Saturday, November 30, 2019

Performance Measures and Communicating Performance Expectations to Garcia Meyer Center

This paper is going to identify performance measures that can be used to evaluate a potential managing director in charge of operation. In addition, the paper will also look at ways the board of directors can communicate their performance expectations.Advertising We will write a custom report sample on Performance Measures and Communicating Performance Expectations to Garcia Meyer Center specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More As a consultant hired by the board of directors of Gracia Meyer Center I have developed a method that can be used in identifying performance measures and communicate performance expectations for the new managing director. One of the methods that can be used in identifying performance measures and communicating them to the potential managing director is the top-down director evaluation tool. Gracia Meyer Center is non-profit organization with a board of directors from different backgrounds. Therefore, the board of d irectors will be capable of evaluating the new managing director from a perspective that favors the success of the organization. Generally, the board of directors should look for a managing director in charge of operations who has the ability to achieve the goals of the organization, strong leadership skills, and sound financial management (Davila, Epstein Shelton, 2005). In top-down director evaluation tool, the board of director will have to asses and see whether the potential managing director in charge of operations best fits his or her pre-determined roles as stipulated in Gracia Meyer Center Charter. The board should also assess the potential of the new managing director to discharge his/her duties responsibly. With regard to this, the board can assess the effectiveness of the director in coordinating and supervising staff, implementing organizational goals, and accountability. This can be determined from the way the potential managing director contributes to the discussions during the interview, his/her knowledge of business procedure, and responsibility in terms of governance. In top-down director evaluation tool, integrity and confidence is a key ingredient to effective performance of a managing director. Being a non-profit organization providing social services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS, the integrity of its managing director is crucial for the success of the organization. In addition, Gracia Meyer Center has an annual budget of seventeen million obtained from the government and other stakeholders. Therefore, the integrity of its managing director who will be in charge of operations including finance is crucial in ensuring that funds are not misused (Davila, Epstein Shelton, 2005). The board of directors of Gracia Meyer Center should know that a competent managing director possesses skills that will enable him or her to effectively administer the organization, provide accurate and up-to date financial statements when needed, and be able t o write management reports to the board of directors on a regular basis.Advertising Looking for report on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Top-down director evaluation tool also seeks to evaluate the availability and accessibility of the managing director to both staff and the board of directors. An effective managing director should be able to address the queries raised by employees and the board of directors in an effective, timely, and courteous manner. The board should also assess the potential of the managing director to determine whether he/she possesses the right communication skills. This is because good communication could the board in future to know whether the managing director is discharging his/her responsibilities effectively, and whether he/she is conducting follow ups. The board of directors should also know that a good managing director in charge of operations should understand the views of the stakeholders (Garratt, 2003). Gracia Meyer Center is an organization that depends on various stakeholders for funding. The stakeholders have certain expectations, on how the organization is managed, utilization of funds, and the quality of social services it provides to its clients among others. The new managing director should be in a position to meet the expectations of these stakeholders. Certain laws regulate Gracia Meyer Center, which is a non-profit organization that provides services to marginalized groups living with HIV/AIDS such as gay people. The board of director should assess the potential manager to determine whether he/she is familiar with the policies and legal measures that govern the management and operations of Gracia Meyer Center. Top-down approach of director evaluation also requires that an effective managing director should be able to inspire and develop staff within an organization (Garratt, 2003). Gracia Meyer Center is an organization that employs a wi de range of professionals including lawyers, social workers, and health care experts. An effective managing director who oversees the activities of these professionals should ensure that their skills are enhanced through regular training, workshops, and seminars. The board of directors should also assess the new managing director to see whether he/she has the potential of satisfying the needs of all the company’s employees. This is crucial because a managing director who satisfies the needs of people who work under him prevents low labor turnover or absenteeism in the work force. Being a non-profit organization, Gracia Meyer Center also largely depends on volunteers. Hence, a managing director who can satisfy the needs of those working under him is crucial in ensuring high productivity within an organization. Although Gracia Meyer Center is a non-profit organization, the board of director should still emphasize on financial skills when choosing a future managing director.Adve rtising We will write a custom report sample on Performance Measures and Communicating Performance Expectations to Garcia Meyer Center specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This is because prudent financial management greatly contributes to the success of an organization. Finally, the top-down approach of director evaluation also stipulates that a managing director should be innovative. The board of directors in their assessment should ensure that the new managing director is innovating (Tyagi Gupta, 2008). References Davila, T., Epstein, M. J Shelton, R. (2005). Making innovation work: How to manage it, measure it, and profit from it. Philadelphia, PA: Wharton School Publisher. Garratt, B. (2003).Thin on top: Why corporate governance matters and how to measure and improve board performance. London: Nicholas Brealey Publisher. Tyagi, R. K Gupta, P. (2008). A complete and balanced service scorecard: Creating value through sustained performance improvement. Upper Saddle River, NJ: FT Press. This report on Performance Measures and Communicating Performance Expectations to Garcia Meyer Center was written and submitted by user Hayden Villarreal to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

A Qualitative Research Survey on Why People Leave Online Studies

A Qualitative Research Survey on Why People Leave Online Studies Methodology The rationale for this research design is to provide insight into the method used for refining a theoretical explanation that makes the theory more general and applicable across a wide spectrum based on Creswell’s (2002) definition.Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on A Qualitative Research Survey on Why People Leave Online Studies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Creswell’s (2002) multipronged theoretical proposition provides a framework for inquiring into theoretical questions, issues, or problems associated with the decline in the number of students studying online. That is given further support based on the conflict theory which explains why students may choose to leave these graduate on-line programs (Bean, 1990). Yin (2003) borrows from Creswell’s (2002) theory and with further investigations finds a positive correlation of Creswell’s (2002) theory through a survey conducted by Neale et al, (2006) by relating several patterns to Creswell’s (2002) theoretical proposition using a pattern matching technique. Neale et al, (2006) takes the study a notch higher by stating that a survey is appropriate â€Å"when there is a unique story to be told, offering a more complete picture of what happened in the program and why† (Neale, et al, 2006, 4). Purpose The purpose of this research is an inquiry into the conflicts students encounter when undertaking online undergraduate programs to determine their lack of desire to continue and complete their goal, and gain an understanding of why they subsequently leave these types of programs, regardless of the study duration. This qualitative research will draw on Allen (2003) and Willging’s (2008) views to understand the requirements that work for online students as the subsequent product. According to Berg (2007), a qualitative research is an instrument that locates an individual in an environment by making factors that influence the outcome from online students leave their programs known to the observer, a fact concurred upon by (Yin, 2009).Advertising Looking for thesis on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Yin (2009) adds another dimension to qualitative research to be interpretive in crystallizing a meaning. On the other hand, quantitative research assigns numerical values to observations on a given scale. An appropriate method for conducting this study, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics (2010), will use closed ended questions rating systems and â€Å"best fit† answers in the survey of questionnaires administered to on-line learners (McLaughlin, 1998). An in depth analysis of the data collected will be organized and established patterns will be validated to further explain reasons deterring a particular population from pursuing their degree programs in an on line setting, a concept borrowed from Bailey’s (2002) studies. This research will explore the phenomena that a group of students who entered a specific graduate program have over a course of time (the classroom experience) dwindled away to a minimal number who are continuing degree completion (Neale, 2006). (including post classroom research). Subjects Based on Palys’s (n.d) perspectives on purposive sampling, current on line students participating in online learning from universities within the SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) will be the proposed respondents. These subjects have been identified as graduate level, on line students, who enrolled in a program with the aspirations of completing a graduate degree as prescribed on the university’s timeline. According to Palys (n.d), the researcher will have to identify respondents based on the purpose of the study. The participants will be asked to participate in a brief non compensated survey design ed to solicit answers about their academic on line experience and personal situations likely to cause them leave the process.Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on A Qualitative Research Survey on Why People Leave Online Studies specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The instrument will be designed to gain specific information regarding the conflicts these students face based on a framework that draws on the decision making theory. That explains where they decided it to be to their best interest to forego their desired outcome of the experience of completing an on line degree. The participants will be assured that their participation will be voluntary and confidential, and in no way will their identity be compromised and no personal information will be included in the research, research instrument, or shared with any third party. This will be done by providing student a confidential page to fill and an informed consent form to inspire confidence in the participants. That will further assure the participants that they will not be susceptible to risks of exposure of the information they give and that they will be informed of the results of the study. Ancillary concerns are based on a participant rate of a minimum of 33%, from this type of a response, there is a high confidence that a valid sample can be disseminated and applied to this research. Data The data collected will be from a cohort of current students admitted to accredited on line, Ph.D. programs. The criteria expectation is they are admitted to a University for the purpose of degree completion, in a specific department and program. The population has been observed to have a considerable dropout rate-define compared- from the time of registration to the end of on line class completion (prior to administering qualifying exams). The purpose of this sample is to examine a collective group (cohort) who started in a graduate level, on line program and to track their longitudinal decline and the specific decision making situation (conflict) that influences their decision to withdrawal rather than continue through the conflict.Advertising Looking for thesis on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Participants in this study may live in various geographic areas of the United States, but attend Universities in the SACS region, this effort will be facilitated by contacting the on-line directors at these Universities via e mail. Surveys may be administered through a third party web based platform (e.g. www.surveymonkey.com or another web based provider) to ensure standard application. These on-line learners are the focus of this study (Nettles Millett, 2006). After initial contact, a time sensitive window for data collection will be used. Once participants reply to the instrument, data collected will be reviewed for patterns that are consistent to the types of conflicts that the participant encounter and influence the critical decision possibly leave the on line programs. This information will be coded into categories for data transposition. Creation of codes will be consistent with inclinations and discontent encountered while articipating on line classes. This research will fo cus on the factors relative with dissatisfaction that could perpetuate a decision to leave a program and will be correlated with decision making theories. Coding this quantitative data will be necessary to convert the responses into phenomenal descriptions to correlate the decision making theory to conflict theory criteria and thus authenticating the data collected. The time line for this data is historical, so no future (anticipated drop out) rates will be considered. A data base management system (DBMS) using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) will be used to organise the data collected using a coding system. The technique provides the mechanism for organisation of data in logical structures, thereby allowing sharing of data for multiple applications (Talhouni, 1990). Following this, appropriate stored data were inputted into the input interfaces of the relevant tools used in the study. The processed data were retrieved from the output interface of the tools used accor dingly. t – Test Statistic Student’s t-test is a parametric test-statistic for testing hypothesis when the data are in ratio or interval form (Okoko, 2000). The use of student’s t-test for hypothesis testing requires the calculation of the means and standard deviations of the distributions to be compared, and also the standard error of the difference between the two means. In order words the test is suitable for one mean value (one sample test) or for comparing two mean values. It is given by the following expression When t – value is calculated the significance or otherwise of the test at a given significance level (ÃŽ ± level) can be determined. If t value is greater than t critical at the set level of significance reject the null hypothesis that there is no significance difference in the means of the two samples and accept the alternative otherwise accept the null hypothesis (Okoko, 2000). Role of Researcher The researcher will independently collect d ata by examining the cohort of students enrolled in online programs. On the other hand, the research will collect data using rigorous data collection instruments and other relevant information by conducting qualitative researches including literature reviews, examining documents, and participating in the administration of interviews. In addition to that, the researcher will play the role of reviewing ad organizing collected data and other information in a form to be analyzed. The researcher will also identify research variables, assign numerical values to the variables, frame the data, and provide adequate details about the data. References Allen, I. J. (2003). Sizing the Opportunity: the Quality and Extent of Online Education  in the United States, 2002 and 2003. Needham, MA: Sloan. Bailey, M. (2002). A new perception on the construct of distance learning. New York: Miller Associates Publishing. Bean, J. (1990). Why students leave: Insights from research. In J. B. D. Hossler, Th e  Strategic Management of College Enrollment (pp. 170-185). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Berg, B. L. (2007). Qualitative Research Methods for the Social Sciences (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson. Creswell, J. (2002). Qualitative Inquiry and Research: Planning, Conducting, and  Evaluating Quantitative and Qualitative Research. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall. McLaughlin, G. P. (1998). Changing Perspectives on Student Retention: A Role for  Institutional Research. Research in Higher Education, 1-18. National Center for Educational Statistics. (2010). Digest od Educational Statistics. Washington, DC: IES National Center for Educational Statistics. Neale, P. T. (May 2006). Preparing A Case Study: A guide for Designing and  Conducting a Case study for Evaluation Input. Watertown, MA: Pathfinder International. Okoko, E. (2000). Quantitative Techniques in Urban Analysis. Ibadan: Kraft books Limited. Talhouni, B.T.K. (1990). Measurement and Analysis of Construction Labour Pr oductivity. An Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Dundee. Nettles, M. . C. M. Millett. (2006). Three Magic Letters Getting to Ph.D. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. Willging, P. A. (2008). Factors That Influence Students Decision to Dropout of  Online Courses. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 115-127. Yin, R. (2003). Case Study Research (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage. Yin, R. (2009). Case study Research: design and Methods (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Palys, T., (n.d). Purposive Sampling1. Retrieved from sfu.ca/~palys/Purposive%20sampling.pdf

Friday, November 22, 2019

All Types of Retirement Home Services India

All Types of Retirement Home Services India The largely ignored ideas of retirement homes in India has been slowly witnessing the increased among consumer across India. The senior citizens are becoming independent and financially stronger than the past. The old-aged persons are now in the search of luxurious facilities for various retirement home projects. Below are the all types of retirement homes in India: Independent Living Home: This type of homes is the oldest concept which was famous in the Indian society. Most of the persons save money in their working day for purchase of a plot and build a small to live in after retirement. With the ample of increase in real estate in India, the rising construction costs increases. But, supervising the daily construction activity was a tough task. Senior Citizen Communities: Senior citizen communities of the destinations have been now replacing the old traditional ways of living homes. Recently, most builders are dedicating senior citizen communities with a host of amenities consisting easy access to the transport, hospital, banks, and other daily necessities. Senior citizen communities are also giving adequate security and hospital services for 24-hours. They are the emotional support for the old citizens after retirement. Assisted Living Homes: With the increase of age, senior citizens need constant medical attention as well as aid. These houses are the ideas which allows elderly to live with an assistant including family member. It can be a nurse or helper. The assisted living houses are a newer concept in India but are likely to pick up in the near future. The benefit of having a medical help also decreases the traveling time to hospitals. They are very useful for people for the people who have some disabilities or health problems. Old Age Homes: Old age homes or skilled nursing care communities are usually built at a near proximity to hospitals. The old age homes have an in-house medical team checking and monitoring the health issues of the old-aged people. They are prone to infections so these old age homes. The old body is very sensitive to diseases and these old age homes act like a nursing care center. Nowadays, the convalescent home services are in joint collaboration between hospital management teams and builders. All these retirement homes in India are offering shelter to the old-aged people after retirement. India has diverse demographic conditions with different financial conditions so now retirement homes are the boom for the old-aged people.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Sociological interest in the paranormal experiences Essay

Sociological interest in the paranormal experiences - Essay Example I find very little co relation between paranormal /anomalous experiences and the sociology of knowledge because it believes in rationalization of what is being experienced. It is very difficult to point out the theory behind all things related to the paranormal / anomalous. If we try to understand what is really meant by paranormal experiences, one thing that immediately comes to our mind is that it instills a feeling of global oneness. We just cannot say that only those who are educated have had paranormal or anomalous experiences. Neither can we conclude that people following a particular religion have experienced it. Such experiences are common across different cultural communities too. Paranormal or anomalous experiences are those that leave a lasting impression on people who have gone through it but there are not enough evidence or logical explanation to prove their authenticity. Some of the phenomenon that can be categorized paranormal or anomalous are experiences of ghosts, UFO, other supernatural powers, spirituality, folie a deux condition, dj vu condition, parapsychology, occult, pseudoscience, protoscience, abduction phenomenon, extra sensory perception, spontaneous human combustion, out of body feelings, near to death experiences etc. Apart from all these there are other phenomenon like astrology, numerology, phrenology, psychometry, psychic surgery, physiognomy, chiropractic, homeopathy, precognition, remote viewing, faith healing, channeling etc. Very few of the above-mentioned phenomena can be explained in a scientific way. Yet they are more interesting and draw much more sociological interest than those phenomena, which can be proved scientifically. The reason for this is that humans tend to get bored with the tried and tested instances. Dolon rightly states in Coutts that " I want people to know that there is more to life than what we call reality, more than what we can see - and it is not as far beyond our reach as we imagine. It is ordinary, everyday, here and now, in this minute. And it is magical, a gift." (2003 p. 291) There is a constant urge in all of us to discover the thrill of coming across the unusual. This common interest binds people together and make them a part of the group. People from different dimensions become a part of the sociological structure. Their common interest is termed as sociological interest. . Chapter 1 Paranormal and the Sociology of ReligionThe sociology of religion has been an integral part of sociology since the very beginning. Davie in Taylor has very beautifully tried to bring out the link between religion and society. In his words "there are two ways of defining religion in terms of its relationship to society. The first is substantive: it is concerned with what religion is. Religion involves beliefs and practices, which assume the existence of supernatural beings. The second approach is functional: it is concerned with what religion does and how it affects the society of which it is part For example, religion offers answers to otherwise unanswerable questions (what happens when we die), or

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Operation management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Operation management - Term Paper Example Dubai’s operation management teams are responsible for designing and managing the various products, underlying processes, supply chain and even the services to be tendered. The team headed by the city’s local authorities are in charge of overseeing acquisition of resources, their development and utilization so that various firms are able to deliver goods and services to the multicultural client base that gets in and out of this United Arab Emirates city (Kachru, 636). Statement of the problem The strategic geographical location of Dubai in the Middle East has significant role in the economic progress of the region. It is the central commercial indicator of the entire region in respect of the mass international economic and financial activities taking place in it. What is of particular interest is how quality control can be improved by the city’s management authorities. How operation management can effectively be put into play to see an improvement in overall perf ormance of the city’s activities is the problem of central concern Introduction Dubai Metro boasts of Arabian Gulf’s first major urban railway project that targets to boost the efficiency of movement amid various activities in the city. It has one of the finest urban rail systems in the globe which is responsible for mass influx of tourists and serves as the avenue of economic and financial activities (Ramos, 1). The need for quality control is paramount in this commercial hub since the commercial activities taken up are to be standardized at international level with complete adherence to the diverse cultural concepts that constitutes the visitors. Operation management of this city is under the overall authority of Dubai Municipality’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) who has supervisory role in all the quality control exercise in collaboration with central government authorities (Report, 110). Scope of the topic It is important to assess the various concepts that surround the strategies that are put in place by the relevant authorizes in Dubai as far as quality control is concerned. Operation management is a technical concept and a tool for effective and efficient flow of various activities in a busy metro like this. Some of the variables that need to be taken into consideration in relation to the exercise include the population, level of technology, social factors and the physical aspects. The goal of undertaking quality control is to integrate the local business rules into the global trade policies that will suit the standards of the international bodies. The overall theoretical concept under discussion is the modalities of reconciling the required diverse socio-cultural population and the expected internationally acceptable economic policies (Kurtz and Louis, 526). The city is at the mercy of sound operation management as it is always at the forefront of feeling any disturbance in the global financial crisis occasioned by various ec onomic cycles. It is also imperative that management of this quality control outsource some services for quality and cost. This is a capital intensive management issue and therefore must incorporate various technological models for a viable process. Some of the factors that will be instrumental in carrying out the research include the developed monitoring method of the various projects’ budget, quality and safety standards, and management of

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Consumer Buying Behavior - Marketing to teenagers Essay Example for Free

Consumer Buying Behavior Marketing to teenagers Essay Topic: Consumer Buying Behavior Marketing to teenagers Article Summary: This article states that although only two percent of teenagers are smokers; fifty percent of tobacco companies marketing monies go to targeting teenagers. The author feels that the big tobacco companies target teenagers to help make up for those who ultimately die from tobacco related illnesses or realize on later in life that they need to stop smoking. It goes on to say that for every one person who dies from tobacco-related causes, two new smokers under the age of twenty-six start the habit. Although the Joe Camel cartoon advertising has since been removed, when that particular character was created the sales of Camel increased thirty-four percent in kids showing that campaign had an impact on who they were targeting and who began to purchase their product. The author goes on to say how impressionable teenagers and children are, as opposed to adults, and how stopping the tobacco use is not easy to do. Once someone starts it is a hard habit to break. Many of those who start smoking at an early age become addicted to the product before they are even of legal age to purchase the product. Even the warnings on the boxes are not enough to keep the young consumers from purchasing the product. Class Application: Cigarette companies need to market to the proper consumer market. A consumer market is purchasers and household members who intend to consume or benefit from the purchased product. By Camel advertising in  magazines, using â€Å"fun† cartoon characters, and also making tobacco use look cool, they are not targeting the proper market. Being sure to market cigarettes to those who are legally allowed to use the product is a must. They can still use a differentiated targeting strategy and market to those in different demographics, but they need to be sure to leave out those who are not legal to use the product. Cigarette companies should be using demographic segmentation variables to come up with ad campaigns geared towards the proper segments. With cigarettes, the companies have to focus on age since there is a legal age for smoking. Also, since cigarettes have been proven to be unhealthy and cause of cancer, among other things, they are not something that sho uld be advertised to children or teenagers; no matter what.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The reaction between sodium thiosulphate and HCL :: GCSE Chemistry Coursework Investigation

The reaction between sodium thiosulphate and HCL Aim - The aim of this experiment was to find out the rate of a reaction at different temperatures. - We also wanted to find out the rate of the reaction at a different temperature in bigger or smaller surface areas. Prediction - My prediction is, by increasing the temperature a reaction will happen more quickly. The more heat - The Faster reaction and more collision. The lower the temperature - The slower the reaction and less collision. GRAPH My Understanding Reactions occur at different speeds in different temperatures. I’ve learnt that if the temperature is high reactions will take place much more quickly and the particles will collide more often. The table and graphs prove my theory. The Calculator was used for calculating the average of the times that was recorded for the reactions to happen. The Beaker was used to mix the chemicals for the reaction to take place. The Stop watch was used for timing how long it took for the reaction to happen. Method - For this experiment I first set up the apparatus with the apparatus that is shown above. - I then poured 5lm of HCL into a conical flask. - I then measured 10 ml of sodium thiosulphate, - I then I added it to the 5 ml of HCL. - I recorded how long it took for the reaction to take place, which was how long it took for the X to disappear. - With the times that I recorded from the experiment, I calculated an average. - I then repeated the experiment at 3 different temperatures. Factors and Fair Test To make this a fair test I: - Kept the amount and concentration of the chemicals the same. - Varied the temperatures to find out how long it would take for a reaction to happen at different temperatures - Did each experiment at each temperature three times to make the experiment more fair. I also calculated an average, this reduces any anomalous data. Conclusion - My results show that the hotter the reactants the faster the reaction. - This happened because the particles move more quickely and collide more often as stated in the collision theory. - The experiment proved my prediction correct which was based upon the

Monday, November 11, 2019

Market Analysis for the E-Guitar Market

Market Analysis and Low-Price-Segments The global market for music instruments covers about $16,8 billion. As there are no reliable sources on worldwide sales data for guitars, the U. S. market shall be examined exemplarily. Table 1 shows the development of units sold, retails, and the average prices over the last ten years. It can be observed that there is a growth of nearly 275% in units sold, and about 160% in retail, whereat the average price decreased by 57%. According to this there is a strong tendency for low price products. Year| Units Sold| Retail| Average Price| 2010| 2,991,260| $1,151,290,000| $372| 009| 3,302,670| $1,158,592,050| $350| 2008| 3,201,220| $1,022,861,000| $309| 2007| 2,341,551| $903,261,000| $386| 2006| 1,942,625| $921,057,000| $529| 2005| 1,742,498| $922,280,000| $529| 2004| 1,648,595| $923,522,000| $560| 2003| 1,337,347| $762,185,000| $569| 2002| 1,153,915| $694,883,000| $579| 2001| 1,090,329 | $710,769,000| $652| In table 2 this tendency appears very obvio usly. In the low price segment, that is prices below $500, are about two third of the whole market volume. Comparing acoustic and electric guitars it can be observed that there is a stronger request for high prize electrics than acoustics. Units  Sold| Units  Sold| Type  |   Acoustics| Electrics| Under $100  | 390,028  | 256,354| $101 to $200  | 410,030  | 561,537  | $201 to $350  | 110,008  | 195,317  | $351 to $500  | 40,003  | 97,659| $501 to $1,000  | 40,003  | 61,037  | $1,001 to $1,500  | 10,001  | 24,415  | Over $1,5o1| 20,001  | 36,621| Total| 1,490,260| 1,501,000| Also it turns out that high quality guitars as Gibson’s or Paul Reed Smith’s, which are presented in this paper, are prestige goods with an inverse price-demand relationship. That is higher prices are associated with higher quality.Gibson’s former attempt to join the low price segment in order to compete with rivals such as Yamaha and Ibanez, which are both producers of cheap guitars, did not turn out to be successful as it did not match with their â€Å"century-old tradition of creating investment-quality instruments that represent the highest standards of imaginative design and masterful craftsmanship† (Kotler et al. 2010, p. 327). The strategy of focusing on the high quality segment, at a time when most guitar manufacturers entered the low price segment, has proven very successful. Gibson’s chief executive noted: â€Å"We had an inverse [price-demand relationship].The more we charged, the more product we sold. † Kotler et al. 2010 (Principles of Marketing, Thirteenth Edition, Philip Kotler, Gary Armstrong, Pearson Education Inc. , Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 2010) In case of prestige goods, the demand curve sometimes slopes upward. Consumers think that higher prices mean more quality. For example, Gibson Guitar Corporation once toyed with the idea of lowering its prices to compete more effectively with rivals such as Yamaha and Ibanez that make cheaper guitars. To its surprise, Gibson found that its instruments didn’t sell as well at lower prices. We had an inverse [price-demand relationship],† noted Gibson’s chief executive. â€Å"The more we charged, the more product we sold. † At a time when other guitar manufacturers have chosen to build their instruments more quickly, cheaply, and in greater numbers, Gibson still promises guitars that â€Å"are made one-at-a-time, by hand. No shortcuts. No substitutes. † It turns out that low prices simply aren’t consistent with â€Å"Gibson’s century-old tradition of creating investment-quality instruments that represent the highest standards of imaginative design and masterful craftsmanship. Bild Body

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Western Civilization and the Greeks

There were many contributions to western civilization from the Ancient Greeks. Many roots of the civilization we have today can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks. They made long lasting contributions in the areas of art, architecture, philosophy, math, drama, and science. If the intelligent thinkers of the Ancient Greeks such as, Socrates, Aristotle,and Hippocrates never challenged the way Greeks lived many of the ideas we have today would have never been established. The Greeks made contributions in modern day art, architecture and philosophy. †The unexamined life is not worth living. (Document #1) This was a quote spoken by Socrates, an Ancient Greek philosopher. He was suggesting by this quote that if you don’t look at life in a different perspective why bother living it. â€Å"Since human reason is the most godlike part of human nature†¦ † (Document #2) This was a quote spoken by Aristotle, and Ancient Greek Philosopher. He believed about human nature that making deals or reasoning was the best human quality and separated us from others. â€Å"Nor do I think your orders were so strong that you, a mortal man, could overrun the gods‘ unwritten and unfailing laws†¦ (Document #6) This was an except from Sophocles‘ play Antigone. The values expressed in this play are that the gods are more powerful then humans and that the gods law are not written down but overpower written human law. The picture of the Parthenon in document #7 shows how specific features of that building influenced Western Civilization. The pillars and the shape of the building showed a sense of power and the actual architecture used in the Parthenon is still used today in places like the White House and Lincoln Monument. The picture of The Discus Thrower sculpture in document #8 reveals things about Greek values and shows an olympic event that is still used in modern times. This statue shows that the Greeks were very athletic people. The olympics sill influence p[people today by bring a competition throughout the countries of the world like a peaceful war. The Greeks also made contributions in modern day science, math, and government. â€Å"As for social standing, advancement is open to everyone, according to ability. † (Document #3) This was an excerpt from Pericles‘ Funeral Oration. In this, Pericles is describing the perks and benefits of aving a Democracy. He was hoping for all citizens to prosper because of this new government. â€Å"I will give no deadly medicine to anyone if asked, nor suggest any such [advice]†¦ † (Document #4) This was a excerpt from Hypocrites, an Ancient Greek doctor and philosopher, Hippocratic Oath. In this he was promising to always give the bes t treatment to anyone that seeks help. This is still used by doctors today. â€Å"Proposition 15, THEOREM: If two straight lines cut one another, the vertical, or opposite, angles shall be equal. † (Document #5) This was an excerpt from Euclid’s Elements. Euclid was an Ancient Greek Mathematician. His impact on modern day is that his ideas are the basis for our geometry/math. There were many contributions to western civilization from the Ancient Greeks. The Greeks have made contributions in many areas such as art architecture, philosophy, science, math, and government. Many roots of modern day ideas can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks. Mainly back to the philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle and the mathematician Euclid. If these people never would have though differently and looked at life from a different perspective then many ideas we live by today may not be present.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Free Essays on Cognitive Learning

, children must continually ‘update’ their minds and learn facts to construct concrete results or learned material. While I disagree that behavior needs to change in order to have learning take place, I do think that those who change a negative behavior into a positive behavior as a result of observed learning is quite possible and absolutely beneficial. In fact, â€Å"behaviorism provided the dominating theoretical basis of curriculum development and educational technology during the 1960’s† (Gilliani, 2004). My parents were brought up and went to school during the 1960’s. One cannot refute the theory when it was the central argument on how to teach the youth of today during that time frame. I believe, however, that while it was the predominant theory then, it must take a back seat to the cognitive theory of learning. An example of why behavioral theory may not be the ‘correct’ theory is because of the many students I have taught that don’t model themselves after their teachers. Teachers are often trying to modify behaviors in the classroom. It is quite possible ... Free Essays on Cognitive Learning Free Essays on Cognitive Learning They say that learning is a life-long process. True. But as this process gets developed after birth, what do we contribute our learning to more: a change in behavior or a change in the way we think and analyze information? The question can be debated and will be discussed in this paper. The two theories in question are the Social Learning Theory and the Cognitive Theory. Social Learning is based upon the belief that â€Å"learning occurs when an observer’s behavior changes after viewing the behavior of a model† (Bandura, 1986). This learned behavior could be either positive or negative. Cognitive Learning is founded on the belief that â€Å"children must continually reconstruct their own understanding of phenomena through active reflection on objects and events till they eventually achieve an adult perspective† (Piaget, 1952). In other words, children must continually ‘update’ their minds and learn facts to construct concrete results or learned material. While I disagree that behavior needs to change in order to have learning take place, I do think that those who change a negative behavior into a positive behavior as a result of observed learning is quite possible and absolutely beneficial. In fact, â€Å"behaviorism provided the dominating theoretical basis of curriculum development and educational technology during the 1960’s† (Gilliani, 2004). My parents were brought up and went to school during the 1960’s. One cannot refute the theory when it was the central argument on how to teach the youth of today during that time frame. I believe, however, that while it was the predominant theory then, it must take a back seat to the cognitive theory of learning. An example of why behavioral theory may not be the ‘correct’ theory is because of the many students I have taught that don’t model themselves after their teachers. Teachers are often trying to modify behaviors in the classroom. It is quite possible ...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Management info Systems Project WK3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Management info Systems Project WK3 - Essay Example st important advance in e-commerce with regards to SCM is the increasing use of electronic marketplaces that enhance many suppliers and thousands of customers. However, the significance of the marketplace is to have numerous suppliers competing over prices. Therefore, the integration of e-commerce, value chain analysis and supply chain management automate the purchasing and selling of goods and services by an organization. Therefore, more research questions come in mind 1) what are the impacts of e-commerce in an organization, 2) what are the beneficial opportunities for application of e-commerce in a business etc. These questions fascinate me and that is why I am so interested in researching on the same. Bidgoli on chapter 8 thoroughly explores e-commerce and differentiates it with ancient models. This chapter will give me an opportunity to understand e-commerce so as to apply it in supply chain management. Geunes researches on the application of supply chain and e-commerce in an organization. The book provides answers to my research questions because it expounds on the benefits of integrating e-commerce and supply chain management and the benefits that result from this integration. Rekha further has explored the impacts of e-commerce on supply chain management. He has highlighted and provided insightful thoughts that will greatly assist me in my final project. Therefore, i belive that this journal will help me achieve my

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Creatively and play with in early year curriculm Essay

Creatively and play with in early year curriculm - Essay Example Since children are naturally creative, there are also many ways to integrate creativity development in such key learning area. This paper will analyze how creativity can be harnessed in communication, language and literacy activities in the foundation stage. Defining Creativity According to the Reggio Emilia approach, Thornton (2005), states that creativity is essential to successful learning as it enables children to make connections between the different areas of learning which in turn extends their understanding (Rinaldi, 2006). Hood (2008) states that Creativity is a state of mind in which all of our intelligences are working together, he goes on to predict that it involves the basic senses within a human whereby seeing, thinking and generating ideas can be incorporated into any subject at school or in any aspect of life (Hood 2008). Therefore it is essential that children are regularly asked questions and given the opportunity to ask questions in order to further stimulate their creative learning thus increasing their self – esteem and confidence (Hood, 2008). Creativity is a quality which can have many advantages as it can be used within many aspects in the child’s later life (Cullingford, 2007). ... This implies that children need to have a variety of experiences to draw from when they develop ideas or when they try to associate one thought with another to come up with a new viewpoint. Developing Creativity in the Key Learning Area of Communication, Language and Literacy Loris Malaguzzi (1998) believes that â€Å"Creativity should not be considered a separate mental faculty but a characteristic of our way of thinking, knowing and making choices† (Malaguzzi, 1998, p.75). Children naturally express such creativity in their natural communication. Their communications may be expressed in various forms or â€Å"languages†Ã¢â‚¬â€œ in words, drawing, artwork, three-dimensional constructions, music and movement. Young children do not express their ideas in just one form but move naturally and easily between â€Å"languages†. They may vacillate from drawing, speaking, singing and moving (Fawcett & Hay, 2004). This is consistent with the key learning area of Communica tion, Language and Literacy development in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Children’s stories are valuable because they present so many benefits to a child’s development. Among the benefits is engaging them in creative imagination as they picture the story unfold in their minds. In practice, storytelling activities are made exciting for children that pupils look forward to story time. It is a time when they imagine wonderful things and then do something fun and creative after, to help them remember the story. Otto (2010) discusses that effective storybook reading techniques involve three parts namely pre-reading, reading and post-reading. These stages are equally important in the appreciation of a story. Before