Poltical Timeline in Indonesia

1803 – First phase of  Padri War * Began in 1803 prior to Dutch Intervention and lasted until 1825 * also called the  Minangkabau War * a conflict that had broken out in Minangkabau state between the so called  adat  and  padri  religious factions. The Adats were  Minangkabau  traditionalists who wanted to continue to include indigenous pre-Islamic religious practices and social traditions in local custom (Islam Abangan). The Padris, like contemporaneous jihadists in the  Sokoto Caliphate  of West Africa), were  Islamist  reformers who had made the  hajj  to Mecca and returned  inspired to bring the Qur'an and  shariah  to a position of greater influence in Sumatra. * The Dutch intervened from 1821 and helped the Adats defeat the Padri faction. 1806 – British and Dutch went to war 1811-1816 – Thomas Stamford Raffles is Lieutenant-Governer of Java (East India   Company officer– British) 1816 – British handed Indonesia back to the Dutch Many Indonesians resisted the return of the Dutch. However the Dutch eventually defeated them and regained control 1825 – The Java War * Happened in Central Java * led by Pangeran Diponegoro (the eldest son of the sultan of Yogyakarta) * initial cause: The Dutch wanted to build a road across Diponegoro's property that  had a sacred tomb in it. * war ended with Dutch victory in 1830 1831 – Second Phase of Pad ri War * Lasted until 1838 1870-1900 – The Liberal Period 1873-1913 – The Aceh War was an armed military conflict between theSultanate of Aceh  and the  Netherlands  which was triggered by discussions between representatives of Aceh and the U. S. inSingapore  during early 1873. The war was part of a series of conflicts in the late 19th century that consolidated Dutch rule over modern-day  Indonesia, concurrent with the  1906  and the  1908  interventions in  Bali 1879 – Kartini  was born in  Jepara, today the date is commemorated as women's emancipation day in Indonesia. Raden Ayu   Kartini, (21 April 1879 – 17 September 1904), or sometimes known as  Raden Ajeng Kartini, was a prominent  Javanese  and an  Indonesian  national heroine. Kartini is known as a pioneer in the area of  women's rights  for native Indonesians. 1894 – Lombok War *   The Dutch looted and destroyed the Cakranegara palace of  Mataram . [46]  J. L. A. Brandes, a Dutch philologist discovered and saved  Nagarakretagama  manuscript in Lombok royal library. 1898 – General van Heutz  becomes chief of staff of Aceh campaign and Wilhelmina  becomes queen of the Netherlands.

Heavy Rain

Heavy Rain Trying to rescue your own son from a serial killer by completing a set of painful, heart-wrenching trials, Heavy Rain was one of the most touching and depressing (and one of the greatest) video games I have ever played showing the true nature and consequences of people’s morality when their human reasoning is put to the test. â€Å"Human reason† generally refers to the human being's capacity to use logic and make judgments related to knowledge and, depending on who you read, ethics. (Yahooansweres).In Heavy Rain, you play as Ethan Mars, a man suffering depression when one of his sons is hit and killed by a car. This leads him to try to win the affection of his now only son Shaun who is slowly growing distant from him. When his son is kidnapped by the famous Origami Killer, he is forced to go through five trials if he wants to obtain clues to where the killer and his son might be; he needs to drive at high speeds for 5 miles in a busy city without stopping, cr awl through a small tunnel of broken glass, cut off one of his fingers, drink poison†¦ and to kill a drug dealer.I want to address three points in this essay, one what Ethan’s reasoning were when attempting these trials, two, the justifications and consequences of his actions and three, how human reasoning inform the ideas of this game and why that makes this game so great. Self-mutilation, putting people in danger and murdering is all viewed on as something wrong in society; Ethan obviously is aware of it too but his devote love to his son causes his determination. When completely the tasks self mutilation, mentally and morally these tasks were the â€Å"easiest†.Ethan thinks â€Å"I would never do anything to harm or hurt myself, but I can lose a finger for my son†. He has two choices, don’t harm himself and let his son die or harm himself and save his son. Then comes driving at high speeds through a busy city without obeying the laws of traffic; n ot only does Ethan put himself in danger, but many others as well. Does he choose to rely on his driving skills and eventually drive the five miles or can he choose to back out?Choosing whether or not to kill the drug dealer must have been the hardest for Ethan; when the drug dealer begs for his life and shows him a picture of his two daughters Ethan must contemplate whether he really should kill this man. â€Å"Maybe there are other options. Maybe he’s lying. The man’s a scumbag who sells dope to kids does he really deserve to live? How can I play God and take away the life of another? So again he’s left with the two choices of letting his son die or live? are just some of the many thoughts that rush into Ethan’s head as he contemplates the choice he is about to make. Then we come to the final trial where Ethan needs to drink poison. By drinking it Ethan will only have an hour to live and attempt to save his son with the clues he has. Morally, Ethan alr eady knows that the right thing to do is to drink the poison†¦ but he contemplates whether he’ll have enough time and again contemplating that maybe there might be other options? So are Ethan’s action justified?By completing these trials Ethan saves his son and brings a serial killer to justice. At the same time he harms himself, other people and kills man. Harming himself for his son, we can see that the human reasoning of Ethan is logical here and shouldn’t be disputable. Then comes the driving, he’s putting many people’s live in danger, so now Ethan’s reasoning and morality is challenged. Is it really worth it? It’s his son, he shouldn’t’ back out and leave his son to die and a killer to go free†¦ right?But what about the innocent lives he might be taking? Then again†¦ cops get in high speed chases to catch the bad guys all the time right? If he decides to complete his task†¦ is his reasoning overa ll logical? Legally, no. Morally, most likely not, but in the ends justify the means and what needs to be is done. Now, what about choosing whether or not to kill the drug dealer; he’s a father just like him dealing with problems. Legally, we can already see that if Ethan chooses to kill him he has broken the law and morally this is wrong too.But then again the ends justify the means and just like Hiroshima, it may not have been the moral thing to do†¦ but it needed to be done. Heavy Rain isn’t just another videogame; it’s a videogame with a story to tell, a message to send. Influenced by the power of human reasoning, Quantic Dream (the developers of Heavy Rain) wanted to emphasize the importance of reasoning and how it comes to play when your morals are challenged, and Heavy Rain does a good job at sending their message; making decisions in the game that determine the final outcome aren’t easy.Unlike games like Call of Duty and Red Dead Redemption w here you’re killing enemies off left and right without a second thought, in Heavy Rain, the aesthetics and feel of the game are made to try to be realistic and mirror the realities of life. Because of that, making some decisions in the game really got me sitting on the couch with a Play Station controller in my hands asking myself â€Å"What would I do? I completed all 5 trials excepting murdering the drug dealer (haha, it was just too hard for me) and instead had to fit my clues together and try to guess where the killer was (and yeah, eventually I beat it without having to do anything in the game against my morals; and yes the happy ending made up for all the depressing events I had to go through). Yeah, I tried to tell myself that â€Å"it’s just a video game and now of this is true† but after really getting into the game’s story, it didn’t really help, my own morals were tested against me; just how this game intended it to be.In a world where life can be brutal and your morals are constantly being tested, Heavy Rain isn’t just another videogame, it’s a beautifully told story putting you in the shoes of Ethan, forcing you to make the decisions that eventually determine the outcome in the end. After finishing the game you’ll wonder â€Å"how far will I go to achieve something I desperately want? † And when your back in reality, when your morals really are tested†¦ how will you reason and contemplate the situation?

Lululemon

Luncheon is poised and well positioned to move to another level in the luxury sports apparel marketplace. While our challenges over the last 18 months have been Impacting, we have maintained profitability and have not lost significant market share. In response, our leadership team conducted environmental and organizational scans over the last 30 days. From these scans, we have identified some future strategic opportunities and challenges that when addressed, will set us up to become the #1 sports luxury apparel brand in the world.We will continue our innovation by Introducing new products lines; there is a great opportunity for us to expand Into a children's line. Another opportunity for Luncheon Is to Investigate new channel strategies In diversification of sales revenues. In tandem with these opportunities, we urgently need to address several threats inclusive of diversifying our supply chain and improving public relations to resonate our core values and brand.Our environmental sca n included a macro trends report, examination of our industry/ competition, and a comprehensive review of our stakeholders' needs and expectations. Significant macro trends worth noting Include: sustained popularity of yoga fitness for the near term, continued growth in online sales, and sustained usage of social media (with women representing a disproportionately large amount of users engaging our brand). Due to the use of petroleum and cotton products, material and labor costs for Luncheon can sometimes be unpredictable based on fluctuations in these commodity markets.Our Industry analysis Indicates that the sports apparel brand Is a $106 billion dollar Industry with the two biggest players only owning 14 recent of the market share, [See Financial Analysis Slide]. We are the top ranked premium sports apparel organization and the 5th highest ranking organization overall. Our suppliers are more than suppliers; they are partners, [See Industry/ Competitive Analysis Slide]. Our collab orative relationship with our suppliers helps us create some of the most innovative products in the market.Supplier issues with materials and manufacturing have posed an ongoing issue due to various recalls creating a drop In company stock price, which In turn, has raised concerns with dockworkers, [See stakeholder Analysis slide]. These problems have caused Luncheon to face intense scrutiny in the market and media, which eventually resulted in negative Public Relations related issues. The inability for the Public Relations department to thwart such incidents has impacted the overall product brand within the market place.With that said, the financial health of the company Is good. Net revenue for the fiscal year 2013 Increased 16% to $1. 6 billion from $1. 4 billion In fiscal 2012. The company ended with $698,649,000 cash on hand, enough to fund its operating activities. Our operational support reveals Luncheon customer satisfaction remains high despite recent and ongoing manufactur ing issues, [See Stakeholder Analysis Slide]. We possess a loyal customer base and have recently moved all of our stores from the franchise model to being ran internally to maximize on our culture.From this environmental scan, we were able to conduct a comprehensive and In-depth Internal analysis to determine how well prepared we included an operational health report, a financial report, and a review of our culture. The current organization is structured so that there is an opportunity for open immunization throughout the business, while wellness programs create high employee satisfaction. Since our inception, our culture has been about creating components for people to live long, healthy, and fun lives.This culture permeates through our employees, our in-store experience, and of course our customer base. We believe in support of the communities in which we are a part by creating various festivals, retreats and continually focusing on sustainability. Overall, our internal report sho ws we are poised for growth and have the tools to take advantage of our opportunities while meeting our challenges head on. Luncheon is the leader in luxury sports apparel. In order for us to stay the premier luxury sports apparel provider, we have to make sure we keep our core competencies aligned.Our core competencies are defined as follows: 1 . Developing innovative luxury designs, 2. Grass roots marketing, 3. Creating a motivated workforce, 4. Creating a second to none positive customer experience. Our four recommendations outlined in the beginning of the memo align perfectly with these core competencies, and our reports show we have the ability to achieve success in each area. Developing new product lines, especially focusing on a line for the youth, will assure we stay diversified.In developing these lines we can start to diversify our suppliers by finding other markets in which to partner. Currently our depth in suppliers is large, however, the diversity is nominal. Our suppl iers are primarily concentrated in one region, Asia-Pacific, leaving us susceptible to natural disasters, border wars, and other issues that can affect production, [See Stakeholder Analysis Slide]. Creating additional channels of sales will work to enhance our second to none customer experience.Working with luxury hotels and other recognizable high end partners known for great customer service will also help with our grass roots marketing along with increasing our positive public relations presence. Also, by controlling our public relations and placing an increased emphasis on it, we will be able to better position our image and brand for lasting resonance in the marketplace. We are excited for Luncheon and look forward to partnering with you on implementing these four strategic objectives that will propel our great organization to another level.

Fiber Optic Cable use in the European Market Annotated Bibliography

Fiber Optic Cable use in the European Market - Annotated Bibliography Example Moreover, the study has also found that the technology has been improved since the use of fiber optic cables was first introduced. Fiber optic cables have also been the favored choice of communication for Europeans as it has been found that they are able to handle all forms of services with optimum efficiency1. This article says that the optic fiber cable network in Europe offers speeds of up to 10 gbps and is capable of providing as many as 80 channels per cable. The additional motivation behind the heavy use has been the provision of closer spacing of transmission signals both within the frequency as well as the time domains. Fiber optic cables are also capable of transmitting over very long distances (in the range of 500-1500 kilometers) without the need for any form of regeneration midway. In fact, the study of Electronicast suggests that it is the pressure for increasing bandwidth that as been fueling the need within networking companies to opt for the fiber cabling option. The article further states that the trend has also been encouraging fresh research into developing and producing cables with higher speeds and bandwidths2. This article from min... This article from mindbranch has highlighted that the increase in demand for fiber optic cables within Europe has put a huge stress on the supply capability of manufacturers and delays up to periods of up to 1-1.5 years of less are very common. However, in anticipation of this demand and supply imbalance, some of the major network companies have entered into agreements with cable manufacturers that assures them of a periodic and timely supply of fiber optic cables during the agreement period. This has in a way helped the major industry players in getting over the problem of cable shortage. Network service providers in Europe have also sensed this problem and have given importance to the future increase in network traffic. In order to be able to cut down on the costs, they have resorted to using only a portion of the network bandwidth and have left the other parts unutilized so that they can provide for cables with higher speeds in the future without any major overhaul of the existing cabling. With an increasing demand, the total worth of optical fiber cabling in Europe will rise to $20 billion by 2010, up from the $10 billion as on 20053. Yankee (2006), a long look at optical transport: Ultra long haul and submarine systems. New York: Yankee group. It is also worth mentioning about a short article from the Yankee group that has provided information on the nature and volumes of optic fiber cables in Europe. According to them, the total length of fiber optic cables installed in Europe has increased tremendously, with Western Europe accounting for a 22% increase, which was even more than the whole of north America put together. This suggests that the use of fiber optic cables has been more preferred in Europe. Estimates put the rate at 10% by

Discussion Board - Ethics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Discussion Board - Ethics - Essay Example Using a quotation partially is a very widely spread and officially allowed technique in scientific writing, however, I am aware of the fact that like this, its author’s position might be distorted (either voluntarily or non-voluntarily, as people often tend to â€Å"interpret† opinions of others and see what they want to see). In other words, a part of quotation that is taken out of the context, can serve to support virtually any statement or idea. That is why I choose, while writing my papers, to keep in mind the norms and guidelines of scientific ethics, which presupposes that I should only use quotations when I am 100% sure that it truly reflects the idea of its author. Dilemma 2. One more issue of ethical character that I want to talk about is something that I never participated in personally but seen it in a family of my close friend – and considered it quite a complicated dilemma. The problem is the one of putting elderly people into nursing homes. To my strong belief, elderly people most of all need care and love, their family that can provide them with the feeling of security, safety, stability, and being needed. On the other hand, many aged people who are practically helpless sometimes refuse to move in with their children or grandchildren. As a result, many families with elderly relatives often find themselves in a sort of â€Å"vicious circle†: they know that their old ones need help, but cannot give this help because, say, their parents or grandparents do not want to move in with them, and the kids cannot devote enough of their time to the aged people. In this situation, many families prefer to turn to nursery homes that very often provide even better conditions than many people have at home. Elderly people are given full medical care there, they are free from any household duties and have plenty of opportunities to spend their time with people of their own

Macro11 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Macro11 - Essay Example It is the ratio that banks keep with themselves against the deposits they receive; the bank cannot just lend out all the money it receives. A lesser reserve ratio by the government would mean that the commercial banks have to keep lesser sums of money with themselves and are free to lend out more money into the economy which becomes extended through the effect of â€Å"money multiplier†. If the government’s aim is to reduce inflation it can pump less money into the economy by increasing reserve ratio for which the banks would have to abide by and keep more money with themselves. All the commercial banks lend money from the Central bank (controlled by the government or the government’s bank – at times also referred as the bank’s bank). They have to pay money for this lend money to the central bank, in what our terms we call interest, the banks when borrow from the central bank is called the discount rate. A higher discount rate would lead the banks t o borrow less from the central bank and thereby lending less to the public, which would in turn reduce the money supply in the economy. Conversely, if the federal government decides to increase the money supply, a decreased discount rate would be the option. ... The commercial banks are under the control of the central bank thereby they have to abide by the rules and regulations set by the Central bank. In this tool, there is a market of â€Å"bonds† and â€Å"money† whereby if the central bank wishes to contract the money supply, all it has to do is to print a fancy looking bond and write off an amount in it. Then it sells this bond on the written value to the commercial banks who have to buy the bonds; this reduces their money supply, in making up for their reserve ratio they have to make sure they lend out less as money has flown out of the commercial banking system onto to central bank; this has decreased the money supply in the economy. In contrast, if the federal government wishes to expand the money supply, it would purchase securities (bonds) from the central bank; the buyer gets the money and seller gets a piece of paper (Bond). In this market operation, the commercial bank has excess money to lend out because it has s old a bond, therefore after lending, through a multiplier effect the economy would enhance. This is one of the most commonplace tools used by the governments as it gives an efficient way of allocating money and it convenient without as such delays. The effect can also be forecasted depending on the values of the multiplier. It’s all a study about the state of the economy that will determine the success of any of these tools, but as statistics tell us, this has so far been the most effective tool used by governments today. Answer 2: In case of an easy money policy, the government simply decides to reduce the interest rates: As the interest rate falls from 10% to 8%, there becomes an excess demand for money as we move down the same supply â€Å"S1† curve for money. This excess

Chinese and Filipino American History in America Essay

Chinese and Filipino American History in America - Essay Example Both Chinese and Filipino immigrants followed different paths but faced similar hardships when coming to America. They also had their own unique experiences. Chinese sailors arrived in Hawaii in 1778 where many settled and married Hawaiian women. Immigration continued into the 19th and 20th century as additional Chinese and Filipino workers were brought in to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations. The mid-1800s saw a surge in Asian immigration as many were brought in to work in California. Along with this surge in Asian immigration came a growing discrimination, anti-Chinese activism, and a fear called yellow peril. A relatively large group of Chinese came to the United States beginning in 1849, the start of the California gold rush. They stayed on and increased in numbers to work on the Transcontinental Railroad. Their work ethic is best described by Mary Cone writing in 1876 when she says they were, "[...] far more earnest and faithful than any other miners. [...] [T]hey enjoy the universal reputation of conscientious fidelity" (as cited in Mary Cone, 2003). However, when the economy faltered in 1870 the loss of jobs and competition for scarce jobs brought, "dislike and even racial suspicion and hatred. Such feelings were accompanied by anti-Chinese riots and pressure, especially in California, for the exclusion of Chinese immigrants from the United States" (Chinese immigration, 2004). During this period, a political party called The Workingman's Party was started in San Francisco with the slogan, "The Chinese Must Go" (The workingmen's party). This political pressure resulted in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which virtually ended Chinese immigration for over a century. With the loss of employment and mounting discrimination, the Chinese moved to a safe sanctuary in San Francisco that would later become known as Chinatown. In this neighborhood, they were able to provide a close knit social structure and offer community support to families and each other. It also allowed them to organize into a political faction that opposed anti-Chinese laws. Here, the Chinese community has maintained the Chinese values and cultural traditions and has developed a thriving Asian-American community inside San Francisco. Though the Filipinos took a different route to their American destination, their experiences and challenges were similar to the Chinese. The first permanent settlement of Filipinos was in the marshlands of Louisiana in 1763 as sailors escaped Spanish ships to escape their brutal treatment (Claudio-Perez, 1998). Steady immigration continued into the west coast throughout the 19th century, but the largest wave came between 1924 and 1935 when more than 100,000 Filipinos flooded into America to work in the booming agricultural business (Asian Pacific American studies, 2005). Filipinos settled mostly in large West Coast cities such as San Francisco and Seattle where the ships from Manila would land (Bautista, 2002). Most of them worked in the fields of California and Washington harvesting seasonal crops. In general, they were a migrant group that followed the crops through the seasons, and only settled for short periods in near ghetto conditions of 'Little Manilas". During the season, the population of the Little Manila in Seattle would shrink to a few hundred people, but in the winter it would be home for 3,500 occupants (Bautista, 2002). Here they would be located near the center of vice and entertainment. Because

DQ2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

DQ2 - Essay Example Job analysis is basically concerned with establishing the qualities and roles needed for an individual to perform the job and these range from qualifications, physical as well as mental capabilities. In the practice of HRM, this information is very useful as it would enable the recruiter to select the best candidate for the job from a pool of other applicants. Without detailed information about job analysis, it would be difficult to conduct job description which is very important in determining the position held by an employee as well as remuneration. If an employee is fully aware of the position he or she holds in the company, there would be less chances of confusion and duplication of duties since all the workers would be aware of the positions they hold within an organisation. The information gathered from a job analysis is very crucial in that it determines the value of a job within the organisation thereby allowing the management to make informed decisions in terms of compensation and benefits to the workers. Usually a salary that is commensurate with a person’s qualifications and skills is determined from information obtained from conducting a job analysis. The process of conducting a job analysis is also important in that it promotes good relations within an organisation. It often helps the organisation to be more objective in making performance appraisals as well as making informed decisions when employees are considered for promotion or even demotion. A well prepared job analysis is always advantageous in that it can help the employer to prove that any action that may be taken regarding employees would be legal. In most cases, decisions made from information obtained from a job analysis are often regarded as objective with little chances of b ias since they would be relying on practical data. 2. In recruitment of employees, there are

How is recycling affecting interior design Essay

How is recycling affecting interior design - Essay Example inputs (lowering the consumption of raw materials and energy) and outputs (waste that goes to landfills) of a production system (Letsrecycle.Com 2006). A study by the Technical University of Demark studied 55 products in household rubbish, comparing the effects of burning, burying and recycling them. The results proved that recycling was the most efficient way to do with the waste more than 80% of the times, providing a worthwhile energy savings in comparison with production from raw materials: 95% economy for aluminium, 70% fro plastics and 40 % for paper (Economist 2007). Since 1970s recycling is associated with the notions of sustainable design (also green or ecological design) and sustainable community development. According to Green Supply Line (2007), â€Å"Sustainable design is a comprehensive, holistic approach to creating products and systems that are environmentally benign, socially equitable, and economically viable: environmentally, such that the design offers obvious or measurable environmental benefits; socially, so that it fills the needs of everyone involved in its production, use and disposal or reuse; and economically, so that the design is competitive in the marketplace.† Pellow, Schnaiberg and Weinberg (2000) suggest that recycling has become a model of sustainable community development while it has environmental, economic and social benefits, where economic one plays, perhaps, the crucial role (p.7-8). Today recycling is one of the major requirements of sustainable design and sustainable community development. For instance, Santa Monica Green Building Program names â€Å"recycling of demolition & construction waste in construction contracts† and specification of recycled products per EPA purchasing guidelines among its requirements to materials and envelope and space planning (Santa Monica.org). Recycling, together with efficient reduction and reuse of resources (materials and energy) is underlined as one of the major principles in most of the

Prison-Building in the UK Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Prison-Building in the UK - Essay Example How a job is going to be attained is an issue that relates mainly to procurement. There are three different main routes of procurement which one could follow. The first option is perhaps the most obvious, PFI (private finance initiative) procurement, is classic and actually quite attractive. For the purposes of this project, PFI will not be used. However it is helpful to know what it is exactly. Private finance initiatives are usually used when the public sector arranges to buy services, with very empirically-based outcomes from the private sector. This is ongoing for a long time, which includes the maintenance and/or construction of the appropriate designs so that management by the private sector is maximized by the private finance being at a high risk. Next, which is not as innately apparent, is prime contracting. In this instance, a sole contractor is in the place of being the point man for a client in the public realm to produce deliverable goods-such as a completed construction project with budgetary constraints. The next and final procurement option is design and build, wherein one contractor, also indebted to a client in the public realm, has a single outcome specified. Unlike the prime contracting model, there is no pre-agreed cost data. Basically, the fact that these prisons are not being built with private finance initiative procurement is problematic. First, the fact that the money being spent would be taken from private funding would ensure that the public was not being swindled. Secondly, if something went wrong with the project, the money being spent would not be public monies. In fact, the fact that the monies that will be spent are public monies is highly problematic. How then does the prison industry make sure that it is being faithful to its intended purpose (housing prisoners). Someone, if this is public funds being used, must be kept accountable in terms of how the public's money or tax dollars are being spent. Private finance initiative pro curement monies would be safer to use because if the money is not utilized properly, the private sector could more easily sue for damages. However, since the money is the public's money, the public does not necessarily have a representative in place to represent their interests, needs, and wants with regard to how the project is coming along. In this way, there is much more potential for abuse when it comes to the public's money being spent on the prison programme. SECTION II. III. Question II In the opinion of Ramus, et. al. (2006), "After a client has selected an appropriate procurement strategy for his building project, the next stage will be a review of how best to obtain the resources that will be necessary for him to have the work carried out. In most instances, client organizations will have limited skills and resources" (pp. 68). There are four different types of contracts which could be utilized in this situation: a contract based on bills of

Defining Interpersonal Communication Essay Example for Free

Defining Interpersonal Communication Essay When asked to distinguish interpersonal communication from communication in general, many people say that interpersonal communication involves fewer people, often just two. according to this definition, an exchange between a homeowner and plumber would be interpersonal, but a conversation involving parents and four children would not. although interpersonal communication often involves only two or three people, this isn’t a useful definition. Perhaps you are thinking that intimate contexts define interpersonal communication. using this standard, we would say that a couple on a first date in a romantic restaurant engages in more interpersonal communication than an established couple in a shopping mall. The best way to define interpersonal communication is by focusing on what happens between people, not where they are or how many present.In simple way, we can say that interpersonal communication is a distinct type of interaction between people. Barriers to Effective Interpersonal Communication One way of looking at communication barriers is to divide them into internal and external barriers, or environmental barriers. It is important to be aware of all the possible barriers to communication, and to consider how these can be overcome, so that effective interaction can take place either in business or at a personal level. Psychological Barriers Psychological barriers may include shyness or embarrassment. Sometimes, a person may present herself as being abrupt or difficult when she may actually be nervous. One persons stereotyped views of the other party or the group he belongs to may also provide a barrier to communication. If she is already prejudiced before meeting him, this will cause a barrier. Cultural Barriers Acceptable styles of communication vary between cultures. In some societies physical gestures are extravagant, and touch is more acceptable. In these societies, it is generally acceptable to hug and touch a persons arm when you are speaking to him. In other societies this would be unacceptable. Some religions have a taboo about members of the opposite sex communicating and particularly touching. Casual hugging and kissing would be completely unacceptable. Language Barriers A communication barrier may be present because the parties do not share a common language. Interpreters and translators may be used to good effect in these circumstances. If a person is deaf or visually impaired, this presents an obvious barrier that needs to be addressed prior to the meeting. Speech impediments or dysphasia as a result of a stroke or other brain problem can present a barrier. The use of jargon and over-complicated language creates barriers to communication. Environmental Barriers Environmental barriers to communication can include noise and lack of privacy. An environment which is too hot or cold will not be conducive to effective communication. Some places of business are busy with many distractions, such as constantly ringing telephones and other messaging systems. Three internal barriers that could affect your communication * Negative emotions * Low self-esteem * Lack of commitment The negative emotions from previous experiences, if not released, continue to hunt us and get expressed when we expect less. They are triggered by similar situations that show up in our life, without consciously recognizing them. Did it occur to you to get upset or raise the tone of your voice for something that†¦ was not really a big deal? It could be one of those situations, that triggered past emotions not released. As long as you don’t identify and release them, they could affect your interpersonal communication since others won’t really know from where your overreaction is coming from. Low self-esteem takes a huge toll on interpersonal communication. Not having the courage to express your ideas (because you believe they’re not worthy), could send a different message than the one you want to project. It might mislead other people, leaving them to believe whatever they want (which might be different from what you want). Low self-esteem could also show up as lack of confidence, or by not taking responsibility for your own actions. Do I have to mention the impact on the interpersonal communication?! Who would like to spend more time or collaborate with someone who doesn’t take responsibility for his actions? Or who does not trust himself, and is waiting for help all the time? Lack of commitment comes usually from not knowing what you want, or from not having the courage to take the right actions. Lack of commitment plays a huge role in interpersonal communication, since its so easy to spot it†¦ and no one likes it. How to communicate effectively with someone who is not committed, who doesn’t pay attention or simply ignores you? If you found yourself at least once in the situations listed above, when do you think it’s the best time to work on your own issues: when a similar situation occurs? or in advance, so you are better prepared to communicate more effectively in any situation?

Culture of Pakistan Essay Example for Free

Culture of Pakistan Essay The 17th century Badshahi Mosque built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore The society and culture of Pakistan (Urdu: Ø «Ã™â€šÃ˜ §Ã™ Ã˜ ª Ù ¾Ã˜ §Ãš ©Ã˜ ³Ã˜ ªÃ˜ §Ã™â€ Ã¢â‚¬Å½) comprises numerous diverse cultures and ethnic groups: the Punjabis, Kashmiris, Sindhis in east, Muhajirs, Makrani in the south; Baloch and Pashtun in the west; and the ancient Dardic, Wakhi, and Burusho communities in the north. These Pakistani cultures have been greatly influenced by many of the surrounding countries cultures, such as the Turkic peoples, Persian, Arab, and other South Asian ethnic groups of the Subcontinent, Central Asia and the Middle East. In ancient times, Pakistan was a major cultural hub. Many cultural practices and great monuments have been inherited from the time of the ancient rulers of the region. One of the greatest cultural influences was that of the Persian Empire, of which Pakistan was a part. In fact, the Pakistani satraps were at one time the richest and most productive of the massive Persian Empire. Other key influences include the Afghan Empire, Mughal Empire and later, the short-lived but influential, the British Empire. Pakistan has a cultural and ethnic background going back to the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed from 2800–1800 B.C., and was remarkable for its ordered cities, advanced sanitation, excellent roads, and uniquely structured society. Pakistan has been invaded many times in the past, and has been occupied and settled by many different peoples, each of whom have left their imprint on the current inhabitants of the country. Some of the largest groups were the Proto-Indo-Aryans, of which Sindhis and Punjabis descend from and later Iranic peoples which the Baloch and Pashtuns descend from. Other less significant ones include the Greeks, Scythians, Persians, White Huns, Arabs, Turks, Mongols, Buddhists, and other Eurasian groups, up to and including the British, who left in the late 1940s. The region has formed a distinct cultural unit within the main cultural complex of South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia from the earliest times, and is analogous to Turkeys position in Eurasia.[1] There are differences in culture among the different ethnic groups in matters such as dress, food, and religion, especially where pre-Islamic customs differ from Islamic practices. Their cultural origins also reveal influences from far afield, including Tibet, Nepal, India, and eastern Afghanistan. All groups show varying degrees of influence from Persia, Turkestan and Hellenistic Greece. Pakistan was the first region of South Asia to receive the full impact of Islam and has developed a distinct Islamic identity, historically different from areas further west.[1] Ancient sites in Pakistan include: Zoroastrian Fire temples, Islamic centres, shia shrines/Sufi shrines, Buddhist temples, Sikh, Hindu, and pagan temples and shrines, gardens, tombs, palaces, monuments, and Mughal and Indo-Saracenic buildings. Sculpture is dominated by Greco-Buddhist friezes, and crafts by ceramics, jewellery, silk goods and engraved woodwork and metalwork. Pakistani society is largely multilingual, multi-ethnic and multicultural. Though cultures within the country differ to some extent, more similarities than differences can be found, as most Pakistanis are mainly of Aryan heritage or have coexisted side by side along the Indus River for several thousand years, or both. However, over 60 years of integration, a distinctive Pakistani culture has sprung up, especially in the urban areas where many of the diverse ethnic groups have coexisted and ithe country now having a literacy rate of 55%, up from 3% at the time of independence. Traditional family values are highly respected and considered sacred, although urban families increasingly form nuclear families, owing to socio-economic constraints imposed by the traditional culture of the extended family. The past few decades have seen emergence of a middle class in cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Quetta, Faisalabad, Sukkur, Peshawar, Sialkot, Abbottabad, and Multan. Rural areas of Pakistan are regarded as more conservative, and are dominated by regional tribal customs dating back hundreds if not thousands of years. Pakistans culture is again unique like the rest of the country. Pakistans geography is the meeting point of South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia/Gulf. Its culture could be termed as a combination of sub continental, Islamic, Regional, English, and more recently global influences. Let us consider them piecemeal. The newly born Pakistan had to have a sub continental leaning, having been a part of for last 5000 years of its civilization. However, the Indus Valley, present day Pakistan, culture was different from the rest of North India or South India. (Quoted Pakistans Identity, History and Culture, from the famous book Gwadar on the Global Chessboard by Nadir Mir)

Commercial Casino Industry

Commercial Casino Industry Commercial Casino Industry has been occurring in United States over 75 years since Nevada legalizing it. When Chef Wolfgang initiated to out fine dining restaurant in commercial casino, this is the beginning of food and beverage revolution in industry in 1992. In 1995, American Gaming Association was created. MGM Mirage acquired Mandalay Resort Group, Harrahs Entertainment Inc. and Caesar Entertainment in 2005 and the commercial casino industry started booming and other states started legalize opening casinos since then. The international gaming industry is expanding. Many U.S. casino companies expanded or planned to expand to other countries such as Macao, Korea, Taiwan and Singapore. The international casino industry tends to have rapidly growth as gross gaming revenue in Macao has been more than gross gaming revenue in Las Vegas strip since 2006. Know your enemy and know yourself, and in a hundred battles you will never be defeated. (Sun Tzus The Art of War Writings). This Chinese wisdom of warfare probably helps companies deploy a better strategy in many business situations. The MGM Mirage Inc. is the largest company in the Hotel and Casio industry by revenue in the U.S., but MGM financial statement showed that company bottom-line in debt. The company was facing bankruptcy code in the early 2010. In this project, the report had been organized and presented MGM Mirage Inc. or MGM Resorts International in 4W framework: (1) Who are we? (Company profile, Hotel and Casino industry profile), (2) Where are we? (Sophisticated tools in Management, Technology, Marketing, Financial and Accounting were used to analyze the company position with competitor in the industry.), (3)What are problems? (SWOT analysis) and (4) What are solutions? Who are we? : Know yourself MGM History The Beginning of Las Vegas Race: 2005: MGM Merged Mandalay Bay Group. MGM Profile in 2009 Organization Structure Company Strategy The MGM Mirage Inc. strategy is to generate sustainable, profitable growth by creating and maintaining competitive advantages and through the execution of our business plan, which is focused on: Owning, developing, operating and strategically investing in a strong portfolio of resorts; Operating our resorts in a manner that emphasizes the delivery of excellent customer service with the goal of maximizing revenue and profit; and Leveraging our strong brands and taking advantage of significant management experience and expertise. (Source: MGM Mirage 2010 Form 10-K) Current Operation As of 2009, the MGM Mirage reported that the company has completed control of 14 casino resorts and hold 50% of investment in 5 casino resorts. In addition, the MGM Mirage also owned 3 golf courses in Las Vegas, Mississippi and California.(Source: MGM Mirage 2010 Form 10-K) Casio Resort ( Completely owned) Nevada MGM Grand Las Vegas Mandalay Bay The Mirage Excalibur Monte Carlo Railroad Pass, Henderson Gold Strike, Jean Luxor Bellagio New York New York Circus Circus Las Vegas Other MGM Grand Detroit Beau Rivage , Biloxi, Mississippi Gold Strike Tunica ,Mississippi Casio Resort ( hold 50% in stock) Nevada City Center (Joint Venture with Dubai World) Circus Circus Reno Siler Legacy Other Borgata, Atlantic City, NJ Gran Victoia , Elgin, IL MGM Grand Macau, China Industry Analysis Industry Analysis process is an essential assessment tools for every company to deeply understand industry current trends and opportunities. In fact, company will gain a better position and achieve a competitive advantage when it truly understanding marketplace. In the complex marketplace, the U.S. government is categorized industry with 4-digits Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system. In addition to SIC, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is a new standard for the industry. The NAICS with 6-digits code contains more details than the SIC system. The purpose of SIC and NAICS are economy analysis. The MGM Mirage Inc. has been classified with SIC into three major categories: Hotels and Motels (SIC 7011), Coin-Operated Amusement Devices (SIC 7993) and Amusement and Recreation Services, Not Elsewhere Classified (SIC 7999). In addition, the MGM Mirage inc. also has been classified with NAICS into two categories: All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries and Hotels (except Casino Hotels) (713990) and Motels (721110). To thoroughly understand MGM Mirage Inc. marketplace, the hotel industry and casino industry had been analyzed. Hotels and Motels Industry (SIC 7011) The U.S. government defined a company in Hotels and Motels Industry as Commercial establishments, known to the public as hotels, motor hotels, motels, or tourist courts, primarily engaged in providing lodging, or lodging and meals, for the general public. Hotels which are operated by membership organizations and open to the general public are included in this industry. Hotels operated by organizations for their members only are classified in Industry 7041. Apartment hotels are classified in Real Estate, Industry 6513; rooming and boarding houses are classified in Industry 7021; and sporting and recreational camps are classified in Industry 7032. Recession impacts hotel industry In May 2010, Standard Poors industry report stated the hotel industry is still in an unstable condition. The industry will require a longer period to recover from the 2008 recession. Currently, the industry is operating in a difficult situation. The hotel industry is facing drastic competition that forces hotel businesses to lower room rates, which in turn results in lower profit. The data from Smith Travel Research (STR) Inc. indicated that on average the hotel industry has lost its Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) since 2008. The 2008 recession has also brought the hotel occupancy rate down from 60% to 55%. In addition, average daily roommate also dropped significantly 8.8% in 2009. Moreover, room demand dropped 6% in 2009. In contrast, the supply of rooms rose 3.2% in 2009 (refer to figure1). While the U.S. government is making their way out from 2008 recession, SPs forecasted that the hotel industry will not return to the same pre-recession level for the next eight to ten years. Real GDP helps the hotel industry in predicting room demand In the hotel industry, a high accuracy in room demand elasticity estimation provides CEO with essential information for a long term planning and deploying strategies. In 2009, the research by Dr. Hanson from Global Hospitality Group Hospitality Lawyers shows approximately a 1-to-1 relationship that holds between the U.S. Real GDP and room demand until the 2001 economic crisis. The real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total output of goods and services produced in a country and adjusted for priced change. The demand is more elastic when the greater the proportion of income spent on the good. After the 2001 recession, the demand retract and continue to grow in a slower pace when compare with the real GDP. The GDP is increasing 4 times faster than the room demand does. The 5 factors that researcher believes that might have an influence GDP and room demand relationship are: Long-term deterioration in consumer confidence, Higher consumer saving rate, consumers trying to recover lost investment, new pattern of behavior and proposed levels of tax increase affecting disposable income. Moreover, in the 2008 recession, the researcher also believes that the recession might create an additional snap back for room demand. U.S. Business and group travel The hotel industry profitability can be influenced by a demand from business travel. According to a member survey, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) reports hotel expense represents, on average, 40% of all business travel expense. In addition, American Express stated that airfare will increase from 2% to 10% in 2011, and hotel rates will increase 1% to 10% (Paurowski, 2010). The survey also indicated that 35% of its member strongly considered optimizing hotel expense in 2011 and 50% of its member expressed concern regard increasing in expenses. Passenger Name Record (PNR) in Computer Reservation System (CRS) showed that cooperate travelers have shifted booking methods from Travel Management Companies (TMCs) to Online Travel Agency (OTA). In fact, 30% of its members stated that online hotel rates offered are lower than negotiated rates. The complementary items that are preferred by the majority corporate travelers are: complementary cocktails, free WiFi-internet ac cess and comfort. In conclusion, the demand for business and group travel will likely be for cheaper rooms at lower rates with free complementary. (Michael Boult, 2010). Domestic and international travelers Shifts in airline schedules and passenger booking have a direct impact on hotel occupancy. According to the data from Air Transport Association (ATA) 2010 annual report, the static in figure 3 shows that domestic capacity had a declining trend since 2000, and the data also showed that passenger enplaned has dropped significantly from 743 million passengers in 2008 to 703 million in 2009 reflecting a 5.3% decrease of airline industry capacity. In fact, profit margin in the airline industry has been on the negative side. Airliners cut back routes and canceled destinations. For international travelers, The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) expect the industry growth in 2010 and gradual increase to approximately 6-9% through 2015. Five countries, excluding Canada and Mexico, that rank highest in number of visitors to the U.S. in 2010 by volume are: China (40%), Brazil (35%), Korea (35%), Hong Kong (27%), New Zealand (24%) and Australia (19%). A weakening in U.S. currency helps the hotel industry by stimulating the demand from international travelers. Medical tourism -a little hope for the hotel industry In the economic downturn, hotel industry needs a stimulant plan to boot-up its occupancy rate. In 2009, Reuters Health section provided some interesting facts about medical tourism in the U.S. The report indicated that U.S. health providers have lost 650,000 patients to hospital oversea such as Thailand, India, and Singapore. In addition, the health providers are predicted to lose as much as $67.7 billion in revenue in 2010. Oscar Goodman, Mayor of Las Vegas, foresee the opportunity for the hotel industry in Las Vegas. Mayor encourages a local business to support the idea of medial tourism. The medical tourism will be an alternative business in the area, the national public radio reported. Casio Industry Casinos are the largest revenue generator in the gambling industry. The industry provided approximately 350,000 jobs in the U.S. market. The American Gaming Association and the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) are the main organizations in the U.S. casino industry. The AGA encourages its members and their employee to be aligned with updated law and regulations. Moreover, AGA is a realizable source for a gaming industry providing gaming history, educational program, and statistic data on the Casino industry. In addition, the NIGA under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act has provided Native Americans opportunities to legally run casinos. U.S. casino trends The casino industry has been hard-hit by the recession. According to the United States department of labor, the Mass Layoff statistics (MLS) program showed that the hotel-casino industry eliminated 13,000 jobs in 2008 (Labor, 2010). The revenue trend in the casino industry has been on a downturn for the last two consecutive years. The SP expected a slow recovery from the casino industry. Las Vegas, Nevada As of 2009, the American Gaming Association reported that Las Vegas with $5.55 billion in revenue was a dominant U.S. market. According to Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the statistic in figure 5 showed a 2.4% increase in the number of visitors from 2009. The Las Vegas Strip gaming revenue was increased by 4.3%, but the downtown area gaming revenue was decreased by -7.3% from 2009. In 2009, the 14% unemployment rate in the state Nevada plummeted the economic trail. On a carryover impact from the economic crisis in 2008, the number of attendees at conventions, and a number of scheduled conventions and number of meetings held remained on the decline with decreases of -1.1% and -6.7% respectively. According to the Las Vegas Visitor Profile, Market Segment reported by LVCVA (2009) that 76% of Casino guests were most likely to be traveling in a party of two and average stay in Las Vegas is 4 nights. Casino guests on LVCVA survey stated that 87% of visitors called the hotel-casino directly to book their accommodation. In 2010, SPs industry report estimated casino revenue on the Strip to be 35%-45% of total revenues, and the revenue from hotel rooms was 20-30% of the total revenue. A total enplaned and deplaned air passenger continued to decline. The number of air travelers accounts for 42% of all visitors. (LVCVA visitor profile: ir visitor version). The SPs report indicated strong growth from Las Vegas. Atlantic City, New Jersey The Atlantic City is a second large of the U.S. casino marketplace. The static in figure 4 shows that casinos in the area have been losing revenue -5.7%, -7.6% and 13.2% in three consecutive years. According to SP, casinos in Atlantic City are facing heavily competition from New York and Pennsylvania. Macau, China: New Era of Asia Gold rush Macau is a special administrative region of China. The CIA The World Factbook reported that, in 2006, Macaus gaming revenue surpassed that of the Las Vegas strip, and gaming-related taxes accounted for more than 70% of total government revenue. The Macau market attracted many casino operators from Las Vegas to come and establish a new home-based outside the U.S. In 2010, the profit in Macau market increased 9.7% in revenue from its loss in 2009. The gaming industry in Macau was expected to rise, but, SP reported a concern about the room surplus of 40% in 2011 and 2012. In the long-term, SP still believes that the Macau gaming industry will generate a significant profit for China. Singapore: A hidden dragon Singapore is the one of the most strategic locations in South-East Asia. According to Economy Watch and World Bank, Singapore is considered to be a very attractive country for new business. Sources in the Wall Street Journal on October 7, 2010 reported that the Marina Bay Sands project is a 8-billion dollar casino in Singapore, known to be the cleanest city in the world. The casino includes three 50-story structure with approximately 2,500 rooms; a casino, retail stores, dining and 800,000 square feet entertainment complex. The SP 2010 industry report predicted that the top five markets for Singapore casinos are: Indonesia, China, Australia, India and Malaysia. In addition, the Marina Bay Sands should have no effect on Macau market because the hotel presents a more family-orientated appeal. Legal and Regulation Internet/Online gambling Online gambling is illegal in the U.S. as of November, 2010. Internet Gambling Regulation, Consumer Protection, and Enforcement Act (H.R. 2266) was introduced to congress in May 2009 by Frank, Barney (Rep). The bill is aimed to Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, which prohibits internet gambling operators from receiving money related to any online gambling that violates State or Federal law (Frank, 2010). Online gambling is also on a serious debate among AGA members regarding a safety and government regulation. The concerns regarding an online gambling are a security technology such as firewall to protect million online users. Summary Key Fact from Industry Analysis Room demand dropped because economic recession. Occupancy rate dropped because dropped in demand and increasing room surplus. Real GDP could be used as atool for the hotel industry to future demand. Business Travel booking trends changed from Travel agency to online travel agency. China is a number one inbound visitor by volume from oversea. Medical tourism could be an alternative route for simulating demand. Gaming on Las Vegas Strip continues generating profit. Atlantic City market for casino is not pleasant after loss in profit of 3 consecutive years. Macau is growing and generated more revenue than Las Vegas Strip. Singapore could be a new growing casino market in South-East Asia. Legalize an online gambling is an ongoing process. Casino Market: Oligopoly Market Competition In 2009, the casinos industry had revenue in total of $US 21.8 billion. To determine an economic competitive type of market in the industry, the company uses a four-firm concentration ratio as the indicator. The ratio is the percentage of total industry sales made by the four largest firms (Fig. 4). The four-firm ratio for the casinos industry is approximately 70%, which had created an oligopoly form of market competition. In oligopoly, one firm decision can have a direct influence on demand, price, and profit of competitor in the industry. Figure 5: Companies in the casino industry by revenue Furthermore, external assessment of the industry is a critical process for management in decision making. The Porters Five-Forces Model, competitive analysis tool, has been utilized for in-depth industry analysis. The model analysis is provided five perspectives in assessing the industry: Rivalry among competing firms, Potential entry of new competitor, Potential development of substitute products, Bargaining power of suppliers, and Bargaining power of consumers. Porters Five-Forces Model Analysis Rivalry among existing competitors: MGM : Rivalry among existing competitors : HIGH Same-size competitors High exit barrier Indifferent in product and service among competitors Table x: Threat of existing competitors The competitive atmosphere in hotel industry is high. There are a lot of competitors in industry. Furthermore, it seems that competitors compete in same dimension because in commercial casino industry, customers are not much diverse. Therefore, players in this industry found it hard to target different customers with different needs There are a lot of competitors with equal power and size. Exit barrier in commercial casino industry is high because a company invests huge amount of money, especially, building cost. Even a company wants to exit from the industry, sometimes it force to stay in because exit costs are high. Product and service in commercial casino industry are identical. Moreover, there is no switching cost for buyers. Thus, competitor might cut price to attract buyers. Fixed costs are high. In order to compete in hotel industry, a casino manager adopts revenue management. The process allows buyers to stay in same type of room in different price. Even a hotels products and service are not rapidly become outdated but competitive atmosphere in commercial casino industry is hot, therefore, companies cannot make high profit from this industry. Threat of new entrants: The threat of new entrants for hotel and motels industry is low. The industry has significant barriers to entry which include: MGM : Threat of new entrants : LOW Supply-side economies of scale Demand-side benefits of scale Customers switching costs Capital requirements Restrictive government policy Position advantages independent of size Unequal access to distribution channels Table x: Threat of new entrants Supply-side economies of scale: In commercial casino industry these economies hardly appear. Even a company built more rooms or more recreations in its casino, these economies will not appear. Moreover, the company has to carry more cost, more maintenance cost and more employees cost. Demand-side benefits of scale (network effects): These benefits occur when the numbers of buyer patronize the company. However, these benefits might not occur in commercial casino industry. In commercial casino industry, a company will find advantages in location, facilities and characteristics of personal working in direct contract with customers. Therefore, having a lot of customers patronize a company will not provide huge demand-side benefits of scale. Customers switching costs: In commercial casino industry, when customers purchase service from a casino, it is one time use. Therefore, there is no switching cost. Capital requirements: In order to enter commercial casino industry, a company needs to finance huge budget and the industry return is not attractive. Thus this industry has high barrier. Position advantages independent of size: These advantages are not depends on a companys size, incumbents can have competitive advantages that not available to competitors. These advantages in commercial casino industry can stem from locations, brand identities and service. Unequal access to distribution channels: It is not hard to establish or find distribution channels in commercial casino industry. A company could use agents or let customer books rooms via its websites. Restrictive government policy: There might be some restriction related to commercial industry such in some area government do not allow a company to build a building that higher than 2 floors or in some countries, a company has to has citizens hold more than half of a companys shares to operate in that country. In U.S., commercial casino industry is the most regulated and monitored industry. The threat of substitutes: MGM : Threat of substitutes : HIGH Competitor Table x: Threat of substitutes There are some substitutes for commercial casino such as hostels, apartments or houses. Customers can stay in hostel, apartment or houses and go to gaming or using recreation facilities at casinos. If buyers concern convenience, they might prefer casino. Because they will have maids clean their room and casinos always locate in a convenience location. If buyers concerns price, they might stay in hostel. However, if buyers concern privacy, they might prefer house. There is no cost of switching to substitute. Buyers can change to substitutes anytime if they would like. Hostels, apartments and house can be substitutes for casinos. They perform similar products and service to casinos, if you concern only hospitality part. However, there are some differences which made substitutes have huge different from hotels. Buyers have to determine trade-off between hotels and substitutes. In this industry, the threat of substitutes is not high because substitutes have too many differences in facilities and service from casinos. Thus, industrys profitability is not suffered from substitutes. The power of suppliers: If suppliers have power over a company, suppliers might set its price higher, limit quality of service and shift its cost to other parties. In commercial casino industry, a company uses wide range of different suppliers such as supplier for construction, supplier for food and beverages and supplier for hotel equipment. There is almost no monopoly in hotel suppliers. Moreover, only a few supplies that have switching cost such as securities equipment and suppliers did not differentiate their products. The company has to differentiate itself by choosing good location, providing well-maintenance facilities and providing supreme service. Furthermore, the company can easily find substitute suppliers. Therefore, the power of suppliers in commercial casino industry is low. The power of buyers: MGM : The Power of Buyer : Table x: The power of buyer There are various customers in commercial casino industry. However, there are some buyers that have ability to negotiate such as group tour. Products and service in commercial casino industry are not much different. If customers find that a hotel that they always stay in is full, they have to stay in other hotel. They have to purchase products and service in some hotel anyway. Buyers have no switch cost. If buyers want to change from a hotel to a hotel, they can just check-in to another hotel without any switching cost. Buyers cannot produce industrys product if buyers found that a hotel is too profitable. Buyers can switch to other hotels but they cannot produce it by their selves. In commercial casino industry, buyers do not stick with brands. Buyers might concerns about quality of product and service. If they find another casino that cheaper but quality and facility are same, they will switch to another casino. In sum, in commercial casino industry, buyers are relatively price sensitive. From analysis given above, buyers in commercial casino industry have high power and seem to be price sensitive. They can press companies to lower their price and can ask for more quality and service. Financial and Accounting Analysis The financial information was published annually to external and internal users. MGM Mirage Inc. financial statements had been analyzed using financial ratio analysis and information in management discussion. The median number of industry ratio in 2009 is used in this report. By the nature of hotel business, MGM contains a high fix-cost in normal business operation and profits are driven by tourism and business travel demand. MGM requires a large capital to run its hotels and casinos. In 2010, MGM is in process of development a City Center, a capital intensive driven project. The delayed of City Center project has enormous impact on MGM financial statement. Liquidity and Financial Position Credit Risk: Facing Bankruptcy As of December 31, 2009, MGM is in a weak financial position because of its indebtedness. MGM with credit rating of CCC+ operated the business with 39% on the long-term debt. The management team declared unpleasant statement about the $1.1 billion senior credit facility debt which might be defaulted on maturity date in 2010. The management suggests that MGM must extent the payback period by negotiating with their creditors. Also, management has predicted that future revenue from operation and tax refunds would help reducing MGM debt. The current and quick ratio indicated that MGM has had insufficient fund to operate its casino since 2005. With the ratio less than 1 and below the industry average in both current ratio and quick ratio, MGM has been operated on the line of bankruptcy if the company defaults on its debt. Revenue base and mix MGM primary source of revenue came from Las Vegas Strip. As December 31, 2009, the majority of MGM revenue came from three sources: casino (44%), hotel room (23%), and food beverage (23%). Casino revenue dropped 12% from 2008 and it had been on decline trends since 2007. In 2009 MGM financial statement, revenue from casino had been divided into three sub-categories: Table games (36% of total casino revenue), Slots (60% of total casino revenue), and Other revenue. The table game revenue decreased 11%, even though there is 33% increases in demand for baccarat. Sustainability of revenues and earning MGM profitability ratios are negative in 2010 and 2009 for some ratios. ROA in both 2009 and 2010 are negative. We can break ROA to net profit margin multiply total assets turnover to deepen our analyzing. Assets turnover ratio shows MGMs ability to use assets generate revenues. MGMs assets turnover ratio decreases from 2007 to 2009. Even this ratio does not decrease much during 3 year period, it made ROA go down. The main factor that has impact on ROA is net profit margin. The MGM has very low net profit margin since 2008. MGMs bad signal shows since 2008. After its net profit margin ratio plunge to -11.86% in 2008 and -21.61% in 2009 which a major factor lowing ROA. From analyzing ROA, we can see that MGM has a problem with maintaining its profit margin. MGMs revenues in 2008 are not much different from 2007, however, MGM cannot control operating expenses, operating expenses in 2007 exceeds revenues. In 2009 MGM revenues decreases by 17%, further, MGMs ability to control its operat ing expense decreased. MGMs operating expenses in 2009 is 114.65% from revenues. The major increase in operating expenses in 2008 and 2009 is property transactions. MGMs ability to fulfill its short term obligation is getting better in 2009. Both quick and current ratios go up. The reason both quick and current ratios increase because in 2009 MGM carries more cash. However, MGM debt management ratios worsen. Long term debt to equity ratio increases from 2007 to 2009 results increase in total debt to equity ratio. These ratio shows MGM has larger portion of debt compare to equity. Even MGM carries more long term debt recently; MGM has interest coverage ratio high enough to pay back its interest. But this ratio trend increase in recent year. Hotel operating statistics Strengths Strengths Various portfolios of products and services: MGM mainly operates casino resorts which include gabling, hotel, restaurant, entertainment and retail. The main operation is in Las Vegas, Nevada, the world famous gambling and entertainment center. Properties in Las Vegas include CityCenter (50% owned), Bellagio, MGM Grand Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Luxor, New York-New York, Excalibur, Monte Carlo and Circus Circus LasVegas. MGM operates outside Las Vegas includes casinos in Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey and Illinois. Not only operate in U.S. but MGM also own 50% MGM Grand Macau ownership. Because each MGMs casino offers different theme, amenities such as restaurants, spas, private gaming and swimming pool facilities ;and difference pricing to target each customer segment, MGM enjoy competitive advantages over competitors. Moreover, MGM is continuously reinvesting in its business to keep this competitive advantage. Strengths-Strong Brand Recognition: MGM operates in tourism and leisure sectors which are gaming, hospitality and entertainment in two continental. MGM offers different casino for different segment, therefore, casinos brand that are operated by MGM are recognized by people all around the world. Moreover, Forbes Travel Guide bestowed AAA five-diamond awards to Bellagio and MGM Grand in 2010. Strengths-Location: MGM has properties in the top destination for traveler to go for gaming and entertainment. MGM has 10 casinos in Las Vegas, the world largest gaming and entertainment center and has MGM Grand Macau in Macau, the world second largest gaming and entertainment center. The reason behind this selection, these two places are the major tourism destination not only for gaming activities but also n

Mindful Destruction of Order in Shakespeares Othello Essay -- Shakespe

A delicate balance of chaos and order exists in our lives; the balance maintains itself by the very acts of human nature. In the drama Othello, the battle between good and evil creates the basic root of human nature as a whole. While at first, order exists in the lives of the Othello and Iago, through dramatic events and manipulation, the balance becomes unstable and starts to shift into chaos. Once the chaos has started, it continues a chain that continues along until the very end where the balance finally restores itself as it would in human nature. Through the inter and intra personal dialogue between Othello and Iago, a certain image of the character becomes developed because of the continued additions and changes to the character’s situation. Seen as the stronger of the two, Othello holds less intelligence in common matters. Iago’s character shapes out to as more of cunning and strong-headed. Shakespeare uses the characters to effectively reaffirm the basic traits of human nature and show how the traits coincide with the theory of order and chaos. Thorough the use of extensive characterization in this drama, along with artful diction, the development of Othello and Iago, represents a view of humans and their lives along with the all too classic good and evil. Iago represents evil at the most simplistic level. Of the many traits Iago has ascertained many represent the hatred and jealousy that he has for the people he manipulates, â€Å"But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor...[he] is of a free and open nature. That thinks men honest that but seem to be so. And will as tenderly be led by th’ nose. As asses are,† (1.3. 377-393). Iago knows that Othello has a trusting nature with most men who appear honest, he knows he has th... ...hat exactly happens between the point of believing and realizing the truth. From the play, one grasps an understanding of the crucial need to think and look at the facts in life before acting on an impulse. It also shows that chaos will always exist no matter what, but if we do not understand it, we cannot make embrace it. Through Othello’s lesson, we learn that the truth can always remained covered up and not represented entirely, and therefore it becomes our own responsibility to take the lead and grasp the understanding of things. Works Cited Arp, Thomas. "William Shakespeare's Othello the Moor of Venice" Instructor's Manual to accompany Perrine's literature. 7th edtion. San Antonio : HB, 1998. Print. Carlson, Marvin. â€Å"Othello in Vienna†, Othello. Signet Classics. New York, 1998. Pages (214-215) Shakespeare, William, Othello. Signet Classics. New York, 1998

Human Culture and its Effects on Technology Essay -- Technology Techno

Human Culture and its Effects on Technology A fluid border exists between the influences of culture and technology on the environment. Culture is generally defined as the predominating modes of thinking and behaving that characterize the workings of a group, while technology is the collection of knowledge available to a society that aids it in crafting tools, practicing arts and skills, and extracting or accumulating materials. In some instances, a people's culture drives its pursuit of more highly advanced technologies, while in other cases the implementation of newfound technology alters and shapes culture. These relationships are clearly visible throughout the course of human history. This paper focuses on the effects of early human culture on the progress of technological advances. Some cultural developments with significant impacts on human technology that are especially of note are religion, warfare, and the value system of wealth. George Basalla writes that "necessity spurs on inventive effort" (6). Humans develop technology to meet their perceived needs, though need is a relative term. Technology may serve entirely different purposes within various groups of people, which indicates that it obtains its importance within a specific cultural framework (Basalla 12). Some cultures developed religion and brought it into their lives, which in turn yielded new technological innovation. Great intellectual leaps are also considered technology, and religion encouraged one of the most important: a system of writing. Writing is believed to have developed alongside religious practices, due to the necessity of timing rituals. This need brought the calendar into the world, as well as a new system of communication (Ehrlich 224). Writ... ...an culture has proven itself to be highly influential in the progress of technology. From key aspects of early culture, including religion, war, and concepts of wealth, have stemmed great technological achievements that have forever altered the culture of today. Works Cited: Basalla, George. The Evolution of Technology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988. Chant, Colin. Pre-Industrial Cities and Technology. Routledge Press, 1999. Ehrlich, Paul. Human Natures: Genes, Cultures, and the Human Prospect. Island Press, 2000. Hirth, Kenneth. "Militarism and Social Organization at Xochicalco, Morelos." The Ancient Civilizations of Mesoamerica: A Reader, ed. Smith and Masso. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 2000. Ponting, Clive. A Green History of the World: The Environment and the Collapse of Great Civilizations. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1991.

jewish :: essays research papers

Journal #13 As the communities started forming in America, American society became a strong influence on the Jewish culture. Congregations started to become americanized, thus assimilation has prevailed as usual. The American culture always had affected the different types of cultures and minorities that have culivated here. At first in America certain dietary needs and religious practices were not recognized by the governemnt. Yet the Jews remanined strong as the community was beginning to establish it's roots, such as the creation of Jewish schools. It was important for the Jewish people to have somewhere in thier new place to feel comfortable, which was the synagogue. The Jeiwsh people were limited onpower when they first immigrated to Americ, but this aspect did not deter then from establishing a community. But it is impressive how strong a how a very small community was and is in America. Another spect of the Jewidsh community that is impressive and it has been this way since the immig rants moved here is how strong the Jewish people feel about thier religion and how it has been and still is a very importnant aspect of thier lives. It seems as though the Jewish Americans may feel so disconnected from a large Jewish population , as compared to the nations' population is the reason that it is such a big deal for so many Jews to marry within thier religion and raise thier kids Jewish. Journal # 15 The whole issue of America at that time being seen as a "godless country" that would turn Charle's son into a secular person was a big concern of his parent then they agreed to send him to America. The brother actually was a prime example of the fear of many European Jews at that time. Asa, Charles' brother, in the reader's first encounter with him, proves that he had some loss of his religion because he had him and his borther work on Sabbath. But Asa's decision to no observe the Sabbath was no indication of how Charles would lead his life in terms of religion. In fact, it is funny how different the two brother's life would be when dealing with the religious aspect. Ironically though, his brother impacted Charles' future decisions and particiapotion in the community by introdcuing peddling to him. Through this profession, he met gentiles and his positive encounter with them affected his decision to educate non-Jews on his religion and teach tolerance.

Education on health promotion Essay

The statement of the problem of this research looks into the relationship that exists between education and the promotion of health. The researcher intends to identify how education can be used to promote health in communities and also how the health of the people can be affected by education. Furthermore, the researcher intends to fill the gaps left by other researchers on how the people relates directly with the education they get in other words what good or poor health does to the education sector. It also aims at looking at the various avenues put forward to solve the problem of health and education. Through this research, data that is important for the promotion of health will be unearthed to be used during policy making. The first sub-problem is to determine the extent of the influence that education has on the health of people. The researcher intends to analyze the changes that people make once they are educated on better health promoting habits. There is also an analysis of which are the best areas for this education to be provided. There is need to see whether schools are the most accessible places to the whole community and if the people value the information they get from there. Furthermore, there is need to look at the impact of health policies in schools which encourage healthy eating and physical exercise among the students. The second sub-problem is to come up with the most efficient strategy that will benefit the whole community. Since the community consists of all manner of people who exhibit different lifestyles and backgrounds, how will the health of all these people be promoted? The research will entail posing questions to the direct beneficiaries of health promotion and compare their suggestions with the policies that have already been advanced and get to establish the impact of those comments. This will then aid the policy makers’ once it comes to making policies that can be implemented and accepted by the people who the policy intends to benefit. How are the people to be educated? It has already been advocated that education is important, but how are the people to be educated and how will the education be implemented? Will the people change their lifestyles and who will make them use the knowledge gained? The research project to be tackled is valid in the sense that it will provide knowledge that other researchers have left. It is important to note that after the researcher conducted the literature review, some gaps were identified that needed to be addressed. Much as these previous researchers touched on all aspects of the topic, they failed to adequately show how the research problem could be solved. They failed to identify the avenues that can be used by the policy makers and the implementers that ensure that they benefit the people. The researcher has consulted with the course instructor who is a research expert and has actually gone further to involve the friends to get peer review of the topics relevance. The project aims at improving ways in which the health of the communities can be enhanced. In doing this they inadvertently aid in the national economy. It will aim at establishing the people’s views on the policies put in place and their feelings towards the information they get regarding their health status. Since the researcher has reviewed the literature available in this field and also done a reconnaissance visit to the areas targeted, there is ample knowledge of what has already been researched and there is little possibility of the research being a repeat of another one. Despite all these, there is need to acknowledge that there might be some problems encountered in the filed especially when dealing with people during data collection not everyone will provide the correct information and the researcher has to be careful to avoid recording inconsistent data that is not useful. After choosing the topic and identifying the problem statement, the researcher will go ahead to look for any literature that is related to the research topic. Once this has been done, the articles will be reviewed and understood getting the data already provided and identifying areas that can be improved on. After the literature review, the researcher needs to identify the data collection methods that will be used. The data collected will be both primary and secondary where the secondary has been found from the literature. The primary data will be gotten through observing using questionnaires both open and close ended, having structured and unstructured interviews and also the use of the Likert scale (http:// jan. ucc. nau. edu/~mezza/nur390/Mod4/collection/lesson. html). All these are useful data collection methods. In conducting such a research, it would be important to use both qualitative and quantitative research tools. The quantitative tools include questionnaires; measurements and statistics while the quantitative tools will include observation (http://www. dobney. com/Research/qualitative_research. htm). This is actually an ethnographic approach. By combining both tools of research, the researcher will get the best of data. The questionnaires will be scrutinized to reject the obviously unreliable ones and correct the answers that are obvious. Inconsistency will also lead to rejection of questionnaires. The taped interviews will be listened to again and also the written statements will be analyzed. After the analysis, there will be the coding of the data. This is the interpretation part of the data. The researcher has realized that regardless of the discipline that one is affiliated with, it is important to use both qualitative and quantitative data for the sake of getting useful information (http:// hej. sagepub. com/cgi/content/abstract/54/3/347). One has to look into how to use the methods available in each method of data collection and choose the most appropriate depending on the research topic and the use of research. The importance of peer review has been revealed to the researcher. An independent party is required in the development of a research project because they provide a fresh view into the research (http://ww. jmir. org/2004/3/e37). They provide opinions regarding the methods proposed to be used and also help the researcher improve on the research topic and the problem statement. By asking questions regarding time frame and the availability of tools to be used they help the researcher become realistic in the writing of the dissertation.

Daewoo General Motors International Case Essay

Q 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a hands-off, decentralized management approach? Advantages of Decentralization Decentralization will not work unless you really delegate both responsibility and authority. This means that the final decisions must be made at that lower level. You just can’t beat a decentralized system. It gets decisions closest to the level where the action really is. And it really does something for people. The executives are now essentially running business of their own. The companyhas confirmed their authority by making it very clear it will not let people dissatisfied with their decisions ‘jump’ over to the home office. Finally, getting the decision-making out of the home office creates something like a family feeling in the outlying location. People there begin to depend on each other. Disadvantages of Decentralization This means that the final decisions must be made at that lower level. Two things stand in the way of this working. One isthat the people who now have the authority may not let go of it. The other is that the people at lower levels may not want to accept it. One of the problems, which decentralization aims to solve, is that the chief executive never has enough time to think about the major problems affecting the future of the operation. Q2. How Can Daewoo Stay Competitive with the Japanese ? Auto industry is important to developing countries is this intensive linkage. Most of developing countries selected auto industry as one of the prime elements for launching industrialization in the country. An independent auto maker and to be global top ten as in Daewoo’s long range plan, with 3.5 million production indomestic (3.0 million) as well as in overseas plants (2.5 million) could not achieved without the success of globalization.The leadership in domestic market might be another important factor. Korean auto makers including Daewoo has tomeet the challenges from the Japanese auto industry in domestic market from the beginning 2012. The severecompetition in world auto industry induces the forecasting that only  global top ten auto makers could survive in near future. We need more time to see whether or not Daewoo could meet the success the globalization and how Korean automaker, Daewoo could getover the manifolds challenges to be a global auto maker & key to success is the policy of Globalization. Q.3 . What were some of the controllable and uncontrollable factors in this case? How should Mr. Kim have responded to those factors? Controllable factors  Kim deserves the most credit for the conglomerate initial success and responsibility for its ultimate failure Despite Daewoo’s initial achievements, the financial crisis fully exposed the weakness of its concentrated governancestructure. The concentration in decision-making power proved fatal when the conglomerate faced a crisis and Kim’s business acumen, ethics and principles faltered. Returning to its roots, Kim viewed the crisis as an opportunity for Daewoo to expand, not retrench, by acquiring distressed companies and turning them around. Kim’s autocratic control further centralized and decision-making suffered as a result of a generation change of his closest advisors. Kim had personally recruited many of these senior executives and they had grown together with the conglomerate expansion Until the mid-1990s, the key executives that surrounded Kim consisted of those that had been with him since Daewoo’s establishment. Uncontrollable factors The representative directors, boards of directors and statutory auditors of Korean conglomerates failed to fulfill their role as fiduciaries working on behalf of the interests of shareholders at large. They did not prevent controlling shareholders from taking advantage of non-controlling shareholders and other stakeholders as a result. Non-executive outside directors did not exist until they were required in 1998. This weakened potential checks and balances against the controlling shareholder Weak corporate governance of conglomerates and their vast network of companies had a devastating effect when the1997 financial crisis hit. Q4. What do you think of Daewoo Expansion into Europe? What are the advantages and risks for the company? Advantages Daewoo’s currently at the crossroads of its European expansion in the automobile market. GM Daewoo has been successful in managing to market essentially the same cars in many parts of the world, particularly in the NorthAmerican and Japanese markets. Executives are wondering whether they should adopt more localized product level opment in Europe or not. Risk The rebranding comes as GM seeks to make a comeback in the global auto market, after having been hit by the global financial crisis, completing the world’s biggest-ever initial public offering in November. Its South Korean unit said that itwill drop the badge â€Å"GM Daewoo,† dogged by negative publicity stemming from bankrupt South Korean automaker Daewoo Motor acquired by GM in the early 2000s. It will introduce the Chevrolet brand for all of its new products this year. The company name GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co will also be replaced by GM Korea Company in the first quarter. Q 5. Why do you think GM acquired the company, while Ford did not? In November 2000, the Korean government officially announced Daewoo’s bankruptcy and its assets were put on sale. Amid controversies and almost a year of negotiations with the Korean government, GM signed a preliminaryagreement in September 2001 to buy Daewoo’s assets for $1.2 billion. Reason why ford did not acquired Daewoo Ford pulled out of its planned $7bn ( £5bn) takeover of Daewoo Motor, the struggling South Korean car maker, daysbefore a deal was due to be signed.Company said that it had not been possible to agree on proposals which were in the interest of both companies and its with drawal was â€Å"a business decision†.Ford, which has been conducting diligent inquiries, had sought to reduce its original $7bn bid to about $ 5bn to reflectdeterioration in Daewoo Motor’s assets.Daewoo’s creditors estimated in that the group’s motor business had liabilities of $16.4bn, against assets of $ 10bn and as because company feels that It’s a costly decision and at that time in 2000 Ford also suffering for its near bottom share prices. Q.6 What problems can GM-Daewoo expect in the future? GM General Motors like many multinational automobile manufactures has made the decision to excel in many researchand development operations Although the countries relatively new political stage, increasingly stable economy and improving infrastructure has presented unique opportunities for increased foreign direct investment conducting business for the, still presents a number of unique challenges.General Motors was not the first or the last automobile manufacture to enter into global automobile market presenting the unique challenge of overcoming the unique conditions of global business practices while still maintaining competitive advantage. Lowered tariffs for automanufactures has cause an influx of assembly operations from nearly all the major automobile manufactures However unlike its competitors, General Motors General Motors has learned how to carefully and effectively conduct business.General Motor’s success with its joint venture agreements and research developments has even led them to into putthem global perspective.

Functionalist, conflict and the integrationist theories of education Essay

The functionalist theory looks more into the ways that universal education serves the needs of the society. On the other hand, the conflict theory focuses on the function of education as perpetuating inequality on the social aspect of life and boosting the power of those who are dominant within the society. The interactionist’s theory limits its analysis on education to what happens directly in a classroom setup, as it looks into the teacher’s expectation from the learner and how it affects the learner’s performance, attitude and perception (Rappa 1976). The relationship of each theory to education Functionalist theory; According to this theory, the latent role of education is that it brings people together. In other words it enhances socialization within the society among the different people from diverse cultures, languages, color, age and interests. Through the interactions, people get to learn from one another through the exchange of ideas and views regarding different areas of discussion. The other role of education is that it plays the role of passing down core values and social control within the society. Read more:Â  Functionalist Perspective on Social Institutions The conflict theory experts further insist on getting rid of modern exams, as according to them all tests contain a knowledge base which is always culturally sensitive. On the other hand, the Conflict theorists look at education not as a social benefit or opportunity, but as a powerful means of maintaining power structures and creating a docile work force for capitalism. The interactionists’ theory is relative to education in the sense that a teacher has more influence on the students within a classroom set up; therefore the performance of a student is majorly based on the teacher judgment and effort (Brubacher 1962) The perspective of each theory The functionalists see education as a means of transmitting or perpetuating the core educational values from one generation to another. Additionally, they consider education as an important factor in separating the learners putting the basis of this distinction as merit. The conflict theorists on the other hand see the educational system as perpetuating the status quo by dulling the lower classes into being obedient workers to the higher classes. The interactionists on the other hand, focus on the influence of the expectations of the teacher on the learner’s performance (Rappa 1976) Expectations of education from each theory The functionalists expect that universal education should serve the society by unifying the people within a society, and helping in transmitting the core values of the society. The conflict theorists expect that education will maintain inequality within the society, by preserving the power of those who are dominating the society. The interactionists’ expectations are that the teacher’s anticipation from the students should have an impact on their performance, regardless of its positive or negative nature (Rappa 1976). Comparison The functionalist and conflict theorists concur on that education is a tool to be used for sorting out the different learners. Further, the functionalists argue that schools sort students based on merit, while the conflict theorists argue that schools sort out students along class and tribal lines (Schon, 1983). The conflict theory puts more focus on competition between groups, while the functionalist theorists focus on balance and stability within a social system. Additionally, conflict theorists focus on society as made up of social relations characterized by inequality and change. Functionalism perceives the society as a complex phenomenon or system of interrelated parts working together to maintain the desired stability (Brubacher 1962) Analysis of personal selected philosophy and philosopher Aristotle; His philosophy is education for producing quality citizens who are virtuous. He further put consideration on human nature, habit and reason as the vital forces to be expected from and through education. For instance, he considered repetition to be a key tool towards the development of good habits; from the teacher’s systematic guidance of the different students (Schon, 1983). Aristotle put more weight on balancing the theoretical and practical aspects of the subjects taught. Additionally, he argues that the explicitly important subjects include reading, writing and mathematics. Based on the discussion, it can thus be considered that Aristotle’s thinking fits into the ideas of the functionalist theory (Rappa 1976). Conclusion Having discussed the different educational theories, it can be argued that these educational theoretical models are paramount as far as education is concerned, as they bring about an understanding of how different people perceive education. Further, it is through these differences that different people come together and reason towards reaching a solid conclusion, which contributes to an advancement in the field of education because trough discussions new ideas are established. Additionally, these theories help the members of society realize diversity in their thinking and perception of things. References Brubacher, S. (1962). Modem Philosophies of Education. New York: Mc Graw Hill Book Co. Pg 114 Rappa, S. (1976). Education in a Free Society: An American History. Philadelphia: David McKay Company Inc. pp 59 Schon, D. (1983). The reflective practitioner. New York: Basic Books.