from group members. Paternalistic- a type of fatherly managerial style typically employed by dominant males where their organizational power is used to control and protect subordinate staff that are expected to be loyal and obedient. * Democratic- a style in which members of the group take a more participative role in the decision making process. A leader can be anyone who has the ability to influence other members of a team. It is considered that a manager and a leader are different but they are complementary to tasks being carried out. Management styles will change to reflect the stage of development the workforce’s stage of development. When starting a new team a manager will have to be clear about setting goals, establishing rules and assigning responsibility and then taking on the more troublesome tasks of organising resources, motivating and creating a cooperative team. As the team develops then roles can be delegated and appropriate support provided. Doing this enables the team to become more confident and the style of management and leadership changes so team members begin to take on more leadership functions. The primary focus of a leader is to develop and maintain trust between the service user and the staff. The service user will look at the staff to establish with them character and competence. If these two characteristics are met then this develops trust with the service user. Character relates to motive and intent, whether the staff are working towards the same objectives. Competence relates to skills and results, whether the staff are able to care for the service user and meet the objective set by the organisation. Staff that are registered with professional bodies have accountability and are answerable for their actions. They are accountable by law for meeting the standards and objectives that are set out for them. Even when staff are working towards a common goal, conflict can still arise. This can be due to different personalities, communication styles, sense of priorities and changes to workload. Trying to prevent conflict is best practice so a manager should try to build an environment that is supportive, positive and stable to try and reduce the likelihood of conflict developing. If conflict does develop then a manager should try to: * Address it at the earliest opportunity. * Keep the discussions positive. Look at what can be done to resolve the conflict. * Encourage the team to focus on the problem, not the person. Encourage honest dialogue between the team, welcoming different points of view that do not create blame. Each individual should be allowed to voice their point of view and also listen to and respect each other’s views. * Ask each individual to accept ownership of their part of the problem. * Discuss a variety of options before settling on an agreement that is based on o bjective criteria that will resolve the conflict. Conflict does not always necessarily have to be a bad thing, as if it is dealt with constructively, can lead to increased productivity, development of new ideas and personal development of team members.

Research of the Tingunee Essay - 689 Words

Research of the Tingunee Meghan Shmunes Cultural Anthropology Professor Pappas June 9 2013 Shmunes 1 After receiving this grant, I cannot wait to go study the people and culture of Tingunee. Before I embark on this journey to the Tingunee of the lower Quebin river valley though, there are some important things I must make sure I do first. There has been no known visitors to Tingunee or any research conducted on their culture, so I will need to take extra precaution with the basic stages I need to complete. Upon my return, I will hope to be the first person to have a basic understanding of the Tingunee culture. Cultural anthropology is the study of people within a particular culture and†¦show more content†¦I plan to answer questions about subjects including marriage, local government, gender roles, religion/ religious beliefs; more specifically the role females play. I will be figuring these questions out by collecting data within the community and to do so properly, I will need to have an emic approach. An emic approach is how the Tingunee people think, perceive other people, how they behave, and how they imagine and explain things. I decided to take the emic approach over the etic approach because the etic approach would involve me emphasizing what I think is important about a culture after interpreting it and because the Tingunee people have not been studied before, I want other people to know their culture and thought processes without including my opinions. An emic approach will allow me to be a part of the community while taking in information without bias. After being amerc ed in the community with my emic approach, I will be able to determine what distinct cultural characteristics separate this culture from the rest. I plan on interviewing individual people, both male and female, to get different perspectives on everyday life within the tribe and the roles each individual plays in the community. Being a female myself will have advantages when talking to Shmunes 3 the females of the Tingunee tribe. I hope to