Saturday, August 31, 2019

Classical Civilizations of Ancient Greece, Rome, and China

Throughout history, there have been many civilizations, empires, colonies, and tribes that have impacted the world. The civilizations of Greece, Rome, and China have done this, but what sets them apart from the others is their lasting significance and lasting impact they had on the world. For this reason, they are considered classical civilizations. To describe how Greece, Rome, and Han China are classical, there are three systems that are used; these are Economic, Social, and Political. Out of these three classical civilizations, Greece came first in history.An important invention of Greece was its plumbing systems. Greece was the first to create plumbing and now it is almost unheard of for a house anywhere on earth to not have a plumbing system. This innovation falls under the economic category. The most important social feature from ancient Greeks would be philosophy. After the Peloponnesian Wars, many people began questioning themselves and their beliefs. During this time, many p hilosophers were living in Greece. One of the most important was Socrates. He encouraged people to examine their beliefs.When he was 70, he was taken to trial for â€Å"corrupting the youth of Athens† and â€Å"neglecting the city’s gods. † He was put to death by poison. Some historians say that the fall of Athens started with his death. Plato, one of Socrates’ students, wrote a book about Plato’s vision of a perfectly governed society. Plato’s writings dominated philosophic thought in Europe for almost 1,500 years. Then there was Aristotle, a student of Plato’s. Aristotle invented a method of logic which is the foundation for the scientific method of today.Even Greece’s philosophy was very influential on future civilizations, democracy is considered Greece’s most important contribution to modern society. Democracy, under the political system, is a government controlled by its citizens, either directly or through represe ntatives. Greece was the first to have this type of government. America, along with many other countries, borrowed this idea from Greece when creating their governments. Next on the timeline is Rome. Ancient Rome, like America, borrowed many ideas from the Greeks to create and advance structural ideas.In this way, they adapted their plumbing systems, but improved it by inventing public latrines. We might think of this as an advancement, but Rome had areas where pots were placed in a circle to go to the bathroom, and the waste would drop down into a river or stream (the plumbing system). This was a huge improvement in their sanitary conditions. The Romans acquired other ideas from places other than Greece. In the political division, there was the Roman law where its standards were extremely influenced by the teachings of Stoic philosophers.The principles were based on common sense and practical ideas. Much of modern laws, including the legal systems of many European countries along w ith the United States, have been influenced by the long lasting Roman law. Again with importance, Rome’s agriculture and trade played a big role in Roman life. Agriculture was the most important industry in the empire and everything else depended on it. Most Romans relied on the food grown in their local area and all other food and luxuries were only for the rich and they got them through trade.Rome, being along the Mediterranean Sea, had a enormous trading system and also had roads connecting it to far off places such as Persia and southern Russia. And connecting this huge empire was its sole language, the Latin language. Latin, in the social system, had a major influence on some major languages of the world, including French, Italian, Spanish, and English. Along with Rome’s unified currency know as the Denarius, the Latin language helped unify the civilization by linking diverse people and far away areas.Ancient China’s occurrence overlapped Rome’s, but started afterward, so last would fall China. In comparison with Rome, China had a large trading network. They both built roads to build their networks too. China’s commerce was very important to the Han Empire. When the Empire realized valuable their silk was as an item of trade, they kept their production technique a secret. The demand for silk from China increased. This increase of demand expanded Chinese commerce reaching all the way through Asia and India, all the way to Rome.As trade would fall in the Economic category, China’s bureaucracy and civil service would fall in the Social category. A bureaucracy is a system of departments and agencies that formed o carry out the work of government and a civil service is when people are paid to work within a civilization/country’s government. The bureaucracy of China included eighteen different ranks of civil service jobs that civilians could obtain by taking examinations. But if someone wanted to take one of thes e tests, they would have much more of a chance if they went to the school that Wudi set up.In this school, people studied Confucius’s works. These schools were expensive so only sons of wealthy land owners ever had a chance at a government career. Evidently, you did not have to believe in the Confucianism religion, but those who did were rewarded. Confucianism falls under the social division. These three civilizations were considered classical civilizations because of the impact that Greece, Rome and China had on the modern world’s economic, social and political systems.

Friday, August 30, 2019

India Change over Time Essay

India is a country with a rich culture and many age-old traditions. Although some of these aspects of indian culture can still be seen today, India has changed greatly over the year. A major contributing factor to this change was British colonization of India in the early and mid-1700s; colonization had both short-term and long-term impacts on India. Prior to British colonization most of India lived in small villages and maintained a predominantly agricultural economy. In most regions of India there is a strong sense of family and community. There are many festivals and occasions for celebration, especially weddings. As each region of India has elements of unique culture, occasions and celebrations can vary widely. Before colonization, people lived in extended families. A son would not leave his parents’ home when he married. Instead, his new wife would live with her husband’s family and work for and serve his household. Women had very few choices or rights. They were expected to obey their father until they married, then they would obey their husband. If their husband died, they would be expected to obey their father-in-law. Houses were built of wood, reeds, mud bricks and straw. People slept, ate and sat on the floor, and furniture in houses was not common prior to colonization. Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism are the three religions that are believed to have shaped Indian thought; religions that are practices world-wide. Many motivations pushed Europeans towards colonizing foreign lands. Primarily, nations established colonies to gain economic profits. In addition to a desire for economic profit, nationalism also served as a reason for colonization. Europeans used the ideas of the â€Å"White Man’s Burden† to help justify their colonization of foreign lands. The White Man’s Burden was the idea that as supreme beings, it was the job of the white people to spread their superior ways of living to the inferior people of other places. Britain discovered the Indian sub-continent when it was looking to expand its vast empire. In the mid eighteenth century, India became one of Great Britain’s most important colonies. Great Britain relied heavily on India as a source of raw materials. Britain profited from India’s vast supply of tea and cotton. Beginning in 1757, the East India Company, which was overseen by the British government, ruled India. Britain did benefit from the situation; however, notwithstanding the obvious injustices associated with colonization, India also experienced positive impacts. While Great Britain felt that they were being very generous to the Indian people in colonizing and modernizing the nation, the Indians did not always agree with this. Under British rule, many new roads, railways, and harbors were built, and a telegraph system was created. While the Indians were forced to do much labor in the construction of these things, they were often kept from enjoying and benefiting from the finished products. In fact, the Indian people were treated as second class citizens in their own nation. They were banned from many government positions, and had little rights. They often received lower wages than Europeans working in the same job, and their educations did little for them. The Indians eventually came together to fight against the way that they were treated influenced by the same sense of nationalism that had prompted the British to colonize India more than a century before. After much hard work, India finally gained independence from Great Britain in August 1947; however, although India gained independence all ties with the British nation were not cut. One of the first impacts that colonization had in India was the development of unity. When Britain first acquired India as a colony the country was divided. The British imposed system impacted India by bringing more equality to the country as the caste system which outlined social hierarchy was adapted. It is also significant that Britain accepted all of the religions of India which also allowed unity to prosper. India has also experienced positive impacts from the institution established and then left behind by the colonizers. The institutions established by the British Raj and then inherited by India helped lead to democracy in modern day India. The assistance of these institutions assisted India in becoming the world’s largest democracy today. It is also of note that Britain first introduced India to early capitalism through colonization. Britain transformed India into an agricultural based capitalist economy and established forms of private ownership. These actions led India into creating free trade and competitive business. Today India is the largest provider of services in the world in large part due to colonization; however, it is uncertain if without colonization this would be possible. The Indian population is able to compete in the service sector due to the positive impact of the English language being left behind post British rule. When colonization was occurring in India schools were established which taught and offered instruction in English. It is also of note that the East India Company had a positive impact by establishing some services such as rail throughout the country. The culture of India was also greatly impacted. As the English language spread, indigenous languages were diminished, and the culture, as a whole, began to take on a more European style. Under colonial rule India often depended on Great Britian for such things as technological advances and manufactured goods. Once it became independent, India slowly fell behind the rest of the world, as it had to learn to depend less on other nations and more on itself. India, even today, is considered a third-world country. The nations that were once under colonial rule, such as India, are for the most part the nations that are currently undergoing industrial revolutions. In addition to colonization changing the culture of India, it also affected that of the mother country, Great Britain. Colonization led to an increased diversity of culture in Great Britain. This was because many people from India began to move to Great Britain. Today, Great Britain is still home to many Indian people. The impacts of British colonization were huge and the changes made to India as a nation were great. However, not all of that rich culture was lost. Many of those original religions such as Jainism, Hinduism and Buddhism are still practiced world-wide. Also, even though English is common in education and business, the official language of India today is Hindi. Indians continue to be proud of their culture and traditional Indian buildings, attire, and customs can still be seen throughout the country.

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Savage Peace Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Savage Peace - Essay Example The high inflation rate, which began in 1918, was further aggravated and it ignited the social unrest, which were marred by riots, strikes, terrorism, fear of Communism and racial unrest, among others (p.113). The nation was not only effectively paralyzed but it became unusually unjust. Even the government began exerting its authority, curbing and violating individual rights in the process. Intelligence were gathered on its citizens and a legislation was passed restricting First Amendment rights (p.113).This year was called the "savage peace". Its impact on modern America is wide-ranging. It established the governmental agencies like the FBI and intensified violence against black Americans, which would influence the trajectory of civil rights movement thereafter. The savage peace highlighted an aspect of the American story at its worst. Much injustice has been committed both from the side of the government as well as from the side of its citizens. It is worthy of our interest because the events that transpired would influence in great degrees the future developments that would shape modern

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

What Human Resource Management Is And To What Extent Do Hard And Essay

What Human Resource Management Is And To What Extent Do Hard And Soft HRM Practices Differ - Essay Example The researcher states that in the recent past adoption of HRM practices has been on the rise thus challenging the personnel management existing order in many organizations. A lot of questions have remained unexplained on why HRM has been dominant over the other practices of employment. Attempts to sufficiently define the role of HRM have been unsuccessful. Many scholars had to speculate if there has been anything new formed regarding the precise definition of HRM. Some view human resource management to be in direct rebellion and rejection with personnel management and industrial relations. Others on the other hand view HRM to be a repackaged form of Personnel Management. Interestingly, there has been a considerable degree of extension and overlap between the roles, models, and theories that constitute the disciplines of Personnel Management and HRM. The overlap is in support of the fact and argument that HRM is Personnel Management that has been repackaged, and there is no big change between the two. On the contrast, the HRM outcomes have not been in agreement with that of traditional Personnel management. For example, cultural controls, strategic orientations, and normative concepts are absent in HRM. Many argue that the distinction between HRM and Personnel Management is on the different ways in which the theories and models they share are being deployed. A definite example that districts between the two disciplines are discourse and dialogue HRM treats labor unions. To the labor process theory, HRM has become a universal term describing the different employment governance approach. To define the employment management procedures, it is necessary to distinguish between HRM as a discipline and HRM as a dialogue. To reveal the actual role of HRM it is vital to carry out a definition of based in the context it operates in. In my view, HRM is a regulation mode that nurtures an accumulation capitalist regime. It is because the HRM practices were first being formula ted implemented by the Western nations whose economies are capitalists in nature.

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Surrealism and 'True' Reality in Quentin Tarantino's Films Essay

Surrealism and 'True' Reality in Quentin Tarantino's Films - Essay Example According to the findings, it can, therefore, be said that Tarantino directed the films in such a way that they were explicitly more or less about redemption. Also artistically, they are postmodern. Such that they tend to blend genres and are also highly allusive. In both the films, the characters struggle to become â€Å"real† people and live a â€Å"real† life without succeeding. This is because the redemption they seek is achieved through suffering and even death, as in the case of the gangsters in Reservoir Dogs. Hence, there is no desire to shed the uniforms and become â€Å"real† people.  Tarantino aims at reflecting a postmodern sensibility about an ability to know and understand the world and also, about the value and significance that every person’s life has and also their actions. The films illustrate the â€Å"real† world as the civilian world, one without struggle and any need for redemption. In order for one to become a â€Å"realâ⠂¬  person, they needed to shed their uniform. However,   some removed their uniforms without any intentions of redemption.

Monday, August 26, 2019

The Gods Anger Against the Nineveh Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Gods Anger Against the Nineveh - Thesis Example Nahum prophecy reveals more about God than any other book in the bible. He showed the divine attributes and each shows God in a different way. The attributes the prophet is revealing is about God anger on Nineveh. Many writings in the Bible portray God as the gentleman who is kind with twinkling eyes who loves his people and he cannot think of punishing or judging anybody (Harrelson, 1962). Since God anger was not known, it was Nahum who was to reveal it in his prophecies, in his prophecy, the God of Sinai flashes forth in awful fury, in front of God, every human being must tremble and be silent. The God anger was directed towards the city of Nineveh, before, God sends Jonah to that city to preach repentance since God was angry with them. First, Jonah didn’t want to go there because he wanted the city destroyed because of their cruelty towards Israel and Judah, he could have been very satisfied if Nineveh was destroyed. But through God miracles, he was swallowed by a fish and later abandoned in Nineveh, because of that miraculous happening he accepted to preach to the people of Nineveh. When he starts preaching, people in the city repented in sackcloth’s and ashes from the King to the citizen at the lowest level and God withdraw anger and they were forgiven. 100 years later, they went back to the sin. Godsend Nahum to preach to the kingdom of Judah, at the same time Assyrian kingdom invaded Israel led by King Sennacherib, because of this destruction, God moved forward towards protecting his people from destruction by destroying Nineveh kingdom. Nahum chapter 1:2-8 explains God anger towards Nineveh. Nahum described god as a jealous, wrathful, and avenging God. He takes vengeance against its enemies (Donald & John, 2006).

Sunday, August 25, 2019

Democratic states have historically been fouded upon the exclusion of Essay

Democratic states have historically been fouded upon the exclusion of women. What, if anything, does this tell us about the nature of democracy as a system of g - Essay Example This remains the case even today, if the discourses on democracy are not restricted to the mere exercise of the right to vote or to hold an office. The idea of democracy dates back to the ancient Greek and Roman forms of governance and a prototype of the modern democratic government were perhaps found in India, in the 6th Century BC. However, the ideological elements of a democratic state are still in the developing stage, as the concerns of various minority sects emerge every day. In all the ancient forms of democracy, the right to participate in the governance and policy decisions was restricted to certain privileged sects, mostly men. In ancient Greece and Rome, women and slaves were excluded from the running of the government of the people, where the idea of ‘people’ was attributed solely to free men. In ancient India, though women were given ample opportunity for education and participation in the theoretical aspects of governance, they were prohibited from the actual material aspects of it, thereby denying them any agency in the system. The Middle Ages focused on the limited participation of people in the gov ernance, where the traditional hegemonic structure of nations was mainly decided by the clergy. Even in the 18th and 19th Century when the United States emerged as a liberal democracy, the ostensibly democratic rights reserved for the white adult male citizens left out various ethnic minorities and women from active participation in the system. The historically exclusive nature of democratic ideals had even been transformed to strong and open dictatorships in the early part of Twentieth Century, but the Second World War led to a lot of introspective analyses that brought back the idea of democracy both a system of government and as an ideology that reflects the general quality of life in every sphere. The nature of democracy, in its Aristotelian and historically developed terms, relates to the participation of people

U02a1 Topic Selection Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

U02a1 Topic Selection - Research Paper Example The dependent variable is the experienced domestic violence with the drug users as victims or perpetrators of the reported violence. The proposed research aims at ascertaining an assumption of a relationship between drug abuse and domestic violence and the extent to which consumption of the substances contribute to the violence. The research title will be ‘Ascertaining existence of a relationship between drug abuse and domestic violence’. ‘Factors affecting the relationship between cognitive development among children and their social environment’ is another research topic, in sociology, that I can explore through qualitative research. I can research on the topic with children’s social environments as the independent variable and their level of cognitive development as the dependent variable. The research title will be ‘Social and economic factors affecting children’s cognitive development’. Hartas, D. (2010). Families’ Social Background Matters: Socioeconomic Factors, Home Learning and Young Children’s Language, Literacy and Social Outcomes. University of Warwick. retrieved from: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/3406/1/WRAP_Hartas_BERJ_paper_2010_%282%29.pdf. The article aimed at investigating the relationship between children’s learning in their domestic environments and social and economic condition of the children’s parents to determine effects of the conditions on the children’s learning potential, social, and emotional stability. With data from a sample, the article’s findings establishes that parents participate in their children’s learning processes at home and the parents’ social and economic potentials influence their children’s development. The factors however have more significant effects on the children’s literacy development than on their social and emotional potentials. The article sought to establish the relationship between drug abuse, involvement in violence and suicide. It identifies suicide and violence as

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Home Visit Activity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Home Visit Activity - Essay Example The mother is 25 years old named Jane. My friend recommended me to interview her for this task. In the planning process of this activity, I called a week in advance to see if she was willing to be interviewed. She agreed to the visit and we decided to carry out the activity on February 1 at 9 am. Although the time was set as per her consent I made a call before visiting her to make sure that the time is still suitable for her. The visit I visited Jane on the specified time. The visit started with a pleasant greeting to her and the baby. I went to wash my hands before holding the baby to give the impression of hygiene importance. To make the atmosphere friendly and light I introduced myself concisely and gave her a hand sanitizer as a gift for visitors. As per the phone conversation I expected a friendly but shy lady. However, Jane felt comfortable with me discussing her problems and circumstances. The purpose of the visit was to explore the facts which may be causing the baby girl to lose weight. The mother clearly stated that the baby was not gaining weight despite of her struggles and visits to different local doctors. The place where she lived was a small underdeveloped area with less educated and poor people surrounding it. She told about the frequent changes in medications in order to resolve this issue.

Friday, August 23, 2019

Unit 5 & 6 - POL 2000 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Unit 5 & 6 - POL 2000 - Research Paper Example With each country enjoying its leverage in different sectors. Secondly the threat of impact on one would lead to impact on all which has been seen in the case of European Union. Therefore each of these three nations would object to this idea. Other challenges include the rate difference in the currencies of the three states. The possible solution can be found in form of domestic currency versus international currency as a common currency. However it is still far from practical implementation. In personal capacity, having seen the challenges faced by the European states and especially with the relatively meager states in Europe such as Greece, Portugal and Spain that have been time and again bailed out and despite that they have found it difficult to continue with the common currency, therefore a common concept prevails that the common currency may not go too well in the favor of the weaker economic states such as Mexico in

Thursday, August 22, 2019

Felkris Alumni Tracer Essay Example for Free

Felkris Alumni Tracer Essay Situation Analysis Every year students were graduating in Felkris Academy. As they graduate, they leave their school; others might have no longer updates regarding their school for they are now in abroad for their work. As students, they still want to keep in touch with their alma mater. It is really difficult for the school to search for their graduates for they are scattered to the different parts of the world. That is why we have what we call alumni association. Alumni Association was founded to promote fellowship among graduates, former students, faculty and staff members of Felkris Academy for its development and well being as an educational institution. It is founded to provide support service to the school, and one thing more is that the alumni will be a great source for fund raising of the school for the benefit of the students in the form of scholarship funds. So tracking of the graduates is important. Tracking can provide concrete evidence that will enable the boards and the wider public to evaluate a schools most important productits graduatesin important ways. For easy access to the graduates of the school, the researchers are to study a web-based tracking system for Felkris Academy. It is web-based so that it is easy for the graduates and the school to have communication with each other anytime and everywhere in the world. Every graduate can still be updated to what is happening to their school, how far did the developments have undergone after they left the school, the academic status and many more by accessing the system through the web. The reasons for maintaining contact with alumni include networking for current students to obtain internships and professional positions, meeting requirements for accrediting agencies, and determining how well the program prepared the graduates for their professional careers. In order to strengthen graduates ability to move theory into practice, graduate programs need to stay current on professional practices. To determine what current practices are and to aid in evaluation and planning, documented information should be obtained from both alumni and professional organizations. Conceptual/Theoretical Framework In this era, where advancement is become the part of the each and every field of life and time become the one of the important element of the success we want to do things or everyday jobs with more fatly as ever. Here role of information system can’t be ignored doing things faster, doing things better, and doing thinks smarter these all traits are possible just because of two words, Information system. Alumni Tracking System is one of the examples of information system. To get contact with the old students and to provide the assistance to this old student for their future progress in all field of life and maintain the record of the passing out students. Alumni Tracking System helps to do what is mention above. According to Quimbita, Grace,1989-09-00 from ERIC Clearinghouse for Junior Colleges Los Angeles CA. Student tracking systems enable increasing numbers of community colleges to respond to external demands for accountability with tangible measurements of student progress and institutional outcomes. Several recent trends have prompted interest in monitoring student progress throughout college and into their professional lives. Bers (1989) argues that increasing emphasis on marketing, accountability, communication with students, and internal competition for students all serve as catalysts for the development of tracking systems. Bers identifies six stages in the student flow process that should be monitored by a student tracking system. AwarenessIn this stage, the prospective student learns about the college for the first time. Mass mailings to homes or businesses, advertisements in the media, and public information sessions are useful in making potential students aware of the college. InquiryMechanisms for maintaining personalized contact with prospective students should go into effect as soon as the individual makes the first inquiry about the college. The individuals name, social security number, and program interests should now be on record. EntryThis stage involves formal application, admission, first-time registration and enrollment, and increasingly, assessment tests, orientations, and advisement. ExperienceMost tracking efforts currently concentrate on this stage, gathering information on students as they take courses, fulfill prerequisites, pass, fail, or withdraw from courses, take advantage of support services, and work toward their goals. CompletionAt this stage, students leave the college with or without achieving their educational goals. Follow-UpBecause community college students commonly stop in and out, alumni can also be considered an important pool of prospective students. Maintaining contact with alumni after they have left the college is important in evaluating educational outcomes in terms of employment or transfer experiences, and attracting former students back to the college. Tracking systems can be developed for practically any stage in the student flow process. Cochise College in Arizona has a tracking system within its admissions office that monitors the awareness, inquiry and entry stages (Barrett, 1989). The Los Angeles Community College District in California and Arapahoe Community College in Colorado each have tracking systems which focus on basic skills assessment and monitor the entry, experience, and completion stages (Voorhees and Hart, 1989). Additionally, tracking designs are possible for underprepared students (Smittle, LaVallee, and Carman, 1989) and other special groups, such as displaced homemakers, single parents, learning disabled, and hearing impaired (Gay and Boukouvalas, 1989). Research Paradigm Input ProcessOutput I. ICT Resources of Felkris Academy a. The researchers intended to develop a web-based system in tracing the graduates. Particularly, this study will be significant for the graduates of Felkris Academy. It helps the graduates to be still connected with their graduate school for long term mutual benefits then to their fellow graduates as well and to remain the part of their school even after the study likewise with the teachers. Moreover, this study will help the graduates to still notify or be updated to the some important events of the school and also can participate in the seminars, academic and extra curriculum activities so that alumni knowledge remains up to date. Statement of the Problem This study aims to answer these questions: 1. What can be done to make alumni participation/involvement easier? 2. How can we keep a current database of the alumni? 3. How to maintain continuous contact with alumni? Definition of Terms Beta Testing the second phase of software testing in which a sampling of the intended audience tries the product out. Hardware is a general term for the physical artifacts of a technology. It may also mean the physical components of a computer system, in the form of computer hardware. Software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of a computer for some purpose. System Implementation The installation of a computer system or an information system. The use of software on a particular computer system. Tracking System is generally a system capable of rendering virtual space to a human observer while tracking the observers body coordinates. Web-based refers to those applications or services that are resident on a server that is accessible using a Web browser and is therefore accessible from anywhere in the world via the Web.

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Identifying Illogical Fallacy And Arguments Philosophy Essay

Identifying Illogical Fallacy And Arguments Philosophy Essay Have you wondered the truth behind some peoples logic when considering why they believe what they do or why they believe it is true based upon their own interpretation? In almost every aspect of life there is some underlying reason that people conform or believe in things, whether its regarded as truth or fallacy. Most people would argue that there is a higher power in terms of religion while most or others will disagree that there is no such existence because they have not seen him personally. An argument can be said to be the exchanging of opposing views by means of persuasion in asserting that a view or purpose is true or false; right or wrong. Philosophers in history have argued that there is error in reasoning in the causation of life and this is can be referred to as a fallacy. A fallacy can be an intentional act or unintentional act or line of reasoning. There are several illogical fallacies beginning with a mere assertion. Mere Assertion: An illogical fallacy based up on the belief that an argument is true because you believe in it. In other words, if you argue that the sky is black ant is something that you believe or feel strongly about, and then it is presumed true. Clearly, any other person would note that the sky is never black and is in fact blue at all time. However, in this case, it is true because you believe it. Circular Reasoning: circular reasoning is the argument that suggests that whatever the argument may be, as long as the conclusion of an argument supports the premise (justifiable claim) then it is true. In simpler terms, the reason for the argument is also the reason in the conclusion. There must be evidence to prove that what you are arguing is a valid argument. For example: Reading is an excellent practice in learning as it helps to enhance ones knowledge. It is clear that reading does assist in learning new things but reading alone does not promote being more knowledgeable but it does assist in the learning processes. Ad Hominem: Ad Hominem is an arguments reasoning associated with demeaning the opposition relevant to the argument. My 4 year old I famous for this because whenever he does something he is not supposed to do or I asked him not to do, and I get on him because of his behavior, he attempts to divert my attention away for the purpose of preventing himself for getting a spanking or yelled at. He may say things like I just love you so much or Mommy can I give you a hug. Another example is when my mother and I get into arguments about the rude ways she speaks to me; she brings up the topic of money because she wants to control my income. Because we are already in a heated argument, she includes other things in the argument that are irrelevant to her rude ways when conversing. Red Herring: A form of drawing attention away for means of confusion and irrelevant subjects within an argument. Red herring is a part of an argument where the parties intend to manipulate the argument by including irrelevant reasoning and allow the opposing party to consider the irrelevant information pulling away from the initial reason for the argument. For example: An employee is in trouble with his boss for not completely assignments timely and being rude to clients. The employee mentions other employees who mingle in the workplace and take personal calls pretending to be talking business with clients. In this situation, the employee is attempting to influence his boss to consider the quality of others work in order to reduce the tension between the boss and himself. Pseudo Questions: Pseudo questions can be defined as rhetorical questions which mean that they cannot be answered. Pseudo question can be simple question that are hard to answer because the person who supposed to answer has no knowledge of the topic. A question by Billy Corgon asks If practice makes perfect and no one is perfect, then why practice? Or George Corlin asks Why do doctors call the work a practice? Isnt what they learned a skill? False Cause: False cause is a fallacy that suggests that something is the result of something else. This fallacy is similar to determinism where every event has a cause. An example of false cause: Tyler Perry became famous, a great writer and actor because he gained experience from living on the streets and being homeless. If this were true, then all homeless people would become actors because they lived on the street thus gaining experience. Sweeping generalizations: The fallacy that says if one assumes that all incidents of reason are applied to every situation. Furthermore, sweeping generalizations accepts the sense that there are no exceptions to generalization. For example: People who dont eat pork are Muslims. You are a Muslim because you dont eat pork. In this case, not eating pork can be for religious purposes but also can apply to the fact that the person is a vegetarian thus invalidating the argument because there is an exception to this argument. Slippery Slope: Suggests that a cause of events will continuously occur because one thing causes another. In other words, by chance one thing will finally lead to the last. Consider the slippery slope fallacy in this situation. Not wearing a coat in the winter will cause you to catch a cold eventually. How does this occur? Well first you get the sniffles and maybe allergy like symptoms (i.e. stuffy nose, clogged ears, runny eyes) following maybe changes in your body temperature then eventually you will cough which signifies that you have caught a cold. Any human knows that if you act carelessly in the winter, you will be subjected to catching a cold and being sick. Being sick is not fun right? Equivocation or Changing Means: Altering the meaning of a word in the course of an argument. Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is a time of happiness therefore the birth of Jesus Christ must too be full of happiness. This example signals that both implications of the argument produces happiness (i.e. Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ); Jesus himself being full of happiness because his birth was full of happiness.

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Facilities Available To Small Medium Enterprises In Mauritius Economics Essay

Facilities Available To Small Medium Enterprises In Mauritius Economics Essay Small and Medium Enterprises have been given differing definitions around the globe. Some countries refer to the number of employees as their distinctive criteria, some to the amount of invested capital in the business, and others a combine the amount of annual turnover, capital employed and type of industry. The definition of SMEs in Mauritius has evolved throughout the past years. According to the Small Scale Industry Act of 1988, a Small Enterprise is one which is engaged in manufacturing1 and which uses production equipment, the aggregate CIF value of which does not exceed Rs 500,000. The Industrial Expansion Act 1993 defines SMEs as enterprises which : are engaged in manufacturing use production equipment, the CIF value of which does not exceed Rs 10 m With time, came the Small and Medium Industry and Development Authority Act (SMIDO Act 1993) according to which SMEs are defined in terms of the size of capital employed and was an extension to the SSI Act 1988 definition. SMEs are defined as enterprises engaged in manufacturing and using production equipment in their manufacturing process which includes transformation/conversion of raw materials, repair, packing, assembly of semi-finished parts into finished goods. The production equipment refers to equipment directly related to production. Such value of production should not exceed Rs 5 million (SMIDO Act 1993). A revision of this definition by the SMIDO Act 1998 altered the value of production of Rs 5m to Rs 10m. Worth pointing out in those definitions quoted above that they consider only the manufacturing sector. Thus for this study, the most appropriate definition found was that of the SMEDA Act, which includes enterprises in all economic sectors, and so as to avoid sector specific criteria, turnover criteria is being used across sectors. Therefore, the SMEDA Act defines : Small enterprises as those who have an annual turnover of not more than 10 million MUR, and Medium Enterprises as those with an annual turnover of more than 10 million MUR but not more than 50 million MUR. 1. Manufacturing : transformation for commercial purposes of raw materials or semi-processed materials into finished or semi-finished goods including the repair, packaging and assembly of inputs into finished or semi-finished goods. For the study, both small and medium enterprises will be considered. Contribution of SMEs SMEs are the largest group of industrial units in most developing countries and make a significant contribution to manufacturing output and employment (Wignaraja 2003, p.2). According to the Organisation for Economic Coorperation and Development (OECD), factors such as a countrys economic patterns, social and cultural dimensions are reflected though their SMEs. Storey (1994) points out that small firms, no matter how they are defined, make up the bulk of enterprises in all economies around the world. The latter half of the last century has witnessed widespread roles SMEs and this cannot, in any way, be understated (Bygrave, 1994;Timmons,1994). On the issue of job creation, Andrew Stone (World Bank, 1997, Facts About Small business 1997) said that SMEs create more employment than large enterprises and with a lower investment per job created. To the layman, it is clear that creation of a Small and Medium enterprise is synonymous to job creation and economic growth. This fact is indeed not false. The positive link between SMEs and employment creation, poverty alleviation, and economic growth is universally acknowledged (Beyenne, 2000). In several countries, particularly in East Asia, they are the driving force of the economy. For instance, in Hong Kong, SMEs account for over 98% of the total establishments and provide job opportunities to about 1.3 million persons, about 60% of total employment.4 According to the Strategic Industrial and SMEs Plan 2010-2013, the emergence of SMEs in the Mauritius has contributed significantly to employment, output and entrepreneurship development within the industrial sector. The last census of the Central Statistical Office carried in 2007 reveals that there are around 91 980 small enterprises operating in Mauritius, an increase of about 22% from the 2002 figure of 74, 928. The survey also showed an increase of 18.8 % in the number of persons engaged by these institutions, from 175, 791 in 2002, to 208,797 in 2007, representing approximately 40% of employment. Furthermore, contribution to the Gross Domestic Product was 20%. 2. Currently the body regulating SMEs in Mauritius replacing the SEHDA 3. Mauritian SME Portal 4. Mauritian SME portal 5. CSO survey 2007 SMEs which are registered with the SMEDA2 and which will be under scrutiny in this study are categorised into 12 sectors as at 2010, namely, Food and Beverages, Leather and Garments, Wood and Furniture, Paper products and Printing, Chemical, Rubber and plastic, Handicrafts, Pottery and Ceramic, Jewellery and Related Items, Fabricated Metal Products, Profession/Vocation/Occupation, Trade and Commerce, Business Support Service Sector, Others.3 These total to around 6421 enterprises. Objectives of the study Having explained the various definitions of Small and Medium Enterprises and pointed out their importance and contribution to the Mauritian economy, it is now clear that these institutions play a key role in our country. Enterprises in developing countries, including Mauritius are facing far more competitive environments in this fast moving technological world (World Bank,1999). They are offered various facilities to start their business as well as to continue and also expand. Among those facilities we find financing, training, business counseling, marketing, information technology and export incentives. These are available with a view of better performance from these enterprises and also to make them more cost effective, produce better products in terms of design, quality and reliability to thus be able to compete with not only larger companies on the local market but also on the foreign market. Now, with the creation of many support institutions such as the Small and Medium Enterpr ises Development Authority (SMEDA), National Women Entrepreneur Council (NWEC), Human Resources Development Council (HRDC), Enterprise Mauritius (EM), Mauritius Employers Federation (MEF), Development Bank of Mauritius (DBM), Mauritius Business Growth Scheme (MBGS) which see to it that SMEs lack in nothing to operate, the latter have to take full advantage of these conveniences and also make the best use of them and thus reduce waste of resources. The main aim of this study is to analyse whether these facilities are being given in the right amount, too much, or too little in assistance of SMEs. Other objectives are as follows: Assess whether SMEs are taking full advantage of these facilities. Consider whether proper use is being made of aid and there is minimum waste of resources Investigate which of these facilities are more important for the creation and sustenance of SMEs 2.0 Literature Review 2.1 A look at the need for facilities It is now recognised that Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) make a significant contribution to the socio-economic and political infrastructure of developed and developing countries as well as the nations in transition from command to market economies (Matlay and Westhead 2005). Harper (1998) notes that the relative and absolute importance of small enterprises has grown enormously over the last twenty years; this real growth has been matched by appreciation of their role. SMEs were once considered as mere stepping stones to real business, but now they are being viewed as being a vital contributor to the income and development of people. It therefore follows that countries should be ready to help those businesses which come forward with viable projects in terms of providing aid such as finance, marketing, training, adoption of new technologies, export incentives and business counseling. Furthermore, it is also expected from these business units to make full use of such incentiv es being provided to them, usually at lower cost. A look at those incentives will show that while necessary, some are difficult to obtain and some are not used optimally even though they are available much easily. Below, is a detailed look at all the facilities that will be covered in the study. 2.2.1 Financing Importance of finance Financing is one of the most important success factors of any business, and Small and Medium Enterprises are no exception. Financing helps them set up and expand their operations, develop new products, and invest in new staff or production facilities. Many small businesses are created by one or two people, who might start by investing their own money and/or taking loans from friends and family, or loans from financial institutions. After some time in operation, if they are successful, there comes a time when they will feel the need to expand (OECD, 2006). Therefore, finance being the backbone of all firms, it should be accorded much attention. SMEs are today considered by many countries to be of a key importance to the growth of their economy in terms of GDP contribution and also job creation. It therefore follows that these institutions should be having no difficulties in finding funds to not only start their enterprise, but also for sustenance and growth. However, according to the United Nations, the lack of financial assistance is a persistent problem and it is the most serious barrier to SME growth and expansion. Available funds are often diverted to the larger enterprises and only an insignificant number of SMEs seem able to attract bank financing (UN, 1993). Westhead and Wright (2000) state that the absence of adequate funding represents a major obstacle to the entrepreneurial process in a firm regardless of size, location or type of economic activity. Some life style entrepreneurs can satisfy their small firms financial needs by requesting loans from their families, friends or acquaintances (Hussain and Matlay, 2007). Typically, however, it remains a fact that the vast majority of growth oriented SMEs rely on long-term funding made available by banks, financial institutions or venture capitalists. Research has shown that banks hesitate in giving finance aid to small businesses. Pasadilla (2010, p.7) pointed out that banks, in both normal and crisis period, usually give priority to low-risk borrowers like large enterprises with profitable investments and sound collateral (ADBI Working Paper 2010, p.7). Banks may avoid providing financing to certain types of SMEs, in particular, start ups and very young firms that typically lack sufficient collateral, or firms whose activities offer the possibilities of high returns but at a substantial risk of loss (OECD 2006, p.3). The lack of collateral being a prime reason for SMEs not obtaining finance, another rationale is that banks might still prefer to grant loans to large and less risky companies rather than SMEs. Additionally information asymmetries and inappropriate business plans might also be considerable factors resulting in little or no access to finance.*(Asia Pacific Environmental innovation strategies APEIS 2004). However, as Cosh and Hughes (2003) point out, banks remain the main supplier of external SME finance, though there may be various financing constraints. The main source of finance to SMEs are bank loans. For example, in the UK, the most predominant way of financing small businesses remains bank loans (D.Irwin and J.Scott 2009, p.2) As a response to the lack of collateral issue, countries might come up with Loan Guarantee schemes by either public or private sector. The main aim of such a scheme is to encourage financial institutions to offer finance to SMEs. Under this scheme, the government provides a guarantee to the lending banks on specific types of loans to potentially viable SMEs (National Economic Research Associates, 1990). In return, SMEs pay a premium to the government. Moreover, there are also collateral free schemes to alleviate the problem of lack of collaterals. In this scheme, the SMEs are not required to provide any guarantee at all. In India, SIDBI, UNIDO and Indian Institute for Rural Development (IIRD) have successfully implemented this kind of scheme (APEIS, 2004) Leasing also shows up as an attempt to avoid collaterals. The lessor will remains owner of the asset and the lessee will be required to pay amounts at regular intervals for the use of the leased equipment, vehicle, or any other asset on lease. At the end, the asset can be sold at a minimum price to the lessee. Indeed, leasing is a very common way of financing assets in many countries. Other means of obtaining finance can be through Equity financing, that is issuing shares to meet long term capital need, Overdraft where SMEs will be allowed to withdraw money in excess of their actual bank balance, however they will be faced with rather high interest rates Mutual Guarantee Scheme which as stated the Commission of the European Communities, give a collective guarantee for appropriations provided to their members, who in return contribute to raise the equity and participate in the management of the mutual society 2.2.2 Training Training has been defined as a planned and systematic effort to modify or develop knowledge, skills and attitudes through learning experiences, to achieve effective performance in an activity or a range of activities (Garavan et al, 1997). It has been advocated as essential for every job (Tyler, 2005) and SMEs make use of training facilities to varying extents and varying success. Training certainly brings about learning experience which has for aim to improve a persons ability to perform a job. Traditionally, it focuses on technical knowledge, skills and abilities to complete current tasks (Treven, 2003). When trained, SMEs will attain a higher knowledge of not only the product they are developing but also about issues like how to be abreast to better technology, how to approach people for example suppliers, clients, employees with better tact through human resources training. Furthermore, training provided to employees will increase the quality of labour employed in the product mak ing. The British Chamber of Commerce (2007) points out that with proper training scheme, SMEs will be able to preserve their staff. Training to SMEs can be : For the potential entrepreneur For employees of the enterprise Geared towards product development Adoption of new technology, for example moving from manual system to computerized For owners on human resource management On financial issues, e.g. costing, investment appraisal, budgeting and forecasting How to market the product However, according to Stanworth and Gray (1992), there has been an identification of industry effects and size effects in responsiveness to training; with very small firms being least interested in providing employee training. Size and industry in which the SMEs operate can indeed play an important role in whether the SMEs train or not. Small sized companies will be least interested in providing training for factors such as financial issues, and also due to practical considerations. For example, as Kailer (1988) states, SMEs might be reluctant to release employees to attend training interventions. Furthermore, training provided may be too general and not of specific relevance to the SME, resulting in the sector providing fewer training interventions (Westhead and Storey, 1996). Other disincentives that SMEs might face into not providing training is the little potential that these enterprises have in offering higher pay, and they are less equipped to provide internal promotions for employees. As Westhead and Storey (1996) argue, such characteristics, when combined with the resultant increased risk that employees may be poached lead to lower instances of SME training. Moreover, SMEs are often not aware of the training needs of their enterprise. They do not have the proper staff to analyse such need and advise them into providing some training. As a result, SMEs provide more informal*refers to mostly on the job training, tutoring and mentoring than formal* training in a systematic approach, more like seminars, grouping targeted trainees under one roof. training. Many SMEs admit that their training provisions are informal but are of the opinion that only formal training is real training (Curran,2000). However, very often due to financial constraints, SMEs prefer other forms of training. A study* Training needs and human resource development analysis of SMEs in Mauritius by the European Commission for the Human Resources Development Council of Mauritius in 2008 showed that of the 300 SMEs which interviewed, only 35 % trained on a regular basis and were aware of the training grants operated by the HRDC, and of these, only 31 % have used it. These SMEs tended to adopt in-house training. Reasons stated for training were mainly for business development and because of the company policy and reasons not to train included the reluctance of specialised skills, and the fact that the employees were already qualified. It was also found that there were significant differences between those enterprises that provided training on a regular basis and those which did not. A positive link was found between the propensity to grow and propensity to train. To encourage SMEs to train more, government can provide incentives, such as free training or financial aid, help to cope with labour shortages and hiring difficulties and provision more information to create better awareness. In central and eastern Canada, an important tool to promote training in small businesses is the provision of information about the courses and setting up of additional government programs (Andreea Dulipovici, 2003) 2.2.3 Marketing Literature of marketing Marketing is a vital and indispensable business activity for all types of organizations that create and offer products of value Marketing in Mauritius 2.2.4 ICT and SMEs For countries in the vanguard of the world economy, the balance between knowledge and resources has shifted so far towards the former that knowledge has become perhaps the most important factor determining the standard of living more than land, than tools, than labour. Todays most technologically advanced economies are truly knowledge-based. World Development Report, 1999 As the global economy becomes increasingly reliant on information and communications technology (ICT) to receive, process, and send out information, small businesses do not have to be left out. Adoption of the latest technology or at least basic tools of ICT helps small enterprises to better merge with the developing economy, and operate more cost effectively. It can help SMEs create business opportunities, combat pressures from competition and improve their products through faster communication with their clients and marketing of products online. In 2000, an organization that used paper took on average 7.4 days to move a purchase from request to approval, but if done electronically, only took 1.5 days (Cassidy, 2002) UNESCAP and UNDP-APDIP have collaborated extensively to help formulate strategic policies and building the necessary environment to encourage SMEs take advantage of the Internet to create business opportunities in Asia and the Pacific. Many countries such as India, Republic of Korea, and Taiwan have created suitable environments to ensure that SMEs are well positioned to capture emerging business opportunities in terms of better technology. India, for example, offered relief from import duties for IT hardware, tax deductions for income earned form software exports, and tax holidays, and developed infrastructure in Software Technology Parks*A strategic review of the software industry in India 1998-1999. At the outset it is not necessary that all SMEs need to adopt ICT tools to the same degree of sophistication (UNDP,2007). The relationship between ICT and SMEs starts on a ground as simple as the use of a telephone to contact suppliers, clients. A fixed line or a mobile phone will do, whichever is more cost effective. Another most common tool used is of course the Personal Computers (PCs). The latter are very helpful for simple information processing needs such as producing texts, writing letters, keeping track of accounting items using basic software. PCs can also be used to access the Internet for more advanced communications capabilities such as email, file sharing, creating websites, searching for information, Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP)* 30% of Skypes*VoIP programme used to communicate via the internet. Worldwide subscribers are primarily SMEs, and e-commerce. Electronic commerce has been defined as the process of buying and selling goods and services electronically through computerized business transactions using the Internet, networks and other digital technologies (Lauden and Lauden, 2000). It also encompasses activities supporting market transactions such as advertising, marketing, customer support, delivery and payment. ICT oriented SMEs might use advanced Information Technology software such as Enterprise Resource Planning*offers a single repository for information on all business functions. which can capture cost savings, or SCM software which helps increase productivity, efficiency of inventory controls, and increase sales through closer relationships and faster delivery times. These allow SMEs to better coordinate their business, especially if the latter is growing and diversifying. The extent to which ICT will be adopted in SMEs will depend on the size of the business, on the benefits its adoption is planned to bring, on the ICT capacity of the SME and its employees and also on the financing capabilities. Despite the advantages that adoption of ICT demonstrates, many SMEs do not make use of it. For example, 90% of Thai SMEs still use basic communication technology such as fixed phone line and fax, and only 1% use CRM software. In Malaysia, only 30% of the local SMEs have their own website, and not all of them are updated regularly. Fuller(1993) points out that despite the number of benefits to be gained from technology, based on the users perspective ,SMEs adopt technology according to their self assessments of how the new technologies will change bottom line profitability. 2.2.5 Business counselling and access to information 2.2.6 Export Incentives 2.3 Support institutions As Wignaraja and Oneil (1999) argue, for the size of the country and its stage of development, Mauritius has a particularly wide range of support services for the SME sector. The availability of such support is mainly ensured by the Government, parastatal bodies and financial institutions. Below is a deeper look at those institutions in Mauritius. 2.3.1 The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority Looking back at the historical background of institutions supporting SMEs in Mauritius, we find the creation of the Small Industry Unit (SSIU), established under the aegis of the then Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The SSIU became the Small Industry Development Organisation (SIDO) in 1983. 10 years later, the Small and Medium Industry Development Organisation was set up for further development of the SME sector in Mauritius. The SMIDO later merged with the National Handicraft Promotion Agency (NHPA) to form the Small Enterprises and Handicraft Development Authority (SEHDA), whose main aim was to provide support to potential and existing SMEs. More recently (date needed) the SEHDA was replaced by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority. It is an agency of the Government that has aims like supporting and facilitating the development of entrepreneurship and SMEs in Mauritius. Apart from providing a range of services to the SME sector, SMEDA tries to sensitise the population, through workshops and seminars organized throughout the country, about The benefits of entrepreneurship Key issues/steps to consider and, procedures to follow when starting a business, and Facilities and resources provided by the SMEDA and other support institutions Services offered by the SMEDA Ease of Financing The SMEDA works in collaboration with the DBM to offer some financing aid to SMEs. In fact, DBM is the bank through which the Government provides finance at lower costs to SMEs. The SMEDA along with the bank provides a Booster (Micro Credit) Loan with a maximum amount of Rs 150, 000 at an interest charge of 9% per annum. No collateral is needed, but the entrepreneurs signing up for that loan need to provide a general floating charge as security. For this kind of loan, there is no need to submit a business plan. This amount is provided for the purchase of equipment and raw materials. The loan is repayable within 5 years and applies to enterprises in manufacturing, handicraft, trade, ICT and agriculture. Another loan is provided for an amount not exceeding Rs 40, 000, interest charge of 8.5 % per annum The SMEDA also provides grants under the Aegis of the Government Moreover DBM offers other financing schemes such as : The Business Development Loan scheme this applies to Manufacturing, Trade and Service, Transport, ICT, Tourism, Art and participation in overseas trade fairs and surveys. Business Counselling and Facilitation SMEDA helps potential entrepreneurs to prepare a business plan in order for them to secure financing from institutions, mainly the DBM. A Business Plan is one where the potential investor will lay down the description of his thought business and its plans for the next one to three years. It shows what the selected market of the product will be, and also indicates the finance available and what will be needed more to implement the project. As far as business counselling is concerned, potential entrepreneurs SMEDA provides advice about different issues such as discussing and finalizing their business idea. Also, not well-informed entrepreneurs obtain help on issues such as registering of the business, and other steps to follow in establishing their enterprise. Existing entrepreneurs are counselled about the difficulties they come up with, and how to take their business to the next level. SMEDA has also come up with an incubator system which helps entrepreneurs who lack physical space to carry on a project, given that the project is a viable one. The incubator is situated at the head office, in Coromandel. Information and Documentation A website has been recently created to help existing and potential businesspersons in their quest of running a business. This facility helps the cited persons to gather any information they need to set up a business, advice on market research, business plans, importance of financing and financing schemes, training schedules and locations, marketing and fairs organised, articles published by local as well as international bodies, online forms, support institutions are provided online. The site is as follows http://www.gov.mu/portal/sites/smeportal/index.htm. Furthermore, there is the Documentation Centre which gives access to entrepreneurs and the general public to a collection of books, journals, magazines, project files and reports on various sectors. Training 2.3.2 Chapter 3 : Research methodology

Monday, August 19, 2019

Excel Spreadsheet Use and the Strategic Corporate Plan :: essays papers

Excel Spreadsheet Use and the Strategic Corporate Plan Introduction In years past, every well-run corporation undoubtedly had a written business plan. Oftentimes, these plans were considered by many to be an exercise in frustration, as they were laboriously considered, written, then stored on the company's library shelf until the next business planning cycle. The last few decades have seen a radical change in the way companies do their planning. More often than not, the "old" business plan - though still produced and of value in its own right - is given less attention than the newer Strategic Plan. Unlike the Business Plan, which tends to be a very short document, the Strategic Plan is likely to be much more substantial and detailed. The Business Plan provides the foundation and framework for the Strategic Plan.1 Senior business managers are often so occupied with immediate issues that they can easily lose site of the long-term objectives of the business - objectives upon which the business can thrive if attained or fail completely if not. Because of this, a Strategic Plan today is a virtual necessity. Most managers tend to see the Strategic Plan as a 'living' document; one that, with careful foresight, consideration and development is written at the start of a business planning period, then reworked as circumstances within the company and business climate change throughout the planning period.2 The writing and preparation of a Strategic Plan is an important effort, demonstrating that careful consideration has been given to the business's development; however, the ultimate goal of the Strategic Plan is its own realization. With the advent of the personal computer and spreadsheet development, the Strategic Planning process today is made easier with the many current spreadsheet programs available to aid in the Plan' A Short History of the Spreadsheet. The term "spread sheet" (nowadays "spreadsheet) has a long history, beginning with the non-computerized version, a reference to which was made in accounting books from the early 1950's to describe a worksheet providing a two-way analysis of accounting data (i.e. an accounting matrix in which the columns and rows constitute either debit and credit sides)3 In thinking about the history of the spreadsheet, two important men stand out. In the early 1960s, Richard Mattessich of the University of California at Berkeley pioneered computerized spread sheets for business accounting. As the forerunners of today's spreadsheet programs for PC's such as Lotus 1-2-3, Excel, etc., these spread sheets contained use of matrices, (budget) simulation, and, most important, the calculation to support each matrix cell."4 Although Mattessich's work was mentioned in economic and computer literature as well

Comparing Debt Financing and Equity Financing Essay -- Financing Finan

There are two basic ways of financing for a business: Debt financing and equity financing. Debt financing is defined as 'borrowing money that is to be repaid over a period of time, usually with interest" (Financing Basics, 1). The lender does not gain any ownership in the business that is borrowing. Equity financing is described as "an exchange of money for a share of business ownership" (Financing Basics, 1). This form of financing allows the business to obtain funds without having to repay a specific amount of money at any particular time. There are also a few different instruments that could be defined as either debt or equity. One such instrument is stock options that an employee can exercise after so many years with the company. Either using the debt or equity method, or a combination of the two methods can be used to account for stock options or other instruments with the similar characteristics. There are pros and cons to deciding to use either of these methods. First I will discuss the pros of using the debt or equity methods. One pro of using the debt method is that it "does not entail 'selling' their equity, but instead works by 'borrowing' against it" (Financing Using, 1). So the company could account for future stock options by assuming that employees will cash the option in, and, in the books, it will look as if they simply have a liability. Another pro with the equity method is that the company is receiving money, and it does not have to pay the money back. In the end the investing company will normally make money on the investment, but it will come in the form of dividends and/or selling the stock back. There are also a few cons in accounting for these instruments are either debt of equity. "Excessive debt financing may impair your (the company's) credit rating and your ability to raise more money in the future (Financing Basics, 1). If a company has too much debt, it could be considered too risky and unsafe for a creditor to lend money. Also with excessive debt, a business could have problems with business downturns, credit shortages, or interest rate increases. "Conversely, too much equity financing can indicate that you are not making the most productive use of your capital; the capital is not being used advantageously as leverage for obtaining cash" (Financing Basics, 1). A low amount of equity shows that the owne... ...n Shares 400 This would be a very efficient way of accounting for the stock options. There will not be many changes in amounts when the employee has the option. This would be the entry for five years, and then the employee will have their option. Below is the journal entries for both decisions: Employee takes the cash Common Shares 2000 Accounts Payable 500 Cash 2500 Employee takes the stock Accounts Payable 500 Common Shares 500 Again, both methods clear out the accounts payable. Also the employee is receiving the cash or common shares in the right amount. Debt and equity methods are important decisions when deciding what to do with an instrument like stock options. All three methods, debt, equity, or a combination, are helpful in keeping the books correct and fair until the employee exercises their option. The best method in my mind is the combination of methods. It best shows were the money will go on average before the option is decided on. However the other two methods are also important considering the pros and cons of each decision. No clear answer, however, will ever be known as long as accounting exists.

Sunday, August 18, 2019

The Existence of Medieval Gender Archetypes in Present Day Culture Essa

The Existence of Medieval Gender Archetypes in Present Day Culture One of the aspects of the Middle Ages which is explored by numerous scholars today is that of the antifeminist stereotypes which pervaded literature and cultural mores during the period. In an era governed by men, the fact that women were treated as inferior is unsurprising; archetypal visions of femininity fit neatly into medieval history. However, most people would like to believe that such pigeonholing has been left in the past, allowing for more liberated times in which women are portrayed realistically and as the equals of men. It is undeniably true that an equality of the sexes exists today that was not even imagined in the medieval era. However, this rise in respect for women does not guarantee that all of the prejudices and stereotypes from preceding centuries have fallen by the wayside; on the contrary, most of the same archetypes are alive and well, even if modified to suit a new world. From the unattainably perfect virgin to the sexually insatiable temptress, these images appear throughout modern culture-but the disturbing nature of their existence is made far worse by the complacency with which women accept and further them. In many places, control of the image of women has passed into their own hands, yet broad generalizations and negative suggestions continue to fill daily life. Though images of women may cluster in many categories, the basic medieval archetypes are these: foremost is the Courtly Lady, a physically perfect and emotionally restrained creature that any gallant knight would pine for, the subject of innumerable poems. Her supporting cast include the lascivious Wanton Woman, a subhuman creature designed to tempt and torture men... ...owing Up Female With the Mass Media. New York: Times Books, 1995. Farhi, Paul and Megan Rosenfeld. "Made in America." 10 April 2003. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/mia/part1.htm "4 Ways to Punish a Naughty Boy." Cosmopolitan Apr. 2003: 166. Goins, Liesa. "Flirting Moves No Man Can Resist." Cosmopolitan Apr. 2003: 146-48. Keyishian, Amy. "Chick Flick Survival Guide." Maxim Apr. 2003: 78-82. Lewis, Carol. "Botox Cosmetic: A Look at Looking Good." FDA Consumer Magazine. 6 April 2003. http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2002/402_botox.html Lont, Cynthia M. Women and Media: Content/ Careers/ Criticism. Scarborough: Nelson Canada, 1995. Rogers, Mary F. Barbie Culture. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications, 1999. Straus, Alex. "Access Granted." Maxim Apr. 2003: 164-68. Walsh, John. "Top Gear: Bachelor Pad." Maxim Apr. 2003: 194-96.

Saturday, August 17, 2019

I, Too, Sing America Analysis

Michael Morgan AP English Literature and Composition: Poetry Response10/7/12 In â€Å"I, Too, Sing America† Langston Hughes shines light on the rich history of struggle for African Americans in the United States. For example, the text states â€Å"I am the darker brother, They send me to eat in the kitchen/ When company comes. † This shows that as a people, Blacks were marginalized and treated inhumanely simply on the basis of skin color by their Caucasian counterparts.We were sent to this figurative â€Å"kitchen† because Whites were ashamed of us because we did not fit the societal expectations of what it meant to be American. In the Declaration of Independence, the very document that is symbolic of America’s freedom and triumph it states, â€Å"that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. † Regardless of origin, race, or ethnic makeup, As Americans we are all equals under this text; howev er, they regarded the existence of Blacks as if we were all children of a lesser God.The opening lines also illustrate the oppressive nature of white folks. Blacks were forced to eat in the kitchen; there was no option, nor alternative. This shows how we were trained to be subservient and give in to authority without questioning it. Langston Hughes highlights the resilience of Black folk and our ability to remain resolute in times of utter despair. For example, he writes that in the end he will eat, laugh and grow strong.With the diction â€Å"grow strong,† Hughes is foreshadowing that a day will come when the Africans living in America who have been shunned and ostracized from society will stand up in unity and reveal their power to those who have trespassed against them. For centuries we have been mistreated, downtrodden, and dispossessed, but a time will arise where we must all stand together in solidarity to overthrow those who have held us in captivity. This reminds the reader of the antebellum south, where whenever Master had company, he would send his servants to the kitchen to eat.However in his seclusion, the narrator finds humor. He laughs in the midst of this abysmal situation because he knows that his time to release the shackles that have been inextricably bound to him and his ancestors is imminently approaching. He knows that while his masters can overtake his physical being, his mind cannot be controlled. The narrator has chosen to not let his current circumstance become his condition but to demonstrate the courage and spirit of the Black slave. Hughes’ next few lines are the most elevant, considering the current political and social state of affairs in the United States. For example, the text states that, â€Å"Tomorrow,  I'll be at the table/ When company comes. Nobody'll dare/ Say to me,  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Eat in the kitchen,†/Then. † This shows that the author was stating that a time would come when Blacks would be seen f or who they are as people and not what they look like. This â€Å"Tomorrow† refers to a time where Blacks and Whites will be equal. This equality is articulated through the speaker's claim that he, too, will â€Å"be at the table† the next time visitors are invited over.In a historical context, the â€Å"tomorrow† that Hughes speaks of has already arrived. With the election of America’s first Black President, centuries of defeat, and agony came to an impasse. Since the first slaves arrived in the New World, Africans have been without. We were without a voice, without human rights, without the freedoms that were promised to all Americans by the architects of our republic. In the final lines, the text states that, â€Å"Besides,  They'll see how beautiful I am/ And be ashamed– I, too, am America. Hughes uses America as a symbol of diversity to depict how he is apart his country. Those who have done Blacks wrong should feel shame for the irreparabl e damage done to innocent people. However, within the last 4 years, a glimpse of what we are capable of has been revealed. We have the ability to succeed, despite the odds that have never been in our favor. We have the audacity to hope in the face of adversity, racism, and discrimination to the highest degrees. We possess the love to pull one another up so that we may progress as a whole.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Aggression Theory

Physical violence is one of the types of violence that may be clearly explained theory. Physical violence entails: â€Å"choking, grabbing, hitting, hitting with weapons or objects, kicking, obliging a person to do something involuntarily, pulling, punching, pushing, scratching, shoving, slapping, etc.†Ã‚   (Do.., n.d.).Aggression Theory Explaining the Type of Violence ChosenExternally-stimulated Aggression is the school of Aggression Theory which can clearly explain physical violence. Externally-stimulated Aggression begins with the premise that aggression occurs because of â€Å"innate predispositions† as well as â€Å"external stimuli† (Smith, 1999).The external stimuli referred to here is technically known as â€Å"frustration† (Types, n.d.). Explaining further, let’s take the following example:Let’s look into my father’s motivation of fear, anxiety, and violence which all contributed largely to his â€Å"frustrations†. My f ather has always been a violent individual. He flares up over little â€Å"frustrations† like:1) when mother asks how utility bills are going to be paid this time;2) when my big brother complains about how small our house is;3) when my little sister asks him to help get something at the top of the closet;4) when I ask him not to hurt or yell at my mother etc.It all started when he resigned in 1983 as a city engineer and he puts up his own and went into private construction instead. This new business/job of his, however, is not helpful since it is irregular, unlike when he was working for the government where he receives a fixed monthly income.In fact, it is too irregular that he cannot even provide the family’s basic needs like food, school supplies, health insurance etc. Sometimes he has clients who would pay him to build their houses, swimming pools, renovate their homes, etc, however, most of the time he does not have anything to do, thus, most of the time he doesnà ¢â‚¬â„¢t have money.He gets â€Å"frustrated†, and depressed, then drinks, or proceeds to the casino to play poker and does not come home until early morning. He became an alcoholic, and he also became addicted to poker. He still gets contracts to build houses and other infrastructure projects but he only obliges to the most expensive ones.Because he is too picky, there were only a number of offers coming in then until no offers were coming in at all, which of course contributed largely to his â€Å"frustrations†. Even though large infrastructure projects were coming in then and the profits were a bit high, my father still cannot contribute to the family’s needs.This is because when he gets a contract, he tends to make a loan without even making sure if it is worth it. What happened was he earned but his debts were thrice his gains. He borrowed money from his friends but these were not enough to pay off everything.In the end, he was sued for bouncing checks. He was also sued by his friends. We lost some of our properties because of the aforementioned as well.Since then he became so â€Å"frustrated† and fearful, he would not come out of the room when he hears that some people knock over at our gate and then throws whatever he gets hold of, kicks whatever is available, or hit whomever is in the room with him.He feels that every time somebody comes over to visit, these people are either arresting officers who are going to invite him down to the police station for questioning or people whom he promised he’d pay back on that certain day.What he would do is to ask my mother to go outside and tell them he is not home (which makes me so scared since somebody might just hurt my mom for all her alibis or the people’s anger might be transferred to her and she would be the one to get hurt).This situation of ours became worse as days go by. He became so â€Å"frustrated† he would slap my mother when my mother refuses to giv e him money he would spend on poker, throw breakable things at us when he is too irritated with his problems, unleash his exceedingly big guard dogs inside the house to threaten us, and countless other violent acts.There are three basic conditions which bring forth anxiety (Franken, 1994). It could be: 1) Overstimulation, wherein information for a certain individual is overflowing; 2) Cognitive Incongruity, wherein an individual is having difficulty reconciling with some event; and 3) Response Unavailability, wherein a person does not know how to handle an excruciating situation (Franken, 1994).The three basic conditions aforementioned apply to my father. â€Å"Overstimulation† appears in this situation as the countless monetary problems which have too many details for him to handle. Cognitive Incongruity, on the other hand, emerges as the several cases with regards to bouncing checks and the debts he owes to other people.Response Unavailability, however, surfaces as the debt s he incurs every time he gets infrastructure projects or every time he needs it. Instead of working hard and saving, his only recourse is to borrow money which causes his downfall.This only shows as well that he does not know how to handle a difficult situation which is what exactly termed as Response Unavailability. And this increases his anxiety and â€Å"frustrations†.Reduction or Elimination of ViolenceFortunately, there are ways to reduce, if not totally eliminate violence as suggested by the Theory of Aggression utilized:It is important for my father, for example, to â€Å"focus on the other components of the frustrating stimulus than the frustration† (Dugan, 2004).Instead of losing control over the irrepressible and uncontainable occurrences or instead of believing that there is no way to solve the problem, he should be â€Å"self-certain† meaning not only knowing his strengths but both strengths and weaknesses since if that is the case then he would not be able to cope with any stressful incident in his life since a solution to a problem is only devised when he turns his anxiety into fear and then deal with the other components of the frustration that has been produced (Franken, 2004).ReferencesDo You Have A Problem With Violence? (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2007 from  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.daniel-sonkin.com/violence.htmlDugan, M.A. (2004). Aggression. Retrieved September 8, 2007 from  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/aggression/Franken, R. E. (1994). Human Motivation, 3rd ed. CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.Smith, A.K. (1999). Theories of Aggression. Retrieved September 8, 2007 from  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro99/web3/Smith.htmlTypes of Aggression. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2007 fromhttp://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:q5ApqUItbrcJ:psych.fullerton.edu/navarick/aggression.ppt +theories+of+aggression&hl=tl&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=ph&client=firefox-a

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Grapes of Wrath Essay

The exodus of the Joad family from Oklahoma to the promised land of California. They were cheated by tradesmen along Highway 66, harassed by border guards at state boundaries, and on arrival were burned out of their makeshift camp by police deputies. One dark night the Joads wandered into Weedpatch Camp, a government refuge for migratory farm workers, where they found clean beds, indoor privies, food, friendship, and hope. â€Å"Oh! Praise God,† whispered Ma Joad. â€Å"God Almighty, I can’t hardly believe it! † pronounced Tom. (p. 390) Their praises were addressed to Providence, but were intended for Washington. Here, they believed, for the first time in their lives, was hard visible proof that their government, whatever and wherever it was, really cared about them and the hundreds of thousands of people like them–landless, homeless, penniless victims of a fickle climate, an unstable economy, and a pernicious way of life. Between the Lesters of Georgia and the Joads of Oklahoma, a profound change of spirit had come upon the land. The great revolution of the twentieth century, not only in the United States but also in the emerging nations abroad, is the kindling of an extravagant hope that the human condition of man can and should be improved, through the harnessing of the power, resources, and machinery of government, not in some distant millennium, but during the lifetime of those now living. The effective response of modern governments to this enormous challenge depends not only on the dreaming of dreams and the preaching of hope, but also on the capacity to convert the pictures in men’s heads into the realities in their lives. 4. Considering the characters in the novel, which actions do you find admirable, and why? Which do you find reprehensible, and why? Admirable A considerable indecisiveness emerges from the novel about how radical the problem is: whether the circumstances of class war exist likely from the interchapters or whether there is a clear-cut villain in the Farmers’ Association with no broader implications—likely from the chapters and their limited point of view. The problem is partly compounded by the pragmatism of the Joads themselves, in many ways admirable in the face of degenerating circumstances but also dangerous in their willingness to lower their expectations: at the beginning Ma Joad dreams of a white house in California after a few months on the road, she hopes they may one day afford a tent that does not leak; Rose of Sharon plans early in her pregnancy a comfortable future for her child at the end she is sulking for a little milk so that her baby may be born alive. The disadvantages of nonteleological thinking are apparent when the result is a perpetual readjustment to straitened conditions: while we are told that the metaphysical grapes of wrath are ripening for the vintage, what we see among the poor is stoicism, sacrifice, and one supreme act of charity. Reprehensible Rose of Sharon and Connie think only of themselves and of now they will break from the group, and when difficulties arise Connie wishes that he had stayed in Oklahoma to man a tractor driving the people from the land. Later, alone, Rose of Sharon complains of her plight and frets about the coming child, and instead of sharing the family responsibility she adds to family worries. Uncle John is similarly preoccupied with his guilt and his personal problems and is almost useless to the group, picking cotton at only half the rate of the other men. Both he and Al withhold money from the family treasury. Noah, thoughtless of the others, wanders away. Connie, leaving a pregnant wife, also deserts. Even the children show a teasing selfishness. Ruthie eats her crackerjacks slowly so that she can taunt the other children when theirs is gone, and at croquet she ignores the rules and tries to play by herself. 5. Describe the role women play throughout the novel The seemingly gratuitous details of the truck driver and the woman driver may intentionally suggest Steinbeck’s awareness that men are often destructive while women are usually more protective: Tom Joad has just been revealed as having committed manslaughter; later we shall see that Ma Joad and Rose of Sharon try to preserve the family and nurture life. Ma Joad would be womanly and maternal in any station. If she had been a duchess, she would have labored with heroism for the integrity of the family and would have had a comprehensive vision of the serious social obligations of her class. The scene of her farewell to Tom†¦ is of the pure essence of motherhood. The pathos is profound and free from a taint of sentimentality. The courage and devotion of the woman are sublime In Ma Joad, Steinbeck created one of the most memorable characters in American fiction of the twentieth century. It is her courage which sustains the family through the almost overwhelming distresses suffered during their epic migration to the West. She voices the author’s belief in the common folk’s invincible will to survive. Ma is a tower of strength to her group, like Pilar in Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls though less articulate. She is a kind of pagan earth mother, kind to her father-in-law and her mother-in-law, anxious to let her husband Pa lead the family but quickly assuming the reins when he lets them slip through weakness and lack of understanding, firm but sympathetic with her children, friendly with deserving strangers. Ma holds her family together far longer than anyone else in the group could have done. She suffers intensely when she sees Grampa die, then Noah disappear, then Granma die, and then Tom obliged to hide and then go away. But she almost never reveals the degree of her misery. She knows that while she holds, the unit will hold unless man’s inhumanity to man and nature’s indifference put pressure upon her which simply cannot be endured. She goads Pa into near frenzy, knowing that it will make him stronger. She threatens to slap Rose of Sharon at times, but when the poor, pregnant, abandoned girl needs comfort, Ma is there with it in full measure. She knows that she can rely on Tom, not Al. She lets Uncle John have money for one quick drunken spree, knowing that without it he might crack. References Steinbeck John, (1939) The Grapes of Wrath New York: Viking.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Alliteration and Symmetry in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight

Note on poetic meter: Gawain is typical of Middle English alliterative poems in that it is written in alliterative long lines, following the basic metrical principles of Old English verse. Each long line consists of two half-lines, each half with two stressed syllables and a varying number of unstressed syllables. Most importantly, the two half lines are connected by alliteration ? that is, repetition of the same consonant sound on at least two, often three, of the stressed syllables. For example, the poem begins: â€Å"Sithen the sege and the assaut was sesed at Troye† (line 1), with the â€Å"s† sound recurring five times within the single long line. The long lines do not rhyme with each other. However, they are organized in stanzas of fifteen to twenty-five lines, and each stanza concludes with a construction known as a â€Å"bob and wheel. † This term refers to a group of five short lines, which do rhyme, to the pattern of ababa. If you are not reading Gawain in the original Middle English, the poetic structure may not be maintained in the translation. Some modern English translations keep the rhyme and meter strictly; others are only prose translations. SYMMETRY Sir Gawain and the Green Knight has a symmetrical structure. Everywhere in the poem is balance, contrast and antithesis. The poet highlights number symbolism to add symmetry and meaning to the poem. For example, three kisses are exchanged between Gawain and Bertilak's wife; Gawain is tempted by her on three separate days; Bertilak goes hunting three times, and the Green Knight swings at Gawain three times with his axe. The number two also appears repeatedly, as in the two beheading scenes, two confession scenes, and two castles. [55] The five points of the pentangle, the poet adds, represent Gawain's virtues, for he is â€Å"faithful five ways and five times each†. [56] The poet goes on to list the ways in which Gawain is virtuous: all five of his senses are without fault; his five fingers never fail him, and he always remembers the five wounds of Christ, as well as the five joys of the Virgin Mary. The fifth five is Gawain himself, who embodies the five moral virtues of the code of chivalry: â€Å"friendship, generosity, chastity, ourtesy, and piety†. [57] All of these virtues reside, as the poet says, in the â€Å"Endless Knot† of the pentangle, which forever interlinks and is never broken. This intimate relationship between symbol and faith allows for rigorous allegorical interpretation, especially in the physical role that the shield plays in Gawain’s quest. [59] Thu s, the poet makes Gawain the epitome of perfection in knighthood through number symbolism. The number five is also found in the structure of the poem itself. Sir Gawain is 101 stanzas long, traditionally organised into four ‘Fitts' of 21, 24, 34, and 22 stanzas. These divisions, however, have since been disputed; scholars have begun to believe that they are the work of the copyist and not of the poet. The original manuscript features a series of capital letters added after the fact by another scribe, and some scholars argue that these additions were an attempt to restore the original divisions. These letters divide the manuscript into nine parts. The first and last parts are 22 stanzas long. The second and second-to-last parts are only one stanza long, and the middle five parts are eleven stanzas long. The number eleven is associated with transgression in other medieval literature (being one more than ten, a number associated with the Ten Commandments). Thus, this set of five elevens (55 stanzas) creates the perfect mix of transgression and incorruption, suggesting that Gawain is faultless in his faults. The format of â€Å"Sir Gawain and the Green Knight† works on the principles of repetition and multiplication. Think about the number of departures for adventure, the almost eerie property of â€Å"threes,† the characters who play multiple roles, the five points of the pentangle and so on.

Tuesday, August 13, 2019

Report of Desert Safary in dubai Research Paper

Report of Desert Safary in dubai - Research Paper Example 26% of the respondents visited Dubai because of its deserts; 34% respondents visited for enjoying the beaches; 25% of the respondents wanted to experience the nightlife; and the rest were curious about Dubai’s culture. 22% of the respondents rated the trip as very good; 34% of the respondents rated it to be good; 21% of the respondents took a neutral standpoint; 15% of the respondents rated the trip as bad; 8% rated the safari as very bad. 42% of the respondents booked their trip with Arabian Adventures; 22% of the respondents booked their trip with Fun Tours, 18% of the respondents booked their trip with Arabian Safari Trips; 12% chose Dubai Adventure Safari and the rest chose other tour service operators that were not mentioned in the options. Majority of the respondents (38%) liked overnight stay in the desert as the most beautiful part of the trip; 21% liked BBQ dinner arrangement; 8% liked camel rides; 12% of the respondents liked sand skiing; 10% of the respondents enjoyed weather in the desert the most; 4% of the respondents liked the wildlife and the rest enjoyed overall environment. 24% of the respondents enjoy parties organized by their friends and relatives the most; 39% respondents enjoy the nightclubs, 24% of the respondents liked the fact that they could drink without any restrictions; 9% respondents liked the sex tourism aspect in Dubai; whereas the rest provided other answers, which were not adequately relevant. Respondent 1: According to respondent 1, the choice to go for the desert safari was driven by the fact that the respondent had visited several places that had beaches. This time, the respondent wanted to experience something new, which has not been done as per respondent’s to do list. Respondent 2: As far as respondent 2 was concerned, the individual wanted to experience the overnight stay during the trip. The respondent was fascinated after hearing about BBQ dinner arrangements and belly dancing program, following the