Functional Foods Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Functional Foods - Essay Example The most important issue about the functional foods is the disturbance they cause in the natural mineral balance of the food products. Nature has created the consumable food products in a balanced form and no single mineral or vitamin exists in the excessive form in ordinary food materials. However, when certain vitamins and minerals are added to these food products, the natural balance is disturbed which consequently changes the nutrition value of the food. As the nutrition value of the food product is changed the intake of such foods must also be varied accordingly. Unfortunately, FDA does not put any restriction regarding the addition of nutrients to food materials. Functional foods are not treated with drugs and they can be marketed as foods without any prior permission from FDA. The only restriction that FDA puts on the manufacturers of these functional foods is regarding their advertisement and labeling; the manufacturers are required to provide all the nutrients labeled on the packing in correct proportions. Since the consumers are not aware of the use of multivitamins and additional minerals in their diet, the increasing trend of using functional foods can be harmful to the health of consumers. Some of the physicians, trainers, and physiotherapists are also unaware of the use of dietary supplements and they recommend these products to athletes and other consumers for enhancing body performance and energy levels; no such effect of these products has been observed in healthy adults. Each supplementary mineral and vitamin has specific application in human body and additional amount of these products are required in specific scenarios. Therefore the unchecked and random use of functional foods can deteriorate human health and greater amounts of these minerals could result in toxic depositions in human body. Unfortunately mineral supplements and multi vitamins are added in ordinary and everyday use foods and consumers are forced to buy and use them, thus a check and regulatory mechanism is r equired in order to ensure safe use of functional foods and dietary supplements (Thompson and Manore 187). The United States Pharmacopeial Convention is a nonprofit organization

The Constitution and the U.S. Government branches Assignment

The Constitution and the U.S. Government branches - Assignment Example To gain efficiency in subsequence, the US Constitution has significantly divided the federal government into three branches i.e. Legislative Branch, Executive Branch and Judiciary Branch (Trethan, 2013). Article 1 of the US constitution describes its Legislative Branch, which includes two main bodies – namely ‘House of Representatives’ and ‘Senate’, collectively known as Congress. These bodies are vested with the authority to frame laws for the nation. Article 2, correspondingly describes the Executive Branch, which is governed by the US President. The President of the nation executes the federal laws as well as makes necessary recommendation regarding new laws (Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Services, 2014). Additionally, in accordance to this branch, the President directs the national defense as well as formulates foreign policies and endures the various ceremonial duties. The third constitutional branch, as mentioned under the US Constitution is the Judicial Branch. Article 3 of the constitution herewith covers the Judicial Branch, which is headed by the US Supreme Court. In this regard, the key power of this branch is to un derstand and evaluate the entire Constitution, appraise laws and make decisions relevant to various cases that are engaged with the rights of the states (Mount,

Strategic Management Report For The Campbell Soup Company Marketing Essay

Strategic Management Report For The Campbell Soup Company Marketing Essay 1.0 Introduction The report discusses the application of strategic process and stages such as strategic analysis; strategic formulation, and strategic implementation in the food processing industry. The company chosen is Campbell Soup Company. 2.0 The Campbell Soup Company Profile Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high quality, branded convenience food products. The company profile and its position within food processing industry are discussed at appendix 1. 3.0- Strategic Analysis External Analysis- Scanning Competitive Environment Conducting an external analysis to scan the company competitive environment which focused on predicting the dynamics of competitors actions, responses and intention, can help a business in understanding the dynamics of its industries and markets in order to compete effectively with its rivals in the marketplace. (Henry, 2008) 3.1.0-Porter 5 Forces Model Porters Five Basic Competitive Forces (1996) analysis which deals with microenvironment and related to the competitiveness of an industry has been conducted to find out five featured competitiveness existing in food processing industry. The factors that are considered in this model are according to the analysis of The Campbell Soup Company. Figure 1. Porters 5 Forces http://student.dcu.ie/~slejhad2/pics/porter.jpg 3.1.1-Competitive Rivalry within Food Processing Industry The rivalry among companies in the food processing industry is high and intense. These food processing companies are competing on price, quality, taste, health factors, product innovation, and product benefits (The Food Processing Industry 2006). Campbells major rivals are General Millis Progresso, Heinz and Kraft Foods. As a multinational food processing company, Campbells faces an extremely competitive market in internationally, nationally and locally due to the similarities between each soup producer and wider selection of products provided by other food processing company. (Ellison, Sarah 2003) On the other hand, various types of generic soup brands in the existing market which offer products in lower price have raised the competitive pressure. However, the Campbells high quality of soup products and the ability to keep low production costs weaken the rivalry of the generic soup brands. For instance, Campbells price their soup products only 20 to 25% higher than generic brands while maintaining a level high quality. Campbells would have to continue developing superior healthy food to distinguish itself from Progresso and smaller soup maker companies. 3.1.2 Threat of New Entrants The threat of entry depends on the presence of entry barriers and the presence of new entrants to a food processing industry typically bring to it new capacity and the want to gain market share. (Wheelen Hunger J.D 2007) Campbells major rival- Kraft foods and General Mills, create high entry barriers in food processing industry through their high levels of advertising and promotion. Besides, the intense competition in the food processing industry makes it hard to access in the market. Smaller food processing companies often have difficulty obtaining supermarket shelf space for their products as large retailers charge for space on their shelves and give priority to the established companies who can pay for the advertising needed to generate high customer demand. According to Ghemawat Collis (2001), the economy is a major factor as if the company wants to be a part in this food processing industry it must be able to face high costs for strong competition. Moreover, the slow market growth rate for the food processing industry causes acquisition between companies, resulted the barriers to entry are high with so many food processing companies and little to zero capacity remaining for any more companies. 3.1.3-The Threat of Substitutes Products The rivalry from firms of other industries which offer substitute products is intense as they are producing, supplying and serving the same food products that the food processing companies are. For example, Dunkin Donuts is in the foodservice industry and Campbell Soup Company is in the food processing industry, yet Dunkin Donuts serves soup and Campbell Soup sells soup. Consumers can still go to Dunkin Donuts and acquire the similar soups that Campbell sells. (Wall Street Journal 2003) 3.1.4- Bargaining power of buyers Consumers affect the food processing industry through their ability to force down prices, bargain for higher products quality and services, and play competitors against each other. The bargaining power of buyers is high as there are huge tendency of new entrance with new and variety of products. Besides, consumers prefer choosing products which offer lower prices. For example, Campbells soup products price is relatively 20 to 25% higher than generic brands in grocery stores, hence some consumers would choose generic brand products in the market rather than Campbells. Besides, the profitability obtained by the company is also determined by consumers. Food processing companies would be forced to lower prices if consumers think that the prices are too expensive as consumers tend to stop buying their products or switch to supplements. 3.1.5- Bargaining power of suppliers Suppliers can affect the food processing industry through their ability to raise prices or reduce the quality of purchased goods and services. In case quality products the suppliers face an important factor. Due to the inflation the overall price of materials has been significantly increased. Campbell has always purchased high quality ingredients produced from local farmers. In 2006, Campbell launched Campbells Supplier Diversity Program to grow its diverse supplier base and to ensure that the supplier base better reflects the markets served. In 2007 the Campbells goal to spend with diverse suppliers was $121 million, but the actual spend with diverse suppliers was $129 million. (Campbells CSR 2008) So for Campbells, there is a cost exists to get the reliable supplier. There is a tendency the world nowadays makes a backward integration and wants to minimize the cost of suppliers. 3.2.0- Swot Analysis A swot analysis allows the Campbell Soup Company to determine the extent of the strategic fit between its capabilities and the needs of its external environment. According to Henry(2008), the company can seek to match its strengths and weaknesses to the opportunities and treats it faces in current competitive food processing industry. The Campbells products portfolio includes soups, sauces, biscuits and chocolates and has a strong research function with high capabilities in new products development. 3.2.1-Internal Analysis-Strengths Innovative Campbell has always applied the spirit of innovation in every aspect of its business. At Campbells manufacturing plants in Napoleon, Ohio, and Paris, Texas, an innovative method called overland flow is used to treat wastewater. In terms of products introduction, the company has been consistently quick to come up with new products in the market. For example, the first portable soup product, Soup at Hand, the new microwaveable products such as Chunky and Select. Besides, Campbell frequent updates the products appearance with more contemporary design and new photography. Its popular gravity fed shelving system have been installed at 24,000 retailers nationally and credited for rejuvenating the soup aisle, expanding the category and vastly improving the shopping experience. Campbell is innovative to gauge consumer satisfaction and expectation. (Campbells Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2008) 3.2.2-Weaknesses Declining Market Share The Campbells market share in soup drop from 60% in 2007 to 49% as of October 2009. This is due to more and more private labels continue to enter the market by providing quality products in lower price. Some consumers have switched to try private labels and resulted private labels have gained 11%of the market share. On the other hand, Campbell has also faced stiff competition from brands such as General Mills Progresso and Nestle. (Campbell Soup Co Form 10-Q Quartery Report 2010) 3.2.3-External Analysis-Opportunities Demand for Wellness Products In recent years, the trend towards being more health-conscious has arisen from two main consumer groups. The younger generations currently focus more on low calorie content and on the go meals. For the more mature age group, their diets require health-consciousness in terms of limiting their sodium intake due to increased risk of ailments. Campbells Soups core product categories, notably soup and bakery products, are widely perceived as healthy and are compatible with the further development of health-oriented products, such as the existing and expanding line of Select Harvest and Healthy Request soups. In conjunction with the product improvement, Campbell has announced to expand its industry-leading sodium reduction program and to reduce the sodium content in 23 of its condensed soups by up to 45 percent in fiscal 2011.(Campbell Growth Plans for U.S 2010) 3.2.4-Threats Intense Competition Campbells main profitable core soup category has been facing intense competition and also been losing market share to its strong competitors, particularly General Mills Progresso and private label brands produced by companies such as Wal-Mart. Moreover, Campbells other segments have not produced consistent profits. According to Wolpert (2002), shifting consumer habits and preferences indicate the need to constantly innovate their products and minimize costs, in order to retain loyal consumers and keep up with the fast-changing consumer environment Extensive Laws The company is governed by a multitude of local and international laws and regulations with regards to food safety and environmental standards. For instance, in accordance with the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, Campbells food products must be inspected before they can be marketed. The company faces the risk of fines, injunctions, recalls or asset seizures, and criminal sanctions if it violates these laws and regulations. ( Campbells CSR 2008) 3.3.0- Benchmarking Campbell understands the importance of using benchmarking to evaluate performance. Hence, the company analyzed few top companies which mainly involved in food and beverage processing manufacturing company in a few aspects such as sustainability, supply chain, consumers, community and workplace. Moreover, Campbell have also highlighted the primary ways that companies are implementing their goals as well as select initiatives and key past achievements. In terms of community, Campbells have chosen to focus on nutritional and environmental programs by partnering with nonprofit organizations, universities and Think Tanks to conduct RD for new products. Besides, it also partnered with environmental experts to develop innovative solutions to protect the environment. For instance, Nestle has been launching malnutrition and obesity programs targeting children and adolescents of lower-income families while General Mills has been contributing 5% of pretax profits to charitable causes. The Campbells benchmarked the best practices by promoting nutritional and hunger elimination programs. Besides, Campbells also promote micronutrient products to attend lower income families and develop environmental initiatives. (Campbells Annual Report 2009) In terms of workplace related programs, Nestle, Coca Cola, Pepsi.co, General Mills, have done excellent job. For instance, Pepsi CO has been providing job opportunities for people with disabilities while General Mills, the company has reduced lost-time injury rate by 25% over five years. Hence, Campbell benchmarked and developed workplace programs by focusing four key areas: Ensuring diversity of the workforce thereby bringing a broad range of talents and perspectives to the business Helping employees achieve both personal and professional development Ensuring the health and safety of employees both at home and at work Ensuring that employees have a fair work environment Campbells strived for an injury-free workplace through a strong health and safety program supported by high employee engagement. They train their employees to conduct their activities in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. (Campbells CSR 2008) 4.0 Strategy Formulation For Campbells to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in food processing industry, strategy formulation which derived from the objective and mission is undertaken. Porter (1980) argues that competitive strategy is about developing a defendable position in an industry which enables a firm to deal with the five competitive forces and thus generate a superior return on investment for the film. 4.1 Business Level Strategy-Differentiation To achieve superior value that is recognized by the consumer, Campbells needs to provide unique and superior value to the customers in terms of its products quality and value added up services. It is appropriate to relate differentiation strategy to the Campbells Soup Company as the companys goal is very straight forward, which is Together we will build the worlds most extraordinary food company by nourishing peoples lives everywhere, every day. Campbell has always focused on providing superior, healthy and nutrition food by expanding their icon brands in simple meals (especially soup). The Campbells latest plans are to enhance more than 60 percent of its condensed line with product improvements, further sodium reduction, more contemporary packaging, improved shelving systems and new marketing aimed at the simple meals category. ( Campbell Growth Plan 2010) Nowadays there are increasing numbers of consumers who are very concerned with nutritional values of foods they eat. The Campbells Soup Company which is having superior research abilities has been taking advantage of this avenue and further develops this product line. According to Douglas R. Conant, Campbells President and CEO, Campbell is going to fire up the important condensed soup business and step up the competitive posture of their ready-to-serve products. (Campbells 2009 annual report) The improvements and innovations of Campbells has made over the past several years has made Campbell outwit most of its rivals in the condensed soup category. Low-sodium products are pivotal to Campbells long term success as the majority of Campbells consumer base is  baby boomers. The majority of baby boomers diets are comprised of low sodium. A recent study shown that high cholesterol, attributed to high levels of sodium intake, is the number one diagnosed health condition for the baby boomer generation.  The condensed soups have one of the highest sodium contents of all processed foods in existing market. Therefore Campbells low-sodium products have differentiated themselves with many rivals. Besides sodium, Campbells also has to focus on other aspects such as MSG and low calories of its soups by hoping that these healthier offerings will help gain market share among younger, more health conscious consumers. (Campbell CSR Report 2008) Besides, Campbell understands that creating a quality product begins with quality ingredients. Campbell purchases most of the ingredients from domestic farmers in countries where they manufacture products and also obtain certain ingredients from carefully selected suppliers around the world. Any ingredient that does not meet the quality requirements will not be used in a Campbell product to ensure superior product quality. On the other hand, providing value-added services help Campbells to outwit its existing rivals. Campbell continually experiments with new programs to provide consumers with useful information on meal ideas, health and wellness, and other tips. For example, each day their Campbell Meal-mail program delivers nearly 500,000 recipes electronically to busy Americans who are hungry for convenient, great-tasting meal ideas that will please their families. Consumers can access the Campbells Kitchen website at any time to download recipe ideas that have been tested and approved by Campbells nutritionists. Consumers also have the opportunity to share their ideas and comments on recipes with one another on the Campbells Kitchen website. ( Campbellsoupcompany.com) It is suggested that the Campbell Soup Company to improve the flavour of its soup products to attract more demand. Besides, Campbell can try to create more contemporary design for its existing soup products instead of the familiar red and white colour design in order to stand out from various types of products in the market. 4.2 Corporate Level Strategy-Diversification The corporate level strategy of The Campbell Soup Company deals with three key issues: i) The firms overall orientation toward growth, stability, and retrenchment. ii) The market in which the company competes through its products and business units iii) The manner in which management coordinate activities and transfer resources and cultivates capabilities among product lines and business units The Campbells operates with four products divisions and has expanded its product to microwavable soups to make customers more convenient for preparing soup without container. (Campbells annual report 2009) Obviously, the Campbell Soup Company, which is a decentralized company, has been using a related diversification multiproduct strategy. Its strategy is to diversify its business to produce several products, and expanding its market share. Campbell used its engineering support and diversified production to support customers with convenient, good taste and quality food. To support its operating system, department such as Research Development (RD), product development, engineering systems, are required to produce high quality and stable operating system to avoid the unexpected shut down. Campbell has tried to use unrelated diversification strategy under the leadership of McGovern as Campbells CEO with the aim of rapidly expand product line to increase profits and revenue. Campbell has tried to acquire other firms to quickly gain access to new products and new markets. Instead of acquiring only food products, Campbell began to use the unrelated diversification strategy to acquire firms that it felt were positioned to capitalize on the consumers trend and also bought firms involved in all types of business. For example, the triangle Manufacturing Company, a fitness products maker, which is clearly unrelated to the firms core products. (Ireland, Hoskisson Michael 2006) A major reason for Campbells failure to generate financial economies while using the unrelated diversification strategy is that the firms approach to managing its core products divisions never changed. At the same time, corporate headquarters personnel didnt implement the strong financial controls necessary to efficiently manage an internal capital market. David Johnson who replaced McGovern decided that Campbell should not longer use the diversification strategy but to reduce the level of diversification by using related constrained strategy to create value through operational relatedness. Campbells related constrained diversification strategy involves transferring core competencies which lead to competitive advantage and start with value chain analysis to identify ability to transfer skills or expertise among similar value chains and on the hand, to exploit ability to transfer activities. Campbell should enhance more than 60 percent of its condensed line and be more committed to ac celerate the performance of their existing portfolio, most notably in U.S. soup, and continuing to lay the foundation for superior long-term growth. (Campbell Growth Plan 2010) 4.2.1 External Acquisitions and Partnerships Through value-creating external development, Campbells is able to increase its market presence throughout its product lines. For instance, Campbells Baking and Snacking segment is positioned to grow due to the companys recent acquisition of Ecce Panis, a manufacturer of artisan breads. This acquisition allows Campbells to enter into the thriving artisan bread market. With the ever growing foreign population in America, it is suggested that Campbells should consider products that have more of the ethnic background of these immigrants. The brand could quite possibly extend the depth of the line with consideration to the vast number of different tastes in the society today. 5.0- Strategy Implementation A clear mission statement helps in providing focus to an organization and is essential for effectively establishing objective and formulating strategies. (Haberberg and Rieple 2001) In order for the Campbell to proceed into a future where competition is highly competitive, they need to define who and what they truly are, their concerns, their philosophies, and what gives them the competitive advantage over their competitors. This must be clear throughout all areas and divisions, at all levels in the company, in order for the implementation of the mission statement to be successful.   The Campbells strategy implementation includes designing the organizations structure, allocating resources, developing information and decision process, and managing human resources, including such areas as the reward system, approaches to leadership, and staffing. According to Wheelen and Hunger (2007), the strategy implementation process includes the various management activities that are necessary to put strategy in motion, institute strategic controls that monitor progress, and ultimately achieve organizational goals. 5.1- Management Issue Restructuring In food processing industry one year is relatively indiscernible from the next from a macroeconomic point of view. Campbells corporate strategy and the companys management structure have undergone several restructuring since 1980. On April 28, 2008, the company announced a series of initiatives to improve operational efficiency and long-term profitability, including selling certain salty snack food brands and assets in Australia, closing certain production facilities in Australia and Canada, and streamlining the companys management structure. As a result of these initiatives, in 2008, the company recorded a restructuring charge of $175 millions. The charge consisted of a net loss on the sale of certain Australian salty snack food brands and assets, employee severance and benefit costs, including the estimated impact of curtailment and other pension charges, and property, plant and equipment impairment charges. The cost of restructuring activity is shown at Appendix 2 Workforce Diversification The Campbell strive to uphold their promise of Campbell Valuing People, People Valuing Campbell by providing employees with the resources required to do their jobs well; competitive compensation and benefits; the opportunity to learn; and grow through their work. At present, the Campbells Board of Directors consists of 14 independent members and one company executive, the CEO, Doug Conant. Board operations are managed by an independent, non-executive Chairman. The Board believes that diversity in the backgrounds and perspectives of their directors contributes to sound corporate governance. Currently, three of their directors are women, one director is from India and one director is African-American. The Campbells Board of Directors is shown at Appendix 3. The CEO believes that workforce diversity is essential to be a mainstay within the company overall strategic objectives. Hence, Campbells is committed to attract a diverse group of talented employees and providing all their associates with development opportunities and a culture in which they can flourish and provide their employees with career development and quality-of life enhancements that make Campbell a special place to work. Campbells diversity and inclusion strategy is focused on five specific goals: -Firmly establishing leadership support and accountability -Linking diversity and inclusion to performance management -Integrating diversity and inclusion into talent management -Building diversity and inclusion into business practices. -Educating and training to advance diversity and inclusion ( Campbell Annual report 2009) The directors receive annual fees equal to the median directors compensation paid by peer food and consumer products companies. Approximately 50 percent of each directors fee is paid in cash and 50 percent is paid in common stock. Director stock ownership requirements have existed at Campbell since 1993. Currently, the directors beneficially own more than 44 percent of the companys common stock. (Carlin, M Harris R 2008) Though the Campbells has successfully implemented workforce diversification strategy, it is recommended that the company offers stock options to their rank-and-file employees too. By offering employee stock options, workers are given the chance to buy shares in their company at a specified price. The grant or strike price, should be pegged to the value of the stock when it is offered to employees. Employees have the option of buying the stock at a set price then selling it after a period of time. Employee Engagement The Campbell believes that employees will feel most valued when they are fully informed, understand the companys business goals and plans and are invited to offer their feedback on a regular basis. In 2007 and 2008, Campbell was recognized by Gallup as one of the Best Places to Work in America. The company believes that its work environment has contributed to their relatively stable retention rate and their improved marketplace performance. (www.euroinvestor.co.uk) Campbell conducts annual employee survey to develop work group action plans, empower individual employees to improve the workplace and to strengthen the companys business practices. 5.2 Marketing Issues The Campbells understands that successful marketing implementation is affected by marketing variables. 5.2.1 Market Segment The companys 2009 financial reports segment their business into four key categories: US Soup, Sauces and Beverages, Baking and Snacking, International Soup, Sauces and Beverages, and North American Foodservice. With sales approximating $3.8 million, US Soup, Sauces and Beverages accounted for approximately half of the sales in FY 2009 and drove the bulk of profits for the company. Core brands like Campbells, V8, Swanson and Prego delivered a combined 4% growth through a combination of innovation, consumer trade downs, and improved distribution channels.( Appendix 2) 5.2.2 Marketing Strategies Product The Campbells positioning is providing healthy and nourishing products within the product line. The product line width come in many different options. This being said, the depth of the product line is in fact the largest. Each product comes in a multitude of different sizes and flavours. The brand offers adequate products for the consumers. In addition to the size and flavours, the packaging is well organized for that of single or multiple item purchasing. The packaging also achieves an accurate perception in the consumers mind. They use well known athletes to convey the message of health to the consumer. Price The pricing of the products within the brand name are consistent with that of the positioning. They provide the perception that to eat healthy the consumer should not have to pay more. The Campbells brand is typically priced at twenty cents above that of their major competitors. This is the act of swaying the consumers mind to the perception that Campbells is of a higher quality than the competitors. While operating in an elastic market, Campbells employs special event promotional pricing strategies in order to remain competitive. The company also offers discounted pricing on certain seasonal items and during holidays. In addition to these promotional strategies, they employ the odd even strategies to convey the message that their brand is that of higher quality. Distribution Campbells brand is distributed intensively throughout all geographic locations within the United States and many foreign countries. In the distribution process, Campbells deals with wholesalers and retailers thus creating the supply channel. This is a very profitable concept as long as the lines of communication remain opened. Catalog marketing is also another form of distribution that is employed. This is easily achieved due the fact that the shelf life of the products is long. The products are very easily purchased at any marketplace at any given region of the US. Promotion In using the most recent athletic figures in their advertisements, they are successful in maintaining their position of health. In the use of the retailers to help marketing, they are employing the cooperative advertising technique. This helps to advertise their products from numerous different angles. The effectiveness of the  marketing  strategies  employed by Campbells has made them recognized as the premium brand within their product lines. In comparison to the competition, Campbells focuses a great deal on interacting with the public with such efforts as sweepstakes and giveaways and also education. Their public relation efforts have ranked them as one of the most society conscious brands in the business. 6.0 Conclusion A strategic analysis is most applicable to strategic management at the business unit level of large multinational firm such as Campbell Soup Company. At the strategic analysis stage, internal and external environmental scanning by using Porters 5 forces model and Swot analysis are conducted. Besides, benchmarking is used to evaluate performances. Strategy formulation which derived from the Campbells objective and mission is undertaken to outline the business level and corporate level strategies. Strategy at business level deals with which market the company chooses to compete while strategy at the corporate level is more concerned with managing the portfolio of business. The final strategy implementation stage includes the management issues, staffing and marketing variables which can influence the profit margin of the company. ( 4498 words) Prepared by _______________ ( NG LIN JIA) List of References 1. Campbell Soup Company, About Us, online, retrieved 2 March 2010, http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com/about_us.asp 2. Henry, A 2008, Understanding Strategic Management, Oxford University Press, New York United States 3. Porter, M. E. (1996) What is Strategy,  Harvard Business Review, 74 (6):61-78 4. Food Processing Industry,2006, retrieved 6 March 2010, http://www.miti.gov.my/cms/documentstorage/com.tms.cms.document.Document_7674150a-c0a81573-2d952d95-c9439446/Chap%2019.pdf 5. Wheelen T.L, Hunger J.D, Concepts in Strategic Management and Business Policy, 2007, tenth edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, United States of America 6. Ghemawat, P., Collis, D., Pisano, G. and Rivkin, J. (2001) Strategy and the Business Landscape: Core Concepts, Upper S

The Strain of Mother-Daughter Relationships in Annie John Essay

The Strain of Mother-Daughter Relationships in Annie John Jamaica Kincaid accurately portrays how adolescence can strain mother- daughter relationships. The mother- daughter relationships are universal but "it is not clear why we avoid the topic"(Gerd). The father- daughter relationships and the mother- sons relationships are the issues mostly talked about. In Jamaica Kincaid's novel, Annie John, she explains and gives insight into mother- daughter relationships. In Annie John, there are events that make people think about their relationship with their own mother. Kincaid expresses this relationship through her main character Annie who tries to find her own identity. The relationship between Annie and her mother (also called Annie) was very strong and they do a lot of things together. By the time Annie turns twelve, she starts to go through some changes which many teenagers normally goes through. In order for Annie to mature and prepare for the world, Annie's mother told her to find her own way of life. Due to these new changes, the relationship between Annie and her mother begins to degenerate. Annie now did things her mother disapproved of. At the end of the story, their relationship was okay but not as strong as it was before. After reading this book I saw that the main issue discussed in her novel, is all the stages mother- daughter relationships go through. The mother- daughter relationships are intense relationships. This is a relationship most daughters have with their mother from birth. Both male and female children are attached to their mother from birth, but most male child quickly grows out of it. The daughter is so attached to the mother in a complex way in whic... ... Louis F. Caton. "Romantic Struggles: The Bildungsroman and Mother- Daughter Bonding in Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John." Melus. vol. 21, No.3. Fall 1996. 125-42. Rpt. in Literature Resource Center. Nagel, James. "Desperate Hopes, Desperate Lives: Depression and Self Realization in Jamaica Kincaid's Annie John and Lucy." Traditions, Voices, and Dreams: The American Novel Since the 1960s. Ed. Melvin J. Friedman and Ben Siegel. U. of Delaware P, 1995, 237-53. Rpt. in Novels for Students. vol. 3. Rpt. in Literature Resource Center. Phyllis NCTU. "The Images in Annie John." 4 May 2000. 10 Dec. 2000. William M. Smith. "Annie's Mother and "Mary": Motherhood in Various Literary Forms." 26 July 1999. 15 Dec. 2000.

Why is college important

Everyone in the United States wants to achieve the â€Å"American Dream†. People want to be able to provide a stable lite tor their families. A college education has been a must to grow in the work industry. But during this economic recession, college students have been having a difficult time staying in the college path, especially working class students. The lack of moral support from their families prevents these unfortunate students to finish their college education. The increase of college tuition and limited financial ald are causing students to go Into debt, making them hesitant hether they should keep studying or not.Also it's preventing students from picking needed major but because the low paycheck they are not sure if they will be able to be sustained. But college drop outs also can able be due to the unequal college preparation given in high schools. The education system needs to be reformed so students have the opportunity to choose whether they want to go to coll ege or do vocational tralnlng Instead. A college degree Is bringing more negauve aspects Into a student's life therefore students, especially from working class. must know the alternatives to be able to succeed.Most ot the students In the united states are middle or working class. In addltlon of going to school, working class students also have to get a Job to be able to help out their families. Working class students have always struggled to get by during their years in college but most ot these students have families who support their dreams of coming out of poverty and become somebody with no pressures However there are also students who lack family support and deal with these issues alone throughout college. According to the New York Times article For Poor, Leap to CollegeOften Ends in a Hard Fall, â€Å"Likely reasons [that low income students drop out of college] include soaring Incomes at the top and changes in family structure, which have left fewer low-income students with the support of two-parent homes†. These working class students have to find out their way out of college by themselves, sometimes feeling isolated and Intlmlddted by the system. Feeling under the pressure of obtaining a college degree to benefit their families they find themselves often in debt, not knowing about other options out there.Congress should start more unding towards higher education so students who truly want to conunue with college can do so without increasing their debts, Due budget cuts In education, the amount of financial aid is limited for students therefore it is more difficult to pay for their education. In the past decade college tultlon fees have been Increasing and soon enough students are not being able to receive full financial aid for their college education.Financial aid is supposed to help those students who fall below the poverty line, but since the recession hit the united states more middle class students re finding themselves in a bad situation . In the article No Aid for You: Cheating the Middle Class, Jennifer Hutchinson says â€Å"Due to this large increase In tuition, middle class families can no longer attord to pay tor their child's education, putting them in the same situation as the low-income students†. Not qualifying for grants these students take tne oTTerea loans ana every year tne amount 0T aeot Increases.Hutchinson also states that â€Å"However, unlike low-income students†¦ who could not afford college, instead of going out into the workforce after graduation, middle-class tudents are now expected to go on to college†. Nowadays a college degree is needed to get a decent paying Job and the competition for Jobs is increasing among the young college graduates. If the financial aid system is not reformed soon there is going to be more students having to leave their college education behind when no longer can go into debt. College should become cheaper so the students won't have to choose betwe en their passions versus their stability.With their debts increasing every year students are researching if their majors are worth it to pay back their debts and be able to sustain them. According to the State Public Interest Research Group's Higher Education Project, â€Å"23 percent of students who graduate from public universities would face unmanageable debt burdens if they entered teaching based upon average starting salaries. † Loans are causing college students to stay away from majors that won't have a beneficial because these majors will not have an income strong enough to hold on to.Although these students want to study something that will essentially benefit the whole society they won't be able to do so unless there is a change in the college system. Even though students are told they have to go to college, students are often found to give up as soon as they walk in the campus because they feel they are not ready for college. They try to take classes but they leave feeling overwhelmed by either the content of the class or their lack of enthusiasm to be in the classroom. In the article Why Do So Many Americans Drop Out of College? Jordan Weissman says â€Å"But once they get to class, not every student is prepared. Nor do they necessarily want to be at college, or have a clear notion of what they're doing there†¦ The economy is screaming that they need a degree. But once on campus, they don't last. † These students do not have an idea of what to make of their college education and waste resources such as classes and funds. College preparedness should start since high school. Students should also know if they are ready to take on the challenge of a college education.There should be a tougher way for students to be selected into four year institutions. Colleges should be stricter with grades once students reach high school. Also there is the importance of high school counselors working with students to help them find out what they tr uly want to do ith their life. It could help them decide if college is a place they want to be at or instead seek vocational training after high school, preventing students dropping out of college and insures that those obtaining a vocational training gain the skills to enter the work force.Students have to know the other options out there besides college. The United States needs to establish more vocational schools so that those who choose not to go to college can also succeed in the work force. As many other countries have shown, vocational training can be beneficial to the whole society. The vocational schools we ave already have shown to be mostly effective for those people who need a Job fast to sustain their families.By being able to get hands-on training, these students have more ability to qualify for a Job right away than a college graduate because they have experience in that certain field. According to the article The Secret To Germany's Low Youth Unemployment â€Å"Germ any's youth employment is the highest in Europe†¦ At the neart 0T tnat success Is a learn-on-tne-JoD apprentlcesnlp system tnat nas I ts roots In the Middle Ages but is thriving today in Germany's modern, export-oriented conomy'. These students can choose between a vocational or academic career though many chose the vocational training.Through internships, the youth are in training earning weekly wages. In order for the United States to become successful in recovering from the recession more vocational schools have to be implemented around the country so there can be equal opportunities for those who do not want to go to college. The college system in the United States needs work. Students are feeling lost without moral support from their families. Limited financial aid is forcing more low nd middle class students to go into debt in order to continue their college education.High schools need to start preparing their students for the years ahead in college. But most importantly it is showing that college is not the only option available for students who know they cannot make it through the years. People need to start realizing that college is not for everyone and that vocational schools can be a positive way to increment work force in this country. Vocational schools are also successful in creating educated people. In the long run there will be a positive outcome for students in their future lives.

Michelangelo s David A Masterpiece of Renaissance

Michelangelo David The first piece of artwork that I have chosen to work with is the David by Michelangelo. Yes, this is one of the, if not the most famous sculpture in the world but that is not my reasoning for choosing it. Before seeing the actual David inside of the Galleria dalliance's, I visited the copy of it outside of the Palazzo Vehicle. After getting my first taste of the fake version, I thought it was a cool sculpture but didn't see what all of the hype about Michelangelo could possibly be about.However, as soon as I went into the Academia for the first, I could not believe how peculator the original David looked in person. In its current home at the Academia, it stands there perfectly under the biggest dome in the building at the end of the hall from unfinished Michelangelo sculptures. As you walk towards the statue I felt as if it were under a spotlight, grabbing everyone's attention that walks by it. The first time I stared at it, I could not help but to notice the impe ccable detail in the human body. This sculpture defines where all of a very fit male's muscles lay very accurately on the human body.The stomach muscles looked so perfect that the sculpture could pass for breathing. One of my personal favorite aspects of the sculpture is the immense detail in his hands. Not only do the hands look absolutely flawless, but also the veins protruding from the skin and the grasping shape of the hand on the sling are so incredibly realistic. While I was hesitant to choose this as one of the artworks to write a paper on simply because of its incredible fame around the world, I could not resist choosing it because of the way to had truly ‘wowed' me the moment I laid my eyes on it.Michelangelo crafted this sculpture between the years of 1501 and 1504, with it finally being unveiled on the 8th of September 1504. This sculpture depicts the biblical battle between King David and Goliath. The naked human form of David was used in a purposeful manner in an effort to show his pureness and lack of defense, as well as giving a timeless interpretation of the biblical story, and not allowing the differences in style of clothes to make this sculpture feel outdated like Tangelo's David of the sass's. When the famous statue was finally completed, it was brought toPalazzo Della Signora, the headquarters of the Florentine government at the time although it had initially been planned to be one of the sculptures lining the roofline of the Doom. This statue represents human strength and the strength of the Republic of Florence while there were many other strong cities and empires surrounding them. In 1873 the Statue was removed from the Palazzo Della Signora to protect the world's most famous statue from damage and placed in the Academia where it remains today. The Operas obtained the original massive block of marble and a contract was armed for Agitation to sculpt a David from it.Agitation sculpted it only for a short while, beginning to form the feet, legs, and torso. Agitation stopped working on the sculpture in 1466, only to have the marble contracted out to another artist. In 1476 Reselling was contracted to the slab of marble, although that contract fell through and the marble sat outdoors untouched for another 25 years. Thankfully, the Opera's determination to have the Davit's sculpture paid off when the contracted the then 26 year old Michelangelo to take on this daunting task.

Defining Homogeneous Groups in Education

Defining Homogeneous Groups in Education Homogeneous groups in educational settings is defined as groups of students organized so that students of similar instructional levels are placed together, working on materials suited to their particular level, as determined through assessments.  These groups are also known as ability groups. Homogeneous groups can be contrasted directly with heterogeneous  groups  in which students of varying abilities are grouped together. Also Known As: Ability-Based Groups Examples of Homogenous Groups in Educational Settings When organizing reading groups, the teacher puts all of the high students together in their own group. Then, the teacher meets with all of the high readers at the same time and read a higher book with them, and so on, through the various reading levels that exist in the class. When composing classrooms for the year, a school may group the talented and gifted students into a TAG classroom, while grouping students who have intellectual, emotional, or physical challenges into a different classroom. Students who fall into the middle of the spectrum are assigned to a different classroom. Students may be grouped by ability for specific subjects, but be in a heterogenous classroom most of the day. There may be an advanced math group and a group for students who need more assistance in meeting grade level for math. Advantages of Homogenous Groups A homogenous group can have a lesson plan tailored to the ability of the group as a whole, rather than having to address students with a variety of abilities and needs. Students may feel more comfortable in a group of their peers who are able to learn at about the same speed. Advanced students may not feel the pressure they experience in a heterogenous group to be an assistant instructor and always help the students who are trailing. Advanced students may not feel held back to learn at a slower pace than they can achieve when with other advanced students. Parents of advanced students are often pleased that their child is in the advanced group. This may further spur the child to achieve even more. Students who have lesser abilities than average may feel less pressure when in a homogenous group. They may have felt stigmatized by always being the slowest learner in a heterogenous group. The teacher assigned to such a group may have additional training in assisting students who have special needs or a slower learning pace. Disadvantages of Homogenous Groups There has been a move away from homogenous groups. One reason is the stigmatization of groups of students of lesser learning ability, emotional needs, or physical needs. Some studies showed that reduced expectations for such groups were a self-fulfilling prophecy. Students may be given a curriculum that wasnt challenging and therefore didnt learn as much as they would in a heterogenous group. There have been concerns that minority and economically disadvantaged students were more likely to end up in a lower-level group. Students may have varying abilities by subject and therefore being grouped into a classroom that labels them either gifted or special needs ignores that they may be high-performing in some subjects and need more assistance in others.

3 Examples of Proper Attribution of Quotations

3 Examples of Proper Attribution of Quotations 3 Examples of Proper Attribution of Quotations 3 Examples of Proper Attribution of Quotations By Mark Nichol 1. â€Å"‘Of the 230 companies we inventoried in 1984, 54 had gone out of business or been taken over by 1987. From 1981 to 1994, we lost 84 percent,’ said Smith.† Interrupt a quotation of more than one sentence with an attribution following the first sentence to avoid a delay in identifying the speaker or writer: â€Å"’Of the 230 companies we inventoried in 1984, 54 had gone out of business or been taken over by 1987,’ said Smith. ‘From 1981 to 1994, we lost 84 percent.’† 2. â€Å"Echoing the thoughts of his fellow players, Jones perhaps said it best, ‘We never wanted to disappoint him under any circumstances.’† When an attribution consists of a complete thought that sets up the quotation that follows, use a colon rather than a comma, to set the attribution off from the quotation: â€Å"Echoing the thoughts of his fellow players, Jones perhaps said it best: ‘We never wanted to disappoint him under any circumstances.’† 3. â€Å"And while bin Laden’s killing has dealt a crippling blow to his terrorist organization, she said, ‘Nobody should believe individual al Qaeda leaders cannot be replaced.’† To provide context for the quotation, the writer has added the paraphrased dependent clause preceding the attribution, uniting the clause and the quotation into an extended sentence. Because this sentence no longer begins with nobody, the word is no longer capitalized: â€Å"And while bin Laden’s killing has dealt a crippling blow to his terrorist organization, she said, ‘nobody should believe individual al Qaeda leaders cannot be replaced.’† 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 Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:50 Redundant Phrases to AvoidAbstract Nouns from Adjectives15 English Words of Indian Origin

Karl Benz and the First Practical Automobile

Karl Benz and the First Practical Automobile In 1885, a German mechanical engineer named Karl Benz designed and built the worlds first practical automobile powered by an internal-combustion engine. A year later, Benz received the first patent (DRP No. 37435)  for a gas-fueled car  on January 29, 1886. It was a three-wheeler called the Motorwagen or Benz Patent Motorcar. Benz built his first four-wheeled car in 1891. He started Benz Company and by 1900 became the worlds largest manufacturer of automobiles. He also became the first legally licensed driver in the world, when the Grand Duke of Baden granted him the distinction. Whats especially remarkable was that he was able to achieve these milestones despite coming from a relatively modest background.   Early Life and Education Benz was born in 1844 in Baden Muehlburg, Germany (now part of Karlsruhe). He was the son of a locomotive engine driver who passed away when Benz was only two years old. Despite their limited means,  his mother ensured he got a good education. Benz attended the Karlsruhe grammar school and later Karlsruhe Polytechnic University. He studied mechanical engineering at the University of Karlsruhe and graduated in 1864 when he was only 19 years old. In 1871, He founded his first company with partner August Ritter and called it the Iron Foundry and Machine Shop, a supplier of building materials.  He married Bertha Ringer in 1872 and his wife would go on to play an active role in his business, such as when he bought out his partner, who had become unreliable. Developing the Motorwagen Benz began his work on a two-stroke engine  in hopes of establishing a new source of income. He had to invent many parts of the system as he went along, including the throttle, ignition, spark plugs, carburetor, clutch, radiator, and gear shift.  He received his first patent in 1879.   In 1883, he founded Benz Company to produce industrial engines in Mannheim, Germany. He then began designing a motor carriage with a four-stroke engine based on Nicolaus Ottos patent. Benz designed his engine and the body for the three-wheel vehicle with electric ignition, differential gears, and water-cooling. In 1885, the car was first driven in Mannheim. It achieved the speed of eight miles per hour during a test drive. After receiving a patent for his gas-fueled automobile (DRP 37435), he began selling his automobile to the public in July of 1886. Parisian bicycle-maker Emile Roger added them to his line of vehicles and sold them as the first commercially-available automobile. His wife helped promote the Motorwagen by taking it on a historic 66-mile trip from Mannheim to Pforzheim to show its practicality for families. At the time, she had to purchase gasoline at pharmacies, and manually repair several malfunctions herself. For this, an annual antique auto rally called the Bertha Benz Memorial Route is now held annually in her honor. Her experience led to Benz adding gears for climbing hills and brake pads. Later Years and Retirement In 1893, there were 1,200  Benz Velos produced, making it the worlds first inexpensive, mass-produced car. It participated in the worlds first automobile race in 1894, finishing in 14th place. Benz also designed the first truck in 1895 and the first motor bus. He patented the boxer flat engine design in 1896. In 1903, Benz retired from Benz Company.  He served as a member of the supervisory board of Daimler-Benz AG from 1926 until his death. Together, Bertha and Karl had five children. Karl Benz passed away in 1929.

KingKing and Entrepreneurship in China Assignment

KingKing and Entrepreneurship in China - Assignment Example The only major retailer the firm has targeted is Wal-Mart. KingKing could increase its revenues if it expands its portfolio of major clients to include companies such as Target, Sears, and K-Mart. The third strategy the company can use to expand its US sales is to sell directly to the customers utilizing a web store. In 2010 the size of the US e-commerce marketplace was $153 billion (Plunkett Research). 2. The acquisition of a US manufacturer is a market entry strategy that could help KingKing penetrate the US marketplace. In order to minimize cost the firm should target small to medium size candle manufacturer. In the United States there are over 1,600 candle manufacturers (Manta). Three potential acquisition targets are A&A Custom Illumntns Inc., Abby Candles Inc., and A&B Reminiscents. 3. Another way for the company to penetrate the US marketplace is by opening up its own stores in the United States. This solution is only viable if the company has sufficient variety of products to justify opening up a store. The case study does not provide sufficient information to determine if the firm has sufficient variety of products. There are very few stores in the US dedicated only to selling candles. The solution of opening up a store might not be viable.

Examine a foreign currency TUR for Turkey and provide an analysis of Essay

Examine a foreign currency TUR for Turkey and provide an analysis of that currency against the US Dollar over the 5-year period ending with 2010 - Essay Example In order to understand Exchange trade fund properly, a comparison between currency of two nations namely Turkey and USA has to be carried out. The reason for the comparison is because both are developed countries and have almost similar expenditure values. The comparison will be done based on a five year period that ends in 2010. USA and Turkey are both developed countries but have different economy. The difference in economy can be reviewed through the use of Exchange-traded fund (ETF) .Additionally, various forms of ETFs which include Dow Jones Istanbul 20 (DJIST), Non-Financial Istanbul 20 (NFIST), Smaller Companies Istanbul 25 (SMIST), and Istanbul GOLD ETF (GODIST) will be considered while trying to understand ETF in the two countries. The authorized participants, comprising of large broker-dealers that have ensued various agreements with exchange-traded funds distributor, are basically engaged in buying or selling of ETF shares directly to or from the ETF. Turkey and the USA buys or sells the ETF either directly from the fund company or through the use of a broker. This can also occur in creation units, â€Å"which comprise of large segments of several ETF shares that are normally exchanged duly with baskets of underlying securities† (Wiandt and Will 37). This means that the eligible participants may opt for long-term investment in ETF shares mainly due to its high return rates and global recognition. Indeed, they play a bigger role in the open markets during the process of market making. This is mainly through the utilization of their ability towards exchanging the creation segments with their varying forms of securities. This hence provides a wide range of ETF liquidity in terms of its shares, thus assis ting in ensuring that the net asset value of all the underlying assets are approximates of their intraday market pricing values. Trading can be rated in terms of

Business Models and Planning Chapter Questions Assignment

Business Models and Planning Chapter Questions - Assignment Example Typically, business models undergo significant adaptation to immediate business environments. This means that managers can employ an appropriate business model to counteract changes brought by actions of competitors and other market forces. Technically, business models strive towards maximizing profits by optimizing interrelatedness of production inputs. Practically, outcomes of adopting a given business model remains uncertain. Some model innovations may yield successful outcomes while others may lead to failure. Based on chapter 4 on business model innovation, it is undeniable that companies use different approaches in trying to increase profitability. Despite the immense competitive pressure exerted by active model innovations, most changes in those models are still radical as opposed to being specific2. In many cases, a firm may adopt a correct model but lacks technical framework of articulating the model’s principles into its marketing lines. One definite relation between model innovation and profitability features in the aspect of value proposition. Value proposition becomes instrumental whenever product and service firms understand essential behaviors of consumers in potential markets. All model innovation processes adopts the notion that value proposition plays a significant role in influencing consumers’ purchase decisions3. Inclusion of a concise and appealing proposition statement will not only attracts customers’ attention but also convince a new consumer into purchasing a product or service. In order to appreciate the importance of value proposition in marketing, one should acknowledge the influence exerted by service-profit chain. This chain establishes the relationship between customer satisfaction and profitability. Supposedly, model innovation aims at enhancing corporate profitability by addressing the needs of stakeholders, which in this context comprise

Reaction to Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Reaction to Philosophy - Essay Example A rule is something which is instructed and just like any other rule, it has a tendency to be broken and rejected. This is contrary to a principle which is more inclined towards the norm or the belief of what should be done. According to Poland and Graham, â€Å"The mean between an excess of self-love and a deficiency of self-love is to count what is in our own true interest and is in the true interest of each and every person as equally important (263).† With the latter statement being a reference of what the golden rule implies, the principle is more of promoting lesser attention and love be given to the self and give more importance as to what would be the better implications that an action can give to the majority. Taking the principle on a more literal manner, one should also think of what will happen to others when a particular decision is made or when an action is done. Though others may say that the self does deserve to be pampered every once in a while, it is also imp ortant to take note of the majority who will be affected even with the slightest implication. When it comes to a point that a major decision is needed to be done, one should think of what will be the implications the decision will make for the majority rather than just for the self. The happiness of the self is also important yet how can one achieve the ultimate happiness when more people had been negatively affected or devastated by just one person’s seek for happiness. A statement of Poland and Graham worth pondering on is â€Å"Loving people as we love ourselves means taking them as we find them as opposed to how we might want them to be (264).† The latter describes as to how a parent would care for their children or how a husband will look after his wife. Unconditionally, one can give up everything just to ensure the security and well-being of their loved ones even if it means that their own happiness will either have to wait for another time or it may be modified for the moment. Yet the self would not be the main focus anymore since it would be the others or the majority who will benefit from the action or the decision. It can be hard to make or not easy to accept however when there will be more people thanking the self for what one has done, it will all be worth the dilemma and sacrifices. If there is a golden rule, there is a golden word to achieve the goal of the ultimate principle. This word is the adjective unconditional. One can accept another despite of the flaws or the baggage that is being carried. This is unconditional acceptance. A person can love his enemy and this is pertained to as unconditional love. There are so many actions that can be associated with the word unconditional. Life is too precious to be filled with anger, grief and sorrow. If a person can consider the self to be happy, can he share the happiness with other people who most of their lives have been experiencing grief? When a person is in love, is it necessary th at one is waiting for that emotion to be reciprocated? Can love be just given unconditionally without any expectation of getting anything in return? When a person has exhibited unconditional actions that resulted to happiness for the others, could one conclude that the person has achieved the ultimate happiness? Question #2 One person cannot exist with just the self alone. There will be times that one will need the assistance or the company of another person. This is more on the worldly manner. However, a

Economic analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economic analysis - Essay Example Structural constraints faced by the economy have also been highlighted in the economy. 2.0 Introduction The GDP growth in India has been below potential in the last financial year (2012). Real GDP in the country has grown at the rate of 6.5 percent (according to 2012 estimate) (CIA, 2013). In 2011, the rate has been 6.8 percent (CIA, 2013). Hence there has been a 0.2 percent fall in the real GDP growth. According to a report from a leading newspaper of the country, the manufacturing sector is the major factor that is pulling the country’s growth rate downwards. This sector accounts for almost 17 percent of the country’s GDP. In the third quarter of the last year, the manufacturing sector grew by a meagre 0.8 percent. While India is mainly an agrarian economy, agriculture has grown at the rate of 1.2 percent in this quarter. This is definitely a gloomy picture that suggests that the government has a role to play to push the country’s growth status. The government of India has taken expansionary monetary policy to spur economic activities in the country. 3.0 Analysis 3.1 Monetary policy In the last year (2012) the government of India had increased interest rates to control inflationary pressure since rates of consumer price inflation fluctuated around 7.5 percent in the first two quarters of 2012 (Trading Economics, 2012). However, this policy failed to reduce inflation rates to the desirable extent. The most undesirable side effect has been felt on the level of private investment activities; fresh investment (as measured by the Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF)) was found to be only 33 percent of the GDP (Choudhury, 2012). GDP forecast for FY2013-14 has been scaled down from 6.2 percent to 6 percent by international brokerage firm Barclays (Economic Times, 2013a). The government has therefore taken expansionary fiscal policy to boost up investment activities in the country. The reserve bank of India has cut interest rates by 0.25 percent in May 2013, thereby reducing the repo rate from 7.5 percent to 7.25 percent (BBC, 2013). India is the third largest country in Asia and the government has cut interest rates in order to â€Å"stimulate a fresh wave of economic growth† (BBC, 2013). This policy has been adopted in an endeavour to swell money supply in the economy. Thus banks would possess more money for lending out to borrowers (NASDAQ, 2011). Rate of interest â€Å"is the opportunity cost of holding money† (Boyes and Melvin, 2008, 339). Low interest rate can be interpreted in this way; there is little opportunity cost of holding money. Money demand has negative relationship with rate of interest (Walsh, 2003). Therefore the money demand curve has a downward slope. As interest rate shrinks quantity of money demand rises. It is illustrated by the following figure: Figure: Money demand is a negative function of rate of interest (Source: Author’s Creation) As interest rates are reduced, supply of lo anable funds increase. This increases investment and consumption activities in the country. Figure: Lowering of interest rate supply of loanable funds rise (Source: Author’s Creation) Higher availability of lendable funds reduces interest rates from i1 to 12 and quantity of money demanded rises from L1 to L2. Downward trend of inflation in mid 2013

Communication and Leadership Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Communication and Leadership Paper - Essay Example For the purpose of this disposition, the arguments would use Barack Obama as an orator and a good communicator. It is to imply that the essay would peg the character of President Barack Obama and how they qualify him as a good communicator. To begin with, it was impressive for President Barack Obama to campaign and articulate issues to the general population from a position of political and historical disadvantage. Historically, the people of African-American descent did not have the benefit of being able to vote not to mention the ability or the chance to vie for the highest political office in the land. However, during the presidential campaigns, President Barack Obama did postulate a running caption and theme which was the basis of his campaigns (Nisbet, 2009). Thus, being able to present the â€Å"Yes We Can† slogan to the general public smacks of excellence in the prospects of good communication skills. Intuitively, the ability to make the general electorate to believe ion the common destiny of a public president and a revived economy implied that as a communicator the president had to articulate and convince the general public to move in the right direction. The second instance and reason which makes it apparent to the communication abilities of president Barack Obama was the style in presidential debates. It is conventional knowledge and wisdom that the then Democrat presidential candidate scored well in the debates over the two successive candidate in John McCain and Mitt Romney. Most of the observers noted that President Barack Obama during the debates did put in a lot of effort and income to win the hearts of the undecided voters in the elections. In all aspects and fairness, he did maintain a positive attitude and respectable smile to the audience of listeners and viewers all over the United States of America. His body

Economic analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Economic analysis - Essay Example Structural constraints faced by the economy have also been highlighted in the economy. 2.0 Introduction The GDP growth in India has been below potential in the last financial year (2012). Real GDP in the country has grown at the rate of 6.5 percent (according to 2012 estimate) (CIA, 2013). In 2011, the rate has been 6.8 percent (CIA, 2013). Hence there has been a 0.2 percent fall in the real GDP growth. According to a report from a leading newspaper of the country, the manufacturing sector is the major factor that is pulling the country’s growth rate downwards. This sector accounts for almost 17 percent of the country’s GDP. In the third quarter of the last year, the manufacturing sector grew by a meagre 0.8 percent. While India is mainly an agrarian economy, agriculture has grown at the rate of 1.2 percent in this quarter. This is definitely a gloomy picture that suggests that the government has a role to play to push the country’s growth status. The government of India has taken expansionary monetary policy to spur economic activities in the country. 3.0 Analysis 3.1 Monetary policy In the last year (2012) the government of India had increased interest rates to control inflationary pressure since rates of consumer price inflation fluctuated around 7.5 percent in the first two quarters of 2012 (Trading Economics, 2012). However, this policy failed to reduce inflation rates to the desirable extent. The most undesirable side effect has been felt on the level of private investment activities; fresh investment (as measured by the Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF)) was found to be only 33 percent of the GDP (Choudhury, 2012). GDP forecast for FY2013-14 has been scaled down from 6.2 percent to 6 percent by international brokerage firm Barclays (Economic Times, 2013a). The government has therefore taken expansionary fiscal policy to boost up investment activities in the country. The reserve bank of India has cut interest rates by 0.25 percent in May 2013, thereby reducing the repo rate from 7.5 percent to 7.25 percent (BBC, 2013). India is the third largest country in Asia and the government has cut interest rates in order to â€Å"stimulate a fresh wave of economic growth† (BBC, 2013). This policy has been adopted in an endeavour to swell money supply in the economy. Thus banks would possess more money for lending out to borrowers (NASDAQ, 2011). Rate of interest â€Å"is the opportunity cost of holding money† (Boyes and Melvin, 2008, 339). Low interest rate can be interpreted in this way; there is little opportunity cost of holding money. Money demand has negative relationship with rate of interest (Walsh, 2003). Therefore the money demand curve has a downward slope. As interest rate shrinks quantity of money demand rises. It is illustrated by the following figure: Figure: Money demand is a negative function of rate of interest (Source: Author’s Creation) As interest rates are reduced, supply of lo anable funds increase. This increases investment and consumption activities in the country. Figure: Lowering of interest rate supply of loanable funds rise (Source: Author’s Creation) Higher availability of lendable funds reduces interest rates from i1 to 12 and quantity of money demanded rises from L1 to L2. Downward trend of inflation in mid 2013

Polar Bears Essay Example for Free

Polar Bears Essay Polar bears are found in the Northern hemisphere inside the US, Canada, Russia, Denmark and Norway. It is estimated that there are twenty thousand to twenty five thousand polar bears in the world. Adult male polar bears can measure eight to ten feet tall with a weight of two hundred and fifty to seven hundred kilograms. Adult female bears are much smaller weighing ninety to three hundred and twenty kilograms. Seals are the primary prey of the polar bear. The ringed seal is the favorite diet of the polar bear. Polar bears usually eat only the fat if hunting is good and leave the rest of the carcass for scavengers. Polar bears are also known to eat walrus and beluga whales. They have been known to hunt reindeer, birds, kelp and beached whales. The polar bear is at the top of the food chain in the Arctic. It helps to maintain the balance of nature by preventing the overpopulation of seals. The average life span of a polar bear is between fifteen to eighteen years. Some bears have been found to live until their thirties (Bruemmer 23,1989). Female polar bears have two cubs in a litter. They have one of the slowest reproductive rates of any mammal. The cubs are born in snow dens called maternity dens. Scientists have recognized that there an estimated nineteen distinct populations of polar bears without any subspecies. Polar bears do not have enemies but they might view humans as potential adversaries. The biggest threat facing the polar bear is the change in the climate. Polar bears are adapted to survive in the harsh conditions of the Artic where the temperatures can plunge to -50 F. Polar bears have two layers of fur which provide good protection and insulation that prevents any heat loss. They also have a thick layer of blubber which measures four inches (Matthews 41, 1993). Another adaptation of the polar bear is the compact ears and small tail which prevent heat loss. While being protected from the cold, they experience problems with overheating which can occur even in cold weather. Polar bears have small bumps called papillae which help protect their feet from slipping on ice. They have strong powerful claws that allow them to catch seals. They have a powerful nose enough to detect prey which is miles away (Hemstock 63, 1999). The polar bear can adapt to the harsh environment of the Arctic because it has a thick fur coat which provides protection. Long and dense guard hairs are present outside the thick fur coat. An undercoat consists of short woolly hairs in the polar bear. Sunlight can directly make contact with the polar bear’s skin using guard hairs which act as hollow tubes. The color of the bear’s skin inside is black while from the outside it looks white. The dark skins help in absorption of heat. The layer of blubber under its skin helps keep it warm in icy water as well as on land. For human beings, the Arctic appears to be a harsh environment but for animals like the polar bear with the correct adaptations, it does not become a harsh environment for them. Polar bears live in an environment which is characterized by the freezing of the ocean which forms sea ice. The bear has paws which provide a good grip on the slick and cold surface. It helps in keeping the footing on slippery ground. Another adaptation of the polar bear is the rough pads which gives it a non slip grip. The bear ensures its feet are warm because of the thick fur between the pads. The front paws have sharp and curved claws which act like hooks that provide climbing abilities to the polar bear on ice. They also help in digging in the ice while hunting seals. Although polar bears do not hibernate in the true sense, some bears especially female pregnant bears can dig dens and hibernate. They give birth to cubs inside the dens in early winter. They stay inside the den till spring. The den’s temperature can be around forty degrees Fahrenheit because of the presence of a warm and big bear.   Hibernation is an adaptation by the polar bear which they usually do when storms and blowing snow make travel and hunting difficult (Lockwood 23, 2006). They curl up and let the snow cover them. They find themselves being warm inside the snow as compared with the air. Polar bears have a yellowish shade to their coats which can occur due to staining from seal oils. This coat allows it to blend with the snow covered environment. It is an important hunting adaptation by the polar bear in the harsh environment of the Arctic. The front legs are bowl legged and pigeon toed which is another protection from slipping on the ice. The marine environment in which polar bears live has made them evolve many adaptations to survive. They have white coloration which helps camouflage them and gives them an advantage during hunting of seals. They have water repellent guard hairs and dense under fur which helps in absorbing heat. Polar bears have the ability to make a solid grip on slippery ice using small suction cups on the soles of their feet.   Teeth of the polar bears are suitable for a carnivorous diet. Their ability to store huge amounts of fat helps protect them during food scarcity (Sage 147, 1986).   They have teeth which are specialized for a carnivorous rather than omnivorous diet. This storage capacity can help for feeding purposes if hunting season is not good. While seals are the favorite food of polar bears, walruses and whales can also be hunted and eaten by them. They can even eat carcasses and carrion of whale and seals which are found along the coast. They have excellent swimming abilities which help them cross bays or leads. Their swimming abilities are powerful as they enable the bear to swim over long distances. Research conducted by scientists has found out that polar bears can swim continuously for one hundred kilometers (Rosing 78, 1996). The front paws can help propel them through the water. Flat hind feet and legs help the polar bear to use them as rudders. The polar bear can stay warm inside the cold water due to the thick layer of blubber. Polar bears can attain a swimming speed of ten kilometers per hour. They can remain underwater by closing their nostrils. They catch their prey by making shallow dives inside the cold water. They swim under water of depths of three to four meters. They can remain underwater for a time period of two minutes (Domico 25, 1988). The body temperature of a polar bear is normally ninety eight degree Fahrenheit.   Temperature regulation is achieved by the thick layer of fur and tough hide. Additional heat regulation is attained by insulating layer of blubber. Insulation is so powerful that even during temperature drops the bear remains warm. However the problem of overheating remains because of the strong insulation. In order to prevent their bodies from getting overheated, the polar bears periodically take rests and move at a slow speed. The polar bear can release excess heat from the body in areas where the fur is absent like nose, ears, inner thighs and shoulders. Excess heat can also be released through blood vessels which are closer to the skin (Dalziel 14, 1994). Swimming is an adaptation by the polar bear by which they can cool themselves during hot days or after physical activity. Polar bears enter a state of carnivore lethargy which is similar to hibernation. Their vital body functions continue and the body temperatures remain constant during carnivore lethargy. The body temperature drops slightly as the female polar bear fasts throughout hibernation. They may lose most or all of their fat stores. Research has concluded that polar bears which do not hibernate during times of food shortages can efficiently use their energy reserves like hibernating bears. The harsh environment of the Arctic has resulted in the polar bear using many adaptations to the challenges of such an environment. Scientists have appreciated how polar bears using their adaptations can survive for two decades or more on the glacial ice of the Arctic Circle (Derocher 140, 1990). The grizzly bear is found in the jungles, streams and mountains of western North America. Compared with the polar bear, the grizzly bear is found in the uplands of western North America. It is a solitary animal which lives near streams, lakes and rivers. Females produce one or four young cubs which hare small. They can reach weights of one hundred and eighty kilograms. They have hind legs as males are larger than females. The huge size of the bear helps in attracting females for breeding purposes. The color of the grizzly bear is different from the polar bear due to the different environments with regard to diet and temperature (Lyman 23, 1982). The grizzly bear has powerful digging abilities because of the large hump over its shoulders. Grizzly bears have large round heads which provide good running speeds for them. They are slower running downhill because of the large hump of muscle over their shoulders. Grizzly bears have longer claws and cranial profiles as compared with the polar bear. Grizzly bears tend to eat eighty to ninety pounds of food per day to allow it to hibernate in the winter. It can build beds under branches or dig holes under the ground which is an adaptation that allows it to be protected without the need for food. Grizzly bears have long claws as compared with polar bears as they need to catch salmon and dig. It gives the grizzlies an easier time to catch food for its young cubs and itself. Like polar bears they have also developed a keen sense of smell to find food for their young cubs. They do not have good eyesight as compared with polar bears. The grizzlies have adapted to their less harsh environment by having a good sense of smell which allows them to sniff out things (Nowak 52, 1991). The harsh arctic environment of the polar bear has forced it to create many adaptations which help to ensure its survival. The polar bear’s favorite prey is the seal. It helps to prevent the overpopulation of the seal. Sometimes polar bears can also eat carrion and carcasses of seals and whales which come across the coast. Polar bears have excellent swimming skills which allow them to swim at high speeds. They can swim for many long hours and remain underwater for a time period of two minutes. They use their diving skills to look for prey. They have small suction cups which provide good traction during slippery grounds. The polar bear can adapt to the harsh environment of the Arctic because it has a thick fur coat which provides protection. Long and dense guard hairs are present outside the thick fur coat. Polar bears have a yellowish shade to their coats which can occur due to staining from seal oils. This coat allows it to blend with the snow covered environment. It is an important hunting adaptation by the polar bear in the harsh environment of the Arctic. Compared with grizzly bears, the polar bear has different adaptations because of the different environments in which they live. References: Bruemmer, Fred (1989). World of the Polar Bear. Toronto, ON: Key Porter Books. Matthews, Downs (1993). Polar Bear. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. Hemstock, Annie (1999). The Polar Bear. Manakato, MN: Capstone Press. Lockwood, Sophie (2006). Polar Bears. Chanhassen, MN: The Childs World. Rosing, Norbert (1996). The World of the Polar Bear. Willowdale, ON: Firefly Books Ltd.. Derocher, A.E. and I. Stirling. Observations of aggregating behaviour in adult male polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Canadian Journal of Zoology 68, 1990 Dalziel, Ian W.D. Arctic. The World Book Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 1994. Domico, Terry. Bears of the World. New York: Facts On File, 1988. Lyman, C. P., et al. Hibernation and Torpor in Mammals and Birds. New York: Academic Press, 1982. Nowak, Ronald M., ed. Walkers Mammals of the World. 5th edition. Volume 2. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1991. Sage, Bryan. The Arctic and its Wildlife. New York: Facts On File Publications, Inc., 1986

True Nature And Personality Of The Creature Frankenstein English Literature Essay

True Nature And Personality Of The Creature Frankenstein English Literature Essay The creature experiences many rejections from society, the first time he was rejected was by his own creator himself, he was then rejected a second time in the forest where he meets a peasant or when he enter the villagers and the children shrieked, and one of the women fainted or when he tries to save a girl from drowning the villages throw rocks at him(I had saved a human being from destruction, and, as recompense, I now writhed under the miserable pain of a wound, which shattered the flesh and bone. . It seems that the creature destiny is to be lonely and guilty due to his appearance and to the death he has caused. The creature prefers to stay away from people because everyone he met either attacked him or fled away. The monster discovers throw his reflection that is was ugly and understands the reaction of the human. Quote. The monster admires the De lacey family, as he does not have one. It feels the need to have a family, he sees how the Felix fiancà © got accepted in the fami ly and how Felix taught her to read .Furthermore the creature is impressed of the familys benevolent act for saving Safies father from prison from a death sentence. The creature in his turn feels that he can do the same, that why he voluntarily helps the family. At the beginning the creature had had a good heart and was prepared to help human beings. The creature anonymously help the family as this makes him feel good. The monster learnt reading and music through the De Lacy family; he noticed that it made the family more happy and cheerful. Music and reading also stimulates the creatures emotional reaction to happiness. The creature attempts to communicate with Mr. de lacy; the blind man. The creature after so many rejections still accepts to help human being-the source of his unhappiness. After saving the girl from drowning, her father attacks the creature thinking that he was harming his daughter. The creature caused fright to a few of the villagers and they threw some sort of missiles. The creature wants Frankenstein to create a female for him as it does not want to live his life alone. The creature swears to hide in the Amazon forest away from society with his mate. He also promises not to harm anyone else. You must create a female for me with whom I can live in the interchange of those sympathies necessary for my being. This you alone can do and I demand it of you as a right which you must not refuse to concede. Later on Frankenstein decides to tear apart the female monster as a result of guilt. he believes that by creating a female creature, he would be procreating a new species if the two mated together, Frankenstein also is not so sure how the female would react as just like the original monster she would be independent. Frankenstein decides to destroys the creatures last hopes of having a companion and not be in a painful solitude. You have destroyed the work which you beganà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦I have endured incalculable fatigue, and cold, and hunger; do you dare destroy my hopes? The creature vows to take revenge on Frankenstein for destroying his last hopes. The creature decides to kill the loved ones of his creator so that in the end Frankenstein becomes as miserable as the creature. Frankenstein feels responsible and guilty for the death of his beloved ones, as he is the one whogave birth to that creature. Behind that horrible figure of the monster is an innocent childs mind. When the creature was born, it was innocent and harmless. Regardless to his rejection by Frankenstein, he still seeks companionship with humans. At first his only aim was to be accepted by society but it turned out to be a total failure. Firstly the creature was only seeking companionship from the human, but everyone (except Mr. de lacey) he approached fled away from him. The monsters second desire was to have a female mate from Frankenstein, but this desire could also not be fulfilled as Frankenstein destroyed it .He was rejected by most of the people he met, the creature sought a mate from Frankenstein but at the end it was destroyed. Still I desired love and fellowship At the end the monster was still lonely and isolated as he was at the beginning. We learn that his final desire was to have an anonymous death; leaving no traces of his existence. He realizes and understands that he cannot form part of the human society because of his hideousness even thought he is at time gentle and caring. The innocent creature turned into this cruel monster because humans were very prejudice. Prejudice comes about not because of the fear of the unknown, but rather of a misperception of how the unknown will affect an individual or society.

The Cosmological Argument is Self-contradictory Essay -- Philosophy Rel

The Cosmological Argument, also known as the First Cause Argument, is one of the most important arguments for the existence of God, not only because it is one of the more convincing, but also because it is one of the most used. The thought that everything that happens must have a cause and that the first cause of everything must have been God, is widespread. The cosmological argument is the argument from the existence of the world or universe to the existence of a being that brought it into and keeps it in existence. The idea that the universe has an infinite past, stretching back in time into infinity is both philosophically and scientifically problematic. All indications are that there is a point in time at which the universe began to exist. This beginning was either caused or uncaused. The cosmological argument takes the suggestion that the beginning of the universe was uncaused to be impossible. The idea of an uncaused event is absurd; nothing comes from nothing. The universe was therefore caused by something outside it. The cosmological argument thus confirms one element of Christianity, the doctrine of Creation. The Cosmological Argument ------------------------- (1) Everything that exists has a cause of its existence. (2) The universe exists. Therefore: (3) The universe has a cause of its existence. (4) If the universe has a cause of its existence, then that cause is God. Therefore: (5) God exists. This argument is subject to a simple objection, which arises in the form of the question "Does God have a cause of his existence?" Now the whole universe is a vast, interlocking chain of things that ... ... cosmological argument above. The Cosmological Argument doesn'tnecessarily have the qualities normally ascribed to God (omniscience, omnipotence, omnibenevolence) by the people who offer the argument in the first place (Christians, Jews, Muslims). The first cause/ cosmological argument states, "Everything has a cause and every cause is the result of a previous cause. There must have been something to start off this chain of events, and that something is God." This argument is self-contradictory. The premise is that everything has a cause; the conclusion is that something exists, namely God, which does not have a cause. If we are going to allow something to exist which is uncaused, it is much more sensible to say that the universe itself is uncaused than to assume the existence of God and say that God is uncaused.

The Italian Wars :: history

The Italian Wars The Italian Wars 1494-1559: - Introduction: The key issues over which the Italian Wars were fought were primarily financial incentives for Charles VIII of France. He declared that he intended to use Naples as a base to drive the Ottomans out of Europe and liberate Constantinople. In actual truth his main motivation was self-glory and the mouth-watering prospect of acquiring some exquisite prizes of war. On the way he would acquire rich cities and portable pieces of art. It seems that this invasion had been planned for two years prior since Charles had already bought off potential rivals like Henry VII of England, Ferdinand and Macsimilion. He had also enlisted the support of Genoa and Milan, both within Italy. The regent of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, needed allies and his invitation in 1594 seemed to Charles’ plans perfectly. He accepted and the Italian wars began. Also, the Cardinal of Genoa resented the current Pope, Alexander VI. He invited Charles to come in, depose him and spark off the eagerly awaited church reform. Events 1494-1516: - There was a mixed reaction to the arrival of Charles in Italy. Florence revolted against its leader, Piero de Medici. The Popes army deserted him. In Naples the king died and rather than unite against his son the populous decided to capitulate. There was however some reaction against Charles’ activities. Ferdinand of Aragon decreed that since Naples was subject to the papacy, that the Popes honour had been attacked. He formed the League of Venice. His main intentions were to expel Charles and become the ruler of a united Naples, Sicily and Aragon. Charles began to withdraw to France and although he won a battle at Fornovo, his outnumbered garrisons couldn’t retain Naples. By 1498 the situation in Italy was one of chaos and turmoil. Charles died in 1498, which meant that there wasn’t going to be a re-invasion. Popular uprisings in Milan and Florence saw the Medicis and the Sforzas overthrown. Civil war was raging on between Pisa and Florence and the accession of Louis VIII as French King meant that the prospects for peace did not look too good. Louis had inherited Naples, but his main objective was Milan, which he invaded in 1499. He settled for the Western half and gave the Eastern half to Venice. He then headed southward to Naples, which he had agreed to jointly rule with Ferdinand.

Attendance Monitoring System for Sydney Hotel

Chapter 2 Methodology In order to come with good and quality software for the Sydney Hotel, the researchers had undergone into systematic and appropriate stages. Each stage that the researchers choose to venture is surely supplementary to the outcome of the study. Rapid Application Development Model On the other hand, the proponent made use of the RAD (Rapid Application Development) as their methodology. RAD (Rapid Application Development) is a development lifecycle designed to give much faster development and higher-quality results than those achieved with the traditional lifecycle.RAD is used by the researchers to develop a high quality system that can both meet the needs of the customers and the call of versatility of the model that can adopt with the changes of the real world requirements. The study will only cover up to the 3rd phase of the model excluding the Implementation or the Deployment Stage since this study is restricted for deployment. 2. 1 Requirements Planning/ Concep t Definition Phase In this phase, the proponents gathered information in the form of interview with the help of the Sydney Hotel manager Mr.Elmar Fabiala. Though he was busy to accommodate the request for an interview, he asked Mr. Erwin Genotiva, IT Head, to entertain the queries of the researchers. The interview that happened last January 12, 2013 and January 15, 2013 was conducted upon the availability of the interviewee. After gathering data, the researchers brainstormed and summarized the given information and had identified the requirements of the system to be built. The study will only focus on the attendance monitoring system of the hotel and not the system of the hotel as a whole.In order for the proponents to come up with the best output, the researchers also conducted an actual intervention/ observation on the hotel. This was to observe how the current attendance monitoring system of the hotel behaves. Through this activity the researchers were able to determine the input and output needs of the system. The main purpose of this research is to provide solution to the hotel’s state of dilemma with regards to their attendance monitoring system by developing a stand alone ttendance monitoring system. 2. 2 User Design/ Functional Design Phase The researchers will make use of the Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD), Context Diagram, and Data Flow Diagram (DFD) to chart the input, processes, and output of the business function in a structured graphical form. These diagrams will help the researchers to conceptualize the necessities in making the proposed attendance monitoring system for the Sydney Hotel. 2. 3 Construction/ Development StageIn this stage the researchers will utilize the information being collected from the first two phases to model the actual attendance monitoring system. They have also worked with the users, to design the outputs that satisfy the needs of the hotel. During this stage the researchers prefer to use VB. Net as their progr amming language in order to create a good form and screen designs. The recommended system design was highly patterned upon the needs of the company itself. The researchers will make a GUI (Graphical User Interface) out of the given resources.