Building &HR managers

Being one of the HR managers assigned to building a global-based team for the international sales division, the cultures of different members who can possibly be part of the team need to be researched. In a team composed of members with different nationalities, each one’s cultural background needs to be taken into consideration so all their actions, gestures and attitude towards work will be better understood. The differences in cultural background matter when the employees are evaluated for their performance. The approach to coaching and mentoring the members will also be different from each other.Among the four regions, the two countries I chose to make a brief research on are Brazil from the Latin American region and China from Asia. Coming from separate geographical regions, these two countries have major differences when it comes to their way of living, classes in the society, and even their business culture. CHINA China is one of the largest countries in the world. It ha s also become the second largest economic entity in the world (â€Å"Doing Business in China,† 2004) after 20 years of hard work and continuous efforts of its entire population.Chinese people are known to be hardworking and are really good in their own respective fields. If Chinese individuals would be part of the international sales team, their culture should be studied and understood so we can know how to properly deal with Chinese people and allow for a better working relationship with other team members. Some of the things that should be remembered are as follows: †¢ Guanxi, synonymous to relationship, is important to Chinese people especially when working or doing business with them.It simply means Chinese value friendship at work or business. It is important for them to be friends with their co-workers and peers. †¢ Chinese people value saving more than others. Most of them put almost 40% of their income in savings. But despite this, they can also be generous when it comes to inviting peers and business partners to dinners. When it comes to the role of women in Chinese society, China is not different from most of its neighboring countries. Chinese women are known to have very low status in the society.In the early days, women only stay in homes to take care of the family and not allowed to join the work force. But as time passes, more and more Chinese women have become well-educated and are now able to get the jobs that they want. Still, they still keep the responsibility of maintaining their homes and taking care of the kids and husband. Chinese women are also commonly the ones taking control of the finances of their family. BRAZIL Brazil is one of the most successful countries in Latin America when it comes to economy.Brazilians are known to always get things done easily or otherwise. Their key to this ability is â€Å"jeito. † According to â€Å"Doing Business in Brazil† (2004), â€Å"jeito can help conquer seemingly in surmountable tasks, rally the team, or get you out of messes. [†¦] It can also help your company gets its foot in the door for submitting a proposal for a project when a deadline has already passed. † This trait is worth knowing when considering Brazilians to be part of the international sales team. They have the ability to think out-of-the-box.They can be very creative in their own ways which can lead to the success of a business. They are known to think better and are more comfortable when working in groups. Brazil doesn’t have much difference with China when it comes to the roles women play in their society. Brazilians, just like other Latinos, have a high respect to the family. Women are known to only stay at home and be responsible for the well-being of the children and their own husbands. But recently, women are breaking into the work force and contributing to the family, as well, in terms of financial matters.Brazilian women can now take jobs that are usuall y only done by men. More of them are also known to pursue advanced degrees to improve their skills and capabilities. References Doing Business in Brazil. (2004). In globalEDGE Online Course Modules. Retrieved July 31, 2006 from http://globaledge. msu. edu/academy/courses. asp Doing Business in China. (2004). In globalEDGE Online Course Modules. Retrieved July 31, 2006 from http://globaledge. msu. edu/academy/courses. asp

Psychology- Prejudice Essay

1. Evaluate Tajfel’s core study in terms of streotypes and weakness [10] Prejudice and Discrimination have been always controversial and it has become one of the crucial topics in the world of Social Psychology. Henry Tajfel was a British social psychology who is well known for his SIT or Social Identity Theory; ‘Intergroup Discrimination’ (1970). This theory has been useful to identify the social causes of prejudice and as well as explaining individual differences. First of all, this study is aimed to show or demonstrate that merely putting or diving people into groups could cause them to discriminate the other group. Tajfel’s procedure of the experiment involved two laboratory experiments. The subjects of the first experiment contained 64 boys, 14 and 15 year-old from a school in Bristol. The boys from each group knew each other well, since they were actually in the same houses at the school. The second experiment was similar to the first one, since 48 students also already knew each other. In terms of stereotypes and his study, Tajfel proposed that Stereotyping or putting people into groups is based on a normal cognitive; we tend to group or categories things. By the statement, he meant that we see the people in our group are just the ‘same’ with us because there are certain similarities that makes us parallel with them and there’ll be a tendency of us calling the ‘same’ people â€Å"us† and those who are different or out-group â€Å"them†. This study also has its weaknesses and strengths. One of the strengths; Laboratory experiment method, which makes him to able controlling the environment in terms of what the subjects had experienced during the test, therefore he can ensure that there are no influences that would change their behaviour later on. Manipulation of the environment also makes him able to obtain replication due to its standardness in procedures. However, since all of the participants were all male, similar age and came from the same country. In terms of experiment, this study has become biased. It is difficult to decide whether it is good enough to be generalised, due to its gender, age and geographical limitations. The ecological validity is doubtful, considering the experiments were lab studies, where we can jump to an argument that this involved unusual task is held in artificial environment. In other words, the participants acted in the way they thought was demanded of them; Demand Characteristic. This experiment deals with a disruptive and anti-social, very general commons of society in explaining and understanding the causes of prejudice and discrimination. Moreover, this piece of research could be beneficial or helpful to our daily life. Nevertheless, the applications are still limited, regard to ecological validity and the gender, race and cultures.

Service Oriented Software Engineering Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Service Oriented Software Engineering - Article Example The platforms based on Component Based Development, such as CORBA, Java Beans, and.NET, are such standards for developing complex Web-based systems. The increasing interest in web based services has made the industry to provide platform-independent software resources (W3C, 2004). The Internet, can be used as a provider of different kinds of services. Using Web services, organisations are now able to expose their main and the most important business processes on the Internet as a collection of services. The main issue is not about using web services as a new technology but in how best to make use of web service technology and therefore how to integrate them properly. We need to apply well-defined engineering approaches to ensure we will not end up with an accumulation of unusable services (which might be functional in theory). The goal is to collaborate and coordinate between components that provide these services. Service Oriented Software Engineering (SOSE) is the approach used for this purpose. The first and main concept in Service Oriented Software Engineering is â€Å"service†. The service is the descriptor of an agreement between provider of the service and its consumer. It is a reusable functionality and it is contractually defined. Service Orientation focuses on how services are described in a way to help finding appropriate services at run time dynamically. Service orientation is based on the idea that a service requester is not necessarily in need of one particular provider. Service providers can be changed with each other as long as they follow the contract imposed by the description of the service. The main assumption in Service Orientation is the availability of services dynamically. The service registry is the entity in between the requesters and providers. It contains a set of service descriptions and their related providers. It helps with service publication, removal, and discovery. Service composition represents the way to use a set of

Paraphrase Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 21

Paraphrase - Essay Example Moreover, the type of load has an effect on bending. Uniformly balanced loads have less bending effect compared to non-uniformly distributed loads. This is attributed to the fact that in uniformly distributed loads, the stress and pressure is distributed throughout the beam. In non-uniform loads, the loads are concentrated at a single point, thus stress is bigger and more bending occurs. Errors in this experiment are both systematic and random. They include error due to parallax and zero error where the sensitivity of the meter gauge was not factored in reading the values. Unwanted movements at the set-up could also have led to random errors. Such errors caused the results to slightly vary with the theoretical results. The behavior of different shaped beams and their deflections were studied and understood. The deflections varied with height, shape and the type of load; hence, the objective of the experiment was

Law and the Constitution in Canada Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 2

Law and the Constitution in Canada - Essay Example In Canada, AG v. Canada Temperance Federation [1946] AC193, 2 DLR, provided for an exemplary display of judicial independence. During the case, the conflict to be resolved was a court suit challenging the Canadian Federation Act (CFA) was valid. In the ruling, the court declined the validity of the CFA1. The issue that brought conflict was the constitutionality of the Canadian Temperance Act. The concern of Peace, order, Good and Governance (POGG) became known. During the 4-2 majority ruling, the court further affirmed that the Act was within the legislative constitutionality competence of the parliament. Secondly, Johannesson v West St. Paul 1952 (SCC) portrayed judicial independence as an important recipe in restoring order to Municipality Acts2. During the case, the plaintiff argued that he wanted a designated place for his aerodromes. Under the Municipality Act had prohibited his aerodromes because of the noise they generate. However, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) by majority ruled that the issue was of a national importance and was within exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government under the POGG3. In addition, Russell v The Queen had declared the Canadian Temperance Act as constitutional when it was challenged at the SCC. Moreover, during the R. v. Crown Zellerbach Canada Ltd [1988] 1 S.C.R. 401, the SCC upheld the validity of the Ocean Dumping Act that today, form part of Canadian Environment Protection Act4. Despite coming to sharp criticism, the SCC and judicial independence have transcended the Canadian judicial system as the answer to conflicting definition and jurisdiction of the federal and provincial

Ch12,13,and 14 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Ch12,13,and 14 - Essay Example Closely associated with a production oriented leader is the concept of a transformational and the counter, transactional leadership. Transformational leadership involves an individual causing change on followers, and on the other hand a transactional leader entails transactions between the leader and the followers. Activities such as punishment and rewarding of the junior employees mark the personality trait of a transactional leader, whereas the transformational leader is very innovative. The assessment results on the level of building and leading a team can predict the strength on transformative or transactional leadership approach. The score from the test is 88 out of a maximum score of 100, implying the second quartile. For a percentage that is 95 and above, the assessment test could have predicted a transformational leader, but from the test results, the prediction shows an obvious inclination towards a transactional leadership. Despite the different perceptions of leadership, there are certain theorists who argue that leadership is inherent in people. In fact to understand leadership, the following five bases of power becomes key; legitimacy, reward, expert, referent and coercive (Schermerhorn et al, 6). A personal analysis confirms the fourth, and this means that I do attract and worth and acknowledge the respect of other people. A score of 23 out of a maximum score of 100 shows a poor conflict handling style. This implies that what of interest is winning the conflict rather than negotiation and compromise. Additionally, accommodation would be the best way of handling the conflicting situations. Contrary to the test assessment results I am an accommodating person and probably the results predicted inaccurate results on a personal conflict handling situations. In professional circumstances just as in personal conflict situations, I

Choson history Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Choson history - Essay Example An interesting part of the Korean history is a group of people who adhere to moral and spiritual standards called the Yangban. These people did not only get themselves involved in the religious affairs of the society but were also able to put into practice their beliefs by getting involved in political matters, particularly in leadership. It is worthwhile to study this group and learn from their experience. There are a number of important things we can gain from knowing how they came to be and how they eventually lose control of themselves and their ideals. The New World Encyclopedia gives a brief yet concise definition of the Yangban.1 The Yangban were a well-educated scholarly class of male Confucian scholars who were part of the ruling elite in Korea prior to 1945 and during the Republic period of Korean history. Yangban literally means "both classes." It refers to the two classes that consist of: munban or the literary class, and muban or the martial class. The yangban were the ones responsible for maintaining Confucian standards and elevating the morality of the society.2 According to sources, the yangban tradition of a close network based on education, teachers, family background, and city of origin, had been a major part of the Korean ruling class of both the North and the South Korea. Contrary to the way things used to be, at present, the yangban no longer enjoy nor possess the same advantage and privilege in the government. However, until the present time many Koreans still boast of having a yangban ancestor.3 Being associated with this class brings a sense of pride and belongingness that seems to elevate one’s self-image amid the devastating effects of current trends and practices. This ancestry can be traced through the Chokbo, the Korean equivalent of a family tree which is passed down in each family through the eldest son. This is passed on from generation to generation. Yangban connotes a high and dignified class status, even in the

Bolsa Chica Wetlands Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Bolsa Chica Wetlands - Essay Example It is assumed that the wetlands of Bolsa Chica provide shelter to a number of endangered species of flora and fauna. Recently the nature reserve of Bolsa China is also being used as a tourist-spot for nature-lovers. Since it is an important stop on the Pacific flyway of migratory birds, outbound travelers often grab the opportunity to come into the close contact of natural sceneries of the marshlands of Bolsa Chica. Apart from Bolsa Chica’s ecological importance, it has become a popular tourist spot, which provides the nature-lovers with a significant number of recreation activities such surf fishing for â€Å"perch, corbina, croaker, cabezon and sand shark†, bare-handed fishing for â€Å"California grunion, a species that only spawns on sandy southern California beaches†, bird-watching, etc. To the north and the South of Bolsa Chica Nature Reserve, there are the Warner Avenue and Seapoint Avenue, whereas there are residential areas on along border. Moreover, one can enjoy both the natural sceneries of Bolsa Chica and the oceanic beauty along the Pacific Coast Highway on the western border of Bolsa Chica. Though docent-led tour is available on the first, the second and the third Saturdays of each month, one can take a tour personal tour in these areas at any time of the year. The tours on the first Saturday and the third Saturday of each month are arranged by the â€Å"Amigos de Bolsa Chica† and the â€Å"Bolsa Chica Land Trust† from the South parking lots. Inbound nature-lovers can get a substantial knowledge about the areas’ weather, climate and geography from the Interpretive Center at Warner Ave. Bolsa Chica is endowed with some unique geographical features because of its more or less direct connection to the sea along its southern border. When we visited the area, the weather was somewhat cloudy. Though we guessed that it might rain, it did not happened finally. Before we reached there, we researched the weather st atus of Bolsa Chica by consulting the Bolsa Weather pages online. We learnt that the Bolsa Chica area has a typical weather which is applicable to any coastal area along the Tropic of Cancer. â€Å"A warm, dry Mediterranean climate,†, as it is said in Bolsa Chica page on Weather.com, â€Å"prevails over Southern California - inland it is hot in the summer, mild in the winter† (â€Å"Profile for Bolsa† pars. 3). August in Huntington is the warmest month, when the average temperature fluctuates between 900 F and 1050 F. In December, which is the coolest month, the average temperature oscillates from 200 F to 300 F. During the summer, frequent fogs prevail over the region and â€Å"most of the precipitation comes as rain† during the winter in December (â€Å"Profile for Bolsa† pars. 5). Since we visited Bolsa Chica at the end of July, the weather on our visiting day was neither foggy and nor rainy. Since Bolsa Chica stands very close to the coast of t he Pacific, the local climate remains almost moderate without much demarcation between the summer and the winters. Such moderate weather makes Bolsa Chica’s weather and climate different from the overall climatic pattern of California. Bolsa Chica, having all the characteristics of a wetland, is a rich habitat of a wide range of flora and fauna. A wetland is, indeed, a natural home of different species of birds, animals and plants. The â€Å"

Speluncean Explorers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Speluncean Explorers - Essay Example In the process, ten people from the rescue team lost their lives and the entire operation appeared grim. The trapped explorers faced imminent death from starvation. They contacted the rescue camp and explained their condition. The clinician present at the camp informed them that they would die within ten days while the head of the search team informed that they would require at least the same number of days to release them. In order to stay alive, the five decided to prey on one of their own, Roger Whetmore. From the evidence presented, Whetmore was the brainchild behind the idea and provided effective ways of determining the one to eat given their grim situation. The five cast a dice thereby determining that they should kill and eat Whetmore. After the rescue team had succeeded and after the five men had regained their health, the commonwealth indicted them for the murder of Roger Whetmore. In the case, both the trial judge and the jury found the four guilty of killing Whetmore. In their ruling, the jury and the judge followed an integral statue in the society that stated, "Whoever shall willfully take the life of another shall be punished by death†. However, the four appealed the ruling the extra ordinary circumstances to the Supreme Court of Newgarth where I am to review their evidence and provide a new ruling. Among the basic issues that the case present is the need to determine the guilt or innocence of the four men, they killed their colleague, and they have admitted doing so in a previous court. The laws of the land are clear on how to deal with people who kill others. However, the four base their argument on the uniqueness of their case. This implies that besides determining whether the two are guilty or innocent, my court will determine the applicability of the since the case tries the basic dictates of the law in the society. Given the facts presented before the court, I reverse the ruling of the high court that

Background of Wal-Mart and Current Challenges-300 Research Paper

Background of Wal-Mart and Current Challenges-300 - Research Paper Example The organization needs to operate as an equal opportunity player in rendering an equitable climate that would contribute in the gaining of employment, fiscal and economic opportunities by both the gender groups working in the organization. Similarly other types of organizational changes also relate to bringing about new policy directions that would help in the reduction of harassment activities in the workplace. The organizational management needs to set strict policy guidelines and regulations aiming at curbing the event of sexual harassment or emergence of pay and employment discriminations (Bell, McLaughlin and Sequeira, 2002, p.71). Moreover further organizational changes can be introduced pertaining to the reduction of hierarchal job layers in the concern such that the organizational structure can be transformed from the vertical to the horizontal state. This strategy rendered would contribute in the development of empowered teams in the concern and also in the enhancement of organizational communication. Rendering organizational flexibility in the concern through the enhancement of empowered teams would contribute in the development of organizational and performance skills of the people in the concern. This model of organ

Bharti Enterprises Essay Example for Free

Bharti Enterprises Essay Ensuring that the look and feel of the store is as per guidelines/standards Ensuring/ reporting Inventory and Stock availability as per the norms to prevent stock-outs Provide suggestions /feedback to improve store productivity People Development / Team Management: Acting as a mentor and trainer for store staff To ensure daily roistering briefing to inbound outbound store staff Customer Experience: Manage staff allocation based on demand at point in time Personally step in to handle demanding customers Provide suggestions for improvements in CE 4. A. On Diversity and Cultural spread in Africa, As Africa consists of 53 countries, to operate successfully it is important to understand the dynamics of each country, including differences in culture, language and especially regulations. Bharti would do well to put in place as few expatriates as possible and have most of its top management from Africa. b. On Infrastructure sharing and cost / capital issues, The biggest driver of network sharing will be the shift in approach of the biggest operators, who had been unwilling to share network to sustain competitive advantage. There is visible network sharing in the markets of Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa, and that this is likely to pick up in other markets. c. On Bharti Airtel’s Minute Factor Model, Network sharing and IT outsourcing would help operators bring down costs. While costs could trend down, however they will be higher than in India because of some of the structural costs caused by power shortage and poor infrastructure. 5. Bharti Airtel has a history of making first moves and emerging as the winner just because of that. This is what built the company’s success in India, where it remains the top MNO and second-largest fixed-line operator. In fact, thanks to the massive market it serves at home, at the time it acquired the Zain portfolio in March 2010 Airtel was reckoned to be the fifth largest mobile operator in the world on a proportional subscriber basis, putting it behind the likes of China Mobile, Vodafone Group, American Movil and Telefonica, but ahead of China Unicom. As has been widely covered for over a year now, Airtel has been looking at Africa as a new growth market. While it has a deal with Vodafone for the Channel Islands, Africa is the only other territory outside the Indian subcontinent (including Bangladesh and Sri Lanka) that the company has entered. The commonalities are compelling: similar markets, needs and infrastructure. The realities on the ground are somewhat more challenging: logistics, legislative compliance and serious local competition being foremost. The logistics of infrastructure in Africa are an equal challenge for all MNOs. That is a given. Where Airtel might have been overly optimistic is in hoping its Africa model would run similarly to its success in India, based on a first-to-market approach and having some leverage to overcome legislative obstacles. Unfortunately, while Airtel has a 30-year history of being first in India (with pushbutton phones, cordless phones and then mobile), they were not first in Africa. There were major EU, Middle East and South African players there ahead of them. In fact, Airtel’s African expansion is largely thanks to its takeover of Kuwait’s Zain mobile operations in 15 countries. This was a beachhead, not a conquest. Zain only held dominant market share in a few countries. Going up against market leaders such as MTN of South Africa, Airtel applied a strategy of extensive cost cutting. This followed on what it achieved in India, cutting a deal with Ericsson for per-minute fees (rather than upfront payment) that enabled very low-cost call rates from the outset. Airtel has an all-Africa, five-year deal in place with Ericsson for network management that offers similar advantages. Elsewhere, Airtel is engaged with Nokia Siemens Networks and Huawei, not keeping all its eggs in one basket, of course. As a Plan B, possibly following on the indecisive outcome of Airtel’s low-cost invasion, the company has previously been negotiating a takeover of or (maybe) a joint venture with MTN itself. How this putative deal is described depends on which company is talking. This has been going on for some four years without a definitive ending. Even if it never happens, it is a signpost of just what Airtel would consider to get its Africa operations truly established.

Liquefied petroleum gas

Liquefied petroleum gas Direct Flame Production of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) From Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Abstract Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a common household fuel used for cooking purpose in India. LPG is very rich in its carbon content because of its specific mixing components of predominantly C3 alkane (Propane C3H8) or C4 alkane (Butane C4H10) which provides a better chance of producing strong and good quality nano products like nanotubes, nanotubes nanowires, nanoparticles etc. In our laboratory a lab scale flame reactor is designed and developed for producing carbon nanotubes using LPG as the carbon source in the presence of air as an oxidant under atmospheric conditions. The design aspects and the best operational conditions of the flame reactor for producing carbon nanotubes are discussed. The nanotubes obtained were purified and were further characterized using SEM, TEM XRD and Raman. KEYWORDS: Carbon Nanotubes (carbon); TEM (Transmission electron microscopy); LPG (alkanes); Raman (Raman spectroscopy); XRD; Flame Synthesis; 1. Introduction Liquified petroleum gas (also called as LPG or Autogas) is a mixture of hydrocarbon gases used as a fuel in heating appliances and vehicles and it is increasingly replacing chlorofluorocarbons as an aerosol propellant and a refrigerant to reduce the damage and degeneration of the ozone layer. LPG is a clean, convenient energy source, which can be stored as a liquid under moderately high pressure and used as a gas in commercial and residential heating applications. It is a common household fuel used for cooking purpose in India, LPG is rich in its carbon content because of its specific mixing components of predominantly C3 alkane (Propane C3H8) or C4 alkane (Butane C4H10) which provides a better chance of producing strong and good quality nano products like nanotubes, nanotubes nanowires, nanoparticles etc. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the amazing objects that science sometimes creates by accident, without meaning to, but that will likely revolutionize the technological landscape of the century ahead. Our society stands to be significantly influenced and shaped by carbon nanotube applications in every aspect, Carbon nanotubes have been synthesized for a long time as products from the action of a catalyst over the gaseous species originating from the thermal decomposition of hydrocarbons [1]. Since their discovery by Sumio Ijima [2] several ways of preparing them have been explored. The CNTs have been synthesized by various methods e.g. electric arc discharge, laser evaporation and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) [3-5]. Though researchers have been successful to synthesize multi-wall nano tubes they can produce only in milligram to gram quantities in a few hours. However as many potential applications [6-7] of CNTs require kilogram to ton quantities. Apisit Songsasen et al [8] have synthesized CNTs by means of catalytic decomposition of LPG on a Zeolite-supporting Nickel catalyst. Qian et al [9] have reported the formation of CNTs by the decomposition of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) containing sulfur in the presence of Fe/Mo/Al2O3 catalyst, Since this contains sulfur of a few to several hundred ppm, which can lead to poisoning the catalyst heavily, few reports currently exist on using LPG or natural gas directly for production of carbon nanomaterials, only Prokudina et al [10] has reported CNT synthesis from LPG by CVD method, but till date no information and literature is reported on direct flame synthesis of CNTs by LPG. The main challenge in this field is to develop methods to produce nanotubes on a large scale and at low cost. As Flame synthesis of nano carbons being a continuous flow method, in which flowing gaseous feedstock mixture could produce CNTs in large quantities it has several advantages like easy scale up, partic le size control, dual role of feed gas which serves both as carbon source and fuel, and in-situ generation of catalyst. Hence it is one of the preferred methods for bulk production of not only CNTs but also other nano particles and nano metal oxides. This method is very useful and is of widespread importance. Many groups have investigated gas-phase continuous-flow production of carbon nanomaterials using other hydrocarbons. These studies typically involve passing a mixture of carbon source gas and organo metallic catalyst precursor molecules through a heated furnace. In this paper we report the direct flame synthesis of carbon nanotubes using LPG and air as our gaseous feedstock in a diffusion type burner without any external use of a catalyst and synthesis at optimum process parameters. 2. Experimental The flame reactor (Fig.1) has been indigenously designed to produce carbon nanotubes at our university. The detailed setup and process instrument and diagram (PID) of the reactor (Fig. 2) has been discussed in detail in our previous work [11]. In general our reactor operates under atmospheric pressure. The measured quantity of the LPG and the oxidant reaches the ignition chamber where the partial combustion process occurs where the CNTs are produced. During the process we have observed the dark orange flame color which is perfectly in a spindle form. Along the entire length of the flame, its temperature was recorded using a K-type thermocouple where this temperature can provide some data regarding the growth of nanotubes. The soot thus produced is captured on a glass fiber filter (Axiva GF/A) with the aid of a vacuum pump and the collected soot is scrapped carefully and weighed and later heat treated and oxidized at 550 OC in the presence of air for 60 minutes to remove any traces of amorphous carbon impurities and then the sample is reweighed in order to estimate the loss of amorphous carbon as an impurity then the samples are later characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD and Raman for their quality. The total amount of thermally oxidized and purified sample from the experiment (for 30 minute run) weighed only 0.8g. 3. Results and Discussion3.1 Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis The samples were analyzed using Phillips XL 30 series Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) from National Center for Compositional Characterization of Materials (NCCCM), Hyderabad. From the Figs (3a 3d) we can see a dense growth of carbon nanotubes at various flow rates with respect to the oxidant to fuel (O/F) ratios between 0.7 1.0 slpm/slpm (standard litre per minute). The average diameter range of the CNTs from the SEM image was found to be around 200 nm -1000 nm and lengths greater than 40 ÃŽ ¼m. 3.2 Transmission Electron Microscope Analysis The TEM (Technai -12, FEI) images (Fig 4a) shows the presence of thickly packed multiwalled CNT with an average diameter of 150 250 nm which is still surrounded by traces of carbonaceous nanoparticle aggregates possibly caused due to the dispersion of the sample in the solvent. This can be assumed that the agglomerated carbon nanoparticles were actually protected by the CNTs during the thermal treatment, as the CNTs might have formed a net like layer covering the nanoparticles and protecting it from the heat and oxidation. Fig 4b shows a thick multi walled CNT around 250 nm in its diameter with lots of traces of agglomerated carbon nanoparticles which can be accounted for the presence of C60 particles which is also in agreement with the XRD analysis in Fig 5. The broken caps of the CNTs also reveal the disorientation and a defective growth of the grapheme layers as seen in the Raman analysis in Fig 6. 3.2 X-ray Diffraction Analysis The XRD (PW1830 Phillips) analysis was carried out using CuKa1 type of radiation with a wavelength (l) of 1.54060 Ã…. XRD (Fig. 5) of nanotubess produced using LPG-air at an O/F ratio of 0.7 slpm/slpm shows a heterogeneous crystallinity in the sample. The raw scan detected three strong peaks. The first peak at 2ÃŽ ¸ angle of 25.77O was found with (110) orientation of atoms along its plane with peak corresponding to graphite with an orthorhombic type of system and an end-centered lattice. The second peak at 2ÃŽ ¸ angle of 43.159O was found with (245) orientation of atoms along its plane with peak corresponding to C60 molecule with a cubic type of system and a primitive lattice. The third peak at 2ÃŽ ¸ angle of 83.475O was found with (112) orientation of atoms along its plane with peak corresponding to graphite with a hexagonal type of system and a primitive type lattice respectively. 3.2 Raman Analysis Raman analysis (Horiba Jobin Yvon T64000, Raman Spectrophotometer) was carried out only on the best sample (Fig.6) which clearly shows the D band G band respectively. The D band (the disorder band is well-known in disordered graphitic materials and located between 1330-1360 cm-1 when it is excited with a visible laser) it is expected to be observed in Multi Walled Nanotubes (MWNT). However when the D band is observed in SWNTs [12], it is assumed to contain defects in the tubes. The G band or (TM- Tangential Mode) [12], corresponds to the stretching mode of the -C-C- bond in the graphite plane [12]. This mode is located near 1580 cm-1. From the figure we can say that the nanotubes are in the slightly disordered graphite phase based on the D band wavelength present at 1349 cm-1. This D band also confirms the presence of amorphous state of carbon in the bulk sample. Based on the G band from the figures, there appears two peaks at 1560 and 1600 cm-1 respectively which proves the presenc e of multi layers of disordered graphene sheets. On analyzing the level of graphitization using the D and G band intensities ratio, we find that the sample is normally well graphitized with small degree of crystallinity and its ID/IG ratio was found to be around 0.939. 4. Conclusions Carbon nanotube (CNT) is a versatile group of applied chemicals with high degree of applications on larger scale in various disciplines. The synthesis, purification and the cost still remains an un-doubted debate around the world hence an economical approach is to be developed in order to produce large amounts of good quality CNTs from an economical and a resourceful fuel. LPG as a general commodity plays a major role since its availability in India is high and it is a very economical source of fuel as well. Here, we were able to successfully synthesize semicrystalline, CNTs from LPG with an average diameter of 100 500 nm using the direct flame synthesis approach. References [1]. Bharat Bhushan, Springer Handbook of Nanotechnology, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg, New York, 2004, Chap: 3, pp 39 40. [2]. S. Iijima, Nature 354, (1991), 56. [3]. T.W. Ebbesen and P.M. Ajayan, Nature 358, (1992), 220. [4]. T. Guo, P. Nikolaev, A.G. Rinzler, D. Tomanek, D.T. Colbert and R.E. Smalley, J. Phys. Chem. 99, (1995), 10694. [5]. J. Kong, A. M. Cassell and H.J. Dai, Chem.Phys. Lett. 292, (1998), 567. [6]. Zhou X T, Lai H L, Peng H Y, Au F C K, Liao L S, Wang N, Bello I, Lee C S, Lee S T, Chem Phys Lett 318, (2000), 58 62. [7]. Zhou X T, Wang N, Au F C K, Lai H L, Peng H Y, Bello I, Lee C S, Lee S T, Mater. Sci. Eng. A 286 (2000) 119 -124. [8]. Apisit Songsasen and Paranchai Pairgreethaves, the Kasetsart Journal. (Natural. Sciences) Number 3, 35, (2001), 354 359. [9]. W. Qian, H. Yu, F. Wei, Q. Zhang and W.Wang, Carbon 40, Issue 15, (2002), 2968-2970. [10]. N.A. Prokudina, E.R. Shishchenko, O.S. Joo, D.Y. Kim and S.H. Han, Advanced Materials, Vol. 12, Issue 19, (2000), 1444 1447. [11]. Vivek Dhand, J.S Prasad, M. Venkateswara Rao, K. Naga Mahesh, L. Anupama, V. Himabindu, Anjaneyulu Yerramilli, V.S. Raju, A.A. Sukumar Indian Journal of Engg Mat. Sci, 14, (2007), 240-252. [12]. http://www.jobinyvon.com/usadivisions/Raman/applications/Carbon03.pdf

Precision Agriculture: Advantages and Disadvantages

Precision Agriculture: Advantages and Disadvantages Precision agriculture Precision farming or precision agriculture is an agricultural concept relying on the existence of in-field variability. It requires the use of new technologies, such as global positioning (GPS), sensors, satellites or aerial images, and information management tools (GIS) to assess and understand variations. Collected information may be used to more precisely evaluate optimum sowing density, estimate fertilizers and other inputs needs, and to more accurately predict crop yields. It seeks to avoid applying inflexible practices to a crop, regardless of local soil/climate conditions, and may help to better assess local situations of disease or lodging. Satellites allow farmers to easily survey their land.[2] Global Positioning Systems (GPS) monitor can find the location of a field to within one meter. It can then present a series of GIS maps that demonstrate which fields are moist or dry, and where there is erosion of soil and other soil factors that stunt crop growth. The data can be used by the farmer to automatically regulate the machine application of fertilizer and pesticide[2]. In the American Midwest (US) it is associated not with sustainable agriculture but with mainstream farmers who are trying to maximize profits by spending money only in areas that need fertilizer. This practice allows the farmer to vary the rate of fertilizer across the field according to the need identified by GPS guided Grid Sampling. Fertilizer that would have been spread in areas that dont need it can be placed in areas that do, thereby optimizing its use. Precision farming may be used to improve a field or a farm management from several perspectives: agronomical perspective: adjustment of cultural practices to take into account the real needs of the crop (e.g., better fertilization management) technical perspective: better time management at the farm level (e.g. planning of agricultural activity) environmental perspective: reduction of agricultural impacts (better estimation of crop nitrogen needs implying limitation of nitrogen run-off) economical perspective: increase of the output and/or reduction of the input, increase of efficiency (e.g., lower cost of nitrogen fertilization practice) Other benefits for the farmer geostatistics integrated farming Integrated Pest Management nutrient budgeting nutrient management precision viticulture Agriculture Landsat program Geostatistics is a branch of statistics focusing on spatiotemporal datasets. Developed originally to predict probable distributions for mining operations, it is currently applied in diverse disciplines including petroleum geology, hydrogeology, hydrology, meteorology, oceanography, geochemistry, geometallurgy, geography, forestry, environmental control, landscape ecology, soil science, and agriculture (esp. in precision farming). Geostatistics is applied in varied branches of geography, particularly those involving the spread of disease (epidemiology), the practice of commerce and military planning (logistics), and the development of efficient spatial networks. Geostatistics are incorporated in tools such as geographic information systems (GIS) and digital elevation models. History This section requires expansion with: details. Background When any phenomena is measured, the observation methodology will dictate the accuracy of subsequent analysis; in geography, this issue is complicated by unique variables and spatial patterns such as geospatial topology. An interesting feature in geostatistics is that every location displays some form of spatial pattern, whether in the form of the environment, climate, pollution, urbanization or human health. This is not to state that all variables are spatially dependent, simply that variables are incapable of measurement separate from their surroundings, such that there can be no perfect control population. Whether the study is concerned with the nature of traffic patterns in an urban core, or with the analysis of weather patterns over the Pacific, there are always variables which escape measurement; this is determined directly by the scale and distribution of the data collection, or survey, and its methodology. Limitations in data collection make it impossible to make a direct meas ure of continuous spatial data without inferring probabilities, some of these probability functions are applied to create an interpolation surface predicting unmeasured variables at innumerable locations. Geostatistical terms Regionalized variable theory Covariance function Semi-variance Variogram Kriging Range (geostatistics) Sill (geostatistics) Nugget effect Criticism A major contributor to this section (or its creator) appears to have a conflict of interest with its subject. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedias content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page. ({{{November 2009}}}) Jan W Merks, a mineral sampling expert consultant from Canada, has strongly criticized[1] geostatistics since 1992. Referring to it as voodoo science[2] and scientific fraud, he claims that geostatistics is an invalid branch of statistics. Merks submits[2] that geostatistics ignores the variance of Agterbergs distance-weighted average point grade, ignores the concept of degrees of freedom of a data set when testing for spatial dependence by applying Fishers F-test to the variance of a set and the first variance term of the ordered set, abuses statistics by not using analysis of variance properly, replaced genuine variances of single distance-weighted average point grades with pseudo-variances of sets of distance-weighted average point grades, violating the one-to-one correspondence between variances and functions such as Agterbergs distance-weighted average point grade. Furthermore, Merks claims geostatistics inflates mineral reserve and resources such as in the case of Bre-Xs fraud. Merkss expertise and credibility are supported by several company executives, who regularly hire his consulting services[3]. Philip and Watson have also criticized geostatistics in the past [4]. There is a consensus that inappropriate use of geostatistics makes the method susceptible to erroneous reading of results[3][5]. Related software gslib is a set of fortran 77 routines (open source) implementing most of the classical geostatistics estimation and simulation algorithms sgems is a cross-platform (windows, unix), open-source software that implements most of the classical geostatistics algorithms (kriging, Gaussian and indicator simulation, etc) as well as new developments (multiple-points geostatistics). It also provides an interactive 3D visualization and offers the scripting capabilities of python. gstat is an open source computer code for multivariable geostatistical modelling, prediction and simulation. The gstat functionality is also available as an S extension, either as R package or S-Plus library. besides gstat, R has at least six other packages dedicated to geostatistics and other areas in spatial statistics. Notes 1. ^ A website that criticizes Matheronian geostatistics ^ a b See (Merks 1992) 3. ^ a b Sandra Rubin, Whistleblower raises doubts over ore bodies, Financial Post, September 30, 2002. ^ See (Philip and Watson 1986). 5. ^ Statistics for Spatial Data, Revised Edition, Noel A. C. Cressie, ISBN 978-0-471-00255-0. References 1. Armstrong, M and Champigny, N, 1988, A Study on Kriging Small Blocks, CIM Bulletin, Vol 82, No 923  Armstrong, M, 1992, Freedom of Speech? De Geeostatisticis, July, No 14 3. Champigny, N, 1992, Geostatistics: A tool that works, The Northern Miner, May 18 4. Clark I, 1979, Practical Geostatistics, Applied Science Publishers, London 5. David, M, 1977, Geostatistical Ore Reserve Estimation, Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam 6. Hald, A, 1952, Statistical Theory with Engineering Applications, John Wiley Sons, New York 7. Chilà ¨s, J.P., Delfiner, P. 1999. Geostatistics: modelling spatial uncertainty, Wiley Series in Probability and Mathematical Statistics, 695 pp. 8. Deutsch, C.V., Journel, A.G, 1997. GSLIB: Geostatistical Software Library and Users Guide (Applied Geostatistics Series), Second Edition, Oxford University Press, 369 pp., http://www.gslib.com/ 9. Deutsch, C.V., 2002. Geostatistical Reservoir Modeling, Oxford University Press, 384 pp., http://www.statios.com/WinGslib/index.html 10. Isaaks, E.H., Srivastava R.M.: Applied Geostatistics. 1989. 11. ISO/DIS 11648-1 Statistical aspects of sampling from bulk materials-Part1: General principles 12. Journel, A G and Huijbregts, 1978, Mining Geostatistics, Academic Press 13:.Kitanidis, P.K.: Introduction to Geostatistics: Applications in Hydrogeology, Cambridge University Press. 1997. 14. Lantuà ©joul, C. 2002. Geostatistical simulation: models and algorithms. Springer, 256 pp. 15. Lipschutz, S, 1968, Theory and Problems of Probability, McCraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 16. Matheron, G. 1962. Traità © de gà ©ostatistique appliquà ©e. Tome 1, Editions Technip, Paris, 334 pp. 17. Matheron, G. 1989. Estimating and choosing, Springer-Verlag, Berlin. 18. McGrew, J. Chapman, Monroe, Charles B., 2000. An introduction to statistical problem solving in geography, second edition, McGraw-Hill, New York. 19. Merks, J W, 1992, Geostatistics or voodoo science, The Northern Miner, May 18 20. Merks, J W, Abuse of statistics, CIM Bulletin, January 1993, Vol 86, No 966 21. Myers, Donald E.; What Is Geostatistics? 22. Philip, G M and Watson, D F, 1986, Matheronian Geostatistics; Quo Vadis?, Mathematical Geology, Vol 18, No 1 23. Sharov, A: Quantitative Population Ecology, 1996, http://www.ento.vt.edu/~sharov/PopEcol/popecol.html 24. Shine, J.A., Wakefield, G.I.: A comparison of supervised imagery classification using analyst-chosen and geostatistically-chosen training sets, 1999, http://www.geovista.psu.edu/sites/geocomp99/Gc99/044/gc_044.htm 25. Strahler, A. H., and Strahler A., 2006, Introducing Physical Geography, 4th Ed., Wiley. 26. Volk, W, 1980, Applied Statistics for Engineers, Krieger Publishing Company, Huntington, New York. 27. Wackernagel, H. 2003. Multivariate geostatistics, Third edition, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, 387 pp. 28. Yang, X. S., 2009, Introductory Mathematics for Earth Scientists, Dunedin Academic Press, 240pp. 29. Youden, W J, 1951, Statistical Methods for Chemists: John Wiley Sons, New York. External links Kriging link, contains explanations of variance in geostats Arizona university geostats page A resource on the internet about geostatistics and spatial statistics On-Line Library that chronicles Matherons journey from classical statistics to the new science of geostatistics Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostatistics Categories: Geostatistics Hidden categories: Statistics articles needing expert attention | Articles needing expert attention from August 2009 | All articles needing expert attention | Articles lacking in-text citations from January 2009 | All articles lacking in-text citations | Articles to be expanded from January 2010 | All articles to be expanded | Wikipedia expand-section box with explanation text | Articles to be expanded from August 2008 | Wikipedia articles with sections containing possible conflicts of interest Integrated farming (or integrated agriculture) is a commonly and broadly used word to explain a more integrated approach to farming as compared to existing monoculture approaches. It refers to agricultural systems that integrate livestock and crop production and may sometimes be known as Integrated Biosystems. While not often considered as part of the permaculture movement Integrated Farming is a similar whole systems approach to agriculture[1]. There have been efforts to link the two together such as at the 2007 International Permaculture Conference in Brazil[2]. Agro-ecology (which was developed at University of California Santa Cruz) and Bio-dynamic farming also describe similar integrated approaches. Examples include: pig tractor systems where the animals are confined in crop fields well prior to planting and plow the field by digging for roots poultry used in orchards or vineyards after harvest to clear rotten fruit and weeds while fertilizing the soil cattle or other livestock allowed to graze cover crops between crops on farms that contain both cropland and pasture (or where transhumance is employed) Water based agricultural systems that provide way for effective and efficient recycling of farm nutrients producing fuel, fertilizer and a compost tea/mineralized irrigation water in the process. In 1993 FARRE (Forum de lAgriculture Raisonnà ©e Respecteuse lEnvironnement) developed agricultural techniques France as part of an attempt to reconcile agricultural methods with the principles of sustainable development. FARRE, promotes an integrated and/or multi-sector approach to food production that includes profitability, safety, animal welfare, social responsibility and environmental care. Zero Emissions Research and Initiatives (formed in 1994 by the eco-entrepreneur [1]) developed a similar approach to FARRE seeking to promote agricultural and industrial production models that sought to incorporate natures wisdom into the process. ZERI helped support an effort by an environmental engineer from Mauritius named George Chan. Chan working with a network of poly-culture farming pioneers began refining Integrated Farming practices that had already been developed in south-east Asia in the 60,70s and 80s, building on the ancient Night soil farming practice. In China, programs embracing this form of integrated farming have been successful in demonstrating how an intensive growing systems can use organic and sustainable farming practices, while providing a high agriculture yield. Taking what he learned from the Chinese during his time there, Chan worked at the UN University in the 1990s and forwarded an approach to Integrated Farming which was termed Integrated Biomass Systems working specifically under the UNU/ZERI ZERI Bag Program. Chan during his work with UNU sought to make the case that Integrated Biomass Systems were well suited to help small island nations and low lying tropical regions become more self-reliant and prosperous in the production of food[3]. Working with ZERI, he developed several prototypes for this approach around the world including sites in Namibia and Fiji. The scientifically verified results in a UNDP sponsored congress in 1997 resulted in the adoption of the IBS by the State Government of Paranà ¡, Brazil where dozens of piggeries have applied the system generating food, energy while improving health and environmental conditions. Montfort Boys Town in Fiji was one of the first Integrated Biomass Systems developed outside of Southeast Asia with the support of UNU, UNDP and other international agencies. The project which is still operational continues to be a model of how farm operations can provide multiple benefits to stakeholders both local and international. ZERI Bag had a significant African component that included assisting Father Godfrey Nzamujo in the development of the Songhai Farm Integrated Farming project in Benin[4] . Most recently The Heifer Foundation a major international NGO based in the USA has taken a lead role in deploying Integrated Farming so that it can be replicated globally as an effective approach to sustainable farming in non-affluent regions such as Vietnam[5]. References 1. ^ Steve Divers work linking Integrated Farming with Permaculture: http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/perma.html 2. ^ Report includes reference to presentation on Integrated Farming by permaculture and ZERI practitioner Eric Fedus and Alexandre Takamatsu 3. ^ Small Islands and ZERI: A unique case for the Application of ZERI: A Paper presented by George Chan of the United Nations University at an International Symposium on Small Islands and Sustainable Development organized by the United Nations University and the National Land Agency of Japan: http://www.gdrc.org/oceans/chan.html 4. ^ ZERI Bag was designed to focus on small scale deployment of appropriate technologies with a focus on the Integrated Biomass System approach developed by ZERI and George Chan http://www.zeri.unam.na/africa.htm 5. ^ http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.2877337/ External links FARRE homepage Integrated farming of fish, crop and livestock Design an construction of an intergated fish farm Integrated Farming System by George Chan wiki on integrated farming Songhai Centre in Benin IPM: In agriculture, integrated pest management (IPM) is a pest control strategy that uses a variety of complementary strategies including: mechanical devices, physical devices, genetic, biological, cultural management, and chemical management. These methods are done in three stages: prevention, observation, and intervention. It is an ecological approach with a main goal of significantly reducing or eliminating the use of pesticides while at the same time managing pest populations at an acceptable level.[1] For their leadership in developing and spreading IPM worldwide, Dr. Perry Adkisson and Dr. Ray F. Smith received the 1997 World Food Prize. History of IPM Shortly after World War II, when synthetic insecticides became widely available, entomologists in California developed the concept of supervised insect control. Around the same time, entomologists in cotton-belt states such as Arkansas were advocating a similar approach. Under this scheme, insect control was supervised by qualified entomologists, and insecticide applications were based on conclusions reached from periodic monitoring of pest and natural-enemy populations. This was viewed as an alternative to calendar-based insecticide programs. Supervised control was based on a sound knowledge of the ecology and analysis of projected trends in pest and natural-enemy populations. Supervised control formed much of the conceptual basis for the integrated control that University of California entomologists articulated in the 1950s. Integrated control sought to identify the best mix of chemical and biological controls for a given insect pest. Chemical insecticides were to be used in manner least disruptive to biological control. The term integrated was thus synonymous with compatible. Chemical controls were to be applied only after regular monitoring indicated that a pest population had reached a level (the economic threshold) that required treatment to prevent the population from reaching a level (the economic injury level) at which economic losses would exceed the cost of the artificial control measures. IPM extended the concept of integrated control to all classes of pests and was expanded to include tactics other than just chemical and biological controls. Artificial controls such as pesticides were to be applied as in integrated control, but these now had to be compatible with control tactics for all classes of pests. Other tactics, such as host-plant resistance and cultural manipulations, became part of the IPM arsenal. IPM added the multidisciplinary element, involving entomologists, plant pathologists, nematologists, and weed scientists. In the United States, IPM was formulated into national policy in February 1972 when President Nixon directed federal agencies to take steps to advance the concept and application of IPM in all relevant sectors. In 1979, President Carter established an interagency IPM Coordinating Committee to ensure development and implementation of IPM practices. (references: The History of IPM, BioControl Reference Center. [1] How IPM works An IPM regime can be quite simple or sophisticated. Historically, the main focus of IPM programs was on agricultural insect pests.[2] Although originally developed for agricultural pest management, IPM programs are now developed to encompass diseases, weeds, and other pests that interfere with the management objectives of sites such as residential and commercial structures, lawn and turf areas, and home and community gardens. An IPM system is designed around six basic components: The US Environmental Protection Agency has a useful set of IPM principles. [2] 1. Acceptable pest levels: The emphasis is on control, not eradication. IPM holds that wiping out an entire pest population is often impossible, and the attempt can be more costly, environmentally unsafe, and frequently unachievable. IPM programs first work to establish acceptable pest levels, called action thresholds, and apply controls if those thresholds are crossed. These thresholds are pest and site specific, meaning that it may be acceptable at one site to have a weed such as white clover, but at another site it may not be acceptable. This stops the pest gaining resistance to chemicals produced by the plant or applied to the crops. If many of the pests are killed then any that have resistance to the chemical will rapidly reproduce forming a resistant population. By not killing all the pests there are some un-resistant pests left that will dilute any resistant genes that appear. 2. Preventive cultural practices: Selecting varieties best for local growing conditions, and maintaining healthy crops, is the first line of defense, together with plant quarantine and cultural techniques such as crop sanitation (e.g. removal of diseased plants to prevent spread of infection). 3. Monitoring: Regular observation is the cornerstone of IPM. Observation is broken into two steps, first; inspection and second; identification.[3] Visual inspection, insect and spore traps, and other measurement methods and monitoring tools are used to monitor pest levels. Accurate pest identification is critical to a successful IPM program. Record-keeping is essential, as is a thorough knowledge of the behavior and reproductive cycles of target pests. Since insects are cold-blooded, their physical development is dependent on the temperature of their environment. Many insects have had their development cycles modeled in terms of degree days. Monitor the degree days of an environment to determine when is the optimal time for a specific insects outbreak. 4. Mechanical controls: Should a pest reach an unacceptable level, mechanical methods are the first options to consider. They include simple hand-picking, erecting insect barriers, using traps, vacuuming, and tillage to disrupt breeding. 5. Biological controls: Natural biological processes and materials can provide control, with minimal environmental impact, and often at low cost. The main focus here is on promoting beneficial insects that eat target pests. Biological insecticides, derived from naturally occurring microorganisms (e.g.: Bt, entomopathogenic fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes), also fit in this category. 6. Chemical controls: Synthetic pesticides are generally only used as required and often only at specific times in a pests life cycle. Many of the newer pesticide groups are derived from plants or naturally occurring substances (e.g.: nicotine, pyrethrum and insect juvenile hormone analogues), and further biology-based or ecological techniques are under evaluation. IPM is applicable to all types of agriculture and sites such as residential and commercial structures, lawn and turf areas, and home and community gardens. Reliance on knowledge, experience, observation, and integration of multiple techniques makes IPM a perfect fit for organic farming (the synthetic chemical option is simply not considered). For large-scale, chemical-based farms, IPM can reduce human and environmental exposure to hazardous chemicals, and potentially lower overall costs of pesticide application material and labor. 1. Proper identification of pest What is it? Cases of mistaken identity may result in ineffective actions. If plant damage due to over-watering are mistaken for a fungal infection, a spray may be used needlessly and the plant still dies. 2. Learn pest and host life cycle and biology. At the time you see a pest, it may be too late to do much about it except maybe spray with a pesticide. Often, there is another stage of the life cycle that is susceptible to preventative actions. For example, weeds reproducing from last years seed can be prevented with mulches. Also, learning what a pest needs to survive allows you to remove these. 3. Monitor or sample environment for pest population How many are here? Preventative actions must be taken at the correct time if they are to be effective. For this reason, once you have correctly identified the pest, you begin monitoring BEFORE it becomes a problem. For example, in school cafeterias where roaches may be expected to appear, sticky traps are set out before school starts. Traps are checked at regular intervals so you can see them right away and do something before they get out of hand. Some of the things you might want to monitor about pest populations include: Is the pest present/absent? What is the distribution all over or only in certain spots? Is the pest population increasing or decreasing? 4. Establish action threshold (economic, health or aesthetic) How many are too many? In some cases, a certain number of pests can be tolerated. Soybeans are quite tolerant of defoliation, so if you have only a few caterpillars in the field and their population is not increasing dramatically, there is no need to do anything. Conversely, there is a point at which you MUST do something. For the farmer, that point is the one at which the cost of damage by the pest is MORE than the cost of control. This is an economic threshold. Tolerance of pests varies also by whether or not they are a health hazard (low tolerance) or merely a cosmetic damage (high tolerance in a non-commercial situation). Personal tolerances also vary many people dislike any insect; some people cannot tolerate dandelions in their yards. Different sites may also have varying requirements based on specific areas. White clover may be perfectly acceptable on the sides of a tee box on a golf course, but unacceptable in th e fairway where it could cause confusion in the field of play.[4] 5. Choose an appropriate combination of management tactics For any pest situation, there will be several options to consider. Options include, mechanical or physical control, cultural controls, biological controls and chemical controls. Mechanical or physical controls include picking pests off plants, or using netting or other material to exclude pests such as birds from grapes or rodents from structures. Cultural controls include keeping an area free of conducive conditions by removing or storing waste properly, removing diseased areas of plants properly. Biological controls can be support either through conservation of natural predators or augmentation of natural predators[5]. Augmentative control includes the introduction of naturally occurring predators at either an inundative or inoculative level[6]. An inundative release would be one that seeks to inundate a site with a pests predator to impact the pest population[7][8]. An inoculative release would be a smaller number of pest predators to supplement the natural population and provide ongoing control.[9] Chemical controls would include horticultural oils or the application of pesticides such as insecticides and herbicides. A Green Pest Management IPM program would use pesticides derived from plants, such as botanicals, or other naturally occurring materials. 6. Evaluate results How did it work? Evaluation is often one of the most important steps.[10] This is the process to review an IPM program and the results it generated. Asking the following questions is useful: Did your actions have the desired effect? Was the pest prevented or managed to your satisfaction? Was the method itself satisfactory? Were there any unintended side effects? What will you do in the future for this pest situation? Understanding the effectiveness of the IPM program allows the site manager to make modifications to the IPM plan prior to pests reaching the action threshold and requiring action again. Notes 1. ^ United States Environmental Protection Agency, Pesticides and Food: What Integrated Pest Management Means. 2. ^ http://www.umass.edu/umext/ipm/publications/guidelines/index.html. 3. ^ Bennett, Et Al., Trumans Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, 6th edition, page 10, Purdue University/Questex Press, 2005. 4. ^ Purdue University Turf Pest Management Correspondence Course, Introduction, 2006 5. ^ http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/IPM/biocontrol/ 6. ^ http://www.hort.uconn.edu/ipm/veg/htms/ecbtrich.htm 7. ^ http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/green_pros/ipm_basics.shtml 8. ^ http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/IPM/biocontrol/Inundative_release.htm 9. ^ http://www.knowledgebank.irri.org/IPM/biocontrol/Inoculative_release_.htm 10. ^ Bennett, Et Al., Trumans Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, 6th edition, page 12, Purdue University/Questex Press, 2005. References * Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs: An Integrated Pest Management Guide. Steve H. Dreistadt, Mary Louise Flint, et al., ANR Publications, University of California, Oakland, California, 1994. 328pp, paper, photos, reference tables, diagrams. * Bennett, Gary W., Ph.d., Owens, John M., Ph.d., Corrigan, Robert M, Ph.d. Trumans Scientific Guide to Pest Management Operations, 6th Edition, pages 10, 11, 12, Purdue University, Questex, 2005. * Jahn, GC, PG Cox., E Rubia-Sanchez, and M Cohen 2001. The quest for connections: developing a research agenda for integrated pest and nutrient management. pp. 413-430, In S. Peng and B. Hardy [eds.] â€Å"Rice Research for Food Security and Poverty Alleviation.† Proceeding the International Rice Research Conference, 31 March 3 April 2000, Los Baà ±os, Philippines. Los Baà ±os (Philippines): International Rice Research Institute. 692 p. * Jahn, GC, B. Khiev, C Pol, N. Chhorn and V Preap 2001. Sustainable pest management for rice in Cambodia. In P. Cox and R Chhay [eds.] â€Å"The Impact of Agricultural Research for Development in Southeast Asia† Proceedings of an International Conference held at the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 24-26 Oct. 2000, Phnom Penh (Cambodia): CARDI. * Jahn, GC, JA Litsinger, Y Chen and A Barrion. 2007. Integrated Pest Management of Rice: Ecological Concepts. In Ecologically Based Integrated Pest Management (eds. O. Koul and G.W. Cuperus). CAB International Pp. 315-366. * Kogan, M 1998. INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT:Historical Perspectives and Contemporary Developments, Annual Review of Entomology Vol. 43: 243-270 (Volume publication date January 1998) (doi:10.1146/annurev.ento.43.1.243) * Nonveiller, Guido 1984. Catalogue commentà © et illustrà © des insectes du Cameroun dintà ©rà ªt agricole: (apparitions, rà ©partition, importance) / University of Belgrade/Institut pour la protection des plantes * US Environmental Protection Ag

Benifits Of Technology Essay -- essays research papers

Man, powered by his imagination and inquisitive character, has wondered he mechanisms of Nature since time infinite. This quest for the truth, the ways in which his surrounding works, has led to many a scientific discoveries and innovations. Since the art of making fire and creating handcrafted tools, our civilization has come a long way. Science and Technology are making advances at an amazing rate. From telephones to the Internet, calculators to computers, cars to rockets and satellites, we are submerged in a sea of discoveries and inventions made possible by Science. Fields like Medicine and communications have made inroads into our cultures and thus our lifestyles. So vast is the impact of Science in our lives, that people fear the unthinkable. It leads them to accusations such as Science tries to play God. However, according to Hume, God is part of the order that exists in the universe. If so, then Science is just helping us discover the Almighty, which most people perceive as the Ultimate Truth. To quote Charles Pierce, ""There is one thing even more vital to science than intelligent methods; and that is, the sincere desire to find out the truth, whatever it may be." Repeatedly, it is also heard that we are so dependent on Science and Technology that we who create it are nothing but mere puppets. How can we be the slaves of this great resource? In fact, it would not be wrong to term Science as a friend of Humanity. This faithful friend has come through many a times. We have reaped innumerable benefits out of this friendship. In return, the sacrifices we had to make constituted just a small price in return. This price can be termed as a small token of appreciation for our friend, Science. According to an existential argument, existence precedes essence. If so, then human existence is absurd and unjustified. The goal of a human being then is to justify his existence. We humans tried to take charge of our own lives by choosing to justify its cause. According to Mahlotra, a person who is aware of the fact that by the freedom of choice we have, we are responsible for our actions and performs those actions acknowledging freedom of others too, is the one who shall find meaning in his life. Satre points out for us that a man is nothing else than a series of undertakings, that he is a sum, the organization, the ensemble of the relationsh... ... thus shrink of a thought of war on an enemy. In my opinion, Technology and Science like most things have both the good and the bad side to it. There are definitely certain ethical and legal issues associated with it. However, looking more closely at our world, we find ethics in most of the disciplines including Religion. People can take advantage of any field if they wish to, but our social and political ties prevent most of us from acting in manners considered as taboos. Some people who yet work in ways to disrupt the social structure are often times rejected. Further there are laws in place to guarantee that no one’s right to freedom of choice is infringed upon. Douglas Shrader tries to explain through the Utilitarianism Principle that if an act produces more good than harms for a society, it can be reasoned out as a right thing to do for the society as a whole. Similarly, if we take a balance and weigh the benefits and costs of Science and Technology, we would find that the case is not even close. The benefits far outweigh any costs connected with Technology and Science. In fact, it seems almost impossible now to imagine a world living without its Science and Technology.

The Legalization of Marijuana in the USA Essay -- Argumentative essays,

Legalization of marijuana is one of the most controversial topics in American society today. Surveys done by the US Government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive showed that 95 million Americans have used marijuana. There are two opposing sides that have strong stances on whether it should become legal or should remain illegal. We have one side that is anti-marijuana and the other is pro-marijuana. Each side provides valid and strong arguments supporting their views. The purpose of this paper is to carefully examine each opposing side and try to find some way to come to a compromise. First, let’s carefully look at the views of the anti-marijuana groups. There are several groups that are against marijuana legalization. To name a few are the Drug Enforcement Agency, law enforcement offices, and some religious groups. The anti-marijuana view suggests that there are more negative effects that will come from the legalization than keeping it banned. First, they argue that marijuana is the so called gateway drug to harder more addicting drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Another valid dispute is that driving while high will steadily increase and even though there are strict punishments against drinking and driving, it is hard to recognize if someone is high. Like they say unless the person has just smoked cannabis in the car, it won’t have a strong odor like the fumes coming from someone who has been drinking alcohol. Next, there are the disagreements that if cannabis is made lawful people are afraid that it will land up in the hands of children. It has been said that if children can get their hands on alcohol and cigarettes, they will be able to find the way to getting marijuana. When this happens children will start ... ...d place them into stores where someone would have to show proof of age just like if they were buying a pack of cigarettes or alcohol. Plus, by allowing the government to take control of the production, they could place a hefty tax on the price to help pull our economy out of a slump. If this resolution is executed properly each of the individual desired outcomes could be achieved. The first outcome that would be achieved is it would get the United States out of recession by producing a source of tax revenue, more job opportunities and which then would allow society to go out and spend more. Second, by keeping drugs off the streets it would make it harder for children and teens to get a hold of it and become addicted. The final goal that can be achieved is the crime rate would go down because there would not be arrests and imprisonment on simple marijuana charges. The Legalization of Marijuana in the USA Essay -- Argumentative essays, Legalization of marijuana is one of the most controversial topics in American society today. Surveys done by the US Government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive showed that 95 million Americans have used marijuana. There are two opposing sides that have strong stances on whether it should become legal or should remain illegal. We have one side that is anti-marijuana and the other is pro-marijuana. Each side provides valid and strong arguments supporting their views. The purpose of this paper is to carefully examine each opposing side and try to find some way to come to a compromise. First, let’s carefully look at the views of the anti-marijuana groups. There are several groups that are against marijuana legalization. To name a few are the Drug Enforcement Agency, law enforcement offices, and some religious groups. The anti-marijuana view suggests that there are more negative effects that will come from the legalization than keeping it banned. First, they argue that marijuana is the so called gateway drug to harder more addicting drugs such as heroin and cocaine. Another valid dispute is that driving while high will steadily increase and even though there are strict punishments against drinking and driving, it is hard to recognize if someone is high. Like they say unless the person has just smoked cannabis in the car, it won’t have a strong odor like the fumes coming from someone who has been drinking alcohol. Next, there are the disagreements that if cannabis is made lawful people are afraid that it will land up in the hands of children. It has been said that if children can get their hands on alcohol and cigarettes, they will be able to find the way to getting marijuana. When this happens children will start ... ...d place them into stores where someone would have to show proof of age just like if they were buying a pack of cigarettes or alcohol. Plus, by allowing the government to take control of the production, they could place a hefty tax on the price to help pull our economy out of a slump. If this resolution is executed properly each of the individual desired outcomes could be achieved. The first outcome that would be achieved is it would get the United States out of recession by producing a source of tax revenue, more job opportunities and which then would allow society to go out and spend more. Second, by keeping drugs off the streets it would make it harder for children and teens to get a hold of it and become addicted. The final goal that can be achieved is the crime rate would go down because there would not be arrests and imprisonment on simple marijuana charges.

YR10 ANALYSIS OF THE UK LABOUR MARKET :: Economics

YR10 ANALYSIS OF THE UK LABOUR MARKET 1. What have been the trends in unemployment levels in the UK in the past 25 years? From the graph above I can come to a conclusion that since 1984 the number of people unemployed has decreased. However, it hasn’t been constantly decreasing, it went down in between 1986 and 1990 and then back up again between 1990 and 1993. From here it has steadily gone down from there being 10,000 people unemployed to there only being 3,000 people unemployed in 2004. Ever since 1984 full time workers have been in greater supply then the part time workers. Both full time and part time workers have increased at roughly the same rate with the graph lines almost being parallel. One reason for both sets of workers increasing at the same rate is that there could be a population increase causing there to be more workers getting jobs in both categories. Both of the sets of workers have increased, since 1984 to 2004, by about 2500 people. 2. How has the split between full and part time workers changed? Ever since 1984 full time workers have been in greater supply then the part time workers. Both full time and part time workers have increased at roughly the same rate with the graph lines almost being parallel. One reason for both sets of workers increasing at the same rate is that there could be a population increase causing there to be more workers getting jobs in both categories. Both of the sets of workers have increased, since 1984 to 2004, by about 2500 people. Unemployment differs between the different regions of the UK in quite similar ways. The pattern of unemployment over the year’s looks very similar but with different quantities for the different regions. The North East has the greatest number of unemployed in the duration of the 29 years, whilst the East has on average the lowest number of unemployed. In 2004 the different regions have a lot closer link then ever before with a range of just 2000. 3. How does unemployment differ between different regions in the UK Unemployment differs between the different regions of the UK in quite similar ways. The pattern of unemployment over the year’s looks very similar but with different quantities for the different regions. The North East has the greatest number of unemployed in the duration of the 29 years, whilst the East has on average the lowest number of unemployed. In 2004 the different regions have a lot closer link then ever before with a range of just 2000.

Business Research Methods Essay

Organizational Dilemma Starbucks grew as it attracted many people, leading to tripling its stores worldwide. It became part of every neighborhood, appearing on every street, in airports, supermarkets, and roadside rest stops all over America. This is when complaints began to surface that Starbucks is transforming into a fast-food restaurant and not a coffee house. The coffee industry was no longer dominated by Starbucks, for competitors began to put pressure on the business. In addition, the biggest dilemma to hit Starbucks was the 2008 economic crisis. This took a toll on the consumer who saw Starbucks as a luxury and searched for more affordable alternatives. As a result, Starbucks’ management was faced with the need to generate the right management question that would be the thread to making the best decision through its research design. An organizational dilemma can spark a research question. Once an organization determines a situation exists, research methods start to devise and eventually sample designs are implemented. When people think of Starbucks, do they think of great customer service, quality products, clean store, or great coffee? The organizational dilemma is: how should Starbucks go about keeping loyal customers while overcoming the old perceptions and changing with the times. According to Howard Schultz, â€Å"We are not in the coffee business serving people; we are in the people business serving coffee† (Starbucks Board of Directors, 2008). Research Design Marius Pretorius (2008) research infers Starbuck’s organizational dilemma, whether strategic or operational is not diminished when using Michael Porter’s (1985) generic strategies for competitive advantage. Declining sales require a turnaround solution that address strategic causes and cost relationship pressures that govern demand determinants. Which are â€Å"highly susceptible to external influences that are not clearly visible to the decision-makers† (Pretorius, 2008, pg. 21). Designing a two-stage exploratory study to identify the basis of distress and the key determinants is essential to a turnaround strategic plan. An exploratory study provides sufficient flexibility to address research costs, timelines, and development of clear constructs to address priorities and operational definitions (Cooper & Schindler, 2011). The first stage of the study will look to ascertain the causation of the organizational dilemma and postulate the asymmetrical relationships in declining sales by examining both internal and external independent and dependent variables. This research will categorize findings into four relationship types as stimulus-response, property-disposition, disposition-behavior, or property-behavior. This will refine the second stage of research and explore influencing factors in depth. Characteristics and Operational Definitions The research design will produce casual inferences upon which a complementary strategy will result. â€Å"Although they may be neither permanent nor universal, these inferences allow us to build knowledge of presumed causes over time† (Cooper & Schindler, 2011, pg. 154). Therefore, it is important to identify moderating or interactive variable dependencies. To ensure data validity operational definitions will challenge data to meet specific standards. These definitions may not exhibit the organization’s use but will establish a means to classify clearly an event. The main concern is to establish actionable information in which contributory or contingent effects on the original independent to dependent variable (IV–DV) relationship will provide empirical conclusions. References Cooper, D.R. & Schindler, P.S. (2011). Business research methods (11th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Porter, M.E., (1985). Competitive advantage: Creating and sustaining superior performance. New York, NY: The Free Press Pretorius, M., (2008). When Porter’s generic strategies are not enough: Complementary strategies for turnaround situations. Journal of Business Strategy 29(6): 19–28. Starbucks Board of Directors. (2008). Retrieved 2 2013, February, from Starbucks.com: www.starbucks.com/aboutus/environment.asp Starbucks, (2011) Our Company: Mission Statement. Retrieved from http://www.starbucks.com

Wawa Inc. Research Paper

On the scale of company sizes In this country, Way falls somewhere In the middle. Initiating leadership in the convenience store industry in the Delaware Valley, while at the same time providing the employees with small-company personal immunization. The company hopes to maintain this relationship with the employees In the future, even though the recent strike hurt the morale among the delivery personnel. The organizational structure begins with the president, Richard Wood. There are six vice-presidents in the company, each serving an important function.The segments of the company are broken down to the following levels, with the vice-president for each level controlling It: Law & Human Resources, Marketing, Store Operations, Real Estate, Finance, and Distribution. As you can see, the real state segment is heavily weighted in the corporate structure. The reasoning behind this strategy is that the company is expanding at the rate of three to four stores per month. Devoting resources t o real estate includes the locating, purchasing, developing, and operating the new store until sufficient management can be established. I have witnessed two new examples of this strategy this semester.I have observed the demolition process of a store, and the construction of three stores, and the renovation of one! These experiences have taught me the process template hat Way uses to build every one of its new stores. With such stress being focused in this area, you can Imagine that the employees involved in the new construction process know exactly how to open a store, from the purchase of the land, to the grand opening day! The other segments of the company mentioned follow the same format as most companies of today. Story ‘Offs successful company, serving the convenience needs of the greater Delaware Valley with pride since 1964.Through the strong respect from customers, Way has achieved a dramatic increase in sales in the past five years. With the introduction of ewe â₠¬Å"superstores†, the future looks extremely bright for the company. Haw's branding strategy of its own products has achieved national recognition. From the dairy products that it has manufactured since the early sass's, to the new Way Bakery, which is destined to be a phenomenal success in the years to come because of its versatility in creating exciting new products, Way is planning on leaving the twentieth century with a bang!The following is a short history of how the company has become as successful as it is today. Way, Inc. Did not begin as a food business, as many people may believe. Instead, the company began operations in the textile industry as early as 1803. By 1865, the company, dubbed as The Melville Manufacturing Company, was incorporated and was operating mills quite successfully in several states, with sales offices throughout the country, but headquarters always remaining in Melville, New Jersey.In 1902, George Wood, who was the owner of Melville, New Jersey, w hich was a bustling town thanks to his family-owned textile business, opened a small milk plant in Way, Pennsylvania, which specialized in processing, and the home delivery of â€Å"certified† milk. Since bastardization had not yet been discovered, consumers relied heavily on the quality of Haw's milk for years. The Wood family summer home, called Red Roof, became the office center for the dairy farm. As the textile industry began to fade in the sass's, the Wood family considered enlarging the small dairy business to serve a larger area, covering the Philadelphia metropolis.Their dairy business began to thrive, Just as the textile industry collapsed due to lower prices for labor overseas. The original mill remains in Melville today, however, and is currently occupied by Wheaton Plastics, Inc. In 1998, Way manufactured more than 92 million quarts of their own dairy products, Juices, and teas. Customer service is the pillar, which keeps Way standing tall as the leading convenie nce store company in the greater Delaware Valley. While there are many factors which go into the way that Way addresses the issue of customer service, there are four that have stood out since the opening of the first store in the sass's.Greeting, understanding, directing, and retaining are the four key factors that go into the customer interaction model, which is learned during the training of every new associate in the company. Since delighting the customer is such an important part of Haw's success, the company has worked to a great extent in creating a product line that is extremely effective in today's volatile marketplace. The Way label has been synonymous to people in the Delaware Valley for years in the dairy industry. Way also sells its own brand of delicious coffee, of which over 100 million cups were sold in 1998.Also, Way built over 24 million hoagies in 1998. Realizing this pattern, the marketing department in the past five years, has recognized this occurrence of brand loyalty by introducing several new products into the stores with the Way brand name attached to them. These products are breakfast â€Å"Sizzle† sandwiches, Waybill, and extremely successful, since consumers have developed a brand loyalty to Haw's high quality products. In the more recent months, the company has been suffering from the results of two key problems. First, the strike in October 1999 forced the company to a screeching halt, adversely affecting sales in every store.While an agreement was reached in less than three weeks, the effects are still being felt. Sales have still not ounces back to what they were, and plans to build a new headquarters are on hold. Second, there has been tremendous public scrutiny of an advertising promotion for cigarettes in the Delaware valley. This promotion does not include a surgeon generals warning on the advertisement, and it has been questioned if advertising for cigarettes through a convenience store is even legal. This problem, a long with the recent strike is nearly enough to change customers' minds when they decide to make a purchase.In the future, the company will have to not make any mistakes with advertising, and should steer clear of any type of controversial advertising. In the years to come, Haw's history of excellence and innovation will continue to be a major part of the Delaware valley, and quite possibly, the entire country!! POLICY There are hundreds of pages of policies that all employees have access to on the computer in every store and regional office. While some companies hide this information from the employees, Way encourages all employees to review the information at their leisure.Some examples of what is in the corporate policy would e information regarding political contributions, employment procedures (hiring and termination), changing from part time to full time employment, retirement, and policy regarding the emigration law. It was especially interesting to find that I was entitled t o 15 vacation days since changing to full time in July. Since I have been with Way for nearly seven years, I had accumulated the extra vacation days that are only good if you change to full time. I was able to find this information while viewing some of the policy during my internship.The corporate policies of Way ensure that sugarless of what the situation may be, there are rules that govern which process is necessary to take action. The corporate headquarters is very strict concerning the rules of the company, and enforcement is always carried out, no matter who the person in question may be. JOB DESCRIPTION My Job title at Way has been Customer Service Leader since July 1999. I was promoted at my request after carefully planning my senior year at Rowan. I realized that I would be able to handle 36 hours per week and have plenty of time for class also. This is because I have no social life.I feel that there will be plenty of time for that in the future! Basically, I run the store when the manager is not present from Thursday to Sunday every week. I perform cash functions, delegate all responsibilities to my co-workers, and myself and most important of all, wait on customers!! During the semester, I have participated in advertising in the Melville stores, and when necessary, I have created signs for hurricanes and other adverse weather in our area. In short, I really enjoy my Job, and I look forward to the opening off new superstore down the street from our present location.This will all take place in July 2000, and I am hoping to be a manager in training at the new store, having finished college. If everything goes as planned, I will have a career full of Primarily during my internship, I saw countless marketing concepts at work that I have learned in the past, in a real company setting. However, I will focus on the use of the â€Å"four up's†, relationship marketing, total quality management, and brand loyalty. For price, I have been exposed to the p rocess of changing the prices on the different items that we sell. During the strike, I saw the prices of many items skyrocket, while there fell.The products that Way offers all have one thing in common, they are essential items necessary to run a household, or a spontaneous item that someone wishes to have. New products introduced usually fit these criteria. Promotion is a key element in the company. Unfortunately, the company has focused a lot of attention to the promotion of Marlboro cigarettes, which may adversely affect other sales of merchandise negatively. While the company is attracting smokers, the ads have been detracting the non-smokers. Some non-smoking customers have dubbed Way a cigarette-friendly' company.This semester has been an interesting one when it comes to place. The delivery of all Way products and supplies was halted due to the strike. This created a distribution crisis, because the delivery system that has worked so well was now out of commission for three w eeks. Outside contractors had to be brought in to deliver the goods to the stores. It would have been a lot easier to simply settle with the drivers instead of start a nasty battle that created bad press, and angry drivers. Regarding relationship marketing, Way operates its stores on the Renville that the customer will return, time and time again.Therefore, in order to provide this high level of quality, Way strives to ensure that every customer is treated with the utmost of respect at all times, regardless of how indignant they may be. The most essential part of relationship marketing that Way engages in is customer service. All associates are trained to be polite, whatever the situation is. Being quick, while also being friendly is a difficult thing to do, but once the balance between the two has been achieved, the customers really appreciate it. Also, ordering properly is obviously important.If a store is out of stock on items, this leads to a disgruntled customer. Total quality management is constantly used with many products. One example would be the Washbowl program. The product has been changed three times since introduction. The changes have been made due to customer feedback through the use of surveys. Way is constantly receiving feedback from customers on every product that it produces. With the assurance of quality, the company has thrived with its own product line, ranging from milk products to breakfast sandwiches. Coupled along with TTS, brand loyalty is very important to the company.Through the constant innovation of its products, Way hopes to create a brand loyalty with the customers. This is extremely important to Way, unlike an electronics store or department store, which carries several brands. Way needs to constantly monitor the marketplace, to seek out the strongest performing products that people will buy. Since the store is small, we only carry one brand of everything we sell, so it is important that we sell the most popular brand of dry dog food, aluminum foil, toothpaste, etc†¦ Selling popular products is something that sets Way apart from its competitors. During the semester, I would say that I have never had more opportunities to meet key people. This has helped me gain the exposure to the key management of the headquarters as I was promised, I was still able to meet many of the to-management of the company, since the regional office is two blocks from our store. I will be visiting the headquarters in the next few weeks. I feel that I have performed my Job to the adequacy that it demands. While balancing school with work can be stressful, I was able to orchestrate my schedule to accommodate both successfully.I am looking forward to the months to come, with the construction of our new store, and the opportunities that await! Working at my store has exposed me to the hiring and firing of people, dealing with customer issues face to face instead of passing the issue on to the manager. I have had to balance th e tedious position of what percent of the time I need to spend with the customers, while also getting my Jobs done for the evening. My manager has worked with me regarding the flexibility of my schedule, even though I am sure e will be very happy when I am finished college!Working with my co-workers has been a rewarding experience as well. I could never begin to do everything myself, and I feel that the help I have received from a few key employees over this semester has been tremendous. Over the next few months, I plan to create more advertising material for our store, and others. With the winter season arriving, I am ready for the annual creation of signs warning customers that they need to prepare for a winter storm. All in all, the experience this semester has been very rewarding, thanks to the help of everyone that I work with at Way!