Understanding the Benefits of Information and Communication Technology to Private Businesses in Jamaica Essay Example

Understanding the Benefits of Information and Communication Technology to Private Businesses in Jamaica Essay Example Understanding the Benefits of Information and Communication Technology to Private Businesses in Jamaica Essay Understanding the Benefits of Information and Communication Technology to Private Businesses in Jamaica Essay Understanding the benefits of Information and Communication Technology to Private Businesses in Jamaica Shavonae Johnson ID# 0900724 Stephen Clarke 0901750 University of Technology, Jamaica Research Methodology, Semester 2 Mr. F. Vassel March 11, 2013 Rationale This study was conceptualized for the reason that there is a need for private businesses to incorporate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) within their organizations. In this Information age, investment in ICT is critical to business survival, economic and social development.As such, the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, is encouraging members of the private sector to partner with the Government for the construction of office space, in the ICT sector. ICT is one area of the sector plans that form the basis for Vision 2030 Jamaica. The plan outlines strategic frame-works and action plans. One strategy speaks to encouraging public and private sector partnerships to establish I nternet connectivity and access.Such a strategy would be carried out by promoting the formation of cybercentres by private entities to facilitate business growth, job distribution and creation across the country (Task Force, 2009). The Jamaican Government is actively seeking opportunities for private partnership to develop additional ICT space to meet growing demand. â€Å"With the current expansion rate and projected growth of the ICT sector, it is expected that 5,000 jobs will be created over the next three years† (S. F. Abrahams, 2012). Problem StatementInformation and Communication Technology is a fast growing sector around the world today and many opportunities are out there for private business owners to take advantage of. However, there is a great need for private businesses to incorporate ICT within their organizations. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the benefits that Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have on private businesses in Jama ica and how it will aid in the development of these organizations. Research Questions/ Sub-topics 1. The development of ICT in Jamaica. . What level of knowledge do private businesses have about Information and Communication Technology (ICT)? 3. To what extent will private businesses benefit from incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their organizations? 4. What are the opportunities for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to facilitate the private businesses’ contribution to the country’s development? 5. What are some of the challenges that private businesses may face with regards to Information and Communication Technology? SignificanceThe significance of this study is to find out ways in which private business owners in Jamaica may use ICT to aid in the maintenance, growth and development of their companies. The main beneficiaries from this research are private businesses that incorporate or will incorporate Information and Commu nication Technology, as well as those that know nothing about ICT. With the inclusion of technology to these businesses, they will thrive and owners will be pleased. Key Definitions * Information and Communication Technology the study or business of developing and using technology to process information and aid communications. Webopedia, 2013) * Private Business a company owned either by non-governmental organizations or by a relatively small number of shareholders or company members. (Wikipedia, 2013) * Vision 2030 Jamaica a 21-year plan based on a vision to make ‘Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families, and do business. (Construction Task Force, 2009) * Cybercentre a place that offers computer and internet services to people, companies, and organizations. (Cambridge Dictionaries Online, 2013) Literature Review IntroductionInformation and Communication Technology (ICT) is widely acknowledged as an important resource for socio? economic advancement in bot h developed and developing countries. This is doubly so against the backdrop of the global economy which is driven by the â€Å"information age†. Private businesses in Jamaica, however, face enormous challenges in its ability to utilize these resources for its growth and development agenda. Limitations range from infrastructural constraints to an individual’s ability to convert access to ICT into tangible benefits in light of other environmental constraints.In this context, shared use models of access such as telecenters, libraries and internet cafes, are important means of making ICTs available. Not only do they bring the technology closer (physically and financially) to people who would otherwise have no access, but they may also provide additional value in the teaching and learning environments they foster. Objectives of the Review In view of the topic about Understanding the benefits of Information and Communication Technology to Private Businesses in Jamaica we se t out to review and analyze what is known about this.The review focused on the following issues: 1. The development of ICT in Jamaica. 2. What level of knowledge do private businesses have about Information and Communication Technology (ICT)? 3. To what extent will private businesses benefit from incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in their organizations? 4. What are the opportunities for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to facilitate the private businesses’ contribution to the country’s development? 5. What are some of the challenges that private businesses may face with regards to Information and Communication Technology?The Review Process This review is the result of a targeted search for literature on ICT and the impact of it on private business and the development in Jamaica, which returned a number of resources. From these, we selected and reviewed a few articles and reports focusing on private business access to ICT via dif ferent mediums. The Development of ICT in Jamaica According to the online article â€Å"The State of ICT in Jamaica: Readiness versus Competitiveness† written by Evan Duggan, Jamaica has responded to the challenge of reducing the digital divide.The Government Of Jamaica, in its 2009 Information And Communications Technology Policy, stated that Technology (ICTs) have over the past two decades paved the way for economic and social development across the world. According to a 2005 Report on Survey by Jamaica Computer Society Education Foundation (JCSEF) titled â€Å"Training Needs Assessment of Jamaica’s Information and Communications Technology Sector† background data from secondary sources suggest that ICT developments in Jamaica are far advanced and well supported by Government policies and provisions.The Jamaican ICT Sector has been growing in terms of technological awareness and resources. According to Evan Duggan, as it relates to Software and Information Sys tems Development, there is much more room for improvement. Benefits of incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to private businesses? Ritchie and Brindley (2005) define Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as the array of primarily digital technologies designed to collect, organize, store, process and communicate information within and external to an organization, such as a private business.The incorporation of ICT is fundamental in the operation and development of any organization in today’s corporate world (Ashington, 2009; United Nation Conference On Trade And Development, 2011). In the opinion of Ashington’s (2009), his research suggested that the investment of ICTs’ had allowed organizations to reach new market, maximize employee’s engagement and productivity and improve levels of production. Similarly, UNCTAD held the view that ICT use could lower business costs, facilitate business registration and licensing, improve tax policies and administration, and facilitate trade.UNCTAD maintained that the process of registering an organization or obtaining a business license could be improved by the use of ICT, especially by enhancing access to the procedures through automation thus reducing the scope for corruption. UNCTAD’s research demonstrated that ICT supported reforms had contributed to private enterprises, particularly by speeding up the process of obtaining business licenses and permits via online use. In addition, UNCTAD’s research provided evidence that the automation of registration procedures, because of ICT, had led to an increase in the number of new firms in an economy.Secondly, the research by UNCTAD (2011) and the opinion of BELL (2007) had suggested that ICT helped reduce corruption by automating interactions between businesses and the government in order to limit the scope for human intervention and bribery, which resulted in lower business costs. Additionally, UNCTADâ₠¬â„¢s research suggested, â€Å"ICT had proved to contribute to reforms of tax policies and procedures through the introduction of electronic filing of returns, electronic payment of taxes, and the provision of taxpayer services via the Internet. Consequently, online filing of taxes had saved time for enterprises because of a reduction of forms and procedures. Finally, UNCTAD (2011) held the view the implementation of modern ICT solutions in private sector significantly improved the efficiency of many customs administrations (Trading). Such solutions, according to UNCTAD (2011), facilitated in the completion and processing of customs declarations electronically and other paperwork associated with importing and exporting.According to UNCTAD (2011), electronic customs declarations had proven to bring clearance times down and to reduce the time that goods had to stay at border crossings and in ports; most importantly, this leads to a reduction in costs to business. What are the opport unities for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to facilitate private businesses’ contribution to the country’s development? Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provides economic opportunities for all population and provides increased productivity. Asian Development Bank (2013) stated that Rapid advances in information and ommunication technology (ICT) have created tremendous opportunity for economic and social gains in the world’s poorest areas. Developing country is the term used to describe a nation with low levels of material well-being. These countries are usually said to be economically unstable due to undeveloped industrial bases, low Human Development Index (HDI), etc. HDI speaks to the levels of employment, education and life expectancy which are used to rank countries. The argument on whether ICT creates or destroys jobs is still a baffling conflict.However theory suggests that ICT can lead to innovation, which may result in outpu t growth and a concomitant growth in jobs. ICT’s innovations may create or change many existing jobs. By computerizing many aspects of private business’s ICT provides job such as: Engineering, Programming, System analysis and machine operators, etc. The development of any country is highly dependent on the quality of its education. According to Sylvester (cited from the World Bank Report 2005) one measure of national education attainment is the average number of years of schooling adults possess.This means that education transformation must make provision so that the average number of years of schooling for adults is extended. With the implementation of ICT and the creation of jobs in the private sector, more opportunity arises for adults to return to school and further their education. These also give young adults more options, opportunities and motivation for higher education. According to the World Bank report after secondary institution a high percentage of student s do not attend tertiary institution, some because of the lack of opportunity and other the lack of interest.Study has also shown that after tertiary education many students migrate overseas to find work. Jobs created through ICT can decrease the number of migrants. Ogunsola 2005 (cited from Faye 2000) mentioned that ICT’s are offering even less developed countries a window of opportunities to leapfrog the industrialization stage and transform their economies that can compete with the advanced economics on the global market. Embracing technological innovations is one of the most efficient ways to benefit from globalization.In today’s economic small and developing countries cannot afford to miss out on globalization. The introduction of private businesses can have a big impact on countries development. When these private businesses implement ICT it helps countries to be opened up to globalization and the benefits thereof. Citations Ashington, A. (2009). Accessible Infor mation and Communication Technologies. Retrieved from onevoiceict. org/sites/default/files/Accessible%20ICT%20%20Benefits%20to%20Business%20and%20Society. pdf Bell. (2007).The Benefits of ICT. Retrieved from bell. ca/web/enterprise/newsRoom/en/pdf/Benefits-of-ICT-White-PaperEN. pdf Modimogale, L. , amp; Kroeze, J. H. (2011). The Role of ICT within Small and Medium Enterprisesin Gauteng. Retrieved from ibimapublishing. com/journals/CIBIMA/2011/369288/369288. pdf Ritchie, B. and Brindley, C. (2005), ICT Adoption by SMEs: Implications for Relationships andManagement, New Technology, Work and Employment, 20(3), 205-217. United Nation Conference On Trade And Development. (2011).Information Economy Report2011: ICTs as an Enabler for Private Sector Development. Retreived fromhttp://unctad. org/en/PublicationsLibrary/ier2011_en. pdf JCSEF. 2005. Training Needs Assessment of Jamaica’s Information and Communications Technology Sector. Heart Trust/NTA. Retrieved March 6, 2013 from http: //lms. heartnta. org/DesktopModules/DocumentView. aspx? TabId=0amp;Alias=ppdd. lms. heart-ntaamp;Lang=en-USamp;ItemId=983amp;wversion=Staging Evan Duggan. 2008. The State of ICT in Jamaica: Readiness versus Competitiveness. E-Novation Jamaica.Retrieved March 6, 2013 from, http://enovationjamaica. pbworks. com/w/page/18449444/The%20State%20of%20ICT%20in%20Jamaica%3A%20Readiness%20vs%20Competitiveness Information and Telecommunications Department Office of the Prime Minister. 2009. Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy. Broadcasting Commission. Retrieved March 6, 2013 from, broadcastingcommission. org/uploads/publications/GOJ-ICT_Policy. pdf Author Unknown. 2013. ADB’s work to improve Access to Information and Communication Received March 4, 2013 from

Toxic Elements With No Nutritional Value

Toxic Elements With No Nutritional Value Have you ever wondered which elements are toxic? Everything is toxic if the dose is high enough, so Ive compiled a short list of elements that have no nutritional value, even in trace amounts. Some of these elements accumulate in the body, so there is no truly safe exposure limit for those elements (e.g., lead, mercury). Barium and aluminum are examples of elements which can be excreted, at least to a certain extent. Most of these elements are metals. The man-made elements are radioactive and toxic whether they are metals or not. AluminumAntimonyArsenic (metalloid)BariumBerylliumCadmiumHexavalent Chromium Cr6 (Cr3 is necessary in trace amounts for proper nutrition)LeadMercuryOsmiumThalliumVanadiumRadioactive MetalsPolonium (metalloid)ThoriumRadiumUraniumTransuranium elements (e.g., polonium, americium)Radioactive isotopes of metals that might not otherwise be highly toxic (e.g., cobalt-60, strontium-90) Surprises on the List One of the biggest surprises on the list is that aluminum serves no known biological function in humans. Aluminum is the third most abundant element in the Earths crust and the most abundant metal. Another surprise is that you cant use flavor to identify toxic elements. Some poisonous metals taste sweet. Classic examples include beryllium and lead. Lead acetate or sugar of lead was actually used as a sweetener until fairly recently.

Creative Accounting and Earnings Management Essay

Creative Accounting and Earnings Management - Essay Example According to the research findings it can therefore be said that financial statements are prepared by managers of a company or enterprise to represent the true and fair view of the affairs of the company. They are then used by the shareholders and other users of financial statements for the decision making process. It is a very critical part of financial accounting because it provides information for the users of financial statements to interpret and come to a conclusion about the performance of the company. Creative accounting practices are such malpractices in accounting which may be legal and in accordance with the existing accounting standards but may not be in line with the true spirits of the rules laid down under accounting standards. In other words, when financial statements are prepared by the relevant managers of a company that is inconsistent with the purpose or intention of the existing accounting standards, then it is said to be a practice of creative accounting. The man agers do so by taking advantage of the flexibilities available in the letter of the rules in accounting standards practices. Earnings management is a term which acts as a substitute for creative accounting. Trying to manipulate the earnings which are reported by the managers of a company, by taking help of some specific accounting process, is termed as earnings management. The company does so to influence its earnings in a short term horizon. Earnings management makes use of accrual accounting.... The accounting standards are revised often to help fill its loopholes. More and more regulatory measures are taken to keep a track on how the financial information is reported by the firms. These measures taken are proving quite effective in preventing current creative accounting practices, but the question is whether it will be able to stop these malpractices completely or not. It is indeed very difficult to put an end to creative accounting in future (Keupp, 2002, p.1). Key Elements of Creative Accounting It is not very easy to precisely define creative accounting. Still, three elements can be regarded as key elements of creative accounting. They are: a. Flexibility: Accounting is always associated with flexibilities present in it. While accounting, one can use their discretion to choose their own preferred way of recording sales or turnover of the company, the method of depreciation to be used by the company, the method of valuation of inventory, etc. This type of flexibility help s the managers of a company to represent the true and fair view of the company’s affairs and its earnings in the financial statements. However, in practice the case may be quite different. These flexibilities in the hands of managers can be used by them to present the company’s performance in a more favourable way than what it is in reality. These methods can be applied by staying within the regulatory framework. b. Account Management: Accounting policies can be utilized by the managers of a company to accomplish the objectives of the management of the company and may not fulfil the essential requirements of the users. It can thus be used as a tool that can be managed and not as a means to

Class Discussion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Class Discussion - Essay Example 1 The company should also assess what retailers prefer to shelf and if they think would be more successful. Accordingly in marketing the color and packaging of a food product needs to be as eye catching and possible. While launching a new television whether it took 2 years to build or 10 would be to market the product. The company should create awareness of the product, give knowledge and convince the people how good it is because if you have the best product in the world but the people don’t know about it, it’s bound to fail. The buyers also care about the price/value ratio of the product and if it’s out of the price range for the people they won’t buy it. So the prices should be as low as possible in the beginning to create a buzz and there needs to be investment in the form of marketing. The ideal way to market a toy would be by placing it at an end cap2 at a price range with the main competitor or a toy which is similar. The sales are analyzed at the end of the week or month and compared and accordingly the success can be measured. Selling a toy to children also means that there is no such brand loyalty so the toy can sell easily with the right colors and images on the box which the children can easily like the

Network Interface Units Essay Example for Free

Network Interface Units Essay Wireless broadband Internet has gained more prominence among home users and small-scale businesses especially because in other setups say in legal and medical field, confidentiality is paramount and is a legal obligation. Any breach of this confidentiality is an offense. In addition, it provides inexpensive and relative speedy wireless Internet over a wider coverage area. Additionally, users expect more freedom and flexibility in using their portable computers, say at work, in the garden, and laptops hence wireless connection becomes more popular. This technology has provided users with easy access to Internet and at the same time convenience as wireless broadband technology does not use telephone cables However at the same time, it has rendered peoples personal information vulnerable to access by other users. That is, almost anyone with a good laptop with wireless connection can interfere with other networks within range especially those that are not protected form unauthorized users. This paper presents a technical report on the use of wireless Internet in domestic broadband Internet solutions. This investigation will address key areas such as how the technology works, security issues involved in the wireless Ethernet installation, implications of using wireless internet within the web based information system, configuration and setup issues, ways in which wireless internets can be made more secure and future solutions to the security concerns of wireless Ethernet internet. Introduction. The wireless networking technology operates in more or less the same way as the conventional LAN only without the physical wires. The personal computer has to have a wireless network card which is sort of an Ethernet adapter. This makes the computer establish a connection with the service provider network. Depending on the model, an access port can support up to sixteen machines. The wireless broadband technology uses radio waves that transmit and receive data on air unlike the traditional cable and ADSL broadband that use telephone lines. (Shay, 1998) Basically, all one needs is a Customer Premise Equipment (CPE) in the building where one wants to get connected. In this area there has to be radio signals. In cases where there aren’t any in sight then multiple hubs may be installed to act as logical diverters of the radio signals. A CPE comprises of NIU (Network Interface Units) which provide circuit emulation and internet data services. The Ethernet data services are simply mounted on top of the building where the Internet is being installed i. e. the transceiver and the antennae unit. The advantage of wireless broadband technology is that they are fast and more reliable than the others with up to 256kbps speeds (Tanenbaum, 2002) Wireless broadband networks transmit data to towers hosted by the service provider, which then the NUI and the Ethernet data services then pick up and deliver to a users personal computer or laptop. Wireless connections use DHCP (digital host configuration protocol) which assigns the IP address without the intervention of the configuration from the network administrator or the intervention of the user. The wireless broadband technology also uses modems just like the ADSL and traditional cables only that in wireless broadband connections the modem has an inbuilt antennae which links your computer to the nearest service provider tower (Spainhour Eckstein, 2003)

Drugs, Cheating, and the Purity of Americas Pastime Essay -- Baseball

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Most children who have grown up in an American household have at one point in their lives looked up to sports figures as heroes. Whether it was your grandfather telling his stories of watching Babe Ruth become a legend, your father’s stories of Mickey Mantle and the legendary Yankee teams of the 1950’s and 1960’s, or your own memory of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chasing the home run record, the feeling of wholesomeness that baseball provides has always found its way into many people’s hearts. Steroids have tarnished these sacred memories, cast doubts in the minds of many on the legitimacy of records and statistics and finally affected the way younger players play the game. Baseball, America’s pastime, is embedded in the fabric of society. The players and teams have come and gone, but the thing that remains constant is baseball’s ability to unite people as well as families. My own personal experience of this came right after September 11th, 2001. Following the tragedy that was 9/11, the country needed something to help everyone return to normalcy. In our moment of weakness and uncertainty, baseball helped calm my nerves. Fifty three thousand three hundred and twelve brothers stood up in unison and took back their lives. The electricity of that game, the sense of regularity in my life, and the knowledge that millions of people were finding comfort together with me during such a hard time, helped me feel a sense of closure that the worst was behind us. It is the mystique and aura of the players, the exciting tales behind them, as well as the history of the game that keeps us interested as fans. These are the reasons why people, children especially, see these players as invincible, and perfect in every way, shape, and form. What would happen if after a century of inspiring stories, and incredible tales of heroism, the inconceivable notion that these players were not perfect, took prominence? Or that many of these superstars cheated their way to the top?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Recently the topic of steroid use in baseball has been everywhere in the news. It has finally come to the attention of Major League Baseball, and now the general public, that a vast percentage of players have been using illegal performance-enhancing drugs. This not only casts a cloud of suspicion over which players are using steroids, and makes one wonder which players are genuine, but it tar... ...ue Baseball is showing that they are finally becoming adamant about ridding themselves and their reputation of this problem, is something that should give us hope for now, as well as for the future. Even more so than simply testing the players though, I think a key issue that has been overlooked and that may be a huge contributor to the steroid problem without many people being aware of it, is the incentives given in a player’s contract. Getting rid of the six figure bonuses commonly given for a certain amount of home runs, hits, strikeouts, innings pitched, etc, will help reduce the apparent need to use steroids as a source of instant reward and income. While doing this there will still most certainly be players drawn to steroids as a means to get ahead of the competition for personal glory or other reasons, the fact is eliminating bonuses has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of users in the league. It is then, and only then that we can be prepared to fully eliminate the steroid problem as we know it today, remove the cloud of doubt over everyone’s heads, and return the game of baseball to the past glorification that it once knew, as the true American pastime.

Lenovo

1. What is the staffing policy that Lenovo is pursuing? A: Staffing policy is concerned with the selection of employees for particular jobs. At one level, this involves selecting individual who have the skill required to do particular jobs. At another level, staffing policy can be a tool for developing and promoting the desired corporate culture of the firm. The goal was to transform Lenovo into a truly global corporation with a global workforce.Lenovo made an effort to create a firm that was neither Chinese, nor American, but instead global in its orientation, a firm that is positioned to compete head-to-head with other players in the global PC market. 2. What strategy do you think the company is pursuing? Does its staffing policy match its strategy? A: The Company is pursuing a transnational strategy. The staffing policy matches its strategy. For example, when Lenovo is deciding who should hold management positions, the national origin of the candidate is not an issue.Rather, the d ecision focuses on whether the person has the skills and capabilities required for working in a global enterprise. Lenovo is committed to hiring the very best people, wherever they might come from. Lenovo seeks the best people for key jobs throughout the organization regardless of nationality; this enables the firm to make the best use of its human resources. 3. What are the strengths of Lenovo’s staffing policy? Can you see any potential weaknesses or problems that the company might encounter as a result of this policy?A: Lenovo uses the same set of principles to guide workforce management in all locations, this maintains a unified corporate culture. If Lenovo’s employees are predisposed toward the organization's corporate norms and value system, the firm will be able to attain higher performance. Lenovo’s staffing policy is complicated by the profound differences between countries in labor markets, culture, legal systems, economic systems, and the like. The co mpany must also deal with a host of issues related to expatriate managers (citizens of one country working abroad).A prominent issue in Lenovo’s staffing policy is expatriate failure (the premature return of an expatriate manager to his or her home country). Furthermore, the immigration policies of national governments may limit the ability of the company to pursue this policy. Moreover, since Lenovo’s staffing is global, it will need a compensation structure with a standard international base pay level, higher than national levels. 4. What should the HRM function do to enable Lenovo to become a truly global enterprise?A: Human Resources will have to be very astute about how its principles are applied in every local market so that it remains responsive to the needs of people in different environments. Lenovo is following a geocentric approach to human resources, one in which the best people are sought for key jobs throughout the organization, regardless of nationality. For example, the company appointed an American to the position of CEO because it felt that none of the firm’s existing Chinese executives had the capabilities to manage a truly global enterprise.

Influence: Environmental, Contextual, and Perceptual Essay

One could wonder if personal behaviors can be attributed to the start and stop of epidemic outbreaks as that could potentially change what happens in the world. Our government and other influential individuals can slightly alter this factor – they influence our nation, the choices they make essentially affect the outcome of our nation. People are not the only ones who can influence behavior changes. In Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference, he notes in the Power of Context chapter that our immediate environment significantly influences people’s behaviors. Gladwell creatively offers several persuasive strategies, and similar, but different forms of evidence in attempt to advance his main idea with the hopes that the reader will side with him. The various forms of evidence Gladwell presents to his readers directly supports, and helps substantiate his claim that our immediate environment significantly influences people’s behavior. Gladwell offers significant evidence that the New York subway crime was at an ultimate high in the 1980’s, but drastically dropped. David Gunn and William Bratton believed crime was the result of disorder – they both put the Broken Windows theory into effect in order to see if crime epidemics could be reversed. The experiment focused on fixing the smaller issues to create the movement that laws will be enforced, people will be held accountable for their actions. By focusing on the smaller issues, an unambiguous message was sent to criminals – we are taking control of crime starting with petty offences. Eventually the message was received, the criminals changed their ways – if petty laws are being enforced, the major ones would be sure to follow the same suit. Gladwell presents a second piece of evidence; a prison study, which a group of social scientist performed at Stanford University. A mock prison was created and at random, normal psychological volunteers were assigned the role of a guard or prisoner. Within the first day, the behaviors of both the guards and prisoners changed, and each day that had passed, the behaviors significantly increased for the worse. The outcome of the study revealed that behavior changes are imminent based on the immediate environmental changes. Another piece of evidence Gladwell offers his readers came during a seminarian study. A group of seminarians met with two psychologists to test the Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE). This experiment was replicated around the Good Samaritan Bible story and included three variables to test the character traits of the seminarians based upon the situation and context. While walking next door, each seminarian encountered a man who was clearly in distress. The changes in the content of communication varied how the seminarians responded – they were more apt to help the man if they had extra time, whereas, if they were in a hurry he was ignored. The outcome of the study revealed that situational and context surroundings took precedence over fundamental character traits. While the evidence Gladwell presents helps create the foundation and substantiate his claim that our immediate environment significantly influences our behaviors, he also entails rhetorical strategies throughout the text. Rhetorical strategies can be considered a number of various persuasive writing techniques designed with the intention of changing the readers’ outlook. Without being able to recognize these strategies, the author will most likely succeed in his goal of persuasion. In order for a rhetorical strategy to be effective, an author focuses developing their strategies around their intended audience, and potential resistance in hopes the readers will be satisfied with the answers and side with him. Gladwell’s tries to build credibility towards how the Power of Context theory works by strategically mentioning experiments that were conducted by prestigious universities. He mentions that Stanford and Princeton University conducted two separate behavioral studies, and classifies the similarities the two studies have in relation to how our environmental context can affect the influence of our behavioral choices. Gladwell may have anticipated that the reader may be hesitant to accept his argument because if a radical idea cannot be proven to work, it is considered that it will not work at all. The Power of Context theory is classified as a radical idea because it has the potential to affect a large scale, and one could be skeptical of its effectivity due to the high potential for failure – no one wants to take a great risk with the increased potential for grave results. Failure to direct the readers to credible sources would result in lack of the proof they are seeking to back up Gladwell’s claims, and would ultimately question the integrity of the results from the experiments. In turn, the lack of trust could factor into a roblematic situation; readers would bypass his theory as an un-credible risk not worth considering. Gladwell attempts to remove this resistance by providing credible results in a convincing fashion that favors the similarities between the Power of Context and behavioral influence experiments that were conducted. Noting the studies were done at prestigious and credible colleges, a level of trust has been instilled between the reader and author, and in turn a bond has been created – the trust will continue to grow and ultimately less convincing will be required to reduce further resistance the reader may have. After Gladwell tries to build his credibility, he notes that his theory is legitimate by mentioning that it can be used to reduce crime. Crime was at an ultimate high in the 1980’s, but drastically dropped. Murders dropped, felonies dropped, and New York City was at the center of the crime decline and people did not know why. Gladwell presents that the Broken Windows theory reflected substantial improvements in New York. One could doubt that a city the size of New York City, known for corruption and crime could see drastic changes from relatively small environmental changes. It could be argued that the changes in generations and arrival of new immigrants flushed out the crime, but without further proof, doubt would set into the reader’s mind, and one would be curious as to what truly factored into the reversal of crimes. If the Broken Windows theory were not linked as the direct result of the crime reversal, the effectivity of his theory would be questioned, thus reducing the likeliness one would side with him. In order to advance his claim, Gladwell creates a direct link between the crime surges, the implication of the Broken Windows theory, and the decline in crime. In turn, one would be more apt to accept the powerful tool Gladwell has laid before us. If New York City, a city thought to be beyond help due to its size can drastically reduce their crime and clean up their city, the Broken Windows theory must have something spectacular to offer. Gladwell hopes that his readers are tired of seeing crime in their towns, ultimately creating a public push towards government officials to gradually implement the Broken Windows theory with the intentions it would do exactly as it has in New York City. After Gladwell tries to create the image that his studies were legitimate, he tries to show that applying his theory is convenient and easy by strategically relating the Broken Windows theory to real life situations. He mentions, focusing on the smaller issues within the subway seemed irrelevant at the time when the whole subway system was close to collapsing – it seemed as pointless as cleaning the decks on the Titanic while it sank. The Broken Windows theory is considered a radical idea, which is counterintuitive of how one would typically go about solving a global problem. Therefore, it is challenging for the reader to comprehend to Gladwell’s theory, thus making it likely the reader will mistakenly bypass his argument due to their confusion. If the confusion remains, readers are less likely to accept Gladwell’s idea because there will be a lack of confidence for something one does not understand. In efforts to remove the confusion the reader may have about how the Broken Windows theory works in relation to real life scenarios, Gladwell presents a convenient option so the reader is not forced to search for answers. By providing real world examples as to how the Broken Windows theory works, he performs the footwork for his readers in hopes the convenience he has offered them will clear up any confusion they may have about how his theory works. The image Gladwell strives to imply on his readers if the Broken Windows theory is easily applied, as it is understood, then one would be more apt towards applying it in real life situations. While the various forms of evidence and persuasive strategies were presented with the intentions of advancing Gladwell’s main idea, some noteworthy areas to mention follow. Gladwell’s Power of Context and the Broken Windows theory is essentially the same thing. Both ideas revolve around small changes in behavior and environment can signify a major impact. Secondly, not many people focus on fixing the small problems because it is perceived fixing the bigger problems first, result in major changes. Finally, behavioral changes have more variables. Based upon the situation, context, and environment is what factors into how one will respond and react. Gladwell’s attempt to convince his readers does not come by mistake. He intends for this to help readers open their eyes to new strategies and ideas he envisioned to creatively incorporate into his text. By doing so, a new dimension of listening and analyzing has been brought upon the reader. It is crucial at some point in our lives we all learn to decipher and understand the rhetoric of what an author is truly trying to tell us. The more we are able to read between the fine lines, the better we will be at assessing and listening to future texts.

Civil war effect by its Litature essays

Civil war effect by its Litature essays STEVEN CRANES THE RED BADGE OF COURAGE AFFECTED PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF THE CIVIL WAR? Stephen Crane, (1871-1900), was an American novelist and poet, one of the first American writers of the naturalistic style of writing, Crane is known for his pessimistic and often brutal portrayals of the human condition, but his stark realism is relieved by poetic charm and a sympathetic understanding of character. Born in Newark New Jersey, and the son of a Methodist minister, Crane began work in 1891, in New York City, as a freelance reporter in the slums. The job provided him with material for his first novel, Maggie, a Girl of the Streets written in 1893, a work that won praise from American writers Hamlin Garland and William Dean Howells-also naturalistic writersbut werent as popular or successful as Crane. Crane's next novel, The Red Badge of Courage, written in 1895, and gained international recognition as a penetrating and realistic psychological study of a young soldier in the American Civil War. In addition to being a novelist, journalist, and short-story writer, Crane was also an innovator in free verse techniques (irregular verse). Crane died at the age of twenty-eight and a half of tuberculosis. Although he died at such a young age his literature had a profound affect on the world. Thomas Beer points out The Red Badge of Courage as illustrating better than any of Cranes works that his search for aesthetic was governed by terror and no one since Poe has evoked that emotion(Haycraft and Kunitz 189). When Crane signed a contract with D. Appleton and Co. to publish The Red Badge of Courage, he was not well-known enough to command an advance, and agreed to a flat 10 per cent royalty on the retail price of all copies sold (McPherson, 5). Published in the autumn of 1895, the book went through two editions before the end of the year. By March of 1896 the novel was in eighth place on the international books...

The Difference Between Design and Utility Patents

The Difference Between Design and Utility Patents A design patent protects only the ornamental appearance of an invention, not its utilitarian features. A utility patent would protect the way an article is used and works. It can be very confusing to understand the difference between a design patent and other types of intellectual property. Understanding Utility Patents It can get tricky because while design and utility patents provide separate types of protection, the utility and ornamentally of an invention are not easily separable. Inventions have both functional and ornamental characteristics and you can apply for both a design and a utility patent for the same invention. Moreover, if the design does provide utility for an invention (for example; the ergonomic shape design of a keyboard makes it useful as an invention that provides comfort and reduces carpal tunnel syndrome) then you would apply for a utility patent to protect the design. Understanding Copyrights Design patents protect the novel ornamental features of a utilitarian invention. Copyrights can also protect things that are ornamental, however, copyrights do not have to protect useful things for example, a fine art painting or sculpture. Understanding Trademarks Design patents can be filed for the same subject matter protected by a trademark. However, two different set of laws apply to patents and trademarks. For example, if the shape of a keyboard was protected by a design patent then anybody copying your shape would be infringing upon your patent rights. If the shape of your keyboard was trademark registered, anybody copying your keyboard shape and causing confusion for consumers (i.e. causing you to lose sales) would be infringing upon on your trademark. Legal Definition of Design According to the USPTO: A design consists of the visual ornamental characteristics embodied in, or applied to, an article of manufacture. Since a design is manifested in appearance, the subject matter of a design patent application may relate to the configuration or shape of an article, to the surface ornamentation applied to an article, or to the combination of configuration and surface ornamentation. A design for surface ornamentation is inseparable from the article to which it is applied and cannot exist alone. It must be a definite pattern of surface ornamentation, applied to an article of manufacture. The Difference Between the Invention and the Design An ornamental design may be embodied in the entire invention or only a part of the invention. The design could be ornamentation applied to the surface of an invention. Note: When preparing your design patent application and creating your patent drawings; if a design is just surface ornamentation, it must be shown applied to an article in the patent drawings, and the article must be shown in broken lines, as it forms no part of the claimed design. Be Aware There is a big difference between a design and utility patent, realize that a design patent may not give you the protection desired. An unscrupulous invention promotion company may mislead you in this way.

COMMUNICATION PLAN for Nestle Company Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

COMMUNICATION PLAN for Nestle Company - Essay Example For perishable products such as milk and vegetables, Nestlà © has direct procurement process with specific requirement so that the excess is not wasted. Nestlà © invest sufficiently in sustainable agriculture in collaboration with its direct suppliers so that high quality food products are delivered. Multinationals such as Nestlà © focus on long term partnership with suppliers so that resources are available at a reasonable cost and whenever required. These long term contracts minimizes various risks on the part of the company as well as for the suppliers. For instance, such kind of supply chain system acts as a hedge against fluctuations in the agricultural market (Handfield& Nichols, 1999; Nestlà ©, 2009; 2014b). Nestle company has been going through some publicity issues in the past. There were a lot of cases where children died as a result of taking products from the nestle company. This led to massive protests by the people against their products. Nestle was accused of aggressively marketing their breast milk substitutes and dressing their sales ladies as nurses. The deaths reported were as a result of the increasing deaths of infants. For the infant formula milk, the powder has to mixed with water which in most poor countries is usually contaminated and unhygienic and therefore leading to the death of the children. Another issue was that even when the parents knew the hygienic standards that they had to have, they do not have the means to sterilise the equipment that they used and therefore having no choice but to use the contaminated water. The women in the poor countries sometimes could not afford the formula and thus would end up using less than the required amount of formula and mix it with more water so that a can would last for longer. This means that the infants got less nutrients than they required. Basically, children who are fed on breast milk are more protected than children who are fed on formula and thus have better health compared to the

Torts and Product Liability Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Torts and Product Liability - Research Paper Example Chris missed breakfast because they had to leave the house very early in the morning to the airport. After dropping Jim at the airport, the two (Stella and Chris) went to the McDonald’s drive-through for the breakfast. Stella ordered a McBreakfast and Chris her grandson, parked the car so that she could add sugar and cream to her coffee (Buchholtz and Carroll, 2008). She could not add the cream and sugar because there was no flat surface in the car where she could place the coffee cup and get the lid off. As an alternative, she placed the coffee cup between her knees and tried to get the coffee cup lid that way. As she tried to remove the lid, hot coffee spilled onto her lap (Buchholtz and Carroll, 2008). Chris got out of the car to help her; he pulled her sweat suit twisting it as the coffee (170 degrees) burned her inner thigh, buttocks, and groin. She was taken to the hospital and upon arrival at the emergency room; she was confirmed to have sustained third-degree burns. Stella spent a week in the hospital and three weeks at home nursing her injuries with the help of her daughter, Nancy Tiano (Buchholtz and Carroll, 2008). After a while, she was hospitalized again for skin grafts and during that period she lost around 20 pounds and at times she was practically immobilized. Though she was not willing to sue McDonald, her family was of the opinion that she had to be compensated for the out-of-pocket expenses and her daughter’s lost wages for the time she had stayed with her at home (Buchholtz and Carroll, 2008). On May 2005, Pearson took his pants to the Custom Cleaners for alterations. Roy Pearson was at that time the newly appointed Washington, DC administrative law judge. Pearson owned five expensive Hickey Freeman suits which he wore one for every day of the week. The pants had become uncomfortable and thus he took them to the local dry cleaning service (Custom Cleaners).