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Monday, September 30, 2019

Thesis Reading

The title of the thesis that I chose for my Thesis Reading is â€Å"BARKADAHAN SA MC: Communication within Peer Groups in Miriam College and how it leads the members to commit major violations of school rules. † It was written by four authors namely, Catherine J. Macasaet, Michelle Corazon S. Robles, Alexandrea Camille C. Rodriguez, and Anna Monica T. Torres. The thesis was published on February 9, 2008 and was submitted as a partial fulfillment of the authors’ requirements in Communication Arts. The problem of the said thesis is, â€Å"Does communication within peer groups in Miriam College lead its members to commit major violations of school rules? † and with this being said, their general objective is to identify whether communication within Miriam College students affect their chances of committing school violations. According to the findings of the group members of the thesis, based on the survey that they have conducted, almost all of their respondents are part of a peer group or what they mostly call as a â€Å"barkada. † Only 3 out of a hundred responded â€Å"no† when asked if they belong to one. And with this, those who answered â€Å"yes† to the question showed some symptoms of Groupthink that lead them to committing violations of school rules. The Groupthink phenomenon allowed the students of certain peer groups to have faulty decisions causing them to do wrong actions. The group also discussed the activities that peer groups mostly do and their self-evaluation of their school performance. With this, they have also included the number of people among their respondents who have encountered committing violations and their peers’ influence on this. The Groupthink phenomenon which was stated a while ago was the most evident situation that peer groups are commonly facing when together. Three of the symptoms present were the thought that each group’s actions are always right, that they always have undisputed choices in decision-making, and lastly, that every group does not consider the beliefs of out-groups. As an analysis of the problem stated for the thesis, the authors used two theories namely, Social Identity Theory and like what was mentioned a while ago, Groupthink Theory. First off, the Social Identity Theory was developed y Henri Tajfel and John Turner in 1979. It was used to comprehend the psychological foundation of discrimination within inter-groups. The theory has three elements in it which are categorization, identification, and comparison. The categorization element comes in when a person labels his or herself and other members of a group. Identification, on the other hand, is when a person identifies his or h erself as a part of a group which allows him or her to have a more sense of worth. Lastly, comparison is when the group members already compare their positive characteristics as a whole to the characteristics of other groups. The theory also states that groups look for confidence by positively distinguishing itself from other groups. The Social Identity Theory applies in the said thesis because, before actually studying the effects of communication of peer groups in their chances of committing school violations, the researchers first studied an individual’s process of being a member of the group through the visibility of the said theory in him or her. It showed that Social Identity is what mainly occurs first because a person labels his or herself, becomes a part of the group, and then compares his or her group to others. The theory is applicable because it helped the researchers identify how the participants of their survey identify themselves as part of a peer group. Moving on with the theories used in the paper, another relevant theory is the Groupthink Theory which was stated several times a while ago. This theory was developed by Irving Janis in 1972 and was based on human social behavior in which a hypothesis—that critical thinking is used to assess the efficiency of a group’s decision-making—was developed. Groupthink is actually a way of planning used by a group when their aim of agreement overcomes their assessment of other plans of actions. The theory also involves the group’s cohesiveness wherein the group’s involvement in each other affects their decisions—the more cohesive a group, the more pressure is applied on the members to preserve such cohesiveness. Such cohesiveness is visible when group members like each other, and would want to stay within the group, thus, not wanting to be left out. With too much of this said cohesiveness, there are dangers involved like not being able to exercise independent critical thinking, thus, having irrational decisions like hoices that are incomplete and involve risks. With these said, groupthink is actually a weakening of effectiveness in thinking because it affects how the groups actually consider different plans of actions and not just what they think is right. Groupthink Theory is relevant to the thesis of the researchers because it allows them to look at the process of decision-making by a group which is relevant in understanding how communication within p eer groups leads to commit school violations. The theory was used when the authors analyzed how each member of a group develops confidence and then starts to meet the terms of her whole group’s actions and choices. It is also applicable when the researchers were able to identify that the theory is the most apparent communication pattern within peer groups of Miriam College in such a way that after going through a phase of Social Identity which was stated a while ago, peer groups then tend to apply Groupthink which involves pressure within their group members to comply with the unanimous decision of the group as a whole. With having the thought that the group’s decision is what is right, they then tend to become confident with their actions which are sometimes, are already the violations of school rules. Because of faulty decision-making, peer groups are lead to disobedience of school policies. These are what the researchers have found out with the use of the Groupthink Theory of Irving Janis. With the help of Social Identity Theory and Groupthink Theory, authors of the said thesis were able to understand the effects that communication within the â€Å"barkadas† of Miriam College have on each of the members. The theories were actually very relevant in helping them find the results for their problem and were able to give answers to the questions that they have objectives of responding to. Both were able to help the researchers because having a thesis on peer groups, the theories also being about groups helped in defining the problem stated. Reference: Littlejohn, S. W. (2008). Theories of human communication 9th ed. Belmont, California: Wadsworth.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Professional Nursing Philosophy Essay

Introduction After seventeen years in the nursing profession I realize each day is a learning experience. As my experiences evolve so do some of my beliefs and values. However, I believe nursing at its core has fundamentals that are unwavering. The essence of nursing: Caring, empathy, honesty, trust, communication, and respect have transcended all theories. What follows will be a discussion of how I was called to nursing and my vision for my future in the nursing profession. I will also discuss my beliefs and values and how they relate to patients, families, and health care providers. Choice of Nursing I was called to nursing. I always had a desire to care for others, to comfort, and to listen. As a child I spent summers with my grandmother who was also a nurse. I would watch her show honor in the way she wore her uniform. Before she left for work she made sure her uniform was clean and pressed. She proudly wore her nursing cap. I was able to visit the patients as she made her rounds. As I observed her care I witnessed the understanding, the compassion, and the commitment of a professional nurse. To my surprise and from my experiences my grandmother planted a seed of a nurse’s integrity, honor and loyalty to the care of others. When I was sixteen years old and in the tenth grade I became pregnant. I dropped out of high school but was determined not to be a statistic. Before my daughter was born I completed my GED and three months after her birth I start taking  classes at the community college. I knew I had more to offer. I had always been an active part of the community a nd had an interest in helping others. The career counselor at the community college suggested that I attend nursing school. My grandmother agreed and informed me of a nursing rule. A nurse cannot leave the profession until she finds another nurse to take her place. Five years, two children and one divorce later I finished nursing school. I truly believe it was a calling or I never would have finished. Nursing continues to call me seventeen years later. It calls me to learn more, to do better, and to encourage others. Nursing has now called me back to further my education and obtain my BSN and MSN in the next phase of my career. Essence of Nursing The core of nursing should be more than a career or a means to monetary gain. Nursing at its core is caring, empathy, honesty, trust, communication and respect. I believe the fundamental core of nursing is caring. If you cannot give of yourself to others you are missing the essence of nursing. â€Å"In 2003 the ANA stated that an essential feature of professional nursing is the provision of a caring relationship that facilitates health and healing† (as cited in Meyer & Lavin, 2005, para. 1). Another fundamental core of nursing is respect. The nurse must have respect for the patient and their beliefs. Without this basic respect there will remain a lack of trust on the patient’s part to divulge necessary information that can facilitate their recovery. Listening encompasses both verbal and nonverbal communication between the patient and nurse. Developing a relationship based on trust helps foster communication between the patient and nurse. Listening helps identify issues that can hinder the accomplishment of goals that have been set for the patient’s recovery. Jean Watson’s Caring Theory is comprised of ten carative factors that can foster a caring relationship between the patient and the nurse. According to Chantal Cara (A Pragmatic View, Introduction, para. 2) â€Å"upholding Watson’s caring theory not only allows the nurse to practice the art of caring, to provide compassion to ease patients’ and families’ suffering, and to promote their healing and dignity but it can also contribute to expand the nurse’s own actualization†. The politics of nursing can adversely affect the core of nursing. Hospital  politics can affect the lives of patients, families, staff, and the community at large. Hospital politics affect intra-departmental relationships and staffing ratios. The quality of the relationships and communication skills can affect the perception of the hospital as a whole. Witnessing negative relationships and poor communication skills may cause the community, patients, families, and other staff to feel nursing is unqualified or uncaring. These perceptions once perpetuated are difficult to change. Beliefs and Values I believe patients have the right to decide what happens to their bodies; however, many are still under informed due to lack of education. In Texas, a large number of first generation Mexican immigrants have not been afforded a complete education in their home country. Although educational opportunities are improving census data indicated that Mexican â€Å"males got 8.8 years of education in 2010 while females got 8.5 years† (2010 Census data, 2011, para. 1). However, in some indigenous areas of Mexico the education level is as low as 2.5 years (2010 Census data, 2011, para. 4). â€Å"To improve informed consent comprehension, federal agencies such as the FDA, Office for Human Research Protection, and National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommend 6th to 8th grade reading level consent forms† (Hochhauser, 2007). There is a disparity in the recommendation of these agencies and the consents they produce for their own clients. Hochhauser stated,† agencies should follow t heir own advice †¦ but five NCI documents averaged a grade 14 reading level†. Families share an important role in health promotion and decision making. A patient’s cultural beliefs and values can greatly affect the family’s perception of the health care system and the individual roles family members assume in a time of illness. In the Gypsy culture hospitals are feared and avoided whenever possible. â€Å"Most Gypsies will go to a hospital only if they are in serious danger of dying or if they view the situation as a crisis† (Sutherland, 1992, p.278). â€Å"For Gypsies, illness is not just the concern of the individual, it is a problem of broader social importance. Families coming together when someone is ill is one of the strongest values in Gypsy culture† (Sutherland, 1992, p.277). Hispanic immigrants may be reluctant to  seek medical attention because of their immigrant status. â€Å"They may be afraid of the clinical staff and may consider them members of a government agency such as INS† (Poma, 1983, p. 945). Among Hisp anics, the support provided by the extended family is very important. In 1986 Reinert stated â€Å"important decisions are made by the entire family. Family decisions may supersede decisions made by the health care provider† (as cited in Gordon, 1994, pp. 309-310). I believe health care providers have become overly specialized and no longer treat patients holistically. The movement toward Advance Practice Nurses as primary health care providers will alleviate this problem and the patient will be treated in a more holistic approach. Many nurses begin their professions as staff nurses in the hospital setting. Following Watson’s carative theory we strive to help the patient meet their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. â€Å"The nurse guided by Watson’s work has responsibility for creating and maintain an environment supporting human caring while recognizing and providing for patients’ primary human requirements† (Chitty & Black, 2007). As I reviewed my own health I realized I was not a good steward for the nursing profession. I have educated my patients about diet modification and exercise regimens. I have advised them to keep regular doctor appointments and receive annual physicals. I was not following my own advice. I began to account for my nutritional intake and workout every morning before work. I received an annual physical to assess my lab values and discuss with my health care provider a plan of care. I believe as a nurse I should be my best and I am willing to except whatever my best is at forty-one years old. Vision for the Future My goal is to complete my BSN by the end of 2013. I am a staff nurse in PACU within the Perioperative Services Department of our hospital. My responsibilities include direct patient care, relief charge, staffing, and conflict resolution. Within two years, I plan to receive certification in my specialty through ASPAN and pursuing my MSN degree. My hospital is growing and the Perioperative Services Department is under expansion and will double in size and patient capacity over the next three years. In my profession I see potential for growth that will include my future goals. I love to precept new nurses and students, encourage others, monitor quality indicators, and formulate policies and procedures. Within five years, I would like to have completed my MSN degree as a Clinical Nurse Leader and working in a permanent preceptor position for Perioperative Services. In ten years I hope to have found my niche in my profession. I would like to be molding the future of nursing even if it is one nurse at a time. I plan on working as a nurse as long as my body allows. Summary My strengths are my determination, ability to adapt to changing situations easily, love of learning and organizational skills. The support I have received from family and friends has been paramount in allowing me to succeed in my endeavors. The support and encouragement I have received from my peers has heightened my determination to complete my degree. Stress will be the greatest limiting factor in attaining my goals. Balancing school, work, family, and friends is always a challenge. It will be important for me to prioritize my activities and manage my time wisely over the coming year. I look forward to these challenges as I pursue my BSN degree. References 2010 Census data show a significant improvement in Mexican education. (2011). Retrieved November 16, 2012, from http://geo-mexico.com/?p=4048 Cara, C. A pragmatic view of Jean Watson’s caring theory [PDF document]. Retrieved November 15, 2012 from Lecture Notes Online Web site: http://www.humancaring.org/conted/Pragmatic%20View.pdf Chitty, K.K., & Black, B.P. (Eds.). (2007). Chapter 13: Nursing theory: The basis for professional nursing. Professional Nursing: Concepts and Challenges (pp.328-348). Philadelphia: Elsevier. Gordon, S.M. (1994). Hispanic cultural beliefs and folk remedies. Journal of Holistic Nursing. 12(3), 307-322. doi:10.1177/089801019401200308 Hochhauser, M. (2007). Consent forms: No easy read. Applied Clinical Trials, 16(5), 74. Retrieved November 17, 2012 from http://libproxy.uta.edu:5745/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=dd795158-f393-4eb8-b67b-8a1cc3b595fd%40sessionmgr104&vid=4&hid=121 Meyer, G., & Lavin, M.A. (2005). Vigilance: The essence of nursing. OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 10(1). doi:10.3912/OJIN.Vol10No03PPT01 Poma, P.A. (1983). Hispanic cultural influences on medical practice. Journal of The National Medical Association. 75(10), 941-946. Retrieved November 17, 2012 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2561612/pdf/jnma00233-0029.pdf Sutherland, A. (1992, Sept.) Cross-cultural medicine: Gypsies and health care. The Western Journal of Medicine. 157(3), 276-280. Retrieved November 17, 2012 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1011276/pdf/westjmed00085-0066.pdf

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Rate Law and Activation Energy Essay

Introduction In this experiment we are analyzing the relationship between reaction rates at different concentrations and temperatures to determine the true rate constant, activation energy, reaction orders, and half-life of a reaction. The reaction of interest is the addition of a hydroxyl group to the nucleus of Crystal Violet. Crystal Violet, or hexamethylparaosaniline chloride for short, is a strongly colored purple dye with the chemical formula C25H30N3Cl and disassociates completely in solution. The relevant structure for this compound can be seen in figure 1 Figure 1 The base that is being used for the reaction is the strong base Sodium Hydroxide, or NaOH. This molecule also completely disassociates in water. Because measuring the concentrations of reactants is difficult in a simple lab setting, the reaction between Crystal Violet and Sodium Hydroxide will be measured through light absorbance. As the reaction between the chemicals takes place and the Crystal Violet receives the hydroxide the overall intensity of the purple color will decrease thus affecting the absorbance. The absorbance of the solution will be measured with a colorimeter as the reaction takes place and will be interpreted as a direct representation of concentration of Crystal Violet. After the reaction has taken place, through analysis of graphs plotting absorption vs. time, the natural log of absorption vs. time, and the inverse of absorption vs. time the reaction will be determined to be either zeroth, first, or second order with respect to crystal violet. From here the a pseudo rate constant can be determined, and using comparisons of different constants at different concentrations of NaOH solution and different temperatures, the reaction order with respect to hydroxide, the true rate constant for the reaction, and the activation energy for the reaction can all be determined with the following equations respectively. equation 1 Where k2’ is the pseudo rate constant of the reaction using twice the initial OH- concentration as is used in the k1’ reaction and n is equal to the reaction order with respect to OH-. equation 2 Where k’ is a pseudo rate constant based off of absorption and n is the reaction order with respect to OH- determined by equation 1. equation 3 Where k1 is the reaction constant at temperature T1, a is a constant that can be ignored due to the way the equation will be utilized, R is that gas constant, and Ea is the activation energy. Procedure The following materials were needed for the experiment: 4 100mL beakers 250mL beaker 2.5Ãâ€"10-5M Crystal Violet Stock solution 0.10M NaOH Stock solution Distilled Water 10 dry plastic cuvettes and caps Stirring rod Vernier Colorimeter 50mL volumetric pipet 100 µL syringe 2 10mL vials Logger Pro software Vernier computer interface Hot plate Vernier temperature probe 1. First, 100mL of 0.10M NaOH solution was obtained using a 50mL volumetric pipet, and 0.05M was prepared using a the pipet, the stock 0.10M NaOH solution, and distilled water. 2. The Logger Pro software was engaged and both the Vernier colorimeter and temperature probe were plugged into the appropriate channels. The temperature of the room was measured and the colorimeter was calibrated by setting the 0% light and 100% light conditions. 3. The colorimeter was set to 565nm and 1mL of 2.5Ãâ€"10-5M Crystal Violet solution was mixed with 1mL of 0.05M NaOH solution and quickly added to the colorimeter. Data correlating time, temperature, transmittance, and absorbance was then recorded for seven minutes as the reaction between the two solutions took place, and this data was saved. 4. This previous step was repeated two additional times with the 0.05M NaOH solution, and then three times with the 0.10M NaOH solution. 5. Last, two 10mL-vials of 0.05M NaOH and 2.5Ãâ€"10-5M Crystal Violet solution were prepared in a warm bath solution on the hot plate. Once the temperature reached 35ËšC and was recorded, steps BLANK through BLANK were repeated again twice with the heated solutions of Crystal Violet and 0.05M NaOH. All of the data that was collected was saved and distributed between the two lab partners and all excess solutions were disposed of properly under the fume hood. Results The following are the graphs obtained from the absorption and time recordings of the third run for the reaction between 1mL of 0.05M NaOH and 1mL of and 2.5Ãâ€"10-5M Crystal Violet carried out at 22.62ËšC. figure 2 figure 3 figure 4 These plots show that the reaction order with respect to crystal violet is clearly 1st order due to the great r2 value of the linear trend line. Since our pseudo rate constant based off of absorption is equal to the negative slope of our linear plot, our k’ in for the reaction of 1mL of 0.05M NaOH and 1mL of and 2.5Ãâ€"10-5M Crystal Violet carried out at 22.62ËšC is 0.1894. These next three plots are the graphs obtained from the absorption and time recordings of the first run for the reaction between 1mL of 0.10M NaOH and 1mL of and 2.5Ãâ€"10-5M Crystal Violet carried out at 22.50ËšC. figure 5 figure 6 figure 7 As expected, these results still indicate a reaction order of 1 with respect to crystal violet as demonstrated by the linear plot on the figure 6. Our k’ in for the reaction of 1mL of 0.10M NaOH and 1mL of and 2.5Ãâ€"10-5M Crystal Violet carried out at 22.50ËšC is 0.2993. Now that we have two pseudo reaction constants in which the OH- concentration differs by a factor of 2, we can use equation 1 to obtain the reaction order with respect to OH-. Since the reaction order must be an integer we can see that the n must be 1. It is now know that for the reaction, the reaction orders with respect to both reactants are 1. At this point, the true rate constant can be determined using equation 2, where n is 1, the initial concentration of OH- is 0.05, and the pseudo rate constant k’ is 0.1894. These next three plots are the graphs obtained from the absorption and time recordings of the first run for the reaction between 1mL of 0.05M NaOH and 1mL of and 2.5Ãâ€"10-5M Crystal Violet carried out at 36.09ËšC. figure 8 figure 9 figure 10 Once again it is apparent from the three plots that the reaction is first order with respect to crystal violet. However, the reason we performed this last kinetic run was to obtain a value for k at a different temperature. This way we have two sets of values for equation 3 with two temperatures, and two rate constants. With this information we can cut out the pre-exponential factor a and solve for the activation energy. But first k must again be calculated for the reaction at the new temperature. Doing this the same way as done in calculation 2, we obtain a reaction constant of 4.964 – a higher value, which is to be expected with the increase in temperature. Now, manipulating equation 4 we obtain that equation 4 While plugging the proper values provides which after some arithmetic leads to a calculated Ea of 15,254.67J, or 15.25467kJ. The calculation for half-lives for the different conditions is simple, and just requires the following equation. equation 5 When using the rate constant found in calculation 1, t1/2 for the kinetic run for the reaction between 1mL of 0.05M NaOH and 1mL of and 2.5Ãâ€"10-5M Crystal Violet carried out at 22.62ËšC is found to be 0.183 seconds. Error Analysis In this experiment there are several things calculated and several sources of error to take into account. Error needs to be calculated for the rate constants k, for the half-lives, and for activation energy. The errors for the pseudo-rate constants are obtained using the LLS method. Once these are obtained the next step is to calculate the error in the true rate constants. When calculating the error in true rate constant once must apply both the error in the pseudo rate constant and the error in the measurement of volume for the 100 µL syringe as it pertains to the concentration of hydroxide. The error in the syringe is 0.02mL, which for 0.05M NaOH solution leads to an error in concentration of approximately 1Ãâ€"10-3M and 2Ãâ€"10-3M for 0.10M NaOH. Equation 2 is manipulated to solve for the true rate constant. The following equation is used to solve for the error in the true rate constant. equation 6 And when the derivatives are solved is equal to equation 7 And when the numbers are plugged in for the first kinetic run looks like calculation =.08 In other words, the rate constant for the first kinetic run came out to be 3.79 ±.08. Now when calculating the error in the half-life the only thing that has to be taken into consideration is the error in the rate constant, which was just calculated above. Using the same method, equation 5 is solved for half-life, and the error is calculated like so. equation 8 Which after the derivatives are solved is equal to equation 9 And of course after the correct values for example the first kinetic run are plugged in provides calculation = .004 And last but nowhere near least, is the error analysis for the activation energy. With this the error for the true rate constant must again be taken into consideration, and the error for the temperature probe. The error for the true rate constant has already been calculated, while the error for the temperature probe is provided in the lab manual as being  ±0.03K. Taking these into consideration, a very complex process follows. The same process as above was used but involving much more complicated and lengthy derivatives. First equation 3 was manipulated to the following form. equation 10 The derivative of this equation with respect to each variable (T1, T2, K1, and K2) was then taken squared, and multiplied by the square of the respective variables uncertainty. These were added up and the square root was taken as in the above methods. The end result was a calculated error of 2 KJ for the calculated activation energy of 15kJ. Figure 11 Overall this lab was very successful in the use of absorption as a method of monitoring change in concentration. The calculated errors all seem to be about what one might expect. This lab was very analytical outside of one glaring hole. You can see in figure 9 a slight curve in the plot that isn’t found on either figure 3 or figure 6. To me this seems to be because the reactants are heated up to a temperature around 35-36ËšC, but once the chemicals are mixed and placed in the cuvette the temperature is no longer controlled as the reaction takes place for the following seven minutes. Thus, as the temperature falls the rate of the reaction slows, and the pseudo rate constant is lower than it should be. This of course leads to a rate constant lower than it should be, and then the activation energy is affected as well. If I were going to change one thing about the lab, I would try and do something to control the temperature as the reaction persisted. Aside from that, there is little room for error outside of obvious blunders. Conclusion A reasonable value for activation energy was calculated from the data collected in this experiment. There were no major mistakes made in the laboratory, and the calculations all went smoothly. This experiment demonstrated that there are creative ways around difficult problems in the laboratory, such as measuring absorption in place of concentration to follow the progress of a reaction. References- Alberty, A. A.; Silbey, R. J. Physical Chemistry, 2nd ed.; Wiley: New York, 1997. Department of Chemistry. (2013, Spring). CHEMISTRY 441G Physical Chemistry Laboratory Manual. Lexington: University of Kentucky

Friday, September 27, 2019

Marketing Process Model by Robert J. Dolan Term Paper

Marketing Process Model by Robert J. Dolan - Term Paper Example In the context of the organisations overall business practices, 75% of total products and services are exported in more than 100 nations through its 33 international offices (EADS, n.d.). The inclusion of Airbus within its business is one of the major beneficial factors for EADS in its global aircraft manufacturing process. EADS is further recognised as the major European industrial flagship which combines the major capabilities of four main market leaders of the global aircraft industry such as Airbus, Cassidian, Astrium as well as Eurocopter [1] (EADS, 2013). From the perspective of identifying the major customer base, it can be stated that the governments as well as the private sectors across the globe which incorporate aircraft facilities for military as well as commercial purposes are its key customers. The government of the UK is one of the major customer segments for EADS in terms of acquiring aircraft services in the nation for different purposes including both in the militar y as well as in the commercial service sectors. Moreover, it has been also observed that the overseas countries such as North America, Australia, India, Russia, China, Brazil as well as Middle East Countries, apart from the UK are also the major markets for EADS to deliver its range of innovative commercial as well as military aircrafts [2] (EADS, 2013).Airbus SAS is one of the major subsidiary companies of EADS which offers several kinds of jet-liner products, including military communication aircrafts, commercial airline aircrafts.... t manufacturing as well as aerospace commercial service industry with regard to various competitive marketing tools such as Marketing Situation Analysis, STP model as well as marketing mix. 2. Major Customers around the World In relation to the business performance of the organisation, it can be witnessed that the European roots of EADS is quite stronger. However, the aerospace and defence industry based operations of EADS is one of the major considerations for the organisation which entails a range of products and services both for the European and the global markets as well. In the context of the organisations overall business practices, 75% of total products and services are exported in more than 100 nations through its 33 international offices (EADS, n.d.). The inclusion of Airbus within its business is one of the major beneficial factors for EADS in its global aircraft manufacturing process. EADS is further recognised as the major European industrial flagship which combines the major capabilities of four main market leaders of the global aircraft industry such as Airbus, Cassidian, Astrium as well as Eurocopter [1] (EADS, 2013). From the perspective of identifying the major customer base, it can be stated that the governments as well as the private sectors across the globe which incorporate aircraft facilities for military as well as commercial purposes are its key customers. The government of the UK is one of the major customer segments for EADS in terms of acquiring aircraft services in the nation for different purposes including both in the military as well as in the commercial service sectors. Moreover, it has been also observed that the overseas countries such as North America, Australia, India, Russia, China, Brazil as well as Middle East Countries, apart

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Discussion on rolls of translators in localiczation and translation Term Paper

Discussion on rolls of translators in localiczation and translation memory environment - Term Paper Example Like the rest of the ‘knowledge sector,’ translators are obliged to work on computer screens and do their research using the web. Unlike their colleagues however, they have been propagating this new work environment and fomenting change precisely by their role in translating it. The most significant tool used until now by translators in the digital work environment is Translation Memory software, or TM. By putting the developments of the last 20 years in historical perspective and with particular attention to events over the last two, this article argues that TM is reaching its use-by date. It also examines the strong re-emergence of Machine Translation (MT) in response to TM's inability to cope with the increasing translating needs of today’s digital age. (p. ... For example physicians, public servants, theologians, writers and poets translated the work of their respective fields. (p. 200) The grooming of translation as a profession is based on a century’s time period but shaping translation into a new form of business is a story of recent times, as this paper looks at the work of some of the modern authors, Brian Mossop (2006) is no exception. According to him, â€Å"most changes over the past 20 years have been changes in translation as a business†. (p. 788) Further more, he has written that now days, there are now translations companies provide services internationally and deal with remotely located translators worldwide. He also gave his point of view on localization and wrote: Translation is starting to become a big business, increasingly integrating as suppliers the traditional cottage industry of freelances. The activity known as ‘localization’ has been added to existing translation business sectors, and it i s also one of several sectors where practitioners are in the process of acquiring distinct professional status (along with court and community interpreters). That said, it nay be noted in passing that ‘localization’ of Web page textual content is often just a new label for an old activity, namely free translation / adaptation. (p.788-789) According to Brian Mossop (2006), â€Å"some of the changes under way in the world of translation are not related to information technology at all†. He has used English translation as a global auxiliary language example. He also regarded this development as a new chapter in the history of lingua francas. (p. 788-792) As this paper looks into the work of modern writers and authors, one can not ignore Anthony Pym’s work on globalization and contribution to translation as

Analysis of Business Communications Personal Statement

Analysis of Business Communications - Personal Statement Example For that to happen the receivers must actually want to read the letter and not just put it aside in the belief that they know what it contains. Therefore, the letter should begin with an attention-getting statement and then proceed (incorporating the summarization) to state how the writer can meet the reader’s needs, ending with a request for action and a thank-you for having been given the opportunity to explain to them how much they will enjoy this product or service (Stewart et al, 1986). Having received the bad news from the president of the company that the Accounting Department has overcharged client ABC $12,023 in May 2008, the Marketing Specialist would immediately go into damage control. To do this, with the help of Sue Smith in Accounting is required; and in order for her to do so, she must be made aware of the situation. This should be done in a respectful and non-accusing manner, which makes the contact very important. A good approach would be for the Marketing Specialist to deliver a written memo—marked confidential and urgent-- to her office that would contain the same information from the president that he received. He would tell her that he realized that she might require a little time to digest them There is probably no easy way to deliver a message such as the one written by the President. If the Marketing Specialist had simply gone into Sue Smith’s office to verbally deliver this message, he might have got no further than that they had overcharged Client ABC $12,023 in May 2008 before she would have become upset and begun to pepper him with questions regarding if it was an honest mistake, if someone might be embezzling, and so forth. By being left alone to read and to digest the whole message, she would, hopefully, be relatively calm for her meeting with the Marketing Specialist who had promised, when he delivered the memo, to work with her to  resolve the problem, that she was not in this alone.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Conflict Management Styles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Conflict Management Styles - Essay Example Prevention of conflicts can have dire consequences on productivity. This is because it is through conflict resolution that underlying issues affecting the employees are resolved. It is also through conflict that eventually people get to understand each other and hence work better together in future. There are many approaches that are used by organizations to deal with conflict at the workplace and of course each approach yields different outcomes. Some of these conflict management approaches include avoidance, negotiation, arbitration, litigation or dismissal and transfer of irreconcilable employees. In most cases organizations will apply a combination of two or more conflict management tactics. In my workplace the popular conflict management approach used is avoidance. This approach takes the form of simply ignoring conflicts among employees in the hope that the issues of contention will disappear. Needless to say this approach only suppresses conflict and aggravates the problems. With time the conflicts become irrepressible and erupt to scandals. Disgruntled employees sabotage office resources and in case the conflict is among co-workers the scenario may take to physical confrontation. This tarnishes the image and reputation that an organization takes so much to build. Another approach used at my workplace is instant transfer of one or both parties to the conflict and in some cases dismissal. This approach has its pros and cons in that transfers can have an adverse effect on the employee and the same for dismissal. However, other times it has been used to dilute tension betwee n worker with bad blood. Separation thus seems to be very logical. Management at the workplace should ensure that it refrains from using such a technique. The techniques used at my workplace contradict with my personal conflict management preferences at varying degrees. I highly believe that avoiding a problem in the hope that it goes away does not help. Communication is crucial to conflict management. It is important to note that conflict mounts slowly from simple arguments then accumulates to intolerable tensions culminating to conflicts. Management can contain and dissolve these arguments and tensions before it translates to conflict. This is possible by monitoring employee relations and identifying potential conflicts. (Nelson & Quick, 2006). In addition, frequent open discussions among the employees and the management can help to quell discontent felt by the workforce before it matures to conflicts and scandal. Further, proper channels and policies that clearly outline the organization's stance on conflict and the expected code of conduct at the organization can help to alleviate conflict. For example, harassment is popular at th e workplace because the organizations lack clear cut rules and regulations to govern relationship among people in the workforce. Women especially fall victim to sexual harassment from their bosses and managers and in most cases feel helpless and turn to conflict in order to grab attention of others. If proper codes of conduct are placed then conflicts at the workplace can be managed. Another shortfall of transfers and dismissal of parties to conflict is that it assumes that only main participants are

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Myocardial infarction Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Myocardial infarction - Case Study Example The mice used in this experiment were reported to have larger and more severe atherosclerosis wounds after a stroke or myocardial infarction. These results were observed to be as a result of increased monocyte production that was triggered by the stroke that affected the spleen action. This understanding of factor affecting atherosclerosis and can be used in using better management techniques (Dutta et al 2012). This is because the kind of intervention used on atherosclerosis patients with ischemic complication can affect the long term outcome. Care should thus be taken with patients with such problems to avoid further complications I find this article to be important because you find that most patients suffering from atherosclerosis also suffers from myocardial infarction. The interaction of the two makes it hard to treat one or the other. Understanding how myocardial infarction affects other diseases is important in developing better treatment methods. For instance, people sufferin g from atherosclerosis should not be subjected to a treatment that increases the possibility of getting a stroke or myocardial infarction. It gives a deeper understanding how the myocardial infarction may affect the body so that precautions can be taken. Article two Guidelines for Management of Acute Myocardial Infarction The article looks into the various strategies that have been put forward on the treatment of myocardial infarction. It starts by analyzing all the symptoms associated with the disease and how they affect the body. The author then systematically explains all the treatment options and their implication on the body. This is putting in consideration that although there may many treatment strategies, their effectiveness is tagged on their ability to give the nest end results and reduce the risk of the patient getting other infections. The article puts all these risks in the clear so that doctors can be able to decide which treatment option best suits their patient condi tion. The author highlights early risk stratification and rapid diagnosis as major factors influencing the success of treatment of acute myocardial infarction. In order to understand the extent of the progression of the disease, different strategies are used and this look for biochemical, pathological, clinical and electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics (Banerjee & Kumar 2011). These risks should be analyzed quantitatively to get a greater picture of the disease progression. I think this article is important because it not only describes the different treatment options but it also gives a detailed account of the risks associated with these treatment options. The physician can use this method to determine which treatment option suits a patient in context of other disorders that the patient may have. The information presented here can be used by doctors to have the needed information that would increase the chance of having better outcomes. Article Three Plasma HDL cholesterol and risk of myocardial infarction: a mendelian randomisation study The article is about a study that seeks to know whether a high level of plasma HDL cholesterol decreases the risk of getting myocardial infarction. The study seeks to identify whether the association of low risk to myocardial infection with low plasma HDL cholesterol is cause. It takes a mendelian approach where genes are assorted independently during meiosis and their causal effects is not affected by the disease progr

Monday, September 23, 2019

Critical Summary Writing for Virtual Communities Assignment

Critical Summary Writing for Virtual Communities - Assignment Example Online discussion of whatever topic engages people and makes the virtual community interesting that engages people because a wealth of economies for knowledge are shared where everybody benefits from it of which an effective host is able to create the suitable environment for such engagement to flourish. This may not be easy to do but showing genuine interest for online community members and establishing rules early on helps create a positive online environment. The absence of physical contact makes online community vulnerable to misunderstanding and conflict. It is expected that the host will be challenged by the community members in the early stage of the online community. It would be better if the host will delay emotional response when challenged by members of the online community. It would also help not to say anything and bend over backward to become civil when challenged. If the host must respond, it would be safer to send a private message to the party concerned. One must remember that an ounce of elegance and grace is worth ten pounds of argument. Averting possible conflict in the online community ensures the positive atmosphere where members are engaged Hosting a virtual community or social media is just like organizing a physical community. One must be a good host to facilitate group activity that keeps everyone interested. Just like physical community, there are also pitfalls that could spark misunderstanding of which a good host must avoid. Emotional restraint is a good quality of an online host to avoid conflict. once these environment is created, the online community will become a self-sustaining group and will

Sunday, September 22, 2019

The audience can sympathise Essay Example for Free

The audience can sympathise Essay Arthur Miller wrote A View from the Bridge as a modern version of a Greek tragedy, therefore, Eddies death at the end of Act Two should be tragic. The audience have to feel pity, or pathos, towards Eddie when he dies to make the play a successful tragedy. According to 1.Aristotles definition of a tragic hero, the hero should be noble and of high status; he should have a flaw, or hamartia, which should lead to his tragic ending; his punishment should seem to be harsher than his crime; and he should realise that his flaw has led to his tragedy. By making his play a modern version of a Greek tragedy, Miller uses the character of Alfieri, his description of Eddie as a likeable and respected man and an extreme and violent death in the arms of his wife to make the audience sympathise with him and to make him a tragic hero. Throughout the play, Miller gives his audience many reasons to respect and admire Eddie. Although there is too much love (p. 48) for his niece, it is also obvious that he is very protective over Catherine and genuinely cares about her. Eddie and his wife have taken Catherine in and have given her a loving and caring home to live in. Also, Eddie seems popular within his community, is liked by Louis and Mike and is described by Alfieri as good a man as he had to be in a life that was hard and even. (p. 26) Eddie is respected both in the house, because he is head of the household, and in the community. This shows that he is actually a noble person, with high status in the Italian-American community. He is the only person in the family who works; he is the provider for the family. Miller shows how hardworking Eddie is because he has to earn a living for his whole family and despite the mistakes he makes, both Catherine and Beatrice love him until he dies at the end of the play. Many may feel sorry for Eddie even without the chorus, Alfieri, being there to lead the audience though the play. In the beginning of the play, when Beatrice tells Eddie, Shes got a job. (p. 18), Eddie seems shocked and says to Catherine Its not wonderfulYou cant take no job. Why didnt you ask me before you take a job? (p. 18). This quote shows the audience that Eddie disapproves of this and does not want his niece to leave him, even though Beatrice and Catherine had wanted Eddie to be happy about this. When Beatrice tells Eddie that Catherine will earn fifty dollars a week (p. 18), Eddie is taken aback and his jealousy of Catherine earning more than he does becomes more and more obvious throughout the conversation. Later on in the discussion, Eddie says I want you to be in a nice office. Maybe a lawyers office someplace in New York in one of them nice buildings. (p. 19). This contradicts what Alfieri says in his introduction to the play In this neighbourhood to meet a lawyer or a priest on the street is unlucky. Were only thought of in connexion with disasters, and theyd rather not get too close. (p. 11). Later on in the play, when Catherine fell in love with Eddie, Eddie gets even more envious and angry. In his conversation with Catherine, he says He [Rodolpho] marries you hes go the right to be an American citizenThe guy is lookin for his break, thats all hes lookin for. (p. 41). This shows how angry Eddie is at the fact that Catherine likes Rodolpho, and not him. Miller helps the audience sympathise with Eddie in this scene by making Catherine trust Rodolpho instead of Eddie. To a modern audience, there may be some features in Eddie that are hard not to dislike. His flaw involves love for a girl he has raised as if she was his own daughter, a terrible taboo. Also, Eddie is a parental figure who seems to expect women to do domestic work for him. Tragic heroes usually recognise their own mistakes. In Greek tragedies, this is the moment in a play when the tragic hero appreciates their own weakness and their own responsibility. However, throughout the play, Eddie does not admit to himself the truth about loving Catherine. Although Beatrice tries to make him face this truth by saying You want somethin else, Eddie and you can never have her (p. 83), Eddie seems truly shocked and grasps his head as though it would burst (p. 83). All throughout the play, Eddie never really seems capable of facing what he feels or admitting his responsibility. Even in the end of the play, Eddie says, Marco, tell them what a liar you are! (p. 84) To try and prevent the audience from making harsh judgements of Eddie, Miller uses Alfieri as a type of chorus in the play. In Greek tragedies, the chorus are observers who judge actions fairly. They help the audience to consider the elements of the play. As the chorus, Alfieri sympathises with Eddie, along with the audience. He expresses his feelings and thoughts to the audience about what happens throughout the play and provides judgement. In the play, Alfieri suggests that it is normal and human to sin. He also states that many people have hidden guilty secrets but there is something beautiful in a man whose sins are so public and so clear that he becomes wholly known (p. 85). Before Eddie calls the immigration department, Alfieri warns him that even those who understand will turn against you (p. 67), which shows that Eddies weakness is not special, but that other people still will judge him. Then, with Eddie dying on stage, Alfieri ends the play by saying, I confess that something perversely pure calls to me from his [Eddies] memoryfor he allowed himself to be wholly known and for that I think I will love him (p. 85) In other words, since we all have guilty secrets but manage to keep them hidden inside, there is something quite pure in a person whose guilty secrets are not unknown. An oxymoron Miller used, perversely pure (p. 85), shows that Alfieri wants us to think about our own weaknesses and not judge Eddie too harshly. Another common feature of Greek tragedy is that the death should seem predictable, and that it cannot be stopped. Miller uses Alfieri to suggest this to the audience, as if it is out of control of the character. Right from the beginning, Miller makes it obvious that Eddie would die in the end. Alfieri keeps giving clues to the audience about Eddie being destined to die, saying he felt powerless and watched it run its bloody course. (p. 12) Another quote from Alfieri is, I knew where he [Eddie] was heading for, I knew where he was going to end. (p. 50) These quotes make us feel more pity for Eddie because, even when he seems happy and loving, we still know he is heading towards a bloody (p. 12) end. Miller successfully makes Eddie a sympathetic character by making him fit the tragic hero he is supposed to be. The audience goes from admiring Eddie to getting to know his terrible guilty secret. Through the whole play we get the unescapable feeling that he is heading towards his bloody end and that it is his guilty secret that will cause it. Although for some modern theatre audiences, Eddie may seem to be an old-fashioned man and although he never really admits his own faults, Miller uses Alfieris character to make sure we can still feel the intended pity. I think this is Millers greatest achievement in this play, reminding us that we are all human, guilty in some ways, and that we should feel sorry for ourselves and Eddie for that.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

General Psychology Of Sex And Gender Psychology Essay

General Psychology Of Sex And Gender Psychology Essay The topics I have chosen for consideration of psychological research are language, and sex and gender. The approaches taken will be analysed the topic in general terms and not to focus on one particular aspect at detailed levels. It points to the lack of a conclusive answer which is caused by Psychology as a discipline being relatively young and still in early stages with a lack of adequately strong theories that might assist to connect otherwise contrasting perspectives co existing. The report concludes that different perspectives within psychology can coexist at times, though conflict is frequent throughout. Sex and Gender The Psychology of sex and gender is one the most topical, important and engaging subjects that psychology, it illustrates many of the difficult issues that psychological explanations must address, including the political implications of different perspectives and the challenging of integrating explanations. It has been a controversial topic since the inception of psychology as a discipline and it powerful illustrates some of the diverse approaches with the field. A deliberation of how psychology approaches the analysis of sex and gender discloses four psychological perspectives, these are: Biological sex differences: Explaining the differences between male and female and biological correlates of behaviour. Investigations ere conducted through scientific processes Evolutionary psychology: Explaining the differences in the behaviour between the sexes in terms of behavioural selection for reproductive fitness. Test are conducted empirically Social constructionist theory: Gender differences between the sexes through the study of discourse in various historical, cultural and social contexts and so is hermeneutic. Psychoanalytic psychology: Development and meaning of sexual differences. Studies are largely done through clinical observation. Direct impressions of the four perspectives are objects of knowledge of each of the perspectives are all valid and useful in general psychology of sex and gender,. They pose somewhat different questions, have different objects of knowledge and use different notions of evidences. These perspectives may be complementary, conflicting however the scope for co-existence is not transparent. Given that the perspectives do not share common objects of knowledge, however is there can be an underlying hope for complementary theories in which together they all contribute to a broad understanding. Sex refer to the biological basis of differences between the sexes, where as gender refers to social constructed categories pertaining to these differences. Assigning a sex to humans can sometimes be a complex process, biological characteristics such as genetics and hormonal used to designate male or female, can be unreliable in small proportions of case, due to genetic abnormalities, such as, Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) and Klinefelterss Syndrome ((XXY) (OU, p137) The biological and evolutionary perspectives certainly seem complementary at theoretic level in which both consider biological sex as the fonudation for gender and view conflicts between sexes as biological characteristics that have been cycled through during evolution. Evolutionary psychologists argue that sexual selections and the different optimal reproductive styles of our male female ancestors have results in some differences in the behavioural predispositions of the two sexes. These are seen to particularly apparent in the area of sexual behaviours and attitudes. Buss (1992), found while both sexes reported experiencing jealousy at the though of their partner being involved with another person, there were differences in the focus of their concerned. OU,p145) In humans, unlike in other animals, clear differences in brain structures that correlate with differences in adult behaviour patterns have proven difficult to demonstrate. Nonetheless, imaging studies show some sex differences in brain functioning of Western adults. This is probably due, at least in part, to the brains plasticity.(Giedd et al, 1999) )p140). While some sex differences are clearly established at birth for most individuals, bodies and brained may become gendered over lifetime of use. A explanations would appear to be consistent with research findings from cross-cultural differences in male and females sexual behaviours, which Allen and Gorski, 1990 study has backed (OU, p139) Nevertheless, biological psychology sets out to explain differences with in male and female psychology in terms of chosen physiological features, e.g. dimorphism in brain structures ( Hofman and Swaab, 1991,OU p.139). Additionally the evolutionary psychologists would primarily contend in favour of selected behavioural features such as differences between sexual attitudes between the sexes ( Clark and Hatfield, 1989, OU p.146). Thus, in that respect a conflict is apprent at the level of analysis, hence it is ironic that evolutionary psychology must dependently coinside with biological psychology since, given the intelligible complusions on its capacity to carryout the types of empirical reserach that might could be hoped for (Herrnstein-Smith, 2000,, OU p.141), it is dependent on a particulr amount of certification from the biological perspective, amongst others (OU, 2007, pp.184). From a social constructionist point of view, they regard sex and gender as features that are declared only through discourse and action. These are repercussion, of the individuals behaviour and experience within a cultural, social and historical context. The depth of the conflict is illustrated by a comparison of evolutionary studies that stress cross-cultural stability in particular sexual preferences ( Buss and Schmitt, 1993, OU, p.148, ) and social constructionist ideas such as Sandra Bem, who developed the idea of the cultural lens of musicality and femininity. This lens is a way of perceiving the world that makes behaviour and experiences gendered, this is called the Gender Schema Theory (1994, Holloway et al, 2007, OU p.153). According to the social constructionist perspectives, biological sex is not central to explaining what it is to be a man or a women, rather it is a signpost to which a whole set of us socially constructed gender differences are attached. In this account, social constructionist created discourse about masculinity and femininity are used by individual to create their own gendered subject positions. Whereas the biological and evolutionary perspectives correspond that biological sex consists at the center of explaining gender, the social constructionist perspective categorically rejects that notion, primarly for political reasons. In relation to Sex and Gender, political differences are often exposed when conflicting accounts of differences occur. Gender and sexuality came to be seen, through Freuds work, as having far-reaching implications for the development of it self. It largely correlates the social constructionist, in conditions of its interpretive or hermeneutic methodology. Therefore both the social constructionist and psychoanalytic perspectives dispute with the biological and evolutionary persptetives at the methodological level of understanding. Contrastingly however the psychoanalysis perspective acknowledges that both biological and cultural contributions to its hypothesis make up, though it is not without its share of difference however. Within the perspective, a important critical developments in the psychoanalytic theory sex and gender includes Freuds notion for the symbolic significance of the penis( and penis envy) quickly came under scrutiny from feminist psychologists to scientific practices, through Freud failure to consider the significant of womens genitals. (OU, Horney, 1926, , 2007, p.164). Language and Meaning There are three main perspectives used to examine the complex area of language, these are: Theory Methods Themes. These perspectives focus on different aspects of language including evolutionary developments of languages, the processing of languages and the construction of meaning through interaction. From the study of language and meaning, an evenly conniving combination of possible co-existence, complementory and conflicting aspects can be found when comparing the three principal perspectives. The evolutionary perspective sets out to explore language to understand how are related structurally and historically, how they are used differently by various social and cultural groups and how languages is used to communicate and create meaning. Language is the main medium for communication between humans beings and where we express, explore and pursue those goals that mean most to us . It can be concvied to view the three perspectives as at to the lowest degree co-existent. Their objectives of knowledge are different and one could anticipate their cumulative intentions to contribute to some sort of merged theroy Nevertheless, the possible conflict between the cognitive and social constructionist perspectives is disclosed in how they consider meaning as the object of knowledge. For the congntive view it is something whihc is manufactured internally by the individual before transmission, and subsequently rebuilt by the whoever present viewing. For the social view it is negotiated as a consequence of discourse between individuals, in which meaning emerges as the result of a complex exchange of intentions, interpretations and power-relations. Therefore, there is cause for discrepancy, as to what meaning is and where it comes from (Sperber and Wilson 1986, OU, p100). It therefore approprant to rationalise a claim of conflict since the types of meaning adopted by the two perspectives are themselves contratsting. A major social constructionist disagreement with a formulist cognitive perspective is that cognitive processes cannot be transparently reported. The argument is one that cognitive psychologist have long noted. Talking about early research into the cognitive modelling of language Boden (1977, pp.113ff, et passim) notes that a persons comprhendion of language in a given instance is dependent, not merely from their knowledge of the einviroment surrounding them, but importantly on their understanding of their relationship with who they communicate with. Within the evolutionary perspective there is also a argument as to whether language evolved as an adaptation advantage and was the foundation for other cognitive abilities. Pinker (1994) believes that languages may have evolved through natural selection, perhaps in conjunction with other cognitive abilities, OU, p83) or as a reaction of selection for an ability to form our Metarepresentation (Sperber, 2000, p.86). These are contradictory and conflicting views.. The major differences between psychological methods based on natural science principles and those based those on hermeneutic principles means that preservatives based on these methods may have difficulty achieving more than uneasy coexistence. Psychologists do not always abide on such significant basic principle. The questions they posture can often be hard to extract without abridging the prognostic ability of whatever solution, in comparion to physics or chemisty which can be measured through of year thousands of years evidence, psychology on the other hand as a recognisable discipline has been prenst of litte over a hundread years. A inevitable conclusion is that psychology is characterised by perspectives that are present at more then one level on conflict, co-existenct or complementtory aspects, No perspective on its own can tell the whole story. The perspectives and levels of analysis and explanations cannot just be combined without an account of how they interact.

Friday, September 20, 2019

Life Cycle Assessment of a Computer Mouse

Life Cycle Assessment of a Computer Mouse TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT This project Life Cycle assessment aims at learning about how to conduct a life cycle assessment of a given product ( in this project computer mouse is the product) using Cambridge Engineering Selector (CES) software. In this document History of the mouse as of when it was invented and what are the developments that took place in years, composition of mouse, raw materials used in the mouse, the manufacturing process and the by products and waste during the manufacturing and extraction of the computer mouse will be discussed. Later on with the help of Cambridge Engineering selector we use the application of Eco audit tool and provide it necessary input into it to achieve the necessary output. The output is the outcome or the result of the project. In addition to that each and every component of the computer mouse will be discussed in detail and the environmental hazards related to the production of each of them will be discussed. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deep appreciation to my supervisor Mr. N.HART, for his guidance, review, suggestions, kindness, valuable time, criticisms and comments throughout my M.sc Project. I am most grateful and thankful to university technical staff Michael Britton for his encouragement from the very beginning of the study and guiding me throughout my M.sc course. I remain indebted and my love goes to my family for helping me accomplish this thesis. My parents have been a constant source of support-emotional, moral and financial during my post graduate years and this thesis would certainly not have existed without them. 1. INTRODUCTION History of computer mouse: Dr. Douglas Engelbart has invented the first device that came out as mouse in the year 1964. During this time the only way the cursor scrolling position in the computer screen was by using the arrow keys on the keyboard and it was really inefficient and awkward to use. It incorporates mechanism which is in the form of small brick with one button on top and underneath two wheels and was made by Douglas. The purpose of these wheels is to detect horizontal and vertical movement and on the whole the unit was little bit difficult to use. For viewing the cursor on the monitor The connection to the computer was established by means of a cable so that the motion signals could be sent out electrically. A long cable tail featured like device like a mouse so the name â€Å"mouse† came into picture.NASA team tried different methods which enables the cursor to move on the computer screen like the devices Light pens, knee switches and steering wheels, albeit, in testing of these devices Eng el arts mouse gained popularity. Engineers thought that the mouse was ideal for drafting and illustration purposes And could build up computer aided designs on the same desk. Slowly mouse began to be called as input/output device. To make the scrolling easier the mouse began to multiply rapidly. The wire coming out from the mouse reminded a tail which is one end and the other end is used for connecting to the central processing unit. 2. BODY AND COMPOSITION OF THE MOUSE: Body of the mouse: The outer surface of the mouse is Hard plastic body which the user guides across a flat surface The tail of a mouse is an electrical cable that leads out from one end and finishes at the connection at the Central Processing Unit It posses one to three buttons at the extremity which are external contacts to tiny electrical switches With a click on the button the electrical circuit is forced to close and the computer receives a command Below the mouse theres an plastic hatch that fits over a rubberized ball which exposes a small part of the ball A support wheel and two shafts hold the ball in place inside the Mouse Rotation of the spokes causes IR light signals from light emitting diode to flick through the spoke which are then captured by a light detector Phototransistors help to translate these light signals into electrical pulses which reach the integrated circuit interface in the mouse These pulses then confirms the IC whether the ball has followed an up down or left right movement The IC commands the cursor to scroll on to the screen consequently. The interface IC is then ascended onto a printed circuit board. This forms the skeleton to which each and every Internal mechanism in the mouse are joined The information from the signals and switches coming out from the phototransistors is collected by a computer chip or IC These are then sent to the computer by means of a data stream The Brain of the Mouse: Every mouse design consists of an individual software known as driver These driver are The external brain which enables the PC to comprehend the mouse signals. The driver commands the PC how to understand the mouses IC data stream including speed, direction, and clicked commands The mouses IC data stream which includes clicked commands, direction and speed. Few mouse drivers permit the user to specify performance to the buttons and vary the mouses resolution ( distance relative to cursor and mouse travel). The Mouse which are purchased as a part of computer packages have built in drivers or is programmed initially in the computers RAW MATERIALS IN THE MOUSE The outer shell of the mouse and the majority of its internal parts, which includes spoked wheels and shafts are usually made up of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastic which is usually injection moulded. The ball is basically made of metal which is rubber coated and is usually supplied by a speciality supplier The electrical micro switches which is produced from metal and plastic are of shelf items which are supplied by subcontractors even though the designers of the mouse can specify force requirements for switches to make it easier of harder to click. The chips or IC could be standard items even though individual manufacturer might have proprietary chips which can be utilised in its complete products line. The outside source also supplies electrical cables and over moulds To suit the design of mouse the printed circuit board (PCB) over Which the mechanical and electrical components are accumulated is tradition made Oscillators, integrated circuits, capacitors, electrical resistors and various other components are made of different types of plastic, metal and silicon The raw materials which are used in manufacturing of a computer mouse are as follows: Mouse Design: The basic design of a computer mouse was conceived and prototyped in early 1960s and steriolithography concept is employed efficiently within the concurrent engineering. The concurrent engineering development takes place in two design teams , the electrical team emphasizing on control circuitry and the mechanical team working on casing layout and button geometry. For operating the mouse, the users posture, finger extension needed to reach the buttons, use by both right and left handed individuals, no prolonged static electricity and lastly the requirements safety and comfort They alter widely depending on whether the use of mouse is in home or office computers The brief design of mouse for the proposed mouse is written to explain Which the mechanical and electrical components are accumulated is tradition made an appearance is also proposed in staying along with the probable market. The design team comes back to the table along with foam models; for a single mouse design scores of var ious shapes are made and the user testing on the models are performed whereas the preliminary tests are performed by engineers or the focus may be turned onto groups as typical users or observes one to one testing with user samples. When a suitable selection is chosen, wooden models which are more refined and painted are produced from the winning design. The input of the model is acquired based on the feel, shape and looks and then ergonomist reviews the probable designs and confirms the goal of human factors guidelines to be achieved. After an optimal design is chosen the engineering team starts modelling the internal components. A 3D performance is generated by the computer and same information is used to machine-cut the postures of the exterior shell with every details. Inside the structure the mechanical and electronic engineers fit the printed circuit board and the encoder mechanism. The phenomena of fitting the workings on to the shell are iterative, the changes are then made and then the design and fit process are conducted so long as the mouse achieves the design objectives and the design team is happy. The custom chips are then designed and produced on a trial basis and then tested; for the design to meet the performance objectives and provide it unique, competitive and marketable characteristics the help of custom electronics is required. The fully completed design figures are handed over to the project tooled who then starts the process of modifying machines to manufacture the mouse. To generate the injection moulding of the shell tooling diagrams are made into use. The factors like shape and size, volume of the cavity, the number of gates through which the plastic will be injected into the mould, and the plastic flow in the mould are all diagrammed and studied after analyzing the final plans of tooling the tools are fabricated using computer aided data. Prototype plastic shells are made as try shots to find out the actual flow lines and to make sure that voids are not included. the process is precise. Texture is applied to the external outlook of the shell by sand blasting or by acid etching. The Manufacturing Process: To manufacture a computer mouse several processes are used to make different pieces of the unit. The processes that are used in manufacturing are as follows. First the Printed Circuit board (PCB) is prepared in the journey of manufacturing and assembling steps. This board is a flat, resin coated sheet that can be of surface-mount design or through hole design. The assembly of surface mount version is entirely done by the machine. The other electrical components are placed on to the board in prescribed pattern by a computer controlled automatic sequencer. The connecting wires of the electronic components are induced in the holes of the PCB assembly. Then all the components are placed on the board, the bottom surface is passed through molten lead solder in a soldering machine. This machine removes contaminants by passing the board with flux. The board is gently heated by the machine and the component it induces with infrared heat is to lessen the possibility of thermal shock. The solder raises each line by hair-like activity, seals the perforations and repairs the components in the correct placeAfter this process is done the PCB is cooled a nd is visually inspected before the mechanism is attached. A separate unit is assembled for the encoder mechanism. Injection moulding process is used to manufacture the plastic parts (computer mouse case housing) with proper specifications and the left over scrap plastic material is trimmed off. The whole unit is fastened to the PC Board using screws keeping in view after the encoder mechanism is completely assembled. With set of wires, rubber and shielding cover the mouses tail and its electrical cable attached are manufactured. Overmolds are the additional pieces of the cable to obstruct the cable from separating away from the mouse. We can make our own shapes of design for overmolds, the near mouse overmold is hooked to the At the other end of the tail the connector is then soldered to the wires and the connector over mold is exploded into place. The outer shell pieces are then examined visually after moulding, Trimming and surface finish treatment and before the assembly. The external housing is assembled in four steps. To the bottom of the shell the completed PCB and encoder assembly are inserted. Onto the housing top part, the cable is joined; the bottom and top are joined together using automated screwdrivers. The last electronics and the achievement quality inspection are accomplished, if assembly is complete in the substantial one. Rubber or neoprene feet with the adhesive covering in front-turned at a side is added the lower surface of the mouse. A programming team has been developing; testing, reproducing the mouse driver firm ware, while the tooling designs and physical assembly are in progress. As above said â€Å"firmware† is the combination of software and hardware codes which has the unity of integrated circuit, translated mouse directional movements and micro switch signals which are understood when the mouse is attached. By-products and waste: Computer mice makers do not generate by-products from the manufacturers of mouse, albeit most of them suggest a variety of alike devices for altered applications. In order to avoid the design, tooling, assembly modification costs the new and multiple designs are in corporate when possible. Waste is minimal. The mouses ABS plastic skin is highly recyclable and can be ground, moulded, and reground many times. Small quantities can be recycled using metal scrap and other plastics. 3. LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT: LCA is a holistic tool used to identify the environmental consequences of a product, process or activity through its entire life cycle and to identify opportunities for achieving environmental improvements. Life cycle stages include: Raw materials acquisition, Manufacturing, Use/reuse. Maintenance. And recycling/waste management. For epitome, in the case of computer mouse an LCA involves making detailed measurements during the manufacture of the device. In the design stage of new products LCA information is very useful LCA gives the whole assessment of the point of origin to the end of a product or process, i.e from processing of natural resources to shipping, mining, and also how the material be recycled or reused and till it is disposed permanently. As a system, LCA identifies the whole process and possible environmental effects throughout a products life cycle. The term life cycle refers to the holistic assessment which assess all the operations in the supply chain ,i.e raw material production , production, fabricating, distribution, modes of transport, end product, use and disposal of all the materials or products involved . .LCA method is one of the executive methods for evaluating the environment. It identifies that each and every product has certain influence on the environment during its life cycle, where each product is standardized and is temporarily assigned an environmental annex. For in this regard life cycle assessment is a central tool. The LCA method can be classified into three steps :- Inventory analysis Goal and scope definition Impact assessment The technique which allows the comparison of the environmental impacts of materials and products is Life Cycle Assessment. This assessment allows us to modify the quantitative data and to identify the potential environmental impacts of the material or product on the environment. LCA is common for assessments to be made of more limited periods eg. Cradle-to-gate and cover the entire life cycle life cycle of a material. The entire analysis is referred to as cradle-to-cradle which refers to production from extraction of raw materials, production and delivery and is often broken down into phases of lesser ambition. Goal and scope definition :- Scoping is the most critical component of LCA because it provides a frame of reference for the entire study and helps define interrelationships among the other three LCA components; inventory analysis, impact assessment, and improvement assessment. The goal definition identifies the overall purpose for the LCA and its intended applications. Goal definition and scoping initiates the LCA and then drives the scope, boundary settings, data categories and data needs. This process is continuously revisited during an LCA. Scoping defines the boundaries, assumptions and limitations and should be done before an LCA is conducted to ensure that the breadth and depth of analysis are consistent with the defined goal of the LCA. Inventory Analysis: It is the well-developed component of LCA. A completed inventory analysis provides an overview of the life-cycle inputs and outputs associated with a particular system. The results of an inventory analysis may be used to identify areas to achieve improvement, as baseline information for conducting an impact assessment or some combination of the two. This analysis gives the boundaries of the system to be studied and develop a data questionnaire to collect the appropriate data. Develops, stand alone subsystem data and conducts a peer review to validate the results. This analysis may be used to identify areas to achieve improvement as baseline information for conducting an impact assessment. Impact Assessment: In this phase of LCA, the inputs and outputs of the system identified in the inventory analysis are translated into quantitative and or qualitative descriptions of environmental impacts by using models. A very few LCAs have attempted to include impacts because of the inherent complexities and data requirements of impact assessment. We do impact assessment because it provides the LCA user information that is more useful for decision making. Some of the LCA impact categories: Impacts of land use Climate change Stratospheric ozone depletion Human toxicity Ecotoxicity Photo-oxidant formation Impacts of ionizing radiation Acidification Eutrophication Depletion of abiotic resources Depletion of biotic resources Improvement Assessment: It is the least developed component of LCA. The main purpose of improvement assessment is to identify and evaluate specific actions that target priority impacts within the life-cycle frame work. Identification and estimation of opportunities to achieve improvements in processes that result in reduced environmental impacts, is based on the results of an inventory study or impact assessment. LCA may be utilised for several purposes To develop the environmental aspects of a product and to find out the frail systems in the product chain. For product improvement for environmentally enhanced products. For making executive decisions in governmental organisations. Helps to select and compare among the available products. For mixture of relevant indicator of environmental presentation. 4. ECO AUDIT TOOL Eco audit tool enables the product designers to quickly evaluate the environmental impact of a product, and it helps to reduce the environmental measures. By making use of CES software, this can be achieved by focussing on two environmental stressors To minimize the environmental footprint of a product, identification of the dominant phase is very important and it enables a designer to establish which aspect of the design to target The result of the eco audit forms the objective for the product design. This objective is dependent on both the dominant phase and the product application. Life Cycle Analysis: The Life cycle analysis of the product life cycle is split into three main sections in the eco audit tool: Material, manufacture, and end of life Transport Use 1. Material, manufacture, and end of life This the first section of the product definition which allows us to enter the Bill of Materials'(BOM) for the product, with each line representing an individual component. There is no limit on the number of components that can be added. Reading across the input dialog box, the entries are as follows Quantity This column tells us about the different number of individual components that are used in making of the product. This quantity column enables the specification of duplicate components in a hierarchal order. . The default value is one because there is no product with zero quantity. Component name It is the dialogue box for entering the name of each individual component of the product. Material The material drop-down menu displays the full Material Universe tree of the active database. Materials are selected by browsing the tree and clicking on the record for the material of our interest. Once we have done this, the eco audit tool extracts data from the material record to determine what options to display in the Primary process and End of life menus. Certain products include components that do not contribute to all life phases. For example, the water in a drinks bottle contributes to the transportation phase but not the material and manufacturing phases. This contribution is handled by creating a dummy component with no material, or process, assigned to it. Recycle content We have three recycle contents which can be specified as 0%, 100%, and typical %. As the names suggest, 0% represents the use of virgin material, where all the feedstock is produced from raw materials. 100% represents the other intense, where the material is manufactured entirely from feedstock reclaimed from end of life components. Typical %, lies between these two extremes and accounts for the level of recycled material incorporated back into the supply chain as standard practice. This applies to materials, such as metals and glasses, where end of life recycling has become integrated into the supply chain. This practice leads to standard grades containing significant levels of recycled material. For example, lead alloys generally contain 50-60% recycled material. Although many materials can be recycled, and have recycle fraction in current supply values quoted in the Material universe database, they are not routinely reintroduced into the standard supply. As a result, the typical recycle content option is only displayed for grades of metal and glass that are flagged as recyclable. Primary process The primary process dropdown menu displays the processes that are applicable to the material selected from the tree. This information, and associated data, is extracted from the materials datasheet. The available primary processes in the database are shown in the below table. Table: Available primary processes (Level 1 and 2 database) As electrical components are finished sub-assemblies, the material and process energies (and CO2) have been incorporated into one value [Embodied energy, primary production]. As a consequence, no processing options are available for these components. Mass (kg) Numeric field for specifying the mass of the component. This value is multiplied by the quantity (Qty) field value to determine the total mass for the component. End of Life This drop-down menu displays all possible ends of life options for the selected material. There are seven ends of life options and their applicable materials. Out of these seven, the first four are directly displayed on the datasheet depending on the type of material. The remaining life options are not specified and are added as other possible options for all materials. The end of life option generally defaults to Landfill. The main exception is for toxic materials, which default to the next viable option (usually in down cycle order). Table: describes the possible end life options and their Summaryrelated to the materials 2. Transport Transportation phase is the second part of the product definition. This phase relates to the transport of the finished product from the source of manufacture to the customer Each line in the table relates to one stage of the process journey. There is no limit on the number of stages that can be added. For each stage, three parameters are defined: stage name, transport efficiency (transport type), and distance. The transport efficiency is specified through the transport type dropdown menu, which lists the main methods for transporting goods. Table: transport options and associated environmental burden To determine the environmental impact of each stage the energy usage and the carbon foot print values are combined with the product mass and distance. i.e. Energy usage is given by Transport Energy =Transport energy per unit mass * distance * product mass. And carbon foot print by Transport co2=Transport energy per unit mass*Distance*product mass*carbon foot print. 3. Use The final stage of the product definition is the use phase. Product life Numeric field for specifying the product life, in years. The value for the year is considered to be default (1). Country electricity mix The Country electricity mix drop-down menu enables the particular mix of fossil and non-fossil fuel of the country of use to be specified. This is split into three main groups: global regions, individual countries, and fossil fuel percentage. The default option is World. Compared to the other sources, such as nuclear, hydroelectric and wind power, the environmental burden of electricity generated from fossil fuels is significantly higher. So this specification of country of use is very important phase of the eco audit tool. This is due to the relatively low efficiency in converting fossil fuels to electricity (1MJ of electricity requires about 3MJ of fossil fuel). The impact of a countrys energy mix on the energy equivalence and carbon footprint of its electricity supply is summarized in Figure. The final grouping in the country electricity mix menu specifies the electricity mix based on the proportion derived from fossil fuels (0% to 100% at 5% intervals). The environmental impact of these has been calculated using the following assumptions: The carbon footprint of electricity is dominated by the contribution from fossil fuels, with the proportion derived from other sources having no, or negligible, contribution. And the conversion process for generating electricity from fossil fuels is taken to be 33% efficient. In this use phase we have two modes namely static mode and mobile mode which describes the product energy usage. In static mode the available options are energy input and output which describes the conversion of one form of energy into another, power rating and usage. In the mobile mode, we have fuel and mobility type and its usage. Modes of use The use phase is divided into two modes of operation static mobile. Static relates to products that are (normally) stationary but require energy to function. For example: electrically powered products like electric kettles, refrig

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Last Of The Mohicans Essay -- essays research papers

The book begins in the middle of the French and Indian War in upper New York State near the Hudson River and Lake Chaplain. General Webb has just gotten word from an Indian that Moncalm and the French are going to attack Fort William Henry and that Colonel Munro will not be ale to keep the fort because he only has one thousand men and that he (Webb) needs to send reinforcements immediately. Upon hearing this, he ordered fifteen hundred men to be ready to march at dawn and has Cora and Alice Munro sent to their father at Fort William Henry accompanied by Major Duncan Heyward on horseback. They went along an Indian path which was to get them to Fort William Henry faster and they were lead by an Indian runner, from the time they left Fort Edward the two sisters were suspicious of their Indian Guide, Le Renard Subtil. A little while into their trip, they meet the singing master David Gamut who asked to accompany them to Fort William Henry. Not to far away in the same forest, were an Indian and a White man talking about their race’s existence in the "New World." The Indian was Chingachgook, the chief of the Mohicans, and the White man, Hawkeye; this was the name given to him by the Indians. They talk for a while and then decide to eat. Uncas kills them something for dinner and shortly after, The Party on it’s way to Fort William Henry runs into them along the path. They stop for a while and talk and then ask for directions to Fort William Henry. Hawkeye is suspicious of their guide and ask to see him to find out if he is an Iroquois, Hawkeye looks and discovers he is. Learning this, Duncan goes to keep their guide there so that Chingachgook and Uncas can do something about him. As Duncan was staling, Chingachgook and Uncas jumped out of the foliage and accidentally chased him away. They chase after him for a while and wound him but in the end, he is to fast for them and they return to Duncan and his party. Feeling that they were still not safe, Hawkeye offers to help them at no cost. They boarded Hawkeye’s canoe and they head for safety. Chingachgook and Uncas offered to lead the horses up stream to where the others were going by canoe. They go to and island at the foot of Glenn’s Falls for safety. Once everyone was one the island torches were lit and they went down into a cavern. At the break of dawn, the Iroquois began their attack. The attack laste... ...uois and when that time came, they went to rescue Cora. They find out that Cora has been hidden in a cave on the side of a mountain so that’s where they go. The Iroquois chief and two of his braves try to fight off Hawkeye, Duncan, and Uncas. The chief uses Cora as a shield. The chief then pulled out a knife and asked Cora if she wanted to die or be his wife. She didn’t answer so he killed her. Uncas froze in horror and the chief took this opportunity and killed him too. The chief then ran up the mountain. Hawkeye stopped and aimed his rifle at the murderer. Having gotten a good deal above Hawkeye and Heyward now the chief pushed a large rock down towards them from above and then attempted to jump to a ledge where he could not be reached. As he jumped, he fell short of his target and just managed to grab hold of a bush growing from the side of the mountain. Seeing this opportunity Hawkeye shot him and the chief fell to his death. There was a lot of mourning over Cor a’s and Uncas’ death and there were funerals for both of them. For many years afterward, Hawkeye and Chingachgook prowled the forest together and never forgot the ties of brotherhood that had taken root on Uncas’ grave.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

George Washington Essay -- American History America

George Washington - The Father of Our Country Why has George Washington earned the title "Father of our Country"? He was a great military leader and served as a general in the Revolutionary War. Washington was very involved in setting up the government of the United States and served as the first President. He is the most honored of any President and there are many things that help us remember him often. With all he has contributed to the success of our country, he certainly deserves this title. George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland, Virginia. He belonged to an old colonial family that believed in hard work, public service, and in worshipping God (Ashworth and Carroll). As far as formal education George only had the elementary years. His favorite subject was arithmetic. But he was ambitious and self taught. At the age of eleven, his father died and this put great responsibility on his young shoulders (Milton 12). His older half-brother Lawrence became a substitute father and helped to raise him (Flexner 5). At the age of seventeen, Washington was appointed surveyor for Culpeper county. At the age of twenty, with no training or experience as a soldier, George applied to the governor of Virginia for a commission in the militia (Alden 8). He was fascinated with the war stories Lawrence told him and developed a keen interest in military affairs (Flexner 5). In February of 1753, he was commissioned as a major and put in charge of training militia in southern Virginia. Washington started reading and studying about military tactics and affairs. At the age of twenty-three he was promoted to Colonel and appointed commander and chief of the Virginia Militia. This was where George Washington learned how ... ...row economically and established a sound federal government. He has been honored and revered more than any other president in history. His legacy is still remembered and celebrated. We should never forget this great man and all he did to make America the greatest country in the world. George Washington should always be remembered as the Father of our Country. Works Cited Alden, John R. George Washington a Biography. Baton Rouge: Lousianna State University Press, _ _ 1984. Ashworth, Mary Wells and Carroll, John Alexander. "George Washington." World Book _ _ Encyclopedia. 1969. Flexner, James Thomas. Washington the Indispensable Man. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1974. Milton, Joyce. The Story of George Washington, Quiet Hero.Milwaukee: Garth Stevens Publishing, 1988. Twohig, Dorthy. "George Washington." Grolier Electronic Encyclopedia. 1995.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Exxon Mobil Essay

Company Description Exxon mobile also know as Xom in the New York Stock Exchange is on of the largest producers of fossil fuels. Exxon engages in oil and gas exploration, production, supply, transportation and marketing in a global economy (Bloomberg). They hold over 13 billion barrels of oil in reserve. Exxon also has thirty eight refineries spread over 21 countries (Annual Report). The company also has a thought put capacity of 6. 3 million barrels of oil daily. Target MarketExxon has a huge target market in today’s economy. They not only provide to anyone driving a commercial motor vehicle but also to larger wholesalers. These wholesalers consist of smaller independent gas and service stations that do not have their own refineries. Xom also provides six hundred airports and two hundred seaports with fuel (Annual Report). These two markets consume a tremendous amount of fuel each year. This is a niche market for Xom because these airports and seaports can not use alternative energy in their endeavors. CompetitionAlthough Exxon is the largest fossil fuel producer they do have some competition with British Petroleum, Royal Dutch Shell and Chevron. These companies’s do not have the same output as Xom, but some might say they are ahead in many ways. British petroleum (BP) has been doing a lot with alternative energy for the future unlike Exxon which has mainly focused on gasoline. Shell has also made some large landmarks in alternative energy like the use of sugar cane for fuels (Bloomberg). Competitive AdvantagesExxon Mobile conducts oil and gasoline exploration in every major accessible area in the world (Integrated Solutions). They also have the largest amount of financial capital for new research and exploration. Exxon is also the largest publically traded energy company in the world and serves over two hundred countries (Annual Report). They also have discipline and consistency which means that they continue to grow in the areas they feel necessary while holding back in others like alternative energy. Current ChallengesOne of the biggest challenges that Exxon faces is the huge increase in energy by new developing nations. By 2030 there is an estimated forty percent increase in energy. This poses a problem because Xom must learn to boost efficiency, develop new supplies while still managing environmental risks. That is the next challenge that they face managing environmental risks like mitigating global co2 emissions. They have started to face this problem already by investing in CO2Remove project. This project is set to develop ways to lower co2 emission and create new guidelines for the industry (Integrated Solutions). Exxon also faces challenges with alternative energy like wind power, ethanol and solar power. The last challenge is with nuclear power and its high cost particularly in the U. S. In the U. S the cost of nuclear energy highly exceeds the cost of coal and gas. There is also the problem of how to properly dispose of radioactive waste and safe control of nuclear material. Exxon also is having trouble opening new facilities because no one wants nuclear plants near them. Part II Exxon Mobil is the world’s largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, providing energy that helps underpin growing economies and improve living standards around the world. To be successful, ExxonMobil must be at the leading edge of competition in every aspect of our business. This requires that the Corporation’s substantial resources, including financial, operational, technological, and human, be employed wisely and evaluated regularly. The success of the company depends mainly on customer satisfaction. For this reason, it is good for a company like Exxon Mobil to have solid mission and vision statements to act as a guideline for the sales and services to be implemented by the company. The mission statement and vision statement are as follows: Mission Statement Exxon Mobil Corporation is committed to being the world’s premier petroleum and petrochemical company. To that end, we must continuously achieve superior financial and operating results while adhering to the highest standards of business conduct. These unwavering expectations provide the foundation for our commitments to those with whom we interact (Annual Report). Vision Statement -providing reliable, affordable energy supplies in a reasonable manner. -safely and reliably producing oil, natural gas, and hydrocarbon -finding and developing new supplies and products to bring to the market – maximizing resource and asset value -improving energy efficiency and minimizing environmental impacts -developing the next generation of scientists and engineers Strengths: The size of the Corporation is the most obvious strength for Exxon Mobil. Exxon Mobil is affiliated with over 200 countries and territories (Annual Report). There are 6. 1 billion shares and over 2. 5 million shareholders. Another strength of the company is the diverse workforce that allows them to achieve superior results. Exxon Mobil benefits from the cultural differences, knowledge, and skills of our employees who represent the diverse communities of the world. Weaknesses: There were three employee fatalities and five contractor fatalities since 2005. However, the company has learned from these incidents and is working hard at preventing such incidents in the future. Also, replacing the oil that is extracted from the locations is another weakness. They also face the challenge of continuing their pace of significant energy efficiency improvements year after year. Opportunities: ExxonMobil has a list of significant Arctic opportunities, with ongoing studies spanning the range of exploration, project assessment and planning, and technology development. We recognize that energy is vital to economic progress. Exxon Mobil is drilling in some of these areas, which helps boost their economy. Other such opportunities include the Canadian Beaufort Sea, West Greenland, and the Orphan Basin. Threats: Threats to Exxon Mobil include drilling restrictions, other independent companies, global warming. Managing the risks from increases in global greenhouse gas emissions is an important concern for ExxonMobil, industry and governments around the world. Exxon Mobil is living up to its vision and mission. They are the premiere gas and oil supplier of the world and do so while staying energy efficient and have very high standards of the functions of business. The company reaches out to its customers and strives to be as helpful and satisfying as possible. They are reliable and for the most part affordable. They continue to develop next generation technology and scientific practices. The company grows stronger each year. Part III Financial AnalysisThe financial analysis for Exxon Mobil Corporation seems to be in very strong financial position overall and when compared to the competition. The revenue for 2007 was reported at 404,552,000 with a net income of 40,610. When compared to BP, Shell, and Marathon it seems to dominate the market and the competition by a gross margin of 20. 8%, which was at least 5% above the nearest competitor and closest to the industry average of 25%. Exxon Mobil’s current ratio was 1. and was highest of the competition. The industry average is 1. 2, the higher the ratio number, and the better the ability to repay current loans. The debt to equity ratio of . 08 is considered extremely low and looked at as being very safe, and was the lowest of the competition. With such a strong performing company and profits come strong earnings, at $7. 35 per share earnings was one of the highest of the industry. Company comparisonWhen Exxon Mobil is compared to the competition it seems to be out performing the rest of the industry and is proven with the financial statements and ratios. This is definitely a great long term company to invest in, when compared to the competition in this industry. Part IV Strategy to Competitive Advantage- As global warming increases Exxon needs to go green. One strategy they need to have is a renewable energy producer, such as electricity from a carbon emitting utility. There are tons of opportunities to gain a competitive advantage by understanding the carbon constraints. First, Exxon needs to minimize the additional costs more effectively than competitors. Second, differentiate their product by binding carbon credits into their offering. Then, Exxon needs to turn their capacity to supply carbon credits into a profit centre (Energy-Edge). Expand or Reduce Operations- Exxon is ramping up its oil exploration and drilling, and even worse, is looking to expand its leadership in exploiting Canada’s tar sands. They need to stop expanding and start reducing its operations. An expansion is increasing production capacity by 40 percent. But, the mining and processing of tar sands is highly destructive to the local environment and is an enormous generator of greenhouse gas emissions (Coop America). New Products or Services- Exxon has launched a new service called the fleet card program. The program offers a number of valuable features including: greater control over driver’s expenses, money-saving rebates on fuel purchases, special discounts on business-related products and services, innovative technology and the convenience of more than 16,000 Exxon and Mobil branded locations nationwide (All Business). Environmental Factors that Influence the Operation- The main environment factor is the climate change on the business from greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide emissions. Exxon Mobile needs to view â€Å"carbon exposure† as more than just a key factor in future corporate competitiveness (Energy-edge). They need to use their profit money towards renewable energy research and development, to break individuals’ oil addiction and create a secure and green energy future for the US. (Coop America) Work at or Investing in Exxon- People should invest rather than work at Exxon Mobile. One reason is that Exxon is ranked number two in the Fortune 500. The world’s energy need, will increase in the near future. Growth in developing countries will drive most of this increase, but energy demand is expected to increase in the United States, too. (ExxonMobil) Exxon spends about $80billion to invest in future energy development.