An Analysis of Advertisement Essay

Growing up I have always lived in a very small town, just to the north of our beloved city Chicago. It was a huge city full of hustle and bustle. Whenever I would visit the city I would feel so rushed, and crowded. Now that I’m older I am used to a fast paced life. I always drive to school, I am always on a busy campus, and I always am being pulled in so many directions it makes my head spin! I can see the highs and lows in the whole MDoS (McDonaldization of Society). It truly is something that a lot of us have grown accustomed to. Whether it be a fast food restaurant or a store, these small shops has grown into large conglomerates to supply us with two things. Convenience and low prices. But unfortunately, when it comes to most places you can’t always find quality with quantity. Because even though it tastes good (sometimes) McDonalds is not good for anyone who eats it. I have fallen victim to the sirens call of their new spicy chicken sandwich they’re only a dollar so I don’t have to pay much money to get more than one to fill myself. In a society that caves to good deals because of how expensive and time consuming everything is. People have no time to actually sit down and eat at the table with their families, or even cook the meals to start. What I’m trying to get at is, that we really brought this upon ourselves whether we like it or not. It’s not something that will easily go away, and to be honest I don’t think it ever will. MDoS consists of these four things. Efficiency: This is Optimal Method for completing a task. When a company is geared towards minimizing your time. In McDonalds case it’s the fastest way to go from hungry to full in a short amount of time (Ritzer, 2000)While sometimes this is a great thing, I personally don’t like food. I don’t really enjoy eating food, so I want to spend as much time not doing it as possible. So the fact that I can actually get my food, and eat it quickly is a great thing to me. When it comes to say a grocery store, they have a standard in service to uphold, where you get quick and efficient service while you’re in their store, from their baggers and Cashiers. What person really likes grocery shopping? I have never seen anyone get excited to go buy food for the week. So from what I’ve seen, people would most likely want to get in, buy their food and get out as soon as possible so they can get on with their day. Calculability:This Rule in simple terms judges those by how fast they work not the quality of their service. In a way this is true for a lot of things these days. However it doesn’t really apply to all businesses. Once again using McDonalds as an example. In my town (which is the worst place to live in the world if you ask me) People here are very lazy and most likely don’t understand English. When you visit the McDonalds in my town you are most likely to get very fast and very bad service. The food is old, gross and tastes horrid. When you try to tell them how much you hate it, the people can barely understand you. However, when I go to the McDonalds by my school it’s a very different experience. The people are nice, they speak English, and the food looks fresh and tastes fresh. While the service is quick and accurate without any mistakes. So in reality sometimes it really just depends on the neighborhood, and the people working there. Just like any business. When I go to the Jewel Osco in my town once again I repeat what I say above, the service is slow and un-pleasant. When I visit the next town over, completely the opposite. So I am convinced my town is cursed haha. Predictability: No matter where you go you will receive the same service. The workers jobs are repetitive, highly routine, and predictable. While this is true I ask you to revisit the statement above. While I’m on this subject I will also touch upon something else. When you visit a KFC, or Popeye’s Chicken, Wendy’s, Burger King, or any other chain fast food place you will usually get the same recipe for that burger no matter where you go. Usually it will taste the same no matter what part of the world you actually purchase it from. Most of the time this is true, with few exceptions. There is absolutely no creative freedom for a grill operator at these places, if the cook wanted to create a â€Å"special† there’s no way that would happen. If you work at one of these places you are a slave to your position without creative liberties to stray from the beaten path. If you find something wrong with your burger or chicken and you make a fuss about it. They always give you a new one, and then send you coupons! Is that a bad thing? No, free food is always welcomed to the average person. But, maybe I would like a heartfelt apology for messing up my meal, or perhaps a joke or two from the manager about how embarrassed he/she is. That human element that makes a place special is basically lost at these establishments, Which leads me in to the final issue. Control: Standardized and Uniformed Employees, While also including the replacement of human workers with Machines. This is a bit scary to me to be honest. Even though I don’t fully enjoy food, there are some people that truly treasure culinary arts and truly believe there’s nothing better than a home cooked meal Shared with family. I believe this too. When these people visit a restaurant they want to feel comforted like they’re in their mom’s kitchen. When you take the heart out of cooking, we might as well be eating nourishment pills. In case you’ve noticed, as I have been writing this paper for the past hour my opinions have changed as I sat here thinking, and writing. I was thinking about re-writing this paper, but I wanted you see how this subject changes people. I went from not caring about food, to actually thinking about the heart of it, just because I thought about these four elements. There’s a lot wrong with the way society is now it’s very impersonal and de-humanized. Why, on this TV my strange addiction this man was basically Married to a sex doll. She couldn’t talk, or give him Human compassion. That’s crazy right? Maybe it’s not as crazy as we think in this new society. Human beings strive for perfection, for that plane of godliness. We all want to be perfect. But it’s those little imperfections that make us perfect. It’s the chef trying new things, adding a little more cheese to the pasta sauce, the designer raising a picture and tilting it slightly, the Painter who adds pink to her clouds, and the Interior Designer angling a couch slightly off so that it’s not straight. These small details make us imperfect, makes our lives imperfect, but to be Honest, that’s perfectly fine with me.

Ethical Perspectives Essay

Abstract This essay will research a a global organization and cultural issue that affects the organization’s interactions outside the United States. It will also define the cultural issue within the global organization as well as provide an analysis of the ethical and social responsibility issues that the organization must deal with as a result of being a global organization. The analysis will identify ethical perspectives in the global organization and it will compare these ethical perspectives across cultures involved in the global organization. Ethical Perspectives Paper Due to many strict regulations placed on corporations by the United States, a lot of them have moved their factories overseas as a way of escaping the strict regulations. South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, and China are examples of various Third World countries that have a readily available and abundant cheap labor source. These companies take it vantage of this cheap labor as a means of fulfilling the consumer’s needs while at the same time cutting costs production. Many of these organizations have been noted by the media as abusing these forms of cheap labor and are highly criticized because of their organizational culture. The use of child labor or work conditions in the labor force are some of the malpractices these organizations are noted as using on both the local and international level. Although these organizations have been reported for doing this very little has been done to correct the problem unless someone has either gotten hurt were the people go on strike to rally for the workers’ rights. Nike Corporation is among those corporations that have been highlighted and criticized for its organizational culture. This Corporation, founded by Bill Bowerman and Philip Knight, has had companies based abroad from the very beginning in an attempt to increase its profits around the world. By doing this the company has managed to save money on production and labor costs and has been labeled a blue ribbon sports organization. There many different countries that this organization has expanded into. One of these countries is Pakistan. Pakistan, Nike company faced serious cultural issues including the use of children for labor and poor work conditions. The allegations range from situations where children’s job was to stitch soccer balls to stitching of and support garments. Boje & Khan (2009) indicate that Sialkot, Pakistan has been the place where soccer balls of Nike company and then produced for several years and it is estimated it thousands of children have been used as workers in the production process of the company’s goods. Khan (2010) indicates that childhood is perceived in different ways and that it is not across countries but also in a specific culture had across various ethnic groups (Khan, 2010). Child labor is the main cultural issue that affects the Nike Corporation. The company has been highlighted by the media through illustrating the conditions under which the Nikes factories were operating overseas and the minimal standards that had to be attained by the employees. This company’s goal was to achieve financial gain while exploiting its workers. Due to these malpractices the Nike Corporation received ceaseless attacks. Strict recommendations were set in order to improve these back conditions. With the media being involved Nike had to do something to improve how it was operating in other countries. Due to Nikes global expansion, the company was faced with various aspects of concern, costs being among those issues. In order for them to stay competitive, as it pertains to price without the need to reduce its workforce, they decided to outsource some of its manufacturing overseas. By doing so, it gave the company an advantage over its competitors as well as opening other doors of marketing for the company. Even though the shifting of jobs from the US to other countries may be viewed as an unethical  practice by others, it can be said that Nike’s decision was in the best interest of the company, as well as the employees working at the company. A company that is unable to maintain its competitive advantage within its current markets and at the same time thinking of expanding its business, will end up experiencing a stagnating growth and loss of jobs among many employees. No one will then be the winner when the company has lost his competitiveness in the industry (Etienne an d Lewis, 2005). Another thing that has to be taken into consideration are the customers. This falls within the ethical responsibility field of the company which had been overlooked for a long time. It is apparent that the Nike Corporation failed to comprehend the consequences of not following the required base market ideologies in a place where they were not required to follow stringent labor regulations. Taking jobs out of the United States is hard enough to justify, never mind the fact they were taking those jobs and moving them to a place where children were given those jobs. With child labor being a major problem is clear that Nike did not consider its ethical obligations and wound up paying the price for its malpractices. Nike was accused of lowering the human standards rights single-handedly with the goal of maximizing profits. Furthermore, Nike products have been linked to forced overtime, slave wages, and habitual abuse. The main difficulties in diversifying an organization is based on the principle of cultural adaptability while ensuring that ethical and social standards and maintain. Groundwork of the organization or company can be well described when there is a clear analysis of what takes place in organization. Nike’s decision to take the company’s business abroad was with good intent and motive for cutting costs, increasing the company’s competitiveness and profits, but should not have come at the expense of abusing child labor. The accusations placed on Nike Corporation by the media were based on poor working conditions, use of child labor, and the exploitation of wages to its employees abroad. The company was not only criticized these accusations, but were also criticized for taking jobs away from the American people. Through corporate social responsibility laws, the Nike Corporation was forced to adhere to the recommendation in order to  improve the poor working conditi ons in its factories abroad. References Boje, D, & Khan, F (2009) Story-Branding by Empire Entrepreneurs, Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship, p 9-24. DeTienne, K & Lewis, L (2005) the Pragmatic and Ethical Barriers to Corporate Social Responsibility Disclosure, Journal of Business Ethics, p 359-376. Khan, a (2010) Discourses on Childhood, History & Anthropology, p 101-119.

Upper Lobectomy

Upper Lobectomy Krysten Miller Pennsylvania College of Technology ?IntroductionAn Upper Lobectomy is the removal of the superior lobe from a lung. This occurs when a neoplasm is confined to a specific area and hilar nodes are not involved. This procedure may be done to remove the spread of cancer, abnormal abscess, or infection within the lungs. The lungs are located below the clavicle and above the diaphragm. They consist of five lobes, both sets being separated by fissure. The right side has three lobes known as superior, middle, and inferior. While the left has superior and inferior. The left side only has two lobes because the anatomical position of the heart needs room to rest. Connected to the lungs are ancillary structures, such as, bronchus, pulmonary artery and vein, and lymphatic vessels. These structures enter at the hilum where the lungs are slightly concave. The surgical goal is to remove the neoplasm without harming other structures. Signs/Symptoms/Risks Generally, signs and symptoms may vary depending on the diagnosis. For example, signs and symptoms of TB are pain in chest, fatigue, fever/chills, or mucus and blood in saliva. Whereas signs and symptoms of cancer consist of a reoccurring respiratory infection, chest pain, weakness in the upper body, and trouble swallowing, change in bowel movement (American Cancer Society, 2018). In most cases signs and symptoms are very common and testing will need done for diagnosis. If these signs and symptoms are noticed a doctor should be consulted and a check-up be made. Diagnosis/Alternatives In addition, a neoplasm may be diagnosed through a Computerized Tomography (CT) or a Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI). During a CT scan small lesions may be identified, whereas, MRI may reveal a mass or nodule. If a spot occurs, a tissue biopsy may be done to identify what the mass or lesion may be. Another diagnosis is sputum cytology. During this assessment the sputum is looked under a microscope for cancer cells to be identified (Mayo Clinic, 2018). Once diagnosed alternative therapy may be assessed if surgery is too much to handle. These sources include radiation, chemotherapy, radiosurgery, and drug therapy. Overall, these alternatives use multiple drugs and or high—power of radiation to kill and reduce the neoplasm within the lungs. Alternative medication to help those with signs and symptoms involve acupuncture, hypnosis, massage, meditation, and yoga. These forms of medicine help relax the tissue and relieve pain within the area. When alternatives are not an option, and the aggression is too far surgery is the option. Surgery Set Up To begin, the set up contains a back table and mayo stand. The back table will consist of three sections: drapes, instruments, and sharps. Drapes will be towels and an adhesive back drape. Electrocautery and suction, as well as, other items that need access to the patient may be placed here as well. Instruments are then placed on the field. Two main trays will be placed along with a variety of other tools. A thoracotomy set will include useful instruments that aid in removal of a rib and exposure to repair the underneath organs. A general vascular set will also be available. This set includes additional cardiovascular instruments that may be useful if needed. In addition, various sizes of hemoclips are separate and kept for hold. Once instruments are placed, sharps and basins are then placed. In the top corner an emission basin and bowl are placed for fluids. Sponges in the form of kitners, laps, and 4Ãâ€"4 are placed on the field. A suture counter is then placed in the corner. This is filled with silk suture ties, polypropylene suture, and pledgets. A number 10, 11, and 15 knife blades are then loaded on a handle. Once the back table is complete with all needed instruments the mayo may be addressed. The common instruments include knife, tissue forceps, and metz and scissors to dissect to operative area. Hemostats, Kocher's and Allis's may be place to grab tissue and retract along with hemostasis. Multiple retractors and elevators may be used either sorted on the mayo or back table. Once the sterile field is prepped, the patient is retrieved and prepped. Patient Preparation Following set-up, the patient is brought into the room. They are transferred to the OR bed and position aids are placed. Antiembolitic hoses are placed on the legs to help with blood flow. Aesthesia may apply Swan-Ganz and CVP lines which allow direct contact to the heart (Goldman, 2008). Once general anesthesia is applied with endotracheal intubation, the patient is placed in lateral position with the surgical site up. During this time a catheter may be placed, as these procedures may be length if problems occur. Padded kidney rests or pillows are placed around the torso to stabilize. The unaffected arm is placed on an arm board while the other is rested above on a padded mayo. The lower leg is slightly bent with a pillow placed on top and the top leg laid flat, this is done to keep the patient from rotating. Pads are placed around the ankles and other bony areas for cushion. During this time, it is needed to be confirmed that blood has been ordered and available for this case. Prep/Draping Once the patient is positioned, prepping and draping of the surgical area may begin. When prepping cleansing for a posterolateral incision is made. Starting at the mid-thorax region, extending from the shoulder, to the iliac crest and down bilaterally. Within the prep the axilla region should be included as well. After the prep is dried, drapes may be placed. Folded towels are placed in a square around the incision site. Towel clips are placed at each inside corner to hold the towels together. An adhesive drape is then placed and unfolded across the patient to create the complete sterile field. Two suction tubes should be thrown up at this time along with any other cords that need to be thrown off. Surgery Following draping, a time out may occur and surgery begins. A posterolateral incision is made into the fourth intercostal space of the ribs with a #10 blade. Rib spreaders are placed to open the ribs and the pleura is cut. The anterosuperior portion of the hilar pleura is then incised and then separated making room to open the thorax. Once opened, the likelihood of the rib instruments being reused are slim and may be removed from the surgical field and onto back table (Frey & Ross, 2014). The upper and lower lobe fissure is opened, and dissection down to the pulmonary artery begins. During this time the surgical technologist should keep count of how much irrigation is used for the account of potential blood replacement. If sponges are to be weighed they must be fully saturated before throwing off. The second count may begin at this time. The pulmonary artery and vein branches are identified. Once identified they are separated. The surgical technologist should move quickly to access suture and assess double ligation of artery and vein. They are then divided. Blunt dissection is then used to free the upper lobe bronchus. It is either clamped with a bronchus clamp or a stapler. Sutures and stapler should be prepared prior to the step, bronchus is divided quickly. The clamp or stapler should be placed 2 cm form the main bronchial trunk (Frey & Ross, 2014). Entry to the bronchial tree changes wound class and results in contaminated instruments. At that time contaminated items shall be separated. The bronchus is then closed with a nonabsorbable suture or staples. Closely watching the surgeon and his assistance allows for anticipation at this time. A pleural flap is secured with sutures over the bronchial stump and the remaining lobes are checked for leakage of air. Leakages are checked by filling the thorax with body-temperature irrigation. The wound is irrigated and chest tubes of sort are placed in the thorax. The lines form the tubes must be hooked with a closed drainage unit and immediately turned on to prevent clotting. Final counts are made while tubes are placed. An injection of 0.25% Marcaine is made for postoperative pain control prior to closure. The fascia is closed with a 2-0 Vicryl and the skin is closed with staples. Dressing is a nonadherent contact layer, may vary depending on the doctor preference. The surgical technologist should not break scrub until the patient has left the operating room. Outcome Following surgery, the patient is then transported to the CCU. The endotracheal tube is still attached at this time to check for postop ventilation and proper breathing. The patient will stay in the hospital 7 to 10 days. If no complications they may leave and have a full recovery. Additional treatments may be essential such as chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments can help determine when normal activity can return. If complications occur hospitalization is longer. This may be a surgical site infection, hemorrhage, atelectasis, pneumothorax, embolus, edema, etc. During this time the patient will be monitored and possible emergency surgery may be done. If no complications occur during surgery this is a Class 1: clean procedure. Conclusion To conclude, an upper lobectomy is the surgical removal of a lobe caused by an abnormal growth or infection. It can be diagnosed through imaging or a tissue biopsy. Alternatives before surgery are a variety of drug therapy and active medicines. Once these are out of the question surgery is an option. The patient is then prepped and assessed for surgery. The lobe is removed and the patient is sent to recovery. They will then be hospitalized for 7 to 10 days and sent home if no other complications occur. ? ReferencesFrey, K. B., & Ross, T. (2014). Surgical technology for the surgical technologist: a positive care approach. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.Goldman, M. A. (2008). Pocket guide to the operating room. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.Lung WebMD. (2018). Cancer Symptoms: What You Should Know. Retrieved April 22, 2018, from https://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/understanding-lung-cancer-symptomsAmerican Cancer Society. (2018). Managing Cancer-related Side Effects. Retrieved April 25, 2018, from https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side- effects.html

Operation Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words - 2

Operation Management - Essay Example Tactical issues deal with the plant structure and layout, project management methods and also equipment selection as well as replacement. Finally, an operational issue involves production scheduling, production control, quality control & inspection, inventory management, equipment maintenance policies and traffic & material handling (Chary, p. 88). Construction firms require the use of construction management techniques in order to be able to direct and coordinate the workers and the material resources required throughout the timeframe of a given construction project. Management techniques are quite important when it comes to the implementation of a management system. Benefits attributed to various management techniques are that they are able to increase a firm’s success based on cost, quality, time, and scope and participation satisfaction (Chary, p. 91). With regards to project management in a construction firm scenario, what is involved is a set of objectives that are meant to be accomplished through implementation of operations that are subject to the resource constraint. Based on the concept explained above on operation management, this paper is going to focus on the best method of implementing a management system for a construction company following the necessary essentials in the concept. There is need for most business companies to adopt an operational management method that will help in achieving most of their goals especially in the production of quality goods that will definitely increase their financial gain (Chary, p.93). Satisfying the customers’ needs is the major priority for any business organization. The construction companies which are referred to as one of the highly ranked performing organizations are required to have their own processing bodies which are meant to be the foundation of the company’s standard

Relationship between Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Essay - 2

Relationship between Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Economic Development - Essay Example Such an analytical approach has furnished ample insight into the interrelationship existing between knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship. However, it goes without saying that there is a lacuna as to the understanding of the comprehensive relationship between entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth. The understanding of the relationships between micro economic sources of growth and the consequent macroeconomic outcomes is still too nascent as to the establishment of the relationships between varied interacting forces impacting the economic growth. Hence, in an academic perspective it will be really enlightening to analyze the recent advancements into the understanding of the varied forces influencing the creation of knowledge, the promulgation and diffusion of this knowledge aided by apt innovation and the role played by entrepreneurship in the overall growth process. For its goes without saying that the primary process of knowledge creation has to be continually and co mmensurately supported by forces originating from innovation and entrepreneurship, which give way to mechanisms that help in the conversion of this knowledge to societal and commercial needs. It is amply relevant as the developing countries of today could learn a lot from the course followed by the developed countries in their quest for economic growth. It will also immensely help the developed countries in the sense that they are faced with the challenging responsibility of devising growth policies in a futuristic context. Thus, it is emphatically valid to attempt an understanding into the relationship existing between entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth. Entrepreneurship and Economic Development The very fact that entrepreneurship is closely tied to economic growth is amply corroborated by the commonsensical observation and economic acumen in the sense that the crux of any innovative entrepreneurial endeavour is to convert ideas and knowledge into commercially valid e conomic opportunities. Entrepreneurship is the bedrock on which rest the possibilities for innovation, change and growth. In a world economy that is getting globalized at a fast pace, entrepreneurship is a sources of competitiveness in the sense that it gives way to knowledge and flexibility. With the ensuing shift in the industrial frameworks and structures vying for an augmented decentralization and minimal concentration, the entrepreneurial vigour operating at all the levels in an economy is indeed a source of viable competitiveness. In that context if one takes into consideration the accompanying technological developments and changes and a resultant augmenting global competition and economic liberalization, the very assumption that promoting entrepreneurship in a way leads to the promotion of the economic growth appears more valid today than it did in the past. The available economic, social and psychological knowledge do points towards the fact that entrepreneurship is a proce ss that tends to be dynamic in its scope and ramifications. Though some experts may tend to think of entrepreneurship as a mechanical economic factor, yet, in reality it is far from being so (Pirich 2001, p. 14). Entrepreneurship has as much to do with change as with the choices related to a change era or process. In that context, the existing definitions of entrepreneurship delve on the functional aspects of entrepreneurship that may be allocation of the scarce resources, coordination, making decisions, innovation, capital augmentation and uncertainty management. Entrepreneurship unleashes the dormant growth

How to Improve China's International Trade Essay

How to Improve China's International Trade - Essay Example International trade in China nowadays is the most developed form of international contacts. The Chinese international turnover during the years of reforms has grown from $10 billion in 1978 to $325 billion in 1997 (the positive balance equals to more than $40 billion). By the international trade volume China now takes the third place in the world, with its export and import in 2005 equaling to $1422.1 billion. (Lloyd 2006, p. 389) More than 220 countries have international trade relations with China, among which are USA, Japan, European Union, Korea, Taiwan, Russia, Australia and Canada. On July 1st, 2004 China adopted a new law 'About International Trade'. With the aim of stimulating the international trade, this law has replaced the regime of considering and registering the right for carrying out external economic operations for the simple system of registration, and there have been created strict regulations, relating to import and export of goods and technologies, international s ervice trade, international trade order, as well as the protection of copyright according to the abovementioned order. (Garnaut & Song 2005, p. 27) The dependence of Chinese economy on the international trade has grown significantly, which witnesses about its deep involvement into the world international ties and processes. Though China takes the third place in the world economy by the international trade volume, its weight in it can still become higher. The main obstacle for this is the low quality of the bigger portion of the goods, produced by the processing industry, which don't survive the rivalry of the similar products on the world market, and the absence of possibilities for increasing the raw materials export. The main task of the Chinese export policy is the providing of import financing, which is built with the account of the international conjuncture. The main efforts are directed at stimulating predominant growth of finished goods' export with the growing portion of science-heavy products; these processes are accompanied by achieving the quality of goods, which will correspond to the international quality standards . Considerable growth has been achieved in the total volume of finished goods' export, which by the beginning of 90s constituted already 2/3 of the Chinese export. The first place in export (50%) belongs to the consumer goods, among which clothes, shoes, toys, etc. An important place in the international trade of China is taken by the raw materials processing with the further export of the finished products - it constitutes about 50% of the total country's turnover. China is the leader in exporting textiles and silk. Textile industry is the main source of foreign income for China. (Kent 2002, p. 344) Less than 20% of export accounts for machine building and electro technical products. The growth of the specific gravity of these products in the world export is being restricted by the fact, that their quality is not competitive with that of other suppliers. The portion of Chinese machine building in the world export does not exceed 0.3%. (Manilla Bulletin 2005, p. 12) The structure of the international trade in China was described here to decide, what challenges are set in front of Chinese economy and foreign trade as the essential part in its development. The definition and determination of challenges will lead us to the definition of

Maximizing profits in market structures Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Maximizing profits in market structures - Essay Example Monopoly – The monopoly is the only producer of a particular good or service; therefore, it has a downward-sloping demand curve. If the firm sells its product at a high price, it will be able to sell only a small quantity because few people would be able to afford it, and there are not substitutes. If the firm would wish to sell more units of the product, it will have to lower its prices (Mankiw, 2009). The type of product may be homogeneous or differentiated and the monopoly firm has full control over its price (Jain & Khanna, 2009). Oligopoly – An oligopoly is a market with only a few suppliers. Because they are so few, actions taken by one seller creates an impact on the other sellers, such that they become interdependent upon each other. They therefore tend to behave pursuant to certain strategies depending on the actions of the other firms (Mankiw, 2009), and there are situations that alternatively present opportunities for conflict and for cooperation. The product may be homogeneous or differentiated (Jain & Khanna, 2009). ... For monopolies, P > MR = MC (price exceeds marginal costs). The firm first determines the output quantity at which it will produce, at the point where marginal revenue and marginal costs are equal. The demand curve is thereafter used to determine the highest price the firm may charge in order to sell the quantity determined. This is so because the demand curve tells the quantity buyers are willing to buy at a certain price. Oligopoly – For oligopolies, the profits a firm makes depends to a great deal of what its competitors make, because there are so few of them supplying the market. Based on this observation, game theory has been developed, the method by which a firm in an oligopoly tries to predict how its competitors will react if it makes a strategic move. For instance, in an oligopoly it is generally observed that firm will lower their price in response to a price reduction by one of the other firms, particularly if the product they produce is homogeneous. However, if one of the firms raises its prices, the other firms do not automatically follow. The reason for this is that the firms whose prices are viewed as too high in comparison with its competitors would lose its buyers to those firms with lower prices, because their products are deemed to be easily substitutable with each other. The result is a kinked demand curve. Barriers to entry Competition - In a competitive market, the barriers to new entrants are low and few, if any, thus the market is open to many sellers and the products are undifferentiated as to be easily substituted. Everybody sells at the same price, and there is always demand at that price. Monopoly - For natural monopolies, barriers to new entrants are high because the

3_08 Employee Performance Appraisal Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

3_08 Employee Performance Appraisal - Essay Example Create room for personal evaluation-it is good to come up with a blank document and ensure that employees continually rate themselves using the same procedure you will rate them. Majority will appreciate participating in the process. Show respect-it is good to send clear signals to each employee and tell them that the meeting is of great importance. Start documentation at an early stage and work at a good place so as to ensure that work runs smoothly Input much focus-treat the meeting like it’s a great business encounter. It is good to make sure that one does not come up with topics that tend to divert the attention of the general meeting in place. Social elements should not be mixed. Don’t wait-it is good for one to inform employees on anything that is pending rather than wait for things to happen. Ensure that all activities are well taken care of and nothing is left pending for the moment. Be careful on writings-only information that is relevant to the topics should be included in writing. Personal information should not be included in such kinds of documents as they may not be of help. Omissions should not be done on papers. Â  Avoid debating-it is good for one to keep controlling the meeting with a further reigning in the discussions that arise. A manager is supposed to have the final word in the workplace and ensure that work is running smoothly Do not do majority of talking-it is good to let employees do the talking so that one gets the desired kind of feedback from them. Letting them do the talking gives you the opportunity to get the desired feedback from them. Â  Give evaluation deadlines-it is good to handle situations in a more professional manner as a manager. It is good not to let employees comment on the appraisal document. Comments should be done on a separate sheet of

Bank Reserves and its Role on Money Supply Research Paper

Bank Reserves and its Role on Money Supply - Research Paper Example Ignoring this function is like assigning financial intermediaries merely a passive role in the financial system (FRBSF, 2001). In recent days, in the midst of the economical crisis, it has become more and more apparent that such a passive perception of banks is unwarranted. Also, the volume of broad funds in the financial system is due to the interaction of the banking system (counting the central bank) with the money-holding segment, comprising of non-financial organizations, households, the general government instead of the central government and non-monetary financial institutions (Gerali et al., 2010). Broad funds include currency in circulation, along with close substitutes, like bank deposits, and are instructive for aggregate spending and inflation (Lipsey & Chrystal, 2011). It, therefore, goes past those assets, which are mainly recognized means of payment to incorporate instruments, which work mainly as a store of value (FRBSF, 2001). Before we move forward, it is vital to u nderstand the concept of bank reverses, and then after that we will learn the importance of these reserves in money supply. This paper is divided into two sections, one which centers on the operations of commercial banks and their banking reserves and that other which dwells on the bank reserves and their roles on money supply. Bank Reserves Bank reserves refer to currency deposits that are not loaned out to banks’ customers. A small portion of the entire deposit is held within the bank or deposited to the Federal Reserve (central bank) (Gerali et al., 2010). Minimum reserve obligations are dictated by the central bank so as to make sure that banks and other financial institutions are able to offer clients cash upon their request (Levin & Wieland, 2005). The main goal of banking reserves, also known as holding reserves, is to avoid bank runs and mainly appear solvent (Schwartz, 2008). The Federal Reserve and central banks of other nations place such restrictions on banking in stitutions since they can earn a much greater return on their capital through loaning out money to customers instead of holding cash in their deposits or depositing it to other financial institutions or the Federal Reserve. Bank reserves drop during times of economy expansion and enhance during recessions (Gerali et al., 2010). The amount of funds kept in bank reserves or the Federal Reserve is dictated by the Reserve Requirement. This is the amount of funds, which a depository institution (bank) should hold in their reserve against specific deposit liabilities (Levin & Wieland, 2005). The obligatory reserve ratio is, at times, utilized as a tool in monetary principles, influencing a nation’s interest, as well as borrowing rates, through amending the amount of money available for banking institutions to offer as loans (White, 2008). Western central banks hardly alter the reserve requirements since it would lead to instant liquidity issues for banking institutions with small e xcess reserves (Gerali et al., 2010). They mainly opt to use open market operations such as buying and selling government-granted bonds in order to execute their monetary policy (Lipsey & Chrystal, 2011). In the U.S., their reserve requirement, which they also refer to as liquidity ratio, is the least amount value, determined by the Federal Reser

Tort Reform Essay Example for Free

Tort Reform Essay Tort Reform As with most debates fought in the popular press, there is some truth on both sides. At the center of this controversy is the way the legal system handles disputes or torts. A tort by definition is not just actions resulting in physical injury. Slander, fraud, and trespass are also torts. However, most of the argument on tort reform, concerns cases involving physical injury, medical malpractice and product liability. America is the most sue happy society in the world. We take our private problems to court more readily than the people of any other country. I do not agree with the article, Corp Reform-Not Tort Reform. Indeed Tort Reform is essential. The impact of tort claims is gargantuan, in retrospect to other types of lawsuits. Many of these costs are absorbed by corporations. On the front end, the corporation may pay the damages awarded; but, on the back end, the bill is absorbed by stockholders, taxpayers and consumers. These individuals pay in the form of reduced share prices, increased administrative costs and higher prices for goods and services. The second reason why we need tort reform is because a tort claim is the type of lawsuit most likely to give rise to frivolous accusations. We need to see reform by obtaining more structure in punitive damages. Punitive damages should be reserved for those who truly deserve to be punished. A plaintiff should be required to show clear and convincing evidence, that harm was suffered because actual malice rather than by mere simple evidence. Punitive damages should be only awarded once; it is wrong punish a corporation twice for the same tort. There must be some incentive for true injured parties with legitimate claims to pursue them in court. The problem with our legal system is that there is no incentive not to bring a claim, even as frivolous as can be. It prevents even victorious party from being rewarded since legal fees can eat up a huge percentage of any amounts won in court. The American way can also discourage a plaintiff with a legitimate grievance from filing a lawsuit. This is because funds recovered by the victim will be consumed by the costs of his attorneys fees. When the expected legal costs are greater than the amount of the claim, the plaintiff may decide not to sue. Second, it means that someone who has done nothing wrong often ends up paying for someone elses choice to use the court system to litigate a grievance. From the moment a case is filed, the defendant begins to calculating the relative cost of going to court versus settlement, in the scenario even a innocent defendant often decide to settle to avoid legal fees and bad publicity. Adapting a loser pays rule would discourage frivolous lawsuits and promote the early settlement of meritorious ones. In conclusion, I am not surprised by the McDonald coffee case. It simply proves my point. State officials should enact its own reforms to fill in any gaps left by the federal efforts at tort reform and intact reasonable limitations on noneconomic as well as punitive damages and amendment on rules of joint and several liabilities. We need to join the rest of the western world in recognizing the disadvantages of the American way of filing suit and the problems it has caused the economy, the tort system, and the delivery of civil justice.

Safety Of Road Workers On Maintenance Of Highways Construction Essay

Safety Of Road Workers On Maintenance Of Highways Construction Essay Highways maintenance and road workers ensure that roads and pavements are safe and well maintained in towns, cities and rural areas throughout the country of operation. They might also build new roads and look after the repair, building and resurfacing of the countrys motorway networks. Highway maintenance safety involves safety of workers working on highway or road network services including road markings, pothole patching, road signs, road and footpath resurfacing, gully or drain cleaning, flooding, safety barriers, school crossing patrols, winter maintenance (snow removal), vegetation control, emergency services installing cats eyes, digging access trenches for cable and pipe laying, applying specialist surface treatments (such as high friction surfacing) traffic lights, fencing and street lamps and many more. All these maintenance activities need proper road safety awareness and control when they are executed, so working safely is aimed at staff from any road sector with no super visory or managerial responsibility to be made aware of the risks involved. It is of utmost importance to provide the essentials of health and safety for everyone at work to have an understanding of why they must work safely and this can be achieved by training road workers through the use of seminars and workshops. In Britain, roads are some of the busiest and dangerous in the world, but in today`s traffic conditions, it shows that live in carriageway of any highway is a very-very dangerous place to work and injuries to road workers have been increasing against the national trend. Road workers or operators will often be responsible for setting up warning signs, cones and temporary traffic lights and redirecting pedestrians. They may also manage traffic flow while colleagues are working, communicating with another operator via radio or hand signals further down the road are commonly used devices. As a road supervisor before conducting roadwork jobs, review the required tasks, location, and time of day to determine the necessary equipment, personnel, and materials required.   Plan how you will control traffic along the road and within the construction zone.   Have enough trained flaggers to complete your work.   Gather the signs, cones, flags, drums, and/or message boards that you will need for the job.   Inspect your signage to make sure it is in good repair and highly visible.   Clean or discard dirty equipment with limited visibility. Get training on traffic control and safe work practices.   Set up and maintain your roadside work zone properly.   Get training on the equipment that you will use and drive, from the smallest tool to the largest moving vehicle.   The operation of tools and equipment must be according to the manufacturers recommendations.   Know the hazards of the chemicals and materials that you use and get training on the personal protective equipment that you are required to wear, including its uses and limitations.   Wear high visibility garments on your legs and chest.   Wear your assigned persona protective equipments, including a hardhat, safety shoes, and work gloves.   Consider earplugs or muffs, safety glasses, and fall protection depending on the job task. In the work zone, workers must watch for fast-moving motorists and large construction equipment.   Set up parking zones for your working vehicles such that they have safe entrances and exits from the highway that is maintained and group your vehicles on the same side of the road for visibility.   As a supervisor you can set-up the job site and tasks to minimize the need to cross the active road time and again and also  set up traffic lanes within the jobsite for clear access and visibility. When working on road, work facing traffic and stay alert, or station a lookout to watch oncoming traffic.  The workers should have an escape route or a plan of action in place for any emergencies.   Watch for backing vehicles because the driver often has a limited view.   Practice good communication and make sure all vehicles have backup alarms.   If you are flagging, acting as a lookout or traffic director you must remain alert,  do not drink, smoke, or have a conversation while performing these duties. Road work is a physical job requiring strength and endurance, worker must  stay fit so that their bodies can do the work.  Road work occurs in all types of weather and throughout the year.  They should wear appropriate clothing for the climate.   Light coloured layers and sunscreen protect them during the hot months while layers of moisture-wicking clothing protect you in the cold.   The road workers must get plenty of rest, eat right, and drink no-alcoholic drink s enough to stay healthy and alert on the job. From the Road Workers Perspective, there are few jobs more important than highway maintenance. It may go largely unappreciated by the end customer the motorist, but road workers are looking after some of the busiest roads in the world in the face of continued growth in Britains vehicle fleet, and the inevitable consequences of that growth for wear-and-tear on the network. And by helping to tackle congestion, road workers are directly supporting the British economy. And they do this despite working in some of the most difficult conditions that anyone has to tolerate. The risk of death or injury at work, faced daily by the workers who maintain Englands motorways and trunk roads, is highlighted by the results of a recent industry survey. Almost one in five workers suffers some injury caused by passing vehicles in the course of their careers while working on our road network. More than three-quarters suffer verbal abuse from drivers, and many have reported having objects thrown at them by motorists. Road Workers even change the light bulbs in the central reservation. Surveys have been previously contacted and road workers were asked if they had experienced near miss, verbal abuse, slight personal injury, major personal injury caused by road users vehicle and the responses were: 13% of road workers surveyed had sustained slight injuries; 3% had sustained major injuries; 77% had suffered verbal abuse from passing drivers 54% had a near miss with a vehicle 40% had experienced missiles deliberately thrown at them From these studies road workers felt most at risk during the morning and evening peak travel periods and in the early hours of the morning. There are believes that there is a vital need to educate drivers to start taking the problem of speeding and the outcomes of speeding more seriously. The habitual speeders know that other people dont necessarily disapprove of their actions in the same way as they disapprove of drink-driving syndrome. It took a long time to change attitudes to drink-driving, but by communicating the message at every opportunity, with intelligent advertising and marketing, the Government can and has eventually succeeded in most countries, likewise today, drink-driving is socially unacceptable in the community. Therefore a similar change is required with speeding and peoples attitude to road works. In UK, Highway Traffic Management Agency was launched in 2005 and since it was launched issues that dominated are the road maintenance safeties. Its goal is to have zero road injuries and zero fatalities by getting a reasonable balance between the needs of the road user and the safety of road workers using a risk based approach as a short term. The long-term aim was to plan future improvements that make the working environment safer, including: design for maintenance/operation, which has the added benefits of whole-life cost savings, less interventions and less congestion; reduce road workers exposure to live traffic and lessen the risks to road workers when on the network; highlight the importance of road workers and their safety to the public by raising awareness and the industry consistently maintaining the highest standards. Finally it was to improve road user awareness and responses by improving driver education. At a general level, the government has taken the Road Safety Bill through Parliament, including new drink-driving legislation, driver training schemes, and a revised penalty system and is looking at improvements to the speed camera network and working with the police to fight back against anti-social use of roads. The Highways Agency Road Worker Safety Action Plan was unveiled at the conference held in 2006, with some of potential solutions listed in the including a review of procedures to reduce the exposure of road workers to live traffic and cut the risks of working on the highway. A review of maintenance priorities so workers dont have to be on the network so often more targeted speed limits at road works which can be altered to match safety requirements. Improving of the accuracy and content of variable message signs to give road users more warning of works and the presence of road workers also improving the training of workers on high-speed roads, the promotion of better driver awareness and improved driver education, also finally the development of an incident and near-miss reporting centre. The Importance of Traffic Management When considering the traffic management plan for any major scheme the safety and security of both the travelling public and the workforce is the primary aim. By the very nature of road works operations, the element of risk is introduced when managing traffic on high speed roads. The first essential element is to reduce the risk by reducing the speed. This can be achieved to a certain extent through the use of traffic management measures but experience has proven that the only reliable way of achieving consistently reduced speeds is through the use of safety cameras. The introduction of a temporary speed limit and safety cameras is done in conjunction with the respective Safety Camera Partnership, who follow a risk assessment process which considers the level of exposure to risk of the public and the workforce. This is the reason that a variety of different traffic management measures can often be found at road works sites. However, the biggest single risk to road workers occurs not i n major schemes but during routine maintenance operations and emergency lane closures. During these operations it is often only a line of cones that separates the workforce from high speed traffic. During these operations there is a clear need for motorists to act responsibly and respect the rights of road workers. Planning Road works Traditionally, if there is one thing that causes motorists more frustration than any other, it is the overnight appearance of a forest of cones with little or no warning or information as to the reason. Hopefully, this aspect is largely becoming a thing of the past as a significant amount of planning is now undertaken prior to any major road works scheme. Such projects are now often planned several years ahead taking cognisance of issues such as the optimum time and the likelihood of reliable weather where this is a requirement. The substantial rise in traffic volumes over the past decade has significantly impacted on road works planning, through not just the increased maintenance requirements brought about by the additional volume, but through the challenges to keep congestion at a minimum as any reduction in available road space can have significant consequences for journey times. While safety and security are the primary drivers when planning road works, contractors also incorpora te extensive consultation with affected local communities and a targeted media campaign designed to advise drivers who use the affected route of the proposed works and levels of disruption. This forward planning and awareness through the media allows for drivers to plan their journey accordingly. Engineering technology on road worker`s risk. This can be achieved both through measures at the construction stage and through the use of new and improved technology for maintenance operations. New construction processes and standards mean a much longer design life can be achieved at the outset, significantly reducing the amount of routine maintenance operations required. In addition, where a maintenance requirement is identified during construction, the facility to achieve this without significantly impacting on traffic flow is considered carefully and where appropriate, additional engineering measures are introduced. In respect to maintenance operations on existing structures and highways the Highway Traffic Management Agency has been actively involved in developing technology in association with the Highways Agency, and over the past few years a number of innovative solutions which have had a positive impact on safety have been introduced. New techniques to improve safety and reduce congestion at road works on high-speed road s, for example, are now undergoing trials. Automated cone laying machines, fixed to the rear of a traffic management vehicles, can place and collect standard road cones without the need for road workers to stand in a live carriageway next to fast moving traffic. The machines accurately positions cones on the road surface at 15mph laying up to 40 cones per minute and reducing the time taken to establish and remove temporary traffic management. Road users will benefit from the shorter period of time taken to change from normal carriageway to a coned-off area. Using the new machines, traffic cones will be laid and taken up more quickly, removing manual handling and enabling more routine maintenance work to be undertaken during each closure so reducing the frequency of road works and congestion. A new barrier transfer machine, which can lift 12 tons of concrete safety barriers for motorway road works into place at a speed of 7 mph, is also now in operation, offering a higher level of b arrier protection to motorway road workers. The mechanical broom which are now mostly used have improved the road worker`s safety and compared to manual sweeping. In June 2006, a new revised Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual was launched that gives guidance on best practice for temporary signing and management of traffic on the highway. Also it was designed to make traffic management for road works safer and less stressful for both workers and drivers. It talks about new measures like flashing cones on the approach to works; mobile carriageway closures; and improved incident management. It also encourages more effective use of speed limits at road works. Drivers should expect consistent limits to be set depending on the work being carried out, without confusing variations. That should be combined with speed detection equipment and other methods of persuading people to reduce speed. RECOMMENDATIONS Changing the behaviour of risk-taking drivers tends to require hard interventions, which require the involvement of police or other law enforcement organisations. For complying drivers, soft interventions such as the Respect campaign can be used; other interventions that could be applied to the issue of road worker safety and driver behaviour can include: Training road workers By training road workers through the use of seminars and workshops can make them aware of their risks and conscientious those involved on how best they can be aware of the job related risks. Improving driver skills There is a need for further training of professional drivers and specific training of all drivers to raise their awareness of the issues of driving through road works. Better self knowledge The public are an important partner in improving safety through road works. There is a need for greater awareness of personal skill levels and abilities to encourage better self pacing and improved behaviour when driving. This can be achieved through a high profile advertising campaign to raise the public profile of road worker safety. Such an approach aims to demonstrate the risk to drivers and road workers from speeding through road works. Improving the task It is important to ensure that the driving task when approaching and driving through road works is made as simple as possible to prevent overloading drivers with information. All those involved in applying the principles contained in the Traffic Signs Manual: Chapter 8 need to review their road works layouts in order to make the driving task as easy possible for an uninformed driver CONCLUSION It can be concluded that the behaviour of drivers towards road workers indicates that there is little respect for road works and road workers. At best the works and workers are tolerated, at worst the works are ignored and workers are abused either verbally or physically. Changing the attitude of drivers to road works is essential to improve the safety of both road workers and the drivers passing through road work sites. The behaviour of road drivers is directly or indirectly the cause of most road accidents, including those at road works. Influencing driver`s behaviour to prevent accidents at road works will improve road worker safety as well as that of the road user.

Porter Five Forces Model Of Taj Hotels Tourism Essay

Porter Five Forces Model Of Taj Hotels Tourism Essay A Hotel may be defined as per the British law as A place where abonafide traveler can receive food and shelter provided he is a position to pay for it and is in a fit condition to be received. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces and is recognised as one of Asias largest and finest hotel company. Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Mr. Jamsetji N. Tata, the company opened its first property, The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Bombay in 1903. The Taj, a symbol of Indian hospitality, completed its centenary year in 2003.   Taj Hotels Resort and Palaces comprises more than 60 hotels in 45 locations across India with an additional 15 international hotels in the Malaysia, United Kingdom, United States of America, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa, the Middle East and Australia. Spanning the length and breadth of the country, gracing important industrial towns and cities, beaches, hill stations, historical and pilgrim centres and wildlife destinations, each Taj hotel offers the luxury of service, the apogee of Indian hospitality, vantage locations, modern amenities and business facilities. IHCL operate in the luxury, premium, mid-market and value segments of the market through the following:   Taj  (luxury full-service hotels, resorts and palaces) is the flagship brand for the worlds most discerning travelers seeking authentic experiences given that luxury is a way of life to which they are accustomed. Spanning world-renowned landmarks, modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts, authentic Rajput palaces and rustic safari lodges, each Taj hotel reinterprets the tradition of hospitality in a refreshingly modern way to create unique experiences and lifelong memories. Taj also encompasses a unique set of iconic properties rooted in history and tradition that deliver truly unforgettable experiences. A collection of outstanding properties with strong heritage as hotels or palaces which offer something more than great physical product and exceptional service. This group is defined by the emotional and unique equity of its iconic properties that are authentic, non- replicable with great potential to create memories and stories. Taj Exotica  is resort and spa brand found in the most exotic and relaxing locales of the world. The properties are defined by the privacy and intimacy they provide. The hotels are clearly differentiated by their product philosophy and service design. They are centered around high end accommodation, intimacy and an environment that allows its guest unrivalled comfort and privacy. They are defined by a sensibility of intimate design and by their varied and eclectic culinary experiences, impeccable service and authentic Indian Spa sanctuaries. Taj Safaris  are wildlife lodges that allow travelers to experience the unparalleled beauty of the Indian jungle amidst luxurious surroundings. They offer Indias first and only wildlife luxury lodge circuit. Taj Safaris provide guests with the ultimate, interpretive, wild life experience based on a proven sustainable ecotourism model. Upper Upscale Hotels  (full-service hotels and resorts) provide a new generation of travelers a contemporary and creative hospitality experience that matches their work-hard play-hard lifestyles. Stylish interiors, innovative cuisine, hip bars, and a focus on technology set these properties apart.   The Gateway Hotel  (upscale/mid-market full service hotels and resorts) is a pan-India network of hotels and resorts that offers business and leisure travelers a hotel designed, keeping the modern nomad in mind. At the Gateway Hotel, we believe in keeping things simple. This is why, hotels are divided into 7 simple zones- Stay, Hangout, Meet, Work, Workout, Unwind and Explore. As travel often means more hassle than harmony, more stress than satisfaction, modern travelers are looking for smarter choices. Driven by passion for perfection, Taj welcomes its customers to a refreshingly enjoyable and hassle-free experience, anytime, everywhere. Offering the highest consistency in quality, service and style the hotel set new standards and take the unwanted surprises out of traveling. Tajs warm welcomes make guests feel at home, away from home and its crisp and courteous service empowers them to get more done with greater effectiveness and control. And through Tajs unrivalled network it provide service that is effortless, simple, never overwhelming, always warm. Ginger  (economy hotels) is IHCLs revolutionary concept in hospitality for the value segment. Intelligently designed facilities, consistency and affordability are hallmarks of this brand targeted at travelers who value simplicity and self-service. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is committed to replicate its domestic success onto international shores with plans to build an international network of luxury hotels, which will provide an exemplary product-service combination and in the process create a global brand. The current international portfolio includes luxury resorts in the Indian Ocean, business and resort destinations in the Middle East and Africa, serviced apartments in the UK, the first hotel in Australia and three a top-end luxury hotels in the US. Throughout the Companys expansion, its mandate has been twofold: to infuse a sense of Indian heritage and culture within each diverse property, while also anticipating the needs and desires of the sophisticated traveller. Over the years, the Taj has won international acclaim for its quality hotels and its excellence in business facilities, services, cuisine and interiors. The Taj strengthened its presence in the Indian Ocean rim with the Exotica Brand. The Taj Exotica was evolved as part of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces intent to position it as a brand that is clearly differentiated by its product philosophy and service design. The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, in Maldives is centered on high-end accommodation, intimacy and an environment that allows its guests unrivalled comfort and privacy. Taj Hotels further expanded its global footprint by securing management contracts at Palm Island, Jumeirah in Dubai, Saraya Islands in Ras Al Khaimah, Aldar Group in Abu Dhabi, UAE Langkawi in Malaysia and Thimpu in Bhutan. The most significant additions to the portfolio have been The Pierre, the iconic landmark hotel on New Yorks Fifth Avenue, Taj Boston and Blue, Sydney. The presence of Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces internationally has been developed through a network of Taj regional sales and PR offices in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Dubai, Singapore, Australia, Japan, Russia and the United States of America. At the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces luxurious living and fine dining find common ground. Whether it is introducing exotic world cuisines to India or taking authentic Indian fare to the world, the Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is renowned for the eclectic culinary experiences it brings to its guests. Through a vast repertoire of award-winning restaurants, legendary recipes from royal kitchens and celebrated food festivals, the Taj has pioneered innovation in fine dining across the world. Taj Hotels also promise a whole new experience of tranquillity and total wellness, through  Jiva Spas  a unique concept, which brings together the wisdom and heritage of the Asian and Indian Philosophy of Wellness and Well-being. Rooted in ancient Indian healing knowledge, Jiva Spas derive inspiration and spirit from the holistic concept of living. There is a rich basket of fresh and unique experiences under the Jiva Spa umbrella of offering, Yoga and Meditation, mastered and disseminated by accomplished practitioners, authentic Ayurveda, and unique Taj signature treatments. Royal traditions of wellness in service experiences, holistic treatments involving body therapies, enlivening and meaningful rituals and ceremonies and unique natural products blended by hand, come together to offer a truly calming experience. IHCL operates  Taj Air, a luxury private jet operation with state-of-the-art Falcon 2000 aircrafts designed by Dassault Aviation, France; and Taj Yachts, two 3-bedroom luxury yachts which can be used by guests in Mumbai and Kochi, in Kerala. IHCL also operates  Taj Sats Air Catering Ltd., the largest airline catering service in South Asia, as a joint venture with Singapore Airport Terminal Services, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines. Additionally, it operates the  Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad  since 1993. The institute offers a three-year diploma, designed with the help of international faculty and has affiliations with several American and European programmes. CORPORATE SUSTAINABILITY AND SOCIAL RESPONSBILITY As a part of Tatas; Indias premier business house; Taj Hotels, have always believed in society and environment being integral stakeholders in our business along with its shareholders, customers, vendors and others. Over the last decade, the movement towards ecologically sound tourism has gained urgency and importance across the globe and we recognize that responsible practices in vogue are as diverse as the geographies.   Taj promote corporate citizenship through our strategic public-private partnerships which encourage building livelihoods of less-advantaged youth and women. The causes they promote include reducing malnutrition, promoting indigenous artisans and craftsmen and enhancing employability of identified target groups by sharing our core competencies as a leading hospitality company. Taj have the unique scope and opportunity to develop raw potential into a skilled workforce that is immediately employable by various players in the industry. A majority of its community projects are focused around extending its key strengths in food production, kitchen management, housekeeping, customer service and spas to promote economic empowerment of candidates from vulnerable socio-economic backgrounds. The group is fully committed to the cause of building a sustainable environment by reducing the impact of its daily operations on the environment and improving operational efficiencies, resource conservation, reuse and recycling of key resources.   A  glimpse of indicative projects  undertaken by Taj group   Tajs sixth  Corporate Sustainability Report  was submitted to the United Nations Global Compact society in August, 2009. The United Nations Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, safety security, environment and anti-corruption. This Corporate Sustainability report also serves as their GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) as well as Triple Bottom Line report. The report focuses on identified priorities at IHCL and responds to key stakeholder needs. Taj plan to continue and further strengthen its commitment to the environment and societies in which we operate.   EARTH In an endeavour to reinstate its vision and efforts to boost sustainable tourism, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces presented EARTH (Environment Awareness Renewal at Taj Hotels) this year. Implementing schemes such as the Gangroti Glacier Clean-Up Expedition, as well as designated Earth rooms, which minimise environmental impact, Taj is one of Asias largest group of hotels to commit to energy conservation and environmental management. EARTH has received certification from Green Globe, the only worldwide environmental certification program for travel and tourism. The Taj began a century ago with a single landmark The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai. Today, the various Taj hotels, in all their variety and historical richness, are recognised internationally as the symbols of true Indian hospitality. The Companys history is integral to Indias emergence into the global business and leisure travel community; and looking to the future, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is well positioned to meet the increase in travel activity with the rapid expansion of the Indian economy.   Hotel Leisure and Other Services include: 24 hrs Front Desk Airport Transfer On Request Astrologer On Call Banquet Facility Bar restaurants Barber Shop Beauty Salon Bell Desk Services Car Rentals Currency Exchange Express Check in Check out Facilities For the Physically Challenged Florist Health Club Health/Ayurveda Centers Hotel Safe Internet Access Available in Rooms Internet/E-mail/Fax Facilities Interpreter Services Laundry Services Library Lounge Luggage Storage Medical Services-Doctor on Call Phone-Two Telephone Lines in Rooms Postal/Parcel Services Room Service-24 Hrs Shopping Arcade Travel Desk Ticketing, Tours MARKETING MIX STRATEGY OF TAJ HOTELS Products Room Restaurant and Bar. Meeting room and Banquet facility Amenities Services Safe deposit box Special services Courier Child care Laundry Pet Internet Travel desk Babysitting Wake-up call PRICE Taj hotel has set its price of the room on the basis of Business, Leisure and Luxury class. PLACE Location of the hotel is the most important business decision for the hotel. Present in metro cities in India Global presence (Maldives,London,Dubai,Colombo) PROMOTION STRATEGY Promotional schemes are carried on regularly the hotel has many loyalty programe,clubes,membership,previlage etc some of them are The Taj Inner Circle. The Taj Junior League. The Taj Club. Taj also offer Taj surprises including weekend savers,value vouchers,book early get more, ADVERTISEMENT Business news paper(E.T, Financial Express, Bombay Times) T.V channels like STAR NEWS,CNN and CNBC. Magazines like THE OUT LOOK TRAVELAR,GO NOW and TRAVEL. Porters 5 Forces Model The state of competition in an industry depends on five basic forces, which are diagrammed above. The collective strength of these forces determines the ultimate profit potential of an industry. Whatever their collective strength , the corporate strategists goal is to find a position in the industry where his or her company can best defend itself against these forces or can influence them in its favor. Contending Forces Threats of Entry: New entrants to an industry bring new capacity, the desire to gain market share, and often substantial sources. Companies diversifying through acquisition into the industry from other markets often leverage their resources to cause a shake up. The seriousness of the threat of entry depends on the barriers present nd on the reaction from existing competitors that the entrant can expect. There are six major sources of barriers to entry. These are: Economies of scale Product differentiation Capital requirements Cost disadvantages Independent of size Access to distribution channels Government policy Suppliers: Suppliers can exert bargaining power on participants in an industry by raising prices or reducing the quality of purchased goods and services. Powerful suppliers, thereby, can squeeze profitability out of an industry unable to recover cost increases in its own prices. The power of each important supplier group depends on a number of characteristics of its market situation and on the relative importance of its sales or purchases to the industry compared with its overall business. A supplier group is powerful if it is dominated by a few companies and is more concentrated than the industry it sells. Also if it poses a credible threat of integrating forward into the industrys business. This provides a check against the industrys ability to improve the terms on which it purchases. Buyers: Customers likewise can force down prices, demand higher quality or more services, and play competitors off against each other- all at the expense of industry profits. A buyer group is powerful if it is concentrated or purchases in large volume. Large volume buyers are particularly potent forces if heavy fixed costs characterize the industry- as they do in metal containers, corn refining, and bulk chemicals, for example- which raise the stakes to keep capacity filled. The product it purchases from the industry are standard or undifferentiated. The buyers, sure that they always can find alternative suppliers, may play one company against another, as they do in aluminium extrusion. Another case can be when the products the buyer purchases from the industry from a component of its product and represent a significant fraction of its cost. The buyers are likely to shop for a favorable price and purchase selectively. When the products sold by the industry in question is a small fraction of buyers costs, buyers are usually much less price sensitive. Substitutes: By placing a ceiling on the prices it can charge, substitute products or services limit the potential of an industry. Unless it can upgrade the quality of the product or differentiate it somehow, the industry will suffer in earnings and possibly in growth. Substitutes not only limit profits in normal times but also reduce the bonanaza an industry can reap in boom times. The producers of fiberglass insulation enjoyed unprecedented demand as a result of high energy costs and severe winter weather. But the industrys ability to raise prices was tempered by the plethora of insulation substitutes, including cellulose, rock wool and Styrofoam. Rivalry of Taj among established firms: Oberoi hotels Leela hotels ITC Grand Le Meridien Bargaining power of buyers is very low. Bargaining power of suppliers is moderate. Threat of new enterants: For Taj, competition in Mumbai has turned fierce as a result of new hotels, such as ITC Grand Maratha, Le Meridien and Hyatt, coming up close to the airport, and enjoying tax benefits too. However in Bangalore, Taj continues to remain at the No.1 position because of the booming IT sector and lack of five-star rooms, chiefly to accomodate international passengers. Potential Entrants Global hotel groups entry Buyers Global tourists Medical tourists Industrialist people Substitutes Small lodges THREAT: HIGH (because of new class, Low otherwise) Customers Need Good Hospitality Hygiene food and environment Success factors for Taj hotels: Technology related:-Used of advance technology in hotel premises. Manufacturing- related:- High utilization of fixed assets. Quality control know-how. Serving customer according to their specification. Distribution-related:- Presence of hotel chain at various places. A strong network. Marketing related:- Breadth of product line and product selection. Personalized customer services. A well-known and well-respected brand name. SWOT Analysis of TAJ Hotels Strengths : Brand loyalty Credibility Huge Reputation Patent protection Weakness: High cost service Not proper network in semi- urban Lack of safety measure Opportunity : Rising income Globalization New Geographical location Threats : Fluctuations in international tourist arrivals Increasing competition Terrorism CONCLUSION Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is one of Asias largest and finest group of hotels. The Company is rapidly emerging as a global brand by integrating an international network of luxury hotels within the chain. Taj Hotels is part of the Tata Group, Indias premier business house. Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, India was the subject of many newscasts since November 26,2008.The terrorist attacks not only killed and wounded many, but also caused major damage to the iconic hotel. Tata, a pioneer industrialist and philanthropist, conceived the idea of building a hotel in the wake of the bubonic plague which had devastated Bombay in the late 1890s.Tatas sole wish was to attract people to India, and incidentally to improve Bombay. The severely damaged hotel has to be rebuilt. The sixth floor is gutted, and many of its restaurants, including the famous Wasabi, burnt and the splendid dome is shaken because of the many explosions. The antique chandeliers and priceless artwork are all lost forev er.   But the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower stands as an icon of the city of Mumbai, a symbol of both independence and dignity. It will also stand in the future as a representation of the indomitable human spirit of the people of Mumbai displayed in the face of the greatest adversity.

Hybrid Vehicles and Their Effect on the Environment Essay -- Cars Caus

Today, people use their own personal vehicles to travel more than ever before. Personal transportation is no longer considered a luxury; it is now considered a necessity. The number of cars in the United States has been growing steadily since the 1970s. The number of miles traveled by cars has risen nearly 150 percent, yet the United States population has only grown roughly 40 percent during that time (hybridcars.com, Driving Trends). Although it may seem like we are advancing into the future, in reality, we are moving backwards from the effects these vehicles have on our bodies and the environment. The pollution produced by these vehicles has brought us to the day where we must find other modes of transportation that cause less harm to the world in which we live. Advances in technology have developed hybrid vehicles to try and slow down the amount of pollution. Driving a hybrid vehicle, instead of a conventional gas powered vehicle, can reduce the amount of pollution that affects our lives and the environment around us. Harmful Pollutants Carbon Dioxide Many hazardous pollutants escape from the internal combustion of the engine. Conventional gas powered vehicles use irreplaceable fossil fuels to run. When burned, these fossil fuels create numerous toxins like carbon dioxide (Larminie 246). Carbon dioxide is considered the main greenhouse gas that creates the foundation for global warming (hybridcars.com, pollutants). This harmful pollutant may not have a serious effect on people at first, but it does have consequential effects on the environment that in turn put people in danger (Nutramed.com). The major consequence caused by global warming is the rise in average temperature. This results in a domino... ...ster, and West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2003. Nutramed.com. 2009. Air Quality: Airborne Illness Car Exhaust - Health Effects. 20 Nov. 2014. http://www.mutramed.com/environment/carsepa.htm Rqriley.com. 17 June 2012. Electric And Hybrid Vehicles: An Overview of the Benefits, Challenges, and Technologies. 21 Nov. 2014. http://www.rqriley.com/ev-tech.htm Wikipedia.org. 20 Nov. 2014. Global Warming. 20 Nov. 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming#Effects Wikipedia.org. 21 Nov. 2014. Hybrid Vehicle. 21 Nov. 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicles Wikipedia.org. 18 Nov. 2014. Renewable Energy. 21 Nov. 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy Wikipedia.org. 15 Nov. 2014. Sea Level Rise. 20 Nov. 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level_rise#Effects_of_sea_level_rise

How does creatine affect your body Essay -- essays research papers

How does Creatine affect your body?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  How does Creatine affect your body? Creatine affects our body in several different ways. Creatine can provide additional energy for your muscles, volumization of your muscles, buffer lactic acid build-up, and enhance protein synthesis. Creatine can also help stimulate growth in muscles and increase the user's strength, even while doing your normal workouts. Creatine can also be taken in a variety of ways.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Creatine can affect your body in a negative way when taken excessively. Normally, one should not take more than 20 grams at a time. Your liver and kidneys may become damaged from taking too much and can also cause you an upset stomach, muscle pains, diarrhea, and dehydration. However, drinking plenty of water can minimize most of those effects. Creatine has been known to provide additional energy for your muscles. Our body has a compound called ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate), which is an energy-containing compound. The ATP reaction releases energy in the body very quickly. This is a good thing, especially during an intense work out, when your body needs the most energy. Carbohydrates can give you energy, but it comes at a slower pace. When the muscles are using ATP for energy, a chemical process occurs where the ATP is broken down into two simpler chemicals, ADP (adenosine did-phosphate) and inorganic phosphate. This process of ATP turning into ADP releases the energy, which ...

New Privacy Issues Related to Cyberspace Objective Essay

Select three organizations within the same industry for analysis — 1. Students should pick one industry from the displayed list below, and within that single industry, name 3 organizations for analysis. (BANKS-JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo) 2. Describe the mission of each (from their website), and examine and compare details of each stated privacy policy, then 3. For each organization, recommend policy changes that will enable each organization to (a) use sensitive customer information to increase business advantage and profitability, and (b) also protect customer personal information to avoid possible privacy or liability issues. You may need to use trade journals and newspaper stories in your reference list. However, try to avoid opinion pieces (like blogs) that may not be factual. You may state your own opinions, but these must be strengthened by scholarly references. Table of Contents: 1. Introduction 2. Industries missions and privacy policies a. JP Morgan Chase b. Citigroup c. Wells Fargo 3. Recommended policy changes to increase business advantage and profitability a. Also include the good aspects of current policy that increases business advantages and profitability 4. Recommended policy changes to protect customer personal information to avoid possible privacy or liability issues a. Also include the good aspects of the policy that protect the customers information 5. Conclusion: JP Morgan Chase Mission Statement: JPMorgan Chase & Co. is a leading global financial services firm and one of  the largest banking institution in the United States, with operations worldwide. JPMorgan Chase conducts operations in more than 60 countries and has assets amounting to over $2trillion and its corporate headquarters are located in New York City. Their mission statement is as follows: At JPMorgan Chase, we believe that being profitable and doing good works for the people and the world around us aren’t exclusive of each other; they’re integrated goals. When our business is strong and well governed, we’re in a better position to translate positive financial results into sustainable community and environmental efforts that benefit everyone.

Research Study on Organizational Commitment Essay

IntroductionOrganizational commitment is an organizational member’s psychological connection or feeling of belongingness to the organization CITATION Edu15 l 1033 (Educational Portal). This commitment to an organization creates a feeling of passionate affection within a stakeholder of an organization, creating a desire for that / those individual(s) to do anything necessary for the organization to succeed. Organizational commitment is an indispensably huge role that determines whether a stakeholder will remain at the organization willingly, if given a choice. This is a determinant as to whether this individual will produce at the top of his skill index to ensure that the organization moves much closer, or in the direction of its goals. According to the three- component model (TCM), the organizational commitment is made up of three unique components. These are affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment. Affective commitment encompasses the love for your career or job. This happens when one has a strong feeling of emotional attachment to their organization or company, and zealously works to promote the interests of that organization. These people have internalized the organization’s values, vision and goals, and have a sincere feeling of wanting to work for the organization for a longer period CITATION Min151 l 1033 (Mind Tools). This happens when the employee is happy at their workplace. There are factors that will normally contribute to this affection. Some of the reasons include freedom of thought and innovation, appreciably good salary, better employee terms among other things that could make employees feel that they are important and are valued by their employer. Whatever these reasons are, this affection is imperative to the organizational success. Hypothesis: Employees who are treated in a respectful manner in an ethics based organization are more likely to be happier than employees that belong to a profit oriented organization. Continuous commitment is an express fear of loss. This kind of commitment comes by when employees measures up the advantages and disadvantages of being at the organization compared to their exit CITATION Min151 l 1033 (Mind Tools). This comes as a result of a realization that staying at your current position in your company has better terms or benefits than leaving the company. For instance, if one wanted to move from one company or organization, they will not only consider monetary benefits, but a number of other parameters. These parameters include employee terms of welfare, available position of responsibility within the new organization, among other benefits one stands to lose or gain. Another reason could be completely unrelated to profession; one could be attached to their friends at the organization, that moving from the organization is a risk of breaking these bonds. The relentlessness of the continuance commitment increases with advancement of age and professional responsibi lity. Those who are so advanced in both of these factors will feel a certain kind of inertial force that hardly allows them to leave. Hypothesis: People who have successively progressed up the ladder within an organization, and / or age feel the severity of continuance commitment the most. Normative Commitment is the sense of obligation that one feels for an organization. Some people feel that it is the right thing to do, for them to belong to the organization they do belong to. This sense of belongingness occurs even when one is not happy with their position. They are often held back from pursuing even better opportunities CITATION Min151 l 1033 (Mind Tools). This feeling could arise from an array of reasons. A great example is a son working at their father’s firm, He will get a kind of virtual family pressure to weigh the burdens of the organization in order to make it successful. Even if there existed better opportunities, this son will turn them down for the sake of keeping their parents happy. Another scenario that could occur is when a wife works for an organization within a region. The job she does could only be offered by only her current company within the whole region or even country. Due to her domestic responsibilities, she cannot leave to pursue her career interests in another region of the country. This sense of obligation could drain the company of energy because normally, there is no zeal to work, but one will only perform at an average. Hypothesis: more married people will tend to work for a certain firm on a normative commitment basis than the single professionals. All the above forms of commitment are segments of organizational employee response due to certain organizational behaviors. The underlying fact is that employees have their personal needs, and will tend to place these interests first. When these interests are well provided for, the employees will automatically feel appreciated and will tend to happily offer service to the organization. As it has been stressed before, happy employees make more productive and successful companies CITATION And14 l 1033 (Oswald, Proto, & Sgroi, 2014). On a practical scale, companies like Google have benefited from employee first approach. The company has invested a lot in employee support and satisfaction while allowing for imagination, creativity and innovation CITATION Kel14 l 1033 (Parkes-Harrison-Warwick, 2014). Some companies have got it right while others are yet to get it right. We carried a research into the various aspects that contribute to this phenomenon of organizational commitment. We use different techniques to measure or research into different Organizational behavior, including self-reporting scales, behavioral observation and organizational records analysis such as performance appraisal forms, time card data, absenteeism rates, productivity indices In this research, we use the self-reporting scales. Self-report study involves use of questionnaires, surveys or polls that let respondents respond to questions in a manner the respondents choose. This kind of survey is focused on extracting information from participants about their attitudes, feelings and beliefs on certain topics. It could be a form of interview, provision of answers to open and closed questions, rating scales, fixed choice questions among others. Reliability on these methods is dependent upon their consistence in providing similar results if used repeatedly in similar circumstances. Validity of the response is also a matter of concern. Especially for questionnaires, respondents may or may not give accurate or sincere answers to certain questions depending on the parameters provided. For example, Anonymous questionnaires or response forms are more likely to produce valid answers. In this survey, we carried a survey in which we asked various questions related to the hypotheses stated in within this document. We adopted the anonymous response questionnaire system to enhance validity of our research. We asked them to rate different departments, work conditions and parameters. The respondents were to respond to questions regarding the hypotheses. They were requested to rate the questions on four guided answers: Strongly agree, Agree, strongly disagree, and agree. Our respondents were 30 employees of different organizations. Results             We set ourselves to find out the validity of three hypotheses regarding the tenets of organizational commitment. These hypotheses stated as follow: Hypothesis 1: Employees who feel appreciated are happy and are more likely to be affectively committed to an organization Hypothesis 2: older employees and those who get promoted are likely to stay within an organization out of continuance commitment Hypothesis 3: most married people are normatively committed to organizations. The validity of our hypotheses had some concurrence with our respondents. However, what the survey disqualified is the sense of promotion as a determining factor to employee continuance commitment. Instead, the people who got promoted in organizations were the productive cream of the organization. This means that they felt a conviction to work for the organization. Such people were comfortably placed within the category of affective commitment. Conclusion             The survey conducted was successfully concluded and in our finding, hypothesis 1 was completely valid as most people agreed with it. Hypothesis 2 produced mixed reactions. Most agreed that older people were committed to the organization due to continuance commitment. Hypothesis 3 was completely valid as most people agreed with this hypothesis. All respondents had their reasons, as evident on their additional comments, including fear of family strain and divorce for the third hypothesis. References BIBLIOGRAPHY l 1033 Educational Portal. (n.d.). Organizational Commitment: Definition, Theory & Types. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from Educational Portal: http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/organizational-commitment-definition-theory-types.html Mind Tools. (n.d.). The Three Component Model of Commitment. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from Mind Tools: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/three-component-model-commitment.htm Oswald, A. J., Proto, E., & Sgroi, a. D. (2014, february 10). Happiness and Productivity. Retrieved January 28, 2015, from http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/economics/staff/eproto/workingpapers/happinessproductivity.pdf Parkes-Harrison-Warwick, K. (2014, March 21). Google is right: We work better when we’re happy. Retrieved jaanuary 28, 2015, from futurity.org: http://www.futurity.org/work-better-happy/ Source document

Gun Control Essay

Gun control is not one issue, but many. To some people gun control is a crime issue; to others it is a rights issue. Gun control is a safety issue, an education issue, a racial issue, and a political issue, among others. Within each of these issues there are those who want more gun control legislation and those who want less, on both sides of this issue, opinions range from moderate to extreme. Like most topics relating to government and its ruling ability, the topic of gun control is based heavily on political affiliation. Since the 1950’s the majority of the Republican Party have strongly opposed gun control efforts, and have been aiming to shoot down legislation enacted at the local, state, and national levels. The republican viewpoint of anti-gun control has strong backing by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and many other gun control-lobbying organizations. The party insists on increased enforcement of laws already in place and stronger penalties for those who disobey , rather than creating entirely new gun control measures. On the other hand the popular view among the Democratic Party is for the enactment of new legislation for gun control. This party bases their argument on a loose interpretation of the constitution believing that the individual has the right to bear arms but under reasonable regulation. The Brady Campaign and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence (CSGV) are organizations that back the Democratic Party’s views of pro gun control. Guns are not for everyone. Certain individuals cannot handle a firearm safely, and some individuals choose to use firearms inappropriately. Our society has passed laws regulating the ownership and use of firearms, and more legislation is being considered. Most of this legislation restricts, to some degree, the rights of individuals to possess or use firearms. Some restrictions may be necessary, but some recent legislation may have gone too far. Society benefits from firearms in the hands of responsible citizens and attempts to keep firearms away from these citizens whom do more harm than good. The Brady Bill is one example of an attempted solution to the problem of gun control. The Brady Bill is named after James Brady, who was shot by John Hinckley during an assassination attempt on President Reagan in 1981. Supporters of the Brady Bill used that incident to gain support for their gun control legislation, claiming it would reduce crime and save lives. In November 1993 president Bill Clinton signed the Brady Handgun Violence  Protection Act, otherwise known as the Brady Bill, into law. This bill required a 5 business-day waiting period for licensed dealers so that law enforcement may conduct background checks on the potential handgun buyers. The idea behind this bill is to screen out felons and other dangerous people from acquiring handguns. This required waiting period also subsequently stops enraged people from buying guns in the heat of the moment, and gives the individual time to cool down and think about their actions. The Brady Bill was essentially an improvement of the 1968 Gun Control Act, which laid out the types of people that should not be armed like felons, youth, and the dangerously mentally ill, but it did not implement a system of verifying that people were telling the truth when they purchased guns at gun dealers. During the 1990’s Richmond Virginia’s homicide rate was among the highest in the nation for cities with 100,000 plus people. Unsurprisingly 85% of the homicides in 1997 were committed with guns, with 40% being drug related, and 60% of the crimes were committed by prior offenders. To counteract this rising homicide rate republican governor James Gilmore teamed up with the NRA in order to create a program that increased the penalty entailed with the illegal use of firearms. The federal program, Project Exile, formally initiated in February 1997, shifted the prosecution of all gun crimes immediately to the federal level, rather than the state. Illegal gun possession offenders are subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without the possibility of parole. Project Exile also mandates a 15-year prison sentence without the possibility of parole for felons caught in possession of a firearm during the transaction of the crime. Offenders are â€Å"exiled† to federal prison and with such a bold prison sentencing this law became well known on the streets. The program was an instant success. In the first 10 months of 1998 homicides in Richmond Virginia were down 36% and the number of firearm related homicides were down 41%. 196 people were sentenced to an average of 55 months in federal jail and 440 guns were seized. Since this program began, it has now been set to place in cities such as Baltimore, Chicago, Miami, and Philadelphia. Because of the Republican Party’s involvement they use Project Exile as a model suggesting that the party doesn’t ignore gun control issues. In the District of Columbia there was a law that made it illegal to carry unregistered firearms and prohibited the registration of new handguns. This  l aw also required any previously owned firearms to be kept at a disabled state which means the guns had to be unloaded and dissembled or bound by a trigger lock. The only exception was that the individual could be granted one-year licenses by the police chief. Special D.C. policeman Heller applied to keep a handgun in his home and was denied the right. So he took his case to the court basing his argument on the second amendment. In 2008, in the Supreme Court case 554 of The District of Columbia Vs. Heller, there was a 5-4 decision stating that the second amendment protects the right of the individual to posses a firearm unconnected with service in a militia and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. The court found that the total ban on handguns, and the requirement to keep them disabled, violated their right. The second amendment states: â€Å"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.† With militia meaning all males physically capable in acting for common defense, the founding father s included this in our Bill of Rights because they feared the Federal Government might oppress the population if the people did not have the means to defend themselves as a nation and as individuals. Aside from approving legislation that allows firearms in national parks and Amtrak trains, President Barrack Obama has virtually stayed silent when it comes to the topic of gun control. This may be result of the anti-gun control policies of previous president George W. Bush or because of the lack of votes from pro gun areas like the rural South and the Midwest. In his presidential campaign leading up to 2008 the president stated that he was in favor of gun control policies, including reinstating the assault weapons ban and creating new legislation against concealed weapons.