LIB 316 Week 3 Final Research Paper Rough Draft Essay

Final Research Paper Rough Draft. For Week Three you are responsible for writing a rough draft for your Final Research Paper in which you analyze a specific historical theme we’ve studied as it is developed in two literary works read or discussed in the textbook during the semester. Use the â€Å"themes† list below as a guide and then once you have chosen the theme you want to examine, select two literary texts where you feel this theme is best reflected. You can choose any two texts read in this course but the selections must be from the course textbook. Your draft and final version should be organized around a thesis statement about the theme and your selected literary works. Select one of the following themes for the Final Research Paper: ? Democracy and reform movements ? Workers and the Industrial Revolution ? The â€Å"woman question† ? The â€Å"white man’s burden† ? Imperialism and the colonial project ? The Great Depression ? The impact of technology on 20th century warfare ? Holocaust/genocide ? Cold War ? Nationalism ? Totalitarianism ? Decolonization ? Race racism ? Environmentalism and climate change ? Globalization ?Hybrid national identities ? Dystopia ? Magical realism Get a map of the college campus and find and visit the important places on campus. You can get valuable information on school-specific scholarship opportunities in this way. Colleges commonly give scholarships to students who are accepted. By going to the admissions office and talking to the officer there, you’ll be able to know if you’re getting the best deal on your education. The file LIB 316 Week 3 Final Research Paper Rough Draft †¦ To download this tutorial follow the link – https://bitly. com/1wySLOi Get a map of the college campus and find and visit the important places on campus. You can get valuable information on school-specific scholarship opportunities in this way. Colleges commonly give scholarships to students who are accepted. By going to the admissions office and talking to the officer there, you’ll be able to know if you’re getting the best deal on your education. Business – General Business Final Research Paper Rough Draft. For Week Three you are responsible for writing a rough draft for your Final Research Paper in which you analyze a specific historical theme we’ve studied as it is developed in two literary works read or discussed in the textbook during the semester. Use the â€Å"themes† list below as a guide and then once you have chosen the theme you want to examine, select two literary texts where you feel this theme is best reflected. You can choose any two texts read in this course but the selections must be from the course textbook. Your draft and final version should be organized around a thesis statement about the theme and your selected literary works. Select one of the following themes for the Final Research Paper: ? Democracy and reform movements ? Workers and the Industrial Revolution ? The â€Å"woman question† ? The â€Å"white man’s burden† ? Imperialism and the colonial project ? The Great Depression ? The impact of technology on 20th century warfare ? Holocaust/genocide ? Cold War ? Nationalism ? Totalitarianism ? Decolonization ? Race racism ? Environmentalism and climate change ? Globalization ?Hybrid national identities ? Dystopia ? Magical realism †¦

BLENZ Coffee case study Essay

BLENZ Company Profile BLENZ Coffee is a Canadian chain of franchise coffee shops. BLENZ was founded in Vancouver in 1992, and has grown to over 82 franchises in six countries. Presently the majority of locations are located in British Columbia, with 35 international stores in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, the Philippines, China and Japan. BLENZ is primarily a coffee shop, but also serves a variety of hot and cold beverages, desserts, and assorted food items such as wraps and sandwiches. BLENZ SWOT Analysis Strengths: Extensive beverage menu Large food and dessert selection compared to competition Free Internet at 41 coffee house locations Talented baristas (coffee-maker, waiters) Quality coffee bean and teas Canadian-ownership Innovative beverage development Large coffee houses Alternative to brand leader Consistency Weaknesses: No clear brand direction No clear values or mission Mixed messaging, too many claims Contradictory aspirations No consistent communication tone, language, manner No consistent communication imagery, typography, design Less consistency across outlets compared to competitors Less focused on experience Unknown company history and background Franchisee-operated Opportunities: Showcase largest menu of most coffee houses Increase awareness of frequent innovative drinks Emphasize talented and award-winning baristas Canadian owned and operated (started in Vancouver) Alternative to global coffee house chains, something different Consistent experience of a chain, with the atmosphere of a local cafe A lot of action at coffee houses Threats Competition from better-known coffee houses Coffee houses with better locations Competing coffee houses companies with higher quality products Competing coffee houses companies with higher perceived quality Competing coffee house companies with higher perceived status Independent coffee houses Chain coffee houses Inexpensive coffee houses Instant coffee or complimentary coffee at work or businesses Cafes with larger menu selection Status in middle ground between brand leader and independent cafes People making coffee and beverages at home There are many reasons for BLENZ Coffee’s success so far; and this comes from their will to have convenient locations for the Customer. Moreover, their products are of the highest quality and their service continues to bring people back. BLENZ’s History BLENZ COFFEE opened its first store in February 1992 on the corner of Robson and Bute Street in Vancouver, British Columbia. The first BLENZ store was to  be a testing ground to ensure that the concept and systems were strong enough to grow and compete with other international chains. The founders of BLENZ COFFEE are Brian Noble, Sarah Moen and Geoffrey Hair, each bringing his own personal strengths and combined bringing a wealth of business experience to BLENZ COFFEE. The success of BLENZ COFFEE’S first store and the founders’ commitment to education and standards made franchising a natural choice. Today BLENZ now has 61 stores in British Columbia and also operates internationally in Japan and the Philippines. BLENZ’s Philosophy BLENZ COFFEE is a premium retailer of hand-crafted coffees, whole leaf teas, Belgian hot chocolate and other innovative and delicious specialty beverages. From the start, the founders of BLENZ COFFEE have always had a passion for quality. This passion is reflected in our commitment to using only authentic, premium ingredients in their beverages. All BLENZ beverages are made in-store from only the highest quality ingredients available. It is this commitment to serving quality beverages, prepared with care and attention by their highly trained baristas, in a warm and contemporary environment that has fuelled BLENZ COFFEE’S growth from its inception. BLENZ’s Products BLENZ COFFEE are retailers of high quality whole bean coffees, beautiful whole leaf organic teas and premium Belgian chocolate beverages to name but just a few of their product offerings. They are known as experts at authentic preparation methods and handmade beverages. They are not just purveyors of exciting and innovative beverages; they also offer a fabulous selection of baked goods, breakfast, lunch and snacks, among other delicious treats to tempt Customers. BLENZ: How to feel concerned by future They are aware of this fact which is that today’s world could not be more uncertain. Unemployment continues to rise; the stock market continues to fall. BLENZ take control of the future of unemployed valuable people, with their career opportunities. BLENZ: How to feel concerned by Canadian’s lifestyle Even in the face of economic uncertainty, consumers still demand their favourite affordable luxuries like premium coffee and tea. Canada’s coffee market is a $3 Billion Dollar industry. Coffee is still the most popular beverage in Canada – and second only to water, of all beverages consumed among adults 25 and older. And quality teas, are also rapidly gaining in popularity. BLENZ premium coffees and teas are second to none. They give people their chance to seize the opportunity to enjoy their lifestyle and profits with a successful BLENZ COFFEE franchise. BLENZ: How to combine Career Opportunities and Safety Fulfil your long held dream to own your own business, and really be the Boss – without all the trial and error that goes into a new business venture. BLENZ helps you manage the risks and become a leader in your local business community. BLENZ COFFEE shops are known as fun, and fast paced social environments. They’re also a secure training ground for children to gain self-reliance and pride as young entrepreneurs. BLENZ: The will of being everywhere BLENZ has opportunities in both established and new markets they are making available for the first time. You can develop one store. Or you may wish to be considered for an Area Development opportunity to open several stores in a Territory. Typical stores costs range from $225,000 to $400,000, depending on store size. BLENZ: Festival & Events partner Vancouver Film Festival Fringe Festival BLENZ & Harbour Cruises BLENZ & The Beat 94.5FM Matcha Photo Contest

The Birth of the American Nation

The American Revolution was not only a battle against the British; it was also a period of transition from a colony to a newly-formed country. Belonging to country that was just liberated from colonial rule, the Americans attempted to apply revolutionary ideology to the building of their nation and the making of their society.They managed to do so by first basing the Declaration of Independence on political freedom, social tolerance and economic opportunity. (http://www. megaessays. com, n. d.) Political freedom played a huge influence on the ideas and ambitions of the revolutionaries and also resulted in social tolerance and economic opportunity. (http://www. megaessays. com, n. d. )Hence, the Declaration of Independence was not a promise or an excuse to wage war with Britain – it was a challenge to the Americans to preserve their sovereignty and develop as a nation. (http://www. megaessays. com, n. d. ) Political freedom for the 13 colonies meant â€Å"breaking away from En gland and being able to develop a sense of identity and a sense of self-government.† (http://megaessays. com, n. d. ) â€Å"Sense of identity and a sense of self-government† referred to a central government that they themselves elected and in whose affairs they have a say. (http://megaessays. com, n. d. ) Indeed, the lack of political representation angered the Americans more than any other atrocity committed against them by the British. (http://megaessays. com, n. d. ) The absence of their opinion in government policy-making allowed the British to enact unjust laws, such as the Sugar Act (1764) and the Stamp Act (1765).The Sugar Act imposed a three-cent tax on imported refined sugar and increased taxes on coffee, indigo and certain types of wine. (http://www. socialstudiesforkids. com, n. d. ) Meanwhile, the Stamp Act required taxation for every printed paper that American colonists used. (http://www. socialstudiesforkids. com, n. d. ) With the 13 colonies free from th e grasp of the British government, the Americans then proceeded to create laws that promoted economic and social liberty. On March 1, 1784, Thomas Jefferson proposed a prohibition on slavery in the entire United States after 1800 (this was narrowly defeated).(http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) On May 8, 1785, the US Congress passed the Land Ordinance of 1785, which divided the northwest territories into â€Å"townships set at 6 square miles, subdivided into 36 lots of 640 acres each, with each lot selling for no less than $640. † (http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) Thomas Jefferson's Ordinance of Religious Freedom (1786) dictated that â€Å"no man may be forced to attend or support any church or be discriminated against because of his religious preference. † (http://www. historyplace. com, n. d.) The first amendment to the US Constitution was later patterned after this regulation. (http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) Despite their nation's independence, the Americans continued using some long-held conventions, laws and customs. For instance, the US Constitution espoused the national government's division into three branches: the legislative, the executive and the judiciary. The legislative branch creates the laws, the executive enforces the laws and the judicial branch interprets the laws. The colonial government has a similar structure. The governor headed the executive branch in each colony.He was â€Å"appointed by the king in the royal colonies, named by the proprietor in the proprietary colonies, and chosen by the voters in the charter colonies. † (www. grazian-archive. com, n. d. ) The governor was assisted by a council (appointed by the same agent that appointed the governor) in administering to the affairs of the colony. The governor (in the royal and proprietary colonies) can also exercise a suspensive (temporary) or full veto upon the colonial legislatures. The legislative branch in the colonial government was a bicame ral unit that was tasked to enact laws.It also had the authority to appoint several administrative officials, starting with the colonial treasurer. (www. grazian-archive. com, n. d) The judicial branch of the colonial government dealt with all cases in the colonies. Colonial judges were either appointed by the king or elected by the people, depending on the type of colony. They were tasked to provide colonists judicial rights that the British people enjoyed at home. (www. grazian-archive. com, n. d) Another long-held convention that the Americans used was the development of individual military institutions for each state.(http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) This ran parallel to Britain, which had separate military units for the colonies and the mother country. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) A civil war broke out in Britain in 1642, resulting in the abolition of the monarchy and the House of Lords and the relinquishment of power to General Oliver Cromwell and the army. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) Under Cromwell's dictatorship, the size of the military establishment under the British king was limited.This had a negative effect on the colonies, where Cromwell's absolutism fueled distrust of standing armies and the employment of professional soldiers. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) To compensate for the lack of soldiers, the colonies resorted to citizen-soldiers. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) A law passed in 1777 required able young men (except for slaves) to render military service to the colonies. They were trained in the basics of war and law enforcement and were also considered potential recruits for short military offensives in the frontier.Land grants were often provided in exchange for able soldiering, turning the military into an attractive prospect for laborers with no property of their own and their sons. (http://www. americanrevolution. com, n. d. ) But the American Revolution left some problems unresolved, if not created new ones. The Americans remained divided on the topic of slavery (Brinkley150). Slavery was abolished in states where either slavery was minimal or was non-existent at all, such as in New England and Pennsylvania, respectively (Brinkley 150).Even the South experienced pressure to rectify or even abolish the custom. All southern states except South Carolina and Georgia banned further importation of slaves from other countries, while South Carolina also prohibited slave trade during the war (Brinkley 150). Virginia created a law calling for manumission (the freeing of slaves) (Brinkley 150). However, slavery still survived in all southern and border states. The American Revolution also did little to promote the rights of women.Although the war made it easier for women in some states to obtain divorces and allowed women in New Jersey to vote, they still remained inferior and dependent on men (Brinkley 147). They had no access to education and h ad no legal protection from abusive and tyrannical men (Brinkley 146). Married women had no property rights of their own, making it difficult for widows of revolutionaries to regain their dowries from their husbands' estates (Brinkley 147). Aside from the issues of slaver and the emancipation of women, the Americans had to deal with post-war economic depression as well.(http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) The hostilities left Americans with a host of economic problems, such as shortage of currency, high taxes, nagging creditors, farm foreclosures and bankruptcies. (http://www. historyplace. com, n. d. ) Increasing poverty at this period led to rebellion and violence. On August 31, 1786, to avoid the trial and imprisonment of debtors, former war captain Daniel Shays led an armed throng and stopped the Northampton Court from observing a hearing (Shays was already an impoverished farmer at the time of the revolt).Shays and his followers later instigated several related uprisings. Th e American Revolution served as a model for later revolutions in Europe and Latin America. It served as the primary influence in the French Revolution (1798-1799), the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) and the South American wars of independence (Venezuela – 1811; Argentina – 1810 and Chile – 1810). But the most important lesson it taught was that while the oppressed can free themselves from a tyrant, they should ensure that they deserve the freedom that they won. Works Cited Brinkley, Alan.A Survey: American History. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2007. â€Å"Essay on Declaration of Independence and American History. † n. d. Megaessays. com. 16 January 2007 . â€Å"Sugar Act. † n. d. Social Studies for Kids. 15 January 2008 . â€Å"A Summary of the 1765 Stamp Act. † n. d. Colonial Williamsburg. 15 January 2008 . â€Å"A New Nation: 1784 to 1790. † n. d. The History Place. 15 January 2008. â€Å"Three Branches of Government. † n . d. Utah Education Network. 15 January 2008 . â€Å"Early American Governments and the Confederation. † n. d. Grazian-Archive. com. 15 January 2008 . â€Å"The US Army and the Founding of the Republic. † n. d. AmericanRevolution. com 16 January 2008 .

Australian VET System and Social Concerns Essay

Australian VET System and Social Concerns - Essay Example The systems also have some of the highly regarded standard frameworks for training providers such as the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF), qualifications such as the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF), and training products. Australia’s VET system is a competency based training system that focuses individuals’ capabilities and skills for enabling them to do substantial work. In essence therefore, it is suitable for continued learning of individuals within enterprises and those seeking to enter into enterprise work (Goldstein, & Ford, 2002; Bean, 2008). With a wide array of social issues impacting the Australian workforce system from an aging population, and increasingly diverse society and employers finding it hard to recruit staff, that is 44% in 2007 from 41% in 2005 (OECD, 2009), effective systemic responses in the VET system towards these trends have the capability in addressing them. This paper critically discuses the extent to which the current V ET system in Australia can and does address the concerns of contemporary Australian society. In specific, the study discusses three societal concerns that are critical to Australia, diversity training, safety training and customer service training. Background of Australia and VET System VET system in Australia can be traced far back to the mid and late 19th century where various institutions offered skills development and industry training in trades that were predominantly male such as mining. And for almost a century VET was mainly focused on training men in a few select industries such as mining agriculture and manufacturing. With the beginning in the decline of these industries in their economic significance in the 1960s and 70s, and the emergence of newer finance and communication industries in the economy, more women started getting trained (Training.com.au, 2012). With these there were more pre-vocational and preparatory training than trade based training and with the release of the 1974 Kangan Report, the TAFE system which seeks to improve on the needs in Technical and Further Education was established. The 1980’s saw the expansion of the service industries and the emergence of private training providers to meet the needs of the changing economy. A wide array of reports emerged on the need to take into account both the need of the industry and the individual into account in training and this resulted to a consensus that indeed the VET system required substantive reform based upon unified national effort (OECD, 2009; Training.com.au, 2012). The year 1992 was one of major reform in Australia’s VET system where a unified national system was created under the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) which the system getting considerable input from the industry on what relevant skills were required. The Fitzgerald Report particularly had a crucial role in enabling a competency based and coherent system was established. With these the VET s ystem further evolved to include apprenticeship programs, development of

Using financial reports and accounts of your chosen 'WPP' analyse the Case Study

Using financial reports and accounts of your chosen 'WPP' analyse the results of the organisation highlighting trends in performance using appropriate and relevant ratios and analysis techniques - Case Study Example Notably, the company that was selected is AKQA that mainly deals in ideating and designing of digital products. This analysis would be aimed at creating the best use of financial ratios in ensuring that the company’s performance is effective. AKQA is an affiliate company that is under the WPP group of companies in the United Kingdom. Notably, the company mainly deals in creating innovative ideas and implementing the ideas to come up with the most digital products for their clients. In addition, the company deals in content creation, e-commerce, digital marketing, as well as product designing. Currently, the company’s major headquarters are found in London, United Kingdom and San Francisco, United States of America. As a company that mainly deals in digital products, AKQA has a social media team of practitioners who have unique expertise in innovation and leadership hence providing the company’s clients with a strong and stable competitive advantage. Notably, this helps the company to successfully traverse through multiple geographical regions, financial platforms and economic channels in delivering continuous solutions to its clients. Evidently, the company has branches in several countries such as Netherla nds, Germany, China, USA, UK, India and France. The company keeps financial records that can be used to analyse the various ratios that evaluates the company’s performance over a specific period [20]. Looking at the company’s annual report, it is evident that the company recorded a negative margin in billings between 2011 and 2012. Notably, the company recorded a decrease of -0.9% which resulted from a reduction in billings from  £44,792m in 2011 to  £44,405m in 2012. In addition, the company recorded a +3.5% increase in the amount of revenue. Evidently, the increase was as a result of the rise in the amount of revenue from  £10,022m in 2011 to

Analysis of the Business and Operationg Environments of Ireland Essay

Analysis of the Business and Operationg Environments of Ireland - Essay Example At the end, the paper provides information on the prospects and problems of establishing business relations with Ireland. Overview: Ireland is an island having an area of about 32,595.1 sq mi. The island has an ideal strategic location and is located to the northwest of Continental Europe. The Atlantic Ocean is located to the west of Ireland and the Celtic sea is located to the south. The island is vast and therefore forms the third largest island of Europe. Ireland is the world’s twentieth largest island and is politically divided into two parts: Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. (The Survey, 1966). The Republic of Ireland occupies five-sixths of the total area of Ireland and the Northern Ireland occupies the remaining area. Northern Island is a part of Great Britain and has a north eastern location. (Ireland. Paris, 1969). In accordance with a recent census, Ireland has an approximate population of 6.4 million. Northern Ireland has a population of 4.5 million while t he population of Republic of Ireland is approximately 1.8 million. (Wyndham 2010). The topography of Ireland is diverse but primarily consists of a central plain surrounded by relatively low lying mountains and it is also known as the Emerald Isle. Ireland has a temperate and an insular climate. The central plain has a number of tributaries of navigable rivers. The largest of Republic of Ireland is Dublin while the largest city of Northern Ireland is Bedfast. The culture of Ireland is diverse and is the product of the combination of different cultures. The major ethnic groups of Ireland are Irish, Ulster Scotts, and Irish Travellers. (McCarthy, Joe 1964). The Republic of Ireland was declared a free Irish state on 6th December 1922 and Northern Ireland is a part of Great Britain and was established as a separate state on 3rd May 1921. Ireland has four provinces which are Connacht, Leinster, Munster, Ulster. Connacht is located in the western part of the island and Leinster has an eas tern location. Munster is located in the south and Ulster in the north. There are thirty two traditional colonies in Ireland. The Republic of Ireland has twenty six colonies and the remaining ones are the part of Northern Island. Ireland has a mild climate which favors the growth of lush green vegetation. (Ruane et al 2003). The island has frequent rainfall throughout the year. The weather is primarily determined by Maritime influence. During the Ice Age, a larger area of Ireland was covered with ice and this is the primary reason why the diversity of plant, animal and aquatic species of Ireland shows a lesser degree of diversity than Great Britain. Ireland is home to about 55 species of mammals. The prominent mammalian species include the hedge hog, red fox and badger. Furthermore, Ireland is home to more than 400 bird species. Ireland is a healthy island and a large part of its population is well aware of the importance of fitness. The educational system of Ireland is dual. Irelan d has a high literacy rate and the Republic of Ireland has an ideal educational system based on three levels; primary, secondary and higher. (McCarthy, Joe 1964).The educational system of Northern Ireland is different from that of the rest of United Kingdom and is highly successful as more than one third of the students obtained A

Sword Manufacturing of the Early, High, and Late Medieval Period Essay

Sword Manufacturing of the Early, High, and Late Medieval Period - Essay Example This symbolic importance was even shown in the Medieval swords design as the cross guard was framed over the handle of the sword to resemble a Christian cross. This gave the Knight the privilege to utilize the sword to protect the Christian religion. Medieval swords additionally highlighted some type of engravings. The engravings on Medieval Swords could incorporate the sword owners name and prayers to God. Engravings could likewise be simply decorations. Enhanced sword designs occurred around 1,300 and 1,500 A.D. Striking inventive sword designs had a longer grip, which permitted swordsmen to utilize two hands in battle. Long swords began to be generally utilized during the Late Middle Ages. The fame of the long sword developed because of enhanced functionality in cutting and thrusting as well as its far reaching ability (Wigelsworth, 2006). Sword smiths in northern Europe found a strategy for sword making whereby different bits of iron as well as steel bars of diverse hardness were joined by bending and folding them together. This was the method used in Europe during the early middle Ages. The capacity to work metal along these lines to make high quality swords depended on the quality of the metal used. This process was quite long and the sword smiths could take a substantial amount of time before completing one sword. This meant that the production of swords was quite slow According to Nelson & Theuws (2000), high middle age was a period of great innovation in sword making. It is during this period that sword smiths tried out different processes to acquire the best raw materials for sword making. During this period, the sword smith got to understand the processes of acquiring high quality swords without using unnecessary processes. It is during this period that the production of swords began to increase. During the late middle age, the sword smiths had perfected their skills in sword making and were aware of the important processes needed to

How has automobiles made changes to our society and what do people Research Paper - 1

How has automobiles made changes to our society and what do people think about automobiles - Research Paper Example wever many firsts that were seen on the road to building a functional automobile that the modern world depends so much on, from one part of the present automobile to the next. Each part of the automobile has a rich history of invention from steam engines that pioneered, to electrical and gasoline driven engines that are seen today. Great men, from Karl Benz, the man to have come up with the first practical automobile to the pioneer of assembly line production in the industry, Henry Ford. Thanks to years of innovation, steam engines that first powered automobile prototypes were improved to the machines we use today to transport both ourselves and goods to different locations. All citizens of planet are affected by the automobile even in the most remote parts of the world where roads as we know them as non-existent. We are able to cover distances that would in the past take humanity months, in a matter of days thanks to the automobile. Help is able to reach the needy in remote locations because of the automobile. Every individual on the face of our planet is positively affected by the automobile to the last person alive. Like Henry Ford said: â€Å"I invented nothing new. I simply assembled the discoveries of other men behind whom were centuries of work. Had I worked fifty or ten or even five years before, I would have failed. So it is with every new thing. Progress happens when all the factors that make for it are ready, and then it is inevitable. To teach that a comparatively few men are responsible for the greatest forward steps of mankind is the worst sort of nonsense.† The history of automobile is one of the most divisive subjects because it can be traced to the fifteenth century and was improved over centuries, which makes it very difficult to specifically spot its point of origin. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot is within this entire division, credited with the first steam powered automobile in 1768. It was not until 1807 when Francois de Rivas came up with an

Inherited disease and pre-natal investigations Essay

Inherited disease and pre-natal investigations - Essay Example On the other hand, cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell anaemia are autosomal recessive which means that the diseases require two mutated copies of the specific gene to be inherited by the offspring, one each from either parent, in order to have the disease. Persons who inherit only one copy of a recessive mutation are carriers for the disease trait. The genetic or chromosomal abnormalities in the foetus can be identified through prenatal investigations in pregnant women. Amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) are two standard prenatal tests commonly performed during the first and second trimester of pregnancy. Generally, amniocentesis is done at 15-18 weeks' gestation and CVS at 10-12 weeks' gestation (Olney et al., 2001). Both are invasive screening procedures which are associated with risks to the foetus. Amniocentesis consists of removal of a small quantity of the amniotic fluid with the help of a hollow needle inserted into the uterus through the abdominal wall while CVS i nvolves biopsy of the placental cells (ScienceDaily, 2006). The foetal cells thus obtained are further analysed for genetic abnormalities. 2. Briefly explain what Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is. What characteristic smell is associated with MSUD? Describe briefly why keto-acids are present in MSUD. Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), a branched-chain ketoaciduria, is a metabolism disorder caused by a gene defect (Haldeman-Englert, 2009). It is an autosomal recessive disease. Urine in this condition generally smells like maple syrup. As the primary defect in this disease lies in the genes related to the oxidative decarboxylation enzymes involved in the metabolism of the branched-chain amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, and valine, there is an accumulation of the keto acids in the blood. The branched-chain keto acids (BCKA) accumulating in MSUD are ?-ketoisocaproic acid, ?-ketoisovaleric acid, and ?-keto-?-methylvaleric acid (Funchal et al., 2005). 3. Explain the terms: Matern al PKU Biopterin deficiency The term maternal phenylketonuria (PKU) refers to the teratogenic effects of PKU during pregnancy. It is a genetic condition in which the high levels of phenylalanine during pregnancy in women with PKU can increase the risk of mental retardation, low birth weight, and birth defects in the newborn (GDSP Medical Terminology Glossary, 2010). Biopterin deficiency or tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency comprises of heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorders. BH4 is a the cofactor for phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase, tyrosine-3-hydroxylase, and tryptophan-5-hydroxylase. Hence, the deficiencies are characterised by an imbalance in phenylalanine homeostasis, brain biosynthesis of catecholamine and serotonin (Scheinfeld and Jones, 2010). Like PKU, BH4 deficiencies impair developmental function. Some of the variants of BH4 deficiencies may be detected with PKU screening tests. 4. What is aminiotic fluid, and what does it mean when it produces a high salt content? The amniotic fluid is a clear, watery fluid that is found in the amniotic cavity. It is made up of the fluid that filters out of the maternal blood through the amniotic epithelium into the amniotic cavity as well as foetal constituents including urine, and exudates from the skin, the umbilical cord, the lungs and the kidneys (Trofatter, Jr. 2008). The osmolality (which is a measure of the amount of

D.C Sniper case Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

D.C Sniper case - Coursework Example Two individuals who have 15 years of experience in two totally different subdivisions of one main field can not be expected to have knowledge about each other’s fields in spite of such a vast experience (Turvey, 2008, p. 139). Owing to the inefficiency of life experience in increasing a criminal in wisdom or knowledge, it is important not to hold this factor as a basis for interpretations and drawing conclusions in the criminal profiling. Life experience should not be considered as a valid means of judging a criminal’s wisdom or knowledge. It is more important to give due consideration to the specific field in which the experience has been gained. Criminal profiling of a serial killer can involve life experience as a tool for judging the criminal’s capability to kill and evaluating the techniques he/she has been making use of. To conclude all that has been said above, life experience in general can not be conceived as a scale of a criminal’s wisdom until t he specificities are looked into. References: Turvey, B. E. (2008). Criminal profiling: an introduction to behavioral evidence analysis. 3rd Ed. UK: Elsevier Inc.

Mark Twain Case Essay Example for Free

Mark Twain Case Essay Mark Twain was an extremely productive author in his lifetime.   He wrote many famous books, articles and stories.   He was also a world traveler.   He visited five continents and crossed the Atlantic Ocean 29 times.   In general, he is notarized for his fiction works.   However, he also composed many successful non-fiction manuscripts as well. Many of Twain’s non-fiction works were written on his travels.   In his travels to the Old City, Twain took photographs to correspond with his written work.   He described the Old City, highlighting the methods and manners in which the Jewish people of the city worshipped and interacted with one another.    While doing this, he provided names to many of the places that he visited.   Many of these names have stuck, and have become the common names of landmarks (Journey to the Holy City, 2).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Most readers are already familiar with the broad brushstrokes of Mark Twain’s life.   Many interviews, however, were conducted in order to present a totally new facet of the Twain story, unfictionalized and in fascinating detail. These interviews appeared in a great diversity of American and international newspapers during the long course of his creative adult life (Nash).   The interviews provide information to the volumes and volumes of Twain’s imaginative and satirical capabilities.   Most famous of the non-fiction works written by Twain is his adult biography.   The biography tells the compelling story, from his own perspective, of life and the inspirations behind his works. Countless books have been written about Twain’s life.   One book, written by Ron Powers, has been hailed by critics as serving as a â€Å"biography but much more†¦Powers uses Twain’s life to tell us what America was like then and, tangentially, why were what we are today† (Spiegel, 2).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Twain’s world travels began in 1867, when a California newspaper sent him on a five-month trip to Europe and the Middle East.   There, he wrote many letters that were later put together to form the book The Innocents Abroad (Twain’s Travels, 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Mark Twain is considered to be one of the world’s greatest humorists.   His witty phrases and observations filled the pages of his non fiction works (WordPlay, 1).   Twain was also one of the first persons in his town in Hartford, Connecticut to have a telephone.   An example of his humorous use of satire to describe a situation occurred in 1880.  Ã‚   Twain was amused by his new device, as it enabled persons who enjoyed eavesdropping to hear only one side of a conversation.   As a result, he wrote an amusing description of listening to his wife talk on the telephone (Twain, 1).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Twain composed many of his non-fiction works under his pen name.   His legal name was Samuel Clemens.   While often engaged in travel, Twain spent over 17 years at his beloved Hartford home.   While living there, he published six books.   These include: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, A Tramp Abroad, The Prince and the Pauper, Life on the Mississippi, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court (Allen).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Literature critics have paid significant attention to Twain’s twang in his nonfiction writings, stating that â€Å"he pours forth a flood of most graphic word painting. He talks slowly and extracts each of his vowels with a corkscrew twist that would make even the announcement of a funeral sound like a joke† (Mark’s Twang, 1). Critics have also spent significant amounts of time dissecting Twain’s life as well as books written about his life.   In an article by Middlekauff, the author describes Twain as an inspiration to biographers, historians and literary critics alike.   Middlekauff elaborates on this by concluding, â€Å"Mark Twain, in all of his fascination, will never exhaust the interest of his readers† (1).   It seems as though Middlekauff hit it right on. In the past decade, in particular, Twain’s name has been used publicly to highlight achievement.   Schools have been named after him.   Additionally, many literary awards have been named after the famous author.   For example, in 2006, playwright Neil Simon was presented with the Ninth Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (Awards and Prizes, 1). Works Cited Allen, Daniel.   Mark Twain.   Yankee.   November 2006.   Vol 70(9).   1 pg. Awards and Prizes.   American Theatre.   September 2006.   Vol 23(7).   1 pg. Journey to the Holy City in the Footsteps of Mark Twain.   PSA Journal.   October 2006. Volume 72(10).   2 pg. Mark’s Twang.   Harper’s Magazine.   September 2006.   Vol 313(1876).   1 pg. Middlekauff, Robert.   Mark Twain: A Life.   Journal of American History.   September Vol 93(2). 1 pg. Nash, Charles.   Mark Twain: The Complete Interviews.   Library Journal.   October 1, Vol. 131(16). 2 pg. Spiegel, Pamela.   Leaders as Readers.   American Libraries.   May 2006.   Vol 37(5), 4 pg. Twain, Mark.   A Telephonic Conversation.   Atlantic.   September 2006.   Vol 298(2).   1 pg. Twain’s Travels: Letters from home; from France, Morocco, Egypt and Russia.   Read. November 3, 2006.   Vol 56(6).   2 pg. Wordplay.   Read.   November 3, 2006.   Vol 56(6).   1 pg.

Organization Development Essay Example for Free

Organization Development Essay Organization Development is a type of strategy wherein the underlying goals and principles is to increase the effectiveness of a certain company or organization, so that it will be able to compete with other companies, regarding its performance and outputs. It is through carefully planned moves and actions that these goals are met, since attaining it requires careful planning and mastery. This is usually through the efforts of the head or the leader of the organization. It is a totality of the organization’s policies and procedures in order to attain a certain goal. Organization Development is a planned action since it looks at it and deals with it as a long range approach so as to improve the organizations turnouts; its outputs and performances. It is considered to be organization-wide since it focuses on the total system. It is also a system that is managed and taken-care of from the top, from the heads of the organization, wherein it is being modeled properly so that it will achieve its long term goals. Ownership from workers of the organization could also be a buy-in. The effectiveness and the health of the organization are also being considered by Organization Development because it is its main goal, to achieve an improvement, something concrete wherein they could base their performances in the future. It is also about planned interventions, wherein Organization Development calls for the interference and involvement of the people so that it could achieve permanent changes in the whole aspect of the organization. Also, Organization Development uses or utilizes the concept of behavioral-science knowledge, wherein it combines research and experience so that it will understand or take the view of the people themselves in the case of business systems, and other interactions. The article by Padraig Healy shows how Organization Development was applied in the Public Sector, considering the various important approaches so that it will be successful. One is the performance of the workers, wherein most of the employed people are the natives of their place, wherein the quality of work done is substandard. In order to solve this problem, rigorous training has been done in order to improve the quality of work, thus increasing the outputs and the level of performance from the workers. In this part, training is considered to be a series of events, wherein it includes various workshops, seminars and study visits. It is comparably different than just adjusting the knowledge and skills of the employees in order to meet the demands of the organization, since it is a change being observed in a time bound manner. Training people is an investment that would really require time and money, and it is obviously a luxury that most developed countries could achieve. The theory and practice of development is not necessarily rooted to the concept of development studies, as well as the practice of development itself. Considering the local situation, the organization development done in the public sector is basically a show of their approach on the problems of development itself, may be a product of rigorous planning and visualizing of the situation. There is also a need for CEOs of councils that will be able to own problems and their causes, since the organization they grew up to was associated with weak organizational systems, wherein the CEOs are expected to manage. There is also an increasing need to have key policy makers and heads that will be able to reexamine the important roles at play, wherein it is usually at the district level. The concept of change is given great importance, emphasizing it all throughout the organization. Organization Development is very important at the public sector level because it deals with various concerns, including human resources, changing the nature of the workplace, global markets and the accelerated rate of change. In the aspect of human resources, we take in consideration the most important player in the organization, the people who does the work. They are seen to be a large fraction of the costs of doing business, wherein they may spell success or failure for the organization. The last consideration would be the accelerated rate of change, wherein we are taking an approach that embraces open systems. Through this approach, we are able to identify certain competitions, local or international, competing for human resource or the people, capital, physical resources and information. The weakness shown by the Organization Development is the concern about short term effectiveness. The real effect or outcome of Organization Development is evident especially during a longer period of time, and if it is done in a shorter period of time, the results would probably not be good. But for long-term organizations, Organization Development is really essential. With time as the capital, it is a good investment so that you could achieve the success that the organization aims for. Conclusion This article is essential in the field of Organization Development because it showed the various factors that are at play in the organization and how it really affects it. Organization Development is not a simple term that requires the training of leaders, the careful planning of things, the setting of goals, and other concepts that usually come in our minds. It is the interplay of all the factors that play a role in running an organization. It is a totality of all the efforts that is exerted starting from the working groups, to division heads, to the organization leaders. What is Organizational Development? When we talk about Organizational Development, we are pertaining to a course of action done to a certain organization or work group so that it will be able to attain a certain level of effectiveness, so as increasing its efficiency as well. Organizational Development pertains to the careful planning and management of the organization, thus requiring the expertise and experience of a good leader, a head that will elicit change for the good of the group. It is also a well planned course of action, wherein every aspect necessary for the development is being thought of, to the extent that every problem that could be encountered is solved before it even arises. It is all done to promote the health and success of the organization, and to solve the current problems it is and will be facing in this globally competitive world. This entails investing on things that could lead to an increase in the effectiveness and productivity of the organization and that includes good leaders, expert workers, and good working conditions. That is why it is considered to be a concerted effort not only from the leaders, but also from the workers. It is a totality of the organizations effort in order to attain excellence. The Case of Petroleum Development Oman. Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is considered to be the biggest oil explorer and producer in Oman. It is a national company that has the biggest share in the country’s oil production, accounting to about 90% of Oman’s crude oil and almost all of the country’s natural gas supply. PDO can be considered as a large organization, wherein other companies share in its interests, not only the country of Oman. But analyzing the situation, could we see clearly whether Organization Development is being applied in the case of a multinational company like Petroleum Development Oman? Looking closely at what Organization Development has to offer to PDO, the notion of an organization is said to be a conglomeration of efforts from two or more people which are working together towards a common goal, and that is usually the issue of productivity and effectiveness. On the other hand, development is said to be the actual goal of the organization, and that is moving towards being effective as the time goes by and meeting all the goals that you have set. It is a set course towards the increase in productivity, efficiency and improved quality of products or services that the company or organization offers. On the Case of Petroleum Development Oman, it is managed and owned by separate entities which include the Government of Oman, having a 60% share of interest, Royal Dutch Shell which has a 34% interest, Total, who poses a 4% share of interest and Partex who has a 2% interest. Because of this, the leadership and management is not fully unified, so as to say that this factor poses an important effect in the case of PDO’s Organization Development. First off, Organization Development could help in the renewal process that PDO could encounter when it focuses on the efficiency and collaboration of the administration. When we talk about efficiency, it is undeniable that many organizations lack on this aspect and they just supplement this deficiency with a large number of the working force, thus putting strength in numbers. Culture also plays a role in this set-up, where work teams could work efficiently if they are under a certain condition of the people that will be in the work group. This is where OD comes into the scene. Leadership When it comes to the concept of leadership, the case of Petroleum Development Oman doesn’t seem any different as compared to that of other multinational organizations. PDO is headed by various leaders, since there are a lot of people holding a spot in the organization. The big part of the company is held by the government and other organizations hold the other remaining parts. These leaders dictate that will run the organization will run. Unified or not, they are still the ones that handle the business, since they have the power to cease supplying a large part of the country. The transformation of the country depends on how these leaders would go about with their tasks in hand. There are a lot of changes that an organization undergoes, especially for the bank owners who are particular with what they are getting into. Major organizational change occurs, for example, wherein an organization changes its general strategy for achievement, adds or deletes a major section or practice, and/or wants to transform the very nature by wherein it operates. It also occurs when an organization advances through various life cycles, just like people must successfully evolve through life cycles. For organizations to develop, they often must undergo important major changes at certain varying points in their development. Thats why the topic of organizational change and development has become widespread in communications about business, organizations, leadership and management. Leaders, managers, and company heads, the people who has control of the establishment itself, continually make labors to achieve successful and noteworthy change its inherent in their jobs. Some are very good at this aspect, wherein they excel at almost any aspect of leadership, while others continually resist and fail. There are many schools with educational programs about organizations, business, leadership and management, schools which train hard these budding personalities with leadership qualities. Unfortunately, there still are not sufficient schools with programs about how to investigate groups, identify critically important priorities to address (such as systemic troubles or thrilling visions for amendments) and then embark on successful and noteworthy change to address those priorities. To really get a grasp of what organizational change is and start guiding thriving change efforts, the change mediator should have at least a wide acceptance and understanding of the context of the change effort. This includes understanding the basic systems and structures in organizations, including their typical terms and roles. This requirement applies to the understanding of leadership and management of the organizations, as well. The following links (broadly reviewed in the following order) might be helpful to establish some sense about organizations, and their leadership and management. Organizational change should not be conducted for the sake of change. Organizational change efforts should be geared to improve the performance of organizations and the people in those organizations. Therefore, its useful to have some understanding of what is meant by performance and the various methods to manage performance in organizations. The past few decades have seen an explosion in the number of very useful tools to help change agents to effectively explore, understand and communicate about organizations, as well as to guide successful change in those organizations. Tools from systems theory and systems thinking especially are a major breakthrough. Even if the change agent is not an expert about systems theory and thinking, even a basic understanding can cultivate an entire new way of working. Nowadays, with the complex challenges faced by organizations and the broad diversity of values, perspectives and opinions among the members of those organizations, its vital that change agents work from a strong set of principles to ensure they operate in a highly effective and ethical manner. There are different overall types of organizational change, including planned versus unplanned, organization-wide versus change primarily to one part of the organization, incremental (slow, gradual change) versus transformational (radical, fundamental), etc.. Knowing which types of change you are doing helps all participants to retain scope and perspective during the many complexities and frequent frustrations during change. Group Collaboration A typical planned, systemic (and systematic) organizational development process often follows an overall action research approach (as described below). Note that the more collaborative you are in working with members of the organization during the following process, the more likely the success of your overall change effort. Clarifying Expectations and Roles for Change Process This phase is sometimes called the Contracting and/or Entry phase. This phase is usually where the relationship between you (the initial change agent) and your client starts, whether you are an external or internal consultant. Experts assert that this phase is one of the most if not the most important phases in the organizational change process. Activities during this stage form the foundation for successful organizational change. Joint Discovery to Identify Priorities for Change The more collaborative the change agent is in working with members of the clients organization, the more likely that the change effort will be successful. Whether you are an external or internal change agent in this project, you and your client will work together during this phase to understand more about the overall priority of the change effort and how you all can effectively address it. It might be a major problem in the organization or an exciting vision to achieve. Other times, the effort is more extensive, for example, evaluating an entire organization and developing a complete plan for change. The nature of discovery also depends on the philosophy of the change agent and client. For example, subscribers to the philosophy of Appreciative Inquiry (referenced above) might conduct discovery, not by digging into the number and causes of problems in the organization, but by conducting interviews to disover the visions and wishes of people in the organization. Sometimes, people minimize the importance of or altogether skip this critical discovery phase, and start change management by articulating an ambitious and comprehensive vision for change. Many would argue that it is unethical to initiate a project for organizational change without fully examining (or discovering) the current situation in the clients organization. Focusing most of the change efforts on achieving a robust vision, without at least some careful discovery, often can be harmful to your clients organization because your project can end up dealing with symptoms of any current issues, rather than the root causes. Also, the project could end up pushing an exciting vision that, while initially inspiring and motivating to many, could be completely unrealistic to achieve especially if the organization already has many current, major issues to address.

Working Capital Versus Capital Expenditure Management Finance Essay

Working Capital Versus Capital Expenditure Management Finance Essay The purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of firms capital expenditure on their working capital management. Net Liquidity Balance and Working Capital Requirement for determination of working capital requirement and developed multiple regression models. The empirical research found that organisations capital expenditure has a significant impact on working capital management. The study also found that the firms operating cash flow, which was recognized as a control variable, has a significant relationship with working capital management. Capital forecasting in a downturn environment where change is rapid. Incorporating dynamic forecasting to measure the impact of key uncertainties and risks on the portfolio of projects is crucial. The findings increase the knowledge base of working capital management and will help companies manage working capital efficiently in growing conditions associated with capital expenditure. 1.1 Working capital for accountants, investors and managers is the short-term health of a company. Working capital equals current assets minus current liabilities. Current accounts are accounts that the company collects or are due in the next year. Making a capital expenditure will have several effects on the companys working capital, depending on the transaction. However, in certain cases, there may be no impact; it is important to understand why. Corporate finance basically deals with three decisions: A) capital structure decisions, B) capital budgeting decisions, and C) working capital management decisions. Working capital management is a very important component of corporate finance since it affects the profitability and liquidity of a company. It deals with current assets and current liabilities. The decision-making process on the level of different working capital components has become frequent, repetitive, and time-consuming. Working capital management is recognized as an important concern of the financial manager due to many reasons. For one thing, a typical manufacturing firms current assets account for over half of its total assets. For a distribution company, they account for even more. The maintenance of excessive levels of current assets can easily result in a substandard return on a firms investment. However, firms with inadequate levels of current assets may incur shortages and have difficulties in smoothly maintaining day-to-day operations. Efficient working capital management involves planning and controlling current assets and current liabilities in a manner that eliminates the risk of inability to meet due short term obligations on one hand and avoids excessive investment in these assets on the other hand. Capital forecasting in a downturn environment where change is rapid. Incorporating dynamic forecasting to measure the impact of key uncertainties and risks on the portfolio of projects is crucial. Analyzing and quantifying the impact of risks and delays at project and portfolio level. Governance and control over capital expenditures, Portfolio prioritization. Determining the optimal decision making level for capital allocation decision (corporate level vs business unit level vs hybrid model). 1.2 Working Capital Estimates The analysis includes estimates of all investments required for a project. The project may require increases (or decreases) in cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, or inventory. 2.1 Capital expenditure Whenever we make an expenditure that generates a cash flow benefit for more than one year, this is a capital expenditure. Examples include the purchase of new equipment, expansion of production facilities, buying another company, acquiring new technologies, launching a research development program, etc., etc., etc. Capital expenditures often involve large cash outlays with major implications on the future values of the company. Additionally, once we commit to making a capital expenditure it is sometimes difficult to back-out. It has been found that managers spend a considerable time on day-today working of capital decisions since current assets are short-lived investments that are continually being converted into other asset types (Rao, 1989). In the case of current liabilities, the firm is responsible for paying obligations mentioned under current liabilities on a timely basis. Liquidity for the on-going firm is reliant, rather, on the operating cash flows generated by the firms assets. Corporations are looking for new ways to stimulate growth, improve financial performance, and reduce risk in todays challenging economic climate. Funds tied up in working capital can be seen as hidden reserves that can be used to fund growth strategies, such as capital expansion. Cash flows locked in stock and receivables can be freed up by understanding the determinants of working capital. Many organizations that have earned profits over the years have shown the efficient management of working capital (WCM). Broadly, industry characteristics, firm-specific characteristics, and the financial environment are recognized as determining factors of both capital expenditure and working capital. In addition to the growth, leverage, and the size of a company, type, and size of expenditures, such as finance and operating and capital expenditures, have different impacts on capital expenditure and working capital. 2.2 Portfolio Approach in Capital Budgeting Portfolio approach to achieve capital efficiency and organisational alignment can yield immediate positive cash-flow results for companies. Typically companies view capital expenditures through a cost and benefits filter that focuses largely on ROI and IRR type measures. Whilst these measures are relevant, companies that do so often do not necessarily link these to the strategy of the company. They also do not prioritise capital expenditures in terms of their effect on strategy and shareholder value. We believe that by using a portfolio approach companies could: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Increase returns on invested capital by understanding which projects contribute most to shareholder value and lie on the project efficiency frontier à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Have a holistic portfolio view of the return of the capital of the entire company à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Improve the strategic and organizational alignment of projects à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Make informed decisions on where to invest scarce cash resources. 2.3 Capital Budgeting Decisions: Stage 1: Decision Analysis Decision-making is increasingly more complex today because of uncertainty. Additionally, most capital projects will involve numerous variables and possible outcomes. For example, estimating cash flows associated with a project involves working capital requirements, project risk, tax considerations, expected rates of inflation, and disposal values. We have to understand existing markets to forecast project revenues, assess competitive impacts of the project, and determine the life cycle of the project. If our capital project involves production, we have to understand operating costs, additional overheads, capacity utilization, and start-up costs. Consequently, we can not manage capital projects by simply looking at the numbers; i.e. discounted cash flows. We must look at the entire decision and assess all relevant variables and outcomes within an analytical hierarchy. This analytical hierarchy is known as the Multiple Attribute Decision Model (MADM). Multiple attributes are involved in capital projects and each determinant in the decision needs to be weighed differently and their relationship with each other determined. Several techniques are available to arrive at a financial decision regarding a capital expenditure project. These include: the net present value method. This method discounts all cash flows to the present using a predetermined minimum acceptable rate of return as the discount rate. If the net present value is positive, the financial return on the project is greater than this minimum acceptable rate and indicates the project is economically acceptable. If the net present value is negative, the project is not acceptable on economic grounds. the internal rate of return method. The internal rate of return is defined as the discount rate that makes the net present value of a project equal to zero. It is the highest rate of interest that a company could incur to obtain funds without losing money on the project. the equivalent annual cost method. When considering alternative proposals, it may be that only costs are involved. In such situations, a choice of alternatives can be made by determining which has the lowest equivalent annual cost. Under this method, capital expenditures are converted to their equivalent annual cost and added to the annual operating costs. Equivalent annual cost is the annual amount that would repay the capital over the life of the project at a specified discount rate. It is similar to an annual, level repayment schedule for a mortgage. The alternative with the lowest total cost would be the most attractive (ignoring intangibles). the payback method. This method estimates the time taken to recover the original investment outlay. The estimated net cash flows from a proposal for each year are added until they total the original investment. The time required to recoup the investment is called the payback period. Projects with a shorter payback period are preferred to those with longer periods. the discounted payback method. The discounted payback period is the number of years for which cash inflows are required to (a) recover the amount of the investment and also (b) earn the required rate of return on the investment during that period. In this method, each years cash inflow is discounted at the required rate of return, and these present values are cumulated by year until, their sum equals, the amount invested. Projects with a shorter discounted payback period are preferable to those with longer periods. the accounting rate of return method. The accounting rate of return is a measure of the average annual income after tax over the life of a project divided by the initial investment or the average investment required to generate the income. It is important to note that this method assesses net income and not cash flows which are used in the other methods. Stage 2: Option pricing In financial management, consideration of options within capital budgeting is called contingent claims analysis or option pricing. For example, suppose you have a choice between two boiler units for your factory. Boiler A uses oil and Boiler B can use either oil or natural gas. Based on traditional approaches to capital budgeting, the least costs boiler was selected for purchase, namely Boiler A. However, if we consider option pricing Boiler B may be the best choice because we have a choice or option on what fuel we can use. Suppose we expect rising oil prices in the next five years. This will result in higher operating costs for Boiler A, but Boiler B can switch to a second fuel to better control operating costs. Consequently, we want to assess the options of capital projects. Stage3: Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Discounting refers to taking a future amount and finding its value today. Future values differ from present values because of the time value of money. Financial management recognizes the time value of money because: Inflation reduces values over time; i.e. Rs.1, 000 today will have less value five years from now due to rising prices (inflation). Uncertainty in the future; i.e. we think we will receive Rs. 1,000 five years from now, but a lot can happen over the next five years. Opportunity Costs of money; Rs. 1,000 today is worth more to us than five years from now because we can invest Rs 1,000 today and earn a return. 3.1 Quantitative Analysis and Estimates : The foundations for good capital planning are reliable forecasts of the following parameters like competitive technology, marketing opportunities, likely actions by competitors and governments, sales volumes, selling prices, operating costs, changes in working capital, taxes payable and capital costs of equipment. Effective management of capital expenditure decisions, therefore, requires that controls be designed and operated to ensure that projections are realistic at the time decisions are made. Reliable estimates and forecasts are vital to the capital investment decision. The degree of precision necessary for the estimates related to the capital expenditure decision depends on: the stage of evaluation of the project (i.e., in early stages less precision is needed), the sensitivity of the projects economics to the level of accuracy and timing of each of the elements within the estimates, and the similarity of the project to others already undertaken. 3.2 Planning Horizon of a project: It is often difficult to estimate the life of a project (i.e., its planning horizon). The criterion is the continued ability to generate satisfactory cash flows or other intangible benefits. The economic life of a project is the lesser of its physical life, technological life or product-market life. Physical Life of Project Technical life of the Project Market life of the product to be manufactured depends upon: Detailed Market Research/Study Competitive Factors Price Estimation and Determination Organisation Market Position Maintenance Property related costs Depreciation Plant Administration, Service Department Costs 4.1 Research Objectives Overall objective. The overall objective of this research study is to investigate capital expenditure on a project and consequently working capital requirement and there relationship. Working capital measured in terms of net liquidity balance and working capital requirement (WCR). Specific objectives. are to à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Investigate whether there is a relationship and type of relationship between capital expenditure and the firms working capital (W.C.). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Describe the relationship between the nature of expenditure and the working capital. To investigate the impact of different factors affecting the working capital on net liquidity balance and working capital requirement. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Investigate the existing literature on working capital management to highlight the recent trends. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Understand the applicability of NLB and WCR as a measure of working capital management. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Investigate the relationship between corporate performance and working capital management. 4.2 Literature Review The chief financial officers of most companies spend most of their time and effort on day-today working capital management. Still, due to the inability of financial managers to properly plan and control the current assets and current liabilities of their companies, the failure of a large number of businesses can be attributed to the inefficient working capital management. Working capital is the most crucial input and the success or failure of an organization can be rightly attributed to the quality and efficiency in the management of working capital (WC) or net current assets (NCA). Account receivable management models and inventory management models were used in approximately 65 % of companies. The management of the working capital, stresses the need for the development of a viable system with the dual finance goals of profitability and liquidity, only such models will assist practicing financial managers in their day-to-day decision-making. Over the years, many researchers have focused on determining the optimal level of each component of working capital. It was found that the working capital literature is rather limited and that the management of short term resources is not understood too well. Thus, the consensus in academia seems to recognize the paucity of theory concerning the management of financial resources due to the inherent difficulties in the development of a working capital decision model, while accepting the normative needs for a more critical examination. The tendency of firms with low levels of current ratios to have low levels of current liabilities. 5.1 Methodology The purpose of this paper is to contribute to a very important aspect of financial management known as working capital management. The study will show the relationship of capital expenditure on firms working capital management and its impact. This chapter of the research deals with the analytical framework of data analysis, which describes the firms and variables included in the study, the distribution patterns of data, and applied statistical techniques in investigating the relationship between working capital management and capital expenditure. 6.1 Data Collection Since the study is based on financial data, the main source of data was financial statements, such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements of listed companies for the period from 2000 to 2005. The reason for restricting the time period to six years was that the latest data for the study was available for these years. In addition, annual reports of companies have been used in order to understand the company back ground and industry. 6.2 Sample Selection The study uses secondary data of listed companies in the stock exchange. Companies with missing data are excluded from the study. The study also excludes the financial and securities sector companies, as their financial characteristics and use of leverage are substantially different from other manufacturing companies. The working capital requirements and capital expenditure of a manufacturing organization is widely different from trading, financial and securities sector companies. 6.3 Variables In addition to identifying capital expenditure, the study undertakes the issue of identifying all factors that affect the working capital management. Most of the determinants identified in the investigation have been taken from the existing literature on working capital management. The study takes into account of all the variables discussed below. Variables, which include dependent, independent, and control variables, have been used to investigate the test hypothesis. 6.4 Independent Variables Capital expenditure (CAPEX) is identified as one of the independent variables and includes expenditures incurred by firms for acquisition and upgrading/renovating physical assets, such as land, buildings, machinery, vehicles, and equipments. Capital expenditures are added to assets account and depreciated against profits over their economic life as Deferred Revenue expenditure( DEFEREX). Capital expenditure is incurred by a company when buying new, fixed assets or in adding value to existing assets to increase their economic lives. Capital expenditure includes buying the value of assets, carriage inwards, insurance, legal costs, and all costs needed for acquiring assets ready for use. Managers pay careful attention to capital expenditure decisions, since they are very costly and irreversible. Operating expenditure (OPEX) is the cost of ongoing operations, product or system. Unlike CAPEX, firms meet OPEX continuously. Operating expenditures are written off against profit for the period. They are Revenue expenditure (REVEX) which includes salaries, wages and facilities expenses, such as rent, rates, electricity, etc. Finance expenditure (FIEX) is cost incurred on debt capital. Interest incurred on debentures, bank loan and other long term liabilities are recognized as finance expenditures. 6.5 Dependent Variables NLB = (cash and cash equivalents + short-term investment) (short-term debt + commercial paper payable + long-term debt a year term). These are considerations of the financial decisions of a company, regardless of the operation cycle. Thus, it is called as net liquid balance. WCR = (accounts receivable + inventories) (accounts payable + accrued expenses +other payable), which relate to the working cycle and are called working capital requirements. 6.6 Control Variables In addition, firms operating cash flow (OPCASH), extracted cash flow statement, growth (GRO) of the firm measured by sales, leverage measured by total long-term debt capital and divided by equity (D/E). All the above variables have relationships that affect working capital management. These relationships might vary over variables, companies and industries based on business strategy, economic environment, and financial environment. 7.1 Hypotheses Development Working capital management is traditionally rated by current ratio, quick ratio, and net working capital. According to Shulman and Cox (1985), these traditional ratios dont consider the going concern of the company and net working capital does not measure the correct value of liquidity. They classify net working capital into working capital requirement (WCR) and net liquidity balance (NLB) in order to predict the financial crisis of a company. WCR is measured in order to evaluate the management of working capital, and NLB is considered with the capability of raising and allocating capital respectively. NLB is better than traditional indicators in terms of predicting crisis and liquidity of a company. The basic purpose of this study on working capital management to evaluate the impact of capital expenditure on working capital. Thus, this study will categorize expenditure of a firm into three types: a) Operating expenditure, b) Capital (investment) expenditure, and c) Finance expenditure. However, except capital expenditure, operating and finance expenditures will be considered on accrual basis, not on the cash basis, because incurred expenditure will determine working capital management of the company. When a company has growth opportunities, it needs to acquire fixed assts (pay capital expenditure) relevant to future growth plans. Thus, incurred or expected capital expenditure is positively correlated with NLB. With growth opportunity, a company can increase the holding cash, since it manages working capital efficiently. Under such circumstances, terms to pay operation-related liabilities are lengthened and operation-related receivables can be accelerated in collection, causing less demand on working capital. Expected capital expenditure is negatively related to WCR, and firms with a higher growth rate pay more attention on the management of capital expenditure. Hypotheses A- Capital expenditure is positively related to NLB Hypotheses B- Capital expenditure is negatively related to WCR 8.1 Model Specification This study uses panel data regression analysis of cross-sectional in order to test the hypothesis. A use the pooled regression type of panel data analysis. The pooled regression, which is also called the constant coefficients model, is one in which both intercepts and slopes are constant, where the cross section from a data and time series data are pooled together in a single column, assuming that there are no significant cross section or temporal effects. The general forms of our models are:t NLB Decrease in WCR H1a= NLBit = ÃŽÂ ²0 + ÃŽÂ £ ÃŽÂ ² X + ÃŽÂ µ (1) H1b= WCRit = ÃŽÂ ²0 + ÃŽÂ £ ÃŽÂ ² X + ÃŽÂ µ (2) WCR: working capital requirement of firm I at time t; i = 1, 2,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..no. of firms NLB it: net liquidity balance of firm i at time t; i = 1, 2,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦.no. of firms ÃŽÂ ²0: the intercept of equation ÃŽÂ ²i: coefficients of X it variables X it: the different independent variables for working capital management of firm i at time t t: time = 1, 2,à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦,6 years. ÃŽÂ µ: the error term Specifically, when I convert the above general least squares model into my specified NLBi = ÃŽÂ ² OPEXi + ÃŽÂ ² FIEXi + ÃŽÂ ² CAEXi + ÃŽÂ ² M/Bi+ ÃŽÂ ² Gti + ÃŽÂ ² D/Ei + ÃŽÂ ² OCASH + ÃŽÂ µ (3) WCRi = ÃŽÂ ² OPEXi + ÃŽÂ ² FIEXi+ ÃŽÂ ² CAEXi + ÃŽÂ ² M/Bi+ ÃŽÂ ² Gti + ÃŽÂ ² D/Ei + ÃŽÂ ² OCASH + ÃŽÂ µ (4) Where: NLB = (cash cash equivalents + short term investments) (short term debt + commercial paper payable + Long term debt year term) WCR = (accounts receivable + inventories) (accounts payable + other payable). WCR equals net working capital NLB. ÃŽÂ ² = coefficient of regression, OPEX = operating expenditure FIEX = financial expenditure CAEX= capital expenditure M/B = market to book value ratio D/E = total debt to total assets Gt = sales growth OCASH = operating cash flow in firm ÃŽÂ µ = the error term These findings are consistent with hypothesis H1b. Operating expenditure and interest expenditure also have a positive significant relationship with working capital requirement. 9.1 Conclusions and Recommendations Working capital management attracts less attention of the management than capital budget and expenditure, capital structure in financial management in the ordinary course of business. Working capital management relates to the findings of sources of short term finance and investments in short term assets. Working capital management deals with profitability and the risk of the company. Inefficient working capital management results in over investment in working capital and reduces the profitability of the firm. On the other hand, inefficient management of working capital leads to an insufficient amount of working capital and results in financial difficulty, putting the company at risk. The optimal level of working capital, which is a trade off between risk and profitability, can be affected by both internal organizational characteristics and various outside factors. Existing literature has paid little attention to many factors that determine the working capital. This research investigated some of the factors such as capital expenditure, operating expenditure, finance expenditure, leverage, performance and operating cash flow. This research paper uses NLB and WCR as proxies for working capital in order to assess working capital management with capital expenditure and other influencing factors. Empirical results show that capital expenditure has a significant effect on working capital management. This finding will help a companys management manage working capital efficiently. The findings can be used as a benchmark for managing working capital and evaluating performance. Through this paper it was able to find out that operating cash flow has a significant impact on a companys working capital management, consistent with conclusions in previous research/literature. By conducting the same study on each business sector separately, managers can understand specific behavior of a companys working capital in relationship with capital expenditure. Since the model is a general model, it might not be able to be applied or might not give the same findings in specific business sectors. Moreover, further research can be conducted on the same topic in different countries. Working capital management policies can be compared between developing and developed countries in order to determine the correct management policies. 14) Capital expenditure decisions are very crucial and not easily reversible. Substantial amount of money is blocked in capital expenditure decisions. Hence such decisions have to be taken very carefully with a lot of deliberations.

Epilepsy Research Paper -- Papers Disorder Health Essays

Epilepsy Research Paper People most often associate violent twitching, falling to the floor and drooling with epilepsy. However the described event is only one kind of an epileptic seizure, which is called a tonic-clonic seizure. There are many other kinds of seizures, and each has different sets of signs and symptoms. During generalized seizures the whole brain is affected and the initial symptom is loss of consciousness. This category includes such seizures as absence seizure, myoclonic seizure, and atonic attack. Those seizures affect the whole body and brain of the patient, and are much more serious than partial or focal seizure, which only affects one muscle or one part of the body, and not accompanied by loss of consciousness. Epilepsy occurs when nerve cells in the brain fire electrical impulses at a rate of up to four times higher than normal. This causes a sort of electrical storm in the brain, known as a seizure. During a seizure the normal neuronal activity, which is usually responsible for human thoughts, feelings, and actions of glands and muscles, becomes disturbed and as a result strange behavior, convulsions and loss of consciousness might occur. Epilepsy knows no geographical, racial or social boundaries. It occurs in men and women and can begin at any age, but is most frequently diagnosed in childhood or old age. Anyone can be affected by seizures. In fact, up to 5% of the world's population may have a single seizure at some time in their lives, but a person might be diagnosed with epilepsy only after they had two unprovoked seizures. From many studies around the world it has been estimated that the m... ...mpted to move, chair should be put in supine position, everything should be out of the way and passive restraint should be used to prevent patient from hitting anything or falling out of the chair. Emergency assistance should be summoned right away. Epilepsy is not contagious and is not caused by mental illness or mental retardation. Many people with epilepsy have normal or above-average intelligence. Famous people who are known or rumored to have had epilepsy include the Russian writer Dostoyevsky, the philosopher Socrates, the military general Napoleon, and the inventor of dynamite, Alfred Nobel, who established the Nobel prize. Many people with epilepsy lead productive lives. Many medical and research advances in the past two decades have led to a better understanding of epilepsy and seizures than ever before.

Fate Playing a Role :: English Literature Essays

Fate Playing a Role The Way Fate Plays a Role in the Characters of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth There are many definitions for the word fate. The definition of the word fate in the New Webster’s Dictionary is a power that supposedly predetermines events. Also fate means something that is unavoidable. It is meant to happen and cannot be changed. According to Shalvia, the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet has a sense of cruel fate in it. (510). In Shakespeare's Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, fate plays an important role in the lives of many of the characters in the story. One site of fate in Romeo and Juliet is when Romeo finds out that Rosaline has sworn never to marry. This hurts Romeo a lot and he suffers. Then Romeo is told to go to the Capulet’s house for a party by a clown. Many times in the play the two families have to confront each other in situations. Their first encounter that is seen in the play is after the prince has come to stop the chaos on the streets after being told of the quarrels going between the two families. The two families pay for their quarreling at the end of the story. (Shakespeare â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† 31) Even though the families are fighting, Romeo happens to be invited to the party at the house of the enemy. This is nothing but pure fate. Benvolio tells Romeo to find a different girl and forget Rosaline. Benvolio tells Romeo this to convince him to go to the party: At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s sups the fair Rosaline, whom thou so loves, with all the admired beauties of Verona. Go there and with unattainted eye compare her face with some that I show, and I will make thee think thy swan a crow. (Shakespeare â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† 46) In the quote Benvolio is trying to tell Romeo that there will be other beautiful girls at the party that he can compare their looks with Rosaline’s and he says that Romeo will realize there are better girls than Rosaline in the world. Romeo ends up going to the party and seeing Juliet, which is also fated. Romeo could have fallen in love with any girl at the party. But would the other girl have died for him and made the story meaningful like it is.

Macroeconomics :: essays papers

Macroeconomics IS-LM Basics A) The IS curve slopes downward and to the right. B) The LM curve slopes upward and to the right. C) The slope of the LM curve depends on the interest sensitivity of money demand. An elastic money demand function caused the LM curve to be relatively flat. An inelastic money demand function caused the LM curve to be steep. D) The slope of the IS curve depends on the slope of the investment function. If investment is highly interest elastic, then the IS curve is relatively flat. If investment is not highly interest elastic, then the IS curve is very steep. E) The quantity of money and shifts in money demand at given levels of income and interest rates will shift the position of the LM curve. F) Government expenditures, tax increases, and autonomous investment expenditures shift the position of the IS curve. Transaction Demand – Money is a medium of exchange and individuals hold money for use in transactions. Money bridges the gap between the receipt of income and eventual expenditures. Precautionary Demand – Keynes believed that, in addition to the money people held for planned transactions, more money was held for unexpected expenditures that were at times necessary. Money would be held for emergencies, to pay unexpected medical bills or repair bills of various types. Speculative Demand – Money held by those speculating on future changes in the interest rate and the relationship the interest rate had with the level of bond prices. Keynes’ Money Demand Function Md = Co + (C1 x Y) + (C2 x R) , C1 * 0 , C2 * 0 A rise in income increases money demand, a rise in the interest rate leads to a fill in money demand. Md = Money Demand Y = Income R = Interest Rate C = Parameter (Holds no economic value) Transaction Demand - Dependent positively on the level of income. Precautionary Demand - Keynes believed that the amount of money held for this purpose depends positively on income. The interest rate might be a factor if people tended to economize on the amount of money held for the precautionary motive as interest rates rose.

Comparison of Hobbes and Al-Farabi

Reading Response 4 Sarah Zou Sep. 23. 2012 LBST 1B11 Comparison of Hobbes and Al-Farabi Human nature was one of the most controversial topics now and then. In two of the world’s greatest philosophers’ essay, they discussed their own perception of human nature. Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), England’s political philosopher, who discussed his view on the degeneration of human nature in his book, Leviathan, which depicted the natural state of humanity as nasty and brutish.His point of view came across many similarities as Al- Farabi (870- 950 CE) an Arab Scientist and philosopher during the Golden Age of Islam. With a group of philosopher, Al- Farabi created synthesis on Aristotelian thought and Muslin theology. His subject of interests varies from music to sociological and political issues. In his, On the Perfect State, he compared political state as a body, which the most important part of heart was the ruler. From both Hobbes and Al-Farabis’ perspective they b oth argued, in order to maintain a civil society, a form of ruling system was more than necessary.Hobbes suggested that the nature of men were equal, because everyone has different strengths that others may not posses. Al-Farabi supported this point by saying that human is not naturally perfect, they needed to be provided, and contribute to the needs of society with their strength in order to achieve perfection. And because of this equality, Hobbes stated, men needed to compete against each other or became enemies to achieve their goals. Therefore no one can be trusted because their interests might conflict and become enemies.So it was unclear that how powerful one must become to be always secured. However this theory contradicts with Al-Farabi’s statement of people in societies must co-operate and come together to supply each other. Another point Hobbes declared regarding human nature was: everyone desired to be valued, but when they were not, they damage others to get more value. Thus it was significant to sustain a form of constrain to prevent the destruction, and sustain justice in the society. Similar statement by Al-Farabi also supported Hobbes’ idea.When part of the system is out of order, the ruler or the heart of the system must remove the disorder. Consequently both essay emphasized: Even though a law system might limit certain people’s freedom, only when there was law, justice could be remained. Hobbes’ idea of peace means not only without conflict but a reliable structure to prevent conflict. By freeing men’s nature, there were no forms of government to restrain or assurance, so war appears. During a time of war, man’s security could only be coming from one’s own strength.There were neither society nor culture, only fear and danger of violent death in war. Human nature will do what they desire until they know of a law that will stop them. Only when there is law there is justice. Although Al-Farabiâ⠂¬â„¢s interpretation of a perfect society could agree to Hobbes’ law system, his idea on the qualities of a ruler differs from Hobbes’ perception of human nature. Al-Farabi described an ideal ruler had to be naturally born with leadership skills, and in the process of leading, decisions made the rulers were often relying heavily on their nature and virtue.However, Hobbes thought, virtue is not ability that inherited by man, or given by nature, with no exception to the rulers, because the rulers were human themselves, their desire were no different than others. Therefore, to maintain a civilized, justice and organized society could not only rely on the virtue of human nature, but also through a system of law to constrain some desires of people, even the leaders, to achieve an overall freedom and security for the majority.

Neither Black Nor White

When focusing on racial identity, the use of appearances as signifiers of group membership is not always clear cut.   This relationship between appearances and individual identity choice becomes even more complex when we examine bi-racial identity.   Research on bi-racial identity has often cited the reactions of whites to bi-racial individuals, but with Joseph E. Holloway’s novel Neither Black Nor White the politics of shin color among African Americans are look at.   His novel is an historical account of the Hadnot family whose migration from Gloucester England in 1585 to New Orleans describes a family that were never slaves, but owners of slaves.   They never thought of themselves as whites or as blacks, one parent that was white and one black to create a whole new identity. It is clear that there is only speculation as to the relationship between appearance and racial identity among bi-racial individuals.   There has been little to no theoretical development on this relationship.   One important distinction is that color is both a personal and a social characteristic.   That is one who perceives their skin color and one that interprets their appearance through the eyes of others within any given interactional sphere. Such as the Hadnot family, they interpreted their sense of belonging within their family structure.   It would be difficult for a person to choose an exclusively Black or exclusively White identity if their physical appearances do not match their chosen identity.   In the end literature on the appearance identity link is sparse and seriously underdeveloped. There is a love and hate relationship with this group on the one drop rule with skin color.   The argument is that a three leveled society existed in the South with the following hierarchy from highest to lowest status.   White, Mulattos, and Blacks, mixed race individuals often served as a buffer group between Whites and Blacks through which cross color interactions and business transactions could happen. This situation caused a preferential treatment of Mulattos by Whites and a generational advantage for Mulattos. Perhaps this was true for the Hadnot family in England but there were problems they had to face in New Orleans.   The foundation for a social and cultural system of color classisms within Black America was laid.   The author provided strong evidence that those members of the community with the lightest skin color and the most Caucasian looking features have been allowed the greatest freedoms and achieved at higher rates. There is argument that goes further to display the ways that darker-skinned members of the Black community discriminate against mixed-race individuals in the workplace, how patterns of dating with the community are tangled up with phenotype, how networks are constructed or dismantled on the basis of color classism and how culturally, Blacks use unique cultural coding, such as hair or first names, to distinguish between those who are black and those who are not. This is so because a bi-racial individual’s understanding of their own appearance seems to be rooted in others perceptions and assumptions of appearance and its link with identity. Appearance is distinctly more social than phenotypes because it is created by the bi-racial individual’s understanding of their skin color as conditioned through the judgments of others in interactions.   So we expect that it is appearance, not skin color, which will influence the racial identification of bi-racial, and that skin color works through one’s appearance to affect identity.   Mutual identification is critical to both identity construction and maintenance.   If an individual exists within a social context where bi-racial has a meaningful existence, then they may cultivate a border identity. If this cultural category does not exist and one becomes accustomed to and adept at switching from Black to White they will cultivate a protean identity, I think was evident in the novel Neither Black Nor White.   If their appearance is White then members may develop a transcendent identity, but only if their social context does not demand categorization.   If none of these options are available to an individual then the existing cultural norms dictate the racial identity above and beyond their appearance. Reading the novel and researching the meaning of the novel, colorism.   I love history and this historical novel put into perspective an issue I really had never thought of.   It gave the reader a good sense of what it was like being in limbo with your identity.   I was impressed with the research that went into writing this historical novel and with the detail to genealogy.   I recommend this book for all undergraduates to help understand racism and all of its hidden secrets. Reference: Davis, F.J. (1991)   Who is Black? One Nations Definition.   University Park, P.A.:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Pennsylvania State University Press. Holloway, J.E. (2006)   Neither Black Nor White.   C.A.: New World African Press.