From Literate to Electronic Communication Essay

From Literate to Electronic Communication - Essay Example Lorimer, et al. (2012, p 39) explains that there exists interpersonal and mass media in activities of media as it tries to define various aspects of the society. Interpersonal media links the sender to the receiver of information while mass media de-links the two. Apart from thee two categories of media, there has emerged a third one; network media. Its uniqueness is that it combines the other two. It can create a geographical network for sharing information where everyone in the internet is both sender and receiver of information depending on the circumstance one is in. Examples of network media in use include teleconferencing, the World Wide Web and email. Networking media has brought into perspective the overlapping nature of the other two such that we can not precisely define the boundary between interpersonal and mass media. This is because even the interpersonal media such as telephone can be used to reach most people through broadcasting. Today, media has recreated itself and as such, is categorized based on mode of operations which include: the channel of communication such as print or electronic, the sense of experience of the media whether visual or aural, economic modality such as direct cost, indirect cost and pay per usage costs. The ever changing nature of media has led to considerations to categorize media material based on the institutions that produce and distribute them. Technology level involved in the production of the media is also used to classify them. Availability of information on the World Wide Web through the internet has met great criticism and opposition from authorities in the society such as parents as well as the government and organizational administrators. People access... From Literate to Electronic Communication Evolution of communication Lorimer, et al (2012 p 26) suggests that the evolution from literate to electronic communication can be dated back to the discovery of the printing press which ultimately changed the landscape as the society switched from the overreliance on monks for information to typed and stored literary materials. Ultimately, the authority of controlling writing and translation moved from the church to secular world leading to the development of secular society and knowledge as opposed to the previous existing religious knowledge. The battle the ensued between the church and the secular writers and this was the jump pad towards information independence. The ability to retrieve, through scanning, such written materials enabled people to do critical analysis of information and point out inconsistencies. This was not possible with the spoken word which was considered highly perishable and could not be stored. Writing provided a form of interpersonal media other than mass media as people could communicate personally and individually through written messages. Media has transformed to become the identity of reality since it is through the media that truth is passed to the targeted audience. As such, there is the ambiguous concept of ‘mediamaking’ where as the media defines the direction of the world, the world also shapes the media to become what it should people. Media passes information while the people receiving the information improve the media to serve them best.

Wal-Mart Stores Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Wal-Mart Stores - Essay Example The company was incorporated On October 31, 1969, as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Sam Walton died in 1992, since then the Company has progressed tremendously, transforming from being just the largest American retailer to securing the top spot as the largest company of the world on Fortune 500 list. (Lichtenstein, N. (2006). Business: The CEO of Wal-Mart U.S. believes that tremendous oppertunitunies are waiting to be seized by growing the Company through setting up Walmart ExpressTM and similar new formats in urban as well as minority areas of the United States of America. Walmart has a total of 4,700 retail stores in American, making it the America’s largest retailer. Site to Store ®, Fed-Ex Site to Store ® and Pick up today ® are Walmart’s leveraging innovations which ensures shopping flexibility for customers. Walmart offers web services across 15 countries which do not require the physical presence of the store to provide large discount services. The Company aims to o rganize its web efforts and meanwhile expand the services to many other countries of the world. The professional leadership of Walmart stores is fully prepared to launch financial plans to strengthen important financial issues regarding growth, returns to shareholders and leverage. Profit: Wal-Mart began as a dream which was nurtured with determination, passion and the desire to expand and resulted in being one of the most successful ventures in the American history. Like always, a strong solid financial performance was delivered by Walmart in the fiscal year 2011.Walmart’s net sales showed an increase of 3.4 % and therefore the net sales were increased to $419 billion. In addition, the overall operating income increased by 6.4%. Hence, the operating income was increased to $25 billion. The Company’s diluted earnings from continuing operations showed a rise of 12%, thus increasing the diluted earnings to $4.16 per share. The company, through dividends and share repurch ases was able to return $19.2 billion to its shareholders. The great results of the fiscal year of 2011, reflects the strong basis of its underlying business and the ability to deliver shareholder value. The success of Walmart is due to the fact that it strives hard to maintain a momentum in areas of success, while simultaneously work on weak areas to bring a change. Business Environment: Warlmart owns a total 8000 retail stores worldwide whose global sales are approximately $400 billion annually. Wal-Mart team proposed the idea of forming a supercenter in low income community area near Los Angeles in 2004. The idea behind the construction of large discount supercentre in Inglewood was to introduce the Californians with Wal-Mart’s supercentre project. Due to the consistent efforts of the Walmart team, the Company is the greatest positioned retailer of the world. Wal-Mart Supercenters were first established in the early 1980s and are characterized by a full grocery line and ma ny specialty departments which offer products at large discounts. Thus, accomplishing Wal-Mart’s mission which states: â€Å"We save people money, so they can live better.† The company now intends to expand its supercenters and introduce new formats across many countries of the world. (Fishman, C. (2006). Economy: The 4,700 Wal-Mart departmental stores across America have provided employment to more than 1.3 million individuals. However, the Company is blamed for causing serious economic impacts such as net loss of jobs. Some economists believe that a single

Human traficking Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Human traficking - Assignment Example Women and young girls may engage in prostitution in their accord and is mostly not a mandatory involvement(Kligman & Limoncelli, 2005). Another type of human trafficking is immigration purposes where many people wished to join other countries. Countries in Europe like German are prime countries, and many people want to enter the (Kligman & Limoncelli, 2005). Statistics shows that over thousands of people were trafficked to and away ofEastern Europe. Most countries that had less Visa regulation made more people be trafficked into the country because trafficker could freely roam across the countries border. Poverty and low economic level in our society mostly faces women. From a statistic carried out it showed that the number of women being unemployed keeps raising this had pushed women to search for low paying jobs. Most women, therefore, are exploiting new ways of making the ends meet leading them to be victims of human trafficking. Push and pull factors are like gender discrimination where women are discriminated and seen as lesser beings. Pull factors like human trafficking are profitable businesses in many European countries (Kligman & Limoncelli, 2005). There should a complete shutdown of human trafficking in Europe. All underground ready markets for human trafficking are illegal. The United Nations define human trafficking as the process of using threat, deception, fraud or coax people so that they can be recruited and transferred to the individual country. Trafficking is mostly due to the greed of money by traffickers so that they can have people to work as slaves, laborers or slaves in their host country. The humans trafficked are prone to be exploited so that their body organs can be removed and sold or given to an influential person (Kligman & Limoncelli, 2005). In Eastern Europe, socioeconomic factor links to vulnerable people in a number of ways. Vulnerable individuals in societies face challenging life

Burma Religion (Burma) Essay Example for Free

Burma Religion (Burma) Essay Since the Myanmar ancient times, there has been full freedom of worship for followers of Burma religions in Myanmar. So many different religions can be practiced in Myanmar. Buddhism is practiced by almost 90 percent of Myanmar religion Burmas population, with the Myanmar Theravada Buddhism School being the most prevalent. It has a firm hold in Myanmars culture along with an observance of animism, or the worship of ancestors (nat). In Myanmar culture, there are many Myanmar festivals and celebrations held that correlate with nat. Nat also has influence on the practice of Myanmar traditional medicine in Myanmar religion Burma. There are other religions in Myanmar, but they are not as widespread as Buddhism and animism. Some of the beliefs found include Christianity (Baptists) in Myanmar hill areas and Muslims. Christianity is practiced by 5.5 percent of Burmese Myanmar, Islam by 3.8 percent Hinduism by 0.5 percent and Animism by 0.2 percent before respectively in Myanmar. Myanmar is a predominantly Theravada Buddhist country. Buddhism reached Myanmar around the beginning of the Christian era, mingling with Hinduism (also imported from India) and indigenous animism in Myanmar. The Pyu and Mon kingdoms of the first millennium were Buddhist, but the early Burmese Myanmar peoples were animists. According to Myanmar religion Burma traditional history, Myanmar King Anawrahta of Bagan adopted Buddhism in 1056 and went to war with the Mon kingdom of Thaton in the south of Myanmar country in order to obtain the Buddhist Canon and learned Myanmar monks in Myanmar religion history. The religious Myanmar tradition created at this time, and which continues to the present day in Myanmar, is a syncretalist mix of what might be termed pure Buddhism (of the Sri Lankan or Theravada school) with deep-rooted elements of the original animism or nat-worship and even strands of Hinduism and the Mahayana tradition of northern India. Islam reached Myanmar at approximately the same time, but never gained a foothold outside the geographically isolated seaboard running from modern Bangladesh southwards to the delta of the Ayeyarwady (modern Rakhine, known previously to the British as Arakan, and an independent kingdom until the eighteenth century) Myanmar. The colonial period saw a huge influx of Muslim (and Hindu) Indians into Yangon and other Myanmar  cities, and the majority of Yangons many mosques and temples owe their origins to these immigrants. Christianity was brought to Myanmar by European missionaries in the 19th century. It made little if any headway among Myanmar Buddhists, but has been widely adopted by non-Buddhists such as the Karen and Kachin in Myanmar. The Chinese contribution to Myanmars religious mix has been slight, but several traditional Myanmar Chinese temples were established in Yangon and other Myanmar large cities in the nineteenth century when large-scale Chinese migration was encouraged by the British. Since approximately 1990 this migration has resumed in huge numbers, but the modern Chinese immigrants seem to have little interest in Myanmar religion Burma. Some more isolated indigenous peoples in the more inaccessible parts of Myanmar country still follow traditional animism. The Roman Catholic Church, Myanmar Baptist Convention and the Assemblies of God of Myanmar are the largest Christian denominations in Myanmar. There are no totally reliable demographic statistics form Myanmar, but the following is one estimate of the religious composition of Myanmar country: Buddhists: 87% Animists: 5% Christians: 4.5% Muslims: 4% Hindus: 1.5% Burma Arts Jamie Therese Jainar The culture of Myanmar has been heavily influenced by Buddhism. More recently, British imperialism has influenced aspects of Burmese culture, such as language and education. More recently, British imperialism has influenced aspects of Burmese culture, such as language and education. Its neighbors, particularly India, China, and Thailand, have made major contributions to Myanmar culture. In more  recent times, British colonial rule and westernisation have influenced aspects of Burmese culture, including language and education. Historically, Burmese art and literature was based on Buddhist or Hindu cosmology and myths. In addition to the traditional arts are silk weaving, pottery, tapestry making, gemstone engraving, and gold leaf making. Temple architecture is typically of brick and stucco, and pagodas are often covered with layers of gold leaf while monasteries tend to be built of wood. Although court culture has been extinguished, popular street-level culture is vibrant and thriving. Drama is the mainstay of this culture, and just about any celebration is a good excuse for a pwe (show). Performances may recount Buddhist legends, or be more light-hearted entertainments involving slapstick comedy, dance, ensemble singing or giant puppets. Myanmar music is an integral part of a pwe; it originates from Thai and emphasizes rhythm and melody. Instruments are predominantly percussive and include drums, boat-shaped harps, gongs and bamboo flutes. The toys of Myanmar are not only for the children but also famous in the world, known as the Marionettes (or) Puppets of Myanmar. It’s a combination of Myanmar Art and Culture, together to show the inner expressions of the Myanmar people. A. The Prehistoric Period c. 1100 BC to 200 BC The Pre historic Period in Burma is known from a limited number of excavations that were carried out in selected rock shelters, caves and other sites along the middle course of the Irrawaddy River. Since Burma even today is sparsely populated, it would not be surprising to find that early cultures in Burma developed in isolation. However, the artifacts uncovered in these digs resemble those in other parts of Southeast Asia indicating that there was meaningful contact over wide areas at a very early date, and the arts in Burma were not isolated even at this early time. This pattern of intra-area contact continued into the later historical periods. Since there are no written records for this early period, we know little about religious practice. However, since the artifacts that have been discovered conform to those used in small-scale societies for animist rituals, it might be presupposed that these early societies practiced a type of Animism. Therefore, Animism, and artifacts associated with its practice, will be discussed as a bridge between this most remote period and contemporary  animist art forms. B. The Pre-Pagan Period Mon and Pyu Urbanism c. 2nd BC – 8 AD During the Pre-Pagan Period there is ample evidence that the lowland peoples in Burma adopted ideas from India as indicated by a few standing structures, numerous excavated foundations, and a wide array of artifacts. These materials were produced for worship in Animism and Hinduism as well as Mahayanna and Theravada Buddhism. The first cities appear throughout central Burma and were directly dependent on extensive irrigation systems. Thus begins the parmountcy of the central region of Burma that continues until the present. The cities occur in well-planned forms that are a combination of indigenous and Indian concepts. Within these cities, the first buildings in non-perishable materials were constructed. These brick and mortar buildings were all used for religious purposes whereas secular buildings, even palaces, continued to be made of perishable materials until the modern era. This dichotomy between the type of material used for construction and the use of the building generally continued through all later developmental periods. Also, at this time, a particular interest develops for two types of religious structures – the Buddhist stupa and the Buddhist temple. Brick foundations of what were most probably the first monasteries are dated to this period. Although the number of images from the Pre-Pagan Period is limited, the diversity of styles and subject matter is generally broader than in later periods. The Mon and Pyu languages are written using alphabets and concepts adopted from India. A Burmese calendar was later created that begins with the fall of the Pyu dynasty in 836 AD. C. The Pagan Period 11th to 13th centuries Classic forms emerged during the Pagan Period for many aspects of Burmese culture, including the economic, political, religious, social, and artistic. These forms were the models used by later Burmese dynasties to create new but related forms, often through slightly modifing their content. Classic architectural forms emerged as embodied in the Shwezigon Stupa and the Ananda Temple that were repeatedly copied by later donors. The styles of sculpture from the Pagan Period were also periodically revived. Theravada Buddhism became the preferred faith and thereafter remained the predominant Burmese religion. The first examples of figurative painting occur on temple walls and employ the Pala style of India and Nepal. Although Pagan ceased  to be the political capital of Burma in the 13th century, the city continued to be a respected religious center and many later monarchs returned to Pagan to endow new foundations or refurbish old ones. D. The Post Pagan Period -14th to 20th centuries After the decline of Pagan, Burma fragmented into a number of small kingdoms that looked back to Pagan for validation and for artistic inspiration. None of these kingdoms rivaled the earlier period in art and architectural accomplishments and all can be seen as â€Å"Pagan writ small†. Pagan buildings were proudly copied, but often with significant modifications. The stupa became the most favored religious building and temples were rarely built. Wooden monasteries constructed on a raised wooden platform largely replaced the brick and stucco monasteries of Pagan. A number of Burmese styles arose, particularly in sculpture, as a result of fewer contacts with India due to the Muslim invasions there and the Muslim destruction of Buddhist religious sites. Burmese styles of painting develop and in the nineteenth century borrow pictorial devices from the West. The Mandalay Style that arose during the latter half of the Post Pagan Period became dominant in central Burma and has continued until the present as the preferred style in Burmese art.

Personal Narrative in Game Maplestory Essay -- Online Roleplaying Game

Warriors: Wizards :: Mushrooms: Pigs The sun shone brightly as I stared off into the distant grass, swaying unrelentingly as the winds lashed upon it. But within the silky surface of the monotonous sea of green, I spotted an interruption – a staccato in the melody of the breeze. From afar, I could see only see a vague outline, but I knew it was approaching me, mindlessly yet fervently as if I were a light and it were a bug. And so it began. I tightly wielded my club. I could feel the coarseness of the wood beneath my battle-worn fingers. I lifted the weapon and situated it in front of me, grasping it firmly with both hands. I was a warrior, ordained by the venerable Chief Sitting Bull under the auspices of the proud tribe of Perion; I was not going to disappoint them. Honor above life, and killing enemies above all. Yeah†¦ I painfully watched my brother play his third hour of Maplestory, an online interactive game made by Korean programmers where the whole purpose is to defeat monsters to acquire new levels, magic, items – stuff you want, basically. He had just started what was soon to be his utmost craze and had just spoken to Chief Sitting Bull, an elderly man who appeared to be Native American, as he was adorned with elaborate feather-work and his clothing was of tanned skin. He was the typical Native American, you might say, and everything seemed to be in place. Almost too perfectly in place – except for the random black people that sporadically appeared among members of the Perion tribe. â€Å"Why don’t you head south east?† Perion was located in the northwest, and, seeing as he had a lot more training to do, I suggested that he explore the vast world. He headed south towards Henesys, which was a small uneventful, unimp... ...that it logically looked completely harmless – I was not ready to underestimate it because of my preconceptions. In this world, it was either kill or be killed. I swung at it with the heavy club, and, within moments, it closed its eyes serenely and dissolved. Works Cited Barash, David P. â€Å"Sociobiology and Behavior 2nd edition†. Elsevier: New York, 1982. Boehm, Christopher. â€Å"Hierarchy in the Forest : The Evolution of Egalitarian Behavior†. Harvard University Press: Cambridge, 1999. Breuer, Georg. â€Å"Sociobiology and the human dimension†. Cambridge Press: Cambridge, 1982. â€Å"racism.† Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica Online. 16 Oct. 2007 . Tseng, Roger. Personal Interview 10 Oct. 2007. Willson, Peter J. â€Å"The Domestication of the Human Species†. Yale University Press: New Haven, 1988.

Casey Anthony Essay

As seen on national television in 2011, Casey Anthony, well known for her trial that hooked the whole world, pleaded not-guilty in July of 2011 for the murder of her two year old daughter. Reported missing on July 15th 2008, Caylee Anthony was found and pronounced dead on December 11th 2008. Majority of the world would disagree with Casey Anthony pleading, and becoming not-guilty, while a few on the other hand would agree. On July 15th Caylee was reported missing by her grandmother Cindy. When Caylee was reported missing it was said that she had already been missing for 31 days. Cindy said that Casey’s car smelled like â€Å"a dead body had been inside it.† Cindy said when she brought up not seeing Caylee in a while Casey had numerous explanations as to Caylee’s â€Å"whereabouts† until finally admitting that she had not seen Caylee in weeks (that was when the report was made by concerned, Cindy.) Not only did Casey not even report her own daughter missing, it took extensive questioning from family until Casey told family that Caylee was in fact missing, What kind of caring mother would hide the fact that there child is and has been for some time, missing? Casey also showed no emotion during her trials, or while investigating, or being interviewed. She was caught in numerous lies with police investigators, and never helped/wanted to help, or even seemed concerned with investigators during the search. That is suspicious behavior of someone who clearly already knew the fate of Caylee. On top of acting uninterested by the search, investigators found that chloroform and neck breaking were both found on Casey’s computer history. Large amounts of Chloroform were found in Casey’s car. Chloroform vapors can be deadly causing respiratory or cardiac arrest. Minor symptoms it can cause are fatigue, dizziness and headache. This is not coincidental, the obvious evidence is right in front of the world, but how is this woman found not-guilty? Although some people believe that Casey is in fact not guilty because she had several much more reasonable and less drastic alternatives that would have kept her from getting in so much trouble, and believe that the findings were coincidental. In conclusion weather or not Casey Anthony murdered her daughter or not she is and will forever be pronounced not-guilty of her child’s murder. But would you let her babysit your child?

Conceptualizing a Business †HOMICIDE CLEANUP Essay

HOMICIDE CLEANUP My business is defined as a cleaning business, but not in the sense of your regular house cleaners. My company Homicide Cleanup, deals with the cleanup after death, whether it be in the house and or outside. The services my company provides is the cleanup after any type of death has occurred. It is our mission to cleanup the scene of a death and or homicide as quickly as possible so the family of the deceased and or victim is no longer noticeable for the family to see causing less heartache. I want to have an excellent crew of cleaners who will be able to stomach some of the jobs in which they will be going to. Some of these jobs will require dealing with foul odors should the victim have been deceased for a period of time. My cleaners will be required to know how to dismantle furniture along with household sinks, toilets and so forth. The reason they will need to know this is, if a deceased individual has been passed away for some time, the body fluids from within the victim eventually make theire way out of the body and in this case will leak into the floor, in any crack and just about anywhere. Pending on where in the house the deceased has passed, depends on the cleanup and how much will need to be cleaned. My cleanup crew will also have to deal with the cleanup of a death should it occur outside. Cleaning up after a death outside is vital since hundreds of people could walk pass this scene a day. The scene will have to be cleaned so there is no visible sign of blood, bodily fluids or any human matter depending on what type of death has occurred. Here at Homicide Cleanup, it is our vision to be there for the families who have to deal with the tragedy of losing a loved one. It is our job to make the client of the deceased as comfortable with us given the circumstances at  this time for them. We want to get the job done accurate and return the scene back to its original form before the unfortunate event that has taken place, took place. We will strive to make the victims family at ease when it comes to handling the unfortunate situation which has brought us to meet each other. It is our vision hear at Homicide Cleanup to become the best when it comes to these tragic situations. We want to become number one within the state of New Jersey when it comes the cleanup of any death which may have occurred. Also, the most easiest to speak to for the family of the deceased as we know this is a hard to for the loved one involved. Many see ethics as a matter of honor, as holding true to a certain set of rules and standards here at Homicide Cleanup our ethics consist of respecting the family involved of the deceased. There will be no disrespecting in any matter. No foul language. No talking about the scene other how it will be cleaned. It is our responsibility here at homicide Cleanup to make the family feel at ease as possible when it comes to cleaning up the scene of the deceased. Should any of these ethics be broken by any employee they will face consequences along with the loss of their job. We here at Homicide cleanup are not here to make a tragic situation worse for the family of the deceased, but to make it as less painful when having to deal with us. When it comes to the vision of Homicide Cleanup, we strive to make a company that is reliable and understanding when it comes to a families tragedy. We understand the difficult time in which the family must be facing and here at Homicide cleanup, we will get the job the job done as soon as possible so the presence of why were there can diminish. It is our mission to be the best when it comes to cleaning a death scene regardless of how horrific the scene may be. Our mission is to make it seem as if nothing has happened where the unfortunate death has occurred. Here at Homicide Cleaneup we understand the hurt and the stress the family is going through at such a time so, we want to make the pain a bit less by doing our  job and leaving no trace of what has occurred. Homicide Cleanup adreeses our customers needs in the following ways: we are on call 24/7 365 days a year. We know death can occur at any moment and we are available anytime of day and or night. When a customer calls they will speak with a trained individual not a recording and upon the phone call we will have a team of trained cleaners out to the scene within minutes. We will provide the removal of any biohazard waste in a safely manner. We also provide procedures include disinfecting, and deodorizing with hospital grade disinfectants, cleaning and then restoring any damaged structural elements including carpet, flooring, drywall, or paint We will disefect the area where the unfortunate death occurred leaving the area and or household clean of any viruses and or traces of any kind of death. In conclusion, Homicide Cleanup is the most important roll when it comes to cleaning up after any type of death has occurred. Why? My company is trained in the removal of any biohazard waste. We are trained to use the products in which are used to disinfect any blood and or pheses from within the human body leaving it clean without harm to others. An ordinary individual will be unable to try and clean the scene themselves. Not only is it against the law, but unsanitary as well. The biohazard waste must be removed and disposed of properly it cannot just be thrown in the trash. Biohazard waste that is thrown in trash can only spread any desease in which blood can carry leaving another individual who may come in contact with it in danger. RESOURCES http://www.crimescenecleanteam.com/about.htm http://bestcrimescenecleanuputah.com/Services.html

The Greatest Scientific Fraud Essays - Water Fluoridation

The Greatest Scientific Fraud Essays - Water Fluoridation The Greatest Scientific Fraud Miriah Killam Writing 122 David Rothgery October 12, 2000 The Greatest Case of Scientific Fraud I have been told I have a beautiful smile, and I once thought it was true. It is big and quick, the kind that flashes across a whole face to reveal pearly whites. The sad truth is, I have become slower to show my Colgate smile as I have watched the most important part of a smile, my teeth, become less and less dazzling. For years I couldn't understand; I brushed twice a day, flossed once a week, stayed away from staining beverages, and I didn't smoke. My dentist attributed my brittle teeth to the fact that I have some Native American heritage, and they are known to have less resistance to sugar. As I was offered no other plausible, I accepted it and continued my good dental habits. Then, last year I was browsing through the archives of alternative press releases, and one headline in particular caught my attention. The article was titled, EPA Whistleblowers on Fluoride. It stuck in my mind because as a child, the same dentist who told me my teeth were naturally more prone to decay pre scribed a once a week brushing routine with straight fluoride in combination with my use of nightly fluoride toothpaste. He said that I needed to take extra precautions because I moved into an area where the water was not fluoridated. My Grandmother told me the dentist was ridiculous; she claimed I received the proper amount of fluoride from the foods I ate and the amount that occurred naturally in water. I dismissed my Grandmother as behind the times', and diligently applied the nasty paste. Yet, as I read though the article, I was confronted with information that contradicted everything I and every other child had been told from birth. The article claimed, Fluoridation is the greatest case of scientific fraud of this century, if not of all time, (Earth Island Journal, Winter 1998). I became determined to be more informed and started researching all aspects of fluoride. My findings were shocking. For more than sixty years the United States Government has been telling the American public that fluoride compounds (generally referred to as fluoride) are safe and beneficial chemicals that reduce cavities- especially in children. Municipalities add it to drinking water, manufactures add it to beverages and food, and our dentists recommend that we use only fluoride-fortified toothpaste. What has all this led to, you might ask. What it has led to is the over-consumption of what is now recognized as a highly toxic, corrosive pollutant. Now, in fact, those on dialysis and nursing mothers are not recommended to consume any water containing additional fluoride because of its toxicity. Declassified papers of the Manhattan Project-the ultra-secret US military program that produced the atomic bomb state that Fluoride was the key chemical in atomic bomb production. One of the most toxic chemicals known, fluoride emerged as the leading health hazard of the US atomic bomb program, both for workers and for nearby communities. Much of the original proof that fluoride was safe for humans in low doses was generated by A-bomb program scientists who had been secretly ordered to provide evidence useful in litigation, because you see, the first lawsuits against the American A-bomb program were not over radiation, but over fluoride damage. Paul Connett is a professor of chemistry at St. Lawrence University in New York State and an international authority on environmental toxins. I realize that, because the pro-fluoride lobby has successfully portrayed the anti-fluoridationists as a bunch of crackpots, people have been kept away from this issue. And in fact, once I looked into the literature I was, quite frankly, appalled by the poor science underpinning fluoridation. I have grave concerns about the wisdom of putting this toxic substance into our drinking water. In the US, at the same time that the first fluoridation scheme was being introduced, scientists were admitting (in documents hitherto secret, but now disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act) that they had no idea what the effects of low-level exposure would be. The first such scheme was introduced in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1945 as a long-term pilot study. Over a 15-year

Waitrose Company Essays

Waitrose Company Essays Waitrose Company Essay Waitrose Company Essay Waitrose was founded in 1904 and is the supermarket division of the John Lewis Partnership, with 187 branches. Like the Partnerships Department Stores, Waitrose is targeted at the middle class market, emphasising quality food and customer service rather than low prices. Their slogan reflects this Quality food, honestly priced. Waitroses main competitors in this market are Marks and Spencer and Sainsburys. The typical Waitrose customer has been described as affluent, interested in culture, travel, fine foods and wine and a likely Classic FM listener and BBC 1 viewer. Waitrose.com Waitrose included its three existing Internet sites which were Waitrose Deliver, [emailprotected], and Waitrose direct into an upgraded Waitrose.com website in August 2001. The online grocer Ocado has also taken over the distribution of Waitrose products, but has its own site (Ocado.com). Waitrose.com also functions as a shop finder that quickly shows users the shop closest to them, including map, travel instructions and opening times. Locations Waitrose is currently bound to its southeast location because there are only two major regional distribution centers in place (Bracknell Northampton). Although further expansion in the North and West is planned, Waitrose has no plans to expand overseas, unlike its bigger competitors. Segmentation Waitrose is able to identify different groups of buyers who share similar definable needs and behaviors by segmenting the market. Waitrose segments its market on simple variables such as incomes. This is shown by the number of stores that are based in the south of England showing that Waitrose is aiming at the higher income earners at the upper end of the market, and segmenting itself towards the social groups of A, B and C1. Waitrose has not based any stores in areas such as Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Liverpool and Bradford as these are Britains poorest regions, which Waitrose would not benefit from financially. The UK Online Market Research shows that more British food shoppers have been converted to online grocery shopping than in any other country. However, Internet sales still represent a tiny, although growing, percentage of the overall UK grocery market. Most people use the Internet as a way of gathering information on products and making price comparisons before visiting their local store. Tesco was the first grocery retailer to introduce online shopping and is now the worlds biggest Internet grocer. Question 1 Means of capturing information for use in e-business processes Organisations are increasingly using databases to manage customer relationships to increase both sales and customer satisfaction. A database can help you identify key trends and important information such as your most and least profitable customers. Waitrose E-CRM programme (E-Customer Resource Management) The E-CRM programme aims to build awareness and generate customer interaction with the Waitrose brand both in-branch and on Waitrose.com. Waitrose provides customers with monthly email communications, which will provide a platform to keep Waitrose front of mind, whilst reminding customers of their full range of services. The emails include information specifically tailored to the customer on seasonal foods arriving in branch, targeted special offers, new recipes and information on food suppliers. The emails are refreshed each month to give customers new ideas from Waitrose by analysing their shopping data. Waitrose.com has become recognised as one of the leading UK portals for food lovers, and the emails enable customers to click to the site to learn more about Waitrose food, offers or search for recipes and shopping lists. Visitors to the site can also find a selection of menu ideas and tips on preparing food, plus nutrition and wine experts can be emailed for individual advice. Ocado Waitrose uses an e-GRM programme to boost loyalty among early adopters of its online home delivery store Ocado. Waitrose Partnership Account Card The Partnership Card from John Lewis and a Waitrose credit card that earns customers vouchers when they spend. The Partnership Card allows customers to earn points towards vouchers. Waitrose sends vouchers directly to their customers three times a year. They can be spent on products in John Lewis, Waitrose and at Ocado.com. The Partnership Card entitles customers to receive exclusive theatre ticket promotions and invitations to special events such as summer concerts and country shows. Waitrose Quick Check Waitrose provides their customers with the option of using the Quick Check service, which allows customers to scan goods while they shop using a handheld scanner and then the ability to pay quickly at a special desk. When customers sign up to this service their details will automatically be transferred onto a database, where Waitrose can keep a track on their buying habbits, how much they are spending per week and their favorite products. Internal Databases Within Waitrose Waitrose has many Internal databases used by different business functions that they use to hold information. Human Resources The human resource department will have information on a database of their employees. The information that is kept on employees will help Waitrose to carry out appraisals, when reviewing pay and paying wages and giving references to other employees. Sales Waitrose will keep information on the sales of products in their store. The information will be able to tell Waitrose what their best selling lines are, what products sells best, what products arent selling that well and may need to be discontinued. From the information Waitrose will be able to position certain products as required such as best selling products getting the best positions. Stock Waitrose will keep information on the stock they keep and how much of each product they have. The information will help Waitrose when bringing in new lines and discontinuing products. Store Layout Waitrose will have information on the layout of the store and where certain products are kept this may be important if they are moving products around or when bringing in new product lines and deciding on where to put them. Marketing The marketing department will have information on prices of products this made help them decide whether prices need to change for example to compete with competitors. They will also keep information on promotions online and in store this will help Waitrose to see when promotions need to be updated and what other products may need to be promoted. Buying Waitrose will keep information on what they buy and where they buy from, they will communicate with suppliers to tell them what stock they need and when they are going to need it. Example of how the information gets onto the database using sales. The barcode is scanned through the till which goes to the EPOS. The information may be replayed to the partnership card/ marketing via the LAN. The role of digital information in informing business decision-making This diagram is showing how the role of digital information is helping Waitrose business decision-making. The Diagram below has been spilt up into five different areas showing the different stages in communication and business decision-making. 1. In Store Communication The EPOS (electronic point of sale) systems will be able to tell Waitrose what products are top sellers and which ones arent selling as well, this will help them make decisions on where to put certain items. They could put top selling products in a better shelf space and maybe promote the items that arent selling or discontinue them. 2. Databases When the data has been collected in store or online the information is sent to the centre and then stored in the databases. Head office will use this information for making decisions on things like store replenishment, store layout, staffing and promotions. 3. Buy-Side collaboration buying from suppliers, suppliers will communicate with head office. Waitrose will need to tell suppliers what they want them to supply and when they want them to supply it. Waitrose will decide what products they are going to store and where they are going to be positioned in store. Decisions on pricing may also change due to promotions or other forms of marketing. Waitrose needs to insure that they have the right amount of stock on their shelves to meet consumer demands. Waitrose uses hand held guns which allow labels on the shelves to be scanned which allows the employee to see how much stock they have. The stock is electronically stored and connected to a server, which will tell the employees how much of certain products they have allowing them to decide when to place an order. 4. The communication between banks and stores for purchases made buy customers, the banks will need to authorise the credit or debit card when customers uses the chip and pin systems. The card will be checked to make sure that it isnt stolen and then the card will be authorised if no problems occur. 5. Sell-Side E-Commerce Waitrose website, when customers access Waitrose online and purchases goods through the internet information is collected on those customers, Waitrose will be able to see the location of the customer, what they are buying and how much they spend. They can use this information to their advantage buy sending the customer offers or vouchers on their favourite products so that they shop again with Waitrose or purchase more than they would normally. Waitrose could also suggest a store close to them, as looking around a supermarket will attract customers to impulse buy which will boost Waitrose products. Waitrose Telecommunications In branch view of telecommunications In store communications, employees will communicate in store via the LAN (Local Area Network) an internal link. Waitrose has mobile telephones to communicate around store using extension numbers to contact different sections. A tannoy is also used in store which allows the company to talk to the whole store at one time, for example when making announcements to customers such as the store is closing or to ask an employee to go to a certain section. Externally a switchboard is used so if a call is coming in from out side the company they will then be transferred to the person or section they want to speak to. If a number of calls are incoming at the same time they will be put on hold and then transferred once the line is free. Waitrose will also communicate to head office via the WAN (World-Wide Area Network) voice and data can be communicated.

3 Sentences with Dangling Modifiers

3 Sentences with Dangling Modifiers 3 Sentences with Dangling Modifiers 3 Sentences with Dangling Modifiers By Mark Nichol Coming from my inexhaustible supply of dangling modifiers, you will find this post a helpful exercise in how to spot this type of error. That lead sentence, of course, contains a dangling modifier, a phrase providing additional information about a sentence’s subject that does not associate directly with the subject. In this case, because the subject is you, the implication is that you, dear reader, rather than the contents of this post, are coming from the stated source. The sentence is better presented as follows: â€Å"You will find this post, coming from my inexhaustible supply of dangling modifiers, a helpful exercise in how to spot this type of error.† Here are a few sentences with the same class of mistake, followed by my suggested solutions: 1. â€Å"As the only one with a Muslim-sounding name in class, people turned to her on questions about Islam. This sentence refers to â€Å"people† representing a heretofore unmentioned individual’s classmates rather than that person, as â€Å"the only one with a Muslim-sounding name in class,† so the initial modifying phrase should be revised to clearly identify the person consulted as described: â€Å"Because she was the only person in the class with a Muslim-sounding name, people turned to her on questions about Islam. (Also, the statement contains not only a dangling modifier but also a misplaced modifier two distinct phenomena: The positioning of â€Å"in class† is not incorrect, but the phrase is best relocated earlier in the sentence, as I have done in my revision.) However, the person could also be explicitly introduced as the subject of the sentence: â€Å"As the only person in class with a Muslim-sounding name, she was the one people turned to on questions about Islam.† 2. â€Å"After leaving Chez Fez, this chef’s culinary talents have reached the highest level at his new restaurant.† The implication in this sentence, as constructed, is that the chef’s culinary talents somehow detached themselves from his being and found their zenith elsewhere. To reflect the writer’s true meaning, the modifier could be revised to refer to the actual subject (with an additional replacement of after with since): â€Å"Since this chef left Chez Fez, his culinary talents have reached the highest level at his new restaurant.† Alternatively, the subject of the sentence must be unequivocally altered to refer to the chef himself, not his talents, which did leave his previous place of employment but did so as part of him: â€Å"Since leaving Chez Fez, this chef has found that his culinary talents have reached the highest level at his new restaurant.† 3. â€Å"As the foundation of Western civilization, learning about ancient Greece provides students a solid grounding in many of the philosophies that shape modern life and thought in the Western world.† It is not learning about ancient Greece but ancient Greece itself that should be posited as the foundation of Western civilization. Begin the sentence with the reference to ancient Greece: â€Å"Ancient Greece is the foundation of Western civilization, and learning about it provides students a solid grounding in many of the philosophies that shape modern life and thought in the Western world.† Another option is to begin with the participial phrase â€Å"Learning about ancient Greece† and making the phrase â€Å"as the foundation of Western civilization† an interspersed parenthetical: â€Å"Learning about ancient Greece, the foundation of Western civilization, provides students a solid grounding in many of the philosophies that shape modern life and thought in the Western world.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"Social vs. Societal7 Sound Techniques for Effective Writing

Euthyphro Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Euthyphro - Essay Example In terms of religion, epistemology, ethics it is of crucial importance to define what piety is. We have further prove that it is the most relevant definition, because in accordance with the well-known philosopher Kierkegaard, the most precious role Christian religious play in our life is forgiveness. Thus, for humans it is very important to reach the highest degree of love, which can be given to humans by gods instead of prayer and a sacrifice. There is a constant arguing between Socrates and Euthyphro. At first, Socrates rejects an example of piety provided by Euthyphro (5d). The second definition of piety given by Euthyphro is also criticized by Socrates. Socrates in this dialogue is positioned as a patient polemist. Therefore, Socrates step by step claims that pious is pious, because it has certain reasons for that. Socrates makes an attempt to define piety himself. For this philosopher piety â€Å"is a species of the genius ‘justice’† (12d). Moreover, Socrates suggests finding a moral goodness in pious actions. At the same time he offers to differentiate between just and pious actions. On the one hand, it may sound weird and may seem to simplistic, when Euthyphro suggests the final and the best definition of piety. He introduces mutually beneficial relationships between gods and humans: people are providing gifts to gods and gods favor them in turn. The most beneficial notion made by Euthyphro is that gifts given to gods do not have a commercial basis. Gifts given to gods are honor, esteem and favor (15a). Consequently, this short dialogue written by Plato is a chain of ethical and logical concerns, which result in the final definition of piety. For the modern readers, it is very interesting to follow the idea of ancient philosophers and see a possible way of making judgments about complicated issues. The issue of piety is rather complicated, because it is hard to differentiate

Discussion Question Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 6

Discussion Question - Assignment Example Interpersonal relationships are very important to Filipinos. During the initial business meeting, one will most likely not meet the decision maker. Several visits need to be done before one meets the decision maker. Furthermore, negotiations with Filipino companies take more time because group consensus if often needed. â€Å"The pace of doing business in the Philippines is casual and leisurely† (Henderson, 1999). Because of the paternalistic and hierarchical management, decisions usually take time. Social relationships play a major role in the decision-making process. One must take note that Filipinos do not like confrontations. They find it hard to say â€Å"no† because they want to remain courteous (Communicaid Group Ltd., 2009). Moreover, saying â€Å"yes† may not really mean yes, rather, it may mean â€Å"perhaps† or â€Å"maybe† or even â€Å"no†. In negotiating with Filipino companies, it is important to be knowledgeable of the Filipino culture and traditions. The style of management is usually paternalistic; therefore, one must be able to adapt to this style to effectively do business in the Philippines (Henderson, 1999). Communicaid Group Ltd. (2009). Doing business in the Philippines / Philippine social and business culture. Retrieved May 25, 2012, from communicaid.com: http://www.communicaid.com/access/pdf/library/culture/doing-business-in/Doing%20Business%20in%20the%20Philippines.pdf kwintessential.co.uk. (n.d.). Philippines - language, culture, customs and etiquette. Retrieved May 25, 2012, from kwintessential.co.uk:

An integrative review on, The Early Signs and Symptoms of Necrotizing Research Paper

An integrative review on, The Early Signs and Symptoms of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in the neonate - Research Paper Example Integrative review is considered as the most appropriate for the research undertaken because it can present a holistic and encompassing view of the disease. Discussion. Through the integrative review conducted, different issues related to the signs and symptoms of necrotizing enterocolitis came into focus. Parameters in the different articles such as the gestational age of the neonate, the feeding start, the onset of signs and symptoms of NEC, the interventions and the management method for the condition, and the outcome of the neonate were given attention. In addition, the strengths and limitations of each research process had also been identified. Early Signs and Symptoms of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Neonate Introduction Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is defined as a disease that can be acquired by preterm or sick neonates described to have mucosal or even deeper intestinal necrosis (Merck, 2007). The condition is considered as the most common cause of gastro intestinal medical or surgical emergency in neonates affecting approximately 10 percent of the infants with the weight of less than 1500 g. The vague etiology of the disease is related to the rate of mortality which is 50 percent mortality depending on the severity of the case (Springer and Rosenkrantz, 2011). Background of the Study Based on empirical evidences, NEC affects 2 to 5 percent of the total preterm infants. Majority of the cases occurs in less than 36 weeks of the gestational age. In addition, there are different risk factors that are related to the disease based on records such as history of hypoxia, asphyxia and the introduction of enteral feeding. Another condition which can increase the risk of NEC based on different studies is cyanotic heart disease (Puri and Hollwarth, 2009, p.435). In addition to the said risk factors, the presence of the 3 intestinal factors such as preceding ischemic insult, bacterial colonization, and intraluminal substrate can also contribute to the prevalence of NEC (Merck, 2007). For the purpose of the study, such risk factors and related parameters were considered as the focal points of the study undertaken. The said factors were considered as early indications of the possible onset of the disease. Other factors such as geographical origin, ethnicity or gender have no proven effects on the prevalence and occurrence of NEC (Puri and Hollwarth, 2009, p.435). Determining, presenting, and discussing the early onset of NEC is important for possible prevention of the fatal effects of the disease. The study was able to achieve its objectives based on chosen empirical and primary researches focused on the early signs and symptoms of necrotizing enterocolitis. The determination of the onset of the disease can be considered as the most important method to lessen mortality and to resolve the problem on the lack of effective treatment to NEC. Study Design and Data Sources The primary phase in the integrative review of the early signs and symptoms of NEC is the search for data sources which will be included in the study. Different databases such as CINAHL, EBSCOHost and PubMed were used to find five journal articles that explored NEC in different perspectives and with a focus on the diagnosis and clinical signs and symptoms of the disease. In the search for the data sources, there are factors considered for inclusion and exclusion of journal

The case for contamination by Anthony Appiah Essay

The case for contamination by Anthony Appiah - Essay Example In such a society, it becomes difficult to control the trending social values that people share in such platforms. Appiah thus retains a passive viewpoint as he strives to maintain objectivity in the article. He discusses the importance of religion in the changing society as the discussion below portrays. Just as the title of the article depicts, Anthony Appiah discusses the â€Å"contamination† of the world. In his context, contamination of the world refers to the slow but sure infiltration of foreign cultures as people continually integrate on a global platform. The advancement of the society coupled with the development of new technologies have created a global village, such is a society in which people trade cultural values easily. According to Appiah, the seclusion of the traditional society sought to preserve the cultures and values of the societies that could not readily interact with others (Flood 21). With the intensified interactions in the contemporary society, it becomes difficult to monitor the actions of people as most societies continue to adopt the independent structures thus borrowing global cultural trends. As such, cultures continue to infiltrate the society; Appiah observes that such changes are contaminations of the inherent cultural values. While religion is a fundamental aspect of a society and a cultural feature, the changes in the current structures of societies continue to apportion a reserved function for religions. Unlike in some of the traditional societies in which the Church for example was an important organ of governance, contemporary societies have secular governments. This exhibits the inherent change in the structures of the societies and the cultural values of the people in contemporary societies. The modern structure of societies position religion as important in setting values and influencing the behavior of people in the

Personal Data Protection Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Personal Data Protection - Assignment Example There are indeed thousands of solutions to data security available in the technology market but still protection of personal data is very difficult. We have quite common security breaches despite having a wide assortment of technical answers such as personal firewalls, network firewalls, solutions to operating system patching, antiviruses, intrusion detection or prevention systems, anti-spyware, and security management systems. We are not yet able to protect our data because of the fact that we are not ready to take personal responsibility in protecting our data. This is because computer and network security goes beyond simple purchase of gadgets and software for data protection. Personal responsibility for the manner in which our computers are made use of and how we do take into consideration data handling processes is necessary. For us to address and ensure protection of personal data, we need to introduce institutional and behavioral changes so as to fully tackle computer security threats, reputation risks, and heightening the legislation on data security. We can only protect our personal data if we take responsibility and avoid careless practice while handling data and processes such as running accounts without passwords, a very common thing among many people (Schuste Steve, 2006, pp.140-141). If we happen to continue with this trend of not taking responsibility and thus being unable to protect our own data, then we live that to the market. However, we cannot argue that the rich will be the only people who will benefit from this move. This is because data protection is a bigger headache to the rich than it is even to the poor or average person. The richer you are, the higher the government radar is on you and the marketing radar still follows you. Huge transactions involving big funds attract attention from regulatory authorities and the taxman is on the loose to cut a good chunk from it! The vulnerability increases further because of the many interests tha t a richer person elicits from people. Cyber criminals would also want to have their cake and hence such occurrences like hacked accounts of businessmen will be on the rise. Basically, the market cannot be left to protect personal data. However, the only advantage that the rich may have could arise if they are able to take personal responsibility and add purchase of some sophisticated data protection software such as premium email services with SSL connections and encryption and security data protectors (Schuste Steve, 2006, pp.140-141). DQ2- Privacy laws: Research laws regarding privacy and data protection in your country and tell us about them. How do they compare to those in other parts of the world? The privacy law for Canada’s federal private sector is Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). This is quite comprehensive and applies to personal information of Canadian people that is collected, disclosed or used by an organization (includes a partnership, association, trade union, corporation and an individual) in carrying out any form of commercial activities, within provincial or international borders of Canada. Canada has been pushed by the European community to give enough protection for personal data. In its application, this PIPEDA law stipulates that management of personal information should be practiced and implemented in a reasonable manner.

The case for contamination by Anthony Appiah Essay

The case for contamination by Anthony Appiah - Essay Example In such a society, it becomes difficult to control the trending social values that people share in such platforms. Appiah thus retains a passive viewpoint as he strives to maintain objectivity in the article. He discusses the importance of religion in the changing society as the discussion below portrays. Just as the title of the article depicts, Anthony Appiah discusses the â€Å"contamination† of the world. In his context, contamination of the world refers to the slow but sure infiltration of foreign cultures as people continually integrate on a global platform. The advancement of the society coupled with the development of new technologies have created a global village, such is a society in which people trade cultural values easily. According to Appiah, the seclusion of the traditional society sought to preserve the cultures and values of the societies that could not readily interact with others (Flood 21). With the intensified interactions in the contemporary society, it becomes difficult to monitor the actions of people as most societies continue to adopt the independent structures thus borrowing global cultural trends. As such, cultures continue to infiltrate the society; Appiah observes that such changes are contaminations of the inherent cultural values. While religion is a fundamental aspect of a society and a cultural feature, the changes in the current structures of societies continue to apportion a reserved function for religions. Unlike in some of the traditional societies in which the Church for example was an important organ of governance, contemporary societies have secular governments. This exhibits the inherent change in the structures of the societies and the cultural values of the people in contemporary societies. The modern structure of societies position religion as important in setting values and influencing the behavior of people in the

Thermodynamics and fluids mechanics Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Thermodynamics and fluids mechanics - Lab Report Example The corresponding force F, can be found by taking the moment about the pivot of the jockey. The distance y, is the position of the jockey. Momentum was found by multiplying Mass Flow Rate by the Velocity of the vane. As before, the corresponding force F, was found by taking the moment about the pivot of the jockey. The distance y, represents the position of the jockey. Similarly, Momentum = Mass Flow Rate multiplied by the Velocity of the vane. As before, the corresponding force F, was found by taking the moment about the pivot of the jockey. The distance y, represent the position of the jockey. Similarly, Momentum = Mass Flow Rate multiplied by the Velocity of the vane The only difference that is evident is only in the use of characters, otherwise, the formulas are just the same. U in the theory equation represents initial velocity just like the v in the experimental equation. While a represents the acceleration force (gravitational force) and s the distance covered (Cengel & Cimbala, 2009). The major difference between the theory and experiment performed is on the values obtained. For example, some values were not consistent as expected and while plotting the graph, the points were expected to be in a straight line, which was not the case. A line of best fit was drawn in order make the line straight. Inaccuracy of the graph and wrong data manipulation were due to some sources. The sources of errors could have been due to incorrect timing. When determining the time interval, it could have been difficult to determine the correct interval. Another source could have been due to the incorrect measurement of volume of water collected. This could have brought wrong Mass Flow Rate hence giving wrong Momentum. For the case of hemispherical vane, the velocity of the water jet leaving the vane was the same as that hitting it. From the data of the first trial, the velocity leaving was found to be

The Economic Problem and how it Affects Society Essay Example for Free

The Economic Problem and how it Affects Society Essay Define the economic problem. Explain how individual consumers, business firms and the government are all faced with the economic problem. Identify the different economic factors that influence how each group seeks to address this problem. The economic problem occurs because of the fact that the supply of resources used to produce goods and services are limited or finite but there is an infinite amount of demands and wants of individuals. In other words, the economic problem is consequence of limited resources, but unlimited wants. Individuals must decide what is the best item to buy with their limited resources. This is called opportunity cost, which involves the consumer determining which goods and services will provide the most satisfaction and value for money. In market economies, consumers have sovereignty over the market and thus they influence which products are produced and the amount produced. However, many businesses persuasively advertise unwanted or unnecessary goods and services to certain consumers, which can result in a misallocation of resources. In accordance to the economic problem, businesses have a number of issues to address: What to produce? How to produce? How much to produce? To whom to distribute? What to produce Firms must decide which production combination of goods and services will involves the least cost but result in the largest amount of produce How to produce refers to what method of production of the selected goods and services Is the most cost effective and efficient How much to produce involves predicting the amount of goods and services that will be needed and demanded. Using these statistics, the business will attempt to produce a quantity of goods equal to or as close as possible to  that amount. This prediction is usually based on the amount of consumption, demand and profit of the previous year. To whom to distribute the ratio of distribution of goods and services across the country, state or region, according to consumer demands and availability of transport. The government has a regulatory role in the economy through the control of taxes and redistribution of income. For example, when an economy has a low level of economic activity, the government can increase its expenditure on things such as infrastructure, and could lower taxes to encourage consumer and business spending. Similarly, the government could decrease spending and increase taxes to influence saving and less shopping splurges, to reduce the economic activity. The Reserve Bank can also act as a regulator and can dramatically alter the direction of an economy. The Reserve Bank can raise and lower interest rates which influences domestic saving and investment, and also affects foreign investment. For example raising interest rates would encourage foreign countries to buy Australian dollars to capitalise on the interest of their investment. The government has some bearing on the actions of the Reserve Bank, however its influence is quite minor.

Waves of Mergers and Acquisitions

Waves of Mergers and Acquisitions Introduction Mergers and Acquisitions (MA) have always assisted in nursing corporate health and growth pattern of developing and developed countries just taking out sickness in industries, the concept of mergers and acquisitions have played a truly crucial and pivotal role in shaping the business and have been part of international business in recent times. Mergers and acquisitions (MA) have always been an interesting area to study. As we know all our daily newspapers are filled with cases of mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, tender offers, other forms of corporate restructuring. It have been stated that mergers and acquisitions account consist of 78% of all foreign direct investment, with 97% of that being acquisitions. Van Marrewijk (2006, pg 294) The year 2007 had undoubtedly been landmark of the year for Indian corporate buisness with respect to recession taking toll of many Indian business. With passage of time ,the Tata announced the acquisition Corus , a US$ 12.2 billion deal . India industries has not looked back since. The continued growth in the Indian economy and investment and operating climate has resulted in improved health and growth appetite for Indian compines. What are Mergers and Acquisitions? Mergers and acquisitions are arguably the most popular and influential form of discretionary business investment (De Witt Meyer, 1998).In simple terms merger is the combination of the assets and liabilities of two companies, mainly of similar size, into one business entity. The term acquisition is used when the assets and liabilities of a smaller company is purchased by a larger one by paying shares, cash or other assets to the target companys shareholders. When there is a merger between two similar sized firms, the shares are exchanged and one firm issues new stock to the other in an agreed ratio. The value of two firms before and after a merger is the same when you exclude the synergies resulting from it, considering that the valuation of the shares and the exchange ratio has been correctly formulated. Target firms shareholders are normally paid a premium, which means that the exchange rate is skewed. Merger Waves in the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries, Martin Lipton, York University September 14, 2006 Overview of MA Waves A merger wave is an intense period of merger activity in a particular sector or industry and last from a short period to a long time partly depending on the performance of the market and the participating companies. In his paper released on September 14, 2006 Merger Waves in the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries, Martin Lipton of York University talk about merger waves Economists and historians refer to five waves of mergers in the U.S. starting in the 1890s. As I said, I believe a sixth wave started three years ago. The starting date and duration of each of these waves are not specific, although the ending dates for those that ended in wars or financial disasters, like the 1929 crash or the bursting of the Millennium Bubble, are more definite. Indeed, it could be argued that mergers are an integral part of market capitalism and we have had a continuous wave of merger activity that has ebbed and flowed since the evolution of the industrial economy in the latter part of the 19th Century, with interruptions when fundamental forces turned exogenous merger factors negative. The merger activity needs to show a pattern in which the peak year had a greater than 100 percent increase from the first year followed by a decline in acquisition activity of greater than 50 percent from the peak year to qualify as a wave. In some industries the waves were as long as six years. Lets us see the five merger waves below: First Period 1893 to 1904 Merger for Monoploy- This was the time of the major horizontal mergers creating the principal steel, telephone, oil, mining, railroad and other giants of the basic manufacturing and transportation industries in the U.S. The Panics of 1904 and 1907, a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1904 making the recently enacted antitrust laws applicable to horizontal mergers, and then the First World War are pointed to as the causes of the end of the first wave, which some view as continuing beyond 1904. Second Period 1919 to 1929 Merger for Oligopoly- This period saw further consolidation in the industries that were the subject of the first wave and a very significant increase in vertical integration. The major automobile manufacturers emerged in this period. Ford, for example, was integrated from the finished car back through steel mills, railroads and ore boats to the iron and coal mines. The 1929 Crash and the Great Depression ended this wave. Third Period- 1955 to 1969-73 Conglomerate merger- This was the period in which the conglomerate concept took hold of American management. Major conglomerates like ITT (Harold Geneen), LTV (Jimmy Ling), Teledyne (Henry Singleton) and Litton (Tex Thornton) were created. Messrs. Geneen, Ling, Singleton and Thornton were viewed as visionaries and heroes of the new concept of business organization. Many major established companies accepted the concept and diversified into new industries and areas. The conglomerate stocks crashed in 1969-70 and the diversified companies never achieved the benefits thought to be derived from diversification. Fourth Period 1974-80 to 1989 The Megamerger- Generally referred to as the merger wave, or takeover wave, of the 1980s and frequently said to be the period from 1984 to 1989. However, its antecedents reach back to 1974 when the first major-company hostile bid was made by Morgan Stanley on behalf of Inco (the same Inco that has been involved in the four-way takeover struggle that has now ended with its takeover by Vale) seeking to take over ESB. This successful hostile bid opened the door for the major investment banks to make hostile takeover bids on behalf of raiders. In addition to hostile bids, this period was noted for junk bond financing and steadily increasing volume and size of LBOs. In Europe in the latter half of the 1980s companies sought to prepare for the Common Market through cross-border horizontal mergers. In the U.S. this was the period that saw corporate raiders like Boone Pickens run rampant with two-tier, front-end-loaded, boot-strap, bust-up, junk-bond, hostile t ender offers until the playing field was leveled by the poison pill in the mid-1980s. However, even after the poison pill, merger activity increased through the latter part of the 1980s, pausing for only a few months after the October 1987 stock market crash. It ended in 1989-90 with the $25 billion RJR Nabisco LBO and the collapse of the junk bond market, along with the collapse of the savings and loan banks and the serious loan portfolio and capital problems of the commercial banks. Fifth Period 1993 to 2000 Strategic Restructuring This was the era of the mega-deal. It ended with the bursting of the Millennium Bubble and the great scandals, like Enron, which gave rise to the revolution in corporate governance that is continuing today. During the fifth wave companies of unprecedented size and global sweep were created on the assumption that size matters, a belief bolstered by market leaders premium stock-market valuations. High stock prices simultaneously emboldened companies and pressured them to do deals to maintain heady trading multiples. A global view of competition, in which companies often find that they must be big to compete, and a relatively restrained antitrust environment led to once-unthinkable combinations, such as the mergers of Citibank and Travelers, Chrysler and Daimler Benz, Exxon and Mobil, Boeing and McDonnell Douglas, AOL and Time Warner, and Vodafone and Mannesmann. From a modest $342 billion of deals in 1992, the worldwide volume of merg ers marched steadily upward to $3.3 trillion worldwide in 2000. Nine of the ten largest deals in history all took place in the three-year period 1998-2000, with the tenth in 2006. Most of the 1990s deals were strategic negotiated deals and a major part were stock deals. The buzzwords for opening of merger discussions were, would you be interested in discussing a merger of equals. While few if any deals are true mergers of equals, the sobriquet goes a long way to soothe the egos of the management of the acquired company. The year 2000 started with the announcement of the record-setting $165 billion merger of Time Warner and AOL. However, after a five-year burst of telecommunications, media and technology (TMT) mergers, there was a dramatic slowdown in the TMT sector, as well as in all mergers. It started with the collapse of the Internet stocks at the end of the first quarter followed by the earnings and financing problems of the telecoms. While merger activity in 2000 exceeded 1999 by a small amount by the end of the year, the bubble had burst. The NASDAQ was down more than 50% from its high, many TMT stocks were down more than 50% (some as much as 98%), the junk bond market was almost nonexistent, banks tightened their lending standards and merger announcements were not well received in the equity markets. So ended the fifth wave, with merger activity in 2001 half of what it was in 2000. To my surprise (and I think to the surprise of most) the sixth wave started just three years later. The sixth period of merger wave is what Lipton believes started in 2003. Sixth Period: From a low of $1.2 trillion in 2002 the pace of merger activity has increased to what appears will be a total of $3.4 trillion by the end of 2006. Among the principal factors are globalization, encouragement by the governments of some countries (for example, France, Italy and Russia) to create strong national or global champions, the rise in commodity prices, the availability of low-interest financing, hedge fund and other shareholder activism and the tremendous growth of private equity funds with a concomitant increase in management-led buyouts. CROSS BORDER MERGERS ACQUISITIONS GLOBAL SENARIO Globalisation is a key feature of the new competitive landscape within which the mergers and acquisitions frenzy is taking place. . Globalization has spurred an unprecedented surge in cross-border merger and acquisition activity. (Child J.et al, 2001). Cross border MAs have become a fundamental characteristic of the global business landscape. Cross-border MAs are one mode of entry for foreign direct investors to host economies. The ownership advantage,location advantage and internalization advantage, factors such as the search for market power, efficiency gains through synergies, size, diversification, and financial motivations affect the decision of firms to undertake cross-border MAs. Organizations which aspire to expand across geographies are funding their cross-border acquisitions through a mix of local and foreign financing. According to World Bank statistics, new capital raised through corporate securities offerings and loans from international bank syndicates totalled US $400 billion in 2006, a threefold increase from 2003. Multi-national companies based in developing countries made more than 700 cross-border MA purchases in 2006, up from just 11 such deals in 1987. These developments have put some of these companies on par with large companies from developed countries. As many developing-country governments have eased their policies toward capital outflows their companies have expanded their operations abroad. 15000 multinational corporations have their presence in developing countries. Cross border MA activity was one of the primary reasons for increasing FDI outflows from developing countries. The total cross-border MA activity from the developing countries was valued at $80 billion in 2007, up from $75 billion in 2006. The activity was across sectors with service sector contributed about 60% of the total activity. MA ACTIVITY IN INDIA Indian MA activity totaled US$19.8 billion in FY08 as compared to US$33.1 billion in FY07. The decline in MA activity was in line with the global activity. The average size of deals in FY08 was US$23.4 million; far lower than that of US$70.5 million in FY 07. Cross-border MA totaled US$8.2 billion in FY08 after declining of 56.3% from the previous year, where the total cross-border MA was US$18.7 billion. The sector which witnessed highest decline (97.6%) in MA activity was the telecommunication sector due to the base effect of acquisition of Hutchison by Vodafone in FY07. Followed by telecommunications sector was the healthcare sector; declining 72.3% in FY08 again due to the base effect of US$1 billion acquisition of Matrix Laboratories in FY07. Financials sector was the third sector to experience decline in the MA activity. Trends Patterns of Indian acquisitions abroad MA activity has seen phenomenal rise in India in the past few years and some patterns are discernible in this mass of financial transactions.India has passed several milestones and come a long way from overseas investments of about $0.7 billion in 2000-01 to $2.7 billion in 2005-06 and finally to $11 billion in 2006-07. Save a slight lull in cross-border deals in 2000-2002,MA has only been rising in India. The number of overseas acquisitions was 38 in 2003 and rose to 177 in 2006. The first six months of 2007 saw a whopping 123 transactions. The value of outflows has increased from $649 million in 2003 to $32.9 billion in 2007. The value of overseas acquisitions by Indian firms far exceeded the value of foreign firms acquisitions in India for the first time in 2006. The African nations have especially opened up their economies to FDI flows from India hoping that the funds transfer; knowledge transfer and skill development will give their nearly stagnant economies a much needed boost. The Indian services sector was the first entrant to the area of overseas MA and later the primary manufacturing sectors ventured into it. However, eventually the manufacturing sector surpassed the services sector both in terms of number of transactions and value of transactions with overseas acquisitions in the services sector rising 2-3 times as compared to 5-22 times increase in the manufacturing sector in the period 2001-2007 Literature review According to Jankowitz (1991) have given more emphasises on the importance of the literature review by stressing that knowledge does not exist in a vacuum and your work only help in relation to others. He describes the literature review as providing a theoretical framework and condition for the project. An attempt has been made in the present paper to understand the motives and implications of the Merger-wave in the second half of the nineties. The analysis has been conducted in a comparative perspective by classifying the Acquiring firms into two categories in terms of ownership, namely, Indian owned and foreign owned. The paper is divided into seven sections iii) Policy-shift regarding MAs during the 1990s iv) Impact of MAs on the performance of Acquiring firms, v) Source of financing and some plausible issues for corporate governance Section I: Theories on Motives and Implications of MAs According to Cantwell and Santangelo 2002 the theories on MAs have been spreaded over the vast terrains of industrial organisation, financial, economic and international business studies. Thus researcher has been pointed out that the trends of MAs can be theoretically traced back to particular motives for MAs emphasized by industrial organization theories that is market power and defensive reactions, the financial economic literature that is managerial ego and international business research which is access to markets or technologies. We have classify these theories into four categories, namely, i) Mergers as efficiency enhancing measures: Mergers can lead to increased efficiencies. Such efficiencies and cost savings can flow from economies of scale and scope possible in the larger post-Merger operations, greater control over key inputs, product rationalisation, combining marketing, advertisement and distribution, or from cutting down overlapping Research and Development (Ansoff and Weston 1962. International MAs may be regarded as a new cross-border strategy that aims at increasing corporate global competitiveness by pursuing related diversification and by integrating affiliates into a global network (Cantwell Santangelo 2002). Schemalensee (1987) argued that the cost-reducing effect of a particular proposed Merger might probably outweigh its collusion-enhancing effects. Sanjaya Lall rightly questions whether the positive economic effects that cross-border Acquisitions can have outweigh the concerns they arouse (Lall, 2002). ii)Mergers as enhancing concentration and monopoly: The immediate effect of a Merger is to increase the degree of concentration as it reduces the number of firms. Another effect of Mergers on 8competition is on the generation of barriers to entry. Artificial barriers can be raised or strengthened, if the Merger results in a strengthening of product differentiation through legal rights in designs, patents and knowhow. Williamson (1968) argued that a small efficiency gain would generally be offset by a large increase in market power, which creates a situation that sets prices above the competitive levels. Further, the motives behind transnational or cross-border Acquisitions differ from those, which drive purely domestic Acquisitions. An Acquiring firm might decide to go in for international Merger in order to take advantage of cheap raw materials and labour, to capture profits from exchange rates, or to invest its surplus cash (Weston et al. 1996). The entry and subsequ ent activities of Multinational firms affect the structure of markets for goods and services in host countries in several different ways. Numerous studies for individual developing countries as well as developed economies indicate a positive association between TNC activities and the concentration of producers in host country industries (UNCTAD 1997: 137). Some qualifications and exceptions have also been pointed out about this trend. Greenfield investment in new production facilities adds to the number of firms engaged in the production of a good or service and it might reduce or at least, leave unchanged the concentration of producers in an industry. In contrast, FDI-entry through a Merger or Acquisition would increase the concentration of producers if a Merger or Take-over results in increased sales for the newly created foreign affiliates; or leave it unchanged, if its size is the same as that of the incumbent firm acquired(UNCTAD 1997: 141). The actual impact of an Acquisition on competition depends upon the marketing strategies of TNCs, as well as on industry and country-specific circumstances (Dunning 1993). The risk that CB MAs may reduce competition tends to be greater in those industries in which shrinking demand and 9 excess capacity are important motivations for MAs and in countries in which competition policy does not exist or where its implementation is weak (Zhan Ozawa 2001: 61). In sum, MAs as concentration enhancing and building oligopolistic market power is a rather familiar view in studies on Mergers internationally. iii) Mergers as driven by macro-economic changes: MAs areundertaken to compensate for instabilities such as wide fluctuations in demand and product mix, excess capacities related to slow sales growth and declining profit margins and technological shocks (Post 1994; Weston et al. 1996). Firms may pursue MAs for the sole reason of growing in size as size more than profitability or relative effic iency is considered to be the effective barrier against Takeovers (Singh 1975; 1992). It is also argued that the development of an active market for corporate control may encourage managers to empire build, not only to increase their monopoly power but also to progressively shield themselves from Takeover by becoming larger (Singh 2003). What is referred to herein is the defensive tactics of firms in a developing country like India. While there are firm-specific motives for undertaking CB MAs, there are also economic forces that have acted to encourage the CB MAs, such as the economic integration of the European Union (EU) and NAFTA represented by the creation of a common market (Caves1991;UNCTAD 1997). Macro-economic changes become the context or provide opportunities for MAs. Mergers may also be resorted to as defensive measures in response to major policy-shifts. iv) Mergers as driven by financial motives: Firms adopt MAs as a route to growth whenever alternative investment oppor tunities for financing corporate expansion in specific environments are less attractive. Availability of capital to finance Acquisitions and innovations in financial markets such as junk-bonds can also be among the reasons 10 for cross-border Mergers (Sudersanam 1995). The valuation differences of the share prices or economic disturbances lead to Acquisitions of firms that are low-valued from the viewpoint of outsiders (Gort 1969). Lower interest rates also lead to more Acquisitions, as Acquiring firms rely heavily on borrowed funds (Melicher et al 1983). It is also argued that the under-valuation of the dollar vis-a-vis pound and yen in the early eighties had resulted in some very substantial Acquisitions of assets in the United States by British and Japanese firms (Dunning 1993). The currency devaluations in the risis-affected countries as well as falling property prices reduced the foreign-currency costs of acquiring fixed assets in those countries and it has provided a golden opportunity for TNCs to enter their local markets (Zhan Ozawa, 2001). Our own earlier study (Beena 2001) clearly pointed out how financial motives had a crucial role in MAs during the first half of the decade of liberalisation. The study argued that among the motives for Mergers, in many cases, could have been the desire to improve the financial position of the firm through a viable capital structure and the desire of firms to exploit the opportunity provided by the initial post-liberalization buoyancy in the Indian stock market. It should not be surprising if in latest phase of contemporary finance capitalism, financial motives are also the major determinants of MAs in our country. Paul Sweezy (1994[1999]: 249) had spoken of the enormous growth of a financial superstructure atop the real productive base of the world economy [over the last three decades]. However, the linkages between a huge financial superstructure of the global capitalist economy and the financial motives of MAs in India is not so apparent and would need further exploration. Our classification of the four categories of theorisations on MAs throw light on one or the other aspect of the phenomenon. Each of them is true in its own right. However, it is context-specific studies that could substantiate the validity of each of these arguments. Motivation of cross-border acquisition There are four main reasons for Indian firms to have engaged in crossborder acquisitions, (see Acceenture, 2006). These include the need to enter new markets to maintain the current level of growth, to get closer to global customers to easily achieve market share and customer base via mergers compared to starting up new firms in foreign countries. Further, crossborder acquisitions help Indian firms to gain easier access to targets resources. Since 1995 over 60 percent of Indian MAs took place in Europe and North America; in the 2000-2006 period US firms followed by UK firms were the major target of 9 Indian acquirers. These developed markets were attractive due to their large customer base,advanced legal system, knowledge foundation, and sophisticated technologies. More importantly, acquisitions often prove to be the only way for Indian companies to be able to begin competing in these markets, due to the high level of existing competition in developed countries. However, to a lesser degree, Indian firms have also acquired firms in less developed countries. These deals are profitable because of high demand for foreign investment in some of these economies. These deals have also provided the Indian firms with access to resources Many Indian firms participate in crossborder MAs to expand their overall technical capabilities and to update their existing knowledge base. In most cases, the knowledge and technical expertise earned abroad can help the acquirers in improving their productivity in the domestic Indian market as well. Furthermore, crossboarder MAs can create excess value for Indian acquirers, relative to their competitors, by allowing them to save on labour and production costs. Some Indian firms, especially in the pharmaceutical sector, strive to increase their market share by enhancing the size of their product range or in general, to diversify the portfolio of products or services. This is possible through two avenues: buying the technology, or acquiring firms who already own that technology. Indian firms seem to have used both methods Trends of MAs: Indian Experience MA activity has seen phenomenal rise in India in the past few years and some patterns are discernible in this mass of financial transactions There are four sectors in India which have experienced the most detectable MA trend after deregulation, starting in 1991 (see Srinivasan, 2001). Consumer goods sector in which firms want to quickly achieve market share and banking and financial industry where size is an important factor due to higher capital requirements set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) experienced many mergers. Sectors that are overloaded with many small players underwent consolidation. There were two sectors within which the need for high technology increased dramatically, such as telecommunication and pharmaceutical also underwent major merger activity The motivations underlying domestic takeovers in India are similar to the ones that promoted crossborder MAs in recent years. Liberalizations and deregulations have been the main driver of domestic as well as crossborder takeovers. Political, financial, and cultural reforms have fueled both crossborder and domestic MAs in India. Why India leads China in cross-border MA? Although FDI flows to China are relatively higher than those to India, Indian firms have performed much better than their Chinese counterparts in terms of overseas MA. A McKinsey analysis shows that Indian companies generate twice as much revenue from foreign sales as Chinese companies do! Other aspects like foreign asset-ownership and number of workers employed abroad also indicate a similar trend. In the year 2007, India registered a 126% jump in amount spent on international MA deals as opposed to a mere 82% of China. Now let us see some of the specific characteristics of Indian crossborder of MAs There are a host of reasons why Indian firms have outperformed their Chinese rivals in corporate deal-making abroad. Indian MAs have several distinct characteristics compared to those done by firms in the west or from China 1) Language skills and know-how English is the official business language in India and is built into the Indian education system. Chinese, on the other hand,have always been rigid and insisted on the use of their own language. Aversion to English language led to the isolation of the Chinese industry from the international corporate world. Now China, having realised this, is making concerted efforts to switch to English as the official language of communication. Chinese undervalue the role of soft skills in managing employees, business partners, stakeholders etc. Delegation of work,transparency, objective outlook, employee growth etc are aspects that are not yet developed in the Chinese work environment. This deters foreign employees from working in Chinese firms. Western employees are used to working with a high amount of latitude and things like close supervision, no clarity regarding management policies/expectations, corporate governance issues, favouritism and high level of political interference in the routine functioning of an organisation are deeply resented by western professionals. This impedes post-merger integration of a Chinese and western firm. China lacks the kind of leaders with international cultural understanding and flexibility to adapt to different markets and work environments. Leaders that can lead all employees without giving a sense of alienation to any specific group and successfully steer cross-border organisations are visibly lacking in China. Even though the economics of the deal make perfect sense, the inability to integrate the operations and most importantly employees of the two companies, spells doom for the new entity. Inhibitions about western cultures and practices have a profound effect in that Chinese leaders are now increasingly wary of undertaking overseas assignments. They find it difficult to blend and work with completely different thought processes and working culture. The loss of face resulting from the failure to integrate prompts Chinese employees to shun overseas assignments. To overcome this, these days Chinese companies do organise mandatory international training and orientation programmes to prepare its workforce for cross-border experiences. Since Chinese companies are still vastly state-controlled, finance skills of Chinese managers are at a nascent stage yet. Indian firms however and especially the private ones have very well developed finance skills competing with some of the best in the world. Handling diversity and differences in race, religion, ideas, personalities etc is much easier for Indians as compared to Chinese due to the relatively homogeneous Chinese society. Although both nations are huge (China being much bigger), India is considered as one of the societies with the highest intra-country diversity and hence Indians are much more used to handling differences/conflicts. 2) Corporate structure Many Indian firms have corporate structures similar to those prevalent in North America. These are companies with central leadership provided by owners but managed by professional managers. In contrast, most of the large Chinese companies are still state-owned and hence riddled with bureaucracy, political objectives. Senior management of these firms is always composed of members or people close to members of the Communist Party and strategy of the firm always is in line with the policy of the Chinese government. The lower management is ineffective, weak and resentful. Hence Indian firms responses to changes in the global industry are much quicker and strategic than those of Chinese firms. Chinas IT industry tried hard to give tough competition to the booming Indian IT industry but the fragmented nature of Chinas IT sector, along with poor product management and weak process controls failed Chinas attempt. Consolidation is the key to exploring better opportunities for the Chinese IT industry since its top 10 IT-service companies command only 20% of the market share as opposed to 45% market share of Indias top 10. 3) Focus on exports Majority of Chinese companies still focus on only exports for achieving short-term growth. MA is thought of as a strategy that is best suited for long-term growth. In the period 1995-2007, only 17 out of the top 100 Chinese companies signed cross-border deals as opposed to 31 out of the top 100 Indian companies with 18 of them successfully closing more than 3 deals each. 4) Political opposition Chinese companies frequently face fierce political backlash in western countries due to a general muted feeling of distrust regarding Chinas global plans and its eagerness to take possession of international natural resource reserves. CNOOCs (Chinese state-contro