Increasing Student Achievement For Reading Through...

Lauren Davis Increasing Student Achievement in Reading through Implementation of the Daily 5 SPE 609 – Action Research Fall 2013 University of Alabama Increasing Student Achievement in Reading through Implementation of the Daily 5 School Description This action research project was completed at Benjamin Davis Magnet Elementary School in Decatur, Alabama. Benjamin Davis is a primary magnet school in the Decatur City School District that serves 255 children in kindergarten through grade two. Students must be invited to attend based on their scores from the Cog-AT (Cognitive Abilities Test) and the MRT (Metropolitan Readiness Test) taken in the Spring of their kindergarten year. The school uses a full time enrichment pull out teacher and Renzulli’s SEM (school wide enrichment model) to serve the unique needs of these highly able children. Concerns Managing a ninety minute reading block in my second grade class was a very challenging task. This was my sixth year teaching, but my third year teaching second graders. My class of 19 students consisted of a wide range of learners, reading anywhere from a first grade level to a sixth grade level. I had one identified gifted student, one student diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and many other children with their own unique needs. During my first year of teaching second graders, I realized that my management of the reading block would tremendously impact students’ growth and success as readersShow MoreRelatedAction Pl The Achievement Gap For Low Income Students Essay1675 Words   |  7 PagesU5A1: Action Plan Description Background The achievement gap that exists in my school is a socioeconomic one (J. Perkins, personal communication, October 24, 2016). Data for Woodville High School shows an achievement gap for low-income students (J. Perkins, personal communication, October 24, 2016). Additionally, this achievement gap is wider for low-income, first-generation students. ACT Aspire Reading data shows that only 25% of students at the poverty level met or exceeded the content standardsRead MoreThe Literacy Initiative Is Effective For Teaching Beginning Reading Skills1857 Words   |  8 Pagesthe most effective manner in which to provide reading instruction has been on-going since the Johnson Administration’s War on Poverty Report of the 1960s. The primary focus of that debate is whether a skills-based approach or a meaning – based approach was most effective for teaching beginning reading skills (phonemic and phonological awareness), comprehension, and enrichment. (Frey, et.al, 2005) The silks-bas ed or direct instruction approach to reading instruction focuses on explicit and systematicRead MoreGraduation Speech : Students With The Tutoring Center Have A Higher Gpa By. O29880 Words   |  4 PagesBrendan Rievert Professor Glady-Teschendorf ENG 112 8 Feb. 2016 Tutoring According to Eric Cooper â€Å"students that visit the tutoring center have a higher GPA by .o29.† This may not seem like much but it can be a difference of failing or passing a class. If public schools don t meet a certain standards the No Child Left Behind law will take affect making the school provide extra academic help (Tucker 1). Many people do not realize the power of tutoring and do not understand all the benefits thatRead MoreLeveraging Computer Technology for Literacy Instruction in the Classroom2385 Words   |  10 PagesComputer-Based Reading Programs for At-Risk Learners Children with disabilities face a variety of challenges when learning to read. Some students experience processing disorders, some have auditory or visual deficits, still others have gross or fine motor disabilities. Computer technology is adept at addressing all of these issues by the nature of its flexible and extensible application. As a relatively low-cost solution for providing specialized instruction, integrating computer technology isRead MoreThe Common Core Places On Standardized Testing1634 Words   |  7 Pageswho happen to be visual or auditory learners are missing the mark on these tests. As these scores remain so essential, several teachers â€Å"over prepare children for the tests through months of drill and practice† even taking away time from recess to prepare (Berliner 254). Sadly, as a result, numerous teachers treat their students as test scores, and show little interest in their personal lives. This happens to be even more alarming when you realize that c ountless children in poverty worry about moreRead MoreHow Free Independent Reading Can Successfully Impact Student Reading Achievement1587 Words   |  7 PagesAdd sleeping time into this mix, and the once popular leisure activity called reading ranks among most teenagers’ lowest priorities. In the high-tech, high-speed 21st century, reading proficiency is an essential tool to compete in today’s global marketplace. Yet numerous study results show a continual decline in students’ reading performance. The 2007 reading study by the National Endowment for the Arts noted that â€Å"reading has slipped to a mere eight minutes per day for 18-24-year-olds† (To Read orRead MoreOnline Gaming Techniques Applied On Everyday Goals3623 Words   |  15 Pagesway to get players to be loyal to their games and to increase profits, and for players it can be a true sense of achievement, and status within a game. For the business, education and government sectors , it can b e used as a way of increasing overall productivity by players (employees and students), increasing motivation and general satisfaction of employees, customers and students. 3. Where did the term come from The term gamification was first described in 2003 by Nick Pelling, a British programmerRead MoreThe Effects Of Parental Involvement On Academic Achievement2966 Words   |  12 Pagesinvolvement often constraining the academic success and achievement of the child. The study may also serve as a model for others so they can actively engage parents in taking a participatory role throughout the educational progress of their children. The review of the literature, for this research proposal, found that minimal parent engagement in the educational process has adverse effects on academic achievement, especially for those students attending a high poverty, rural school. Though, limitedRead More Professional Learning Communities Essay2717 Words   |  11 Pagestypically occurs through trial and error in the isolated confinements of each teacher’s classroom with some periodic whole-group professional development (Goddard Goddard, 2007). Within the past few decades, many schools and districts, including ours, have considered and experimented with Professional Learning Communities (PLC) as an alternative framework in guiding a more efficient development program for their teachers. PLCs are focused on enhancing student learning through developing teacherRead MoreIt s A Digital World Essay2309 Words   |  10 Pagesreplace one s who don t. Using technology and computer science to facilitate learning as well as it s role within education is important to understand as technology plays a dominant role in daily life. The availability, affordability, and efficiency of technological devices and tools have benefitted both students and educators alike. A child’s mind is said to be small simply by habit. It is perhaps the sharpest tool that can retain anything provided to it. Shaping such a mind requires quality of

Changing Customer Perspective Of E Commerce - 1124 Words

Changing Customer Perspective Changing customer perspective includes how online shopping has provided added value to customers as they are able to purchase products from anywhere in the world and are able to compare global market prices to find out where they can get the best deals and the cheapest products. When e-commerce was starting out, people were unsure about the level of service that they would receive. Since then, many laws have been made so that e-commerce organisations provide an excellent level of service and that customers can expect the same level of service as they would do in a high street store. Customer perspective has also changed on security issues and ease of using e-commerce websites. In the beginning, people were unsure about using their credit cards online because they were aware of hackers but now more people are beginning to use their credit cards online as they are confident with the level of security that the website and their computer has. In addition to this, more of the older genera tions shop online as they find it easier than having to go to the store itself. Economic and social impact due to speed of changes Society has been impacted by e-commerce sites and the speed at which things change online. Many products have become available online before they do in high street stores and many people use sites such as amazon to pre-order the latest and greatest tech gadgets so that they have them as soon as they are released. The other speed of changeShow MoreRelatedThe Social Impact of E-Commerce1176 Words   |  5 PagesUse of e-commerce has increased massively since it was first introduced to the general public. Nowadays customers like to do their shopping at their own comfort peacefully at home. E-commerce allows the customer to do this as products are displayed and described to the user before the purchase has been made. However this boost in e-commerce has affected the society both positively and negatively. Changing Customer Perspectives When it comes to making purchases online customers straight away thinkRead MoreHow Technology Has Changed Business1049 Words   |  5 PagesThe rise in technology over the last two decades has affected businesses tremendously. E-business is changing not only how we buy and sell but is transforming the way we do business altogether. In the fast-paced and competitive nature of the business marketplace, e-business has allowed companies to increase the value of their organization by improving their operations, not just allowing customers to buy over the internet. In order to stay competitive, businesses must embrace the culture change intoRead MoreCan We Consider Walmart A Fair Competitor?s Online Success?1609 Words   |  7 Pagesdifficult to beat, with demographics of 237 million active customers worldwide, making it one of the most valuable brands in the world. Not only has Amazon seized the world with its e-commerce strategy, but it is also willing to forego profits to gain market share, making it difficult for Walmart to find a space in the online retailing spotlight. Not being hamstrung by an enormous brick-and-mortar business like Walmart, Amazon is able to do e-commerce for many other businesses, Target for instance. As aRead MorePorters Five Forces Framework1547 Words   |  7 Pagesforces framework is illustrated and briefly provide how five forces company’s profit potential. Threat of new entrants For the threats of new entrants to Alibaba is characterized by medium barriers to entry. Nowadays, creating up a small or niche e-commerce business is relatively easy everywhere. Even person only have very limited information technology skills can also create their own website, such as blogger can create a website using â€Å"Wordpress† or â€Å"Weebly†. Therefore, it is really not difficultRead MoreThe Advantages of Mobile Commerce Essay1326 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is M-commerce? The last decade has witnessed a lot of growth of mobile communication devices and wireless technologies across the globe. This has led to a change in the way many activities are conducted and opened the way for m-commerce, which is e-commerces next evolutionary stage. The significant power of m-commerce is primarily as a result of the ability to connect wireless devices anytime, anywhere (The Future of Mobile Payment Systems : Rise of the Mobile Wallet 2012-2017 [ElectronicRead MoreE Commerce And Consumer Attitudes1380 Words   |  6 Pagesof e-commerce in China has relatively been higher and faster than in the United States. This means that this revolution opens more opportunities for businesses like Yiwu Asu. It may also be predicated that the stronger global presence will be achieved by Yiwu Asu in the future. E-commerce and consumer attitudes/perceptions Since there is an amassing number and variety of business that exploit the opportunities presented by e-commerce, consumer attitude should be taken into account. The e-commerceRead MoreE Commerce at Yunnan Lucky Air1685 Words   |  7 PagesE - Commerce at Yunnan Lucky Air: Introduction: Backed by the Hainan Airlines of the China, Yunnan Airlines was founded in 2004 as one of the most cost-effective domestic airline operating from its hub in Kunming, in the province of Yunnan. The limited route license added to the airline’s competitive advantage and maintained its monopoly within the region. Its major competitors include Air China and China Southern Airlines among others. As Yunnan is one of the most attractive tourist destinationsRead MoreSupply Chain Management Essay528 Words   |  3 PagesSupply chain holds a special place in B2B e-business. With the growth of internet and businesses operating electronically, the product life cycle has reduced to a large extent. This has increased the competition among the organizations to better manage their supply chain to satisfy the customers need in a competitive market. With the growth of information technology, the trends in determining the demand and supply are changing drastically. The organizations are developi ng and implementing betterRead MoreInternet Based Marketing And Ordinary Marketing Essay1425 Words   |  6 Pagesintroduction of internet based business or electronic commerce offers vast and unique opportunities to businesses which are able to compete in the same level with every other business. Internet marketing Commonly referred to as e-commerce, internet based marketing uses technology in enhancing the use of electronic money transfer, internet marketing, management of inventory and mobile commerce among others. With the growth of technology, e-commerce has expanded to applications in online shopping asRead MoreExpanding into E-Commerce1421 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Expanding into E-Commerce Off the Boardwalk and into the World Wide Web: A Four Point Analysis 1) The purpose of this section if to provide a SWOT analysis for a small, local clothing store on the New Jersey Boardwalk looking to transition into the online market place. Any boutique clothing store like the one provided has many strengths. The companys unique style helps differentiate it from its competitors. In addition, the company is small and flexible which enables it to employ different

Social Norm Paper Free Essays

Erika Lamberson Mrs. DeRoussell Psychology April 9, 2013 Social Norms P1. To be accepted by society people have to follow the norm. We will write a custom essay sample on Social Norm Paper or any similar topic only for you Order Now When you step outside of the mainstream you are considered â€Å"different† no matter how right you are. That’s why when someone starts a movement people are against him, until enough people start do it his way and â€Å"it becomes the norm†. It is also called trying to fit in because if you do something out of the norm, you are pretty much an outsider. People get others to do things out of the norm every day, it just goes unnoticed. Most of the time people don’t do it in public because it isn’t something they want to draw attention to. I am choosing to violate the social norm of going through a drive-thru forwards in a vehicle. I am doing this to find out what kind of reactions I get when I do something out of the ‘social norm’. Going through the drive-thru backwards, whether it is at a fast food place or a bank is not said to be normal. Normally, people pull up to the window with their vehicle facing forward. When I do this social norm violation, I expect to get a lot of responses. This experiment will be very hard for me to do considering I will have to drive my vehicle in reverse. I predict that the responses will be to get weird looks or possibly laughed at. People don’t normally see someone coming through a drive-thru with their car faced backwards. Not only is it not normal, it can also be dangerous and embarrassing. My only concerns about completing this experiment are that I get it done safely without hurting myself, my vehicle, or anyone else for that matter. Since I will have to go through the drive-thru backwards, this is going to be a challenge. I will have to watch out of every mirror I have and also pay attention to the people behind me. P2. My plan to complete this social norm experiment is to go through the drive-thru at two different restaurants. The first one will be at a place called Taco Bell. The second will be at Burger King. This will be difficult because I have never gone through a drive-thru in reverse. I will order at the ordering station, and then pull up to the window, pay for my food, receive my food, all while driving in reverse. I will be observing the way the employees and customers act. Depending on how good this experiment goes, they will all understand why I am doing this. P3. The first thing I did when I pulled into Taco Bell was drive to the back of the restaurant and park my truck. I did this so I could make sure that there weren’t going to be a lot of people going through the drive-thru. The time of night is around 9 at this point, so there weren’t a lot of people out. I started to back up and go to the ordering station. The first curve to the ordering station is a little sharp so of course I had trouble while trying to drive in reverse. I had my boyfriend with me so he could help observe and order for me. After I got to the ordering station a car pulled up next in line. I couldn’t really see the look on their faces because their headlights were shining right in my eyes. The employee takes our order and we proceed to drive to the window. When we get to the window, the look on the girls face was priceless. When we received our food, we continued to drive backwards like nothing was wrong. Then came the hardest part of the experiment at Taco Bell, pulling back out onto the main road in reverse. My boyfriend and I made sure that no one was coming from either way just to keep from causing a wreck. I had to quickly pull out onto the main road and turn around as fast as possible. The second restaurant I did the social norms experiment at was Burger King. This place is never very busy so I decided I would go around lunch time. I also had my boyfriend do this one with me. It was around 1 PM on a rainy Saturday. The drive-thru of Burger King was way easier than Taco Bell because it is a lot wider and doesn’t have a sharp turn. I came to the ordering station and my boyfriend began to order our food. By the time we got to the window to pay for our food, there were 3 people standing there wondering what in the world we were doing. I explained to them why I was driving backwards, and they agreed that they thought it was a fun idea. After we got our food, they laughed and started talking about how they had always seen on the internet someone driving through a drive-thru backwards but hadn’t ever seen it in person. P4. The responses I got were very different at both places. I am not sure if it was because of the employees working or if it was just the time of the day that I went. The people at Taco Bell didn’t really have that much of a reaction. I got the hint that they just thought I was a stupid teenager that was trying to be cool. I did see one person in the back cooking that laughed and gave me a thumbs up. At Burger King they were so much more interested in what I was doing than anything else. They all gathered at the window and were laughing and carrying on and asking me all sorts of questions. I think I had very different reactions because it was late at night for Taco Bell and all the employees just wanted to go home. P5. The experience of violating a social norm was definitely thrilling. I don’t think I would have ever thought to do something like this without the realization of how important ‘social norms’ are. The experiment left me with more knowledge about how important social norms are to people. To go against a social norm is looked down on most of the time. I was really great to go out and do the opposite and see what the reactions were. Even though you don’t get a good reaction, another place may laugh with you. You should never be too embarrassed to try something out of the norm. How to cite Social Norm Paper, Papers

Creating and Managing Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Question: Discuss about the Creating and Managing for Sustainable Competitive Advantage. Answer: Introduction The whole idea of competitive advantage requires an ability to seize opportunities when they present themselves. Every company in the 21st-century era is investing heavily in value adding activities that add value to its competitive position. According to Schoemer (2010), competitive advantage is the ability of a firm to be top of a market, superior to all other competitors and producing the most desirable product or service at very low costs. Michael Porter defines competitive advantage as the favor a firm receives about market response as a result of low costs and unique products. This paper aims at reviewing Michael Porter's view and analysis of competitive advantage and the contemporary strategies to gain a competitive advantage so as to contribute to the knowledge of strategic implementation. Literature reviews on competitive advantage It may be easy to formulate a strategic plan, but it is the application framework that becomes an issue since it is more of a craft than a science (Hrebiniak, 2006). The early founders of this school of thought include Michael Porter who has been greatly credited for his contribution in business development. Further research has since then been conducted to add to the existing knowledge. According to Schoemer (2010), the theory of competitive advantage by Michael Porter tries to integrate the basics of comparative advantage by David Ricardo with the business strategies. Michael had his book titled competitive advantage. According to Porter, (1998), Porter gives rise to three generic strategies that enhance the strategic positioning of a company in the market; these include the lowest cost, differentiation, and focus. Figure 1 Porter 1998 showing the generic strategies of competitive advantage This can is explained according to West, Ford Ibrahim (2015), stated that a company could outdo its competitors if it is providing the market a product or service of value at more efficient means than competitors with low costs. Also, if they are designing their products and services at a more differentiated strategy that gives the customers more value than competitors (Porter, Levison, 1980). According to Schoemer (2010), there are two methods of gaining the advantage through costs which are increasing the profit to cost ratio and also lowering prices to get a larger market share. According to differentiation strategy is more applicable if the company produces customized products and services and aims for customer convenience which aims at reaching repetitive purchases. Differentiation should be based on methods that are hard to imitate (Kim, 2000; Porter, 2001).According to a definition by Schoemer (2010), differentiation involves making products and services according to the exp ectation of a particular customer base such that they find the product or service unique and therefore prefer its use. Research by Amit and Zott (2001), the various methods of product differentiation include design, performance, the speed of delivery, brand image, and product features. Companies using differentiation can enjoy premium prices of their unique products thus aiding in the achievement of a good competitive advantage (Merrilees, 2001). According to Hrebiniak, (2006), companies should analyze their value chain to determine where to apply the differentiation. According to Porter (2001) the market focus strategy aims at distinguishing the needs of a particular market segment and then producing goods and services that best suit the customer segment requirements. This approach is usually followed by smaller firms which cannot compete against the already established companies enjoying economies of scale. Kim et al. (2004) argue that the cost and differentiation strategies are most applicable in e-commerce and highly competitive environments since it is easier to target customers on online domains and to reduce prices in a crowded industry. However, according to Porter (1980) a firm will not necessarily gain a competitive advantage by combining the two strategies since they are conflicting in resources needed and also implementation, they may therefore be better off applied independently. Most studies have contrasted this view of Porter (Booth and Philip, 1998; Glazer, 1991; Hill 1988; Murray, 1988).The scholars say that the application of the cost and differentiation strategy is more efficient in unstable environments which call for flexibility in operation than consistent ones which may depend on only one strategy to survive. Kim (2004) also recommends that the combination of strategies is the most efficient way. Porter outlines five major forces that enable the establishment of the three generic strategies that can help in the implementation of various strategies in businesses. The five aspects of the model contribute to determining who will cover the market value and how they will do it. The diagram below is a representation of the five forces according to (McGrath, 2013) Fig 2. The five force model by Porter (1998) According to McGrath, (2013), the five forces are what determines the industries weaknesses and strengths and can help in identification of gaps in the market for strategic implementation. The approach states that the competition is not about who is the biggest but the most profitable. Profitability is determined by the five aspects of the model. There are the buyers who always want to buy more and pay less; the second determinant is the suppliers since they always want to provide less and earn more. Then there are the substitute products or services that are equal to what a company produces. The new entrants also introduce new competition to the industry. Then there are the real rivals who make competition intense and thus lower the customer coverage of a company. According to McGrath (2013), a company should analyze these five forces so as to establish which approach to use for the marketing strategy. In the contemporary world, a lot of diversions and improvement have been developed so as to enhance existing marketing strategies and survive the intense competition. According to McGrath (2013), companies cannot survive while operating in domestic markets only; they need to expand in the global scene. According to Jagdev, Browne, Brennan (2004), global marketing is being used by companies to gain a competitive advantage over their rivals. According to Rahman, (2008), global marketing refers to when managers and marketing department use various channels and techniques to reach customers in the international market. According to Jagdev, Browne, Brennan (2004), globalization as a strategy to gain competitive advantage has led to the production of more quality goods and services due to the intense competition. According to Rahman, (2008), the blue ocean strategy is a new approach that is being used by companies to determine their place in the market and what can be done to improve the market position. Globalization has become most appropriate especially for manufacturing enterprises that target the markets in developing countries where there is a deficiency in manufactured goods (McGrath, 2013). According to Lynch (2006) joint venture and alliances are among the modern business strategies to control most of the market and gain a competitive advantage. When companies join forces, they can combine resources, capabilities, and information thus leading to better production and marketing opportunities (Lynch, 2006). Companies that may not be involved in joint ventures are also applying methods like outsourcing and resource-based competition to reduce costs of operation. According to Rahman, (2008), outsourcing includes the alternative by a company to make a product instead of buying it, if its production is more expensive than ordering the product from another company. Another major strategy is the ethics and corporate social responsibility which ensure order and discipline. According to Dwivedi (2010), the approach has been proven to improve a company's image and thus giving it favor over part of the market. Corporate social responsibility refers to initiatives taken by businesses to ensure that the environment is kept safe and that the welfare of the citizens is empowered (Jagdev, Browne, Brennan 2004). The internet analysis as a competitive strategy has evolved in the recent years, and many companies are now using e-commerce for part of their activities and operations (Dwivedi 2010). The internet has become a hub of business activities making the world look like a small village. Companies like the Amazon can reach market segments of customers all over the world and therefore gain a sustainable competitive advantage over other companies not using the internet for their operations. Technological advancements and investment in innovation have become like a must do for companies seeking competitive advantage. According to Pattinson Low (2011), technological investment not only provides organization better methods of production and marketing but also influences the cost structure of a company. This way a company that invests in appropriate technology can operate on economies of scale thus enhancing its position in the market and improving its chances in sustainable competitive advantage. Emerging trends in the business world of competition Michael Porter made a lot of contribution toward the achievement of competitive advantage (Leng Hsu, 2015). The aim of this section is to analyze how the contemporary world has put these suggestions into practice and if the methods are useful. Competitive strategies require strategic planning and implementation (Dwivedi,2010). For this to happen, then the three foundations of Porter need to apply. The new trends in driving competitive position are diverse, but all converge at adding value to the customer goods and services, marketing channels and the overall production process so as to gain competitive advantage (Herschel, 2012).The trends can be categorized into value adding strategies, cost reducing strategies or both. The stream of technological innovation continues and will continue to provide the companies with up to date technologies that enable the reduction of costs and also add value to the production process which in turn leads to the production of quality goods and services. Technology is also allowing for the development of online marketing which enables companies to access more customers and make more sales. According to Pattinson, Low (2011), the major limitation with this strategy is that companies may not be aware of the most appropriate technology and may make random investments that may lead to losses since there will be little or no returns to investment. The game theory as a strategy for competitive advantage is being used by companies to gain an advantage. According to Pattinson, Low (2011), the game theory analyses the current trends in the market, and thinks ahead to the future whereby there is consideration of what the competitive market will be. The process is like a game of chess whereby a company checks their possible moves and those of the competitors and then assess which move is the most appropriate for a later win. This way a company designs techniques to emerge in a good market position. All that is required is that an organization should know the players, scope of competition, added values, and tactics and also be aware of the rules so as to be able to make the right move (Pattinson, Low 2011). The main areas in the application of the strategy include research and development, new product innovation, pricing and advertising. By understanding the current and future trends of this then an organization can come up with a game changer that acts to their advantage. A limitation is that the process is complicated and may involve some risks since it is involved with mere assumption but if done correctly the results are expected to be fruitful Hyper-competition is emerging as a trend in the modern world. According to Herschel, (2012), hyper competition is a strategy that has developed and which aims at destroying the competitive initiatives of a rival. Competition has become like a political game whereby some of the environments are losing the ethical professional practices and instead of working their way to being the most productive companies, they have opted to destroy that which makes a rival more competitive (Isik, 2013). Supply chain management and retailer values are emerging as a trend in the competitive arena as some of the new methods of conducting supply and procurement have improved and this is enabling companies to be able to reduce their costs through effective bargaining and use of cheaper and convenient supply channels (Pattinson, Low 2011). This strategy mainly applies to multi-national companies like Coca-cola which operate in most parts of the world and which require complexity in distribution. Another emerging trend which is very common is the mass customization which involves the production of customized goods and services that are personalized using manufacturing techniques that allow for low costs and mass production. According to Hsu (2015), Customization involves making alterations to a product for it to suit consumption needs of a particular group. According to Li,(2014), there are four forms of customization, the first is collaborative customization whereby the company engages customers in talks aiming to find out their need and how they wish products would be designed to best suit their needs. Adaptive customization is involved in the production of one standard good that allows for flexibility and which can be customized to suit dynamic needs (Li, 2014). Pennsylvania's Lutron Electronics Company is an excellent example of a company with adaptive techniques since they produce customized light bulbs that are adjustable to give various forms of lamination since some o f its customers believe that different lighting creates different moods (Netland, Aspelund,2013). The colour of the light can, therefore, range from bright white to dark blue among others and is adjusted according to the required atmosphere. Cosmetic customization is where a company uses different advertising techniques to various groups according to the structure and composition of the group to create the desired awareness to all customer groups (Li, 2014). The Planters Company (Nabisco) makes various adverts in response to the different product demands. According to Li, (2014), transparent customization is a move by companies to produce goods for specific markets without necessarily letting them know that the products are made for them. An example is Ohio's Chem Station that provides various soaps for different markets like soap for scrubbing floors in factory's and cleaning toilet bowls. Mass customization is enabled by well-established distribution channels and also the advancement in technology. Challenges with mass customization occur when a product is returned or when the supply chains are not efficient (Li, 2014). Nike is a company that has been employing globalization as a competitive advantage strategy for the last decade and more. Nike has made their foreign operations effective by participating in sponsorship and corporate social responsibility so as to gain favor over local citizens. The most common one is the sponsorship with Manchester United where they sponsored their matches and other necessities. Nike is located in over five continents and continues to prosper. In the past years, Nike has engaged in mass customization of their products so as to enhance the competitive position. The company is making customized shoes and products to satisfy the growing needs of customers and other businesses. The process has been a success though the initial costs of setup and operation were high. Returns to investment are expected to rise as the products gain more and more popularity. Coca- Cola company is also a multi national company that has had a competitive advantage in the market for a long time and whose products are distributed by almost every company in the world. No company has been able to outdo the goods and services of the enterprise. The company seems to have established a sustainable competitive advantage for itself. The Google Company is an online service company that is popular among its users due to the production of customized services that include advertising, web design, and search engines all which are aimed to suit the needs of various companies. The company also gains an advantage over its rivals due to constant investment in technology and research which enables them to reduce costs of production and making production more efficient (Herschel,2012). Knowledge integration The business environment has evolved significantly since the days of Michael Porter among other scholars who contributed to the understanding of competitive advantage. The generic strategies by Porter that include gaining competitive advantage through techniques of lowering costs, differentiation and market focus (Pattinson, Low 2011). The question to be asked is, are these contributions still valid or not in the contemporary world or has everything changed? Modern strategies to outdo competitors and acquire a favorable position in the market are based on the very foundation that Porter built. Many of the strategies aim at reducing costs and being unique while focusing on market segmentation to understand the needs of the various market components. Globalization, for example, is a strategy that aims at gaining competitive advantage as it allows focus on diverse groups in different countries (Hughes, 2001), through international operations a company can understand the nature and comp osition of the market and thereby establishes gaps in the provision of goods and services in which it invests. Mass customization is a new method which is also based on the focus and differentiation strategies postulated by Porter. The mass customization is characterized by lowering costs and increasing mass production which is the theory of Porter (Stojkovic,Djordjevic,Sajfert,2012). The use of technology aims at improving means of production that allow for brand uniqueness or differentiation of products, marketing and also to lower the costs of production. The game theory is an emerging trend in the business world that involves making an analysis of the environment which is similar to the five-way model by Porter that describes the components of the market that affect the competitive position of the company (O'Shaughnessy,1996). Joint ventures and alliances are intended to collaborate resources and information so as to reduce costs and increase the scope of operation in an attempt to experience economies of scale. The principal aim of outsourcing is to buy products which the company deems expensive to produce, and thus Porters cost reduction is observed (Dwivedi, 2010). Porter talked about value to customer initiatives which are what the latest methods are aiming at doing, providing customers the best value of goods and services to gain their loyalty (Alfadda, 2010). All these are strategies by companies to gain a competitive advantage by applying the basic ideas given by Porter. It is true to say that, yes, the theory of Michael Porter is still relevant to the business world since it provides a basis for companies to exploit and develop competitive strategies (Dwivedi, 2010). Porter made an excellent contribution in the five sources of competition for the business, and so the contemporary world has benefited since they know the value of studying the environment before they formulate a strategy. References Alfadda, B. (2010). Institutional renewal and adaptation (IRA): Creating and managing sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) (Order No. 3475086). Available from ABI/INFORM Collection. (899758960). Available at https://search.proquest.com/business/docview/899758960/1F9E1203D8C04B7APQ/1?accountid=45049 Czinkota, M. R., Ronkainen, I. A., Kotabe, M. 2009. Emerging trends, threats, and opportunities in international marketing: What executives need to know. New York:Business Expert Press. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=ir9ncyTsTB4Cprintsec=frontcoverdq=Emerging+trends,+threats,+and+opportunities+in+international+marketing:+What+executives+need+to+knowhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwiJnoLRwPbOAhVpB8AKHfJVBBsQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Emerging%20trends%2C%20threats%2C%20and%20opportunities%20in%20international%20marketing%3A%20What%20executives%20need%20to%20knowf=false Dwivedi, R. S.2010. Textbook of human resource management. New Delhi: Vikas Pub. House Pvt. Ltd. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=03dCMgQcPbsCprintsec=frontcoverdq=Textbook+of+human+resource+managementhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwjfi83wwPbOAhUsDsAKHW8GASEQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Textbook%20of%20human%20resource%20managementf=false Herschel, R. T. 2012. Organizational applications of business intelligence management: Emerging trends. Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=FdNJhlMUxFECprintsec=frontcover0dq=Organizational+applications+of+business+intelligence+management:+Emerging+trendshl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwiom_iMwfbOAhXkJcAKHUzfBkoQ6AEIJTAA#v=onepageq=Organizational%20applications%20of%20business%20intelligence%20management%3A%20Emerging%20trendsf=false Hughes, S. 2001. International collaboration as a strategy to gain competitive advantage in the automotive components supplier industry, Nova Southeastern University. In Leng, H. K., In Hsu, N. Y. 2015. Emerging trends and innovation in sports marketing and management in Asia. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=LizhBgAAQBAJpg=PR16lpg=PR16dq=Emerging+trends+and+innovation+in+sports+marketing+and+management+in+Asia.source=blots=4rIctZmTPsig=uALhSigXUbFVFcZIoIWW9x_VuEMhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwjl64aYwvbOAhXCVRQKHRoBCFsQ6AEIMjAE#v=onepageq=Emerging%20trends%20and%20innovation%20in%20sports%20marketing%20and%20management%20in%20Asia.f=fals Isik, C. 2013, "The Importance of Creating a Competitive Advantage and Investing in Information Technology for Modern Economies: an ARDL Test Approach from Turkey", Journal of the Knowledge Economy, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 387-405. Available at https://search.proquest.com/business/docview/1458213934/7B7BB3F9BE484FCCPQ/1?accountid=45049 Jagdev, H. S., Browne, J., Brennan, A. 2004. Strategic decision making in modern manufacturing. Boston: Kluwer Academic. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=vE3TBwAAQBAJprintsec=frontcoverdq=Strategic+decision+making+in+modern+manufacturinghl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwje0_LRw_bOAhUIDMAKHcB8D0kQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Strategic%20decision%20making%20in%20modern%20manufacturingf=false Lawton, T. C., Doh, J. P., Rajwani, T. 2014. Aligning for Advantage: Competitive strategies for the political and social arenas. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=RHEVDAAAQBAJprintsec=frontcoverdq=Aligning+for+Advantage:+Competitive+strategies+for+the+political+and+social+arenas.hl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwjnipnlw_bOAhWECMAKHZa7AhQQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Aligning%20for%20Advantage%3A%20Competitive%20strategies%20for%20the%20political%20and%20social%20arenas.f=false Li, S. 2014. Emerging trends in smart banking: Risk management under Basel II and III. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=sOVGAwAAQBAJprintsec=frontcoverdq=Emerging+trends+in+smart+banking:+Risk+management+under+Basel+II+and+IIIhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwiwgreLxPbOAhVLKMAKHV3_AOMQ6AEILzAA#v=onepageq=Emerging%20trends%20in%20smart%20banking%3A%20Risk%20management%20under%20Basel%20II%20and%20IIIf=false Lynch, R 2006. "Corporate Strategy." Prentice Hall-Financial Times, Essex. Magretta, J. 2012. Understanding Michael Porter: The Essential Guide to competition and strategy. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business Review Press. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=kjBQVUcM5asCprintsec=frontcover#v=onepageqf=false McGrath, R. G. 2013. The end of competitive advantage: How to keep your strategy moving as fast as your business. Boston, Mass: Harvard Business Review Press. Available at https://hbr.org/2013/08/the-end-of-competitive-advanta Netland, T.H. Aspelund, A. 2013, "Company-specific production systems and competitive advantage", International Journal of Operations Production Management, vol. 33, no. 11, pp. 1511-1531. Available at https://search.proquest.com/business/docview/1462451923/E4F0FD6B8A524E51PQ/1?accountid=45049 O'Shaughnessy, N.,J. 1996, "Michael Porter's Competitive Advantage revisited", Management Decision, vol. 34, no. 6, pp. 12-20. Available at https://search.proquest.com/business/docview/212077040/42E60D3E7ED54B38PQ/1?accountid=45049 Pattinson, H., Low, D. R. 2011. E-innovation for competitive advantage in collaborativeglobalization: Technologies for Emerging e-business strategies. Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=w73CWYrGoKMCpg=PA296dq=E-innovation+for+competitive+advantage+in+collaborative+globalization:+Technologies+for+Emerging+ebusiness+strategieshl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwjOoJLMxfbOAhWK7BQKHbgiAp4Q6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Einnovation%20for%20competitive%20advantage%20in%20collaborative%20globalization%3A%20Technologies%20for%20Emerging%20e-business%20strategiesf=false Porter, M. E. 1998. Competitive strategy: Techniques for analyzing industries and competitors; with a new introduction. New York, NY [u.a.: Free Press. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=Hn1kNE0OcGsCpg=PT190dq=Competitive+strategy:+Techniques+for+analyzing+industries+and+competitors;+with+a+new+introductionhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwj4_aT2xfbOAhXFuBoKHdxzCWkQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Competitive%20strategy%3A%20Techniques%20for%20analyzing%20industries%20and%20competitors%3B%20with%20a%20new%20introductionf=false Porter, M., Levison, J., Kettle's Yard Gallery. 1980. Michael Porter. Cambridge (Northampton St., Cambridge CB3 OAQ: Kettle's Yard. Rahman, H. 2008. Developing successful ICT strategies: Competitive advantages in a global knowledge-driven society. Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=eFFqcMZZZlMCpg=PT15dq=Developing+successful+ICT+strategies:+Competitive+advantages+in+a+global+knowledgedriven+societyhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwj5t5jgxvbOAhVEnBoKHSsxBzYQ6AEIHzAB#v=onepageq=Developing%20successful%20ICT%20strategies%3A%20Competitive%20advantages%20in%20a%20global%20knowledge-driven%20societyf=false Schoemer, K. G. 2010. Change is Your Competitive Advantage: Strategies for Adapting, Transforming, and Succeeding in the New Business Reality. Cincinnati: F+W Media.Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=bBMSHSeigQcCprintsec=frontcoverdq=Change+is+Your+Competitive+Advantage:+Strategies+for+Adapting,+Transforming,+and+Succeeding+in+the+New+Business+Realityhl=ensa=Xved=0ahUKEwic0ueLx_bOAhUB1RQKHf7fAgQQ6AEIHDAA#v=onepageq=Change%20is%20Your%20Competitive%20Advantage%3A%20Strategies%20for%20Adapting%2C%20Transforming%2C%20and%20Succeeding%20in%20the%20New%20Business%20Realityf=false Stojkovic, D., Djordjevic, D., Sajfert, Z. 2012. "Customer relationship management concept and competitiveness of companies from western balkans." African Journal of Business Management, vol 6. no.12.pp 4413-4422. doi:https://dx.doi.org/10.5897/AJBM11.1337 West, D., Ford, J. B., Ibrahim, E. (2015).Strategic marketing: Creating competitive advantage. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Available at https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=CpueBwAAQBAJprintsec=frontcoverdq=marketing+strategies+for+competitive+advantagehl=ensa=Xredir_esc=y#v=onepageq=marketing%20strategies%20for%20competitive%20advantagef=false.

What is a pirated movie

Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Essays

Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Essays Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Paper Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Paper Essay Topic: Cymbeline Julius Caesar Write note on the use of Supernatural Elements in Julius Caesar Or, What part does the Supernatural play in Julius Caesar? Undoubtedly, the first name in English literature is that of an Elizabethan poet and dramatist? William Shakespeare? whose skill in transforming human character and action into art created a world of unforgettable people, phrases and incredible situations. He is considered to be the master of human psychology and employs several agencies to heighten the dramatic actions in his plays. The supernatural elements and superstitions in ‘Julius Caesar’ have been introduced to reflect the prevailing social beliefs and taboos, and to cater to the crude taste of the groundlings. The people living in the age of Shakespeare believed in black magic and supernatural appearances. They believed that the ghost, witches and fairies actively interfered in human affairs and controlled the destiny and actions of man. This belief was shared by even the most learned man of 16th century. The dramatist has made use of this belief in his plays for a dramatic purpose and with miraculous results. The introduction of the supernatural in his plays adds an element of mystery and deeper moral significance to the drama. It stands as a symbol of mysterious relationship existing between the world of matter and the world of spirit. He has very successfully employed it in his many plays. The supernatural machinery plays an important role in the plays like ‘Hamlet’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘Cymbeline’ and does it most effectively in ‘Julius Caesar’. In ‘Macbeth’, it intensifies human action. In this play the supernatural agency does not originate any course of action. It quickens the impulse which is already in the mind of the hero? Macbeth. But in ‘Julius Caesar’, the ghost of Caesar gives a definite shape and intensifies some elements always present in the mind of Brutus. It intensifies the sense of failure present in Brutus’s mind and urges him a step forward towards his doom. The ‘ghost of Caesar’ has evoked considerable interest among the Shakespearean critics. They are of the view that the ‘ghost of Caesar’ is subjective rather than objective. It is the fear-haunted and anguished mind of Brutus. The ghost did not appear objectively. They prove their contention on the basis of the argument that none except Brutus saw the ghost of Caesar. The ghost was a mere creation of the troubled mind of Brutus is proved by the speech of Brutus himself when he says: â€Å"Now I have taken heart, thou vanished. † Hudson cites this line as an evidence of the contention that the ‘ghost’ is subjective. Caesar’s ghost has also a symbolical significance. It symbolizes the vast posthumous power of the great dictator. The living Caesar dominates the 1st part of the play. The angry and revengeful spirit of Caesar dominates the later part of the drama. So the unity of the play is achieved through the supernatural machinery? the introduction of the ghost of Caesar. Another example of the use of supernatural in the play is the storm, tempest and the unnatural portents preceding the murder of Julius Caesar. The storm too stands as a symbol of the political and psychological turmoil of Rome and in the mind of the conspirators. The tempest dropping fire, the common slave with his flaming hand, the surly lion, the owl hooting in the marketplace during daytime, the sacrificial beasts lacking a heart? all these supernatural factors are clubbed together as a â€Å"preface to the catastrophe of the Ides†. One can very well notice apprehensions of the bad omen in the mind of Caesar’s wife: These ill-omens pre-occupy the mind of Calphurnia and she asks her husband not to go â€Å"A lioness hath whelped in the streets, And graves have yawned and yielded up their dead. Fierce fiery warriors fought upon the clouds In ranks and squadrons and right form of war, Which drizzled blood upon the Capitol. The noise of battle hurtled in the air. Horses did neigh, and dying men did groan, And ghosts did shriek and squeal about the streets. O Caesar! These things are beyond all use, And I do fear them. † to the Senate. Her reason is: â€Å"When beggars die there are no comets seen. The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of King. † But Caesar is misguided by Decius and goes to the Senate to meet his doom ‘on the Ides of March’. Soothsayer’s warning is of no use for Caesar. Even in the battlefield, the ghost of Caesar appears in Brutus’s tent at the dead of the night and says it would meet him again in the battlefield. Next day when Brutus is engaged in bloody fight, it reappears and hastens the doom of Brutus. Not only this. The prevailing superstitions are also used by the dramatist to intensify the dramatic effect. Prophecy is the part of Roman people. The warnings given by Soothsayer and Artimideorous which suggest supernatural intervention in human affairs are highly ignored by Caesar. He dismisses it by saying: â€Å"He is a dreamer; let us leave him: pass† But these words rebound on the speaker with catastrophic effect and the audience is thrilled by its dramatic irony. Even Caesar is not above superstitions. He makes his wife stand in the course of the race so that Antony might touch her while on the run. The superstition was that, touched in that manner, the barren mother would cast off her barrenness. Believing in dreams is another instance of the prevailing superstition of the age. Calphurnia’s dream of the statue of Caesar spouting blood and the Romans washing their hands with it has been very symbolically treated in the play. The dream suggests the premonition. It prepares the mind of the audience for the oncoming murder of Julius Caesar. Similarly, dinner with a dead man was ominous. Cinna did have it and the day proved fatal for him. Thus we see supernatural elements and superstitions play very important roles in the life of a man. The dramatist has shown this contemporary belief very, very successfully in Julius Caesar with his deft artistic touches.

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14

Management - Essay Example Contingency models vary according to what theory they hold. As such, Vroom- Jago suggests that the effectiveness of the group demands a match between the style of the leader and what the situation needs. This is the same with Fiedler’s model which holds that the leader can influence how the group acts toward a given situation, at large. The mentioned models are just two of the variants of the contingency theories. Focusing on their similarities and difference can give a clearer view and understanding of a good leadership and be able to apply them on real life situations. Fiedler’s Contingency Model is proposed by Fred Edward Fiedler who is an Austrian psychologist. The model focuses on the personality of the leader and how he handles a given situation. It means that the performance of the leader depends on the situation where he or she operates. Fiedler integrates the efficiency of the leader to the factors in the environment that contributes a lot on how the leader manipulates the group (Fiedler 6). On the other hand, Vroom- Jago Contingency Model focuses on the consideration of many factors in order for the leader to come up with a decision. It is a contingency model that caters on changeable levels of participative leadership and how it influences on the quality and accountability of the decisions of the leader. Fiedler’s Contingency model is similar to the point of Vroom- Jago model through the idea of relating the decisions of the leader into the essential key factors. However they are different on how they act as a leader to the group. Fiedler points out that tight situation make the decisions come out more efficiently. Yet, a stress- free situation can make intelligence the key to success, but Fiedler believes that a stressful situation can boost the performance of the group and strive hard which will allow the group to express their performance to the highest level. In Vroom- Jago contingency model, the leader

PPBE (Planning, programming, budgeting, and execution) Essay

PPBE (Planning, programming, budgeting, and execution) - Essay Example This will help the readers to understand each and every bit of the paper in a well manner. So, here I am explaining some key and practical terms including PPBE, Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution in the context of the main theme of the research paper. Basically, PPBE refers to Planning. Programming, Budgeting and Execution process that involves the working of the defense department. This process tells us that how department of defense (DOD) allocates their resources. It further highlights the process that how department of defense in collaboration with their contractors work together in managing their tasks within fiscal budget. Moreover, how they follow the defense strategies, goals and policies of the defense department. OSD and Joint Staff are the two main acting participants of the planning phase. They jointly articulate military strategy and national defense policies. Military strategy also known as SPG, Strategic Planning Guidance leads into EPP, Enhanced Planning Process. In EPP, several priorities of military budget are set for further program developments including force modernization, sustainability and readiness. Moreover, it also supports business process and overall infrastructure of the military. Finally, the result of EPP is written up and forwarded to JPG, Joint Programming Guidance. So, planning is a process that includes the definition and assessment of all the alternatives strategies plus the critical analysis of changing trends and conditions, technology and threat. Moreover, it also includes the economic assessments with efforts to recognize change and the long term goals and implications of the current choices. Finally, we can say that it is a process of determining requirements and needs. In the beginning of this phase, each agency and DOD department writes a POM, Program Objective Memorandum. Each POM describes the proposed budget for manpower, forces and funding. It is a

International Finance Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

International Finance - Term Paper Example Such as a skewed change rate can create a business's exports inexpensive as compared to their foreign counterparts, although for a nation to attain this artificially, they have to trade their own currency by borrowing against the country's assets to pay for another country's currency. If exports or all investment is in high demand, a nation's currency will increase in value due to the demand for that currency to fund exported commodities, services, as well as investment. Companies that depend on exports can find their goods unexpectedly competitive - or excessively costly - in a foreign country’s markets as exchange rates rise and fall. In the same way, businesses that depend on imports can see the charges of these imports fluctuate with the exchange rate. â€Å"Exchange rates directly affect the realized return on an investment portfolio with overseas holdings. If you own stock in a foreign company and the local currency goes up 10 percent, the value of your investment goes up 12 percent even if the stock price does not change at all† (Levi, p. 201, 2009). The study of international finance usually refers to trade and foreign investment as alternative policies. This replacement can however be called into uncertainty as the need to struggle on several foreign markets taken into account. With reference to the theory of international trade, classical conclusion of Mundell has been challenged because of inadequate competition. In addition, macroeconomic series of foreign investment and trade emphasize that these two approaches of internationalisation are complements evidently. â€Å"If foreign investment displaces trade, exports will be at least replaced by local sales on foreign markets, detrimental to the domestic industry of the investor. On the contrary, if trade and foreign investment are confirmed as complements, investing abroad might lead to greater competitiveness in foreign markets, which is beneficial to exports from the investing country and thus to its industry. In order to clarify these relationships, a bilateral and sectoral empirical approach is proposed based on a matching of trade and foreign investment data authorising a break down by industry and partner country. It permits to control for joint determinants of trade and foreign investment such as market size, per capita income or regional integration, or conversely for economies of scale having an opposite impact on both forms of internationalisation† (Sercu, p. 184, 2009). With the most disaggregated data, the finding of complementarities involving trade and foreign investment flows is legalized for many industries. Outward foreign investment is linked further exports and imports, within the industry considered, in comparison with the state of investment. However, in view of the fact that the previous rise more as compared to the latter, investment in a foreign country is linked with a trade excess. On the other hand, inward foreign investment is lin ked with a trade deficit of the host nation. Overflows between industries are substantial. The impact of foreign investment on trade is much higher as these overflows are accounted for, even if the international trade surplus stays comparable with the one approximated on the industry of investment level. A huge share of the complementarities between trade and foreign investment at the macroeconomic level can be clarified by huge overflows between i

Glass Squash Court Analysis Engineering Essay

Glass Squash Court Analysis Engineering Essay The intention of this proposal was to testing the trinquete for Prospec LTD. The trinquete is a special court for indoor ball games and games played in trinquete are very similar to squash. This testing assess whether the product is structurally suitable for use in ball game courts. Their critical failure modes were to be established in order to assess and improve upon the design. World squash federation recommends using of safety glass in situations where a risk of human impact can result. Around 30 years ago, in Sheffield the glass company by name Ellis Pearson produced the first glass back wall for a squash court. But in the 80s along came chemical giant ICI and produced a Perspex (plastic) court and suddenly glass was too heavy and uneconomical. So Ellis Pearson (now going under the name of Prospec) forgot their roots and started using Perspex. (Ref: GLOBAL GALLERY June 2003, Martin Bronsteins astigmatic view of the world of squash) Prospec Ltd offers a complete range of squash court packages including wet plaster and dry panelled surfaces, flooring and the Ellis Pearson Glasswall system. Prospec is considered to be the market leader in the UK for the supply and installation of World Squash Federation (WSF) approved squash courts and Glasswalls. Prospec have installed more than 30,000 Ellis Pearson Glasswalls round the world for Squash, Racquetball and Pelota. Prospec LTD manufactures toughened glass squash courts that meet the stringent specifications of the World Squash Federation. This glass carries WSF certification for both two and four panel backwall systems. Prospec Toughened Safety Glass meets the performance requirements of all national building regulations, based on test requirements of local authorities as well as the WSF. Installation of these glass walls is carried out by operatives trained by Prospec Court Systems Ltd., either direct or through Contractors who specialise in fitting out squash courts. Installation will be done according to the world squash federation technical standards. Introduction For centuries people have played games that involve hitting balls with racquets against wall or back and forth to each other across a net. The most common example is tennis. In 19th century the prisoners were exercised by making them hit small and hard ball around the walls of a large room in the Fleet prison in London, England. A trinquete is a special court for various indoor versions of Pelota (Spanish for ball). It has the same characteristic feature of a squash court. The Pelota is a traditional sport played in more than 52 countries. Pelota is a name for a variety of court sports played with a ball using ones hand, a racquets, a wooden bat or a basket against a wall. These game is played by two or four players, with two team face to face separated by a line on a ground or a net. Today,  Pelota  is widely played in several countries: in the  Basque Country  and their neighbours; in  Valencia  where it is considered the national sport; and in rural areas of Ireland, Belgium, North of Italy, Mexico, Argentina and other American countries. The reason for the dramatic growth of these type games is because these sports combine fitness, fun and competition. This is an international sport played between two or four players in a four walled court with a small hollow rubber ball by hitting rubber ball against walls. The players strike the ball alternately on to the front wall, which is 4.75 meters high. Players can hit the ball directly to the front wall or use the sidewalls and rear wall to create subtle winning shots. Playing squash type games develops speed, endurance, agility, coordination and court savvy. The average length of the game is less than 45 minutes. The popularity of the game is due in large part to the competitive workout it generates in a small span of time. These games are simple to learn and its difficult to master. The challenge is to achieve goal against more skilled opponent and youll play as you improve. This game is mentally and physically draining and at the end of the day you will be satisfied and exhilarated and possibly a little tired. A trinquete is a special court for various indoor versions of Pelota. Trinquete measures 28.5m long and it has different shape than the other courts, with an inclined roof along the left wall. Left wall of the trinquete is constructed by toughened glass. Trinquete is constructed by many materials providing suitable rebound and safe to play; however, the World Squash Federation publishes court specification which recommends standards. Types of wall systems: (Ref: http://www.andersoncourts.com/wall.htm) 1) Armourcoat hard plaster: is 100% gypsum based plaster system formulated with high impact resistance. This is been installed in over 40 countries and accreditation with world squash federation. This system contains no cement based product, hence eliminating shrinkage and stress cracking. The total system thickness is 12.7mm consisting of 2 layer of base coat plaster and 3 layers of finish coat plaster which is applied on wet for permanent bond and smooth finish. Armourcoat requires no painted finish, finished coat available in blue, green, white and yellow colour. Armourcoat walls can be cleaned using household, non-abrasive cleaners with scouring pads and rinse with clean water. 2) Doweloc edge grain: is superior in quality and durability, longevity proven is 60+ years court and still in play. Doweloc is a Northern hard maple; edge grain system consists of tongue and groove wood strips held securely by the aluminium dowel. Each 12inch section is composed of 14 edge grain pieces. Walls are then painted to secure wood based on the usage of the court. 3) High density fiberesin panel: is the pre finished playing surface and engineered specifically for racquetball, handball and squash courts. It is a solid and rock hard sheet material used to meet a rigid specification and requirements demanded for the fast action sports court. It is composed of high density particle board cores and multiple layers of thermalset resin impregnated sheets that are moulded in hydraulic presses under controlled heat and pressure into sheets of varying thickness and density. Fiberesin requires no refinishing and only occasional washing. Glass walls: is a substitute for the walls which been mentioned above, since 1980s guaranteeing to meet world squash federations high technical standards. Glass walls are transparent, so it makes game visible for spectators. Walls must not only be transparent, it has to be tough enough to rebound the hard ball without breaking. Since normal glass is not hard to withstand the pressure of the ball toughened glass is used. Toughened or tampered glass is very much strong and satisfies all the standards of world squash federation, like strength, transparency and safety etc. The 12mm toughened glass panels are designed to provide a flush finish and easy panel adjustment and alignment. The panels are joined by special patch fittings and 15mm thick glass fins. Joints between the glass panels are filled with a clear silicone sealant, to complete the continuity of the glass and ensure a true playing surface that is tough enough to withstand pressure from either ball or player. This joint configuration distributes and reduces stresses, minimizes deflection, vibration or damage, and provides true ball rebound. Toughened glass Toughened glass  is much stronger than normal glass, having been processed by controlled  thermal  or chemical treatments to increase its strength. Toughened glass is impact resistant, and it is made from annealed glass which is heated and then rapidly cooled. Thermally toughened safety glass offers first order mechanical characteristic. This is the only glass exhibits well establishment and reliable mechanical capacity under static and dynamic load with resistance to impact properties conforming to regulations and European standards. The glass usually shatters into small fragments instead of sharp shards when broken, making it less likely to cause severe injury and deep lacerations. Toughened glass is used in a variety of applications as a result of its safety and strength. (ref: Toughened Glass: Mechanical Properties and EN 12600 Behaviour Michel Dubru, Glaverbel S.A. Jean-Clement Nugue, Saint-Gobain Guy Van Marcke de Lummen, Glaverbel S.A) The manufacture of toughened glass Flat glass is toughened in an oven, the glass is transported on rollers and in rolled back and forth inside oven and heated in a temperature between 600 and 700 °c until glass become soft. A softened glass is rolled out of the oven into air shower where both the side of the glass is cooled rapidly. The inside of the glass is hot and soft while the outer surface of the glass cool, solidify and contract due to thermal contraction. After this the inside glass cool, solidify and contracts. The outer surface is already cold when the inner region begins to solidify, so contraction in the inner region squeezes the outer surfaces. Hence the region near the outer surface experiences high compressive force and which is balance by the tensile force generated at the inner surface. The toughening process produces a safety glass which is very strong. The rapid cooling places the internal stresses on the glass which allow it to be strong and break into regular cubes. Due to the internal stresses the toughened glass cannot be broken into the required dimension, therefore all shapes will be done before the toughening process. Toughened glass surface is more resistant to impact. The same object thrown would create a hole in a pane of annealed glass would likely bounce back when compared to toughened glass. Because of this impact resistant and bouncing nature, toughened glass is used in trinquete and squash courts. (ref: www.picams.com.au//Toughened%20glass%20-%20with%20an%20achilles%20heel.pdf) DATA TABLE: Mechanical Properties Quantity Value Unit Youngs modulus 50000 100000 MPa Bending strength 200 200 MPa Physical Properties Quantity Value Unit Thermal expansion 9 9 e-6/K Thermal conductivity 0.9 0.93 W/m.K Specific heat 840 850 J/kg.K Melting temperature 1100 1100  °C Service temperature 0 700  °C Density 2500 2800 kg/m3 Resistivity 1e+18 1e+18 Ohm.mm2/m Environmental Data Quantity Value Unit Ex (in) / Ex (out) 38.1609195402299 MJ/MJ Remark: Has to be made to measure before hardening. Available in 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12mm thickness (Ref: http://www.matbase.com/material/glass/toughened-glass/thermal/propertie) RECOMMENDED STANDARDS OF CONSTRUCTION (Ref: http://www.worldsquash.org/uploads/Court%20Specs%20-%20With%20Diagrams.pdf) International Squash court has been constructed from glass or transparent materials, to make game visible for the spectators. Spectator areas may be located behind the plane of any wall of the court. The play is televised, filmed, photographed or recorded from above the court or through any of the walls. No camera or any equipment is projected into the court or below the clear height of the court. Camera panels may be incorporated in any part of the court playing walls provided that any such panel shall. Court dimensions and tolerances: is the important standard which has to be taken into account. The length of the court is 28500mm and with tolerance of plus or minus 10mm. The Court Walls should be vertical to within plus or minus 5mm in a height of 2 metres when measured within 250 mm of each corner of the court and at three additional intermediate points evenly spaced along the length of each wall. The court walls shall be straight to within plus or minus 15 mm in the length of any wall when measured horizontally at a height of 1 metre above finished floor level. The floor shall be level to within plus or minus 10 mm in the length, width and on the diagonals of the court. The walls of the court and all the components should be capable of withstanding all the stresses due to impact of the ball, racquet and the player, and glass must get permanent or temporary damage. Mass of the player should be considered, glass might be damaged when the player falls on the wall. The mass of the player is equivalent to 100kg and co-efficient of absorption is 47 %( i.e. 47% of the impact energy is observed by the body and remaining 57% energy will be transmitted on the wall). Where courts have transparent walls they shall be constructed of safety materials tested in accordance with the appropriate national standard and shall meet the stated requirements for safe breakage. The walls of the court must not deflect for the impact of the ball in such a manner that rebound of the ball is affected. The walls may deflect under the impact of players; however, it should not deflect to such an extent or in such a manner so as to affect the safety of the players. The wall which deflects shall return back to its original static position within one second of the impact, as a result of deflections the wall must not suffer from any permanent and temporary damages. All walls of the court shall have a hard and smooth finish. Any front or side walls, or any transparent panel in the playing surface of the front or side walls, shall be treated and/or lit in such a manner as to make it non-reflecting when viewed from inside the court. The average reflectance of the front and side walls shall not be less than 50% at any point when in a clean condition. The reflectance of the front and side walls shall not vary at any point by more than plus or minus 5% of the average reflectance. The ball shall rebound truly on striking all parts of the playing walls. The ball rebound shall be consistent over the whole area of each wall. All wall surfaces including transparent materials shall have surface friction such that the pace and wall angle characteristics are equivalent to that encountered in a plaster court. Any open joint in the finish of a wall of panel construction shall not deflect the rebound of the ball in any way. There shall be no protrusions of any kind into the court at the junction of one wall with another. The bounce of the ball shall be of even height and pace over the whole area of the floor. When viewed from vertically above the line of flight of the ball, the linear path of the ball shall not be affected when it bounces on the floor. SPECIFICATIONS www.worldsquash.org//Court%20Specs%20-%20With%20Diagrams.pdf GLASS All walls and fins are 12mm clear tempered or toughened glass with finished edges. All holes on the playing side are countersunk and dimensioned to receive special flush mounted fittings and hardware. A clear silicone compound is used to bond all joints. No glass-to-glass or glass-to-metal contact is permitted. FITTINGS All glass-to-glass connections are manufactured in hi-tensile GSM Nylatron. Nylatron GSM is a cast and partially cross-linked. Nylatron GSM is manufactured by modifying Nylon 6 material by a carefully controlled level of finely divided particles of molybdenum disulphide additive. The  molybdenum disulphide enhances its bearing and wear behaviour without impairing the impact and fatigue resistance inherent to unmodified cast nylon grades. All parts are moulded for maximum strength. These parts will have tensile strength of 773 to 984 kg/cm ² with Hardness durometer of 2.3 and Shear strength of 541 to 668 kg/cm ². Base angle brackets which is been used to fix wall to the floor and are available in either steel or anodized aluminium. Size of the brackets will be 12 x 3 x 2 1/2 x 1/4. Two anchor bolts of 11mm dia. x 89mm are used for each angle bracket. Aluminium channels of size 25 x 25 x 3mm and Aluminium angles of size 50 x 50 x 6mm are used to hold panels and attached to fins. MANUFACTURERS OF GLASS WALLS (Ref: England squash and racketball, technical information sheet number 1, march 2010) Complete glass wall systems, court doors, view windows and moveable glass walls as supplied by many glass manufacturing companies. The glass wall is supported by glass fins, aluminium L angle, aluminium posts, or aluminium tube frame. World Squash Federation (WSF) is the governing body for the game of Squash and racquetball throughout the world and is therefore responsible for setting standards for courts and equipment. In order to continue the process of ensuring that courts are built to appropriate standards, it has introduced a scheme whereby materials and components may be tested against the standards set by the Federation. The WSF assess the manufacturer based on the following criteria: Court must be easy to install Suitable performance characteristics Reliability Ease of maintenance Efficiency of back u service Court contractors The companies listed below will liaise with the architect builder regarding the background surface requirement prior to fitting out. COMPANY ADDRESS SYSTEM/TRADE NAME SQUASH LEISURE SERVICES Tel:(01895) 450800 Fax: (01895) 450801 email:[emailprotected] Web: www.squashandleisure.co.uk 5 Sarum Complex Salisbury Road Uxbridge UB8 2RZ Contractor PROSPEC LTD Tel: (01709) 377 147 Fax: (01709) 375 239 email: [emailprotected] P O Box 48 Canklow Meadow Estate West Bawtry Road Rotherham S60 2XP Contractor COURTCRAFT LTD Tel: (01942) 881500 Fax: (01942) 881501 email: [emailprotected] www.courtcraft.co.uk Logic House 31 Gibfieid Park Ave Gibfield Business Park Atherton Manchester M46 0SY Contractor Prefabricated court systems COMPANY ADDRESS SYSTEM/TRADE NAME ASB CONSTRUCTION LTD Tel: (01548) 580669 email: [emailprotected] www.asbsquash.com Huccombe House Huccombe Kingsbridge Devon TQ7 2EP Selfà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â‚¬Ëœsupporting sand filled system plus a wall lining system. A sliding wall system is also available. Rainbow coloured court system. PROSPEC COURT SYSTEMS LTD. Tel: (01709) 377147 Fax: (01709) 375239 email: [emailprotected] P O Box 48 Cranklow Meadow Estate West Bawtree Road Rotherham S60 2XP Respatex Squash Court Panel System (prefabricated) Wall plasters COMPANY ADDRESS SYSTEM/TRADE NAME ARMOURCOAT LTD Tel: (01732) 460668 Fax: (01732) 450930 email: [emailprotected] Morewood Close London Road Sevenoaks Kent TN13 2HU Armourcoat Hard Court Plaster (white). REBOUND INTERNATIONAL LTD Tel: (0161) 929 7758 Fax: (0161) 929 7786 Mob: 07818 046464 email: [emailprotected] Copley Square Charter House Woodlands Road Altrincham WA14 1HF Rebound Plaster (white) Flooring contractors COMPANY ADDRESS SYSTEM/TRADE NAME V A HUTCHISON FLOORING LTD Tel: (01243) 841175/841127 Fax: (01243) 841173 email: [emailprotected] Units 1,2 3 Building NA Beeding Close Southern Cross Trading Estate Bognor Regis West Sussex PO22 9TS Flooring Contractors Maple Beech New Levelling System Cross Batten System Glass walls COMPANY ADDRESS SYSTEM/TRADE NAME PROSPEC COURT SYSTEMS LTD Tel: (01709) 377147 Fax: (01709) 375239 email: [emailprotected] PO Box 48 Canklow Meadows Estate, West Bawtry Road, Rotherham S60 2XP Ellis Pearson Glasswall System SQUASH LEISURE SERVICES LTD Tel: (01895) 450800 Fax: (01895) 450801 email: [emailprotected] 5 Sarum Complex Salisbury Road Uxbridge UB8 2RZ SLS Glasswall System FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is the most important tool for the mechanical design engineer. The desire for more accurate design in complex situations is the reason for the development of FEA, and allowing improvement in both design procedures and products. The growing demand of FEA has made possible for the creation of computation engines which are capable of handling the huge volume of calculations and carryout analysis and display results. FEA is now available at a practical cost to virtually all engineers and designers. Pro/Mechanica offers much more than simply an FEA engine. Pro/Mechanica is one of the modules of pro-engineer, which is widely used to understand structural and thermal product performance. Moreover, unlike many other commercial FEM programs where determining accuracy can be difficult or time consuming, Pro/M will be able to compute results with some certainty as to the accuracy. This saves cost, time and physical prototyping. By studying the product behaviour in early stage, we can improve quality and time, cost and efforts. In todays competitive market the design team is forced to get the product right at first time. When the team has to rely on prototype models to test product behaviour, schedule and budget has to be compromised. Standalone CAE offers a solution but its usually disconnected with CAD solutions, hence engineers have to spend lot of time in preparing prototype models for analysis. Then each time there could be design change and have to repeat the process. Special ski ll sets are required for CAE users. Pro/ Mechanica is the faster and smart way to analysis the product and easy to use the solution. In Pro/Mechanica we can identify where the higher stress area is and any changes in model design can be done to avoid the concentration of the stress and failure of the product. One best part in Pro/Mechanica is once we identify the problem, we are allowed to change the design and regenerate and analyse again. This saves lot of time and efforts to reproduce the design. Pro/Mechanica has an ability to evaluate the product performance virtually; onscreen and this gives an engineer to explore new ideas and then optimize their design. This gives a confidence to an engineer and fewer changes may require during prototyping, hence delivering superior quality to the market. Steps in preparing FEA model for solutions There are several steps to be followed in the analysis, starting from the simplified geometric model. 1. Identify the model type 2. Specify the material properties, model constraints, and applied loads 3. Discretize the geometry to produce a finite element mesh 4. Solve the system of linear equations 5. Compute items of interest from the solution variables 6. Display and critically review results and, if necessary, repeat the analysis Create geometry with PRO/E Model type Simulation parameters: Material property Constraints Loads Discretize model to form finite element mesh Setup and solve linear system Compute results Review The overall procedure is illustrated in the above figure. The steps must be executed in order, and each must be done correctly before proceeding to the next step. The steps shown in the figure are: 1. The geometric model of the part is created using Pro/ENGINEER. 2. The model type must be identified before entering Pro/Mechanica. The default is a solid model. 3. This is an important step where we need to define parameters. Specify material properties for the model. All the elements will not have the same properties. The different parts can be made of different materials in an assembly. Youngs modulus and Poissons ratio must be known for stress analysis. Pro/Mechanica consists of set of materials in the library, which can be directly used to assign material. Identify the constraints on the solution. In stress analysis, there could be fixed points, points of specified displacement, or points free to move in specified directions only. Specify the applied loads on the model, like loads on surface, edges etc 4. Once all the above steps are completed, we can set up and run a processor that actually performs the solution to the posed FEA problem. This starts with the automatic creation of the finite element mesh from the geometric model by a subprogram within Pro/M called AutoGEM. Pro/M will trap some modelling errors here. The processor will produce a summary file of output messages which can be consulted if something goes wrong for example, a model that is not sufficiently constrained by boundary conditions. 5. FEA produces immense volumes of output data. The only feasible way of examining this is graphically. Pro/M has very powerful graphics capabilities to examine the results of the FEA displaced shape, stress distributions, mode shapes, etc. Hard copy of the results file and screen display is easy to obtain. 6. Finally, the results must be reviewed critically. In the first instance, the results should agree with our modeling intent. For example, if we look at an animated view of the deformation, we can easily see if our boundary constraints have been implemented properly. The results should also satisfy our intuition about the solution (stress concentration around a hole, for example). If there is any cause for concern, it may be advisable to revisit some aspects of the model and perform the analysis again. Benefits: Pro-engineering Mechanica gives the clear picture of the product performance, and discovers design flaws at early stage. This helps a designer to make any changes in the design and deliver superior quality at first time. Improves user efficiency with an intuitive, familiar user interface Mechanica gives realistic performance solutions and this data can be used to improve the quality of the product by directly applying real world conditions to design geometry. There is lot of limitation in analysing physical prototype; these are overcome by Mechanica in which more scenarios can be evaluated. This save lot of time by avoiding prototypes and analysis time is very less when compared to any other type. Mechanica reduce errors by working in a seamlessly integrated design and simulation environment with no data translation. Simultaneously designing and simulating design variations gives a new idea for an engineer. Thus give an opportunity for innovations. Development cost for the product is decreased by reducing the cost of the prototype or by eliminating the prototypes. (ref:http://www-ipe.uni-duisburg.de/Rechnereinsatz/lehre/pw_download/cad2_cae_promech_tut_toogood_2.pdf) TESTING All glazing material must undergo impact load and environmental test requirements and should be labelled by manufactures as per part 1201 SAFETY STANDARD FOR ARCHITECTURAL GLAZING MATERIALS. The impact load being applied at a height of 1100mm to 1500mm above the playing surface, since the ball hits maximum on these heights. Glass walls must satisfy the following conditions: A glass wall in racquetball or squash court subjected to impact load shall remain undamaged following a test impact. The deflection of the walls shall not be greater than 1.5 inches (38mm) at the point of impact. (Ref: Oregon structural specialty code, 2007, chapter: glass and glazing) Testing Equipment The impact test frame is used to minimize the movement and deflection of the specimen during test. The testing equipment used for testing glass panels are shown below. The test specimen will be placed in a frame and the four edges kept fixed. The frame is made up of wood. The inner subframe is used to secure the test specimen edges; the material used for inner subframe is neoprene strips, which shall be in contact with specimen corners. The pressure on the test specimen shall be controlled, and the compression of the neoprene strips shall be between 10 and 15 percent of the neoprene. To limit the compression of the neoprene and prevent distortion of the subframe, metal shims of an appropriate thickness shall be used. Impact load is applied on the glass by impactor from the height of 48 inches. The impactor shall be a leather punching bag or a rubber bladder. The bag is filled by chilled lead shot of a weight of completed assembly of 100 pounds. After filling the leather bag, it is been tied with a cord or leather thong to a metal sleeve. The exterior of the bag shall be completely covered by  ½ inch wide glass filament reinforced pressure sensitive tape. Impact test procedure: Each specimen (glass panel) shall be struck within 2 inches of its geometric center with the impactor dropped from a single height. Specimen is impacted one time from drop height of 48 inches. If the specimen withstands this impact will pass the quality and reaches the customer. It is very important for the manufacturer to perform the impact test on the glass panel, since it rules from the federation. The manufacturer has to label the following details on the glass panels, like manufactured date, test passed, and test conducted date. The tempered glass is permanently labelled to indicate it conforms to ANSI Z97.1-1972 or 1975 or is accompanied by a certificate certifying conformance to ANSI Z97.1-1972 or 1975. (ref: part 1201 SAFETY STANDARD FOR ARCHITECTURAL GLAZING MATERIALS) IMPACT TESTING WITH PRO /MECHANICA Pro/Mechanica is a multi discipline computer aided engineering tool that enables the user to simulate the physical behaviour of a model, and therefore enable the user to improve the design. Pro/Mechanica can be used to predict how a design will behave in the real world by calculating stresses, deflections, frequencies, heat transfer paths etc. Pro/Mechanic is the most effective analysis tool for testing the impact loads on the glass panels. The above mentioned test procedure is takes long time and prototype required for analysis. Pro/mechanic gives the accurate results for applied loads on the specimen and different sets of load could be applied without redesigning the specimen. The Mechanica packages include thermal, motion simulation and structural analysis. Analysis is the larger set of pull down menus and dialog boxes within CAD packages. Pro/Mechanic is integrated and run simultaneously with the 3Dsolid modelling computer package Pro/Engineer. After a design is modelled, the user may select Pro/Mechanic option to access finite element analysis. There are two types of model for

Essay examples --

The Bible primary purpose and focus is on God’s love for us and His plan of redemption for our salvation, but it also provides us with insight into spiritual leadership. From Abraham to Issac and from John the Baptist to Luke, and ultimately thru Jesus, God has used spiritual leaders ultimately to fulfill His purpose. The Bible gives us examples of spiritual leadership and human leadership with a number of these writings in the book of Proverbs. True leaders confront problems and find a solution. (Prov 28:2) â€Å" When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.† When the church or your life is in chaos, it's easy to come up with solution, but it takes a real leader to actually change things. Where you have people you encounter problems and most problems do not solve themselves; they usually get worse with time. Real leaders realize that God is the only solution to our problems so we must seek Him for wisdom and follow thru. The sooner you deal with a problem the easier it is to fix it. The sooner you surrender your life to God, the faster God can make you a real leader. Effective leaders deal with problems as soon as possible for the good of others. Effective and Godly leaders balance truth and love. As (Prov 20:28) says, â€Å"If a king is kind, honest, and fair, his kingdom stands secure†. The same is true for a leader, if he truly is kind, honest, and fair he will prosper. Love without truth is a just an emotion, while truth without love is a cold, hard reality. However, truth and love together have the power to transform the lives of others and ourselves. True leaders who possess wisdom utilize love and integrity to confront others and get them on the ... ...ith people who harm Jesus’ Body. Some of us are natural leaders and some are natural followers, however, all of us have been given leadership in some area. Parents have the God-given responsibility to lead their children. Pastor's have the responsibility to lead the congregation towards God and strengthen their relationship. We all share one thing in common, and that should be our willingness to lead others to God's saving grace. Following these principles from Proverbs will not guarantee success, but they do guarantee that God’s work will move forward. We are not called to succeed but to be faithful to Christ. The Lord did promise that, â€Å"He who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished † (Phil 1:6) When we are faithful to God’s principles of leadership, we can be sure God will ensure the forward movement of His kingdom.

Prohibition in Usa 1900-1930

Prohibition in USA in the 1900’s The prohibition was brought on by the strong temperance movement happening in America in the early 1900’s. These groups were devout Christians who vowed to be sober as they saw the affect alcohol had on families. But the members of this movement campaigned for everyone to give up alcohol. The arguments of the Temperance groups were so strong that they eventually convinced state governments to prohibit the sale and produce of alcohol in their state.Politicians backed this movement as it secured them votes in the rural areas, and by 1916, the sale and production of alcohol had been banned in 21 states. USA’s entry into the war strengthened this movement, as drinkers were being labelled as ‘Unpatriotic cowards’ for not entering into the war. The fact that Germany supplied most of the countries alcohol also helped the movement, as Germany was seen as the enemy. Despite the great efforts made by the government, the sale an d production if alcohol didn’t entirely cease.People all over the US started making their own alcohol, these were called ‘bootleggers’ People also set up illegal bars selling black market alcohol and providing entertainment, these were referred to as ‘Speakeasies’ and made a fortune. Over the 13 years that the prohibition lasted, over 37,000 illegal distilleries, or ‘stills’ were shut down, and nearly 23 million gallons of illegally produced or imported alcohol was seized. But even after all that it is said that only a fraction was discovered, although it is Impossible to know for certain.Temperance groups had been around for many years, but their quest for a dry country wasn’t prominent until the early 1900s. These groups were strong in rural areas of the US, but after America’s entry into the First World War in 1917, this movement was strengthened. America’s deep sense on patriotism previously weakened the temperan ce movement, as citizens were proud of who they were and all enjoyed a good drink. But when the war was over, and Germany was distinguished as the enemy, patriots were unwilling to support their economy by buying their alcohol, which greatly helped the movement as most of the US’ alcohol was supplied by Germany.With majority of the country on their side, the temperance movement grew stronger and by 1917 they had enough states on their side to propose the eighteenth amendment, which ‘prohibited the manufacture, sale or transportation or intoxicating liquors’ and in January of 1920 it became a law, known as the Volstead Act. The prohibition was not for everyone, and although a lot of Americans agreed with the movement, there were plenty who did not.People began to see there was potentially a lot of money in this, and began to set up illegal bars selling illegally made alcohol. A lot of these people were immigrants, who were poorly educated but also ruthless and cle ver. The government enforced the prohibition by implementing ‘prohibition agents’ who discovered and arrested offenders. But despite the work of these agents, who were poorly paid and had a large area to cover, it became apparent that it was practically impossible to effectively enforce prohibition in the cities.Many speakeasies thrived as bootleggers took advantage of the underpaid officers, and bribed them to keep quiet. Many people made a vast fortune through the movement, one of the most well-known being Al Capone, who made an estimated 2 billion dollars throughout the 13 years of prohibition. Al Capone was a well-known gang leader, and was renowned for his ruthlessness. His criminal activities were not exactly ‘quiet’ but it was virtually impossible to convict him as he had such a strong control over the police.In 1929 Capone and his gang dressed up as police and murdered 7 members of an opposing gang, which is now known as the ‘St. Valentineâ₠¬â„¢s day massacre’. It was at this point where it became apparent that things had gotten out of hand, and some say it was this event which essentially led to the end of the prohibition. At about the same time, there was a massive crash in the American stock market. People were losing jobs and the economy was crumbling. By this stage the police were corrupt, the country was lawless and the gangsters were rich and powerful.To make matter worse, by 1930 a great depression had set in and arguments were raised that if the ban on liquor was raised, it would create more jobs, the gangsters would have less power and less money, and it would open resources which were dispensed to the agents in charge of the unrealistic task of enforcing prohibition. These ideas were frowned upon by many, but the country was in need of change. In 1932, the democrat Franklin D Roosevelt was elected president, and by 1933 the eighteenth amendment was revoked.It was said by many that the prohibition was a complete failure, as from day one it was an immense struggle to enforce the law, and people continued to drink despite it, which resulted in huge profits for the people illegally producing and selling alcohol. Many people also think that the prohibition was a contributing factor to the great depression, and impacted the country in a negative way. American culture was greatly changed by the movement, as police became more corrupt than the offenders they were allegedly trying to imprison, and gangsters were controlling the cities which put the country into a state of constant fear.Crime and violence rates rose greatly, the government lost a lot of money from alcohol taxes and the country struggled to support itself without the income which alcohol used to provide. It wasn’t until the St Valentines Massacre that people realised how out of control the whole situation was, and it is referred to as a ‘turning point’ as it is thought that this event made the governmen t see that the prohibition was causing more trouble than it was fixing. In conclusion, the prohibition really did not achieve what it set out to do, stop people from drinking and create a more civilised country, in fact, it did quite the opposite.