An Online Degree Turns Back the Clock Essays

An Online Degree Turns Back the Clock Essays An Online Degree Turns Back the Clock Essay An Online Degree Turns Back the Clock Essay There are certainly many things for which many of us would like to turn back the clock so that we can approach it differently and have a different outcome. For those who have gone on to have relatively successful careers, despite the fact of not having graduated from college, there still exists in them a desire to achieve that degree. But with a family and a job to attend to on a daily basis, how is it possible to make up for all that we missed? The fact is that we are all incredibly lucky to be living in a time where so many resources are available to us. The Internet has made things possible that were never possible before and we all have the opportunity to take advantage of the tools it has offered us. For those who desire to finally graduate from college, there is the online degree – a way to receive a college education from the convenience of our own home. Many reputable colleges and universities offer online degree programs that allow students to complete their coursework at their own pace and on a schedule that fits within their work and family routine. For those who are already in the work world, this takes an enormous amount of pressure off of them as it allows them to balance their responsibilities and still earn their online degree.

Greek Architecture in Egypt Essays

Greek Architecture in Egypt Essays Greek Architecture in Egypt Essay Greek Architecture in Egypt Essay Instead of covering nearly every bit of space with ornament, as the Egyptians did, the Greeks selected only the best places for it, and thus gave it its proper effect. The decorations, especially the sculptures, were one of the chief features of a Greek temple. Besides their temples the Greeks built many theaters which may be studied from their ruins, but of their dwelling-houses almost nothing remains to us. The Greek style is noted for the repose, harmony, and proportion of its effect. These are terms we might use in speaking of a painting, but they relate to the composition of a building which is, in many respects, similar to the composition of a picture. In selecting his materials, and style, and site, and in arranging his masses of stones; in placing the lights and shades, and in producing an effect of symmetry and balance, the architect is doing much the same things that a painter does in composing his pictures. As to proportion, we may say, in a general way, that Doric temples were twice as long as they were wide, and once and a half as high as they were wide. : The column was about six times its diameter in height, while the capital was one-half one diameter in height. CLIMATIC INFLUENCES:- To make further comparison with the Egyptian, we notice that the Greek made a gable to his roof. This was to ward off the weather, a thing the Egyptian never had to think of. It shows us how climate will bring out new features in architecture, and that, what might be beautiful in Egypt, might seem ridiculous in Chicago. Only the suitable is beautiful. STYLE OF CONSTRUCTION:- Using stone as the main constructional material led to trabeated and columned architecture, resembling that of the temple architecture in Ancient Egypt. Because many Greek buildings were made of wood, mud-brick, or clay, nothing remains of them except for a few ground-plans, and almost no written sources on early architecture or descriptions of these embryonic buildings exist. Common materials of Greek architecture were wood, limestone, and bronze. Those materials were used to construct five simple types of buildings: religious, civic, domestic, funerary, or recreational themes. GREEK ARCHITECTURE:- There is a very early period of Greek architecture, the remains of which are mainly tombs and gateways. The ending of the war between the Greeks and the Persians delivered the country from the fear of invasion, and left it free to exercise the arts of peace. Under Pericles, the old temples were rebuilt with greater splendor. This was the Golden Age of Greek Art, both in architecture and in the sister art of sculpture. Pericles was the great figure, in Athenian public affairs for forty years; the one man power of his time. His fleets overcame the neighboring countries, and the wealth and prosperity of Greece was the greatest in the world. He was a believer in art, and under him flourished the great sculptor Phidias, who superintended the construction of Pericles buildings. Sculptures made by Phidias, or under him, with which to adorn the temples, were the best the world has seen to this day. Sculpture was then as much a part of a fine building as the stone itself, and Pericles had such an idea of the importance and value of beautiful things that he kept the best artists busily at work. The result was that he made Athens the most beautiful city in the world. GREEK TEMPLES:- The architecture that we know as Greek is the most perfect of all architecture, and the Parthenon, a temple at Athens, is its best example All Greek temples faced the east and in front of them there was an altar for the sacrifices.. The Greeks loved both freedom and beauty, and their temples were true and noble expressions of themselves and their aspirations. Their religion, though different from the religions of today, was a pure and lofty one, and entered largely into their architecture. Their temples were built to do honor to their gods, and were set upon their beautiful hills. All Greek temples resemble each other in so many respects that, having seen one, we should never be at a loss to recognize another. There were three different orders, named Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Every order consists of two essential parts, a column and its entablature. The column is divided into three parts; base, shaft, and capital. The entablature or upper part of the building, which is supported by the column, consists of architrave, frieze, and cornice. The character of an order is displayed not only in its column, but in its ornaments, its general style, and its detail. THE GREEK DORIC ORDER:- The Doric order is the oldest and strongest as well as the most simple of the three Greek orders, combining with solidity and force, the most subtle and delicate refinement of outline. The column of the Doric order has no base, that is, it rests directly on the stone platform, and is thicker at the bottom than at the top, swelling outward in a subtle curve called entasis. The Doric column was fluted. The fluted part is called the shaft and the top of the column is the capital. The capital of the Doric column is very plain. THE GREEK IONIC ORDER:- The Ionic order is named from the Ionic race, by which it is supposed to have been developed and perfected. The distinguishing characteristic of the column of this order is the volute, or spiral ornament of its capital. In the true Ionic, the volutes have the same form on the front and rear of the column, and are connected on the flanks by an ornamented roll or scroll, except in the case of corner capitals, which have three volutes on the two outer faces The Ionic temples are not so well preserved as the Doric. The most important of the Ionic temples left to us is the Erechtheum at Athens. It differs from other temples in its irregularity. This makes it doubly interesting for it shows that although the Greeks nearly always adhered to one simple form, they could dispense with it when they wished. In the Erechtheum, they wished to provide for several shrines in one building, and under one roof. The irregularity they have made so beautiful and interesting that it is a wonder they did not repeat the idea many times in other structures. Its two colonnades of different designs, its remarkable north doorway, and the famous caryatid porch to the south are unsurpassed. Another temple, that of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus, was known as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. THE GREEK CORINTHIAN ORDER:- This is the most ornate of the classical orders, and the most slender in its proportions. The capital is shaped somewhat like a bell inverted, and is adorned with rows of acanthus leaves. A great example of the, third, or Corinthian order is the monument of Lysicrates at Athens. Straight is the line of duty. Curved is the line of beauty Follow the one and it shall be; The other shall always follow thee. For such reasons, Greek architecture was called Intellectual. Where on the Aegean shore a city stands, Built nobly, pure the air and light the soil; Athens, the eye of Greece, mother of arts and eloquence. Milton. IDENTIFYING FEATURES:- * Most have porticos (either entry or full-width) supported by prominent square or rounded columns, typically of Doric style, but also Ionic and Corinthian * Gabled or hipped roof of low pitch * Cornice line of main roof and porch roofs emphasized with wide band of trim (this represents the classical entablature and is usually divided into two parts: the frieze above and architrave below) * Enormous windows and doors Front door surrounded by narrow sidelights and a rectangular line of transom lights above, door and lights usually incorporated into more elaborate door surround (ancient Greek structures did not use arches) * Window sashes most commonly with six-pane glazing * Small frieze-band windows, set into the wide trim beneath the cornice (attic), are frequent. These are often covered with an iron or wooden grate fashioned into a decorative Greek pattern. GREEK TEMPLES| NEW EGYPTIAN KINGDOM TEMPLES| LOCATION:Sea everywhere with mountains, hard topography, and outward nature. Location is at the centre of the old world maintained effective communications with other civilizations | Egypt, the land of the Pharaohs,. It was the only country of the ancient world which, by means of the Red Sea, commanded outlets and inlets for foreign trade by both the Mediterranean and Arabian Seas. The Nile itself was of untold value, and it may truly be described as the rich life-blood which runs in the veins of Egypt. On its banks therefore, from time immemorial, the Egyptians founded their cities, both for the living and the dead, and here are the royal pyramids and the priestly temples. GEOLOGICAL:Mineral wealth, different types of stones, mainly marble with various kinds were used . Greek architects were very inspired by neatness of such a material and its potentials, leading to clear-cut surfaces. Such surfaces served perfectly for decorations and extraordinary art work, mainly sculpturing| The natural products, such as timber, brick, clay, and stone, largely determine the character of the architecture of a country. Different types of stones were the materials chiefly employed, for constructive and decorative architectural work, as the country was poor in metals. The gigantic scale which distinguishes Egyptian architecture was made possible not only by the materials, but also by the methods employed in the quarrying of enormous blocks of stone, and in transporting and raising them into position. Recent excavations have revealed the use of sun-dried and burnt bricks for dwelling-houses and royal palaces. | RELIGIOUS:Greek had rather a human-centered cult where the man was the most important feature. The main subjects of decoration were human figures. Even the gods and goddesses were figured in human images. Unlike in Egypt, the temple was not segregated with its priests from the public. It was rather open for them and easily accessible without a barrier. Even the holiest place, the Cella or Naos, where the statue of the gods was laid, had a simple gate almost always facing the East behind a colonnade. | The close connection between religion and architecture is everywhere visible. The religious rites of the Egyptians were traditional, unchangeable, and mysterious, and these traits are reproduced in the architecture, both of tombs and temples. The religion was monotheistic in theory, but became polytheistic in practice through the cult of many gods representing natural phenomena and the heavenly bodies. Judged by the elaborate preparations for the care of their bodies after death the wealthy built themselves tomb-houses against the time when they should enter the great land of silence. | CLIMATIC:It’s mild, intermediate between the accurate cold and relaxing heat. (Notice the pitched roof made of terra cotta covering the typical Greek Temple) This had its reflection on the people and their architecture. It permitted openness of the Greek Temple as well as outdoor activities enjoying the mild sun while practicing different life activities. The outdoor nature of architecture expressed through the trabeated and columned architecture influenced the architecture typology of the buildings. | Egypt has been said to have two seasons, spring and summer. The climate is equable and warm; snow and frost are unknown, while storm, fog, and even rain are rare, and these conditions have contributed to the preservation of the buildings. Its brilliant sunshine conduced also to simplicity of design; for, as sufficient light reached the interior through doors and roof slits, and thus unbroken massive walls protected the interior from the fierce heat of the sun. In the absence of rain, flat roofs of thick stone slabs were sufficient to cover in the building, and to exclude the heat. | SOCIAL:Greek life was organized around the independent and self government city-state. There were at least 700 of them in Greece during this time. All the Greek people, although, shared a common language, with similar religious beliefs and participating in common games The Olympics. A community of citizens (only men), women and slaves (usually obtained from wars) had no rights. Priests were not a segregated or isolated class; they could practice their religious job and retire as common citizens. Egyptian civilization is the most ancient of which we have any clear knowledge. Our information is derived from the Old Testament, and from Greek and Latin authors, but more particularly from Egyptian buildings with their inscriptions. It was the custom to record matters of history on temples, and of domestic and social interest on tombs. | GLOSSARY:- Cella (or naos): T he main chamber of a Greek or Roman temple, built to house the cult statue. Peristyle: The colonnade around a peripteral building or around a court. Peripteral: An adjective describing a building with a colonnade around its entire perimeter. Intercolumniation: The space between two adjacent columns. Stereobate: A solid mass of masonry serving as the visible base of a building, especially a Greek temple. In a Greek temple only the lower steps are called the stereobate; the top step, on which the columns rest, is called the stylobate. Entasis: The swelling convex curvature along the line of taper of classical columns. The entasis of early Greek Doric columns is pronounced, but becomes ever more subtle until, in the columns of the Parthenon, it is barely perceptible. Echinus: In the Doric order, the quarter round molding beneath the abacus of a capital. Abacus: The uppermost part of a capital, forming a slab upon which the architrave rests. Entablature: The group of horizontal member resting on the columns of the one of the classical orders. It is divided into three parts: architrave, frieze, and cornice. Architrave: The lowest member of an entablature, resting directly on the columns. Frieze: The middle member of an entablature, between the architrave and cornice. Triglyph: In the frieze of the entablature of the Doric order -the vertical blocks- which are divided by channels into three sections. Originally, the triglyphs were probably the ends of wooden ceiling beams. Metope: In the frieze of an entablature of the Doric order, one of the panels between the triglyphs sometimes ornamented. Originally, in wooden temple, the metopes may have been openings between the ceiling beams. Cornice: The topmost part of a classical entablature. Pediment: In classical architecture, the low-pitched gable, or triangular area formed by the two slopes of the low-pitched roof of a temple, framed by the horizontal and raking cornices and sometimes filled with sculpture. Orders: An architectural order is one of the classical systems of carefully proportioned and interdependent parts which include column and entablature. Doric: The oldest, studiest, and most severe of the orders. It developed on the mainland of Greece. The most distinguishing characteristic is probably its capital, but note the absence of a column base and the introduction of triglyphs and metopes in the frieze course. Ionic: Its more slender and lighter than the Doric. The Ionic developed in the lands east of the Aegean and was more subject to the influence of older Asiatic styles. It is quickly distinguished by the volutes of its capitals. Note the presence of a column base and the absence of the triglyphs and metopes. Corinthian: Its developed later than the Doric or Ionic. It is distinguished from the Ionic by its capital formed of a circular belle of rows of acanthus leaves. Megaron: A large oblong hall in a Minoan or Mycenaean palace. * Library of Alexandria: The Royal Library of Alexandria was once the largest in the world. It is usually assumed to have been founded at the beginning of the 3rd century BC during the reign of Ptolemy II of Egypt after his father had set up the temple of the Muses, the Musaeum (whence we get Museum). The initial organization is attributed to Demetrius Phalereus, and is estimated to have stored at its peak 400,000 to 700,000 parchment scrolls. The librarys destruction remains a mystery. One story holds that the Library was seeded with Aristotles own private collection, through one of his students, Demetrius Phalereus. Another concerns how its collection grew so large. By decree of Ptolemy III of Egypt, all visitors to the city were required to surrender all books and scrolls in their possession; these writings were then swiftly copied by official scribes. The originals were put into the Library, and the copies were delivered to the previous owners. While encroaching on the rights of the traveler or merchant, it also helped to create a reservoir of books in the relatively new city. * Lighthouse of Alexandria: Alexandria, Egypt. This city is where the Lighthouse of Alexandria stood. The city was completed by Ptolemy Soter, the new ruler of Egypt. The city soon became rich. The city needed a symbol and a mechanism to guide the trade ships into its harbor. It was completed 20 years later and was the first lighthouse of the world. It was also the tallest building with the exception of the Great Pyramid. That means that the lighthouse stood between 450 to 600 feet high. A man named Sostrates of Knidos designed the lighthouse. He thought it needed to have his name carved in the foundation. But Ptolemy II, who ruled after his father, refused and wanted his own name carved in. Sostrates, being a clever man, had this inscription put on the lighthouse: SOSTRATES SON OF DEXIPHANES OF KNIDOS ON BEHALF OF ALL MARINERS TO THE SAVIOR GODS. Then he covered it with plaster. Then they put Ptolemys name into the plaster. As years passed, the plaster chipped away, leaving Sostrates declaration. The lighthouse was built on the island of Pharos. Pharos became the word lighthouse in French, Italian, Spanish, and Romanian languages. This lighthouse was designed differently than modern lighthouses. It was more like a 20th century sky scraper. There were three stages which were piled on top of each other. The lowest level was about 200 feet square and was shaped like a huge box. The blocks on which the lighthouse was built were marble. There was a staircase in the lighthouse that led the keepers to the beacon chamber. In there, was a curved mirror. It was used to project a fires light into a beam. Ships could detect the beam from the tower at night or the smoke from it could be seen during the day from up to 100 miles away. I bet youre wondering what happened to the worlds first lighthouse. It stood for 1,500 years but was damaged by tremors in 365 and 1303 A. D. The final collapse came in 1326. ARCHITECTURE in ALEXANDRIA The history of ancient Greek art mainly in the form of sculpture is composed of roughly three periods: the Archaic, the Classical, and the Hellenistic. The Archaic is rather stiff and primitive; the Classical becomes more sophisticated and realistic; and the Hellenistic becomes flowery and highly decorative. These three periods can be thought of in the same way as the three periods of Greek architecture the Doric, the Ionic, and the Corinthian. Doric columns are the most simple, Ionic are more highly decorative, and the Corinthian are downright over the top and lavish. Archaic In the Archaic period of Greek art [800-500 BC], sculptures were placed on pedestals lining the way to the entrance to a main temple or for marking graves. The typical statue is of either a male or female figure assuming a rather stiff pose. Male statues are called kouroi (simply meaning young men) and represent gods, warriors, and athletes. The female statues are called korai and depict clothed priestesses, goddesses, and nymphs. Always each has the thin-lipped Archaic smile, perhaps echoing the prosperity and relative peace of the time. During the Archaic period, Greek artists try to achieve realistic likeness in picturing the human figure, and the statues are a far cry from the extremely abstract figures of the geometric style which preceded. In fact, the statues show the influence of Egyptian art in its stiffness, gracefulness, and idealization. But the artists werent quite comfortable with achieving naturalism yet. The archaic smile, outstretched palm, clenched fist, and wooden posture of a striding figure are all stylistic devices that compensate for an inability to portray a figure in realistic full action during this emerging stage of naturalism. Classical During this period [500-323 BC], Greece reaches the height of economic success and cultural and artistic splendor. Its expansionist foreign policy triggers revolts throughout the Hellenic world and rivalry with Sparta, Corinth, Thebes, and Syracuse leads to much fighting and bloodshed. Gone is the dreamy Archaic smile from the sculptures. The Classical period of Ancient Greece produced some of the most exquisite sculptures the world has ever seen. The art of the Classical Greek style is characterized by a joyous freedom of movement and freedom of expression. It celebrates mankind as an independent entity. Artists hold their aesthetic standards to a quest for ideal beauty; this leads to their depicting the human figure in a naturalistic manner because it is the first time in human history that the human body is studied for its aesthetic values. They replace the stiffness of the human figure from the Archaic period with a free-flowing form more true to life. The most significant change is the counterbalance, or s-curve, of the body, known as controposto. One foot comes forward so that one leg is relaxed and the other bears the weight of the body; the pose is much more naturalistic. In the art of Greece during the Classical period the characteristic smile of the Archaic sculpture is replaced by a solemn facial expression. Even in sculptures which depict violent and passionate scenes the faces betray no expression; however, their enemies have dramatic facial expressions. Ancient Greeks believed that suppression of the emotions is a noble characteristic of all civilized men, while the public display of human emotion is a sign of barbarism. Logic and reason are the dominant human qualities even during the most dramatic situations. This is the period that of course so greatly influenced the ascendance of the Renaissance when Italian scholars, writers, and artists experienced a rebirth (renaissance) of classical values after the Middle Ages. The Classical period is considered the golden age for the arts, literature, philosophy, and politics and its principles continue to influence western civilization today. Hellenistic: The Hellenistic period occurred from the third to the first centuries B. C. in the times that spring up after Alexander the Greats conquests. This is a great time of prosperity that encourages the production of art of a more secular nature. A new reality emerges in Greek sculpture. Instead of depicting ideals such as logic and suppressed emotion or perfect beauty, the artists explore reality. For instance, the Boxer shows the boxers bleeding knuckles after the fight. Humane themes such as childhood, old age, ugliness, and suffering are now of interest and are treated with great exuberance and pathos. The Laocoon is the epitome of this style. The Hellenistic period is above all a period of eclecticism. Artists expand their work with dramatic poses and emotions, sweeping lines, and high contrasts of light and shadow. The conventions of the Classical period give way to this new experimentation and freedom that let artists explore subjects from different points of view. Greek architecture| Archaic ca. 800-500 BC| Classical ca. 500-323 BC| Hellenistic ca. 323-27 BC| megaron gt; peripteral temple Doric and Ionic orders| Parthenon, Propylaea, Erechtheum venue seating Corinthian order| Alexandria (Library, Lighthouse) Tower of the Winds| | | |

Management verses leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Management verses leadership - Essay Example Responsibility and accountability for the use of organizational resources accompany the power accorded to a manager or director. In contrast, the term leader implies effective use of influence that is somewhat independent of the formal authority granted to an individual because of position. Leadership cannot be granted to a person by a higher authority; rather, those who decide to follow bestow it on an individual. While managers have formal authority, leaders have the informal ability to get things done by attracting and influencing followers. Effective managers in any organizations must be leaders also, and many leaders become managers, leaders, and directors. The two sets of roles and functions, however, differ (Steven, 2001). If we have to list out the qualities a good leader should possess, the first and foremost is that leaders are good listeners. An effective leader listens emphatically. He welcomes ideas and inputs from his team. This promotes harmony within the team. Leaders are good decision makers. An effective leader, who is focused, authentic, courageous and emphatic, must also have the proper timing in making and executing decisions. Time management is the important parts of good leadership. It is also important to set an example to the team through proper time management. A leader must have talent or specific skills at some task at han... He must be a role model, someone who leads by example. Self-knowledge and self-awareness are also essential characteristics. A leader trusts in his team and motivates them for high performance. A good leader is always generous in praising and recognizing each individual who is a performer and appreciate all contributions, big and small. A leader must project fearlessness in facing challenges. A leader must stand firm even in the presence of criticisms, but still having the courage to admit his mistakes (Smith, 2005).The most important attribute for a leader is being principle-centered. Centering on principles that are universal and timeless provides a foundation and compass to guide every decision and every act. All enduring philosophies, religions and thoughts are based on principles such as integrity, compassion, trust, honesty, accountability and others at their core. (Khan, 2005). Management and the roles of Managers in Organizations A typical definition is that "manager's work toward the organization's goals using its resources in an effective and efficient manner." In any organizations, different levels of managers are present they include top managers, middle managers and first-line managers. Top (or executive) managers are responsible for overseeing the whole organization and typically engage in more strategic and conceptual matters, with less attention to day-to-day detail. Top managers have middle managers working for them and who are in charge of a major function or department. Middle managers may have first-line managers working for them and who are responsible to manage the day-to-day activities of a group of workers (McNamara, 1999). For a healthy organization it is essential to have both good leaders as well as good managers.

Capital punishment -argumentativ paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Capital punishment -argumentativ paper - Essay Example Though some people may be against the sentencing, especially with the belief that he might have been insane, the evidence that was presented against Middlebrooks shows that he got the sentence that he deserved. When the autopsy of Kerrick Majors had been released, it was determined that the cause of his death were stab wounds. Even though he had pinned Brewington as the one in charge of the actions against Kerrick Majors since he stabbed the boy, Middlebrooks also admitted to having stabbed Majors once. Since the cause of death was proven to be from the stab wounds that Middlebrooks and Brewington horrifically administered to the boy, both men were directly involved in the death (Bohm 26). By claiming to have stabbed Majors, Middlebrooks essentially confessed to killing him. Furthermore, Middlebrooks claimed to have stabbed Majors to put the victim out of his misery. Not only did Middlebrooks admit to stabbing the boy, but he also admitted to stabbing him with the intent of killing h im. Even though Middlebrooks and some of his character witnesses tried to claim that Middlebrooks was not fully mentally competent to understand what he did, he still made it clear that he had a concrete intention when he brought the knife down on Majors. While Middlebrooks may have viewed his actions as helpful to the boy, albeit gruesomely so, the actions still resulted in Majors’ death. Middlebrooks’ argument during the course of his trial was that he only acted the way he had because Brewington, being a larger boy and angrier than Middlebrooks, frightened him. However, he later claimed to have taken part in the stabbing because he wanted to appear cool in front of his tougher friend. Regardless of the reason behind his actions, which kept changing throughout his trial, he still allowed himself to be swayed to the point of taking the life of an innocent boy. Instead of walking away and seeking help, or trying to talk down his friend, Middlebrooks engaged in the beat ing. Since very little was looked into the role that Brewington played, it would be almost impossible to determine if Middlebrooks was acting of his own accord or if he really was being forced to join in on the torturing of the young man. As it is, simply by standing around as the violence took place, Middlebrooks just as well killed Kerrick Majors. This is in regardless of whether he actually physically caused Majors to die or did not seek the help that was desperately needed. â€Å"Those who stand by and watch someone else die are just as guilty as the person who is causing the damage (Garland & McGowen 21).† However, as previously stated, Middlebrooks had already admitted to physically harming the boy for the sake of putting him out of his pain. No matter how he tried to condone his actions, someone else died because of his inability to control his own temper and his unwillingness to do something that would benefit the dying boy. On the other side of the table, it is belie ved that Middlebrooks had sufficient proof that he was not mentally stable enough to stand trial and therefore was not fit to receive the death sentence (Krzycki), or any such sentence. Witnesses revealed that Middlebrooks had a past of molestation and abuse as a child, which caused him to develop borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, and a psychotic personality disor

Managing Oil Price Risk with Derivatives Coursework

Managing Oil Price Risk with Derivatives - Coursework Example VIII. RECOMMENDATIONS 44 Bibliography 46 FIGURES Figure Page 1.0 World Oil Consumption by Region, 1970-2020 13 2.0 Increments in Oil Consumption by Region, 1970-2020 14 3.0 OPEC Oil Production 1973-2007 15 ABBREVIATIONS CFTC Commodities Futures Trading Commission GAO United States Government Accountability Office IEA International Energy Agency ICE International Exchange NYMEX New York Mercantile Exchange OPEC Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries OTC Over-the-Counter WTO World Trade Organization Section I: INTORDUCTION In the 21st century, oil prices are once again exhibiting an increased trend towards volatility since the last noticeable price hikes in the 70s and the 80s. There is no denying the fact that oil prices tend to be more volatile then any other commodity and thus could have a considerable impact on the economy of a nation. Therefore the developed and the developing countries are desperately...It is difficult to say whether this volatility will continue through 2009 or the things will revert back to the placid levels of 1986-2003 periods. The governments and financial institutions around the world are trying hard to come out with the instruments and the devices to control the risks imposed by the oil price volatility in the contemporary scenario. In that context, derivates could play a pivotal role in insulating the economies against oil price fluctuations. This paper intends to elaborate on how the oil price risks can be managed with derivatives. In the 21st century, oil prices are once again exhibiting an increased trend towards volatility since the last noticeable price hikes in the 70s and the 80s. There is no denying the fact that oil prices tend to be more volatile then any other commodity and thus could have a considerable impact on the economy of a nation. Therefore the developed and the developing countries are desperately resorting to all the strategies at their disposal, be it the price smoothing schemes, encouraging diversification, price control or fuel tax manipulations to tame the volatile oil prices (Bacon & Kojimi 2008).

Quantitative models for project planning

Quantitative models for project planning Introduction Project management consists of diverse processes linked to each other. In IT project management, strategic vision and planning are important elements of any project which determine the project outcomes. Historically, project success has been defined as bringing a project to conclusion on time, within budget and according to specifications. For successful performance, IT organizations need effective project management system which consists of control activities and effective resource allocation in order to achieve overall objectives of the company/organization. Project Management Defined Project management aims to achieve specified performance within an agreed time scale and budget. Every aspect of the project is defined, e.g. quality, reliability etc. In general, project management is defined as the process of managing, allocating, and timing resources to achieve a given goal in an efficient and expedient manner (Badiru,1993, p.1). The goals of the project give a sense of direction for the activities of an organization. They give broad guiding principles towards which detailed and specific plans are directed. The important point of the project management is that the elements are expected to work synergistically together to generate a joined output that is greater than the sum of the individual outputs of the components (Badiru, 1993, p.1). Different authors identify different elements of the project management such as planning, scheduling and control or resource scheduling, budgeting and cost control, teamwork and effective leadership, conflict management and knowledge management. The book A Guide to the Project Management underlines that the main characteristics of projects are: performed by people, constrained by limited resources and planned, executed and controlled (Burkun, 2005. p. 4). All of them underline importance of successful planning and control operations to achieve specific goals of the project. Effective projects are based on unlimited model of project management. It describes the impact of resource scheduling, budgeting, teamwork, conflict management and knowledge management on the outcomes of the project. Projects are carried out in organizations, which are collectives of individuals and sometimes in a group, sometimes at cross-purposes. Resource Scheduling In IT project management, resource scheduling in the initial planning stage varies depending on the type of project. When planning a simple project its team may simply consider the type of resources necessary for each activity, equipment or skill groups. However, if planning a project with fewer resources, the project team may consider not just the skill types necessary but particular individuals, especially if the project has a short duration. The effective resource planning is essential, because the initial stage determine the development and outcomes of a project in general. On some projects, collocation may not be an option; where it is not viable, an alternative may be scheduling frequent face-to- face meetings to encourage interaction (A Guide to the Project Management, 2000). The people who created the PERT scheduling technique realized that any estimate of the duration of a proposed task is subject to uncertainty (Frame, 2002, p. 74). Unproductive long-range planning for purchasing does not allow the project to achieve its goals. It can lead to waste of time and poor outcomes. It is important that the project be finished on time and close to budget. By adding resources it can easily be seen whether any project resources are expected to be working on a huge number of activities, to such an extent that they will not be able to complete all the work by the scheduled completion date. Ineffective resource scheduling can lead to low profits and useless unprofitable outcomes (A Guide to the Project Management, 2000). Budgeting and Cost Control On the majority of IT projects where there is very limited equipment being used, the main cost will be that associated with the people in the internal project team, appointed contractors and subcontractors. It is important to note that for different organizations, cost of the staff plays a different role. For instance, organizations running in-house projects do not estimate the cost of their internal staff working on the project, but do esti ­mate the cost of contractors and suppliers. Knack finds that The more hours staff members spend on a project, the more expensive it becomes (Frame, 2002, p. 20). This is often the case not only for small organiza ­tions, but also many multinational companies which do not have systems in place to allow them to accurately track and record the time people spend on individual projects. For these organizations, effective cost management is crucial for the project outcomes and its profitability. Cost budgeting involves allocating the overall cost estimates to individual activities or work packages to establish a cost baseline (A Guide to the Project Management, 2000, p. 89). Human Resource Management Management of conflicts is an essential part of project Management. It has assumed a vital strategic role in recent years as organizational attempt to compete through people. Today, projects can create a competitive advantage when they possess or develop human resources that are psychologically strong and organized. To avoid low motivation and confidence of employees, conflict is now treated seriously as an important aspect in the proper understanding of behavior. Modern management prac ­tice emphasizes the need for free expression and encourages open com ­munications, especially between superiors and subordinates, and methods of continuing consultation and negotiation (Frame, 2002, p. 98). Conflict resolution takes time and efforts of employees, reducing success of the project in general. Also, conflicts have a negative influence on productivity because of low motivation or frustration of the staff. Knowledge Management Without effective knowledge management the IT project will fail. Proper flow of knowledge and training of employees ensures success and fixed outcomes of the project. Knowledge management is viewed as a means of communication and as a means of storing knowledge. Knowledge manage ­ment is more about people than technology. Organizational networks can be particularly important in ensuring that knowledge is shared. Risk Management A major source of risk on IT projects is tied to difficulties in managing needs and requirements. If requirements have not been identified correctly and if the corresponding requirements do not capture real needs properly, then a project is doom to failure because it will produce deliverables that do not correspond to customers needs and wants. Proper management of needs and requirements is a necessary condition for project success. Problems begin with attempts to identify needs. One common difficulty is determining who the customers are. Managers who aspire to enable their organizations to be good at managing risk must recognize the road to effective risk management. In projects, there are techniques that may help to reduce uncertainty of the future and hence are valuable. In the area of investment decisions, probability forecasts are very important, e.g. variable estimates of future sales costs and prices will affect the estimated rates of return on capital invested in projects. Risk management is an important area of project management because it helps the project manager to locate and plan resources taking into account probability analysis and possible risks. Ineffective risk analysis leads to failure of the project and threatens its outcomes. To understand why these may be threatening to some people, consider what risk management processes do: they force people in organizations to approach their efforts in a deliberative fashion and to be aware of the dangers that lurk in the shadows (Badiru, 1993). In order to survive in highly competitive world, IT organizations have to improve their flexibility and be ready to meet change from external environment. He says that changes in organization are often facilitated by such factors as uncertain economic conditions, globalization and fierce competition, the level of government intervention, political interests, scarcity of natural resources, and rapid developments in technology. As well as increasing demand for high-quality goods, services and customers satisfaction, flexibility in organizational structure determines the changing nature of workforce and conflict within the organization. Therefore, in todays fast changing business environment, change turns to be an unavoidable part of social and organizational life (Blanchard and Johnson, 2002). Hence, organizational change can appear in different shapes, sizes and forms; it can be reflected in various change programs such as total quality management, business process re-engineering, per formance management, lean production are all being enforced in organizations all over the world. Moreover, each organization has to find its own approach on how to implement change, reduce conflict and achieve higher productivity. It is important to have a detailed management plan, create an appropriate organizational environment to deliver change, follow carefully the steps of change models and focus on human resources (Badiru, 1993). Quality Management Quality management can be described as a collection of principles, techniques, processes and best practices. These are put into practice during the time of companys existence. In general, the whole process is based on a number of effective technologies. Traditionally, the technologies are based on the use total quality management elements (Badiru, 1993). The use of these elements is projected to improve the quality management method model that has been developed by the company. The main objective of the given model is to describe the primary quality management methods that are currently practiced by the company. The combination of these methods is used with the aim to assess an organizations present strengths and weaknesses. Traditionally, the analysis is done with the regard to the use of quality management methods. Recent times have brought many approaches to management. Just-in-time (JIT) management principles have become the main principles that are used in modern managerial prac tices. The main specifics of JIT program is that it is directed towards ensuring that the right quantities of the people. Many people perceive this program as a material-control system (Frame, 2002). In IT projects, a great emphasis is put on training people in tools and techniques knowledge. So, knowledge of safety rules for workers would eliminate accidents at work, thus making process more effective and productive. With the help of quality control process chart, a safety officer is able to analyze his actions directed onto training people in safety issues. The cause of any issue can be steaming either from people, or process, or equipment. If equipment is not working properly, the incidents at working station could be also an effect. The scheme is divided into cause and effect parts, where cause can contain such categories as people, methods, machines, materials, environment, measurements, etc. Usually there would be found a relation between causes and effects in the projects Other issues that could be considered as principles of performance, besides profitability, include market share, degree of compliance with rules, rate of innovation and extent of society involvement. In addition to an overall judgment of consumer value, the input process of value creation must also be tracked and changes made as needed. In the issue of value, minor errors could later cause problems and require the type of essential change that a plan of endlessly improving value seeks to avoid. A suitable frame of indicators for the process of leadership is provided by the other issues themselves. The leadership, Integration, Involvement, and Ingraining achieved by the organization are reliable factors of how effectively the organization is pursuing its stated eventual end (Frame, 2002). Conclusion The outcomes of the IT project depend upon all elements of the project and effective implementation of all parts of the plan. In project management, resource scheduling and resource location are the main keys of effective project management based on control of project and its security. All elements are interdependent and cannot be considered in isolation. For instance, better customer relations lead higher morale of staff, lower program costs result in higher profit margins. Individuals have a lot of freedom, but when they join a project their freedom is restricted and their effort must be joined with those of others to achieve organizational goals. For this reason, the project manager should take a special attention to all areas of the project and resources involved to achieve desirable and predetermined outcomes. Effective project management depends upon location of resources and management skills of its leader. IT project management links such categories as people, methods, machin es, materials, environment, and measurements. List of References Badiru, A.B. 1993. Quantitative Models for Project Planning, Scheduling and Control. Quorum Books. Burkun, S. 2005. The Art of Project Management. OReilly Media; 1 ed. Blanchard, K., Johnson, S. 2002. The One Minute Manager. Berkley Trade. A Guide to the Project Management: Body of knowledge PMBOK Guide 2000 edition. Project management Institute. Frame, J.D. 2002. The New Project Management: Tools for an Age of Rapid Change,Complexity, and Other Business Realities. Jossey-Bass.

Classifying Three NFL Teams According To Attitude :: essays research papers

Classifying Three NFL Teams According to Attitude The National Football League was formed decades ago by the merger of two national leagues. The Super Bowl is the traditional season-end activity that crowns the national champion. Each team represented starts with one of the original leagues.The number of teams active in the NFL does not remain the same for longr.o. the game of professional football is big business and can be highly profitable. When the NFL announces that it has approved new expansion teams, there is intense competition among team less cities to attract one of the franchises. The game is profitable for team owners and for players, but it also is profitable for the cities in which teams are centered. It contributes to the local economy and enhances the stature of the city in where a team is located. Of course teams and their organizations are made up of individuals, but the teams themselves tend to settle into characteristics of their own. Once established in reputation, the team can remain with it for years regardless of the changes that occur within and around it. Example can be seen in any NFL team. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are technically sound playing but very bad results. The team has been winning with much greater frequency in recent years, but it can expect to maintain the loser perception for years to come. As teams take on their its own personality. Most of NFL teams relies rely on assessment of the number of games won compared to the number lost during a season or over a number of years. Teams also can be classified according to that personality, or at least according to the personality perceived by fans and the press. With the classification of good, average and bad. The Tennessee Titans will be used to show the good team the Minnesota Vikings will represent the average and the Dallas Cowboys will fill the role of bad. The Tennessee Titans The Titans provide a good example of how teams can change the perceptions that have built around them over the years. In the case of the Titans, the change was effected by moving to a new state, changing the team name, replacing personnel and replacing the coaching staff. The Titans hardly have the same team at all, but they formerly were the Houston Oilers. You should keep in mind that as the Oilers, the team had posted so many consecutive losing seasons that it had managed to destroy the reputation built during the winning years.

Bend It Like Beckham Review

The title of the movie that was instructed to me to write a movie review is bind It Like Beckman,'I a genial ethnic sports comedy directed by Grinder Chad. â€Å"Bend It Like Beckman† is a British film co-funded with Germany. It was released in the UK in 2002 and in the United States in March 2003. It turned out to be one of the surprise hits of 2002, making over Ell million at the UK box office, while also proving popular with American and European audiences. Beckman is David Beckman, star of the Manchester United soccer am (and the husband of one of the Spice Girls).The observation â€Å"nobody bends it like Beckman,† from which the title derives, apparently refers to his ability to curve the ball past the opposing goalkeeper. The story centers around eighteen-year-old Jess, a hardworking Indian girl who loves British soccer star David Beckman and Jules, an English girl who befriends Jess after she observes her running circles around a group of strapping young men pla ying soccer in the park. Jess comes from a very strict Indian family where gender roles are clearly defined. Women are expected to learn to cook and are for their husbands, who are, of course, expected to be the sole breadwinners.This might be fine for Jess' older sister Pinky, however Jess has a dramatically different vision of her own future, and it doesn't entail settling down and cooking the perfect chapatti. More than anything, she wants to join her idol on the football pitch, but her parents will never accept a football player for a daughter. Jess sees herself as a female version of her hero, David Beckman, competing in soccer rather than cooking for an acceptable Indian man as tradition dictates. So Jess is forced to hide her passion from her loved nest, even her sister Pinky, who is about to be married to her long-term boyfriend Teeth.Jess is then secretly joins Jules' competitive women's soccer team which is the Winslow Harriers and is forced to lead a double life in order to not disappoint her parents and still play the sport for which she lives and breathes. Sneaking out to practice and traveling with the team to tournaments puts a strain on her home life. She has to lie to justify her absence from home. To complicate matters, she finds herself falling for her soccer coach. Jess is the main character in the film. She tries to be a good girl for her other and father but can't help sneaking Off to play football.While Jess has to lie and sneak around a lot, her rebellious streak is not aimed to hurt her parents. Jess' dream is to play football professionally, at the beginning of the movie it was just a dream, but when she was invited on a proper team and started to see herself as a proper player, her dream started to become her goal. Jess has always been very strong and determined in the movie, except over time she becomes more determined, and even stronger. We see Jess talking to Beckman at the beginning of the movie, and as she grows and tauter, she finds out she can have trust in other people.She finds Jules and Joe who she feels she can confide in and talk freely to. Jess also gains more confidence as she progresses through the movie, at fritterers would never dream of confronting her parents like she did at the end of the firm. Joe, Jules, Tony and her whole football team support her in her goals and she gathers up more and more courage and self-esteem. A great example of her self- esteem gain is when Jess at first does not want to show her scar to the world, she hides it away and will not go onto the field in her shorts because everyone will see it.Joe talks to Jess and they bond over their injuries, this makes Jess feel more comfortable with herself and realize that she may not be the only one and when she is on the field, no one will care. By the end of the movie, Jess is able to stand up for herself, share her Opinion and feel confident about herself. Bend it like Beckman is and overall a good firm and an excellent movie for everyone to watch although it is lacking in plot and dialogue. It has a warm feel good message of girl power and breaking traditional barriers but it is predictable in its storyline.One thing that was a great asset to the film was the colorful Punjabi culture and ceremonies. Some may say ‘it's just a movie' but I know from personal experience that millions of youth face difficulties in choosing cultures when living amongst two different ones. From this movie, the moral values that I've learn is firstly, respect. Jess was never disrespectful to her parents. On the other hand, it was her parents who were being disrespectful to her. They didn't look at her for who she was, instead they only saw who they wanted her to be. The second moral value that learned from this movie is caring.Jesses parents made mistake in their attempts to parent their children, but they also had real strength. The strength was their basic and strong love for Jess. The problem was that they didn't loo k at who Jess had become. They saw her as they wanted her to be. This caused Jess to deceive them but didn't do her any real damage because, before it was too late, they saw what was important to their daughter and changed their position. Had they not done this, Jess would have had to choose between her relationship with her parents and her dream to be a football player. That would have really damage their relationship.

Standardized Testing

Standardized Testing Free Online Research Papers Standardized testing is a highly debatable topic in which one may choose to or not to limit the usage of standardized testing. These tests should be removed from all high schools nation wide. High stakes testing groups students together, limits educational possibilities, and sets up students for failure. Standardized tests are tests that, house concealed biases. In fact on the 2006 English ten High School Assessments most of the reading selections were about or related to colored people and their hardships. Standardized test makers are supposed to remove biases from the tests however the test makers failed to accomplish this task as the passed the English 10 HSA. As I sat at my desk with my test laid out in front of me I soon realized as I read through the selections that I would have a slight difficulty retraining the answers the text in order to answer the brief constructed responses. Personally I had problems understanding the plot nevertheless what was going on to tie the sections of the story together. Thus hindering my ability to answer the BCR’s which were related to the selections. Many American high school students and their families believe that standardized tests are unfair for many reasons. For example parents believe that the tests set students up for failure later on in their life. Another example of this is the fact that as of the of 2005 the graduating class of 2009 all proceeding classes must pass four out of four high school assessments . As well as this , many students find it difficult to pass tests with questions that are worded in an awkward manner. Students are given time in class to prepare students for the test , if students use this time then the students stand a greater chance of passing the test. It is also unfair to pass students onto the next grade even though the student may not have acquired an equitable education. The cause of many students being failures is the simple fact that good teachers are fired because they teach the old tests and when it comes time for the students to apply what they have learned, they fail the tests. Standardized tests also misinform the public. For example, as teachers begin to review the old tests, they soon realize that the information may very well be placed on the new years exams. As teachers hit on specific key points that were covered on the old tests, they unknowingly lower their schools average testing scores because they are only covering the old information covered and not the new topics which have replaced some of the other old topics on the tests. Most standardized tests are not released to the public until it is almost time for the tests to be distributed. High stakes testing is also only a narrow slice of a child’s knowledge. Tests such as the HSA, the SAT, and the PSAT do not measure the non school related topics, standardized testing only measures academic knowledge. These tests do not take it account the environment in which every student enters when he/she leaves the school at the end of every day. Some environments include such factors as poverty, hunge r, and even student mobility. All of which can limit how well a student can focus. There are other and better ways to evaluate the ability of a student . For example if a teacher keeps track of a students behavior then the teacher can tell exactly how well a student behaves during certain activities. As well as this each teacher could document a students work. If a teacher tracks a students work, then the teacher, student and the student’s family may be able to tell which topics the student is doing , both, well and poorly in. Performance assessments are a direct evaluation of effort on the students behalf. Recall learning task reports provide useful materials for teachers and the government information on how much funding to give to schools. A schools major funding/educational decisions should not be made solely on an average test score. High stakes testing punishes not only students but the teachers also. Teachers are punished for things of which they cannot control. Tests such as these distort and weaken the curriculum as it houses forms of instruction which fail to engage the students in education. Tests which dictate the testing environment , also limit education improvement. Thus , high stakes (standardized) testing actively hurt s genuine education improvement. Research Papers on Standardized TestingMoral and Ethical Issues in Hiring New EmployeesResearch Process Part OneEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenGenetic EngineeringPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesHip-Hop is ArtThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseTrailblazing by Eric AndersonBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Global Warming in California Professor Ramos Blog

Global Warming in California Many people seem to not pay enough attention to global warming. Our climate has changed so much over that past few years in record breaking ways. The weather is getting hotter and hotter by each passing year. Yet, no one seems to care or pay attention to why this is happening. California is one of the most populated states in the world. We are heavy contributors to this epidemic. Wildfires and hurricanes are beginning to get worse due to the horrible weather conditions we live in on a day to day basis. Living life forms on land are also not the only ones effected by global warming, our fellow sea creature suffers from rising sea levels and climate change in the ocean. This is a very serious issue that I hope after reading this, you’ll pay more attention to our climate change and other natural changes that are due to our atmosphere. One main thing to keep in mind when you think about global warming is the rise of temperature within our decade. Since there’s been more toxic gases released in the air due to our own evolution of industries, we have had our climate been the hottest it’s been in recorded history. â€Å"Over the past 50 years, the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history† (MacMillan NRDC). The scary part about this fact is that it’s only getting hotter. Our summers are breaking the record of the previous summer year by year and it’s something we really need to try and deal with. The main cause of global warming is the greenhouse effect which MacMillan breaks down very simply in her article making it simple for those who don’t believe global warming is â€Å"real†. Greenhouse gases is something that is man-made and being that we live in California, we create an abundance of greenhouse gases. The populated Californi a becomes, the hotter and horrible our climate becomes year after year. One of our natural cause disaster that happens very often in California are the wildfires. The number of wildfires California has a year is very alarming. On average, more than 100,000 wildfires a year in just California alone according to Cal Fire experts. These fires are not only destroying our land, they’re destroying our homes. â€Å"Much of the western United states is extremely dry, and there are many reports of temperatures and forest fires that have broken records. The number of buildings destroyed – nearly 1,000 in a recent count – is staggering† (Moritz 273). Our climate change that we brought upon ourselves is something that’s adding fuel to these forest fires that are potentially destroying homes and agriculture. Its freighting to think that even our own weather can destroy families and homes we worked so hard to build and maintain. We are also creating a problem in our sea life the more global warming gets worse, especially here in populated California. The more and more we contribute to this climate change the more ice caps will melt. Once a significate amount of polar ice caps melts, the rise in our sea levels will begin to happen. This can be a major threat to the costal living area all throughout California. â€Å"Even if world manages to limit global warming to 2 degrees C – the target number for current climate negotiations – sea levels may still rise at least 6 meters (20 feet) above their current heights, radically reshaping the world’s coastline and affecting millions in the process† (Kahn). Our coastal cities that we love to visit will be completely under water. Many live and homes will be gone and we will ultimately face an epidemic in the future that we may not have any control over. â€Å"By 2050, 26 major U.S. cities will face an â€Å"emerging flooding crisis† (Kahan). That number is not far away from as of now. Who knows what cities will be emerged in water by the time 2050 starts slowing coming our way. This is from global warming, this is a man-made condition that the majority of us ignore or don’t believe to be something that’s real. The more we disregard this epic crisis that’ll sooner or later cause us great problems, the faster the effects will come to us. Now, there are some of us that are trying to make a change to this crisis. We are coming up with better transportation solutions that’ll be eco-friendlier towards our atmosphere. More electric power vehicles and solar panels to replace a lot of our technology that causes damage to our atmosphere. Apart of our technology, we have urban forest organizations that plant urban trees to help reduce the amount of green-house gases from emerging into the atmosphere. Many donation organizations that go around and help area of the planet that need agriculture assistance. Planting trees and other greens in dry, high fire risk areas is one great way to help. You can also make changes yourself by getting an eco-friendly vehicle or reduce your drive time by car-pooling. Global warming is something we obviously need to pay more attention too, but there are still good people out there that are trying to make the changes that most of us aren’t doing. Make sure you turn off any electroni cs that you aren’t using, buy energy efficient household products, use less hot water, plant a tree, and always recycle materials that you would normally throw away. I chose this topic to write about because, there are many of us out there that go outside and do fun activities and enjoy the outdoors. Having these harsh climates year by year will decrease the fun time you have when you go outside. I want everyone to be aware that by you making a simple decision like leaving your light on or driving constantly when it’s not necessary can take away the cool refreshing days and leave us inside and living in a world that is constantly hot and unimaginable for us and our loved ones.

Supply chain management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Supply chain management - Essay Example Supply chain management, on the other side is viewed as a management philosophy (Mentzer, 2001). Supply chain management can be defined as the encompassment of management and planning of various activities that are involved in sourcing, procurement, conversion as well as various other activities regarding logistics. The most important aspect of SCM is that it includes collaboration and co-ordination of different channel partners including suppliers, intermediaries and customers. In simple words, SCM integrates the demand and supply management across and within the companies (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, n.d.). The SCM concept views all the channel partners as a ‘single entity’ instead of considering them fragmented parts. According to Stevens, main objective of maintaining the supply chain is synchronizing the flow of goods and services with the needs of the customers so as to manage the balance among the high customer service, low unit cost and low inventory management (Mentzer, 2001). Monczka opined that SCM’s primary objective is managing and integrating the source, flow as well as the control of materials by using a perspective of ‘total system’ across different tiers of suppliers and different functions (Mentzer, 2001).

Reflection Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 72

Reflection - Essay Example The mechanism of the cell cycle also provided an in-depth perspective on the occurrence of cancer (Morgan, 2007). Cancers of various body parts including the skin and breast are among the leading causes of death. This course has broadened my understanding of the disease and brought the realization that the introduction of certain changes to the genetic makeup of cells causes them to proliferate abnormally thereby leading to cancer. I have also understood that cancer seems to progress faster because cancerous cells divide faster than normal cells. Additionally, approximately 90% of cancerous cells are preparing for division at any given time. While researching topics related to cancer, I learned that environmental and genetic factors predisposed individuals to cancers. The environmental aspect included exposure to carcinogenic substances, which interfered with the genetic makeup of cells and led to the formation of abnormal cancerous cells. On the other hand, the genetic aspect meant that certain individuals possessed certain inherent genetic traits that increased their susceptibility to cancer. We cannot control our inherent genetic makeup, but we can limit exposure to carcinogenic substances.The course has taught me to protect myself from cancer by avoiding substances such as skin lightening products, unnecessary exposure to ultra violet rays, among many other substances. Various oncology societies advocate for early treatment of cancers, which can only be possible if the disease is detected early enough before it advances. As a result, individuals are required to have regular screening for various forms of cancers. For example, women of certain ages need to have annual breast cancer screening. I advocate for such practices because they improve the treatment of cancer. In addition, they prevent the metastasis of the cancerous cells into other parts of the body