Smart phones Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Smart phones - Research Paper Example Also, the process was slow and, in particular, the previous management of information systems where most organizations had fewer computers used to retrieve and store information. In addition, the process of sharing information prior to the advent of smartphones was challenging because workers had to take notes from their seniors who sometimes are fast or not audible. However, smartphones bring flexibility and efficiency at the workplace that can help the organization to improve the speed of sharing information and ensuring projects are completed on time (Baltzan, Detlor, & Welsh, 2012). This paper examines how smartphones help to enhance the management of information systems. The widespread use of smartphones in the office environment as a medium for accessing, sharing and using information is influenced by the need to hasten the communication of vital information between employees in an organization. In a globalized business environment, employees require access to more resources, and this includes vital information that can help them to improve their efficiency and overall performance of the organization. Smartphones are not only portable but also has vital features that can improve the sharing of information between employees in the workplace environment. Such key feature include, for example, voice calling, text, emailing and video conference that has become an important platform where the top management in different geographical location can relay important information to junior staff in other regions across the world. For example, the top management can utilize smartphones for video conferencing since they can communicate important information to w orkers who are million miles away in real time (Carayannis & Clark, 2011). Further, smartphones also have several software applications that are relevant for sharing vital informational

Corporate Strategy Tata Corus Acquisition Marketing Essay

Corporate Strategy Tata Corus Acquisition Marketing Essay Corporate Strategy is about enabling an organization to achieve and sustain superior overall performance and returns. It is a core responsibility of senior executives and encompasses a range of critical activities, from defining and refining corporate vision to strategic performance measurement and management. Organizations are facing exciting and dynamic challenges in the 21st century. In the globalised business, companies require strategic thinking and only by evolving good corporate strategies can they become strategically competitive. A sustained or sustainable competitive advantage occurs when firm implements a value creating strategy of which other companies are unable to duplicate the benefits or find it too costly to initiate. Corporate strategy includes the commitments, decisions and actions required for a firm to achieve strategic competitiveness and earn above average returns. Corporate growth strategies Growth can be achieved by different means. One approach is from within and another is from outside -that is combinations. Different forms of combinations are: Amalgamation/Merger: Merger takes place when there is a combination of two or more organizations. Merger does create a new corporation. Acquisition/takeovers: One Company acquires another companys controlling interest. The acquired company operates as a separate division or subsidiary by offering cash or securities in exchange for majority of shares of another company. Sales of Assets: A company can sell its assets to another and cease to exist. Holding company acquisition: This is a quasi merger. Either the total or majority of a firms stock will be acquired. The purpose is only management and control of other. Mergers can also be classified into the following forms: 1. Horizontal mergers take place when there is a combination of two or more organizations in the same business, or of organizations engaged in certain aspects of the production or marketing process. For instance a company making footwear combines with another retailer in the same business. 2. Vertical mergers take place when there is a combination of two or more organizations not necessarily in the same business, which complement either in terms of supply of materials (inputs) or marketing of goods and services (outputs). For instance a footwear company combines with a leather tannery or with a chain of she retail stores. 3. Concentric mergers take place when there is a combination of two or more organizations related to each other either in terms of customer functions, customer groups, or the alternative technologies used. A footwear company combining with hosiery firm making socks or another specialty footwear company, or with a leather goods company making purses, handbags, and so on. 4. Conglomerate mergers take place when there is a combination of two more organizations unrelated to each other, either in terms of customer functions, customer groups, or alternative technologies used. For Example: A foot wear company combining with a pharmaceuticals firm. In our project report, we explore the various facets of perhaps one of the most important acquisitions ever made by an Indian Company, that of Tata-Corus. History of the two giants TATA Group Tata Group is an Indian multinational conglomerate company headquartered in the Bombay House in Mumbai, India. In terms of market capitalization and revenues, Tata Group is the largest private corporate group in India. It has interests in chemicals, steel, automobiles, information technology, communication, power, beverages, and hospitality. The Tata Group has operations in more than 80 countries across six continents and its companies export products and services to 80 nations. The Tata Group comprises 114 companies and subsidiaries in eight business sectors. Its total revenue is $67.4 billion, profit $1.74 billion and total assets $52.8 billion. The main aim of the TATA group is to improve the quality of life of the community it serves. The group has played a pioneering role in a variety of fields after Indias independence and it is widely respected for the initiatives it has taken in different fields for upliftment of the country. TATA Steel Tata Steel Group is one of Indias largest integrated private sector steel companies. The group manufactures and distributes steel, welded steel tubes, cold rolled strips, bearings, and other related products. Tata Steel Group operates across Asia, Europe, and Australia. Tata Steel Group is headquartered in Mumbai, India and employs about 86,600 people. The group recorded revenues of INR 1,473,292.6 million (approximately $32,147.2 million) in the financial year ended March 2009 (FY2009), an increase of 12% over FY2008. The operating profit of the group was INR141,279.5 million (approximately $3,082.7 million) in FY2009, compared with an operating profit of INR 141,213.4 million (approximately $3,081.3 million) in FY2008. The net profit was INR49,509 million(approximately $1,080.3 million) in FY2009, a decrease of 59.9% compared with FY2008.It is the worlds sixth largest steel company with capacity of 31 million tones per annum (tpa).The group is the worlds second most geographically diversified steel producer, with operations in 26 countries and commercial presence in more than 50 countries. Tata Steel Groups strong market position gives it advantage of scale and increases its bargaining power. The story of Tata Steel is a century old. And so is the story of steel in India. Etched with the visions and hardships of a single man, the story has flowed through ages to re-define steel in every way. The saga, which started in 1907, completed a century of trust in 2007 and carries on. Over the years this one company has discovered different avenues of effective steel utilisation and its story defines and re-defines conventional wisdom in more ways than one.The Steel Company obtained its first colliery in 1910, adding six more in course of time. Several mines were spread over the states of Bihar, Orissa and Karnataka. The Tatas soon became the first to own a fully mechanised iron ore mine in India at Noamundi. The Coal Beneficiation Plant at West Bokaro undertook beneficiation of low-grade coal, thus helping in the conservation of the fast dwindling resources of high quality coal. The collieries, the mines and the quarries together furnish the bulk of the raw material requirements of the plant. When the entire world was reeling in the Great Depression, the Tatas survived and supplied nearly three-fourth of the countrys steel requirements. By the Second World War, Tatas production capacities had expanded enough to make their prices lower than those of steel produced in England, raising them to an authoritarian position. Post-Independence the Tatas decided to set on the Herculean task of nation building. The much-required steel for the newly devised Five-year Plans came from the Tata factories. The Company undertook the Howrah Bridge in Calcutta, the Bhakra-Nangal Project and the Damodar Valley Corporation, the port at Kandla, the city of Chandigarh and many more important projects. The last decade of the twentieth century happened to be a very hectic period of self-renewal and growth for Tata Steel. An extensive technological overhaul, several improvement projects, cost control measures, optimising IT support and a strong customer-centric approach were all instrumental in finding the right direction for changing outlooks. At the turn of the millennium, Tata Steel had earned the complete trust of the whole wide world and emerged as a strong entity in the global steel industry.The last decade has been marked by Tata Steels prominent role in the overall development of the country, even during phases of economic turbulence and its decisive foray into more and more global territory. Intense strategic thinking about future expansions, plans for organic growth and initiation of new projects are a few highlights in Tata Steels expanding and more penetrative roles in the larger perspective. The acquisition of NatSteel in 2004 was Tata Steels first overseas acquisition a nd the series of joint ventures and mergers that followed found a peak when the acquisition of Corus, happened in April 2007. But in every positive step that the Company has taken towards growth and expansion, involving diverse cultures and geographies, Tata Steel has never lost sight of its great heritage of social and community responsibility. The long journey of Tata Steel has seen the Company re-define its performance parameters in a number of ways to become the global steel industry benchmark for value creation and corporate citizenship. It ensures a total commitment to its ethical business practices and a people oriented vision. SWOT Analysis Of Tata Steel Strengths Strong market position Integrated steel operations in India Strong research and development (RD) capabilities Weakness Dependence on third party suppliers for raw material in Europe Dependence on Europe Opportunities Expansion in India Joint ventures to develop mining activities Anticipated demand for steel in India Threats Consolidation in the global steel industry Environmental regulations Corus Group Corus Group plc was formed on 6th October 1999, through the merger of two companies, British Steel and Koninklijke Hoogovens, following the privatization of many steelworks companies by the U.K. government. The company consists of four divisions which include: Strip Products, Long Products, Aluminum and Distribution and Building Systems. With headquarters in London, Corus operates as an international company, satisfying the demand of many steel customers worldwide. Its core business comprises of manufacturing, development and allocation of steel and aluminum products and services.The company has a wide variety of products and services which comprise of the manufacturing of electrical steel, narrow strip, plates, packaging steel, plated steel strip, semi finished steel, tube products, wire rod and rail products and services. However, the company is also engaged in providing a variety of services including design, technology and consultancy services. Corus products and services are acq uired by customers from diverse fields such as commercial and military aerospace ventures, the automotive, construction, engineering, defense and security, as well as the rail and shipbuilding industry. In terms of performance, the company is regarded as the largest steel producer in the UK. It is headquartered in London, the UK and employs 21,300 people. The group recorded revenues of  £9,733 million during the fiscal year ended December 2006, an increase of 6.3% over 2005. The operating profit of the company  £457 million a decline of 28.9% over 2005. The net profit was  £229 million in fiscal year 2006, a decline of 49.2% over 2005. SWOT Analysis Of Corus Group Strengths Diversified product portfolio Strong technology Diversified geographic presence Weakness Rising expenses Lack of scale Weak returns Opportunities Positive outlook for the aircraft industry Growing US construction industry Growing Chinese steel market Threats Economic slowdown in the US and Eurozone Consolidation in the global steel industry Increase in energy and fuel costs The Deal The deal (between Tata Corus) was officially announced on April 2nd, 2007 at a price of 608 pence per ordinary share in cash. This deal was a 100% acquisition and the new entity was be run by one of Tatas steel subsidiaries. As stated by Tata, the initial motive behind the completion of the deal was not Corus revenue size, but rather its market value. Even though Corus is larger in size compared to Tata, the company was valued less than Tata (at approximately $6 billion) at the time when the deal negotiations started. But from Corus point of view, as the management has stated that the basic reason for supporting this deal were the expected synergies between the two entities. Corus has supported the Tata acquisition due to different motives. However, with the Tata acquisition Corus has gained a great and profitable opportunity to make an exit as the company has been looking out for a potential buyer for quite some time. The total value of this acquisition amounted to à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¤6.2 billion (US$12 billion). Tata Steel the winner of the auction for Corus declared a bid of 608 pence per share surpassing the final bid from Brazilian Steel maker Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN) of 603 pence per share. Prior to the beginning of the deal negotiations, both Tata Steel and Corus were interested in entering into an MA deal due to several reasons. The official press release issued by both the company states that the combined entity will have a pro forma crude steel production of 27 million tones in 2007, with 84,000 employees across four continents and a joint presence in 45 countries, which makes it a serious rival to other steel giants. The official declaration of the completed transaction between the two companies was announced to be effective by Court of Justice in England and Wales and consistent with the Scheme of Arrangement of the Tata Steel Scheme on April 2, 2007. According the Scheme regulations, Tata Steel was required to deliver a consideration not later than 2 weeks following the official date of the completion of the transaction. At the time of acquisition, nearly 49% of Corus was owned by British shareholders, 11% by North American shareholders, 10% by Dutch shareholders and another 30% by shareholders in Germany, France, Belgium and other countries. At first, it had appeared that Tata would get Corus unopposed as the bid had received favourable initial response from the Corusà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸ Board. The Corus board had unanimously accepted Tata Steels takeover proposal and had even recommended it for shareholders approval. However, things changed soon after CSN entered the fray, making a more competitive offer than Tata. The bidding process continued for three months with CSN countering each successive move by Tata with a higher bid for the equity of Corus. For example, when Tata raised their bid to $9.2 billion for Corusà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸ equity in early December 2006, CSN countered it with $9.6 billion within hours of the Tataà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s offer. When months of takeover battle could not determine the winner, UKà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s Takeover Panel announced that it would hold an auction with a maximum of nine rounds to decide the winner. The auction took place on 30th January 2007. On the auction eve, Ratan Tata along with Tata Steel managing director B Muthuraman were monitoring the Corus auction taking place thousands of miles away in London. The Tata Sons director Arun Gandhi, their investment bankers and advisers were in London representing Tata Steel. The entire deal timeline is detailed below: Deal Timeline September 20, 2006 : Corus Steel has decided to acquire a strategic partnership with a company that is a low cost producer October 5, 2006 : The Indian steel giant, Tata Steel wants to fulfill its ambition toExpand its business further. October 6, 2006 : The initial offer from Tata Steel is considered to be too low both by Corus and analysts. October 17, 2006 : Tata Steel has kept its offer to 455p per share. October 18, 2006 : Tata still doesnt react to Corus and its bid price remains the same. October 20, 2006 : Corus accepts terms of à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¤ 4.3 billion takeover bid from Tata Steel October 23, 2006 : The Brazilian Steel Group CSN recruits a leading investment bank to offer advice on possible counter-offer to Tata Steels bid. October 27, 2006 :Corus is criticized by the chairman of JCB, Sir Anthony Bamford, for its decision to accept an offer from Tata. November 3, 2006 : The Russian steel giant Severstal announces officially that it will not make a bid for Corus November 18, 2006 : The battle over Corus intensifies when Brazilian group CSN approached the board of the company with a bid of 475p pershare November 27, 2006 : The board of Corus decides that it is in the best interest of its will shareholders to give more time to CSN to satisfy the preconditions and decide whether it issue forward a formal offer December 18, 2006 : Within hours of Tata Steel increasing its original bid for Corus to 500 pence per share, Brazils CSN made its formal counter bid for Corus at 515 pence per share in cash, 3% more than Tata Steels Offer. January 31, 2007 : Britains Takeover Panel announces in an e-mailed statement that after an auction Tata Steel had agreed to offer Corus investors 608 pence per share in cash April 2, 2007 : Tata Steel manages to win the acquisition to CSN and has the full voting support form Corus Valuation Due Diligence Tataà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s original bid for Corus had been at 455 pence a share in mid-October 2006, valuing Corusà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s equity at $8 billion. But as a result of the bitter fight with CSN of Brazil, Tata finally paid a price of $12.9 billion in an all-cash deal, raising doubts that the acquisition would likely turn out to be a winnerà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s curse. Within weeks of the acquisition announcement, Tata Steel had lost over $1 billion in market capitalization, as the market reacted negatively to the high price paid. The wealth-accretion advantages of the deal, if any, would accrue in the long term. Immediately, it meant raising huge amounts of debt and equity to finance the deal. Both Moodyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s Investors Service and Standard Poorà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s said they might lower Tataà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s debt rating which meant that debt financing would likely neither be easy nor cheap. To finance the Corus buy, Tata Steel embarked upon what was perhaps the biggest fund-raising exercise by an Indian company. It raised funds through a number of sources. These included a rights issue of equity shares, rights issue of convertible preference shares and long-term debt including foreign currency structured issues. Tata Steel and its fully owned subsidiaries Tata Steel UK and Tata Steel Asia Singapore were involved in the unprecedented fund raising exercise by an Indian company. Tata Steel UK was also the SPV for the Corus takeover. The whopping about $13 billion was planned to have been raised as shown in the table below Company Source Amount ($ Mil) Tata Steel Internal generation 700 Tata Steel External commercial borrowings 500 Tata Steel Preferential issue of equity shares to Tata Sons 640 Tata Steel Rights issue of equity shares to its shareholders 862 Tata Steel Rights issue of convertible preference shares 1,000 Tata Steel ADR/GDR EQUITY ISSUE 500 Tata Steel UK Non-recourse debt raised from a consortium of banks 6,140 Tata Steel Asia Singapore Bridge finance 2,660 Total 13,002 By early April 2007, Tata Steel had completed the $12.9 billion (Rs 52,700 crore) acquisition of Corus Group plc at a price of 608 pence per ordinary share in cash. The enlarged company would have a crude steel production of 27 million tonnes in 2007 and would be the worlds fifth largest steel producer with 84,000 employees across four continents. Need for the Deal Introduction The Tata Iron and Steel Company (name later changed to Tata Steel) was established by Sir Jamsetji Tata in 1907. By 2006 it was Indias largest integrated private sector steel company. With its recent acquisitions and mergers, the company has become a multinational with operations in various countries. It was recognized as the worlds best quality steel producer in 2005. Though domestically the company had seen significant growth in the 100 years, it ranked a poor number 56 globally in terms of steel output. In order to enhance its market share in the global market Tata steel made several smaller foreign acquisitions, including Singapores NatSteel and Thailands Millennium Steel. But these small incremental deals would not enable Tata Steel to capture the sudden opportunity that had arisen in the steel market. We believe that Tata Steel had to act in response to the changing environment, the industry structure and to exploit its competencies and resources at its disposal, which led to its decision of acquiring Corus, a steel firm much bigger in size compared to Tata Steel. We propose to explain the need for the related linked diversification, logic and reasoning behind the deal through the Resource-Based Model of Above Average Returns and the I/O Model of Above Average Returns. Resource-Based Model of Above Average Returns Deriving Synergies There were a lot of apparent synergies between Tata Steel which was a low cost steel producer in fast developing region of the world and Corus which was a high value product manufacturer in the region of the world demanding value products. Synergies also existed in terms of sharing and manufacturing practices, shared services and purchasing. Also there were other synergies between the two companies; Corus was a large player in value-added services while Tata Steel was one of the lowest cost producers of steel in the world. According to Tata Steel Annual Report of 2007-08 the expected synergies and efficiencies had already started flowing in and would bring in annual benefits of USD 450 million per annum by year 2010. Raw Material Tata Steel also has a relative cost advantage because it owns iron-ore mines which Corus did not. Corus was fighting to keep its productions costs under control and was on the lookout for sources of iron ore. (Tata Steel owns enormous volumes of high-quality iron ore and other minerals needed for steel-making. Captive raw materials linkages have given the modernizing and expanding Jamshedpur mill a competitive edge. Tata Steel is set to build greenfield mills in iron ore-rich states of Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh). The joint entity will have a self sufficiency in raw material. Cultural There was a strong culture fit between the two organizations both of which highly emphasized on continuous improvement and ethics. Tata steels Continuous Improvement Program Aspire with the core values: trusteeship, integrity, respect for individual, credibility and excellence. Coruss Continuous Improvement Program The Corus Way with the core values: code of ethics, integrity, creating value in steel, customer focus, selective growth and respect for our people. Importantly, the rest of cultural differences between the two companies had been taken care of and the two merged entities were working under their joint management. Tata Steels earnings per share had improved after the merger. Sharing Competencies According to Ratan Tata, post-merger the immediate focus would be on extracting synergies from Corus. He felt that there was scope to make Corus a competitive steel company by inculcating the creativity and cost-consciousness in Corus as had been generated in Tata Steel. Product Mix Geographical and product mix possibilities. The combined entity will emerge as the second most geographically diversified steel company. It will have access to high valued- added product mix and strong market positions in automotive, construction and packaging. Reputation The Corus acquisition allowed Tata Steel to enhance its reputation and acquire a Global name. This has the potential to open up other markets for steel for Tata Steel, improve its bargaining power with respect to suppliers and customers. Sharing Complimentary Strengths Corus has a strong Research and Development (the number one position in the entire world) and product development for value added products in auto, construction and packaging which compliment what Tata Steel is doing in the fast growing Asian markets. A merger would complement their respective strengths. Low Cost Slabs Tata Steel has large supply of iron ore slabs from its green fields established in India in places like Orissa, Jharkhand, etc. Tata Steel can supply this slabs to Corus once these green fields in India are complete. In addition, there will be other ways to create value, linked to the projects of Tata Steel in India today. Patents and Technological know-how Corus has eighty-one patents that have been filed and assigned to the Corus by the United States Patent Trademark Office. Tatas completion of the acquisition meant it ended up becoming the owner of these patents. There would be technology transfer and cross-fertilization of RD capabilities between the two companies that specialized in different areas of the value chain. Distribution Network Tata has a strong retail and distribution network in India and SE Asia. This would give the European manufacturer a in-road into the emerging Asian markets. Tata was a major supplier to the Indian auto industry and the demand for value added steel products was growing in this market. Hence there would be a powerful combination of high quality developed and low cost high growth markets. With Tata Steel the cheapest manufacture of steel in the world the new company will become highly profitable. Strategic and Integration Committee A Strategic and Integration Committee was formulated to develop and execute the integration and further growth plans. Appropriate cross functional teams were formed under this committee to look into specific issues. There were some concerns over the lower return of capital employed and EBIDTA margins in 2007-08 which seemed to have declined. As debt would be repaid over the years, the EBIDTA margin as well as return of capital employed were likely to improve, but would need to be carefully watched. I/O Model of Above Average Returns Scanning At around eight per cent of GDP growth, India is seen well poised for a burst in development, a high increase in production output and a surge in demand for various goods from the common people of India. Industry experts are buoyant and bullish on the economic, demographic (in terms of young workforce, increase in incomes and hence an increase in consumption), and the helpful political environment (in terms of tax reliefs to industries, a commitment from the government to implement and introduce policies which further the interests of commerce). The Tatas were able to identify the early signals of potential changes in the environment and detect the changes that were underway. They were able to connect the dots and realize that as a result of the above changes in the environment the steel industry would look more and more attractive. There would be more need of steel due to the growth of car and aviation industries. Monitoring It was clear that in a fragmented steel industry to get the cost advantages and a competitive edge to exploit the emerging opportunities consolidation was needed in the steel segment. This logic was the basis for a spree of mergers and acquisitions pursued by Tata Steel. The rapid progress of the Indian automobile, engineering and construction industries means that the country will need more and more high-quality steel and it is seen that the global steel prices are on an incline. Access to Corus technology will, in course of time, allow Tata Steel to move up in the value chain. The acrimonious but successful Mittal-Arcelor deal also gave Tatas sufficient signal on consolidation being the emerging trend in the steel industry. Forecasting Although, Tata Steel was Indias largest integrated private sector steel company but globally ranked number 56 in terms of steel output. The Tatas realized that the Corus buy would instantly catapult Tata Steel to the position of 5th largest steel producer in the world, and provide access to the latest technology and strategic European markets as Corus had plants in Britain, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Belgium. It was also expected that Tata Steel would benefit from reduced production costs due to large volume, combined RD operations and broader product range. Corus acquisition would also dovetail with Tata Steels efforts to move up the value chain, as the former had built a reputation as an established supplier to the aviation and auto industries. Assessing Brazilà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã… ¸s CSN and other players were also trying hard to acquire Corus which meant that a quick acquisition was the only alternative. Tatas had and assessed the situation realized the need to act quickly and swiftly. It was clear that a small window for a big opportunity had opened up for Tata steel. This was a risky consolidation, considering that the future of Tata Steel is dependent mostly on Corus performance but it is well known that entrepreneurial decisions involve risk. We can understand that it may be one of the entrepreneurial decisions that Tata Steel had to make for the future success of the company. Aftermath of the deal Post merger integration is the biggest challenge in any acquisition. But before we look at the challenges, let us first look at the immediate synergies that TATA Steel aimed at before going for the deal and how it obtained them after the deal. Synergies Advantages After the acquisition, TATA-Corus combine became the 5th largest steel producer in the world with an output around a quarter that of the largest, Arcelor Mittal. Before the deal, TATA Steel was not ranked among the top 50 global steel producers in 2005/06, producing just 5.3mn tonnes. Corus, by contrast was the 9th largest producer with an output of 18.2mn tonnes. Economies of scale have a very significant impact on any steel firm. This deal came at a time when consolidation in the steel industry was a necessity with increase in demand from China A growing presence in Asia and the developed European economies would surely leverage the economies of scale from Europe and harness growth from Asia The two corporations made a formidable presence a presence in 42 countries, a combined capacity of 25mn tonnes and a collective sales turnover of Rs 1 lac cr (March 2008 estimates at the time of the deal) The deal came at a perfect time for TATA Steel after its successful acquisitions of Singapores NatSteel in 2004 and Thailands Millennium Steel in 2005. Acquisition of Corus, a steel giant in the Western markets, gave TATA access to the vast distribution network as well as the opportunity to become a global player. TATA is a low cost producer of steel and Corus is famous for its value additions and technology especially in manufacturing of steel used in high rise buildings. The acquisition paved the way for TATA to access the RD facilities of Corus as well as to introduce its low cost production techniques in the Western markets. This can be considered as one of the most important synergies in the entire deal. The deal helped the TATAs in getting 20mn tonnes of steel capacity at virtually half the price as such a capacity would have required nothing less than $20bn $25bn as per 2006/07 estimates. The synergie

Housing Meaning Essays -- Literary Analysis, Howards End, Forrester

In Howards End by E.M. Forester, the house Howards End has central meaning to the story as each character has a different meaning for the property. To understand this meaning better using the other homes in the story to describe how each house is different from Howards End. Using such places as Wickham Place compared to Howards End in feeling from what the characters think of them. Then understanding how different the Flats are to Howards End though both are homes. Also why places such as Ducie Street and Oniton Grange are still different from Howards End though all three are of the same social standing of each other. Then how places such as Leonard’s Place are on the opposite side of the poll to that of Howards End but still have meaning to it. Then explain how Forster can express Howards End so well that it seems he himself has lived there. At the end of evaluating the other homes and Howards End the evidence will show that Howards End being in the middle of it all is import ant to the development of the story. With comparing the character’s feelings to that of Wickham Place to Howards End aspects such as emotional attachment, events that occurred there and the class each place carries with it. With emotion in play Wickham Place hold a dear meaning to those of the Schlegal family for many reasons. As stated in the beginnings of the book the Schlegal’s see Wickham Place as the Wilcox see Howards End as and ancestral home. Although as Margaret thought about the Wilcox’s in that, â€Å"The Wilcoxes continued to play a considerable part in her †¦ when it takes all sorts to make a world?†(Forester 12). This to Margaret is what the Wilcoxes stand for – the "grit" and practicality of the real world. While the Schlegels live in their equall... ...t from Howards End by using their importance to branch from Howards End. Using such places as Wickham Place to Howards End in feeling from what the characters think of each other. Then understanding how different the Flats are to Howards End though both are homes the Wilcoxes live in. Also why places such as Ducie Street and Oniton Grange are still different from Howards End though all three are of the same social standing of each other. Then how places such as Leonard’s Place are on the opposite side of the poll to that of Howards End but still have meaning to it. Then explaining how Forster can express Howards End so well that it seems he himself has lived there. At the end of evaluating the other homes and Howards End the along side the Forster explanation it is clear that Howards End is the core to which all the other homes branch from and make the story flow.

My Neighborhood Cultural Experience

Running Heading: NEIGHBORHOOD CULTURE My Neighborhood Cultural Experience Carol Salinas Kaplan University HU300-09 Abstract I have had a great opportunity to look at some of my town’s most incredible architecture, paintings, murals, and sculptures. Our family has lived here for over six years now and I have had the pleasure to visiting our three local Native American Museums. I have always enjoyed going to them on occasion when I feel like just getting out by myself and having some quite time. My experiences in this class have opened my eyes to a new way of viewing the structures and art around me. I have chosen to discuss a building that I drive by on a daily basis, never really putting much stock into how it came to be or its significance to our town. I will discuss in detail the structure and the design of the facade. I have also chosen a piece of art that has been in my family since the early 1970’s. It is a sentimental painting that I am sure holds more heartfelt value than monetary worth. I see it every day as I walk in my home. It is truly a work of art. The beauty is in the eye of the beholder and most definitely in the eye of the visionary who created such beauty. My Neighborhood Cultural Experience Architecture During my field trip around my little town, I was amazed at all of the wonderful architecture that I had never taken notice of in the past. It was quite pleasing to see the amount of historical structures that are here in Anadarko, Oklahoma. Our town was established back in 1901 and holds quite a bit of Native American Indian Influence. This is relevant by the structures around town. I have chosen to discuss a building that was constructed in 1906 and is referred to as the Whitley Miller Building in the Anadarko downtown historical district (United States, 1990) (Exhibit A). The buildings address as listed in the historical registry is 125-129 W. Broadway, Anadarko, Oklahoma. This particular building is quite ornate in its structuring and was built in the Romanesque Revival style (Waymarking, 2011). It is divided up into three separate and distinct units or bays as they used to be called. The spaces between each unit are pilaster with round arch lintels of buff colored and red colored brick and a stone sill. It is a two-story building that has a stairwell up to the second floor. The stairwell is decorated with spandrels and pilasters. Two of the units display the names of their original occupants back in the day. The names read Max Goldman & Co. and Whitley Miller, which are inset in stone panels. The second floor has four double hung windows above each unit. These windows are accented by a fanlight transom. There is a wall-like barrier at the edge of the stone coping and a corbelled brick cornice on the roofline along with recessed panels. Each unit has its own personality and charm. They are accented with individual awnings, one is red cloth, another is metal, and then made of wood. Although the architects are unknown to me they seemed to have approached the design of this building as a painter or a sculptor would (Janaro & Altshuler, 2009). It is just amazing that something so old can still be in such magnificent condition. My Neighborhood Cultural Experience Art The art piece that I have chosen to discuss today is a painting that was painted in Manila, Philippines in 1962. The signature on this particular painting is not very clear and I cannot distinguish the artists’ name. I have included a picture of the painting (Exhibit B) as well as a close up of the signature (Exhibit C) in case you recognize it. This painting was a gift from my grandparents. They had become friends with many of the locals and befriended the artist. My grandfather saw the painting one day and asked if he could purchase it for his stepson. The artist graciously agreed. My grandfather and grandmother retired from the Air Force in 1972 and returned to the states bringing the painting home to my parents. After the passing of my parents, I have inherited the painting. It has become quite a conversation piece in our living room. The medium for this piece is oil on canvas. This is a representational painting of the Manila Bay at dusk. The use of chiaroscuro throughout this painting adds a sultry, almost lonely feeling to it (Janaro & Altshuler, 2009). You can see a shanty or shack sitting by the water and the boats are in from the days catch. There appears to be no one in sight. Everyone has gone home from a long and grueling day at sea. The water is calm and beautifully lit by the falling sun. The sky is an intense yellow and orange as the rays of the sun are hidden by the clouds. The perspective of this artist as it relates to his painting is amazing. When I look into the painting, I seem to be pulled into the landscape, as if I am sitting on a hill looking across at the beautiful sunset. A sense of calm comes over me. I can put myself right there just as a fisherman or his wife might be sitting outside after a good home cooked meal and relaxing after a tiering day on the water. References: R. P. Janaro & T. C. Altshuler (2009). The Art of Being Human: The  Humanities as a Technique for Living, ninth Edition. (pp. 105-130). New York: Longman. United States Department of the Interior – National Register of Historic places (1990). Retrieved December 17, 2011 from, http://pdfhost. focus. nps. gov/docs/NRHP/Text/82005385. pdf Waymarking. com (2011). Retrieved December 17, 2011, from http://www. waymarking. com/waymarks/WMCY7W_1906_Whitley_Miller_Building_Anadarko_OK

Psycho Dynamic Model of Abnormality Essay

Psychodynamic model of abnormality- the Oral, Anal and Phallic stages of development. Freud suggested that psychological development in childhood takes place in a series of stages that occur throughout fixed periods of time, his theory suggests children develop though psychosexual stages which involve conflict which must be resolved. The Oral stage: This is the first stage of development which occurs at the age of 0-1 years. In this stage the mouth is the source of pleasure for the libido, at this age babies tend to gain comfort by doing things such as biting and chewing toys, breastfeeding etc. Feud also believed that oral stimulation could lead to oral fixation later on in life, for example behaviours such as smoking, biting nails etc. The Anal stage: This stage of development occurs at the age of 1-3 years. The child is now aware that their wishes and needs can bring them into conflict with the demands of the outside world indicating that an ego has developed. In this stage the libido is focused on the anal source of pleasure, conflict tends to come to a head in potty training when parent’s restrictions and going to the toilet in the right place at the right time are imposed on the child, Freud believed over strictness about forcing the child during potty training and cleanliness can cause anal fixation and obsessive behaviour later on in life. The Phallic stage: This stage of development occurs at the age of 3-6 years. Feud suggested that at this stage children become aware of their genitals and the libido is focused on this idea, suggesting that the child becomes aware of emotions such as jealousy, rivalry and fear and erotic attraction. This stage also focuses on the Oedipus and Complex’s. These behavioural types of development were suggested by Freud, the Oedipus complex which focuses on boy’s behaviour and desire to parents, and the Electra complex focussing on girl’s behaviour and desire towards parents. The Oedipus complex: Freud suggested that during the phallic stage young boys and girls go through a stage of desire for their parents, the Oedipus complex outlines the idea that boys develop strong desire for mother, they then Notice a strong bond between parents and Become jealous of father and afraid of the father who might discover the boys true feelings and fearing the punishment of castration is Resolved by identifying with the father. The Electra complex: During the stages of this complex Freud suggested that briefly, the girl desires the father but discovers she does not have a penis which leads to penis envy she then blames mother for her lack and transfer’s love from mother to father, the feelings are then repressed and Resolved by the girl Identifying with mother to become like her.

The Best Scholarships for Juniors in High School

The Best Scholarships for Juniors in High School SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Many students think that they shouldbegin looking at college scholarships once they actually start applying to college- so some time early in their senior year. Although it’s true that many big-name scholarships require applicants to be high school seniors, there are some great awards out there for younger students as well. So why not get a head start in applying for scholarship awards? You could win money for college, sure, but you’ll also get experience in the scholarship application process before submitting even more applications during your senior year. I’ve compiled a list of scholarships for high school juniors. This list will be a great place to start, but you might also want to search for more targeted awards (e.g., by geographic area). You can browse the scholarships below based on whether they're competitions or merit-based scholarships. Read to the end for tips and strategies on getting the most scholarship money possible! Are you ready for a little (friendly) competition? It's a win-win! You can get application practice, scholarship funding, or both! Essay- and Project-Based Scholarships for Juniors If you have a competitiveside, these scholarship programs might be just the thing to get you motivated! Whether you're a debate pro or a science nerd, you're sure to find a competition right up your alley. Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition To compete for this scholarship, applicants write and record an audio essay on an annual patriotic theme. The theme for 2019-20 is "What Makes America Great." The first-place winner walks away with a $30,000 scholarship,but runners-up also receive awards. A total of $2.1 million in funding is given out annually. Winners also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC. Eligibility:Students in grades 9-12 Deadline:October 31, 2019 American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest Similar to the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition, students compete for this scholarship by writing and performing a three- to five-minute oration on some aspect of the US Constitution. First place takes home $18,000, second place $16,000, and third place $14,000. You can learn more about this year's assigned topics here. Eligibility:High school students under 20 years of age Deadline: Varies by state; check with your local American Legion Department The Fountainhead Essay Contest Are you an Ayn Rand fan? Or have you readThe Fountainhead for school? Then you've already done the lion's share of the work for this scholarship competition! Students compete for this award by writing an essay on one of three topics related toThe Fountainhead(you can check out this year's topics here). The first-place winner is awarded a grand prize of $10,000, although runners-up also receive prizes. In total, this program gives out $22,500 annually. (This is a cash prize, so you'll receive the money personally.) Eligibility: Students in grades 11-12 Deadline:April 25, 2019 Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship This is a smaller scholarship, but it's also pretty easy to compete for- all you have to do is write a 250-word personal statement. You can even reuse an essay you wrote for class, another scholarship, or a college application.The applicant who submits the highest-quality essay wins a $1,000 scholarship. Eligibility: US students in grades 9-12 Deadline: July 31, 2019 (for the spring 2019 cycle) John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest Do you follow US politics? Then this competition might be the one for you. Students compete by writing an essay that demonstrates their understanding of JFK's description of political courage. You can get more detailed information on this year's essay topic hereand evenread past winning essays to get an idea of what's expected of applicants. Award amounts range from $100 all the way up to $10,000. Eligibility:US students in grades 9-12 Deadline:Likely January 2020 Do you fancy yourself a bit of a bookworm? Merit-Based Scholarships for Juniors These scholarships are still competitions in that you and a bunch of other applicants are vying for a limited amount of funds. But instead of being evaluated on your oratorical or scientific acumen, you'll be evaluated on personal qualities. Some of these scholarships heavily value scholarship, whereas others value leadership or community service (or even a combination of both!). William Randolph Hearst Foundation US Senate Youth Program This is a bit of a specialty scholarship program- it's meant for students who are serving in student government and plan on taking government courses in college. Applicants are judged on their leadership abilities, academics, clear speech, logical thought, community involvement, and extracurriculars. A total of 104 award winners receive $10,000 each as well asan all-expenses-paid trip to a conference in Washington, DC, from March 7 to March 14, 2020. Eligibility: Students in grades 11-12 Deadline:Varies by statebut usuallyin October each year Carson Scholars Program To be a competitive applicant for this scholarship, you must demonstrate academic excellence in addition to a dedication to serving your community. The minimum GPA eligibility requirement is 3.75/4.00. If you'd like to be considered for this award, you must be nominated by an educator at your school, and only one nomination per school is allowed. Winners receive a $1,000 prize. Schools can request an applicationhere. Eligibility: Students in grades 4-11 Deadline:N/A (students do not enter the program but are nominated by their school) National Merit Scholarship If you're a junior in high school, chances are you've already taken the PSAT. But did you know that by just taking that test, you've already started the process of entering yourself into this scholarship competition? Students compete for this award by striving to get a top PSAT score (depending on your state, you'll need a Selection Index scoreof 212 or higher to qualify). You must then submit an application with other standard scholarship information. The competition gives out$2,500awards to about 7,500students every year (with corporate and institutional sponsors giving outadditional awards). For more info, check outour guide to winning the National Merit Scholarship. Eligibility: 11th graders who have taken the PSAT (10th graders may take the PSAT but are ineligible for the scholarship) Deadline: N/A (you are automatically entered upon taking the PSAT in 11th grade) Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in. Like most things in life, you'll be most successful with your scholarship applications if you employ some solid long-term strategies. 3 Tips for Getting the Most Scholarship Money Possible If you're starting the scholarship application process in 11th grade, you've got a long road ahead of you. This is a good thing! Scholarship programs have varying requirements, deadlines, and expectations, so the earlier you get started, the better chance you'll have of getting money. Below are our top tips to help youwin the most scholarship money you can as a junior. #1: Do Your Own Research It's great to get started with larger national scholarships, but as you might imagine, the competition gets pretty fierce when you're dealing with these noteworthy scholarship programs. Even if you're a very strong applicant for a particular award, chances are that you could be a very strong applicant for a particular scholarship and still not win award money if the program is particularly competitive. The more independent research you do into smaller, tailored scholarship programs, the better your chances will be of getting funding for school. That isn't to say you shouldn't apply to the big scholarships- you definitely should!- but you should also have some smaller "safety" awards.The more niche a scholarship program is, the better chances you'll have of winning an award (assuming you're a qualified applicant, that is). So do your own research on scholarship programs that operate in your area or are offered to students with your particular interests and passions. The easiest way is toGoogle scholarships in your area.If you have a particular talent, skill, interest, or identity, search for scholarships that are offered to students based on those criteria. You can also talk with your guidance counselor who should have more information about local scholarships and how to apply for them. #2: Apply Broadly This is another strategy designed to increase your odds of coming out of the process with some extra college money in your pocket. Basically, apply to as many scholarships as possible. Many scholarship applications ask similar questions and require similar information, soif you apply to one program, you might as well apply to several.It's free to apply for most scholarships, so all it takes from you is a few hours of your time. For example, the Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship listed above will let you use a personal statement from class or even another application, meaning you can kill two birds with one stone! #3: Make Note of Deadlines Many scholarships are due before college applications.As such, it's better to start your scholarship search earlier rather than later so you don't miss out on any great opportunities. This is especially true for scholarships geared toward high school seniors. If you're looking into scholarships now, this is the perfect time to get a jump-start on some of the bigger scholarships for 12th graders. You can keep track of application deadlines by keeping a spreadsheet that you update regularly. This is helpful if applications require you to ask for letters of recommendation. In that case, be sure togive your teachers and mentors plenty of advance notice to write you a letter. What's Next? If you want to get a head start on scoping out scholarships, check out our comprehensive guides to winning some of the most competitivenational scholarships available. Learn more about theCoca-Cola Scholarship, theGates Scholarship, theWalmart Scholarships, and theMcDonald's Scholarships. Got a super high SAT or ACT score? Then you might be interested in learning how to apply for college scholarships based on your SAT/ACT scores. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points?We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

The eNotes Blog Original Artwork and Annotations for Shakespeare’s Best Sonnets by OwlEyes

Original Artwork and Annotations for Shakespeare’s Best  Sonnets by OwlEyes This post originally appeared on  Medium, by OwlEyes.org. We don’t need to tell you that Shakespeare’s sonnets are incredible (or that they can be puzzling beyond all reason). Though they may be difficult to decipher, they are well worth the hours you’ll spend close reading and contemplating the meaning of â€Å"is.† Since we are literature nerds at heart over here at OwlEyes.org, we love doing this kind of stuff. For those of you who don’t, or for those who are just looking for a little extra help, we’ve got you covered! We’ve spent the last month annotating all things Shakespeare, including some of his most popular sonnets, and we’ve even created a comprehensive guide to reading them. As a visual learner, I’ve always found it helpful to view accompanying art for the literature that I read- it gives me an even deeper understanding of the words on the page (and it’s just so much fun). If you are anything like me, or if you simply appreciate literary art, you should definitely check out the original Shakespeare sonnet illustrations below created by our lovely design intern, Kate R. For more of Kate’s art, follow them on Instagram. (Click the image of each sonnet to read it, along with our official Owl Eyes annotations and analyses, for free!) Sonnet 5 Sonnet 18 Sonnet 19 Sonnet 29 Sonnet 55 Sonnet 60 Sonnet 73 Sonnet 94 Sonnet 106 Sonnet 116 Sonnet 129 Sonnet 130 Missing your favorite sonnet? We have a free etext compilation of all 154 of them.

How to Write For a Global Audience [16 unexpected examples]

How to Write For a Global Audience [16 unexpected examples] As businesses become more international, so must our writing. Most of the time, good business writing skills transfer very well to global audiences, but there are some things that you want to keep in mind aboutintercultural relations. Lots of research has been done on this topic, so I’ll include links for further reading. I am hesitant to add in examples because they may not be true even five years from now - I have seen so much change in the time that I have been teaching! With that said, I will add in some examples to make these concepts clearer. Do your research on honorifics and attitudes towards hierarchy The way that we show respect to our superiors and our coworkers varies dramatically across cultures. From the outside, the U.S. looks like it has a fairly casual and egalitarian work structure. For example: We are comfortable working on teams and in groups with people older and younger than us, and with more and less seniority. We tend to address people the same way throughout an organization. We would say, â€Å"Good morning, John!† to the boss and to the janitor. Eye contact is a sign that we are paying attention to someone, i.e. that we respect them enough to listen to them. You may be interested in our English Business Writing Course for non-native writers (ESL). This is not the case in many other cultures/countries. In some places, hierarchy, class, status, and rank are very important, and they require you to act and speak very differently depending on the content. For example: Japanese culture is a good example of this. The language itself requires different grammatical structures, and sometimes completely different words, depending on the hierarchical relationship between the speaker(s) and the listener(s). These grammatical differences reflect the cultural attitudes towards hierarchy and status. Indian culture is similarly stratified. It is often inappropriate for a lower level worker to speak or work with more senior employees. In many parts of Latin America, it is (or was!) socially inappropriate to make eye contact with your superior. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(41482, '213460bb-69d3-4e2a-a04c-3c219b7fe780', {}); Use the key words â€Å"honorifics + country name† or â€Å"attitudes towards hierarchy + country name† to do a bit of research when starting a new project with a global group. This could avoid a lot of problematic misconceptions about your team mates and how they are responding to you! Be flexible in how you think about time management Ideas about time are tied to culture. It could be the culture of your particular workplace, or the culture of the larger society, but how we think about time varies dramatically. Some places value how many hours you work, while others value how much work you complete in those hours, and still others are a mix of the two. Some places value making decisions quickly, while others put much more time into making a decision. Some places see due dates and start times as if they are absolute, while others see them as if they are flexible suggestions. These are often cultural differences, but they can vary widely across work places. (I work in higher ed, and the decision making process is painfully slow compared with the private sector places I worked before!) It’s important to remember that a missed deadline may not be due to laziness, but a difference of opinions about what deadlines actually mean. If you find yourself getting frustrated with your global team, take a deep breath and do some research on time management and decision making. Use the key words above, as well as attitudes about time, + country name. Doing this before a meeting or project begins can prevent a lot of frustration. Honor ideas about change Depending on where you work, ideas about change can vary widely, even within the U.S. For example: Some cultures or workplaces value innovation and new ideas. This attitude is common in the U.S. Other places value and respect tradition and the time-tested ways of doing things. This attitude is more commonly found in places with more hierarchical societies. Clearly, a group with different ideas about change will have difficulty finding a suitable solution! Finding a middle ground that values the traditional approach while allowing for innovation is tricky, but invaluable when working with global teams. This could be as simple as acknowledging that the current innovation wouldn’t be possible without the groundwork laid by the traditional approach. Write simply, but powerfully We'vewritten several other blog posts onhow to improve your business writing skills, but the overall message is this: Write simply and directly. Do not use colloquialisms, idioms, highly technical language, or complicated grammatical structures. Use lists and headings to help break up content and make it easy for the reader to know what to do. (like I am doing here!) Do not rely on implicit messages, or something mentioned in a meeting or previous email. Say everything you need to say clearly, directly, and in language that someone outside of your field could understand. A combination of straightforward written communications and consideration for cultural differences will greatly improve your business communications, increase effectiveness, and save time. Instructional Solutions offers Business Writing Coursesthat can help you to achieve this type of writing. More info here: Further reading: â€Å"Managing Multicultural Teams† The Harvard Business Review â€Å"Global Teams that Work† The Harvard Business Review â€Å"How to Run a Meeting of People From Different Cultures† The Harvard Business Review

Critical Roads into Volpone Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Critical Roads into Volpone - Essay Example For instance, â€Å"Just as Dantes hell is the spiritual inverse of heaven, Jonsons Venice is the moral inverse of every humanistic ideal which, as outlined in his poem† (Baker and Harp n.p.). Despite holding different opinions on morality, both authors believed in punishment of evil as demonstrated in their works. One weakness in Baker and Harp’s argument is that they fail to demonstrate the two works as comedies. Their argument that the story of Gianni Schicci evokes a comical effect is not sufficient. Furthermore, their attempt to classify the two works as comedies is inadequate. Their commentary requires more illustrations. One word that I recognized but had to look up to clarify was ‘Augur’ meaning a religious official in the ancient Rome who observed and interpreted natural signs as an indication of divine approval or disapproval of a proposed decision or action. I searched from

Enviroment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Enviroment - Assignment Example With that, there are a number of air pollution challenges that need to be taken into concern by all governments in the world so as to eliminate the chances of air pollution becoming tragic to life. First is the emission of smog and smoke from industries. Ozone smog is lethal when subjected to higher temperatures since it can cause severe health issues to humans. Some of the health issues include: severe asthma for individuals who already have the respiratory challenge, lung burn problems, eye irritations and throat damage. Smog has other adverse effects such as acidic rain due to the fact that it contains sulphur compounds. Acidic rain can be very dangerous to the existing water supplies. For example: If acidic rain would pour on earth; that means that the water we drink shall have higher quantities of sulphur- This is very dangerous to public health. In addition to that, acidic rain will cause damage to plant cover as well as organisms in the soil. In this case, human beings as well as animal life will be affected when they consume plant cover that has higher components of sulphur. Another effect of acidic rain is that it speeds up the decay process of objects that is comes into contact with. With those examples, it can be vividly stated that, smog and smoke air pollutions are very dangerous and both can cause a massive challenges to the existing human life, animal life and the earth. A second form of air pollution is through Green House Gases (GHG) such as: Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide and Fluorinated gases. Carbon dioxide is as a result of burning fossil fuels, the use of petroleum and natural gas. Methane originates from coal burning. Nitrous Dioxide originates from the use of fertilizers that have higher contents of nitrogen and other waste products. According to a 2011 report released by the U.S Greenhouse Emissions, it was revealed that the total emissions of carbon dioxide were 84%, Methane was 9%, Nitrous Oxide was 5% and Fluorinated gases we re 2%. In addition to that, the report revealed that electricity was the highest contributor of GHG emissions by a total of 33%; the transportation sector had a total of 28%, industries had 20%; commercial and residential sector had 11%; agricultural sector had 8% (EPA, â€Å"Overview of Green House Gases†). This report clearly indicated that GHG are still a challenge due to the reason that they are still emitted from the different sources. However, according to a comparison of GHG emissions from 2010 to 2012 it is clear that GHG emissions are slowly decreasing (EPA, â€Å"Trends in Greenhouse Gas Emissions†). The most intensifying risk about GHG is that they take hundreds or even thousands of years to be completely depleted from the atmosphere. With that, they are prone to affect human life in the long term. The challenge brought about by these gases is that they prevent the release of heat from the earth into the atmosphere – ozone layer. As a result, this cau ses the earth to retain too much heat thereby leading to the global warming effect. The global warming effect causes a change in global climate. That is; it causes warmer temperatures to be experienced in different parts of the world. As a result, these higher temperatures lead to water evaporation from the existing water supplies. In areas where the global warmin

NextEra Energy Inc., Strategic Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4250 words

NextEra Energy Inc., Strategic Plan - Essay Example Currently, the chairman and CEO of the NextEra Energy Inc. is James L. Robo, the President and Chief Executive Officer at NextEra Energy Resources is Armando Pimentel, the Executive Vice President and General Counsel at NextEra Energy, Inc. is Charles E. Sieving, the President and Chief Executive Officer at Florida Power & Light Company is Eric Silagy, the Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer at NextEra Energy, Inc. Moray P. Dewhurst and the Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Corporate Services at NextEra Energy, Inc. is Deborah H. Caplan. Today, NextEra Energy Inc. is one of the leading providers of affordable, clean and reliable energy. The company has three subsidiaries, the principal subsidiary, FPL, NextEra Energy Resources and FPL Fibernet. By the end of fiscal year 2013 the company’s net income reported $1.9 billion. The NextEra Energy Inc. is a leading clean-energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. The company is holding 191th position in the list of 2014 Fortune 200 companies. The company was founded in 1925 as Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) there was a desperate need of a dependable supply of electricity. The company was founded by Thomas Edison and the General Electric Co., which was later purchased by American Power & Light. On a later date, the company was consolidated by American Power & Light to Florida Power and Light Company (FPL). The unexpected patchwork of ventures included small electric producing plants, ice plants, water, gas, fish, sawmill and road auto organizations, telephone, steam laundry, an ice plant, a limestone quarry, a sponge fishing boat and even 35 mules and wagons (Nexteraenergy.com 2014) . The company started its operations with 76,000 gas and electric customer accounts, 230 mile transmission lines and 1,139 miles of distribution lines. At the time the production capacity of the FPL was 70 megawatts and 8Â ¢ was charged at an average price per kilowatt hour for residential

Relationships in Second Life and how they can affect Real Life Essay

Relationships in Second Life and how they can affect Real Life - Essay Example These immersive 3D environments, also known as Multi User Virtual Environments (MUVE) (Mennecke et al. 373) or Massively Multiplayer Online Games (MMOGs), allow large numbers of users from diverse backgrounds and locales to interact via the Internet (Ducheneaut, Wen, Yee, and Wadley 1151). However, for many inhabitants of Second Life, it is not just a 3D online game, but another world that â€Å"†¦has its own economy and millions of residents who own and create property, make friends and even get married† (CNN Living, 2008). These virtual worlds (VWs) have become conduits for socialization, collaboration, entertainment, social networking, and business development (Mennecke et al. 371). Second Life vs. Real Life In VWs like Second Life, users must build virtual representations of themselves through creation of customizable avatars, which gives them a 3D body that they control and provides a â€Å"tangible embodiment of their identity† (Ducheneaut, Wen, Yee, and Wadl ey 1151). Through the avatars, users can discover an ever-growing assortment of virtual sites, fabricate all sorts of items, from clothing to buildings, and create businesses to sell their goods or services, forge relationships with other players through their interactions with their avatars, and buy virtual property (Hayes 154). According to Dell, as many as 13 million people have logged on to Second Life at least one time and about 450,000 subscribers are from more than 50 countries are online in any given week, ranging in age from 18 – 72, 27% of which are female (Hayes 154). Researchers have begun to conduct studies to analyze the way self-perception formed through interactions in VWs affects behaviors in the real world (Dell). According to Ducheneaut, Wen, Yee, and Wadley, "the choices users make when creating and customizing their avatar will have repercussions on their interactions with other users† (1151), which can cause users to create online personas that are sometimes the complete opposite of who they are in real life. The ability to â€Å"†¦do, create or become just about anything you can imagine† (Hayes 154) in the VW can result in people adapting qualities that spill over and change their demeanor in the real world (Dell). This reaction frequently occurs without the person being aware of the shift and research has determined that as little as 90 seconds spent interacting with avatars online is sufficient to bring forth behavioral changes offline due to augmentation to the individual’s self-perception and self-confidence (Dell). Additionally, researchers have determined that physical characteristics, like height and appearance, can have significant effects on the online behavior of the person as well as how they interact with others offline (Dell). Studies conducted regarding behaviors determined that individuals that used avatars considered to be physically attractive tended to display a higher degree of self-assu rance than they normally did after inhabiting the avatar (Dell). This was also true for people that used tall avatars, with these individuals displaying behaviors more aggressive than their usual demeanor and the converse being true for people using short avatars (Dell). VWs can potentially be used to improve health for some adults by allowing them to watch avatars that closely resemble their own likeness exercise, which, in studies, resulted in the individuals also exercising within 24-hours of the interaction (Dell). More recently,

USPS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

USPS - Essay Example Thus, the functional system if affected in the long run. II. Information system: which are supposed to ensure that information flows throughout the organization? However, the large number of union members makes it difficult for the organization to pass information to its members. This makes it difficult for the organizational members to make any meaningful decisions. This generally affects the team-building aspect of the organization and the financial situation of the organization only worsens the situation (Hicks, 2014). III. Divisional system ensures that an organization is able to enable its employees or members to have the required specialization and division of labor for the well-being of the organization. The employees reports to a general manager who then reports to a senior executive officer. However, the current absence of leadership makes the situation difficult. If the leaders were present in the organization, they could come up with creative strategies to motivate the workers thus enabling the required teamwork in the organization (Kille, 2013). Hicks, J. (2014, May 9). Postal Service lost $1.9 billion in second quarter, despite uptick for first-class mail. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal- eye/wp/2014/05/09/postal-service-lost-1-9-billion-in-second-quarter/ Kille, L. W. (2013, July 8). The U.S. Postal Service and financial sustainability: Research roundup. Retrieved from http://journalistsresource.org/studies/government/budget/us- postal-service-financial-sustainability-research-roundup# Wieczner, J. (2012, August 27). Postal Service Financial Problems: 10 Things They Dont Want You to Know. Retrieved from

The language of health informatics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The language of health informatics - Essay Example of uniform terminology, coding and standardization of the data; and†¨4) various information standards and organizations that may be applicable, and possibly required, for this project. †¨Ã¢â‚¬ ¨ Several types of databases can be used in informatics. According to Crawford (2010), there are five types of databases that can be used in informatics: flat file databases, hierarchical databases, network databases, object orientated databases, and relational databases (p. 1). Database characteristics should be such, that, when employed throughout the hospitals and various centers, make sense for that center. For example, it doesn’t make much sense if one organization is using a flat file database when what it really needs is a program that addresses hierarchical management techniques. If the idea or end goal is to have uniformity, then the same databases should ideally be chosen in order to manage everything. This will ensure that all of the organizations within the scope of the project are working in coordination with one another. There are several types of medical data. According to Types of Medical Data (2010), there is â€Å"narrative textual data (HPI, social/family Hx, general review of systems, failure to thrive); numerical measurements (lab results, vital signs, and measurements); recorded signals (e.g., ECG, graphical tracing); and pictures (e.g., radiologic images, sketches)† (p. 1). How all of this information is entered into the computer depends, again, upon the program(s) that will be used. As such, it might be a good idea for the committee to vote on which type of program(s) they would like to see implemented when given a choice amongst programs, given the information they will be given about the field of informatics. Obviously, whatever information that is inputted into the system must be standardized. In that sense, whatever program that is chosen by the committee should be chosen carefully and with national and international standards in mind

USPS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

USPS - Essay Example Thus, the functional system if affected in the long run. II. Information system: which are supposed to ensure that information flows throughout the organization? However, the large number of union members makes it difficult for the organization to pass information to its members. This makes it difficult for the organizational members to make any meaningful decisions. This generally affects the team-building aspect of the organization and the financial situation of the organization only worsens the situation (Hicks, 2014). III. Divisional system ensures that an organization is able to enable its employees or members to have the required specialization and division of labor for the well-being of the organization. The employees reports to a general manager who then reports to a senior executive officer. However, the current absence of leadership makes the situation difficult. If the leaders were present in the organization, they could come up with creative strategies to motivate the workers thus enabling the required teamwork in the organization (Kille, 2013). Hicks, J. (2014, May 9). Postal Service lost $1.9 billion in second quarter, despite uptick for first-class mail. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal- eye/wp/2014/05/09/postal-service-lost-1-9-billion-in-second-quarter/ Kille, L. W. (2013, July 8). The U.S. Postal Service and financial sustainability: Research roundup. Retrieved from http://journalistsresource.org/studies/government/budget/us- postal-service-financial-sustainability-research-roundup# Wieczner, J. (2012, August 27). Postal Service Financial Problems: 10 Things They Dont Want You to Know. Retrieved from

The Organizational Development Practices Research Paper

The Organizational Development Practices - Research Paper Example The purpose of this paper to analyze the organizational development (OD) practices that can be implemented in Company A in order to turn the corporation around and help the company to begin earning profits again. Company A is a conglomerate multinational corporation in the retail industry that has been operating in the marketplace for over 50 years. The company prides itself in being a store that offers quality merchandise at reasonable prices that provide value to the customer base. The company has grown a lot during the last decade and has achieved international penetration in many locations including Hong Kong, London, and Paris among other prestigious locations. By choosing spots of high consumer traffic the firm’s sales have been very good during the last couple of years. The firm employees over 20,000 direct workers worldwide. The company’s rapid expansion created a series of new issues and problems that must be attended in order to ensure the company continues to run a profitable operation for many years to come. The mission of the company is to provide its customer a great shopping experience in which they're able to select from a large variety of consumer goods at a price point that will attract interest from the customers while at the same time allowing the company to meet its sales quotas and revenue expectation and reaching their annual projected goals. Company A operates under a bureaucratic system due to a centralized decision making philosophy. The corporate headquarter of the company located in Los Angeles California is responsible for all strategic decisions the company implements. It also controls the internal functionality of the firm subsidiaries which results in the creation of a business entity that is slow to react to market changes. The corporate offices also have control over the internal human resources practices of all the independent firms.

The Way We See And Understand Things Essay

The Way We See And Understand Things Essay This is a famous quote and it is really significant in our world and in our lives in the recent time. First of all we need to look at the two most important two words see and understand in the quote. The see word correspond to perceive with eyes  [1]  while the understand world correspond to perceive the meaning of something  [2]  . As we can see according these definitions we can only reach the complete knowledge if we not only see things but we need to understand them at the same time. This claim shows a great influence of our beliefs and experiences on our view of the world. This is because our beliefs and experiences, the things that make us who we are, are an influence on our ways of knowing. Since our ways of knowing are the ways that we form our views and understanding. Emotion and Sense perception, in particular, are greatly affected. This quote brings up many questions like: Can you say that the human mind shapes the world according to its knowledge requests? Does culture, our believes limit the way we see and understand? Do we experience the same reality? In this essay I am going to analyse this quote according to in the relation of emotion and sense of perception and reasonsing , and trying to find the answers to the question what are stated above through couple of examples. The sense of perception according to the general definition is the physical response of our senses to stimuli. I have often wondered how we can perceive the same things differently, then I realised as the animals perceive things in dissimilar ways the individual human perception varies from individual to individual. It is an extreme thing, but a couple of people suffer in the world from synaesthesia, it means they can smell colours instead of seeing them and perceiving with their eyes or they can feel tastes, or some people in the world have sixth sense, they can feel danger forward, but in usual people experience the same things but the sense of perception has another element, it is the interpretation. What we sense (smell, sight, sound), we usually interrupt in different ways, that is why we each have a unique view of the world. If you look at this picture what do you see? I asked 3 people and all of them came up with a different answer for this question. The answers were: The grey figure is swimming for his life. The black figure is sticking up his arms. They could also both be swimming. The black figure would then be breast-swimming. It could also be the grey figure waving in greeting towards friends, and the black figure raising his arms in victory. Through this example we can see how people see the same picture but understand and interrupt so differently. The reasons for that are the usual perceptual learning does not work in such a situation like this picture. Perceptual learning is the increase in ability to absorb information of one type of information from the environment as a result of experience or practice  [4]  . In such a situation our brain does not have answer for it, because it has never experienced or practiced these kind of pictures, that is why usually people see and then understand, interrupt the same picture differently. The other scientific reasons for the question are we all have different education level, different attitudes, even particular moon could affect our perception and interruption and yes our believes and culture limits our perception, and the culture could change our conception, perception of something. For example in the Western culture the dog is pictured as beloved pet, the best friend of m an while a guard dog is treated as a working animal or in the Muslim culture the dog is the symbol of the an unclean animal, it should be kept of a home or Chinese people like it as a delicious dish. I have a personal experience how people feel so different about the dog, me and one my friend from Malaysia went down the seafront, we found a dog down there, and I went there stroke the dog while my friend just run away, that is the story how I learned the dog is not loved in the Muslim culture. As I stated above even the emotions affect how we perceive things, therefore it affects what we see and our understanding. Emotion as a way of knowing is integral with human awareness and is instinctive. How does the emotion linked to the perception? We cannot perceive someone elses emotional state, but our senses give clues how the others fell or what mood they are in. When people communicate, observers gain information from seeing their actions, during these actions observers see the same things, but these actions could mean more for one of the observer, because he or she can read body language. For example the head resting in the hands and eyes downcast means for an experienced body language reader his or her partner is bored, while to others it does not mean anything. Furthermore obviously if were feeling a certain way well react to things very differently than when we are in a different emotional stage. People often say the love is blind, and it is really true. When we are at th is emotional stage we are blinded by love, we can not see the mistakes and disadvantages of the other person, who is in love does not see and understand the other person as the outsiders. She or he just sees the good things, is shaded by a cloud, by his or her emotions so therefore she or he does not experience the same reality as the surrounding people. People usually have different emotions towards the same things, these emotions could affect their seeing and understanding, because of their economical status, culture or even the particular situation, our gender, our culture. If you see somebody get mugged by someone I think you would feel sad towards the one, but actually you do not really care while who got mugged probably fell horrified, feared. We can see from this example how our emotion changes according to the particular situation. We cannot see and understand the same thing in the same way, because every single unique people have touched differently emotionally. We feel differently towards the same ethical problems, dilemmas, situations, but I think often our emotions are socially and culturally constructed. If we think about at a funeral, people have to feel sad, they need to cry. Are they true feelings? Often people have to have the same emotions, but I think these emotions are not true or real. Our culture, our outside world limits our emotions, therefore as it is one of the ways of knowing, it limits our seeing and understanding. The emotions can greatly affect our perception, so it is sometimes not reliable. We often feel emotionally strong t owards which is not true, or we do not it is true or not. That is why often call the reasoning as help. Reason is basically logic leading us to find the truth. We use past experiences to work out what has happened in situations, for instance, if it is wet on a pavement in the morning, due to past experience, you rationalize that it has rained the night before . Scientists apparently see and understand the same reality. They use different methods reach the same reality, they can use the deductive reasoning or inductive method. They experiment on it to produce data to prove or disprove their theories about the world. They use different methods, but at the end they get the same understanding of an experiment. The scientists think the past is fixed, is it? The things that have happened are a constant, so to speak. Then how is it that historians see and understand those events differently? I think our perception of the history is greatly affected by our culture or our believes. Finally I think we do not access to the reality as it is in and of itself, and that our perceptions of it is coloured by the way our mind shapes it. So, it turns out that the way we see the world tells us more about ourselves than it tells us about the world as such. Modern rationalism (Descartes, Spinoza, and, arguably, Kant) all hold (in some form) that the way we see the world is really just a function of how the mind works. For Descartes, there is an act of intellection in every perception, and for Kant the pure Concepts of the Understanding determine how we see the world. I think world is too complex, and we watch the world through different glasses, some of the glasses are shiner or darker than the others, it affects our ways of knowing, and we are determined by our ways of knowing, that why it affects our seeing and understanding. Therefore we should reverse the claim: what we see and understand is limited by the world outside the very things that we see shape our understandi ng.

Essay --

In the present case scenario, 19year old patient with crown fracture of #10 with 1.5mm of tooth structure remaining. However, the nature of pulp (vital or nonvital), history of pain, If any pulp exposure - time spent with exposed pulp, diameter of the pulp exposure and number of tooth walls remaining are not discussed. These factors are considered as key elements in the diagnosis and treatment plan. However within the limited findings, the present case can be diagnosed as complicated crown fracture #10 with pulp exposure involving enamel and dentin fracture. The success rate in vital pulp therapy of carious lesion has been reported in the range of 72.9-92.9%. However, further studies of high quality need to be conducted to evaluate the factors influencing the treatment outcome. 1 The classic Toronto study shown 92%, 93% of success in endodontically treated teeth without periapical radiolucency.2,3 The outcome of non surgical endodntic therapy reported a success rate of 86-93%. 4 It is seen that the success rate of pulp therapy is predictably inferior to the nonsurgical endodontic therapy. Also failure of pulp therapy due to persistent bacterial infection, leaky restoration has severe painful condition. Treating failed pulp therapy is further more complex and difficult as there is narrowing of pulp chamber due to calcification.5 Hence in this case, endodontic therapy #10 was planned. The primary aim of RCT is to chemomechanical preparation of root canal spaces followed by obturating with material, which is chemically inert and provides hermetic seal. Guttapercha is one of the oldest obturating materials and is considered still as gold standard. However, guttapercha has shown inadequate seal and presence of voids when lateral ... ...build-up material, which is formed after cementation of the post. Composites, being more esthetic material gives favourable outcome. It is well bonded to the tooth through micromechanical retention creating a monobloc effect. However, microleakage, secondary caries factors should be considered. Resin luting cements played a major role in the modern dentistry. High compressive and tensile strength, low dissolution, adhesive mechanism and high esthetic qualities have made the material of choice in luting cements.13,14 All Ceramic crowns has shown increased fracture resistance and improved esthetics. Hence, the material of choice in the current clinical case. How ever the type of material with ceramic has not shown any significant difference. Every treatment plan should be based on the updated clinical evidence at highest level for the long term success of the therapy. Essay -- In the present case scenario, 19year old patient with crown fracture of #10 with 1.5mm of tooth structure remaining. However, the nature of pulp (vital or nonvital), history of pain, If any pulp exposure - time spent with exposed pulp, diameter of the pulp exposure and number of tooth walls remaining are not discussed. These factors are considered as key elements in the diagnosis and treatment plan. However within the limited findings, the present case can be diagnosed as complicated crown fracture #10 with pulp exposure involving enamel and dentin fracture. The success rate in vital pulp therapy of carious lesion has been reported in the range of 72.9-92.9%. However, further studies of high quality need to be conducted to evaluate the factors influencing the treatment outcome. 1 The classic Toronto study shown 92%, 93% of success in endodontically treated teeth without periapical radiolucency.2,3 The outcome of non surgical endodntic therapy reported a success rate of 86-93%. 4 It is seen that the success rate of pulp therapy is predictably inferior to the nonsurgical endodontic therapy. Also failure of pulp therapy due to persistent bacterial infection, leaky restoration has severe painful condition. Treating failed pulp therapy is further more complex and difficult as there is narrowing of pulp chamber due to calcification.5 Hence in this case, endodontic therapy #10 was planned. The primary aim of RCT is to chemomechanical preparation of root canal spaces followed by obturating with material, which is chemically inert and provides hermetic seal. Guttapercha is one of the oldest obturating materials and is considered still as gold standard. However, guttapercha has shown inadequate seal and presence of voids when lateral ... ...build-up material, which is formed after cementation of the post. Composites, being more esthetic material gives favourable outcome. It is well bonded to the tooth through micromechanical retention creating a monobloc effect. However, microleakage, secondary caries factors should be considered. Resin luting cements played a major role in the modern dentistry. High compressive and tensile strength, low dissolution, adhesive mechanism and high esthetic qualities have made the material of choice in luting cements.13,14 All Ceramic crowns has shown increased fracture resistance and improved esthetics. Hence, the material of choice in the current clinical case. How ever the type of material with ceramic has not shown any significant difference. Every treatment plan should be based on the updated clinical evidence at highest level for the long term success of the therapy.

Herbal Weight Loss Products Essay -- Diet Health Nutrition Papers

Herbal Weight Loss Products An analysis of two particularly controversial products Herbal remedies, along with vitamins and various other types of dietary supplements, have long been popular with the customers of health food stores. But now they are part of a boom in alternative remedies and are widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies. In recent months, there has been an incredible surge in the sheer volume of scientific studies that have discussed the effectiveness of such herbal products. Medical scientists consider such findings promising but preliminary; additional research must definitely be explored. However, herbal supplement manufacturers are using such studies to boost the credibility of traditional herbal remedies. There are currently no government regulations to specify the purity, dosage or effectiveness of these products. Many consumers are opting to try them, assuming that the "natural" products with a long history of use will undoubtedly be safe. As herbal remedies continue to gain in popularity, reports by consumers of serious complications are also increasing. In one statistical report it was stated that 500 incidents were reported to the Food and Drug Administration last year alone. Leading the list of dangerous and ineffective ingredients are ephedra (or Ma Huang) and Chromium. Ephedra alone has accounted for more than half of the complaints in the past three years and has been associated with more than three dozen deaths. Thus the validity and the efficacy of these claims will need to be addressed. What are the claims of "Natural" Healing? It is obvious that our bodies are remarkable machines. However, the claim is that natural remedies aid the body's immune system toward tot... ...ances M. "Chromium Picolinate--Still Hot on the Market". Healthy Weight Journal. Jul;8(4), 1994. Dolby, Victoria. "Tip the Scales in Your Favor with Metabolic Weight Loss Nutrients". Better Nutrition. Oct; 58(10), 1996, Okie, Susan. "Looking for Mr. GoodPill; Americans Have Fallen in Love With Herbal Supplements--But Do They Work? Are They Safe?" The Washington Post, Nov. 25, 1997. Reading, S.A. "Chromium Picolinate". Journal of Florida Medical Association. Jan;83(1): 29-31, 1996. Stearns, D.M. "A prediction of chromium (III) accumulation in humans from chromium dietary supplements". FASEB. Dec;9(15):1650-7, 1995 Trent, L.K. "Effects of chromium picolinate on body composition". Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. Dec;35(4):273-80. Walsh, Julie. "The great chromium debate". Bicycling. Oct/Nov; 37(10), 1996.

Finance Foundation

LB5212:03 FINANCIAL FOUNDATIONS FOR MANAGERS Singapore Campuses Study Period 3, 2012 LB5212:03 Financial Foundations for Managers SUBJECT GUIDE 2012 Study Period 3, Singapore Campuses Contents Contents1 1. School Overview0 2. Subject at a Glance0 3. Subject Details0 4. Subject Readings and Resources0 5. Assessment Details0 6. Grading Criteria0 7. Student Assistance0 8. Important Policies & Guidelines0 9. Postgraduate Skills & Qualities0 10. Lecture & Tutorial Schedule0 11. Annexure0 School OverviewThe School of Business is at the forefront of innovation in business and information technology education. With a focus on internationalisation, growth and innovation, the school exploits its unique regional location and expertise in courses that combine discipline-based excellence with practical application. JCU aims to empower responsible managers with practical skills underpinned by cutting edge theory. The school is one of the largest schools at JCU in terms of student numbers and offer s programs at Brisbane, Cairns, Singapore and Townsville.Graduate coursework degrees include the flagship program the Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Professional Accounting (MPA), Master of Economics (ME), and Master of International Tourism and Hospitality Management (MITHM). The school also includes Information Technology, offering a Master of IT (MIT and MIT Extended). Within the coursework masters suite of degrees there are opportunities for joint degree combinations. JCU’s recently ‘refreshed’ MBA is committed to an agenda of responsible management, in which all our activities are consistent with sustainable and ethical business practices.Across the four campuses, there are majors available in Marketing, Human Resource Management, Managerial Accounting, Dispute Resolution and International Tourism. Research degrees are also available at honours, masters, and Doctoral levels. Honours students from JCU have an outstanding record of gaining quality jobs in government and consulting circles and a number of students have won Australian Postgraduate Award scholarships and progressed into doctoral courses. There are a number of different pathways into the postgraduate study areas, with direct entry for those already holding an undergraduate degree.For those who do not have a first degree but have relevant work experience and professional experience, the pathway to postgraduate study starts with a Graduate Certificate, progresses through the Graduate Diploma, and reaches the Masters level and above by following these indirect entry strategies. Our staff are friendly and approachable and our degrees are designed to help you develop skills for application anywhere in the world in the dynamic business environment of the twenty-first century. A number of our staff have been recognised through independent rankings as world leaders in their field.School of Business staff have also recently won national awards for teaching excelle nce, and are committed to helping students achieve their career goals. JCU’s School of Business is committed to working towards achievement of genuine and sustainable reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community, as outlined in the JCU Reconciliation Statement at