History of Oldtown

1. 2 Brief clarification of the company’s history The OldTown White Coffee, OTWC (Chinese: ) is the largestâ kopitiamâ restaurantâ chain in Malaysia. Its primary base camp is in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Set up in 1999, the fellow benefactors and Executive Director, Mr. Goh Ching Mun and Mr. Tan Say Yap are the joining of White Cafe and give quality white espresso to Malaysian family units and the food administrations industry. It fabricates moment drink blends and items, notwithstanding working more than 180 bistro outlets all through Malaysia and the region.With over 10 years of involvement with the espresso refreshment industry, both of prime supporters were instrumental in the development of the Oldtown Group of organizations. Next, Mr. Lee Siew Heng, Group of Managing Director who assumed a critical job in actualizing the general vision, methodology and advancement of the Oldtown Group is the one of help them to fuse Oldtown Group. In 1999, they effectively to popularize the moment 3-in-1 espresso blend under the â€Å"OLDTOWN† brand name for the retail sector.By end of 2009 October, the â€Å"OLDTOWN† 3-in-1 moment espresso blend was sold in around 1,348 retail outlets across the nation in Malaysia, roughly 550 retail outlets in Singapore and around 2,100 retail outlet in Hong Kong. In 2000, the â€Å"OLDTOWN† brand of 3-in-1 moment espresso blend is the primary fare to Singapore. In 2001, White Cafe showcasing started activities as the promoting arm for the Group’s drink items. During that year, the product offering is extended and incorporates various varieties of the moment espresso mix.In expansion, moment espresso blend has likewise extended fare to Hong Kong markets. In year 2002, White Cafe acquired a HALAL confirmation from the Islamic Religious Department of Perak for the Group’s drinks. This is the piece of OLDTOWN Group’s goals, which is to create the drinks as per the Islamic law. Around the same time, OLDTOWN Group’s have effectively extended to across the country retail appropriation of 3-in-1 moment espresso blend to cover East and West Malaysia through significant hypermarkets and supermarkets.In 2003, OLDTOWN Group’s have additionally effectively popularized the new mix of 3-in-1 moment milk tea for the retail showcase under the â€Å"OLDTOWN† brand name. Taking into account growing OLDTOWN producing exercises, OLDTOWN Group’s consolidated Gongga Food in 2003 and started activities in 2004 assembling simmered espresso powder for the street administrations area utilizing the Group’s restrictive bean broiling process. OLDTOWN Group’s additionally dispersed the broiled espresso powder to customary coffeehouses in Ipoh and different states in Malaysia.In option to the food administrations segment, simmered espresso powder is likewise showcased to the retail division under the â€Å"NANYANG† brand. In 2004, it additionally further entered the fare markets for 3-in-1 moment espresso to cover the United States, Canada and United Kingdom and consequently in 2005, Taiwan and Indonesia. In 2005, OLDTOWN Group’s extended vertically into the food administrations segment by opening a chain of bistro outlets dependent on the conventional Ipoh coffeehouse setting and feeling under the â€Å"OLTOWN WHITE COFFEE† brand name.This is a piece of the Group’s methodology of underwriting and fortifying on the â€Å"OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE† brand in the food administrations industry. Around the same time, Kopitiam Asian Pacific started activities in the permitting, flexibly of food, drinks and other thing, and arrangement of the board administrations to â€Å"OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE† bistro outlet. Since the opening of the first â€Å"OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE† bistro outlet in Ipoh in 2005, the chain of bistro outlets have extended to arrive at 137 bistro outlets in Malaysia and Singapore as at 31 October 2009. This included completely and somewhat claimed, and diversified bistro outlets.In 2005 and 2006, OLDTOWN Group’s has built up the auxiliaries in particular as Old Town Kopitiam, Old Town Kopitam Butterworth, Old Town Kopitiam Kuala Lumpur, Old Town Kopitiam Cheras, Conneczone to concentrate on working bistro outlets in various regions and states inside Malaysia. To help the bistro outlet business activities, their set up the accompanying auxiliaries as focal food handling focuses between year 2005 and 2007:  ·Ã‚       Emperor’s Kitchen initiated tasks in 2005;  ·Ã‚       Esquire Chef started tasks in 2007;        Dynasty Confectionery started activities in 2007. In 2005, Gongga Food’s business exercises likewise extended to take into account the obtainment of food things for â€Å"OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE† bistro outlets. Around the same time, Gongga Food additionally acquired a HA LAL accreditation from the Islamic Religious Department of Perak for the creation of its cooked espresso powder. Moreover, OLDTOWN Group’s has acquired a HACCP confirmation from BM TRADE Certification Ltd for the handling and assembling of refreshment roducts. In 2006, the organization additionally extended the item fare to Japan and China markets. Around the same time, the organization joined Dynasty Kitchen as a circulation place, which initiated activities in 2007. During this year, group’s organization likewise fused Oldtown Berhad, which will concentrate on venture holding and arrangement of the executives administrations compliant with its posting on the Main Market of Bursa Securities. Thusly the OLDTOWN Group’s likewise began sending out to Thailand and Philippines.In perspective on group’s organization intends to extend more bistro outlet business activity to Singapore, OLDTOWN organization additionally consolidated Oldtown Singapore in 2007 to g ive the board administrations, flexibly of food and drink things to bistro outlets in Singapore. OTK Singapore initiated tasks in 2008 with the dispatch of the first â€Å"OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE† bistro outlet in Singapore. In 2008, the organization of Dynasty Confectionery and Esquire Chef got HALAL affirmations from the Islamic Religious Department of Perak for the preparing of different foods.On other food-handling auxiliary, Emperor’s Kitchen got HALAL confirmation from the IFRC ASIA. To additionally certify, OLDTOWN Group’s adherence to worldwide sanitation standard and White Cafe accomplished ISO 22000:2005 confirmation and ISO 9001:2000 from BM TRADA Certification in 2008 notwithstanding GMP affirmation by the Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia around the same time. Inside 2008, OLDTOWN Group’s has extended the product offerings to remember 3-for 1 moment espresso blend in with stick sugar.In 2009, Gongga Food acquired a HACCP c onfirmation from BM TRADA Certification Ltd for the creation of simmered espresso powder. OldTown White Coffee presently trades its moment drink blends to in excess of 10 nations worldwide and plans to extend its bistro outlet organize in the area. The gathering has a broad chain of bistros in Malaysia by means of 194 outlets as of end Nov 2011, and furthermore works a couple of outlets that are open every minute of every day in specific zones. This count incorporates completely and mostly possessed outlets, establishment outlets and authorized outlets.

E learning Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

E learning - Thesis Example In spite of these qualities and openings, e-learning faces a few unmistakable hindrances. These obstructions will be investigated in this paper. Various hindrances to e-learning can forestall or postpone the powerful structure or execution of e-learning programs. This area examines a portion of the far reaching classifications of blocks to e-learning. Table 1 demonstrates the different boundaries to e-discovering that are orchestrated by distribution. Insufficient innovative instruments, for example, absence of PCs, and poor or constrained Internet accessibility can hinder the selection of e-learning. Inadequately structured e-learning programs are hindrances to e-adapting as well. The learning framework for e-learning must be applied to preservice educating, and if not, there will be issues in the structure and execution of e-learning. In India, schools don't have adequate gear for conveying e-learning, particularly in rustic territories, and data transmission issues are likewise far reaching concerns. The nonappearance of a dependable ICT framework shapes e-learning appropriation comparably. Negative generalizations against more seasoned students sway the support of more established understudies in e-learning stages (334). Absence of ICT information and abilities among more established understudies are obstructions to e-adapting as well. Educators are bound to actualize e-learning, in the event that it is lined up with open instructions approaches and gauges. KSA must go over the chance of ordering e-learning across state funded instruction levels to upgrade its selection. Contrasts in strategies and usage on account of managerial measurements can influence e-learning dissemination. Poor expert advancement toward e-learning can be ascribed to the association due to absence of assets and additionally political will and solidarity. Educators may not receive e-learning on the off chance that they don't see that the organization as steady to the abilities preparing and different necessities of e-learning stage. Poor arrangement between e-learning objectives and educational plan can frustrate e-learning adequacy. Table 1 shows

Shiny Circuits

Shiny Circuits Hey guys! I know its been a little while since I have blogged. The problem is that people like pictures. And people like to know about the lives of MIT students. BUT, right now even though I have both pictures and the life of an MIT student, my pictures are not about my life as an MIT student (they tend to be about how neat trees look right after rain in the Fall). Thats because most of the things Im doing now as an MIT student (researching at a Department of Defense Research and Development Laboratory, observing in a local high school classroom, interviewing for cool jobs) expressly forbid taking pictures. So, I decided to take pictures of part of someone elses life at MIT: 6.131 Lab. 6.131 Lab, or Power Electronics is one of those classes that reminds students why they came to MIT in the first place. At this time of year in many other classes, students are cramming as much into their heads as possible for midterms. At this time of the year in 6.131, students have just finished working late nights to create a system that lets them drive a go-cart. Now theyre working on controlling fluorescent lights. Breadboard by Noah S. 10 Why, you might ask, does a fluorescent light need to be controlled? You have likely seen a demonstration of how easy it is to wire up an incandescent bulb; you basically just connect it to a battery. In these more traditional bulbs, the filament is a resistive unit, so the more voltage you put across it, the more current will flow through, and the brighter it will shine. The filament is made out of metal (these days, usually Tungsten), so even though there is some resistance there, it is not very high. In a fluorescent light, instead of a wire filament, there is a tube filled with low-pressure mercury vapor. When the light is turned off, this gas provides a very high resistance. Even though mercury is metal just like Tungsten is, its spread out as a gas. For electric current to flow through the bulb, it needs to be able to jump from one atom of metal to the next, all the way to the end of the bulb. Signal Generator in Power Electronics Lab at MIT So thats the first difference: to get the light going in the first place, you need to provide a HUGE voltage. So why arent fluorescent bulbs just like incandescents with bigger batteries? Well, as soon as you have started the flow of electrons through the tube, the vapor ionizes! This means that its resistance drops very suddenly. If you continued to use the same amount of voltage you used to start the lamp to run it, it would explode! Noah S. 10 Hard at work. See the giant green donut-thing with red wire? Thats a huge inductor. And then the final kicker: The V-I characteristics, or relationships between voltage and current, for the lamp, are really weird. Even if you put a high amount of voltage in to start the lamp, then bring it down to the perfect level, it is a very fragile system. If some tiny little variable changes, like the temperature, it could become unstable, the current could run away, and it would still break! *For 6.131 Professor Leebs explanation of why this happens, see note at the end. The answer to all of our problems! So, the answer, clearly, is to use the circuity represented above. All clear? Just in case its not, lets explain So, the goal is to provide a big initial voltage, then turn it down and set up some sort of self-policing system. Most of the things in the picture above are just made to generate a huge square wave (40 Volts). Theres a part where you can adjust the Duty Cycle, or what part of the time the square wave is high or low. The other really important parts are right next to the part labeled Fluorescent Lamp. They are L and C. The huge square wave comes in through L (an inductor) and then chooses whether to go through the C (capacitor) or lamp. If the lamp is off, it goes through the C, since theres so much resistance in the lamp. If the lamp is on, it goes through the lamp and mostly avoids the capacitor. When the lamp is off, the inductor and capacitor form a resonant circuit. If the frequency of the square wave going in is right, the voltage in the capacitor voltage builds up until it is high enough that the lamp starts. Once the lamp starts, the inductor helps to keep the amount of current in the lamp steady. Other cool things about the lab are winding the big inductors yourself, doing all your own soldering, and working with chips that are getting hot enough that they need huge heat sinks (the big black metal things in the photo below.) Let me know if you have any questions about 6.131 or lab classes in general. And thanks to Noah S. 10 for showing me his circuitry and giving me a refresher course on building a lamp ballast :) Totem board, Noah S. 10 *Im going to quote Professor Leeb himself here, because he explains it so clearly. In the lit fluorescent lamp, an increase in terminal voltage corresponds to a decrease in terminal current, and vice-versa. This happens because, roughly, as the current decreases in the tube, the number of charged carriers in the tube also decreases, decreasing the conductivity of the plasma column in the tube. So a higher voltage is needed to maintain the lower current! Increasing the current on the other hand, increases the conductivity of the plasma. A lower voltage is required in this case to sustain the higher current. With these properties, imagine a slight, inevitable disturbance that momentarily increases the current in the bulb. This disturbance could be a slight change in exterior temperature, for example. The voltage across the tube remains fixed, but now we are off the equilibrium curve, with a larger number of charge carriers in the tube compared to before the disturbance. Off the equilibrium curve, this voltage will push yet more current into the bulb, further increasing the conductivity. If the voltage remains unchanged, the bulb enters a runaway condition, where the current increases until something breaks.

Essay about Geoffrey Chaucer Used Satire in His Tales

To begin, back in the days on Geoffrey Chaucer, religion was ruled by one and only one church, the Roman Catholic Church. He never really agreed with the ways of the church so he wrote a series of tales making fun of the people of England and the ways of the church. Even though he was purposely making fun of the church, he had to be careful of the way he said some things. With some of the characters he creates, Chaucer finds himself apologizing in advance for what he is about to say; or what the characters were about to say. By doing this Chaucer is using satire. Satire is when you say something but mean another or the opposite of the thing you say. Most of Chaucer’s tales are not appropriate for high schools, but of†¦show more content†¦It tells in his tale that the Pardoner’s favorite thing to preach against is greed, but what people don’t know is that he is only the pardoner because he likes the money; he is greedy. Chaucer uses this type of sa tire to help illustrate that the Pardoned is a hypocrite. â€Å"Out come the pence, and specially for myself, for my exclusive purpose is to win and not at all to castigate their sin.† When the pardoned says this he is basically saying that I’m only doing this job for the money, and that he could care less about the people he is supposed to help. That is how Chaucer uses satire for the Pardoner. Lastly, The Wife of Bath’s Tale is wronged because it goes against the idea of patriarchy. Patriarchy goes all the way back to Aristotle who said that there was a pyramid of life; gods on top, the men, and last women and whatever was left. Women, back then, were to obey their husbands, and if they didn’t their husbands were allowed to beat some sense into them to put them back in line. With that information comes the Wife of Bath who stands up in front of the group and explains how she would trick her husbands and proved that she was just as smart, maybe eve n smarter. Moving onto her tale which also has to do with a woman tricking a man. In the tale a knight is set on a journey to find out what women want. While on his journey he comes in contact with an old lady who makes a deal with him; if he does whatShow MoreRelatedGeoffrey Chaucers Use of Characterization Essay1308 Words   |  6 Pageswork fame or shame. Geoffrey Chaucer, a pioneer of English Literature’s works carried mass appeal. His best known works appealed to those of all walks of life. Chaucer’s work resulted in mass appeal because it used many forms of characterization to present the characters to the reader. In Geoffrey Chaucer’s Prologue to the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer uses thoughts and actions, his word, and satire to characterize The Squire and The Wife of Bath. Geoffrey Chaucer is well known for his use of characterizationRead MoreThe Use Of Satire In The Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1406 Words   |  6 Pages Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, using his characters as the mouthpiece for his iconoclastic views. Chaucer had serious issues with the hypocrisy of the church as well as, many other sacred institutions. The only reason that Chaucer was not exiled or even imprisoned for his views is the way in which he exposed them. Through the allegorical meanings of this text and Chaucer’s claim that he is simply retelling the events of his pilgrimage to Canterbury as it occurred, Chaucer is savedRead More Chaucers Canterbury Tales2103 Words   |  9 Pagesinto. Geoffrey Chaucer served most of his life in the employment of the crown, as both a soldier and a clerk. Yet through all of these titles, Chaucer would be forever immortalized as Geoffrey Chaucer the writer, and the Satirist. The true goal of any Satire is to point out the flaws in certain aspect of society, while also inspiring reform to that very same aspect in one way or another. In Chaucer’s Canterbury tales, Chaucer satirizes the corruption Catholic Church and those associated. Chaucer sawRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer1321 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Canterbury Tales? The story behind The Canterbury Tales is enhancing. Geoffrey Chaucer was a revolutionary writer whose life influenced his writing. Geoffrey Chaucer helped the king and stayed at his service for years. Chaucer quit the service to chase his ambitious dream of being a writer and a poet, and hoped to succeed. Chaucer wrote many stories and poems and his most successful and popular was The Canterbury Tales. His stories were revolutionary and successful. Geoffrey Chaucer s life wasRead MoreThe Canterbury Tales By Geoffrey Chaucer897 Words   |  4 Pages Geoffrey Chaucer had done many things including being a son of a merchant, page in the royal house, soldier, diplomat, and a royal clerk. Being all thing thinks he has seen quite of the world which helped him write â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† and through this piece of work he did entertains us. We consider this as a masterpiece that provides the best contemporary. He wrote a collection of stories to make a political point. He died before he was done righting all of his poems and short stories. AlsoRead MoreGeoffrey Chaucer View and Change on Judgement968 Words   |  4 PagesWhen we start this judgment process, we also form certain opinions towards that person or an organization. Geoffrey Chaucer is one of these people, but he actually did something about it. He had problems with some social aspects during the 1300s which included the church, gender differences, and hypocrisy. He wrote about these problems in a set of tales widely known as The Canterbury Tales. The first is The General Prologue which describes a pilgrimage to Canterbury that many people endure, but onRead MoreTheme Of Feudal Class In The Canterbury Tales1218 Words   |  5 Pagesour assembly in this company (lines 711-14). Geoffrey Chaucer explains to his readers that he has given a full description of each of his fellow pilgrims in his General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. Along with naming each character, he provides their profession which classifies each pilgrim into one of three social classes: the religious class, the merchant class, or feudal order. Chaucer provides a social commentary of the major social classes of his day, and though he criticizes characters fromRead MoreUse Of Satire In Canterbury Tales1301 Words   |  6 PagesChaucer’s Satyric Attack (An analysis of Chaucer’s use of satire to reach his intended audience in his Canterbury Tales) Satire is defined as â€Å"the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize peoples stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues† (Oxford). Another term that people would be more familiar with to describe this would be sarcasm. Language can be utilized in a nasty way, especially when wanting to demoralizeRead MoreThe Element of Satire with Respect to Chaucers Canterbury Tales1293 Words   |  6 PagesTHESIS: THE ELEMENT OF SATIRE WITH RESPECT TO CHAUCERS CANTERBURY TALES It is human nature to laugh when an event goes wrong or to make a mockery of an all too serious person. But what if authors had the power to use this instinct within humans to drive a point across? In fact they do and they call this literary toolÂ…satire. Many authors have used this tool as a backbone in their writings; others have only managed to throw in elements of satire here and there. However, there was one authorRead MoreTones, Moods, and Irony in the Canterbury Tales833 Words   |  4 Pagestone in which the real meaning is contradicted by the words that were used. The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer is a suitable novel for showing various examples of tone, mood, and irony through the many different characters, their personalities, and their narrations. As far as literary tone goes, it is basically the same as the tone used when verbally speaking. Chaucer balanced the serious and deathly tales with the tales set for comedy. In the General Prologue, the portrayals of the Knight

Technology The Heart of Change - 1856 Words

Introduction Technology is steady changing in the world today, so therefore organizations are steady having to keep up with technology in order for their businesses to survive. Since the workforce is becoming more and more diverse and customers are requiring much more, leaders must deal with changes in both domestic and global markets and competition (Ivancevich, Konopaske, Matteson, p.8). There are many ways to go about successful change within the organization, but it’s all about how you present the information to the people within the organization. The Heart of Change focused around eight steps on how successful change comes about. According to Krotter and Cohen, the most fundamental problem in all of the stages is changing the behavior of people. It’s very difficult to try and change an organization when one had been accustom to doing things a certain way. In this paper we will discuss the eight steps presented in The Heart of Change compared to the textbook Organizational B ehavior and Management. Step one is the Increase Urgency. When making change, the first step is making sure sufficient people act with sufficient urgency with behavior that looks for opportunities and problems, that energizes colleagues, that beams a sense of lets go (Krotter Cohen, p.15). In one of the stories in The Heart of Change there was the videotape of the Angry Customer. In this case the customer was angry about changes that were supposed to be fixed on his order, but wasn’t. CustomerShow MoreRelatedDoppler Ultrasound in Obstetrics Essay958 Words   |  4 Pages2012). Labor and delivery nursing have benefited from integrating technology into the care of the mother and fetus. The perinatal nurse has a vast array of technologies that assist in establishing trust with parents during pregnancy. Doppler ultrasound is utilized during pregnancy to reassure mothers of fetal well-being. External fetal monitoring with Doppler ultrasound has limitations for fetal monitoring during labor. Technology s uch as the Doppler ultrasound is used to increase patient confidenceRead MoreSocial And Behavioral Theories Of Behavior Change889 Words   |  4 Pagesmiddle income countries (W.H.O. 2016). In the United States, heart disease is also the foremost killer disease. It killed 614,398 people in 2014 which is about twenty-three percent (23%) of the total death in the country (C.D.C. 2016). Heart attack affects about 750,000 every year and 550,000 of these had their first episode while about 200,000 of them experienced their second episode. The C.D.C also reports that half of the sudden heart attacks occur outside of hospital (C.D.C. 2016). The purposeRead MoreUnit 3 Assignment 1 MRI S And Pacemaker Essay628 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿ The increase of the development of new technologies in the society are becoming more essential in many ways. The updated and upgraded tools are more influential and significant to resolve a difficult cases. Healthcare field are using a greater amount of usage with the new technologies to further their knowledge, become more accurate, and provide a successful result. The advancement of any technologies in all area must consider the great outcome for the majority. The MRI’s and Pacemaker have madeRead MoreEssay Science and Technology1128 Words   |  5 PagesScience and Technology ` The Internet, which is becoming a sort of technological utopia for some, is becoming a technological nightmare for others. The relationship between science and technology has always been pretty equal, linked through their shared goal of helping to improve society. But now, in the 21st century, it seems like technology is outgrowing its niche. The question that todays society needs to ask itself is this: Exactly how far is too far? For some this is a hard question, andRead MoreTechnology And Its Impact On Society1615 Words   |  7 PagesTechnology consists of a never-ending cycle of development that has been improving for many generations. Today’s generation functions on a fast-moving environment which means that technology needs to match that pace to keep up with societies ever-growing demands. Scientists and engineers are simultaneously collaborating to develop new advances for people to integrate into their lives. History tells that the first wearable technology that wa s ever created was the watch. People wore them to help themRead MoreObesity as a Disorder1110 Words   |  5 Pageswill build up to a point where the risk for diabetes, stroke, heart attack or heart failure, and high blood pressure will increase dramatically. Because of the high amount of fat no presents it complicates breathing and how much harder your body has work to burn off calories and pump blood. Obesity generally affects the heart leading to problems such as chest pains, heart attacks, and heart failure. Obesity patients have technologies such as the BMI (Body Mass Index) that calculates a person’s bodyRead MoreHealth Monitoring Wearable Essay1232 Words   |  5 Pagescontinues to improve the health-monitoring wearable technology in our society. The technology first started with very simple tasks such as tracking steps to complicated diagnostics such as diagnosing heart diseases ahead of time. Due to the health-monitoring wearable technology being unfamiliar and new to the society, many questions how the technology would improve today’s society. The question arises whether the health-monitoring wearable technology increases the quality of health. In this paper, IRead MoreToo Many People with Heart Failure958 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"About 5.8 million people in the United States have heart failure. The number of people who have this condition is growing. Heart failure is a leading cause of hospital stays among people on Medicare† (National Heart, Lung, and Blo od Institute, 2012). It is very common in individuals who are 65 years old or older, overweight people, and children with congenital heart defects. Heart failure is a chronic condition characterized by the heart’s inability to pump enough amounts of blood rich in oxygenRead MoreHistorical Perspectives Of The Treatment Of Cardiac Arrhythmia1598 Words   |  7 PagesPERSPECTIVES OF THE TREATMENT OF CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIA† INTRODUCTION: The contraction and relaxation of the heart is represented in the form of electrical signals in electrocardiogram. Normally the depolarisation of SA node present in the right atrium of the heart is helpful in determining the heart rate of a person. SA node i.e. the sino atrial node is called the natural pacemaker of the heart. The electrical signal produced by the SA node starts the first beat, it causes the atria to contract andRead MoreTechnology: Beneficial or Harmful?1688 Words   |  7 PagesMichelle Sustayta Professor Elahi English 201 16 July 2013 Technology: Beneficial or Harmful? Throughout the vast history of humanity, humans have always used their innovative and cognitive skills to create tools to better improve their chances at survival on this planet. This technology advancement first began in the Stone Age when man fist discovered that stone could be utilized as both a harvesting tool and hunting weapon; which gradually developed into spears, bows and arrows, and swords

Ernst Von Mansfeld Thirty Years Free Essays

Thirty Years’ War: Ernst von Mansfeld Ernst von Mansfeld was a German military commander in the Thirty Years War. Although he fought for the Protestant cause, Mansfeld was a Roman Catholic. He was considered one of the most dangerous opponent of the Catholic League. We will write a custom essay sample on Ernst Von Mansfeld Thirty Years or any similar topic only for you Order Now He was born in 1580 as the illegitimate son of Peter Ernst I von Mansfeld-Vorderort and Dorothea von Solms- Lich. In 1594 he served under Archduke Leopold. Then, in 1610 he Joined Frederick V and the Protestant Union. At the age 36 he led his first regiment of 2000 men. He fought for the Protestant Union until he died from illness in November, 1626. In the Bohemian Phase of the Thirty Years’ War Mansfeld led an army of 2000 men, raised by the Duke of Savoy, to aid the Bohemian rebels. He successfully siege the Bohemian city of Pilsen in 1618. Mansfeld was defeated in the Battle of Sablat after being inactive for a while. At the Battle of White Mountain Masfeld and his forces were defeated, and in shortly after forced to surrender Pilsen to the Catholics. Toward the end of the Bohemian Phase King Frederick V selected Mansfeld to lead is Bohemian troops. Following this he undertook Frederick’s position in Upper Palatinate. He then moved into Rhenish Palatinate. This allowed Mansfeld to successfully defend against Johann Tserclaes, the Count of Tillys attempt at overtaking Bohemian rebel regiments. He also was defeated by Tilly twice. Mansfeld’s troops were very destructive, not only to the lands of his enemy, but to the lands he was supposed to defend. During the Palatine Phase of the Thirty Years’ War Mansfeld raised another of Frederick Vs armies in an effort to recover Palastine. The effort was a failure, because he was once again defeated by Tilly. Then Mansfeld was given an army of 12,000 men by James I of England. These troops were sent into the Dutch city of Breda as an attempt of relief for the Siege of Breda, but the troops were not permitted set foot on land, and Breda fell in 1625. Mansfeld led the remainder of his army to Dutch lands, where they were once again defeated by Habsburg forces. Mansfeld continued to fght. He led his forces to Bergen-op-Zoom, a Dutch city seiged by the Spainish in 1622. This led to the relief of the city. Mansfeld spent 1624 and 1625 raising an anti-Habsburg army. He led this coalition in a march on Bohemia in 1626, but in a turn of events Mansfeld was forced to turn to Hungary. He intended on returning to his base after being defeated by Tilly once again. On his return home Mansfeld fell ill, and on November 29, 1626 he died in Bosnia. Mansfeld was a great force to be reckoned with during Thirty year’s War. The Protestant Union can contribute much ot their success during the early phases ot the war. He was remarkable because he fought for the Protestant cause while remaining a faithful Catholic. How to cite Ernst Von Mansfeld Thirty Years, Papers

Operational Plan free essay sample

Offices Assistant Operational Plan Goal Increase the sales in each store by 10% by June 2013 Objectives: a) include graphic design services b) Acquisition of additional printer, photocopier and delivery van. c) Reorganize of fixtures and fitting within the store to make space for the equipment d) Multi-skill current retail product staff to include service knowledge. e) Increase in human resource requirements. Strategy In order to increase the sales, the company will need to employee 10 more people with costumer service background, and provide the correct training of the products and services. Consultation Stakeholder Role in the Problem Consultation Method Senior Management Team Decision Maker feedback session email communications newsletters Store Manager Develop an operational plan Meetings group meetings interviews Employees Implementers of the plan Focus groups Brainstorming sessions Feedback sessions. Suppliers Supply equipment Email communication Newsletters Customers Email communication Newsletters Media Involved in the advertisement ex Email communication Newsletters Actions: In order to complete the organization goal and objectives the following are the action that should be taken: a) Include a graphic designer The Marketing department need to advertise the position of graphic designer. The general manager will oversee all hotel department and makes sure the hotel runs smoothly. Moreover, the general manager is responsible for defining and interpreting the established by the top management of YOTEL. Administrative Departments The Human Resources department is to handle employee recruitment, training and salaries. Accounting Finance Department is responsible for recording financial transactions, forecasting and preparing monthly and annual reports and providing the managers of other departments with timely reports of operating results and financial data for making decisions. The Marketing Sales department is responsible for running promotions and selling advertisement space in hotels. Moreover, the department also have responsibility of selling hotel facilities and services to the customers. Operations Departments The Rooms department mainly handles customer service including housekeeping and reservations. As we are a small service hotel, the engineering is also included in this department, which is responsible for preventive maintenance, repair, modification to furniture and equipment, and ensuring constant provision of utilities. For customer services, our hotel will adopt the automated check in out system, which means that the check in and out is on self-services. Although our hotel is adopting the automated check in out system, front office is also needed. The customers can get help if they have problem. On the other hand, our hotel will set up standard operating procedure to state the policies and procedure of a hotel for the employees to follow. This procedure is to educate hotel staff on the best way to deal with some common situation, from handling guest complaints to handling fire. The purpose of the standard operating procedure is ensure a positive guest experience.

Maruti Suzuki Essay Example

Maruti Suzuki Essay Maruti Suzuki India Limited (Hindi: ) (NSE:Â  MARUTI, BSE:Â  532500) a partial subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation of Japan, is Indias largest passenger car company, accounting for over 45% of the domestic car market. The company offers a complete range of cars from entry level Maruti 800 and Alto, to hatchback Ritz, A star, Swift, Wagon-R, Estillo and sedans DZire, SX4 and Sports Utility vehicle Grand Vitara. [3] It was the first company in India to mass-produce and sell more than a million cars. It is largely credited for having brought in an automobile revolution to India. It is the market leader in India and on 17 September 2007, Maruti Udyog Limited was renamed Maruti Suzuki India Limited. The companys headquarters are located in New Delhi. [1] Contents| Type Public Traded as BSE:Â  532500 NSE:Â  MARUTI Industry Automotive Founded 1981 (as Maruti Udyog Limited) Headquarters New Delhi, India [1] Key people Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, Managing Director and CEO Products Automobiles Revenue US$4. 8 billion (2009) Employees 6,903 [2] Parent Suzuki Motor Corporation Website MarutiSuzuki. om [edit] Profile The old logo of Maruti Suzuki India Limited. Later the logo of Suzuki Motor Corp. was also added to it To Munsiyari on a Maruti 800, Uttarakhand Himalayas Maruti Suzuki plant in Gurgaon Maruti Suzuki is India and Nepals number one leading automobile manufacturer and the market leader in the car segment, both in terms of volume of vehicles sold and revenue earned. Until recently, 1 8. 28% of the company was owned by the Indian government, and 54. 2% by Suzuki of Japan. The BJP-led government held an initial public offering of 25% of the company in June 2003. We will write a custom essay sample on Maruti Suzuki specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Maruti Suzuki specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Maruti Suzuki specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer As of 10 May 2007, Govt. of India sold its complete share to Indian financial institutions. With this, Govt. of India no longer has stake in Maruti Udyog. Maruti Udyog Limited (MUL) was established in February 1981, though the actual production commenced in 1983 with the Maruti 800, based on the Suzuki Alto kei car which at the time was the only modern car available in India, its only competitors- the Hindustan Ambassador and Premier Padmini were both around 25 years out of date at that point. Through 2004, Maruti Suzuki has produced over 5 Million vehicles. Maruti Suzukis are sold in India and various several other countries, depending upon export orders. Models similar to Maruti Suzukis (but not manufactured by Maruti Udyog) are sold by Suzuki Motor Corporation and manufactured in Pakistan and other South Asian countries. The company annually exports more than 50,000 cars and has an extremely large domestic market in India selling over 730,000 cars annually. Maruti 800, till 2004, was the Indias largest selling compact car ever since it was launched in 1983. More than a million units of this car have been sold worldwide so far. Currently, Maruti Suzuki Alto tops the sales charts and Maruti Suzuki Swift is the largest selling in A2 segment. Due to the large number of Maruti 800s sold in the Indian market, the term Maruti is commonly used to refer to this compact car model (Maruti is another name of the Hindu god, Hanuman). Maruti Suzuki has been the leader of the Indian car market for over two decades. Its manufacturing facilities are located at two facilities Gurgaon and Manesar south of Delhi. Maruti Suzuki’s Gurgaon facility has an installed capacity of 350,000 units per annum. The Manesar facilities, launched in February 2007 comprise a vehicle assembly plant with a capacity of 100,000 units per year and a Diesel Engine plant with an annual capacity of 100,000 engines and transmissions. Manesar and Gurgaon facilities have a combined capability to produce over 700,000 units annually. More than half the cars sold in India are Maruti Suzuki cars. The company is a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, which owns 54. per cent of Maruti Suzuki. The rest is owned by public and financial institutions. It is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange in India. During 2007-08, Maruti Suzuki sold 764,842 cars, of which 53,024 were exported. In all, over six million Maruti Suzuki cars are on Indian roads since the first car was rolled out on 14 December 1983. Maruti Suzuki offers 14 models, Maruti 800, Alto, WagonR, Estilo, A-star, Ritz, Swift, S wift DZire, SX4, Omni, Eeco, Gypsy, Grand Vitara, Kizashi. Swift, Swift DZire, A-star and SX4 are manufactured in Manesar, Grand Vitara and Kizashi are imported from Japan as completely built units(CBU), remaining all models are manufactured in Maruti Suzukis Gurgaon Plant. Suzuki Motor Corporation, the parent company, is a global leader in mini and compact cars for three decades. Suzuki’s technical superiority lies in its ability to pack power and performance into a compact, lightweight engine that is clean and fuel efficient. Nearly 75,000 people are employed directly by Maruti Suzuki and its partners. It has been rated first in customer satisfaction among all car makers in India from 1999 to 2009 by J D Power Asia Pacific. [4] [edit] Partner for the joint venture Sanjay Gandhi owned the Maruti Technical Services Limited, which ran into trouble and was liquidated. After the death of Sanjay Gandhi, the Indira Gandhi government assigned a delegation of Indian technocrats to hunt for a collaborator for the project. Initial rounds of discussion were held with the giants of the automobile industry in Japan including Toyota, Nissan and Honda. Suzuki Motor Corporation was at that time a small player in the four wheeler automobile sector and had major share in the two wheeler segment. Suzukis bid was considered negligible. While the major companies were personally represented in the initial rounds of discussion, Osamu Suzuki, Chairman and CEO of the company ensured that he was present in all the rounds of discussion. Osamu in an article writes that it subtly massaged their (Indian delegations) egos and also convinced them about the sincerity of Suzukis bid. Suzuki in return received a lot of help from the government in such matters as import clearances for manufacturing equipment (against the wishes of the Indian machine tool industry then and its own socialistic ideology), land purchase at government prices for setting up the factory Gurgaon and reduced or removal of excise tariffs. This ensured that Suzuki conscientiously nursed Maruti Suzuki through its infancy to become one of its flagship ventures. [5] [edit] Joint venture related issues Maruti Suzukis A-Star vehicle during its unveiling in Pragati Maidan, Delhi. A-Star, Suzukis fifth global car model, was designed and is made only in India. [6] Besides being Suzukis largest subsidiary in terms of car sales, Maruti Suzuki is also Suzukis leading research and development arm outside Japan Relationship between the Government of India, under the United Front (India) coalition and Suzuki Motor Corporation over the joint venture was a point of heated debate in the Indian media till Suzuki Motor Corporation gained the controlling stake. This highly profitable joint venture that had a near monopolistic trade in the Indian automobile market and the nature of the partnership built up till then was the underlying reason for most issues. The success of the joint venture led Suzuki to increase its equity from 26% to 40% in 1987, and further to 50% in 1992. In 1982 both the venture partners had entered into an agreement to nominate their candidate for the post of Managing Director and every Managing Director will have a tenure of five years[7] Initially R. C. Bhargava, was the managing director of the company since the inception of the joint venture. Till today he is regarded as instrumental for the success of Maruti Suzuki. Joining in 1982 he held several key positions in the company before heading the company as Managing Director. Currently he is on the Board of Directors. [8] After completing his five year tenure, Mr. Bhargava later assumed the office of Part-Time Chairman. The Government nominated Mr. S. S. L. N. Bhaskarudu as the Managing Director on 27 August 1997. Mr. Bhaskarudu had joined Maruti Suzuki in 1983 after spending 21 years in the Public sector undertaking Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited as General Manager. Later in 1987 he was promoted as Chief General Manager, 1988 as Director, Productions and Projects, 1989 Director, Materials and in 1993 as Joint Managing Director. Suzuki Motor Corporation didnt attend the Annual General Meeting of the Board with the reason of it being called on a short notice. [9] Later Suzuki Motor Corporation went on record to state that Mr. Bhaskarudu was incompetent and wanted someone else. However, the Ministry of Industries, Government of India refuted the charges. Media stated from the Maruti Suzuki sources that Bhaskarudu was interested to indigenise most of components for the models including gear boxes especially for Maruti 800. Suzuki also felt that Bhaskarudu was a proxy for the Government and would not let it increase its stake in the venture. [10] If Maruti Suzuki would have been able to indigenise gear boxes then Maruti Suzuki would have been able to manufacture all the models without the technical assistance from Suzuki. Till today the issue of localization of gear boxes is highlighted in the press. [11] The relation strained when Suzuki Motor Corporation moved to Delhi High Court to bring a stay order against the appointment of Mr. Bhaskarudu. The issue was resolved in an out-of-court settlement and both the parties agreed that R S SÂ  L N Bhaskarudu would serve up to 31 December 1999, and from 1 January 2000, Jagdish Khattar, Executive Director of Maruti Udyog Limited would assume charges as the Managing Director. 12] Many politicians believed, and had stated in parliament that the Suzuki Motor Corporation is unwilling to localize manufacturing and reduce imports. This remains true, even today the gear boxes are still imported from Japan and are assembled at the Gurgaon facility. [edit] Industrial relations For most of its history, Maruti Udyog Limited had relatively few problems with its labour force. Its emphasis of a Japanese work culture and the modern manufacturing process, first instituted i n Japan in the 1970s, was accepted by the workforce of the company without any difficulty. But with the change in management in 1997, when it became predominantly government controlled for a while, and the conflict between the United Front Government and Suzuki may have been the cause of unrest among employees. A major row broke out in September 2000 when employees of Maruti Udyog Ltd (MUL) went on an indefinite strike, demanding among other things, revision of the incentive scheme offered and implementation of a pension scheme. Employees struck work for six hours in October 2000, irked over the suspension of nine employees, going on a six-hour tools-down strike at its Gurgaon plant, demanding revision of the incentive-linked pay and threatened to fast to death if the suspended employees were not reinstated. About this time, the NDA government, following a disinvestments policy, proposed to sell part of its stake in Maruti Suzuki in a public offering. The Staff union opposed this sell-off plan on the grounds that the company will lose a major business advantage of being subsidised by the Government. The standoff with the management continued to December with a proposal by the management to end the two-month long agitation rejected with a demand for reinstatement of 92 dismissed workers, with four MUL employees going on a fast-unto-death. In December the companys shareholders met in New Delhi in an AGM that lasted 30 minutes. At the same time around 1500 plant workers from the MULs Gurgaon facility were agitating outside the companys corporate office demanding commencement of production linked incentives, a better pension scheme and other benefits. The management has refused to pass on the benefits citing increased competition and lower margins. [13] [edit] Services offered [edit] Current sales of automobiles Maruti Omni Indias Corps of Military Police personnel patrolling the Wagah border crossing in the Punjab in a Maruti Gypsy. Maruti Alto Maruti Suzuki Swift Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo Suzuki SX4 5th Generation Suzuki Alto is sold as Maruti Suzuki A-Star in India. Maruti Suzuki Swift DZire Suzuki Splash is sold as Maruti Suzuki Ritz in India. [edit] Manufactured locally 1. 800 (Launched 1983) 2. Omni (Launched 1984) . Gypsy (Launched 1985) 4. WagonR (Launched 2002) 5. Alto (Launched 2000) 6. Swift (Launched 2005) 7. Estilo (Launched 2009) 8. SX4 (Launched 2007) 9. Swift DZire (Launched 2008) 10. A-star (Launched 2008) 11. Ritz (Launched 2009) 12. Eeco (Launched 2010) 13. Alto K10(Launched 2010) [edit] Imported Suzuki Grand Vitara 1. Grand Vitara (Launched 2007) 2. Kizashi (Launched 2011) [edit] Discontinued car models 1. 1000 (1990–1994) 2. Zen (1993–2006) 3. Esteem (1994–2008) 4. Baleno (1999–2007) 5. Zen Estilo (2006–2009) 6. Versa (2001–2010) 7. Grand Vitara XL7 (2003–2007) *Source edit] Manufacturing facilities Maruti Suzuki has two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in India. [14] Both manufacturing facilities have a combined production capacity of 1,250,000 vehicles annually. [edit] Gurgaon Manufacturing Facility The Gurgaon Manufacturing Facility has three fully integrated manufacturing plants and is spread over 300Â  acres (1. 2Â  km2). All three plants have an installed capacity of 350,000 vehicles annually but productivity improvements have enabled it to manufacture 700,000 vehicles annually. The Gurgaon facilities also manufacture 240,000 K-Series engines annually. The entire facility is equipped with more than 150 robots, out of which 71 have been developed in-house. The Gurgaon Facilities manufactures the 800, Alto, WagonR, Estilo, Omni, Gypsy and Eeco. [edit] Manesar Manufacturing Facility The Manesar Manufacturing Plant was inaugurated in February 2007 and is spread over 600Â  acres (2. 4Â  km2). Initially it had a production capacity of 100,000 vehicles annually but this was increased to 300,000 vehicles annually in October 2008. The production capacity was further increased by 250,000 vehicles taking total production capacity to 550,000 vehicles annually. The Manesar Plant produces the A-star, Swift, Swift DZire and SX4. [edit] Sales and service network As of 31 March 2011 Maruti Suzuki has 933 dealerships across 666 towns and cities in all states and union territories of India. It has 2,946 service stations (inclusive of dealer workshops and Maruti Authorised Service Stations) in 1,395 towns and cities throughout India[15]. It has 30 Express Service Stations on 30 National Highways across 1,314 cities in India. Service is a major revenue generator of the company. Most of the service stations are managed on franchise basis, where Maruti Suzuki trains the local staff. Other automobile companies have not been able to match this benchmark set by Maruti Suzuki. The Express Service stations help many stranded vehicles on the highways by sending across their repair man to the vehicle. [16] [edit] Maruti Insurance Launched in 2002 Maruti Suzuki provides vehicle insurance to its customers with the help of the National Insurance Company, Bajaj Allianz, New India Assurance and Royal Sundaram. The service was set up the company with the inception of two subsidiaries Maruti Insurance Distributors Services Pvt. Ltd and Maruti Insurance Brokers Pvt. Limited[17] This service started as a benefit or value addition to customers and was able to ramp up easily. By December 2005 they were able to sell more than two million insurance policies since its inception. [18] [edit] Maruti Finance To promote its bottom line growth, Maruti Suzuki launched Maruti Finance in January 2002. Prior to the start of this service Maruti Suzuki had started two joint ventures Citicorp Maruti and Maruti Countrywide with Citi Group and GE Countrywide respectively to assist its client in securing loan. 19] Maruti Suzuki tied up with ABN Amro Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Limited, Kotak Mahindra, Standard Chartered Bank, and Sundaram to start this venture including its strategic partners in car finance. Again the company entered into a strategic partnership with SBI in March 2003[20] Since March 2003, Maruti has sold over 12,000 vehicles through SBI-Maruti Finance. SBI-Maruti Finance is currently available in 166 cities across I ndia. [21] Maruti Finance marks the coming together of the biggest players in the car finance business. They are the benchmarks in quality and efficiency. Combined with Maruti volumes and networked dealerships, this will enable Maruti Finance to offer superior service and competitive rates in the marketplace. — Jagdish Khattar, Managing director of Maruti Udyog Limited in a press conference announcing the launch of Maruti Finance on 7 January 2002[19] Citicorp Maruti Finance Limited is a joint venture between Citicorp Finance India and Maruti Udyog Limited its primary business stated by the company is hire-purchase financing of Maruti Suzuki vehicles. Citi Finance India Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Citibank Overseas Investment Corporation, Delaware, which in turn is a 100% wholly owned subsidiary of Citibank N. A. Citi Finance India Limited holds 74% of the stake and Maruti Suzuki holds the remaining 26%. [22] GE Capital, HDFC and Maruti Suzuki came together in 1995 to form Maruti Countrywide. [23] Maruti claims that its finance program offers most competitive interest rates to its customers, which are lower by 0. 25% to 0. 5% from the market rates. [edit] Maruti TrueValue Main Article: Maruti True Value Maruti True service offered by Maruti Suzuki to its customers. It is a market place for used Maruti Suzuki Vehicles. One can buy, sell or exchange used Maruti Suzuki vehicles with the help of this service in India. As of 31 March 2010 there are 341 Maruti True Value outlets. [edit] N2N Fleet Management N2N is the short form of End to End Fleet Management and provides lease and fleet management solution to corporates. Its impressive list of clients who have signed up of this service include Gas Authority of India Ltd, DuPont, Reckitt Benckiser, Sona Steering, Doordarshan, Singer India, National Stock Exchange and Transworld. This fleet management service include end-to-end solutions across the vehicles life, which includes Leasing, Maintenance, Convenience services and Remarketing. [24] [edit] Accessories Many of the auto component companies other than Maruti Suzuki started to offer components and accessories that were compatible. This caused a serious threat and loss of revenue to Maruti Suzuki. Maruti Suzuki started a new initiative under the brand name Maruti Genuine Accessories to offer accessories like alloy wheels, body cover, carpets, door visors, fog lamps, stereo systems, seat covers and other car care products. These products are sold through dealer outlets and authorized service stations throughout India. [25] [edit] Maruti Driving School A Maruti Driving School in Chennai As part of its corporate social responsibility Maruti Suzuki launched the Maruti Driving School in Delhi. Later the services were extended to other cities of India as well. These schools are modelled on international standards, where learners go through classroom and practical sessions. Many international practices like road behaviour and attitudes are also taught in these schools. Before driving actual vehicles participants are trained on simulators. [26] We are very concerned about mounting deaths on Indian roads. These can be brought down if government, industry and the voluntary sector work together in an integrated manner. But we felt that Maruti should first do something in this regard and hence this initiative of Maruti Driving Schools. — Jagdish Khattar, at the launch ceremony of Maruti Driving School, Bangalore [edit] Issues and problems On February, 24, 2010, Maruti Suzuki India, announced recalling of 100,000 A-Star hatchbacks to fix a fuel leakage problem. he company will replace the gaskets for all 100,000 A-Star cars. [27] [edit] Exports Maruti Exports Limited is the subsidiary of Maruti Suzuki with its major focus on exports and it does not operate in the domestic Indian market. The first commercial consignment of 480 cars were sent to Hungary. By sending a consignment of 571 cars to the same country Maruti Suzuki crossed the benchmark of 300,000 cars. Since its inception export was one of the aspects government was keen to encourage. Every political party expected Maruti Suzuki to earn foreign currency.

How to Start a New Semester Strongly

How to Start a New Semester Strongly Knowing how to start a semester strongly can be one of the most important skills to learn during your time in college. After all, the choices you make during the first few weeks (and even days) of a new semester can have long-lasting effects. So just where should you focus your efforts? New Semester Basics Get a time management system. Managing your time just may be your biggest challenge while in college. Find something that works for you and use it from day one. (Not sure where to start? Learn tips for managing your time in college.)Take a reasonable course load. Taking 20 units (or more!) this semester may sound great in theory, but it most likely will come back to haunt you in the long run. Sure, it may seem like a good way to improve your transcript, but the lower grades you might get because your course load is too heavy is a sure way to bring your transcript down, not up. If you absolutely must carry a heavy course load for some reason, however, make sure that youve cut down on your other commitments so that you dont put too many unreasonable expectations on yourself.Have your books purchased or at least on their way. Not having your books the first week of class can put you behind everyone else before you even had the chance to start. Even if you have to go to the library for the first week or two to get the reading done, make sure youre doing what you can to stay on top of your homework until your books arrive. Have some but not too much co-curricular involvement. You dont want to be so over-involved that you barely have time to eat and sleep, but you most likely do need to be involved in something other than your classes all day long. Join a club, get an on-campus job, volunteer somewhere, play on an intramural team: just do something to keep your brain (and personal life!) balanced.Get your finances in order. You may be rocking your classes, but if your financial situation is a mess, you wont be able to finish the semester. Make sure your finances are in order when you start a new semester and that theyll still be that way as you head toward finals week.Have your life logistics worked out. These are different for every college student, but having the basics like your housing/roommate situation, your food/dining options, and your transportation worked out in advance is critical to making it through the semester in a stress-free way.Set up healthy outlets for fun and to relieve stress. You dont need to have a Ph.D. to know that college is stressful. Have things already in place like good groups of friends, exercise plans, hobbies, and smart ways to avoid pitfalls (like knowing how to avoid test anxiety) that will allow you to mentally check out and relax when things get intense. Get information on where to go for help you know, just in case. When, and if, you find yourself juggling more than you can handle, trying to find help while under that kind of stress is nearly impossible. Learn where to go for help before your semester begins so that, just in case things get a little rough, your small speed bump doesnt turn into a major disaster zone.

Martins Four Subsidiary Philosophical Questions Essay

Martins Four Subsidiary Philosophical Questions - Essay Example In this view, then it emerges that the idea put across is about knowledge of things. Therefore, the communist has the tendency of assuming that God is not intelligent enough to create the universe. The idea brings about the theory of knowledge that presupposes that man knows all thus limiting the human knowledge. According to Martin (2006), epistemology undermines an office as shown by the way of life compelled by injustices. The axiological view of the communist is that man has the value and capability to challenge the masterworks of creation. The axiological view associates with the theory of value that has an interest in the study of goodness in philosophy. There are the values themselves and the value judgments in question for the communist. According to Martin (2006), simply implies ultimate value. In other words, it is what is naturally good? Lastly, the communist teleological views concern the purpose of a person in life. Teleological life entails the destiny of a person, goal, and purpose in life. According to martin, (2006), there are two very fundamental approaches to life. Martin strongly argues that the concept of work has greatly evolved from every day’s

Group Business Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Group Business Case Study - Essay Example The school website together with email is potent in engaging the parents in school matters, and empowers the families towards the Islamic studies at their homes. The KMRA website does not contain detailed information for educational issues, choice of teachers, and class timings. Some contents of school for education are focused on the static information such as school rules, curriculum information, school prospectus, mission and vision of organization, contact details and key dates. The core tool used for KMRA website cannot support the large number of customers’ data storage. HTML, CSS provide the development of front user interface and JavaScript supports the functionality. The current website of KMRA on education gives a little information about only courses, and timing. Online admission for students is also lacking in the current website. Once, students or parents are contacted they are told about the admission procedure via telephone for children about Islamic education. In this way, time and money are wasted because it takes enough time to tell them about the system. Once the student is enrolled, the information history is not saved in the system and administration of the school handles manually the record. Fees structure is not displayed about courses, and parents face serious issues about enquiring the dues of courses. No reliable payment module for parents and salary of teachers is embedded in the current website. Overall, the architecture for the current website of KMRA needs extra capabilities to get the required results. From above findings about the current computer based system of KMRA, administration, parents, teachers, and students face the serious issues about the education. Parents are not satisfied due to insufficient resources of communication for their children to learn from the teaching staff of KMRA. Parents go to bank for paying the fees of their children. It wastes time and money of parents. This is a big disadvantage of the syst em and parents search other sites for teaching their children. Permanent users/clients are the new one for the administration of KMRA because no history of existing parents and their children is saved. When parents ask for the availability of teachers, but teachers are not available at that time. The KMRA information system must have information about the caller and contact later when teachers are available. This functionality is also lacking in the system. All above-mentioned issues about KMRA’s education for children need the solution. Information systems have become the significant source of learning and research related activities. Building a reliable information system requires the use of advanced technology as the architecture for the information system. Architecture for the information system is expressed in the different ways. Management information system of an education institute is built in a meaningful way for performing the required functions. Management of KMRA information system receives information from external as well as internal sources. Architecture of the KMRA information system can be used for information interchange via the interfaces. Third way of expressing the architecture of KMRA information system is the use of layers. The conceptual model of layers uses the information technology for data processing through the latest technology. Infrastructure will provide the essential support for

Gandhis character and leadership style

Gandhis character and leadership style Below analysis of case study from movie Gandhi is based on life of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. M.K. Gandhi after a successful fight against indiscrimination in South Africa devoted rest of his life to lead India to freedom. In the forthcoming sections detailed leader profile of M.K. Gandhi based on observations will be generated. Different leadership aspects, principles, effectiveness, and styles used by Gandhiji in his fight for the independence of India will be demonstrated. Also, part of focus will be the reaction of followers and peers on a very different perspective of leadership and its impact on British Empire. Entire analysis is supported by existing theories, research evidences and empirically grounded data about leadership. Leadership concepts According to Yukl (2010) Leadership can be defined as the process of influencing others to understand and agree about what needs to be done and how to do it, and the process of facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives. Movie Gandhi based on M.K Gandhis life over the length has very well depicted the various dimensions and aspects of leadership. It portrays the birth of great leader under adverse circumstances, who later on transforms into exceptional leader to lead India to its long awaited independence from British Empire. Movie very well captures number of instances in the life of M.K.Gandhi which have an influential impact on the masses as well as on the viewers. How a leader can effectively and efficiently lead people with an unconventional style and what differentiates a good leader from an extraordinary leader are the highlights of the movie. Over the time different flavours of leadership style under different circumstances can be observed. The legacy of Gandhijis leadership remains one of the most powerful forces for peace in the world, and this film is a superb tribute to it. Charismatic, transformational, ethical leadership aspects are among the few that are quite significantly depicted in the movie. Use of Power and Influence tactics Power is useful for understanding how people are able to influence each other in organization (Mintzberg,1983). Power involves the capacity of one party (the agent) to influence another party (the target). French and Raven (1959) developed taxonomy to classify different types of power according to their source. The taxonomy includes five different types of power as below Reward Power The target person complies in order to obtain reward controlled by the agent. Coercive Power The target person complies in order to avoid punishment controlled by the agent. Legitimate Power The target person complies because he/she believes the agent has the right to make request and the target person has the obligation to comply Expert Power The target person complies because he/she believes that the agent has special knowledge about the best what to do something. Referent Power The target person complies because he/she admires or identifies with the agent and wants to gain the agents approval. Gandhis possession of power was more of a referent kind. As observed in the movie Gandhi always identified himself among the masses. He fought the battle in South Africa with a tie and a suit but when he came to India he changed his attire to that of an Indian peasant. Before he started his mission in Indian Gandhi went across all over India to meet people and know them. For this very reason in one of the scene Gandhi while addressing people says that, the battle for Indian Independence can be fought by being one among them. As illustrated by Dubrin the end results of a leaders influence outcomes are a function of the influence tactics he or she uses. The influence tactics are in turn moderated, or affected by, the leaders traits and behaviours and the situation. He further adds that the three possible outcomes are commitment, compliance, and resistance ( as shown in the figure on next page). Commitment represents the highest degree of success; the target of the influence attempt is enthusiastic about carrying out the request and makes it a full effort. Pretty much like an outcome of the non co-operation movement. Compliance means that the influence attempt is partially successful. The target person is apathetic (not overjoyed) and makes only a modest effort to carry out the request. This type was illustrated when in some parts the violence broke out in Hindu-Muslim. There were no signs of complete resistance where in an absolutely unsuccessful attempt was made. The model shown in figure on next page illustrates the possible end results of a leaders influence. Gandhi power and Influence tactics_1.png 3.1) DESCRIPTION AND EXPLANATION OF INFLUENCE TACTICS Influence tactics are classified as those that are essentially ethical and honest versus those that are essentially manipulative and devious. Gandhiji has always used his ideals and principle in which he had beliefs to influence people. Non-violence was one of the biggest influencing tools that Gandhiji used throughout. Gandhi always practiced as well as preached the importance of honesty, self dependency and courage. He had a completely ethical and honest approach to his ideologies. Considering that his influence tactics falls in to the category of Essentially Ethical and Honest Tactics. Essentially Ethical and Honest Tactics Used with tact, diplomacy, and good intent, the tactics described in this section can facilitate getting others to join you in accomplishing a worthwhile objective. These tactics vary in complexity and the time required to develop them. 1. Leading by Example and Respect. A simple but effective way of influencing group members is leading by example, or leading by acting as a positive role model. Being respected facilitates leading by example. Gandhi use to weave his clothes by himself. He appealed people to stop using western clothes and use the clothes made in India. He got a terrific response from the people wherein thousands of them burnt their clothes. 2. Using Rational Persuasion. To implement this tactic, the leader uses logical arguments and factual evidence to convince another person that a proposal or request is workable and likely to result in goal attainment. Rational persuasion is likely to be the most effective with people who are intelligent and rational. A major intervening variable in rational persuasion is the credibility of the influence agent. A subtle factor is that credible people are perceived as having higher power. Gandhi was an astute individual he always used simple facts and witty humour to convince another person. He had knowledge of law and during many incidences particularly a court scene in champaner where he refuses to pay for bail, refrain from leaving the village as well and agrees to stay in jail knowing it would be difficult for court to keep him. Also many such logical arguments can be cited in the movie during his negotiations with the British, his comrade, press people and general public. He backe d up his belief in non-violence by providing the evidence of his struggle for civil rights movement in South Africa. Gandhis character and leadership style South African president recently quoted pertaining to Gandhiji You produced a lawyer and we produced a leader out of him. Indeed, the first colours of this great leaders charisma were evident in South Africa when he was thrown out of first class compartment on racial basis. Gandhijis self respect and an absolutely intolerant attitude to injustice made him to take a stand to proclaim the rights to be treated as equal citizen of Empire by peaceful means. He had a completely impartial view and courage to an extent that he was willing to take a blow but not accept injustice. His strong belief on the cause he was working on helped him to gain faith of the people and he gave them a way. This eventually led to reconsideration and abolition of act pertaining to racial discrimination of Indians in South Africa. According to Weber (1947) charisma occurs during a social crisis, when a leader emerges with a radical vision that offers a solution to the crisis, and attracts followers who believes in the vision Particular situation in South Africa was emergent where in Gandhiji came out to be a strong and a highly charismatic leader. He had a vision to fight against the indiscriminate rules and eradicate them which he did successfully. Self- confidence, strong conviction in his beliefs, and high expectations and confidence on the abilities of the followers are clear evidences of a strong charismatic leader which Gandhi showed. Evidence is very well supported by current theories of charismatic leadership.. On his return to India, Gandhiji was looked upon with lots of hopes and expectation especially after the triumph in South Africa and his writing skills. In India he faced with a broader vision of a Home Rule Movement. Gandhijis participation in peasants problems against landlord in champaner signifies to large extend his stubborn nature and belief to fight against indiscrimination and injustice. It started when an individual approached Gandhiji with the problems the peasants in champaner were facing. Gandhijis presence there to fight the problem clearly demonstrated the importance, respect, individual attention and consideration to an individual. His rational approach towards the problem was very different and intellectually stimulating than what was expected, but it yield results. Victory in champaner had a message that speeded all across India, it was a new way to fight and win. Above observations guides towards the Transformation Leadership characteristics that Gandhiji demonstrated. According to Bass, transformational leadership can be defined based on the impact that it has on followers. Transformational leaders, Bass suggested, garner trust, respect and admiration from their followers. Various components that are part of transformational leadership are presented on the next page. 4.1) Transformational Leadership:- Bass suggested that there were four different components of transformational leadership. Idealized Influence The transformational leaders serves as a role model for followers. Because followers trust and respect the leader, they emulate the leader and internalize his or her ideals. Before Gandhi came to India he was already known for his writing and non-violent movement in South Africa. After he successfully fought to waver of the taxes for the peasants people of the entire nation looked up to him. Individualized Consideration Transformational leadership also involves offering support and encouragement to individual followers. In order to foster supportive relationships, transformational leaders keep lines of communication open so that followers feel free to share ideas and so that leaders can offer direct recognition of each followers unique contributions. Gandhiji believed that to effectively lead people he need to know and understand them at the grass root level. His expeditions to discover India illustrate the same. He believed that effective communication was a must to convey the message to the masses. And true representative of people should stand with the people and only than they will be able to face any challenges together. Inspirational Motivation Transformational leaders have a clear vision that they are able to articulate to followers. These leaders are also able to help followers experience the same passion and motivation to fulfil these goals. Gandhi always made his vision very clear and also the means by which he wanted to achieve it. He had a principle based approach which suited the people of India and people started looking up to him as the saw the feasibility of the goal achievement. Intellectual Stimulation Transformational leaders not only challenge the status quo; they also encourage creativity among followers. The leader encourages followers to explore new ways of doing things and new opportunities to learn. Gandhi used his writings and speeches to stimulate the masses. His writings were so impressive that people who were non aggressive in nature actually started believing that they could be a part of movement and contribute. Below figure illustrates the transformational characteristics transformational Leadership.jpg 4.2 Ethical Leadership As can be observed throughout the movie Gandhijis battle was totally based on moral values, ethics, spirituality, family values and religious insights. He based his leadership on these grounds and people called him a Mahatma meaning a great soul. He always encouraged ethical practises like self discipline and dependency (weaving his own clothes), abolition of untouchability, truth and love. Gandhi had a high impact on the people because of his ethical characteristics of his leadership resulting into people giving up the foreign clothes and started weaving their own khadi clothes. Below figure shows the various aspects of ethical leadership. Ethical leadership theories fall into two categories Leaders conduct and Leaders character Leaders conduct Consequences (Theological theories) Focus on what is right and what is wrong. Below table illustrates the different type of theological theories. Ethical egoism An individual should act to create the greatest good for themselves. A leaders should take a career that they would selfishly enjoy (Avolio Locke, 2002). This is closely related to transactional leadership theories. Utilitarianism We should act to create the greatest good for the greatest number. Maximize the social benefits while minimizing the social costs (Shumann, 2001). Altruism This is the opposite of Ethical Egoism and is concerned with showing the best interest for others even when it runs contrary to self-interest. Authentic transformational leadership is based on altruistic behaviour (Bass, Steidlmeier, 1999). Gandhi particularly demonstrated altruism in his acts. He fasted for several days to drive people towards his purpose of stopping violence. He never cared what impact it had on his own health, he persistently strived till he could see a desired outcome. Duty (Deontological Theories) This is telling the truth, keeping promises, being fair, independent of the consequences. Gandhi always preached honest and was completely unbiased in his approach. This was very much evident when he asks his wife to leave the house when she disagrees to clean the toilets. Actions should not infringe on others rights and should not further the moral rights of others. Gandhis struggle for a civil rights movement in South Africa was a part of his belief that such unjust laws cant be forced on people and they should be treated equally on moral and humanitarian basis. Leaders Character:- Virtue-based theories These are not innate, but can be acquired. They are rooted in heart of the individual and in their disposition. It focuses on telling people what to be as opposed of what to do Examples include courage, temperance, generosity, self-control, honesty, sociability, modesty, fairness, and justice. This theory is about being and becoming a worthy human being. Above attributes of virtue based theories can be perfectly related to Gandhis behaviour, belief and preaching on numerous occasions throughout the movie. Analysis of followers Initially in South Africa the followers were sceptical about Gandhi resulting into a rather low turnout in one of the meeting he called for. His adamant attitude to burn the passes even after getting repeated blows from the police had a message in it. The rule was barred and people opened up to Gandhis courage. They started believing and trusting him for fighting against the civil rights movement in South Africa. Gandhi was successful and emerged as a popular leader. Even before he came to India he was a hero for his triumph in South Africa. Gandhi wanted people in India to identify him as one among them, so he went to the people, heard their grievances and fought with them. Such type of attributes has a high impact on people as they start identifying the leader among themselves, started perceiving Gandhi to be trustworthy thereby giving up autonomy. Gandhis leadership style was more of a followers-centric type. Followers who perceive the leader as responsible for making decisions (U hl-Bien Pillai, 2007) are less likely to take an active role in the decision-making process, thereby giving up autonomy. Robert E. Kelley described five styles of followership categorized according to two dimensions. The first dimension: Independent, critical thinking, versus dependent, uncritical thinking. Independent thinking recalls the discussion of mindfulness; independent thinkers are mindful of the effects of peoples behaviour on achieving organizational goals. A dependent, uncritical thinker does not consider possibilities, does not contribute to the cultivation of the organization, and accepts the leaders ideas without thinking characterized by a need for constant supervision and prodding. The second dimension: Active versus passive behaviour. An active individual participates fully in the organization, and a passive individual is characterized by a need for constant supervision and prodding. The extent to which one is active or passive and is critical, independent thinker versus a dependent, uncritical thinker determines a type of followership style. Below figure depicts the dimensions and the types of followers. Followers.png Below table illustrates a brief description of type of followers. Alienated Follower Alienated followers are often effective followers who have experienced setbacks and obstacles, perhaps broken promises by superiors. They focus exclusively on the shortcomings of the organization and other people. Conformist Followers A conformist carries out any and all orders regardless of the nature of the tasks, participating willingly but without considering the consequences. The only concern is to avoid conflict. Pragmatic Followers This type of follower uses whatever style best benefits a personal position and minimizes risk. Pragmatic survivors emerge when the organization faces desperate times, and followers do whatever is needed to get themselves through the difficulty. Passive Follower Being passive and uncritical, this type of follower displays neither initiative nor a sense of responsibility. Passive followers are often the result of leaders who are over controlling and punish mistakes. Effective Follower Effective followers behave the same toward everyone, regardless of their position. They do not try to avoid risk or conflict. They initiate change and put themselves at risk to serve the best interest of the organization; they are characterized by both mindfulness and a willingness to act. Gandhis followers were more of a conformist kind as they complied to his orders irrespective of whatever he asked them to do. Evidence of this was found after the salt satyagrah when they went ahead and took the beatings irrespective of the consequences without any retaliation. When Gandhi called for a salt satyagrah because of unlawful enforcement of taxes on salt millions of people marched behind him. Also the appeal made by Gandhiji to give up the western clothes and use those made in India was exemplary of how followers were ignorant of the consequences. It was the kind of influence Gandhi had on them and the trust they showed on Gandhis decisions. Development as a Leader To be optimally effective, leadership development must be consistent with an organizations competitive strategy as well as with other human resources activities (Day2000; McCall, 1998). In the context of above description we can say that Gandhis leadership skills developed from those in South Africa to those in India. Even though what was common at both places were his belief on his principles. From being a leader of a community he turned to become a leader of masses. In South Africa Gandhi fought in suite and tie he wore same clothes as people there. He was not an eloquent speaker at that time as he was suggested to improve on those skills of his. His strong beliefs, courage and adamant attitude led a success in civil right movements in Africa. But when he came to India he knew it was a different battle all together, there were expectation of millions of people riding on his shoulder. He took his time to know the people of India went across the country lived with them and heard there problems personally. He adapted to the situations in India realising that Indian battle for independence cant be fought in same way as that in Africa. He led in an exemplary way in India, wore clothes of a peasant, lived in a small house, weaved his own clothes his approach was more on ethical bases. In the later part it can also be observed that he came out as a better and a confident speaker . Because of his understanding of the people he had a clear vision of how he wanted to lead the battle for independence. He was always in control of the situations that were going on in the country. His effective negotiations skills while dealing with the British authorities were the evidence of his maturity as a leader. Conclusion Movie Gandhi depicts a clear picture of Gandhi as a successful leader. Gandhi gave a nation to the people of India and satyagrah to the world one of the most revolutionary approach to struggle. Gandhi was a leader who inspired and still continues to inspire, people of all nation with his ethical and ideological legacy. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and many other leaders follow his example. Frail, bespectacled figure with simple clothes and the ready smile led India to march on the path of glory on the basis of sheer principles and ethics which he preached and practiced. As he always said Be the change you want to see in the world.

Organizing Relationships Traditional and Emerging Perspectives on Workplace Relationships Essay

Business ethics               One of the issues that have raised concerns in business nowadays is the relationship between senior employees, and the junior employees of the opposite sex. For years, senior employees such as managers and directors have been accused of sexually or emotionally abusing the junior employees working under them. Some are even accused of threatening to dismiss the employees who decline their request for sexual favors from them. Though this may be seen as sexual harassment, the case might be something different from that. Simply because the relationship is between senior and a junior employee, it may not be right to rush to a conclusion that the boss is sexually or emotionally exploiting their subject. It may be a relationship that has developed naturally due to the level of intimacy of the two employees of the opposite gender.            The controversial nature of this issue is clearly portrayed in the mail online article of November 13th, 2013. The article explains that the report of a study carried out by business week has shown that most of these relationships between employees have nothing to do with harassment. During the survey, it was found out that most of the people working in the offices would be up to a sexual relationship with someone from their office if they got the chance. Of the 2500 respondents interviewed during the survey, 85 percent said it was right for employees within the company to be allowed to have sexual relationships. Some even confessed of sexually admiring their coworkers. After all this, why does the Human Resource department discourage intimate relationships between their employees of opposite gender? The answer is that they conclude that one of the parties in the relationship is sexually harassed, especially if one of the parties is the boss of the other.                Some people may accuse me of supporting the behavior of the bosses to engage in sexual relationships with their colleagues. But if we consider some working conditions in some organizations, we see that the relations originate absolutely from intimacy and not harassment. Consider the case of a male manager, who works with a lady as the personal secretary. It is very possible for the two to engage in an affair due to the intimacy created by the working conditions. The two attend meetings together, go for lunch together, spend time together in the office, sometimes they go together to attend meetings far from their place of work, and many other closely spent times. From all these close relation, is it not against the laws of nature for something more than boss-secretary relationship to happen? Ironically, when a relationship develops between the manager and his secretary, the manager will be accused of sexually harassing the secretary! In my opinion, the boss wo uld be emotionally harassing the secretary if he chose to ignore the feelings that develop after been together almost all the time.               It may also be arguable that boss-subject relationships may adversely affect the performance of the employees. Employees may be reluctant in their work simply because the boss, who is supposed to supervise their work, can not condemn them because of the existing bond. This may be the idea behind the fight by the human resource department against sexual relationships at the workplace. However, this may not always be the case. This relationship may boost the performance of an employee who will always be trying to be the best to impress the boss. The article workplace relationships on Wikipedia explain of a theory, Workplace Relationship Quality and information Experiences, which originated from a study conducted by Patricia Sias. The theory states the most productive employees are the ones with high access to information about their workplace. It is obvious that the employees with a relationship more than the ordinary workplace relationship have a higher access to business information. I may, therefore, be right to say that the boss-subject relationships can play an important part in boosting the productivity of the employees. The article further describes relationships at the workplace as â€Å"workplace romance†. It explains that though these relationships may not make the workplace so comfortable for other employees; it plays a very important part in the working of the parties involved in the affair. It increases performance due to high motivation and overall job satisfaction.               Even though some senior employees in some business organization sexually exploit their junior colleagues, let us not mistake every relationship for sexual exploitation or harassment. It is good to appreciate that these bosses and their subjects are just ordinary people and what makes their difference is only the working position and titles. When there is a relationship between two junior employees of opposite gender, this is taken to be an ordinary love relationship. Why then do we have to treat the seniors differently? Aren’t they the same as the juniors? What marks the difference is only job level. It is, therefore, necessary to analyze the situation before concluding that a boss is sexually harassing a junior workmate. References Sias, P. M. (2009). Organizing relationships traditional and emerging perspectives on workplace relationships. Los Angeles: SAGE. (https://www.goodreads.com/user/new?remember=true) Sias, P. M. (2008). Organizing Relationships Traditional and Emerging Perspectives on Workplace Relationships.. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications. (http://www.amazon.com/Organizing-Relationships-Traditional-Perspectives-Workplace/dp/1412957974) Source document

Is Gambling a Social Problem Essay

Gambling is an act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning. It also involves a significant risk as the material good (usually money) wagered in the game may be lost if the player does not win. Common forms of gambling include cockfighting (which usually results in the death of one or both roosters), casinos (which has become a profitable business), slot machines (convenient for those who want to play individually), bookmaking (often used for predicting the winners of sports competitions), and caracruz (simplest form of gambling which has existed since ancient history). There is an ongoing debate among social scientists, psychologists, business lobby groups, and others on the benefits and dangers of gambling. Some anti-gambling social activists argue that gambling is a serious social problem, while others argue that gambling problem is a problem of certain individuals who suffer from psychological ills and that in certain circumstances gambling on the contrary is a significant source of income (for example, for Native American tribes). Gambling Is a Social Problem ?Gambling is associated with a range of social issues and thus needs to be designated as a social problem. According to research on the topic, there is a correlation between various social problems and gambling. For example, Hardoon et al. , point out in their study that gambling problem among adolescents they studied stemmed from the lack of healthy familial and peer support, drug use problems, behavioral problems, problems related to family issues, and the parental gambling problems as well as their substance abuse. According to Hardoon et al. , there is a significant familial contribution to gambling problems. Read more:  Ã‚  Essays on Social Issues Many of their respondents said that their elder siblings had a strong influence in their decisions to experience gambling. Many of the respondents who suffered from gambling problems said that their parents themselves were problem gamblers. The study by Hardoon et al. , also points out that children of problem gamblers suffered from insecurity and a sense of â€Å"pervasive loss† (170). They also argue that gambling problem among parents leads to various kinds of familial dysfunctioning, including drug addiction, conduct problems, and delinquency. Hardoon et al. , also point out that there is a connection between gambling and substance use. â€Å"Compared to nongamblers,† they write, â€Å"adolescent gamblers are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, and use drugs† (171). Gamblers are three times more likely to use drugs than non-gamblers. Gambling and substance use problems among adolescents often leads to delinquency and illegal behavior. Adolescents suffering from serious gambling problems are also likely to experience difficulty in school such as decreased academic performance and poor grades. More than half of the problem gamblers Hardoon et al. , studied suffered from conduct problems as well. They were more likely to break rules, get into troubles with individuals in authority, frequently display oppositional behavior, and join anti-social activities (171). This study in general demonstrates that the gambling problem is part of larger social issues and there is a clear correlation between gambling and various social problems. Another study on the impact of gambling on college students suggests that about 1. 6% of the U. S. dult population meets the diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling (Level 1), and 3,85% reportedly suffer from subclinical (Level 2) gambling problems. Among college students, the rate of gambling problem on both levels is twice as high as it is among the general adult population. There are significant social and health-related problems associated with adolescent gambling problems. Adolescents and young adults addicted to gambling suffer from serious stress-related problems. Many of them attempt and even complete suicides. Among these adolescents and young adults, the rate of disorderly familial relationships is much higher. There is a higher rate of comorbidity with other addictive disorders, and there are more frequent instances among these adolescents and young adults of arrests and convictions. The study concludes that â€Å"social norms–based social marketing campaigns (emphasizing accurate descriptive norms for alcohol) to successfully reduce alcohol use on campus† needs to be reworked and applied for combating gambling problems among college students (Larimer & Neighbors 241-242). This is another testament to the fact that gambling is a social problem and that the way to reduce it is to employ tools which are used for combating other social problems. Illuminating in this case is the experience of Native American tribes in the United States. With the passing of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) in 1988, which mandated legislative basis for managing and regulating Indian gaming, the number of casinos has sharply risen in Native American communities. As a result of this, one study of this phenomenon points out, Native Americans â€Å"are four to six times more likely to be pathological gamblers and two to five times more likely to be problem gamblers than non-Indians† (Momper 139). The study also cites poverty, unemployment, and historical injustice as factors that contribute to the development of gambling problems among indigenous groups. According to this study, there is a similar correlation between the practice of excessive gambling and predisposition to other social and behavioral problems such as alcoholism, drug use, and disruptive behavior among Native American groups—but in significantly higher numbers than it is among non-Indians in the United States. Gambling is Not a Social Problem ?While it is true that gambling addiction, just like any other addictive behaviors such as alcohol addiction or drug addiction, is a social problem, gambling itself is not a social problem. Participants of gambling make conscious decisions and they have the freedom to stop the practice whenever they think it is detrimental to their financial, psychological, and social conditions. For example, in the year 1999 the National Gambling Impact Study Commission surveyed the U. S. opulation and found out that 86% of Americans had gambled some time in their lives, and that 68% gambled in 1999 alone (Seligman 86). Out of this large segment of the population who regularly gamble, only a tiny percentage of the population suffers from serious gambling problems. ?Discussions over the use of gambling are sometimes controversial because it is one of the businesses in America which has a bad reputation, on the one hand, and is so popular that more and more Americans are demanding gambling opportunities, on the other. Due to its popularity, gambling has been legalized in all states except Hawaii, Tennessee, and Utah. Residents of these states also gamble, by traveling to other states or by taking advantage of online gambling opportunities. Total wagering in the Unites States is around $900 billion a year (constituting 10% of personal income), and the lion’s share of wagering takes place in casinos ($600 billion). And casinos now exist in twenty nine states. But these are official figures and unofficially the extent of gambling among Americans is likely to be much higher (Seligman 87). Gambling in the United States is a legitimate form of business, and designating it a social problem would necessitate that we label other legitimate forms of business as social problems as well. As Seligman points out, â€Å"Wall Street offers plenty of bets with risk/reward opportunities that mirror those of slot machines—a long shot with occasional huge payout. Buying out-of-the-money puts on an airline stock just before a union vote would fall in that category. If the members unexpectedly vote against wage concessions, you could make a killing on the bankruptcy† (Seligman 89). Some critics of gambling who criticize it from an economic perspective, say that, while gambling consumes time, energy, and resources, it does not produce any real output. But that argument can be used against most kinds of financial transactions and speculating, both of which are acceptable, and in today’s world, necessary components of international financing. As for the charge that problem gambling leads to comorbidity with other social problems such as alcohol abuse and drug use, more research is required to determine the nuances of this connection. Does excessive gambling lead to alcohol abuse or is it the way around? If it is the former, then it is the problem of gambling addiction which needs to be labeled a social problem and remedied. If it is the latter, then it is the problem of alcoholism rather than gambling because alcohol abusers have more than one way of ruing their lives (gambling is not their only option), and even here the issue is the abusive consumption of alcohol, not alcohol consumption in general. Those who see gambling as a social problem ignore the fact that gambling may—and in many cases it does—lead to positive social outcomes. This is generally the case in the Indian reservations in the U. S. As Momper points out, an IGRA passage which aimed at encouraging gambling on reservations for the purpose of raising the standards of living on the poorest reservations â€Å"was the only federal policy that produced lasting effects for tribes, inasmuch as the unemployment rate (38 percent) on 214 reservations with casinos decreased by 13 percent from 1989 to 1995. Even if one takes into account the increase in the number of problem gamblers, other social and economic gains from casinos on reservations greatly outweighed the negative consequences of this business. In addition to creating jobs, casinos on reservations provided the American Indian community with various social services and strengthened their social bonds (Momper 142; Cornell et al. , 1998). While it is true that gambling addiction as increased among American Indian residents as a result of building casinos, in many instances improvements in standards of living took many of them out of poverty, decreasing the rate of behavioral problems and anti-social activities. ?In summary, both proponents of gambling-is-a-social-problem thesis and their opponents have strong arguments at hand. The debate is likely to continue without being resolved as it is a controversial topic and gambling among the U. S. population leads to mixed results: both positive and negative.