Mass Incarceration In Michelle Alexanders The New Jim...

Jim Crow laws were state and local laws that reinforced racial segregation in the South between the end of Reconstruction in 1877 and the beginning of the civil rights movement in the 1950’s (Urofsky). The laws mandated segregation of schools, drinking fountains, restrooms, buses, and restaurants. In legal theory, blacks received â€Å"separate but equal† treatment under the law--in actuality, public facilities were nearly always inferior to those for whites, when they existed at all. In addition, blacks were systematically denied the right to vote in most of the rural South through the selective application of literacy tests and other racially motivated criteria (PBS). Despite Jim Crow laws being abolished in 1964 when President Lyndon Johnson†¦show more content†¦It is a status that will follow and affect every ex-offender even after they have served their time in jail. In this case, our criminal-justice system is constantly discriminating against African Ame ricans in order to identify them as felons and take away their rights. Currently, more than two million African Americans are under the control of the criminal-justice system--in prison or jail, on probation or parole. Felon-disenfranchisement laws bar thirteen percent of African American men from casting a vote, thus making mass incarceration an effective tool of voter suppression--one reminiscent of the poll taxes and literacy of the Jim Crow era. Employers routinely discriminate against an applicant based on criminal history, as do landlords. In some major urban areas, more than half of working-age African American men have criminal record and are subject to legalized discrimination for the rest of their lives. These men are permanently locked into an inferior, second-class status, or caste, bylaw and custom. As Alexander argues, we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it. Alexander states that the single greatest contributor to this mass incarceratio n in the United States is the â€Å"war on drugs†. Studies consistently indicate that people of all races use and sell illegal drugs at remarkably similar rates. However, the drug war has been waged almost exclusively in poor communities of color. Therefore, an overflow of black andShow MoreRelatedThe New Jim Crow By Michelle Alexander1313 Words   |  6 Pages The New Jim Crow Michelle Alexander’s the new Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness examine the Jim Crow practices post slavery and the mass incarceration of African-American. The creation of Jim Crows laws where used as a tool to promote segregation among the minority and white American. Michelle Alexander’s the new Jim Crow Mass takes a look at Jim Crow laws and policies were put into place to block the social progression African-American from the post-slavery to the civilRead MoreThe New Jim Crow By Michelle Alexander1316 Words   |  6 Pages The New Jim Crow Michelle Alexander’s the new Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness examine the Jim Crow practices post slavery and the mass incarceration of African-American. The creation of Jim Crows laws were used as a tool to promote segregation among the minority and white American. Michelle Alexander’s the new Jim Crow Mass takes a look at Jim Crow laws and policies were put into place to block the social progression African-American from the post-slavery to theRead MoreThe New Jim Crow : Mass Incarceration1361 Words   |  6 PagesBook Review Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness The premise of the ‘The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness’ by Michelle Alexander, is to refute claims that racism is dead and argue that the War on Drugs and the federal drug policy unfairly targets communities of color, keeping a large majority of black men of varying ages in a cycle of poverty and behind bars. The author proves that racism thrives by highlighting theRead MoreMass Incarceration Is Defined As The Imprisonment Of A Large Amount Of People1439 Words   |  6 PagesAt the simplest level, mass incarceration is defined as the imprisonment of a large amount of people. However, that does not tell the whole story. The majority of people incarcerated are minorities, and although mass incarceration began as a system of unjust racial and social control, today it continues for many political reasons including government grants, swaying voter opinion, and for-profit prison revenue. The United States incarcerates more people, per capita, than any other nation in theRead MoreMichelle Alexander s The New Jim Crow1495 Words   |  6 Pages Baker, Anderson, and Dorn (1992) talk â€Å"A Critical Thinking Approach† giving the readers six guidelines to follow when critically assessing any literary work, all of which can apply to Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow. The first guideline is about how accessible is her work. Throughout the book, Alexander made her work as clear and concise as she possibly could by explaining certain points over again in a different chapter to make sure that the audience understands whatRead MoreThe New Jim Crow?919 Words   |  4 PagesAt first Michelle Alexander, the author of The New Jim Crow, did not see the prison systems as racially motivated until doing further research. After researching the issue, Alexander found the prison system was a way to oppress African Americans and wrote the novel The New Jim Crow. The New Jim Crow follows the history of the racial caste system and in the novel Alexander comes to the conclusion that the mass incarceration of African A merican is the New Jim Crow, or in other words a new system ofRead MoreThe, Jim Crow And Mass Incarceration1056 Words   |  5 Pages Michelle Alexander writes and speaks about the 3 caste systems slavery, Jim Crow Laws, and mass incarceration. She asserts that racial separation has not gone away but rather morphed into present mass incarceration. Racial segregation has taken a new form and exists in prison systems and in socio-economic ways Caste system locks people up literally virtually. Alexander writes, â€Å"Jim Crow and mass incarceration have similar political origins. As described in chapter 1, both caste systems were bornRead MoreThe New Jim Crow Law1014 Words   |  5 PagesMass incarceration is known as a net of laws, policies, and rules that equates to the American criminal justice system. This series of principles of our legal system works as an entrance to a lifelong position of lower status, with no hope of advancement. Mass incarceration follows those who are released from prison through exclusion and legalized discrimination, hidden within America. The New Jim Crow is a modernized version of the original Jim Crow Laws. It is a modern racial caste system designedRead MoreThe New Jim Crow : Mass Incarceration Essay795 Words   |  4 Pagesasked to write a reflection on discussed The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness which is a book written by Michelle Alexander a highly acclaimed civil rights lawyer, advocate and Associate Professor of Law at Ohio State University. Michelle Alexander states that although we made tremendous progress with Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s by unifying as a race and fought to seemingly ended the old Jim Crow era by the passing of laws such as the 1965 voting act and Brown V.SRead MoreThe New Jim Crow : Mass Incarceration1081 Words   |  5 Pages Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness outlines how the criminal justice system has systematically designed new methods of discriminating against African Americans. The book advocates for racial justice, specifically, for African Americans and contends they [African Americans] were targeted and subsequently incarcerated, by white voters and public officials, through the War on Drugs campaign. President Reagan and his Administration exploited racial

Jack Londons Attitude Towards Life in the Short Story,...

Jack Londons Attitude Towards Life in the Short Story, The Law of Life Jack London, real name John Griffith Chaney, is well known American novelist and short story writer, born in California (Merriam Websters Encyclopedia of Literature 629). Londons short story The Law of Life was first published in Mc Clures Magazine in 1901. It was one of his first stories written around the time at which London had just discovered that this way of writing made the biggest impression on the reader.(Tenant 1) One of the most effective elements is that the main character of the story is an old Indian, named Koskoosh. He is left by his tribe and his relatives, with nothing but a fire and some wood to keep it burning for few hours. He was†¦show more content†¦It is like a river, no one can stop its flow. Second thing which may be called ?the law of life? is Darwin?s idea that in the world only the strongest may survive. These who are weak, old and are not able to take care of themselves must die and give place to the stronger living beings. In the very first paragraph of this short story the narrator introduces Koskoosh?s granddaughter: ?Sit-cum-to-ha was his daughter?s daughter, but she was too busy to waste a thought upon her broken grandfather? (London 956). Young people often have no time to be with their old relatives. They do not think this is an interesting beguilement to spend time listening to an old man?s memories and advices. Sit-cum-to-ha also is busy with other things: ?life called her, and the duties of life, not death? (London 956). She must do her duties in order to survive. Another example of Darwin?s theory may be ?Little Koo-tee?: ?a fretful child, and not over strong? (London 957). Even a child if he is not strong enough to survive has to die. ?It would die soon, perhaps, and they would burn a hole through the frozen tundra and pile rocks above to keep wolverines away.? (London 957) The circle of life of his little child probably is very small. The last and the most important ?law of life? is that everybody sooner or later have to leave this world. Death is an end of any living creature in Nature. It is difficult, especially when personallyShow MoreRelatedA Man s Best Friend1138 Words   |  5 Pagescoming though, the sun is still out. He then responded by saying â€Å"you’ll see; his instinct is never wrong.† Nevertheless, later that day it did thunderstorm. My story of the dog’s instinct being superior to my intellect is similar to Jack London’s short story, â€Å"To Build a Fire.† In this story London contrasts the two characters in the story – the unnamed man and his dog. These two character foils accompany each other on their daring travel through the deadly weather conditions of the Yukon. The unnamedRead MoreJack Londons Naturalism5435 Words   |  22 PagesJack Londons Naturalism: The Example of The Call of the Wild by Earl J. Wilcox BOTH JACK LONDONS intentions and his accomplishments in The Call of the Wild account for the artistic success of the book. For the story which London intended to write—about a dog who merely reverts to the wild—developed into a full, 32,000 word novel. And the simplicity intended in the implicit atavism in the dogs reversion also became a more complex discussion than London apparently bargained for. But a fortuitousRead MoreInto The Wild By Jon Krakauer4187 Words   |  17 Pagescredible source that brings new insight, tenacity, and style to the art of journalism. Setting: Following the impulses of his romantic notions, Christopher McCandless finds himself ill-equipped in the Alaskan winter of 1992. A far cry from the â€Å"good life,† the terrain is â€Å"no picnic† with its â€Å"big and fast† rivers and â€Å"mosquitoes [that] eat [people] alive† (4-5). Within the forest lies the abandoned remains of a Faribanks City Transit System bus, an ominous reminder of what once was when man lived onRead More Visions of The Primitive in Langston Hughes’s The Big Sea Essay examples6201 Words   |  25 PagesHudson† river (p.91) sharply contrasts with Conrad’s fictional rendering of a seething, sinister Congo, and Hughes quite literally goes nowhere marooned on his â€Å"rusty tub†, whilst Marlowe embarks on a fraught voyage that will irrevocably reshape his life. However, one of the most compelling sections of The Big Sea focuses on Hughes’s six-month odyssey as a crewmember of the S. S. Malone, a freighter bound for the West Coast of Africa. The apparently casual reference to Heart of Darkness (1899) thusRead MoreVictorian Novel9605 Words   |  39 Pagesimages of over-dressed ladies and snooty gentlemen gathered in reading rooms. The idea of â€Å"manners† does sum up the social climate of middle-class England in the nineteenth century. However, if there is one transcending aspect to Victorian England life and society, that aspect is change. Nearly every institution of society was affected by rapid and unforeseeable changes.  As some writers greeted them with fear and others embraced the progress, this essay will guide a reader through an important eraRead MoreInterpretation of the Text13649 Words   |  55 Pageschronological order): epic, tragedy, comedy, novel, short story, and creative nonfiction. They can all be in the genres of prose or poetry, which shows best how loosely genres are defined. This correlation is shown in Fig. 1.1. Additionally, a genre suc h as satire, allegory or pastoral might appear in any of the above, not only as a sub-genre, but as a mixture of genres. Epic Tragedy Genres^ Comedy Novel ... ....... : Prose 2 O Poetry Short story Creative nonfiction Fig. 1.1. Correlation ofRead MoreBritish Culture11529 Words   |  47 Pagesnations: - England - Scotland - Wales - Ireland Names of flags: - St George’s Cross - St Andrew’s Cross - Dragon of Cadwallader - St Patrick’s Cross At one time the four nations were distinct from each other in almost every aspect of life. - People in Ireland, Wales and highland Scotland belonged to the Celtic race - People in England and lowland Scotland were mainly of Germanic origin Languages spoken in Celtic areas: - Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh Languages spokenRead MoreContemporary Issues in Management Accounting211377 Words   |  846 Pagespublished 2006 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulateRead MoreMonsanto: Better Living Through Genetic Engineering96204 Words   |  385 Pages441 441 CASE STUDIES A summary of the case analysis I N T R O D U C T I O N Preparing an effective case analysis: The full story Hearing with the aid of implanted technology: The case of Cochlearâ„ ¢ – an Australian C A S E O N E high-technology leader Delta Faucet: Global entrepreneurship in an emerging market C A S E T W O DaimlerChrysler: Corporate governance dynamics in a global company C A S E T H R E E Gunns and the greens: Governance issues in Tasmania C A S E F O U R Succeeding in theRead MoreExploring Corporate Strategy - Case164366 Words   |  658 PagesECS8C_C01.qxd 22/10/2007 11:54 Page 597 CASE STUDIES ECS8C_C01.qxd 22/10/2007 11:54 Page 598 ECS8C_C01.qxd 22/10/2007 11:54 Page 599 Guide to using the case studies The main text of this book includes 87 short illustrations and 15 case examples which have been chosen to enlarge speciï ¬ c issues in the text and/or provide practical examples of how business and public sector organisations are managing strategic issues. The case studies which follow allow the

Signal generators also know as function generator or test oscillator Free Essays

string(96) " input is supplied into the 8bit counter which evaluate the input with an analog, \(Q5 to Q0\)\." ABSTRACT Signal generators also know as function generator or test oscillator, have come to be more popular and most used testing device for the engineers especially and also for the medical sector. Signal generator delivers an accurate calibrated range. It provides a signal that can be adjusted according to the frequency, output voltage, impendence, waveform and modulation. We will write a custom essay sample on Signal generators also know as function generator or test oscillator or any similar topic only for you Order Now It has been in existence and they are used in so many ways before time till present. An American inventor Nikola Tesla has conveyed electricity from one location to another in the form of signal and uses the same frequency. This report talks about the overview of a signal generator, how they do function using their applications and also describe to us their operating principles using the direct digital synthesis DDS, their types and designs. The Next page gives you a brief introduction about the early days of signal generator and how they are been used in those days. INTRODUCTION Before the Initiation of this device called signal generator which is around 1906 to 1920 are regarded to be the early days of radio, the only way for testing of new apparatus or electronic instrument was to use another similar device to create the signal, which was the case of new tools and modulation format in radio. During that time, this basic method of testing worked excellently with minimum percentage errors, but problem arises when there is a circumstance whereby they might be diverse devices under test. To solve this problem, there must be need for so many reference devices. One radio’s was picked which was used as a performance parameter and was measured which was now used as the standard or â€Å"golden radio† as it has been called. Even if they are expensive, a regular change in their functioning features either during a short time as a result of warming up or during a long time as an effect of continued use, and for this reason their will be reduction in their accuracy. The need for signal generator that can effectively used to test devices as the field of engineers must be to reduce this flow. However, we are going to explain the device â€Å"signal generator† in this report and also we will discuss about the operating principles, and also the things I have already mention in the abstract area. In this next page, we will be looking at the overview of this device signal generator.  ­SIGNAL GENERATOR (Outline and types) A signal generator also called a function generator or a text signal generator is an electronic device designed to perform a variety of operations which includes band pass filter characteristics, the response of amplifiers to frequency or fault tracing in many electronic equipment and circuits. â€Å"Signal generator is a tool widely used in fields such as industrial electronic instrumentation, medicine, production, communication and research†, (Alloca and Stuart, 1983). A signal generator is the stimulus source that pairs with an acquisition instrument to create the two elements of a complete measurement solution. In its various configurations, signal generator can provide stimulus signals in the form of analog waveforms, digital data patterns, modulation, noise and it may add known, repeatable amount and types of error (distortion) to the signal it delivers. Signal generator can produce the most types of waveforms or signal which are square waves, sine waves and triangular waves over a wide range of frequency. Coombs, (1972) declares that the frequency range of a signal generator maybe less than 1Hzto at least 1MHz. Some other type of signal generators, have the ability to produce pulse, trapezoid and ramp waveforms including the ones mention above. Therefore, there are many types of signal generator designed to a variety of uses which has much possible application meaning that one particular type of signal generator may not be suitable for all pur poses. Here are the two main type of signal generator Arbitrary waveform generator Function signal generator Below is a picture example of a typical function generator: ARBITRARY WAVEFORM GENERATOR Arbitrary waveform generators (AWG) are complicated playback system that delivers waveforms based on stored digital data that describes the regularly changing voltage levels of an AC signal. The arbitrary waveform generator can produce any kind of waveform you can think of. You can use many methods to create the needed output (from mathematical formulae to drawing the waveform). FUNCTION SIGNAL GENERATOR Function generators are more simple compare to arbitrary waveform generator. They generate simple signal in wave form and this signals are been produce by a circuit which creates the repeating wave which is usually a sine wave. They are most often use in process of designing or repair simples electronics. DESIGN OF SIGNAL GENERATORS Before the modern waveform generators were initiated, analog was the mode of operation. In some industries, analog refers both to the circuit technique used to generate signals and to the signal themselves. Functionality, economic feasible, and types of waveform needed have really change the design of signal generator in period of times, although the traditional analog signal generators still exist till date. The analog is a means to represent a material measure, for instance an indicator on a current meter (regulator), by a quantity whose measurement is known. Such measurements, do not really give the accurate result of a particular tool or device under test, as they are prone to having drifts in their working parts. Most modern signal generators are based on the digital technologies such as the modern function generators which uses a technology known as Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) which are able to provide a wide range of signal or waveform. The DDS device are more like to generate analog signals via creating a digital output signal that is continuously pulsed by a clock signal and at last translating the digital signal to form an analog signal. Below is the experimental diagram of this process. The Method above, illustrate that the input is supplied into the 8bit counter which evaluate the input with an analog, (Q5 to Q0). You read "Signal generators also know as function generator or test oscillator" in category "Essay examples" The matching analog now is been verified with an already stored address which is the ROM (Read Only Memory) 256 x 8. As the counter cycles through the 256 different addresses, which the ROM has for each analog, the ROM counter now picks out a digital value corresponding to that address which sequentially represents the input. This information is then processed and outputs the 256 data points to the DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) which is the 8bit converter. The analog signal obtain is then shown as a waveform. An example of a generator that uses this method illustrated above is the 20MHz sweep function generator from BK Precision (model 4040DDS) image is shown below. According to BK Precision (2010), this sweep generator is a full featured DDS generator, the unit generate superb quality waveforms with a high signal precision and stability and it provides sine and square wave outputs over the frequency range from 0.1Hz to 20 MHz in one extended range. Most of the DDS generator today are dedicated instrument, simple and comfortable, and are at low cost from a few tens of dollars to tens of thousand of dollars. In the next section, we are going to look at how this device operates. OPERATING PRINCIPLES OF SIGNAL GENERATOR In this 21st century, most of the modern function generators use Direct Digital Synthesis (DDS) technology to generate output wave forms. BK Precision sweep function generator (model 4040DDS) happens to be among one of this generators. This section describes how DDS technology works. There are two fundamental ideas of DDS technology which includes: Producing an arbitrary waveform that can be in various waveforms or not assigned a particular value from a periodic ramp signals. Producing a digital ramp. First, consider producing wave function that can be in various waveforms or not assigned a particular value from a periodic ramp signal. To make this explanation more simple and understandable, imagine the ramp period (t) is greater than or equal to 0s (t ? 0), then lets call the recurring ramp function R(t) as shown in the diagram below. This ramp function R(t) as shown in figure 1 differs linearly or oscillate between 0 and 1 with period T. Now, suppose their is a new function F(t) that is defined on the interval 0? t ?1, in mathematical terminology, the domain of the function which is the values assigned to the independent variables of F(t) is the half-closed interval. Imagine to construct another wave function of period T which is similar to R(t) with the shape of F(t) and assuming again that the period is 4s using the diagram shown in figure 4, we will notice that as the time increases from t0 to t4, which is equal to one period, there is a sequence which implies that their will be a gradual rise in the function until t4, therefore calculating the corresponding value of each time and removing the integer part of it. For instance, tn= – . The calculation for t0 to t8 is shown in the table below using the figure 4 diagram. The illustration shows that there is a rise in the time value, in the sense that when one period is reach, it will start over again until another period is reached. This is how it works continuously for the defined time interval. This means that it resets after each successive cycle. On the other hand, the resetting of the time interval is carried out by a phase accumulator which is the first time interval that is the t1 = frequency. In the above example, the waveform that was created has a frequency of 0.25Hz and a phase angle of 90 that means the frequency is x360 As BK precision (2010) guild book instruct that to produce a digital ramp, as an alternative of increasing the time intervals by 1s, let the increment be in terms of ?, the phase angle, by the digital clock and for an N-bit counter, it will count from 0 to 2N – 1, then reset to 0 again. For example, let the value of be N = 4, which will be (24), therefore the counter result is 16 bits. When a signal is received, it will only match up to one of the bits frequencies and the waveform of that frequency will be generated. Lastly, the generated waveform might be displayed as a square or triangular signal using the control buttons on the device. This is made possible by including an operating amplifier (op-amp) in the circuit. Assume the received input signal was a sine wave, it can be converted to a square waveform; an op-amp acts as a comparator that gives and output signal of â€Å"1† only when the amplitude of the sine wave is greater than 0 and a â€Å"-1† when the amplitude is less than 0. According to Floyd (2009), this change was essential because digital data processing and transmission can be more effective and dependable than analog data and it’s of advantage when data storage is needed. FUNCTIONS AND APPLICATIONS Signal generators have hundreds of different applications and function that are suited for variety of use in many fields but in electronics measurement context, they fall into three basic types: Verifications Characterization Stress and margin testing VERIFICATION In the world of electronic and technologies, wireless equipment designers that are building new transmitter and receiver hardware must stimulate baseband I and Q signals (with or without impairments), to verify some wireless standards, a high performance arbitrary waveform generators can provide the needed low-distortion, high-resolution signals at rates up to 1GB/secs. CHARACTERIZATION This is a state whereby the newly developed digital to Analog converter (DAC) and the Analog to digital converters (ADC) must be systematically tested to determine their limits of undeviating, distortion and so on. STRESS AND MARGING TESTING Advanced signal generators, save the engineers hours of calculation by providing efficient built- in jitter editing and generation tools because engineers that works with the serial data stream architectures; commonly used in digital communications buses and disk drive amplifiers, need to stress their devices with impairment especially jitter and timing violations so engineers must characterize their emerging designs to ensure that the new hardware meets design specifications across the full range of operation and more. However, using this device, much difficulty in electronics and also field like the medicine can now be resolute easily. To design an assorted signal and a high speed low filter data, an arbitrary waveform generator can be used. They are specifically design for it. Radio frequency signals are used to achieve tests on radio transmitters and receivers. (Theraja and Thereja, 1959) Signal generators that are connected to oscilloscopes can be use in testing faults in electronic equipment and devices. In telecommunications today phones functions using signals, for example: the process, transmit and receive data. Devices for example: digital X-ray appliances, brain mapping system and advanced cardiology uses signal in most medical field today. CONCLUSION The modern DDS generators have some advantages and disadvantages of it depict that they help in solving solutions in various fields. Describing about the advantages of DDS, you discover that their frequency is tuneable with sub-Hertz resolution; their phase angle is digitally adjustable, as long as the clock is stable, they don’t go with the flow due to temperature changes or aging of components, addition of arbitrary waveform generator is not theoretically difficult and lastly they have simple design and low parts count which help to keep cost down. However, describing the disadvantages of this machine has to do with the negative aspect which is their output frequency is ? ? the clock frequency, their amplitude is also fixed that is; they need external circuitry to change, sine wave is sampled and not spectrally pure; distortion is present at that moment. But this disadvantages, does not cost more harm the technology is still the best and with more careful design in future, these advantages can me minimized. REFERENCES Floyd, L. (1977) Digital Fundamentals. 10th Edn. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education Ifeachor, E. and Jervis, B. (2002) Digital Signal Processing. A Practical Approach. 2nd Edn. Harlow, England: Pearson Education Hill, A. (2010) What is signal generatorAvailable at: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-signal-generator.htm (Accessed 15 March 2011.) Nashedky, B. (1996) Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory. 6th Edn. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. Peterson, D. and BK Precision (2010) Function Generator and Arbitrary Waveform Generators Guidebook. Available at: http://www.bkprecision.com/support/downloads/guides/Function_and_Arbitrary_Waveform_Generator_Guidebook/BK-Function-Generator-and-AWG-Guidebook.pdf. (Accessed: 25 March 2011) Alloca, J. and Stuart, A. (1983) Electronic Instrumentation. Reston, Virginia: Prentice-Hall. Crecratf, D. et al (1990) Analogue and Digital Electronics. Great Britain: The Open University Referencec.com (2010) Signal generators. Available at: http://www.reference.com/browse/signal+generator (Accessed: 14 April 2011) Theraja, B. And Theraja, A. (1959) A Textbook of Electrical Technology. 23rd Edn. Reprint 2003. Ram Nagar, New Delhi: S. Chand Company Ltd. Coombs, C. (1972) Handbook of Basic Instrumentation. New York: Mc Graw-Hill Yourdictionary.com (2010) Nikola Tesla Biography. Available at: http://biography.yourdictionary.com/nikola-tesla (Accessed 18 April 2011) Tektronics (2008) Signal generator fundamentals Guidebook. Available at: http://circuitslab.case.edu/manuals/Signal_Generator_Fundamentals-_Tektronix.pdf (Accessed 20 April 2011) ZTech Instruments (2010) Waveform Generator Fundamentals. Available at: http://www.ztecinstruments.com//applications/waveform-generator-fundamentals.php (Accessed: 6 April 2011) How to cite Signal generators also know as function generator or test oscillator, Essay examples

Edhec Family Business free essay sample

There are a few EDHEC Global MBA participants who decided to study in this program to search for better understanding of business disciplines in order to improve their quality as managers with the main goal of returning to their countries and continue their family business. Family business can be very large, a big example is Walmart that even after 43 years and being the third largest company in the world, the Walton family still owns 48% of the stake. However, most cases of family business still relate to medium or smaller sizes. The good thing about a family business is that it has a strong sense of commitment and honor from the members. Family businesses are more likely to last because there will always be an effort on the part of the family members not to let it die or fade related to their inner values. Brazilian candidate, Andressa Lass Santos provides us with her testimony on her family business case: â€Å"The EDHEC MBA program has been helping me gain a broader perspective in relation to several business facets such as leadership, accounting, management, studying the local economy and the industry and how to combine them all in a strategic manner. We will write a custom essay sample on Edhec Family Business or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Every class has been helping me come up with ideas and is making me notice flaws that I had never perceived before, as well as areas where there are room for improvements in my family business. My father started a construction company and asphalt plant 25 years ago in Curitiba, Brazil. He is an engineer and agrees with me that if I gain more management skills it would be very useful for the company, since he has little time to invest in that, and in fact he is beginning to think to step out of the picture and work more as a counselor. As each single class goes by, I learn something new and try to think how to implement in our family business. My ideas arise from the hiring process, motivations of the employees until thinking globally of macroeconomics and strategically trying to apply how we could possibly expand our business or even find new ideas related to it, such as maybe starting another business or company that could support the construction company. For that reason I will choose the Entrepreneurship track in the MBA program, I believe it is the track that I will most benefit from when thinking about my family business and how we want to expand it. †

How To Start A Web Business Essays - E-commerce, Online Shopping

How To Start A Web Business How To Start A Web Business 1 of 3 How To Start A Web Business One of the most popular Internet myths claim that building an online store is easy: All the customer has to do is point, click, and buy. But in reality, successful e-commerce is far more complex and unlike any other web site project you have tackled in the past. Before that first cyber buck finds its way into your bank account, you need to do considerable research and planning. To get started you can begin thinking about all the issues that need to be addressed before you can even put together a successful online business plan. You can now imagine a real company that suddenly decides to regard the welcome announcement of e-commerce. Say youre working for the Ford Motor Company, the nations leading supplier of heavy-duty trucks. Your CEO is catching up on the past several months of business journals and when the spark plugs start firing. Those screaming headlines cannot be ignored: Consumer E-Commerce Will Jump To 26 Billion By 2002 and U.S. Online Business Trade Will Soar to 1.3 Trillion By 2003. Most importantly, Chevy has rumored to begin its own e-business plan. So the big wig meets with the board of directors, and after an agonizing long deliberation, you are told that they want www.ford.com open in six weeks. Plenty of time they insist. After all there are millions of schmucks out there building award winning web sites and making a plethora of cash to pay for college. Immediately go register the domain name ford.com for the company and then make your plan. Planning ahead for the unexpected gotchas of e-commerce that can hit you unexpectedly. Planning ahead will not only save you redevelopment time down the road, but it will also help you make educated decisions as you choose the right e-business solution for your company. The Many Choices of Beginning Before your can select the right setup for your e-business, you must determine exactly what you need to be competitive online. Most likely you will need some software to help you manage your products, your promotions, your customers, and their orders. You may also need some additional programs to handle the tax, shipping, and payment processing of your orders. 2 of 3 A number of off the shelf solutions have grown over the past few years that give you these core features and allow you to plug-in other software modules to handle the complexities of taxation, the varieties of shipping options, and all the popular forms of payment. Solutions like Intershops ePages, iCats Lemonade Stand, or Yahoos Stores provide pre-fabricated storefronts that are ready. Just pick a design and fill in your products and you are ready for business. Other applications, like Intershop 3.0 and iCat Professional, allow you to change the pre-made storefronts to your own personal look and feel. These programs also allow you to extend the html setups to even more alter the features and behaviors of the storefront. The above solutions rely on other e-commerce software from CyberCash or OpenMarket for payment processing, Taxware for tax calculations, and Tandata for up to date shipping information. Building Your Plans As soon as you are building your plans you should construct a requirements document. At this point it is a good time to get the attention of all the corporate departments involved. That way everyones input is in at the beginning, instead of too late. All ideas and potential conflicts are confronted early. It is hard to know which technology solution is good for you, until you have a detailed list of requirements that you can compare the solutions against. Therefore, you can choose an e-commerce platform that will deliver your goals to the online customers. You should also take the chance to plan for where the company is going to be in 2, 5, and 10 years. If you set your solution up correctly now, when your company grows and expands its range for service, you can simply add to the original foundation and not throw out your work. More specifically your plan should answer the questions of how the products will be presented. The organization of how you would expect

Mark Antony essays

Mark Antony essays Mark Antony Was believed to be born in 83 B.C. and died at the age of 53, in 30 B.C. Antony was born into an already prominent Roman family. He was very ambitious at what he would strive to accomplish. In 53 B.C. he became cavalry officer under the reign of Julius Caesar. Then in 48 B.C. he helped Caesar defeat a rebel army led by Pompey at the Battle of Pharsalus. In 43 B.C. Antony became co-ruler of Rome. Just before the assassination of Julius Caesar he became a consul with Octavian. In 44 B.C. Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of Roman Aristocrats led by Marcus Brutus. After the death of Julius Caesar, Antony became the ruler of Rome, but Octavian being Caesar's great-nephew and adopted son, challenged Antony's rule. In the same year Antony agreed that he would become co-ruler of Rome with Lepidus and Octavian, forming the Second Triumvirate. The first order of business for the Second Triumvirate was to track down the murders of Julius Caesar and kill them. In 42 Antony led an army against Marcus Brutus and Cassius where he defeated them at the Battle of Philippi. When the war had ended Brutus and Cassius did the notable thing and killed themselves. Then Antony Claimed Rome's eastern provinces for himself, Which meant that Italy and the Western Provinces were left to Octavian. Antony first met Cleopatra in 41 B.C. when he summoned for her to discuss the reason why she would not fund the second Triumvirate during the civil war between the Republic and the Second Triumvirate. And during the time he spent with her she seduced him and they fell in love In 41 B.C. Antony met with Cleopatra in Alexandria and spent the winter there as her lover. Cleopatra was the queen of Egypt was the last ruler of the dynasty founded by Ptolemy. Then in 40 B.C. Cleopatra gave birth to twins sons fathered by Antony. Then later that year he married Octavia so he could strengthen his political power in Rome. Howev ...

The Texas Judicial System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The Texas Judicial System - Essay Example One of the most complex elements of the judicial system is that there are two distinct systems - federal and state, even though most of the cases are filed in state courts. Texas' system is based on confusing array of courts with overlapping jurisdictions and has the double court system even at the highest appellate level. The Texas Supreme Court has nine members and is the last resort in civil cases. The nation has much criticized the Texas judicial system, especially for the large campaign contributions during elections of the state judges and high execution level, however, in overall the system is not very effective effective. In 1822, the first provisional justice of the piece in Texas has been appointed - Josiah Bell appointed by Stephen Austin. Shortly after the revolution, the Spanish law has been replaced by the Constitution of the Republic of Texas under which the judicial power was focused in Supreme Court. The state was divided into judicial districts - each county had the court and the judge elected by popular vote. However, the chief justice of the state was elected by the ballot of the houses of Congress. The justice of the Supreme Court were elected by the governor with the consent of the Senate, however, in 1850 the offices were made elective (Braden 47). In 1876 additional appellate court of the last resort was established while the Supreme Court did not review the decisions of the Court of Appeals. Within the next decade, the intermediate level of appeal courts was established. In 1891, the Court of Appeals became the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals with the jurisdiction over criminal cases appeals from district and county courts. Today there are three levels of the courts, including district, county and inferior. Moreover, there is no uniform jurisdiction among the levels and it is necessary to examine the statutes of each. There are also courts of appeals and two courts of the last resort. Inferior courts include justice and municipal courts which have the most uniform jurisdiction in the state. The traffic offense cases are filed to inferior courts - they collect fines and are the revenue producers. Counties with more than 30,000 population have from 4 to 8 precincts - each having one justice of peace serving for the term of 4 years. Justice of the peace courts are filed criminal offenses punishable by fine (not more than $5,000). Justice of peace also serve as the magistrates and can issue warrants to arrest and search (Braden 60-68). Municipal courts are established in more than 800 cities and have more than one judge. The city's governing body appoint the judges of municipal courts, even though some of the judges are elected by the voters. Municipal courts are not courts of record and have jurisdiction over city ordinances violations punishable by fines. The county courts are divided into two systems: constitutional courts and statutory courts. Constitutional courts have jurisdiction over the inferior courts and criminal jurisdiction over the misdemeanors and civil matters. The judge of the constitutional court has legislative and executive functions and serves the term of four years. The statutory county courts have jurisdiction over civil, family and criminal matters, even though it varies throughout the state. District courts are trial courts and have jurisdic

Personal philosophy reflection Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Personal philosophy reflection - Coursework Example Any behavior that may go against the lines of conduct may be deemed as inappropriate and unprofessional, and in the end, might diminish the benefits of nursing to patients, and society at large (Hannigan, Pattison & Pill, 2010). Today, nurses are shown on how to make these boundaries visible to the people in their care, thus; ensuring that patients receive the utmost help in their quest to attain health. Nurses have been given the responsibility of ensuring that patients get the necessary attention and provide an environment where the provision of healthcare is done in an ethical and effective manner (Hannigan, Pattison & Pill, 2010). From this, patients can comprehend the extent of their caregiver’s duties to them, and learn to appreciate them during the entire process. Times are changing, and it is fundamental for nurses to change with them. This may work toward ensuring that any and all relationships formed in the healthcare field reflect the nursing code of conduct and profession, and also indicate their commitment and affection for the people in their care. It is my belief that nursing is one of the most reliant and dependable vocations globally (DeLaune & Ladner, 2010). This is because there are lives that depend on the code of conduct of all nurses, and it is these responsibilities that help them uphold upright morals and values in this profession. There are lots of lives at hand, not just the patients’ that might be affected; it is my duty to ensure that being effective every time is at the top of the to-do-list. It is vital to be a team player in a bid to ensure that patients receive the care they need. This requires proper communication skills, with both my colleagues and the patients in my care. Proper decision making is one of the most vital aspects of this course that might ensure I execute my duties

Tom Regan and Animal Rights Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Tom Regan and Animal Rights - Essay Example There was a time when it was commonly accepted by â€Å"civilized† people that those of non-European descent deserved to be chattel. There was a time when women could be viewed as property. In general, it seems that humanity has over time increased its level of moral sophistication and expanded its moral universe. In particular, there has been a focus on rights-based analysis: People have intrinsic rights, inalienable, and it is always wrong to eclipse them. In the modern era, there are many, such as Regan, who submit that perhaps the next logical evolution in our expanding moral universe is animal rights, treating animals with certain inalienable levels of treatment Regan makes clear that animal rights generally mean just that: Rights that animals have to certain levels of treatment. Like all rights analyses, these arguments are deontological rather than utilitarian or consequentialist. Even if you can get a â€Å"good† outcome for killing a cow or experimenting on a rabbit, it is wrong because it violates some norm that, if the violation were universalized, would cease to exist. Society as a whole might benefit from animal testing, but it is still tortured. A key assumption to this argument is some kind of parallelism between animal and humanity. Virtually no one sheds a tear for the destruction of a rock. If a rock needs to be destroyed for society's good, there is no hand-wringing. The consequentialist analysis is assumed when we are speaking of the purely material world. Thus, animal rights debate center not just on the classic deontological-consequentialist debate, but also on the issues: What is life? If we view life as divine, is that divinity only confined to man? What matters in our moral universe? Is it sentience? If so, how much sentience? Is it the ability to feel pain? If so, to what degree of sensitivity? There are some who argue that animal rights are absolute, that just as a human's free speech can never be violated so can an animal's rights against pain or death never be undermined. Regan contrasts these people with those who view animal rights as something more contingent and fluid (70).

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Autoimmune Disorder

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Autoimmune Disorder AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS The immune system is an important system within the human body that defends against disease and internal malfunction. When there is an invader or a pathogen, the bodys immune system responds accordingly, usually destroying the pathogen before it can infect the body and cause illness. The immune system also helps identify malfunctioning cells and eliminates them before faulty DNA is replicated. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system of a patient no longer identifies foreign versus self correctly. The immune system of a patient with an autoimmune disorder will attack the bodys cells or tissues causing damage or death. (Lettre Rioux, 2008). Autoimmune disorders can be genetically predisposed, but just because a patient is predisposed to a particular disorder does not mean they will necessarily experience it. Often times, autoimmune disorders occur through a combination of genetic predispositions and environmental factors. This means a patient may have a genetic predisposition for systemic lupus erythematosus but the disorder is triggered by an invading virus the patient encounters and only thereafter do they suffer from the symptoms of SLE. There are now 68 genetic precursors that are linked to the development of autoimmune disorders, while in the past only about 15 had been identified. Symptoms of autoimmune diseases vary depending on what part of the body the immune system is attacking (Understanding Autoimmune Diseases, 2016) (Lettre Rioux, 2008). Within the immune system there are several types of cells. B-cells and T-cells play key roles within the immune system and in autoimmune diseases. There are two types of T-cells, CD4 T-helper cells that identify an invader and make the antibody creating B-cells aware and CD8 cytotoxic T-cells which will destroy a previously encountered threat without stimulating the creation of antibodies by B-cells. CD4 T-cells are also known as regulatory T-cells (Treg cells). These Tregs play a role in preventing autoimmunity by maintaining the ability to identify self. When these cells no longer identify self properly or at all, an autoimmune disease occurs. When T-helper cells do not identify self-versus-foreign properly they stimulate B-cells to create antibodies to destroy the bodys tissues or cells, called autoantibodies, or the cytotoxic T-cells will destroy the tissue or cells of oneself. (Venes et al., 2005, pp. 132, 135, 203, 204) (Corthay, 2009) (Hampe, 2012). SLE or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune disease most commonly characterized by joint pain (arthralgia) and swelling (edema). SLE can also cause fatigue, mouth sores, sensitivity to sunlight, and butterfly rash across the cheeks and nose of the face, and hair loss. Other symptoms depend on where the body is being attacked by the immune system. For instance, if the immune system of a patient with SLE is attacking the heart of the patient an additional symptom of arrhythmia may be experienced. (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, 2016). Diagnosis of SLE can be difficult as it can be associated with varying symptoms. A test known as antinuclear antibody test (ANA) is used to help diagnose SLE. An antinuclear antibody is an antibody created by the patients immune system to attack the bodys tissues and cells. Some ANA tests are enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and indirect florescent antibody (IFA). These tests examine how many antinuclear antibodies are present in a patients blood. ANA tests are used when the autoimmune disease may be affecting more than one area of the body; this is called a systemic autoimmune disease. Because SLE is systemic, an ANA test helps confirm that SLE is the diagnosis as opposed to rheumatoid arthritis. However, having a positive ANA test does not mean that a patient has SLE. SLE is often misdiagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis because they share common symptoms such as edema and arthralgia this is why doctors often use an assortment of other tests to diagnose SLE, along with a physi cal exam as four of the eleven common symptoms of SLE must be present before a patient can be diagnosed. Some of those common symptoms were listed above: butterfly rash across the face, joint pain, sensitivity to sunlight, hair loss, fatigue, and edema. (Antinuclear Antibody, 2017)(Starkebaum, 2016)(Bocco, 2017). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can be treated but not cured. Because it is an autoimmune disease, SLE is treated with immunosuppressants. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an immunosuppressant that slows down the immune system and its attack on the bodys tissues and cells. HCQ was originally used in the treatment of malaria and is known as a disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD). It is recommended that patients diagnosed with SLE immediately start a HCQ regiment as this drug help prevent further damage from the disease process. HCQ is usually used in chorus with other pain relief drugs because HCQ itself does not provide immediate pain relief. NSAIDS (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are often used in joint pain management for patients with SLE. Over time, HCQ will help relieve joint pain in SLE sufferers as well as help stop further damage to any other affected organs and joints. Corticosteroids are often also prescribed to those with SLE as joint pain is a prominent symptom of SLE. Corticosteroids mimic naturally produced strong anti-inflammatory substances within the body. However, treatments come with risk factors. In rare cases, HQC can cause retinopathy; retinopathy is when vision is altered or complete blindness occurs. Likewise, long term use of corticosteroids has adverse effects including: osteoporosis, hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), and cataracts. Dosage of corticosteroids are adjusted for long term use in patients with SLE to avoid these side effects and routine eye exams are done on those using HCQ to prevent retinopathy. (Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), 2014) (Bartels, 2016) (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2015). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus predominantly affects women. Research suggests this is due in part to estrogen. For every one man diagnosed with SLE, there are nine to twenty women diagnosed. Within the population of women who are at risk for SLE, women who are not white are at a higher risk for SLE as well as women under the age of 15 and over the age of 45. The discrepancy in race may have to do with the fact that colored females have higher recorded levels of estrogen than do white females.   Estrogen is thought to make women more susceptible to an autoimmune disease such as SLE because of its intracellular transcription ability to alter DNA. The effects of estrogen have also been studied holistically in association with the disease. Estrogen may encourage systemic inflammation in SLE and affect the severity of the disease and acute instances of it. Although estrogen has been identified as causing inflammation it has also been identified as prohibiting inflammation; thus meaning es trogen can act oppositely as it does in SLE in terms of another autoimmune disease. The discrepancy between the genders cannot completely be accounted for primarily with estrogen levels, however. Sex hormones are not the only determining factor for autoimmune diseases, others include; epigenetics, infections, genetics, and external environment. (Pierdominici Ortona, 2013, pp. 25-27) (Khan Ahmed, 2015) (Isherwood Witter, 2012) References Antinuclear Antibody (ANA). (2017, March 22). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from Lab Tests Online website: https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/tab/test/ Bartels, C. M. (2016, September 19). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Treatment and Management (H. S. Diamond, Ed.). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from Medscape website: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/332244-treatment Bocco, D. (2017, January 3). The Difference Between Lupus and RA (N. Carteron, Ed.). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from Healthline website: http://www.healthline.com/health/lupus-and-ra#Overview1 Corthay, A. (2009, June 27). How do Regulatory T Cells Work? Retrieved March 22, 2017, from NCBI website: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2784904/ Hampe, C. S. (2012, September 23). B Cells in Autoimmune Diseases. Retrieved March 22, 2017, from Hindawi website: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/scientifica/2012/215308/ Hansen, M. S., Schuman, S. G. (2011, June). Hydroxychloroquine-Induced Retinal Toxicity. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from American Academy of Ophthamology website: https://www.aao.org/eyenet/article/hydroxychloroquine-induced-retinal-toxicity Isherwood, D., Witter, J. (2012, July 16). Lupus fact sheet (B. Diamond, Ed.). Retrieved March 24, 2017, from Womenshealth.gov website: https://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/lupus.html Khan, D., Ahmed, S. A. (2015, December 3). The Immune System Is a Natural Target for Estrogen Action: Opposing Effects of Estrogen in Two Prototypical Autoimmune Diseases. Retrieved March 24, 2017, from NCBI website: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4701921/ Mayo Clinic Staff. (2015, November 26). Prednisone and other corticosteroids. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from Mayo Clinic website: http://www.mayoclinic.org/steroids/art-20045692?pg=2 Pierdominici, M., Ortona, E. (2013). Estrogen Impact on Autoimmunity Onset and Progression: the Paradigm of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. International Trends in Immunity, 1(2), 24-34. Retrieved from http://researchpub.org/journal/iti/number/vol1-no2/vol1-no2-3.pdf Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine). (2014, February 10). Retrieved March 23, 2017, from Netdoctor website: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/aches-and-pains/a7356/plaquenil-hydroxychloroquine/ Starkebaum, G. A. (2016, January 16). Systemic lupus erythematosus. Retrieved March 23, 2017, from MedlinePlus website: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000435.htm Understanding Autoimmune Diseases. (2016, March). Retrieved March 22, 2017, from National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases website: https://www.niams.nih.gov/%5C/Health_Info/Autoimmune/default.asp Venes, D., Biderman, A., Adler, E., Fenton, B. G., Enright, A. D., Patwell, J., . . . Wight, A.-A. (Eds.). (2005). Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (20th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis Company.

Basic Techniques of Managing Deviance :: essays research papers

There are 5 basic techniques of managing deviance. There is secrecy, manipulating the physical setting, rationalizations, change to non-d`eviance, and joining deviant subcultures. The act of secrecy is easily defined as the word itself. The deviant keeps secrets from those around them. The thought behind it being that if nobody ever knows about their deviant behavior there is no one who can place negative sanctions upon the deviant. Next, manipulating the physical setting, the deviant chooses to avoid negative sanctions by appearing to be legitimate in their reasons for taking part in the act or situation. For example a prostitute may work under the guise of being an escort or masseuse. Another technique of managing deviance is rationalizations. An example of a rationalization would be a shoplifter who justifies their actions by saying that the store has insurance and can afford to suffer the loss. A fourth technique of managing deviance would be to make a change to non-deviance. Fo r example, criminals will refer to the technique as â€Å"going straight.† The fifth and final technique of managing deviance is to join a deviant subculture. Joining the subculture makes the deviant feel like they are less deviant because they are surrounded by their deviance. Using the example of a married man who cross-dresses at the bars after he gets off work, there are several techniques that he might employ to manage his deviance. One technique that he might use would be secrecy; he would attempt to keep his â€Å"normal† life and his â€Å"cross-dressing† life separate. His wife may not even know about his alter-ego of sorts. Another technique he might employ would be joining a deviant subculture. By assimilating with fellow cross-dressers at a bar he may feel that the act is less deviant, or even â€Å"normal.† The third technique I would imagine the man would use would be manipulating the physical setting. By only cross-dressing when he is at the bar, away from his co-workers and family he aids in the secrecy of his deviance. He may say that the cross-dressing is just a gimmick or comical act and not admit to doing it for his pleasure.

Applied Performance Practices Study Guide

APPLIED PERFORMANCE PRACTICES * FINANCIAL REWARD PRACTICES >Financial Rewards- the most fundamental applied performance practice in organizational settings. >Pay has multiple meanings * Symbol of success * Reinforcer and motivator * Reflection of performance * Can reduce anxiety >Meaning of money varies * Higher value to men than women * Cultural values influence the meaning and value of money TYPES OF REWARDS IN THE WORKPLACE * Membership and Seniority * Job Status * Competencies * Performance 1. Membership- and Seniority- Based Rewards * Fixed wages, seniority increases. * (Sometimes called â€Å"pay for pulse†) represent the largest part of most paychecks. Sample Rewards: * Fixed pay * Most employee benefits * Paid time off Advantages: * May attract applicants * Minimizes stress of insecurity * Reduces turnover Disadvantages: * Doesn’t directly motivate performance * May discourages poor performers from leaving * Golden handcuffs may undermine performance 2. ) Job St atus-Based Rewards * Includes job evaluation and status perks. Job evaluation –systematically evaluating the worth of jobs within an organization by measuring their required skill, effort, responsibility, and working conditions. * Maintain feelings of equity (people in higher-valued jobs should get higher pay) and motivate employees to compete for promotion. Sample rewards: * Promotion-based pay increase * Status-based benefits Advantages: * Tries to maintain pay equity * Minimizes pay discrimination * Motivates employees to compete for promotion Disadvantages: Encourages hierarchy which may increase costs and reduce responsiveness * Reinforces status differences * Motivates job competition and exaggerated job worth. 3. ) Competencies-Based Rewards * Pay increases with competencies acquired and demonstrated * Employees now receive pay increases within each pay band partly based on how well they have acquired new knowledge and skills. * Skill-based pay-is a variation of compet ency-based rewards in which employees are rewarded for the number of skill modules mastered and consequently the number of jobs they can perform.Sample Rewards: * Pay income based on competency * Skill-based pay Advantages: * Improve workforce flexibility * Tends to improve quality * Consistent with employability Disadvantages: * Subjective measurement of competency * Skill-based pay plans are expensive 4. ) Performance-Based Rewards Here are some of the most popular individual, team and organizational performance-based rewards: * Individual Rewards * Bonuses- many employees receive individual bonuses for accomplishing a specific task or exceeding annual performance goals. Commissions- real estate agents and other salespeople typically earn commissions in which their pay increases with sales volume. * Piece rate systems reward employees based on the number of units produced. * Team Rewards * Bonuses- employees earn a bonus based on how well their store meets or exceeds specific fina ncial goals. * Gainsharing Plans- a reward system in which team members earn bonuses for reducing costs and increasing labor efficiency in their work process. * Organizational Rewards Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) – a reward system that encourages employees to buy stock in the company. * Stock Options- a reward system that gives employees the right to purchase company stock at a future date at a predetermined price. * Profit-sharing Plans- a reward system that pays bonuses to employees based on the previous year’s level of corporate profits. * Balanced Scorecard (BSC) – a reward system that pays bonuses for improved results on a composite of financial, customer, internal process and employee factors.

Consumerism in Weeks Lintons Article Burden of the Modern Beast

Consumerism in Weeks Lintons Article Burden of the Modern Beast Introduction This paper analyzes impacts of consumer-driven society in the modern culture. Actually, Weeks Linton wrote an article entitled â€Å"Burden of the Modern Beast† to explain effects of consumers-driven custom in human community. Weeks Linton made an exciting study when he observed that people normally carry many belongings during commitments. Indeed, the article asserted that many persons carry bags when moving from one place to another or when doing different activities.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Consumerism in Weeks Lintons Article â€Å"Burden of the Modern Beast† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More In the modern life, people are burdened with much stuff they carry out in their daily events. Actually, modern human being carries much stuff than inhabitants who lived in earlier generation. For example, in 1900s, people who engaged in painting profession never carried complicated stuff. Ne vertheless, in the modern time, painting task has become so much sophisticated due to technological advancement. For instance, modern Laptop holders have pouches meant to carry whole lot of stuff. Weeks Linton viewed that human being carry many belongings because he/she do not want to depend on a fellow being. In fact, such things people carry do not promote community life in human society. Indeed, such people usually become self dependent and isolated from others. For instance, this is evident when modern people engage in portable games, purchase complex Laptop cases, Cell Phones, and IPods (Rosa Eschhol, 2009). Moreover, modern human beings carry much stuff due to the fact that they feel insecure. Actually, people perceive that adversary is always out to attack them. In fact, people carry preferred devices for survival means. In addition, Himes asserts that human life, in the modern era, is much liquefied. Thus, they carry belongings in order to be equipped to engage in various a ctivities such as family commitments, school activities, work occupation, and leisure time (2007). According to Rosa Eschhol, modern people have become concerned whether human gains of material richness have prepared them to acquire happiness in life or not (2009). In fact, modern people are not happy and contented in life. Actually, modern people have incurred too much cost of acquiring materialism at expense of losing integration of community life in society. Modern human being has attained impressive progression in terms of global invention over the last three decades. Indeed, people have access to many material choices. For example, human being has acquired efficient products such as Whistle, Bells, and Gadgets (Fine, 2005). Actually, people have acquired sophisticated devices that efficiently and progressively make human life better. However, modern human being is not faring well simply because he/she sets aside minimal time to share human values with acquaintances. Indeed, pr omotion of environmental and social conscientiousness is a failed approach. Besides, Fine opines that it is important to note that modern people cannot segregate democracy from capitalism (2005). Actually, capitalism flourishes well where democracy deteriorates. However, capitalism has over powered democracy. At present, people refer to modern world as democratic capitalism.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Rosa Eschhol, it is inevitable that consumerism is growing because of increase in rationalization (2009). On the other hand, rationalization is growing because of need for consumerism. Actually, consumption is a real mass phenomenon due to the fact that people have to use goods and services in order to exist in life. Indeed, consumerism is an essential means of survival. In fact, people usually use material possession in order to live. However, rational ization is a blame for modern consumption in human society. Indeed, rationality has promoted people’s search for desired aims. People normally focus on satisfying their wants through consumerism. In addition, Rosa Eschhol opine that materialism is not just objects, but a device in which human being expects to attain visions in social status, reputation, esteem and aspiration (2009). Moreover, consumerism has offered a prospect for people to display and convey their identity (Himes, 2007). In fact, this justifies why people hold material things. Human superficial preoccupation to exterior manifestation of materialism is part of blame and problem. Modern people have been influenced into harmful livelihood due to wickedness of rationality (Rosa Eschhol, 2009). Moreover, consistent involvement in media images and human willingness to be ahead of other people has caused selfish attitude in people who always aspire to acquire massive wealth more than others. Conclusion People nee d to embrace shared human values by abandoning cycles of purchasing and requiring more materialism through establishing consciously essential and legitimate natural life in their human activities. Such attitude is acquired through adopting Godly life. Indeed, people need to be involved in creative social events and resting involvement while minimizing exposure of non-intercreative activity and noise experience. Moreover, power of endurance and patience is helpful to reduce psychological depression and establish God’s inspiration into people’s lives. In fact, people need to explore kindness in many natural ways rather than engaging in quest for individual prosperity accretion. Furthermore, consumers’ culture needs to put their interest on mission of God rather than material possession. Generally, the culture of value attainment is influenced by personal attitude and norms. These norms control property acquisition and belief in inter and intra personal commitment and interaction.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Consumerism in Weeks Lintons Article â€Å"Burden of the Modern Beast† specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More References Fine, B. (2005). Consumerism in 20th Century Britain: the Search for a Historical Movement. Review of Social Economy, 63, 10-26. Himes, K. (2007). Consumerism and Christine Ethics. Theological Studies, 68, 54-80. Rosa, A., Eschhol, P. (2009). Models for Writers: Short Essays for Composition. 10th ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Umberto eco essays

Umberto eco essays Umberto Eco, a very known novelist was born on January 5, 1932 in the Northwestern province of Piedmont. Umberto Eco got his name from the acronym for ex caelis oblatus, or offered by the heavens given to him by an inventive civil servant. His father, Guilo Eco was an accountant and a veteran of three wars forced Umberto to take up law. When the second World War broke out, eco and his mother moved to small Piedmontese village in the mountains. There, the young Eco watched the shoot out between the Facsists and the partisans with a mixture of emotions-undeniably excited at the action. He was partly regretful that he was to young to get involved. To pursue his fathers dream of him becoming a lawyer, he entered the University of Turin. After a while he abandoned his studies in law and pursued his dream and took up medieval philosophy and literature. He earned his doctorate in 1954. In 1956, he published his first book Il problema estetico in San Tommaso. In 1956 he already published his second book . After migrating to Milan in 1966 he also published Le poetische di Joyce:dall summa al Finnegans Wake and LA struttura assente (The absent Structure) By the later seventees, Eco had established a reputation as a semiotician. Different novels came after that such as The name of the Rose 1980, Foucaults Pendulum 1988, and The Island of the Day Before. In Six Walks in the Fictional Woods, Eco explores the intricacies of fictional form and method. Using examples ranging from fairy tales and Flaubert, eco draws us in b means of a novelists techniques, making us readers his collaborators in the creation of his text and in the investigation of some of fictions most basic mechanisms. Basically he shares with us his life as a reader. We see, hear, and feel eco the passionate reader who has gotten lost over and over again in the woods, loved i...

Legal advice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Legal advice - Essay Example Winter Ltd is a company which sells books on the internet and is now willing to expand its business by selling CD’s & DVD’s, but for this purpose it needs capital and now has approached Spring Bank for a loan of 2 Million. For Spring Bank, just like all other banks, it is an opportunity to grasp and on the same time it has to be very careful about the collaterals and security offered by Winter Ltd. as to repayment of the loan because every loan has an inherent risk of default. In case of intangible assets the risk involved might be of some other nature as compared to loans which are secured against some physical asset. In order to avoid any risk Spring Bank would have to be very careful of all the circumstances and financial condition of Winter Ltd. before extending loan facility to them. It would be appropriate that before reaching a decision as to loan for Winter Ltd, we must consider the types of loan which can be offered to them by the bank. There are commonly two major types of loans which are being offered to commercial entities to support their business and the same can be considered in case of Winter Ltd, too. These are Overdraft Facility or Term Loan. Overdraft is an arrangement between client and its bank in which continues flow of cash is guaranteed in a bank account; bank agrees to provide a facility of loan to an agreed limit. In such a case this overdraft facility might be one time relaxation or may be a permanent feature of account operation with the client. In such case this overdraft may be created and paid off in continues manner. Customers credit cards are also useful links for his credit worthiness.2 This facility, however, is not flawless and involves risk on part of bank mainly. Bank is providing this facility on the basis of client’s reputation and is without any collateral which means it is an unsecured loan and hence invites a lot of caution on part of bank to allow

The Role of E-Commerce Technology and the Impact of E-Commerce on the Essay

The Role of E-Commerce Technology and the Impact of E-Commerce on the Supply Chain - Essay Example The online markets tend to involve the third party element of the business in that the transaction may affect the enterprise and the consumer or the sales made by a consumer to another consumer. Moreover, e-commerce involves the selling and activities of purchasing that include two businesses such that is a business to the business transaction as the description by (Chen, Chen & Kazman, 2007). Other involvements of e-commerce are the collection and subsequent use of the data on demographics that is available from the great representations of the contacts on the web as well as the contacts in the social media. Other instances of e-commerce include the prospects in marketing that focuses on the customers and employ the electronic emails or fax that may be a part of the newsletters. In fact, electronic commerce entails the launch of various new products and new services in the online markets. The most critical attribute of e-commerce is the interactivity aspect that keeps the customers or the buyers to be in a continuous form of involvement in the processes that constitute the activities of the favorite seller. The interactivity case implies that the market has plenty of individualizations. Besides, the online businesses are cheap to operate as a basis of the usage of already existing computer applications. The applications make up the EDI that is the Interchange of the Electronic Data. The regulations are probably to ensure that the business transactions that take part in the online markets are authentic.

Early Greek,Roman,and Christian Historiography Essay

Early Greek,Roman,and Christian Historiography - Essay Example To this extent, it is important to note that the writing of pre-modern history, often known as historiography, involved early historiographers writing about various civilizations that existed at their lifetime and even beyond (Bispham, Harrison, & Sparkes, 2006). In this regard, it is worthy to note that some of the major civilizations that the historiographers documented included the early Greek, Roman, and Christian civilizations. Due to the diversity of these civilizations, many historiographers adopted different approaches in pursuing the history of such civilizations (Mehl, 2005). This paper therefore, compares and contrasts the various approaches to the historical inquiry pursued by Greek, Roman, and Christian historians. Essentially, the early Christian Historiography incorporated a number of approaches that were unique to the civilization, as the historiographers at the time (Osborne, 2004). Perhaps it is important to commence by noting that all the Christian Historical materials must bear apocalyptic, universal necessity, and periodical significance, according to the Christian principles (Bispham, Harrison, & Sparkes, 2006).. Certainly, Christian historiographers take the approach of universal necessity in the sense that they attempt to describe the history of the world from the creation of man to the latest events in the Christian history (Marincola, 2010). This means that Christian historiography only goes to the universal extent of seeking the origin of the races and distribution patterns of such races. On the contrary, the Greco-Roman historiographers take a slightly different approach in the sense that it is more particular in describing the history of civilizations (Mehl, 2005). Instead of d escribing how civilizations and powers rose and fell, the Greco-Roman historiographers describe Greece and Rome as the nerve centres of all historical revolution. On the other hand, the Christian

The Road by Cormac McCarthy Essay Example for Free

The Road by Cormac McCarthy Essay The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a novel based in a post-apocalyptic world. It revolves around the life of a father and a son who are struggling to survive. Everything around them is destroyed, filled with ash and stripped of life yet the two continue to move south, towards the sea hoping for better days to come. Their lives are lived in a constant state of fear. Every day spent scavenging for food as they are constantly moving, trying to stay unnoticed and safe. In the world that they live in, survival is the only goal and the concept of morality has become non-existent. Cannibalism is the greatest fear as everyone is a predator. But in this â€Å"Barren, silent, godless† (4) world, where â€Å"the days more gray each one then what had gone before† (1) and where man is prey to man, the man and the boy hold their ground. They have not yet lost their sense of morality and refuse to resort to a lifestyle that many around them have adapted. To them certain acts are â€Å"intrinsically wrong† (O’Brien) and never justifiable. This way of thinking and ethical view resonates with the concept of moral absolutism. This philosophy, built on the foundations of Immanuel Kant’s belief that morality is the ability to act rationally, may be used as an explanation as to why the man and boy stick to their principles. Though, the two have very similar beliefs, the extent to which they follow and believe in them is different as the boy has stronger moral values. Therefore, under Kant’s philosophy, the boy in Cormac McCarthy’s The Road is arguably a moral absolutist due to the upbringing and relationship between him and his father as they are both accountable to one another and have a relationship as strong as one between man and God. Absolutism or something that is absolute is a principle that is universally valid, and is viewed without relation to other things. Moral Absolutism is when morality is universally valid and certain principles are viewed without relation to other things therefore they remain absolute no matter what situation or context they are put it. As a result, moral absolutism outlines that certain acts are always immoral and are never justifiable regardless of the motivation behind them or the consequences of those actions. When analysing Kant’s philosophy on morality there are three aspects that need to be considered. Firstly, as mentioned before, moral principles are absolute and do not allow for exceptions. These principles are not questionable because if they are put into different contexts and hypothetical situations, this opens doors to potentially infinite number of revisions and subtle qualifiers, and leaves one in a moral mess that Kant thought he was clarifying. (Rousseau) Secondly, Kant believed that all human beings are intrinsically important and that one should always respect the intrinsic worth of rational beings (Weilenberg). Therefore it is wrong to treat others as instrumental means for one’s gain (Josephson Institute). Thirdly and finally Kant contributed to the rule of Universality, which is that one should only act in a way that they believe would be appropriate if it was applied universally. Meaning that if one believes that an action is moral, would it remain moral if everyone around them was to act in that way. The rules and principles outlined in Kant’s moral philosophy and the basics of moral absolutism are visible in The Road by Cormac McCarthy. The man and the boy follow this belief system but as mentioned before, the extent to which the boy follows or believes in them is much different than the man. The man refers to himself and his son as the â€Å"good guys† and as outlined in Weilenberg’s essay they follow a moral code. This code consists of primarily never resorting to cannibalism, to not lying or stealing, helping others and never giving up (Weilenberg). These principles are very similar to those outlined in Kantian moral philosophy. All rational beings should be respected and should not be used for one’s own gain. Therefore cannibalism is never justifiable and helping others is a moral principle that must be followed. Throughout the novel, the man and the boy face many life threatening situations and it is during these situations that their level of morality is either weakened or strengthened. The first example of this would be when the man and the child encounter a man who has been struck by lightning but the man convinces the boy that it is not beneficial for them to help even after the boy’s urging (50). The man is ignoring principles and is focusing on his or their own good which goes against Kantian philosophy but even at this point the boy tries to convince his father otherwise. At another instance the boy responds to his father by saying, â€Å"If you break little promises, you’ll break big ones† (34) just as Kant argues that justifying one action opens up doors for an infinite number of possibilities which goes against absolutist principles. One of the main issues in the novel is cannibalism. The society in this post-apocalyptic world has in a way accepted cannibalism because of the threat of starvation but the man and the boy promise one another that no matter what the situation, they will not resort to it as the boy states, â€Å"We wouldn’t ever eat anybody, would we? .. No matter what? † and the father reassures his son by repeating, â€Å"No. No, matter what. † This is the fundamental statement that shows an absolute moral. Therefore they are arguably following Kantian philosophy and abide by moral absolutism. The man and the boy are living in a world where morality does not exist; as a result of this one many question the motivation behind the man and the boy’s moral standing. Though everyone around them has lost all sense of humanity, the two still follow certain principles. Early on in the novel, the man says, â€Å"If he [the boy] is not the word of God God never spoke†(5). Though this, it can be inferred that the man sees God in his son. He sees a superior being and a higher truth in his son. The man’s life surrounds around his son’s survival and he is his one and only motivation. Same applies to the son, as they both rely and trust in one another. Not only is The Road a tale of survival in a post-apocalyptic world but it is also the tale of the bond between father and the son and how strong this bond can be. The father preaches absolute morals to his son and they are both accountable to one another. This, is arguably the reason as to why the man and the boy hold absolute morals and values. In God and Moral Absolutes, Mathew O’Brien argues that once the existence of God is ruled out, it is impossible to demonstrate that there are moral absolutes. This argument can be looked with a different perspective. Though, the concept of God is not as strong in the man or the boy’s life their moral standing is very strong. Here the existence of God is ruled out but the bond between two people exists and as a result of this bond the father and son continue to live by their values. Also after the father’s death, the son continues to spiritually communicate with his father but it is stated, â€Å"He tried to talk to God but the best thing was to talk to his father † (286). Here, it may be argued that the bond between father and son was much stronger than that of man and God.

The History Of Baggage Handling Systems

The History Of Baggage Handling Systems What was to be the worlds largest automated airport baggage handling system, became a classic story in how technology projects can go wrong. Faced with the need for greater airport capacity, the city of Denver elected to construct a new state of the art airport that would cement Denvers position as an air transportation hub. Denvers new international airport was to be the pride of the Rockies, a wonder of modern engineering  [1]  . It was almost twice the size of Manhattan and about 10 times the breadth of Heathrow. The airport can handle the landing of three jet planes simultaneously even in bad weather. The airports baggage-handling system was even more impressive than its girth. The coal-mine like cars ran along 21 miles of steel track. 4,000 tele-cars routed and delivered luggage between the counters, gates and claim areas of 20 different airlines  [2]  . A CNS of some 100 computers connected to one another and to 5,000 surveillance cameras, 400 wireless receivers and 56 bar-code scanners coordinated the safe and timely arrival of every baggage. At least that was the plan. The airports baggage handling system was a critical component in the plan. By automating the baggage handling, aircraft turnaround time was to be reduced to as little as 30 minutes. Faster turnaround meant more efficient operations and was a cornerstone of the airports competitive advantage. Despite such noble intentions the plan promptly thawed as inefficient estimation of the complexity of the project resulted in swelling problems and public mortification for everyone involved. The inauguration of the airport got delayed by 16 months because of the problem. Expenditure to maintain the empty airport and interest charges on construction loans cost the city of Denver $1.1M per day throughout the delay. Of the numerous awkward gaffes along the way one was an unplanned demonstration of the whole system to the media. It elucidated how the system crushed bags, expelled content and how two carts moving at high speed retorted when they bumped into each other. When opening day finally arrived, the system was just a silhouette of the actual plan. Rather than computerizing all 3 concourses into one stand-alone system, it was used only in one concourse, by a one airline and only for flights which were outbound. Rest of the baggage handling was implemented using standard conveyor belts and a tug and trolley system that was entirely manually operated. This was hurriedly built when it became absolutely clear that the automated baggage handling system was never going to achieve its purpose. Although the offcuts of the system survived for 10 years, the system never worked properly and in August 2005, United Airlines announced that they would forsake the system completely. The maintenance costs of $1 million per month considerably exceeded the monthly cost of a manual tug and trolley system. BASIC MODE OF FAILURE Like all other failures the problems can be observed from numerous vantage points. In its humblest form, the Denver International Airport (DIA) project botched because the key decision makers could not analyze the complexity of the project with perfection. As intended, the system was one of the most complex baggage system ever endeavored. There was an exponential growth in the complexity of the project as it was almost ten times larger than any other baggage system. The heart of the complexity was a problem related to what is known as line balancing in project management terms. To adjust system performance, empty carts had to be circulated around the airport ready to carry fresh baggage. With more than 100 pickup points, the algorithms necessary to anticipate where the empty carts should wait for new bags epitomized a hideous dream in the mathematical aspect queuing theory. This failure in anticipating the number of empty carts required led to a delay in the picking up of baggage an as a result of which the system performance slide downhill. One of the main reasons of delayed initiation of the project was failure to recognize the complexity and the risk involved. Based on the original project schedule, this delay left a little over two years for the service agreements to be signed and for the system to be designed, developed, tested and implemented. The closest analogous projects although much smaller and simpler, took two years to implement. Given the dramatic increase in terms of size and complexity, implementation the Denver system in two years was an unmanageable task. As a result of the erroneous estimation of the complexity of the baggage system, the efforts required were also underestimated. That meant that without comprehending it, the Project Management team had calculated the baggage system as the critical path of the whole airport project. To meet the airports scheduled opening date, the project needed to be accomplished in just two years. This obviously was inadequate time and that miscalculation resulted in the project being exposed to gigantic levels of schedule stress. The other succeeding problems were most likely a result of (or aggravated by) shortcuts opted by the team and the mistakes committed by them as they desperately tried to meet the schedule. KEY DECISIONS THAT LED TO DISASTER Till now what has been discussed has made the basic mode of failure pretty clear. But to reach the heart of the problem and what could have been done to differently, we need to understand how the important decisions were made which eventually hampered the whole project. Project failures typically involve a number of faulty decisions, but within those many mistakes, some specific key decisions are the generators of the sequence of proceedings that eventually lead to catastrophe. Key Decision 1 An alteration in tactics At the beginning of a project strategic decisions are made that set the projects track. In the case of DIA, a tactical blunder was made that caused flip-flop to be made part way through the project. Before requesting for bids for an integrated system in the middle of 1991, the DIAs Project Management team had expected that individual airlines would take care of their own baggage handling activities. In 1991, the DIAs Project Management team altered their strategy and realized that an integrated baggage handling system needed to be built. This forced them to take back the responsibility from the individual airlines and carry out the whole project themselves. This alteration of strategy arrived only about two years prior to the airports scheduled inauguration date. This timing of the decision played a major part behind the unnecessary schedule stress that the project was exposed to. Although the decision made sense in the way that only one integrated system would be there with the entire responsibility on the DIA authorities, the timing of the decision was not proper. This led to a delay in start of the integration project. They got two years less time to finish it. The significant point that the airports Project Management team failed to see was that the change in technology required an analogous change in the organizational accountabilities. The failure to identify that change signifies a planning failure that happened during the start of the project. Overall, the mistake made was a failure to associate the airports overall business strategy (the aim of having one of the worlds most competent airports) with the sub-strategy of building the baggage system. Key Decision 2 The decision to continue What is even more surprising is that in spite of knowing that there was insufficient time, both DIAs Project Management team and BAE wanted to go ahead with the full-scale project. Before entering into the BAE contract, there were at least three clear suggestions that the project was not feasible in two years time: Breier Neidle Patrone Associates report clearly showed that the complexity was too much for the system to be built efficaciously. The three bids received pointed out that none of the vendors could have developed the system in time before the opening date. Munich Airport warned that a much simpler version made for them took about two years to be built and around another 6 months to get rid of the bugs. BAE initially did not choose to bid for the project, but the Chief Engineer of DIA directly talked with them and managed to convince them by stating the amount of prestige that was involved with such a large scale project. Many from inside the BAE raised their concern regarding the complexity of the system to be developed and the lack of time. But all the expert advice was ignored and they went ahead with the project with a development time of 2 years. Many factors may have led them into that trap and likely issues that may have influenced the decision making. Other than the Chief Engineers perspective and BAEs interests there were other factors or beliefs which made the whole project start. Both sides would have acknowledged that they were working within a constricted timeframe and the pressure to move rapidly might have caused them to put due-diligence to one side. The inherent belief that such a large airport would not function effectively without an automated system. As a matter of fact, the airport is functioning effectively with a manual system in place. Key Decision 3 The timeline, budget and scope Deciding on the timeline, budget and scope of the project is a critical issue and even more critical is committing on them to your customer. BAE did exactly that to the DIAs project management team. The decision to give a firm promise to scope, schedule and budget transmitted substantial risk onto BAEs shoulders. This clearly shows that the top management of BAE was not at all aware of the amount of risk that they were handling. BAE and the DIAs Project Management team made an additional mistake during the consultations. They excluded the airlines (who were key stakeholders) from the negotiations. Excluding stakeholders from discussions of key project decisions is always a trailing strategy. Key Decision 4 Acknowledgement of the alteration requests BAE and DIAs Project management team could not escape from the stakeholders pressures. Although they decided during negotiations that no change requests would be entertained, they had to accept them as the pressure was on them to meet the stakeholder needs. The stakeholders in this case being the airlines, which they ignored during the original negotiations. Some of these requests forced them to make significant changes in portions where they thought work was already completed. Incorporating these changes had other troubling repercussions. They failed to realize the effect these changes might have and how they would increase the complexity of the whole system. Although some people thought about the effects, their voices did not seem to have reached the higher decision making authorities. There was big communication disarray. Key Decision 5 Treading an alternate path A public demonstration of the project was given to the press sometime in 1994 and it was a major embarrassment. It exposed all the flaws of the project and the Mayor immediately ordered for an external consultant to be hired. Mattias Franz of Logplan Consulting of Germany was asked to look into the matter  [3]  . Based on his report, the Mayor scraped the project and ordered for the building of a manual trolley system at an additional expenditure of about $50M USD  [4]  . Although the Mayor took a very intelligent decision, it revealed another major flaw with the project. By the time the Mayor took action, the project was already 6 months behind schedule and had missed a number of opening dates. The missed opening dates and the tragic demo indicate that those at the top echelon actually had almost no clue about the true status of the project. A project of such size and complexity should always have an external consultant or expert looking after it throughout the whole developmental and implementation phase. Some other failure facts While the inefficient estimation of complexity, absence of planning, fruitless communications and lowly management oversight drove the catastrophe, the project underwent many other difficulties that multiplied the problems. Some of those issues were inevitable, but others were most probably a consequence of the time crunch the project was facing. Among the additional issues that impacted the project; Failure of Risk Management Throughout its developmental and implementation phases the project faced a number of technical problems for which they had not accounted for. These things aggravated their already haphazard situation. Such problems were likely foreseeable had the team a little bit more attentive on risk management activities. Again possibly as a result of the time crunch under which they were working, suitable risk management tactics seem not to have been developed. Change in Leadership In 1992 The Chief Engineer died. He was the systems de facto guarantor and his death left the project deprived of much required leadership. According to reports, his interim replacement lacked the in-depth engineering knowledge essential to understand the system. The replacement manager also had to take care of his previous duties and it stretched him to the limits. Issues with Architecture and Design A number of reports specify that the there was an inherent problem with the design that was chosen. It was unnecessarily complicated and prone to bugs. Some of the issues were: There were more than 100 individual PCs in the system. They were all networked together. If any one of the PC failed, there could have been an outage, as there was no automatic backup taken of the data. As the nature of the design recommended a distributed structure, (with PCs scattered around the different areas), it added to the trouble of solving problems when they came up, The worst thing about the system was its inability to detect jams. So, whenever a jam occurred, it kept piling on more and more baggage and thereby worsening it. Again time crunch could have been a reason for the design problems. In such a situation people settle for the first design or solution they can think of. That is exactly what would likely have happened. In addition time crunch often forces teams to concentrate on the happy path design without spending time on devising strategies to counter the problem or make the system fault tolerant. Conclusion The DIA catastrophe is a prototype for failure a lot of other IT implementation projects have followed. As with so many other failures, DIA suffered from; The inefficient estimation of complexity An absence of proper planning resulting in consequent alterations in strategy Extreme schedule pressure Absence of due diligence Committing to public and customer in the face of enormous risks and uncertainty Inefficient management of stakeholders Communication gaps and collapses Design not failsafe Inefficient risk management Failure to understand the repercussions of change requests Absence of management oversight While the above facts denote contributors to the letdown, there is one single problem that existed in the center of it all. For a project to be successful people need to make effective decisions and that requires a number of elements. The main two elements are expertise and knowledge. None of the teams involved in developing the DIAs baggage handling system had prior experience of a developing and implementing system of this magnitude. That lack of knowledge, along with the fact that advice from experts was habitually ignored, is the epicenter of the fiasco. The original planning decisions i.e. to go ahead with a single airport wide integrated system (in spite of being too late to do so) and the firms votive commitments to scope, timeline and budget all represented decisions that were made by people who did not possess the required knowledge. The miscalculations resulting from those choices were the sparks that kindled the fire. Often we have to face situations which we have never faced before and do not know how to proceed without risks. The success or failure of such a situation depends on the way we react to it. The step should ideally be recognizing the situation and its nitty-gritties, but the whole DIA project management team and BAE managers failed to do so. Had they acknowledged their absence of knowledge and the ambiguity they were facing, measures could have been taken to reduce the uncertainty. One of them could have been taking suggestions from experts who had some kind of previous experience in that kind of projects. The cheerful side of the story is that in Feb 1995 DIA did ultimately open and in spite of using a large manual trolley based system, proved to be a great success  [5]  . The apprehensions of a manual system being too slow for and airport like DIA and would result in increase in the turnaround time of the aircrafts, was never proved.