Confucius “The Analects” Essay Example for Free

Confucius The Analects EssayFrom ancient time, the question of good and decent monastic order has been the major concern in philosophical thought. Philosophers and political figure, clergy and common people have tried to answer the question What brightens of a good society? Confucius creates its own values and moral rules ever-changing understanding about a self and the decent society. His philosophy fire be describes as a critical thoughtfulness which has a great turn on his world interpretation and views on decent society.Confucius states that individuals should be free from committing immoral acts. The man of virtue makes the difficulty to be overcome his first business, and advantage only a subsequent consideration-this may be called perfect virtue (Confucius, n.d.). Decent society can be constructed by doing what is right, and only when a person can reach the state of true utility he stand ups in a good society. All actions of people are aimed toward the positive, and purpose is in nature.Confucius is against formal laws which limit freedom and welfare stating that only moral principles play a crucial role in social order. On the other hand, Confucius believes this to be a sort of self-deception, demeaning freedom and turning lives into something which is determined. Extravagance leads to insubordination, and parsimony to meanness. It is better to be mean than to be insubordinate (Confucius, n.d.). Every personal can be a leader if he keeps strong moral principles and values. Confucius underlines that if a person follows moral rules there is no need to guide this person.Living hostile to such wisdom has caused stress and unnecessary war which led to social and moral decay. To do so one must make choices in the luxuriant recognition in order to become consciously free and take responsibility for actions. An inauthentic life on the other hand is that which pretends and tries to reject the base that humans are free.This approach is a very attrac tive one to take because freedom can be agonizing and people often make excuses to detach themselves from the choices they make. If the state guides and controls its citizens it deprives them freedom and free will which lead to stress. If people cannot control their needs and desires they can be compared with animal driven by replete(predicate) of self-preservation and fear. This leads to unnecessary wars and conflicts such as the thirty years war (1618-1648), Nazism, Napoleonic wars, etc. If rulers do not follow moral principles, it leads to wars.Confucius states that a society should live nobly and in peace for at least a hundred years before people can count on the continuity of a society that remains noble and peaceful. This argument can be explained by the fact that a hundred years is a period of time when threesome generations of people will change each other living no space for old virtues and traditions. If a truly royal ruler were to arise, it would stir train a generati on, and then virtue would prevail (Confucius, n.d.).Their values, religious and ethical, reflect on their relationship to a higher order of existence, whether one perceives it as an eternal force, the universe, a defined spiritual entity, or a concept that answers to a basic human need for a sense of order behind the turbulent coming into court of everyday life. Notions of the noble society are based in the instinctual/intuitional self that has been covered over and ignored by modern thought (Jensen, 1997).Any commence of the world will resemble an utopian society because the society cannot be classless. Every society is based on the opposition between poor and bass classes, labor and capital, rulers and subordinates. Economic equality is impossible, because the core of the society is the division of labor and resources which determine social class and economic conditions of its citizens. Increased freedom causes frustration among members of the society because it limits their beh avior and their attempts to satisfy their personal goals. Also, a society cannot exist without rulers and military, because it has to protect its citizens from foreign intervention.ReferencesConfucius The Analects. n.d. Available at http//www.wam.umd.edu/stwright/rel/conf/Analects.htmlJensen, L.M. Manufacturing Confucianism Chinese Traditions Universal Civilization. Duke University Press, 1997.

Friendships in Of Mice and Men Essay Example for Free

Fri remnantships in Of Mice and Men EssayThroughout life, one establishes friendships to better ensure their future. The novel Of Mice And Men, written by John Steinbeck, is nearly a group of traveling grok workers and the hardships that they overcome. The friendship between George, one of the main characters, and Lenny, a slow down man and of candy, a crippled man, and his old dog, although different, they distributively sh ar umpteen of the same feelings toward all(prenominal) other. Also, by establishing these friendships, apiece retainer is benefited and is presumptuousness life motivation. However, all good things must come to an end, and when each partner is separated from their companion, their significant bonds are broken. Because of their effected friendships, George, Lenny, confect and his dog are able to live happy lives filled with joyous and exciting times.Throughout the book, many feelings are expressed between the relationship of George and Lenny and of Candy and his dog. Ever since they had lived together, George and Lenny loved and sustenanced for each other e real waiting day. Because they had each other, George and Lenny became more loving and compassionate, non just towards themselves, but also towards others (104). Unlike the other traveling workers who journeyed alone, George and Lenny were together, fighting off the hardships of The Great Depression with a loving relationship. This bond kept each others hearts pure and refrained them from turning bitter. Ever since Candys dog was a puppy, he and Candy had shared a trustworthy connection filled with faithfulty for each other.In Candys younger years of life, when his partner was a good sheep dog, they had started a trusting relationship, which they carried out through and throughout the lodge in of their lives (24). Since Candy had his pup ever since it was born, Candy was its whole master. Because canines are extremely sure to their master, this loyal bond was able to flourish. Finally, because Lenny has been with George all his life, he feels a bond of trust between them and is completely loyal to George. During their early years, when George wasnt so kind to Lenny, he could have told Lenny to walk over a cliff and over hed go (40). Although George never did mostthing this cruel, he did do some grueling things. He even got Lenny into fights. However, as time went on, he too became loyal and a trusting relationship grew. Even though these partners are very different, they still share many of the same feelings towards each other.In the relationship of George and Lenny and of Candy and his dog, each partner gains something and this is the motivation for the friendship. Because of Lennys mental state, as he travels with, and becomes friends with, George, he benefits by having a guardian to follow him around and keep him safe. Ever since they were young, Lenny just come along with George, and from that day forward he benefited from Georges safety ( 40). Lenny is retarded and his mind cannot process enough useful information to allow him to live a successful life, contributing to society. If George had not allowed Lenny to travel with him then Lenny would either end up homeless, in prison, or dead. In addition, because Candys dog is now useless, he benefits off Candy by receiving a guardian to protect him and guide him through the rest of his life.Although he had been an excellent canine in his day, because he aint no good to anyone now, his life would be futile if he did not have a guide for his remaining years. However, Candy did not care for him entirely out of kindness, he too benefits from their relationship. Because Candy is a cripple, he wants to feel like he is needed, and having someone that depends on him, allows Candy to live a joyous life. Although Lenny does not have much to give, George still benefits off their friendship by receiving a loyal companion to accompany him on his journeys. Because they travel together , George does not have to be burdened with the loneliness that could drive a man insane. George observes the other traveling labor workers become hard and lonely because they have nobody to converse with on their journeys. Although he benefits from their relationship, George pays dearly with his guardianship over Lenny. By establishing these relationships, each partner is benefited and given life motivation.Both the friendship of George and Lenny and of Candy and his dog lose their significant bonds when the partners are separated. Because Candy and his dog provide companionship for each other, when his dog dies Candy is left alone and unstable. Once his dog had been put up for the death sentence, Candy was left alone, pondering their wonderful memories together as he be rigidly on his bed and stared at the ceiling (48). Candys purpose in life was now over, for he had no one that depended on him. Now the only thing that drovehim was the hope that Georges dream would come true, and that George, Lenny and he would get their own little plot of land. After George kills Lenny, although this was an act of kindness, George loses his purpose as a guardian. After he had pulled the trigger, George shivered and looked at the gun, for he knew that his guardianship was now over (106). George understood that it was his responsibility to kill Lenny.Although this act of kindness will burden him for the rest of his life, George still did the honorable thing. When Lenny died, George loses his dream of having a place of their own. By now, the dream had spread to more than just George and Lenny and when Lenny and their little place die away George becomes lamentable and hurt (94). The time that followed this tragedy was the first time of Georges adult life with out Lenny. Also, up till now Georges purpose in life was to care for, and keep Lenny safe. With Lenny dead, George feels that his life had no purpose, for he could not keep Lenny from dangers grasp. When each friendship becomes separated, the still living partner feels no more purpose for life.Because of their established friendships, George, Lenny, Candy and his dog are able to live happy, joy filled lives as they overcome the hardships of The Great Depression. Although their significant bonds are broken when the partners are separated, when they are together, the partners benefit and share many feelings towards each other. Some say opposites attract, and buy using this scientific law to create friendships with different people our society would be a friendlier and overall better place.Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck New York Covici-Friede, 1937

Industrialization And Urbanization In China History Essay

Industrialization And Urbanization In China History EssayThe Great give in advance of China (Peoples Republic of China) was a affable and economic crusade with the aim to develop industry and agriculture by then ruling commie Party of China (CPC). It was take in 1958 as an ambitious five year be after intended to utilize the huge population of China to rapidly transform her economy from an agrarian one to a modernized one such that the economy of China would rival that of United States by the year 1988 (Bachman, 1991). However, the plan was discontinued in 1961 when they realized that it was not feasible. The leader, monoamine oxidase Zedong, aimed to achieve the Great bouncing Forward plan by developing agriculture and industries chiefly through with(predicate) the process of collectivization (Kataoka, 1968). The leader believed that these two sectors had to be developed first to let other key sectors to develop too industries could only flourish if the grazeers were salub rious fed, whilst the agricultural work force required industries to produce new, modern equipments and machineries necessary for modernization. To achieve this, Peoples Republic of China was reformed into enormous communes, and in less than a year, approximately nine hundred million Chinese peasants were mobilized to work in these collective forms (Kataoka, 1968). Many communist strategies and policies were adopted to ensure the implementation of the plans the Great Leap Forward was an intensification of the Soviet-type industrialization strategy.The Great Forward Leap had a lot of similarities with the soviet-type industrialization strategy it was based on the oppressive communist principles. Kataoka (1968) explains that many transformations occurred in the lives of the Chinese peasants living in rural areas agricultural collectivization was introduced and graduall(a)y made compulsory for all. Private ownership of land and farming was banned, and those who engaged in it were punis hed severely for being counter revolutionaries. The administration was done through political company members and communes leaders restriction control of rural inhabitants was imposed through social pressure, propaganda and public struggle sessions. They utilized force, coercion and systematic violence to ensure that the peasants obeyed the rules. Regardless of the great mobilization of the rural peasants and the ambitious plans of the leaders, the Great Leap Forward did not achieve the anticipated massive developments. Poor decisions and mistakes by the party leaders characterized and contributed, in part, to its failure. Eventually, The Great Leap culminated in devastation, with consequential death of the wad in tens of millions approximates show a range from eighteen to forty-six million individuals (Diktter, 2010).After the first five year plan, Mao Zedong alarmed by various(a) events and uprisings in Europe concluded that communism was the best was way for China to go. The n ext five year plan was the Great Forward Leap which created the communes they were macro enough consisting of large collective farms each composed of ab extinct five thousand families (Diktter, 2010). Just like in the Soviet Union, they had comprehended that this system would be unpopular with the peasants, thus they brought them under Party control (Kataoka, 1968). They executed the working in the collective farms by convening meetings and then ensuring that the peasants stayed for long periods until they had no picking but to join the communes. Apart from the economic changes, the party also instituted key social changes in the rural areas including the expulsion of all spiritual and religious institutions and ceremonies and substituted them with party meetings and propaganda sessions. They introduced internal give-up the ghostports banning travel without appropriate authorization and dictated what was to be planted. For instance, they replaced the farming of opium with rice. P easants in the rural areas worked in communes owned by the state and the instill they produced was for cities and export, to earn foreign exchange.Families in a communes relinquished individual possession and tenure of farm equipments and animals such that all were owned by the commune they straightway labored and toiled for the state-owned commune and not for themselves as individuals. Nearly all aspects of the life of the peasants in the commune were controlled by the commune education facilities were offered by the communes so that all grownups could work. Health care services were given by the communes and the aged were taken into establishment ironically named houses of happiness in order that they could be cared for. Moreover, individuals could work unmanageable and not sport to be troubled about leaving their aged family members back at home. The communes made available all that the peasants required including entertainment. Peasants toiled alongside the soldiers. The h umanity in a commune was sub-grouped dozen families formed a work team, a dozen work teams composed a brigade. Every sub-division was assigned a particular work to complete. The communist party members supervised the work and running of a commune to make sure those decisions executed were in line with party policies.The state adopted all strategies it could to fluff up enthusiasm and passion for the communes. Propaganda was used in all places to the extent that there were public address systems out in the fields through which thousands of the peasant workforces could listen to political speeches as they toil. Propaganda posters were widely used to spread the ideologies of the party. Everyone engaged in communes was urged not only to work hard to achieve set targets but to surpass them. If the machines were deficient or inadequate in the communes, the workforce used their bare hands. Major buildings and structures were constructed in discharge time although the strength of most of them was doubtful. The local leaders in the communes were forced into falsifying information and spreading propaganda from senior party leaders. For instance, they had at times to history ever-higher(prenominal) grain doing records to their political seniors (Wei Yang, 2005). People attending political meetings talk of production quantities being exaggerated up to ten times of the real production quantities as the pursuit to thrill superiors and win praise intensified. The government was later on capable of compelling, many production groups to put up for sale higher quantities of grain than they were capable based on these embellished production quantities.Bachman (2011) depicts the state-owned communes as a type of discrimination system for Chinese peasant families. The commune system adopted in the great forward leaped was intended at exploiting rural peasants to produce for cities and urban areas and building industrial units, offices, educational facilities, and social insu rance structures for elite cadres and officials residing in towns. The peasants in the countryside who condemned the plan were classified as dangerous, counter revolutionaries. Running away was also very hard, mostly even impossible, and those who tried were faced with severe repercussions that sometimes resulted in death. Apart from agriculture projects, state-owned communes also participated in various medium scale industries and building projects. The prohibition of private ownership of property devastated the life of the peasants at its most basic level, according to Bachman (1991). Rural populace were incapable of securing sufficient food to support a decent living, since the customary ways of leasing out, selling, or exploitation their properties as collateral for credit were dispossessed of them by the commune system. In some villages, after the commune systems were adopted, the Party leader and his men took immediate cruel actions, commanding peasants to spend nights toili ng and laboring for intolerable hours, and ordering them to march, starved, to far-flung additional projects (Bachman, 1991).Yang (2008) notes that local party officials were unmoved regardless of the great number of peasants decease while working, as their main concern was the production of grain, which the state needed to utilize in settling the billions of loans from the Soviet Union. The Communist Party was aware of the position that their strategies were responsible for causing the starvation. In some provinces such as Xinyang peasants succumbed to starvation at the entrances of grain warehouses (Yang, 2008). Senior party leaders even acknowledged that the deaths were a price the country has to pay downplaying the deaths as a minor thing. As yang (2008) notes, in a covert gathering in Shanghai in 1959, Mao ordered the procurement of a third of all grain by the state to provision the urban areas and foreign clients, and he remarks that if the state does not pass above that quot a, citizens will not rebel. He further comments that as there is not sufficient food to feed all citizens and some will have to starve, then the best way is to let half of them to starve so that the rest can have enough. Like in the Soviet Union, through the starvation of 1932-1933, peasants were incarcerated to their starved villages by a scheme of registration of households, and the nastiest results of the food shortage were aimed at opponents of the regime (Yang, 2008). Yang (2008) further explains how those tagged as being religious leaders, activists and bountiful peasants were given the last priority in the allotment of foodstuff, and consequently, died in the record numbers.

London Congestion Charge: Cost-Benefit Analysis

London Congestion Charge Cost-Benefit AnalysisRoad pricing is the application of diverse charges to the usage of courses. These charges include fuel taxes, tolls, parking taxes, licence fees, and over-crowding charges. Pricing may vary by time of day, or by the specific road or vehicle type using the road. The two main aims of road pricing ar generating revenue and managing demand. The latter can be achieved through over-crowding pricing, which is a system of surcharging users of a transport network in periods of peak demand to reduce traffic volumes to optimal levels. This variable pricing strategy aims to rule demand, thus enabling congestion management without increasing supply. Market economics theory, which includes the congestion pricing concept, proposes that road users will be forced to pay for the damaging externalities they create, making them conscious of the costs they impose upon each other when consuming during the peak demand, and more aware of their environmen tal impact. The very notion of urban congestion pricing was proposed in London as a response to the ch tout ensembleenges faced by the Ministry of exaltation around 1960. These challenges consisted of a significant increase in the follow of new car registrations, the considerable cost of congestion for the road users due to the reduced average travel speed and corresponding delay, and other negative impacts on the environment. In this regard, the positive and negative aspects of the London congestion charge can be considered as followsPositive Aspects Of The London Congestion ChargeAnalysing the results of the TfL study(2003) indicates that the most chief(prenominal) positive aspect of the London congestion charge is the time-saving to drivers and passengers of vehicles that continue to use the road system after charging is introduced including cars, taxis, passeles, and commercial vehicles within and outside the charging geographical zone. This is a frequent point highlighted by Leape(2006), Mackie(2005), Raux(2005) and Prudhomme and Bocajeros(2005). In addition to time-saving, a reduced travel time and an improved journey time reliability (of an average of 30%) are two other key positive aspects of the congestion charge(Leape,2006, Mackie,2005, Raux,2005 and PB,2005). Factors that contribute to these two positives include an almost 30% reduction in congestion, a 30% decline in traffic delays inside the zone, an 18% decrease in traffic entering the zone during charging hours, and a 15% reduction in traffic spread (vehicle Km) within the zone. Evidence on average travel speeds on roads inside the charging zone indicates that the all-day average network travel speeds increased from a pre-charging average almost 17% (Leape,2006). Other benefits include a considerable decrease in queuing time at junctions (Leape,2006), the environmental benefit of reducing the pollution emissions by 34% (PB,2005), and an improvement in safety, by 2-5% or 30-70 fewer accid ents per year for Central London(Mackie, 2005). Through reallocating road space from private cars to public transportation (Leape,2006), the congestion charge has increased public transport patronage. For example, bus passengers entering the charging zone in the morning peak period rose by 38%, darn number of private cars change magnitude by 16%, which in addition to direct time savings, reduced accidents and lowered carbon dioxide emissions (Leape,2006). Increased number of bus passengers and reduced average operating costs (increased speed, travel time reliability) shake enabled providers to offer some combination of improved service levels (more routes, higher frequencies) and lower fares (Leape,2006). These personal effects can encourage an even greater use of public transport whilst also reducing average costs per passenger to transport providers, leading to promote shifts from car travel to public transport, and an additional reduction in congestion.Negative Aspects Of The London Congestion ChargeThe higher-than-expected set-up and operational costs for the congestion charge essential be considered as the most prominent negative aspect. In London, the operational costs were more than twice the level initially estimated (implementation costs averaged 95 meg in the first two years). This resulted in the net annual revenue falling far short of expected levels (Leape,2006, Mackie,2005, Raux,2005 and PB,2005). A congestion charge is believably to have different effects across businesses and land comfort in the long term. Negative effects are the changing land-use patterns and reduced land value caused by a restriction on car mobility within the congestion charge area (Tehran Congestion Charge Study, 2005). This decrease in car trips could have an adverse impact on retail businesses located within the congestion area, whereas it could benefit those outside the zone (Leape,2006).SummaryAlthough the cost-benefit estimates for the London congestion charge, produced by Transport for London (2003a), is subject to some controversy by PB(2005), Mackie (2005) and Charles (2005), generally the London congestion charge has been both a political and practical success in reducing congestion and related negative externalities. It has also been met with a high level of satisfaction from most Londoners. As mentioned above, the time-savings to drivers and passengers of vehicles resulting from increased average speed and decreased delay is the most important positive aspect of congestion charging. Increasing reliability of travel time for car and bus, diminish queuing time at junctions, decreasing the level of pollution emission and improving safety, as well as improving public transport patronage and improving its level of service all must be considered as positive aspects of congestion charges. In contrast, the high operational costs of running the scheme is the dominant negative aspect of congestion charging. This can significantly influence t he net annual revenue for the congestion charging scheme. Moreover, other factors such as decreasing the flow of mobility in the congestion charging zone in the long term can lead to changing the land-use patterns and probably decreasing the land value. As mentioned by PB(2005) there were concerns that the diverting impact of the congestion charge could lead to higher levels of congestion on the inner ring road that borders the zone and the area surrounding congestion zone, which needs to be considered in more detail. Therefore, a degree of caution is appropriate before generalizing from the London experience.

Information system strategy assignment

Information system schema assignmentIntroductionInformation systems could be defined as systems for processing and managing information, gen whilelly computer- stalld. IS, as it could be called, is alike a serviceable group within an memorial tablet that manages the operations and development of the commerces information and possible transactions. So information system schema (ISS) could be explained as a method that brings into get information engine room priorities with business strategies and defines the near to cope to achieve those business objectives. Since the mid 80s, researchers and business specialists get to carried out many studies and produced number of theories in feeding the world of business and whitethorn be the field of strategic studies in particular. Nowadays, those theories argon counted as the harbour and basics of any business strategy to be adopted by any organisation. Experts in the field of strategic management, such as Michael Porter and simila rly Michael Earl, are both considered to be among the most influential experts in that area. Through a series of writings, Porter influenced a shift in the focus of the lit on strategies from strategic planning to strategic management. Earls publications as well issueed in establishing a range of concepts and textiles that were cookd to assist strategic planners in coming up with plans to build and confirm competitive advantage. Michael Porter developed the original theories of the famous strategic approaches that include The 5 forces, The 3 generic strategies for competitiveness and The value chain model. On the other hand, Michael Earl established the Multiple methodology.The digital EraDigital era has been used as a term since the late 1980s. It carried the shift of ecstasy from a traditional industry to an industry based on the transactions of information and data with technological methods. Many old aged views of strategy are getting thrown out the window in the digital era, however, some solid views are still being found as the base of strategic thinking in the world of business. In a survey it was found that fast pace of developing e-business application only few businesses did take their time in developing their strategy properly or plan upstart initiatives (Wilder, 1999). We are experiencing a world that is continuously changing, where companies are being re-established and may be deregulated. New systems and ecommerce functions are providing management with a one off opportunity to rearrange the business rules and change the ways of business forever (Corcoran, 1999). In the world of todays nature of e-business transactions, strategy is being considered to be vital than ever. Yet, many organisations are still non properly cooping with the environment of todays business. These companies look as if they are frightened rabbits caught in the headlights of an oncoming car (Chattel, 1998). It is considered to be important for businesses in the dig ital era to familiarise themselves with factors that will put them on steady step throughout competition and run successfully. Businesses should realise that it is possible and easier nowadays to target customers and to customise growths to the requirements ( requires and wants) of the customer. Also comprehend the fact of being first is seen as more(prenominal) important than producing it well. Businesses should also realise that communication methods defecate opened up new-fangled opportunities for transaction and increased access to customers. For example, television adverts, radio stations, mobile SMS, emails and net profit blogs. Todays electronic applications are providing 24hours a day, 7 days a week access to businesses in anytime and from anywhere in the world. These factors fool been the short term methods for new business opportunities, but in the long term, there will be a little chance of success without a clearly defined business and IT strategy.The traditional approaches in ISSPorters five forces model studies the forces that take part in an organisation and illustrates how IS can construct barriers and give competitive frame. Porter defines the competition of the organisation in the relation to the industry where high level of opposition guides to low level of profits. The threats from new entrants are considered as the heights of the barriers in place to obturate them and outline the profitability of the industry. Whereas threats from substitutes is the threat by others in copying the product so the margin for the definite profit decreases and consumers are more settled to change. The talk terms source of buyers counts on the price of the product and the influence or the pressure the customer possesses. Likewise the power of the suppliers is resolute by the price the consumer wants the product and how a great deal they are willing to pay or able to spend. A nonher ISS traditional approach is Porters 3 generic strategies. Porters g eneric strategies outline methods of achieving above standard performance. To create competitive advantage for an organisation Porter identified three generic strategies focus and niche, cost leadership and differentiation. The suitable generic strategy will result in postal serviceing the business to empower its strengths and guard against the unfavourable effects of the five forces. The focus or niche strategy was to find a paste in the market where a select product would fit in and do well. For example, the customised cars market, which makes the cars unique and leads in creating a niche for high class and thus attracting big spending customers. Cost leadership involves having low level profit margins and selling big number of units of a product. Where differentiation, as its called, is when a business produces or provides something totally different from any other businesses in the industry. Michael Porter also discussed that the actions that are available to be taken can be recognised by the adoption of the Value Chain Model. This model, or approach, concentrates internally within an organisation and was expanded as a systematic ground for analysing all the performance that a company send out and how they cooperate. The value chain approach outlines that products go through several roles in an organisation, where maximising the value adding activities while minimising those that do not add value should be the objective. A different traditional approach from a different scholar, Michael Earl, believes IS Methodology helps businesses meet their objectives fully for the reason that IS methodology is not on internal but external or outward looking. Earl established a multiple methodology with three approaches for business strategy bottom up, straighten out down and inside out. A bottom up approach takes into consideration the current system, afterwards investigates it for possible gaps, which can be achieved by adopting SWOT analysis. This approach outli nes the current condition of the company and what does it want to achieve in the upcoming. The top down considers the organisation from a structural point of view bring into line IS with the business strategy of the organisation through studying the Critical Success Factors (CSF). CSFs are explained through interviews, debates and current policies. And finally, the inside out approach studies different methods to carry research and business through new technologies that is through with(p) by observing the organisation in order to gain competitive advantage.The Traditional approaches in ISS Vs The Digital EraStrategy configuration is considered to be all the same more challenging in the digital era, not only because of the involvement of the developing objective, but also because of the disadvantages of practising a cleared and defined strategy in a digital industry. Under the influence of the developing era during the last decade, traditional approaches in strategies have became m ore and more subject of critique. The appearing of the Internet, for example, and other electronic applications has noticeably affected almost all industries. Considering that Porters theories were based on the economic situation in the late eighties. This phase was characterised by cyclical developments, strong competition and stable market structure. Porters approaches looks at the analysis of the current situation related to suppliers, customers and competitors. Streng accordinglying the position itself within the five forces model has developed competitive advantage. Therefore, models in that era are unable to analyse or explain the dynamic changes in the digital era, which do have the power to change all industries. However, the analysis of industrial structures when employing Porters five forces model can serve as an analytical framework for outlining the dispersion of resources and choice of business. This model can be adopted in the digital era and also provide a framework for employing new technologies as the cyberspace, also as opportunities to businesses related in the direction of creating value for customers and gaining competitive advantage. Tackling the validity of Porters Five Forces could be analysed as each force by its own. The power of rivalry is assessed when knowing that the characteristics of developed technology, such as the mesh, is the access to large numbers of customers, lower costs in operational or functional fields, simplicity of first appearance into the market, the prospective for adding value to customers, therefore gain competitive advantage. It is vital to outline that progressing competitiveness could be done by offering customers unique values and products, where it is not easy to keep the advantage gained because of the simulation of business forms, processes and technologies. Within regards to the second force, the threat of new entrants that may appear in an industry, digital methods and means has trim back barrie rs to founding of new businesses in the market because of the cut in numbers of employees and lower costs for required physical property. Companies that run on the internet through economies of scale can usually prevent new entry of other firms. When a company reaches critical mass and realises the influence of network externalities, can then powerfully compete with companies that have only entered the market, due to the already built relationships with clients or customers and their loyalty. The threat of substitute goods or services is vast for ease of the entry process into the digital market. Customers can simply get on hold of information about other similar products and compare the different specifications of each product and get to a decision if the original product can be substituted at reasonable means with other alternatives and also can be done easily. Internet empowers the talk terms power of customers. They now do not face any obstacles when seeking any information on quality, price or even detailed specifications. In addition, the existence of the web sites that offers price comparison of products and services, so that the procedure of obtaining information in the digital era has become much easier. The one-fifth and last force within the five forces model is the bargaining power of suppliers. Where internet enjoys both contradict and supportive factors on the fifth force of the model, which is the bargaining power of suppliers. It is considered that the bargaining power of suppliers tend to provide easiness to customers to approach essential information related to prices, products and markets which limited bargaining power of suppliers. Another negative factor around involving the internet that affected the bargaining power of suppliers is the ease of entry into virtual markets that leads to an increase in competition. Suppliers are able to increase their power by applying a special procedure for supply and be well-known in or working on in creasing the quality of their goods or services. The positive factor is that suppliers through technology methods and especially the internet can easily access a large number of customer and other businesses as well. And again, the internet gets rid of any possible intermediaries, which means that if suppliers were serving in the industrial sectors, the ability of intermediaries in influencing customers are reduced to a minimum. Within regards to the Value chain model, the American guru has clearly outlined in one of his publications Strategy and the Internet that information technology has a penetrative effect on the value chain. The striking advantage of the internet is the ability to link an activity with others and making data widely available with both, the company and suppliers, customers and channels. Many of the most important applications of the internet in the value chain involve moving physical activities online, while others involve making physical activities more cost effective. To notice how these technological developments will last affect the value chain, some historical view is enlightening. The influence of the internet in the value chain should be kept in perspective. While internet purposes have an essential impact on the quality of activities and on the cost, they are not the main influences. Traditional factors such as the skills of personnel, process technology and investments in physical assets also play important roles. The internet is a turning point is some terms, but many traditional sources of competitive advantage pillow secure (Porter, 2001). The co-author of Unleashing the Killer App Digital Strategies for Market Dominance highlights that those traditional approaches are not valid anymore. Larry Downes originated three new forces that require a new strategic framework deregulation, globalisation and digitalisation. Deregulation happens when governments influence decreases several industries like communications and banking, wh ich are fed by the new opportunities of information technology, firms in these industries were hale to restructure their businesses and to seek for other alternatives. Where globalisation is related to the developments of distribution and communications that have allowed almost all businesses to sell and buy globally. It could be added here, that networked and global markets need new requirements on organisations strategies. And so positioning themselves as quality leaders or price leaders, like Porter suggests in his Generic Strategies model, is not adequate any more. Finally, digitalisation is explained as the influence of information technology develops, all stakeholders within a market will have access to even more information. Downes arguments are considered to be convincing. Where deregulation, globalisation and digitalisation have become powerful forces during the past years, but Porters models hardly ever took them into consideration. Todays markets are strongly affected b y technological developments especially in information technology. Therefore, it is not beneficial to develop a strategy exclusively on the basis of Porters models. Downes concludes that the job of information technology is the main difference between the traditional strategy approaches and the digital era, which is the new world of the new forces. Where the traditional economy used information technology as an instrument for applying change, today information technology had become the vital factor for change.ConclusionCritique of Porter, by Downes, implies that Porters models concentrates too much on the economic conditions of their era of origin. Therefore, their practicality is restricted under change and developed conditions. It should be added too that Downes new forces are created from the economic conditions of their own era as well. Possibly within the succeeding(prenominal) decades, they will tend to loose their importance due to other developments that took place in that future. In summary, Michael Porters approaches do not have the impact they used to have any more. Nevertheless, that doesnt mean that Porters theories became invalid. What has to be done is to apply them with the knowledge of their limitations in mind and to use them as a part of a larger framework of theories and techniques. This approach, however, is advisable for the application of every business model, brand new or old, from Porter or from somebody else, and in every economy.

nuclear war? :: essays research papers

A thermonuclear Solution?During the thermonuclear age, some nations have he ared to reduce the number of their nuclear weapons as much as some nations have tried to obtain the weapons. Numerous programs have been started to decrease the number of nuclear missiles. The problem with those plans is decrease and non disarm. Many countries dont want to give up their biggest weapon and who could blame them. Some countries need that weapon as a way of defense force against an aggressive nation. Since the only true solution to nuclear weapons will not realistically happen in todays world, I think that we should attempt to make the best of the situation and if we are going to use them we should use them fairly. Therefore, I offer a counter solution. Instead of ridding ourselves of nuclear weapons we should use them to our advantage. We must(prenominal) realize that nuclear weapons, whether we like it or not, have be cut an integral part of our world environment. Nuclear weapons are a p art of our global earnest muckleting. Knowledge will continue to exist it cannot be disinvested. Nuclear weapons can be used as a deterrent to war. Nuclear devices have come a long way since the first two were dropped on Japan by the United States during the Second World War. Todays nuclear weapons are respected as more than simple weapons and the mere mention of them demands attention. Therefore, countries around the world have found that nuclear weapons are more useful as a political deterrent to deter common war and non-nuclear or non-biological warfare. Professor Richard Haas furthers my point by stating, Nuclear weapons have made a major contribution to world peace. The Cold War only remained cold because both the United States and the Soviet Union understood that any direct confrontation amid them would likely escalate into a nuclear holocaust. The American nuclear arsenal aids deterrence in hot spots like the Korean Peninsula, where on that point has been no real war for forty decades. Indeed fear of American nuclear retaliation deterred Sadaam Hussein from using biological agents against allied forces during the Gulf War. Nuclear weapons steer people away from the usage of these terrible forms of war, which saves the lives of innocents. Many leading nations use the threat of nuclear weapons for deterrence and they use them with in the bounds of treaties and rules set up by the United Nations.

Anabolic Steroids for Non-Therapeutic Use Essay -- Sports Athletes Ath

Anabolic Steroids for non-therapeutic use Competition is in our blood. The human drive to compete-and-winin the Ice Age hunters fighting to drag home the biggest at sea mammoth, the ancient Greek athlete aiming for a greater distance in the discus toss, and the modern weightlifter pushing for the gold medalhas been linked to steroid hormones, namely testosterone and its derivatives, circulating within us. In the latter half the last century, many looking for an added edge have turned to synthetic testosterone-like anabolic-androgenic steroids to build tendon and enhance competitive drive.The ingestion of substances for ruin performance is not new. Ancient Greek athletes took in lots of protein to build muscle. Norse warriors known as Beserkers looked to psychotropic mushrooms for inspiration in preparation for battle. The earliest documented modern doping with xenobiotics for enhanced performance is among swimmers in Amsterdam in the 1860s. In the decades that followed, doping with nonfoods such as strychnine, caffeine, cocaine, and heroin spread to other sports (24,4).The synthesis of testosterone in the 1930s sparked the introduction of anabolic steroids into competitive sports. In the 1952 Olympics, synthetic testosterone enhanced the Russian weightlifting teams ability to pump metal, and heave off with a heap of medals. In 1958 the first anabolic steroids were developed by a U.S. pharmaceutical company. Use of anabolic steroids spread through the wide world of sports in the 1960s and 1970s and by the 1980s the doses were discovered by nonathltetes in search of a better body (24,8). Reports from the 1990s have indicated use of steroids among college, high school, and even middle school students (24). Exa... ...ropionate injections on serum lipoprotein concentrations in rats. Medicine and Science in Sports Exercise. 31 (1999) 664-9.Plalatini, P et al., Cardiovascular effects of anabolic steroids in weight-trained subjects. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 36 (199 6) 1132-40.Mewis, C et al., Manifestation of severe coronary heart disease after anabolic drug abuse. Clinical Cardiol. 19 (1996) 153-55.Ferrandez, MD et al., Anabolic steroids and lymphocyte function in sedentary and exercise-trained rats. J. Steroid Biochem. Molec. Biol. 59 (1996) 225-32.Boada, LD et al., Evaluation of acute and chronic hepatoxic effects exerted by anabolic-androgenic steroid stanozolol in adult male rats. Archives of Toxicology 73 (1999) 465-72.NIDA Report, Anabolic Steroids A threat to mind and body. DHHS Publication No. (ADM) 91-1810.Norman, A, Hormones, 2 Ed. Academic Press, 1997.