The Philosophers Philosophy On The Truth About The...

Philosophy is the investigation of truths and principle of being, knowledge or conduct. Many philosophers from the past have much knowledge that is superior to our own. Philosophers use their knowledge to figure out the truth about the reality of the world without using religion. Logic was used in the philosophers work many times. Logic means arriving of truth by eliminating the errors. The three philosophers I choose that used knowledge many times would be Plato, Berkeley, and Descartes. The first philosopher who uses knowledge is Plato. The knowledge Plato uses is Rationalist Epistemology which means the study of nature, source, limits, and validity of knowledge. â€Å"It is especially interested in developing criteria for evaluating claims people make that they know something. In particular, it considers questions such as: What is knowledge? What is the difference between knowledge and opinion or belief? If you know something, does that mean that you are certain about it? Is knowledge really possible?† What this means is that People use these questions to understand the meaning of knowledge and to figure out the truth about it. â€Å"A rationalist epistemology claims that knowledge (as opposed to opinion) is possible only if it is based on self-evident and absolutely certain principles. Such principles are not learned through experience; instead, they are implicit in the very notion of reasoning (in Latin: ratio) itself. Sense experience cannot provide the certainty neededShow MoreRelatedBaroque Art Depicted the Religious Tensions During that Period801 Words   |  3 Pagestime. Coincidentally, the philosophy of the time also played a key role in addressing the tensions that existed during the period. As a result of the focus on similar aspects of the society, there emerged numerous similarities between the artwork of the time and the ideas expressed by philosophers such as Descartes and Leibniz. It is critical to assess the views of the diffe rent philosophers in order to determine how the artwork was similar to their perceptions of the world. This essay addresses theRead MoreDescartes Reason Of Knowledge1675 Words   |  7 Pageswould be a real seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in your life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.† In other words, when one wants to pursue the knowledge of this world, one must be able to question possibilities before coming to a conclusion. Throughout the Meditations on First Philosophy, Descartes discusses his thoughts in a coherent manner. He strongly states that ‘true knowledge’ is gained through reasoning. On the opposing side, a philosopher known as David Hume, believesRead MoreNotes On Christianity And Culture909 Words   |  4 PagesAssignment 1 Faith and Philosophy as Explored by Justin Martyr and Tertullian Christianity and reason have historically been difficult matters to reconcile. They often conflict with each other, leading to some sort of existential angst. In the early Church, the role of philosophy and its use to understand Christianity was challenged by Justin Martyr and Tertullian. Both Justin and Tertullian confront the issue of faith and reason through their interaction with the Greek philosophy. Justin advocated theRead MoreUnderstanding Creationism Or The Big Band972 Words   |  4 Pagesinform our lives and the world we live in. All these disciplines help us in a consciousness find out who we are and our self awareness. All we know is that we begin with some level of consciousness and self awareness. Because of the we can formulate a few ideas that our observation, our belief system, our experiences, and our capacity to reason play a vital role in how we perceive what religion, philosophy and science actually mean to us. In the chapter I read it talks about how whether o n to if weRead MoreAllegory Of The Cave Essay1038 Words   |  5 Pages Reality is the most intriguing concept in philosophy; throughout the ages, philosophers have been trying to understand the difference between real and unreal things. Philosophers allocate a whole branch of philosophy, Metaphysics, to study the nature of reality and existence. However, Greek philosophers, like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, were the first to question the nature of reality and its ultimate form. In the â€Å"Republic†, Plato tried to explain the idea of reality throughout his allegoryRead MoreIntro to Philosophy955 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction to Philosophy Essay There are many reasons one should study philosophy. The study of philosophy can ultimately change the way a person lives and unlock some deep questions about the meaning of their life. Questions you ask yourself such as why you are doing the things you are doing or where your life is heading or what you want to become in life can be answered throughout the study of a philosophy course. Understanding philosophy is the key in motivating us as individuals to exploreRead MoreChristianity, A Form Of Religion Based On The Person And Teachings950 Words   |  4 PagesChristianity, is a form of religion based on the person and teachings , or its beliefs and practice s.1 During 205-207B.C, Christianity evolved greatly throughout the world. Many religions detested this and others embraced it. Some based their teaching s on pure science and questioned every living thing as a question to an unsolved experiment. Although some people didn t understand the being and the reason for the outcome they still believed that there s was God out there that created theirRead MorePlato s Theory Of The Forms1704 Words   |  7 Pagesof the Forms Travis Meyer PHI 1090 Introduction to Philosophy 12/16/2015 Plato was a Greek philosopher, mathematician, and theologian who lived from 424 BC to 348 BC in Athens, Greece. Plato was born into a high class family in Greece and therefore was very active in the Athenian community since he was from a high status family. He was the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. He is known to be one of the best writers in the WesternRead More Plato’s Influence on Western Civilization Essay3085 Words   |  13 Pagescivilization is actually inclined by theories of truth and the human beings perception of it. Few would have thought that a primitive concept could be linked to the setbacks of other societies and their forms of socialization, as well as to the success to ours. The basic concept of truth and our natural response to socialization developed an ideal image of our current day country, long before our country existed. In ancient Greece, a great philosopher named Plato founded one of t he most famous schoolsRead MoreEssay about The Existence of God1350 Words   |  6 Pages We go through life drifting from one superficial disagreement to another without truly ever taking the time to ponder about the meaning of life. Such a question will not be easily resolved but by trying to answer it we stop daydreaming and extend our conception of ourselves while gaining knowledge of the external world (Solomon 10). Unfortunately anyone who attempts to answer that question quickly realizes that it isn’t just one broad question but rather it’s the slogan to an overwhelming amount

The Age Of Enlightenment By Leonardo De Vinci s David

Religion a deadly tool to control the masses. It was the core of many ideas and values of the past. This tool, however, was not perfect; during the enlightenment one of the main goals was to fix all the corruption of the church. Fixing some of the holes of the church lead the Age of Enlightenment to chisel and reshape the way of thinking into a work of art as triumphant as Leonardo De Vinci s David. The modernism movement was the final product of the age of enlightenment, the beginning of the abolished the core ideas of religion swaying away from Gods Light. Religious tolerance of the Roman Catholic Church was swaying as a boat would in a storm as wild as the controversies of the Church. With Government being choked by the roots of the Church many Theologians, people who study the concepts of God wanted to reform their fate to where it was maintaining a true faith in God. With Religion being the center of Government, people tried to come up with ideas to keep God in charge. Martin Luther religious a German friar already chipped at the corruptions of the Church. Reject several teachings and practices such as calming that redemption from sin shouldn’t be paid with coin, created the start of new ways of thinking. With the new philosophy of rationalism being born in the 17th-18th century, the religion of reason became a center of thinking for philosophers, expose all myths, superstitions and traditions During the age of Enlightenment, John Locke an EnglishShow MoreRelatedA Grand Chain Of Rebellion First Beginning Of The Renaissance Era2674 Words   |  11 Pagesin the Renaissance era. Renaissance era covers the 300 years from 1400 to 1699 and is characterized by a revival of Classical scholarship, wisdom and values. European culture was reborn in the 15th century after a long dormant period in the Middle Ages that extended from the fall of the Roman Empire until the beginning of the 14th century. In addition to the revival of Classical scholarship, the Renaissance period also experienced cultural, scientific and technological advancements such as the discoveryRead MoreThe Renaissance and Italys Decline1592 Words   |  7 PagesThe Renaissance and Italys Decline Definition: The period in European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages, conventionally held to have been characterized by a surge of interest in classical learning and values. Set in the city-states of Italy in the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, the constant uncertainty, both economic and political, and extreme volatility of the historical situation provided the material for new intellectual, cultural, and social experimentsRead MoreRelationship Between Religion and Art in Medieval, Renaissance and Contemporary Times2657 Words   |  11 Pageselephant feces, the Virgin herself made with the same substance, while surrounded by cutouts from pornographic magazines. The work has stirred much controversy but today still sits in the museum for the public (Saltz n.p.). As early as the Middle Ages, Mother Mary has been considered one of the most revered and loved figures of Christianity. Paintings worshipping her are as numerous as that of Jesus Christ (Sturgis and Clayson, eds. 38). Why then is it tolerable for a museum to display a paintingRead MoreHow Does One Re Work History?2351 Words   |  10 Pagesportray in his works . He photographs his subjects, and have them pose in the poses of the artists he draws inspiration from; Baroque Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, British artist Thomas Gainsborough, and Napoleon’s court painter Jacques-Louis David. There’s a reason he draws inspiration from these artists, â€Å"there is a reason for that† Says Wiley â€Å" and that has to do with power† These poses are meant to evoke a conversation around art history. The subjects in the original paintings are white malesRead MoreArt History Study Guide3003 Words   |  13 Pages–[and Polydoros, Athanadoros] Laocoon and Hi s Sons * S Chapter 10 China * 6 Dynasties (220-579) * Gu Kaizhi – Imperial Instructress to Court Ladies * Wang Xizhi –Letter Feng Ju album * Song (960-1279) * Fan Kuan –Travelers Among Mtns and Streams * Xia -12 Views from a Thatched Hut * Xu Daoning –Fishing in a Mtn Stream * Zhang Zeduan –Spring Festival on the River * S Chapter 11 Japan * Asuka (552-646) *Read MoreLogical Reasoning189930 Words   |  760 PagesWadsworth Publishing Company, which is owned by Cengage Learning: There is a great deal of coherence. The chapters build on one another. The organization is sound and the author does a superior job of presenting the structure of arguments. David M. Adams, California State Polytechnic University These examples work quite well. Their diversity, literacy, ethnic sensitivity, and relevancy should attract readers. Stanley Baronett. Jr., University of Nevada Las Vegas Far too many authors

Organic Chemistry Essay Example For Students

Organic Chemistry Essay Chemistry has been called the science of what things are. Its intent is the exploration of the nature of the materials that fabricate our physical environment, why they hold the different properties that depict them, how their atomic structure may be fathomed, and how they may be manipulated and changed. Although organic reactions have been conducted by man since the discovery of fire, the science of Organic chemistry did not develop until the turn of the eighteenth century, mainly in France at first, then in Germany, later on in England. By far the largest variety of materials that bombard us are made up of organic elements. The beginning of the Ninetieth century was also the dawn of chemistry, all organic substances were understood as all being materials produced by living organisms: wood, bone, cloth, food, medicines, and the complex substances that configure the human body. Inorganic material was believed to come from the Earth: salt, metals, and rock, just to name a few. Because of the humans wonder of natural life, organic materials were believed to possess an enigmatic Vital Force. Thus organic chemistry was separated from inorganic chemistry, and it became its own field of science. By the turn of the Nineteenth the Vital Force theory was immensely discredited, but this branch of science still stayed separated from inorganic chemistry. Back when Organic chemistry was the chemistry of living matter, Professor Wohler succeeded in synthesizing in the laboratory an organic compound previously observed in living tissue as Urea. Professor Wohler made this organic compound from non-living chemical substance, Ammonium Cyanate. He evaporated a solution of Ammonium Cyanate to produce Urea. Thus rendering the Vital Force theory to be with flaws. Other famous experiments proved the vitalism theory was wrong. In 1845 Kolbe synthesized acetic acid, the chief component in vinegar, in a flow of reactions starting with Carbon, the experiment is demonstrated better defined since acetic acid (C6H4O2) is a carbon-carbon bond. The theory of vitalism, like many other scientific theories, disappeared slowly under the weight of accumulated evidence rather than as a consequence of any one brilliant and enlightening experiment. Structural theory, which developed in the 1860s, sta rted the second major period of growth in the organic chemistry field. The development of a detailed picture, by using pure reasoning of both atomic organization and the shapes of molecules stands as a great milestone of the development of human intellect. At almost the same point in time, Kekule in Germany, and Couper of Scotland suggested that atoms in molecules are fused together by bonds. Their theory was that every atom is distinguished by having the same number of bond availability or valence number, where ever that particular atom appears in any compound. The main notability of organic compounds is having strong carbon to carbon bonds. This was recognized in the theory, and was used to help understand large molecules, possessing many bonded carbon atoms. Carbon is the cement that holds their molecules together. So far, this theory has gone through rigorous testing, and has not been proven inadequate to this day, as of now it is a law. Kekule and Coupers theory was not all wit hout fault; it is suprising that they did not recognize atoms as three-dimensional objects if they were to be understood as true particles of matter in space. It was not until 1875 when vant Hoff and LeBel proposed their hypothesis of compounds and atoms taking up space. Their hypothesis went as follows: Four bonds of carbon were located at equal angles to each other in space, this would be a rectangular tetrahedron. Immense amounts of proof have been supplied to support this theory, but is not universally accepted. It is believed today that this hypothesis is pure nonsense, proving that vant Hoff and LeBel were misdirected. It goes to show science is not always a constant law, theories, and even laws can be proved wrong. This Hypothesis was no exception; science can adapt to the world around it.After all, the mission statement of science is the attempt to understand the world around you, and without change there is no growth. The structural theory is not only a focal point of organ ic chemistry, but an amazingly simple idea. It states that by grasping that each carbon atom to form four bonds, tetrahedrally arranged in space, we are able to map the architecture of even the most complex molecules. Hence, even though the molecules are too minuscule to be seen in most powerful, cutting edge, electron microscopes. Scientists are still able to possess a clear understanding of how a molecule is constructed. Although the atoms may have minor different physical characteristics than scientists expected such as, carbon atom being an elliptical shape, or the bonds may not line up in a compound as neatly as we envisioned them. Nevertheless, the truth of their basic physical architectural hypothesis has been substantiated literally millions of times by successful outcome of prediction. The power of the theory is demonstrated by the statement that there has been no chemical observation that cannot be basically understood by structural theory. Finally, although structural log ic is extremely rigorous, it involves no mathematics. Unlike most sciences of equal complexity, much of organic chemistry is conducted without the use of formal math beyond elementary levels. The third and presently used theory in the history of organic chemistry ends with the description of chemical bonds as electron pairs, Lewis came up with this in 1917. Although a great amount of chemical reactions were already known and in active use to synthesize organic compounds into other compounds, only with this understanding of the nature of a chemical bond did a clear reason of the nature an mechanism of chemical reactions begin to appear. This will be clear when one realizes that the transformation of one molecule to another, a chemical reaction, requires the breaking of some bonds and the making of others. This process could not be understood until one knew what a bond is. Thus if the nineteenth century was devoted to unraveling the fixed structures of molecules, the twentieth century will be devoted to the study of their transformations. .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f , .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f .postImageUrl , .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f , .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f:hover , .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f:visited , .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f:active { border:0!important; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f:active , .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u92d9799ffac04c0e34eef99361dcad1f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Fear and loathing in las vegas Essay The study of science and more specifically the study of organic chemistry is an on going affair. In the scientific community one never rests, there is a continual stream of experimentation and the desire to explore new realms. The cutting edge in science is grounded in the medical field. How can we manipulate genetic codes the building blocks of life? The things we have learned over the years are allowing us to build those bridges to the future, a future that might see an improvement in the human condition by way of organic chemistry. Search Bibliography1. Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. 14 December 1999. 2. Adams, Johnson, and Wilcox C. Laboratory Experiments in Organic Chemistry.London: The Macmillen Company Ltd., 1970. 3. Sharma, Amit. Re: Chemistry. E-mail to Jeffrey Schaufeld-emailprotected13 December 1999.4. Bordwell, F.G. Organic Chemistry. New York: The Macmillen Company, 1963. 5. Burgoyne, Edward E. A Short Coarse in Organic Chemistry. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1979. 6. Carey, F. A. Organic Chemistry. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1986. 7. Cram, and Hammond G. Organic Chemistry: 2nd Edition.New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1964. 8. Department of Organic Chemistry. University of Nigmegen, Germany. 12 December 1999 http://www-sci.sci.kun.nl/orgchem/. 9. Division of Organic Chemistry. American Chemical Society. 13 December 1999. 10. Ferguson, Lloyd N. The Modern Structural Theory of Organic Chemistry. London: Prentice-Hall International Inc., 1963. 11. Grant, Karen. Re: Organic Chemistry. E-mail to Jeffrey Schaufeld-emailprotected 12 December 1999. 13. Griffin, Rodger W. Modern Organic Chemistry. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1969. 14. Hammett, Louis P. Physical Organic Chemistry. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1970. 15. Hendrikson, Cram, and Hammond G. Organic Chemistry: 3rd Edition. New York: The McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1970. 16. History of Organic Chemistry. 11 December 1999. 17. Ingold, C.K. Structure and Mechanism in Organic Chemistry. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1969. 18. Institute of Organic Chemistry. University of Gottingen, Germany. 11 December 1999 http://www.gwdg.de/~ucoc/. 19. Institute of Organic Chemistry. University of Erlangen-Nuremburg. 13 December 1999. 20. Institute of Organic Chemistry. University of Zurich. 14 December 1999 http://www.unizh.ch/oci/persons/kunz.html. 21. Internet Chemistry Resources. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. 10 December 1999. 22. IOSB-Prague. Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry. 9 December 1999. 23. Laboratory of Organic Chemistry. Institute of Molecular Chemistry. 11 December 1999 http://orgwww.chem.uva.nl/. 24. Mong, Gary. Re: Chemistry Information. E-mail to Jeffrey Schaufeld-emailprotected 11 December 1999. 25. Morrisson, Robert, Boyd, and Robert N. Organic Chemistry: 4th Edition. London: Allyn, 1983. 26. N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry. 9 December 1999 http://www.ioc.ac.ru/. 27. Nebergall, W.H., Schmidt, Frederic, Holtzclaw, and Henry. Chemistry: 6th Edition London: Pantheon, 1980. 28. Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry. Siberian division of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 13 December 1999. 29. Organic Chemistry Division. 10 December 1999. 30. Organic Chemistry Resources Worldwide. Georgia State University. 12 December 1999. 31. Rusay, Ray J. Re: Organic Chemistry Information. E-mail to Jeffrey Schaufeld-emailprotected 13 December 1999. 32. Science Encyclopedia. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited, 1993. 33. The Canadian Society for Chemistry: Organic Division. 12 December 1999. 34. The Web World of Fundamental Organic Chemistry. 10 December 1999 http://www.dq.fct.unl.pt/qof/intro.html. 35. Turro, Nick J. Re: Organic Project Information. E-mail to Jeffrey Schaufeld-emailprotected 14 December 1999.36. Web-Sters Organic Chemistry. 9 December 1999.

Try and Try Again Essays - Presentation Experience, Poor Grades

The motto, if at first you dont succeed, try, try again, is a saying that I agree with. In my life, I have made an effort to persevere using several different approaches to a problem or goal in order to be successful. One example that I comes to mind is my university presentation. Even as a freshmen, I preferred to get advice from the professor about how to make presentation. Truthfully, I was completely confused in the first conversation. Nevertheless, I have learned how to research, about body language and have launched several campaigns to make a good presentation. My first real presentation experience was at the university. For six weeks, I researched more than 200 pages a day, taking note of important information carefully. I learned to organize material into sections like. At the end of six weeks, I made a presentation in the class. But I did not remember anything and I felt very sick. So I began to read my notes. My teacher put an end to my speech because I spoke too long and everybody lost their attention. As a result, I got poor grades at the midterm and I had to work hard for the final exam. Although I had failed in my first experience, I still had a chance to pass the course. This time I followed a rigorous working plan. I concentrated on body language as well as structure. I took a mirror to my room so that It it would be easier to make practice. I joined a social club and observed people as they were giving presentations. Although I made a good presentation as I want, and I began to receive complements from friends on my presentation. Nevertheless, I found myself going to a disco with friends from my club, missing lesson because I was too busy. Preparing for the final was not possible because I was arriving late. I failed the final again. If I wanted to , I could have skipped the course, but I tried again. I met one person who is was successful at giving the presentation. She gave me private lessons. I learned a new method for a successful presentation, such as speaking clearly. My presentation became more understandable and was timer shorter. Moreover, by studying the lesson by myself and actively listening to other students, I have slowly reached my goal. When I was making the presentation, I felt confidence and overcame the challenge. So, as you see, I tried and tried again, but at last I succeeded in finding a way that worked for me. And I learned researching, body language and speaking clearly. What is important is not to give up and to learn from each failure.

Free Essays on Symphony With A Splash

Contrary to the atmosphere of most symphony concerts, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s â€Å"Symphony with a Splash† created a fun and easygoing setting. Both the conductor, Daniel Meyer, and host, Greg Sandow, encouraged clapping throughout the entire show including during the music. This crowd participation made for easy listening and enjoyment. The concert opened with a familiar song by Ennio Morricone, â€Å"Childhood/Manhood,† from the film â€Å"Cinema Paradiso.† This song can be recognized from a television ad for UPMC. Some people may agree with conductor Daniel Meyer when he said that â€Å"Childhood/Manhood† put them on the charts. Also preformed in the first half of the show was Gioachino Rossini’s â€Å"La Gazza Ladra [The Thieving Magpie].† This song, like most form this show, was not written for a formal concert setting. The percussion parts in this song were amazing. They were loud and captivating, forcing the audience to listen and hang on every note. With a similar feeling to the rest of this night’s performances was the Scherzo from the Tenth Symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich. This song is similar because it was also not written for what people today believe is a formal concert. The Scherzo was written as a portrait of Joseph Stalin. The entire audience was able to feel the hatred toward Stalin through the tone of the music as well as the red lights that shined on the performers. Other music performed at this concert includes music from Handel’s â€Å"Music for the Royal Fireworks,† Mozart’s â€Å"Paris Symphony,† Mahler’s â€Å"Symphony Number 5", and Ravel’s â€Å"Bolà ©ro.† Of all the music performed, my favorite was the Scherzo from Shostakovich’s Symphony Number 10. I liked this piece the most because you could feel the song’s force and power. Walking into this concert I was expecting to hear a lot of soft music. However, this was not the case. The concert was filled with lively and e... Free Essays on Symphony With A Splash Free Essays on Symphony With A Splash Contrary to the atmosphere of most symphony concerts, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s â€Å"Symphony with a Splash† created a fun and easygoing setting. Both the conductor, Daniel Meyer, and host, Greg Sandow, encouraged clapping throughout the entire show including during the music. This crowd participation made for easy listening and enjoyment. The concert opened with a familiar song by Ennio Morricone, â€Å"Childhood/Manhood,† from the film â€Å"Cinema Paradiso.† This song can be recognized from a television ad for UPMC. Some people may agree with conductor Daniel Meyer when he said that â€Å"Childhood/Manhood† put them on the charts. Also preformed in the first half of the show was Gioachino Rossini’s â€Å"La Gazza Ladra [The Thieving Magpie].† This song, like most form this show, was not written for a formal concert setting. The percussion parts in this song were amazing. They were loud and captivating, forcing the audience to listen and hang on every note. With a similar feeling to the rest of this night’s performances was the Scherzo from the Tenth Symphony by Dmitri Shostakovich. This song is similar because it was also not written for what people today believe is a formal concert. The Scherzo was written as a portrait of Joseph Stalin. The entire audience was able to feel the hatred toward Stalin through the tone of the music as well as the red lights that shined on the performers. Other music performed at this concert includes music from Handel’s â€Å"Music for the Royal Fireworks,† Mozart’s â€Å"Paris Symphony,† Mahler’s â€Å"Symphony Number 5", and Ravel’s â€Å"Bolà ©ro.† Of all the music performed, my favorite was the Scherzo from Shostakovich’s Symphony Number 10. I liked this piece the most because you could feel the song’s force and power. Walking into this concert I was expecting to hear a lot of soft music. However, this was not the case. The concert was filled with lively and e...

How Amino Acid Chirality Works

How Amino Acid Chirality Works Amino acids (except for  glycine) have a  chiral  carbon atom adjacent to the carboxyl group (CO2-). This chiral center allows for stereoisomerism. The amino acids form two stereoisomers that are mirror images of each other. The structures are not superimposable on each other, much like your left and right hands. These mirror images are termed  enantiomers. D/L and R/S Naming Conventions for Amino Acid Chirality There are two important nomenclature systems for enantiomers. The D/L system is based on optical activity and refers to the Latin words dexter for right and laevus for left, reflecting left- and right-handedness of the chemical structures. An amino acid with the dexter configuration  (dextrorotary) would be named with a () or D prefix, such as ()-serine or D-serine. An amino acid having the laevus configuration  (levorotary) would be prefaced with a (-) or L, such as (-)-serine or L-serine. Here are the steps to determine whether an amino acid is the D or L enantiomer: Draw the molecule as a Fischer projection with the carboxylic acid group on top and side chain on the bottom. (The amine group will not be at the top or bottom.)If the amine group is located on the right side of the carbon chain, the compound is D. If the amine group is on the left side, the molecule is L.If you wish to draw the enantiomer of a given amino acid, simply draw its mirror image. The R/S notation is similar, where R stands for Latin rectus (right, proper, or straight) and S stands for Latin sinister (left). R/S naming follows the  Cahn-Ingold-Prelog rules: Locate the chiral or stereogenic center.Assign priority to each group based on the atomic number of the atom attached to the center, where 1 high and 4 low.Determine the direction of priority for the other three groups, in order of high to low priority (1 to 3).If the order is clockwise, then the center is R. If the order is counterclockwise, then the center is S. Although most of chemistry has switched over to the (S) and (R) designators for absolute stereochemistry of enantiomers, the amino acids are most commonly named using the (L) and (D) system. Isomerism of Natural Amino Acids All amino acids found in proteins occur in the L-configuration about the chiral carbon atom. The exception is glycine because it has two hydrogen atoms at the alpha carbon, which cannot be distinguished from each other except via radioisotope labeling. D-amino acids are not naturally found in proteins and are not involved in the metabolic pathways of eukaryotic organisms, although they are important in the structure and metabolism of bacteria. For example, D-glutamic acid  and D-alanine  are structural components of certain bacterial cell walls. Its believed D-serine may be able to act as a brain neurotransmitter. D-amino acids, where they exist in nature, are produced via post-translational modifications of the protein. Regarding the (S) and (R) nomenclature, nearly all amino acids in proteins are (S) at the alpha carbon. Cysteine is (R) and glycine is not chiral. The reason cysteine is different is that it has a sulfur atom at the second position of the side chain, which has a larger atomic number than that of the groups at the first carbon. Following the naming convention, this makes the molecule (R) rather than (S).

Roman Art Plaza Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Roman Art Plaza - Essay Example Fontana del Nettuno or the Fountain of Neptune is found at the north end of the piazza. This fountain was designed in 1574 by Giacomo della Porta and sponsored by Pope Gregory XIII. The fountain is composed of a basin made of white marble and on top are mythological nereids or sea nymphs and the god Neptune wrestling with an octopus. Overall, the three fountains in the Piazza Navona are antiquities that show the craftsmanship of the Romans. The piazza, with its unique and precious landscape, may be unparalleled for its beauty. Notably, however, the subjects of the sculptures are all male. This reflects the power of the male figure in the Renaissance time, and in turn, the elites because they were the ones who had access to education and the arts. Apparently, the cost of materials used to construct the fountains reveals the elitist view of both the Church and the government. The said fountains now serve as legacies of art but at the time they were constructed, the common people did no t have enough to eat, thus they resisted the construction of the Fontana Dei Quattro. In response, the government was after prestige and power, thus it held a stiff look at the qualms of the people. In many works, the Renaissance people lavishly proved their high taste in art, which later earned them prestige and praise. The Piazza Navona strictly conforms with High Renaissance requirements of drama, physical presence and balance. In particular, the facial expressions and hand gestures of the statues.

How I Came to be an Engligh Major Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

How I Came to be an Engligh Major - Essay Example But some things never change, like the timeless principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Benjamin Franklin, who stress the importance of adhering to biblical precepts when communicating one’s message – an ideal that I especially appreciate as an ordained minister. I chose my major in order to truly make a difference in the way information is relayed to society, and a student who aspires to a career in public relations or broadcasting, I believe that I have taken the first step toward improving the communications field so that will work to edify society – not tear it down. As an ordained minister, I have an acute awareness of how crucial it is to accurately communicate the truth in order to have an effective ministry, and this extends into my career ambitions to excel in public relations or broadcasting. It is readily seen throughout the media that audiences desperately desire honest and objective reporting grounded in the truth. If people wanted a fictional spin, they would resort to fiction literature or other forms of entertainment such as the box office or prime time television. But in today’s information craze, highlighted by Facebook, Twitter, reality TV, and talk shows, people want to know the bare truth about events and one another. And the demand for the communicators of this information is growing exponentially. The decision to become an English or Communications major puts one at the center of this frenzy that insatiably yearns for intimate information about the world. Anchoring my education in a degree that strengthens my communication skills and equips me to effectively and objectively report to readers, listeners, or viewers ? who want to cut through the chase and get the unembellished and accurate information they need ? is of the essence. But this objective is not just a modern convention, as one of our nation’s founders, Benjamin Franklin, also recognized the need for integrity when communicating with oth ers more than two centuries ago when he wrote about the virtue of sincerity, â€Å"Use no hurtful Deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly,† (DiYanni 231). Even though the truth may hurt, people like to hear it told like it is, and Franklin bases this on a timeless biblical principle, â€Å"Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth,† (The NIV Study Bible, Prov. 16.13). Regardless of the way Hollywood glorifies using deceit to get one’s way, the conscience of people ultimately directs them to seek and honor truth over lies. One of the allures to the viral intrigue of social media sites is the honesty and uncensored expression from which people are allowed to indulge, without having to adjust their lingo to political biases or other climates that stifle one’s free expression in the real world. This is why we are seeing a new age of news media, with many independent bloggers and reporters from localities that report on people and events without being filtered by bureaucracies or company politics. By making the decision to major in a field that puts an emphasis on effective and objective communication, I feel that I am one step ahead in a society that is putting a high demand on objective, truthful, and accurate reporting. I also chose to focus on English and Communications in my major

Value of tuition reimbursement and extra time in adult learning Essay Example for Free

Value of tuition reimbursement and extra time in adult learning Essay Learning is life. We continue to learn as long as we live. In today’s complex world, we often find it necessary to update ourselves, to keep pace with new developments. However learning new skills, organizing knowledge, at times, does not come free. Often, acquiring such specialized knowledge is beyond an individual’s means. To sustain the process of keeping oneself updated with newer skills and knowledge, financial support is called for. As such, it is ‘Important to provide reimbursement and make time in aid of Adult Learning’. â€Å"The illiterate of the year 2000, will not be the individual, who cannot read or write, but the one who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn. † (Alvin Toffler). It is said that Education is an investment rather than a cost. In today’s fast changing society, when technology and communication are changing rapidly, wide spread awareness of learning is a necessity. Adult learning was traditionally never very important. Stress was more on school age learning. It is only recently that researchers have turned their attention to learning at the workplace and in everyday settings. (Essays in Rogoff and Lave, 1984; Sternberg Wagner, 1986; Sternberg, Wagner Okagaki, 1993). As learners, the adults articulate the personal goals better, develop motivational skills, and fine tune their knowledge, interests, and acquired skills. Adult learning is based on a learning culture. It involves learning of work related as well as, personal skills which help not only individuals but enterprises and nations to Benefit from. Today learning is a strategic feature of the corporate. In times of reducing profit margins and stiff foreign competition, it is important to have a workforce which is not only professionally thorough in skills, but also ahead of others in the competition. So, employers have a vested interest in making their staff secures with knowledge and skill that will help them succeed at work. â€Å"Learning is no longer a cost, but a benefit that can be quantified† (The Adult Learner at work,p. 306). The adult learner uses transference to use the learnt idea in related jobs. In today’s world where technology is changing fast, by earning a degree in a field related to the job, the employee can perform better. Such learning boosts confidence in the employees and nurtures them to realize their full potential. In an organization, it is the climate of the organization that fosters learning. The staff is encouraged to gain mastery in its field of specialization. The organization must plan out the future allowing learning at every stage. Such organizations believe in empowering the employee. It believes that obsolescence of the staff will ring death knell for the organization. The management supports learning regularly and rewards such personnel accordingly. The commitment of the management makes the employees remain as a loyal workforce. Such values create openness in the organization where individuals can develop, create and contribute ideas fearlessly. It minimizes problems by identifying them at an early stage and arresting the major setbacks. Organizations which encourage its staff in adult learning schemes, foster growth of the personnel, as well as the organization. â€Å"Increasingly, companies will only survive if they meet the needs of the individuals who serve in them; not just the question of payment, important as this may be, but people’s true inner needs† (Harvey Jones, 1987, Making it Happen, p. 249). It becomes important, therefore, that such learnings are supported by reimbursing the tuition fees or course fee of the personnel. The employee is able to convince the employer about the possible advantages of offering tuition reimbursement. The new skills will make the employee more productive. It would also foster leadership in the workplace. Such equipped individuals would enhance the company’s image when working with the client. Globalization today has changed the way, the enterprises manage and perform . The skill, innovation and quality improvement is imperative for productivity, quality, efficiency and competition. Thus training the workforce becomes a critical component of competition. The most successful companies therefore will have to balance the market pressure to adapt to changing skills. It is to cope with the pace of change that the companies or enterprises need to train their staff. The urge to innovate and outperform on the part of the individual and the enterprise tie them in a bond, where each looks after the other’s interest, apart from fulfilling their personal interests. To keep the personnel abreast with the trend, there is a need for constant innovation and training the existing personnel with newer skills. It is always preferred to upgrade the existing personnel with newer skills than bringing in new personnel to meet the need. Existing personnel, being already familiar with the culture of the organization, Can adapt better compared to new personnel, who would have to struggle to familiarize themselves with the organization’s culture. Possibly for this in U. K, ‘Employers invested GBP 10. 6 billion in training in 1993’ (The Learning Age, DFEE, 1998). Human Capital theory as revealed by Harris’s study (2000) undertakes that training is an investment and will occur only when it can justify the cost. This theory holds good only when the company considers its employees as its asset. In such a scenario, specific skills of the employees are more valuable than generic skills. Making time for the employee’s training, needs to be decisively considered before deciding on a training schedule. A number of factors like availability of in house training personnel, speed or number of training days needed, frequency of the skill to be used, difficulty of the task and it’s transference to real life situations need to be considered before an organization decides on a training project. Smaller firms will find it difficult to have in house training due to its higher costs, while bigger firms will find in-house and on-the-job training cost-effective. Large enterprises can afford to have in house training centers which pave way for self-paced and self-directed training. It also aids training before or after work, without compromising on working time. The book ‘Tuition Assistance Usage and First Term Military Retention’ by Richard Buddin, Kanika Kapur, Rand reports of a program, where Department of Defense Supported the employees (on active duty), who enrolled in a college course. It reimbursed up to 75% of their college fees, up to a maximum of $3500 for an Individual in a year. The program was started having considered the benefits of having More educated personnel, who would perform better and would exhibit potential for greater advancement. The program was successful when more than sixty percent of the employees found the recruitment beneficial because of educational opportunities. Thus relevancy and value of tuition reimbursement and making time available for adult learning is synonymous with competitive performance and has become a critical component in today’s changing scenario of globalization. So learning is Life. As we learn we grow. References Thomas. Pourchot, M. Cecil Smith (1998). Adult Learning and Development: Perspectives from Educational Psychology, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Robert Burns (2nd Edition).The Adult Learner at Work: The challenges of lifelong education in the new millennium. Richard Buddin, Kanika Kapur, Rand (2002) Tuition Assistance Usage and First –Term Military Retention . AdultLearning. Directgov-Education and learning. Retrieved on August 30, 2007, from http://www. directgov. uk/en/EducationAndLearning/AdultLearning/Adultlearninggrant/index. htm Arizona Department of Health Services,(Fall 1991)Principles of Adult learning by Stephen Lieb . Retrieved on August 30, 2007, from http://. hcc. hawaii. edu/intranet/committees/FacDevcom/guidebk/teachtip/adults-2. htm

A Comparison of Everyman and Christopher Marlowes Doctor Faustus Essay

A Comparison of "Everyman" and Christopher Marlowe's "Doctor Faustus" Everyman and Doctor Faustus are both Morality Plays, these are specifically plays that existed within the Medieval period. They were popular during this period as they were intended to instruct the audience in the Christian way and attitudes to life. The morality play is essentially an allegory written in dramatic form. In the fourteenth Century, morality plays were mainly based on the seven deadly sins as in everyman with each character representing each sin. Everyman centers around allegory. It focuses on the allegorical representations of moral issues with the inclusion of figures that represent abstractions of the issues that are confronted. Doctor Faustus follows the general five-act structure of an Elizabethan Romantic Tragedy. However Christopher Marlowe used the structure of an older Medieval form of English Drama, the morality play as a model. Morality plays tended to show the moral struggle of mans soul and the conflict of good and evil. This is evident in the play of Doctor Faustus who is embroiled in a battle between the temptation of the devil and God. You could argue that Doctor Faustus is not classed as a morality play. Because in the tradition of a morality play God and the devil are external forces that affect the individual. However, in Doctor Faustus it is far more of an internal drama inside Faustus? own mind. Both are entirely didactic in nature, they were made with the intent to educate their audience in one respect or another. There was a moral to each that conveyed similar messages. Therefore the term ?morality play? correctly defines each one. The medieval time period in which Everyman was written contained a society that r... ...the rejection of the medieval due to further emphasis on the individual rather than God. After all, the opening scene of Doctor Faustus was praising science and magic in favour of God. So where do we draw the line? Everyman statically reflects the period of medieval whereas Doctor Faustus focuses on the actual change in that particular period of the Reformation. Therefore it is possible to see the alteration from one period to another. Bibliography - ?Doctor Faustus?-Christopher Marlowe - ?Norton Anthology of English Literature? - Oxford Dictionary Online - ?LION?- - http://lion.chadwyck.co.uk - http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Texts/faustus.html (3/12/03) - http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/doctorfaustus/ (5/12/03) - http://www.miracleplayers.org/everyman/play.htm (15/12/03) - http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/intro.htm (17/12/03)

Environmental issues in Asia

Developing countries face severe environmental issues as the rapid economic and population growth had created serious social and environmental problems which if left unattended can bring about very serious consequences. Some of these burning environmental issues faced by these Asian regions are the deforestation, global warming, air and water pollution, limited safe drinking water etc. apart from this manipulation of the natural resources and using unhealthy ways and means for developmental purposes is slowly destroying the resources of these nations which are of serious concern and needs immediate steps by the government and non governmental organizations to protect and rescue them from extinction. Two main problems that I wish to discuss in this research paper is air pollution and the increasing deficit in drinking water supply which is a great threat to the nations overall economic development. India is a fast developing country and its growth in the IT and industrial sector over the years is abundant. With the per capita income increasing with the sudden boom in industrial and technological sectors purchasing power has increased. Easy EMI and retail option enable almost anyone to get a vehicle and as the result traffic congestion, air pollution and noise pollution etc have increased thereby endangering the whole atmosphere and paving way to global warming. Water is the elixir of life we all know but although the world is third filled with water drinking water is available in limited quantity. India largely depends on monsoon rains for it agriculture and underground drinking water resources. Due to environmental issues like global warming, air pollution, industrial wastes, use of fertilizers etc result in less rainfall. Moreover the little rainfall received is wasted as it reaches the ocean without any proper preservation methods. The existing dams and water reservoirs are maintained poorly and hence little water collected due to seasonal rains are wasted. Hence an emergency plan to preserve this resource is necessary and steps to minimize air pollution should also be undertaken. Land usage in India: Area of the country: 3287260sq.kms Cultivable area: 1839560sq.kms Cultivated land area: 1697000sq.kms Population: Total population 1038056000 Rural: 71%  Ã‚  Ã‚   urban – 29% (www.indiastat.com) Water resources: Internal renewable water: 1260540 million cubic meters Total renewable water 1907760 million cubic meters Water use: Total withdrawal: 500000 million cubic meters Agriculture: 92% Domestic: 5% Industrial: 3% Irrigation: Irrigation potential: 1135120 sq. kms Land under irrigation: 501010 sq. kms Surface irrigation: 493300 sq. kms Area irrigated with surface water 40.5% Area irrigated with ground water 53% ( research paper on survey of Indian resources – 2005) The above facts clearly state the environmental condition of this great nation. The need for ground water for irrigation alone is almost 53% and this ground water level is diminishing today due to lack of rains and improper irrigation methods. The surface water again is becoming polluted because of unhygienic and improper maintenance and preservation methods. Further use of chemicals and pesticides for industry and agriculture has highly polluted both surface and ground water. When agriculture uses highly toxic pesticides it destroys not only the soil but also the water underneath. Some of the reasons for water scarcity in India are rising demand for water as population increases over extraction of surface and ground level water delay in completion of developmental projects due to lack of funds and political pressure or instable governments contamination of water resources due to the increased human impact globalization and industrial development polluting air ad water thereby altering urban climate Etc. There is a huge demand for water in the years to come especially keeping in mind the population the demand seems to be a nightmare. In almost all parts of India water deficiencies show an increasing trend and the surplus show a decreasing trend Four states and one union territory   have no surplus water The availability of water will reduce one fifth in three decades Government role to curb further water shortage: From time to time government plays a major part in implementing measures to check this water scarcity. Development projects like building dams, reservoirs, cleaning tanks and increasing awareness to store and use drinking water sensibly is being undertaken. State and central governments join together and use the allotted funds to implement such projects. But political pressure, unstable government and lack of funds create a void in these projects which is either dropped or not put into practice wholly. Moreover bribery in all fields curbs the growth and development of these projects. Although many NGO’S and non governmental organizations and business establishments try to fund these projects the funds are highly misused or mishandled by faulty politicians. Balanced growth in both agriculture and industry is needed for a countries overall performance and development. But industry is developing in India in a faster pace and it looks like agriculture is neglected. Plans to curb air pollution are needed desperately as it affects the rain and overall climatic condition of the nation. More plants should be planted and forests should be conserved and all measures to save rain water undertaken. Rain water harvesting was seriously implemented in some states and the result is yet to be seen. The roads and the infrastructure is very poor and even the slightest rain causes flash floods. Proper drainage and town planning is missing in cities like Mumbai and Chennai. Great awareness of the results of such negligence should be spread around and people should be educated as to the affects of global warming and air pollution. Individuals should take this mission in their hands to ensure safety for future generation. Every successful business concern should adopt one area or town to implement development projects like planting trees, cleaning drinking water reservoirs and dam’s etc. individuals for their part should maintain hygiene and prevent wastage of water. Governments should curb the vehicles promotion by making strict laws against easy availability of driving license and fine or punishment if driving unchecked vehicles against air and noise pollution. Industries should be made to dispose their chemicals and smoke safely so as not to pollute the air and water. Strict laws and cancellation of their industrial license should be enacted. If everyone could use water sensibly and avoid polluting substances India would become a super power rich in natural resources and hygiene. Short term practical solutions: Keeping the surroundings clean and maintaining a social responsibility to preserve and conserve our natural resources is every individual’s imminent responsibility Creating social awareness of this burning issue among the general public by conducting seminars, student programs and through entertainment to educate even the uneducated and down trodden To keep water bodies clean and check for pollution from nearby factories and industries Proper recycle of industrial wastes Undeterred implementation of government development schemes Strict implementation of anti pollution laws Increasing facilities in public transport and curtailing the use of private transport facilities Planting more trees Long term practical solutions: general infrastructure of the cities and towns should be properly planned and implemented keeping the long term benefit in mind strict adherence to herbal petrol and enabling gas or pollution free fuel regular pollution control checks in vehicles and factories strict laws against faulty companies which release industrial waste into water bodies building tanks, dams and reservoirs to save the excess rain water from reaching the sea soil promotion and banning chemical pesticides in agriculture organic farming should be encouraged and promoted funds must be set aside for developmental projects awareness for the need for funds should be created among NRI and all steps to utilize these funds properly should be undertaken social organizations, business establishments and individuals should be encouraged to undertake or adopt certain social duties to minimize government pressure Singapore is the world’s second free economy and second most competitive Asian economy. It is the best con nected countries with a robust infrastructure to suit another century or so. Globally connected, top ranking business environment, with stable infrastructure and diverse world class business solutions has made Singapore the top ranked and most preferred business ground. Free trade will definitely enable people from all over the world to throng Singapore but how does it maintain its resources against the growing demand, how is it possible for this small nation to keep its streets and water bodies clean and vehicles free from polluting the atmosphere. With a total land area of only 699.0 sq. km together with the mainland and other small islands surrounding it has a annual rainfall of about 2,136 mm. the resident population is 4,483,900 and mainly consist of immigrants from neighboring Asian countries like china and India. The literacy rate above 15 years is 95% and the per capita GDP is S$ 44,666. Labor force in this country is 2,367,300 and the unemployment rate is just 3.4%. ( http://www.sedb.com/edb/sg/en_uk/index/why_singapore/singapore_rankings.html ) The country synthesis report on urban air quality management conducted in 2006 clearly states the measures taken by Singapore to prevent or restrict air pollution. The ambient AQ is regularly monitored with the help of 14 air monitoring machines placed across the island of Singapore. This monitoring has aided in the review of pollution control measures and this has given a positive result in controlling air pollution in the country. AQ monitoring methods used are based on the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The offenders were prosecuted and were required to take remedial action. Since 1971 many laws are set up to maintain clean air focusing much on vehicular pollution and industrialization. The EPCA combines laws for air, water and noise pollution and gives a legislative framework to control pollution of the environment. Lead petrol was stopped and slowly the level of sulfur from diesel was also reduced considerably to control and reduce emission from vehicles. Ultra low sulfur diesel was introduced to implement euro 4 emission standard and it took effect from October 2006. Air quality in Singapore is the best in the world and it was possible only through strict measures taken by the government to control emission and resolve different forms of pollution. Green plan 2012 is another great step undertaken to further improve the quality of the environment for the years to come. (http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/category_sub.asp?cid=29 ) Highly compatible and well maintained reservoirs catch every drop of rain water and this is utilized by almost half of Singapore uses this water. New projects to build new dams and reservoirs desalination plants, etc are also are being developed. To aid in this mission MEWater is set up which is high quality water received from water reclamation from 2003. Sustainability and cleanliness of water supply and environment is maintained well as Singapore stands tall as a very good example of how we should conserve and preserve our natural resources for a better tomorrow. It is clearly evident that Singapore has successfully implemented anti pollutant measures and even though its economy is growing fast the infrastructure and the low pollution levels are unchanged. There is enough water to meet all the growing needs and the greenery and the cleanliness stands proof of the people commitment to make their country a higher power standing out and setting an example to all other nations. Asian countries like India and china can take this as an example and with proper coordination with this country try to implement such strict rules in their country too. Finally it is a joint responsibility of both the government and the individuals and they should both commit themselves to make a better, cleaner and pollution free nation not only for us but also to our future generations. Reference: Survey of Indian resources – research paper submitted to the Annamalai Open University. India   www.indiastat.com http://www.sedb.com/edb/sg/en_uk/index/why_singapore/singapore_rankings.html http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/category_sub.asp?cid=29            

Analysis of the Fast Food Industry Essay

Introduction Airline industry is the topic I researched in this analysis. Companies in this industry provide scheduled domestic and international passenger transportation, mail and freight transportation. Major US companies include American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United Continental, as well as the air operations of express delivery companies such as FedEx and UPS. The industry key survival factors are efficient operations, reliability of services, and safety. The drivers of change are internet economy, globalization, and low cost competition. Based on the key survival factors and drivers of change, large companies enjoy economies of scale in purchasing and the ability to provide more extensive services. Small airlines can compete by serving local or regional routes. All the information was collected from online journals, news, and research and report papers. The sources include industry reports such as Hoover, Bloomberg, and Forbes. The data was organized by folders and then summarized i nto Words before putting in the paper. Each source was written in a separate Word file every time it was used. The analysis uses the Porter’s 5 forces and PEST analysis. Key Survival Factors In airline industry, demand depends highly on the health of the economy, which affects spending on business and leisure air travel. Since many costs are fixed, efficient operations act as a core factor to determine the profitability of airlines companies. The basic operations of airlines include acquiring and maintaining airplanes and airport facilities, acquiring passengers and/or freight, managing staff, and operating flights. The flight equipment (airplanes) that an airline uses is crucial to efficient operations. The next key survival factor for airline industry is safety. Air traffic is growing rapidly, airports are more congested, and  Ã¢â‚¬Å"with two million passengers in the United States boarding more than 30,000 flights every day, maintaining that safety record will be a challenge.† Therefore, all airline companies should have a procedures encompassing the theory, investigation, categorization of flight failures, and the prevention of such failures through regulatio n, education, and training. The company could have lost the public image if they don’t have a procedure in advance to response quickly enough in case of emergency. Last but not least, reliability of service is another key survival factor for airline industry. A positive public image could be developed among customers due to a reputation for reliable services, which can lead to more repeat business. Reliability in the airlines industry includes: reports of mishandled baggage, the on-time arrival of flights, involuntary boarding denials from overbooking flights, and passenger complaints. Those airlines that are able to control these elements could provide better service to the customer, and thus offer more reliable service. Drivers of Change The internet and e-commerce has completely altered the airlines distribution (the booking and ticketing of passengers for air travel). Nowadays, travelers can book e-tickets on their flights through the airlines’ websites or a third-party website. This has allowed airlines to eliminate paperwork, reduce operational expenses, and bypass travel agent commissions. Moreover, the potential in the global travel market makes airlines companies focus more on globalization. To facilitate international growth, U.S. airlines are lobbying for â€Å"open skies† treaties between the U.S. and other nations. These treaties are bilateral agreements that essentially deregulate travel between the involved countries, thus opening up certain markets to competition. â€Å"The U.S. currently has signed more than 60 open skies treaties with nations around the globe.† Finally, the rise of the low-cost carriers has forced a change in the competitive environment of the air travel industry. Southwest, and JetBlue implement low-cost strategies that allow them to offer relatively low airfares. These low fares change the entire industry and force rivals to lower their costs and decrease their fares in order to stay competitive. Overall Assessment The airline industry is currently not very attractive. Both business and  tourist travel are reduced when the economy slows. â€Å"Global aviation traffic typically rises and falls at twice the pace of economic output, so a change in the economy can double the impact for airlines.† Because of relatively high fixed costs of airplanes, airport facilities, and labor, airlines can’t easily adjust to reduced passenger traffic. Based on the financial results on Hoover’s database, the industry has a very low growth rate of personal consumption expenditures as of 2014, and it was forecasted to grow at an annual compounded rate of 4 percent between 2014 and 2018. Works Cited Mouawad, Jad, and Christopher Drew. â€Å"Airline Industry at Its Safest Since the Dawn of the Jet Age.† The New York Times. The New York Times, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. . â€Å"Competitive Environment of the Airline Industry.† Competitive Environment of the Airline Industry. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. . â€Å"Good times for the Airline Industry.† The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 27 Dec. 2013. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. . Fulton, Jeff. â€Å"Airline Industry Key Success Factors.† EHow. Demand Media, 29 July 2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2015. .

Free Essays on The Unmasking

The Unmasking â€Å"Any great work of art revives and readapts time and space, and the measure of it’s success is the extent to which it makes you an inhabitant of that world- the extent to which it invites you in and lets you breathe it’s strange, special air† (Bernstein). An artist must create a different universe, one that surpasses culture, time, and personal philosophies. This new universe should surround and open a viewer’s eyes and lead to a new understanding of their own world. An example of genuine art is Diego Rivera’s painting â€Å"Mother’s Helper† (Rivera), which displays the simplicity of life without technology. It display’s the love of family, and nature, drives a person to appreciate the things around them. Upon reflection of true art, the viewer’s philosophy, their path to the truth, should be reworked, against society and the mold they came from. An existentialist who has always sought the truth through persona l experience may come to the revelation that Jesus Christ displays the truth after being stirred by moving artwork. A pragmatist, who believed the end justifies the means, could realize that their pure form is in nature, as a transcendentalist (Newton). Being raised Roman Catholic (Priola 1), the author Cormac McCarthy adopted the spoon fed philosophy of his parents, later coming to his own conclusions, expressed in his novels. He expresses personal views of an evil society, attempting to stretch the perception of the reader, using a common focus. McCarthy has a â€Å"pattern of using characters who struggle against a brutal hostile world and All the Pretty Horses carries on the tradition† (Cormac 3). In most of his earlier novels, Blood Meridian, The Orchard Keeper, & Suttree, McCarthy uses these themes. A sort of revolution in the mind of the main character is also expected in the writings of McCarthy. His unique writing style of vivid imagery and integrating Spanish gives McCarthy a ... Free Essays on The Unmasking Free Essays on The Unmasking The Unmasking â€Å"Any great work of art revives and readapts time and space, and the measure of it’s success is the extent to which it makes you an inhabitant of that world- the extent to which it invites you in and lets you breathe it’s strange, special air† (Bernstein). An artist must create a different universe, one that surpasses culture, time, and personal philosophies. This new universe should surround and open a viewer’s eyes and lead to a new understanding of their own world. An example of genuine art is Diego Rivera’s painting â€Å"Mother’s Helper† (Rivera), which displays the simplicity of life without technology. It display’s the love of family, and nature, drives a person to appreciate the things around them. Upon reflection of true art, the viewer’s philosophy, their path to the truth, should be reworked, against society and the mold they came from. An existentialist who has always sought the truth through persona l experience may come to the revelation that Jesus Christ displays the truth after being stirred by moving artwork. A pragmatist, who believed the end justifies the means, could realize that their pure form is in nature, as a transcendentalist (Newton). Being raised Roman Catholic (Priola 1), the author Cormac McCarthy adopted the spoon fed philosophy of his parents, later coming to his own conclusions, expressed in his novels. He expresses personal views of an evil society, attempting to stretch the perception of the reader, using a common focus. McCarthy has a â€Å"pattern of using characters who struggle against a brutal hostile world and All the Pretty Horses carries on the tradition† (Cormac 3). In most of his earlier novels, Blood Meridian, The Orchard Keeper, & Suttree, McCarthy uses these themes. A sort of revolution in the mind of the main character is also expected in the writings of McCarthy. His unique writing style of vivid imagery and integrating Spanish gives McCarthy a ...

QA How and Why Should I Keep Track of Time on the SAT or ACT

QA How and Why Should I Keep Track of Time on the SAT or ACT SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips If you want to do well on the SAT or ACT, keeping track of time and how many questions you have left is extremely important. Sections are 35-60 minutes long on the ACT and 25-65 minutes long on the SAT. One of the leading reasons students perform poorly on either test is that they run out of time. And one of the leading reasons students run out of time is not because they're not aware of how much time is left. We'll go over the best way to keep track of time on the SAT/ACT in this article, including what timekeeping devices are and are not permitted on test day. Q: How Does Knowing How Much Time Is Left Help Me? Answer: It lets you plan out which questions to answer first. For each SAT/ACT section, most people agree that it's strategically best to start with the questions that are easy for you. You can then go back and answer the harder ones in an order that depends on how much time is left. If you have three hard questions and 15 minutes left, it probably doesn’t matter what order you do them in. On the other hand, if you only have five minutes left to do three hard questions, you should try to do the easiest-looking one first. But you can’t even make that choice if you have to rely on having a good view of the big clock on the wall or on the proctor's desk. Q: What Can I Bring to Time the Exam Sections? Answer: Not much. Unfortunately, neither test is very accommodating when it comes to timing devices. Both the SAT and the ACT have the following strict rules about what you can bring to the test. Rule 1: You Can't Bring a Cellphone This is for real. You are technically not even allowed to have a cellphone with you in the room, and you're certainly not allowed to look at your phone during the test or during the breaks in between sections. In practice, if you do take your cellphone with you to the testing center, you must make sure it is completely turned off. If you want to be really safe and know how to take the battery out of your phone, do it. Silent mode just isn't safe enough for the SAT or ACT. We say this because cellphones, even on Silent or Airplane mode, can beep or vibrate loudly for various reasons, from a national weather alarm alert to a software update that restarts the phone. And if your phone goes off, the test is over for you. Your test booklet will be confiscated and disqualified from being scored. More pertinently, even if you bring a cellphone with you to the testing center (which, again, is technically not allowed), you definitely, definitely can not use your cellphone, even just as a timer. Rule 2: You Can’t Bring Separate Timers The College Board explicitly lists "separate timers of any type" as something that cannot be brought in. This means no stopwatches, no kitchen timers, and no hourglasses. An hourglass is not an acceptable timekeeping device for the SAT or ACT. Rule 3: You Can't Bring Anything That Beeps If you use a beeping watch in a way that doesn't beep, it should be fine for the SAT/ACT. However, are you sure you won’t accidentally hit a button that makes it beep? Sure enough to bet your entire SAT or ACT score on it? The only way to guarantee your test won't get disqualified is to play it safe and just bring a watch that cannot make a beep. Q: What’s the Best Plan for Keeping Track of Time on the SAT/ACT? Answer: Use an analog (non-digital) watch that can’t beep but that you can easily reset. You can get a cheap non-digital watch for less than $15 on Amazon. If you’re not great at reading clocks, you can get an easy-to-read one that has the minutes marked on a ring around the watch face. Once you have your analog watch, practice using it as a timer with either of these two strategies. Strategy 1: Set Your Watch to Noon Right when each section starts, set your watch to 12:00 (so that the minute and hour hand are both on the 12). The minutes past 12:00 tell you how many minutes passed since the section started. It's an easier way to check how much time has passed than doing the mental math of, "So we started at 10:48, and it's 11:04 now, which means...16 minutes have passed? Probably?" The main problem with this method is that you still have to do some mental time math. For instance: "The 25-minute SAT Math No-Calculator section started at 12 pm and now it’s 12:07pm. How many minutes do I have left?" The answer is 18 minutes, but the time it took you to do the math in your head is lost time you could've been spending on the test. Save your math for the Math section and use this next trick. Strategy 2: Use Your Watch to Count Down to Noon An alternative to setting your watch exactly to noon is to set your watch to a section's length before the hour. For instance, if the section is 25 minutes long, set your watch to 35 minutes past the hour (which is 25 minutes until the next hour). The watch’s countdown to the end of the hour will also be a countdown to the end of the section. Here's a handy table with the times you should set your watch to at the beginning of each section: Section Length (minutes) Set your watch to... What sections are this length? 25 11:35 SAT Math (No Calc) 35 11:25 SAT Writing and Language, ACT Reading, ACT Science 40 11:20 ACT Essay (optional) 45 11:15 ACT English 50 11:10 SAT Essay (optional) 55 11:05 SAT Math (Calculator) 60 11:00* ACT Math 65 10:55* SAT Reading *To keep the countdown to noon consistent across all sections, it's better to use 11 and 10:55 here, but you could theoretically use a different time if you wanted. Setting your watch to count down to noon is helpful because: You effectively have a timer, giving you an edge. It's completely within policy, since you are allowed a non-beeping watch. It's better than doing time math. Of course, if you use this method, don't forget to reset the watch at the beginning of each section. And when the test is over and you’re out of the test room, set the watch back to the real time. What’s Next? Take advantage of your new knowledge of how to keep track of time by reading our tips on saving yourself time during the SAT. Still worried you'll run out of time? We have more great tips on how to avoid running out of time on SAT/ACT Reading and SAT/ACT Math. How long exactly are the SAT and ACT, anyway? Find out with our guides to how long (with breaks) the SAT and ACT are.

Identify knowledge & skills of PHC Nurses related health educatio Literature review

Identify knowledge & skills of PHC Nurses related health educatio - Literature review Example To describe precisely the skills, knowledge and attitudes that PHC nurses should posses with reference to healthcare education to the patients and the public. To measure the nurse’s level of scientific knowledge, required for health education at the PHC centres. The following sections presents a literature review of studies focused on different areas inside and outside Saudi Arabia. As the proposed research need to redefine the variables involved giving due attention to existing findings, these studies provide valuable information to start with, to describe precisely the skills, knowledge and attitudes that PHC nurses should posses with reference to healthcare education. Review of Literature Rasheed, and Al-Sowielem (2003) have examined the level of health awareness related to pregnancy and the sources of information among women visiting the Primary Health Centers in Al- Khobar, Saudi Arabia. This study is important to the context of this research because it has pointed to the fact that PHC nurses are poor sources of health information (p.37-38). This study has used a questionnaire to survey 581 women in child bearing age and this huge sample size lends great credibility to the findings that this study endorses. The study has explored whether information on food, rest, exercise, breast care, rubella, smoking, safe maternal age, spacing between pregnancies, and antenatal care, were available to the members of the sample and if so, what were the sources of this health information for them (Rasheed, and Al-Sowielem, 2003). The results showed that there was inadequate information given to the pregnant women from the PHC staff (Rasheed, and Al-Sowielem, 2003). Also, the authors mentioned that educational intervention during antenatal period is highly effective in improving the knowledge and health habits of pregnant women, an intervention that PHC nurses alone get the opportunity to impart with maximum effectiveness. Therefore, from this study it is necessary that nurses have knowledge on information about food, breast cancer among other factors significant for health education of pregnant women. Similarly, Al-Amoud (2003) showed from a study that there is need for PHC nurses to be equipped with knowledge or information about breast feeding so that they can assist breast feeding mothers with appropriate information during health education. The study examined the breastfeeding practice among women attending primary health centres in Riyadh that there is a clear decline of breastfeeding in Saudi Arabia. This study (Al-Amoud, 2003) has indirectly pointed to the need for improving training of PHC professionals including nurses so that they can give better education to the mothers on the importance of breastfeeding. These results of this study have been obtained through examining variables such as, number of children alive, marital status, occupation, and the level of education (Al-Amoud, 2003). Almalki, FitzGerald, and Clark (2012) in their investigation of nursing education in PHC setting have also stressed the important of the furthering nursing education in PHC setting. This is one of the main findings of the study carried out to assess the quality of work life among PHC Nurses in Jazan, south of Saudi Arabia (Almalki,

Consumer law coursework Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Consumer law coursework - Essay Example e time and make claims under the Sale of Goods Act based on various possible ways to resolve the issues based on the circumstances and on what they want to be done as provided for in the implied terms section 12 of Sales of Goods Act. According to the case, Bowes v Richardson & Son Ltd, the buyer was held by the Courts entitled to reject a new car seven months after delivery based on various car problems some occurring immediately after delivery and others months later. The Court held that the buyer had never had the opportunity to fully assess the repairs made on the car as so could never be held to have accepted the goods. Such case law authority is a precedent for Peter’s iTablet and Patrick’s TV cases. They both have their rights against the retailer and not the manufacturer and hence a claim is valid to make against Trusted Electricals and Aptab R Us. On the hand, Peter can make a claim on goods sold on hire purchase not through Sales of Goods Act but via the Suppl y of Goods Implied Terms Act 1973 that makes the Hire Purchase Company responsible for the quality of the goods supplied and offers him slightly different rights. Patrick is also protected under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 to decide on the best way possible to end his agreement in his cases against Barcpeds. On the first occasion, Patrick purchased a 42 inch television for his living room from Trusted Electricals. The Television was defective and also had a consequential loss as it overheated and damaged his expensive wallpaper. In order to advice Patrick, there is a need to investigate whether the sign his attention was drawn to was available at the point of purchase and that he was told about it before the acquisition. The researcher believes that Patrick was never told of this sign at the point of purchase and thus his demands are valid as required by section 13 subsection one (sale by description) where there is an implied term that the good correspond to the description. Patrick should be

Year-Round Education Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Year-Round Education - Research Paper Example It is important to know the difference between this modified calendar and traditional system to compare the benefits and drawbacks of this development. Unlike the traditional system where a multiple month vacation (mostly in summer) is given to students, year round schools offer a cumulative holidays of about 2 months distributed over the year. These year round schools can further offer single track, multi track or extended year format. When this new system was introduced in the mid 80s, a lot of controversies erupted that highlighted concerns over certain issues. In order to analyze and compare these two systems it is mandatory to dissect those issues. Traditional system had served its purpose well for a very long time. Now if it was to change it could have some positive or negative effect on the individuals associated with it, most importantly, the students and the teachers (Haser & Ilham 2005). So while comparing these two systems focus should be on observing any change in their a ttitude. For example, a student from a year round school system can be disturbed looking at the kids of his age enjoying their long summer vacations. Other factors that are important to consider are effect on academic performance, cost and changing a norm of a society. Year round Education and Academic Achievement: Various researches have been conducted around the world to compare the two education calendars. Lindsay-Brown, 2010, investigated and compared the impact of year round school calendar and traditional school calendar on the academic achievements in North Central South Carolina. In this study, 256 elementary students from four different schools, each pair following different calendars, were tested using the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test (PACT). English language arts and mathematics were the subjects tested in the study. After all the fine adjustments were done to the obtained data, the result showed that there was no significant difference in the academic achievements when students from year round schools versus traditional schools were compared. Another review paper of 39 studies (Cooper et al 2003) also indicated a weak and insignificant effect of modified school calendar on academic achievement. Most of the think tanks that are in the favor of this modified calendar place their arguments on the basis of superior academic achievements. These results, however, is in direct contradiction to their theory. Some groups such as â€Å"Summer Matters† believe that traditional school system is best for the students and society. The argument is based on philosophy of family ties and relationships. They believe that long summer breaks allow families to come together and cherish the moments with their children. This social support catalyzes children efforts and stimulates them to perform better in the field of education. Moreover, they insist that summer vacations provide an excellent opportunity for kids to learn and discover new things. Why Year round Education Calendar? So if year round education does not help students to excel in their academics, then why this system has gained popularity over the years? Parents, faculty and administrator weigh certain other factors as well such as growing school enrollments, working parents and shrinking budget (Sheilds & Stevens, 2000). These problems are partially solved by introducing this education calendar. For example, multi-track year round schooling divides students into groups and rotates them in an organized manner. This multi tracking can increase the capacity of school by 30%. Therefore, the total number of students accommodated in 4 traditional schoo

Importance of Operations Management in Organizations

Importance of Operations Management in Organizations Managers are also responsible for critical activities such as quality management and control, capacity planning, materials management, purchasing, and scheduling. The importance of operations management has increased dramatically in recent years. Significant foreign competition, shorter product and service life-cycles, better-educated and quality-conscious consumers, and the capabilities of new technology have placed increasing pressures on the operations function to improve productivity while providing a broader array of high-quality products and services. With the globalization of markets, firms are recognizing that the operations function can be used to strengthen their position in the market place. Managers in operations management play a strategic and tactical role in satisfying customer needs and making their firms strong international competitors. The role of operations management is to transform a companys inputs into the finished goods or services. Inputs include human resources (such as workers and managers), facilities and processes (such as buildings and equipment), as well as materials, technology, and information. Outputs are the goods and services a company produces. Basically, Operations management has an impact on the five broad categories of stakeholders in any organisation. The five groups are: Customers These are the most obvious people who will be affected by any business. Suppliers Operations can have a major impact on suppliers, both on how they prosper themselves, and on how effective they are at supplying the operation. Shareholders Clearly, the better an operation is at producing goods and services, the more likely the whole business is to prosper and shareholders will be one of the major beneficiaries of this. Employees Similarly, employees will be generally better off if the company is prosperous; if only because they are more likely to be employed in the future. Society Although often having no direct economic connection with the company, individuals and groups in society at large can be impacted by the way its operations managers behave. The most obvious example is in the environmental responsibility exhibited by operations managers. Company Profile CRH plc, the international building materials group, has its headquarters in Ireland and operates in 22 countries in three closely related core businesses: Primary materials Value-added building products Specialist building materials distribution. Listed on the Irish and London Stock Exchanges and on the NASDAQ in the US, CRH consistently delivers long-term growth in total shareholder return, averaging over 18% per annum since the Group was formed in 1970. CRH maintains a rigorous focus on improving existing operations through experienced local management teams. These regional platforms and management structures generate the profits, cash flow and organisational strength to support CRHs ongoing programme of development. CRH grows by investing in new capacity, developing new products and markets and by acquiring and growing medium-sized companies. This long-term development strategy is supported by occasional larger acquisitions that extend the Groups geographic reach or product range and offer new strategic platforms for future growth. Strategic Vision CRHs strategic vision is to be an international leader in building materials, delivering superior performance and growth. Current strategic objectives and appropriate tools to analyze them Most of strategic objectives are directed toward generating greater profits and returns for the owners of the business, others are directed at customers or society at large. In the case study CRH plcs ultimate objective is to deliver superior performance and growth to its customers and stakeholders in all aspects. Any strategic objectives generally measured by the following tools; Measurable. There must be at least one indicator (or yardstick) that measures progress against fulfilling the objective. Specific. This provides a clear message as to what needs to be accomplished. Appropriate. It must be consistent with the vision and mission of the organization. Realistic. It must be an achievable target given the organizations capabilities and opportunities in the environment. In essence, it must be challenging but doable. Timely, there needs to be a time frame for accomplishing the objective. After all, as the economist John Maynard Keynes once said, In the long run, we are all dead! When objectives satisfy the above criteria, there are many benefits for the organization. First, they help to channel employees throughout the organization toward common goals. This helps to concentrate and conserve valuable resources in the organization and to work collectively in a timelier manner. Second, challenging objectives can help to motivate and inspire employees throughout the organization to higher levels of commitment and effort. A great deal of research has supported the notion that individuals work harder when they are striving toward specific goals instead of being asked simply to do their best. Third, there is always the potential for different parts of an organization to pursue their own goals rather than overall company goals. Although well intentioned, these may work at cross purposes to the organization as a whole. Meaningful objectives thus help to resolve conflicts when they arise. Finally, proper objectives provide a yardstick for rewards and incentives. Not only will they lead to higher levels of motivation by employees but also they will help to ensure a greater sense of equity or fairness when regards are allocated. There are, of course, still other objectives that are even more specific. These are often referred to as short-term objectives-essential components of action plans that are critical in implementing a firms chosen strategy. Operation objectives of the Company and its success in meeting strategic objectives Key components of the strategy to achieve the set objectives are; Clearly understand the current and potential future requirements and expectations of our customers-work closely with our customers, suppliers and partners to achieve quality objectives Deliver services of market-leading quality, reliability and consistency that meet our customers requirements Implement quality management in a systematic and planned way through the application of management systems that support the delivery of the business plan Educate and train our people and partners, to support the delivery of high quality work Establish and measure performance and customer satisfaction against appropriate quality objectives and/or targets Measure service performance and customer satisfaction at an appropriate level Continually review and improve our processes and levels of service CRHs one of the objectives is to remain the employer of choice for all employees and to exceed the expectations of all our stakeholders. This implementation can be done; CRH believes that continued business success is rooted in good employee, customer and supplier relations. This is particularly true in a decentralised organisation, where management responsibility is delegated as far as possible to the local level. Company Managing Directors/Presidents are responsible for the implementation of CRH employment policies, guidelines and objectives in their areas of responsibility. They are supported in this role and in reporting at Group level by their Human Resources (HR) teams. Human Resource has a functional reporting line through Product Group and Divisional HR Directors to the Group Human Resources Director. Data is provided below on the geographic employee footprint of the Group emphasising the increasingly global reach of CRH. Shortly after CRHs foundation in 1970 the Board set a clear strategy for the development of the Group which, while it has evolved over the years, is still broadly applicable today. CRHs development strategy is based on the following: Stick to core businesses in building materials Invest at home; be the low cost market leader Develop overseas; create platforms for future growth Negotiate deals that meet the sellers and CRHs needs Devolved development teams reporting to regional and product group managers Rigorous approach to evaluation, approval and review Generally mid-sized deals augmented from time to time with some larger transactions Objective is to maintain and develop a balanced portfolio across regions, products and construction sectors Focus on performance and growth The resources, systems and tools used in the organization to support its Business Process. CRH has a three-part strategic objective for fostering new growth across its operations. Invest in new capacity Develop new products and markets Acquire and grow mid-sized companies Investment is central to growth. CRH is making four fundamental types of investments that will make continued growth possible: Invest in its employees Upgrade production facilities Improve efficiency Manage performance Invest in people The success of CRH is very much due to having talented, committed, enthusiastic and well-qualified people throughout the Group. They encourage and support the continuous professional development of the CRH team and its members. What attracts people to CRH? A competitive pay package, the opportunity to travel, a good working environment, the team philosophy, flat organisation structure, challenging work assignments and internal training programmes to prepare the next generation of leaders. Upgrade production facilities CRH re-invests capital in their existing facilities to improve energy and operational efficiency to meet future demand growth. In other words, a plant producing 500 tonnes of cement a day could easily meet local demand , but years later, the demand could skyrocket due to a building boom. If the plant does not upgrade to increase its capacity, then competitors will. Like all other technologies, methods of production can become obsolete. It takes substantial capital to re-tool an entire factory with newer, better machines, but regular upgrading is necessary to maintain and improve competitiveness. Improve efficiency One way to get more out of existing factories is to make sure they are being used to the maximum. A low capacity utilisation results in higher fixed costs per unit, which means lower profitability. Low capacity utilisation can be a result of over-supply in the market or seasonal fluctuations of demand. In Portugal, for example, the economy is going through a difficult period with construction down approximately 3.9% for 2007, reflecting reduced activity in housing and a significant reduction in public capital expenditure. However, all three of CRHs Portugese cement plants operated at full capacity by taking advantage of strong export markets. Investment in efficiency and environmental improvement programmes, to offset higher input costs and improve performance, continued at all three locations. Manage performance A strong focus on achievement against targets is part of CRHs objective of performance and growth. The ability of key players to deliver is important. CRH has implemented a strong performance management system and appraisal process. The key elements include: Planning Clear expectations and goals are set and so plans develop to achieve these. Jobs, and how they relate to the strategic objectives of CRH, are looked at. These plans set out key steps and measures for staff. The A-SMART criteria are used, i.e. Aligned, Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic and Time-bound. Coaching Observing and documenting performance, conducting reviews, as well as identifying training and development needs all provide feedback and support, and ultimately promote better performance achievement and growth. Having a mentor or coach can help staff to learn and develop, and reinforces effective and active communication and performance. Reviewing Getting results is a crucial factor of CRHs high-performance culture. What the individual achieves as well as How, are assessed and reviewed. Self-assessment, collection of information, appraisal and a review meeting all drive performance improvement. Employees have an opportunity to respond to feedback. Regular formal reviews of management development strategy are conducted by each Division with the guidance and support of the Group Human Resources Department Developing new products and markets CRH has activities in 28 countries but there is still plenty of room for expansion within those markets, and in neighbouring regions. The Groups wide spread across countries, regions and construction sectors helps to smooth the effects of industry and economic cycles. That wide spread of activities creates opportunities for further growth. Each of the Groups diverse operations across three continents is seen as a platform on which to build. CRH tailors its strategy to suit each country it operates from. An integral part of CRHs development is its investment in four fundamental areas: people, market leadership, the environment and technology. Investment in people consists of training and development to provide all employees with a platform for progress, a best practice programme to guarantee an efficient, safe and healthy place to work, and a market-based remuneration policy to attract, retain and motivate the right people. While investing in acquisitions and development projects is important to attain market leadership, being the leading producer with the lowest costs is also critical. This is achieved by investing in those existing businesses which offer a strong foundation for sustained and profitable organic growth while driving continuous improvement in products, processes and strong regional brands. Environmental investments programmes help us to improve optimise our use of energy and resources, and to be good neighbours in the communities in which we operate. Environmental investment includes projects to reduce dust and noise, minimise effluent and waste, improve energy efficiency, increase the use of recycled materials, and to restore worked-out facilities through extensive tree and shrub planting. Investment in technology enables us to run more efficient plants; to create more effective processes; to develop innovative products; to offer better and more focused service to customers; and to measure and communicate international best practice throughout the Group. CRH continues to invest in a wide range of projects which contribute to overall profitability, drive continuous improvement of products and processes to deliver long-term performance and strongly underpin the future development of the Group. Quality audit and review systems Evans Parker (2008) describe auditing as one of the most powerful safety monitoring techniques and an effective way to avoid complacency and highlight slowly deteriorating conditions, especially when the auditing focuses not just on compliance but effectiveness Quality audit is the process of systematic examination of a quality system carried out by an internal or external quality auditor or an audit team. It is an important part of organizations quality management system and is a key element in the ISO quality system standard, ISO 9001. Quality audits are typically performed at predefined time intervals and ensure that the institution has clearly-defined internal quality monitoring procedures linked to effective action. This can help determine if the organization complies with the defined quality system processes and can involve procedural or results-based assessment criteria. With the upgrade of the ISO9001 series of standards from the 1994 to 2008 series, the focus of the audits has shifted from purely procedural adherence towards measurement of the actual effectiveness of the Quality Management System (QMS) and the results that have been achieved through the implementation of a QMS. Audits are an essential management tool to be used for verifying objective evidence of processes, to assess how successfully processes have been implemented, for judging the effectiveness of achieving any defined target levels, to provide evidence concerning reduction and elimination of problem areas. For the benefit of the organisation, quality auditing should not only report non-conformances and corrective actions, but also highlight areas of good practice. In this way other departments may share information and amend their working practices as a result, also contributing to continual improvement. Quality culture What is Culture? Basically, organizational culture is the personality of the organization. Culture is comprised of the assumptions, values, norms and tangible signs (artefacts) of organization members and their behaviours. Members of an organization soon come to sense the particular culture of an organization. Culture is one of those terms that are difficult to express distinctly, but everyone knows it when they sense it. For example, the culture of a large, for-profit corporation is quite different than that of a hospital which is quite different that of a university. CRH Corporate Culture Local autonomy Experienced operational management is given a high degree of individual autonomy and responsibility to accommodate national and cultural needs and to leverage local market knowledge, all in accordance with key centrally defined governance, financial and CSR operating requirements Global yet local There is strong management commitment to both the local company and to the CRH Group, supported by best practice teams that share experience and know-how across products and regions. This dual citizenship motivates local entrepreneurship, while maintaining and benefiting from Group synergies. Our management philosophy could be described as global yet local. Mix of skills CRHs market-driven approach attracts, retains and motivates exceptional management including internally developed operational managers, highly qualified business professionals and owner-entrepreneurs who join on acquisition. This provides a healthy mix and depth of skills with many managers having experience of previous economic cycles. Our succession planning focuses on sharing this wealth of experience with the next generation of CRH management Perpetuating CRH culture As the Group grows, CRH make considerable efforts to ensure that the unique CRH culture is propagated into the new acquisitions, while simultaneously preserving their identity, so that the Group culture thrives from generation to generation. These efforts include training programmes, seminars, newsletters, the CSR Report and many other activities that span country, regional, international, cultural and language boundaries. These are of increasing importance as the company now grow into developing regions. Monitor systems and work activities of CRH Plc and identify the major problems affecting the systems. Also identify the opportunities your company can avail to improve business process Managing operations CRHs success as a global business depends, on its ability to face fast-changing economic conditions. CRH is a decentralised Group with many subsidiary companies operating under a wide range of local and regional brand /trade names. CRHs strategy is to build leadership positions in regional and local markets. This is done by delegating authority to the local managers. So that decisions can be made promptly by those most familiar with local economic conditions, while central support from CRH Group ensures that sustainable growth is gained in line with the Groups strategic goals. Central functions consist of the Board that sets the strategic direction for the Group, and Human Resources, Finance and IT which support the implementation of day-to-day management policy. Finally, CRHs vision can be identified as to focus globally yet manage locally. During a recession, it is important for businesses to look for new ways to maximise performance. One method is to improve efficiency across operations. Another way is to reinvest capital through the use of retained earnings/revenue reserves in its existing facilities. This helps to improve energy and operational efficiency while matching capacity to meet current and future demand. Managing suppliers Individual operating companies generate raw materials in the region in which they operate. Most of these suppliers are based in Europe or North America. Deteriorating demand in these markets needs strict expenditure controls. Managements current aim is on sourcing quality supplies to gain cost reductions and to increase efficiency. Central sourcing functions have been setup in key markets to take advantage of economies of scale and reduce the cost of purchased goods. Managing finances Recession strategies The recent banking crisis made more difficult for companies to obtain finance. Maintaining the business with liquidity and adequate cash flow is very important. However, current market conditions have made it more expensive to get financing for operations, therefore the costs of running a business is expensive and non profitable. Like other companies, CRH is focusing on maximising cash flow from operations and reducing working capital. Budgeting Cost savings Year 2008 indicates major changes in the financial, economic and business climate worldwide. Declining markets led to wide ranging cutbacks across CRHs businesses in the world. The company showed its rate of acquisition and its capital expenditure to improve liquidity and take advantage of possible further reductions in the price of assets. CRH management has also implemented other energy and cost reduction to limit the decrease in profit margins Division-wide procurement strategies and purchasing Company targets at purchasing amterials at lower cost and supply its productions in economies of scale to get the operational efficiency in its operations. Operational Excellence procedures have helped to reduce both labour and equipment costs while eliminating and minimising the waste. Reductions in fixed overhead staffing and other fixed costs have been implemented to maintain a strong balance sheet position. Raising Capital Sources of finance -CRH management undertook a successful rights issue. This allowed existing ordinary shareholders to buy more shares as a way of re-investing back into the business. The funds rose used for further acquisitions challenging industry players. In 2009, despite the very challenging trading backdrop, CRH is operating a healthy cash flow. The Group continues to identify new measures to deal with the evolving trading conditions. CRH believes that its current cash flows, together with the recent rights issue and funds raised through its borrowing facilities, are more than sufficient to meet its expenditure requirements for the foreseeable future. Financial reporting It is essential that IT systems give prompt, consistent and reliable financial reporting from the local operating units to the central Group management. Accurate financial reporting is paramount importance for management especially during difficult economic circumstances. Decisions on budgeting, raising capital and sourcing of finance all rely on accurate financial reporting. Managing people CRH employs 80,000 people in over 3,700 locations, including 35 countries. This staffs is managed through four Divisions. Company is introducing a web-based global talent management system replacing a paper-based system. There is a unique culture of performance and achievement throughout the CRH Group ensuring that, CRH has the capacity to deliver performance excellence despite of critical economic conditions The CRH management team are highly experienced and the development of talented successors is a priority for all managers. Regular formal reviews of management development strategy is done by each relevant Division with guidance and support provided by the Group Human Resources Department. CRH managers come from three very different streams, comprising: Internally developed operating managers who have room to grow in an expanding organisation Highly qualified finance and development professionals business builders with vision and future potential Owner-entrepreneurs who have joined with their companies and provide a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit. This brings forth a healthy mix and depth of skills and a wealth of experience at senior level with many senior leaders having managed through previous economic cycles. This gives them invaluable experience to deal with the current downturn enabling them to prepare for the inevitable upturn of the market. Performance management In CRHs high performance culture particularly during difficult economic times achieving results is difficult. But, CRH has adopted a strong performance management and appraisal process. Employees are given realistic goals and plans in place to achieve them. Performance is driven by appraisal, regular review meetings and self-assessment. Leadership development Management Development Programmes gives leadership training usually to middle or top level managers to assist them in upgrading their skills. These programmes have been updated in response to the changing economic climate. Staffs are encouraged to identify opportunities for business development and increased efficiency. Internal promotion is used to motivate and reward staff. Succession planning CRH places a significant consideration on succession planning. So as to develop future generations of leaders from within the organisation and maintain quality employees at all levels. Staffs are prepared for future roles by involving them with challenging assignments, coaching and formal training. Employees are educated the fact that during difficult economic times they must work within tighter financial constraints to keep operations within budget. CRH Future and Recommendation The process of maintaining superior performance and growth involves continuously investing for the future. The overall picture in 2009 is extremely challenging, having the severe impact of ongoing turmoil in financial markets across the world. There are a number of positives factors which will provide future opportunities for business, for example, Lower energy costs, Interest rate reductions Infrastructure stimulus packages in a number of countries, notably the USA. In this environment, efforts will mainly focus on implementing cost-cutting measures, reducing expenditure and preparing the business for recovery in construction markets. Regional and product diversity cater for smooth outcome of the effects of changing economic conditions and to provide multiple opportunities for growth. Management has responded vigorously to extremely challenging market conditions. All aspects of business need to be analysed and cost reduction and cash generation measures need to be in place to deal with whatever trading circumstances may evolve as the time go on.