Thursday, October 31, 2019

Financial analysis of the performance of burberry Essay

Financial analysis of the performance of burberry - Essay Example Additionally, the company is buoyed by the platforms in the emerging countries to drive their earnings both in growth and volume. We will base our strategic analysis of the company on four distinct factors. These are; the existing strengths, the existing weaknesses, the existing opportunities and the existing threat. From a review of the previous performance of the company, the focus that is currently being given to the distribution on licensing in countries like Japan, Spain and the United States has left the company with a low gearing ratio (Proctor, 2012). However, through the current strategy of expansion of sales of Burberry brand and the seizure of opportunities aimed at capturing a greater share of the brand value chain presents numerous opportunities enhancing future value creation. To this end, it would be worth noting that the business model employed by the company possess characteristics of both retail and luxury goods companies. Created in 1956, Burberry Group plc continues to be a global luxury fashion brand and boasts of a history of 158 years. The company specializes in manufacturing a wide variety of products which include accessories, beauty for men, luxury apparel, with men and children being a major business item of the company. The market for the company’s products is spread out to regions including Americas, Asia pacific and Europe with its stock being listed on the London Stock Exchange with the principle business being investment. This report will be applying the appropriate accounting techniques to critically analyzing financial data in the context of a variety of business decision making instances while at the same time making informal judgments from such accounting analyses. The group strategy of Burberry is marked by a combination of both leading market position and a strong franchise in the established

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Mid term essays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Mid term essays - Essay Example There are many perspectives on this issue. But the answer to this question is rather simple. One issue with philosophy is that it has clouded many important debates in voluminous words and obscure theories. The books written on the subject are so difficult and confusing that they are not doing the good they must do to the society. The disparity between the understanding of a lay man and philosophy has harmed, in my opinion, the world. The answer is very simple. There is no point in this argument that a person has to be virtuous in order to perform a virtuous action. The first problem with this statement is that who and how this virtuous man will be defined. According to Aristotle a person is virtuous if he displays a moderate behavior that is a behavior that is between the two extremes (Bostock, 2000). He also believed that virtue is something that can only be learnt and one is not born a virtuous man. Without commenting on the Doctrine of Mean of Aristotle, I would like to agree with Aristotle on this part that virtue is acquired and is not something that a person enjoys from birth. The idea that virtue is learnt provides answer to our question. Virtue if learnt can be achieved by any person, and not just a virtuous person. Anyone can learn to become virtuous can in turn can perform a virtuous act. Even if a person has not acquired all the traits of a virtuous person, he can perform a virtuous action if he has learnt that particular virtuous behavior. We should understand this by an example. A person who has all the traits of a virtuous man in considered virtuous. Now if there is a person who has only some traits of a virtuous man, like he is honest and just, but not all traits of a virtuous man (he is not courageous) then he can perform virtuous (just and honest) acts. He may not be courageous but he can perform a virtuous act. If virtue is acquired and not granted by birth, then a person who is not courageous today can become courageous tomorrow. So

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Arts Important To The Education Education Essay

Arts Important To The Education Education Essay The role of the visual arts in early childhood education has long been recognised and valued as an essential component of the curriculum. Eckhoff, Angela, 2011 The arts consist of variation of appreciation. The different forms of art such as dancing, drawing and painting, performance art, sculpturing and many more. The school curriculum has to embrace arts education. Art appreciation can be inculcate to children at young age. Knowing and understanding of the arts help children to express themselves in different creative art forms in which they are comfortable in. Art nurtures the child to be inventiveness as it engages the child in a process that helps in the development of self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation, self-motivation and problem-solving. Childrens self-esteem will improve as there is no right or wrong in self-creative creation. In this way, children are able to complete task with self-discipline. They practise how to complete a piece of work with patience. As the task assigned in an art lesson is usually engaging, whether it is to complete a drawing or learn a dance, the children would unknowingly establish a positive attitude towards completion of the task. The young learners also get the opportunity to practise social skills through co-operative learning. For instance, the children could partner one another and dance to the music. They could even perform a simple skit together during a speech and drama lesson. As the child discovers the love in arts, they would also become self-motivated and freely express themselves in the d ifferent forms of arts. In co-operative learning, it is inevitable that each child will have different opinions and thoughts. In order to complete the task allocated, they would have to learn how to respect one anothers view. This is part of the process of problem-solving while accomplishing a group assignment together. Each child will have to communicate in a variety ways to express their thoughts and produce the art piece they want it to be or the way they want to express themselves in a play. The young learners will pick up useful life skills to solve problems independently. The belief that art education should encourage the childs creativity, imagination, and expression did not mean that all previous pedagogies were replaced. (Jolley, 2010) Imagination helps children with expression in dancing and also helped in language acquisition to find the correct vocabulary to describe their expression. A childs creativity should not be obstructed or corrected by the adults or educators. 2 forms of art In terms of aesthetic and creative education, dance has much to share with drama, music and the visual arts. (Davies, 2003) A dance is an activity that needs time to practise and gain experience. A dance performance involves choreographing of movements with a music or composing of a musical piece for a dance. Performing can be taken to mean to do, to show, to dance, creating as making, trying out, or composing, while appreciation is the outcome of watching, viewing, talking about and drawing about dance. (Davis, 2003) The activity could be an expressive dance in a drama played by the students. This class activity could elicit responses from children by initiating a discussion how the characters should dance, the kind of facial expressions, choosing the right piece of music to express the mood of the scene and the movements to go along with the music. Children would have trials and errors along the way in the making and appreciating in every part of the dance drama they have created. In terms of dancing consist of being a creator or maker, a viewer or spectator or as a doer or performer. (Davies, 2003) Hence, it is a great platform for children to practise problem-solving skills. The children would be fascinated when they are given a role to play. They would take pride in their roles and responsibilities so it would cultivate self-motivation. Self-esteem could be developed in the process of demonstrating the required skills. There are many opportunities for praises and constructive feedback to individuals to support them in self-discovery. Certain movement ideas frequently used by in informal situations seem to belong together and can be utilised in dance. (Davis 2003) Educators on their part, they can facilitate the students by guiding exploring different ideas of movement such as running and leaping, turning and twisting, moving and stopping suddenly. Children will be able to choose the right movement they would want to include into their dance. Educators may also guide children choosing the instrument they would like to use for the movement using different sounds. For example, the sound of the fast ringing bells can be the movement of running. Dancing is tapping on kinaesthetic intelligence where the child could learn through body movements. Through practice and hard work, the children could perform certain body movements confidently. They would improve in self-esteem as they successfully perform the desired body movements. Another form of art is drawing. Drawing from observation still represents a key component of statutory art education for children aged 5 to 14 years of age. (Jolley 2010 ) Drawing involves imagination and creativity and expression. Drawing helps children to express their thoughts with different kinds of lines and shapes. It encourages the young minds to be independent problem solvers as they have to decide on the kind of drawings they want to produce. Observation also plays an important part in drawing. For example, children may observe a stalk of flower or the movements of the grass when the wind blows and draw the expression of what they have observed using different lines. For example, curvy lines, straight lines and zig-zag lines. Once children are allowed to make representational drawings, rather than mere line and shape, they are often directed towards forms of subject matter such as cubes, cones, prisms, and so on, whether copies from pictures of three-dimensional models. (Jolley,2010) Children may also move to a higher level to explore drawing representational drawings with their imagination. Drawings are one of the best ways to document the imaginations of the learners. It allows the opportunity for educators to encourage the children through guidance and improve self-motivation and self-esteem. Educators may guide children by introducing the drawing of different lines such as horizontal line, vertical line, wavy line and spiral line. Students will then apply what they have learnt in their drawings. Students will also need to be given opportunities to observe the environment around them , space for creativity and imagination. Children are then taught to draw more controlled lines. (Jolley, 2010) In this case, children are expect to have the discipline to practise the skills of drawing straight lines. 5. arts education in the curriculum planning. According to the Ministry Of Education, Singapore, Kindergarten Curriculum Guide (KCG), aesthetics and creative expression is being part of integrated learning in the holistic development of the child. In the school planning, it has to include the childrens experiences in visual arts, music and movement allow children to be expressive, creative and imaginative. (Kindergarten Curriculum Guide, 2008) Therefore, it is essential to plan the schools curriculum according to the framework and arts will not be left out. In the schools curriculum, children are also taught to learn appreciation of visual arts and musical instruments. Children will be given chance to discuss about their own art works such as describing the lines , colours and shapes used. (Kindergarten Curriculum Guide) Children will also be given opportunity to appreciate, learn and explore the different sounds made by the instruments. It is the ministry effort to promote holistic education and the emphasis of the importance of arts education in pre-school curriculum. Teachers are the drivers for success implementation of a well-developed school-based curriculum. It is only beneficial if schools encourage teachers to attain subject mastery through professional development. Conclusion In a nutshell, we must value the importance of arts education as it develops the young learners in a fun and engaging manner. It helps to look into the childs development in the different areas such as self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation, self-motivation and problem-solving.

Friday, October 25, 2019

My Generation Essay -- essays research papers fc

People throughout the world experience catastrophes, and contentment throughout their lives. Some incidences may impact just their lives, or even the world. People experience occurrences in their generation where only they could have an emotional connection. Ancestors, grandparents, and our parents have experienced situations in their lives, which we could only take a glimpse of. We see the photos, we hear the stories but we don't feel the emotions, which they experience during that time. In my generation there have been events in my life that I classify devastating and memorable. In the following paragraphs I will present the aspects of my generation of how incidences may impact our lives and the lives all across the world. In 1981 the year of my birth, Pope John Paul II and President Reagan, are both shot in assassination attempts. He was the first non-Italian pope in 450 years and the first Polish pope. John Paul traveled widely early in his reign, e.g., to Poland and the U.S. in 1979. Following a trip to E Asia (1981), he was shot at the Vatican on May 13, 1981, by a Turkish terrorist (Zpub). The assassination attempts on John Paul II and President Reagan have lifted a dilemma and gun control. Gun control is government limitation of the purchase and ownership of firearms. The availability of guns is controlled by nations throughout the world. In the U.S. the right of the people to keep arms is guaranteed by the Constitution but has been variously interpreted (Zpub). Some states have strict licensing and other control measures, and federal legislation prohibited the sale of rifles by mail. After years of controversy, the growing number of gun-related crimes pushed congressional passage of the Brady bi ll. Named for press secretary James Brady who was seriously wounded in the 1981 assassination attempt on President Reagan. The 1994 Federal Crime Bill banned the manufacture, sale, and possession of certain assault weapons. In 1984 a Rock n’ Roll Group Queen release their album Queens Greatest Hits Volume I. Without a doubt the album goes Platinum, with hits like â€Å"Bohemian Rhapsody,† â€Å"Another Bites The Dust,† â€Å"We Are The Champions† and â€Å"We Will Rock You†. My favorite song from the album is â€Å"We Will Rock You.† I really enjoy the song because it has personal significance and not only that, but it has a nice beat to it. The song has become an anthem in Am... ...and Elton John. And Steven Spielberg creates movies to help better understand the concept and tragedies of war. This is just a glimpse of what my world/generation was like from 1981-2002. Works Cited Atkinson, Rick.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Crusade.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  New York: Princeton Press, 1997. Schindler’s List. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Perf. Ben Kingsley, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes. Videocassette. Universal, 1993. No Author.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Online source   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.cnn.com/US/OKC/bombing.html Reeve, Simon.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The New Jackals.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Boston: Northeastern University Press, 1999 Rees Mat.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"World Trade Center Tragedy†Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Time Sept. 2001 35-37 No Author.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Online source   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  http://www.zpub.com/un/pope/ G.I. Joe An America Hero: WPIX 11. New York. 1988

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Achieving Operational Excellence: Evaluating Supply Chain Management Services Essay

UPS Logistics Schneider Logistics How can these companies be used for supply chain demand? When you don’t know where to start, our industry experts will evaluate your network and supply chain processes through a structured diagnostic process. We have experienced, cross-functional teams who will consult with you to identify and prioritize savings opportunities and maximize your bottom line. Streamline your distribution network, reducing costs and improving customer service Provide insight into logistics design, re-engineering, and supply chain management Implement leading-edge information systems Implement benchmarking processes to measure productivity What supply chain process can each of these companies support for their clients? Assess Design Implement Execute Work with your suppliers at origin to prevent stock-outs, shortages, and delivery delays Make arrangements for pickup, handling, and air or ocean freight transport Provide detailed in-transit inventory visibility through UPS Order Watch How can customers use the Web sites of each company to help them with supply chain management? When you need technology, resources, and unmatched transportation and logistics expertise on a global scale, turn to Schneider. Our associates are experts in supply chain strategy, and will help you understand the key drivers that transform your supply chain from a list of uncertainties to a competitive advantage. Our supply chain design and planning services will help you create the supply chain you need to bring out the best in your company. Our designers and engineers will go beyond the abstract, and produce a plan that will leverage the unmatched scope of UPS logistics capabilities to benefit your business. Compare the supply chain management services pr ovided by these companies. Our  experienced team can design and optimize your logistics network to handle: changing demand, acquisition distribution redundancy, service level rationalization, and logistics cost pressures. We excel in tailoring optimization models to mirror customer specific constraints and business rules. From site analysis and selection to supply chain modeling, network optimization, and parts planning, our services can help you start the process of making your supply chain a more effective part of your business’ operations. Which company would you select to help your firm manage its supply chain and why? I would use this company because it was easier to access online. The page was also easier to understand.  I also liked that the website said â€Å"when you don’t know where to start, our industry experts will evaluate your network and supply chain processes through a structured diagnostic process.† If someone is not familiar with this, an expert can guide them through the process. Not applicable.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Costco Strategy

Costco was founded in 1983 by Jim Sinegal and Jeff Brotman who were previous colleagues in California within other membership warehouse stores. â€Å"The company’s business model was to generate high sales volumes and rapid inventory turnover by offering members low prices on a limited selection of nationally branded and select private-label products in a wide range of merchandise categories† (Thompson, p. C-35). This analysis will review the â€Å"cornerstones of Costco’s strategy; low prices, a limited product line, limited selection and a ‘treasure hunt’ shopping environment† (p. C-35). Furthermore, it will identify if Sinegal’s strategic approach identifies with Thompson’s five competitive strategies and Porter’s five forces. In conclusion, consulting recommendation will be advised. Thompson describes a five strategy phases for crafting and executing on strategy as; low-cost provider, a broad differential, a focused or niche market based on low cost or differentiation, and best-cost provider. â€Å"A low-cost leader’s basis for competitive advantage is lower overall costs than competitors. Whereas, Siengal’s Successful low-cost leaders are exceptionally good at finding ways to drive costs out of their business† (p. 8). Sinegal’s approach focused on four major strategies, the first was to â€Å"sell top-quality national and regional brands at prices consistently below traditional wholesale or retail outlets† (C-35). This tactic was to keep prices low to members by capping the margins on brand-name merchandise b y fourteen percent and their in-house Kirkland brand at fifteen percent. The philosophy was to keep members coming in to shop by wowing them with low prices. Siengal next alignment with Thompson’s strategies was broad differentiation. The essence of broad differentiation is being able to offer unique product attributes that a wide range of buyers finds appealing and worth paying for. Siengal took broad differentiation to an elevated level by limiting the selection in each product category to fast-selling models, sizes and colors. In addition, his competition typical supermarkets such as Wal-Mart Supercenter and Super Target may have one hundred and fifty thousand items for shoppers to choose from in comparison to Siengal’s four thousand. Another valuable approach Siengal demonstrated was his understanding of the fast paced technological changes in retail. He purposefully would only stocked limited selection to move products more swiftly. Costco’s strategies prove time and time again that they were not trying to be too much to too many. There goal of staying focused on quality-low cost helps them outcompete their rivals and being in position to win buyer favor by means of low-priced offerings. This focus on low-cost versus differentiation has led to Siengal’s no PR department approach. His marketing objectives are limited. His marketing and campaigning is limited to special grand openings, direct mailer to members, and direct calls to businesses within the area of a new warehouse opening. Costco’s treasure hunt has enticed its customers to shop for the sizable number of items that are high-end or brand name products with high retail prices at affordable Costco wholesale pricing. All in all, Costco demonstrates the best-cost provider strategy by blending its low-cost and differentiation. â€Å"Best-cost provider strategies create competitive advantage by giving buyers more value for their money – an approach that entails (1) matching close rivals on key quality/service/features/performance attributes, (2) beating them on the costs of incorporating such attributes into the product or service, and (3) charging a more economical price. A best-cost provider strategy works best in markets with large numbers of value-conscious buyers desirous of purchasing appealingly good products and services for less money† (p. 104). As an advising consultant to Costco, I am 100% in agreement with his strategic viewpoints. My recommendations are as follows: Recommendations for Costco: †¢ Succession plan for current CEO – Age 79, need strong successor in public eye †¢ PR – A little PR is better than no PR †¢ Updates on Ethics & Compliance – more publically known (PR) †¢ Accept Food Stamps – grow customer base †¢ Packaging – some stock could contain less quantity Payment Choices – Accept VISA and Master Card and charge 2% fee (Comparable to Sam’s Club) †¢ Check out – Consider Self-check out lanes †¢ Non-Member Day – quarterly event allowing non-members to trial store for one day which in turn would increase prospect members Using t he five-force model of competition, Exhibit 1 represents an analysis of Costco Wholesale's competitive environment. The forces characterize an industry by considering the threat of new entrants, power of buyers and suppliers, threat of substitutes and the impact among rival competitors. The threat of substitutes is the strongest for Costco. This threat comes from specialty discount stores, broad product discounters and hypermarkets followed by online sellers as an alternative threat. Both act to increase the power of existing buyers, particularly for shoppers who are satisfying needs versus wants. Costco’s overall generic strategy of being a best-cost provider has been effective and sustainable in the retail industry today. Costco’s strategic vision for being a low price, high volume retailer is well known all over the country. With this existing strategy, Costco could continue on with a solid future.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

Children Should Start School Younger Than They Do Now Essay Example

Children Should Start School Younger Than They Do Now Essay Example Children Should Start School Younger Than They Do Now Paper Children Should Start School Younger Than They Do Now Paper Children Should Start School Younger Than They Do Now There is no doubt that parents want the best for their children. Some of them believe that children should stay at home or go to kindergartens until they are seven years old. Others think that it is important for kids to go to school as soon as possible. According to the statistics, our brain gets damaged as we grow old. As a child we have a capability to memorize anything quickly. So, it is really important to send children to school early and let them use their brain for all it is worth. Moreover, going to school early means finishing it at an early age. Is it an advantage, however? As far as this point is concerned, I think, we should follow the example of the USA. American children finish their school at the age of 18-19. Thus, they are already mature enough to make up their mind, to choose their future occupation. As for the Russian children, they are only 16-17 years old when they find themselves at a crossroads. They haven’t understood yet what they want to be, so they do what they’re told by their parents. As a result, they realize later that they entered not the university they wanted, and studied â€Å"not their scene†. In addition to that, by sending your child to school earlier you â€Å"steal† a year (or more) of his/her childhood, real and careless childhood. It may have a bad effect on children in the future and bring them a psychological trauma. So, if you ask me, I would never send my child to school earlier than at 7 years old. If you want my honest opinion, 5- and 6-year-old kids should play with dolls and toy cars instead of sitting at the desks at school.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Psychology for creativity Essays

Psychology for creativity Essays Psychology for creativity Essay Psychology for creativity Essay 1. Creativity is a function of inborn characteristics and aptitude, influenced by upbringing, family and social environment. I believe that this statement is important in terms of developing and having access to ones own personal creativity. According to Csikszentmihaly there is a genetic disposition to our creativity and having access to his creativity when needed. There are ten dimensions that determine who and what makes a real creative person. Some of these characteristics are (1) physical energy-creative people have a great deal of physical energy but at the same time are peaceful. (2) Creative people are smart yet contain innocence at the same time. (3) Creative people contain a combination of discipline and playfulness at the same time. (4) Go back and forth between imagination/fantasy to being rooted/realistic. (5) Contain both extrovert and introverted qualities. (6) Are humble yet proud, (7) have a combination of masculine and feminine qualities, (8) have a combination of rebel and conformist characteristics. (9) They are very passionate when it comes to work, yet they are objective about the situation. (10) Creative people are sensitive, therefore they are prone to suffer, but at the same time has a lot of enjoyment. Creative people are the ones who can act on both sides of the spectrum; they can run on both ends of these polarities. I believe that the ten dimensions are things that I do recognize within my personal creativity, in many ways I find myself having many of these spectrums. And I find it very interesting that the creative person is neither one nor the other, but both. Sometimes a person questions whether its right to be at both ends of the spectrum, but after reading this I found out that it is quite normal and promotes creativity. There are also factors during ones own developmental phase that can bring about the creative person within such as being firstborn, surviving a big loss of one or both parents when young, having a diversified environment, exposure to wide range of Ideas, being a book lover, lots of hobbies, good working habits, and interestingly enough the creative person is someone in conflict. I am actually the first born; I have three younger half siblings, and therefore technically considered an only child as well. When I was six years old I suffered some serious trauma when both of my grandparents died a month a part from each other. I was very close to them and considered them to be like my parents, so close that our apartments were on the same floor of our apartment building. Shortly after my parents got divorced, and what I considered a perfect world fell apart in a matter of weeks. This trauma that I endured so young had forever impacted my life to this day. I think in many ways it almost made special and I knew from that day forth that I was a lot different than many of my peers. From that point on life was not easy, it was like a tumbling wheel, everything that could possibly go wrong did. However at the same time I did see that the melancholy of my life allowed me to access a creative side as well. I always felt musically inclined, I love to sing, dance, play guitar, act, etc Interestingly enough I took the arts very seriously and considered myself creative and considered myself one of the best. According to Amabile, family lives of young people help develop the creative self. Parenting style and home atmosphere apparently has more of an impact on determining creativity than genetics, therefore home life is a very important role in raising a creative person. Parents who have less rules have more creative children. Families with creative teens have unconventional furnishings. Creative children suffer more traumas. Growing up I felt a lot more unconventional than the rest, my parents were in some way considered hippies and I was allowed to do pretty much whatever I wanted. I never was grounded or had any rules, which isnt always such a great thing; however I was free to find myself. I can see that rules may somehow cut a person free will and creativity to flow. 2. Creativity is largely a function of the unconscious mind-its particular voice and content-as mediated by the conscious mind. We can access our unconscious content so as to heighten our creativity. What is creativity? What goes on during this process? Psychoanalysis gives us certain explanations on how this process is possible, and also on its benefits for both its author and public. Freud admitted to not being able to fully, in my opinion- account for the artists gift using the psychoanalytic method. The creative process is, according to Freud, an alternative to neurosis, that is a defense mechanism protecting against neurosis, leading thus to the production of a socially acceptable source of entertainment and pleasure for the public. For the artist has the ability of turning his fantasies into artistic creations instead of into symptoms. The unconscious plays a major role in the act of creation. That is, the act of creation is made possible by the libido, the energy of the id, and by a defense mechanism considered to be the most beneficial sublimation. By turning the sexual desire into a cultural manifestation with the help of the ego, sublimation makes the thoughts of the unconscious more acceptable to the conscious and it also allows for something productive, and pleasant, for the others as well. Art makes use of defense mechanisms such as condensation and displacement terms also used for work on the dream process, due to the role of the unconscious in both creative and dream processes. Art itself can be regarded as a defense mechanism. The artistic creation may be, for the artist, wish fulfillment or fantasy gratification of desires denied by the reality principle or prohibited by moral codes. Art is thus a means of giving expression to, and dealing with, various psychic pressures. The artist can work his fantasy a substitute for satisfaction by means of sublimation, into a socially acceptable form, art, that the others can enjoy. He works out the personal in his daydreams, fantasies into something he can share with the public. Some believe that creativity is intertwined with repression and pain. Freud did claim that the artists use their work to project in the outside world unfulfilled fantasies. However, in his view, a good poem is sublimation, and not a repression. Moreover, there is this ability of the artist to create and not become ill with phobia. I believe that many of times growing up I chose to do many things such that involved the arts so that deal with things in my life that were not the easiest to deal with. Any artistic creation is a compromise between the unconscious and conscious intent of its author. According to Freud, the artist can choose and make changes in the unconscious material. This and the way the artist transforms his egotistic fantasies into something acceptable for public appreciation could be regarded as parts of the artists gift. The fantasies of a man of artistic talent give us pleasure, while those of an ordinary day-dreamer could leave us indifferent, or bore or disgust us; or, while we might find that the fantasies of an ordinary day-dreamer have something in common to ours, his work would not have the same value as a true, gifted artists, and the day-dreamer will not be interested in sharing his work and reworking it for the public 3. The creative mind is an eccentric one and can be close in processing style to the pathological mind. Creativity could be described as the ability to create products or ideas which are original and which possess a strong social usefulness. To create, indeed, implies the production of something new and original. However the qualities that make an individual able to produce new entities are not well understood. As is also the case with the concept known as intelligence, it is unlikely there is a general creativity factor unevenly distributed across the population. Rather, creativity can be conceived as a complex of qualities that allow some people more easily than others to produce new objects or ideas. Most studies show that there is a link between creative ability and the risk of mental disorder: in fact, the prevalence of mental problems among creatively gifted people is often, but not always, significantly higher than among the general population. Studies on the relationship between creativity and mental illnesses suggest that they are the same characteristics of the disorder, in their less severe manifestations, which confer some advantage on afflicted individuals and their relatives. 4 .The creative processes has a life of its own, I believe it can be greatly influenced by practices and conscious actions. There are many practices that can help influence the creative process such as visualization processes, having a higher responsibility, repeating questions to uncover your blocks (perfectionism, fear, shame)owning your shadow- using Jungian theory to help find certain archetypes of your life. Always having a witness consciousness to whatever you may be doing. All these exercises can help with coming closer to the creative process; it allows you to have access to your creativity and keep the energy flowing where it may sometimes be stagnant. I think these exercises are important to help not only to get your creative juices flowing, but it also allows you to really take control of your life and the obstacles that you may encounter along the way. Exercises such as owning your shadow really give you a sense on how important it is for you to be real with yourself. Because if you are not honest with yourself, I doubt you will ever get to the core of what really in life moves you or makes you tick. It is okay to have feelings that may not be so called appropriate in that exact moment, but just as long as you own yourself and you true feelings, you can see that it is okay to pass through these times of darkness, and that it is acceptable to not be smiling all the time. Everyone has a dark side and there is nothing wrong with that, it simply is just how life is. Having a higher responsibility also helps the person become more aware of their surroundings, and not just think about themselves. Personally when after doing this higher responsibility I realized that its such a rewarding feeling that you feel when you give freely to someone without necessarily getting something in return. I believe that a lot of people are selfish and usually give because they know they will be getting something in return. I think that when you finally decide to give without thinking of what you will receive it is a lot more rewarding. The list of five was also another great exercise to get those creativity juices flowing; it gives you an opportunity to really dig in and see what really makes you tick, what goals you may soon want to achieve, what hold you back in life, and all together allows you to become more aware of all the things that may be possible in achieving within this lifetime. Another wonderful exercise that I found unbelievably interesting was the visualization exercise, I thought that it was a great way in learning how to take more control of your life and the things that you may want to create within your life. A lot of the times people are lost and do not see the light at the end of the tunnel, it is hard because people will lose themselves the chaos of life, lets say for example you are dealing with an illness, it may very well be hard to overcome that, however doing visualization exercises particularly helps in problems such as these. It trains your brain to start creating these solutions, by first just thinking about it; imagining it and then eventually making it a reality. Creative process does have a life of its own, these exercises allow you to take charge of your life and move into a whole new realm of creativity. It brings you closer to the things in your life that you may have not been able to achieve because you couldnt see how to really achieve these things before and make it a reality. 5. What do you think is the source of creativity? The creative spirit? From where does the motivation for creativity come? Creativity is the quality that you bring to the activity that you are doing. It is an attitude, an inner approach how you look at things. Really, the experience of creativity is an entry into the mysterious. Technique, expertise and knowledge are just tools; the key is to abandon oneself to the energy that fuels the birth of all things. This energy has no form or structure, yet all the forms and structures come out of it. It makes no difference what particular form your creativity takes it can be painting or singing, planting a garden or making a meal. The important thing is to be open to what wants to be expressed through you. I believe that we dont possess our creations; they do not belong to us. True creativity arises from a union with the divine, with the mystical and the unknowable. Then it is both a joy for the creator and a blessing to others. 6. How does creative thinking differ from ordinary thinking? Creative thinking is different from ordinary thinking because it gets to you to start focusing on this different type of energy. Some examples of some skills associated with creativity are Breaking out of old patterns and doing something different, keeping options open, not judging so quickly, thinking broadly- trying to see relationships between different ideas, breaking through ordinary way of doing things, trying to perceive things in a new and exciting way, using exercises to help get those creative juices flowing more freely. Basically creativity thinking is more innovative and free, being able to try new ideas and things to encourage more creative progress. Learning to become more open to new ways of promoting these different ways of doing things, creativity is daring to be different; making the difference. According to Osborne things that promote creativity are traveling, playing games, solving puzzles, pursuing hobbies, and reading/writing Ordinary thinking is stagnant; it does not have a unique sense. It wears the same old boring t-shirt and jeans every day. Ordinary thinking simply follows the crowd and never tries to be the one to stand away from the crowd and try something new. According t Osborne factors that cramp creativity are sticking to previous habits, self-discouragement, timidity, and urbanization. A statement I always love to say in honor of creativity is: Dare to be different and the rest will follow! 7. Do you think the genius is born or made? Weisberg posits that the primary factors in genius or extraordinary accomplishments are skill, motivation and discipline. According to Weisberg genius are in born, that it is a natural ability that we are born with. Personally I would have to agree and say that it is something innate and something that we can all attain. Also in terms of creativity everyones has the ability to access it as much as they want. He also states that this idea of geniuses is a view that is very rooted in the past. He believes that the idea of a genius is more of a myth, therefore it does not exist, meaning that we all have this capability to be so called geniuses. He states that creativity is within everyone and that we all have ability to attain these achievements just as long as improve skill, are motivated and disciplined enough to achieve these goals and ideas. Weisberg also points out that in theory we all have the same cognitive abilities as a so called genius, so what makes them so different? Apparently nothing, we have the same capability to weave and create different Ideas / inventions that have not yet been thought of as much a genius could or even more than genius would. Creativity is in access to all that is new, different, exciting, innovative, loving, peaceful, fun, and the opposite of all that we do on a daily basis. Creativity is about living to your potential and shaking up the earth. We all are to accomplish these set out aspirations for ourselves just as long as we believe and really yearn to do so, nothing in the world should/could stop you.

Sunday, October 20, 2019

The 85 Cutest Puppies to Brighten Your Day (Pics + Videos)

The 85 Cutest Puppies to Brighten Your Day (Pics + Videos) SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Looking for the cutest puppies to cheer you up? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got pictures and videos of puppies doing all sorts of adorable things. Find cute puppies indoors, cute puppies outdoors, puppies with other puppies, puppies with other baby animals, puppies with babies, funny puppies, and sleeping puppies. Try to make it through this collection of puppy pictures without saying awwwww. I dare you! What Kind of Cuteness Are You Looking For? Cute Puppies Indoors Cute Puppies Outdoors Cute Puppies With Other Puppies Cute Puppies With Other Animals Adorable Puppies With Babies Funny Dogs Sleeping Puppies Cute Puppies Indoors #1: This adorable yawner. Flickr/Ted Fu #2: This pup getting a bath. #3: This teeny destructor. #4: This pup who likes shoes. #5: This escape artist. #6: This little Frenchie. #7: This cutie who is trying to eat his way to safety. #8: This pup who wants to stay in bed all day. #9: This pup in a cup. Cute Puppies Outdoors #10: Another pup in a cup! #11: This precious Dalmatian pup. #12: This unusually cuddly White Walker (look at those eyes). #13: This Corgi jumping into the water. #14: This little Bulldog pup struggling to climb a step. #15: This Golden Retriever who doesn’t yet know what to do with a dog bowl. #16: This curious Dachshund pup. #17: This pup who is ready to roll. #18: This pup enjoying the pool. #19: This teeny pup who is happy just lying in the grass. #20: This little one that doesn’t let snow get in her way. Cute Puppies With Other Puppies #21: These pups who are rather fond of one another. #22: These three siblings who fit in a shoebox. #23: These Bernese Mountain puppies who like to fight. #24: These Labrador pups who are full of energy. #25: Golden Retriever kisses. #26: These little adventurers. #27: These huggers. #28: These teeny Chihuahuas. #29: These pups who are getting a lift from momma. #30: These pups who think they're human. #31: These Golden Retriever pups playing with ice cubes. #32: These pups that are secretly mini-polar bears. Cute Puppies With Other Animals #33: This Corgi with a bird on its head. #34: These puppies meeting kittens. #35: This pup with its chimpanzee pal. #36: This Corgi who is slightly terrified. #37: This Chihuahua pup who think she’s a goat. #38: This pup with ducks. #39: This Shiba who doesn't like his new cat friend. #40: This pup and baby cheetah who cuddle. #41: This pup who is a little afraid of cats. #42: This puppy and kitty snuggle sesh. #43: This cat who is outnumbered: #44: This pup meeting a pony. #45: This puppy kissing a bunny. #46: This Labrador pup who doesn’t seem very interested in the snow Bengal kitten. #47: This pup and bunny who are ignoring each other. Adorable Puppies With Babies #48: This pup who is excited to meet her new sis. #49: This Golden pup who is quite smitten with his new pal. #50: This pup who is helping his friend get cleaned. #51: This baby loves his cuddle buddies. #52: These pugs and their pal. #53: This Shorkie pup and baby who like to play fight. #54: This pup who wants to kiss his baby friend. #55: This baby laughing at his Boxer puppy. #56: This not so great guard dog. #57: These kissing buddies. #58: This Labradoodle who takes a kick to the face. Funny Dogs #59: This not-so-coordinated pug. #60: This motorcycle pup. #61: This Pitbull pup who likes cheese whiz. #62: This Corgi cautiously exploring new household items. #63: This Bernese Mountain dog puppy who really hates lemons. #64: This little shopper. #65: These pups who get caught in toast. #66: This Golden Retriever pup who gets caught. #67: This Corgi in a raincoat. #68: This Golden pup who fights a mirror. #69: This pup who thinks he's a baby. #70: This pup who hates vacuums. #71: This pup who gets a ride. #72: This Golden Retriever who is stuck. #73: This pup riding a bike. #74: This Bulldog riding a roomba. Sleeping Puppies #75: Nap time! #76: This one who just can’t open his eyes. #77: This pup who plays dead really well. #78: Not quite 101 Dalmatians. #79: This pup who needed an afternoon nap. #80: This cuddling family. #81: This festive sleeper. #82: These sleeping Shiba Inu pups. #83: This one who can fall asleep anywhere. #84: This sleepy bunch. #85: This teeny fellow who is smaller than a hand.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Jean Roberge - vice president of ABS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Jean Roberge - vice president of ABS - Essay Example The project tends to bring all 3 sub-units (which were previously 3 different businesses) on to one platform so that resources can be shared profitably especially in accounting and human resource management department. Even in marketing department, if the plan of marketing from all three entities is in line with each other due to the presence of an integrated management system, it will prove less costly and more effective. The project will cost $50 million, which Mr. Roberge plan to spread over the period of 24 months. The major targets of ABS from incorporation of this new system are to ensure consistent and reliable data retrieval, harmonization of accounting and financial process, improving process efficiency in HR management and to create an integrated market vision for the new ABS entity. The challenges as identified by Mr. Roberge include the fact that there is a huge amount of information that needs to be sorted out and placed rightly to be accessed when required and this too must be done without a single error. The existing systems and soft wares cannot be considered obsolete for no reason. Instead, the best option is to make as little as possible change to the soft wares in use already. This will help in keeping the system understandable for the users. Also, it is a huge project which will have a direct impact over the way IT department of ABS works. It will have an impact over the future of IT department in ABS. Another great challenge is that Mr. Roberge needs to hire a competent project manager. Case 1: Question 1: There are few other issues which at this point seem that Mr. Roberge has not considered. The biggest issue is reaction of ABS employees to this huge change. It has been mentioned in the case study that IT department staff is already a little uneasy about it as such a system can lead towards downsizing of their department. Such an automated system might result in lower number of jobs in IT department. This thus has an impact over performan ce of staff especially in the IT department. On the same line, the reaction of employees from other departments will also be important. Marketing department for example might not be very comfortable with such an integrated system. They are not used to discussing their micro plans with a huge audience. An important aspect that is thus being overlooked at this stage in my opinion is change management. Case Study 2: Question 1: In my opinion there are a few key points in the presentation which include the following: First of all, the presentation must have included the scope, budget, requirement and justification of having such a huge system in place. This is something which Mr. Roberge’s own presentation to the committee had in detail. The issues which he found a little untouched in his own presentation and was impressed when he saw added to consultant’s presentation are a detailed break up of the additional resources ABS will require for implementation of such a huge sy stem. When ERP is incorporated in any huge corporate of public culture, there is a lot of staff requirement, capital resource requirement and hardware and soft ware requirements to be taken care of by the parent company. Though Mr. Roberge has done thorough cost analysis, the requirement of staff was brought up by the consultant. Other important point that was highlighted in the presentation of the consultant was that change management must be a well planned process. The consultant has been a part of essentially many such ERP incorporations and from his experience he has pointed out that firms see highest turn over rate during the time when such huge changes are taking place. He pointed out that change management should be a well planned process and employees from every tier must be involved so that

Friday, October 18, 2019

Recycling of Construction and Demolition Waste in the Gulf Cooperation Essay

Recycling of Construction and Demolition Waste in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries - Essay Example It is estimated that 55 percent of this total waste comes from construction and demolition, 20 percent from municipal waste, 18 percent from industrial waste, and 7 percent from hazardous waste. The rapid development in the region, population growth, industrial diversification and construction activities combined have led forecasters to predict that the Middle East will invest billions of dollars in waste management sector over the next few years (Summit to focus on waste control). Basically, there are two types of construction wastes. The first one is obviously caused due to some construction work undertaken at different places from time to time as economies improve. The second construction waste happens when there is large scale urbanization of locations when along with residential buildings there are construction of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, bus depots, railway stations, hospitals, sports stadiums and even airports. Construction waste on a large scale, if not managed properly, can prove to be an irritant and challenge to the environment. Dust pollutants, noise, asthmatic attacks, and mounds after mounds of waste material dot the landscape in this scenario. It is imperative that these wastes are immediately carted away and disposed so that they leave room for fresh wastes until the complete construction has taken place. It is necessary to manage construction waste profitably so that it is not detrimental to environment and creates additional revenue (Government to tackle demolition waste). A booming economy naturally raises living standards and styles. It brings about a sea change in the landscape. Places where there were dry and arid land, towns and cities containing swanky buildings and industries arise. There are office and residential buildings, swanky malls, roads, bridges, schools, places of entertainment, sports stadiums, hospitals, railway stations, and airports. The fast industrialization and

Reflective Account Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Reflective Account - Essay Example 3. Generalised analysis and learning - moving away from the specific example, what did this raise about how the volunteering practice and theory relate to each other more generally (e.g. did a conversation raise any issues about the methods used by the agency? or about working professionally? or did the meeting or activity raise issues about policy or systems or procedures?) The conversation really made me understand the importance of volunteering practice as a bridge between theoretical work and practice. The school encourages teachers to be very close to the unique needs of students. The teachers are expected to act on the student’s needs in manners that motivate and encourage renewed energy. This was one case invoked me to place myself as the teacher in the shoes of the student in Oder to understand her predicament and act practically appropriately. Following the conversation I saw the need to follow up and assist motivate the student so as to help her develop a better self image despite the situation. My follow up will involve helping the girl adopt strategies that help her turn her situation into an opportunity to excel in her academic and general life. In future as part of my learning and development I will be more careful hewn handling learners from different social, cultural and economic backgrounds. These are factors affecting behaviour and communication among learners and as a teacher I need to be more proactive and culturally

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Financial Statement Fraud and Revenue Recognition Fraud Essay

Financial Statement Fraud and Revenue Recognition Fraud - Essay Example We can define financial fraud as an intentional act to deceive people through manipulated financial statements for personal gain (â€Å"Bank Negara Malaysia† 1). Financial fraud is crime under civil law and involves complex financial transactions conducted by white-collar business professionals with a criminal intention (â€Å"Bank Negara Malaysia† 1). Nevertheless, financial fraud derives numerous loses on the global economy and on the reference corporations where many companies collapse due to financial frauds. Additionally, financial fraud demeans investor confidence in financial reporting and lowers the efficiency of corporate governance. A financial statement fraud refers to an intentional misrepresentation of financial information that the corporation presents to the public. Notably, improper revenue recognition, failure to record incurred liabilities, and failure to disclose contingent liabilities are the most dominant financial statement frauds (Bradford 1). Cas es of financial statement fraud are on the increase and the economic crisis catalyzes the problems. Nevertheless, most of the financial statement frauds relate to revenues recognition while accounting errors take the other proportion. As such, internal and external auditors should understand the dynamics of revenue recognition fraud and institute proper measures to curb financial fraud. Ideally, financial statement fraud and revenue recognition fraud relate to financial fraud. Definition Financial statement fraud refers to an intentional misrepresentation, misstatement, or omission of financial statement data for the purpose of deceiving the public and creating a false impression of an organization's financial strength (Colby 1). Notably, financial statement fraud is an enormous challenge in the global market as corporations seek to stalk investors to continue investing in the corporation. Moreover, corporations engage in financial statement fraud for purposes of securing bank appro vals for financing and satisfy the shareholder’s interests (Bradford 1). Ideally, the top management plays the major role in a financial statement fraud since they supervise and authorize the preparation of financial statements. There are different forms of financial statement fraud in the global market where the initiators will use distinct systems of manipulation to maintain the appearance of the financial statement fraud. The most common types of financial statement fraud include manipulation of liabilities, improper recognition of revenues and expenses, improper asset valuation, improper disclosures (Pinkasovitch 1) on financial statements, and fictitious sales (Colby 2). However, manipulation of revenue is the most dominant form of financial statement fraud. This includes the posting of sales prior to payment while the manipulation of expenses includes the capitalization of normal operating expenses (Bradford 1). On the other hand, the manipulation of liabilities relates to failure to record regular expenses while improper disclosures relates to misrepresentation of the company’s financial status (Bradford 1). An overstatement of current assets on financial statements leads to improper assets and defines financial statement fraud (Colby 2).  

Team Creation Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Team Creation - Research Paper Example The first step towards choosing people for a project is to consider their professional skills (Cummings & Worley, 2014). While one may pick people because of their technical talents, one does not necessarily require persons with the highest competence, but rather just the right people for the task. The good team members should be reliable, trustworthy, available, flexible, and those who can abide by the rules. An assignment breakdown sheet will assist a team manager to assign the right people to the right tasks. It can be achieved alongside a master plan on a work breakdown structure that includes all tasks arranged in a hierarchical diagram (Cummings & Worley, 2014). To start selecting a team, a project manager will have to assess the skills of all potential team members. A manager needs to establish how experienced a team member must be and how much experience they need to possess for them to fill a particular role. The first team-building strategy is to select a competent team leader and members. Once the selection process is over, the team must set goals. A majority of teams fail in particular because they lack goals; they want to accomplish something, but they lack specific goals (Kerzner, 2013). Secondly, a team must emphasize on communication because it is necessary for effective team-building. It is essential to communicate in every way: phone, in person, email, and through the web.   An effective leader knows when fast intervention is needed to solve a problem. Proper solving-making strategy can go a long way to helping a team to accomplish its tasks (Kerzner, 2013). A group leader must recognize the good work done by members. Every individual needs recognition in whatever they do. It is important for a leader to be conscious of cultural needs and concerns of every member.   All members of the team must be incorporated from their cultural point of view.   Conflict is any condition where there are

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

HES Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

HES - Coursework Example Drilling fluids are used in offshore oil and gas exploration for a number of reasons, including lubricating the drill bit, cleaning and conditioning the hole, maintaining the pressure of the borehole, as well as washing out rock cuttings out of the borehole to the surface. The drilling fluids is not normally used in its original state, instead, the fluids are mixed with some chemicals in order to maintain their properties. However, there has been an increased concern of the impacts of the drilling fluids and solid cuttings on the environment. GESAMP (1993:18) reported that these solid cuttings and drilling fluids contain hazardous chemical mixture that pose a danger to the environment, particularly to the marine life. As such, there is increased need for solid and gas drilling companies to ensure proper disposal of solid cuttings and drilling fluids as a means of conserving the environment. The main environmental issue linked to the drilling fluids concerns its negative impact on the performance and the continuous accumulation of solid cuttings (AUMS 1989:1). The aim of this paper is to examine some of the environmental issues related to drilling fluid management in light of the various types of drilling fluids. The paper will also explore the negative environmental impacts of improper disposal of drilling waste. Finally, the paper will conclude by discussing measures that oil companies need to take to mitigate the environmental impacts of the drilling fluids. The exploration of offshore oil and gas has intensified in the recent past. This is attributable to the increased need for energy independent. Even though the use of fossil fuel energy has been blamed for the increased production of greenhouse gases that cause global warming, its exploration is not about to end anytime soon. The world will still experience increased exploration of oil and gas (Reis 1996:6). However, the rate at which offshore exploration has increased in the recent past has caused many co ncerns, especially to environmentalists (Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association Ltd 1998:51). This is attributable to the magnitude of pollutants generated by the drilling activities. Normally, when exploring offshore oil and gas, engineers normally use the drilling fluid (mud) to lubricate the drill bit, wash out the solid cuttings, condition the hole, as well as to maintain the pressure of the borehole. This is very important for effective exploration of offshore oil and gas, according to Armsworthy, ? Cranford, ?and Lee (2005:8). The drilling fluids used in the exploration of offshore oil and gas are normally not pure. They often contain additives and chemicals meant to enhance the operational property of the final mixture (Cordah Environmental Management Consultants 2000:5). The operational properties enhance using chemicals and additives include density, reactivity, viscosity, ion-exchange parameters, salinity, and fluid loss. Obtaining the right property of the fluid is important for ensuring effective drilling operation. The main types of drilling fluids in use include water-based fluids and non-aqueous fluids. Water-based fluid is a drilling fluid which comprising of a mixture of water,

Team Creation Paper Research Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Team Creation - Research Paper Example The first step towards choosing people for a project is to consider their professional skills (Cummings & Worley, 2014). While one may pick people because of their technical talents, one does not necessarily require persons with the highest competence, but rather just the right people for the task. The good team members should be reliable, trustworthy, available, flexible, and those who can abide by the rules. An assignment breakdown sheet will assist a team manager to assign the right people to the right tasks. It can be achieved alongside a master plan on a work breakdown structure that includes all tasks arranged in a hierarchical diagram (Cummings & Worley, 2014). To start selecting a team, a project manager will have to assess the skills of all potential team members. A manager needs to establish how experienced a team member must be and how much experience they need to possess for them to fill a particular role. The first team-building strategy is to select a competent team leader and members. Once the selection process is over, the team must set goals. A majority of teams fail in particular because they lack goals; they want to accomplish something, but they lack specific goals (Kerzner, 2013). Secondly, a team must emphasize on communication because it is necessary for effective team-building. It is essential to communicate in every way: phone, in person, email, and through the web.   An effective leader knows when fast intervention is needed to solve a problem. Proper solving-making strategy can go a long way to helping a team to accomplish its tasks (Kerzner, 2013). A group leader must recognize the good work done by members. Every individual needs recognition in whatever they do. It is important for a leader to be conscious of cultural needs and concerns of every member.   All members of the team must be incorporated from their cultural point of view.   Conflict is any condition where there are

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Aircraft Icing Essay Example for Free

Aircraft Icing Essay Ice and aircrafts are never a good combination. Ice, which can accumulate on any part of the aircraft, is most dangerous when it accumulates on the wings or similar airfoils. These icing encounters cause many fatalities a year, fatalities that could be prevented if pilots use the strategies and tactics that are at their disposal to avoid icing dangers. In flight icing is always a concern and should be treated with an expedited response, however, proper avoidance of icing conditions begins on the ground during preflight. This safety report will discuss the many types of icing and their effects on flight. Along with the effects of icing on an aircraft, this report will examine the procedures to follow when reacting to these icing conditions. This report will include accident data as reported by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and more importantly the research and technologies developed to help reduce icing-related aviation accidents. Aircraft Icing Aircraft Icing What are the Causes and Possible Solutions? Icing is a definite weather hazard to aircraft. Icing refers to any deposit or coating of ice on an aircraft. Two types of icing are critical in the operation of aircraft: induction icing and structural icing. Another important form of structural icing may affect the runway or other resources used by aircraft. A runway covered with even a thin film of ice can cause loss of directional control and make braking efforts completely ineffective while the craft is on the ground (Roy, Steuernagle, Wright, 2008). In flight, including the takeoff, the threat of ice hazard is increased. Icing Causes:  Common sense tells us that winter time brings on icing conditions, however, ice is present, or potentially present, somewhere in the atmosphere at all times, no matter what the season. The secret is the freezing level of altitude, which may be around 15,000 feet during the summer and perhaps as low as 1,000 feet above ground level (AGL) on those â€Å"warm† winter days (Lester, 2004). Carburetor icing: When the temperature and dew point are close, you can be certain that water vapor is condensing within the carburetor of an aircraft reciprocating engine, and, if the engine is run at low speed, the condensation is turning into ice. This is why some engine manufacturers recommend that carburetor heat be applied when the throttle is retarded for prolonged descent and prior to landing (Gleim, 2003). Accident summaries contain many cases of unexplained power loss. Many of these aircraft accidents can be attributed to carburetor ice. Once carburetor ice is suspected –at the first sign of engine roughness Aircraft Icing or power loss- apply full carburetor heat (Gleim, 2003). After carburetor heat is applied the engine may run rougher as the ice melts away but the rpm will return to their normal setting. There are many cases of loss of engine power as a result of carburetor icing which forces a landing. The following accident report summary describes a similar carburetor icing situation: A 106-hour Skyhawk pilot reported that the engine began to run rough and lost power as the airplane climbed through 9,000 feet means sea level (MSL). She then switched fuel tanks and moved the mixture to full rich, but the engine continued to lose power. Carburetor heat was not used at any time. A forced landing was subsequently made in a field, where the airplane collided with a utility pole and landed in a ditch. An examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical failure or malfunction. An icing probability chart revealed that the reported weather conditions in the area were favorable for the formation of moderate carburetor icing at cruise power. The Cessna 172M owner’s manual notes that a gradual loss in rpm and eventual engine roughness may result from the formation of carburetor ice and prescribes the use of carburetor heat to clear the ice. (Civil Aviation Authority, 2006). Structural Icing: The previous report refers to induction icing within the engine, but other forms of icing attach to the exterior of the aircraft called â€Å"structural icing†. Airframe or structural icing refers to the accumulation of ice on the exterior of the aircraft during flight through Aircraft Icing clouds or liquid precipitation when the skin temperature of the aircraft is equal to, or less than 0 deg C (Lester, 2004). Types of Structural Icing: Structural icing takes on many forms depending on the size of the moisture that comes in contact with the aircraft. The types of structural ice are clear, rime and a combination of the two. The primary concern over even the slightest amount of structural ice is the loss of aerodynamic efficiency. The increase in drag caused by the additional ice also causes an increase in stall speed, instability and a decrease in lift (Roy, K. S, 2008). The type of ice that forms on the aircraft primarily depends on the size of the water droplets. Clear ice forms when the drops are large and the droplets impacting an airplane freeze slowly, spreading over the aircraft components gradually forming a smooth sheet of solid ice (Lester, 2004). Clear ice is the most dangerous form of structural icing because it is heavy and hard; it adheres strongly to the aircraft surface greatly disrupting airflow. Clear ice will normally form while flying through cumuliform clouds and through freezing rain (Lester, 2004). Rime ice is the most common icing type and forms while flying through stratified clouds and freezing drizzle (Lester, 2004). It forms when water droplets freeze on impact, trapping air between the small frozen drops, giving the ice a milky white appearance. Mixed ice has characteristics of both types making it a combination of rime and clear ice. Aircraft Icing The following NTSB summary describes the dangers of inadvertently encountering ice and the effect it will have on the ability of the aircraft to maintain lift and stability: CE 182. One serious and one minor injury. Pilot received a weather briefing approximately one hour prior to flight during which â€Å"A chance of light icing† was forecast. Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, while at 6,000 feet, a small amount of ice began to form on the strut in the light rain. Although the aircraft was then cleared to climb above the cloud layer, heavy icing began to accumulate. The aircraft could not climb above 7,300 MSL and a 300 – 400 feet per minutes (f. p. m). descent developed. The aircraft was cleared to an alternate airport via radar vectors. Over the runway at about 50 feet above ground level (AGL), the aircraft uncontrollably veered to the left and struck the ground hard, collapsing the nose gear. A witness stated that there was ? inch of ice on the fuselage and an inch on the belly. The aircraft was also loaded approximately 200 pounds over gross weight. NTSB cited the probable causes as icing, improper weather evaluation, and deteriorated aircraft performance. (Watson, 2007) Pilots need to avoid ice especially if their aircraft are not approved for flight into icing. The aircraft in the NTSB report summary above was not approved for flight into icing conditions. Although ice forecast retrieved via weather briefings are in some cases inaccurate the pilot needs to have an escape route should icing be encountered. Accident data as reported by the NTSB is most useful when it brings about the development of technologies that help reduce icing-related aviation accidents. Aircraft fall into two categories, those approved for flight into icing and those that are not. Aircraft equipped with ice protection system allow them to keep ice from accumulating Aircraft Icing on the wing structures while in flight. The evolution of aircraft has provided advanced and useful technologies that have made our aircraft safer in less favorable atmospheric conditions. Icing protection systems: The types of icing protection systems are pneumatic deicing boots, thermal devices, and electro-mechanical systems (Burrows, 2002). The pneumatic deicing boot is a rubber tube attached to the leading edge of an aircraft wing. When ice is encountered during flight, portions of the rubber device inflate breaking off the ice (Burrows, 2002). Pneumatic deicing boots are used on propeller driven aircraft and jets. Thermal systems use electricity to heat protected surfaces of equipped aircraft. Thermal deicing systems have a more advanced function than deicing boots in that it prevents ice from forming on the heated protected surfaces. The electric heaters can be used as de-icers or anti-icers (Burrows, 2002). The newest technological advance in de-icing is called electromechanical de-icing, the system use a type of mechanical actuator that physically knocks the accumulated ice off the flight surfaces. The technology works in conjunction with previously developed ice detection systems and is triggered automatically once sensors detect ice. First, an electro-thermal strip heats the wing’s leading edge to just above freezing, melting the ice. Then other electro-thermal systems heat the leading edge enough to evaporate moisture on contact, preventing it from escaping and refreezing elsewhere as â€Å"runback† ice. The water flows downstream and eventually freezes where Aircraft Icing the aircraft is less sensitive to airflow disruptions. That’s where [the deicers] hit it. † An electrical current is sent through one set of coils at a time, and as the current loops through the coil, it flows in one direction and then the opposite, inducing a magnetic field. Jolted with electrical energy pulses that last . 0005 second, the coils deliver impact accelerations of over 10,000 Gs to the airfoil skin once a minute, shedding ice as thin as . 06 inch.  Despite the high G-load, the impact amplitude—the amount of movement of the aircraft skin—is only about . 025 inch. The skin accelerates so rapidly, though, that ice de-bonds as if hit with a hammer (Smithsonian Air and Space). Conclusion Ice and aircrafts are a dangerous combination when pilots don’t utilize weather services to determine freezing levels. When a pilot doesn’t understand when to deploy his ice protection system or doesn’t do a proper preflight including weather briefings, icing encounters become a reality. Many fatalities a year could be prevented if pilots use available resources to avoid icing dangers.

Monday, October 14, 2019

Performance Measurement Of Financial And Non Financial Results Accounting Essay

Performance Measurement Of Financial And Non Financial Results Accounting Essay Every organisation strive for good performance. Performance improvement considers organisational change where management of the organisation puts in place some projects to help boost the current level of performance. In this respect the programmes may completely change the organisation behaviour and conducts to allow the changes to take effect. Management aims to increase the organisational effectiveness and efficiency in delivering its products and services. As the matter of fact performance requires performance measures to evaluate the financial and non financial results. Thereafter performance gaps and future improvement actions are planned considering ethical aspects. Most organisations use performance indicators which serve as powerful approach to monitor and improve performance. Organisations use different methods and techniques they have developed to process changes for improvement purposes. Most of people measure companys performance by looking at amount of money the company has just made. They consider profit, ROI, revenues to be the measure for performance. The main problem of considering only financial aspects of the business is that these measures report the past actions that the company may have no immediate control. Taking an example of customer aspects, they are not directly covered under financial aspects. Focusing only on financial aspects may in the long run jeopardise the companys relationship with the customers and may look for their needs with the competitor company. In view of the above a more comprehensive and clear approach is needed that put equal weight and emphasis to both financial and non financial aspects. An approach that not only considers lagging indicators but also looks forward and consider leading indicators. This prompted the researcher to consider using the Balanced scorecard framework in evaluating the performance of the Local Authorities Pensions Fund (LAPF) and to recommend actions to improve the current level of performance. The research topic explains by itself, and aims to find out the performance improvements that could be achieved when LAPF opts to implement the BSC approach. Thus the topic covers two aspects; performance improvement and the Balanced Scorecard. Balanced Scorecard ( BSC) Approach As it is mostly known, the BSC strikes the balance between the financial and non financial measures of performance. In short BSC is a framework used for evaluating business performance of a company. Kaplan and Norton consider BSC as Organisational performance management tool. As will be reviewed in Chapter two,( section 2.3) BSC involves defining company mission, strategy and measures. These should be clear and agreed upon by the interested stakeholders. After the BSC is set management should try to understand the factors that cause change and fluctuations of the BSC. These factors are very important as will lead the organisation to fully understand where and when to spend to cover the performance gaps. The following diagram ( figure 1.1) shows a simple balanced scorecard template.( adopted from Kaplan and Norton,1992.) Financial perspective Internal process perspective Vision strategy Customer perspective Learning growth perspective Figure 1.1 Balanced scorecard template For each of the four perspectives, strategic goals that link with the vision and strategy are established together with the relevant measures. For a beginner like LAPF this simple structure is recommended to maximise the chances for successful implementation. As the BSC is a continuous approach, management may later wish to adjust the objectives and measures to reflect the current operating and economic conditions. Performance improvement cycle Performance improvement is a continuous process. It can be thought of as a cycle. Consider the following diagram ( figure 2) with the explanations below. Figure 1. 2 Performance Improvement Cycle Explanations Plan: The organisation needs to know what should be accomplished and plans strategically. Plans should be integrated and aligned with the corporate strategy. Management also should set the objectives and goals to achieve the corporate strategy. The process also involves defining responsibilities and communication means, identifying talented personnel to lead the execution process. Execute: The process involves putting the plans into actions. This entails the execution of the planned activities to achieve the budgeted profit and loss account, forecasted balance sheet and cash flow statement. Normally the plans are for a short time period covering one financial year. In most cases it is done in operational level. In this study the performance will be evaluated considering 2009/10 plan budget. Check ( measure): The organisation then measures the performance using the indicators already established. This involves comparing the realised performance with the budgeted plans. Without measuring the performance ,the organisation does not know whether changes need be applied to reach the budgeted goals or to change the goals for the year. Act: At this stage ,the organisation should think and decide on new ways that may result in improvement. Here changes are important but should be carefully considered if when implemented the results will be improvements. Brain storming takes place at this stage. It is also from this stage where management should find out the root causes of bad or unsatisfactory performance and identifies hurdles to success. As will be explained in chapter three (section 2.5) implementing changes pose a challenge to many managers. It is therefore recommended that a clear and systematic process be adopted to make changes successful. Performance improvement needs changes. In another words, this is the improvement methodology stage where management can think of improvement approaches such as BSC, Six Sigma, TQM, etc. 1.2 SPONSOR COMPANY PROFILE- The Local Authorities Pensions Fund( LAPF) The Local Authorities Pensions Fund (LAPF) is a social security institution established under the LAPF Act No 9 of 2006. This Act repealed the Local Authorities Provident Act No.6 of 2000.The difference is that the former Act no 6 of 2000 was meant only for Defined Contribution Plan while the existing Act No.9 of 2006 is for Defined Benefit Plan. LAPF as one of the six social security institutions in Tanzania was established with the objective of providing social security cover to the employees of the local government authorities, agencies and Institution owned by Local Authorities. As per the Tanzanian government regulation each of these six schemes was established by different legislation and covers a defined category of people or sector. LAPF has more than 70,000 members each contributing (on a monthly basis) a total of 20% of members basic salary (an employees basic salary), of which the employers share is 15% and 5% is contributed by the employee (member). Apart from the Head Of fice (in Dodoma region) the Institution has five Zone Offices throughout the country covering 4 to 5 regions for each Zone. Vision, To become one of the best provider of social security cover in Tanzania (LAPF Act) Mission Statement, To provide social security benefits with related services to its members. (LAPF Act). In summary, the following are the main functions of the Fund: Pay benefits to insured person Improve benefits payable under the Act Register persons required by the law to contribute to the Fund Safeguard members contributions and other Funds resources Invest contributions in less risk and high returns yielding investments 1.3 PROBLEM DESCRIPTION For years now LAPF uses financial measures in evaluating the success of the Fund. As the competition in social security markets becomes an intense and rapid development in business, reliance on financial measures becomes questionable. This results to some of the financial measures to be ineffective and inefficient in evaluating the Funds performance from its operations, e.g. how to measure customer satisfaction. Through the performance measurement system any Organisation gets a comprehensive view of how it is performing. LAPF as a performance-driven and achievement-oriented in a competitive social security industry, needs to maintain an efficient performance measurement system. The system is used to track the changes in overall performance. Thus, the researcher aims to propose the use of BSC framework as the approach that will be applied in evaluating and improving the performance of the Fund. LAPF may wish to adopt the BSC system in measuring its performance to solve the problem of ineffective measures of performance recently adopted. Thus at this initial stage the aim of the study is not to implement the BSC approach. Balanced Scorecard involves both financial and non financial performance measures. In 1990, BSC was established by Robert Kaplan and David Norton to complement financial measures.The technique has recently become famous and widely adopted by some Organisations due to the benefits derived from its implementation. The application of only financial measures to evaluate performance may not give a real picture on how the Organisation performs. This prompted these Organisations to switch their strategies in assessing their performance applying critical measures (both financial and non financial) in each of the four BSC perspectives. Thus balance scorecard helps management to understand a comprehensive picture of the business operations grouped into these four categories i.e. Financial, Customers, learning and growth, and internal process. LAPF as the first time user of BSC will have to choose relevant performance measures for each of the above categories keeping in mind the nature of its business. The adoption of BSC as a set of measures will help management in formulating strategy to achieve the Funds objectives. It is believed that BSC will bring about management revolution and will provide real insight in the operations of the Fund as both financial and non financial performance measures will be employed in evaluating the success of its operations. 1.4 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The main objective of the research is to find ways of improving LAPF performance. To achieve this, the researcher will adopt the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) framework to evaluate the performance of the Local Authorities Pensions Fund (LAPF) .The performance will be evaluated in each of the four BSC perspective i.e. financial, customers (members), internal process, and Learning growth. In this respect the researcher will compare the expected planned performance (as per the LAPF policy, budget etc) with the current performance as perceived by employees and management (resulted from questionnaires and interviews). It should be noted that the researcher DOES NOT aim or plan for BSC implementation. Other objectives are as outlined below: To assess the level of BSC understanding among employees To build positive image of BSC in the eyes of LAPF management and staff To persuade the Organisation to adopt the BSC approach To propose a BSC structure relevant to the LAPF needs, objectives and operations To find out whether the Fund has another alternative method for improving the performance besides using BSC approach Lay down foundations for further research on improving performance measurement system. 1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS 1.5.1 Main Research Question What can be the performance improvement by implementation of the Balanced Scorecard(BSC)?The case of Local Authorities Pensions Fund in Tanzania (LAPF) 1.5.2 Theoretical research questions What is Performance Measurement? How can it be improved? What is Balanced Scorecard? How widely is Balanced Scorecard used? What are the benefits of using Balanced Scorecard? What are the problems and /or challenges in implementing the BSC? How to reduce the chances of BSC failure? What are the metrics for measuring performance? Are there any other tools for improving performance measurement besides BSC? How do they differ from Balances Scorecard? 1.5.3 Empirical research questions How does LAPF measure its performance? What does LAPF understand about the BSC? Is the approach known? To what extent? Is the proposed BSC relevant to LAPF operating environment? Will the LAPF management accept changes? How does employees and management evaluate the current performance of the Fund? (As per the proposed BSC framework) What are the benefits expected to LAPF from the proposed approach? What are the challenges in the process of improving the Funds performance? What are the efforts being adopted to improve the Funds performance? Any other alternative besides the proposed approach? 1.6 PROPOSED BALANCED SCORECARD FOR LAPF Table 1 below is a proposed BSC framework for LAPF as designed by the researcher. This framework stands as the main research area as it was used to evaluate the Funds performance. The questionnaire and interview questions were based on this framework to find out what should be the level of performance ( as planned by management), what is the current level ,and what should be done to improve the current level of performance. It is expected that the contents of the BSC ( goals and measures) may be adjusted after accommodating comments from the LAPF management and staff .This research does not cover implementation of the BSC, the decision on whether to fully implement the BSC approach lies with the LAPF management ,where the Fund will have to study and plan for the implementation process. THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES PENSIONS FUND PROPOSED BALANCED SCORECARD VISION: To become the best and most preferred provider of social security in Tanzania 1 Financial Perspective Actions ( Critical Success factors) Measures Invest the contributions received in a highly and secure yield investment ( Accurate investment decision making) -Return on Investment (ROI) Survive -Increase in premium Growth -Percent increase in Cash Flows Profitability -Return on Assets Effective cost reduction -Percent reduction in cost Risk Mitigation -Percent reduction in risk occurrence -Percent of loss due to risk Budget accuracy -Percent error in forecasts 2 Members Perspective Actions ( Critical Success factors) Measures Increase membership base -Number of new members registered Members satisfaction -Frequency of members complaints -Members Survey rating -Complaints response time -Timeliness of service -Service accessibility Provide seminar and education to members -Number of seminars conducted -Market share Attract more members and retain members -Number of new members -Increase in premium -Retention rate Increase Benefits Packages -Number of new packages -Lead time (time taken to introduce new package) Marketing LAPF and its products and services -Market share 3 Internal process Perspective Actions ( Critical Success factors) Measures Process capabilities -Percent reduction in payment cycle time Provide benefit package on time -Claim processing time Service improvement -Number of customer problems reported over a period of time Quality -Percent reduction in rework -Industry quality rating Effective reporting/information system -Average time for circulation information -System availability Percent of late reports -Percent of errors in reports Maintain inter departmental team work -Number of days to communicate feedback -Information circulation time 4 Learning and Growth Perspective Actions ( Critical Success factors) Measures Training to employees -Training time per employee -Number of employees trained Employee satisfaction -Employee turnover rate -Chances for empowerment and promotions -Level of freedom of opinion and suggestions -Percent of employees suggestions and recommendations put in action -Percent of complains about salary and incentives -Response time to employees complaints Continuous innovations -New products /service Opportunity level to show creativity Team building and effectiveness -Percentage of empathy level -Percentage achievement of goals Table 1.1 LAPF proposed BSC 1.6 .1 Strategic Mapping Strategic map shows the cause-and-effect relationship. Applying the four BSC perspectives, we are able to draw a cause -and -effect logic flow to show the relationship between them. In simple words it depicts the link that exists between the perspectives. It therefore outlines what a company wants to accomplish (financially and to members) and how to accomplish it ( through effective and efficient internal processes ,supported by competent, motivated and creative employees). Figure 1.3 below shows an example of strategic map relevant to LAPF operations. Revenue (Contributions) Cash flowFinancial Operating Costs Contribution Arrears Members complaints Members satisfaction Members Claim reprocessing Payment cycle timeInternal process Employees suggestions Employees competenceLearning Employees moraleGrowth Figure 1.3 LAPF Strategic Map Explanations: If LAPF employees lack incentives to boost their morale to work, it negatively affects the time taken to process members claims. In turn this brings members complaints that cause delay in submitting contributions in time. The ultimate effect of it is insufficient cash to operate,invest and pay other beneficiaries. Incompetency employees make errors in processing the claims that necessitate reworking the claims. This increases the operating costs that reduce the cash flow status. High employees morale, shorter payment cycle time lead to members satisfaction. In turn increases contributions that boost the cash flow. Low morale, ignoring employees suggestions and incompetent employees all together result to employees dissatisfaction. This may in turn prolong the payment cycle time, which results to members dissatisfaction. Eventually this results to delay in contributions which at the end affect the Funds cash flow. Note: Figure 3 shows only some few measures as indicated in the balanced scorecard. More measures can be added and a link with a logic flow be established to show the cause and effect relationship between the BSC perspectives. 1.7 ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS The research was conducted as per the LAPFs code of ethics. Participants were free, to control their own willingness to participate, contribute or even to withdrawal. Where confidentiality and anonymity was demanded the study adhered to this and make sure no harm, pain or discomfort is caused to any participant. Adherence of ethical issues in each stage of the research process from, data collection, analysis and reporting is my priority consideration. The Fund will be briefed of the research findings. 1.8 ROAD MAP This thesis comprises of five chapters. Chapter one: Consists of general introduction and the topic to be researched. It also contains brief explanations of the concepts found in the main research topic, i.e. Performance improvement and the balanced scorecard. Chapter two: Consists of all relevant literature concerning the balanced scorecard, performance improvement, and change management which is very important to consider before undertaking any programme to improve performance. I personally consider change management to be very critical and is influenced by several internal and external factors. From this chapter we will have an opportunity to understand stages that lead to successful changes. The common mistakes/errors done by the organisation when adopting changes ( which are the main causes of failure) as explained by John Kotter ,1996 are also found in this chapter. Moreover the chapter contains other performance management approaches beside the balanced scorecard and a review on how they relate or differ with the BSC. Chapter three: Comprises of methodological section. In short questionnaire and interview are the main sources of data collection for this research. In addition to this, it also includes sampling and respondents information. Chapter four: Includes the results and discussion thereof. It also includes analysis of data collected through questionnaire and interview. Chapter five: Explains the conclusions and recommendations based on the data collected. 1.9 LIMITATIONS This study has the following limitations; This research does not cover implementation of the BSC in LAPF. It is limited to the use of the proposed BSC framework to evaluate LAPF performance, where by the Funds objectives and their related measures are more specific. It is from the findings , conclusions and recommendations LAPF management may think and plan the implementation of this approach. The study is limited only to the Local Authorities Pensions Fund due to time and financial constraints. It does not cover any other firm in the social security industry in Tanzania, neither LAPF performance will be compared to preceding years performance The planned number of interviews to be conducted could not be reached as the targeted staff were out of the office for different reasons. In this regard the researcher decided to increase the number of questionnaires to be supplied from 30 to 40 in order to collect as many data as possible. The indicators and measurement tools in this study make use of secondary data in measuring performance. Secondary data may have inaccuracies. Inaccuracies in data could result in results which are unreliable and unsuitable for measuring performance and in achieving targets. Weights have not been placed on any particular dimension or goal area. LAPF priorities change with changing national Social Security needs and it may be necessary to accurately place additional weights on some dimensions to achieve the desired outcome.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Vaccination: A Necessary Precaution Essay -- Health Medicine

The issue regarding vaccinations and their accompanying side effects has been a prevalent debate throughout society and medicine for a number of years. Some continue to believe that vaccinations are harmful and actually promote disease, but the truth is that the concept of immunization is one of the most significant advances in scientific history that has led to the prevention of countless diseases and epidemics throughout the world. Still, despite the overall improvement of public health, the usage of vaccinations remains a controversial concern that is constantly challenged. Vaccination critics argue that the serious side effects associated with vaccines have been underreported, underfunded, and rarely researched. This, however, is false. Vaccinations are a necessary part of society because they prevent the spread of major diseases, reduce the severity of illness, boost one’s immune system, and in turn, protect the populous from potential epidemics. The definition of a vaccination, as stated by the Encyclopedia Britannica, is â€Å"a suspension of weakened, killed, or fragmented microorganisms or toxins or of antibodies or lymphocytes that is administered primarily to prevent disease† (Encyclopedia Britannica). Vaccines stimulate the immune system to attack the specific harmful agent and then cause the anti-bodies to remain sensitized in case the agent should ever reappear in one’s system. Obviously, this can be helpful when trying to prevent disease, or any other illness for that matter, since the anti-bodies specific to that type of illness remain present in one’s body lest the illness returns. Since infants are extremely susceptible to infirmity, many are vaccinated as early as the first month of their life. This helps ... ...ed cases of measles reported, and less than one hundred reported cases of poliovirus. Also, studies performed in the United States have discovered that the diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT) vaccine is 90% effective in preventing the diseases (Zimmerman). Works Cited http://www.perfspot.com/docs/doc.asp?id=60286 Encyclopedia Britannica. "Science & Technology::Vaccine." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica, Web. . http://internetreviewofbooks.com/sep10/the_pox_and_the_covenant.html http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1200696/ http://www.vaccinateyourbaby.org/why/preventing.cfm Zimmerman, RK. (2000). Child vaccination, part 1:routine vaccinations. Journal of Family Practice, 49,(9), 22-33. Retrieved March 12, 2005, from EBSCOhost database. http://www.whale.to/a/moth.html