BLACK IS THE HOLE Essays - Black, Color, Darkness, Nothing

BLACK IS THE HOLE DEEP IN OUR HEARTS THE LONELINESS WE FEEL, WHEN OUR LOVED ONES DEPART BLACK IS THE COLOR OF THE HEAVENLY SKY THE COLOR YOU WEAR WHEN PEOPLE DIE IT'S THE PAIN YOU SEE AFTER THE BATTLE IT'S THAT MYSTERIOUS THING, WE CALL OUR SHADOW BLACK IS THE FEAR IN EVERYONES LIVES IT'S WHAT YOU FEEL WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE CRY TEH SOUND OF THUNDER THAT MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT BLACK IS ALL ABOUT.

Heathrow Terminal 5 Project

Heathrow Terminal 5 Project Critical Analysis of the Heathrow Terminal 5 Project Terminal 5 (T5) was officially opened in the London’s Heathrow Airport in 2008 with an objective to increase the airport’s capacity up to 95 million passengers annually (Chan 2012). At that, the intended capacity of T5 was 30 million passengers each year (Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). The key challenges of the project during the initial stage were insuring the timely delivery of investment and balanced distribution of risk among the suppliers (Kerzner 2014). During the midpoint, the timely delivery of funds through investment continued to be the major complexity due to the existing uncertainty in the global economy drawing at this point to the upcoming economic crisis (Kerzner 2014).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Heathrow Terminal 5 Project specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Another remarkable challenge at this stage of the project completion was insuring that all stakeholders engaging in this megaproject would finish their work on budget and on time (Boardman Sauser 2013; Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). At the end of the project, the main challenge was to identify problematic areas in the terminal functioning and for this sake, a stress test procedures continuing for over a year were held both by the contracting employers and other stakeholders (Bridger 2013). Some researchers feel that the success of a megaproject is closely connected with the two major factors – collaboration among various groups and system integration. The review of the evidence from a row of scholarly sources suggests that the two factors are positively the most important to the success of any megaproject because without effective group work, practical holism, and convergence, such complex and multi-component projects cannot be realized (Bourne 2012; Fewings 2013; Ochieng, Price Moore 2013). The major systems that had to be integrated into T5 were electrical systems, mechanical systems, civil systems, technology contractors, and communications systems (Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). These systems had to be jointly optimized since their consistent functioning is possible only under the condition of full integration and total reciprocality (Bridger 2013; Ochieng, Price Moore 2013). According to the class reading authors’ opinion, construction of ventures such as T5 requires abandoning the idea that all projects are unique. Possible rationale for making such recommendation is the need for the systemic thinking when approaching any complex task requiring the multi-step and multi-aspect strategy. It is difficult not to agree with this opinion because it is definitely more convenient to approach a complex project when one is aware of the general steps that are to be made to handle it. For instance, according to Boardman and Sauser (2013), systemic thinking enables holistic view of process and ensures th e achievement of the best practice in tackling the project scale, complexity, and uncertainty. However, based on the experience of British Airport Authority (BAA), it is good to be aware of some of the unique features of every project because this approach would help coping with the unique challenges of each construction (Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). Thus, my opinion is that one should have a balanced view between tackling every project as something usual and being aware of its exclusive characteristics. Assessment of the Project Manager’s Role in the Heathrow Terminal 5 Project and Denver Airport Project The Denver Airport project is a classic example of how the most auspicious initiatives fail when poor project management operates. The lack of collaboration among various groups and system integration in the Denver Airport led to the 16 months delay in its opening and total rejection of supporting of its baggage system after 10 years of its operation due to the impo ssibility of solving its coordination issues (Appold Kasarda 2013). Addressing the Denver Airport project in comparison with the Heathrow T5 project, the key differences between how the main problems with resources, people, and processes were handled are dysfunctional decision making and disintegrated systems in the Denver Airport (Barrett 2015). These two classical examples illustrate the significance of effective project management.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More If I were the project manager, I would stick to the strategy implemented by BAA for the T5, since their approach to collaboration and systems integration is exemplary. The main point of their strategy that appeared a valuable finding for me was their ability to insure that all stakeholders engaging in the megaproject would finish their work on budget and on time. They managed to achieve this result by the well-thought of financial policy based on the principle of providing considerable bonuses for those stakeholders that would manage to complete work timely and in line with the agreed disbursements plan (Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011). Since financial factor continues to be the major motivator for the stakeholder performance improvement, I would implement the approach of providing extra funding for the disciplined partners. Reference List Appold, S Kasarda, J 2013, ‘The airport city phenomenon: evidence from large US airports’, Urban Studies, vol. 50, no. 3, pp.1239-1259. Barrett, S 2015, ‘Ownership structures and the implications for developing airport solar projects in the USA’, Journal of Airport Management, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 248-263. Boardman, J, Sauser, B 2013, Systemic thinking: building maps for worlds of systems, John Wiley Sons, Somerset, NJ, USA. Bourne, L 2012, Stakeholder relationship management, Gower, Farnham, GB. Bridger, R 2013, Plane truth: aviation’s real impact on people and the environment, Pluto Press, London, GBR.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Heathrow Terminal 5 Project specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Chan, P 2012, Heathrow’s Terminal 5: History in the Making, Construction Management Economics, 30, 6, pp. 498-500. Fewings, P 2013, Construction Project Management, 2nd edn, Routledge, New Yourk, USA. Kerzner, HR 2014, Project management best practices: achieving global excellence, 3rd edn, John Wiley Sons, Incorporated, Somerset, NJ, USA. Ochieng, E, Price, A Moore, D 2013, Management of global construction projects, Palgrave Macmillan, New York. Towards a sustainable Heathrow 2011, https://www.heathrow.com/file_source/Company/Static/PDF/Communityandenvironment/Afocusontheeconomy.pdf.

Discuss the two objections to the use of fair value measurement Essay

Discuss the two objections to the use of fair value measurement referred to above, and critically examine how far they are valid - Essay Example The first objection says that the method is, thus, not good for financial reporting while the second says that the method will be against the stakeholders and investors’ interest. This study seeks to analyze fair value measurement method in accounting in light of the aforementioned objections. Before embarking on the study’s purpose, it is of essence, though, to define fair value as given by IASB. According to IFRS 13, Fair value is that price that one would receive if he/she disposed an asset or paid to ensure an obligation’s transfer in an orderly kind of transaction between players in a market at the date of measurement. IFRS 13 is there to increase comparability and consistency in measurements that use fair value method and the disclosures that go in tandem through what is referred to as ‘fair value hierarchy’. This hierarchy categorizes the inputs that are usually utilized in the techniques of valuation into three main levels. This hierarchy pri oritizes at the top, the unadjusted/quoted prices for identical liabilities or assets and in active markets. The lowest priority is given to unobservable type of inputs. The levels of inputs are explained as under. Level 1 inputs refer to the quoted prices in the active markets for liabilities or assets that are identical that the entity can get at the date of measurement. ... Those scholars who are against this method argue that fair value method presents information that is unreliable since it is not usually based upon transactions at arm’s length. Thus, it should not be used when it comes to investors’ making financial decisions. Under its reliability, cynics say that it is not a reliable measurement method. Some of the scholars against this method like Cunningham Colleen, the president of FEI- Financial Executives International, said that the information that is generated by this method cannot be of any relevant use to an investor. According to Cunningham, it is in fact useless to an investor. Income statements are subject to manipulation if this method is applied in measurements. (Shortridge et al, 2006) Fair values are not applicable in cases of firm’s arbitraging of market prices. It is not an appropriate method especially when a firm adds value for stockholders by way of purchasing at input prices of the market and disposing at output prices of the market. In this case, the argument is that the raw materials applied in the process of manufacturing do not gain their value from a variance in their exit prices in the market, but as inputs into processes which add values to the existing market prices by making a product as well as selling the same to consumers. This is because a variance in the value for stockholders is not really connected to a variance in the prices of the market. Thus, as a form of stewardship stockholders should be rewarded by the management through other basis, but not using market values. Also efficient prices are reliant on historical costs and, thus, fair market value measurements cannot serve as substitutes under this kind of scenario. The

Marine Ship Yard Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Marine Ship Yard - Research Paper Example It has negative impacts on many shipbuilding companies and counties around the world due to the biggest overcapacity of shipyards such as the far greater supply of fleet that it requires by the market (Mickeviciene). In order to meet the market and business success Western Marine Shipyard must consider that different countries have many nationalities that help the company to bring new ideas and ways to enhance the continuous strive to business success. Employees should be empowered in order to seek new opportunities, innovate and build an efficient working environment that is professional and positive for all. Western Marine Shipyard team members undergo intensive training to have a quality service and produce highly products and, the company considers it is a career, a great opportunity to work among the best personnel, receive the support needed to the make good decisions and deliver the best outcomes. This will carry out into the different branches around the world. In terms its benefits and financial impact, the recommendation will hit hard the shipyards. The primary challenge is in the industry is intermediate financing and this challenge having direct impact on the industrys production cos t, quality and growth. On the positive note the government should support its shipbuilding industry. The western Marine shipyard will be continually challenged with inconsistencies/contradiction - deal with the changes because the management is the integrating force within the organization’s activities. Whenever two or more individual works together in order to achieve a common goal, they have to communicate or coordinate their activities or programs. The employees also should be organized and maximize their resources in such way as to optimize the outcomes. The company will face with the challenge to manage both stability and change within organizations in the future. This has been evident in the story of

Ethics and Law in Health Care Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Ethics and Law in Health Care - Essay Example On the other hand after amputation Fran would need a lengthy recovery period and would be tied to a wheelchair. The other option offered is to revascularise the leg which might save the limb but it is more risky. With Fran unable to make any informed decisions, her family members are to be he ones to make them. Fran lives with her daughter June in her basement for the past few years. Her son Marcus, who is the eldest of her children, lives an hour drive away and visits often. Fran is separated, although not divorced, from her husband Derek for the last three years. Outside her family Fran does maintain an independent lifestyle. She goes out with her friends on regular basis, and especially enjoys to attend weekly bowl games at her nearby club. Fran , according to her daughter, on many occasions expressed the feeling that she does not want to be stuck in bed like the poor people in nursing homes. Her weekly social interactions were most important in her life. Fran’s case opens many legal and ethical questions. It is clear that the latter stem mostly from the legal framework that does not exist in this case. Fran, although sick for years, did not put in place any legal documents that would help in the case like this. There is no written statement that would give any of her family members right to sign medical consent forms. This fact leaves a lot of confusion and opens a lot of questions. Unfortunately, as usual, the time constraints of her condition leave no room for any of those. Decisions need to be made soon and for the best of Fran. If we look into people involved we know that Fran is separated, but not divorced from her husband Derek. As a spouse Derek in legal terms comes ahead of her children when it comes to making decisions about Fran’s health care. However, the fact they don’t live together must be taken into account. Marcus is the eldest child and is next on the list in order of

Riddells Safe Helmets Marketing Plan

Riddells Safe Helmets Marketing Plan Riddell, the brainchild of John Tate Riddell, has a long and illustrious history of introducing innovative sports equipment. Since 1929 the Riddell Sports has been producing technologically innovative performance equipment aimed at providing athletes efficient safety gear (Riddell, 2012). A wide range of sports equipment is manufactured by Riddell Sports ranging from its most popular product the football helmets to other sports equipment such as shoulder pads, face masks, body pads and helmet chin straps. In 2006 Riddell Bell Holdings and Easton Sports merged their operations forming Easton-Bell Sports (Riddell, 2012). Riddell has been a prominent brand of Easton-Bell Sports ever since 2006 along with its other brands such as Easton, Giro and bell (Riddell, 2012). Football is a tough sport and medical researches prove that there exist strong chances that regular players will suffer from at least one concussion while playing for a school, college or professional football team (Hyde Gengenbach, 2007). Concussion is an injury to brain that is caused by a punch or violent strike on the head (Hyde Gengenbach, 2007). The medical implications of concussion can be mild like suffering from a headache to severe like going into coma. Concussion is a serious problem plaguing American football. Nearly 63,000 students participating in ten different high school sports suffer from mild concussions each year with two-third of them suffer concussions while playing football (Hyde Gengenbach, 2007). Among football players brain injury is the most common cause of death. It is the responsibility of coaches along with the school and college authorities to ensure that athletes are provided proper safety gear for taking part in any sport. Along with this parents an d athletes themselves should take proper steps to prevent any injury which includes use of appropriate head gear, avoiding dangerous on-field practices such as head-on tacking and head shots in hockey (Hyde Gengenbach, 2007). In case of a concussion the athletes should not be allowed to return back to field until they are cleared by a neurologist after a thorough examination for possible brain injuries. The above statistics show that there exists a huge market need for safety sports gear. This need was effectively tapped by Riddell (Riddell, 2012). The Riddell Sports uses a variety of innovative sports technologies to manufacture safety equipment for athletes that helps them in improving their performance on field (Riddell, 2012). Through effective marketing of its sports safety equipment Riddell can ensure it retains the top spot in safety sports equipment manufacturing for many years to come (Riddell, 2012). Below is a detailed marketing plan for Riddell Sports that examines the marketing strategies currently adopted by Riddell and the possible strategies it can adopt for better promotion of its products. SWOT analysis Strengths: The main strengths of Riddell Sports are outlined below. Riddell is one of the leading football helmet suppliers for schools, colleges and professional football teams. Riddell is the official helmet provider of the National Football League (NFL). Low cost manufacturing and assembling facilities along with excellent relationship with suppliers throughout the world. Riddell also provides state of the art reconditioning services for football safety gear and equipment in US that uses cutting edge technologies like Riddell Staph-Fighter to get rid of viruses, bacteria and molds developed inside the sporting gear. Weaknesses: The main weaknesses of Riddell Sports are outlined below. A limited marketing budget to develop consumer brand awareness. Inability to tackle competition from emerging protective football equipment manufacturers such as Schutt and Rawlings. Opportunities: The main opportunities for Riddell Sports are outlined below. An exceptionally motivated product development team that is keen to develop innovative products offering complete safety solutions to athletes. Through optimization of supply chain operational efficiencies can be gained. Football helmet manufacturing remains an extremely lucrative business with sales for safety football gear rising from $308 million in 2009 to almost $327 million in 2010. Threats: The main threats being faced by Riddell Sports are outlined below. Strong performance of Schutt Sports at all levels of football manufacturing grabbing almost 57% of total market share of safety football manufacturing (Brown, 2011). The strong re-emergence of Rawlings after a gap of two decades. In its first year of operations in 2011 it captured about 6%-7% of the market (Brown, 2011). Marketing Plan for Riddell Sports Industry Analysis The sports equipment industry is a very fast growing industry which makes a projected $3 billion a year. According to Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA) an estimated 1 million athletes were a part of high school football teams in 2002. These figures point out towards tremendous potential for sales of football related equipment and accessories. Riddell Sports is currently the market leader in football helmet sales closely followed by Rawlings Football, Schutt Sports and Xenith. Target Market Description The target market for football equipment and accessories can be divided into four main groups: Youth league programs focused on young athletes High school students College students Professional athletes Demographics: The target market of Riddell Sports may comprise of both unmarried young men mainly falling in the 9-25 years age bracket to the married men falling in the 25-35 years age bracket. Psychographics: Riddell Sports mainly aims to target men of around 9-35 years of age who play football this is the reason the Riddell Sports advertisements are mainly shown during NFL games when men are most likely to be watching the television. Interest is another common factor in determining psychographic trend, the target market of Riddell Sports takes equal interest in football. The interest level may vary while some may be interested in watching football on television others are more interested in playing on-field, but all are connected by their love for the game. Geographic location: In the US certain geographical areas are well-known for their love for football (Delaney Madigan, 2009). Significant evidence collected over a period of time proves that football is very popular in Texas, Florida and Alabama (Delaney Madigan, 2009). Thus, the Riddell Sports should concentrate all its energies on effectively marketing its football gear in these areas. Marketing Strategy Mix Product Review: Riddell Sports manufactures football helmets and equipment as well as helmets and equipment used in baseball, lacrosse and other team sports (Riddell, 2012). Riddell Sports may be divided into three main product categories among which are described as below: Football helmets: Riddell manufactures varsity football helmets, youth football helmets, football helmet face masks, and football helmet accessories (Riddell, 2012). Shoulder pads: In this category Riddell also manufactures varsity football shoulder pads, junior varsity shoulder pads, youth football shoulder pads (Riddell, 2012). Reconditioning services: Riddell also provides a cleaning and repairing service for helmets in order to repair any broken parts and pass the helmets through a Riddell Staph-Fighter machine in order to completely sanitize the sports equipment and get rid of molds, viruses and bacteria hidden in the sporting gear (Riddell, 2012). The Riddell Staph-Fighter machine has an amazing kill rate of more than 99.99% of the bacteria (Riddell, 2012). Placement: The version of football that closely resembles rugby and requires athletes to wear helmets is more popular in North America and Europe. Thus, the Riddell Sports placement strategy will be more closely focused on targeting the North American market. Pricing: The pricing strategy of Riddell Sports is based on close monitoring of the prices of competitors products and then developing its pricing strategy accordingly. Riddell Sports continuously strives to remain in line with its competitors prices including Rawlings Football, Schutt Sports and Xenith. Price for Riddells football helmets will also be made competitive with substitute products as well. Distribution Strategy: Riddell Sport has worlds most diversified distribution network for helmets used in athletic and recreational activities. Riddell Sports will be distributing its football equipment through a combination of channels such as: Mass merchants Sporting goods stores Independent specialty retailers Positioning Statement Riddell Sports is positioned as the official helmet of the National Football League (NFL). This is a very powerful positioning statement for Riddell since the competitors cannot imitate it as long as the Riddell Sports is the official helmet supplier of the NFL. Another important reason why it is a powerful positioning statement is because the positioning statement is visible to the customers (Reynolds, 2001). During NFL matches they can see the logo of Riddell Sports on the helmets and other safety equipment worn by athletes. Competitor Review: In the US protective football manufacturing equipment market there are three major companies that have the potential and operational and financial ability to snatch market share away from Riddell Sports. These companies are: Schutt Sports: Offering substantial competition to Riddell Sports in the football helmet manufacturing market. Xenith: Offering substantial competition to Riddell Sports in the youth football helmet market, high school football helmet market and college football helmets market. Rawlings Football: Offering substantial competition to Riddell Sports in the football helmet and apparel manufacturing market. Other competitors of Riddell sports include: Diamond Sports: Offering substantial competition to Riddell Sports in the softball and baseball equipment manufacturing market. Douglas Protective Equipment: Offering substantial competition to Riddell Sports in the shoulder pads manufacturing market. Marketing Communication and Promotion Strategies Press Releases: In the marketing communication context press release is a very effective tool for announcing the arrival of a new product or service into the market. Press releases are usually prepared to convey positive information about the organization. The format of a press release is the same whether it is being prepared for radio, television or newspapers. Riddell Sports actively releases press releases announcing the arrival of new products in the market. Some press releases issued by Riddell in recent times are: On December 12, 2011 Riddell Sport released a press statement announcing that it has entered into a exclusive partnership with National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) to educate athletic administrators about latest safety equipment for athletes (Riddell Press Releases, 2012). On January 12, 2012 Riddell Sports announced though a press release that it was acquiring Gunthers Athletic Service; a West Coast company specializing in sales of sporting equipment and uniforms. The press release further mentioned that the strategic move of acquiring Gunthers will help to boast Riddells presence in West Coast (Riddell Press Releases, 2012). On February 14, 2012 Sports announced though a press release that it was renewing its helmet and equipment partnership with USA Football, which is footballs regulating body in the US (Riddell Press Releases, 2012). Consumer Brand Awareness Strategies Billboards: Non-traditional billboards effectively advertising Riddells safe helmets erected in college stadiums, densely populated neighborhoods can help the consumers to identify with the products of Riddell helmets. Magazines: Riddell Sports can prominently advertise its product offerings through major US sports magazines, since these magazines are read by athletes and sports buffs that are more likely to take interest in advertisements related to sports goods and equipment. Magazine based advertising is a very good way to promote sales of a firms goods and products. Prominent sports magazines through which Riddell sports can advertise its product offerings are: Soccer America Sporting News Sports Illustrated Social Media: Contemporary marketing scenario has been taken over by emerging social media channels (Weinberg, 2009). Various social media channels can be used by Riddell Sports for advertisements of its goods and services, some of the many social media channels that can be used by Riddell Sports are: FaceBook YouTube Twitter Pinit Reddit Mixx Delicious Media Strategy Print Advertising: Riddell can increase consumer brand awareness by advertising through various print media channels such as magazines, newspapers, industry periodicals, in-house publication and a direct mail campaign (Hackley, 2010). Event Marketing: Organizations around the world create events that are tied around marketing of their own products (Trehan Trehan, 2007). Riddell Sports can also use various event marketing tactics to increase its customer base, some of these tactics are mentioned below: Organizing promotional events at various schools and colleges where exhibition football matches are held and the winning team is provided free product samples including premium items bearing companys logo for example t-shirts, hats, mugs etc. In addition to this Riddell Sports can also sponsor local art exhibits, music concerts and various other festivals where there are chances that a large number of men and adult boys will be in attendance, since the main target market for Riddell safety helmets are the above mentioned two groups of consumers. At different locations on the event site large banners and signage featuring Riddells products can be erected which would subconsciously work to increase consumer brand awareness. Organizing such events greatly contribute to increasing consumer brand awareness and can be am effective marketing ploy that can reap great benefits for the sponsoring organization if used wisely. Sales Promotion tactics: Sales promotion is one of the most popular tactical weapons available to organizations around the globe which can be effectively utilized to enhance firms distinctive capabilities along with giving the organization a unique edge over its competitors (Hackley, 2010). The Riddell Sports can use various sales promotion strategies to boost firms sales. Some of the most powerful tactics which can be used by an organization are: A great sales promotion tactic can be that of a offer of a price-cut on a prestigious product of the organization. For example Riddell Sports can offer price-cut on its $376.99 The Game Changer brand of helmets or its $248.99 Revolution Speed brand of helmets (Riddell, 2012). Offering customers a free product when they buy a higher priced helmet. For example customers buying one Game Changer helmet worth around $380 would be given a free chin strap worth $8 (Riddell, 2012). Another popular consumer demand pulling marketing tactic can be the use of coupons (Fifield, 2012). Coupons are a very well-known means of offering targeted customers discounts on selected items (Fifield, 2012). In the case of Riddell helmets these coupons can be distributed in magazines, or advertised on the sports page of local newspaper from where it can be cut and presented to nearby retailer carrying Riddell helmets for a discount of a specified item. Coupons may also be distributed through direct mail or in stores and shopping malls. Broadcast media: Broadcast media includes television and radio (Ranchhod, 2007). Organizations across the world use broadcast media for marketing of their products and services because of the ability of this particular medium to reach a large number of people either internationally or nationally (Fifield, 2012). One of the main benefits of broadcast media is its ability to create vivid product messages that are memorable and compelling (Ranchhod, 2007). Riddell Sports also ran one such memorable television commercial during the National Football Leagues Arizona Cardinals vs. Dallas Cowboys game (Riddell, 2012). Worlds Apart Television Commercial: This television commercial was aired in 2011 (Riddell, 2012). The 30 second commercial which featured top-quality Riddell football equipment gave the message that players may represent entirely different football teams but they are same because they are wearing protective gear and helmets made by Riddell (Riddell, 2012). The particular television commercial designed by HeadRush advertising agency received amazing feedback from television viewers across the US (HeadRush Creative, 2011). Celebrity Endorsements: The TEARS (Trustworthiness, Expertise, Physical Attractiveness, Respect, and Similarity to Target Audience) model has been developed to describe the reasons why using a celebrity as an endorser for a firms product can produce a positive impact on the overall sales of the organization (Fifield, 2012). When customers see their favorite celebrity using a product they can easily identify and recall that particular product when they go for shopping (Hackley, 2010). The use of well known celebrities in advertising is a great marketing tool that has been effectively used by Riddell for marketing of its safety sports gear. The Riddell Sports has a long standing history of roping in top of the class athletes for celebrity endorsement of Riddell products. Some of the famous athletes endorsing Riddell products are: Dave Mirra the American BMX athlete who holds the record for winning the highest number of X-games medals endorses Riddell helmets. Tony Hawk also endorses Riddell helmets. He is also famously known as birdman, for his amazing antics using skateboard. Tony Hawk holds the record for being the vertical skateboarding champion for 12 years in a row. Tanner Hall, the legendary American skier also endorses Riddell helmets. Tanner Hall has defined and pushed the limits for freestyle skiing, at the age of 28 years he holds the record for most career gold medals and thus, is a perfect choice for marketing the Riddell helmets.

The Day of Defeat Essay -- essays research papers fc

The Day of Defeat Operation Overlord, more commonly known as D-day, took place on June sixth, 1944; though, it was not originally planned to happen when it did. In August 1943, â€Å"President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston S. Churchill, meeting in Quebec, Casablanca, or at Yalta with Stalin, would approve or disapprove these plans. One of the first decisions to be made was the agreement to defeat Germany first and fight a holding action in the Pacific until Hitler fell.† (Dank, 7). They agreed that an invasion of Western Europe would be appropriate, almost a necessity, to defeat Germany, and they felt early May would be the proper time for such an undertaking, which was unprecedented at this time in world history due to its sheer size and scope. This would allow enough time for the detailed planning of the invasion, the practicing of paratrooper drops, the build up of troops, and the never ending briefings. After additional planning, the leaders decided that, in the b est interests of the invasion, it should be postponed until a later date. â€Å"...this operation is fraught with hazards. Unless these hazards are squarely faced and adequately overcome, the operation cannot succeed. There is no reason why they should not be overcome, provided the energies of all concerned are bent to the problem.† (www.army.mil/cmh-pg/documents/wwii/g4-OL/g4-OL.htm). The date that the invasion would finally take place would be June sixth. June sixth was chosen as the date for Operation Overlord because of many factors which included; a lack of troops that would be available at the original set date; tidal conditions; weather; and a late rising moon. Originally the invasion was going to take place sometime in early May, but when early May approached some of the troops were still engaged in battles elsewhere and would not be available by the time the invasion was scheduled to take place. If the invasion was to have been carried out when it was originally plan ned, the troops would have had to have been spread so thinly, in an attempt to try and cover for absent troops, that the outcome of the mission might have been jeopardized. Since every man was needed for the invasion to succeed it was decided to delay the start date. This invasion would be either a victory over Hitler, or an unfathomable defeat. No matter which outcome, there was going to be a large fatali... ...Since the Allies were not ready when the original D-Day date approached, a new date had to be selected. Many factors were considered in the selection of a new date, and June sixth was chosen as the soonest date that had conditions favorable to the success of the mission. Since Field Marshal Rommel had ordered debris to be dumped in the water around the Normandy shore, creating huge obstacles, one condition was absolutely essential to the Allies; low tide. The tide had to be low to allow allied troops to deploy from landing craft behind the obstacles placed under water. The light breeze that was forecast would clear the beaches of the smoke screens that the Allies would lay down, and a late rising moon was a definite benefit, as it would greatly increase the paratroopers’ safety, since the enemy would not be able to see them. Works Cited †¢ Dank, Milton. Turning Point of World War II. New York: Franklin Watts, 1984. †¢ â€Å"Outline of Operation Overlord† Section VII www.army.mil/cmh-pg/documents/wwii/g4-OL/g4-OL.htm 17 April 2003 †¢ â€Å"D-Day: Operation Overlord† www.thirdreichpages.org/normandy.htm 23 April 2003 †¢ â€Å"Preparations† www.geocities.com/paddyjoe_m/prep.html 23 April 2003

Identify Four Possible Consequences Essay

1. Identify four possible consequences of inadequate training or training that does not meet an organisation’s needs or requirements. Answers might include but are not limited to: Leads to people feeling ill-equipped to do their jobs, leading to stress Reduced productivity Decreased flexibility/ adaptability to workplace demands Failure to enhance people’s skills Can lead to a failure to meet statutory requirements relating to providing a safe and healthy working environment Reduced motivation Reduced satisfaction Failure to offer career development Increased employee turnover 2. Carry out your own TNA identifying the learning and development needs you could use to be able to do your current job more successfully. If you are not currently employed, carry out a TNA that relates to the skills and knowledge you will need in a job that you hope to secure in the future. There is no definitive response to this activity; however, participants should demonstrate an understanding that a TNA is used to clearly identify the requirements of a job, the current capabilities of participants and whether there are any gaps between the two. 3. Training needs should be considered at five levels. State what these levels are and give an example for each. Identifying learning needs must be done at five levels: 1. Compliance and statutory-all employees must adhere to national privacy principles, therefore they need to be trained on what these principles are what they mean for the business. 2. Business strategies and goals-the vision of the organisation is to become the largest provider of personalised stationery, therefore training might be needed in sales and marketing. 3. Departmental and team-the accounts team might need training on a new finance IT package in order to efficiently handle the higher volume of invoices. 4.  Job roles-the specific learning needs of each job or group of jobs. All the employees responsible for creating new stationery designs are likely to need training on the market segments that are being actively targeted by the sales team. 5. Individual-the competencies that each person must hold in order to perform their job effectively. The person responsible for maintaining the organisation’s website might require training on the new look of the website propose d by the marketing team. Activity 2 1. Why is employee consultation a necessary process when determining learning needs and addressing change? Consultation enables you to: Identify employee needs and expectations Identify real skills gaps Gather a range of ideas and suggestions regarding training If employees are consulted they are more likely to be motivated and commit to training. 2. What are the likely repercussions if employees are not consulted and involved in the design, development and targeting of training or learning opportunities? Employees who are not consulted will possibly resist training-not be happy about involvement. So they might not attend, or might sabotage the training. The training will not necessarily be correctly targeted. Activity 3 1. Evaluating competencies and continually improving one’s skills is the responsibility of everyone in an organisation. Comment on this statement. If organisations are to be learning organisations they need everybody to take a proactive stance in learning, growing and improving. 2. What advantages are there when an individual self-evaluates their competence and identifies what is needed to learn, grow and improve knowledge and skills? When an individual is involved in the process of examining their current performance against set standards they are becoming actively involved and are therefore taking ownership for continual improvement. When a person is actively engaged in identifying the issues they are more likely to positively embrace  solutions to improve the performance. 3. Technical skills can be taught, but attitude implies habits and habits are hard to change. What do you think this means? When we start work, or learn new tasks we find it easier to learn new competencies. We do not have to unlearn anything in order to develop the new skills. However, if we have been doing a task a certain way for a period of time, our method of approaching the tasks becomes habitual. Thus, if we need to make changes we actually have to unlearn the current habits and develop new ones. We all know that habitual behaviours are difficult to change (think, for instance, about how hard it is for people to give up smoking.) Habitual behaviours are those behaviours with which we are comfortable. We do not want to move out of our comfort zones to change our habits. Some people, however, demonstrate the attitude that they are happy to make changes or improvements as needed. They will take advantage of opportunities to improve, because they realise that it is important to do so. It is much harder to teach someone to develop this kind of attitude than tit is to teach someone, for instance, how to operate a machine. 4. How do you think attitude assessment does or should impact on an organisation’s performance evaluations, its recruitment and selection processes and on any training programs that might be implemented? High-performing organisations focus heavily, in their recruitment and selection procedures, on attitude assessment. Attitude is the component of employee behaviour that indicates motivation-support for organisational goals, potential for active involvement I improvement processes, and cooperation when required, Employees who: Do not want to learn Whose attitude is that they are simply there to earn a wage Who are afraid and resistant to change Or who simply do not care Can have destructive effects on the organisation-it’s culture and it’s productivity. They can affect the motivation and input of other employees. Thus employee attitude-willingness to participate, to be involved and to  self-monitor and self-manage should comprise integral parts of all evaluations-for recruitment, performance evaluation and as regards selection for training opportunities. Training truly will be wasted if employees who do not wish to learn, are not interested or for whatever reason do not want to be there, are coerced into attending training. Training will only be effective if the people who participate in it want to learn and to develop new skills and can see a purpose for learning-ie they have the right attitude. Activity 4 1. Comment on this statement: Effective managers do not wait for a defined time to gather feedback on their team members’ performance; they do it continually using formal and informal methods and relevant sources to build-up a complete picture of competence of the team as a whole and for each member of that team. Generally, this statement is true. Feedback that is gathered continuously provides a more complete picture of competence than feedback gathered in snapshots, as it provides a holistic picture encompassing differing situations and contingencies. A good manager is able to combine formal feedback mechanisms, such as production results together with informal methods such as comments made by team members. 2. You are the senior coach of the Windemere Wombats A Grade basketball team. You have been concerned lately that the team, although still winning matches, are not performing as well as they could be. You feel that they have the capability to win convincingly, but instead some players are making silly mistakes that are costing the team important points. You are unsure what is causing the performance issue and decide to pay closer attention in order to get to the bottom of it. What feedback processes could you use to uncover the problem? The coach could use feedback techniques such as: Examine play statistics Video the games and play them back to analyse them Have a team discussion where everybody is encouraged to provide feedback Hold one-on-one meetings with each player, assistant coaches and other administration employees Activity 5 1 Standards are set by industries, organisations and accrediting bodies. 2 Having clearly defined standards enables organisations and trainees to understand what is required and to structure training programs to ensure that workers gain the required competencies. 3. There are no definitive responses for this activity; howerver, participants should demonstrate an undersanding that: A goal is the expression of what is to be achieved as aresult of completing learning and development activities associated with the skill. Goals help specify the detail of what is to be achieved. Examples include: – provide better feedback to my employees – effectively chair monthly committee meetings – format complex reports better Each skill can have one or more learning objectives. Objectives contain a hight level of detail and shouuld be specific, measurable, and attainable. Examples include : – Provide better feedback to my employees: – provide feedback within 24 hours – provide feedback that results in improved employee performance – Effectively chair monthly committee meeting: – keep meetings to allocated timeframe – prevent domination of discussion by one or two people – Format complex reports: – use tables with 100% accuracy – use columns with 100% accuracy – use numbering with 100% accuracy 4. Competency list should be a comprehensive list of the steps required and the level to which they must be performed. For example, place one level scoop of washing powder into the middle compartment of the washing machine dispenser. Activities selected for inclusion in the learning plan should reflect the prior knowledge of the learner, the nature of the task and the most appropriate method. For examle, doing the laundry could be taught  through demonstration and verbal instruction. 5. Consultation with the employees and conducting training needs assessments. 6 Formal training can include : external courses, internal workshops, e-learning programs. Informal training can include reading, mentoring, coaching. Activity 7 1 Coaching is usually more task specific than mentoring. Coaches focus on helping and guiding development in a particular competency or area of growth. They are usually chosen for their technical expertise. Mentors, on the other hand, play a guiding or advisory role that is often less defined by competency boundaries. Mentoring often encompasses changes in thinking, attitudinal shifts and behavioural changes. 2 Learning opportunities can include, but are not limited to : – team building actibities – counselling of the players with the tension between them – strategy meeting to explain why working the ball in closer is desirable followed by a practice session to reinforce the theory – drill training on bounce passes 3 a. Is a critical response. b. Offers a positibe method of improving. Therefore b is the most helpful form of feedback. 4 There are no definitive responses for this activity; howerver, participants should demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the feedback hamburger. The feedback should start with something positive (howerver minor) and end with something positive/ constructive; acknowledging the things the learner has done correctly. Corrections that need to be made should be sandwiched in the middle. Activity 9 1 There is no definitive response for this activity; however, participants should demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the learning material. Activity10 2 There is no definitive answer for this activity; however, the participant’s response will need to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the learning material. Answers will be specific to the participant. Activity 11 1 The example will be specific to the participant but must retain the integrity of the model. 2 The example will be specific to the participant but must retain the integrity of the model. 3 Additional support could include but is not limited to: – senior executives in head office: – poster reinforcing the customer centric culture in board room – customer centric statistics linked to business profitability placed on board meeting as a standard agenda – store management: – reinforcement training sessions at monthly staff meetings – additional training in the importance of role modelling – frontline sales staff: – reminder cards with phrases to use pinned up near the tills – poster reinforcing the customer centric culture in the stock room – role modelling by store and head office management

An essay on the benefits of sanitation in developing countries. The WritePass Journal

An essay on the benefits of sanitation in developing countries. INTRODUCTION An essay on the benefits of sanitation in developing countries. INTRODUCTIONDISCUSSIONCONCLUSIONREFERENCESRelated INTRODUCTION This essay seeks to highlight with references four of the major benefits of sanitation in developing countries. Sanitation is the hygienic means of promoting health through prevention of human contact with the hazards of waste. In public health terms, the main source of this hazard is from human and animal feaces. Other sources include solid waste and domestic wastewater. Therefore, any intervention that seeks to separate these waste from humans is termed sanitation. Sanitation or sanitation interventions could be in form of hardware e.g. hygienic latrines or software in form of hygiene practice such as handwashing with soap. Mara et. al. (2010) opined that â€Å"Sanitation is the safe disposal of human excreta† defining ‘safe disposal’ as the hygienic containment or treatment of the excreta to avoid adversely affecting human health. Available 2010 figures show that 2.6billion people, mainly in the developing countries lack access to improved sanitation.It also sh owed that about 1.2billion people lack even an unimproved sanitation facility and practice open defeacation. (WHO, UNICEF, 2010). Statistics from various studies conducted have pointed to the enormous number of people that lack adequate sanitation worldwide and this has prompted some interventions and target setting by organisations across the world. Of such targets is the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of the United Nations on sanitation which seeks to halve the population of people without adequate sanitation by 2015 using 1990 figures as baseline and also World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) target of ‘Water and Sanitation’ for all by 2025. These targets underscores the importance of sanitation among human population and is geared at creating awareness through all levels of government to the burden that lack of sanitation poses to the people. This essay shall describe the benefits that comes with sanitation in developi ng countries with references to buttress the importance of achieving this targets and what is at stake to be gained. DISCUSSION Sanitation has many benefits but one of the most important (if not the most important) is its contribution to the healthy living of a community or society. Health is wealth as it is commonly said. So, the health status of a community or family has a great role to play in their livelihood. Diarrhoeal diseases are mainly of feaco-oral route and they account for around 1.6 – 2.5million deaths annually. (Mathers C. D. et. al. 2006). Many of these deaths are under five children in developing countries. From the work of Black K. et. al. (2010), diarrhoeal was the leading cause of death among children under five years of age in sub-saharan Africa, resulting in 19% of all deaths in this age group. Eventhough studies carried out has not rigorously separated the specific effect of sanitation from the overall effect of water and sanitation intervention, systematic reviews has suggested that improved sanitation can reduce the rates of diarrhoeal diseases by 32% 37% (Fewtrell I. et. al., 2005). Apart from diarrhoeal diseases, other diseases such as Schistosomiasis, Trachoma and Intestinal helminths causes lots of morbidity episodes and death in a lot of cases. The table below shows the morbidity and mortality rates of selected water, sanitation and hygiene related diseases. Source: Maggie A. et al (2007). American Chemical Society. It can be seen from the table that all these high morbidity and mortality causing diseases are related to unsanitary disposal of excreta. With good sanitation practice, a very good substantial reduction to these figures can be achieved and the general health situation in the developing world would be greatly improved. The popular ‘F’ diagram (Figure 1 overleaf) showing transmission routes of feaco-oral diseases clearly shows also how sanitation could substantially reduce the spread of diseases. Even in a situation of good water supply, without sanitation in place, high risk of contamination in households still exist. Figure 1: Feaco-oral diseases transmission routes and interventions to stop them Source: Feachem R. G. et. al. (1983). Sanitation and disease. Apart from feaco-oral diseases, sanitation lowers considerably the risk of children’s exposure to malnutrition and other infections that might not be directly feaco-oral but that becomes prevailent with increasing episodes of diarrhoeal. (Isabel Gunther et. al., 2011). Overall, sanitation directly improves the health of a community or household by reducing morbidity and mortality. These health improvements indirectly translate to economic benefits. In addition to the benefits sanitation brings to health, it also generates economic benefits. The benefits include direct cost reduction in catering for health due to less sickness especially from diarrhoeal diseases, less days lost at school or at work due to sickness or having to care for sick people and also convenience time savings from walking or queuing at shared sanitation facilities or open defeacation (Hutton G. et. al, 2007). Hutton et. al. interprets the benefits of water and sanitation improvements as being in three categories. ‘Direct economic benefits of avoiding diarrhoeal diseases, indirect economic benefits related to health improvements and non-health benefits related to water and sanitation improvements.’ These benefits are summarised in table 2 below. The benefits were valued to monetary terms using economic methods for valuation. Table 2:   Economic benefits arising from water and sanitation improvements Source: Hutton G, Haller L, Bartram J (2007) The prevention of sanitation and water related diseases could save some $7billion per year in health system costs and an additional $3.6billion per year savings in averted deaths based on discounted future earnings (Hutton et. al., 2007). In many of the developing countries, around half of the hospital beds are occupied by people with diarrhoeal diseases at any one time. This shows the amount of burden that these preventable diseases bring to the developing countries. Sanitation practices can reduce these occurrences to a very minimal level. Figures from Lao People’s Democratic Republic shows that poor sanitation and hygiene cost the country 5.6% of her annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product) per year when expressed on a national scale. (Hutton et. al., 2009). Ghana and Pakistan figures also suggest that general improvement in environmental conditions could save 8% 9% of GDP annually. (WHO, 2008). All these statistics and figures show the potential economic gains that is set to b e derived or gained through sanitation practices. The Disease Control Priorities Projects has found sanitation as the second most cost effective health intervention in the world at $11.15 per DALY (Disability Adjusted Life Year) loss averted, coming behind hygiene promotion which is at $3.35 per DALY averted. (Cairncross et. al., 2006). Table 3: Economic benefits resulting from meeting the MDG sanitation target and from achieving universal sanitation access. Source: Hutton G. et. al., 2007. Table 3 (previous page) shows the cost-benefit ration that is potentially attributed with achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) sanitation target of halving the number of people without improved sanitation by 2015 to 1999 baseline figure and with achieving universal sanitation access in the non OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. This means a one dollar investment on sanitation could bring up to ten dollars worth of economic return gained from the productive work of not being sick. (Mara D.D. et. al., 2010). Therefore, sanitation practices brings about economic development on a national scale through all the averted deaths, avoided DALY losses and money saved in disease treatment that can be used efficiently in other areas of the economy. At the household and community level, the household has more productive time from the ones saved from attending the sick, more children time at school which indirectly translates to better income genera tion for the family or community and therefore a better living standard. Even though health seems to be the strongest point for the spread and campaign of sanitation practices, it is not always the main reason why people want to have clean and hygienic way of practicing sanitation. Other needs to have a good sanitation practice may include: privacy, safety, comfort, cleanliness and respect (Jeff Conant, 2005). Therefore the social benefits that come with good sanitation practice too are enormous and very important in maintaining a good social stratification and integrity within a community. Engaging in good sanitation practice because of the economic gains and health benefits comes most handy in respect to the government. Sourcing of funds and prioritising investment in sanitation improvement projects or infrastructure are the areas where arguments sell and allowing the government to understand the benefits that comes with sanitation improvement. But, when it comes to the people themselves, social factors such as privacy, dignity etc. as mentioned earlier seems to be the stronger reason why they will want to have good sanitation. The billions who must defeacate in bushes and open places face daily assaults to their human dignity and safety. Jon Lane, 2008, noted that â€Å"the humble toilet can speed social development by: aiding progress towards gender equality promoting social inclusion increasing school attendance building community pride and social cohesion and contributing to poverty eradication.† In the absence of adequate sanitation, women and girls are usually the most affected. Women are the ones that care for children and bear the highest risk of direct contact with faeces. Women and young ladies alike are the ones that bear most, the risk of assault and in some cases rape when seeking privacy in the dark at night to defeacate. This problem affects their well-being and limits their free and equal participation in the economic and social life of the community in which they find themselves. When there are no toilets in school or no separate toilet for boys and girls, girls enrolment and stay in school are most affected. They have to stay back home during their menstruation and generally loose motivation for school attendance. â€Å"Globally, one in four girls do not complete primary school compared to one in seven boys† (Jon lane, 2008). Also studies in Alwar district of India shows that sanitation increased girls school enrolment by one-third and improved academic p erformance for boys and girls by a quarter. So, sanitation brings about more gender equality and lessens the burden and risks on women and girls. Another strong social benefit that comes with sanitation is community cohesion. The act and practice of collectively keeping streets and the environment clean (environmental sanitation) and also, the joint effort communities put in improving their sanitation practice (e.g. eradication of open defeacation) brings a bond and a sense of belonging to the members of a community. It makes them share a common pride of cleanliness. This brings about a change in social attitude that they can boast of. â€Å"For example some villages residents have painted signs that read: daughters from our village are not married into villages where open defeacation is practised† (Jon Lane, 2008). All the social factors that gets affected by the extent of sanitation practice are indirectly linked to the subject of poverty profile. Poor people tend to be the ones that are not able to access good sanitation hardwares. This deprives them of their major asset – physical health and ability to work t hereby making their situation worse. But interventions in sanitation can help them keep healthy at all times and help them divert their resources to other critical areas, raising their economic status and reducing the gap between the rich and poor in developing countries. Sanitation practices assist in environmental sustainability. It can be used to strike a nutrient balance in the present world where there is so much stress on our available resources. Human waste gets into water courses and land from open defeacation, disposal of untreated sewer effluents into river channels and leakages from not well designed pit latrines. â€Å"In the developing world, roughly 90% of sewage is discharged untreated into rivers, polluting waters and killing plants and fishes† (United Nations Water, 2008). Also â€Å"In Asia alone, 13million tonnes of feaces are released to inland water sources each year, along with 122millionm3 of urine and 11billion3 of greywater† (United Nations Water, 2008). This is a major for people using streams as their primary water source and economic risk for people that depends on aquatic life (e.g. fishing) for their livelihood. Figures from United Nations also suggest that â€Å"water pollution arising from poor sanitation costs south east Asia more than US$2billion per year, and in Indonesia and Vietnam creates environmental costs of more than US$200million annually primarily from the loss of productive land† Sanitation practices contain human waste with the option of safe treatment for disposal or maintaining the containment. Therefore sanitation stops this trend of environmental degradation and avoids the losses associated with it. Human excreta contain valuable nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium). â€Å"We produce 4.56kg Nitrogen, 0.55kg Phosphorus, and 1.28kg Potassium per person per year from feaces and urine. This is enough to produce wheat and maize for one person every year† (WSSCC in Mara D.D., lecture material, IPH, 2011). Going by the fact that conventional mineral fertiliser are mainly of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium constituents, farmers in developing countries can use the nutrients in excreta to enhance agricultural output at lower costs. The practice of â€Å"Ecological Sanitation† can be used to achieve this. That is, practice sanitation for environmental sustainability while at the same time turning waste (excreta) into a resource. The range s of practices include â€Å"Arboloos† (where a tree is planted on the latrine pit in succession), â€Å"Urine diverting latrines† (that produces fertilisers from urine and composted feaces) and â€Å"Biogas toilets† (that produces methane from anaerobic digestion of feaces). By using this technology, a three way benefit can be derived from sanitation. Environmental sustainability, increase in crop yield leading to better economic benefit while at the same time satisfying the health benefits that comes with sanitation. CONCLUSION REFERENCES Black R, Cousens S, Johnson H, Lawn J, Rudan I, et. al. (2010) Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality in 2008: a systematic analysis. Lancet 375: 1969–1987. Cairncross S, Valdmanis V (2006) Water supply, sanitation and hygiene promotion. In :Jamison DT, Breman JG, Measham AR, et al. (2006) Disease control priorities in developing countries, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. Feachem R.G., Bradley D.J., Garelick H., Mara D.D. (1983) Sanitation and disease. Health aspects of wastewater and excreta management. Chichester: John Wiley Sons. Fewtrell L, Kaufmann RB, Kay D, Enanoria W, Haller L, et al. (2005) Water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions to reduce diarrhoea in less developed countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Infectious Diseases 5. Heinonen-Tanski, H., Pradhan, S.K. Karinen, P., 2010. Sustainable Sanitation- A Cost-Effective Tool to Improve Plant Yields and the Environment. Sustainability, 2(1), pp.341-353. Available at: mdpi.com/2071-1050/2/1/341/ [Accessed June 2, 2011]. Hutton G (2009) Economic impacts of sanitation in Lao PDR. Jakarta: World Bank and Water Sanitation Program Hutton G, Haller L, Bartram J (2007) Economic and health effects of increasing coverage of lowcost household drinking-water supply and sanitation interventions to countries off-track to meet MDG target 10. Geneva: World Health Organization. Isabel Gunther, Gunther Fink. (2011). Water and sanitation to reduce child mortality. The impact and cost of water and sanitation infrastructure. Policy research working paper 5618. The World bank Development Economics Prospect Group. Jef Conant. (2005). Sanitation and cleanliness for a healthy environment. Hesperidian Foundation, UNDP. www.hesperidian.org Jon Lane. (2008). The economicand social benefits of improved sanitation. Speech delivered at the fourth Carribean Environmental Forum and Exhibition. St. George’s University, Grenada. Assessed at www.wsscc.org. Mara, D. et al., 2010. Sanitation and health. PLoS medicine, 7(11), p.e1000363. Available at: pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2981586tool=pmcentrezrendertype=abstract [Accessed February 9, 2011]. Mathers CD, Lopez AD, Murray CJL (2006) The burden of disease and mortality by condition: data, methods, and results for 2001. New York: Oxford University Press. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. (2002). Access to sanitation in developing countries. www.parliarment.uk/post/hom.htm. United Nations Water. (2008). Sanitation protects the environment. Fact sheet 4. www.esa.un.org. W.H.O. (2006). Human Development Report Office.   Economic and Health Effects of Increasing Coverage of Low Cost Water and Sanitation Interventions. W.H.O., UNICEF. (2010). Progress on sanitation and drinking water – 2010 update. Geneva: World Health Organisation. W.H.O., UNICEF. (2000). Global Assessment of water supply and sanitation. World Bank (2008) Environmental health and child survival: epidemiology, economics, experience. Washington, DC: World Bank.

Spaceship Earth - More than a Disney Attraction

Spaceship Earth - More than a Disney Attraction Visionary and designer, poet and engineer, R. Buckminster Fuller believed that we must work together as a crew if we are to survive on our planet, spaceship earth. How did the dreams of a genius turn into a Disney World attraction? When Buckminster Fuller (1895-1983) conceived the geodesic dome, he dreamed that it would house humanity. Constructed of a complex framework of self-bracing triangles, the geodesic dome was the strongest and most economical structure ever designed for its time, first patented in 1954. No other form of enclosure covered so much area without internal supports. The larger it is, the stronger it becomes. Geodesic domes have proven durable in hurricanes that have flattened traditional homes. Whats more, geodesic domes are so easy to assemble that an entire house can be built in a single day. Spaceship Earth at Disney World The enormous ATT Pavilion at Epcot in Disney World is perhaps the worlds most famous structure modeled after Fullers geodesic dome. Technically, the Disney pavilion isnt a dome at all! Known as Spaceship Earth, the Disney World attraction is a full (although slightly uneven) sphere. A true geodesic dome is hemispherical. However, theres no question that this Disney icon is Buckys brainchild. EPCOT was envisioned by Walt Disney in the 1960s as a planned community, an urban development of the future. Disney allotted 50 acres of his newly purchased Florida swampland to be what I remember to be called an Environmental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Disney himself presented the plan in 1966, explaining the Celebration-like development as an Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, a climate-controlled bubble community, with, perhaps, a geodesic dome atop. The dream was never realized at Epcot- Disney died in 1966, shortly after he presented the master plan and shortly before Buckminster Fuller had great success with Biosphere at Montreals Expo 67. After Disneys death, amusement prevailed, and living under a dome transformed into being entertained inside a sphere representing Spaceship Earth Built in 1982, Spaceship Earth at Disney World encloses some 2,200,000 cubic feet of space inside a globe that is 165 feet in diameter. The outer surface is composed of 954 triangular panels made of a polyethylene core sandwiched between two anodized aluminum plates. These panels are not all the same size and shape. Geodesic Dome Homes Buckminster Fuller had high hopes for his geodesic domes, but the economical designs didnt catch on the way he envisioned. First, builders needed to learn how to waterproof the structures. Geodesic domes are made up of triangles with many corners and many seams. Eventually builders became skilled in geodesic dome construction and they were able to make the the structures resistant to leaks. There was another problem, however. The odd shape and appearance of geodesic domes proved to be a hard-sell for homebuyers used to conventional houses. Today, geodesic domes and spheres are widely used for weather stations and airport radar shelters, but relatively few geodesic domes are built for private homes. Although you wont often find a one in a suburban neighborhood, geodesic domes do have a small but passionate following. Scattered around the world are determined idealists, building and living in the efficient structures Buckminster Fuller invented. Later designers followed in his footsteps, creating other types of dome housing such as sturdy and economical Monolithic Domes. Learn More: Movies About Famous Architects, Including Buckminster FullerWhat is a Geodesic Dome?From our architecture glossary, illustration and definition of the geodesic dome, conceived by Buckminster Fuller.Build A Geodesic Dome ModelStep by step instructions, with diagrams, by Trevor Blake.Buckminster Fuller: BiographyFast facts about the life and works of Buckminster Fuller.Buckminster Fuller: InventionsAn extensive collection of resources from your Inventors Expert.Buckminster Fuller Bibliography by Trevor Blake, 2016Walt Disneys Epcot Center: Creating the New World of Tomorrow by Richard R. Beard, 1982

Global Supply Chain Management of Distinctive Book Company Essay

Global Supply Chain Management of Distinctive Book Company - Essay Example However, their expertise in a small scale market is not yet tested in the international market. This means that they have to ensure that their strategies are properly planned and implemented to ensure the achievement of their objectives. This means that various points need to be considered at hand. One of the main issues that they need to focus among any other is their supply chain. This is to simply put it that they need to come up with a supply chain management that at least somewhere near excellent condition. This sounds much better for a start considering that the Distinctive Book Company is a new entrant in the international market. Part of the supply chain management of the company is to evaluate some supply chain strategies that can be of great help to the company’s business to improve efficiency, maintain or improve quality of service, manage supply chain risk and address supply chain issues that would come out from sourcing products through to sale and distribution of products to the company’s customers.  Without any question, the Distinctive Book Company is partly ready for global competition. Thus, they must first be ready to face the current trend in global competition. According to Jespersen and Larsen (2005), companies compete in an environment where there is global competition which makes them faster, better and cheaper. The following such as faster, better and cheaper are considerable marketing proposition concepts of every international company (2005).

International perspectives in organisation Literature review

International perspectives in organisation - Literature review Example According to Javidan et al. (2006), global leadership is one of the critical factors in the management of large multinational corporations. In their paper titled â€Å"In the eye of the beholder† the researchers particularly use the research findings from the Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness (GLOBE) program as a basis for conceptualizing the global leadership differences. Generally, Javidan et al. (2006) effectively presents the cultural profiles of four countries namely France, Egypt, Brazil and China as a case study to highlight the potential cultural implications of a hypothetical American executive working in the business environments in these countries. Javidan et al. (2006) particularly suggests that cross cultural leadership should represent an open mind and understand overly the cultures of different countries. Mangers should be critical and analyze empirically the cultures of their countries’ to the cultures of the people in the countries of their business operations. Managing and leading in different counties: The corporate management should be considerate on the types of marketing activities across the different countries of their operations. Both the dominant and metropolitan countries managerial schemes should be in an equilibrium and modal way of management. Regional clustering of globe nations: The business corporate world is prone to completion. Through these competitions, a global cultural clustering is therefore eminent with about 62-case studied culture clustering from America continent through to African continent to Asia and Europe (Jovidan et al, 2009 p.122). The study concludes by highlighting practices such as the ability of the individual global managers to share information about their culture alongside the culture of the host country, contemplate bridging the gap between two diversified cultures, to exhibit a high level of ambiguity tolerance and to remain