Country Music Essay - 2116 Words

The debate whether commercialism has stripped country music of its authenticity is one that requires further examination into who ultimately holds the power. The sometimes-drastic changes made in music leaves people questioning the tastes of consumers when in fact they are the bystanders of an overpowering industry. Fans are people who buy the albums, go to concerts, and request songs on the radio, not the execs that market the music, and yet their opinions/tastes aren’t taken into consideration. Fans carry a lot of clout in regards to what they define as commercialism gone wrong and acceptable country music. Despite what may seem fair, those who are financially invested in its success drive the commercialization of music. According to†¦show more content†¦The feelings of comfort and unity transcend the essence of what country music represents. However, the power struggle between music executives and artists compromising these markers has been an ongoing battle. The commercialization of country music tries to implement these markers while brining to light a new sound for country music, The Nashville Sound. This new sound of country music introduces background singers, pianos, polished voices and much more sophisticated types of enhancements. Hank Williams, and Patsy Cline were two artists that thrived within the era of the Nashville Sound despite the influences of commercialism. The concept of a big country showcase striped music of its roots and deprived fans of what they really yearned for, simplicity and genuineness. The simplicity of earlier country music is undermined by the technological interference of its instrumentation. Simplicity meant one voice with a banjo, guitar, or harmonica accompaniment. The early country music industry presented the world with an artist just the way he or she was, no glitz, glamour or fri lls. Within the new era of the Nashville Sound it brings along with it overbearing producers and record labels with their own hidden agendas. â€Å"He has cooked up a sound all his own: hot, fierce, overbearing, full of energy and desire, a sound to jump right out of the jukebox. But Phillips wants money, a lot of it, and he wants to set the world on its ear† (Elvis: Presliad, 142). What ever happenedShow MoreRelatedThe Music Of Country Music1883 Words   |  8 Pages Country Music Country music. Just saying that word ignites a train of thought to many people to think of the deep ole’ American South and cowboys. What causes people to begin to imagine those things? From the cowboys featuring in movies to the loud blaring music the hillbilly neighbor plays, country music has brought its way to people around the world. From the 1920’s to now Country music was one of the first genres in modern music and is still popular today in the United States. The history ofRead MoreEssay on Black Artists in Country Music2841 Words   |  12 Pagesthirty-eight years, are the only black artists to win a Country Music Association Award. With country music rooted in bluegrass and rhythm and blues, why aren’t there more black country music stars? When considering the roots of country music, and how closely related country is to blues, bluegrass and honky tonk music, an examination of what happened to all the black musicians seems warranted, no? This paper exa mines the dearth of black artists in country music and the careers of one of the few black artistsRead MoreCountry Music : My Home And My Family927 Words   |  4 Pages The first aspect I think about when I listen to country music is my home and my family. Honestly, I think that is why most people love it so much, especially in the Southeastern United States (U.S.). It also seems to me that it is so dear to the people of the South is because country music started here. I read up on the history of country music, and what basically happened is that a bunch of Europeans immigrated to the United States and brought their own styles and sounds with them. All of thisRead MoreA Brief Note On The Country Music Association Awards1868 Words   |  8 PagesWanted to Know This November, for the first time ever, I watched the Country Music Association Awards (CMAs). Actually, let s be completely honest, I watched 6 glorious minutes and 17 seconds of the CMAs: Beyonce preforming Daddy Lessons with The Dixie Chicks. Once my favorite performer exited the stage I promptly clicked my Roku TV off and opened up my Snapchat app to post my feelings about Daddy Lessons being one of the few country songs I’ve listened to that I actually enjoy. My sister goes onRead More Country Music: The Image and the Reality Essay1950 Words   |  8 PagesA., but they are the images the American country music industry and fans envision of themselves. These perceptions are extremely strong held views of a past that has come to exist more in recollection than reality. The country music industry, with its roots in deep southern religious traditions, is blinded by these and similar views, and unwilling to recognize its true state is far less appealing than the wholes ome image it seeks to portend. Country music is a dichotic blend of the past and the presentRead MoreThe Country Music Has Changed Over The Past Decades2157 Words   |  9 PagesCountry music has changed over the past decades, as all music does, stepping away from the focus on freedom, family, friends, faith, and home, to songs about women, drinking, dirt roads, and big trucks. Many people feel that this has led to the objectification of women, creating an unrealistic expectation for women to live up to. Most artist have followed the lead of this and are writing more and more songs about these issues to stay with the trends, as many people enjoy this twist because it isRead MoreBrad Paisley and Country Music Essay1318 Words   |  6 PagesWhen country music began in America, there were no professional musicians. The typical musician sang only to entertain himself, his family or at local events. There is evidence of square dance-like events as far back as the 1830s (with origins in European country dancing). At first, most country music was either sung by itself or played on a lone fiddle or banjo. A good fiddler was a very popular person and was often asked to perform at events ranging from weddings to cattle drives. There was noRead MoreTanya Tucker : A Of Country Music s Finest Entertainers844 Words   |  4 Pagesis quite arguably one of country music’s finest entertainers. Like a â€Å"fine wine† Tucker has done nothing short of grow, mature, and consistently showcase her vocal talents with countless gold and platinum selling albums and beloved hit singles. When you have a smash hit at the age of 13, no one can predict exactly how long and substantial your career will turn out to be. Almost 44 years since the release of Delta Dawn, Tucker is still working hard, performing, creating music, and entertaining fansRead MoreMy Views On Love Country Music854 Words   |  4 Pageshead. I began with my broad topic; simply stating that I love country music. It made sense to use this topic. I could listen to this music all day, everyday and still be standing upright. If you talk to most people in this school they would rather drop dead or beat their head of a wall than have to listen to country for more than ten minutes. I then mentioned, how I am not always proud of the fact that I listen to this kind of music. It is uncertain to me why I made this statement. I suppose thisRead MoreCountry Music and Eric Church763 Words   |  3 PagesCountry music is a genre that some might absolutely love and some might absolutely hate. It is a style of music that developed in the southern and western U.S. and often contains lyrics relating to the lives of people who live in the country. While there are a lot of different types of country music, a very popular country artist of this time is Eric Church. Church brings a bit of a twist to country music, with really telling us how he feels. Talking about one of his songs in particular, â€Å"homeboy†

F. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby - 797 Words

As World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II were occurring, America was in a time of uncertainty and questioning. Therefore, in following with the feeling of the American people, American writers often followed this theme of confusion in their writing, creating the age of Modernism. During the time period of Modernism, writers often included the themes of uncertainty, disjointedness, and disillusionment in their works. In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, these three themes of uncertainty, disjointedness, and disillusionment are portrayed through three main characters Daisy, Tom, and Gatsby, respectively. To begin, Daisy reveals uncertainty in The Great Gatsby. First, as Jordan, Daisy’s friend, tells the story of the day before Daisy and Tom’s wedding, she says that on that day Daisy proclaimed, â€Å"Tell em’ all that Daisy’s change’ her mine. Say, ‘Daisy’s change’ her mine!’† Uncertainty is shown in Daisy’s heart in mind. In her heart, she still loves Gatsby; however, her mind tells her to marry Tom. Therefore, on this day, she was uncertain about her decision. Next, Daisy shows uncertainty when she says to Gatsby in front of Tom in the downtown plaza, â€Å"I never loved him.† Uncertainty is seen because she says this â€Å"with perceptible reluctance.† This means that Daisy was hesitant to tell Gatsby that she never loved Tom; her heart and mind were confused! Finally, Daisy’s uncertainty is shown again in the previous setting when she says to Tom in regards toShow MoreRelatedF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby974 Words   |  4 PagesPoverty in the Valley of Ashes: The Great Gatsby â€Å"This is a valley of ashes- a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and grotesque gardens where ashes take the forms of houses and chimneys and raising smoke and finally, with a transcendent effort, of men who move dimly and already crumbling through the powdery air† (Fitzgerald 26). In the novel, â€Å"The Great Gatsby,† the author F. Scott Fitzgerald, mainly depicted lives of the rich and their luxuries but also showed theRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1289 Words   |  6 Pages and many people realized their own version of the American Dream during this period. The American Dream is one that many people want to achieve. However, F. Scott Fitzgerald demonstrates his true feelings about the American Dream in his classic novel, The Great Gatsby. Many characters in this story, such as Daisy and Tom Buchanan, Jay Gatsby, and Jordan Baker, found riches and happiness in materialistic things and people throughout this novel. This is the stereotypical American Dream that is associatedRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby944 Words   |  4 Pages423169 Prompt #4 No Comments Lim [f (x)] - 0 = ∞ ... The Limit as X Approaches Infinity Humans continually search for success. This success surfaces in forms such as fortune, fame, glory, et cetera. The American Dream encapsulates the ideals of the â€Å"New World,† bringing together not only the idea of limitless success, but also its newfound availability and encouragement for embracing the promise land. The Great Gatsby explores the American Dream and â€Å"the actual nature of this dream... the mannerRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1265 Words   |  6 PagesJay Gatsby and His Undying Love for Daisy Buchanan F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby in the midst of the roaring twenties, which was an age full of wealth, parties, and romance. Young people living in the 1920s were centered around wanting to find love so Fitzgerald, along with many other authors during this time period, focused his writing in The Great Gatsby on relationships and affection. Jay Gatsby, one of the main characters in the novel, is a very mysterious man, but there is oneRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1845 Words   |  8 Pages â€Å"You don’t write to say something, you write because you have something to say.† F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the most remarkable writers of all time during the Jazz Age. He started to reach an accomplishment of success with This Side of Paradise and accomplished it with The Great Gatsby. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novels take place back in the early 1900’s; he attempts to communicate knowledge to the elocutionist, in a sophisticated, but humorous way, that making it big is not uncomplicated. FurthermoreRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1720 Words   |  7 Pagesdriving force of evolution in humanity. It allows the aspiration of being able to do astonishing things, and proffers them prosperity in life. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald delves into the American Dream and it’s demise. Fitzgerald focuses on the character of Jay Gatsby to materialize the false image that the American Dream created in the 1920’s. Gatsby is th e protagonist of the novel, and is famous for throwing massive parties regardless of the secret life that he lives. The narrator, Nick CarrawayRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1202 Words   |  5 PagesJay Gatsby and F. Scott Fitzgerald F. Scott Fitzgerald is an acclaimed American author, popularly recognized for his novel The Great Gatsby. In addition to his literary work, Fitzgerald is noted for his unstable personal life. Originally coming from a low-income background, he could not marry the woman that he first loved. Even when he met another woman, he had to acquire wealth to marry her; this drove him to publish his first novel. He married her shortly after. However, a couple years after, heRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1258 Words   |  6 Pages What Killed Gatsby? Love or Greed? To certain people, Gatsby’s death was a cruel and surprising conclusion to The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. But there is still some mystery around the cause of Gatsby’s death. Upon meeting Gatsby for the first time, one can tell that he has an obsession centered around Daisy Buchanan, his old love, and was dead set on getting her back. Gatsby’s obsession with repeating the past is responsible for his death and Gatsby’s greed put him in a grave. FurtherRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1761 Words   |  8 Pagescould be the main focus of people who are going out on their own to create a family. However, F. Scott Fitzgerald took a different route in his most famous novel. Fitzgerald uses his book, The Great Gatsby, to show how the idea of the American Dream is slowly dying in the society he created. Although the American Dream was prevalent during the time The Great Gatsby took place in, F. Scott Fitzgerald went against the social norm of believing in this idea and revolved his novel around the idea ofRead MoreF. Scott Fitzgerald s The Great Gatsby1381 Words   |  6 PagesResearch Paper on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby portrays characterization corresponding with characters’ birthplaces, desires, and determination in order to devise their statuses. The narrator, Nick Carraway, is disparate from others due to the place he grew up which is exemplified when he moves to New York from the Midwest. Tom Buchanan satisfies his desire for love by having women in his life as well as his wife Daisy. Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan

Major Pairs Of Salivary Glands Health And Social Care Essay Free Essays

The three major braces of salivary secretory organs in the unwritten pit are parotid secretory organs, sublingual secretory organs and submandibular secretory organs. The parotid secretory organs are the largest brace of secretory organ locates posterior to the angle of the jaw, inferior and median to the ears. The other two smaller braces are sublingual secretory organs and submandibular secretory organs, which locate deep in the floor of the oral cavity. We will write a custom essay sample on Major Pairs Of Salivary Glands Health And Social Care Essay or any similar topic only for you Order Now In add-on to these major secretory organs and other minor salivary secretory organs are placed throughout the oral cavity. Saliva is indispensable to unwritten wellness. The most obvious and of import map in the unwritten pit is to keep of wellness of the dentition and the soft tissues. It is protective in its maps of lubrication and cleaning. Xerostomia means waterlessness of the oral cavity. It is a symptom of different medical conditions, a side consequence of a broad assortment of medicines or caput and cervix radiation therapy. It is a ailment that is caused by absence or diminished measure of spit. Lack of spit and cut downing unwritten lubrication would impact many maps. Patient may see dry oral cavity are of import lending factors to unwritten uncomfortableness, dental cavities and other infections as a effect of the decreased defense mechanisms ( Gater, 2008 ) . Functions of spit: Saliva is produced through all of the secretory organs, which is portion of the digestive procedure for lubricate and interrupting down the nutrient. It besides helps get downing and normal gustatory sensation perceptual experience. Saliva contains assorted antimicrobic constituents such as muramidase, mucin, histatins and other substances that aid in opposition to disease ( Scully A ; Felix, 2005 ) . Saliva has many of import maps including mechanical cleansing action to take of nutrient dust, control of pH for remineralisation and antimicrobic activity, or lubrication of the unwritten pit to keep the unity of the unwritten mucous membrane ( Wilkins, 2005 ) . Diagnosis and rating of dry mouth: For a dental hygienist to name dry mouth can be based on grounds that acquired from the patient ‘s history, an intraoral scrutiny of the unwritten pit and saliva trial. Xerostomia should be considered if the patient holding trouble eating dry nutrient, problems on get downing or complains of dry oral cavity, peculiarly at dark. The unwritten mucous membrane may be dry and gluey, or frequently appear erythematous as a consequence of an giantism of Candida albicans. The ruddy spots may normally happen on the difficult or soft roof of the mouth and dorsal surface of the lingua. Sporadically, pseudomembranous moniliasis will be present, removable white plaques may look on any mucosal surface. There may be small or no pooled spit in the floor of the oral cavity, and the lingua as looking dry with little Numberss of papillae. The spit may be thick and gluey. Dental cavities may be probably found at the cervical border or the incisal borders of the dentition ( Greenspan, 1996 ) . Common causes of dry mouth: Certain drugs, diseases and upsets can do the salivary secretory organs non to work decently and therefore lessening saliva production. Medicine is the most prevailing cause of dry mouth. Xerogenic drugs such as cytotoxic drugs can straight damage the salivary secretory organs. The chief wrongdoers are antidepressants, anorexiants, antihistamines, major tranquilizers, anticholinergics, anti-Parkinson agents, antihypertensives, depressants and water pills. Other common drugs that cause xerostomia include skeletal musculus relaxants, bronchodilators anodynes, antiemetics, antidiarrheals, antianxiety agents and decongestants. These many drugs may act upon the quality and measure of spit ; nevertheless these effects are by and large short term ( Astor, Hanft, A ; Ciocon, 1999 ; Sreebny A ; Schwartz, 1997 ) . As a dental hygienist an interview should be taken in patients kicking of dry mouth and reviewed their medicines. Patients may necessitate to alter the doses or medicines if possib le to heighten salivary flow. Liquids preparations may be more benefitted and sublingual dose signifiers would necessitate to avoid. We may advice patients to lubricate the pharynx and oral cavity with glass of H2O before taking tablets or capsules. We may see altering one medicine from another with less anticholinergic activity but besides with comparable efficaciousness ( McDonald A ; Marino, 1991 ) . Sjogren ‘s syndrome ( SS ) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease normally doing dry mouth that occurs in bulk of postmenopausal adult females. Patients are normally associated with dry oral cavity and dry eyes. The other clinical characteristics of SS are grounds of an autoimmune reaction shown by serum autoantibodies and confirmed by continuing mononucleate cell infiltrates in labial salivary secretory organ biopsy. About tierce of patients with SS normally associated with expansion of major salivary secretory organs. At this phase there is no remedy for the disease. The preferred therapy is to pull off symptoms ( Dyke, 2000 ) . Amyloidosis and sarcoidosis are other chronic inflammatory diseases that cause dry mouth. In amyloidosis, starchlike retains in the salivary secretory organs, which conduce in development of dry mouth. In sarcoidosis, noncaseating epithelioid granulomas in salivary secretory organs to do decreased salivary flow ( Greenspan, 1996 ) . Other systemic diseases that can do xerostomia include diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, dermatosclerosis, arthritic arthritis, hormone upsets, systemic lupus erythematosus, bone marrow organ transplant, cystic fibrosis, nutritionary lacks, Bright’s disease, thyroid disfunction and neurological diseases. Hyposecretory conditions, such as atrophic gastritis, primary bilious cirrhosis, and pancreatic inadequacy, may besides do dry mouth. Stroke may alter the ability to see unwritten esthesiss. Xerostomia can do from impaired H2O consumption, polyuria or diarrhoea. Psychogenetic causes, such as depression, emphasis, anxiousness or fright can besides ensue in dry mouth. Salivary secretory organ secernment is chiefly under the influence of the autonomic nervous system. In acute anxiousness, due to sympathetic stimulation, the oral cavity may experience dry. Advancing age and oral cavity external respiration, are besides associated with dry oral cavity because of a decrease of salivary acini, with a autumn in salivary secretory modesty ( Scully A ; Felix, 2005 ) . Dry oral cavity is frequently leaded to activities such as hyperventilation, cigarettes smoking or intoxicant imbibing. Trauma to the caput and neck country can damage the nervousnesss for providing esthesis to the oral cavity, which affect the normal map of the salivary secretory organs ( Astor, et al. , 1999 ) . Standard radiation therapy to the caput and cervix is one of most common toxicity associated with xerostomia. Radiation can alter in the serous secretory cells, doing a decrease in spit flow and increased viscousness of the spit. The early ailment from patients after with radiation therapy is thick or gluey spit. The grade of lasting xerostomia depends on the radiation dosage and the volume of salivary secretory organ exposed to radiation. These alterations are typically lasting ( Anke Petra Jellema, 2007 ) . Management of dry mouth: Any implicit in cause of dry mouth should hold possible be rectified. Some stairss need to be taken to understate the consequence of the implicit in cause. For patients with xerostomia is related to medicine usage, it is of import to keep conformity with the medicine direction. Diagnostic intervention should be included in four classs: replacement lost secernments, heightening spit flow, control of dental cavities and specific intervention of infections ( Greenspan, 1996 ) . Patients should be educated into attempts to avoid factors that may increase waterlessness and every bit good as to maintain the mouth moist. Using diabetic Sweets or sugar free masticating gums can excite salivation. Merely a specializer should utilize cholinergic drugs that stimulate salivation such as pilocarpine or cevimeline. A pharmaceutical company has late been developed a new Natrol Dry Mouth Relief, uses a patented class of anhydrous crystalline malt sugar ( ACM ) to excite saliva production. In a clini cal survey of patients with Sjorgren ‘s Syndrome, ACM was shown to increase secernments and significantly better patient ‘s subjective appraisal of symptoms ( Fox, MJCummins, A ; Cummins, 2001 ) . Artificial spit or saliva replacements such as Optimoist spray, Salix tablets, V. A. Oralube sodium-free liquid, Salivart, Xero-Lube Artificial Saliva are formulated to copy natural spit can be used to moisture and lubricate the oral cavity. However they can be merely considered as replacing therapy instead than a remedy because they do non excite salivary secretory organ production. There are besides many scientific research on advancing saliva production and simulation such as the production of fungicidal proteins of course happening in serous salivary secretory organs, antimicrobic peptides originally derived by histatins ( Der, Vissink, Veerman, A ; Amerongen, 1999 ; Fox, et al. , 2001 ) . Another country of research includes Prednisolone irrigation of parotid secretory organs is being investigated as a possible intervention of dry mouth in patients with Sjogren ‘s syndrome ( Izumi, et al. , 1998 ) . Slow-release bringing systems for pilocarpine are besides being investigated. Inoculation with auto-reactive T cells or with T cell receptor peptides is another country of research, as is the possibility of infixing H2O transporting proteins or aquaporins, in the cell membrane of the ductal cells ( Der, et al. , 1999 ) . Patient with dry mouth are at additions hazard of developing cavities and other unwritten complications. A day-to-day ego unwritten scrutiny may be recommended by look intoing any abnormalcies such as dark, white or ruddy spots, ulcers or tooth decay. Patients should hold regular alveolar consonant cheque up. It is of import to rede patients non to take sugary or acidic nutrients and drinks, every bit good as keeping a high criterion of unwritten hygiene. Topical fluoride agent signifiers are one of the of import constituents of patients ‘ long-run attention. Decision: Xerostomia is a common job can hold a important consequence on a patient ‘s quality of life if non recognised and treated decently. As a dental hygienist we have to travel through a proper appraisal, provide an appropriate intervention, emphasise bar, patients ‘ instruction and specialist referral to understate dry mouth and its consequence on patients ‘ dental wellness and quality of life. How to cite Major Pairs Of Salivary Glands Health And Social Care Essay, Essay examples

Renewable Energy Systems

Question: Discuss about the Renewable Energy Systems. Answer: Introduction The role of electricity on economic progress cannot be underestimated. For many years, non-renewable energy sources fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal, have been used to generate electricity but their negative impacts on human health and the environment have become very damaging. This has led to development of renewable energy systems, including solar energy systems, wind energy systems, biomass energy systems, and hydroelectric systems. These systems generate electricity that is cleaner, safer, sustainable and cost-effective. If proper mechanisms are put in place, renewable energy systems will continue playing a significant role in reducing the global impact of climate change especially global warming. Technical aspects of renewable energy systems Design Renewable energy systems have to be designed by considering a variety of factors including, but not limited to: projected energy demand (capacity of the system); availability of land; availability of the energy renewable resources; and capital requirement. By considering these factors, the systems designed will supply adequate energy to meet the projected demand. The systems should also be designed to ensure maximum efficacy. Last but not least, these systems should be designed using advanced design tools Fundamental components Renewable energy systems comprise of multiple components used in the generation and supply of energy. This includes generators, inverters, collectors, etc. Each component has to be chosen correctly, analyzed, tested and installed accurately so as to ensure that the entire system functions as designed. The components must of the right size and materials so as to withstand internal forces and external conditions associated with energy generation and distribution. Most importantly is to ensure that all components are installed properly and tested before the system is allowed to operate. Power quality It is also important for the renewable energy system to generate and distribute energy that meets the required standards. For this to be achieved, all equipment used have to be certified meaning that they meet the required quality standards. The production process must also be to the required standards. The benefit of good power quality is that it will serve the intended use optimally. Good quality power is also attained by using the right size and quality of inverter. Equipment protection Most renewable energy systems are nowadays designed and built with an aim of connecting to the grid so that they can give out surplus energy. It is therefore important to re-evaluate the fault levels of the grid during the design stage and make necessary adjustments to the settings of the protection devices. Doing so will protect the renewable energy system when power supply by the grid is restored after an interruption. It is also important to ensure synchronization between the renewable energy system and the grid. This includes features such as their phase angles, frequency and voltages. Additionally, there should be facilities to automatically disconnect the renewable energy system from the grid when the former develops a fault or when frequency and voltage deviations/fluctuations are detected in it. Connection Renewable energy systems usually convert renewable resources, such as sunlight, wind, water and biomass, into energy. These systems must be constructed using appropriate components and apply the right technologies in generating energy. The components must also be integrated properly so that they can perform with maximum efficiency. If the system is connected to the grid, appropriate devices have to be used to as to ensure smooth and efficient connection. Supply Reliability It is important to ensure that the production and distribution of energy by the renewable energy system does not in any way adversely affect normal grid supply. The system has to be designed accurately and appropriate facilities installed prevent, detect and rectify defaults in a timely manner. In case of a fault, whether in the grid or renewable energy system, setting of the protection devices have to be chosen carefully so as to prevent the default of one system from affecting supply of the other system. Safety Many energy production and distribution systems, including renewable energy systems, have multiple safety concerns. This poses a great danger for people especially when normal energy supply is interrupted due to faults. Another cause of such dangers is when power supply of the national grid, which is connected with the renewable energy system, is interrupted. In this regard, the design of renewable energy systems must incorporate protection functions, such as anti-islanding (Joseph, 2005). Such functions are capable of automatically disconnecting systems that are connected to the grid if the energy supplied by the grid is interrupted. When supply of the grid gets restored, the same functions can automatically reconnect the system or the same can also be done manually using manual control. Maintenance Generally, renewable energy systems have relatively high initial costs and low maintenance costs. But low maintenance requirements result from proper design and installation of these systems. Therefore reliable components and durable materials have to be used so as to resist high mechanical strain, temperatures and pressures associated with these systems. With low maintenance, return on investment increases and payback time reduces. Monitoring and control This is another crucial technical aspect of renewable energy systems. Monitoring provides useful information on the production capacity of the system, which can be used to determine the necessity for expansion or strategies to improve the systems performance efficiency. Controlling determines the amount of energy to be supplied to specific users. It also determines when surplus power should be supplied to the grid. The systems have to be monitored and controlled using advance technological tools and facilities. Environmental issues associated with renewable energy systems There are quite a number of environmental issues associated with renewable energy systems. These issues have become the major bases of discussions on renewable energy. The main objective is to reduce or avoid negative impacts of renewable energy systems on the environment and increase positive ones. These issues also vary among different types of renewable energy system. By understanding these issues, it becomes easier to find ways of generating renewable energy that is cleaner and more sustainable. Changes in land use Construction of large renewable systems requires substantial amount of land. This means that people living near the site have to be relocated before the systems can be built. It also poses a great risk to the local habitat leading to habitat loss. When these systems are constructed, land use in the area usually changes. For example, large solar energy and hydroelectric systems require a lot of land and this land cannot be shared with other uses such as agricultural activities. It means that when such systems are constructed somewhere, most of the previous land uses will be changed or abandoned. When these systems start operating, there is the likelihood that more land in the nearby areas will be put into commercial and industrial uses. This is because availability of electricity activates establishment of industries and commercial businesses. Therefore the renewable energy systems may start competing with forestry, agriculture and human settlement for land. This also raises the conce rn of land degradation. One of the ways of resolving this issue is by selecting appropriate sites for the construction of renewable energy systems. Some of the recommended sites include abandoned quarrying land, brownfields, or existing transmission and transportation corridors (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2013). Changes in water use All renewable energy systems require some water for various purposes especially cooling. The amount of water required depends on several factors, including size of the system, location, design and the kind of cooling technology or system used. If these systems are constructed in an area, it means that their water requirements will be given a priority because the systems cannot operate without water. This may mean denying other people, industries, businesses, plants and animals access to water like before. The situation may worsen if the systems are put up in areas with scarce water. It means that they will start competing for water with other users such as people, animals, plants and industries. This issue can be resolved by ensuring that renewable energy systems are constructed in areas with abundant water for equal and effective water tradeoffs and also using appropriate dry-cooling technologies. Hazardous materials This is a major concern especially in solar energy systems. These systems use photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are manufactured using numerous hazardous materials and chemicals such as sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen fluoride, acetone and nitric acid, among others. Sometimes these chemicals may find their way into the environment thus affecting human beings, animals, plants and other natural ecosystems. They also pose a great health risk to people who work in these solar energy systems as they can easily inhale chemicals. To overcome this issue and prevent its public health or environmental threats, renewable energy companies must ensure that they follow manufacturing laws. This will help in preventing release of these toxic materials to the environment through proper disposal and also protecting workers from being exposed to these chemicals. Global warming emissions Even though renewable energy systems are not directly linked with global warming emissions, these emissions come from other stages of the systems life-cycle. These stages include production and transportation of materials used by the systems, construction and assembly of the systems on site, operation and maintenance of the systems, and decommissioning and disassembling of these systems (Union of Concerned Scientists, 2013). Some systems such as geothermal systems require significant amount of energy for drilling and pumping water. Such activities can also cause different levels of air emissions. However, global warming emission estimates of renewable energy systems are very low compared to those of fossil fuels. Economics of the renewable energy systems Most people know about the environmental benefits of renewable energy especially those related with reduction of global emissions. However, majority of these people overlook the numerous social and economic benefits of renewable energy (Adnan Z. Amin, 2016). This may be because renewable energy is relatively new to many people hence they do not understand all its benefits. Additionally, most of the debates have been on how renewable energy can reduce negative environmental impacts associated with fossil fuels. Currently, about 80% of global energy is obtained from fossil fuels (David Timmons, Jonathan M. Harris and Brian Roach, 2014). This is because non-renewable sources have been for many years providing energy at a relatively low cost. Nevertheless, the cost advantage of non-renewable energy systems over renewable energy systems has been declining in the recent years. Based on the current investments and developments on renewable energy systems, the cost of renewable energy is projected to continue decreasing in the coming years, where non-renewable energy costs are likely to increase. Subsidies As a way of promoting production of renewable energy, governments and other private stakeholders have set up subsidies for renewable energy companies. These subsidies, which are billions of dollars every year, reduce the total cost of energy production. The advantage also goes down to consumers who pay less for electricity. This encourages more companies to construct renewable energy plants thus increasing production capacity. On the other hand, fossil fuel subsidies are gradually being phased out as a way of reducing commitment towards non-renewable energy. The renewable energy subsidies are growing very fast across the world and are continuing to bring significant long-term environmental and economic benefits. Changeability This is a major economic issue in renewable energy sector. It is almost impossible to match the energy demand with supply of renewable energy resources. This is because the wind may not blow sometimes, the sun may not shine at all during winter, water may be unavailable during droughts, or crops may fail leading to inadequate biomass. This means that matching the renewable energy supply and demand is very difficult. Inasmuch as demand can be predicted, supply cannot. For example, even if energy demand increases on a rainy day, supply of solar energy cannot be increased to match the demand. These factors make renewable energy systems more intermittent in terms of supply, which increases cost. One way of resolving this issue is through energy diversity. Combining two or more renewable energy systems, such as solar energy and wind energy, can boost supply consistency. Another approach is to increase production capacity of renewable energy systems so that surplus energy can be stored dur ing off-peak and be supplied when demand increases. Last but not least, having a robust national or international electric grid can also solve changeability problem. This will help in supplying power to areas experiencing low supply (where power is needed) from areas with high supply (where power is being generated) at that particular time. Increased job opportunities Renewable energy systems have created numerous job opportunities worldwide. According to a report released by IRENA (2015) in 2015, 7.7 million people were employed in the renewable energy sector globally. This was a significant increase from the previous year and the number is continuing to rise. The sector creates job opportunities both directly and indirectly. As the number of renewable energy plants increase, more people are employed in the design, construction, operation and maintenance of these systems. Others are also employed for installation and maintenance of small-scale systems, such as solar panels or photovoltaic cells, for smaller consumers. Once the renewable energy is generated, a lot more employment opportunities are created. This is because renewable energy systems supply energy to all areas, including remote areas that were previously not connected to grid. Availability of power in such areas drives establishment of industries and other businesses that create jobs. Falling costs The economics of renewable energy systems also entail analyzing various costs associated with investing in renewable energy projects. Typical costs of renewable energy systems are divided into various sections, including design, construction of the system, assembly, piping, storage facilities, control systems and distribution (POLYCITY, 2006). These costs include: capital costs, cost of capital, operating costs, levelised cost of energy (lcoe), capacity factor and marginal cost (Green Rhino Energy). Capital costs include costs incurred in the initial construction of the renewable energy plant and some main maintenance works that have to be done over the plants lifetime. These capital costs were initially high but have continued to reduce over the years as most government provide renewable energy subsidies and new technologies are also being developed to lower the costs Operating costs are costs incurred during normal operations and maintenance of renewable energy systems. These costs are very low in renewable energy systems compared to non-renewable energy systems. Capacity factor is the average output energy of a power plant to its potential peak energy. Considering the fact that renewable energy sources may vary from time to time and the plants may also be interrupted due to maintenance or faults, it is difficult for the capacity factor to be 100%. In most cases, the capacity factor for renewable energy systems is below 50%. Marginal cost is the amount of money that has to be spent so as to generate extra kWh, beyond the fixed costs included in the initial investment cost and operation cost. Since renewable energy systems do not require fuel and have very minimal maintenance requirements, their marginal costs are very low (sometimes almost zero). Cost of capital refers to the amount of money that renewable energy companies have to pay investors as their expected investment returns. Just like any other investment, renewable energy systems also have risks. But these risks can be reduced through proper legislation and constant supply of renewable energy. Levelised cost of energy (lcoe) refers to the price per kWh of electricity generated that zeroes the net present installation value. This means that lcoe of a renewable energy plant has to be higher than the sale price for the projected returns to be realized. Nearly all costs associated with production, distribution and use of renewable energy are falling. As the costs fall, the price of electricity also reduces meaning that end users now pay less. Net energy This is the ratio of energy available for final use to the quantity of energy needed to generate it. The net energy varies depending on conditions and production technology used. Renewable energy systems have very low net energy ratios because they use very little energy (if any) to generate energy. This is very advantageous because it lowers the total cost of energy. These ratios are continually reducing following the discovery of more advanced technologies aimed at reducing energy requirements of renewable energy systems. Social, legal and political issues related to renewable energy systems Some of the social, legal and political issues related to renewable energy systems are as follows Energy Security One of the main advantages of renewable energy is that it is sustainable and therefore renewable energy sources will never be depleted. In this regard, renewable energy systems increase energy security of countries because each country can generate her own power and be self-reliant (Select Committee on Economic Affairs, 2008). Job and wealth creation Construction of renewable energy systems in a particular area must benefit local residents. Considering the anticipated economic benefits of such projects, many ignorant local residents have been forced to sell their land at throwaway prices on threats that they would be evicted if they refuted. Local communities must be allowed to settle in their areas so that they can benefit from the income generation opportunities related to this kind of energy projects. The projects will create jobs for the local residents and help them create their own wealth. Proper relocation and compensation Construction of large renewable energy systems usually require a substantial amount of land (David et al., 2002). This may necessitate relocation of some people within the selected sites. In such cases, the people must be resettled without being forced and be compensated accordingly. The amount of compensation has always remained to be a big issue of discussion Creating awareness It is also important to involve communities during the planning stage of renewable energy projects so that local people can be fully informed about the upcoming project. They should be informed about the advantages and disadvantages of such projects. This will prevent conflicts of interest especially among local communities when the project kicks off. Legislation There is also need to formulate comprehensive guidelines that will regulate activities associated with renewable energy systems. For instance, emissions limits from renewable energy systems must be set and any company exceeding them should be penalized heavily. This will ensure that the energy generated is clean and safe. The systems must also operate under safe environments. Political unpredictability Energy is a very essential driver of any economy. It has been claimed that fossil fuels have been the main course of political conflicts and wars in countries rich in these resources. If people shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, there is a likelihood that countries with vast resources to generate renewable energy may start experiencing conflicts and wars. Global energy and economic crises One of the real alternatives of overcoming the looming problem of energy supply across the world is by increasing investments in the renewable energy sector. However, renewable energy systems are not reliable (because of changes in sunlight intensity, wind, rainfall patterns and biomass production) in matching energy demand and supply. If the whole world relies on renewable energy systems for energy supply, there may be a shortage of energy supply. This will cause global energy and economic crises. Social acceptance Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy systems is not as easy as it may sound (Rolf et al., 2007). One of the reasons is because a lot of investments have been made in the fossil fuel industry. In addition, antagonists of renewable energy usually amplifies its disadvantages thus making ignorant people oppose it too. Conclusion A lot of investments have been made in renewable energy sector. This sector is potentially posed to prevent and reduce various negative impacts associated with fossil fuels. Renewable energy systems also play a key role in reducing climate change, especially global warming. By analyzing different issues associated with renewable energy systems, it becomes easier to establish ways of improving these systems. With proper formulation of policies to govern production, distribution and use of renewable energy, the global population will enjoy a series of benefits, including being connected to power cost effectively, improved health, improved air quality and they will avoid the irreversible and dangerous climate change. References: Akella A.K., Saini, R.P. Sharma M.P., February 2009, Social, economic and environmental impacts of renewable energy systems, Renewable Energy Journal, Vol. 34, Issue 2, pp. 390-396. Amin A.Z., May 27, 2016, The Economics of Renewable Energy: Falling Costs and Rising Employment, viewed September 6, 2016, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/adnan-z-amin/the-economics-of-renewabl_b_7452996.html David et al., 2002, Renewable Energy: Current and Potential Issues, BioScience, Vol. 52, Issue 12, pp. 1111-1120. David Timmons, Jonathan M. Harris and Brian Roach, 2014, The Economics of Renewable Energy. Global Development and Environment Institute, Tufts University. Green Rhino Energy, 2016, Economics of Renewable Energy Plants. Green Rhino Energy Limited, viewed September 6, 2016, https://www.greenrhinoenergy.com/renewable/context/economics.php International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), 2015, Renewable Energy and Jobs Annual Review 2015. IRENA. Joseph K. C. Chan, 2005, Technical Guidelines on Grid Connection of Small-scale Renewable Energy Power Systems. Power Symposium, IEE Hong Kong Branch. Polycity, 2006, Sustainable Energy Systems: Report on Energy Efficient and Renewable Energy Systems Planning and Recommendations for their Successful Application. Rolf Wustenhagen, Maarten Wolsink, and Mary Jean Burer, May 2007, Social acceptance of renewable energy innovation: An introduction to the concept, Energy Policy, Vol. 35, Issue 5, pp. 2683-2691. Select Committee on Economic Affairs, 2008, The Economics of Renewable Energy. House of Lords, Volume 1: Report. Union of Concerned Scientists, March 5, 2013, Environmental Impacts of Solar Power, viewed September 6, 2016, https://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/environmental-impacts-solar-power.html Unions of Concerned Scientists, March 5, 2013, Environmental Impacts of Wind Power, viewed September 6, 2016, https://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/environmental-impacts-wind-power.html#.V84sXibfrIU

attila the hun essays

attila the hun essays Attila the Hun is known as one of the most ferocious leaders of ancient times. He was given the nickname Scourge God because of his ferocity. During the twentieth century, Hun was one of the worst name you could call a person, due to Attila. The Huns were a barbaric and savage group of people, and Attila, their leader, was no exception. He was the stereotypical sacker of cities and killer of babies. The Huns lasted long after their disappearance in mythology and folklore, as the bad guy. Generally, they were not fun people to be around. Priscus saw Attila the Hun at a banquet in 448. Priscus described him as being a short, squat man with a large head and deep-set eyes. He also had a flat nose and a thin beard. Historians say that his general personality was irritable, blustering, and truculent. He was said to be a persistent negotiator, and not at al pitiless. While Priscus was at the banquet in 448, he observed a few other details about Attila. All of Attilas chief lieutenants were served dainties on silver platters, but he was served only meat on wooden plates. No other real qualities of Attila as a general really survived through time, but he is thought to have been an outstanding commander from his accomplishments as a barbarian. Huns themselves were mysterious and feared people. They first appeared in the Fourth Century around the Roman Empire. They rode their warhorses around and cause the Germanic barbarians and Romans alike to fear them. Yet, it was said that they were very uncivilized. It was said that they made no use of fire, and just ate the roots of plants they found in fields. They were also said to have eaten the almost raw meat of animals. The only reason the meat was almost raw was because they were said to have cooked it by placing it between their thighs and the backs of their horses to give it warmth. The Huns sometimes engaged in regular battle. The...

Stomata Lab Report Essay Example

Stomata Lab Report Essay Example Stomata Lab Report Paper Stomata Lab Report Paper During those high-carbon-dioxide times, lands with fewer stomata will have an advantage and will be common. On the other hand, when carbon dioxide levels are low, plants need many stomata in order to scrape together enough carbon dioxide to survive. During low-carbon- dioxide times, plants with more stomata will have an advantage and will be common. (Understanding Evolution) Therefore, the question to be tested will be if you count the number of stomata of the same species of leaf at different stages of life will the number of stomata be different? My hypothesis is if we count the number of leaf stomata at three different stages of life then the umber of stomata will be less as the leaf gets older because the leaf is dying. (Understanding Evolution) Procedure Approximately three leaves of the where gathered to use in this experiment. Each leaf was at a different stage of life: alive, dying, and dead. A thin cast of a tiny part of the surface of the underside of each leaf was created using NYC clear nail polish. The imprint of each leafs underside was viewed one at a time under a light microscope using the cast, which was carefully removed from each leaf with a piece of packing tape. The stomata were completely visible and were able o be counted under the lowest view setting of xx. The stomata of each leaf were observed and counted four times. When viewing the stomata in each leaf for detail, the setting of xx was used. This made the view of the stomata large enough to tell whether they were open or not. The number and description of the stomata of each leaf was recorded. The leaf that was alive had an average of 34. 5 stomata counted in the one specific area observed, the dying leaf had an average of 31. 75 stomata in the area observed and the dead leaf had an average of 29. 25 stomata in the area observed. These averages were results f four different trials in which the stomata were counted and observed in the specified area of each plant, every trial having a new person count the stomata. The stomata of the dead leaf were closed; the stomata of the leaf that was alive were open. The stomata of the leaf that was dying varied. In some places, the stomata were opened, in others, they were closed. The stomata that were open were bunched in separate areas of the observed section of the leaf, as were the stomata that were closed. Neither of the different stomata were mixed between each other in the dying leaf. All three leaves stomata were scattered around n the observed area and did not have a noticeable pattern to their placing. Conclusion: The data gathered shows that there is, in fact, a difference in the number and the appearance of stomata in three different life stages of an American elm leaf. However, the differences in the number of stomata are slight, calculating to a difference of only 5. 25 stomata between the largest and smallest average. The leaf that was alive had the greatest number of stomata, followed by the dying leaf and then the dead one, which had the least number of stomata. The numbers of stomata seem to descend as the leaf dies. However, this difference s insignificant considering that the stomata that were counted were a part of a very tiny area of the leaf (smaller than a fraction of a centimeter). The difference of stomata in each leaf came out to only 5. 5, which isnt a large enough difference in the stomata of a small area of the leaf to be determined as significant. Further investigation would have to be performed in order to test this and get more accurate results. The difference that was significant was that of the appearance of the stomata. In the dead leaf, the stomata were closed; in the leaf that was alive, the stomata were open. The stomata o f the dying leaf however, aired. Parts of the section viewed under the microscope consisted of opened stomata, others consisted of closed stomata. This might be because the leaf wasnt completely dead, or parts of the leaf were still alive. When something is dying, the working parts of it do not stop functioning completely, they shut down at various times. This explains why some the stomata are open and some were closed. There was no significant difference in the number of stomata between the three leaves; however there was a dramatic difference in the appearance of the stomata in each leaf. If I were to re-do this lab in the future I would make ere to keep my fingers off of the viewing part of the tape. I think it may have altered our results in the end, like the number of stomata should have been without outliers. Another error that I have discovered was that we used different microscope power for the leaves. We should have used all the same power on each leaf for more accurate results to be sure we were viewing the same amount of area. The data also proves this because for the alive and the dying leaf we used the xx zoom, but we used xx zoom for the dead leaf. Id infer that we did this because the dead leafs stomata were closed which could have made them harder to see.

ABC Financial Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

ABC Financial Business - Research Paper Example Business planning to expand its sales with a 25% increase requires the management and its shareholders to set their targets and goals through a forecast budget. An effective business will lays out the perfect strategy in realizing the companies’ goal of profit maximization. By having the capability to read the agency’s future, it is practical to form feasible strategies that work in favor of the additional products that can leverage the current ABC employee skill-set as well as the manufacturing facilities. In this case, it is critical to form a financial plan to assist the agency’s long term objectives. This is especially if it is the first time trying to make it in this entrepreneurial venture. Some of the aspects that surround this business need addressing so as to make it simpler to deal with the hurdles that these project faces. This paper will examine such a plan in bide of setting aggressive growth target of reaching $3 million annual sales within the next 3 years and how it may impact the growth and development of the business, in the long run. The paper also analyses the overall risk profile of the company based on current economic and industrial issues that it may be facing based on the track records of its financial statements. Discussion It is fundamental for one to be apprehensive about the issues the market may be facing. One of these issues may be an economic downturn. The economic activities that surround this manufacturing industry are a vital aspect in the continuation of the new proposed project (Chandra, 2011). An expansion of the activities occurring in the manufacturing environment means that, there is a chance of having restructuring other interdepartmental that do facilitate the production of final product. As a growing business, the board of management needs to be sensitive to such customer needs and requirements. Overall customer satisfaction is another sensitive area to look into in the business. Customers prefer to have access to information. The ability to provide this access at a rapid pace means that, they will be inclined to get more involved with the business (Brigham, & Ehrhardt, 2011). This works in boosting the annual revenue acquisition. This is where technology comes into play in the business. Offering customers information leads to more interaction, which is the primary focus of the product. Government regulations are also a sensitive area to look into while trying to grow the business in order not to derail the quality of their product (Chandra, 2011). The government policies could also improved access to financial services which on the other hand is help-full in raising the funds for such proposed expansion. All these sensitive areas might determine if the business will grow after expansion, or if it will remain stagnant as at the commencement of the pursuit of new venture. It is very pertinent to acknowledge the presence of all factors present in the industry that might enable it to grow, decline, or remain stagnant (Brigham, & Ehrhardt, 2011). In order to attract a wide variety of customers, it is vital to have an image of the build cedar dollhouses that are to be offered in the market. The price would depends on alternative product which the competitors also do offer in market, that reflect the loyalty of the client, and how much they are invested in the business as a cost of production. Loyalty in any business is fundamental in its growth as cabalist. However, diverting customers from the competition is instrumental in covering the business and some of its costs. In order to provide capital to enable the business to grow and give the shareholders their share,

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

Risk Management table - Essay Example This is due to the fact that, probability mainly defined the expected number of times that a particular impact can happen. Therefore, if the impact is high and the probability is also high, then the team ranked this as a top threat. Contrastingly, if both are low then that particular threat was ranked at the lowest level (Wheeler, 2011). The reasoning behind the mitigation steps for different types of threats is as stipulated below. If a threat affects the operations of a network device, then the mitigation steps shed light on protecting its data storage locations along with its network access layer. Secondly, if the threat is due to poor user practices, the mitigation steps focused on coming up with the proper policies on the use of organization resources. Lastly but certainly not the least, if a particular threat affected a whole system, then focus was laid on configuring the interconnection devices such as routers and switches (Wheeler,

Health Standing for Mexico Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Health Standing for Mexico - Assignment Example Health Standing for Mexico Mexico cumulative health statistics has improved to a great extent over the years. Nevertheless, Mexico lags behind other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development nations (OECD) in health standing and health care accessibility. Overall health care expenditure accounted for a 6.9% of GDP in the year 2009; for every capita expenses on health care was US$846, which was adjusted for buying power parity, making it an approximate of a divide of four parts of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development typical. In the year 2009, 45.5% of health expenditure was remunerated from public sources. Private backing in Mexico is almost exclusively in the structure of out-of-pocket expenses, as only 3.1% of totality expenses on health are subsidized through private health assurance (UNICEF, 2010). Healthcare within Mexico is worldwide, which makes private programs’ health cover pointless except for utilization in private hospitals. A numbe r of authorities have made a note of that whilst Mexico has a number of 3000 private hospitals; a few private hospices could by a hair's breadth be well thought-out hospitals at all, given that they do not have laboratories, radiography paraphernalia, or even nurses. The outstanding 1000 or several public hospitals take account of the greater part of hospital divans and, in fact, the size of private hospitals are establishments that have less than 20 beds. In the year 2009, Mexico had an approximate of 1.8 doctors as well as 2.2 nurses for every 1,000 population, a noteworthy boost in healthcare human resources over the preceding decade but again underneath the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development standards for these pointers. The death rate for children who are younger than five years of age was 17 for every 1,000 surviving births in the year 2009, and Mexico has given away a faster increase of rate to lower death rates when compared to the United States and Canada within the preceding 10 years. 94% of the populace had direct access to clean water and 85 % to sanitation (UNICEF, 2010). In the same year of 2009, the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) amid persons who are 15 years of age to 49 years of age was 0.3%. At 11,000 deaths in a year vs. 22,000 deaths per year in the United States, this corresponds to a 44% elevated per capita mortality rate than the U.S. The Mexican government has made Health Insurance for a New Generation referred to as "Life Insurance for Babies’, which will reduce the death rates of children. This will help families to effectively take care of their children till they reach adulthood, without any difficulties in how they are to pay for health services they access. Universal Care Coverage has been made available for Pregnant Women. This is particularly vital because these women can have access to prenatal care making sure that the unborn babies are wel l taken care of till they are born and after with the Life Insurance specifically meant for babies (UNICEF, 2010). Top Recommendations to the Mexican Leadership I recommend that Mexican leaders should make universal Care Coverage public for everyone.

Assessing The American Fast Food Industry Business Essay

Assessing The American Fast Food Industry Business Essay The world has become a fast paced environment where people operate on tight schedules. This has reduced time to prepare home cooked meals and has made quick fast food meals very popular especially for adults who shuttle to and from work and the kids who see it as a treat. This trend has made it possible for the fast food industry to thrive. This very competitive industry has a large market made of all ages of the population. The restaurants now produce healthy innovative and nutritious food which surmounts the fears customers have about unhealthy diets. The industry has been highly successful in the United States and has gradually increased its reach to tap into the growing world market. This has made the fast food industry develop rapidly into an international industry. 1.2 INDUSTRY OVERVIEW   A fast food restaurant is synonymous with quick and freshly prepared food which is convenient to the buyers. The most common meals served are: hamburgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, chicken and pizza. The side dishes usually include: salads, fries, baked beans, baked potatoes, onion rings and a wide variety of desserts. Beverages like soft drinks, bottled water, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, milkshakes and juice are also offered alongside with the meals (Hovers, 2010). Fast food franchise chains such as Subway, Burger King,  McDonaldHYPERLINK http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mcdonalds/HYPERLINK http://www.buzzle.com/articles/mcdonalds/s, Prà ªt-a-Manger and Pizza Hut cater to demands for seafood, lean meat, special diet meal components, and other considerable regional variations (Buzzle, 2010). 1.3 ORIGIN OF FIRMS IN THE FAST FOOD INDUSTRY The origins of fast food restaurants in the USA which is also known as fast food capital of the world can probably be traced to a specific date 7 July 1912 when a fast food restaurant was opened in New York City by Horn Hardart. The establishment offered its happy customers a selection of pre-prepared fast foods which were displayed behind small glass windows and coin-operated slots (Yusef, 2002). The development of fast food which is a big business as at today can be traced back to America which made great impact internationally (Yusef, 2002). Although there was undoubtedly fast food all over the world in some shape or form centuries ago, it really started to become a business enterprise when social, manufacturing and economic conditions made it cheaper to eat out (Rowlinson, 2002). 1.4 INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE FAST FOOD INDUSTRY The internationalization of the food service industry was pioneered by, and is still being dominated by, U.S. based quick-service restaurants (QSR), e.g. McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, and Pizza Hut. The decision by these companies to go international was associated with the great prospect of foreign food service markets and to service Americans travelling abroad. It is interesting to note that American fast food is embraced by young people in many foreign countries as fashion food, an element of the popular Western culture. This has contributed to the success of quick-service restaurant operations in many foreign countries. (Yu, 1999). According to the National Restaurant Association in the United States, there are approximately 160 U.S. owned food service companies operating internationally, this is illustrated in figure 1 Restaurants chain Total us units Total foreign units Mc Donalds 21,022 8,923 KFC 9,863 4,784 BURGER KING 8,874 1,817 SUB WAY 12,516 1,668 WENDY 4,933 564 Table 1: Total US units include both company-owned and franchise- owned units. Source: Personal communication, National Restaurant Association. (Washington, DC, 1997) The firms in the fast food industry (QSR) tend to internationalize fast by adopting franchising as a mode of entry (Yu 1999). Yu also identified that the fast food industry tends to follow lodging industry in internationalizing its operation. This is because of growth in population and economic development. The author identified six world regions these firms have internationalized as Europe, Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. The internationalization history could be traced to the 1990s and has internationalized greatly spreading to different parts of this world .This could seen to concur with Uppsalas Model of internationalization where firms tend to gradually move to closer countries to reduce uncertainty i.e. psychic distance. Also, the model addresses the issue of objective knowledge which has contributed to their reasons for internationalizing as a result of easy transfer of knowledge. (Johanson and Wiedersheim, 1975). 2.1 POPULAR TARGET MARKET The industry generated its strongest growth outside the US, such that their target markets were in Europe, Asia/Pacific, Middle East-Africa (Apmea) operations. Europe region has been the most popular target market for firms in the industry because of its political and cultural stability (Yu, 1999) while other regions were based on factors like population. 2.2 GEOGRAPHICAL CLUSTER The main target market for the USA fast foods are Europe, Asia pacific, Middle East and Africa. In these countries they have some form of concentration of fast food restaurants in areas close to schools to characterize school neighborhood food environments, shopping malls and the airports. The geo-coded databases research shows that restaurants are strategically positioned at schools, shopping malls and airports which have been used to examine locational patterns of fast-food restaurants in kindergartens, primary and secondary schools in Chicago. The use of bivariate K function statistical method by most researchers to quantify the degree of clustering (spatial dependence) of fast food restaurants around school, shopping mall and airport locations. Fast-food restaurants are concentrated within a short walking distance from schools, and also close to shopping mall, airport which might expose children in school to poor-quality food environments in their school neighborhoods. This might help others such as the travelers and shopaholics (Austin et al, 2005). According to Austin from the Harvard School of Public Healths Prevention Research Center compiled a comprehensive list of 613 fast-food restaurants in the city of Europe, as well as a list of 1,292 public and private kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. Whereby each restaurant and school was assigned longitude and latitude coordinates and census tract identification codes. Using statistical methods, the researchers quantified the distances between schools and restaurants and calculated the degree of clustering. 3.0 FOREIGN MARKET ENTRY MODE Firms Number of foreign outlets Mc Donalds 8,923 KFC 4,984 Burger King 1,817 Sub way 1,668 Wendy 564 Taco Bell 348 Pizza Hut 482 Little Caesars 379 Table 2: Firms location in various continents Source: Personal communication, National Restaurant Association. (Washington, DC, 1997) and annual Report The table identified some countries the number of foreign outlet where the above US fast food firms operate. The major market entry modes employed by these firms in this industry is franchising. Franchising could be seen as one of the entry modes employed by organizations, which involves a contractual agreement between a company and an individual or another company where the franchisor gives the right to do business under a common trade name in a prescribed manner, over a specified period of time and place in exchange for royalties or the payment of other fees. The company offering the right is called the franchisor, the company/ individual who buys and maintains the right is the franchisee, and the right been bought is referred to as the franchise (Mendelsohn, 2004). 3.1 THE APPROPRIATENESS OF THE STRATEGY According to Alan et al (1999), the benefits that accrue to firm that engages in franchising as a mode of entry into foreign markets includes: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Reduced cost and financial risk associated in entering a foreign market à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Serves as a good incentive to build profitable operation faster. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ It offers strategic alliance which aids the franchisee to benefit from economies of scale and allows the franchisor the regulatory flexibility of a smaller firm. Erramilli et al (1990), in his study identified that the service industry makes use of Franchising as a mode of entry. This is particularly so because Fast food firms offer soft service and his ideas about soft service firms are based on the fact that such firms cannot export their product because exporting necessarily require a separation of producer and consumer and therefore they have to rely on contractual method i.e. franchising/licensing in order to expand their market. Arnold (2003) identified that franchising is the most appropriate for duplication of a business model or format, such as a fast-food retail format and menu. He further identified that fast food is not culture bound in which marketing knowledge (i.e., the product- or service-specific knowledge involved in marketing this particular offering) is at least as important as local market knowledge (i.e., the knowledge required to operate successfully in a particular territory). It is also important to note that in such businesses, the local service personnel are a vital differentiating factor, and these will obviously still be local in orientation even if they operate within an internationally consistent business format.(Arnold 2003: 2) Another idea suggested by researchers is based on Governments in many developing countries are becoming aware of the economic benefits that franchising can bring, and are facilitating the entry of foreign franchisors in their markets (Pelton et al, 1997). Tayeb (2000), suggested that Franchising seems appropriate for firms who want to retain control which will be associated with reduced risk. Erramilli et al (1990) acknowledged that firms in this industry (shown in the table below) tend towards adopting franchising as a mode of entry, basically for market seeking. This can be identified to fit in well with the eclectic theory. This is based on the ownership factor where firms transfer their ownership specific assets to combine with the most favorable sets of traditionally fixed elements in the global economy. This is paramount in order to maintain control which indicates that Franchising is the appropriate strategy for firms in this industry. Table 3: Showing type of service offered by Fast food firms and motive of internationalization Source: Erramilli and Rao (1990:141) Despite the benefit that usually accrue to firms that use franchising as a mode of entry, (Hill, 2009) identified a disadvantage that is Peculiar to the Fast food industry. He was of the opinion that quality control always persists. This is because the geographical distance of the firm from its foreign franchisees can make poor quality difficult to detect. 4.0 THE STRUCTURE AND CONTROL OF FAST FOOD INDUSTRY. The fast food industry has about 200,000 restaurants in the United States and their annual revenue when combined is about $120billion (Hover, 2010). The highly fragmented industry has 25% of the industry market share controlled by top 50 companies (Hover, 2010). The production within the industry is split between a few of the different companies but there is no particular company that has a large enough market share to be able to influence the price levels (Global Edge, 2010). The fast food industry operates on product diversity, service differentiation and internationalization (Stuart, 1993). The fast food restaurants are involved in local market adaptation and adjust some parts of their menu based on the each countrys specific dietary preference. This is in line with Hill (2009), which states that despite the proliferation of standardized products, McDonalds had to find a way to customize its product offerings to suit the differences in taste and preference around the world. The co ntrol system that exists is the cultural control. According to Hill (2009), this control is achieved when staffs of the company take interest in the norm and value systems of the company. The employees can control their behavior which improves operations and management assistance when needed. The fast food industry operates on the transnational strategy. This strategy involves companies that try to realize location economies and experience effects, to leverage products internationally, transfer core competencies and skills and also give consideration to local responsiveness (Hill, 2009). Figure 1: Food service structure Source: Tourism: Goeldner et al, (2000:179) The fast food restaurants in this report fit under the chain broad menu structure. The restaurants have the same name, offer the same kind of service and have standardized menus in different locations. 5.0 EXPLANATION OF ABOVE POINTS The fast food industry tends to internationalize very fast. This imploding pattern of internationalization is prevalent because these various restaurants aim to increase their various outlets and hold a larger market share than that of their competitors. The restaurants are able to control the huge boost of business activities through the tight and stringent quality control measures over franchisees that run the businesses. The location choice for Europe as one of the major destination place for the fast food industry is because of the relative low political risk experienced in these countries compared to other continents. For example in 2001, when the Unites States invaded Afghanistan, McDonalds restaurants were vandalized in Pakistan and Indonesia and there was a call for boycott of US products (Rugman and Collinson, 2009). There is no threat in these European countries and these countries are developed nations which are highly globalized. This makes fast food popular in the counties. The franchising entry mode is prevalent in the fast food industry because it facilitates the low cost global expansion of the restaurants without great risk to the franchiser. The franchisee deals with the day to day running of the business operations and the franchiser controls the operations through rules o The prevalent local menu adaptation as opposed to standardization in the fast food industry is due to different taste and preferences of customers all over the world. For example, For example, in India McDonalds developed a menu which is entirely free of beef and pork to suit the vegetarian preference of the Indian population (Rugman and Collinson, 2009). 6.0 CRITICAL REVIEW OF DUNNINGS OLI PARADIGM This section will critically review how well international business theories best explain the internationalization process, the choice of foreign market entry mode within the Fast food industry. Based on the analysis of entry modes used by key industry players such as Mc Donalds, Burger King Etc the Dunnings OLI paradigm models best explain internationalization behavior within the industry. For this reason, this theory will be discussed in relation to the Fast Food industry. 6.1 DUNNINGS OLI PARADIGM Dunning theory suggest three essential factors are required to engage in FDI place. These factors include the O- ownership, L- location, I- internationalization. Majority of the fast food companies benefit and interact using the internationalization of the Dunnings OLI paradigm to determine the extent of foreign production and activities. The relationship between these factors and franchising as a mode of entry is beneficial and economical to franchisors by taking advantage of franchisees working capital and local knowledge (Teegen, 2000). Usually international franchisers of foreign ownership behaviours involve resource-seeking activities and asset exploitation which was analyzed by (Chung et al, 2004). Dunnings OLI paradigm, which embraces asset-augmenting foreign operations of multinational enterprise (MNE), examines foreign ownership choices of international franchisors which are directly related to their strategic intent. (Dunning, 2007).Considering the data from section 1, an analysis of Dunning theory will be done in the subsequent section. . 6.2 O-Advantages of the FAST FOOD (FF) O-advantages can be viewed from the owners assets of the international firm, making provision for ability and skill that are the due to strategic advantage. Owners assets can be in two dimension such as tangible and intangible. The intangible assets of the MNE include different types of tacit as well as experiential knowledge. In FF business, O-advantages reside mainly in intangible owner assets, which can be social capital and human capital. Such assets include specific managerial potential within the managers and their network, (Bian, 2002). The importance of relational O-advantages originated as a role in reducing inter-firm transaction costs, which can be explained in terms of preference interdependence among members of the same social group (Buckley and Casson, 2003). The main O-advantages of the FF with respect to section1includes: deal-making, relational contracting, operational control, risk management, and firm size. 6.3 L-Advantages of the fast FOOD (FF) Fast Food industries also seek advantages by considering its geographical location choices with its O-advantages. This indicates that firms would always want to create a blend between the O-advantages and the L-advantages of the host market. Most firms target locations that benefit them and also where there is a strategic fit between the capacity of the firm and it requirements and formulation of its operating environment. At this point the main O-advantage of the FF is its relational contracting ability; it must seek out locations where the environment for business is opaque rather than transparent, and relational contracting skills are crucial to successful performance (Yeung, 1999, pg. 120) Another impact of aligning L- and O-advantages is that FFs thrive in other locational environments that may be considered attractive by the Western MNE.i.e. there are specific locational advantages for the international FF to enter regions where it can utilize its ability carry out its operation effectively, economic environments where codified market-enhancing institutions are weak and / or where personal connections are required. A similar argument can be made with respect to industry preference. MNEs and FFs usually operate and succeed in different industries. There is strategic importance of the FFs superior relational contracting ability which is industry-dependent. FFs are found in a range of industries, usually including real estate property development, banking and finance, as well as certain kinds of manufacturing, such as garments and food processing. While individual companies typically engage in non-related diversification, the overall pattern of industry. Cultural familiarity and proximity are an important source of location advantage for firms that understand the culture of the local environments whose characteristics match the locational characteristics of the host country. Thereby with the alignment of the psychic distance, such advantages relate to specific cultural knowledge and skills. In the case of America, they may include familiaring the firm to the language of the host country. This therefore leads to a cluster of these firms in order to achieve this benefit. 6.4 I-Advantages of the FAST FOOD (FF) In MNE theory, I-advantages provide the benefit to undertake related international business activities within the firm, rather than contracting them out to other firms or exporting them. The I-advantages of the international FF center on its characteristic ability to quickly mobilize coordinated action and resources, thereby gaining advantages of timing and flexibility vis-à  -vis competitors (Yeung, 1999). The focus is positioned in the network structure, which enable it to gain assets and capabilities of others in the network. The tatics behind internalization can be explicit in terms of transaction costs. When inter-firm transaction costs exceed the cost of intra-firm transacting, efficiency is improved by internalizing market transactions within the firm. Conversely, when intra-firm transaction costs exceed the cost of inter-firm transacting, efficiency is improved by externalizing transactions to the market. The comparison cost of conducting inter-firm transactions among members of a network with the cost of intra-firm transactions within the internalized firm shows a grounded network can be the more efficient way to organize (Buckley and Casson, 2003). The Ownership assets that give the international FF its distinctive O advantages are on the basis that are highly intangible human capital assets involved in relational contracting capabilities and deal making skills (Hamilton, 1996). These are characteristics that cannot easily be sold in markets and must therefore be exploited internally, within the firm. The resulting timing advantages account for the prevalence of the FF in industries where windows of opportunity open and close faster. Conclusion Finally, since FFs are relatively big in comparison with Western MNEs, they are able to achieve a high degree of operating flexibility without sophisticated internal organizational processes and systems. However, it also leaves them unable to expand the size of their organizations when it would be strategically advantageous to do so. In such cases, the business network can allow the big firms to surmount some of the limitations of size (Child, 1973, 1984), including economic and geographic limitations (Hamilton, 1996) and transaction costs (Buckley and Casson, 1993). Hence this study concurs with the factors responsible for internationalization as stated by Dunning theory of internationalization

The Life of Tupac Shakur Essay examples -- Tubac Biography Shakur Essa

Tupac Amaru Shakur was born on June 16, 1971. Named after an Inca Chief, Tupac Amaru means â€Å"Shining Serpent† referring to wisdom and courage and Shakur meaning â€Å"thankful to God†. Shakurs mother, Afeni Shakur, was a leading member of the Black Panthers, a radical wing of the civil rights movement, with support for hardcore ghettos as well as white patronage. When Tupac’s mother was pregnant with Tupac she was spending time in the Woman’s House of Detention in Greenwich Village for conspiring to bomb several public places in New York City. All growing up his family lived in homeless shelters and run down town houses. Many times his family could not even afford lighting in the house. The only fond member he ever told of his childhood was of a diary he kept. In this diary he recorded his first attempts at poetry, this is where it began. A big moment in Tupac’s intellectual life occurred when he was twelve. At the age of twelve his mot her enrolled him in 127th Street Ensemble, a theater group in Harlem. Even at an early age his mothers political views where confusing, and intriguing him. As he told the January issue of VIBE magazine in 1994, â€Å" She was trying to make me live in the white picket fence lifestyle, but yet we ain’t got no money and no good food and no lights. You want me to go to school? They tellin me all this stuff about fighting the system but they pushin me in the system.† Meanwhile Tupac’s father was serving time in prison, when released Tupac and his mother had moved to Baltimore. Before Afeni Shakur could contact him, he had died of a crack induced hart attack. While in Baltimore, Tupac auditioned for, and was accepted into, the Baltimore School of Arts. This success gave Tupac a goal and ambition. It also exposed him to white people who cared about his life. However, before Tupac could finish high school at this school of arts, his family moved to Marin City, California.. Because of this move, Tupac never did finish highschool. Marin City, at the time, was nicknamed â€Å"the jungle† because it was mainly project housing and had high crime rates. This is the point in Tupacs life where he claimed he â€Å"got off track†. Tupac began selling crack to all the ghetto inhabitants and was soon thrown out of his house. During this time, however, he did receive a positive brake, he was hired as a roadie/dancer for the hip-hop group Digital U... ...f all his problems are â€Å"knawing at my sanity† as if it where a rat or other animal. Hyperbole is an exaggeration, when something is embellished. Hyperbole is also used. At one point Tupac says that the children are â€Å"bred with ruthlessness† This exaggeration makes it sound like they are bred for certain traits, like animals, bred to be hartless and without feelings. This is an obvious exaggeration as that no person is actually bred to be without feelings. The final piece of figurative language is irony. Irony is almost a sort of mockery, or a satire. What I mean is, for example, if a person feared flying all their life, but finally decided to fly, and died in a plane crash. Irony in this poem is when he writes â€Å"scared of being outcast , afraid of common fate.† In this he says that people are afraid of being different than everybody, yet they also scared of being the same as everyone. This is irony. Theme The theme of this poem is that although things may be bad , if you keep your head up, and fight everyday for what you believe in, then you can achieve and make the future better. You must leave the past behind you, and you will achieve what you want in the future.

History of IKEA Essay

Ingvar Kamprad founded IKEA in 1943. The name IKEA is formed from Kamprad’s initials (I.K.) plus the first letters of Elmtaryd (E) and Agunnaryd (A), the farm and village where he grew up (1). IKEA originally sold pens, wallets, picture frames, table runners, watches, and jewelry and nylon stockings. Known today for its furniture, IKEA did not start furniture sales until 1948. Kamprad saw opportunities for selling furniture on a large scale, distributing the first catalogue in 1951. In 1955, in the midst of a fierce price war with a competitor, Kamprad took his company a step further by opening the first store showroom. The concept behind this was that customers could now touch and look at IKEA home furnishings before they purchased, showing that quality did not have to be sacrificed for lower prices. With this being a success, Kamprad opened the first store in Almhult, Sweden in 1958. At its opening, the 6,700-meter store was the largest home furnishings store in Scandinavia (1). Kamprad retired as IKEA Group’s president in 1986, with Anders Moberg becoming his successor. This brought about many other changes for IKEA. Starting in 1990, IKEA took interest in corporate social responsibility (1). The IKEA Group developed an environmental policy that would ensure the company and its co-workers take environmental responsibility for all activities conducted within its business. Since then, they have become more energy efficient by generating their own renewable energy. They also work with their suppliers to inspire them to do the same. One example of this is each of their facilities is fully equipped with solar panels on the roof. They also take into consideration where and how they get their raw materials. Raw materials most important to the business and those that have the highest potential environmental or social impact are wood, cotton, palm oil, leather and food (3). Taking wood, they are continually looking for ways to get the most out of the wood they use by designing their products to minimize the amount of material needed and increasing the effici ency of manufacturing. They also only use wood that comes from responsibly managed forests in an effort to safeguard wood supplies to protect the future of their business, prevent deforestation, and to support the livelihoods of those communities. In order to make sure these efforts continue IKEA hired a fulltime forestry manager to secure sustainable use of forest resources (3). Upon Anders Moberg leaving IKEA in 1999, Anders Dahlvig became the President and CEO of the IKEA Group. This brought about more changes for the company by writing out a Code of Conduct. This code of conduct called â€Å"The IKEA Way on Purchasing Home Furnishing Products (IWAY)† defines what suppliers can expect from IKEA and specifies what IKEA expects from its suppliers in terms of legal requirements, working conditions, active prevention of child labor, external environment and forestry management (1). In addition, IKEA also introduced â€Å"The IKEA Way on Preventing Child Labor† in order to ensure that their suppliers and their sub-contractors use no child labor (1). IKEA has grown rapidly since its founding. As of August 31, 2012, the IKEA Group has operations in 44 countries, including 30 service-trading offices in 25 countries. T hey also have 33 distribution centers and 11 customer distribution centers. The IKEA Group had 298 stores in 26 countries. They employ 139,000 co-workers, 99,000 in Europe, 18,000 in North America, 11,000 in Asia and Australia, and 11,000 in Russia. They send out over 212 million catalogues, which has increased their foot traffic into the retail setting to 776 million visits. As technology use increases, so has their internet and app traffic with 1.1 billion visits to their website and over 5.7 million app downloads. With these increasing numbers, they have been able to open another 18 stores around the world in 2012 (5). IKEA’s vision and business statement paraphrased is to provide quality furniture products at a low price for all. Their product has always been furniture and over the past few years, they have grown to a company that is well known among all ranges of income from, broke college students to wealthy senior executives of companies. They do provide quality products whose function and style rival all other products in their industry. With those rival products, they also have prices that are lower than any of their competitors can afford to rival. How do they do it? IKEA is a very cost conscience company, where other companies will spend large sums of money on employee accommodations, IKEA does not. They tell of an instance where employees were at a conference and instead of paying for them to stay in the one and only hotel in town, an overpriced Marriot, they had their employees sleep in their cars (6). They have recently adopted a new energy saving method for each of their stores, both bettering the atmosphere as well as cutting energy costs. This mentality of saving, though extreme, has allowed the company to build a business into an industry leader in quality and price that most companies are not able to touch, based on their spending habits. This has been the mentality of the company structure since day one. Kamprad grew up in a farm-based village where people were not used to having quality products at an affordable price. From this, he developed the mentality and business structure that continues. The company has grown immensely due to their overall understanding of cost cutting and satisfying customer needs. The companies’ culture, as listed above, is all about saving money to provide a better company and product to the customer. One example of this is Kamprad had made company employees sleep in cars on a business trip. Having not talked to an employee that was forced to sleep in their car, as opposed to a Marriot hotel bed, I cannot say how they feel toward the company. That being said, I could make two inferences. The first is that the employees were upset. They should be provided with the basic essentials of life when on a business trip and the company should be able and willing to provide that. My second inference would be that these employees made this decision for themselves as well as the company, for the overall benefit of the company. The company advertises that that they share values for each employee. They ask for a unique employee and they advertise that they are not â€Å"filling jobs† but rather collaborating with people based on shared unique values. They compose and suggest these four-shared values as just a start to their list of shared values; One: togetherness, two: cost-consciousness, three: respect, four: simplicity. With those, four shared values maybe being their foundations, it would be easy to say that all employees, if truly investing time and effort into these values, are happy to work together in a uniform effort to save money as well as remain simple and respect one another. This would imply that they all are happy to work together in a situation that is best for everyone, as well as the company. IKEA is an industry leader when it comes to cutting costs and providing quality furniture at a price for everyone. In the market place, they have established themselves with their main competitive advantage to be price. They have done this in a way that most companies are not willing or would be too difficult for companies to rebuild their business model; and thus they are an industry leader. IKEA has established their marketing strategy as a furniture store that provides its customers with stylish furniture at an affordable price. Its founder Ingvar Kamprad instilled this strategy/mindset of the company. Mr. Kamprad’s mission for IKEA is to offer â€Å"a wide range of home furnishing items of good design and function, at prices so low that the majority of people can afford to buy them.† Therefore, IKEA’s focus is finding ways to lower prices yet still maintain the quality product they have been delivering, to its customers, for 70 years. This is their competitive advantage. IKEA maintains their competitive advantage by operating outside the practices of the conventional furniture supplier. A typical furniture store has an open show floor, where customers can peruse at their own leisure. IKEA steers away from this by designing its store in a trail pattern. This forces the buyer to proceed to the entire store and possibly find items they might not had intended on purchasing. Another thing IKEA does differently is, instead of providing delivery for every purchase, IKEA provides means of attaching containers on a customer’s car. This allows them to be able to take the furniture home the same day that they purchased it (7). The containers are usually pods that strap onto the top of a car. Then the customer takes it home and brings it back upon their next visit to IKEA. In addition, IKEA requires more of its customers than classic furniture stores. IKEA does not offer pre-assembled furniture. IKEA’s furniture is easy to assemble furniture that customers can take home and quickly put together (7). They take pride in the simplicity of their designed assembly. They also will not place a cumbersome item that would need to be assembled in the store because it is neither cost effective nor customer friendly (7). IKEA’s main strength comes from their value chain. â€Å"Unique design capabilities, unique sourcing, and tightly controlled logisti cs†¦they are able to produce products that are distinctive enough to provide market recognition, secure sourcing for long runs at profitable levels, and reduce inventory costs through regional warehouses which work closely with stores† (4). Meaning, IKEA is in complete control from furniture design to furniture delivery and storage. IKEA’s main weakness, one could assume, would be the large operation that it is. IKEA now operates in 29 different countries with over 2,000 suppliers in over 50 countries. With the large span of products and countries involved, maintaining control and communication will pose as one of IKEA’s biggest issues. The biggest challenge IKEA is facing would be wood. IKEA consumes 1% of total commercial wood, which amounts to over 13.5 million cubic meters (8). With all this considered, IKEA is launching a new campaign to operate in a more economic-friendly way by only processing wood that has been FSC certified. They are slowly incorporating new policies and plan to be â€Å"forest positive† by 2020; however, missed their 2012 goal of using 35% of their wood from FSC certified wood mainly because according to IKEA’s CSO Steve Howard, ‘only 7% of the world’s forest areas are currently certified to FSC standards† (8). However, IKEA is not only meeting obstacles from the environment, certain countries bureaucratic powers are causing some difficulty for further advancement in the country. China is one of these countries. The Chinese government is imposing harsh restrictions on its real estate market, which has caused stores to close (9). IKEA continues to grow every year by saving money at their current locations through energy saving building and using renewable resources. With their corporate responsibility programs, they continue lead the way in their industry. They also continue to work toward a better future for children all over the world through their Child Labor initiatives. As they continue to keep costs down, they will continue to expand all over the world. Works Cited 1. â€Å"About IKEA.† History. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. 2. â€Å"Facts &Figures.† Inter IKEA Systems B.V. N.p., Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. 3. Canada, Newswire. â€Å"IKEA Group releases 2011 Sustainability Report.† Canada Newswire 15 Feb. 2012: Regional Business News. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. 4. Grol, Paul, Christopher Schoch, and Michel Roger. â€Å"Culture as a Competitive Advantage.† Efbl.org. N.p., 16 Dec. 2010. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. 5. â€Å"IKEA Group SWOT Analysis.† IKEA Group SWOT Analysis (2012): 1-8. Business Source Complete. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. 6. Lewis, Elen. â€Å"Chapter 2: Ingvar Kamprad: The Grand Designer.† GBS: Great IKEA!. 28-45. n.p.: Marshall Cavendish Limited, 2004.Business Source Complete. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. 7. â€Å"The IKEAConcept.† Inter IKEA Systems B.V. N.p., Oct. 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 2013. 8. Kelly, Annie. â€Å"IKEA to Go ‘forest Positive’ à ¢Ã‚€Â“ but Serious Challenges Lie Ahead.† The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 14 Dec. 2012. Web. 16 Feb. 201 3. 9. â€Å"WantChinaTimes.com.† WantChinaTimes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2013.