The Transportation Security Administration Essay

The Transportation Security Administration - Essay Example The TSA is also charged with the responsibility of inspecting rail cars, looking for bombs at checkpoints in and around the country's airports, and patrolling subways (Transport Security Administration, 2008). To better understand the TSA, it is crucial that we look at its mission and core values, and how they have been achieved. As already mentioned, the TSA is mandated to protect the transportation systems of the country in a way that would ensure free movement of people and trade. Its vision, though not yet attained, is to persistently guide the standards for distinction in transportation security through its processes, technology, and people (Transport Security Administration, 2008). To achieve its shared goals and enhance its mission performance, the TSA has set aside some core values. Let me present them in a summary form for they will be instrumental in gauging the situation at TSA and how improvements need to be carried out. Though its mission, vision, and core values may reflect a picture of a very efficient and effective agency, TSA has been faced by numerous scandals and criticisms since its inception in 2001. Judging by the magnitude of some of the high-profile scandals, the situation at TSA can be said to be pretty bad. ... Team spirit TSA is made up of respectful, open, and dedicated people in the business of improving the lives of others. TSA takes pride in challenges, success, and aims at winning in all its endeavors. TSA takes pride in building teams around its core strengths. Evaluating the situation at TSA Though its mission, vision, and core values may reflect a picture of a very efficient and effective agency, TSA has been faced by numerous scandals and criticisms since its inception in 2001. Judging by the magnitude of some of the high-profile scandals, the situation at TSA can be said to be pretty bad. Let me analyze the scandals and criticisms one at a time so that the real picture of TSA inefficiencies and how it can improve can be drawn out. TSA Scanners and screeners Judging by what happened on September 11 2001 in the United States after the terrorists strike, TSA should be in the forefront to ensure that such an occurrence do not happen again. Many innocent people lost their lives in that fateful day when terrorists hijacked some planes only to ram them against the World Trade centre. Against this backdrop, TSA was established and given the mandate of checking for bombs and other dangerous weapons from passengers, especially those boarding aero planes, and those on transit (Boyd, 2005). But the TSA scanners and screeners are not up to this task. In recent tests conducted to ascertain whether their scanners could detect bombs, 75 percent of fake bombs could not be identified by their security screeners at LAX. 60 percent of fake bomb components could not be smoked out in Chicago O'Hare by TSA security scanners. Detection levels by private security firms were much higher, with only 20

American History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

American History - Essay Example Poe's comic short story where its main attribute interestingly opposes typical notion of mystery attached to it by superstition. It feels like adventure is going to come my way at any moment with this 'sagacious' creature and I find myself soaked in an imagination of an elegant, lovely black cat that looks after the welfare of its master wherever the latter may be. Edgar Allan Poe, being the author of 'The Black Cat' would fill in the second notch since I'm quite up to satisfying my curiosity of his childlike poetic stance though majority of his works are known to possess macabre themes. I suppose it would be amply wonderful to find out about the special reasons behind his equivalent measures of inclination in detective-fiction and poetry. Perhaps, I could make him lead me to an inspiration of discovering how precious the treasure in writing is and exchange a few intellectual yet delectable verses of romance to figure how rich the literature and intelligent minds were during his time . Though it is rather unusual for me to acquire diversion in operatic theaters and watch dramatic plays, I would still sit next to Werther for my third choice. I believe this unique experience can be a potential source in engaging a different mood of delight.

The Powers Of Europe During 1914 History Essay

The Powers Of Europe During 1914 History Essay In 1914 war was just a disaster waiting to happen, all over Europe tensions were raising with each country looking for the smallest excuse to start one of the greatest wars in history; World War I. On the 28th of June 1914 Austria found its excuse; the heir to the Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir apparent of the Austrian throne, was assassinated in Sarajevo by a Gavrilo Princip; a member of the Black Hand which was a secret Nationalist Serbian group that was devoted to uniting all of the territories with significant Serb populations not ruled by Serbia. This was not the only cause for the First World War however; it was only the match that lit up the unstable barrel of gun powder that was known as Europe during the time. Lots of countries wanted to go to war, but there is just one question; which country was most prepared or would benefit the most from the war? There are a few main factors that should be considered when deciding; economy, military, social Conditions and political polic ies. Economy During the start of the 19th century Great Britain was the kingpin of economic development. This was mainly because of its overseas colonies. 1815 to 1914 was referred to as Great Britains Imperial Century. During that time 10 million square miles and close to 400 million people were made part of the British Empire in which it had access to loads of extra resources. But while Britains economy had jumped during the industrial revolution, its growth had started to slow. This can be shown through its coal production. In 1914 Great Britains coal output was 292 million tons from 250 million tons in 1900, only a 42 million ton increase. This growth compared to Germany, it had a 156 million ton increase in production. As these statistics show, while Britain was growing it wasnt growing as fast as it was during the Industrial Revolution and could soon be overtaken by any potential competitor. Despite this, London was still the worlds financial and entrepreneurial center for international pay ments and Britain still remained a very large creditor nation, lending funds to other countries. The German economy in 1914 was growing at a phenomenal pace and should be considered as one of the greatest economic powers of the world at the time. During the earlier years of Imperial Germanys existence its economy had lagged far behind its competitors (Great Britain, France and Belgium) due to the fact that it was a new country and had to unify all of its affairs from the countries that were created from it, as a result the social structure was not at all suitable for economic or entrepreneurial development. But by the beginning of the 20th century Germany had become one of the world leaders in industrialization second only to Great Britain (which was in a slow decline after the industrial revolution). An example of this would be Germanys steel production. In 1914 it had produced an estimated 14 million tons compared to Great Britain which only produced 8 million tons. The prosperity of Germanys economy was also reflected in the way its population had exploded during the late 189 0s yet when absorbed into the labor market living standards went on without any drastic decline. By 1914 the countrys NDP (Net Domestic Product) was over 20 billion reichsmarks. This statistic can be disputed though. According to Knut Borchardt, the poor state of the statistical material undermines the reliability of many of the detailed figures (Borchardt, 1954) After Austria-Hungary became a dual monarchy its economy had changed in many ways. It had started to replace its medieval institutions with more modern structures. The technological changes during that time also accelerated the urbanization and industrialization of the country. As a result of the improvements of Austria-Hungarys economy, the GNP grew an estimated 1.76% per year during the time period for 1870-1913. This growth compared very favorably with the other super powers of the time such as Britain (1%), France (1.06%) and Germany (1.51%). But in its early years the economy in general economy still could not compare with the others due to its late start in its sustained modernization. But by the end of the 19th century these differences slowly began to even themselves out. By 1900 Austria-Hungary had a strong food industry and agriculture in the east while the western areas excelled in various manufacturing industries. By 1914 Austria-Hungary had become the 3rd largest economi c and industrial country in Europe after Great Britain and Germany. During 1914 Russias economy was not in such great shape. It had an abundance of resources but most were locked in by the vast size of the country and the extreme climate that they were located in. It would seem that Russia may have been a dying man but historians unanimously agree that its economy did grow. By 1900 it had taken Frances 4th place position in iron production and 5th in steel production. Railway mileage had increased by 87% between 1892 and 1903 and its oil extraction had even tripled between 1892 and 1903. All of this industrialization though, required lots of capital to start up and maintain. This though was capital that Russia did not have at its disposal. As a result, Russias industry ended up being predominately owned by foreigners. A few examples of this would be Russias steel and mining industry; 69% and 85% respectively were owned by foreigners. An interesting fact about other ownership of Russias industries is that the knowledge capital that was utilized in Rus sias industrialization were either foreigners or Russian minorities like Jews, Poles or à Ã‚ ¡Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒ Ã‚ °Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â€š ¬Ãƒ Ã‚ ¾Ãƒ Ã‚ ¾Ãƒ Ã‚ ±Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â€š ¬Ãƒâ€˜Ã‚ Ãƒ Ã‚ ´Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬  Ãƒâ€˜Ã¢â‚¬ ¹ (Old Believers). Despite all of these improvements on Russias economy there were very few people in the middle class and most were living in close to medieval-like poverty while the nobility were extremely wealthy. This created a giant imbalance in the workforce which in turn drastically lowered industrial efficiency. These were the main hurdles for Russia to become a major economic superpower and also resulted in unrest within the country. Throughout the first half of the 19th century France was the worlds wealthiest nation. During the time when agriculture was the main occupation of the majority of Europe it had the most abundant resources. It also held the 2nd place in the worlds industrial production after Great Britain. But in 1914 the economy was not like it was 50 years ago. France ranked behind the other main superpowers like Great Britain, Germany Austria-Hungary and Russia in population and was struggling with Russia in terms of industrial production as it had already fallen behind in production. An example would be coal output. France lagged behind both Germany and Great Britain with only a 40 million ton output compared to 277 million and 292 million tons respectively and is only able to have competition with Russia which had 36.2 million tons of coal output. Though the general patterns of growth in France had a resemblance to the other Western European nations, the peaks in its periods of prosperity were lo wer and the troughs in its periods of depression were deeper. Military Might During the beginning of the 20th century, Great Britain had the largest empire in the world which covered over 11 million square miles of territory most of which was claimed between 1750 and 1850. By the late 19th century Great Britain also acquired colonies in Africa and in 1914 King George V reigned over 430 million people. The British Empire was protected by its Royal Navy. This included 18 dreadnoughts, 29 pre-dreadnought battleships, 195 assorted cruisers and 146 destroyers. The Royal Navy was the largest navy in the world at the time. In August of 1914 Britain had around 250 thousand soldiers in active service with the remaining 450 thousand in reserve. About 120 thousand soldiers in active duty were in the British Expeditionary Force and the rest of the army was stationed abroad in all of its colonies except for the white countries/dominions of Canada, New Zealand and Australia. Britain already had an undersized army but the fact that they were spread out all over the world me ant that fighting capacity in the event of war would be limited. Even before 1914 Germany was credited with having the most efficient army in the world. Unlike Britain it employed universal mass conscription for all of the men. The German Army (Deutsches Heer) were first put into short term military service and after that was finished they were put into long term reserve should they be needed in the event of a war. By 1914 the German Army in its entirety had 4.2 million soldiers. The Imperial German Navy (Kaiserliche Marine)

Feng Shui in the Far East Essay -- essays research papers

Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Feng Shui has been practiced in China for centuries. Throughout ancient China, masters of Feng Shui â€Å"were highly respected meteorologists, astronomers, and other scientists and who were charged with sustaining the good fortune and prosperity of the royal court. It has been guardedly passed down the generations through very specific lineages† (Feng Shui Advisors). It was widely practiced in modern-day China until the Cultural Revolution when Chairman Mao utilized mass force to destroy those with different ideas (Craze 9). It has evolved to be both a science and/or an art, depending on whose opinion is being given or taken. The science comes from the calculations and methodology used to analyze the space/site that one lives or works in. Some consider it an art because there are many aspects to it, and, ultimately, it is up to the person living/working in the space to determine whether it â€Å"feels right† for him/her. Chuen states, â€Å"It is an analytical system developed, not by one person, but by a centuries-old cumulative tradition based on meticulous observation and experimentation† (8). Feng Shui is also described as an â€Å"art of arranging one’s life in accordance with the forces of the universe,† and it â€Å"stretches back over at least 7000 years and probably far further† (Chuen 14). Feng Shui literally stands for wind and water: two of the most bas ic forms of life’s energy. â€Å"Without air we die within seconds.† â€Å"While we can live weeks without food, without water we soon perish† (Chuen 14).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The I Ching, or â€Å"Book of Changes† is an ancient Chinese divination manual and book of wisdom. It is a sacred text that ancestors of ancient China received through their meditative and spiritual practices. Made up of eight trigrams, or gua (kua) and sixty-four hexagrams (combinations of two trigrams) the symbols of the I Ching are known for its oracular qualities (Chuen 24). Each of the eight trigrams, or gua (kua) is associated with an element and a set of specific qualities, polarities, colors, etc. The I Ching, combined with the five elements theory, form the foundation of many Chinese arts, including martial arts, medicine, music, and of course Feng Shui. The I Ching is important to Feng Shui because it contains the â€Å"64 hexagrams [that] are important as they combine the eight house directions ... ...earchers and authors of Feng Shui literature. This was an enormous problem for me because half of what I read said one thing, and half said something different. I believe that the discrepancy may have come when the principles and rules of Feng Shui were translated from Chinese to English. For future study, one could compare all of the different discrepancies, and try to find the original belief or principle. References Chuen, Master L.K. (1996). Feng Shui Handbook: How to Create a Healthier Living and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Working Environment. New York: Henry Holt and Company, Inc. Craze, R. (1999). Feng Shui Made Easy: An introduction to the basics of the ancient are   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  of feng shui. New York: Godsfield Press. Feng Shui Advisors. (1999). What is Feng Shui: A brief Feng Shui introduction. Internet   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Source. Last Modified 03/09/2002. Internet Explorer April 2, 2002. Available:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.168fengshui.com/Articles/whatis.htm Weightman, B. (2002). Dragons and Tigers: A Geography of South, East and Southeast   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Asia. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Spirited Away Movie Review

spirited Away Movie Review Spirited Away, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, is his most imaginative work to date. It is a tale designed for the young audience around ten years old. Despite the expected age group, however, it is adults that will probably learn more from this film. The story begins as ten-year-old Chihiro and her parents accidentally find a tunnel in the countryside that leads them into an old, deserted park. When her parents help themselves to a lot of delicious food, Chihiro goes around. But as night is coming, she comes back to find that her mum and dad have been turned into pigs. She is then trapped in a horrible world of gods. In this world, humans are scorned. Then Chihiro tries to make herself sent to work in a bathhouse. She works hard, makes herself useful, and finds her courage so that she can find a way to break the spell. For a film designed for a young audience, Spirited Away is surprisingly profound. The thesis of this story is related to the importance of names and promises. When Chihiro becomes employed by Yubaba, the witch who rules the spirit world and take her name away, which Chihiro needs to free herself. Yubaba herself also is bound by the spell she has made in the past. In the world of Spirited Away, everyone is bound by their own words and names. What makes this animated film different from most of the popular children’s animated films, such as those made by Disney, is that there is no real enemy that the main character has to fight with. There are no clear lines between good and evil in Spirited Away. Yubaba appears to be the film’s main evil, but the audience do not hate her so much that they wish her to die, since she also has a compassionate or weakness, when it comes to her spoiled boy. This film is wit-knot from the beginning to the end. From the moment when Chihiro meets the male lead character, Haku, the pace of the film is increased. One reason the story is so attractive and outstanding is that the whole film is transcending audience’s imagination. Audience always find themselves having certain expectations of how the story will develop, but each time the story turns out in a completely unexpected direction. Chihiro’s selflessness and bravery are really surprising sometimes. They are also inspiring and heartwarming. There are a lot of sub-characters, such as No-Face and Yubaba’s oversized baby named Boh, and sub-plots connected together with Chihiro and the main plot without any fault. Another noticeable thing is the music, which combines Japanese musical features with western ones. Some tracks are peaceful and sad when at night, Chihiro is worrying her future and condition, gazing out over the ocean. Other tracks are mysterious and attractive. For example, when Chihiro frightfully finds her environment transformed, there are even grand tracks to match the coming of the gods. The soundtrack is as effective as other facts in making Spirited Away special and impressive. There is absolutely no weakness I can find with this film, and it is hard to imagine how anyone could not like it. Spirited Away is beautifully animated. It is also made up of wildly imaginative characters and an inspiring story. In addition, there is matchlessly great music to support the film. People who have seen the film are believed to be divided into two main groups: those who like it, and those who will absolutely like it. Both kids and adults will enjoy themselves and have their own feelings. There is no doubt that Spirited Away is one of the best films.

Starbucks Case Analysis

Starbucks corporation| Starbucks Corporation Vision- Founded in 1971 Starbucks vision statement is;† To establish Starbucks as the most recognized and respected coffee brand inthe  world  and  become  a  national  company  with  values  and  guidingprinciples that employee could be proud of   The vision statement clearly describes the dream or the future of the company that is to be the world’s most well known coffeehouse and also to be the most appreciated and positively graded brand by all levels of people around the world. The  company also  focuses  its  vision  to  employee  satisfactions,  so  that  the employees will be happy.It was an abstract vision that reflected the vision of the founders. Mission Their mission statement from the company profile is as follows: â€Å"Our mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup, and one neighborhood at a time. † Their core competencies can b e defined as high quality coffee and products at accessible locations and affordable prices, provided a community to share in the coffee drinking experience, and variety of choices. Their mission statement includes six elements which they regard as part of their core competencies. Our Coffee It has always been, and will always be, about quality.We’re passionate about ethically sourcing the finest coffee beans, roasting them with great care, and improving the lives of people who grow them. We care deeply about all of this; our work is never done. Our Partners We’re called partners, because it’s not just a job, it’s our passion. Together, we embrace diversity to create a place where each of us can be ourselves. We always treat each other with respect and dignity. And we hold each other to that standard. Our Customers When we are fully engaged, we connect with, laugh with, and uplift the lives of our customers – even if just for a few moments.Sure, it starts with the promise of a perfectly made beverage, but our work goes far beyond that. It’s really about human connection. Our Stores When our customers feel this sense of belonging, our stores become a haven, a break from the worries outside, a place where you can meet with friends. It’s about enjoyment at the speed of life – sometimes slow and savored, sometimes faster. Always full of humanity. Our Neighborhood Every store is part of a community, and we take our responsibility to be good neighbors seriously. We want to be invited in wherever we do business.We can be a force for positive action – bringing together our partners, customers, and the community to contribute every day. Now we see that our responsibility – and our potential for good – is even larger. The world is looking to Starbucks to set the new standard, yet again. We will lead. Our Shareholders We know that as we deliver in each of these areas, we enjoy the kind of succes s that rewards our shareholders. We are fully accountable to get each of these elements right so that Starbucks – and everyone it touches – can endure and thrive Competitive advantageThe advantage a business has over its competition which allows it to reap greater profit margins, retain customers and remains sustainable is referred to as its competitive advantage. Businesses have to have some form of competitive advantage to be successful in the long run. Competitive advantage can take one of three forms that reflect basic customer values: customers want goods and services (1) better, (2) cheaper and (3) faster. These forms of competitive are known as (1) differentiation, (2) cost leadership and (3) quick response respectively.Research has proven that having some form of competitive advantage increases profitability of a firm , having two forms combined leads to highest profitability and firms that have neither form perform poorly or generate just ‘normal’ profits. Competitive advantages that are gained because the pioneer was on the first to enter a market are sometimes called ‘first movers advantages. ’ The three forms of competitive advantage are described below Differentiation Creating a unique bundle of products and/or services that will be highly valued by customers constitutes competitive advantage based on differentiation.Product features, after-sales service, desirable image, technological innovation, reputation, manufacturing consistency, status symbol are attributes that can differentiate products. Each of these features can be considered a form of quality. Differentiation allows firms to reap higher-than-typical returns because competitive rivalry maybe lessened as firms successfully distinguish themselves; brand loyal customers are less price sensitive, new entrants entering the market have to overcome the barriers to entry.However, if many firms adopt a differentiation strategy then they are all perceived a s equals and specialists operating in niche markets may be more successful at differentiation and a continuous attempt to stay ahead of customers may result in ‘gold plating’ ( the development of features which are not valued by consumers but add to the price). Successful differentiation depends on (1) understanding what customers value, (2) being uniquely able to provide that value, and (3) being able to charge a premium price for it.Cost leadership This competitive advantage requires achieving a low-cost position relative to one’s competition. Classic cost leadership strategy involves creating a no-frills product aimed at the most typical customer in a large target market. Standardization of products and services is looked for in cost leadership and targeting a large market segment for these standard products allows for mass production techniques which create greatest possible benefits from economies of scale and experience curve effects.Cost leadership address es competitive forces in the following ways; holding the low-cost position convinces rivals to hold a price war, low-cost producers are protected from customer pressures of lowering prices, because of higher margins low-cost producers are better able to withstand pressures from increasing in suppliers’ costs, barriers to entry exist for new entrants and manufacturers use price to threaten substitute products. However, cost leadership has some drawbacks namely ; cost leadership can be called an ‘all-or-nothing strategy’, cost cutting that leads to loss of desirable roduct attributes can be ruinous, it is easily duplicated by competitors, and dedication to cost cutting limits a firm’s abilities to remain competitive in other ways. Use of an effective cost leadership strategy depends on careful monitoring of a firm’s internal operations and its customers’ need. Quick response This form of competitive advantage stresses on the provision of the qu ality and cost the customer wants faster than the competition does. Quick response refers to the speed with which a new product, a product improvement, or even a managerial decision that affects the customers can be made.It is a way of looking at a firm’s flexibility. Competitive advantage can be achieved through quick response in which such as faster development of new products, customizing products, improving existing products, delivery of ordered products,, adjusting marketing efforts, answering customers’ questions. Firms with quick response can avoid head-to-head rivalry, faster forms can charge a premium pricing, faster firms encourage quick response from suppliers, and quick response deals with the threats of new entrants and substitute products by leading in innovation themselves.However it must be kept in mind, speed is not equally important to all markets or customers, speed creates stress, and speed for speed’s sake does not create competitive advanta ge. Starbucks Competitive Advantage Starbucks competitive advantage is a mixture of differentiation and quick response. Since their coffee is priced at $4 a cup; they are clearly not competing on costs here. In fact at Starbucks’ it’s the opposite. The brand image that has been created due to the strong differentiated marketing efforts, the ambience of their outlets has created a brand loyalty in Starbucks customers.They are willing to pay a premium price because they feel they are having the best coffee made with the finest quality ingredients. Starbucks achieved the first movers advantage as they were among the pioneers of coffee houses in America, also they have maintained their leadership in the market by launching new variants and varieties faster than competition does and have upgraded their menu from time to time. Their supply chain is integrated vertically and horizontally allowing for a faster response time among suppliers and with customers. They have used el ebrities to endorse their brand further enhancing their differentiation strategy. Because Starbucks has successfully differentiated itself, developed a strong brand following, has opened up outlets to cater to their target market both in U. S. A. and globally, has always strived to serve its customers faster, and focused on innovation, it is able to reap higher-than-average returns. They have also been quick in realizing their failures as the case mentions them closing down stores that were not functioning. Thus this shows that the corporation is quite flexible in its operating decisions.Starbucks Corporate Strategy- how they have used it to create a successful business model The corporate strategy for Starbucks was an expansion strategy based on opening new outlets in U. S. and expanding overseas. Operations: They looked for diversification and vertical and horizontal integration to maximize control over their supply chain and maintain satisfied customers. They launched new product s and variants to maintain their leadership in the market. A differentiation and quick response strategy is used. HR: Starbucks looks for diversity in its employees.They employ people from various backgrounds and give them independence and freedom to make decisions. This has enabled Starbucks to address customers faster and reduced their response time. Also hiring people form diversified backgrounds helps them in their expansion strategy and improves their communication in new countries of expansion. Marketing: Their marketing has always been coffee centric. They have strived to create a strong brand identity and brand loyalty. Starbucks is not just about coffee. It is about providing that experience of comfort, socializing and happiness. This is what they build on.The firm has been successful in maintaining premium pricing because of the creation of a brand image that allows for it. Finance: The expansions have been sensible and not based on intangible goodwill or long term debts. The firm has invested a lot in fixed assets and their debt to asset ratio is low. The management started closing down low operational stores; instead of letting they operate at losses, indicating the management’s concentration on financial efficiency and having good financial ratios. The following strategies have enabled Starbucks to maximize its reach to its consumers by opening up different outlets globally hich have lead to market development and increased profitability. Starbucks expansions have all been well financed and done sensibly. Also their quickness to act in areas where they were reporting losses further shows that their Corporate strategy has lead to successful business development model. The product variety offered at Starbucks has enabled it to remain market leader thus showing that R&D efforts are paying off. The exceptional customer service due to the employment of a diversified labor force has facilitated business expansion and increased the size of the pie for Starbucks.Starbucks thus has transformed the image of ‘coffee. ’ The strong brand loyalty supported by a well managed expansion plan which allows them to be present where their customers want them has made the business a success. Need analysis A need analysis is the process of identifying what the users need and want. It related to the goals, inspirations and objectives of the users. Following shows the factors that contribute to customer satisfaction at Starbucks. Thus Starbucks needs to discover what consumers want regarding the product quality, price and service.Following are SWOT ands PESTLE analysis of Starbucks which give a clearer picture of the strengths and environment within which the firm is operating. SWOT Analysis Strengths †¢ Brand recognition and consumer loyalty †¢ Diverse product portfolio catering to all tastes and ages, including non? coffee beverages and food items †¢ Excellent customer service and the value of the Starbucks exper ience †¢ Licensing relationships with top? brands such as Pepsi? Cola and Kraft that minimize costs and leverage the strategic advantages of those companiesxviii †¢ Strong employee relationships Economies of scale providing superior distribution networks and supplier power †¢ Primly? located retail stores †¢ Positive image attributed to socialresponsibility Weaknesses †¢ Pay 23% more for coffee than market prices †¢ Saturation of the market diminishes long? term growth prospects †¢ No monetary switching costs for consumers †¢ Negative large corporation image †¢ Potential limitations of international expansion due to cultural clashes with American coffee experiences. Opportunities †¢ Have the ability to reduce premiums paid for coffee Room forinternational expansion (78% ofrevenues came from the United States in fiscal 2007 and international same? store sales growth is strong)xix †¢ Room to compete on multiple fronts including qu ality and price †¢ Increase licensing relationships to further utilize brand strength to capture profits at little cost to the company Threats †¢ Increasing coffee and dairy prices †¢ Intense competition in the specialty coffee beverage business †¢ Unfavorable economic conditions that lowerthe demand for expensive beverages †¢ Community resistance to store expansion The possibility that the demand for specialty coffee is a fad †¢ Diverging from the Starbucks experience †¢ Further diversification of fast food restaurants that cuts into market share. PESTLE ANALYSIS The PESTLE analysis of Starbucks. Political: Taxation policy High taxation imposed on farmers in those countries producing the coffee bean will usually mean Starbucks pay a higher price for the coffee they purchase. Any fluctuations in taxation levels in the industry are almost certainly ultimately passed on to the consumer Deregulation A decade ago, the USA pulled out of the ICA (interna tional Coffee Agreement) hat set export quotas for producing nations and kept the price of coffee fairly stable. Coffee quotas and  price controls ended. Since the deregulation farmers have suffered and their earnings have dropped. Many have struggled to make a living so have given up. International trade regulations/tariffs – Trade issues will affect Starbucks predominantly when exporting and importing goods. When another country's government imposes a tariff it not only results in an efficiency loss for Starbucks but large income transfers can become inconsistent with equity. This extra charge can turn a bargain into a rip-off.Also, since 9/11, trade relations have been adversely affected between the USA and some other countries. International  stability The international economy must be brought into  consideration as it can affect Starbucks' sales and markets. The aftermath of 9/11 was an example of an economic downturn that affected the world market. If the world ma rket is in a slump it is not usually the ideal time for a  business to look at grand expansion. Employment law A reduction in licensing and permit costs in those countries producing the coffee bean for  Starbucks would lower production costs for farmers.This saving would in turn be passed on to the purchaser. Economic: * Interest rates – A rise in interest rates means investment and expansion plans are put off resulting in falling sales for Starbucks and their suppliers. Also mortgage repayments rise so consumers have less disposable income to spend on luxury  products such as coffee. Low interest rates should have the opposite effect. * Economic Growth – If growth is low in the nation of location of Starbucks then sales may also fall. Consumer incomes tend to fall in periods of negative growth leaving less disposable income.Consumer confidence in products can also fall if the economic ‘mood' is low* Inflation rates – Inflation is a condition of incr easing prices. It is measured using the Retail Price Index (RPI) in the UK. Business costs will rise for Starbucks through inflation, as will shoe-leather costs as they shop around for new ‘best prices' of  materials, menu costs will rise as Starbucks have to create new price lists. Also, uncertainty is created when making decisions not least because inflation redistributes money from lenders to borrowers. Competitors pricing – Competitive pricing from competitors can start a price war for  Starbucks that can drive down profits and profit margins as they attempt to increase, or at least maintain, their share of the market. * Globalisation – Globalisation of the coffee market has meant farmers of the bean now earn less money than they used to. This can result in a decrease of people willing to do it for a living, which will mean a decrease in coffee produced, resulting in a drop in Starbucks supply levels and probably profits. * Exchange rates – Starbuc ks are affected by exchange rates when dealing with international trade.If the value of the currency falls in the country of a coffee supplier  this enables Starbucks to get more for their $ or L when importing the goods to their  country. This saving can be passed along to the customer. Exchange rates are forever  changing throughout the world in today's market. Social: Population demographics – Population demographics are a very important factor for  Starbucks as they identify what parts of the population they need to aim their products at or which parts of the population they need to encourage to visit their stores more than they presently do.Looking at the table in the case study demonstrating the  percentage of the age groups that drink coffee or specialty coffee it can be seen that the age groups that Starbucks should be aiming their marketing at are the people  between 35 and 54. They should consider targeting the 18-24 age group as they drink  the least amount comparatively and by encouraging this segment to choose Starbucks coffee now, there is a chance they may continue to drink it long into the future.Income distribution – Where income is distributed is another factor that Starbucks should look at as this also demonstrates the ideal place to aim their marketing or to locate their stores. Coffee is more of a luxury product so it is those people/places with the most amount of disposable income to spend that should be targeted the most intensely. * Attitude to work – Starbucks would not want to locate to an area where the local  population have a poor attitude to work. Recruitment would be difficult, training arduous, and staff turnover would be high. Attitudes to work are important in other  ways.A large number of workers in large cities now go out for their lunch rather than use an internal canteen. Starbucks can use this to their advantage and promote the shop as a place where people can meet up and so it will mean that they will get alarger amount of people in their stores at this time of the day. * Standard of education/skills – When Starbucks are deciding upon new premises they must look at the standards of education and skills locally. They must be sure there are  people who live there with sufficient skills to ensure successful operation of the  business, or at least the potential to learn that comes with a good education. Working conditions/safety – Those people with the most disposable income, e. g. young single professionals etc, will be accustomed to high standards. Starbucks must ensure its shops are clean and comfortable, service is of the highest order and health and safety issues are fully addressed * Location – Transport needs to the premises must be considered for both staff and customers. Easy access is vital to ensure there is no excuse for staff to arrive late or  for customers not to visit. Age distribution – Research shows the average age of the population is getting older  and birth rates are stagnating. Starbucks is presently aiming it's product at young  people but maybe these views will change in the long-term as the market proportion for young people diminishes. The most profitable way forward may be to widen their  target market despite the risk of alienating present customers. * Health consciousness – Good health and foodstuffs associated with healthy living are important I today's market place, as this is a trend that is occurring at the moment in western societies.Starbucks can use this information when deciding the additional  products to sell, as well as coffee, as a large number of their customers are looking for  healthy alternatives to cakes and biscuits, which have been associated with coffee in the past. Technological: * IT development – Starbucks is always looking to develop and improve its Internet facilities. Starbucks launched its first-generation e-commerce Web site in 1998. In late1999, Starbucks decided the site needed a major upgrade to enable new functionality and prepare for long-term growth.To achieve these goals, Starbucks upgraded to Microsoft Commerce Server 2000, one of the key Microsoft . NET Enterprise Servers. As a result, scalability and performance have improved, and the company now has the tools it needs to profile and target customers, analyze site data, and deliver new features to the market in the shortest time possible. * New materials and processes – Developments in the technology of coffee making machines and the computers that Starbucks use to run their cash registers will enable their staff to work more quickly and efficiently.This will result in customers being served quicker and create the potential to serve more customers in a day. This will  prevent customers from having to wait around for long periods thus improving customer relations along with increasing the customer base. * Software upgrades – In th e short-term, Starbucks must identify the most efficient software upgrades to use to keep up with the competition. This applies to the improving the accessibility of their website (www. starbucks. com) and also improving the speed and quality of the service provided on the shop floor. Research and Development activity – As a multi-national business empire, Starbucks has the budget and the resources to have a cutting-edge R+D department. The website is very accessible, the facilities are state of the art but more importantly new ideas are consistently being tried in terms of a constantly updating menu. * Rate of technological change – The rate of technological change in the current world market is high, much higher than, say, thirty years ago. Much of this is down to the Internet and the speed with which information can be communicated around the globe.Starbucks will need to invest heavily just to stand still in their ever expanding and developing market, and even more so to try to stay ahead of competitors. Legal: * Trade and product restrictions – Starbucks need to be aware of the trade laws in the various countries they occupy and do business with. They need to ensure they are not in violation of e. g. , religious laws. Also, certain countries impose a tariff that has to be  paid when goods are imported/exported so this must be taken into account. * Employment law – Each country has varying employment laws.Some may have aSabbath day, diwali,some may have a limit on the number of hours an employee may work  Ã‚  per week, all will have varying levels of minimum wage. Starbucks should consider  these factors when deciding on relocation. * Health and Safety regulations – Starbucks may find these regulations are not as stringent or well enforced in certain countries. It would be wise though to enforce universally high standard of health and safety throughout all it's shops to maintain a good global image and ensure all law s are abided by.Also, by not maintaining high standards they will be liable for a large amount of civil cases as it is a legal requirement for them to enable that their staff and customers are safe when they are intheir stores. * Monopolies commission – If Starbucks consider expanding their operations further  to control an even larger percentage of the market than they already have they will have to consider the possibility of breaking monopolies legislation as they may have a share of the market that is too large. This would mean that they would have unfair  advantage over other companies in the same market.This would mean that they could  benefit from economies of scale and would also be able to charge prices that were not competitive in the market and get away with it due to the lack of competition. * Land use – Starbucks may have to abide by local planning regulations when building shops or altering purchased sites, as certain areas of land may be protected or  unsuitable. All matters would be addressed by the local government. Environmental: Pollution problems – Starbucks customers create a lot of waste as they often leave the shop with their cup of coffee and then dispose of it in the street.The packaging for  this cup must be carefully considered to make it as biologically degradable as  possible. Certain other materials can be very harmful to the natural environment. * Planning permissions – Planning permission may not be granted if Starbucks wish to  build in an area that could be harmful to the environment. The land may be protected. * Work disposal – Starbucks need to carefully consider the methods in which they dispose of their waste as there are strict laws in most countries to ensure a firm trading in their country disposes of the waste that is created in their business in a specific and efficient way.If they do not follow these laws they may find themselves being sanctioned, which not only affect s them financially but also tarnishes the reputation of  the brand name, as most of the waste created will bear the logo of Starbucks. * Environmental pressure groups – Starbucks should be aware of the physical and influential power of groups such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. Any violation of animal or environmental rights by a company is usually followed by a swift and attention-drawing protest from one of the groups.Brand image and customer bases are often irreconcilably tarnished due to the actions of these groups Porter’s five forces Barriers to Entry: Medium-High –  Low  capital requirement:  It can be varied depend  on  the location, but  it would be safe to say  coffee industry   still  requires low capital compared to other industries. –  Little  product  differentiation: It is difficult to establish a certain unique flavor for coffee. – can be offered at restaurants which normally don’t serve cof fee as a beverage; this will allow for even lesser investment.Threat of Substitutes: High – Soda, fresh fruit juice, healthy juice for drink and tea are all direct substitutes for coffee. – Alcohol drink- beer, wine,  cocktail,  and more can be indirect substitutes. ( Alcohol drinks will be sold in only a few selected places,  so it is  too early  to  get rid of alcohol drinks in the threat of substitution part. ) Bargaining power of Buyer: Medium-high – Even though the price goes up, the buyers who like only  Starbucks would still come. The brand has generated enormous brand loyalty.   Buyers can  buy their coffee from various  places: Starbucks has their stores  all over the nation, so as other major companies do. Buyers have a lot of substitutes to choose from. Supplier Power: Low-Medium – Starbucks is a global coffee chain and many suppliers are eager to work with them. The company has successfully established vertical integratio n to make suppliers loyal to its supply chain. –  It can be problematic if  a certain product  suppliers raise the price of their product, such as green tea powder or coffee bean.Although Starbucks decided to  change their suppliers because it still takes some time to inform  to the customer and price changes will be inevitable. Industry Rivalry: High –  Many companies: Coffee Bean, Mcdonald's, Dunkin Donuts, and local  cafe. –  Also; McDonald’s had started an advertising attack aimed directly at Starbuck’s saying ‘$4 coffee is dumb. ’Thus; rivalry was high. –  Many people started to look for  more  healthy  and fresh  juice instead of coffee, so there is little chance that demand is growing at the same rate as it was earlier.

Atoms essays

Atoms essays Atoms make up everything around us from the air we breathe to food we eat and even the stars in the sky. The average layman does not know much about the atom but in this paper I will explain what and why they are. The word atom comes from the Greek word meaning indivisible. The concept of the atom had its foundations in ancient Greece with Leucippe of Milet. In 420 B.C. his disciple Democrite of Abdere had the concept that atoms were particles in perpetual motion and were invisible because of their infinitely small size, indivisible, solid, eternal because they are perfect, surrounded by an empty space, and having an infinite number of shapes. His theory was exceptionally close to reality, being that it was 420B.C. Today we know that each atom is made up of three parts, a proton, a neutron and an electron. These atoms combine to make compounds. The most basic atoms are called elements and cannot be broken down any more than they already are. There are currently 118 known elements 90 of them occurring naturally and the other 28 are man made. The elements combine in an infinitesimal amount of ways to make up every thing around us. Created in 1869 by Mendeldiev the periodic table of the elements is how we chart these elements. Each column on the periodic table is categorized by the amount of atoms in its elements outer field. Hydrogen, Lithium, and sodium all being in the same column on the table have the same amount of atoms in their outer field. Since the electrons in the outer field dictate the types of chemical reactions that an atom can have, the atoms in the same column have some of the same properties (chemical reactions). We already know that atoms are made up of three different parts (protons, neutrons, and electrons) but how do these particles interact. Well the protons and neutrons (nucleons) are all grouped together in the nucleus of the atom. Protons are sub-atomic particles with a positive charge of +1. These particl...

Comparison of substituted phenol degrading bacterial communities in different activated sludge plants The WritePass Journal

Comparison of substituted phenol degrading bacterial communities in different activated sludge plants Introduction Comparison of substituted phenol degrading bacterial communities in different activated sludge plants IntroductionRegulation of chemicalsBiodegradation of phenols ReferencesRelated Introduction Organic pollutants are chemicals that are hazardous to human health. Most of them are extremely toxic at very low concentrations, persistent, can be transported over long range as air pollutants, bio-accumulate in human and animal tissue, and biomagnify in food chain. Phenol and its derivatives are tox Organic pollutants are chemicals that are hazardous to human health. Most of them are extremely toxic at very low concentrations, persistent, can be transported over long range as air pollutants, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue, and biomagnify in food chain. Phenol and its derivatives are toxic aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants that have a hydroxyl group attached to their benzene ring structure. They have been used extensively for a number of industrial processes such as in the production of resins, coke, manufacturing plastics, colour, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, coal mines, steel and in aluminum industries. Phenol is also released from natural sources during the decay of lignocellulistic materials, from tannins and amino acid precursors (Abu-El-Haleem et al., 2003). These accounts for its increasing concentrations in the environment as wastewaters from these industries are not properly treated before discharge. It is classed as a priority compound (EPA, 2009) because of its toxicity at very low concentrations and possible accumlation in the environment   (Shokoohi et al., 2006). Concentrations of about 1 mg are known to be toxic to some species of aquatic organisms and even lower concentrations cause problems of taste and odour in dri nking water (Nair, 2008). Organic pollutants are chemicals that are hazardous to human health. Most of them are extremely toxic at very low concentrations, persistent, can be transported over long range as air pollutants, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue, and biomagnify in food chain. Phenol and its derivatives are toxic aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants that have a hydroxyl group attached to their benzene ring structure. They have been used extensively for a number of industrial processes such as in the production of resins, coke, manufacturing plastics, colour, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, coal mines, steel and in aluminum industries. Phenol is also released from natural sources during the decay of lignocellulistic materials, from tannins and amino acid precursors (Abu-El-Haleem et al., 2003). These accounts for its increasing concentrations in the environment as wastewaters from these industries are not properly treated before discharge. It is classed as a priority compound (EPA, 2009) because of its toxicity at very low concentrations and possible accumlation in the environment   (Shokoohi et al., 2006). Concentrations of about 1 mg are known to be toxic to some species of aquatic organisms and even lower concentrations cause problems of taste and odour in dri nking water (Nair, 2008). ic aromatic hydrocarbon pollutants that have a hydroxyl group attached to their benzene ring structure. They have been used extensively for a number of industrial processes such as in the production of resins, coke, manufacturing plastics, colour, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, coal mines, steel and in aluminum industries. Phenol is also released from natural sources during the decay of lignocellulistic materials, from tannins and amino acid precursors (Abu-El-Haleem et al., 2003). These accounts for its increasing concentrations in the environment as wastewaters from these industries are not properly treated before discharge. It is classed as a priority compound (EPA, 2009) because of its toxicity at very low concentrations and possible accumlation in the environment   (Shokoohi et al., 2006). Concentrations of about 1 mg are known to be toxic to some species of aquatic organisms and even lower concentrations cause problems of taste and odour in drinking water (Nair, 2008). Various methods have been employed in the treatment of phenol in industrial wastewater. They include chemical oxidation, solvent extraction, adsorption, and incineration. The high cost for treatment and the increased potential of forming even more persistent and hazardous by-products are the major   problems associated with using these methods (Loh et al., 2000). Biological processes remains a safer means of removing phenol from wastewater because of the complete minieralization of the compound (Movahedyan, et al., 2009). It is also cost effective in that those organism that can degrade phenol also utilize it as a carbon and energy source. Certain microorganisms capable of degrading phenol in wastewater are inhibited by high concentrations as a result, the rate of degradation is low (Abu-El-Haleem et al., 2003). The role of bacterial communities in the success of most bioremediation activity has led to the increased phenotypic and genetic analysis of communities to find common or wide-spread degraders. In other to optimize suitable conditions necessary for biodegradation of phenols, identification of microorganisms from natural environment endowed with this capacity is required. Conventional culture based methods are time consuming, very low in sensitivity and can only be used in isolating 1% of the total environmental samples (Movahedyan, et al., 2009). Some researchers have suggested that enrichment methods be applied to mixed microbial populations in order to increase the activity of the cells to degrade phenol (Yang and Lee, 2007). Although the effectiveness of culture dependent methods have been debated, they are still indispensible when detailed analysis of bacterial group is required (Watanabe et al., 1998). Molecular tools such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis ARDRA, Terminal-Restriction fragment length ploymorphism (T-RFLP) have been applied recently to study changes observed in microbial communities as a result of   pressures within an enrichment process. (Watanabe, 1998; Yand and Lee, 2007). The advantage of these molecular methods is that they have higher specificity and sensitivity, less time consuming, and larger population of organisms are observed at once (Movahedyan, et al., 2009). Add project aim Aim and Objectives The aim of this research is to identify and compare the phenol degrading capacity of bacterial communities from different activated sludge plants. Objectives To determine the common bacterial communities (and their relative abundance) capable of degrading phenol from the different activated sludge. To evaluate the effect of temperature on the variability of the bacterial communities and phenol degradation. To determine the effect of   immigration on the structure of bacterial communities. To ascertain the effect of inocula enrichment on variability within the bacterial community. Regulation of chemicals Regulation of chemicals became more prominent in the 1960’s with the global realization that chemicals can cause irreversible harm to human health and the environment. In determining the effect a chemical has on the environment, it is necessary to assess the chemical’s fate in the environment, in particular, its persistence and bioaccumulation potential. These assessments are done by laboratory testing (Goodhead, 2009). A number of laboratory standard methods, such as the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO standards), United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) testing guidelines, and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) have been developed to assess the biodegradability of chemicals. These tests are used to predict the effect of biodegradation on the fate and transport of these chemicals in the environment (Paixao et al, 2006). The OECD guideline is the most widely accepted guidance document for the testing of chemicals. It provides guidelines for determining the fate and effect of a chemical in the environment and the probability of the chemical to undergo degradation in the environment. These testing procedures consist of a series of standardized tests starting with the screening of chemicals to determine their degradability. The first part of these tests is the screening test also called the ready biodegradability test. In RBTs, the test substance serves as the sole carbon source, which is diluted in a medium containing a relatively low concentration of biomass, incubated at 300C for 28 days. This is to allow for sufficient time for the organisms to adapt to the test chemical (OECD, 1993). The different methods in the OECD guidelines for testing chemicals are shown in table 2. Table 1: OECD standardised tests for biological degradation using typical sewage inocula In ready biodegradability tests, the basic factors which affect the reliability of the results are the inoculum, the source of the microorganisms for the test, and its state of acclimatization and adaptation (Paixao et al., 2006). Although issues such as inoculum pre-treatment have been addressed in a number of studies carried out by Vazquez-Rodriquez et al. (2007), Goodhead (2009) and Paixao, et al (2006), an important factor that has not been studied so much is the incubation temperature. Currently, RBTs are carried out at 30oC; this also might have its own effect on the variability of the bacterial community involved in the biodegradation process. It is common knowledge that temperature slows down the rates of chemical and biological reactions in living organisms. Changes in temperature affect the composition of the bacterial population (Erdal and Randall, 2002) and may also affect the efficiency and kinetics of the degradation process. Biodegradation of phenols Microbial degradation is the most dominant elimination mechanism of organics from the environment. Persistence of xenobiotics represents a real risk for ecosystems as well as for human beings. Therefore, the knowledge of the biodegradability of these xenobiotics is one of the most important aspects of understanding their behaviour in the natural environment and during the biological treatment of wastewater To date, a number of phenol-degrading bacteria have been isolated, and their phenol degradative pathways have been studied. Aerobic degradation of a phenolic compound is known to be initiated by its hydroxylation to form corresponding catechols (Harayama et al. 1992). This step is catalyzed by phenol hydroxylase (phenol 2- monooxygenase, EC 1.14.13.7), which is considered to be the rate-limiting step in the degradative pathway (Hino et al. 1998). Two types of bacterial phenol hydroxylases, the single-component type and multicomponent type, are known; among them, multicomponent phenol hydroxylase (mPH) is considered to be the major enzyme in the natural environment (Peters et al. 1997; Watanabe et al. 1998; Futamata et al. 2001). Several genes coding for mPHs have been cloned and sequenced from phenol-degrading bacteria (Table 1). All these mPHs are similar in their enzyme structure; they comprise six subunits, among which the catabolic site exists within the largest subunit (approx. 60 kD). Some of these enzymes have been found to exhibit different substrate specificity for substituted phenols (Teramoto et al. 1999). To date, a number of phenol-degrading bacteria have been isolated, and their phenol degradative pathways have been studied. Aerobic degradation of a phenolic compound is known to be initiated by its hydroxylation to form corresponding catechols (Harayama et al. 1992). This step is catalyzed by phenol hydroxylase (phenol 2- monooxygenase, EC 1.14.13.7), which is considered to be the rate-limiting step in the degradative pathway (Hino et al. 1998). Two types of bacterial phenol hydroxylases, the single-component type and multicomponent type, are known; among them, multicomponent phenol hydroxylase (mPH) is considered to be the major enzyme in the natural environment (Peters et al. 1997; Watanabe et al. 1998; Futamata et al. 2001). Several genes coding for mPHs have been cloned and sequenced from phenol-degrading bacteria (Table 1). All these mPHs are similar in their enzyme structure; they comprise six subunits, among which the catabolic site exists within the largest subunit (approx. 60 kD). Some of these enzymes have been found to exhibit different substrate specificity for substituted phenols (Teramoto et al. 1999). (Watanabe, 2002) Microbial degradation is the most dominant elimination mechanism of organics from the environment. Persistence of xenobiotics represents a real risk for ecosystems as well as for human beings. Therefore, the knowledge of the biodegradability of these xenobiotics is one of the most important aspects of understanding their behavior in the natural environment and during the biological treatment of wastewater. References EPA, (2009). National Recommended Water Quality Criteria. Office of Water (4304T) United States   Environmental Protection Agency. Washington, DC. pp 4-17. http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/waterquality/standards/current/upload/nrwqc-2009.pdf Accessed on: 14th March 2011. Erdal, U. G. and Randall, C. W. (2002). The effects of temperature on system performance and bacterial community structure in EBPR systems. Enviro 2002/IWA 2nd World Water Congress, Melbourne, Australia. Goodhead A. K. (2009). Towards Rational Risk Assessment: Improving biodegradation Tests through an Understanding of Microbial Diversity Loh, K. C., Chung, T. S., and Ang, W. F. (2000). Immobilized-cell membrane bioreactor for high-strength phenol wastewater. J. Environ. Eng.-ASCE, 126 (1),75-79. Nair, C. I., Jayachandran, K., and Shashidhar, S. (2008). Biodegradation of Phenol. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 7 (25): 4951-4958. academicjournals.org/AJB Accessed on: 11th March, 2011. Paixaà µ, S. M.,   Sgua, M. C., Tenreiro, R., Anselmo, A. M. (2006). Biodegradability Testing Using Standardized Microbial Communities as Inoculum. Environmental toxicology. 21(2): 131-140. Sloan WT, Lunn, M., Woodcock, S., Head, I., Nee, S. and Curtis, T. P. 2006) Quantifying the roles of immigration and chance in shaping prokaryote community structure. Environ Microbiol 8:732–740. Watanabe, K., Teramoto, M., Futamata, H., and Harayama, S. (1998). Molecular detection, isolation, and physiological characterization of functionally dominant phenol-degrading bacteria in activated sludge. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. Vol. 64, 4396-4402

Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn Admissions Info

Long Island University (LIU) Brooklyn Admissions Info Long Island University Brooklyn Admissions Overview: Long Island University (LIU) in Brooklyn is a generally open school; the acceptance rate is around 88%. Students can apply using the schools application, or with the Common Application. Additional required materials include an essay, letters of recommendation, and high school transcripts. SAT and/or ACT scores are not required, but students can submit them if they wish. For complete instructions, prospective students should visit LIU Brooklyns website, or contact the admissions office.   Will You Get In? Calculate Your Chances of Getting In  with this free tool from Cappex Admissions Data (2016): Long Island University Brooklyn Acceptance Rate: 88%GPA, SAT and ACT Graph for LIU Brooklyn AdmissionsWhat SAT numbers meanNortheast Conference SAT score comparisonWhat ACT numbers meanNortheast Conference ACT score comparison Long Island University Description Founded in 1926, Long Island Universitys Brooklyn campus is located in the heart of Brooklyn, a block from Fort Greene Park. The school is one of the most diverse in the country, and it takes pride in serving many first-generation college students from around the globe. The university has strong programs in the health sciences and has affiliations with some of the worlds top hospitals and pharmaceutical companies. The campus sits adjacent to the Brooklyn Hospital Center. The university has a 15 to 1  student/faculty ratio. Nursing is the most popular bachelors degree program. In athletics, the LIU Blackbirds compete in the NCAA Division I  Northeast Conference. The school fields 14 Division I sports. Enrollment (2016) Total Enrollment: 7,609  (4,275 undergraduates)Gender Breakdown: 31% Male / 69% Female88% Full-time Costs (2016 - 17) Tuition and Fees: $36,256Books: $2,000 (why so much?)Room and Board: $13,426Other Expenses: $2,500Total Cost: $54,182 LIU Brooklyn Financial Aid (2015  - 16) Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 96%Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of AidGrants: 94%Loans: 61%Average Amount of AidGrants: $19,592Loans: $6,683 Academic Programs Most Popular Majors:  Biology, Business Administration, Marketing, Nursing, PsychologyWhat major is right for you?  Sign up to take the free My Careers and Majors Quiz at Cappex. Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 61%Transfer Out Rate: 40%4-Year Graduation Rate: 8%6-Year Graduation Rate: 28% Intercollegiate Athletic Programs Mens Sports:  Basketball, Track and Field, Soccer, Golf, Soccer, Cross CountryWomens Sports:  Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, Track and Field, Bowling, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer Data Source National Center for Educational Statistics If You Like LIU Brooklyn, You May Also Like These Schools CCNY, City College of New York (CUNY):  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphHunter College (CUNY):  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphYork College (CUNY):  ProfilePace University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphSt. Johns University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphNew York University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphLIU Post Campus:  ProfileFordham University:  Profile  |  GPA-SAT-ACT GraphMassachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences:  ProfileAlbany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences:  Profile

Drug Treatment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Drug Treatment - Essay Example The answer, may be found in the second article. Perhaps if the approach taken was a cultural one, society in general would look at addiction for what it isa disease. Historically speaking, addiction was never looked at through culture but merely as man's weakness for the drink. In the nineteenth century the temperance movement argued that alcohol inevitably provoked loss of control. That is, the nineteenth-century view of alcohol addiction is exactly that which in the twentieth century has been connected to narcotics: that the drug is inherently addictive so that regular use guarantees an enslavement of the individual that leads progressively to moral collapse and death. This idea of progressive, irreversible, inevitable exacerbation of the habit, causing loss of control of personal behavior and of the ability to make moral discriminations, actually retains strong elements of both colonial and temperance moralism. It is therefore not correct to say simply that modern disease notions have replaced outdated "moral" models of drug use. Rather, relabeling misbehavior as a medical consequence of drug use locates the source of evil in the drug and dictates that the addict's moral responsibility is to avoid the substance entirely--that is, to abstain. If the Strengthening Families Program was applied culturally, weakness would not be the focal point. Instead, vulnerability would.

Scientific Realism & Anti-realism Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Scientific Realism & Anti-realism - Assignment Example The â€Å"no miracles argument† is an argument for realism that states that there are unobservable â€Å"entities† in the world that can be used to influence the observable world. Just because one cannot observe everything does not mean that it does not exist. What happens in the observable world proves the existence and can allow one to predict the behavior of the unobservable. A theory is â€Å"empirically successful† if it has to be shown to make â€Å"excellent predictions about the behavior of objects in the observable world†. Inherently unobservable phenomena, such as the changes an electron undergoes in an atom when moving from a high to lower energy-state in lasers, which scientists then apply to technology that is functionally based on the repeatable results of the experiments define theories that are empirically successful. Realists use the theory to confirm the existence of the unobservable world and to make predictions about its reliability, proposing that if a theory is empirically successful that it must be true based on the results of repeated observations. Anti-realists refer to a number of theories based on empirically successful experimentation that science has later proven false. The anti-realist position is that as science becomes more sophisticated and uncovers ways to observe more of the world, more of the unknown becomes known. The â€Å"no clear difference† argument proposes that there is no clear delineation between the observable and unobservable world. Another argument for realism, this argument indicates that if the line cannot be drawn so that it is easily understood, that more is observable than the anti-realists readily assume.

To what extent can we learn about daily life of people living in York Essay - 1

To what extent can we learn about daily life of people living in York during the years - Essay Example It is declared how everybody’s face in the town wore the matching expression of surprise and restlessness. Everywhere orders were going out to gather more volunteers to be sent in the military to increase the strength if the army and militaries started preparing at a staggering pace to strike at the shortest notice. Facts and discussion presented in this essay are meant to illuminate the reality of the claim that â€Å"myriad accounts related to the state of life and public affairs in York at the time the war of 1812 got announced are quite at length contemplated in the documents of Edith G. Firth and because they are presented in a reflective, insightful, and authentic manner, they form a considerably valued historical source.† It is claimed in the extracts from regimental orders by Lieut. Colonel Chewett3 how the war soon turned out to be unhappy, destructive, and paralyzing and negatively interfered with the lives of a large number of common people and the soldiers. A large number of soldiers daily used to get sick because all the regulars were ordered to the lines to actively participate in the war against the US and after every week or two the soldiers were marched off to new destinations to be replaced by new men from the Country to keep the scene continually changing and managing a fresh line of energy filled enthusiastic soldiers. Though Lieut. Colonel Chewett states in his account that he had very little opportunity to interact with the soldiers at a larger level still this much remained clear that the unhappy war in which we are engaged has called all the regulars to the lines, and the Militia after remaining a week or two in garrison here are marched off.4 This means that a lot many volunteers fr om common public obviously had to be required as a way of trying to change the garrison constantly and this must have

The achievements of Generals are in the long run more decisive than Essay

The achievements of Generals are in the long run more decisive than the achievements of diplomats. Access the validity of this generalization for the United States in the period 1800-1825 - Essay Example main functions of such diplomats are to find ways round to the protection and representation of their states interests and at the same time to promote and foster communication and friendly relations. Generals on the other hand, are general state officers of the highest military rank usually belonging to the army or the air force. Such general’s main function is the use of military force and regulations to enforce their nation’s interests and representation. This is more often than not through war tactics (smith, 1980). According to Smith (1980) the use of generals in the achievement of objectives during the times considered to be a more sure mode of action and fairly quicker than diplomatic tactics. Where diplomats tactics dragged on for long periods of time, most generals military tactics would take much shorter time periods provided the availability of the required access of resources such as during the period of the trial of tears. The â€Å"casualties† were immense but, the objectives of the general’s orders subsequently met, and thus land obtained. Taking the example of U.S generals Andrew Jackson and William Henry who went to war against Britain in the year 1812, they won against states that used diplomatic means to face them and where some of the U.S diplomats had failed. After the carrying out of various diplomatic resolutions to solve the American problems at sea and to end Indian raids in the west, the state decided to finally employ the services of the generals. Though employing the techniques of invasions and divisions of alliances, they were able to achieve their objectives. They repulsed invasions by the British and broke off alliances between the British and the Indians and hence made the enemies weaker to suppress. The federalists and diplomats who were against the war to the extent of trading and threatening succession with the enemy devastated by the U.S general’s triumphant ending of the war. As a result, the U.S sea interests and the

The time of your life by William Saroyan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The time of your life by William Saroyan - Essay Example The bar is the site of connections and synergy among the different characters. For that matter the place can also be considered as a venue where different (Saroyan 4). Characters of the Play The different characters in the play are representatives of the types of people in the society. The owner named Nick is one the primary characters in the play since he is the owner of the venue. He is interested in helping people in different aspects, specifically those who share their views and their souls in his bar (Saroyan 5). Based on his character in the play, he can be analyzed as an open person who wanted to be involved with his clients in a more intimate level, so as to help them in even simple way, that is by making them feel at home in the bar. Based on his appearance he can be judged as a person who had a loud and proud demeanor, which can either be revolting or comforting to the clients. The main character is Joe, who is a ‘young loafer with money and a good heart.’ He i s in the bar owned by Nick. His character is the focal point of the plot. He is responsible for the different events that occurred through the play. One of the evident actions that can be attributed to his character is encouraging other characters in the plot to share their eccentricities (Saroyan 6). ... His admiration made him his errand boy, stooge and friend of the main character. According to him, Joey saved him in one occasion that changed his life, thus, he considered him as a hero. Tom is a representative of appreciative and often times fanatic people who based their objectives and way of life on other people’s life decisions. By allowing Joey to be one of the most important persons in his life, even decisions such as the partnership with a woman are also influenced by Joey’s opinions. Joey sets him up with a prostitute named Kim Duval (Saroyan 7). Kitty Duval is the prostitute who’s being matched to Joey. She is referred to in the text as the ‘young woman with memories.’ In the play she is projected as a delicate representative of the women in the society who are still beautiful regardless of the situations that they are in. She is described as a woman of strong heart and ‘angry purity’ by Joe, thus, he tried to match her with To m (Saroyan 7). In Kitty Duval’s character, the author honored the strengths of women. By recognizing her purity amidst the imperfections brought about by the world of survival, Saroyan expressed the importance of the role of the woman. There are other colorful characters in the bar, such as Arab who is an Eastern philosopher and harmonica-player. He has his own share of eccentricities which aside from his skills and talents also mutters at alone all the time. Joey referred to him as a ‘prophet in his own way because of the manner he voices out his musings on his own regarding the different aspects of his life, lives of other people and even the people on the newspaper (Saroyan 7). Other characters in the play are Kit Carson (an Indian-fighter); McCarthy (an intelligent, well-read

Human resource management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 6

Human resource management - Essay Example Management theories appeared around 1920. With the development of technology and various social developments, the management is subdivided into many categories that involve a particular process. In today’s world, with many things changing around us, every process has its own management methods and personnel for managing that process. Although the basic principle remains the same; planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling to achieve the goal by using the human, financial and material resources. Ultimately the goal of any organization remains the same, that the Human Resource Management department should recruit the most suitable people in the best of their ability to meet the organization’s goal aligned with the vision, mission and goal of the organization. Careful attention to HRM issues is crucial in achieving positive outcomes from their employees, as well as keeping fair and balanced treatment for the employees which could be affected by management decisions. Firstly the organization should start with a "Situation Analysis" of the existing systems and procedures in the organization like; what are the current recruitment structures in operation. Who is the selection authority; what are the existing norms of the target organization. Does the decision lie with the HRM personnel or the organizational managers or would they like to formulate a committee who would tackle with the final decision legalities. The next step would be to identify the gaps in the current framework of the HR. A "Gap Analysis" would help, like; what are the constraints, implications occurred due to these existing systems, what are the merits/ demerits? how these affect the organizational culture. Then in the light of the identified gaps/ constraints, the recruitment and induction strategies should be formulated to address the problems. This would further help in defining the steps in

The time of your life by William Saroyan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The time of your life by William Saroyan - Essay Example The bar is the site of connections and synergy among the different characters. For that matter the place can also be considered as a venue where different (Saroyan 4). Characters of the Play The different characters in the play are representatives of the types of people in the society. The owner named Nick is one the primary characters in the play since he is the owner of the venue. He is interested in helping people in different aspects, specifically those who share their views and their souls in his bar (Saroyan 5). Based on his character in the play, he can be analyzed as an open person who wanted to be involved with his clients in a more intimate level, so as to help them in even simple way, that is by making them feel at home in the bar. Based on his appearance he can be judged as a person who had a loud and proud demeanor, which can either be revolting or comforting to the clients. The main character is Joe, who is a ‘young loafer with money and a good heart.’ He i s in the bar owned by Nick. His character is the focal point of the plot. He is responsible for the different events that occurred through the play. One of the evident actions that can be attributed to his character is encouraging other characters in the plot to share their eccentricities (Saroyan 6). ... His admiration made him his errand boy, stooge and friend of the main character. According to him, Joey saved him in one occasion that changed his life, thus, he considered him as a hero. Tom is a representative of appreciative and often times fanatic people who based their objectives and way of life on other people’s life decisions. By allowing Joey to be one of the most important persons in his life, even decisions such as the partnership with a woman are also influenced by Joey’s opinions. Joey sets him up with a prostitute named Kim Duval (Saroyan 7). Kitty Duval is the prostitute who’s being matched to Joey. She is referred to in the text as the ‘young woman with memories.’ In the play she is projected as a delicate representative of the women in the society who are still beautiful regardless of the situations that they are in. She is described as a woman of strong heart and ‘angry purity’ by Joe, thus, he tried to match her with To m (Saroyan 7). In Kitty Duval’s character, the author honored the strengths of women. By recognizing her purity amidst the imperfections brought about by the world of survival, Saroyan expressed the importance of the role of the woman. There are other colorful characters in the bar, such as Arab who is an Eastern philosopher and harmonica-player. He has his own share of eccentricities which aside from his skills and talents also mutters at alone all the time. Joey referred to him as a ‘prophet in his own way because of the manner he voices out his musings on his own regarding the different aspects of his life, lives of other people and even the people on the newspaper (Saroyan 7). Other characters in the play are Kit Carson (an Indian-fighter); McCarthy (an intelligent, well-read

Prostate Cancer in African American Men Essay Example for Free

Prostate Cancer in African American Men Essay Cancer has always been one of the most dreaded diseases of humans. This incurable disease has broken the hearts and spirits of many, and has continuously left an indelible mark in its patients lives. One of the cancer types associated with men is prostate cancer. The National Cancer Institute website defined prostate cancer as the type of cancer occurring in the male reproductive system, more specifically in the prostate tissues. This type of cancer is normally triggered in older men (n. d.).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In addition to this, the disease also reiterates that genetically mutated cells, known as cancer cells, are present in the prostate. The Prostate Disease website also added that tumors are formed, spreading to the different areas in the body. The spread of the said cells causes permanent damage to the normal functions to the different organs (2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Aside from the fact that cancer is genetically transmitted, the underlying causes of prostate cancer are still undecipherable. The profile of an individual candidate for prostate cancer is usually taken into consideration. Since males are the only ones with prostates, the women are fortunately exempted from acquiring this disease. Race is another factor affected.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The Intercultural Cancer Council website stated that Prostate Cancer affects 37% of African American men (Baylor College of Medicine, 2007). It was also stated that the percentage rate of men afflicted with prostate cancer is relatively higher in Europe and in North America, as compared to Asia, Africa, and South America. Diet is one of the most unrecognizable causes of prostate cancer. Eating of food rich in carcinogens can increase the cancer rate in the body.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   According to the National Prostate Coalition website, African American males are afflicted by Prostate Cancer far more than the other types of cancer. In an estimation made by the same website, there were 4,240 prostate cancer deaths in 2007. The chances of genetically acquiring the disease are very big for African Americans. For a close relative afflicted with the disease, the individual has a one out of three chance of acquiring the cancer. For those who have two relatives afflicted with prostate cancer, the chances increase, with an 83% possibility. Worse, if there were three or more members afflicted, the possible acquisition of the disease is 97% (NPCC, 2007). Quite disappointing, but true.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The early stages of prostate cancer inhibit the patient from experiencing and seeing the symptoms. This is primarily due to the fact that these symptoms may also be caused by the presence of other diseases. Such symptoms may include frequent urination, urinary incontinence, presence of blood in the semen and in urine, erection difficulties, and agonizing ejaculation. Presence of at least two of the above mentioned should be enough basis for the patient to consult an oncologist or urologist at the soonest possible time (Marks, 2003).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Biopsy is one of the most reliable tests done in the diagnosis of prostate cancer. With the presence of a Urologist, a tissue sample is harvested from the patient using a needle. The sample is then forwarded to the Pathologist for extensive examination that could lead to the possible detection of prostate cancer. Several other tests are also performed after biopsy that act as the other opinions in proving the presence of cancer cells. Some of the tests include   a CT scan, bone scan, and an MRI (Strum, Pogliano, 2005).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   With the rampant upgrades in technology, several treatment methods have been available for prostate cancer. According to the website of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the tumor spread of prostate cancer plays an important role in the type of treatment used (2008). The most common treatments used were Radical Prostatectomy, Radiation Therapy, Cyrotherapy, and Active Surveillance.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One of the used surgeries is Radical Prostatectomy. This process focuses on the extraction of the prostate gland and the nearby tissues from the body. This surgery requires the patient to undergo a general anesthesia, so as to avoid the unbearable pain that can be felt during surgery. As replacement, a catheter is placed through the penis so that urination may be facilitated while the wounds are healing (Blasko, Grim, Sylvester, 2003) .   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Undergoing Prostatectomy is one of the most certain treatments for prostate cancer. The removal of the prostate and its nearby tissues inhibits the spread of the cancer cells to the other parts of the body. This also gives the doctor firsthand information of the results, giving them enough evidence as to whether the cancer will spread or not.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Radiation Therapy on the other hand, does not involve any surgery. Instead, the procedure makes use of x-rays whose energy is high enough to kill cancer cells. For this specific disease, two types can be used. These are the External beam and the Internal. The External beam uses a machine that beams radiation from the outside of the body. The target of the beam is the prostate, making sure that radiation is exposed on the pelvis and in the prostate. The side effects for this treatment include diarrhea, rectal irritation, bleeding and painful urination. Sometimes, this therapy may also cause impotence.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Internal radiation therapy, as compared to the external beam, emits radiation seeds that were implanted on the prostate. These seeds are powerful enough to kill cancer cells, but may be very painful.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Cryotherapy, according to the Prostate Cancer Institute website, is one of the newest therapies discovered in the 1990’s. The treatment utilizes the freezing of the prostate gland, destroying the whole organ, including the cancer cells that may be incorporated in the process. The process requires the patient to undergo general anesthesia, and is over in about two hours. The side effects experienced by the patient are usually treated after a few weeks. These may include urinary incontinence, pains in the pelvis, and swelling in the scrotum (2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Active surveillance, on the other hand, is yet the most simple among all treatments. The patient does not undergo a specific treatment, and instead is in close communication with the physician. This process includes regular tests and exams that monitor the health of the patients (2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Having to bear the pain of prostate cancer and the thought of actually dealing with the disease is heartbreaking for anyone. The best thing to avoid such heartbreaks is to try and avoid contacting the disease. According to the WebMD website, the consumption of food rich in fiber can be very beneficial in the prevention of the disease. These include the consumption of tomatoes, vegetables, and soy products. In addition to this, researches are being conducted in finding the correct preventive measures of prostate cancer. Some of these researches include the fact that the administration of a Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) helps in the protection of men from having prostate cancer. Another is the fact that drinking red wine also helps in the prevention of prostate cancer (July 24, 2006).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Regardless of what the effects of prostate cancer are, what is important is the fact that people, cannot avoid such disease. May they be Caucasians, Asians, or even African Americans; no one is exempted from having such. We all just have to take good care of our bodies, and of our lives. References (24 July 2006). Prostate cancer health center: Prostate Cancer-Prevention. Retrieved March 20,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008 from http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/tc/prostate-cancer-prevention.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   American Academy of Family Physicians. (2008). Prostate Cancer Treatment Options.   Ã‚   Retrieved March 20, 2008 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/cancer/treatment/264.html Intercultural Cancer Council. (2007). African Americans Cancer. Retrieved March 20,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008 from http://iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs1.htm Strum, S.B., Pogliano, D.L. (2005). A primer on prostate cancer: The empowered patients   Ã‚  Ã‚   guide. Life Extension Media. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008, from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/prostate Marks, Sheldon. (2003). Prostate and cancer: A family guide to diagnosis, treatment and   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   survival. Perseus Books Group. Grimm, P., Blasko, J., Sylvester, J. (2003). The prostate cancer treatment book.   Contemporary    Books. Prostate Disease. (2006). Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008 from   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.prostatedisease.org/prostate_cancer/default.aspx Prostate Disease. (2006). Prostate Cancer- Causes and Risk Factors. Retrieved March 20,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008 from http://www.prostatedisease.org/prostate_cancer/risk_factors.aspx Prostate Cancer Institute. (2006). Cryotherapy for Prostate Cancer. Retrieved March 20, 2008    from  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.prostate-cancer-institute.org/prostate-cancer  Ã‚  Ã‚   treatment/cryosurgery.html

How Sustainable Is Tescos Strategic Position?

How Sustainable Is Tescos Strategic Position? Jack Cohen, Tescos founder, began as a barrow boy. In 1947, he established one of the first pilot self-service stores in St. Albans in Hertfordshire (Bowlby, 2001, p7-18). Tesco is presently the biggest retailer in the United Kingdom with revenues in 2009 clocking $96,210 million. One third of the entire national food expenditure in the UK occurs at Tescos (Tesco, 2009, p1). The supermarket business in the UK is experiencing difficult times in the wake of the economic downturn. Tesco states that its UK sales growth was nearly flat during the previous quarter, even as it battled declining food prices (BBC, 2010). A supermarket chief who declined to be named stated that a bloodbath might be looming and thousands of jobs might be threatened (Finch Wood, 2010, p1). A fresh generation of supermarket chiefs is taking over the running of the  £130 billion UK retail sector at this uncertain juncture (Finch Wood, 2010). Sir Terry Leahy, Tescos Chairman, will retire in March 2011, after directing the retailer for 14 long years. He will be succeeded by Philip Clarke, currently in charge of Tescos Asian and European business (Telegraph, 2010). Sir Leahys departure proclamation came mere weeks after new chiefs had taken over at competitors Asda and Morrisons (Finch Wood, 2010, p1). This study aims to analyse various important strategy models to understand the strategic position of Tesco, its key external drivers of change, and how it adds value. The study also examines the sustainability of Tescos strategic position. 2. Analysis The retailing business, both non-food and food, is going through a crisis (Finch Wood, 2010). The Like-for-like turnover for Tesco, excluding new store openings and petrol, increased 1.1 percent in the quarter to 30May (BBC, 2010, p1). The growth figure reduced to only 0.1 percent after factoring in the reinstatement of VAT to 17.5 percent; post its temporary cut (BBC, 2010, p1). Company sources said that the 30 percent increase in fuel prices over last year had reduced customer spends on other goods (BBC, 2010, p1). Richard Hunter, Head of UK Equities in Hargreaves Lansdowne Stockbrokers observed that imminent government belt-tightening measures would make it even harder for Tesco customers (BBC, 2010, p1). He added that the company is now exerting itself to achieve the type of progress customarily expected of it by the markets. Sir Terrys looming retirement has exacerbated uncertainty further, even as Tescos competitors continue to threaten its market domination (BBC, 2010, p1). 2.1. Tescos Strategic Position Johnson Scholes, in Exploring Corporate Strategy, (2002), defined strategy thus: Strategy is the direction and scope of an organization over the long term, which achieves competitive advantage for the organization through its configuration of resources within a changing environment and to fulfil stakeholders expectations (Stirr, 2003, p1). Michael Porters Generic Strategies model (1985) categorises 3 generic strategies into (a) cost leadership (b) differentiation and (c) market segmentation. Porter argues that a successful company needs to practice one of the 3 strategies. It must not get stuck in the middle between the two fundamental generators of competitive advantage, namely low prices and differentiation (Referaty, 2010, p1). He also recommends that companies with high market share should adopt cost leadership strategies to become profitable, even as companies with low market shares should target profitability through market segmentation or differentiation (Referaty, 2010, p1). Tescos strategies do not however appear to be influenced by Porters model. Whilst the company has over 30% market share in UKs grocery retailing, it does not offer discount shopping. It is also not the cheapest amongst major supermarket chains. It furthermore offers customers options of Tesco Finest and Tesco basic foodstuffs (Referaty, 2010, p1). Empirical evidence suggests that several companies adopt both low-cost and differentiation strategies (Referaty, 2010, p1). Tesco utilises low costs to offer superior differentiation and subsequently reinvests the returns to reduce the costs even more. It also strategically works towards differentiating through its community building approach (Referaty, 2010, p1). Tescos customers cannot be categorised into distinct social groups. Offering both cheap and expensive merchandise, it provides goods for customers with thin budgets and also for those with more purchasing power (Referaty, 2010, p1). Whilst this approach challenges Porters requirements for successful strategies, it seems to be functioning in Tescos favour (Referaty, 2010, p1). Cliff Bowmans Strategy Clock helps in the examination of a companys competitive position, compared to the offerings of competitors (E-fost, 2010, p1). Bowman, like Porter, believes that competitive advantage emanates, either from cost leadership or from differentiation advantage (E-fost, 2010, p1). Bowman however differs from Porter in some ways. Whilst agreeing with the concept of cost leadership he feels such tenets to be too general and brings in more detailed combinations of perceived added value and price. Bowman suggests the active consideration of eight core strategic alternatives (E-fost, 2010, p1). Table 1 below illustrates the eight alternatives Table 1: Bowmans Strategy Clock (Zanthus.com, p1) Bowmans eight alternatives comprise of (a) low price / low added value, which is liable to be segment specific (b) low price, which carries the danger of price war and small margins or organisations to be cost leaders, (c) hybrid options with lower cost base and reinvestment in differentiation and low price (d) differentiation alternative with / without a price premium that is able to bear price premium or yield market share benefits (e) focused differentiation, yielding perceived added value to specific segments (f) increased price / standard product, which could lead to risks of losing market share (g) increased price / low values, which is feasible in a monopoly situation, and (h) low value / standard price, resulting in loss of market share (E-fost, 2010, p1). Tesco has a firm and deep based strategy for growth, which works towards reinforcig its core UK operations and its the growth thrust in fresh markets (Quick facts, 2009, p1). The fundamental tenet of its strategy, formulated in 1997, concerns the expansion of business scope to permit delivery of robust and sustained long-term growth (Quick facts, 2009, p1). Such expansion is realised by pursuing existing Tesco customers and making them customers of various other UK Tesco businesses like non-food, telecommunications, and financial services (Quick facts, 2009, p1). The companys strategy has five objectives, viz (a) to be successful in its global retail business (b) to develop its mainstay UK business, (c) to be equally strong in non-food and food sectors (d) to expand other retailing and financial services, and (e) to position community at the heart of its strategy (Tesco plc, 2009, p1). Sir Terry said that when I became CEO I had a plan to build Tesco around its customers, to make it number one in the UK and to find new long-term growth in non-food, in services and international expansion. It has taken 14 years but that strategy has become a firm reality now and so I feel my work is almost complete (Telegraph, 2010, p1). 2.2. Key External Drivers PESTLE analysis helps in the analysis of the external macro environment within which a business functions (Rapdbi, 2010, p1). The understanding of opportunities or threats within the big picture environment in which a company operates helps in exploiting opportunities and minimising threats (Rapdbi, 2010, p1). It is a valuable tool for understanding the relationship between market growth or decline and the potential, position, and direction of a company or its business (Rapdbi, 2010, p1). PESTEEL is another extension of the same model and is an acronym for the political, economic, socio-cultural, technological, environmental, educational and legal dimensions that need to be analyses to evaluate the market for the strategic plans of organisations or businesses (Rapdbi, 2010, p1). These factors are briefly discussed as under. Tescos operations are often influenced by political conditions and developments within and outside the UK (Docstoc, 2010, p1). The company might for example have to respond to British and Columbian politics to protect its coffee supply (321books, 2010, p1). Recession has caused unemployment levels in the UK to rocket to 28.93million. Adverse economic conditions can affect consumer spending, as well as impact prices, costs, profits, demand and supply. UK retail turnover, for instance, reduced 0.7% during January 2010 in relation to the January 2009 numbers on a like-for-like basis. Sales in 2009 had increased 1.1% (KPMG, 2010, p1). Sociological factors can also greatly influence Tescos operations. Such factors are immense and can range from immigration to changes in fashion and consumer behaviour (321books, 2010, p1). British consumers have, experts state, turned into one stop shoppers urging chains to stock ever increasing ranges and varieties of goods (Docstoc, 2010, p1). Tesco makes use of technology to drive its business. It uses forecasted weather patterns to estimate demand and sales of its products and services. Their software, developed after 3 years of research, can indicate changes in sales that can occur because of a degree rise in temperature rise or an extra hour of sunshine (Swaminathan, 2009, p1). Technology also facilitates services like Tesco.com and self-checkout facilities (Docstoc, 2010, p1). Tescos environmental policy has resulted in adoption of measures to lower carbon emissions. The company aims to attain a 30 percent decline in the carbon impact on it entire supply chain by 2020; the overall objective is to become a zero carbon group by 2050 (Tescoplc.com [Press release, 2009]) (Docstoc, 2010, p1). Increasing educational levels affect organisations. Higher educational levels facilitate people to receive higher incomes. Increases in incomes also generate opportunities for procurement and sales of additional goods and services (Referenceforbusiness.com, 2010, p1). Tesco is also subject to various government policies and national legislatives, especially in areas of health, safety and labour. Failure in adhering to these can have a direct affect on its performance (Docstoc, 2010, p1). Porters Five Forces analysis for companies involves the evaluation of the external environment vis-a-vis the industry structure. The five forces comprise of barriers to entry, buyer power, consumer power, the threat of substitutes, and the degree of rivalry. Such assessments help firms to formulate approaches for exploitation of opportunities and protection from threats. Companies can thus accomplish competitive positioning and achieve differential advantage over the goods and services of their market rivals (Referaty, 2010, p1). The supermarket retail industry has very high barriers to entry. High capital requirements create major entry barriers for prospective firms. The need to achieve scale economies and high quality and specialised logistics also constitute difficult entry barriers. Tesco and other major supermarket chains have the financial and operational strength to buy and handle enormous volumes of merchandise, which helps them in pricing of products and satisfaction of various customer needs (Referaty, 2010, p1). New firms also need to contend with the loyalties developed by existing firms, such barriers being evinced by the failure of discount stores like Lidl or Aldi that been unsuccessful in not growing up to become major contenders in the retail market (Referaty, 2010, p1). Customers have options of shopping from diverse supermarket chains that compete on price and various promotions. Suppliers can wield considerable influence when they are in positions to claim price premium and also when the final merchandise on offer can be impacted by their quality and their delivery schedules. Tesco prefers to use a number of smaller suppliers rather than one big supplier. This increases its bargaining power and provides the company with the option of switching suppliers, if market and operational conditions so demand (Referaty, 2010, p1). The threat of substitutes plays an important role in assessment of competitiveness. Companies need to examine the tendency and chance of customers to switch to substitutes. They need to for example, in the case of an obsolescence threat, keep competition at bay by making their goods and services more attractive. Tesco, for instance, offers merchandise price check facility on its website, thus enabling customers to view substitutes by themselves (Referaty, 2010, p1). The extent of competitive rivalry depends upon the competitiveness of market participants. With all four major retail players aiming for a higher market share, the supermarket space in the UK is particularly competitive (Referaty, 2010, p1). Porters Five Forces, therefore, is a bottom line method of company analysis, from its own perspective. Essentially if goods or services cannot be differentiated, then competition mainly becomes price-based, and customer loyalty is difficult to ensure (Referaty, 2010, p1). 2.3. Tescos Value Addition Michael Porter advanced his theory on Value Chain Analysis in 1985 in response to criticism on the inadequacies of the Five Forces framework in implementation methodology that connected internal capabilities with opportunities in the competitive landscape (Provenmodels, 2010, p1). This framework centres on industry attractiveness being a causal factor in the earnings potential of all organisations in a particular industry. Considerable differences in performance occur between organisations operating within an industry (Provenmodels, 2010, p1). Value Chain Analysis can assist in identifying an organisations core competencies and differentiating the activities that give rise to competitive advantage. An organisations cost structure can be segregated by this method into discrete functions or processes on the presumption that the cost drivers for each of such activities work differently (Provenmodels, 2010, p1). Porter was able to compress an activity-based cost scrutiny into a standard template comprising of five primary and four support activities (Provenmodels, 2010, p1). These nine activities are categorised under two primary and support activity group areas. The primary activities comprise of (a) inbound logistics, comprising of materials handling, warehousin g, transportation and inventory control (b)operations, including machine operating, testing, assembly, packaging and maintenance (c) outbound logistics of warehousing, order processing, transportation and distribution (d) marketing and sales, comprising of promotion, advertising pricing, selling and channel management, and (e) services, including installation, spare part management and servicing (Provenmodels, 2010). The other support activities encompass (a) firm infrastructure, including general management, finance, planning, legal and investor relations (b) human resource management, encompassing education, recruitment, promotion and reward systems (c) technology development, including research development, product and process development and IT, and (d) procurement, comprising of purchase of raw materials and supplier contract negotiations (Provenmodels, 2010, p1). Attempts to engage in Value Chain Analysis of Tesco reveal various primary variables that can add or deplete value to the organisation (Docstoc, 2010, p1). In terms of primary variables, inbound logistics have an essential significance in the generation of the value chain since they offer the initial prospect to create value. Tesco has sophisticated and ever-improving inward logistics that strive to improve the level of in-store consumer choices (Docstoc, 2010, p1). The effectiveness of Tescos distribution system could be improved. The quality control system should also be administered more proficiently by the organisation to reduce customers being burdened with the cost of losses (Docstoc, 2010, p1). Service orientation lies at the core of Tescos operations. Services that need to be diligently administered include 24*7 activities and various store management functions involving opening and closing stores, shelf maintenance, and stock replenishment (Docstoc, 2010, p1). With regard to outbound logistics, value addition for Tesco can come about from reaching the goods to the customer, improving customer service, and implementing a customer friendly trolley service (Docstoc, 2010, p1). Tescos marketing and sales activity is represented by its distinct Clubcard. The card is instrumental in giving discounts, providing customer loyalty offers, and selling health, wellness, and environmentally friendly merchandise. It carries Tescos advertisements and the latest promotions on deploying recycled goods for assisting Tesco in becoming carbon free by 2050 (Docstoc, 2010, p1). 2.4. Unique Resources and Capabilities All organisational resources are not essential for an organisations competitiveness. The resources that do not help in building competitive advantage constitute threshold resources (Lioukas Voudouris, 2010, p1). Unique resources on the other hand are those which are not easily obtained by the competitors and can help development of competitive advantage (Lioukas Voudouris, 2010, p1). The same argument holds good for capabilities, which are obtained over time through application of resources and knowledge collation. DQE (Design, Quality and Environment) aims to develop unique capabilities and unique resources, which can help in building the foundation of competitive sustainability and competitive advantage (Lioukas Voudouris, 2010, p1). Table 2, provided below, illustrates the permutations of the unique resources and capabilities in forming the foundations of competitive advantages. Table 2: Unique resources capabilities: The base of competitive advantage (Lioukas Voudouris, 2010, p1). The strategy of sustainability entails all characteristics of strategy and incorporates elements of strategy formulation, strategy definition and execution, as also the issue of strategic options (Stirr, 2003, p1). Strategic position is generated by the inter-relatedness of activities (Stirr, 2003, p1). Organisations that really comprehend strategic positioning are experienced in activity mapping. They recognise their core competencies and frequently plot their own and their competitors activity network in order to assess the sustainability of their own strategic position (Stirr, 2003, p1). Any organisation can replicate a particular competitive activity. Discrete activities per se do not generate a strategic position (Stirr, 2003, p1). It is the grouping of activities that an organisation selects to execute for every strategic function (be it marketing, finance, operations and human resources), and the manner wherein such activities are supported and interconnected by business processes and systems, that lead to the building of a strategic position. The extent of interconnectedness and support of these activities determines the degree of sustainability of an organisations strategic position (Stirr, 2003, p1). Organisational strategies relating to marketing, finance, operations and human resources are sustained by internal business systems. These refer to the intricate combination of policies, procedures, hardware, software, budgeting, control mechanisms, et al, which facilitate the optimal flow of data and information through the entire organisation as it tries to provide for the requirements of its customers. An organisation that does not have a lucid strategic position will be transparently riddled with backlogs, omissions and breakdowns within its business systems (Stirr, 2003, p1). Business systems also focus on the means by which core competencies satisfy customer needs. It is through such systems that organisations leverage their entire accessible wherewithal on their customer requirements, build unique activity networks, remove waste through the entire organisation, and curtail their costs to the maximum possible extent. Conclusion: How sustainable is Tescos strategic position? The analysis of the diverse strategy models during the course of this study highlights the significance of strategy in garnering competitive advantages. The key external and internal drivers that compel continuous changes have also been examined. It has also been examined how core resources and competencies need to be utilised effectively and continuously to keep renewing drivers of growth. Activities or strategies per se neither generate competitive advantage nor sustainability. Enterprises that build a sustainable strategic position achieve it through the development of a number of distinct core competencies and by carrying out activities, (which stem from these competencies) that meet customer requirements (Stirr, 2003, p1).Organisations construct sustainable strategic positions by integrating their marketing, finance, operations, and human resource planning functions. They vigilantly review all the activities carried out by every functional sphere to ensure utmost integration (Stirr, 2003, p1). Strategy drives the scale and direction achievable by organisations in the long term and helps organisations in accomplishing competitive advantages through the arrangement of resources in a dynamic and aggressive changing environment to fully satisfy stakeholder expectations (Stirr, 2003, p1). The foregoing analysis reveals how Tesco actively and persistently works in different areas of strategy formulation to achieve competitive advantage and value addition. Tesco strives for sustainability though the deployment of its core resources and integration of all its functions across the board. This renders it with sustainable competitive advantages through the construction of high entry barriers in different operational areas. Such barriers keep new competition from getting and existing competition from achieving parity. The sustainability of Tescos strategic position is also evidenced by its purposeful aim to be a carbon free global organization by 2050.