Essay on Japanese American Internment Camps - 1044 Words

Was the internment of Japanese Americans a compulsory act of justice or was it an unwarranted, redundant act of tyranny which breached upon the rights of Japanese Americans? During World War II thousands of Japanese Americans were told by government officials that they had twenty-four hours to pack their things, get rid of any belongings of theirs, and to sell their businesses away for less than retail value. Although many people thought the Japanese American internment was needed to ensure U.S. security during the war against Japan, these relocation centers were unnecessary violations of Japanese Americans’ rights. These concentration camps are unconstitutional because they infringed upon the Japanese Americans’ first, seventh, and eighth†¦show more content†¦They enforced security and warned others of the spoils of war. Although Japanese American internment camps provided a safe harbor for Americans in knowing that the U.S. government was safe from sabotage, it was an unjustified infringement upon the rights of Japanese Americans. The first amendment states that â€Å"Congress shall make no law†¦ abridging the freedom of speech† (The Bill of Rights). These Japanese had no say when they were being taken away to these camps. This euphemistically termed â€Å"evacuation† was â€Å"a time of chaos and trauma for Japanese Americans† (Japanese American Internment). Firstly, Japanese families had â€Å"scant time† to dispose of homes, businesses, pets, and belongings (Japanese American Internment). Men, women, and children were rushed onto trains with no knowledge of what was going on, and transported to concentration camps in Santa Anita Racetrack, â€Å"only on the first day† (The Internment of Japanese Americans). These Japanese Americans never gave their consent to be transported to these camps. If they tried to escape or defied their orders, they were jailed, or for some, even worse. The conditions in them were atrocious; some families were housed in horse stalls at racetracks and cattle pens at fairgrounds (Japanese American Incarceration). The U.S. government set a curfew for the Japanese Americans: stating that persons of JapaneseShow MoreRelatedJapanese-American Internment Camps686 Words   |  3 PagesThe issues of Japanese-American internment camps is one of the most controversial, yet important time periods of American history. Many have asked: Why should we learn about this event? The event of Japanese-American internment camps has changed the way America and its citizens are looked upon. As Americans, this event is important to learn so that an injustice like this will never happen again in our history. This event has helped many people gain more rights and civil liberties. This event hasRead MoreInternment Camps And The Japanese Americans1964 Words   |  8 Pagesthat the Japanese were not to be trusted, and that the Japanese-American citizens of the United States were much the same. As such, they had resorted to establishing internment camps, or preventive labor prisons, so as to keep them in check and ostensibly to prevent further Japanese sabotage. However, the government’s actions were not fully justified, as several factors had interplayed into the circumstances that directly contradicted the intentions and visible results of the internment of the Japanese-AmericansRead MoreThe Japanese American Internment Camps863 Words   |  4 Pages After long research on theâ€Å" Japanese-American Internment Camps† I learned many things I never knew. To begin with before this class I never even had one small clue the country where I live in can do such thing. Most people view this country as a blessed place to live in including myself, not knowing such harm leaders in this country have cost to many. People often think of horrible historical events and judge many not knowing many of those events are repeating in today’s life. I judged many peopleRead MoreJapanese Americans And Internment Camps1682 Words   |  7 PagesWhen the Japanese Americans migrated to the United States they were not welcomed with open arms. The Japanese Americans faced many hardships. The biggest hardships they faced were their treatment by the American people as well as by the American government after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Japanese Americans were taken from their homes and placed in internment camps for years with little to no explanation as to why. According to the United States government the Japanese AmericansRead MoreJapanese Americans Into Internment Camps1332 Words   |  6 PagesDecember 7th, 1941. The Japanese had attacked the American military base at Pearl Harbor, which is near Oahu. â€Å"The Japanese managed to destroy nearly 20 American naval vessels, including eight enormous battleships, and more than 300 airplanes. More than 2,000 Americans soldiers and sailors died in the attack, and another 1,000 were wounded.† This caused the US to enter WWII, as well as caused a fear on the West coast of the US because of the dense population of Japanese Americans that are found thereRead MoreThe Violence of Japanese-American Internment Camps1456 Words   |  5 Pages The Violence of Japanese-American Internment Camps Setting During the late 1930s and early 1940s the world was in disarray, the Germans attacked the Polish igniting World War II. The Japanese General of the Imperial Army allied with the Axis, and was directly responsible for the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This completely altered American citizens’ outlook on Japanese-Americans and led to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s retort of signing the Executive Order 9066.CITATION Wor12Read MoreJapanese American Internment Camps Essay1148 Words   |  5 PagesJapanese American Internment Camps Like all issues involving race or war, the question of whether or not it was legal and ethical to make Japanese Americans move to relocation camps in early WWII is a difficult and controversial problem. The internment of around 50,000 Japanese citizens and approximately 70,000 Japanese-American people born in the U.S. living in the American West Coast has become known as a tragedy and mistake. The government even set up numerous projects to apologize to theRead MoreJapanese American Internment Camps Essay1757 Words   |  8 PagesAfter the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, life in the U.S. had changed. It was the first time in a long time that America was attacked on its homeland. This national security threat was a big shock to the people. The Japanese had to suffer the consequences of their attack. Just as the Germans developed concentration camps for the Jewish during World War II, the Americans set up relocation programs better known as internment camps to keep all the Japanese . The reason the Japanese were movedRead MoreJapanese-American Internment Camps In Nisei Daughter By Monica Sone940 Words   |  4 PagesAfter Japanese terrorist attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, Americans have discriminated Japanese- Americans after their tremendous incident. Since the U.S. proclaimed a war zone, they decided to send Japanese-Americans to internment camps to keep themselves â€Å"secure†. The U.S. also sent Japanese-Americans to internment camps to make it accessible for the military to find Japanese spies. Some people accepted the execution the U.S. took to clarify this situation and some disagreed withRead More Photos of Japanese American Children in Internment Camps, 1942-19452120 Words   |  9 PagesPhotos of Japanese American Children in Internment Camps, 1942-1945 Amid a growing anti-Japanese sentiment during World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which called for the evacuation of all persons of Japanese descent from the West Coast. Many individuals and families evacuated to assembly centers and eventually internment camps in ten inland locations across the country. Among the more than 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry interned

Information Technology And Security Gaps - 1344 Words

Information technology/security gaps identified. It was noted that with the aid of an external consultant, Bank Solutions had their current data center DRBC Plan written down in the year 2007 and was last tested in the same year. The testing was a shallow table-top walkthrough with no intensive assessments to ensure dependability and compliance to industry standard security frameworks. The plan has taken long before being updated hence some elements of the plan may not be addressed wholly as purposed. With an acute increment and unprecedented growth in information technology and security systems over the years, the outdated DRBCP would prove ineffective at the face of an information security breach or a disaster. This is due to the use of outdated elements such as outdated hardware and software. One of the potentially risk-posing conditions for Bank Solutions is the fact that plan participants do not have copies of the DRBCP. Moreover, the participants have not been trained on how to use the plan, following the procedures therein and having an accurate detailed conversancy with the implementation of the plan. As the immediate arm of the organization, the plan participants team ought to be well conversant and updated with the full information contained in the plan, having received accurate sufficient training on the statutory implementation of the plan. This stands to compromise Bank Solution’s ability to recover from a disaster and get back on business continuation due toShow MoreRelatedInformation Technology And Security Gaps1357 Words   |  6 PagesInformation technology /security gaps identified It was noted that with the aid of an external consultant, Bank Solutions had their current data center DRBC Plan written down in the year 2007 and was last tested in the same year. The testing was a shallow table-top walk-through with no intensive assessments to ensure dependability and compliance to industry standard security frameworks. The plan has taken long before being updated hence some elements of the plan may not be adequately addressed asRead MoreInformation Technology And Security Gaps Of The Bank Solutions Inc.1457 Words   |  6 Pagesis no debate to clarify that information security is an important asset to any organizations regardless of its size. To be more precise, information security is much important for financial institutions like Bank solutions Inc. whose main priority is to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of assets, individuals, information and information systems. Purpose The main purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the information technology/security gaps of the Bank solutions Inc. DisasterRead MoreMobile Technology Is A Major Leader Essay1110 Words   |  5 PagesMobile technology is a major leader in information technology and provides opportunities for innovation, agility and flexibility in the workplace (GOVERNMENT USE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY, 2012). This fast growing field provides new innovation, agility, flexibility in the workplace while driving the future of our end-user computing platform (GOVERNMENT USE OF MOBILE TECHNOLOGY, 2012). The Obama administration recently ordered all federal agencies to begin making at least two apps as part of its digitalRead MoreIs4550 Week 5 Lab1611 Words   |  7 PagesExisting IT Security Policy Framework Definition Learning Objectives and Outcomes Upon completing this lab, students will be able to complete the following tasks: * Identify risks, threats, and vulnerabilities in the 7 domains of a typical IT infrastructure * Review existing IT security policies as part of a policy framework definition * Align IT security policies throughout the 7 domains of a typical IT infrastructure as part of a layered security strategy * Identify gaps in the ITRead MoreDeveloping Vehicular Data Cloud Services795 Words   |  4 Pagesvehicular data using the cloud platform and IoT technologies. The IoT platform’s functional, performance, and security requirements for hosting vehicular data in cloud based IoT platforms were discussed. The gaps in the existing security encryption algorithms and performance requirements were enumerated. The gaps mentioned in this article are already discussed in existing literature and no new findings were presented in this article in terms of security gaps, threats, vulnerabilities and mitigation strategiesRead MoreThe Implementation Of A Departmental System1386 Words   |  6 Pagesdetermination of the need for a new system (Wager, Lee, Glaser, 2013, p. 410). The IT administration is responsible for overseeing the development of the system, providing human resource support for the IT staff; and supporting other IT activities. Information technology professionals such as the system analyst, the programmer, the data base administrator, the network administrator, and the telecommunication specialist are also one of the stakeholders of the system implementation. Some of the roles of IT professionalsRead MoreThe Security Related Information For Kashyap Technologies1248 Words   |  5 Pagesthe Security related information for Kashyap Technologies. The security plan for the company-wide information provides coverage of all security controls applicable within Ketch(Kashyap Technologies). Who should use this document? All the employees/contractors/guest/visitors , who will be using the network of the organization to send or receive data. This document states employee and users responsibility while using the allocated resources as detailed by the division of Information Security at KtechRead MoreHealth Information Technology For Economic And Clinical Health1383 Words   |  6 Pagesinfluential innovation is in direct response to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009. Therefore in this paper one will evaluate the current state of the infrastructure in workflow and processes; identify the existing gaps and issues within the environment, provide solutions for improvement in association with the present gaps – zero cost and limitless budget, and recognize current technology that can change the current health care infrastructure. ThisRead MoreDisaster Recovery And Business Continuation Pl Security Gap Analysis Essay1358 Words   |  6 PagesRec overy and Business Continuation Plan: Security Gap Analysis Arlecia Johnson October 31, 2016 Information technology/security gaps identified. It was noted that with the aid of an external consultant, Bank Solutions had their current data center DRBC Plan written down in the year 2007 and was last tested in the same year. The testing was a shallow table-top walkthrough with no intensive assessments to ensure dependability and compliance to industry standard security frameworks. The plan has taken longRead MoreDomestic And International Risks Associated With Terrorism And Other Criminal Activity Threats Posed For Port Maritime Operations1715 Words   |  7 PagesThere are several resources available to the port Facility Security Officer (FSO) in assessing domestic and international risks associated with terrorism and other criminal activity threats posed to port maritime operations. There are also several things to keep in mind as the FSO when trying to assess these risks. The FSO needs to build rapport with all law enforcement agencies, government agencies, stakeholders and all private security entities within the port. A collaboration of efforts is important

Analysis Of Deep River Rock Case Study †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Analysis Of Deep River Rock Case Study. Answer: Introduction Deep River Rock entered the Irish market in the year 1994 and has further experienced huge growth in the next few years. Deep River Rock is considered as a high quality water bottle company of the Irish origin where the water is sourced from the glacial hills of the Co Antrim. The water is also considered to be rich in magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium. The company has expanded its pack size and has further offered a convenient size to the purpose of hydration (Wright and Kadir 2015). The organization has launched the 1 litre pack in the year 2015 in response to the greater needs of the consumers. Deep River Rock is mainly passionate about encouraging the hydration related purposes of the consumers by providing a wide range of products and further helping in the enhancement of physical and mental performance. Deep River Rock has launched its new recipes in the year 2016 to fulfil the needs of the consumers (Chan et al. 2014). Deep River Rock was converted into a global brand by the Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland. Coca-Cola is a global brand which has its presence in many countries in the world and the headquarters of the company is located in Atlanta. Georgia. Coca Cola is an organization of American origin. The sales and revenue of the company has been increasing in the recent years and the gallon sales of Coca Cola was distributed as, 43% in US, 37% in Mexico, Pakistan, India, Japan, Brazil and China. Deep River Rock was marketed by Coca Cola with the help of the distribution and sales related knowledge of the company. The company was developed into a brand with the qualities of strategic thinking and inherent marketing. Deep River Rock had become a static brand in the year 1999 with a share of 5.2% and the improvement was required in the company if it was to survive in the market (Ie.coca-colahellenic.com. 2018). Analysis of the product and the sector Ireland water market analysis The bottled water market in Ireland has been growing in a fast pace since the last few years. The people of Ireland seem to have no problems in paying for the bottled waters and they tend to spend more than millions on the bottled water every year. The citizens have the tendency to spend much more on the daily usage of bottled water as compared to the water charges that were taken by the government previously. The water bottles always have a huge market share in the industry of Ireland. Bottled water has been one of the highest in demand soft drink in the market of Ireland (Erevelles, Fukawa and Swayne 2016). The players in the water bottle market of Ireland are all global brands and they fare quite well in the market as well. The sales of the bottled waters have been growing in the recent years in both value and volumes. The resurgent economy of the country is mainly responsible for the growth of the sales of bottled water. The three leading players in the market of bottled waters i n Ireland are, Danone Waters, Britvic Ireland and the Coca Cola HBC Ireland. The three companies together hols around 43% of the total market share in the country (Fresneda and Gefen 2017). Merger of Coca Cola and Deep River Rock Ireland The total value of the Ireland water market is around 129 million Euros and the growing rate of the market is 11% per year. Coca Cola had undertaken the Deep River Rock company in the year 1995 and the company still showed static growth in the year 1999. The Coca Cola company then undertook some marketing related activities which were related to the development of the Deep River Rock brand. The bottled water market was already filled with many international and successful players and it was difficult for Deep River Rock to create a position in this industry. The main consumers of the bottled waters in Ireland were the younger population of the country (Karimi and Naghibi 2015). The younger group of consumers had thereby become a lucrative market for the company as they purchased the smaller bottles much more and in high frequencies. The main fear of the organization was that the bottled water companies in Ireland can get commoditised quite soon. The company had then proposed innovative advertisements for their products so that they attract the target audience. The tagline of the first advertisement of the company was Water you wear. Although the tagline had seemed to be meaningless for many people, it became the living and brand for the company. The packaging of the bottles was also changed and the identity of Deep River Rock in the market was completely new (Lendel and Varmus 2015). The personality of the brand was created in a unique manner with the help of various advertising channels including, web ambient, delivery vans, above-the-line advertising, in-store POS and many more. The communication with the customers was performed by the company with the help of television in the early stages as the budget was limited. Radio was also used as a medium of advertising for the company. A new budget was injected in the company in the year 2003 and the next stage of promotions were introduced by the company (Ã… ½k 2015). The relationship with the consumers were improved and the company introduced two new advertising campaigns with the names, Convenience Store and Changing room. The advertisements were then placed on the busy stations like Dublin so that the reach of the company can be increased further (Matei, Antonovici and Savulescu 2015). The second phase of the marketing functions started from the year 2005 and is being continued till the present time. The next advertising campaign had the tagline of Purer than you. This was followed by the changes in packaging of the products and this helped the organization in creating a brand in Ireland. The Purer than you named campaign of Deep River rick was launched in the year 2005 and many new television advertisements were also introduced in the market. These advertisements gave Deep River Rock the topmost position in the market of Ireland. In the last 10 years the company has been growing continuously and the credit of this has been given to the changes in the advertising related campaigns of the company. Deep River Rock has been growing in the Ireland market from the year 1999 and the company has achieved record sales in the 2016. The major reason behind the continuous success of the company is the innovative advertising policy that has been designed over the years (Rozdol skaya et al. 2014). The range of products that are offered by the company is also increasing and it is now able to attract more and more customers towards the brand. The various products of the company have been moved to no calories sugar free products. The pack sizes of the products are also increasing and is providing health related benefits to the consumers. The company has recently introduced the Think Straight HYDRATE campaign and has launched products like, Deep River Rock Revive Magnesium which provides encouragement to the consumers to start with hydration and stay ahead (Whalen et al. 2016). The other product that was launched under this campaign was named as Deep River Rock Revive Zinc which urges the consumers to start with hydration and stay ahead. Two other innovative products of the company were launched with the names, Deep River Rock Relax Mint and Deep River Rock Relax Lavender. The health benefits provided by the products of the company are main factors that attracts the consumers of all age groups (Wright et al. 2015). Recommendations Innovation has been the main feature of the Deep River Rock brand and this can further help the company to increase its sales in the market and retain the position that it has created in the industry. The long-term advertising of Deep River Rock has been recognised by the IAPI ADFX Awards. The company was able to build its brand in the last 10 years with the help of the advertising policies. DRR can maintain its position by adding more products to its range so that they can reach more customers. The company can also aim for global expansion as Coca Cola is a known global brand in many countries in Europe and Asia. The brand value of Coca Cola can be of immense help for the increasing of market share of Deep River Rock. Deep River Rock can aim towards increasing its customer reach with the help of social media which can help them in increasing the customer base and reach. Deep River Rock already has a page in Twitter and Facebook and the advertising of the products in these pages can prove to be effective for the company. Expansion of the company in other countries and supplying their products to the global customers will help them in further increasing their market share and maintaining their top position as well. The unique health benefits that are provided by the products can act the selling feature for the organization in the market. This will enable Deep River Rock to reach new heights in the market. References Chan, F.T., Nayak, A., Raj, R., Chong, A.Y.L. and Manoj, T., 2014. An innovative supply chain performance measurement system incorporating research and development (RD) and marketing policy.Computers Industrial Engineering,69, pp.64-70. Erevelles, S., Fukawa, N. and Swayne, L., 2016. Big Data consumer analytics and the transformation of marketing.Journal of Business Research,69(2), pp.897-904. Fresneda, J. and Gefen, D., 2017. Applying Text Analysis to Determine Factors That Increase the Assessed Usefulness of Online Product Reviews: An Abstract. InCreating Marketing Magic and Innovative Future Marketing Trends(pp. 1405-1406). Springer, Cham. Ie.coca-colahellenic.com. (2018).Deep RiverRock. [online] Available at: https://ie.coca-colahellenic.com/en/brands-and-campaigns/explore-our-brands-and-products/deep-riverrock/ [Accessed 5 Mar. 2018]. Karimi, S. and Naghibi, H.S., 2015. Social media marketing (SMM) strategies for small to medium enterprises (SMEs).International Journal of Information, Business and Management,7(4), p.86. Lendel, V. and Varmus, M., 2015. Proposal of innovative approaches of relationship marketing in business.Business: theory and practice,16, p.63. Matei, A., Antonovici, C.G. and Savulescu, C., 2015. Innovative Public Marketing as Instrument for Creating the Social Value. Rozdolskaya, I., Evtushenko, E., Somina, I. and Degaltseva, I., 2014. Problem-oriented way and multi-aspect character of research of innovative management of competitive enterprises at the stage of global transformations.Life Science Journal,11(9), pp.963-970. Whalen, P., Uslay, C., Pascal, V.J., Omura, G., McAuley, A., Kasouf, C.J., Jones, R., Hultman, C.M., Hills, G.E., Hansen, D.J. and Gilmore, A., 2016. Anatomy of competitive advantage: towards a contingency theory of entrepreneurial marketing.Journal of Strategic Marketing,24(1), pp.5-19. Wright, A.J., Verssimo, D., Pilfold, K., Parsons, E.C.M., Ventre, K., Cousins, J., Jefferson, R., Koldewey, H., Llewellyn, F. and McKinley, E., 2015. Competitive outreach in the 21st century: why we need conservation marketing.Ocean Coastal Management,115, pp.41-48. Wright, G.H. and Kadir, B., 2015. Understanding Innovative Marketing Practices: An Exploratory Case Study of Acknowledged Innovative Marketers. InProceedings of the 1997 World Marketing Congress(pp. 121-124). Springer, Cham. Ã… ½k, ., 2015. The identification of innovative research methods and techniques utilized in marketing research in the digital era.Studia commercialia Bratislavensia,8(29), pp.139-152.

Sports Autobiography free essay sample

It was as if I had won the World Series. Next I would be touring the country, signing autographs, and riding on floats in city parades. Everywhere I’d go, locals would triumphantly hoist me atop their shoulders as I would wave to the adoring fans. I believed this all to be true. I was on top of the world, and a member of the red Aces, the winning team of the Ridgway, IL, tee-ball tournament. At five years of age, this was no small feat. It was the most significant event of my dear little life. I felt like a rock star, a five year old rock star. Even since with monumental moment, athletics have always played a large role in my life. It’s obvious that at a young age, I desperately believed that I was great at sports, whether I actually was or not. To me, I was the cat’s pajamas. We will write a custom essay sample on Sports Autobiography or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page This sense of accomplishment is common at that age according to the Developmental Changes in Goal Orientation, which implies that effort equals excellence. Even before my tee-ball years, I remember playing sports with my family, baseball in the backyard, and basketball in the shed, depending on the weather. I had always been encouraged by my family, especially my mother who was a volleyball coach and had played several sports herself. She felt it was important for my sister and me to understand and participate in athletics. My mother would tell me stories of how my grandmother played basketball in the 30s in Tennessee. I was inspired by the women in my family and their experiences with sports. I wanted to be a part of something they were apart of and had thoroughly enjoyed. Oddly enough, it was my sister and I who excelled in sports, in comparison to both of my brothers. My family didn’t exactly fit the mold of the traditional gender stereotyping when raising sons and daughters. Parents give more encouragement to sons than daughters in sports. Girls reported lower physical competence in physical activity than boys,† (Brustad, 1996). I participated in sports at an early age because I had positive influences in my family, and because I enjoyed the challenge and the physical activity. By middle school, I began to excel in basketball. Playing for the Gallatin County Hawks girls’ basketball team, I was discovering my talents as a ball player. I played opposite Dana Pinkston, former Saluki women’s basketball guard. She was quick, agile, and very tough. She pushed me to be a better ball player. During this time in my life, I experienced both intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation, as described in the Self-Determination Theory. The Self-Determination Theory describes intrinsic motivation as challenge, skill improvement, and fun. Extrinsic motivation includes privileges, social status, recognition, and awards, (Deci Ryan, 1985). My intrinsic motivation included gaining more control of my dribbling, having more confidence on the court, and increasing my shooting accuracy. However, I was motivated as well by the attention I got from the coach and teammates when I performed well. I loved the feeling I got when people clapped for the team as we ran out onto the court. I especially wanted people to clap for me. Basketball was going very well for me at the time and I felt as if I had great potential in the future. During that particular basketball season, I spent several weekends traveling with my family to St. Louis for consultations with an orthopedic surgeon. It was discovered that I had severe scoliosis and might need surgery. I had gone to the doctor after an injury on my hip during the previous softball season and an x-ray on my hip had discovered my problem. Fortunately, it didn’t seem to affect my game, and wasn’t noticeable if you weren’t looking for it. In fears the scoliosis would progress, my parents thought it would be best to have a spinal fusion surgery. Halfway through the basketball season, I had spinal surgery at 13 years old. After the surgery, I was in bed for six weeks, and wasn’t able to exercise or do much of anything for six months. This was very hard, emotionally and physically for a previously very active 13 year old. I wasn’t allowed to participate in competitive sports for one year, but I was determined to play basketball again in high school. During my freshman year basketball season, I spent a couple of months practicing with the team as much as I physically could. It was apparent during the practices, that I had lost much of the stamina, strength, and mobility I once had. I had difficulty keeping up with my teammates, and it seemed my teammates would be frustrated with me for it. After a year following the surgery, I was allowed to compete in games. I wasn’t as good as the year before and I was very conscious of it. I very much wanted to regain what I had lost, and more. I wanted to be able to compete, exceptionally. My perceived competence was very low, but I had a high mastery goal orientation. According to the Achievement Goal Theory, goal orientation and perceived competence of one’s ability will determine their motivation. Goal orientation is not enough to determine motivation (Nichols, 1984, 1989). My motivation and goal orientation, determined that I had high motivation for excelling. I very much wanted to get back into the shape I had once been in. I didn’t play much at all during the rest of the season, and I had lost confidence in myself as an athlete. I felt so far behind and felt obligated to make up for lost times, so I made a goal that I would do anything to get the endurance and strength I once had. During my sophomore year, I began going to early morning practices, which were a volunteer exercise program, mainly for members of the boys’ basketball team. I and one other female attended these early morning practices and were the only two females at the workouts. The other female was a good friend of mine, and also an extremely competitive person. Since I was the only other female, it felt as if we were always in competition with each other. It seemed she always tried to beat me at all the drills. I soon let my goals become more ego oriented. I felt I was always trying to prove myself and my ability and began focusing more on being in competition with others, (Nichols, 1984, 1989). It was noticeable that my enjoyment of sports began to diminish. Not only was I participating in before and after school practices, I took up weight lifting class. I was gaining strength and becoming a better athlete, but was not enjoying sports like I had in the past. I began becoming ego oriented and obsessed with sports and being better. I was playing basketball, softball, and volleyball. In the beginning, I wanted to improve myself, but as the competition escaladed, I began working hard for to prove something to my teammates, coach, and for merit on college applications. My identifications changed, and for the wrong reasons. By my senior year of high school, halfway through basketball season, the burn out began to weigh heavily. A month left in the season, I got mononucleosis. All I wanted to do was play basketball, and again, a physical ailment prevented me from playing. It was probably a blessing in isguise. I think it was a sign that I needed to rest and re-evaluate sports. I began recovering as softball season began to roll around. The funny thing was I really didn’t feel like playing. Three years starting at third base, I just couldn’t do it anymore. I was completely burnt out. All I wanted to do was go home after school, eat dinner, take a nap, and watch wheel of fortune. That’s exactly wh at I did during the spring quarter of my senior year. Season after season of sports, I never allowed myself to rest, even after I had a serious surgery. It was rest that was well needed. I went to college and began participating in intramural basketball and softball. My goals and motivations were focused less on the ego and more on mastery. Maybe it was maturity, or the less competitive environment I was in, but I started to enjoy sports more than I had in high school. I seemed to care less about competing with my teammates or winning, and more about playing hard and having fun. I still had times when I let those ego beliefs take over, but then again, who doesn’t? Exercise and sport has always been a part of my life. Various experiences and challenges have shaped my motivation and approach to sports.

Anthology of Poems Essays

Anthology of Poems Essays Anthology of Poems Essay Anthology of Poems Essay â€Å"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You know that your name is safe in their mouth. † This persuasive essays purpose is to persuade the reader to include three phenomenal poems in an anthology of Indigenous Poetry. Each of the poems that will be introduced have been written by indigenous Australians, and each includes a form of a relationship within them, not only with people, but with culture, and Aboriginal and European Australians. The first poem to be introduced is Aboriginal Australia, by Jack Davis. This gut wrenching poem is about the treacherous acts that the Europeans committed against the Aborigines. The second poem that will be discussed is Took the Children Away by Archie Roach. This poem, or song, is about the Stolen Generation, and the repercussions that it had on the children that experienced that event. Finally, the poem Son of Mine by Oodgeroo Noonuccal will be introduced. Son of Mine is about the emotions behind the fighting of the Europeans and Aborigines. Each of the three poems has a rightful place in an anthology of Indigenous Poetry. The first poem that will be introduced is Aboriginal Australia written by poet Jack Davis. Aboriginal Australia is a raw and overwhelming poem about what the Europeans did to, and the effects that it had on most indigenous Australians. To support this heartfelt poem, Davis uses metaphors to accentuate the bold words that he has felt. The line, â€Å"I would find a pen to probe your freckled mind,† demonstrates the emotions that he was feeling in detail. It shows that between particular people relationships do not always have a strong foundation, and are often weak. Likewise Davis’ use of imagery in, â€Å"The smile on the Governor’s face,† validates not only the emotion that the Governor was feeling, but what he thought about everything that was happening to the aborigines. Aboriginal Australia is a heart wrenching poem about the tumultuous events that were caused by the white people when they unjustly murdered and kidnapped a large sum of the indigenous population. The poem demonstrates the idea that at one point in time the relationships between white and black people was that of hatred. The second poem that I wish to discuss is Took the Children Away, by Archie Roach, is a heartfelt story about the Stolen Generation. Having been one of the children that were taken away by the whites, Roach takes an insightful approach to his lyrics. The emotive and accusatory tone that Roach acquires, gives real meaning to his poem. Using the simile, â€Å"And how they fenced us in like sheep,† to convey the idea that the Aborigines didn’t really think that they had a say in how their life went, they were metaphorically trapped in their own skin. The aboriginal children started to lose their relationship with their land and culture. The Aboriginal children were taught how to act and live, being told that it was good manners to always do what they were told, no matter how ridiculous the order was. Likewise, Roach’s shrewd use of visual imagery in, â€Å"said to us come take our hand, sent us off to mission land,† creates an idea of juxtaposition as they told the children that they were going to help and teach them, when all they did was send them off to white families as servants. The aboriginal people were told that they would be treated with respect, and they would be educated, but were treated the exact opposite of what they were told. Took the Children Away deserves to be in the anthology of Indigenous Australian poetry as it has been written from a personal perspective, and has the exact emotions that were felt by one of the stolen children. The third and final poem that I would like to talk over is Son of Mine by Oodgeroo Noonuccal. Son of Mine is a short and straight to the point poem on the experiences that the Aboriginal people went through while fighting the Europeans. It discusses the good and bad emotions, and actions that the Aboriginals went through, including the heartbreak, and brotherhood that both races experienced. Noonuccal has great pride in her tone when she mentions the, â€Å"†¦ brave and fine,† men that put others before themselves during the often hard and tumultuous events that occurred. She describes the different relationships between the two different races. Noonuccal really defines the large gap between the two different relationships, and how quick the relationship could change. Noonuccal’s use of juxtaposition in, â€Å"black and white entwine,† deeply expresses the relationships between the two different cultures of indigenous, and European. Son of Mine definitely deserves to be in an Anthology for Indigenous Australians as it is one of the only texts that include both the hatred, and the brotherhood between the white and indigenous Australians. It would be a great addition to the anthology. All three of these poems demonstrate some sort of a relationship. They show great compassion for whatever topic they are artistically discussing. Aboriginal Australia, Took the Children Away, and Son of Mine all demonstrate feelings of hurt, happiness and heartbreak, thus making them beneficial for the anthology. The three poems that have been introduced each have a theme of relationships, whether between race, or culture. They definitely deserve a spot in an anthology of Indigenous Poetry.

The Early History of Flight

The Early History of Flight   Around 400 BC - Flight in China The Chinese’s discovery of a kite that could fly in the air started humans thinking about flying. Kites were used by the Chinese in religious ceremonies. They built many colorful kites for fun, also. More sophisticated kites were used to test weather conditions. Kites have been important to the invention of flight as they were the forerunner to balloons and gliders. Humans Try to Fly like Birds For many centuries, humans have tried to fly just like the birds and have studied the flight of winged creatures. Wings made of feathers or light weight wood have been attached to arms to test their ability to fly. The results were often disastrous as the muscles of the human arms are not like a birds and cannot move with the strength of a bird. Hero and the Aeolipile The ancient Greek engineer, Hero of Alexandria, worked with air pressure and steam to create sources of power. One experiment that he developed was the aeolipile, which used jets of steam to create rotary motion. To do this, Hero mounted a sphere on top of a water kettle. A fire below the kettle turned the water into steam, and the gas traveled through pipes to the sphere. Two L-shaped tubes on opposite sides of the sphere allowed the gas to escape, which gave a thrust to the sphere that caused it to rotate. The importance of the aeolipile is that it marks the start of engine created movement will later prove essential in the history of flight. 1485 Leonardo da Vinci’s Ornithopter and the Study of Flight. Leonardo da Vinci  made the first real studies of flight in the 1480s. He had over 100 drawings that illustrated his theories on bird and mechanical flight. The drawings illustrated the wings and tails of birds, ideas for man carrying machines and devices for the testing of wings. His Ornithopter flying machine was never actually created. It was a design that Leonardo da Vinci created to show how man could fly. The modern day helicopter is based on this concept. Leonardo da Vincis notebooks on flight were re-examined in the 19th century by aviation pioneers. 1783 - Joseph and Jacques Montgolfier and The Flight of the First Hot Air Balloon Two brothers,  Joseph Michel and Jacques Etienne Montgolfier, were inventors of the first hot air balloon. They used the smoke from a fire to blow hot air into a silk bag. The silk bag was attached to a basket. The hot air then rose and allowed the balloon to be lighter than air. In 1783, the first passengers in the colorful balloon were a sheep, rooster and duck. It climbed to a height of about 6,000 feet and traveled more than one mile. After this initial success, the brothers began to send men up in hot air balloons. The first manned hot air balloon flight was carried out on November 21, 1783 and the passengers were Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier and Francois Laurent. 1799-1850s - George Cayley’s Gliders Sir George Cayley is considered the father of aerodynamics. Cayley experimented with wing design, distinguished between lift and drag and formulated the concepts of vertical tail surfaces, steering rudders, rear elevators and air screws. He also designed many different versions of gliders that used the movements of the body for control. A young boy, whose name is not known, was the first to fly one of Cayleys gliders. It was the first glider capable of carrying a human. For over 50 years, George Cayley made improvements to his gliders. Cayley changed the shape of the wings so that the air would flow over the wings correctly. He also designed a tail for the gliders to help with the stability. He then tried a biplane design to add strength to the glider. Additionally, Cayley recognized that there would be a need for machine power if the flight was to be in the air for a long time.

The cold war in Europe Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The cold war in Europe - Essay Example At this time, Russia attempts to pursue its own plans of attacking Finland at the far north. The cold proves to be a big problem to him because his troops are under-prepared for the arctic winter that awaits them. In addition to this, Russia’s leadership in this campain is poor, and even though they manage to win, they suffered losses, and their pride was humbled. In 1941, Germany launched one of the biggest military invasions ever undertaken, he calls it, Barbarossa. Hitler’s plan is to take and also hold a line located eastward of Moscow. The Russians are caught unaware by this strategic move on the part of the third Reich’s cunning leader. Germany gained a lot through this campaign, and it even managed to gather prisoners of war, but later died. This move on the part of Germany angered the Russians, and they were resolved to destroy the third Reich. Some people have wondered, ‘at what year did the Germans reach the point of no return at the eastern front ’? When we take a look back at history, we can observe the actions that took place at the eastern front 1942, between Germany and Russia. â€Å"Germany renewed its attacks on Russia, this time concentrating its attacks on Southern Russia, capturing the Crimea and Sevastopol after a siege. This was one of the few times their huge barrage gun, Big Bertha, was ever called into use.

E-Business - Qatar Airways (3) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

E-Business - Qatar Airways (3) - Essay Example The company has also tied up with private portal Bezruk.com and common forum Frommers Unlimited and has marked its presence in social networking forum Facebook where fans of the airline regularly exchange their experiences with this airline. These e-marketing techniques have provided the airline a very substantial presence and publicity in the e-market. E-business depends on attractiveness and user friendliness of company’s website. The visitor must be completely satisfied after a tour of the site and that can be possible only when the website is designed in such a way that a busy visitor is also able to obtain the required details at the shortest possible time and with the minimum of trouble. The language used in the website also plays a substantial role for this to be achieved. The website of Qatar Airways has achieved this target quite admirably. Qatar Airways has become a deft player in the business-to-business marketplace by judiciously applying the strengths of internet in collecting, collating and analysing information related to tour and conference fliers and travel agents. By sifting the available data, the airline is in a position to identify the most economically profitable strata of business fliers and design its promotions and offers in a manner that is most attractive to the targeted strata. The airline has never been oblivious of its social responsibility and the need to behave like a responsible corporate citizen, not only in Qatar but in rest of the world also. It has undertaken numerous programmes for the benefit of orphans and autistic children in Qatar and has also donated handsomely towards rebuilding activities in China after the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province in 2008. It is also aware of environmental pollution and has instituted a programme for fuel efficiency and gradual reduction of dependency on fossil fuel. Qatar Airways has always

Interconnection Billing System of Grameenphone Ltd. Essay Example for Free

Interconnection Billing System of Grameenphone Ltd. Essay 1.0 Introduction In early 2008, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) announced that reorganization of the country’s telecom interconnection architecture as per International Long Distance Telecommunication Services (ILDTS) Policy 2007 has to be completed by the mid of August, 2008 (BTRC, 2008a). This announcement by the telecom regulator obligated relevant telecom operators (e.g. mobile and fixed networks) to take necessary measures to complete the re-organization task within the deadline while ensuring there is no or minimum subscriber inconvenience and revenue leakage due to this reorganization. Grameenphone Ltd., the largest cell phone operator of the country having a subscriber base of about 17 Million at that period (BTRC, 2008b), had to approach this regulatory directive with great importance as interconnection termination charge is the source of 2nd largest revenue stream for the company (Grameenphone Annual Reports, 2008 – 2011). It launched a cross-functional project to complete the interconnection restructure task smoothly. This Project Team identified prevailing interconnection billing processes and systems of the organization as one of the key improvement areas. It was felt that existing in-house developed tools lacked the flexibility to accommodate the change in network architecture. Management wanted replacement of manual billing related tasks through fully automated systems to ensure faster transactions and generation of customized reports. After through assessment of other alternatives within the allocated budget by experts from relevant cross-functional teams, Intec Interconnection Billing System (IIBS) was procured from one of the leading vendors of the world, Intec Systems Ltd. (CSGI, 2012). This paper focuses on the evaluation of IIBS, a hi-tech information system and its contribution to Grameenphone Ltd., a technology-based organization. Major sources of information are my experiences as a member of this billing system implementation project team and later use it for about 03 years; and interviews and email exchange with core technical persons and other stakeholders of IIBS. In some areas, training materials provided by the billing system vendor and web entries have been consulted as well. 2.0 Overview of Intec Interconnection Billing System 2.1 Telecom Interconnect and Related Facts: Bangladesh Context â€Å"The term Interconnect in the telecommunication world means a business model where different competing telephony providers coexist and interconnect to each other† (4gbilling Inc., 2012). As per Bangladesh Telecommunication Act-2001, any telecom operator must ensure ‘any-to-any’ connectivity so that its subscriber(s) can conveniently communicate with the subscriber(s) of other telecom operator(s) (BTRC, 2001c); as a result, telecom operators interconnect each other directly or through interconnection exchanges (it is the case in Bangladesh after reorganization of national interconnection architecture in 2008) and also establish connectivity with foreign operators through international gateways. Figure 1: Block diagram of Interconnectivity (adapted from ILDTS Policy’07, BTRC 2008a) After establishment of inter-connectivity, telecom operators pay each other interconnection access charges for the traffic (i.e. voice call, SMS, MMS) generated by its subscriber(s) to the other at a rate mutually negotiated or enforced by the regulator. This interconnection payment and associated tasks, e.g. calculation of interconnect traffic volume originated and received, generation of invoices, and validation of other operators’ invoices are dictated by their mutual interconnection agreements and/or relevant directives from the telecom regulators (Interconnection Regulations, 2004). 2.2 Interconnect Billing Systems With the worldwide trend of telecom de-regulation, interconnectivity gets crowded and telecom operators are in need of interconnection billing system offering detailed analysis of interconnection. The objective, of course, is to make â€Å"smart and well informed business decisions to enhance revenue streams† (4gbilling Inc., 2012). The major tasks accomplished by using Interconnect Billing system are: -Inter-operator settlement for traffic exchanged with other operators, -Resolution of interconnection billing disputes, -Generation of various reports; -Detection of various telecom frauds and assist in management of those. 2.3 Technological Features of Intec Interconnect Billing System (IIBS) IIBS lies at the downstream of Mediation Server in the telecom network architecture. It works under client-server model. The servers are powered by HP-UX (Hewlett-Packard, 2011). It has dual server: one houses Database other runs Application (Intec Training Material, 2008). Figure 2: Network Diagram of IIBS (adapted from 4Gbilling Inc., 2012) In the client side computers, there are different modules for invoice generation, reporting, and reconciliation of CDRs from other operator, etc. These clients are connected with the IBS application server using LAN (Local Area Network). Client computers may run Microsoft Windows operating systems. The clients can access IIBS’s application through Graphical User Interface (GUI) or through web-based Oracle Discoverer (a customized tool) says Mr. Raiyan Karim, System Engineer, IBS of Grameenphone Ltd. (Karim, 2012). A team within the Information Technology department are assigned the task to configure and operate IIBS while the users are spread all over the organization ranging from Finance to Regulatory Affairs functions. 2.4 Categorisation of IIBS as Information System As an information system, Intec Interconnect Billing System (IIBS) can be categorised in several perspectives. From hardware perspective (Bocij et al, 2008: Chapter 3), IIBS has the primary capture/ input technology in use is the LAN connectivity with an upstream application server, very powerful CPU as processor, 25 Terabyte online magnetic disk storage and output can be taken through either monitor display, e-document or printed papers. From software perspective (Bocij et al, 2008: Chapter 4), IIBS is an application software, to be specific, application to process large databases containing CDRs. From management-level perspectives (Laudon and Laudon, 2012), IIBS can be categorised mainly as a transaction processing system as it deals with instances of interconnection traffic exchanged (i.e. call/ SMS/ MMS made to received from other operators). This system serves requirements of operational management and but, the outputs from this system has a wider circulation to different management levels even up to top executives mainly due to importance of associated business activity (interconnectivity) for telecommunication industry. From organisational function (Laudon and laudon, 2006) perspectives, IIBS is an Information Technology business area specific information system. It handles digital customer call records for generation of interconnection billing details. From the perspectives of reach (Boddy et al, 2005: 37-38), IIBS is identified as an intra-organisational IS. Though its core use lies within the IT department of Grameenphone, this system is very frequently accessed from other parts of the organizations e.g. Finance, Marketing, Regulatory Affairs, etc. Moreover, as IIBS contributes to achieve overall organisational goals e.g. reliable settlement of interconnection revenue, help in developing market offerings, it can easily be termed as an intra-organisational IS. 3.0 Supported Organisational Processes The organizational processes supported by IIBS can be analysed by using two approaches: a) CIPSODAR model of information system (Heeks, 2011a) and b) usage and applications of computer based IS by organisational level (Bocij et al, 2008: P 45). 3.1 CIPSODAR on IIBS IIBS captures processed CDR (Call Detail Records) from Mediation server (â€Å"a system used to convert data of certain datatypes to other datatypes, usually for billing purposes†, Wikipedia, 2012). These mediated CDRs are feed into IIBS as inputs. Figure 3: IIBS on CIPSODAR model (adapted from Heeks, 2011a) The captured CDRs have to contain at least 06 information fields which are in numeric form (Intec Systems, 2008): i.Unique CDR identification no. associated with each call made to received from other operators, ii.phone no. of call originating subscriber, iii.phone no. of call recipient subscriber, iv.call start time, v.call duration, vi.Intelligent network marking used to identify post-paid or pre-paid subscriber. These mediated CDRs are further processed by IIBS, i.e. classifying based on various pre-set criteria e.g. pre-paid, post-paid, originating operator, terminating operator; sorting thereof based on each criteria, and finally compiling. IIBS has remarkable processing capacity as it handles about 70 Million CDRs in every 6 hours (Karim, 2012). IIBS uses two types of storage: one is online which has huge storage capacity to store CDRS for consecutive 04 months and another is older CDRs which are moved to magnetic tapes for archiving. Output from IIBS is billing details categorized based on interconnect operator, incoming call flow, outgoing call flow, or duration e.g. day-wise or month-wise. Recipients can generate invoice to be issued to other operators or customized reports using the client side invoicing or reporting modules of IIBS. The outputs generated from IIBS data help the organization to decide on its interconnection business strategy e.g. integrate additional interconnect capacity with some operator or formulate business plan e.g. promote calls to other operators by lowering customer charge. Actions include implementation of internal business strategy or contractual obligations of interconnection agreement. The results derived from such actions are inter-operator settlement and dispute resolution for interconnection traffic, gain competitive edge or retain stronghold over market. The outputs from IIBS billing details helps to detect and take action against telecom frauds, to meet regulatory compliance by generating reports for telecom regulator on regularly and ad-hoc basis. It is useful in revenue projection through trend analysis of interconnection traffic. 3.2 Organisational Levels and IIBS As mentioned in earlier section, IIBS mainly functions as transaction processing system and hierarchically destined to serve the operational management. The operations managers ensure processing activities of IIBS. In this level, IIBS serves as a solution to generate reliable invoices, validation of other party invoices, resolution of inter-operator invoiced /data related disputes, and generation of various reports. Figure 4: IIBS different Organisation level (adapted from Bocij et al, 2008) In upper level of the organisational hierarchy, IIBS generated reports serve as tactical tool. Based on interconnection traffic trends and invoices, they generate interconnection revenue forecast, interconnection capacity requirement etc. IIBS reports are consulted by Top Management level also. Settlement of interconnection revenue is a key issue as it counts for the 2nd largest revenue stream of Grameenphone (Grameenphone: 2011). Interconnection traffic volume is a key indicator of customer attractiveness of competitors’ market offerings. Based on the trend of interconnect traffic, business directions are made to product development team. 4.0 Evaluation of Information System Intec Interconnect Billing system (IIBS) may be evaluated from two perspectives: a) IS Cost / benefits model and b) DeLone/ McLean model. 4.1 Benefits and Costs of IIBS Benefits As IIBS is mainly a transaction processing system, its benefits can be better evaluated using Process Benefits Model (Heeks, 2011b). Based on user experiences and discussion with IIBS technical teams (2012), several benefits are being generated from IIBS, along both efficiency and effectiveness categorises. The below table summaries these benefits: Sl.Process BenefitExamples Cited by Stakeholders (Discussion, 2012) 1CheaperIntroduction of IIBS has reduced no. of manpower required to do the task than it was required previously by one-third employees. 2MoreIn comparison to previous ad-hoc system, IIBS processes more CDRS while keeping the resources requirement about the same (except storage). 3QuickerIIBS processed about 70 Million CDRs in 6 hours whereas prior system could process only about 50 Million CDRs at the same time. Invoice generation and processing of other party CDRs for the purpose of interconnect dispute resolution has become faster. 4BetterPreviously CDRs were processed through manual systems. That system lacked consistency in interconnect billing reporting due to its business logic. 5NewIIBS has introduced Graphical user Interface for the clients which help them to generate customized reports on interconnectivity round the clock. Previously, the reporting was made ad-hoc basis as per requirement from Project Team Table 1: Benefits of Information Systems (Heeks, 2011b) Costs of IIBS Costs of an information system can be measured in 03 criteria: i) implementation costs: measured in financial terms; ii) operational costs : both financial and unexpected outcomes, and iii) loss of previous operational benefits (Heeks, 2011b). Costs of IIBS in this view: Sl.CostExamples Cited by Stakeholders (discussion, 2012) 1.Implementation CostsImplementation of IIBS has cost the organization about 1.2 Million USD as payment to vendor, Intec Systems (IIBS Business Case, 2008). 2.Operational Costs (inc. Problems)IIBS requires about slightly higher (1~3%) storage for processing of CDRs in comparison to previous system. 3.Previous operational benefits lostIn case of prior billing solutions, modification could be done by internal experts, now change request needs to be made with the vendor which is expensive after free service period. Table 2: Costs of Information Systems (Heeks, 2011b) 4.2 DeLone McLean Multi-Perspective Evaluation DeLone McLean (1992) have described one of the most popular models of evaluating success of information systems (Heeks, 2011b). Figure 5: Multiple perspectives on IS success/failure– DeLone McLean (1992) DeLone McLean model can be measured suggested by Boddy et al (2005). 4.2.1 System Quality These are the required features and characteristics of the information system (Heeks, 2011b). In the case of IIBS, as per IT experts and users from other business functions (Discussion, 2012), it is reliable, includes enhanced features both in terms of system operation and output generation and the response time is also considerably faster . 4.2.2 Information Quality â€Å"Information quality concerns the characteristics of the information produced by the system† (Heeks, 2011b). In the case of IIBS, outputs generated are (invoices and various reports) are clear to interpret, quite high on completeness to serve intended purposes, and useful and accurate, except a few rare cases. Grameenphone RAFM (Revenue Assurance Fraud Management) team validates output of IIBS to be highly satisfactory. 4.2.3 Use and user satisfaction â€Å"Use and user satisfaction are concerned with the interaction between the information produced by the system and the recipients† (Heeks, 2011b) IIBS, being an integral part of Grameenphone’s interconnection system, it is used in daily basis for the whole period required to process interconnect CDRs for the concerned day and to serve report requests from cross-functional teams. Information necessary to make a revenue projection or serve regulatory report requests on monthly or ad-hoc basis are served timely basis from the system. Users are overall satisfied with IIBS but they would prefer if the system had flexibility of producing further customized reports. Except very few cases, the information required vs. delivered from IIBS had no significant deviation. The Graphical user interface, easy maintenance, easily scalable, and web-based access are few contributing factors to user satisfaction. Software satisfaction is quite high amongst regular users while occasional users found the interface a difficult to use. 4.2.4Individual impact It â€Å"relates to the extent to which the information produced by the system influences or affects decisions† (Heeks, 2011b). Reports generated from IIBS system are quite helpful to identify any problem in the area of interconnectivity and normally decisions made are correct. These decisions are quite effective also. Usually key points are placed to top management weekly basis. Productivity improvement in interconnected areas is remarkable. It allows observing trend of interconnection traffic generated and received ant to decide on optimal interconnection capacity, etc. By these measures for other decision issues e.g. market attractiveness of other operators customer charge are not in that brighter side as there are many relevant factors therein. 4.2.5 Organisational impact It â€Å"measures the effect of the information produced by the system on organisational performance† (Heeks, 2011b). Interconnection is a regulatory compliance issue and it also generates revenue of about 100 Mn. USD for Grameenphone (Grameenphone, 2011). Considering this importance of interconnectivity for Grameenphone, it may be concluded that the organizational impact of IIBS is significant. The investments made vs. benefits enjoyed from IBS (e.g. lower processing time, timely invoicing to ensure timely revenue settlement) are in quite positive side. In overall evaluation, IIBS is a successful information system meeting the requirements of stakeholders and also exceeding the costs by benefits in great margin. 5.0 Factors for Success of IIBS A large number of information systems fail to achieve the desired objectives, especially in the developing countries. In this context, success of Intec Interconnect Billing System (IIBS) in Grameenphone Ltd. is quite remarkable. We can analyse the causes behind the success using 1) IS Implementation Outcome Model (Laudon and Laudon, 2006) and 2) Design-Reality Gap analysis using ITPOSMO (Heeks, 2011c). 5.1 Information System Implementation Outcome Model In the ninth edition of their book, summary model of information systems success and failure factors were presented by Laudon and Laudon (2006). Figure 6: IS Implementation Outcome Model (Laudon and Laudon, 2006) Applying the model on IIBS, we can come up with following: †¢User involvement and influence: In the requirement finalization stage during procurement of interconnection billing system in Grameenphone, actual users were member of the cross functional team and their views were taken with great importance. Later, these requirements were used as reference to select the vendor and customization negotiated with them. †¢Management support: Required management support was available during implementation of IIBS in Grameenphone. The project team was highly empowered having Chief Information Officer as Project Sponsor and other senior managers in the Project Steering Committee. †¢Level of complexity/risk: Though IIBS is a high-tech information system, it is highly structured, and the project team had required technical capacities on-board. †¢Management of the implementation process: IIBS was endowed with required financial and human resources and proper training sessions was arranged also. 5.2 Design-Reality Gap Analysis of IIBS Though IIBS is considered to be a successful information system, the system can be improved in some areas, observations by internal stakeholders (Discussions, 2012). These areas include re-shape the GUI to be more user friendly in perspectives of non-IT users. Reducing the storage requirement a bit can directly benefit in terms of saving expensive storage capacity. These can be attributed to the gap between information system design and reality i.e. actual implementation of the system (Heeks, 2011c). The Dimensions of design—reality gaps for IIBS can be analysed using ITPOSMO model (Heeks, 2011c: Figure 7: Design—reality gap model to analyse IS Success/Failure (Heeks, 2011) 5.2.1 Information Dimension: Gap Rating 2.0 The system design assumed that the inputs to IIBS (processed CDRs from Mediation server) will always be in right format. But, very occasionally, there were CDRs from mediation in wrong format or missing one or more key fields. These unprocessed CDRs were stored in the error bucket and required special processing by System Engineers later on. 5.2.2 Technology Dimension: Gap Rating 3.0 The technological design contributed to gain buy-in of overall user satisfaction for IIBS. The processing of CDR files was quicker than previous system. It also contributed in reducing man-hour required to configure and operate the system. But, in the areas of storage requirement and design of graphical user interface (GUI), there are gaps between expectation and reality. 5.2.3 Process Dimension: Gap Rating 3.0 The business processes were supportive to desired functioning of IIBS. The system produced invoices and customized reports as desired. Though, there are some requirements to be able to further customize the reporting modules. Sometimes, there are hiccups in generations of output also. 5.2.4 The objectives and values dimension: Gap Rating 4.0 Decision to procure IIBS was made by a cross-functional team having relevant experiences and expertise. It was decided to further enrich the system by adding additional features to it so that it can handle settlement for mobile contents/ value added services with the respective content or value added service providers. But, even after 03 years of successful operation of IIBS, these additional features have not been included yet (Karim, 2012). It is assumed that potential personal interest may contribute to this non-inclusion of mobile content/ VAS related features to IIBS. Notably, currently these settlements are handled by an IT manager having a team of 05 employees whereas if the features included to IIBS, the whole processing would require no or utmost 01 employee from this team. 5.2.5 Staffing and skills: Gap Rating 2.0 The organization had competent staff experienced with configuration, operation, maintenance of interconnect billing systems. Moreover, to get them acknowledged with the new system, required training was provided by the vendor. 5.2.6 Management systems and structures Gap Rating 2.0 Introduction of IIBS helped in reducing manpower required to run similar systems previously and following that management hierarchy in IT department was simplified. 5.2.7 Other resources: Gap Rating 2.0 In other dimensions, IIBS helped in saving processing time comparison to previous system. With increased efficiency, it contributed in monetary terms as well. 5.2.8 Overall: Total gap score is 18 for IIBS. There is an insignificant design-reality gap for the system with none being a possible cause of failure. 6.0 Conclusion Grameenphone Ltd. implemented Intec Interconnect Billing System (IIBS) for about 4 years (since August, 2008 to till now). The major objectives of the system were to ensure accurate and quicker settlement for interconnection traffic with interconnected operators in a complicated network architecture and resolution of related disputes in timely fashion. It also aimed to generate required customized reports for users from different business functions of the organization and for managers of different organisational levels. In consideration of stakeholder views towards IIBS and its analyses through various theoretical models, the system is an example of successful information systems. The major contributing factors behind the success are insignificant gap between design and reality. And creation of this favourable scenario is attributed to good practices of information system implementation e.g. empowered involvement of users, management commitment, and availability of key resources, etc. 7.0 References 4GBILLING INC., Interconnect Billing – Overview [Online]. Available: http://4gbilling.com/interconnect.html [Accessed 21 April, 2012] Bocij, Paul, Andrew Greasley and Simon Hickie (2008) Business Information Systems: Technology, Development and Management, 4th edn, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River Boddy, D., Boonstra, A. Kennedy, G. (2005) Managing Information Systems: An Organisational Perspective, 2nd edn, Pearson Education Limited, London BTRC, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (2008) ILDTS Policy-2007 [Online].Available:http://www.btrc.gov.bd/index.php?option=com_contentview=articleid=153Itemid=259 [Accessed 10 April, 2012] BTRC, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (2008) Mobile Phone Subscribers in Bangladesh [Online]. Available:

Fitzgeralds Use of Language in The Great Gatsby Essays -- essays rese

In the novel The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald uses tone, diction, syntax and imagery to voice Nick's perception of the world around him. In this passage his use of language is used repetitively to convey Jordan Baker, Daisy and Tom Buchanan's lives. On the outside it may look like they all are living a perfect and ideal life, however Fitzgerald's illuminating use of language highlights how far from perfect their lives truly are. When he first walks in Nick judges Tom and Daisy's lives based on the appearance of the house, perfect and romanticized, yet he soon learns that this first impression is an overstatement. Nick's use of diction such as 'fragilely bound' (12) and 'French windows' (12) connote that their lives may look perfect on the outside but in reality they're brittle on the inside, since the words fragile and French suggest that their lives are breakable. His choice of diction also suggests an impersonal feel to the house, as if the people inside it are living a bland and dull life. As Nick walks farther in he compares the 'frosted wedding cake of the ceiling' to the 'wine- colored rug' implying both Purity and corruption. He views the cake-ceiling as pure since wedding cakes denote the meaning of innocence and purity but compares the innocence with wine which suggests corruption and impurity. Again, this comparison shows that Tom and Daisy's lives look pure as cake, however in reality their life i s as corrupted as wine. Upon meeting Daisy and Jordan, Nick perceives them as if they are ?buoyed up as though upon an anchored balloon.? (12) Suggesting that something is weighing them both down but they both want to be free from their oppressions of their societies-they want to be carefree. Nick?s choice of diction like ?boom,... ...h he goes from idealism to reality. By the end of the evening Nick discovers the true personalities of the characters. This paragraph shows a whole new meaning of the color white, in this passage white implies impurity and ?absence of all desire.? (17) Before, however, it implied elegance, innocence and joy. Nick senses that to the Buchanan?s the evening had no great importance, he believes that it would be ?casually put away? (17) and be forgotten. Nick also perceives the woman to be tools of entertainment for the men. In conclusion, Fitzgerald?s use of language connotes the reality of Jordan Baker, Daisy and Tom Buchanan? lives. His use of diction, imagery and syntax suggests how their lives have no excitement and desire. Nick views them as white- dull and bland. Therefore, by using diction, imagery and syntax, Nick shows how imperfect their lives truly are.

The Concept Of Teaching Practicum Education Essay

Teaching practicum concerns readying of instructors and its usage has embraced all the learning experiences of pupil instructors in schools. The intent of reexamining related literature is to research thoughts of learning practicum. This reappraisal will discourse three chief thoughts, viz. , overview of the construct of beliefs and learning practicum, theoretical model and related research surveies.2.1 The construct of learning practicumTeaching practicum is about universally recognized today as the flood tide of a instructor ‘s professional readying in pre-service instructor instruction plans. Harmonizing to the surveies of Gower & A ; Walters ( 1983 ) , the instruction pattern programme is the major indispensable constituent in professional instruction. Teaching practicum is defined as those periods of uninterrupted pattern 12 hebdomads ( depends on the peculiar instructor preparation college or university ) in school constitute an obligatory portion of the class in colleges or universities of instruction. This period of practical experience is besides called by assorted term, clinical experience, pupil instruction, learning pattern every bit good as practicum. During the instruction practicum, pupil instructor conducts schoolroom lessons and performs the responsibilities of a instructor in school. Harmonizing to the Teacher Training Division Guidelines on practicum for pre-service instructor preparation ( 2005 ) , learning practicum provide chances for pupil instructor to pattern theories in instruction and acquisition patterns and to develop single instruction and learning theories. The chief purpose of learning practicum is to bring forth effectual school instructors and non simply schoolroom instructor. Student instructors are besides provided with chances for a assortment of brushs with kids in schools. This means that pupil instructors are non merely cognize how to learn efficaciously in category but are besides able to manage co-curricular activities as good. In short, learning practicum programme is to fit future instructors with the indispensable experiences which can take to the development of their professional competences. Teaching practicum purposes for pupil instructors to maestro and pattern all the constructs, rules, accomplishments and values in order to go a p rofessional instructor.2.2 What is belief?Harmonizing to Michaela Borg ( 2001 ) , belief is a proposition which may consciously or unconsciously held, is appraising in that it is accepted as true by the person, and at that place imbued with affectional committedness ; farther, it serves as usher to thought and bahaviour. On the other manus, Fishbein and Ajzen ( 1975 ) define belief as information, factual, and nonfactual knowledges. Cognition is described as â€Å" what person knows or assumes to be true † ( Berkowitz, 1980, p. 275 ) . No affair what is one ‘s belief, the beliefs still play an of import function in many facets of instruction, every bit good as in life. It is because these beliefs help persons make sense of the universe, act uponing how new information in perceived, and whether it is accepted or rejected. Nevertheless, beliefs differ from cognition, although they are related to each other, in that beliefs do non ever represent the truth. Beliefs are non merely considered as discipline-dependent ( Tsai, 2002 ) , but beliefs besides include apprehensions, premises, images or propositions that are felt to be true ( Kagan, 1992 Richardson, 1996 ) .2.3 Theoretical model2.3.1 Teachers ‘ BeliefsShulman ( 1986 ) claimed that a instructor needs to cognize about the capable affair, to cognize a assortment of general instructional schemes, and to cognize about the specific schemes necessary for learning peculiar capable affair. Most of us would besides hold that the good instructor transforms curri culum ends and guidelines in such a manner that a peculiar pupil is able to get the hang and understand the related content. Dan Lortie states that one ‘s personal sensitivities are non merely relevant but, in fact, stand at the nucleus of going a instructor. Teachers ‘ belief is a term normally used to mention to teacher ‘s pedagogic beliefs, or those beliefs of relevancy to an single instruction. The countries most normally explored are instructors ‘ beliefs about instruction, acquisition, and scholars ; capable affair ; self as a instructor, or the function of a instructor ( Calderhead, 1995 ) . Besides that, instructors ‘ beliefs do play a cardinal function in the procedure of instructor development. Those beliefs form portion of the procedure of understanding how instructors ‘ conceptualize their work as a instructor. Tatto ‘s ( 1996, p. 155 ) of import work on beliefs concluded â€Å" laic cultural norms among enrollees are strongly ingrained and that most teacher instruction, as it is presently structured, is a weak intercession to change peculiar positions sing the instruction and direction of diverse scholars † . Another survey shows that â€Å" a individual ‘s belief system has permeant effects in different domains of activity- ideological, conceptual, perceptual, and esthetic † ( Rokeach, 1960, p. 288 ) . In add-on, Brown found that certain philosophical beliefs and educational beliefs were effectual in foretelling agreement-disagreement with experimentalism of schoolroom pattern. â€Å" Indications were that professed educational beliefs had a generalised consequence on learning behaviour ; specific cardinal beliefs were most powerful in act uponing specific schoolroom behaviours † ( Brown & A ; Webb, 1968, p. 215 ) . To back up those beliefs, Clark and Peterson ( 1986 ) proposed that: The most resilient or ‘core ‘ instructors ‘ beliefs are formed on the footing of instructors ‘ ain schooling as immature pupils while detecting instructors who taught them. Subsequent instructor instruction appears non to upset these early beliefs, non least, possibly, because it seldom addresses them. If instructors really seek out a peculiar invention which does non ab initio conform to their anterior beliefs or rules and the invention proves helpful or successful, so adjustment of an alternate belief or rule is more possible than in any other circumstance. For the notice instructor, schoolroom experience and twenty-four hours to twenty-four hours interaction with co-workers has the possible to act upon peculiar relationships among beliefs and rules, and, over clip, consolidate the person ‘s substitution of them. However, it seems that greater experience does non take to greater adaptability in our beliefs and, thereby, the forsaking of strongly held pedagogic rules. Quite the contrary in fact. The more experience we have, the more reliant on our ‘core ‘ rules we have become and the less witting we are making so. Professional development which engages instructors in a direct geographic expedition if their beliefs and rules may supply the chance for greater self-awareness through contemplation and critical inquiring as get downing points for ulterior version. The instructors ‘ conceptualisations of, for illustration, linguistic communication, acquisition, and learning are situated within that individual ‘s wider belief system refering such issues as human nature, civilization, society, instruction and so on. Consequently, instructors ‘ belief about the importance of learning have a great impact on their instruction patterns ( Salmon, 1988 ) . The following subdivision will look at instructors ‘ belief about learning practicum.2.3.2 Teachers ‘ belief about learning practicumThe term ‘practicum ‘ is used generically to mention to the different types of school fond regard ; viz. , school experience, learning assistantship, learning pattern and so forth that pre-service pupils will be undergoing as portion their initial instructor readying programme. The school-based practicum is designed to enable pupil instructors to detect a instructor ‘s existent work of work, and to use and polish the cognition and accomplishments acquired through course-work in schoolroom instruction. Student instructors are to utilize the chances during the practicum to incorporate instruction theory and pattern and to widen their practical experiences. In the context of learning practicum, a pupil instructor is expected to use what they have learned theoretically. To maximise the public-service corporation of practicum, it is of import that instructor trainers actively promote the effectual acquisition during the practicum period. Effective acquisition should be concerned with the acquisition of organized wholes of cognition. It is a procedure that involves developing the ability to place the aims one is seeking and, within a flexible model, optimising a programme to run into these aims, in line with single acquisition properties. Effective acquisition besides needs to accomplish transference of cognition from the artificiality of a preparation class, to practical application where the trainees adapts acquired cognition to the sensed demands of a peculiar job or state of affairs ( Robotham, 2003 ) . Many researches claim that learning practicum is a cardinal component in most pre-service instructor instruction programmes. Many besides debates about the appraisal of the pattern of pupil instructors frequently reflect ongoing philosophical arguments about the nature of instructor instruction ( Brown, 1996 ) and traditional barriers between instructors and faculty members ( Groundwater-Smith, 1997 ) . A set of written standards used to measure the competency of pre-service secondary instructor instruction pupils during practicum. The dimensions of the appraisal protocol did non look to be based on any articulated theory of good instruction pattern, and there were important uncertainties about the extent to which the assorted groups of stakeholders had a shared apprehension of the criterions implied in the standards. In instruction what we label as criterions are socially constructed and often fuzzed ( Sadler, 1987 ) and require the shared apprehension of a concept in a community of pattern ( Wiliam, 1996 ) .2.4 Related Research Studies2.4.1 Pre-service instructors ‘ beliefs about learning practicumPrior to existent instruction experiences, pre-service instructors derive their initial positions on learning from at least two beginnings. First, it comes from their personal experiences as pupils, dwelling of their interactions with and exposures to assorted instructors throughout their school life, with such factors holding a inclination to act upon their grounds for calling pick, every bit good as beliefs and patterns on their professional lives ( Ben-Petetz, 2003 ; Bramald, Hardman, & A ; Leat, 1995 ; Saban, 2003 ) . Second, it consequences from pre-service instructors organizing their conceptual repertories as they undergo the formal preparation provided by teacher educational plans ( Bermald, 1995 ; Dunkin, Precian, & A ; Nettle, 1994 ; Nettle, 1998 ) , ab initio dwelling of theoretical cognition through foundation and methods classs, and finally come o ning or climaxing into the application of such theories via the alleged pattern instruction. Few surveies have been done in pre-service instructors. The undermentioned premises are cardinal to a justification of pattern as a portion of the preparation of instructors: Teaching is behavior, and as behaviour is capable to analysis, alteration, and betterment. Much of the accustomed behaviour which persons have developed in other contexts is inappropriate for the instruction state of affairs. Under present conditions, much instruction is conducted under conditions of emphasis. Teaching is an highly complex sort of behaviour, affecting the full scope of idea procedures, communicating and physical action. Teachers, through pattern can larn to analyse, knock and command their ain instruction behaviour. Practice has the double intent of preparation and the riddance of the unfit. Practice provides the experience which gives intending to many other facets of direction in instruction ( learning ) . The beliefs of pre-service TESL instructors have may deserve their ain geographic expedition. These beliefs may act upon pupils in acquisition of cognition, choice and definition of specific learning undertakings, and reading of cognition, and reading of class content. Puchta ( 1999 ) asserts that ‘beliefs are steering rules of our pupils ‘ behaviour and strong perceptual filtersaˆÂ ¦ they act as if they were true ‘ . On the other manus, Dunkin ( 1994 ) claims that how student-teachers ‘ positions on instruction may be influenced by formal learning practicum programme. Kennedy ( 1996 ) hypothesizes that ‘real and effectual alteration in instructors ‘ patterns can merely happen through a alteration in their beliefsaˆÂ ¦ the manner instructors behave ‘ .

Introduction to the World of Retailing

Chapter 01 Introduction to the World of RetailingMultiple Choice Questions1. (p. 6) What is retailing? A. It is the merchandising component of the retail mix. B. It is the set of business activities that adds value to the products and services sold to consumers for their personal use. C. It is the strategy retailers and vendors use to get products into the stores. D. It is the process of offering products in smaller quantities for consumer consumption patterns. E. It is the ability to offer enough variety in a store to encourage one-stop shopping. Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition 2. (p. ) Which of the following businesses would be considered a retailer? A. a hot dog cart at the Highland Games B. Delta Airlines C. University bookstore D. Priceline. com E. all of the above Retailers are businesses that sell goods and/or services. Difficulty: Medium Type: Application 3. (p. 6) Why is it imperative that manufacturers like Apple Computer and Proctor and Gamble understand how retailers operate? A. Manufacturers will be able to sell directly on-line. B. Manufacturers will understand how to get their products on the shelves and sold to the customer. C. Manufacturers can better sell merchandise without retailers.D. Retailers can expect fewer buyouts to occur. E. Manufacturers can limit multi-channel integration Difficulty: Medium Type: Comprehension 4. (p. 6) A ______________ is a business that sells products and/or services to consumers for their personal or family use. A. manufacturer B. wholesaler C. retailer D. Distributor Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition 5. (p. 6) The decisions that retail manger make include: A. Selecting their target markets B. Selecting retail locations C. Negotiating with suppliers D. Training and motivating sales associates E. All of the above Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension6. (p. 7) A(n) ______________ is a set of firms that make and deliver a given set of goods and services to the ultimate consumer. A. supply chain B. buying network C. trade association D. integrated wholesale network Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition7. (p. 7) A retailer's role in a supply chain is to: A. act as the liaison between manufacturers and wholesalers B. buy merchandise exclusively from the manufacturers C. negotiate with manufacturers to eliminate a wholesaler D. satisfy the needs of the consumers E. sell to wholesalers Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition8. (p. ) ______________ is when a firm performs more than one set of activities in a channel. A. Channel diversification B. Horizontal development C. Horizontal integration D. Ve rtical development E. Vertical integration Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition9. (p. 7) If a chain of florist shops opened a plant nursery to provide gift plants and cut flowers to all of its outlets within a 300-mile radius, the chain would be practicing A. vertical integration. B. channel expansion. C. horizontal expansion. D. opportunity incrementing. E. service marketing. The florist is performing more than one channel function. Difficulty: Medium Type: Application10. (p. 7) Victoria's Secret, a popular retail chain in women's lingerie and perfume, design the merchandise they sell, and then contract with manufacturers to produce it exclusively for them. Victoria's Secret is practicing: A. globalization B. product-related marketing C. vertical integration D. horizontal integration E. product diversification Because the retail chain designs and contracts its manufacturing firm, it is an example of vertical integration. Difficulty: Medium Type: Application11. (p. 7) Why is it advanta geous for retailers to be vertically integrated? A.It is advantageous because retailers can develop unique merchandise sold only in their stores. B. Retailers can expand their services easily to the Internet because they can direct orders to the manufacturer C. Retailers have realized that to stay competitive, they must become vertically integrated D. Customers prefer retailers who are vertically integrated. E. There is no advantage to being vertically integrated. Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension12. (p. 7) A retailer that is vertically integrated: A. concentrates on selling to businesses only B. does not have frequent communication between buyers and managers C. as an excellent vertical relationship between corporate and stores D. performs more than one function in the chain from manufacturing to sales to end user E. performs only one function to end user Difficulty: Medium Type: Definition13. (p. 7) __________________ arises when a retailer performs some distribution and manufa cturing activities, such as operating warehouses or designing private-label merchandise. A. Globalization B. Product-related marketing C. Backward integration D. Horizontal integration E. Forward integration Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition14. (p. ) _______________ occurs when a manufacturer undertakes retailing activities. A. Private label business B. Product-related marketing C. Backward integration D. Horizontal integration E. Forward integration Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition15. (p. 7) Retailers provide important functions that increase the value of the products and services they sell to consumers. Which of the following does not include value function created by a retailer? A. Providing an assortment of products and services B. Reducing production costs with innovative design C. Breaking bulk D. Holding inventory E. Providing services Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition16. (p. 8) Which of the following statements about retailers holding inventory is FALSE? A. By having invent ory held in the store, consumers can hold less merchandise at home. B. By holding inventory, retailers can decrease the visual merchandising expenditure. C. Holding inventory in a store helps serve the customer's needs. D. Retailers keep inventory so products are available when consumers want them. E. Holding inventory reduces consumer's cost of storing products. Difficulty: Medium Type: Comprehension17. (p. 8) Grocers purchase pineapples from several different tropical countries.When pineapples arrive in the distribution centers across the United States, containers are reduced to amounts that are appropriate for store delivery. Once delivered to the stores, associates open the cartons and arrange the pineapples for the consumer to select. Grocers are performing what function? A. adaptive selling B. breaking bulk C. acclimating D. distribution E. transferring Difficulty: Medium Type: Comprehension18. (p. 8) Providing assortments is an advantageous business activity because: A. it en ables the company to create a more informational and entertaining environment that would promote more sales B. t enables the company to reinvest for the future of the business. C. it enables the customer to choose from a wide selection of brands, designs, sizes and prices all in one store D. it enables the customer to try more products E. It enables the customer to stock up on the assortments because of bulk availability. Difficulty: Medium Type: Application19. (p. 8) One of the functions retailers undertake to increase the customer's perception of value is providing services. Which of the following would be an example of that activity? A. clean restrooms B. displaying merchandise C. aving trained salespeople available to answer questions D. well-lit parking E. all of the above All of these functions are provided by the retailer to make it easier for a customer to buy and use products. Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension20. (p. 8) A credit union holds and maintains detailed records of the banking activities of its members. Each quarter, the credit union provides its members a printout of banking activities, information about low rate loans and pre-owned automobiles. By contacting its members on a regular basis, the credit union is engaging in the business function of: A. breaking bulk B. olding inventory C. providing assortments D. financing E. providing services Maintaining records and informing members are services. Difficulty: Easy Type: Application21. (p. 9) Retailing is one of the nation's largest industries in terms of: A. community involvement B. employment C. competition D. promotions E. variety Difficulty: Easy Type: Fact22. (p. 11) When considering the largest retailers worldwide, ___________ retailers continue to dominate among them. A. food B. apparel C. drug D. home-improvement E. Internet Difficulty: Medium Type: Comprehension23. (p. 11) Which of the following statements about the U.S. distribution system is true? A. Many people think the United States is understored. B. Many U. S. retailers are large enough to have their own warehouses and have eliminated their need for wholesalers. C. When compared to retail density in Europe, the United States is very low. D. The small specialty store is the fastest growing type of U. S. retailer. E. All of the above statements about the U. S. distribution system are false. The U. S. is probably overstored. The U. S. has the greatest retail density in the world. The large store with over 20,000 square feet is the fastest growing type of U. S. etailer. Difficulty: Medium Type: Fact24. (p. 11) The Chinese distribution system: A. has more people employed in distribution than the U. S. B. is characterized by small stores with a large wholesale industry C. is more efficient than the distribution system in the U. S. D. is more similar to U. S. distribution systems than Europe's systems E. none of the above Difficulty: Medium Type: Fact25. (p. 11) The fastest growing retailers in the United St ates sell through: A. kiosks in malls and department stores B. large stores with over 20,000 square feet C. outlet stores D. small specialty stores E. he Internet Difficulty: Medium Type: Fact26. (p. 12) What factors have created differences in the distribution systems in the major markets? A. geography B. market size C. the high population density in Europe, China, and India D. different social and political objectives E. all of the above Difficulty: Easy Type: Fact27. (p. 12) Which of the following is NOT TRUE when explaining what created differences within the distribution system of the major international markets? A. China and India have many large businesses to reduce unemployment. B. E. U. has many large retailers to achieve economy of scales. C. E. U. countries protect small retailers. D. China has many large retailers because it has an abundance of low-cost real estate available for building large stores. Difficulty: Hard Type: Fact28. (p. 12) Which of the following is NOT T RUE in describing distribution systems within major international markets? A. The U. S. distribution system has the greatest retail density and the greatest concentration of large retail firms. B. The Indian distribution systems are characterized by small stores operated by small firms and a large independent wholesale industry. C. In the Chinese distribution system, the merchandise often passes through several levels of distribution to make the daily deliveries to the small retailers efficient. D. Northern European retailing is similar to efficient distribution system in the U. S. E. Southern European retailing is fragmented across all sectors. F. All of the above is true. G. None of the above is true. Difficulty: Medium Type: Comprehension29. (p. 16) The competition between the same types of retailers is called: A. intertype competition B. indirect competition C. intratype competition D. scrambled merchandising E. vertical integration Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition30. (p. 16) C VS, Walgreens and Rite Aid are _________ competitors. A. indirect B. intratype C. intertype D. vertical E. horizontal All three category killers utilize the same format Difficulty: Medium Type: Application31. (p. 16) Macy's, Belk, JCPenney and Nordstrom are ___________ competitors. A. channel B. vertical C. intertype D. intratype E. none of the above All three department stores use the same format Difficulty: Medium Type: Application32. (p. 16) Which of the following would be an intratype competitor for a Home Depot supermarket? A. Target B. Lowe's C. Kroger D. Macy's E. All of the above Lowes is a home-improvement center Difficulty: Easy Type: Application33. (p. 16) What is variety? A. Variety is the number of different items in a category. B. Variety is the number of different SKU's within a merchandise category. C. Variety is the number of different merchandise categories within a store. D. Variety is another term for scrambled merchandising. E. Variety is the number of different facets of the business plan. Difficulty: Medium Type: Definition34. (p. 16) When Taco Bell opened its first restaurant, a hungry patron could order a taco, a burrito and a Coke. In those early years, Taco Bell did not offer much: A. assortment B. product depth C. quantity D. value E. variety Difficulty: Medium Type: Application35. (p. 16) Dillards sells Godiva chocolates and coffees in their stores. By selling such products, Dillards is: A. offering a good merchandise mix B. offering what the market demands C. offering deep product assortments D. practicing scrambled merchandising E. practicing intratype competition Difficulty: Medium Type: Application36. (p. 16) The offering of merchandise not typically associated with the store type is called: A. scrambled merchandising B. ntratype competition C. product diversification D. channel conflict E. vertical differentiation Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition37. (p. 16) While vacationing at the beach, Delia was delighted to see that the l ocal Walgreens carried milk, bread, apples and bananas. Her delight indicates she has never seen: A. a deep product assortment B. an acceptable merchandising mix C. a retail mix D. scrambled merchandising E. this type of intratype competition Difficulty: Medium Type: Application38. (p. 16) Scrambled merchandising increases: A. vertical integration B. intertype competition C. concentric diversification D. orizontal integration E. intratype competition Difficulty: Medium Type: Comprehension39. (p. 16) Which of the following would be an example of intertype competition? A. a supermarket and a fresh flower stand B. a specialty store and a fast food restaurant C. a supercenter and a pharmacy D. a convenience store and a department store E. all of the above Difficulty: Easy Type: Application40. (p. 16) The Lands' End Web site, the JCPenney catalog, and the Sears area all in ____________ competition. A. channel B. horizontal C. indirect D. intertype E. intratype They all sell similar produ cts, but use different formats to do so. Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension41. (p. 16) Increasing intertype competition has made it harder for retailers to identify their: A. competition B. target market C. merchandise mix D. retail mix E. none of the above Difficulty: Medium Type: Comprehension42. (p. 16) The intensity of competition is greatest among retailers when: A. price dominates the retail mix B. they are located near each other and offer similar retail offerings C. they are located near each other and target the same customer D. they are located far from each other and offer similar retail offerings E. hey are located far from each other and target the same customer Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension43. (p. 16) Since convenience of location is important in store choice, a store's proximity to competitors is a critical factor in identifying: A. competition B. ethical standards C. real estate negotiations D. the target market E. which merchandise to scramble Difficulty: M edium Type: Comprehension44. (p. 18) Once a retailer understands its environment, it needs to develop and implement a: A. viable customer base B. advertising plan C. retail strategy D. competitive strategy E. functional strategy The retail strategy is developed after information is gathered in a situation analysis. Although similar in theory to a business plan, it is specific to the retailing industry. Difficulty: Easy Type: Application45. (p. 18) The retail strategy helps a retailer to identify the following EXCEPT: A. The target market toward which the retailer will direct its efforts. B. The nature of the merchandise and services the retailer will offer to satisfy the needs of the target market. C. How the retailer will build a long-term advantage over its competitors. D. Break-even point for making profits E. All of the above Difficulty: Easy Type: Application46. (p. 18) When developing the _________________ for his new barber shop, Theo decided to obtain a long-term competitive advantage over other salons by offering longer hours, better prices, a well trained staff and half-price perm day every Wednesday to attract customers. A. selling concept B. business cycle C. retail strategy D. focal point orientation E. marketing concept A retail strategy statement identifies the target market, the merchandise and services, and how the retailer will build a long-term advantage over its competitors. All three of these elements are present in the question. Difficulty: Medium Type: Application47. (p. 18) As the owner of a store specializing in men's suits, Isabella can use a retail strategy statement to identify all of the following EXCEPT: A. the advertising campaign developed to sell last season's merchandise B. the shop's target market C. how the store will build a competitive advantage over Men's Warehouse D. what services the shop will offer its customers E. what types of suits the store will stock A retail strategy has to do with planning for the future and not focusing on a short-term problem. Difficulty: Hard Type: Application48. (p. 0) Which of the following strategies has JCPenney changed to compete effectively with the competition in the past? A. JCPenney centralized merchandise management. B. JCPenney is building new stores off the mall. C. JCPenney is designing stores with centralized checkout. D. JCPenney now ships merchandise through distribution centers. E. JCPenney is upgrading its merchandise offering by adding France's cosmetics Sephora. F. All of the above Difficulty: Medium Type: Comprehension49. (p. 21) To implement a retail strategy, a retailer must develop a _____ that satisfies the needs of its target market better than its competitors. A. production orientation B. horizontal integration C. sales orientation. D. retail mix. E. situation analysis The retail mix is the combination of factors that satisfies customers' needs. The others are not used for this purpose. Difficulty: Easy Type: Comprehension50. (p. 21) Once a we ll-articulated retail strategy has been developed, the next step is to: A. override the control mechanism B. evaluate the results of the strategy C. forecast future environmental trends D. confirm that environmental conditions have not changed E. implement the strategy Once the strategy is developed, the next logical step is implementation.Nothing would get accomplished if a retailer repeatedly went back to step 1 as in Alternatives C and D. The final stage in the process is the evaluation of the strategy. Overriding the control mechanism would not be a good idea in any case. Difficulty: Hard Type: Comprehension51. (p. 21) The combination of factors retailers use to satisfy customer needs and influence their purchase decisions is called the firm's: A. retailing conglomerate B. retail mix C. marketing strategy D. target group E. none of the above Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition52. (p. 21) Which of the following is part of a retailer's retail mix? A. advertising B. displays C. train ed salespeople D. services offered E. all of the above All of the choices are elements within the retail mix. Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition53. (p. 21) Which of the following is NOT an element in the retail mix? A. competitive response B. merchandise assortments C. location D. customer service E. advertising and promotion The elements of the retail mix include customer service, store design and display, advertising and promotion, location, assortments and pricing. Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition54. (p. 21) Which of the following parts of the retail mix can be utilized by a small hardware store? A. bright lighting in the store, which makes it easier to read the messages B. a new ad campaign that uses both radio and newspaper media C. store location next door to a hospital D. attractive point-of-purchase displays at the ends of the store's aisles E. all of the above Store design, location, and advertising programs are all part of the retail mix. Difficulty: Medium Type: Applicati on55. (p. 23) What are the principles governing the behavior of the individual and the company? A. ethics B. retail strategy C. training guidelines D. company culture E. Civil Rights Act of 1964 Difficulty: Easy Type: Definition56. (p. 23) Belinda is a swimwear buyer for a major department store. She will allow vendors to purchase her lunch at the local coffee shop when they visit. One October, she dined with a new vendor to discuss a progressive line of men's swimwear that is popular in resorts throughout the Caribbean. Belinda's goal was to assess the assortments for her company in order to see if the product was a good fit for the company brand. During lunch, the vendor invited Belinda for an all-expense paid weekend trip to Jamaica to see the popularity of the merchandise. His goal was to enable her to make a more educated decision when buying. Belinda hesitated to accept because of: A. personal and professional ethics B. the scheduling of the buy for the spring season C. the pr ice of the exclusive merchandise would not match the income level of her target market D. the manufacturer would be unable to develop the line in time for spring E. her inability as a buyer to alter the visual merchandising for the store Difficulty: Medium Type: Application Essay Questions57. (p. 7) What is the retailer's role in a supply chain? The retailer's role in the distribution channel is to link manufacturers with onsumers by directing their efforts to satisfying the needs of the ultimate consumers. Difficulty: Medium58. (p. 8) List the four functions performed by retailers. The four functions performed by retailers are (1) providing an assortment of products and services, (2) breaking bulk, (3) holding inventory, and (4) providing services. Difficulty: Easy59. (p. 8) With manufacturers legally able to sell direct from the factories, why should retailers exist? In the retailing distribution channel, there are occasions when manufacturers sell directly to the ultimate consume r. While occasionally doing so, manufacturers mainly exist to manufacture products to satisfy the needs of a wholesaler or retailer. Retailers exist because they direct their efforts and specialize in satisfying only the customer's needs. Retailers exist because they increase the value consumers receive. Difficulty: Medium60. (p. 16) Distinguish between intratype competition and intertype competition. Give an example of each. Intratype competition refers to the competition between retailers with the same format. An example would be the competition between Publix and BiLo for sale of fresh salmon. Intertype competition refers to retailers that sell similar merchandise using different formats. An example would be the sale of Revlon Color-Stay Lipstick between CVS and Target. Difficulty: Easy61. (p. 16) Why would a Walgreens add novelty gifts, fresh bread, pre-wrapped sandwiches and milk to its product mix? Walgreens is engaging in scrambled merchandising. They have added these product s; and therefore, appeal more to a broader group of customers, while providing one-stop shopping for our time-starved society. Difficulty: Medium62. (p. 16) A chef wants to open an Italian restaurant in the suburbs of a large city. How should she identify the competition? This question can have a variety of responses, but she could first look at the obvious and identify other Italian restaurants near her location. Is her location the best? She should consider frozen Italian entrees at nearby grocery stores. She should also consider the prices of the entrees she offers and compare them to the prices of other types of restaurants. Difficulty: Medium63. (p. 17) Why do retailers consider customers important when developing a retail strategy? Retailers need to understand customers and how they are changing so that they can better satisfy their needs. Retailers need to know and understand why customers shop, how they select stores and how they select from that store's merchandise. Difficu lty: Medium64. (p. 18) What are the three things identified by a retail strategy statement? (1) The target market toward which the retailer will direct its efforts, (2) the nature of the merchandise and services the retailer will offer to satisfy the needs of the target market, and (3) how the retailer will build a long-term advantage over its competitors. Difficulty: Medium65. (p. 18) Why is location strategy important for both consumers and for competitive reasons? 1) Location is typically the most important characteristic consumers consider when selecting a store. (2) A good location creates a long-term advantage over the competition. Difficulty: Medium66. (p. 19) The success of discount stores poses a growing threat for JCPenney. To compete effectively with these retailers, the company instituted some radical changes. Discuss four changes the company made and how JCPenney expects the changes to better satisfy its target market. (1) JCPenney is reducing its distribution costs by shipping merchandise through its distribution centers rather than using direct delivery from vendors to stores. 2) JCPenney centralized merchandise management. Rather than having sore managers make merchandise decisions, merchandise decisions are made by JCPenney buyers in the corporate headquarters to save costs and respond quicker. (3) To increase customer convenience, JCPenney is building new stores off the mall. (4) To increase convenience, the company is also installing centralized checkout counters in each area of the store. Difficulty: Medium Fill in the Blank Questions67. (p. 7) Renting a tuxedo, the purchase of a DVD on Amazon. om, buying a Ronco Veg-O-Matic after watching an infomercial, and getting a facial are all examples of ________ activities–the sale of goods and services to the ultimate consumer. retailing Difficulty: Easy68. (p. 7) A _____ is a business that sells products and services to ultimate consumers. retailer Difficulty: Easy69. (p. 7) Retailers are the final business in a distribution channel that link __________ to consumers. manufacturers Difficulty: Easy70. (p. 7) A _____________ is a set of businesses that move products from the point of production to the point of sale to the ultimate consumer. distribution channel Difficulty: Easy71. (p. 7) When a retailer like L. L. Bean designs merchandise as well as sells the merchandise, _________ is occurring. vertical integration Difficulty: Medium72. (p. 8) By providing assortments, breaking bulk, holding inventory, and providing services, retailers increase the ___________ consumers receive from their products and services. value Difficulty: Medium73. (p. 9) _______________ describes the voluntary actions taken by a company to address the ethical, social, and environmental impacts of its business operations and the concerns of its stakeholders. Corporate social responsibility Difficulty: Easy74. (p. 6) When Austin saw pastries and coffee at his local bookstore, he knew it was an e xample of __________, which is the juxtaposition of unrelated merchandise in the store. scrambled merchandise Difficulty: Medium75. (p. 16) Scrambled merchandising increases _______, which occurs between retailers that sell similar merchandise using different formats, such as specialty and discount stores. intertype competition Difficulty: Medium76. (p. 19) The philosophy, strategies, programs and systems that focus on identifying and building loyalty with a retailer's most valued customers are called _______________. customer relationship management Difficulty: Medium77. (p. 23) _________ are the principles governing the behavior of individuals and companies. Ethics Difficulty: Easy Short Answer Questions78. (p. 8) Best Buy purchases many of the CD's, Playstation 2 games, DVD's and DVD players by the truckload then sells them in smaller quantities to its stores where consumers are allowed to buy them one at a time. What business function is Best Buy performing? breaking bulk Diffic ulty: Medium79. (p. 8) Costco buys directly from manufacturers. They have merchandise shipped to their warehouses for storage, and then distribute the merchandise to their stores. What term is used to describe this type of activity? vertical integration Difficulty: Medium80. (p. 14) Which retailer had its humble beginnings in rural Arkansas and now is the largest retailer in the world? Wal-Mart Difficulty: Easy81. (p. 15) What is the first step in the retail management decision process? getting an understanding of the world of retailing Difficulty: Medium82. (p. 16) When is the intensity of competition between retail stores the greatest? when they are involved in intratype competition Difficulty: Medium83. (p. 16) What type of merchandising increases intertype competition? crambled merchandising Difficulty: Medium84. (p. 18) The Aviary is a pet shop that focuses on birds and their accoutrements for bird lovers. The shop carries cages, perches, toys and even gourmet seed and dried fr uits. It sponsors a bird club where members can bring their pets to share with other bird lovers. The store provides an inexpensive veterinary service. It even has a 3-month guarantee when you purchase a bird. The Aviary has created loyalty from its customers and continuously attracts new ones because of the services offered. What does this describe? It describes the store's retailing strategy. The paragraph describes the target market, the merchandise and services and how it maintains a strategic advantage over competitors. Difficulty: Hard85. (p. 19) Why do retailers use point of sale (POS) terminals to read Universal Product Codes (UPC) and electronic data interchange (EDI) to send sales and inventory information from computer to computer? These technologies allow retailers to have a better idea of what is selling and a way to quickly communicate that information to vendors so that replenishment can quickly occur. Additionally it gives the retailer a competitive advantage over re tailers that do not work with current supply chain management systems. Difficulty: Hard86. (p. 23) When making the strategic and tactical decisions managers need to consider the effects of their decisions on the profitability of their firms and the satisfaction of their customers. What other implications must managers consider as a result of their decisions? ethical and legal implications Difficulty: Hard