MBA Strategic Managment Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MBA Strategic Managment - Coursework Example This coursework discusses a controversial issue of successful corporate alliances and focuses on researching of it's collaborations in modern corporative culture. For the most part, the authors of cited works have successfully argued that corporate alliances, and collaboration, would become a strategic differentiator between those who flourish; and, those who perish, in the global competitive turf. The hypothesis the researcher developed in this coursework are as follows: 'A company’s sustained growth and competitive edge is derived through ‘middle-ground’ strategic alliances, than extreme M&A' and 'Overly tactical approach, rather than building reciprocal trust, between allying partners leads to failed alliances'. After analyzing and researching three other articles, the researcher provided detailed describtion of each one in the coursework and offered to establish the answers found as follows: 'Strategic alliances are not merely a fad. Global competition and shr inking time-to-market for products and services necessitate long term reciprocal partnerships' and 'Strategic alliances should take a long term view in fostering mutual trust, and sharing of resources from a strengths perspective; to move up the value chain, and sustain competitive edge in future'. In conclusion, the researcher of this coursework states that getting to know partner's culture and how it influences, both inside and outside the business environment are most important and crucial for success of corporate alliances.

ABC Co. Marketing Strategy Case Essay Example for Free

ABC Co. Marketing Strategy Case Essay ABC Manufacturing Company is a manufacturer of fine furniture designed to resemble the furniture used in various historical periods. The companys furniture is sold by approximately fifty dealers throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. Dealers are carefully selected by ABC to be sure they maintain the high quality imagine that ABC has established in its 100-year history of making fine furniture. Most dealers sell only ABCs furniture, but a few also sell noncompeting lines of similar quality. Dealers who sell only ABCs furniture are franchised to do business under ABCs trade name and would appear to the public to be branch stores rather than independent business. ABCs factory is a three-story building of heavy timber (mill) construction located in a New England town of 2,500 population. The first floor is used for warehousing and office space, and the two upper floors house the production facilities. The building is 75 years old and has been occupied by ABC since its construction. The local fire department is above average for towns of this size, but its water supply system does not have adequate reserve capacity to maintain pressure for fighting a major fire over a period of several hours. See more:Â  First Poem for You Essay Adjacent to the factory building is a large frame structure used by ABC to store seasoned lumber for its furniture. Lumber is first air dried in the yard adjoining the shed, with the exact drying period depending on the kind of wood involved. The air-dried wood is then kiln dried in ABCs own kiln, after which it is stored in the frame storage building until needed. ABCs power plant is located in a brick building about 50 feet from the main plant. It furnishes heat and steam for all operations. Water for the stream boilers is drawn from a large river adjacent to the power plant. Electricity is purchased from a public utility. Due to the length of the seasoning period, ABC usually has on the premises a supply of lumber adequate for four months of operations. Much of the lumber is purchased within a 200-mile radius of the factory, but substantial amounts are purchased from more distant sections of the United States or from foreign countries. For example, mahogany lumber, which is used in almost half of ABCs products, is imported by ABC from Latin American and Africa. Most of the lumber arrives at ABCs yard by railroad and is shipped FOB point of origin. The imported lumber is shipped by water to the nearest port, approximately 100 miles from ABCs factory, and then by train to the factory. Some locally produced lumber is delivered to ABC by truck, FOB ABCs yard. Workers in ABCs factory use some small power tools, such as saws, planers, lathes, and similar equipment. However, the production process is primarily manual. Highly skilled craftsmen build the companys products, using many of the same techniques that were used two centuries ago. Furniture finishing is done by hand, and most of the stains, varnishes and other finishing materials are compounded by ABCs employees according to the companys proprietary formulas. ABCs labour force is very stable because each craftsman undergoes a lengthy apprenticeship in the plant and because ABC pays wages that are relatively high by the standards of the community. Management considers the high wages to be necessary because of the time and expense required to hire and train a replacement for a craftsman who leaves the firm. Some finished furniture is shipped by railroad, but most of it is shipped by contract carrier trucks. The contract with the trucker does not include any provision relative to liability for damage to goods in transit. Export shipments are transported by truck to the nearest port and by water to the country of destination. All shipments are made FOB purchasers warehouse. All sales, including export sales, are made on open account and only to ABCs established dealers. Export accounts usually are denominated in and payable in the currency of the importers country. Accounts receivable, on the average, are equal to about one-eighth of annual sales. Accounts receivable records are kept on ABCs computer in the office section of the first floor of the factory building. The computer is also used for inventory and production control, payroll management, and other accounting functions. The computer equipment is owned by ABC. The office is cut off from the warehouse section of the first floor by a wood partition. The office and computer room are air conditioned, but the remainder of the building is not. Duplicate computer tapes, updated weekly, are stored in a well-protected vault in another part of the city. A monthly fee is paid for the tape storage. ABC owns several small trucks that are used to move lumber about its own premises and for local pickup and delivery. The trucks are kept in the lumber storage shed when they are not in use. Several lift trucks are used for moving lumber and other heavy items in and around the factory and lumber storage area. A freight elevator moves materials, finished furniture, lift trucks, and other equipment between floors in the factory. Automatic grillwork gates have been installed to prevent workers from falling into the elevator shaft. There is no passenger elevator. Workers use either the freight elevator or the open stairwells when moving between floors. Steel fire escapes have been installed on the exterior of the building to facilitate evacuation of the upper floors in case of fire or other catastrophe. ABC Manufacturing Company is wholly owned by its president, Mr. Carpenter, who is the grandson of the companys founder. Mr. Carpenter is considered wealthy by local standards. However, his fortune consists almost entirely of the stock of ABC Manufacturing Company, and he is dependent on his salary and company dividends for his livelihood. Nearly all of ABCs operating profit has been paid in dividends in recent years. Consequently, the company has only a modest cushion of liquid assets in excess of its operating needs. Profits have been consistent, but they have been relatively low because of the inefficiency of the present factory facilities. Although the dollar amount of ABCs sales has increased steadily because of price increases, the physical volume of sales has remained almost constant over the past several years. The lack of growth has resulted primarily from two factors. First, the present plant cannot accommodate greater production because of space limitations, and there is no available land adjacent to the plant to permit expansion. Second, the long training period required for new employees prevents rapid expansion of production. Mr. Carpenter has considered building a new factory at another location in the same town. However, such a move is not financially feasible unless the present plant can be sold, and no prospective purchasers have been found. A move to any location outside its present hometown would not be practical because of the companys dependence on its well-trained craftsman. The sales manager estimates that both the dealer network and sales could be increased by 30% over the next 5 years if production facilities could be provided. The cost to rebuild the present factory building in its present form would be $2.5 million. However, Mr. Carpenter has indicated that he would not build a new mill-type building to replace the current structure because of the high cost of the thick brick walls and heavy timber interior construction. A new, one-story, noncombustible masonry and steel building of comparable floor area would cost approximately $2 million to build and would be more efficient for ABCs purpose. The actual cash value of the present factory building is estimated to be $1.5 million, and ABC has insured it for that amount against fire and the extended coverage perils. The lumber storage shed, power plant, table and lumber kiln are also insured for their actual cash values. The following table shows the actual cash value and replacement cost for each of the structures. Table 1: ABC Company Building Values ___________________________________________________________________________________ BuildingActual Cash ValueReplacement Cost Factory$1,500,000$2,500,000 Lumber shed 150,000 200,000 Power plant 230,000 300,000 Kiln 270,000 320,000 ___________________________________________________________________________________ ABCs annual premium for fire and extended coverage insurance is $136,000, including the coverage for contends of the buildings and for lumber stored in the yard. There have been no fire or extended coverage losses during the past five years and only minor losses prior to that time. The companys estimated annual workers compensation premium is $165,000. Loss experience has been fairly consistent from year to year. Based on past experience, with adjustments for inflation and current benefit levels, normal losses of $104,000 can be expected. The most frequent claims have been small and have resulted from such minor injuries as splinters in hands, several minor dermatitis cases, and sawdust or metal particles in eyes. The more serious injuries have included back strains and loss of fingers in power saws and other power tools. ABC now has 15 percent debit under workers compensation experience rating plan. (That is, they are paying a rate 15% greater than manual rates). Questions 1. Identify the following loss exposures faced by ABC Manufacturing Company: 1) Direct property loss exposures 2) Indirect property loss exposures 3) Liability exposures 2. Your suggestions in risk management for ABC Company Case 2: Bite-O-Burger Company (Risk Management and Insurance) Description of Operations The Bite-O-Burger Company is a publicly held corporation. It owns and operates 843 fast-food restaurants located in eleven states in the United States. The restaurants feature a limited menu consisting of hamburgers, French fried potatoes, fried chicken, chili, related food items, and nonalcoholic beverages. The restaurants vary in size, but each is located in a free-standing building and surrounded by customer parking areas. All of the buildings were built to Bite-O-Burgers plans and specifications and share enough architectural characteristics to make them easily recognized as units of the chain. All have forced air heat and are air conditioned. At current prices, the average replacement cost of the restaurants is estimated at $125,000 per unit for the building and $100,000 for the equipment. Because of differences in size, the replacement cost, including building and equipment, ranges from $175,000 for the smallest restaurants to $300,000 for the largest. The average actual cash value is $205,000 for building and equipment combined. The restaurants vary in age from a few days to approximately 20 years. All of them are owned by Bite-O-Burger, but the newer ones are subject to substantial mortgages. The home office of the company is located in leased space in a building in the business district of a midwestern city. Bite-O-Burger occupies the upper three floors of the thirty-story building. The companys data processing centre is located on the top floor. All of the computer equipment is leased from the manufacturer. Bite-O-Burger also occupies a leased warehouse near the home office. It is used for storage and distribution of supplies (paper cups, wrapping materials, etc.) and nonperishable food items. Perishable food items are purchased from local suppliers near the restaurants in which they will be used, and they are delivered directly to the restaurants by the suppliers. There is no refrigeration equipment at the warehouse, but each restaurant has a large, walk-in refrigerator. Items from the company warehouse are distributed to the individual restaurants by a fleet of 30 owned tractor-trailer units. The same units also transport goods from the suppliers to the central warehouse when truck-load quantities are purchased. Smaller lots are shipped by common carrier FOB point of shipment. The values of the contents at the warehouse and home office are $15,750,000 and $3,200,000, respectively. Values at both locations are relatively constant throughout the year. Bite-O-Burger advertises extensively in newspapers in the cities in which it has several restaurants. Many of its advertisements feature endorsements of its products by prominent athletes and theatre personalities. Some advertisements feature pictures of local people and their favourable comments on the companys food and service. The company also sponsors softball and bowling teams in some cities as a part of its public relations program. Bite-O-Burgers profit and loss statement and an abbreviated balance sheet for last year are shown in Tables 2-1 and 2-2. The companys operating results for last year were typical of past years, but sales and assets have been growing at a rate of approximately 20% per year. Bite-O-Burgers fire and extended coverage losses for the five years are shown in Table 2-3. The quotations shown in Table 2-4 have been obtained for fire and extended coverage protectionblanket on buildings and contents on an actual cash value basis. Bite-O-Burger is well aware of the fire exposures associated with restaurants. Extensive fire control equipment has been installed in the kitchens of all units, and especially in the range hoods and in the cooking areas.

Frankenstein Essays -- Literary Analysis, Mary Shelley

â€Å"I am alone and miserable: man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me† (Shelley 127). A monster with bad intentions generates a bad reputation in society. However, does a monster whose sole purpose is to achieve and excel treated wrongly because of the way he looks? According to John Bugg’s â€Å"Master of their language: Education and Exile† The creature’s narrative of education unfolds from a personal realization of alterity. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein portrays the creature’s motivation to broaden his education in order to be accepted by society. Despite the creature’s good intentions to broaden his education, his physical appearance disallows him to obtain an education, and therefore the only residual is to seek revenge on his creator. Naturally the creature believes that if he is well educated, people will look beyond his hideous appearance and accept him. Through the inspiration the De Laceys give, â€Å" The creature comes to view the De Laceys as superior beings, who would be the arbiters of [his] future destiny† (Shelley 90). Consequently the creature comes to the realization that the De Laceys are the only people who might be able to broaden his education. Hence he plans on visiting the old blind man because he will not be able to judge the creature by his appearance. In The creature will confront the old man when the rest of the De Laceys are out so he can create a friendship. The creature contemplates his future and he is â€Å"Longing to be accepted into the world he sees and romances through the crack in the De Laceys wall, the creature believes that literacy is the key† (Bugg 661). The creature knows that no one will be able to look past his appearance if he’s not e... ...nsible for what the creature has become. The creature responds,â€Å" You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains-revenge, henceforth dearer than light of food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery† (Shelley 154). Victor has taken everything away from the creature, but the creature will always have the mindset on revenge for Victor. The creature will not rest until Victor feels the same misery he felt. This is the final stage of the creature’s life where he ignores his surroundings and takes matters into his own hand. The creature’s failure to blend in with society creates hatred in the creature’s heart for his creator. The only option for the creature is to seek revenge. This shows that the creature’s determination of destroying his creator was far greater than the creatures determination to fit in. Frankenstein Essays -- Literary Analysis,  Mary Shelley â€Å"I am alone and miserable: man will not associate with me; but one as deformed and horrible as myself would not deny herself to me† (Shelley 127). A monster with bad intentions generates a bad reputation in society. However, does a monster whose sole purpose is to achieve and excel treated wrongly because of the way he looks? According to John Bugg’s â€Å"Master of their language: Education and Exile† The creature’s narrative of education unfolds from a personal realization of alterity. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein portrays the creature’s motivation to broaden his education in order to be accepted by society. Despite the creature’s good intentions to broaden his education, his physical appearance disallows him to obtain an education, and therefore the only residual is to seek revenge on his creator. Naturally the creature believes that if he is well educated, people will look beyond his hideous appearance and accept him. Through the inspiration the De Laceys give, â€Å" The creature comes to view the De Laceys as superior beings, who would be the arbiters of [his] future destiny† (Shelley 90). Consequently the creature comes to the realization that the De Laceys are the only people who might be able to broaden his education. Hence he plans on visiting the old blind man because he will not be able to judge the creature by his appearance. In The creature will confront the old man when the rest of the De Laceys are out so he can create a friendship. The creature contemplates his future and he is â€Å"Longing to be accepted into the world he sees and romances through the crack in the De Laceys wall, the creature believes that literacy is the key† (Bugg 661). The creature knows that no one will be able to look past his appearance if he’s not e... ...nsible for what the creature has become. The creature responds,â€Å" You can blast my other passions, but revenge remains-revenge, henceforth dearer than light of food! I may die, but first you, my tyrant and tormentor, shall curse the sun that gazes on your misery† (Shelley 154). Victor has taken everything away from the creature, but the creature will always have the mindset on revenge for Victor. The creature will not rest until Victor feels the same misery he felt. This is the final stage of the creature’s life where he ignores his surroundings and takes matters into his own hand. The creature’s failure to blend in with society creates hatred in the creature’s heart for his creator. The only option for the creature is to seek revenge. This shows that the creature’s determination of destroying his creator was far greater than the creatures determination to fit in.

Unit 8 Assignment

Ury Salinas Unit 8 Project MT445 Managerial Economics Chapter 19, Question 5 (Economic Fluctuations) Why doesn’t the National Bureau of Economic Research identify the turning points in economic activity until months after they occur? There are often fluctuations within the different phases of the economy which are caused the seasons and other chance occurrences. Oftentimes, these small disturbances are not enough to show economists that there is necessarily a problem because a drop in production might only be temporary.Recessions and economic depressions have to be measured over a long period of time to get an accurate idea of the economic stability of a region or country, and often you have to look back a long period in order to understand the problem. Question 15 (Aggregate demand and supply) Determine whether each of the following would cause a shift of the aggregate demand curve, a shift of the aggregate supply curve, neither, or both. Which curve shifts, and in which dire ction? What happens to aggregate output and the price level in each case? a. The price level changes b.Consumer confidence declines c. The supply of resources increases d. The wage rate increases a. Price level changes affect both aggregated demand and aggregated supply curves. When price drops, it raises the amount of goods that are in demand. The short-run supply curve curves to the right. When price increases, there is a drop in the quantity of goods and services supplied and the short-run aggregate supply curve curves toward the left. b. When consumer confidence declines, there is a decrease in the demand curve. This causes the curve to shift to the left. c.When the supply of resources increases, more products are being produced which supersedes demand for the item. This will cause the curve to shift to the left. d. When wage rate increases, the supply curve shifts upward. Chapter 20, Question 12 (Convergence) Explain the convergence theory. Under what circumstances is convergen ce unlikely to occur? Convergence theory says that developing countries have better or faster economic growth than advanced countries. The thought is that they grow faster because its easier to copy the technology that is already in place, than it is to necessarily develop it on their own.This theory states that convergence is unlikely to occur in the â€Å"poorest third† of the world, partly because of high population growth which reduces the quality of human capital. Question 15 (Growth and the PPF) Use the production possibilities frontier (PPF) to demonstrate economic growth. a. With consumption goods on one axis and capital goods on the other, show how the combination of goods selected this period affects the PPF in the next period. b. Extend this comparison by choosing a different point on this period’s PPF and determining whether that combination leads to more or less growth over the next period. . When the economy produces more consumer goods than capital goods , growth is lower. On the graph, this would be at the point on the axis where Y is very high compared to the X-coordinate. In the next period, this means that consumer goods have less production capacity. b. When more capital goods are produces than consumer goods, the growth is higher. On the graph, this would be where the Y-coordinate would be lower than its corresponding X-coordinate. This means that there will be more spending on capital goods and a greater outward shift for the next period.

Mind soul Essay

1. How are Plato’s and Descartes’ views of the soul/self similar? Both Plato and Descartes believe that the soul/self is best (or only) to think and learn separate from the body and its faculties. According to Plato, â€Å"the soul reasons best without bodily senses. † Plato claims that sight, hearing, pain, and pleasure are a distraction to the soul in its search for reality, and that true knowledge can only be achieved with pure thought alone. â€Å"The body confuses the soul and prevents it from acquiring truth and wisdom whenever it is associated with it. † Descartes very similarly believes that the body and its faculties, namely imagination and again the senses, are â€Å"distinguished from the self as modes from a thing. † According to Descartes, the essence of the self consists entirely on being a thinking thing. The body can perceive pain and pleasure, but nothing beyond that, it is up to the intellect to â€Å"conduct its own inquiry into things external to us. † Thus, much like Plato, Descartes claims that it is this thinking essence, and not the body, and though alone, and not perception, that is the key to true knowledge. 2. How are Hume’s and Nietzsche’s views of the self similar, and how are they different? Both Hume and Nietzsche believe that the self is a summation of one’s actions and perceptions. According to Hume, the self is â€Å"a collection of perceptions in perpetual flux and movement. † There is no simplicity or identity in the self, but only an infinite system of perceptions in an infinite â€Å"variety of postures and situations. † These perceptions are then linked by the relations of cause and effect, which mutually influence, modify, alter, create, and destroy each other. Nietzsche similarly believes that the self is merely a relation of human desires to each other. According to Nietzsche, desires and pleasures or human drives are the â€Å"commander. † This human drive controls everything else, and the strongest drive is a tyrant, even â€Å"reason and conscience bow down. † Both philosophers ultimately agree that there is no pure forms or simplicity of the self, but that it is rather driven by actions and perceptions, as well as desires and pleasures. Hume’s main idea of the self is that there is no self that is stable over time, rather the self is merely a series of transient feelings, sensations, and impressions of oneself at any given moment. That is, there is no unified self that ties all perceptions together. Nietzsche’s main idea of the self is different as it reaches a little into the very motivation for the self and life. Nietzsche argues that the self is composed of drives, but unlike Hume, goes further to say that these drives almost vie with each other to be â€Å"the ultimate purpose of existence and the master of all other drives. † Nietzsche calls this the will to power and illustrates the point accordingly: â€Å"ever living body within which individuals treat each other as equals does to another body what the individuals within refrain from doing to each other. † The will to power is to grow, spread, seize, and become predominant; it not only drives the self but also the reality of the universe. 3. How is Plato’s view of the world’s creation similar to the ordinary religious view, and how is it different? Similar to the â€Å"ordinary religious view† of the creation of the world, Plato believes that the universe was created by a maker or a god, who not only made the world to be as excellent and supreme as nature would allow it, but who also endowed it with soul and intelligence. Plato’s views also coincide with the â€Å"ordinary religious view† when he claims that the universe is physical and changing, that god is good and fair, and that there is order rather than disorder. Plato however differs from the â€Å"ordinary religious view† of the creation of the world when he claims that there is a second type of universe other than the physical: eternal universe, that never changes. According to Plato, god uses this eternal model of the universe and the forms (of beauty, good, etc. ) as a template to create the existing world. â€Å"The universe resembles an ideal living thing of which all other ideal living things are a part of†¦ the ideal living thing comprehends in itself all other intelligible ideal living things. †

How to Do an Environment Project the Right Way

How to Do an Environment Project the Right Way The human environment which consists of every factor that makes up earth’s ecosystem, provides a wide range of subject matters that are discussed in educational circles. Therefore, it should come as no surprise if you find yourself given the responsibility of working on an environmental project during your stay in college. Discussing the earth’s environment in education is an important undertaking that should not be ignored for our impact on the earth’s ecosystem directly affects our present quality of life as well as the quality future generations will inherit. This makes most educative discussions about the environment to be centered on pollution, a greener earth and waste management. So for those saddled with the admirable task of working on an environmental project here are some tips you can use while working on your project. Selecting a Topic - the first step to kick starting your project is definitely selecting a topic that hits close to home. This means understanding the subject matter you are been assigned and choosing a topic you either feel passionate about or knowledgeable enough to work on with little research. Immersing yourself in a project that truly interests you will definitely bring out the best in your writing and organizational skills. Do Your Research - a well-written project is one that integrates the use of facts to back points, showmanship to deliver presentations and structure to organize your facts and presentation in a structured manner. To do this, you definitely need to carry out extensive research on your topic in other to fulfill the other parameters of an excellent project. To better explain research, lets say you chose ‘Efficient Waste Management and its Environmental Effects’ as your project topic, the next step is learning more about this topic and writing down facts on the production of solid, liquid and electronic waste as well as proven methods of managing this waste. Next, you build your project around these facts to prove your point. Captivate Your Audience - once the initial research is done, you must consider your audience’s sensibilities in order to develop a material that takes advantage of their way of thinking. For example, if your project is a presentation on waste management, going the extra mile to include visual representation- such as a 3D animated simulation- which shows the entire life cycle involved with recycling will definitely earn you extra marks. On the other hand, if your project on waste management is basically an essay or research paper which will be marked by your professor, captivating him with interwoven facts and how they tie into your argument will be a better alternative than using a visual representation. Conclude Perfectly - an excellent conclusion either written or spoken can cover a multitude of sins whether real or imagined. Therefore, write an exquisite conclusion which stirs the readers mind into accepting your arguments or convinces your audience to take action concerning the topic been discussed. If talking about waste management, concluding with the need for domestic households to take responsibility by integrating the 3Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle - in their everyday life will capture the imagination of your audience while convincing them on the part they have to play in managing solid waste. Finally, it is important to note that these tips are not solely for waste management projects, but can be applied when talking about pursuing a greener earth, protecting the ecosystem as well as any other environmental topics you are assigned a project on. So do not hesitate to apply them as you where and when you deem fit.

Peter Browns The World of Late Antiquity essays

Peter Browns The World of Late Antiquity essays Peter Browns The World of Late Antiquity The Late Antique period is recognized from AD 150 to 750. For many historians, the central focus of this era revolves around decline and fall; however, this is not the case for Peter Brown, author of 1971s The World of Late Antiquity. Brown saw the Late Antique period as a study of social and cultural changes. Instead of focusing merely on the declines of empires, like many of his contemporaries, Brown goes deeper with his research to describe the Late Antique period as an era in which the most deep rooted of ancient institutions disappeared for all time (p.9). By 476, the Roman Empire had vanished from Western Europe, and by 655, the Persian Empire had disappeared from the Near East. What makes Brown unique in his portrayal of the era is that instead of studying just the cause and effect of the civilizations downfall, he examines the changes that occurred and mens reaction to them. By doing so, Brown is able to show his purpose for writing the book. He believed there were t oo many books concerning just the downfalls of the era, and wanted people to know that the period was also one of outstanding new beginnings. Brown also wanted to show that the Late Antique period defined the far-reaching impact of both Christianity on Europe, and Islam on the Near East. His thesis centers around social and cultural changes and specifically states: I hope that the reader will put it down with some idea of how, and even why, the Late Antique world came to differ from classical civilization, and of how the headlong changes of this period, in turn, determined the varying evolution of western Europe, of eastern Europe and of the Near East (p.7). The World of Late Antiquity is organized into two parts titled the Late Roman Revolution and Divergent Legacies. Part one, the Late Roman Revolution, is divided into two chapters, society and rel...

Stop looking and start writing - Emphasis

Stop looking and start writing Stop looking and start writing Conducting endless research can make you depressed and not just because you miss all your deadlines. According to psychologist Barry Schwartz, we often find it hard to make up our minds when faced with a surplus of possibilities. And this can make us miserable. Its not surprising writers are prone to falling into this trap. If theres one thing the internet offers us, its everything. And the wealth of information online means it can be tricky knowing when to stop looking, and to start writing. Less is more We tend to assume the more options, the better. But in his book The Paradox of Choice, Schwartz points out that our obsession with freedom of choice, fuelled by our consumer culture, has led to the increasing complexity of everyday decisions. For example, think about going online: whether its selecting a salad dressing or material for your report, we are subjected to an overload of promising links, images and information. And even when we pick a path, we are often only too aware of the alternatives we had to forego. No matter the genuine benefits our actual preference may bring us, the imagined superiority of the roads not taken can make us feel like weve missed out. Schwartz illustrates this decision-making paralysis with an anecdote about a company giving its employees the opportunity to invest in voluntary retirement plans. For every ten options on offer, participation dropped by two per cent. So one in 50 people effectively passed up $5,000 a year in contributions from their employers rather than make a choice. The problem was that they were offered too many ways to invest. Time out Adrian Hon, a neuroscientist and founder of online games company Six To Start, believes the only way to regain some control is to artificially limit our choices, by way of a secular Sabbath: a day without technology. Although he had the expected initial pang when disconnecting, he also found it liberating. After all, he says, It wasnt worth worrying about work or chores because there was nothing I could do about them for the next 24 hours. Were not suggesting you corner your boss and announce your own weekly secular Sabbath starting on Monday (although that would be nice). But switching off all your gadgets every now and then could not only give you space and time to finish that report it could also improve your wellbeing.

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

Codeine - Research Paper Example f the ancient tool kit in medicine for its therapeutic effects, and hence euphemistically called as the â€Å"plant of joy.† Codeine has a number of medicinal uses besides as pain reliever, such as antitussive (to suppress coughing), anti-hypertensive (lower blood pressure), anti-anxiety, to help control diarrhea, delay premature labor contractions, as a sedative (helps in relaxation and sleeping), and for its hypnotic properties too. Its availability as an oral medication (as opposed to injectable medication) make it the widest prescription drug, with about 157 million written prescriptions annually and its sales reached approximately $3.3 billion in 2005 alone, and still continues to gain in popularity. However, identification of the chemical composition of codeine as a distinct compound is fairly recent; it was first identified in 1832 by the French chemist Pierre-Jean Robiquet which closely followed the first identification of morphine a few years earlier, back in 1806 by German pharmacist Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Serturner (Kane & Triggle, 2007, p. 10). Codeine is isomer of morphine, which means both have the same molecular components but are structured different hence it is known for its chemical name, 3-methylmorphine. It can be made or manufactured in the laboratory in commercial quantities from morphine, using a semi-synthetic process. Morphine is the most abundant alkaloid (the chemical compounds that contain basic nitrogen atoms) found in opium, at 8 to 17% by weight, and followed by codeine, at .07 to 5%. Codeine is the chemical precursor of most opioids (any compound that acts like morphine) such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and tramadol. It is classified similar to opioids produced by human bodies like the endorphins and enkephalins (ibid. p. 13). Although it has many legitimate uses in medicine, codeine has a potential to be misused and abused as a â€Å"recreational† drug because of a â€Å"high† feeling it generates among drug users; that feeling is

The Chinese Revolution as inspired by Marxist Theory Essay

The Chinese Revolution as inspired by Marxist Theory - Essay Example After this breakdown, an all-out war between these two forces resumed. Ultimately, the People’s Liberation Army was victorious, and on October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong proclaimed the People’s Republic of China. The importance and significance of the Chinese Revolution is integral, and in order to come to a clearer and more knowledgeable understanding on this subject matter, certain political and economic issues must be addressed. As well, the historical factors and lessons learned from this occurrence must be included. The aim of this paper is to discuss all of this, along with other relevant and significant issues in regards to the Chinese Revolution. This is what will be dissertated in the following. The political and economic institutions of Revolutionary China (1949-1976) were very much inspired by Marxist theory on the transition from capitalism to socialism in several different ways. In China, Mao Zedong is remembered for many things. He is revered as the greatest of revolutionaries. However he has also been considered as among the worst politicians. â€Å"He knew well how to make a revolution, but once in power he could not put his love of revolution aside for the sake of governing.† (Compton’s Living Encyclopedia, 1995). Mao Zedong was born in Shaoshan, Hunan Province on December 26, 1893. During the Revolution of 1911-12 Mao served in the army for six months. Afterwards, he graduated from the First Provincial Normal School in Changsha in 1918. He was then sent to Peking University where he became embroiled in the Revolutionary May Fourth Movement. It was in 1921 when Mao helped found the Chinese Communist party, and it was only two years after this that he l eft work to become a full-time revolutionary. At the time of its founding in 1921, the Chinese Communist party was focused on organizing such things as

Critical Review of The literature. Honey dressing versus paraffin Essay

Critical Review of The literature. Honey dressing versus paraffin tulle gras following toenail surgery - Essay Example Honey has been a well known alternative medicine all around the globe. Ever since the beginning of early informal medicine, Honey has already been recognized in connection with its healing capabilities and the fact that it has certain characteristics which provides a certain level of ease especially when it comes to healing wounds. The elements making up honey have been found to be one of the strongest substances that could easily heal wounds and rather tone down the effects of infection or possible problems that may occur during the recovery period. On the other hand, a paraffin tulle gras dressing is known for its capability to stop bleeding and aid in the process of helping blood coagulate to protect an open wound. Having a soothing feel due to the existence of air holes that allow air to pass through the dressing and become a natural aid of healing, this dressing had been repeatedly recognized in medicine as the most effective tool for wound recovery procedures. In a concise presentation, it could be said that this introduction was comprehensive enough to provide a good sense of what the research is going to be about and how it is actually about to take the proper picture of what the study is all about. This introduction suffices the need of the primary information that the readers require of. As mentioned by Farina, â€Å"a concise discussion of the different elements makes a research more effective than that of the introduction of the different factors considered in the study through the use of a lengthy description of the entire research† (33). In the study being analyzed herein, the comparison between paraffin tulle grass and that of the honey dressing shall be seen. Through identifying the different elemental factors used by the researchers of the study and seeing how much they have fared in the process of examining the matter concerned. This critical analysis is expected to provide a better sense of what the study is all about and how it

Portable X-ray fluorescence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Portable X-ray fluorescence - Research Paper Example ng solutions in the presence of several additive ions by portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) revealing an optimum potassium gold cyanide concentration of 2 - 3 g/L for maximum cathode efficiency. Further, there is exploration of utility of XRF to determine the thickness of gold plated on copper substrates up to 6 microns. For the second experiment, the objectives were to determine the detection limits, accuracy, repeatability and efficiency of a X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Niton XRF analyzer) in comparison with the traditional analytical methods, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Further, the experiment also involved applying inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-MS) in screening of major and trace elements of environmental samples including estuary soils and sediments, contaminated soils, and biological samples. For the third experiment the major objective was to compare lead concentrations in surface peat samples from the South Pennines (UK) derived using (a) X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is a core aspect in analysis especially in the field of science and industry application. The concept of XRF lies on the principle that individual atoms, wherever excited as a result of contact with an external energy source, ends up emitting X-ray photons characterized by a a wavelength or energy. In which case, on this basis one can define the identity and quantification of an element present therein by simply counting the number of photons contained in energy from the given sample. Henry Moseley coined the technique, after being led by a discovery of X-ray tube that he applied in bombarding samples containing high energy electrons. Intuitively, Henry ended up with a mathematical relationship that could related the atomic number to the element’s emitted X-ray frequency. The years were followed by eventual development of the instrument leading to a modern XRF instrument that is reliable for analysis

Hamlet (A Critical Analysis) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Hamlet (A Critical Analysis) - Essay Example Hamlet never intended to kill Claudius before his father’s ghost appeared and urged him to do so. In fact, it was his internal battle (introspection) that didn’t let him succeed in deciding what he wanted to. There are different theories about Hamlet’s delay in taking revenge. It is believed that he was afraid of being what he was accusing Claudius for; the murderer. Because murdering Claudius would not have made him better than him. In five brother’s story he experienced the darker side of revenge. He wanted to be quick in taking action but was cautious enough to identify emotion and illogical thought attached to it (Westlund 244-256). The story of five sons of a murdered man is narrated within Hamlet. All of sons have their own interpretation and way of taking revenge. Among all of them, Hamlet’s understanding and way of taking revenge is portrayed to be the most balanced one. Neither he acts promptly nor stays completely inactive, rather waits for the right time to act (Rasmussen 463). Hamlet is being criticized for delaying revenge due to his procrastinating nature or belief not to murder a disarmed man as Hamlet rationalize his decision in speech. Another reason for the delay can be the fear of destroying a man (Claudius) who was experiencing a spiritual awakening. It may be true because, according to McCullen the idea of revenge in Elizabethan era required spiritual and physical destruction for absolute revenge (24-25). Thus, Hamlet quit the idea of killing Claudius while he was praying. Hamlet wants to wait for the right time. It does not reflect his being inactive or a procrastinator because strangely, he was active enough to murder Polonius and two spies, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Besides being two of the most crucial characters, Shakespeare keeps readers unaware of Ophelia and Gertrude’s feelings and inner

Portable X-ray fluorescence Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Portable X-ray fluorescence - Research Paper Example ng solutions in the presence of several additive ions by portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) revealing an optimum potassium gold cyanide concentration of 2 - 3 g/L for maximum cathode efficiency. Further, there is exploration of utility of XRF to determine the thickness of gold plated on copper substrates up to 6 microns. For the second experiment, the objectives were to determine the detection limits, accuracy, repeatability and efficiency of a X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (Niton XRF analyzer) in comparison with the traditional analytical methods, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). Further, the experiment also involved applying inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-MS) in screening of major and trace elements of environmental samples including estuary soils and sediments, contaminated soils, and biological samples. For the third experiment the major objective was to compare lead concentrations in surface peat samples from the South Pennines (UK) derived using (a) X-ray fluorescence spectrometry is a core aspect in analysis especially in the field of science and industry application. The concept of XRF lies on the principle that individual atoms, wherever excited as a result of contact with an external energy source, ends up emitting X-ray photons characterized by a a wavelength or energy. In which case, on this basis one can define the identity and quantification of an element present therein by simply counting the number of photons contained in energy from the given sample. Henry Moseley coined the technique, after being led by a discovery of X-ray tube that he applied in bombarding samples containing high energy electrons. Intuitively, Henry ended up with a mathematical relationship that could related the atomic number to the element’s emitted X-ray frequency. The years were followed by eventual development of the instrument leading to a modern XRF instrument that is reliable for analysis

The harmful value of value meals Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The harmful value of value meals - Essay Example For instance, Yum! Brands Inc., has established 38,000 restaurants globally; and McDonalds has set-up a total of 33,000 chains from all over the continent. Hence, it is no surprise why fast food is already served at restaurants, drive-through, schools and universities, bus stations, airports, and even at hospitals. People’s fast food preference may be due to the fact that it is served quicker; thus, allowing them to maximize their time and become more efficient in their daily tasks. Likewise, others opt to buy fast food for their meal because it is delicious and very affordable. However, little did they know that as they consume more and more fast food each day, they are putting themselves in high danger of acquiring various fatal diseases. Obesity Obesity (i.e. a body mass index of greater than or equal to 30) is one of the detrimental effects of too much fast food consumption. According to Brindal et al., fast food contains highly dense and high level of fats and calories pe r serving high (113). Thus, over-consumption of fast food makes people more susceptible to gaining weight, which usually exceeds the normal status. According to the World Health Organization (â€Å"Obesity and Overweight†), since the year 1980, the total number of global-wide obesity has doubled; and just recently, the total number of people who are obese has reached more than 500 million. Obesity makes people’s life more difficult and hassle because people with a very heavy weight cannot move freely, which makes less mobile. As an effect, they may develop other complications like being bow-legged (especially for obese children), sleep disturbances like sleep apnea, asthma, arthritis, and poor surgical and childbirth outcomes (for mothers) Clarke (â€Å"Health Risks†). The worst is, WHO (â€Å"Obesity and Overweight†) made it clear that obesity is more deadly than being underweight. Aside from the physical danger brought by obesity to people, it may also put them in a state of emotional crisis. Obesity may lead to depression because of the hormonal imbalance that happens inside the body as more fats are consumed (Bessesen, Hill and Wyatt). Aside from that, being obese, unfortunately, increases their chances of being the subject of negative judgment, severe bullying, and social discrimination. Considering the societal norm of beauty and ideal body structure, being obese does not qualify to the established standards. Thus, obese individuals need to handle those emotional and social challenges in which only few may endure. Some may resort to suicide because for them, it is better to end their lives than to continuously experience the trauma of being rejected. Apparently, this is how far fast food eating can throw people. By merely wanting to experience the comfort fast food offers, they need to carry the physical and emotional burden it brings. However, this is just one of the reasons why it is practical to abolish the practice of eati ng fast food. Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is another health problem that may arise as a result of fast food eating. Fast foods such as soft drinks or soda, French fries, shakes, sandwiches, burger, pizza pies, etc. are rich in carbohydrates (Clarke â€Å"Why is Fast Food†). Too much carbohydrate intake increases the level of the blood component triglyceride, which results to either, failure of the pancreas to produce enough amount of insulin or body system’s improper insulin use (Clarke â€Å"Why is Fast Food†). This scenario exposes individuals to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, for sugar in their body will build up in the bloodstream instead of being utilized for energy. For instance, in the

Property And Asset Division Essay Example for Free

Property And Asset Division Essay ABSTRACT This paper intends to set a simple structure in order to investigate the role of property and asset rights in the case of a legal separation. This paper also lays stress upon the role that the laws of alimony and property division can play in formulating the divorce decisions and allocations of assets even in the case of a existing marriage. INTRODUCTION it is commonly believed that certain changes within the Divorce Laws and regulations have led to the increasing number of divorces occurring today, especially when the Law allows one partner to unilaterally ask for a matrimonial dissolution lacking the approval of the other partner. People also felt that a continued liberalization of the Divorce laws would further increase the divorce rate. However, this is not true. The laws on property division, both within a marriage and after divorce also play a very important part in the filing of a divorce. Moreover, the continuously simplifying procedures and easily available legal aid is also the factor behind the increasing number of divorce incidents. This paper throws light upon the general property rights that are involved within a legal separation.   The Divorce Laws presents some rights with regards to the dissolution of a marriage, and these are related to the property rights of both the partners. At times, such rights can me traded or at times can also be included within the dissolution agreement. For instance, a Law that allows one partner to take a divorce, is very different from the one the Law that needs the consent of both the partners. If the husband wishes to separate his ways, and if his profit from the divorce is more, then according to a Mutual Consent, both the partners agree to divorce and the husband has to pay the compensation to his wife. In this case, it is said that the wife has sold her marriage rights. Whereas, in the case of a one sided law, if the gain of the husband is small than the loss of the wife, then the wife needs to compensate the husband for not asking for a separation. In this case, it is said that the husband has sold his marriage rights. The conclusion of this discussion is that the split-up does not depends on the law, but on the comparative size of the gains and losses of divorce. This argument given above allows for the evolvements of property rights in a divorce. Thus property and assets once mutually held by both the couple, become a type of compensation which can be paid. The property laws assume that in the absence of any type of compensation that has been mutually formed, or any agreed transfer, there is a well laid out criterion for the allocation of property and resources held jointly. After the divorce has been granted by the court, it depends upon the couple to divide the property. This can be done even of one partner seeks the division of the marital property. The couples are free to settle the property issues outside court if they wish to do so. To remember some important facts about Property Division law regarding a divorce, are that there are some kinds of properties that cannot be divided by the court. The properties that come under this ruling are inherited properties, gifts, business and professional licenses and property inherited by the partners before marriage is not subjected to a division. Also, it should be noted that there are certain matters that are upheld by the Property Division law that decide the division of property between the two parties. Monetary issues, contributions by each partner to the household, tax penalty in case of an imbalanced partition; labors of a partner to safeguard and augment the value of the joint property; efforts by a spouse to waste assets; the physical conditions and health of each partner, and the economic situation of each partner are some of the major issues that drive the format of the Property division in the case of a divorce.   The next section discusses the Property Rights and Family law. PROPERTY RIGHTS AND FAMILY LAW Marital or commonly referred to as community property is defined by different rules by different states, but overall, it includes the assets and property that were acquired jointly by the couple at the time of marriage and during the marriage. The wages that are earned by each of the couple, home, furniture, cars and other household items that are purchased during this period are marital property. Neither of the partner has the right to keep these things entirely without the consent of the other partner. If the property is in the name of one spouse, then it is also not necessary that it is not a marital property.   Similarly, a pension is also regarded as a marital property, even though it is gained in the name of only one spouse from his working place. In some cases, pensions may be regarded as non marital, seeing to the financial and health conditions of the spouse earning it. The money that was earned mutually is regarded as marital property while the money earned before marriage is non-marital. Division of Marital Property In some states, there are very simple rules regarding division of marital property. According to some marital laws, it is believed that marriages are a joint undertaking and that the marital property should be equally divided between the two spouses and it is assumed that both the spouses are an equal contributor to the acquirement and conservation of property. However, the court understands that the contributions may be of different nature, but in any case, they may be treated equally. The spouse who earns money will not receive more of property than the homemaker, unless the husband and wife had a premarital agreement stating otherwise. In some other countries and states, it is not a fifty-fifty situation. The Law considers a number of factors and gives each factor a weight age according to the situation. However, this gives more flexibility to the process of property and assets division. Any property or a physical asset may belong to both the partners or only one. In case, when the couple has a disagreement on a particular asset and how should it be used, then in this case, the current state law of martial issues hold the authority to decide the matter. These laws relating to division of marital property differs from one country to other, and keeps changing with time. There are examples of these property laws showing dramatic changes in the character of property rights within marriage over the course of a time period; where from having almost complete power over family unit property, a husband can now be disqualified from his own house. Comparable transformations have occurred in English law, leading to the Married Womens Property Act of 1870. Here are some factors stated in the Law for equitable distribution of assets and property. Here are some examples of factors that are considered by states applying principles of equitable distribution of property: Non-marital Property- if in case, one spouse inherits more non-marital property, then the other spouse can be in favor of getting a larger portion of the marital property upon division. As the Law, states, â€Å"courts are not obliged to give equal amounts of property to each spouse, but if the parties have sufficient assets to leave each party in a comfortable situation after the divorce, courts usually will try to do so.† Earning Power- The spouse with less earning power will be given more benefit during the property and other asset division by the court. Courts states that, â€Å" the party with greater earning power can regain money lost in a divorce more easily than the party with less earning power†. Who Earned the Property- in these cases, the benefit is gained by the spouse who worked hard to earn the property. For example, the family business which was run by the husband goes to him, only of the family property and the business is of almost same value. The home in this case goes to the wife. Services as a Homemaker- The court recognizes that ding the household chores are also work and in addition it gives freedom to the other spouse to go out and earn for the family. Law gives attention to the fact if a homemaker had impaired his or her professional career in order take care of the house hold. If the spouse can show that he or she had missed the opportunity of earning, then the court favors to giving more of the property to the home maker spouse. Waste and Dissipation- the court also analyzes the fact if any spouse has wasted money during the marriage and this can go against him or her during the property division time. . This issue us also called as economic fault, rarely considered by courts. According to the court, â€Å"Waste or dissipation could include gambling losses, significant sums of money given to family members (particularly over the protest of the other spouse), and money spent on pursuing romantic relationships outside the marriage.† Also added are the business losses which are considered as waste or dissipation, however at times they might be considered as normal business risks and the spouse is normally not penalized. Faults- Law also considers any type of spousal abuse or marital infidelity, when considering the case of marital property division. Most of the state courts however do not give much stress to this issue during property division. In the past, majority of the divorce cases were based upon faults by either of the partners, and the divorcà © was settled upon this fault by the spouse and highly affected the property division. However , today, courts decide the property division cases primarily on the economic factors when separating property and pay less concentration to who-did-what-to-whom. Duration of Marriage- in this case, if the marriages are long, then the court favors the spouse with less wealth or earning power. The longer the marriage, the more likely a court is to view the husband and wife as equal partners. Age and fitness of Parties- if one of the person is suffering from bad health or is much older than the other spouse, then he or she is in favor of getting a larger award. According to the court,† When the factor is mentioned by a court, it most often is in connection with an older wife whose ability to earn money is diminished by her age and health. The factor can apply to men too, particularly if the man is of an age at which it is not reasonable to assume that he can go out and re-earn a substantial amount of assets if his wife were given a majority of the marital assets. In such a case, an equal division of assets would be more likely†. Tax penalty- The tax consequences in the event of a marital property division is considered by the court. Suppose for example, if the house or the stocks acquired are being sold as a part of the property division, the person who ends up paying more tax as payment of capital gains tax, the Law will consider this and will try to favor the party during the division. On the contrary if the property settlements leads to some kind of tax benefit, the party which acquires a majority of the profits may be in a stringer position to receive a less part of the property. Premarital Agreements. A printed premarital agreement, can be a winning card in dividing the marital property between the partners. By ingoing into a premarital accord, the wife and husband have decided to surrender their rights to have a court consider the customary group of factors in dividing property. As a substitute, the parties through their contract have determined in advance how their property should be divided in the event of a divorce. Custody of Children – this issue might fall under a very narrow spectrum of property rights if viewed closely, since the assets and property has to be later devoted for the cause of children, therefore, responsibility of children and their custody is also a part of this issue. As an example, in England, before the Child Custody Act of 1839 a wife, even if divorced and separated from her husband, was offered no custody or visiting rights to her children and other family members. Ever since, the laws have changed significantly. Effect of bankruptcy – the settlements of marital assets and property might be dischargeable in liquidation or bankruptcy, or in case, it might not be dischargeable, depending on the essentials of the divorce case. A discharge in bankruptcy means, â€Å"all of a debt or a portion of a debt no longer has to be paid because a federal court has declared the debtor to be bankrupt†. Before 1994, many former spouses found themselves out of luck after the divorce when seeking to collect what was due, because their former spouses declared themselves bankrupt after divorce. For example, a couple, may have agreed to a divorce based on a promise from the husband that three years after the divorce, he would pay the wife some mutually agreed amount of money as part of the property settlement. If the husband declared bankruptcy after the divorce was finalized, the wife might never be able to get the said money. This arrangement, particularly in cases in which the debtor is technically bankrupt (owing more money than the debtor has assets) was seen as a potential unfairness by the Congress, as the debtor has the capacity to pay the debts to the ex-spouse. The law was then modified, the new law, which took effect in 1994, started allowing the bankruptcy court to weigh the situation between the parties. If there are reasons to believe that the so called bankrupt debtor has enough means, property and income to pay the debt to the ex-spouse, in addition to his or her dependents’ basic support then the debtor is bound to pay the debt to ex-spouse. If it is found or proved that the debtor truly does not have enough money for the basic support of the debtor and his or her dependents, then all or a part of the debt may be discharged in bankruptcy. Although in appropriate circumstances, a bankruptcy court has the power to discharge, partially or fully, a debt owed in a property settlement, the court cannot discharge past-due payments for alimony or child support. For reducing future alimony and child support, a debtors bankruptcy may be a ground, but it certainly does not qualify for discharging part or full past-due alimony and child support. CONCLUSION The marital community may end in several ways- annulment, death of spouse, divorce, separate maintenance and separate living agreement. In all these cases, however, the above mentioned laws are useful for resolving the property division issues. REFERENCES 1. Becker, Gary (1991) A Treatise on the Family , Cambridge, Harvard University Press. Becker, Gary, Landes, Elizabeth, and Michael, Robert (1977), An Economic Analysis of Ma rital Instability, Journal of Political Economy, 85(6), 1141-1187. Clark, S. (1998). Law, Property, and Marital Dissolution. University of Edinburgh, Department of Economics, Discussion Paper. Clark, S. (1999). Law, Property, And Marital Dissolution. Economic Journal ,, forthcoming. Coase, R.H. (1960). The Problem of Social Cost, Journal of Law and Economics, (3) , 1-44 Friedberg, Laura (1998). Did Unilateral Divorce Raise Divorce Rates? Evidence from Panel Data, American Economic Review, 88(3), 608- 627. Gibson, Colin S (1994) Dissolving Wedlock , London, Routledge. Rowthorn, R.E. (1998). Marriage and Trust: Some Lessons from Economics, Cambridge Journal of Economics, forthcoming. Smith, Ian (1997) Explaining the Growth of Divorce in Great Britain, Scottish Journal of Political Economy , 44(5), 519-544. Thomson J.M. (1986) Family Law in Scotland, 2nd ed, Edinburgh, Butterworths. Brinig, Margaret and Allen, D ouglas. (2000). These Boots Are Made for Walking: Why Most Divorce Filers Are Women. American Law and Economics Review , 2, 126-69. 9. Chiappori, Pierre-Andre, Bernard Fortin and Guy Lacroix (2002) Marriage Market, Divorce Legislation and Household Labor Supply, Journal of Political Economy.

Vietnam Airlines: An overview

Vietnam Airlines: An overview INTRODUCTION Vietnam Airlines is the flag carrier of Vietnam, the country with population of 85 million and 330 000 square meter. It was established in January 1956 by the Government and marked the birth of aviation industry in Vietnam, and served only domestic flights (Vietnam Airline, 2008). After the end of Vietnam War, from 1976, Vietnam Airlines started international flights, including South East Asian countries and China. Another turning point of Vietnam Airlines is year 1993 when this airline became the national flag Airlines of Vietnam. Nowadays, Vietnam Airlines connects 19 cities throughout the country and 42 international destinations (including code-sharing services) in Asia, Europe, US and Australia,. Mission: As a flag carrier, Vietnam Airline wants to be the bridge between Vietnam and other countries in the world and â€Å"bring Vietnam cultural to the world† (Vietnam Airline, 2008). The International Air Transport Association (as cited by Chan (2000)) predicts air travel in Asian Pacific will account for 40 % in 2010. The potential of this airline market increases due to the fact that the attractive of tourism, the emerging economies and the increase number of middle-class. Unlike in Western country, surface transportation, such as railways, highways in Asia is not good and therefore, it can create opportunities for airline transportation as the only and the faster way. Like other countries in Asia, the potential of Vietnam market is high and untapped. In 2007, 4.2 million foreign visitors travelled to Vietnam, 16 per cent more than in 2006 (Sydney Morning Herald, 2008). And according to Sydney Morning Herald (2008), Vietnam is ranked as number 4 by The World Travel and Tourism Council on its list of the worlds fastest growing travel destinations. Vietnams domestic market is also highly potential due to the fact that surface transportation infrastructure is not competitive. It takes more than 30 hours to travel by train, from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, much higher than nearly 2 hours of normal flight. Other alternative is coaches which also take time and inconvenient. Although average income per capita of Vietnamese is only 835 US Dollars (in 2007) (General Statistics Office of Vietnam, 2008), lower than other neighbour countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore; the income increases gradually in the last few years increase 7% per annum, shows the tourism potential of this airline in Vietnam market. Moreover, due to high population density and business opportunities in two largest economic hubs of Vietnam: Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, travel demand for business purpose is very high. However, aviation service quality in Vietnam is far behind the international standard. It is very easy to find tons of articles of customers complaints about all three domestic airlines in Vietnam: Vietnam Airlines, Indochina Airlines, Jetstar Pacific. Even in Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier and full service airline, service delivery is mainly product-oriented which has set the mind of management board to be far apart from customer-oriented. Customer dissatisfaction varies from booking services, poor catering, the temper of air crew to luggage delivery services. Broad aim of the research: Use SERVQUAL model to assess customer satisfaction and service quality of Vietnam Airlines. Research questions: How can the customer satisfaction with Vietnam Airlines be described? How satisfied of Vietnam Airlines customer with its services? How can Vietnam Airlines managers improve the service satisfaction among Vietnam Airlines customers? The main purpose of this study is to investigate customer satisfaction in airline industry. In the chosen airline, Vietnam Airlines, the author aims to explore what customer satisfaction is in the perceptions of the airline passengers and find the solutions to improve customer satisfaction. By analyzing questionnaires and interview of customers, customer satisfaction degree will be examined and after that, new strategies and recommendations will be given for Vietnam Airlines to enhance service quality. This study aims to help Vietnam Airlines management to better diagnose the customers needs and expectations. It will also play a role in identifying the present situation of this flag carrier and suggest future strategies for better customers service. Conceptual framework: To investigate the service quality and customer satisfaction of Vietnam Airlines, I will use the SERVQUAL model (Parasuraman et al, 1985, as cited by Chau and Kao (2009)) which the de LITERATURE REVIEW The importance of customer satisfaction: Thank to good services and customer satisfaction is met, behavioral acts of customer can affect the profitability and market share of a firm through three main behavior: word-of-mouth, repurchase intention and positive feedback. The first customer behavior is â€Å"word of mouth†, defined by Saha and Theinge (2009) as a flow of information about products and services that passes from one customer to other and can be used as trustable source of information to evaluate recommendations (mouth to mouth marketing). In all case, customer satisfaction does not always create mouth-to-mouth marketing but it is a necessity that satisfaction is met for positive word-of-mouth. Research conducted by Babin (2005) shows that not only pleased customers generate world-of-mouth but also extremely dissatisfied customers causes negative feedback and controlling two flows of information is necessary for marketers. Secondly, good services also lead to repurchase intention or customer loyalty. It is very necessary to gain loyalty because it is cheaper to keep old customers than lure new ones from other service providers. Airline carriers often use â€Å"frequent flyer scheme† but it is not often applied for budget airlines due to the high cost. Only by services and affordable price, low cost carriers can maintain the number of customers. Another behavior of customers as mentioned above, customer behavior, refers to transmission of complaints and compliments to service suppliers. Soderlund (1998) shows that dissatisfied customers tends to generate negative feedback than positive one from satisfied customers. The number of feedback cannot be the most precise method for customer analysis but it is useful to forecast consumer trends and improve services. Customer satisfaction in airline industry: Tai and Chan (2002) define service satisfaction as the post purchase evaluation of consumption experience. Unlike material products or pure services, airline service- like other hospitality services is combination of tangible products and quality of service offered to passengers. For example, satisfaction with hospitality service- such as a restaurant meal is amalgamation of the food or drink (material product), the behavior of waiters or waitresses, and the environment of the restaurant (decoration, lighting). In aviation industry, the core products are only physically transport customers and their luggage between two destinations. Other services in a flight, such as making enquiry and booking, seat allocation, in-flight services and baggage handling are only secondary tasks but they can create dissatisfaction if it is performed badly. Service quality and customer satisfaction becomes vital in the sustainability of aviation industry, basing on following criteria: financial data, fares, passenger load factors, service related issues (Sultan and Simpson, 2000). Sultan and Simpson (2000) suggest marketing strategies for airline industry focus on customer satisfaction, rather than company profit. Airline service can also be rated in terms of five dimensions: overall performance, comfort, service, food and website (Rhoades, 2006). On the other hand, Rhoades and Waguespack (2005) points out the operational measures of airline service qualities: the number of flight delays, mishandled baggage, overbooks flights and consumer complaints. Only a few airlines (including Singapore Airlines, British Airways and American Airlines) can establish the reputation of high service quality (Chan, 2000). These airlines are successful in positioning themselves, not by offering the cheapest prices but delivering excellent service quality. Providing consistent service quality is a challenge for all companies in service sector, including airline industry. In these days, to keep the high level of quality standard, mega carriers and small airlines are cooperating rather than competing with others by sub-contracting, code sharing and global marketing network. (Nejati et al, 2008). The formation of these alliances increases the benefit of economies of scale by enhancing flight availability and yield from customers. However, to work in effective way, two airlines must offer similar service level and position themselves in the same way in the market. Customer satisfaction Measurement SERVQUAL -the gap model which is firstly proposed by Parasuraman (1985) (as cited by Nejati, 2008) is a widely used model and has been applied for plenty of service industries: public services (Bryland (2001) and Wisniewski (2001)), police services (Donnelly et al, 2006), heath care (Kilbourne, 2004), mobile communication (Lai et al, 2007), etc. SERVQUAL is based on the assumption that the service quality is measured by the gap between the customers needs and wants of service and the actual service quality that customers receive from service provider (Donnelly, 2006). If the service is over customers expectation, it is assessed as excellent service; otherwise, the service becomes unacceptable. It is a useful method because service quality is assessed from customers perspectives, and by comparing and contrasting the difference between the each customers groups and the differences between the company and its competitors, managers know where they are in the market, how to position the s ervice and which group will be the target customers. Zeithaml (1990) (As cited by Donnelly et al, 2006) identifies five dimensions of service quality management: -Tangibles: the existence of modern equipment and facilities, professional employees, and communication materials. Reliability: performing the service as promised, carrying out the service right at the first time and managing to solve customer services problems. Responsiveness: willingness to help customers, provide prompt service and readiness to customers request. Assurance. The knowledge and courtesy of employees and their ability to convey trust and confidence. Empathy: understanding customers need and wants and giving customers individual attention, convenient business hours. Among the five gaps of SERVQUAL, this research concentrates on Gap 5- the difference between customers expectation and perception. The reason for this limitation of the research due to the fact that it is the only gap that can be investigated solely by the data provided by customers while other gaps need information from management board and the company itself. BIBILIOGRAPHY: Boddy, D. (2008), Management: An introduction, 4th edn, Pearson Education Limited: Essex. Bryman, A. and Bell, E. (2007), Business research methods, 2nd edn, Oxford University Express: New York. Collis, J. and Hussey, R. (2009), Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and post graduate students, 3rd edn, Palgrave Macmillan: Hampshire. Chan, D. (2000), â€Å"Air wars in Asia: competitive and collaborative strategies and tactics in action†, Journal of Management Development, 19 (6), pp 473-488, EMERALD. [Online]. Available http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewPDF.jsp?contentType=ArticleFilename=html/Output/Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Pdf/0260190602.pdf (Accessed May 25th 2009). Doganis. R. (2001), The airline business in the 21st century, Rouledge: London. Fisher, C. (2004), Researching and writing a dissertation for business students, Pearson Education Limited: Essex. Horn, R. (2009), Researching and writing dissertations: A complete guide for business and management students, Chartered institute of personnel and development: London. Knowles, R., Shaw, J. and Docherty, I. (2008), Transport Geographies: Mobilities, Flows and Spaces, Blackwell Publishing Ltd: HongKong. Hanlon, P. (2007), Global airlines: competition in a transnational industry, 3rd edn, Butterworth-Heinemann: Oxford. Liu, A.H.(2006) ‘Customer value and switching costs in business services: developing exit barriers through strategic value management , Journal of Business Industrial marketing,21(1), pp.30-37 EMERALD [Online].Available at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewPDF.jsp?contentType=ArticleFilename=html/Output/Published/EmeraldFullTextArticle/Pdf/0800210104.pdf (Accessed: 14 May 2009)Mowen, J. (1995), Consumer Behavior, Prentice Hall: New Jersey.Saha and Theingi (2009), â€Å"Service quality, satisfaction and behaviour intentions: A study of low cost airlines carriers in Thailand†, â€Å"Managing Service quality, 19(3), pp 350-372, EMERALD. [Online]. Available at http://www.emeraldinsight.com/Insight/viewContentItem.do;jsessionid=962B9598F85C1E4B396446804F931677?contentType=ArticlehdAction=lnkhtmlcontentId=1789597history=false (Accessed May 25th 2009). Solomon, M. (2007), Consumer Behaviour: Buying, having and being, 7th edn, Pearson Prentice Hall: New Jersey. Vogel, V., Evanschitzky, H. Ramaseshan, B. (2008), â€Å"Customer equity drivers and future sales, Journal of Marketing, Vol 72 (Nov 2008), pp 98-108, [Online], Available at http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdf?vid=2hid=6sid=7ab9124a-a6ce-45e3-8f37-f753a51e48ee%40SRCSM2#db=buhAN=34664503 (Accessed May 4th 2009) General Statistics Office of Vietnam (2009), Statistical Handbook of Vietnam 2008 -National Account, [Online] Available at http://www.gso.gov.vn/default_en.aspx?tabid=515idmid=5ItemID=8445 Accessed Jun 16th, 2009. . Mitton, R. (2007), Vietnam: Surge in flights to trendy destination, The Straits Times, [online], Available at http://www.asiaone.com/Travel/News/Story/A1Story20071203-39379.html (Accessed July 3rd, 2009). http://www.itpc.gov.vn/importers/news/2009/05/2009-05-14.683111/MISNews_view?b_start:int=40set_language=en Sydney Morning Harald (2008), Jetstar targets Vietnam tourists boom, [Online], Available at http://www.smh.com.au/news/news/jetstar-targets-vietnams-tourist-boom/2008/05/26/1211653891044.html (Accessed May 25th, 2009). Vietnam Airlines (2008), Our Background, Available at http://www.vietnamairlines.com/wps/portal/en/site/about_us/our_background (Accessed June 18th 2009).

Free Essays - Superstitutions in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays

Superstitutions in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Jim and Huck use and believe in many superstitions.   There are many examples from the book, that show this in the characters.   Most of the superstitions are very ridiculous, but some actually make a little sense.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Huck seen a spider was crawling on his shoulder and he flipped it off and it landed in a lit candle.   It shriveled up and died.   Huck said it would fetch him some awful bad luck.   He got up and turned around three times and crossed his breast every time.   Then he tied up a little lock of his hair with a thread to keep witches away.   He says that the ritual he did was for losing a found horseshoe and did not know if it would work. These superstitions and remedies seem pretty far fetched and it is hard to say where they originated, but I would have to say they originated down South.   I think it originated down south because I am from up North and I have never heard any one speak of those superstitions.   Huck believes in these probably because he grew up with them and they were always taught to him and he is so ignorant he does not know better.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One morning Huck turned over the salt-cellar at breakfast.   He went to throw the salt- cellar over his left shoulder to cancel the bad luck, but Miss Watson stopped him.   All day he wondered when something would fall on him and what it would be.   This all implies that Huck thinks something is going to fall on him, because of his accident.   I have heard about bad luck from spilling salt so I think this Superstition started in the North or maybe it was just popular and spread quickly.   I do not believe there is hardly any fact at all to this.   Huck believes in this probably because of the way he grew up.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jim said when young chickens flew a yard or two at a time and lighting it was a sign that it was going to rain.   He thought if birds did it, it would be the same.   Also Jim said if you caught one of them you Free Essays - Superstitutions in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn :: Adventures Huckleberry Huck Finn Essays Superstitutions in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Jim and Huck use and believe in many superstitions.   There are many examples from the book, that show this in the characters.   Most of the superstitions are very ridiculous, but some actually make a little sense.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Huck seen a spider was crawling on his shoulder and he flipped it off and it landed in a lit candle.   It shriveled up and died.   Huck said it would fetch him some awful bad luck.   He got up and turned around three times and crossed his breast every time.   Then he tied up a little lock of his hair with a thread to keep witches away.   He says that the ritual he did was for losing a found horseshoe and did not know if it would work. These superstitions and remedies seem pretty far fetched and it is hard to say where they originated, but I would have to say they originated down South.   I think it originated down south because I am from up North and I have never heard any one speak of those superstitions.   Huck believes in these probably because he grew up with them and they were always taught to him and he is so ignorant he does not know better.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   One morning Huck turned over the salt-cellar at breakfast.   He went to throw the salt- cellar over his left shoulder to cancel the bad luck, but Miss Watson stopped him.   All day he wondered when something would fall on him and what it would be.   This all implies that Huck thinks something is going to fall on him, because of his accident.   I have heard about bad luck from spilling salt so I think this Superstition started in the North or maybe it was just popular and spread quickly.   I do not believe there is hardly any fact at all to this.   Huck believes in this probably because of the way he grew up.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Jim said when young chickens flew a yard or two at a time and lighting it was a sign that it was going to rain.   He thought if birds did it, it would be the same.   Also Jim said if you caught one of them you

Approaches for Green Computing

Approaches for Green Computing The advancements of technologies and machines by humans have led to one significant change all over the world and that is the climate change and other environment related changes and problems. People in all countries are thus trying to reduce their consumption of power and depleting natural resources for protecting the future of their future generations. This is one of the major agendas on which the people are working to make sure that the world doesn’t go worse than what it is.Hence, green computing has been adopted by all computer enthusiasts and computer scientists. We would discuss the major approaches that can help achieving green computing. Development of hardware that requires lesser power is one of the most commonly used approaches for green computing. Engineers from everywhere are developing new hardware systems that would consume less power. Special screens, special processing units and even devices run on solar power are being develope d on a regular basis.Human minds work in mysterious ways and one of the weird yet smart ways in which people have decided to reduce on the use of power by computers is virtualization, wherein the computer software is modified and designed in a way such that it can stimulate the hardware. Several companies making use of large servers and numerous systems have started adopting this method of virtualization for better output.Computer scientists have also initiated the use of cloud computing, a special measure that includes saving of all the information and even artificial intelligence over the internet. The power utilization of the servers making use of cloud computing becomes extremely less and hence this is one of the biggest advantages of the same. Where computer scientists are trying to adopt lower power consuming hardware, cloud computing is something that would assist in the process.Green computing is not only about lesser power consumption but includes several other measures and approaches. Computer scientists need to even take care of the recycling and disposal of the waste from manufacture and that of the computer systems themselves. Computer manufacturers need to make sure that they use the smartest technology available for production and even dispose of the production waste in a way such that it does not harm the environment.Thus we see that green computing is definitely the need of the future. Where computers have helped us in several ways and made our tasks easier, at the same time they have also caused some environmental harm. And it is crucial for us to identify these harm and then come up with technologies or ways of green computing to help save the future while making complete use of the technology for our own benefit. Reference link: http://classof1. com/homework-help/computer-science-homework-help

Personeel Management chapter

Working Individually or in groups, Identify the factors for a successful Incentive plan. For an Incentive plan to succeed, employees must have some desire for the plan. This desire can be influenced in part by how successful management is in introducing plan and convincing employees of its benefits. Encouraging employees to participate In developing and administering the plan is likely to increase their willingness accept It.Compensation specialists also note the following as heartsickness of a successful incentive plan: Financial incentives are linked to valued behavior, the incentive program seems fair to employees, productivity/quality standards are challenging but achievable, and payout formulas are simple and understandable. 2; Contrast the differences between straight piecework, differential piece rate, and standard hour plans. Explain where each plan might best be used. Straight Piecework: One of the oldest incentive plans is based on piecework.Under straight piecework, employ ees receive a certain rate for each unit produced. Their insemination is determined by the number of units they produce during a pay period. At Staircase, an office furniture maker, employees can earn more than their base pay, often as much as 35 percent more, through piecework for each slab of metal they cut or chair they upholster. Under a differential piece rate, employees whose production exceeds the standard output receive a higher rate for all of their work than the rate paid to those who do not exceed the standard.Computing price rate: Although time standards establish the time required to perform a given amount f work, they do not by themselves determine what the incentive rate should be. The incentive rates must be based on hourly wage rates that would otherwise be paid for the type of work being performed. (standard time per unit) (Hourly rate) (units per hour) (Minutes per hour) = units per hour = per unit Standard hour plan: Another common incentive technique is the stan dard hour plan, which sets incentive rates on the basis of a predetermined â€Å"standard time† for completing a Job.If employees finish the work In less than the expected time, their pay Is still based on the standard time for the Job multiplied by their hourly rate. For example, if the standard time to install an engine in a half-ton truck is five hours and 1 OFF mechanic's hourly rate times five hours. Standard hour plans are particularly suited to long-cycle operations or Jobs or tasks that are non-repetitive and require a variety of skills. 3; A frequently heard complaint about merit raises is that they do little to increase employee effort.What are the causes of this belief? Suggest ways in which the motivating value of merit raises may be increased. No easy solutions to these problems, organizations using a true merit pay plan often base the percentage pay ease on merit guidelines tied to performance appraisals. For example, Highlights in HARM 3 illustrates a guideline chart for awarding merit raises. The percentages may change each year, depending on various internal or external concerns such as profit levels or national economic conditions as indicated by changes in the consumer price index.Under the illustrated merit plan, to prevent all employees from being rated outstanding or above average, managers may be required to distribute the performance rating according to some pre-established formula (such as only 10 percent can be rated outstanding). Additionally, when setting merit percentage guidelines, organizations should consider individual performance along with such factors as training, experience, and current earnings. 4; what are the reasons behind the different payment methods for sales employees?The reason behind different payment methods for sales employees is that not every company shares exactly the same standards of measuring sales performance. From my point of view, the best method would be the combined salary and commission plan a nd it will be also the most useful. As its name says, it is made by two different plans, combined salary and omission plan, this obviously represents an advantage. It also offers some flexibility, allowing to the employees to receive bonuses and commission to certain sales periods. With this extra compensation, employees will keep their work up in order to get bonuses and incentives. ; Because of competitive forces within your industry, you have decided to implement a profit-sharing plan for your employees. Discuss the advantages of profit sharing and identify specific characteristics that will assure success for your plan. Profit-sharing plans differ in the proportion of profits shared with employees and in the distribution and form of payment. The amount shared with employees may range from 5 to 50 percent of the net profit. In most plans, however, about 20 to 25 percent of the net profit is shared.Profit distributions may be made to all employees on an equal basis, or they may be based on regular salaries or some formula that takes into account seniority and/or merit. The payments may be disbursed in cash, deferred, or made on the basis of combining the two forms of payments. 7; what are some of the reasons for the rapid growth of Seeps? Cite some of the potential problems concerning their use. The first advantage is that Seeps increase inconsiderable tax benefits and tax incentives; it also helps a lot in the retirement benefits for the workers avoiding taxation cuts.

Creativity, Critical Thinking and Change Essay

1.1. Throughout this century, a famous painting entitled The Man with the Golden Helmet was believed to be the work of the Dutch master Rembrandt. Some years ago it was proved to have been painted by someone else. Some people would say that the truth about this painting changed. Do you agree? Explain. The book tells us that truth is the accurate representation of objective reality, and that our assumptions, and wishes do not affect the reality of the facts. With that being said; I would say yes the truth about the painting changed. Since there is hard evidence that proves it was not the work of Rembrandt then, the truth has changed. 1.2. Examine each of the following cases in light of what you’ve learned about truth in this chapter. State your view and explain why you hold it. a. Ira is a journalist. Will the belief that he can create his own truth make him more or less likely to value accuracy in his reporting? If Will believes he can make his own truth it will make him less likely to value accuracy in his reporting. The news is one thing and opinions are another. By creating his own truth he is interjecting his opinions, and ignoring the facts of the news. b. Bruce is prejudiced against minorities and women. Which of the following beliefs would be more helpful in overcoming his prejudice; the belief that truth is subjective and created; or the belief that truth is objective and discovered? Explain your reasoning. I would say that belief that truth is objective and discovered would help Bruce in overcoming his prejudice in minorities and women. This way of thinking about truth relies on facts, and historical truth; where Bruce could look back at history and find instances where women and minorities have excelled. If Bruce continues to believe that he can create his own truth, it is likely he will continue to not look at the facts and continue to judge people based on race and gender. c. Most students can use additional motivation to learn. Will the belief that they can create their own truth help or hinder their motivation? Explain. The book tells us that this belief can stifle success because it leads one to believe that just the belief – not talent or hard work will guarantee success. This will hinder motivation because belief in oneself is just part of the equation for success. If they believe that truth is discovered this will help motivate them to study hard and be successful. 1.3. Classify each of the following exchanges as (a) an actual contradiction or (b) a near contradiction. Briefly explain each choice. MAVIS: Big time college sports are corrupt. Near contradiction. The statement can be both true and false in the same way at the same time. Not all big time college sports or corrupt, but some are. CORA: You’re absolutely wrong, Mavis. Â  Actual contradiction. The statement cannot be true and false in the same way at the same time. Mavis is wrong or right. KAREN: There are very few real heroes today. Â  Near contradiction. This is an opinion so it can both be true and false in the same way at the same time. HANNA: I think there are more today than there have ever been. Actual contradiction. This statement cannot be true and false in the same way at the same time. BRAD: Look at that new Lincoln across the street. Actual contradiction. This statement cannot be true and false in the same way at the same time. CLARA: That isn’t a Lincoln – it’s a Mercury. Â  Actual contradiction. This statement cannot be true and false in the same way at the same time.