Entrepreneur ship Essay

Regardless the state of the country, one can realize that coffee is one of the most favorite products among American people. It has remained in the top positions for some decades. However, drinking coffee is not only the consumption of a product; it has become a daily activity. It is normal to hear this question when someone wants to meet up with one person: â€Å"do you want to get a coffee tomorrow and we can talk about†¦? † Any excuse is good enough to get a cup of coffee. The beginning of the coffee industry dates back to the 1960’s, when a man named Alfreed Peet felt the inspiration to create the first gourmet coffee shop (Peet’s Coffee). That inspiration came, between other reasons, because he grew seeing his parents ‘coffee business (Peet’s Coffee). He was living in Holland and later in Indonesia. After that, he went to California where he thought he had the necessary knowledge to start his own business. By doing that, Peet started to produce a richer and more complex coffee that the available coffee at the market (Peet’s Coffee). Because of his marketing strategy, motivation through employees and resilience to fall, Alfreed Peet was one of the most innovative and creative entrepreneurs of coffee industry. Some people think that entrepreneurs are different from everyone else since they think these people were born with a special ability that nobody else has. However, these people are what they are because they learn from experience, including inconvenient experiences. Peet reached a great success because he did it. Despite this level of success, Peet can still became a better brand by introducing an aggressive advertising, worldwide expansion, and improving the pricing system. Peet had the features that best define an entrepreneur. First, he had the vision to open a shop in an unfamiliar market, the coffee market. Vision is a characteristic that most of the entrepreneurs have (Boone and Kurtz 608). Entrepreneurs do not fall depressed when people tell them that their business will not run successfully. Instead, they trust in their intuition and continue until they get what they want (Kelly and McGowen 92). Along with vision, Peet had passion about his coffee. He did not think in becoming rich or famous, but making the best coffee he could. He knew the importance of enjoying the process rather than thinking about the outcome. Moreover, he had enough motivation to start his business and offer the best product and service. This is the most important factor that one person must have to get anything in his or her life. Some people do not pay enough attention to how important the motivation is to succeed in any field. When one is motivated, it is much easier to reach any goal. Time does not seem to go by when one feels a motivational force inside him. Furthermore, the motivation makes one enjoy whatever he or she is doing. Then, along with this enjoyment, the results come without the sense of effort. â€Å"Motivation is important simply because it allows you as a leader to meet and even exceed your own organizational goals† (â€Å"importance†). However, motivation is not enough if one does not spend time working. For this reason, Peet knew that dedication was important if he wanted to be successful in the coffee industry. He did not believe in luck, but in causality. Another reason why he was a successful entrepreneur was that he wanted to see the growth of his family? s coffee business. He wanted to continue what was started decades ago. Finally, the word â€Å"commitment†. To Peet, it meant to be persistence. If he wanted his dream to become a reality, he had to overcome big obstacles. It meant never giving up and to being congruent by taking action instead of just talking. Peet? s coffee should be an admired company because of its behavior towards employees and customers. Peet? s makes an effort in having a good workplace where employees must be prepared to create the great coffee that customers like (Peet’s Coffee). It has been proven that the performance of the employees is greater when they are in a comfortable and attractive environment. Moreover, Peet knows the importance of making his employees feel well. An employer should not only think of the employees as part of the company, but should also take into consideration their opinions and complaints. â€Å"Democratic leadership ordinarily produces higher member satisfaction and morale. It also results in higher quality decisions when members have as much or more knowledge than the leader regarding a particular problem† (Sharpe). The results of a company depend on the performance of the employees. Espinosa states that an important step is â€Å"to be a positive model as a leader. You’re supposed to be a good example for your members to emulate, and a person worth respecting. † Good team work is an essential part of any job because the best results are achieved when everybody goes in the same direction. Moreover, motivation is crucial to push people to get their goals. â€Å"Democratic leaders involve members in decision making either by reaching consensus or by using parliamentary procedure. They pursue open, trusting, follower-oriented relationships† (Sharpe). The relationship between Peet and his customers has also been excellent during the time that Peet’s coffee has existed. (Peet’s Coffee). This relationship is passed from parents to their children and grandchildren and it seems to be continuing for a long time. Besides, Peet’s company has developed different economic and education programs in order to collaborate with the growth of the countries that provide beans and leaves for his coffee (Peet’s Coffee). To summarize, Alfreed puts the emphasis on being a big family who plays on the same team. Every member of the team has different tasks to do in order to reach the same goals for Peet’s coffee, which are to make a profit, offer an excellent service to the clients, and of course, to enjoy while doing it. Peet knows that the world has changed in the last decades; therefore, he has adapted to the marketing changes along these years. At the beginning of his expansion, Peet started in a local place where the coffee market was becoming more popular. At that time, the marketing concept changed and the business’ owners started to offer the goods and services that their clients demanded in a higher quality than their competitors (Boone and Kurtz 380-381). Thus, Peet wanted to get customer satisfaction more than anything else. However, times changed and Peet had to adapt if he wanted to continue being successful. Peet spread out his stores to different states of the country such as California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon and Washington (Peet’s Coffee). Moreover, the last decades are characterized by some changes in marketing. Marketers are conscious of the importance of keeping loyal customers. Boone and Kurtz say that â€Å"acquiring a new customer can cost five times more than keeping an existing customer† (380-381). For this reason, Peet not only provided his products in his stores, but he started to look for ways that customers could find his products everywhere. Customers can now buy his products in different supermarkets around the country. For example, Safeway, Super-valu and Ralphs offer his products (Peet’s Coffee). In addition, Peet has seen how technology has grown in the last years and he has created his own website. This website gives the customers the opportunity to see, compare and buy Peet’s products. This website has also a service for customers and they can ask any question related to the products which will be answered by his representatives (Peet’s Coffee). Another important marketing feature of Peet’s business is that he is not only a retailer for his customers, but he is also a wholesaler for distributors of restaurants and food services (Peet’s Coffee). Even though Peet’s coffee is famous and well-known by coffee drinkers, there are some strategies that he should use in order to expand his business. First, a better advertising marketing strategy should be utilized if he wants to become more known around the country considering most people do not know about Peet’s coffee. However, when someone tastes this coffee they should ask themselves: How come I have never heard about this coffee? Peet should then invest money in publicizing his products. For instance, an advertisement on television and in a newspaper would make people arouse curiosity about this coffee. Second, it would be a good idea to emphasize the selling in the universities. Between students it is really popular to drink coffee, especially when exams are approaching. Peet should promote specific campaigns where executive go to different universities to publicize its products. The most important thing would be to franchise Peet’s stores in different universities. By doing this, students would start to know Peet’s coffee and it would be an excellent opportunity for Peet to grow his brand. Finally, in my opinion, the best strategy would be to expand his business to other countries of the world. Peet only has stores in the United States. In this situation, he can not expand his branch more than one point. He could expand his stores to other countries of the world because people like to try new brands. Even if one brand like Starbucks is successful around the world, people will still be attracted if a good product is offered to them. If Peet’s marketing strategy has worked in the United States, there is a high probability that it may work in other countries. Peet’s coffee would be successful around the world and it would keep in people minds for ever. Works Cited Boone, Louise E., and David L. Kurtz. Contemporary Business 12th Edition. Mason: Thomson, 2006. Print. Espinosa, Jerome. â€Å"How to effectively handle union negotiations. † Helium. com Helium 06 Oct. 2010. Web. 03 February. 2012. â€Å"Importance of Motivation. † Leadership-central. com Leadership-central. com, Web. 20 Jan. 2012. Kelly, Marce. , and McGowen, Jim. BSN3. Mason: South Western Cengage Learning, 2006. Print. Peet’s Coffee and Tea. Peet’s Coffee and Tea. PCT, Web. 14 Dec. 2011. Sharpe, Dave. â€Å"Choosing Leadership Styles. † Msuextension. org Montana State University Extension, Web. 20 Jan. 2012.

Introduction to Investment Appraisal Techniques

Firms throughout the world expand by starting projects and carrying out investments in different industries and sectors. An important building block in these investments is the analysis and later the evaluation of these projects on the basis of economic, cost and financial data. Investment appraisal techniques provide the financial data and also help managers determine the financial viability of each and every project under consideration. Concepts Related to Investment Appraisal MethodsAlmost all appraisal techniques are based on certain building blocks. These building blocks require estimations and forecasting of present data into the future. For instance future growth rates and interest rates need to be predicted in order to calculate the cost of capital for different projects. Similarly another important estimation is related to the cash inflows and cash outflows for a particular project. This requires the project evaluators or analysts to come up with accurate forecasts for sales , costs and other operating costs.Firms also need to look at the useful or life cycle of the project because that will determine the total net cash flows for a particular project, the time period will also tell the project evaluators about the time horizon of the project so that other economic and market factors could be considered as well while making the decision. Firms also need to plan the type of project evaluation techniques that must be used by the evaluators; for instance with projects that have a short-life span the Pay-Back method should be used to compare the speed with which each project is providing the initial investment.Many of the appraisal techniques must be used together to come to conclusions because of the way the data is presented to evaluators. For instance if a project is giving high returns in the later years but the overall average return is greater than another project that is giving high returns in the initial years than the evaluators might select the lat ter project because it is less risky. Important Investment Appraisal Techniques Pay-Back Period: This method simply calculates the time it will take a project to earn back the amount of money that was initially invested.This technique is extremely important in the comparison of those projects which have similar total life but varying cash flows throughout the life cycle. For instance in a scenario where interest rates are rising then evaluators would want to go for a project which has a lower Pay-Back period. This is because as interest rates increase the cost of capital will also increase and the real value of the returns will fall as we move into the future.Net-Present Value: This method discounts back all future cash-inflows and cash-outflows to the present values; the critical factor in this method is the determination of the discount/interest rate used to bring back the future values to the present. The important thing with this methodology is that it allows businesses to calcu late the real return that they will earn from the project i. e. businesses factor out the inflation or the nominal return that they might get from a project.Accounting Rate of Return: The ARR method provides the evaluators with a percentage that shows a return on the invested amount: say for instance if the ARR is 8% then the project is generating 8% returns annually on each dollar invested. This method does not discount the cash flows but it is helpful in the sense that it explains the potential of the project to generate enough cash flow so that a comparison can be made with other projects on an annual return basis. Internal Rate of Return: This method gives the evaluators with a percentage that shows the projects achieving net present value equal to zero.Essentially, the method calculates the rate at which the projects future calculated return (NPV) is equal to the initial invested amount. This method is extensively used by companies that plan on implementing large-scale projects . This rate gives evaluators an idea of what sorts of costs of capital is acceptable and at which levels or rates can we expect a profit. Value Addition from Appraisal Techniques The appraisal techniques discussed above are an extremely efficient way of substantiating projects and comparing the viability of different projects.The fact of the matter is that when firms want data for different projects while deciding which project to undertake they must objectively evaluate each project and the appraisal techniques provide an effective way of calculating financial data which can be used for analysis. Project Annual Net Cash flow Initial Investment Cost of Capital IRR NPV 1 ? 100,000 ? 449,400 14% A B 2 ? 70,000 C 14% 20% D 3 E ? 200,000 F 14% ? 35,624 4 G ? 300,000 12% H ? 39,000 Calculations for A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H The four projects have a useful life of 10 years. For project 1: Total Cash flow for 10 years: ?1,000,000. IRR: NPV= -? 449,400 + 100,000/ (1+R)1 + 100,000/(1+R)2 +†¦+ 100,000/(1+R)10 = 0. A = 18%; IRR = 18%. By using the trial and error technique we calculated the IRR to be 18%. NPV: -449,400/(1+0. 14)0 + 100,000/(1+0. 14)1 + 100,000/(1+0. 14)2 +†¦+100,000/(1+0. 14)10 = -449,400 + 521,611. 56 = 72,211. 56; B = 72,211. 56 For Project 2: IRR: NPV = -Initial Investment (C) + 70,000/(1+0. 2)1 + 70,000/(1+0. 2)2 +†¦+ 70,000/(1+0. 2)10 = 0; C = ? 293,474. NPV = -293,474/(1+0. 14)0 + 70,000/(1+0. 14)1 + 70,000/(1+0. 14)2 +†¦. + 70,000/(1+0. 14)10 = 71,655; D= ? 71,655For Project 3: Annual Net Cash Flow: IRR: NPV = -200,000 + E/(1+0. 14)1 + E/(1+0. 14)2 +†¦. + E/(1+0. 14)10 = 0; E = ? 38,343. Cost of Capital: 35,624 = -200,000 + 38,343/(1+F)1 + 38,343/(1+F)2 +†¦+ 38,343/(1+F)10 ; F = 11. 00% : through trial and error we calculated the value of cost of capital as 11. 00%. For Project 4: Annual Net Cash Flow: 39,000 = -300,000 + G/(1+0. 12)1 + G/(1. 12)2 +†¦. + G/(1. 12)10 ; G = ? 60,000; IRR (H): NPV= -? 300,000 + 60,000/ (1+R)1 + 60,000/(1+R)2 +†¦+ 60,000/(1+R)10 = 0. H = 15. 1%; by trial and error method we calculated the IRR of the 4th project as 15.1%. Project Selection Based on Available Data The investment techniques that have been used to evaluate the 4 projects have given us some important factors to consider before making the final decision. In light of the data available we suggest that project 3 should be chosen because firstly the initial investment is the lowest amongst all the four projects. Secondly another important factor is that the difference between the cost of capital and the IRR is less than some of the other projects more importantly the IRR is 14% which is the lowest amongst all the four projects.This means that if project 3 is pursued the company the is likely to achieve quick returns and even if the performance of the project is not outstanding due to external factors the company can make substantial returns from the project. The critical factor is that project 3 can b ring in returns far more quickly than other available projects as any returns beyond the 14% mark would be real returns on the investment. Another significant factor would be the saved money from the initial capital that can be used for other projects with similar or even better returns prospects.The cost of capital for this project is also the lowest amongst all other projects; this is also an indicator that change can be absorbed by the company. With project 3 we see that the annual cash flows are amongst the highest if we use the annual cash flow/ initial investment basis for comparison between all the four projects. This also indicates that project 3 is more viable than some of the other projects such as project 1. The only criticism of project 3 is that the gap between cost of capital and IRR is smaller than let’s say from project 1 or project 2.This creates a potential problem if and when interest rates start to increase then the project might become non-profitable in t erms of real rate of return. Conclusion The investment appraisal techniques have become an essential methodology to solve and answer critical questions when it comes to selecting major expansion projects. When companies go to venture capitalists or other financial institutions they must fulfill certain criteria before being given the amount of money they are looking for.Even in the investor industry most investors are required to provide there rate of return requirements before companies or other financial institutions could make tailored products for the investors. It must be emphasized here that companies must understand that other economic data is crucial in relation with the financial data that these appraisal techniques provide. Bibliography: The Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales, Investment Appraisal Techniques, viewed February 5, 2010 < http://financial. kaplan.co. uk/Documents/ICAEW/MI_Ch3_p. pdf> Schuster, Northcott, Gotze, 2008. Investment Appraisal: Met hods and Models, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg Martina Rohrich, 2007, Fundamentals of Investment Appraisal, Oldenbourg Coursework4you. co, Advantages and disadvantages of different appraisal techniques viewed February 5, 2010 < http://www. coursework4you. co. uk/essays-and-dissertations/finance-and-accounting/investment-appraisals/P_F_61_Advantages_and_disadvantages_of_different_investment_appraisals_techniques. php>Course Work 2 Introduction: The dynamics of any industry determine what factors will impact the demand and supply of a particular good or service being bought or sold in that particular market. Some of the major factors that affect the demand for most kinds of products or services include: consumer tastes, income levels, availability of substitute goods and their prices, availability and prices of complementary goods, future price expectations and the general level of literacy of the population and population growth.The other aspect of any market would be the supply side; how do the supply side factors impact the market for goods or services. For instance some major factors include technological advancements, cost of production, the number of suppliers and regulatory framework. A combination of these demand side and supply side factors determines the prices that markets ultimately charge from consumers given that the markets are allowed to function in a free market setting. Technology Market: In particular the Computer MarketWhen we discuss the computer market in isolation we must understand that it is affected greatly by the overall technology market which plays a critical role in determining which new products and services will be offered by these computers and how will these computers be manufactured in the future. Technology has revolutionized the way we do business and other activities around the world. A significant contribution of technological revolution is the machine we call: a computer. From the time of the first computers and up til l today we have witnessed remarkable change.For starters let’s just talk about the change in size of the computers. The point here is that ever since the advent of the computing machine and later the full fledged computer we have since tremendous amount of changes that have occurred along the revolution. These changes have had an impact on both the price of the computer and also on the cost of production of a modern day computer. Demand Side Factors The growth in different technology products such as hand held devices, laptops, desk top computers, I-pods, I-pads, E-books, and PDAs are some examples of what the consumer of today’s world has been buying and accepting for some time.The important factor here is that most technological products are not market oriented rather they are product-led or developed with a perspective of generating enough interest and demand from the market as opposed to the idea of providing products which are required by the market. The demand fo r computers in specific can be divided into two broad categories firstly the demand from the corporate world or offices and secondly from home users who demand desktops. When companies around the globe started to employ and use desktop computers in the 1980s and 1990s; one could see a revolution taking place that would forever change the workplace.These companies converted there existing manual operations on to computers and resultantly we saw dramatic changes in efficiency levels and the ability of companies to become more productive increased many folds. (Samuelson, 2005) This change in the way companies work led to computers becoming a need for majority of the companies in different sectors such as manufacturing, services and primary related industries. The computers, especially desktop computers had become a necessity for companies by mid-90s and onwards. This factor had made computers an important part of any firms capital requirements.(Samuelson, 2005) As far as the households were concerned computers soon after they were being mass-produced in the 80s become a necessity because of the change in the societal factors and requirements at workplace and schools demanded households to have computers at home. During these similar times (80s and 90s) income levels of the middle class households also increased on yearly basis. This was especially the case in the developing countries such as India, China and Brazil. The income levels were also rising in the developed countries which also warranted the increase in demand for computers.We saw that through the 1990s and 2000s the demand for complementary goods and services to the computers also increased. For instance the internet warranted the need for routers, wireless networks and other devices that were mandatory for office work and households. Similarly camera equipment that could connect them to PCs, mobile cables and other many products and services that were used in conjunction with the PCs were being increa singly demanded. We also saw the strength in the demand for substitutes and a consistent fall in their prices.For example a direct substitute of a computer is a handheld device which could be used for most of the purposes that a computer might offer. Even though these substitutes were available yet people ensured that they have at least one personal computer. This strength in demand is a result of the many features that a computer provides over some of its substitutes such as printing options, scanning, and video conference and so on. These added advantages and features have made computers an absolute necessity for the modern home.Another important factor that has played a critical role in increasing the demand for computers is the future expectations of technology and uncertainty. Because people feel that in the near future more emphasis will be given on efficiency and productivity it is imperative to keep up to date with the present technology. The combination of all these factors have created a scenario where by computers have become a part of the daily life of all individuals of the modern age. The internet has only helped the cause of the computers and we see that computers are an essential part of the workplace as well as the home of a particular individual.Supply-Side Factors The technological leap in the latter half of the last century has changed the way work takes place in a typical office of a manufacturing plant today. The reason is simple: the computer and technologies related to the computer. Not only have computers made it easier for companies to make products faster but they have also made companies more flexible and technology hungry. The supply of computers has been increasing at a great pace not only because of high demand but also due to technological changes that are taking place at all times.Between 1990 and 2002 there was a large decline in the prices of computer chips; this in part explains why computers prices were still falling even t hough demand continued to rise during that period. An important factor to understand here is that after the initial increases in the demand in the early 90s soon there was a surplus scenario in the chip market secondly, the rapid change in technology meant that older machines were quickly becoming obsolete hence pushing the prices even further down. (Lipsey and Chyrstal, 2007) Source: http://www.oup. com/uk/orc/bin/9780199286416/01student/interactive/lipsey_extra_ch03/page_01. htm In the diagram above we see that the prices of chips continued to fall between 1990 and 2002 except for the 92-95 period when the prices actually went up slightly the reason for the rise could be explained as the shift in the demand curve to the right as a result of the increase in the demand for complementary software that required high speed computer usage during this time; such as multimedia programs or other gaming and educational programs.The decline in the chip prices also explains the fact that cost of production was also declining rapidly during this time and that more and more suppliers of computers were entering the market. This increased competition for customers meant that prices had an even bigger drop. The increased competition also meant that firms that produce computers try to compete on cost as well as brand image. In an overall analysis of the supply-side of the computer and technology market we would say that prices have had a consistent downward pressure because of declining cost of production and a constant and rapid change in technology.There are a number of other important factors such as the availability of other important devices that have caused the prices of computers to fall down such as cheaper motherboards and RAMs. (Lipsey & Chrystal, 2007) Competition is also an important factor in determining the quality and prices of products such as computers. We see that competition has impacted cost of production by a large amount; many firms that manufacture comp uter and related devices have introduced more and better technologies that are cheaper and faster in processing data.In a lot of ways the market expects and demands computers which are cheaper and faster as we move into the future. This is because businesses and individuals know that computers are meant to reduce the time taken to complete work and achieve this objective in a cost effective way therefore more and more people and businesses demand cheaper computers. Market Scenario: Demand and Supply The market situation is such that the production of computers and the pace of technology have outpaced the overall growth in demand for computers.More importantly the increase in the demand for computers has been in phases when a shift in demand has caused a slight increase in computer prices. The decline in prices is also evident because of transfer of technology amongst different regions of the globe. Many of the developing countries have received technology and cheaper computers from the developed world which has further increased the process of better technological innovation and ever declining prices of computers.There is also a case of understanding that computers are a type of machine that must be renovated or renewed periodically therefore many companies are willing to sell them at lower prices knowing that costumers will buy new machines in the future and they will invest in newer technology. Therefore computer manufacturers have been pursuing brand holding strategies which includes selling computers to buyers at competitive rates.

5 Summer Programs at Georgetown University for High Schoolers

As the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the United States, Georgetown University has been committed to research, scholastic achievement and service since its inception. For high school students, attending a summer program at Georgetown affords the invaluable opportunity to experience college-level learning at a historically renowned university. Summer programs are a great way for students to gain a deeper understanding of their favorite subjects in a more hands-on environment. Spending a summer academically engaged on a college campus can help prepare your student for learning beyond high school. Ultimately, having the opportunity to learn from and alongside talented faculty and students alike can help your student realize their full academic potential. Additionally, involvement in summer programs demonstrate your student’s drive and passion for a particular area of study to admissions officers when it comes time to apply to college. Prospective schools want self-motivated students who will positively contribute to campus and pursuing a diverse set of extracurricular experiences, like a summer program for instance, can help convey that motivation. The Ultimate Guide to Applying to Wake Forest Were you to happen upon Wake Forest’s campus accidentally, you might initially mistake it for a members-only country club. With its manicured lawns, stately buildings, and winding drives, this community is one that beckons at first glance. It doesn’t take long to realize that the school’s culture is just as welcoming and warm as its grounds. With its emphasis on â€Å"educating the whole person† and dedication to bettering entire societies rather than individual students—its motto is Pro Humanitate , â€Å"for Humanity†Ã¢â‚¬â€Wake Forest is a university that emphasizes the importance of humanitarian pursuits alongside educational ones and accordingly supports its students to achieve all manner of academic and extracurricular successes. Initially founded in 1834, Wake Forest is a private, co-ed liberal arts university that now finds its home in Winston-Salem, NC. It is currently ranked on the country’s list Top Ten schools for stellar quality of life, due in large part to its campus culture. Wake enrolls just under 5,000 students per year, making it a healthily mid-sized undergraduate community. Its acceptance rate is highly competitive, coming in at roughly 34%, and its athletic teams participate in the ACC (Division I) conference. Wake Forest students are known for their warmth, spirit, and energy; various campus traditions—such as â€Å"Rolling the Quad,† where the entire student body wraps trees in toilet paper—foster strong inter-student camaraderie, and community service as well figures largely into the campus’ ethos of general betterment. Meanwhile, Wake’s home city, Winston-Salem, boasts thriving cultural attractions all throughout the year, from the Western Film Fair and Winter Dance Concert to the National Black Theatre Festival and â€Å"Tour de Food.† And if you are planning to study abroad, Wake owns and operates three separate international houses—one in Vienna, one in Venice, and one in London—and offers its students access to programs in over 200 worldwide cities. Wake Forest prides itself on the breadth of academic opportunities it offers its students. Students can take a variety of classes in Film Studies, English, Humanities, East Asian Languages and Literatures, Political Science, and Counseling, to name just a few. As well, Wake offers slightly more pre-vocational options like â€Å"Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise† and â€Å"Finance† for students are so inclined. Wake Forest allows for the possibility to study any combination of a major and minor; in turn, its students gladly take advantage of this opportunity. It is common for Wake student to study both a major and a minor, and often, these two are unrelated topics of study. Wake Forest also proudly boasts stellar job placement services, and has a near perfect success rate in finding employment for its seniors seeking jobs well before they graduate. Paying for a Wake Forest Education: Tuition, Financial Aid, Deadlines, and other Fun Things Wake Forest’s undergraduate tuition currently costs $41,120, while room and board is an additional $12,998. Wake guarantees housing for 100% of freshmen and 77% of upperclassmen, so a full year of tuition plus room and board comes out to $64,478 as per Wake Forest’s admission viewbook . If you are unable to pay out of pocket, Wake Forest offers both need-based and merit-based financial aid to prospective students, but the application processes for each of these differs. Likewise, the deadlines for applying for each of these are dependent upon the deadline you have chosen for your application to the college (Early Decision, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision). First, let’s discuss the process of applying for each type of aid, as they differ from each other. If you plan to apply for need-based financial aid, you will need to fill out 3 forms: the Free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) , a CSS/PROFILE , and copies of official 2015 federal income tax forms. Wake Forest is part of a small group of universities that pledges to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, so if you think that you might be eligible for need-based aid based on Wake Forest’s criteria (outlined here ), you should certainly plan to submit these forms and apply   for the attendant aid. If you plan to apply for need-based aid, be sure to submit your forms by the appropriate deadlines. Early Decision applicants must submit their need-based aid requests by November 15 and can expect to hear back as soon as Dec. 1 if they are offered admission. Early Decision II applicant must submit their paperwork by January 1 and will receive notification of an award if they are offered admission as early as February 15. Regular decision applicants need to submit their forms by January 1 and will receive a response as early as April 1. Meanwhile, Wake Forest offers several merit-based scholarship to less than 3% of its incoming students each year. The Reynolds, Carswell, Stamps, and Gordon Scholarships do not require a separate application in addition to the application to the college. All students who apply to Wake Forest are considered for these scholarships so long as they apply before December 1, and winners are rewarded for different combinations of achievement, talent, and leadership. Likewise, just as it is not necessary to complete an interview for the college application, it is not necessary to complete an interview to be considered for these scholarships. It is important to note, though, that most students who are awarded these scholarships did participate in an interview for the school. As well, there are two merit-based scholarships that do require additional applications to the one for college admission. The Presidential Scholarship for Distinguished Achievement is a talent-based award requiring a separate application that is due November 15. Similarly, the William Louis Poteat Scholarship awards North Carolinians who are active in the Baptist Church; this scholarship requires a recommendation from a member of the applicant’s church. As well, Wake Forest awards Army ROTC Scholarships to some applicants. There is one family of scholarships that is both need- and merit-based. Early Decision applicants who plan to apply for need-based aid can as well apply separately for the Brown, Fletcher, Heritage, Hankins, Kutteh, Lowden, K.W. Smith, Z.T. Smith, and Woodard scholarships. There are four different ways to apply to Wake Forest, and the admissions committee has no preference as to which you utilize. You can apply through the Common App ; by using the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success Application ; by filling out the school’s online application ; or by sending Wake’s application by mail. As you are filling out your application to Wake, whether it is through the Common App or the university itself, you should know that Wake Forest is â€Å"test optional.†Ã‚   If you choose to fill out Wake Forest’s application through the University’s website, you will come to a page that looks like this. The first section, entitled â€Å"You and Your Family† is largely self explanatory and should not be too stressful to fill out. Likewise, the following section entitled â€Å"Your Accomplishments† mimics the similarly named section of the Common App. You can pretty much lift your extracurricular information from there and put it here. It is important to note that Wake Forest does NOT prefer its applicants submit a resume and has specifically designed this section to fulfill the purpose that your resume would. In light of this, the Activities section on the Wake-specific application is followed by a section entitled â€Å"Work Experience,† which looks like this: If there is any outstanding information on your resume that did not make it into the â€Å"Activities† section of the application, you may include those experiences here. Next, you’ll come to the section entitled â€Å"Your Thoughts.† This functions as the supplemental essay section of Wake’s application. Here is the first question you’ll be expected to answer, along with its attendant instructions: Use the following essay to give the admissions committee insight into your character and intellect. In 2017, Transcending Boundaries will be a defining theme at Wake Forest. What boundaries have played a role in shaping the individual you are today? How will you engage the Wake Forest community to expand your view of the world? † Following this, you’ll come to a series of supplements that are labeled â€Å"In Brief,† with the following directions: The text of these questions are as follows: For an in-depth analysis on how to respond to these questions, follow this link to our Wake-Forest dedicated guide to writing supplemental essays. Interviewing and Visiting: Do They Matter? Wake Forest offers interview to a limited number of students, both on campus and remotely through Skype. Though interviews are not a mandatory element of the application, they are highly encouraged. Thus, you should schedule an interview at your earliest convenience if you are seriously considering Wake Forest as an option for college. Not only does Wake Forest greatly value the opportunity to get to speak to you in person, but they weigh demonstrated interest considerably in the application process. In this vein, Wake encourages its students to visit the campus if possible. If it is possible for you economically and logistically, you should certainly consider visiting the school to see for yourself all that it has to offer. If it is not possible for you, you need not worry. Odds and Ends: Things to Note When Applying Most importantly, note this: Wake Forest used to be test optional, but this is no longer the case . Currently, their website is a bit confusing because it is not fully updated. Do not let this mislead you and wait until the last minute to submit your SAT or ACT scores. As well, note that one teacher recommendation must be submitted with your application. Since the school specifically notes on its teacher recommendation form that only â€Å"one recommendation is sufficient,† we advise you to refrain from submitting more than that unless you have an exceptional case and solid reasons for submitting a second. In general, adcoms value your ability to follow directions and respect their requests first and foremost. Wake Forest offers three different application cycles in which its students may apply: Early Decision, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision. The relevant deadlines for each cycle are below. Application Due: Application Due: November 15, along with the Early Decision Agreement form Application Decisions Released: Notified on a rolling basis only. Applicants will either be accepted, deferred to the Regular Decision applicant pool, or not accepted. Early Decision II: January 1, along with the Early Decision Agreement form Application Decisions Released: Notified by mail only, with letters released sometime around February 15. ED II students are either accepted, offered a spot on the wait list, or not accepted.

Globalization and Worldwide Poverty Dissertation

Globalization and Worldwide Poverty - Dissertation Example As the discussion stresses globalisation provides a wide-ranging and an all-embracing set of opportunities for worldwide development but evidently, is not progressing uniformly. A few countries have assimilated into the global economy swiftly more than others. Countries that have been able to assimilate are experiencing faster growth and reduced poverty. Likewise, outward-oriented strategies resulted into added economic vitality and wealth to much of East Asia, converting the region from one of the most pitiable territories of the world forty years ago. Together with the ascent of living standards, it became possible to make progress on democracy and economic matters such as work standards and the environment. According to the research findings poverty incidence escalated and high inflation became the norm. In several circumstances, especially Africa, hostile and unfavourable developments made the problems worse. However, as these territories changed their economic policies, their incomes began to rise and vital transformations were on track. They found out that promoting this trend and fostering such economic scenario and not quashing it is the best course for propping up growth, development and poverty reduction. As globalisation made its way into every fiber of human life and human activity, it can be safely deduced that it has both increased and reduced poverty. ... So, how can the developing countries, especially the poorest, be assisted to pull alongside its more affluent neighbors Does globalisation aggravate inequality or can it help reduce poverty What about those countries that assimilate into the global economy, are they inexorably vulnerable to instability These are some of the imperative questions that need to be answered. Literature Review As globalisation made its way into every fiber of human life and human activity, it can be safely deduced that it has both increased and reduced poverty. A process involving the intricate sequence of events - symbolized by the surge of privatisation in public utilities and state-controlled industries, changes in domestic financial markets, taxation systems and liberalised labour markets -- resulted into an unmatched swiftness of international trade and FDI flows (United Nations, 1999; Sala-i-Martin 2002a and 2002b). When social outcomes of globalisation have been closely investigated and deeply scrutinised, academics and logicians have recognised the direction, significance and repercussions of this correlation. And as its effects have been evaluated and analysed, reference was made to two diverse components in the literature - one that connects growth to poverty and inequality and the other pertains to the association of trade to growth. Academic analysis and pragmatic evidence result from the blend of contentions utilised in each sphere of study, one is if 1) growth is distribution neutral as asserted and 2) trade enhances growth, so much so that it can be claimed that 3) trade is helpful in order to alleviate poverty. The notion that growth

Islamic Finance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Islamic Finance - Essay Example In capitalism individuals have more choices where individuals are free to make decisions about their life, family, political involvement and business. In socialism individuals are not in control of their own decisions. In contrast to capitalism and communism; Islamic system also allows free decision making to individual until Islamic teachings and principles are not violated. In Islamic economic system individuals are required to take care of Islamic norms and values that do their actions and decision justify Islamic teachings or not? If individual’s actions are acceptable according to Islamic values only then individuals can decide freely. Information provision in capitalism is not free but has certain cost. In capitalism government does not provide information, it is assumed that information is out there in the market while individuals are required to explore market and extract information. Though information is available in the market but it encourages exploitation of indiv iduals who are not well aware of the prices. In contrast to capitalism; in communism and Islamic system information is freely provided to customers by the government. Under these systems government believes in protection of consumer rights and consider it the responsibility of state to keep people aware of market prices. Since capitalism delegates liberalization hence individuals have every right to own property. Individuals are free to buy and sell property anywhere in the world (LIODAKE?S, 2010). Similarly Islamic teachings preach equality, freedom and liberty by which individuals are free to buy and sell property but beside right to property individuals are bound to pay zakat for their property at the rate of 2.5% annually (AZHAR, 2010). Contrastingly in communism individuals have no right to own any property where as any property within the state is owned by the state. Individuals under communism are allotted piece of land according to their services and responsibilities yet the y cannot declare ownership to that piece of land. In today’s modern world, incentives, innovation, goals, targets, profit, entrepreneur, innovation and growth are common to be heard in capitalism which indicate constructive and developmental nature of capitalism. Western life style can be quoted against where innovation, goals and incentives are deep rooted in their daily conscious. Capitalism promotes concepts of open economy (REDWOOD, 1993). No doubt communism brought enormous growth, incentives and progress to Russia but that cannot be announced open because all incentives were available to the ruling elites and to the party members while commoners were only the workers (RESNICK & WOLFF, 2002). Islamic system promotes equality where theoretically layman has the same rights and opportunities as of elites. Under Arabs, Islamic system got much popularity, growth and success but in modern world, Islamic system is hardly in practice to defend its theoretical principles (MIRAKHO R & ZAIDI, 1988). The role of government in the capitalistic economy has no existence but even in United States, this principle has never been truly practical. The idea of free market in reality means government rules and regulations because without regulations, capitalism can never exist (HEILBRONER, 1993). Free market economy is faced with some market imperfections that are needed to be corrected by external authority whereas government is the third party to fix the bugs. Unlikely in modern communism

Monopoly Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Monopoly - Term Paper Example The company has unlimited market power even influencing how they charge higher prices. This may be confused with the ability to possess or own big businesses. Size is not all the characteristics of a monopoly in an enterprise, because a small business venture may also possess ability control market more than a big and existing companies. Body Characteristics of Monopoly An enterprise that enjoys monopoly exhibits a number of characteristics in the market or economy of operation. First, it maximizes profits. This is a value through the sales of the company’s services or goods to its consumers. For example in most of the third world countries and also in developing economies, most of the services or goods which have overall public consumption give way for the providing company to be a profit maximize (Lele, 2007). If it is only providing the electrical services for example, maximizing its profits is an easy feet to reach. This comes simply because there is or if any little compe tition from any other providing company. A company enjoying monopoly carries the tag of a price maker. Through this, the interpretation is that the company has the veto powers to decide and price goods or products, which it sells. For example, if the quantity is well in place for adequate market supply, the company therefore goes ahead and demands the price they desire as a firm (McKenzie& Lee, 2008). The characteristic of an institution enjoying monopoly is that one which creates high barriers to entry. This proposition aims at making sure that other sellers are unable to enter the market of the monopoly. For example, a company that may afford to offer promotional campaigns or motivating enticement to a publicly consumed good or service sets the standards of its customer preferences upon its competitors. In a situation where a communication company provides free minutes at a given point to its customer, a newly established competitor may find this a high level of barrier to counter given the minimal number of its customers in the same market. Being a single seller is yet another characteristic of a company enjoying monopoly in a given economy. A single seller dictates the supplies and influences the market trend with minimal interruptions (Kennedy, Waltzer & Atlantic City Historical Museum, 2004). This kind of the market brings out the existence of one seller of the good and it produces all the output. This means the whole market or region sings the tune or consumes the products of a single company. Finally, price discrimination is another characteristic that accompanies a company practicing monopoly. A monopolist does not need any outsider’s mind when choosing or changing the price of goods or service that it provides. For example, a company can sell more quantities at a relatively lower price than the competitors can even though there is minimal competition. The same case can apply when the company may decide to sell less quantities and charge high p rices in a less elastic market. Merits of monopoly Certain monopolies exhibit various advantages for consumers, and social welfare. One of the advantages is that these companies are the investment in research and development. It is a common understanding that the monopolies make supernatural

Summary Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 29

Summary - Essay Example But the company’s strength lies in its belief that the virtual market has limitless scope and needs to be exploited in innovative ways, using latest technology that is popular amongst the masses. Thus, the company has been increasing its merchandise through acquisitions and partnerships while looking at more creative ways to sell goods. Today, iPhone has become the main platform of ecommerce activities for Sears and its group. The company has introduced unique market strategy of providing the iPhone users to look for the goods which they can buy and collect it from a nearby located driveway store. The customer can even send the photo of the goods that he/she wants to buy and the company traces the product and makes it available to the customers. Use of technology has significantly improved its market position and sales performance in the recent times. The company has also forged alliances with other companies and sells their goods at good commission. The innovative strategy has paid off with 22% and 42% growth in the visitors of Sears and K-Mart in 2009! Indeed, the company has successfully exploited technology to gain competitive

Music Mid-Term Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Music Mid-Term - Essay Example The concert lasted from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. The live performance included 14 professional musicians of the Denver Brass. The performances include Salsa, Day of the Dead Suite, Tango, and Sense Maya (Valencia, 2012). The performers played different classical songs that included Day of the Dead. Denver Brass constitutes of 14 professional musicians (The Denver brass, 2014). Denver Brass’s universal appeal defines its success and prominence. I enjoyed the magnificent surround sound and the entertaining and relaxing fresh musical styles that added vigor to the classical music live concert. I also enjoyed the fact that a diverse audience attended the concert thus denouncing the misconception that classic music is for elite, racist, and educated audience. Indeed, the live concert made me love attending another classical music live concert in the near future. Notably, the performance of the Drever Bass corresponds to the classical stylistic period learnt in class. The Colorado Fiesta: Dances with Brass depicted a classical musical genre as the band sung various classical songs. The programming of the music sought to share the Colorado history in an entertaining manner. The performance sought to bring a musical excursion from Spain to America. The live concert evoked emotions, images, and ideas. Indeed, the fiery dance, cool music, and sensual Flamenco guitar evoked happy and entertaining feelings. The live concert also evoked passionate and romantic feelings courtesy of the romantic song Day of the Dead. The Colorado Fiesta: Dances with Brass was equally colorful thus evoking a beautiful feeling. Some of the most Memorable features of the live concert included the fiery dance, sensual Flamenco guitar that evoked instrumental effects, and the entertaining dancing styles by Fiesta Colorado and Steve Mullins (Valencia, 2012). Additionally, I cannot forget the harmonious melodies and rhythms of the Drever Bass that motivated the audience to sing along to each song

A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia (1590) Assignment

A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia (1590) - Assignment Example sometimes â€Å"v† represents the /u/ sound as in â€Å"vnto.† Definitely, however, the culture did not care about the sound as much as they cared about the spelling. On the other hand, since the same word is spelled consistently like â€Å"watche† and â€Å"solemne,† it only seems that English culture may not be sloppy but may be one that favors someone in a hurry to take down notes. Due to the intricacy of the picture in terms of detail, it is possible that the engraver’s skill and tools were satisfactory. The artist’s skills may also be good enough as he was able to draw the Indian village using third-dimensional point of view. Through the publicists, people may learn that the people of the New World are rather peace-loving and united as a community. They will also be thought of as organized and religious. However, some Europeans may view them either as primitive because of their use of fire, or as fit to be used as slaves as they cultivate good plants like tobacco and corn. The Indians gather around a broad plot to meet with their neighbors, to celebrate their solemn feasts and to engage in merrymaking after the feast. The Indians also assemble themselves together to say their solemn prayers. There is also a place where they make fire to light up their feasts. The two observers made such observations and clearly and carefully documented the activities of the town of Secota because they wanted to somehow get a blueprint of what it is like to live among the Native Americans. The observers did this because they themselves wanted to establish a settlement in that place. To the Europeans, a clear understanding of the life of Native Americans is essential to building a long-lasting and harmonious relationship with them. The two observers provided realistic portrayals of Indian culture because they made such claims from an ordinary observer’s point of view. There were no details or explanations as to why the Indians were meeting their neighbors or conducting

Politics versus need in politics of disaster payments Essay

Politics versus need in politics of disaster payments - Essay Example It also provides funding for rebuilding purposes to the States as well as to offer smaller relief loans at low interest rates to individuals in order to rehabilitate themselves. As a part of its preparedness effort, agency also provides training support to States and other territories in order to increase the overall responsiveness of the States to deal with such catastrophic events on their own. It also offers funds to impart training to the local State employees to better deal with the disasters. The arguments presented by Garrett & Sobel suggest that this funding to the States however have been political motivated. By questioning the public choice model, authors have actually attempted to outline the politics behind the public choices. The arguments indicate that the Congress and Presidential influences are key to the rate of declaration of disasters and subsequent provision of funding to the States. The arguments further suggest that States which are politically more important to the President tend to have higher disaster declaration. Further, the arguments also pointed out stronger correlation with election years and States having Congressional representation on FEMA committee. (Garrett & Sobel, 2003) The above arguments basically indicate the political motives of President and the States to get FEMA funding for the disasters. The overall distribution of FEMA funds therefore is not according to the way public choices should be made. The inability of the bureaus and departments to actually independently and submissiveness to the will of members of Congressional Committees therefore suggest that the overall distribution may not be just and equitable and that the political motives may be significant in making funding decisions. Over the period of time, various criticisms have been raised regarding how the grants and funds are distributed in US. During October 2004, grants were given to five of the most competitive States for

Organ Donation Essay Example for Free

Organ Donation Essay Organ Donation The process of taking functional organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another individual is called organ donation. Whereas, any part of the body that performs a different and special function is referred to as an organ. Transplantation takes places quite successfully today between well-matched human beings. Majority of the organ recipients are able to live five or more years. Skin, cornea, bone marrow and kidney transplants are the most common today. Moreover, lung and heart transplants are also gaining precedence. In commonplace terms, organ donation is the removal of working, healthy organs from the body of an individual who had pledged while being alive that his organs could be donated to a person requiring it. Usually the tissues or organs are taken out in a manner similar to surgery. Moreover, all the incisions are clogged at the end. Organ donors can include people of all ages. It is not restricted to any particular group, nor is it restricted to any certain age limit. In the present era, organ transplantation is widely recognized as of the most gripping medical advancements. It is almost the elixir of life to individuals with deteriorating organs who require other fellow beings to donate them organs. With the increasing cases of organ failure in society and the insufficient supply of organs, there is an enormous gap between organ supply and organ demand. Subsequently, it takes ages for a person with deteriorating organs to get functioning organs from another being. Moreover, numerous deaths have been reported in that waiting. Thus, these events have aroused moral, societal and ethical concerns regarding the allocation of organs, supply and the use of surviving donors as volunteers,  including those who qualify as minors. Unfortunately, it has spurred the practice of selling organs by money-makers for their own monetary gains and vested interests in many parts of the world by exploiting the poor. This has spurred corrupt practices where organ donation is concerned (Shroff, 2009). While we are on the subject of organ donation, an ethical issue is the procurement of organs and tissues. Firstly, this includes the buying and selling of human organs and tissues: There are some people who believe that human organs and tissues ought to be bought and sold in order to quantify the supply and show deference for other people’s autonomy. On the other hand, there are people who believe that treating any part of the body like a saleable good is a violation of human dignity. Organ donation has evolved considerably in the last 50 years. Following is a history of the procurement of organs and tissues. †¢ Successful transplantation of various organs Initially, organ transplantation started with kidneys, but now it has diversified to lungs, livers, hearts and other organs. It has slowly evolved to encompass various parts of the body. Progress in organ donation and cadaveric practices To decide who can donate organs has been a continuously evolving process. Firstly, it started with living donors and later moved on to include dead and brain dead donors. Even today, there are debates about growing and limiting the qualified donors. In the year of 2001, the surviving donors managed to even outnumber cadaveric donors. This was a milestone in the history of the United States. Formulation of anti-rejection drugs to enhance development and success The formulation of anti-rejection drugs has compounded the success of organ transplants. In the 1960s and 1970s, immunosuppressant drugs were used to increase the success rate of organ transplants (Flaman, 2008). Cyclosporine was stumbled upon in the 1980s. It greatly improved the success rate for patients undergoing transplants. The overall results were also improved. A phenomenon called xenotransplantation also became well-known – this entails the usage of animal organs for human transplantation. Subsequently, the firs t xenotransplantation was conducted  in 1986. This breakthrough means of transplantation started gaining popularity and researchers started performing more intensive studies on it. The number of people who required organ transplantation started to multiply. The discovery of the first artificial organs In the 1980, the first artificial heart transplant took place which was followed closely by the American public and the news media. This basically involved segmenting organs into pieces (either from cadaveric donors or surviving donors). In 1996, the first split liver transplant too place. It permitted one cadaveric liver to be used among several patients who required a transplant. Stem cell research: This basically involves the examination of human embryo and adult’s cell in an endeavor to find out how organs are development and what stimulates their development. There are certain ethical concerns regarding how organs and tissues are obtained. For instance: a pharmaceutical company in France buys placentas from 110 Canadian hospitals in order to produce blood products and vaccines. However, there are some poor people in countries, such as India, who sell their kidneys for $700 or even more than that. There have also been cases reported in India where people have gained consci ousness after a kidnapping incident, only to discover that one of their organs has been removed in that process (Caplan, 2010). In regards to this issue, there are people who draw a difference between waste matter of humans, certain body parts that happen to regenerate such as blood and non-regenerative human organs such as kidneys. There are many people who differentiate profit making from covering the donor’s expenses. If a donor has to pay for organs, this can put undue pressure on him. It nullifies a contract or free consent. There are some people who are also fearful of the fact that if the buying and selling of organs became a notorious business, then it would undermine the nobility associated with organ transplants. It could be detrimental if the organ just went to the highest bidder. The equity would be compromised upon as donating organs would depend upon the ability to pay rather than finding out how they should be distributed. There are some people who argue that this can be brought under control by monitoring sales. If the buying and selling of organs and human tissues is completely restric ted, then it would drive the market underground. Since there are numerous controversies associated with  the buying and selling of human parts, there are many who believe that other alternatives should be adopted (Thomas, 2009). Media Publicity There are several instances when an organ or tissue is acquired for a person by showcasing their need through the media. This could negate the other transplant channels through which it is normally obtained. Moreover, the correct criterion of selecting recipients, which is usually done on the basis of greatest needs and greater likelihood of benefit, can also be overlooked. However, publicity through media creates awareness in the public domain about the need for transplants and in the long run will increase the supply of organs and tissues. Voluntary consent basically entails a person making an intended offer to donate their organs after their demise. In the case of cadaver donation, a person can intimate their consent by advanced directives, such as by filling out the Universal Donor Card, part of their driver’s license. When the transplant is from a living donor, free consent is necessitated. However, it is best to have established consent regarding a deceased donor because this act exhibits love and responsible stewardship over one’s body. Moreover, it also communicates the wishes of health care professionals and family to the individual as well as others. When there is no pre-existing consent, the person who holds responsibility for the dead body should be approached regarding donation. It is imperative that the wish of the deceased person should be upheld. Medical ethics in organ donation has become imperative. This is basically a system comprising of moral principles that applies judgments and values to the process of organ donation. Autonomy is the sole prerogative of the individual to choose what happens to him/her even if this means dying in the process. In this regard, even if a person wishes to contribute his organs to another and thus die, he should not be prevented from doing so. On the other hand, fidelity entails adhering to the choices of someone, even if paying no heed to them would save another person’s life. Confidentiality means protecting the names of the donor from being let out in public or as per the desire of the patient. Hence, if a person prefers to remain unnamed while consenting to donate organs, his wish should be upheld. The team performing the transplantation can ask questions, but foremost it is imperative to prioritize the desire of the patient over anyone else (Truog, 2005). In order to address the ethical issues associated with organ donation stated above, it is important for health care professionals to be acquainted with the meaning of organ and tissue donation. They should be well-versed with the procedure of organ donation and to perform it in the best and most efficient manner possible. It would also be a good idea to render training to members of the health care team so that they can approach potential donors and families in a sensitive manner. To facilitate the process smoothly, they should be able enough to provide the necessary social and personal support during the process of mourning. Providers of health care also need to learn that respecting a dead person is a prerequisite of our humanity. It is also pertinent to mention that any reference to the deceased should be done with utmost sensitivity and using the most appropriate names. Furthermore, to compound the potential for transplants, providers of health care have a fundamental duty of rai sing the general level of awareness of needs. It should be done in a way that protects the rights and privacy of the patient, does not tamper with the medical process in any way and also does not remove attention from other urgent matters (NHMRC, 2012). References Shroff, Sunil, NCBI Legal and ethical aspects of organ donation and transplantation, (2009), Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2779960/ Flaman, Paul, Organ and Tissue Transplants: Some ethical issues, (2008), Retrieved from: http://www.ualberta.ca/~pflaman/organtr.htm Truog, Robert, The Ethics of Organ Donation by living Donors, (2005), Retrieved from: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp058155 Thomas, Chris, Ethics around Organ Donation, (2009), Retrieved from: https://www.chf.org.au/pdfs/hvo/hvo-2008-1-ethics-organ-donation.pdf NHMRC, Donating organs after death, (2012), Retrieved from: http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/e29.pdf Caplan, Arthur, Organ Procurement and Transplantation: Ethical and Practical Issues, (2010), Retrieved from: http://www.upenn.edu/ldi/issuebrief2_5.html

The Vietnam War On The Americans Reputation History Essay

The Vietnam War On The Americans Reputation History Essay War is an inevitable concept within American history. A nation that in some way or form has risen as an ally to many, and gained a reputation for being amongst, if not, the most powerful nation in the world, based on a series of victories both internally and externally, significantly as a key figure throughout the Cold War (1947-1989). The loss of the Vietnam War (1956-1973) is a black mark on Americas reputation and indeed history. There are a series of contributing factors to Americas downfall which include implemented strategies and tactics from both opposing sides, political and economic factors, the TET offensive and of course the American anti-war movement. Each factor inevitably played a role and adds to the list of reasons as to why America lost the Vietnam War. The effective strategies and tactics implemented by the communist forces namely the NVA (North Vietnamese Army) and Vietcong can be seen as a significant factor to the communist victory in 1975 Vietnam. These tactics and strategies employed by the South Vietnamese and US forces ultimately impacted strongly on the civilians in Vietnam and lead to the rise of anti-war movements in the USA. Mao Zedongs Golden Rules seemingly formed the basis for communist attacks by the Vietnamese. It entitled that The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue (FOOTNOTE). This made communist forces a very strong and able fighting force, as they were both militarily and politically strong. Politically they were able to persuade civilians through nationalism and the promise of land reforms. Guerrilla warfare was the main tactics employed by the communist forces to achieve their main aims. It proved very successfully prior to 1960 in defeating both the French and Japanese as they adopted guerrilla warfare to textbook perfection (FOOTNOTE). Similarly guerrilla warfare favoured communist forces namely the Vietcong and the NLF (National Liberation Front) as the jungle like terrain of Vietnam was much suited to guerrilla warfare and they had the support from majority of the peasantry who were essentially the eyes and ears (FOOTNOTE) of the communist forces. Guerrilla warfare was also adopted in response to the military might and the sophisticated weaponry of the US and ARVN (Army of The republic of Vietnam). Tactics implored to combat this included a 300 kilometre intricate network of underground tunnels built by the Viet Cong and the NLF which housed food and weapon supplies, hospitals and protection from American artillery barrages and air strikes (FOOTNOTE). General Giap believed the way to victory was by gradually wearing down the enemy the way to win is by small defeats, one after the other until the coup de grace (FOOTNOTE). The result of guerrilla warfare was very successful, particularly in demoralising the enemy, as there was a constant threat of an ambush or stumbling upon the many mines and traps planted by the communist forces which accounted for 10% of American casualties (FOOTNOTE). Essentially it was the view that one guerrilla killed is equal to two main force killed. (FOOTNOTE) In comparison to the Vietcong, the US and ARVN had no effective strategies implemented to combat the communist forces guerrilla tactics, and in comparison to the American infantry, communist forces namely the Viet Cong were well trained in political indoctrination for the villages and gaining their support, as civilian support would ultimately prove essential for victory (FOOTNOTE). Another contributing factor as to why the Americans lost in Vietnam can be seen in contrast to the communist forces. Both the USA and the South Vietnamese forces implemented ineffective tactics and strategies which consequently contributed to the communist victory. Many historians such as David Chandler believed that the United States could have never won as French President Charles de Gaulle in 1962 predicted, step by step, is sucked into a bottomless military and political quagmire (FOOTNOTE). The escalation of advisors from 1962-1964 to 100,000, and after the Gulf of Tonkin incident in August 1964 American troops numbers increased and where engaged in military operation (FOOTNOTE). This gradual build of troops historian Stanley Karnow believed is another reason for the communist victory, as they should of began with a full-scale commitment as a gradual build up allowed the North to expand and the South to deteriorate (FOOTNOTE). The American and South Vietnamese forces relied heavily on their advance weaponry and conventional military tactics instead through political and social means as historian High Higgins states Americans sought to achieve liberation by means of destruction.(FOOTNOTE) Tactics employed include Search and Destroy which aimed at surrounding and attacking suspected villages which had potential for harbouring Vietcong (FOOTNOTE). Many of the villages were attacked even without Vietcong infiltration, leading to the increasing peasant support for the communist forces. Other tactics employed include many bombing operations including Barrel Roll and Rolling Thunder, with use of napalm, defoliants and herbicides such as Agent Orange were used in the belief of removing significant amounts of jungle to make the Vietcong easier to spot, these operations destroyed over 1/3 of the Vietnamese jungles (FOOTNOTE). These many tactics used by the US and South Vietnamese led to many civilian casualties thus increasing support for the communist forces. There was an alleged 1.3 million civilian casualties as a result from both US forces as well as communist forces with many of these casualties due to the ineffective US strategies including the bombing operations having much effect on peaceful villages (FOOTNOTE). It is the massacre at My Lai highlights in which 450 men, women and children were killed, which highlights the low morale and frustration of the American soldiers resulting in a media and anti war movement backlash (FOOTNOTE). The ineffectiveness led to greater civilian support for the communist forces, which was vital for a communist victory. The US and South Vietnamese forces failed to develop a democratic and reformed government in the south in opposition to the North. America backing the Diem regime during the escalation of the war, a dictatorship that features oppression, repression, censoring, corruption and nepotism created much dissent from the civilians and boosted support for the communist forces. The Strategic Hamlet programme (1962) which removed peasants from their lands and was militarily enforced, created resentment towards the US and South Vietnamese governments (FOOTNOTE). There were also easily infiltrated by the Viet Cong, thus creating more support for the communist forces. Under Nixons introduction to the policy of Vietnamisation in 1969 began the start of US troop withdrawal and leaving the responsibility of the war to the South Vietnamese ARVN, which highlights another ineffective tactic amounting to the victory of the communist forces. The US still provided financial and military support, but the ARVN were much dependant on the US forces and without them were unable to defend South Vietnam. They were poorly trained and lacked military logistics and intelligence. Vietnamisation left an inadequate South Vietnam to defend itself against the North, leading to the inevitable Communist victory on April 30, 1975. TET is the Buddhist New Year and an informal recognised truce was usually held (FOOTNOTE). Beginning 1968, January 31st, North Vietnams military leader Vo Nguyen Giaps plan was to simultaneously attack all targets, but this had failed. But it did not diminish intensity of a campaign that nearly defeated South Vietnam. Six major cities in South Vietnam were attacked, for nearly a week Saigon was in flames and the US embassy was temporarily occupied by the Vietcong. The TET offensive was a military victory for the US/ARVN forces. All battles won by US and the casualty rates were in favour of the US at this point after massive US bombing missions decimated North Vietnamese positions. The primary focus of the news in the US was the heroic struggle of the American soldiers to defeat communist menace in the south; the US population was led to believe they were winning the war. The US continued to claim their forces were pushing back the NVA into Laos and Cambodia. But as the conflict intensified, many news reporters clashed with military authorities in Saigon. The idea of US success was crushed by TET Offensive in 1968, the world saw Saigon in flames and the US embassy occupied (FOOTNOTE). Viewers began to question war effort. Hanois military losses converted into a media victory as anti-war demonstrations accelerated in US. Hanoi lost the TET offensive because it was not a quick victory, troops were overextended and under supplied, the South Vietnamese stood their ground and didnt retreat, the US air power provided crucial support and no uprise of the people took place. Even though the North lost the battle during the TET Offensive, it was effective in diminishing the will of the US, which was another significant contributing factor. The origins of anti-war movements in the USA can be traced to the commencement of President Johnsons massive bombing campaign (Operation Rolling Thunder 1965-68) on North Vietnam and the introduction of conscription (FOOTNOTE). On university campuses groups like Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and the War Resisters League began to spring up, questioning why their peers were fighting without a cause and being killed on the other side of the world. They refused to fight, and avoided the draft by changing their name or moving to Canada. 13 000 young men were convicted for draft avoidance and fined up to $10 000 or sentenced to 12 months hard labour (FOOTNOTE). Others who were conscripted showed their dissatisfaction with the war by wearing peace symbols and refusing to obey orders. The media coverage of the war once more instrumental in communicating the horrors of the conflict to a public who had been consuming optimistic propaganda they received from the government. Protest activities included rallies, marches, draft-card burning, teach-ins, and speeches to name a few. By 1967 there was a bitter change in Americas attitude to the war. In New York 100 000 anti-war protesters congregated and many more did the same in San Francisco, while urban riots occurred in Detroit (FOOTNOTE). An anti-military backlash meant that soldiers returning from war were considered baby-killers, not heroes like their fathers had been in WWII. Vietnam Veterans Against the War was formed. It was inevitable that the US and RoV were to be defeated in the Second Indochina war. What attributed to this defeat were not only the strengths of the Norths strategy of guerrilla warfare and the vital success of the Ho Chi Minh Trail in supplying the troops. The strategy of the US and the South was hopeless in all senses for this type of war. Their use of conventional techniques and Pacification programs in the end pushed the people to believe they are in fact the enemy. The fact that the North has an emotional cause appealing to the whole of the people and the all-round inappropriate strategy of the south and US it was inevitable from the stat that the South would be defeated.

System Design Of Internet Banking System

System Design Of Internet Banking System Abstract: In recent year, Internet banking system has become very popular among customers and business. Nowadays, Internet banking is provided by banks because of its advantages. Such as 24 hours services, fast, easy and secure access to customer through Internet. This report intends to offer the system architecture and system design for Internet banking system which is mainly focused. Introduction Internet has become the way for conducting increasing numbers of transactions between suppliers and large business because of the speed, flexibility and efficiency that it offers. In this way, new market has been opened to the world and diffusion of knowledge has been accelerated to the internet. Internet markets or online commercial business has been widely used. Since a special way to design the system should have been by the web-based system and implement it. Nowadays, internet banking system widely used to increase demand of online banking transactions. Internet banking system is looking to provide the best quality with highly available, fast, secure and safe to use. System analysis is used to analyze and design any system. In this report, the framework of system analysis and design, system design and system architecture for internet banking system are discussed. In addition, about the system architecture is so important that it has become the foundation of the system analysis and design is also discussed. A Framework of System Analysis and Design Many organizations consider information systems in order to produce useful information by capturing and managing data to employees, customers, suppliers and partners. It is necessary for their ability to compute or gain competitive advantage. Information systems can be classified by the functions such as Transaction processing systems Management information systems Decision support systems Executive information systems Expert systems Communication and collaborative systems Office automation systems. Various perspectives can view in information systems such as the players, business drivers, technology drivers and process. From the point of view of system stakeholder, the system analysts bridge the communication gap that can develop between system owners and users and also between designers and builders. System owners are typically executive managers for large systems and may be supervisors for small systems. Unlike system owners, costs and benefits of the system tend to less concern by system users. There are two kinds of system users such as internal system users and external users. For information systems, system designers are technology specialists such as Database administrators, Network architects, Web architects, Graphic artists, Security experts and Technology specialists. System users business requirements and constraints are translated by system designer into technical solution. System builder is to construct the system according to the system designers specifications. System designers and system builders are the same in small system but they are often different jobs in large system. Application programmers, system programmer, database programmer, network administrators and security administrators are technical specialties. System owners, users, designers, and builders often have different perspective for building and using on any systems. What is System Design? System design is the specification of a detailed computer-based solution. (Bentley, L, D., Whitten, J, L (2008)) Also know as physical design. There were many techniques or approaches that are concerning to the aspect of the system design and can be categorized as follow: Model-Driven Approaches Rapid Application Development (RAD) Joint Application Development (JAD) Model-Driven Approaches One of the system design approaches is the Model-Driven Approaches. It emphasizes the drawing of pictorial system models to document the technical or implementation aspects of a new system. (Bentley, L, D., Whitten, J, L (2008)) The examples of model-driven approaches are modern structured design, information engineering, and object-oriented design. Modern structured design Modern structured design is a system design approaches. These approaches assist to deal with the size and complexity of the programs for developers. It also a process-oriented approaches that breaking up from a large size of program into a hierarchy of modules, and that results are easy to implement and preserve. Information engineering Information engineering (IE) can be defined as the application of an interacting set of formal techniques of the planning, analysis, design a construction of information systems on a major sector of enterprise. The data model is the primary tool of IE. IE facilitates the long-term evolution of systems and also identifies how computing can best aid the strategic goals of the enterprise. Moreover, IE creates a framework to develop the computerised enterprise. Prototyping A technique for quickly gathering specific information depends on the information requirements of the user. Advantages of Prototyping Change the system early in its development Scrap undesirable systems Design a system for users needs and expectations Disadvantages of Prototyping Manage the project danger of overtaking other phases in SDLC Adopt an incomplete system as complete Documentation might be incomplete Object-oriented design Object-oriented design (OOD) techniques, is a design system using self-contained objects and object classes. Some of characteristics on these techniques are as follow: Objects are abstractions of real-world or system entities Objects are independent and encapsulate state and representation information In the terms of objectives services, the System functionality is explicit Shared data areas are removed and each of the object are communicate by means of message passing Objects may be distributed and execute in the form of sequentially or in parallel Rapid Application Development Rapid application development (RAD) is an approach to systems development that includes a method of development as well as software tools. It applies to structured, prototyping, and joint application development (JAD) techniques to rapidly develop the system. Nowadays these techniques used to become popular design techniques. RAD is used when: The developer team have programmers and analysts who are experienced with these technique The project include a novel ecommerce application and needs to find quickly result Users are sophisticated and highly engaged to the goals of the company Joint Application Development Joint Application Development, or JAD, is a process that is originally developed for designing a computer-based system. It brings together business area people (end users) and IT (Information Technology) professionals in a highly focused workshop. The purpose of using JAD is to define the project, design a solution, and monitor the project until it reaches completion. The advantages of JAD include a dramatic shortening of the time it takes to complete a project. It also improves the quality of the final product by focusing on the up-front portion of the development lifecycle. Internet Banking Internet banking is the system that allows customers to access general financial information transactions through a secure bank-created website. Nowadays, all banks provide internet banking because of its advantages. Customer no need to give their precious time to go to bank and just click the mouse and then can access their own bank account so Internet banking become integral to the lives of busy people. They just need to have a computer or an intellectual device such as mobile device or PDA with an Internet connection and iB secure device which is offered by their own bank. Another good point of internet banking is that customers are allowed to bank with easy and paperless way at non-working hours and public holidays also. 4.1. Types of internet Banking At present, these following three basic types are utilized in the marketplace. 1. Informational: This is the foundation level of internet banking and it can be offered by the bank or outsourced. There has an appropriate control to prevent unauthorized alterations to the banks server of Web site. 2. Communicative: This type allows some interaction with customer and the banks system. There has an appropriate control to prevent unauthorized attempt to access the banks internal network and computer systems so virus control plays vital role in this environment. 3. Transitional : This level allows customers to execute their transactions such as accessing accounts, paying bills, transferring funds etc., 4.2. Pros and Cons of Internet Banking The prominent point of Internet banking is that it is very convenient for customers rather than traditional banking system and can available 24/7 and time saving. Customer can access their account anytime and anywhere no need to go the bank Customer can also check their account information and make funds transfer to their payee Customer can access too many services such as payment services, investment services and trading services Customer can open their new account Customer can access deposit account, remittance and apply Credit/Debit card Customer can update their profile such as changing their address, their phone number and so on. Although Internet banking has too many productive points and very popular in the recent years, there are few drawback that are worried by customers. Despite the Internet banking installed Internet security programs and latest anti-virus software, customers scared that privacy of their information and loss of user IDs and pin number also. By using Internet banking system, there are loss of communication with fellow and friends at physical branches of banks. Another problem which customer encounter occasional is, when the bank server is down, customer cannot access the Internet banking system. 4.3. System Design in Internet Banking Steps of System design in Internet banking are as follow: Firstly, the customer needs to request the URL. Customer login the system, then the system checks User ID and Pin No. After the system check User ID and Pin No. , then the system check that this customer is valid or not. If it is valid, then that customer need to key in their OTP can access the system so the customer can see the Main Menu page of the Internet banking website. Then the customer can choose from many menus such as viewing Account Information, Funds Transfer, Payment, Trading and Investment Services, Opening New Account, Remittance, and Update Customer Profile and so on. For example, if the customer chooses the Funds transfer menu, then the customer need to select Funds Transfer type such as Funds Transfer to My own A/C, Funds Transfer to Other A/C and Funds Transfer to Other Bank. Then customer needs to choose From Account, To Account and Amount. After that, submit this information to the system. And then ensure the detailed information and click Confirm button to accomplish the transaction. Key in his/her iB Secure PIN(for OTP) to complete this transaction After logout, customer needs to clear cache for security reason. Figure 4.1 Use Case Diagram for Internet Banking System Assumption: Assume that the customer already enter the banks home page. Account holder, credit/debit card holder can conduct this system. Bank database, Users account no:, amount of money (transaction), states and other. Assume, Users can log out the system after the transaction. User can cancel the system before the transaction. 4.4. Sample Use case specification 1. Login When customer wants to access their account from bank database, they must need to login the system with User ID and Pin No. The system will prompt error message when the customer may be an invalid user. If valid, customer can access the Main menu page of the Internet banking system. 2. Logout The system must logout after the customers works are done. After logout the system, the customer must need to clear the cache of the system for the security reasons. In this step, customer should have been logged in already. Figure 4.2 Deployment Diagram for Internet Banking System Conclusion and Further Study In this report, we focused on importance and foundation of System Analysis and Design in Internet banking system. We choose Internet banking system as case study because in this recent year, Internet banking becomes a well-known and very useful system among people. We based on a Framework of System Analysis and Design, techniques or approaches System Design, Internet Banking, types of internet Banking, Pros and Cons of Internet Banking, and the last topic is System Design in Internet Banking. We can study as System Analysis and Design in Mobile banking for future work because this system is also very popular and very convenience. To access this system the customer just need to have mobile phone and just access the transaction with sms.

PC Vs Mac Essay -- Compare Contrast Personal Computer Macintosh

When purchasing a personal computer, buyers used to grapple with the decision: a Macintosh from Apple Computer or a Microsoft-based PC? Microsoft effectively won that operating system debate years ago and claims more than 90% of the PC operating system market. But in the push to legally sell digital music, Apple and Microsoft, and their incompatible file formats, are at it again. Consumers are in the position of having to choose as hardware makers line up behind either Microsoft or Apple's software format. Hewlett-Packard's recent surprise decision to snub longtime PC partner Microsoft and offer Apple music software on its PCs shows how unpredictable this battle may be. "Microsoft lost the first round of the digital music war," says Phil Leigh, an analyst with research firm Inside Digital Media. Apple's iTunes software "was good enough to persuade (H-P) . . . to switch. That's huge." For now, Dell, which battles H-P for PC market share dominance, promotes music in Microsoft's Windows Media Audio (WMA) format on its computers -- as do most Windows-based PCs. Likewise, most portable music devices sold today -- with the exception of Apple's best-selling and acclaimed iPod -- use Microsoft's format. That means consumers who use portable music players and buy songs from Apple must use the iPod; consumers who purchase from non-Apple online music stores must use portable devices based on Microsoft's format. Adding to the digital disorder: Sony is set this summer to launch yet another music service, Connect, with songs that can be transferred only to Sony devices, such as mini-disc players. "There's a lot of confusion about different formats," says Mike McGuire, analyst with research firm GartnerG2. "But the dig... ...with Pepsi of 100 million songs from iTunes. Will other PC manufacturers follow in H-P's footsteps? Leigh thinks so; Apple wouldn't comment. Only time will tell. Consumers "will decide which format works, and whether that should be Apple's or Microsoft's," McGuire says. TEXT OF INFO BOX BEGINS HERE Dividing up digital music Apple and Microsoft have different formats for digital music. What plays where: Music service Plays on Apple's iTunes Music Apple iPod, Macs and Windows PCs with iTunes or RealPlayer version 10 software. Will soon play on H-P Windows PCs and branded iPods. Musicmatch, Bestbuy.com, Walmart.com, Napster, BuyMusic.com, MusicRebellion.com: PCs with Microsoft's Windows Media Player, Musicmatch, RealPlayer or Winamp software. Digital media players from Dell, Rio Audio, Creative Labs, Gateway, Samsung, iRiver; all Pocket PCs.

The Raven Essay -- Edgar Allen Poe

The Loss of a Loved Maiden   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In â€Å"The Raven† by Edgar Allan Poe, one sees the internal torment of a man in mourning for the lost love of a maiden, named Lenore that has died. The narrator expresses a sea of emotions over the vision of a raven haunting and taunting him.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the man sits in his chamber he only seems to notice the negativity of his surroundings in a depressive state of mind over his lost. â€Å"..A midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary†. He was, as many people seem to be when they are depressed, in a lethargic and calm state nearly sleeping. He then was disturb by a tapping noise and slowly grew from slight excitement into fear and nervousness over the commotion. â€Å"And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain thrilled me- filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before.† The narrator tried to rationalize the situation into some coincidental incident of someone at his door yet, there was no one there. To this he plainly states, â€Å"Deep into the darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,† only to perhaps start to question his sanity until he heard another noise. At this point in the poem one may clearly see his very painful condition and state of mind as he wishfully whispers the word â€Å"Lenore†. The marginal state between idealism and reality has blurred.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  As the narrator tensely turns to the window to â€Å"explore† the disturbance, there the reader meets the raven that has entered into the room and placed him...