American Economy of the 1990s and Beyond

The 1990s brought a new president, Bill Clinton (1993 to 2000). A cautious, moderate Democrat, Clinton sounded some of the same themes as his predecessors. After unsuccessfully urging Congress to enact an ambitious proposal to expand health-insurance coverage, Clinton declared that the era of big government was over in America. He pushed to strengthen market forces in some sectors, working with Congress to open local telephone service to competition. He also joined Republicans to reduce welfare benefits. Still, although Clinton reduced the size of the federal workforce, the government continued to play a crucial role in the nations economy. Most of the major innovations of the New Deal and a good many of the Great Society remained in place. And the Federal Reserve system continued to regulate the overall pace of economic activity, with a watchful eye for any signs of renewed inflation. How the Economy Performed The economy turned in an increasingly healthy performance as the 1990s progressed. With the fall of the Soviet Union and Eastern European communism in the late 1980s, trade opportunities expanded greatly. Technological developments brought a wide range of sophisticated new electronic products. Innovations in telecommunications and computer networking spawned a vast computer hardware and software industry and revolutionized the way many industries operate. The economy grew rapidly, and corporate earnings rose rapidly. Combined with low inflation and low unemployment, strong profits sent the stock market surging; the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which had stood at just 1,000 in the late 1970s, hit the 11,000 mark in 1999, adding substantially to the wealth of many -- though not all -- Americans. Japans economy, often considered a model by Americans in the 1980s, fell into a prolonged recession -- a development that led many economists to conclude that the more flexible, less planned, and more competitive American approach was, in fact, a better strategy for economic growth in the new, globally-integrated environment. The Changing of Americas Labor Force Americas labor force changed markedly during the 1990s. Continuing a long-term trend, the number of farmers declined. A small portion of workers had jobs in industry, while a much greater share worked in the service sector, in jobs ranging from store clerks to financial planners. If steel and shoes were no longer American manufacturing mainstays, computers and the software that make them run were. After peaking at $290,000 million in 1992, the federal budget steadily shrank as economic growth increased tax revenues. In 1998, the government posted its first surplus in 30 years, although a huge debt—mainly in the form of promised future Social Security payments to the baby boomers—remained. Economists, surprised at the combination of rapid growth and continued low inflation, debated whether the United States had a new economy capable of sustaining a faster growth rate than seemed possible based on the experiences of the previous 40 years. --- Next Article: Global Economic Integration This article is adapted from the book Outline of the U.S. Economy by Conte and Carr and has been adapted with permission from the U.S. Department of State.

Process Capability - 709 Words

In general, a process is a way that we combine materials, methodology, tools, and individuals to product something that has measurable output. This could be a manufactured product or service, and the measurable property is called process capability. This is sometimes known as process capability indexing, process performance, or process measurement. Each, though, has two parts: 1) To measure the variability of the output of a process, and 2) To compare that variability with standardized benchmarks, specifications, or product tolerances. Of course, the bottom line for measurement is to improve the process and the ratio approach uses a set of numerical values to keep the product or service within tolerance levels (Relyea, 2011). In any venue, measurement must be tied to something specific it is not enough to simply measure as a means to an end, but rather the measurement must mean something to the end result, the production method, or the service quality. Essentially, if we do not measure something effectively, we cannot improve it. The reasons for measuring are varied, but may be noted as: Program effectiveness Decision making Setting goals and objectives Recognize good or great performance Interceed in time with poor or negligible performance To inform stakeholders To hold x accountable for y To control and allocate resources To motivate and promote To establish what is vital from what is important from what is interesting To celebrate, learn, and move forward ToShow MoreRelatedComparative Analysis of Business Analysis and Business Process Management Capabilities6455 Words   |  26 PagesAND BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT (BPM) CAPABILITIES Paul Mathiesen, Faculty of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, p.mathiesen@connect.qut.edu.au Wasana Bandara, Faculty of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, w.bandara@qut.edu.au Houra Delavari, Faculty of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia, h.delavari@qut.edu.au Paul Harmon, Business Process Trends, 1819Read MoreProduction Planning and Control Activities1664 Words   |  7 Pagesdifficulties such as equipment malfunction, quality issues, or late work. Jidoka helps stop the passing of defects, helps identify and correct problem areas consuming localization and separation, and makes it likely to â€Å"build† quality at the production process. While JIT has customarily been used by large industries, owing to the apparent importance of SMEs in economic growth, application of JIT in SME has arisen as a critical growth path. However, unlike large organizations like Toyota, where JIT hasRead MoreQuality Assurance : The Act Of Giving Confidence1655 Words   |  7 PagesQuality Assurance: The planned and systematic activities implemented in a quality system so that quality requirements for a product or service will be fulfilled. Control: An evaluation to indicate needed corrective responses; the act of guiding a process in which variability is attributable to a constant system of chance causes. Quality Control: The observation techniques and activities used to fulfill requirements for quality.† http://asq.org/learn-about-quality/quality-assurance-quality-control/overview/overviewRead MoreCase Study : 6 Sigma Manufacturing Process1419 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract:- This case study is about 6 sigma manufacturing process by which continuous improvement of the product is done. Mainly the 6 sigma is about improving the quality, In order to identify defects or errors. By using 6 sigma 99.9% the defect will not be there in the product. 6 sigma uses quality management and structural methods. The customer satisfaction can be increased by using this, production cycle can be reduced, reduction of waste and reducing the cost of the project. Read MoreHarnswell Sewing Machine Company Essay1003 Words   |  5 Pagescurrently on a master in business administration. A few days ago Natalie was asked to find out how to improve quality in the process without much investment. Phase 2 One day John proposed to Natalie a project on how to improve quality in the process production but by the end of the explanation, this made him leave his office, as is assumed Natalie was very depressed about what happened and thats whereRead MoreRisks And Risk Response Strategies1736 Words   |  7 Pagesand Six Sigma. While the PDCA approach is a four-step management method that aims to improve the quality of projects by developing critical thinking (Anderson, 2011), Six Sigma is a set of tools and techniques which aim to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying the cause of defects and making the business and manufacturing processes less variable (Tennant, 2001). Six Sigma shares several similarities with the PDCA cycle, the most profound being the similar methodologies for theirRead MoreThe History and Role of Six Sigma and Lean in the Manufacturing Environment750 Words   |  3 Pagesrobotic manufacturing, replacing humans and increasing safety and productivity. We have not yet eliminated man from the manufacturing environment and corporations are always looking to achieve a greater bottom line. Six Sigma, which is statistical process control (SPC) and Lean Manufacturing which focuses on reducing waste, have helped to achieve this goal. We will look at the origins of these two tools, the first companies to employ them, the theory behind each, and the future roll they will playRead MoreSCM 3032316 Words   |  10 Pagesï » ¿Exam 3 Outline SCM 303 Chapter 12 Demand Planning: Forecasting and demand management Demand Planning- the combined process of forecasting and managing customer demands to create a planned pattern of demand that meets the firm’s operational and financial goals. Fluctuating customer demand cause operational inefficiencies, such as: Need for extra capacity resources, backlog, customer dissatisfaction, system buffering (safety stock, safety lead time, capacity cushions, etc.) 3 basics tacticsRead MoreEvaluating GEs Organizational Culture2352 Words   |  10 Pagesbusiness practices as well as work/life [sic] balance (Our Culture, 2007). Training and Education Programs: It is important for me to work for a company that provides additional training and educational benefits that will enhance employee leadership capabilities. We invest nearly $1 billion a year in career development for our employees at every level of professional growth. (Leadership Programs, 2007). Shared Values When looking at an organizations appealing values, one must first realize what heRead MoreCase Study : Integrated Devices For Plant Number 31464 Words   |  6 Pages4.02 3.97 4.02 4.00 3.97 4.01 Targeted Cpk Process capability is the ability of the process to generate outputs that meet engineering specifications or customer requirements and â€Å"refers† to the normal performance of a process when working in a state of statistical control. Process capability study is intended to provide information about the performance of the process under constant operating conditions. The process capability study can provide information to address the following:

Are People Inherently Honest free essay sample

There are numerous theories that attempt to explain the motivation behind people acting in certain ways. This paper will address three of these theories, apply these theories to how people choose to behave honestly or dishonestly, and will attempt to determine whether or not people are inherently honest. Before looking into the motivation behind people’s decision to be honest, it is important to define some key terms in order to fully understand and explore what it means to be inherently honest. Merriam-Webster defines honest as â€Å"free from fraud or deception,† or simply put, truthful. It defines inherent as â€Å"belonging by nature or habit. † The majority of people simply associate something being inherent as ‘natural’ or ‘innate’. Interestingly, this definition expands our view on what one may consider ‘inherent’ by noting how past habits can also play a vital role in how one behaves. Now that we have defined what honesty and inherent behaviour entails, we can now look at the various theories that attempt to identify the motivation behind people behaving honestly. We will write a custom essay sample on Are People Inherently Honest? or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page One of these theories is the fact that humans choose to act honestly or not based on what we feel is ‘morally good’ or the ‘right thing to do’ according to a very personal set of rules and morals. An individual’s behaviours are heavily influenced in order to satisfy this individual set of rules. Of course, there are a number of positions one can take on when defining this set of rules. Deontologists would argue that one should be honest one hundred percent of the time, regardless of the situation. They believe that it is ones’ moral obligation to behave honestly and have a duty of adhering to this universal rule. On the other hand, utilitarianism claims that the decision to act honestly or dishonestly varies depending on the situation, considering all costs, benefits, and consequences that will result from the behaviour. Regardless of the person’s moral standpoint, their choice to behave honestly or not is strongly influenced by their personal, or inherent, set of behaviours that they consider morally ‘right’. This supports the argument that people are in fact inherently honest. Another theory that attempts to explain the motivation behind behaving honestly is focused on the consequences that will result from behaving honestly or dishonestly. Uri Gneezy’s paper on the role of consequences in lying looks at how different benefits and costs influence one’s decision to behave honestly or dishonestly. From his studies, he comes to a number of conclusions describing how people conduct a cost-benefit analysis when deciding to lie or not. First, he finds that people are particularly sensitive to their personal gain when deciding to lie, meaning that they place a high priority on personal gain in their cost-benefit analysis. He also finds that people also tend to lie less when the lie harms another party. However, this harm plays less of a role in choosing not to lie compared to the increased gains from lying. This suggests that the marginal personal gain from a lie is greater than the marginal harm that is caused from the lie. Because people are constantly trying to maximize their personal utility, these findings display how one will behave dishonestly when doing so maximizes their utility. This suggests that people do not inherently behave honestly, but rather behave in a way that will create the most personal gain. A third theory that explains how people behave is based on the image that is associated with behaving honestly or dishonestly, as well as the use of excuses to justify dishonesty. There tends to be a negative stigma attached with lying; therefore, people are inclined to be honest simply to maintain a positive image of themself. There are a number of ways to look at this. First, people have a natural desire to see themselves in a positive light and like to feel that they are doing what is right. Much of this plays into the previously discussed individual set of morals that people have and doing what they consider ‘morally right’. However, there are cases when people create excuses to justify to themselves that acting dishonestly is the right thing to do. For example, if a man lies by telling his pregnant wife that she doesn’t look overweight, he will justify this lie to himself by claiming that he doesn’t want to hurt her feelings, maintaining a positive image of himself. In addition, people will tend to lie less to avoid making a bad impression to others. Similarly to above, people may use excuses to justify acting dishonestly, simply to maintain their positive impression on others. This shows that in order to maintain a positive impression of oneself on oneself as well as on others, people are inclined to behave honestly and are willing to make excuses to justify acting dishonestly to maintain this impression. This suggests that due to the natural desire to create and maintain a positive impression, people are inherently honest. The above theories and discussion suggest both that people are and are not inherently honest. This is precisely why many social scientists have difficulty in this area. On one hand, people behave honestly to satisfy their personal set of morals and to promote a positive image of themselves (in their own as well as others’ eyes), but are willing to be dishonest if it results in enough personal gain to justify the lie. From this, we conclude that one cannot make an overarching statement claiming that people are or are not inherently honest. Whether a person is inherently honest depends on how they weigh and balance the importance of their morals, personal gain, their self-image, and the image they want to portray to others.

Nintendo Strategy Case #20 Essay Example

Nintendo Strategy Case #20 Essay Nintendo’s Disruptive Strategy Case #20 Nintendo started out originally as a playing card company which then focused on electronic toys and video games. When Sony came to the United States Nintendo switched its focus to non-gamers in order to compete; the Wii was their ultimate success. Video games were initially targeted to teenagers however with the growth the target market became young adults in their 20s and 30s. In addition, video games evolved into blue-ray/HD home entertainment consoles able to hold data files and offer online libraries. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo tend to competitively battle every 5 to 6 years; Sony with the PS, Nintendo with the Wii, and Microsoft with Xbox. When Nintendo came out with the Wii they focused on non-gamers which were almost a completely different target market. The Wii’s easy-to-use controller increased popularity particularly among female gamers and with the dance mats and physical fitness games families were able to enjoy it together. Nintendos’ revenues nearly tripled from 2006 to 2008. Nintendo was able to turn its low cost hardware into a competitive advantage because they focused on characters instead of special effects. The Wii was half the cost of Xbox and PS games. Wii also included five simple games at no additional cost which was an additional key marketing strategy. In the United States, the Wii sold 600,000 units in the first eight days making $190 million in sales. Nintendo also outsources almost all production of the Wii. We will write a custom essay sample on Nintendo Strategy Case #20 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Nintendo Strategy Case #20 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Nintendo Strategy Case #20 specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Their strategy was to have more than one supplier for the same part so they could get the parts cheaper which in turn further increased production. Then the Wii balance board came along, encouraging health and entertainment focusing on the non-gamers including 40 different activities from yoga to push ups. I learned that like Nintendo you have to meet the technological demands of customers in the future, which Microsoft and Sony failed to do.

buy custom Laptops Being Used in Schools essay

buy custom Laptops Being Used in Schools essay Technology has today played a significant role in facilitating education. Computers have often been used in classroom work by teachers and students. This has made teaching and learning in schools and colleges easy and attractive. In this context, this paper will discuss the use of laptops in schools. The discussion will begin by an introduction that will explain the use of computers in schools today. The discussion will also include the advantages of using computers in schools. This will highlight the progress laptops have brought in education. The paper ends with a conclusion that wills emphasis on the use of laptops in schools, including the benefits of technology in education today. The use of technology has been noted in many schools. The administration in schools have left the long used textbooks and adapted the use of laptops. According to survey done, many schools have taken sponsored programs, which provide laptops to their students. The authors of the article Schools Dump Textbooks for iPods, Laptops highlight that laptop use has increased considerably in schools. They further explain that the use of textbooks may be more challenging than using laptops. This is because it may be easy to locate recent publication by the use of internet that looking for hard copy on the shelf. Since the introduction of laptops, many have taken advantage of this machine and have used it often in their classroom work. It has been replaced by the use of books to write notes, and assignments. These students are of the ages of 2 years and above. In some cases, the school administration has initiated the use of the laptops. That is the schools funds the laptop programs for students in their schools. The use of laptops has several advantages to the students. The use of laptops has facilitated the search and availability of learning material. Teachers and students have learnt to use the laptops to obtain information for the subjects being tackled in the curriculum. Hence, the laptops have been efficient tools in learning. On this note, it has also been much easy for the learner to find the information he or she needs for better understanding of the subject. As a result, many people have opted to use laptops for their studies. The laptops have also enabled students to manage their assignment well. Each student can now easily work on his or her assignment at the speed that is comfortable for him or her. Compared to the previous system whereby the students had to search for information in books, and articles in the library. This was time consuming and tiring for both the learners and educators. However, laptops have eased the struggle and today that search for information can be easily done through computers. Laptops have also increased focus of learning to students. The participation of students in learning has increased considerably in the schools.; It has been a significant means of encouraging student and teacher interaction. The students communicate to their educators on any issue or difficulty that they seem to be encountering in the assignments that are handling. According to the author of the book 1-to-1 learning: laptop programs that work, students have had a chance to work together with each other by the use of laptops. Students get to discuss the assignment online and through email. That is they share ideas, comments, and concepts that have learning on their own. The use of laptops has also made it easy for learners to access the work done by other students. Hence, a student can see the work done by another student in case he or she has difficulty in any subject. This has improved performance in each student in school. He further explains that through the use of laptops, the educators have a good chance of accessing the progress of the students. It is clear that laptops have brought more good than harm to both students and teachers in schools today. I strongly support the idea of using laptops in schools. It will enhance learning and participation in schools. In addition, the use of laptops gives a chance to the learners to catch up with the fast growing information technology in the world today. In conclusion, laptop use is increasing in the schools every day. It is evident that the students enjoy using the new technology to learn. Hence, school administration need to consider using a laptop to enrich and enhance learning in todays technology. Buy custom Laptops Being Used in Schools essay

5 Tips for Writing an Executive Summary

5 Tips for Writing an Executive Summary 5 Tips for Writing an Executive Summary Whenever you write an in-depth business document, you should include an executive summary. This, as the name suggests, is a brief summary of the report itself. But how exactly do you write one? Check out our tips on writing an executive summary below to find out. 1. What to Include in an Executive Summary The exact format of an executive summary will depend on what you are summarizing. However, as a general guideline, try to include: A brief explanation of the subject matter and why it is important The results or findings of the report (plus methods used if applicable) Any conclusions that can be drawn from the findings Any recommendations or proposals for what to do next Keep in mind that the executive summary needs to make sense by itself, as you cannot assume that the reader will find time to read the full report. 2. Know Who You’re Writing For Given the space available in an executive summary, it can help to tailor your writing to the person who will be reading it. Before you begin, then, ask yourself a few questions: Who will be reading this? What do they already know about the issue? Are you simply summarizing an issue or are you recommending an action? How did you gather the information? Were your methods limited at all? What are the key details you need people to take away from the summary? These questions will help you narrow down what to include in the summary. If you are writing a report that many people will read, or you do not know who will read the summary yet, think about what the average person in your industry would need to know. 3. Keep It Short! The key word in â€Å"executive summary† is â€Å"summary.† As such, try to make yours as clear and concise as possible. Think about it as being like the written version of an elevator pitch. The idea is to communicate the vital details and, ideally, to convince the reader to read the full report. As such, make sure that your summary is no more than 10% as long as the overall report. 4. Format for Skim Reading If possible, include charts, graphs, or bullet points in the summary. These can highlight key details so that skim readers do not miss anything important. It also helps to break up the summary into sections with clear headings, which will help readers find information at a glance. 5. Avoid Unnecessary Jargon When you’re trying to make your point clearly and concisely, industry jargon will get in the way. This isn’t to say that you can’t use technical language when necessary. But, whenever possible, try to express your ideas in simple terms (the complicated stuff can go in the full report). Summary: 5 Tips for Writing an Executive Summary If you are writing an executive summary for a business report, keep the following in mind: Make sure your executive summary makes sense by itself, and that it includes all of the key details you need your reader to take away. Think about who will read the summary and tailor it accordingly. Make sure it is no more than 10% as long as the overall report. Use formatting, bullet points, and section headings to boost readability. Keep the language used simple and avoid jargon wherever possible. Finally, make sure to get it proofread before you finish. That way, you can be 100% sure it is typo free and ready to use!

Strategic issues and options facing your organisation Essay

Strategic issues and options facing your organisation - Essay Example Strategic investments that are made by the companies are indicative of the strategic direction and intentions. A few years ago Apple Computer was an innovative organization since its founding in 1970`s. However Dell was far superior to Apple on unit cost KSF (Key Factor Success) and inferior to Apple on innovation KSF (Key Factor Success). Over time Dell worked diligently to lower its unit cost structure and its trajectory from past to its present position portrays its accomplishments. Again Apple has continued to push its innovation agenda with the introduction of Cube, Mac Book air and G3. Apple has realized the importance of price competitiveness as a reason of which it has made substantial improvements in its unit cost dimension. To achieve further reductions in the unit cost, Dell can expect that Apple will evaluate a range of strategic options that will help in fulfilling this intention. Since PC manufacturing costs are connected with economies of scale, Apple has the option of making their PC`s more attractive to a larger audience. It is for this reason that Apple developed its own software that enabled the users to run Windows and Windows based software on their Apple computers in 2006. This made Apple`s computing platform viable option for ten millions of computer users who could experience a significant switching cost for using Apple by giving up Windows. To elaborate the first question, Apple`s rapid growth has been accelerated by introducing new platforms which they have extended for superior growth and profits. Platform growth trajectories generally decline with age. Apple did a great job by increasing the growth of the Mac platform by shifting the mindset from desktop to portables and lately to Mac Book Air. When the sale of iPods media players went down by 17%, Apple was able to bounce back with the new and more expensive iPod Touch Model. Experts say that by 2013, the market

Co-operative entreprises Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Co-operative entreprises - Essay Example Different Expectations One of the common and the most disastrous problems of working in a co-operative is that different members may come together in the team having different expectations. I will present here the simple example of doing an assignment together. Some group members may be satisfied with nothing but an A whereas others may settle with just a passing grade. Different expectations can lead to different attitude, work ethics and priorities (Barton, 2011). Thus it is very important in a co-operative to have a common goal and shared values. Each member should identify with that goal. It may even be necessary to scale down the expectations of some of the members and scale up the expectations of others in order to arrive at a goal which is expectable to all the members. Lack of Communication A co-operative is formed when one member cannot fulfil all the roles himself. Thus a co-operative entails division of work. Some members may be made in charge of marketing, others will hav e to handle the finance and some others are tasked to handle operations of the co-operative. The biggest challenge here is the lack of communication among members responsible for different tasks. A marketing guy may make a very ambitious sales plan but may not be aware that there are no finances to support his plan. Lack of communication causes numerous problems but is relatively easy to handle. The problem can be handled b having regular meetings with different group members (Nilsson & Ollila, 2013). These meetings might seem like a drag but they help everyone to come up to speed and also remain misunderstanding that may crop up. Regular communications among different teams is the most important means of solving problems in a co-operative working environment and ensure positive interdependence among the team members. Ego/Personality clashes In my personal experience of working on a co-operative project ego clash is the biggest challenge which is very difficult to solve. The operati onal and logistic problems can be solved easily if all team members put their minds to it but ego clashes not only demoralize other team members but may even ruin the whole project (Cooperatives UK, 1965). These clashes may not be even related to the project that we are undertaking but members may have brought them in to the team from their past history. The best way to avoid these clashes is to ensure that each member of the co-operative is allowed to speak his or her mind. No one should be given more weight age as compared to others. However this does not usually happens and team members end up taking sides which is disastrous for the co-operative. I have personally seen that secret voting on topics of contention is a good way to prevent these clashes and help the group move forward. Cultural Differences Each one of us has a different way of working even if we have the same goals. Some members of the group like to work alone, some like to work under pressure whereas others like to plan ahead. I call these problems as cultural differences among the members of the team. These differences

It’s a Great Big World Essay Example for Free

It’s a Great Big World Essay Japan is also known as the Land of the Rising Sun which is located in Asia. It is a place where East meets West and the Traditional convenes with Modernity. More so, it has a collectivist culture wherein the concentration is on the welfare of the majority rather than of a single person (Pearson Education, Inc). Japanese usually put first the interests of others instead of their own by showing respect and imposing regulations that would benefit the greater good. For example, former Prime Minister Koizumi proposed the â€Å"not wearing of neckties during the summer† to provide relief too many employees and at the same time to save energy which reduces the cost of the daily operations of many business establishments. Moreover, as a sign of respect, Japanese bow to people they encounter whether they are natives or foreigners. They also add the word â€Å"san† to the last name of person that they have just met. Another Japanese practice of showing respect is giving more valuable gifts to individuals who have higher and more senior position. By doing so, it signifies ones’ respect for a person’s position in the company. Also, in handing out business cards, senior level employees are given the privilege to give first and then the card must be received using both hands. Putting of the card in the wallet of shirt or pants pocket is a taboo in Japanese culture. The weird part is that when you â€Å"drop the calling card on the floor,† it immediately shows disrespect. For me, this belief is a little bit absurd because respect is earned and not commanded. More so, a piece of paper like the calling card cannot fully measure the competence and a vehicle to compel people to show respect. I think that the Japanese are a conservative and traditional people who give great importance to their elderly and superiors, which is an admirable characteristic but simple a act such as accidentally â€Å"dropping a calling card† should not be perceived as an act of being ill-mannered (Executiveplanet. com).

Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson of The Great Gatsby Essay -- Great Ga

Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson of The Great Gatsby    In the novel, The Great Gatsby, the two central women presented are Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson. These two women, although different, have similar personalities. Throughout the novel, there are instances in which the reader feels bad for and dislikes both Daisy and Myrtle. These two women portray that wealth is better than everything else, and they both base their lives on it. Also the novel shows the hardships and difficulties they have in their marriages. They are never satisfied with what they have, and are always longing for more. Daisy Buchanan is married to Tom Buchanan and cousin to Nick Carraway. During World War I, many soldiers stationed by her in Louisville, were in love with her. The man who caught her eye the most was Jay Gatsby. When he was called into war, she promised him that she would wait for him. Also that upon his return they will be married. Daisy, lonely because Gatsby was at war, met Tom Buchanan. He was smart and part of a wealthy family. When he asked her to marry him, she didn't hesitate at once, and took his offering. Here, the reader first encounters how shallow Daisy is, making her a dislikeable character. Another event that Daisy is a dislikeable character is when she did not show up to Gatsby's funeral. When Daisy and Gatsby reunite, their love for each other rekindle. She often visited Gatsby at his mansion, and they were inseparable. This led Gatsby on because he dedicated his whole life into getting Daisy back, and she had no gratitude towards it. At the hotel suite s cene, Daisy reveals to all that she loves Gatsby, but then also says that she loves Tom as well. This leaves the reader at awe, because after... ...vie, the actresses that played them actually fit the role. Women usually do not have impacts on things, but in this novel, major things happened as a result of these women. These things include dishonest marriages, love affairs, wealth, power, and jealousy. This goes to show that women are not always the innocent ones in novels, or any other type of literature. Sources Consulted Brucoli, Matthew J. Bruccoli. "Role Playing in The Great Gatsby. "http://www.sc.edu/fitzgerald/biography.html. October 18, 2002. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. London: Penguin Books, 1990. Douglas, Ann. The Women of The Great Gatsby. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1995. Lewis, Roger.   "Money, Love, and Aspiration in The Great Gatsby."   New   Essays on The Great Gatsby.   Ed. Matthew J. Bruccoli.   New York: Cambridge University Press, 1985.   41-57.

The Baader-Meinhof Gang

The Baader-Meinhof or the Red Army Faction (RAF) was a prominent militant outfit of the ‘German Autumn. ’ A terror era that lasted for nearly three decades was marked by the rise and fall of several terrorist organizations. One of the most dreaded of these was the Baader-Meinhof Gang. Originally formed as a revolutionary organization that would put an end to German fascist era, the gang went off-track with its goals and resorted to unlawful activities.At their peak, they had perpetrated numerous acts of terror including bank robbery, kidnapping and murder. They had become so infamous that the German Government labeled them as a terrorist organization. The origin of the Baader-Meinhof can be traced back to the late 1960s and early 1970s when West Germany reeled under a series of terrorist bombings by radical leftists in Augsburg, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Munich and at American installations in Frankfurt and Heidelburg, and bank robberies and Molotov cocktail attacks on public offices (Christenson 20).Two groups claimed responsibility for the attacks and one of these groups was the June 2nd Movement, which along with the other group was later known as the Baader-Meinhof gang (Christenson 20). A couple of the people involved in these activities were Andreas Baader, the man responsible for the formation of the gang, and his girlfriend Gundrun Ensslin. A prominent journalist who worked for the Konkret – Ulrike Meinhof – had interviewed the two people and justified their deeds, and later joined the gang after helping Baader escape from a jail (Christenson 20).Essaywriters 2 The formal establishment of the RAF or Baader-Meinhof gang was done on 5 June 1970, but the gang’s terrorist acts caught serious attention only since 1974 (Fulbrook 229). The gang, comprising mostly of people who were middle class and well-educated, was formed with the frustration that had crept in to their minds after witnessing their families die in the 1940s (Fulbro ok 229). This was one of the primary reasons given by the gang, which felt that the government’s true, oppressive face has to be brought before the public.As a result, they started attacks on property and also engaged in bank robberies to fund their activities (Fulbrook 229). However, the real threat had begun when they had started to commit murders of popular people like the banker Jurgen Ponto; General State Prosecutor Buback, who they accused of causing the deaths of terrorists – Holger Meins, Siegfried Hauser and Ulrike Meinhof; and employers’ leader Hanns Martin Schleyer (a high-ranked official in SS) (Fulbrook 229). The most prominent of their involvements was in the Munich Olympics Massacre of 1972 (Reeve 37).The Organization The Baader-Meinhof Gang was formed out of the New Left and Extra Parliamentary Opposition student movements that had huge support from the German students in the 1950s and the 1960s, especially against the U. S. war in Vietnam (Tucke r 95). With the passage of time, further student demonstrations took place and on June 2, a university student called Benno Ohnesorg was shot dead by the police, adding fuel to the fire burning in the students’ hearts (Tucker 96). Andreas Baader encouraged student Essaywriters 3activists to overthrow the German Government as it was a part of the corrupt International system and was dominated by the United States (Tucker 96). The real terrorist group was formed after a left-wing lawyer named Horst Mahler suggested the creation of a German urban Guerilla Movement, like the Tupamaros in Uruguay, and engagement in greater violence than arson (Tucker 96). Mahler, along with Baader and Ensslin were the leaders of this small terrorist group. When Baader was arrested after the group was formed in 1970, Ensslin asked Meinhof for help and the journalist helped him escape (Tucker 96).Terror Activities The terrorist gang started its first few attacks on symbols that represented the capit alist system and in 1968, after Baader led left-wing student group Kommune I was released for arson activity, Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and two other colleagues placed bombs in two department stores in Frankfurt am Main (Tucker 96). Andreas and his girlfriend, Ensslin, were arrested for the act, but were later released in 1969 (Tucker 96). In the period 1970-1977, the gang targeted a number of government top-ranked officials for assassination.They were successful in this goal when they assassinated prominent individuals like Jurgen Ponto, Prosecutor Buback and Hanns-Martin Schelyer (Fulbrook 229). Schleyer’s body was dumped inside the boot of a car after a hijack attempt by the gang was stopped by Federal Border Police in Mogadishu (Fulbrook 229). The hijack had been planned to force the government to release the gang’s top leaders Baader, Raspin and Ensslin. When Holger Meins, one of the people arrested in 1972, died Essaywriters 4of a hunger strike, the group ki lled Judge Gunter Von Drenkkman in response (Christenson 21). When police arrested many supporters of leftist terrorist organizations in connection with this incident, the June 2nd group kidnapped West Berlin mayoral candidate Peter Lorenz and demanded the release of five convicted people, and in March, another group bombed the Paris office of West German publisher Axel Springer demanding the release and pardon of Baarden-Meinhof group’s members (Christenson 21).In another incident in April 1975, six guerillas killed three people and took 12 hostages in the West German Embassy in Stockholm demanding the release of the gang and when the government refused, they killed two diplomats and set the embassy on fire (Christenson 21). Main People in the Group Andreas Baader The most prominent name in the Baader-Meinhof gang is Andreas Baader and the group was named after him. Baader was attracted to the leftist-student movement and he was one of the people responsible for the bombing of a Frankfurt department store in 1968. He was a criminal even before his involvement in the Baader-Meinhof gang.He was arrested for the department store bombing, but was released. He was arrested a second time in 1970, when Ulrike Meinhof helped him escape through the library outside his prison. After the escape, he had spent some time in Jordan in a militant training camp. After he returned to Germany, he was involved in many bank robberies and bombing activities from 1970-1972. In June 1972, Baader and other members Jan-Carl Raspe, Essaywriters 5 Holger Meins and Gudrun Ensslin were arrested and they were tried till 1977. Baader had committed suicide in October 1977 inside the prison cell. Ulrike MeinhofUlrike Meinhof was not a part of the group from the beginning. She was a sympathizing journalist who helped Baader escape from jail. Along with Baader and other prominent people, she became a part of the Baader-Meinhof gang. On May 9, 1976, Ulrike Meinhof was found hanging from t he ceiling of her prison cell in Stuttgart-Stammheim. Gudrun Ensslin Although the group was partly named after Ulrike, the gang’s main female leader was Ensslin, who was also the girlfriend of Baader. She had participated in many student protests in the 1960s. Ensslin had assisted Baader in many terror activities.She was also found dead with Baader and Raspe in the prison cell in 1977. Horst Mahler Horst Mahler was also one of the founding members of the Baader-Meinhof gang. He was formerly a left-wing militant. He was later kicked out of the gang. Jan-Carl Raspe Jan-Carl Raspe was one of the early members of the gang. He was arrested along with Baader and the rest. He was also found dead in the prison with others in 1977. Essaywriters 6 The Diffusion of the Group Although the government believed that the Baader-Meinhof gang stopped functioning after the death of its main leaders, the group continued to function till 1998.The media company Reuters had received a message in 19 98 that formally announced that the gang had been dissolved. It was the end of the ‘German Autumn. ’ Essaywriters 7 Works Cited Christenson, Ron. â€Å"Political Trials in History: From Antiquity to the Present† (1991): 20-23 Fulbrook, Mary. â€Å"History of Germany, 1918-2000: The Divided Nation† (2002): p. 229 Reeve, Simon. â€Å"One Day in September† (2000): 37 Tucker, Jonathan. B. â€Å"Toxic Terror: Assessing Terrorist Use of Chemical and Biological Weapons† (2000): 95-96

Impact of Caste System in India Essay

1. Introduction 1.1 Brief introduction of the background: Feminist translation rose in the process of â€Å"cultural turn† proposed by Bassnett Susan and Lefevere at the end of the 1970s and in the early 1980s, it was the product of the latest advances in translation theory and the vigorous development of the feminist movement that first launched in Canada by some outstanding Canadian translators, like Susanne de Lotbinià ¨re-Harwood, Barbara Godard and Kathy Mezei.(Susan 1990) A strong movement of French-language feminist experimental writing in Quebec stimulated their desire to promote and to theorize activities of literary mediation. Since then, some feminist theorists came up and made a lot of critics about the feminist translation theory, the most typical and influential ones are: Sherry Simon’s Gender in Translation: Cultural Identity and the Politics of Transmission; Luise Von Flotow’s Translation and Gender : Translating in the Era of Feminism; and Barbara Godard’s Views on feminist translation studies. The purpose of feminist translation theory is firmly opposed to placing women in the lower social class and making translation subsidiary to literature. They are against that, as John Forio summarized:â€Å"translators are handmaiden to authors, women inferior to men.† This is the core of feminist translation theory, which seeks to ‘identify and critique the tangle of concepts which relegates both women and translation to the bottom of the social and literary ladder’. We can see that it stressed the subjectivity of translation, hold the idea that original is equivalent to the translation and the gender discrimination can be eliminated by rewriting the translation. (ç ®â‚¬Ã¤ ¸ ½Ã¤ ¸ ½2012:1-27) From this point of view, the theory is accepted by most, especially translation theorists, since it has provided a new learning perspective for them in translation theory research and translation practice. 1.2 The application of the feminist theory in literature. As one of the most important foundational texts of our Western culture. However, there are many masculine language, image and metaphor in the early Bible so that it is hard to avoid not to consider God as male. With the rising of feminism, women Christian became awakening to the situation of women’s oppression, so they reacted strongly against the overwhelmingly masculinist bias of the Bible, and the way it had for so long been used to constrain women. While the method they adopted is to reinterpretate the Bible from a feminist point of view, to translate the Bible by means of â€Å"neutral† or â€Å"gender-inclusive language† and propose several amendments of the translation of the Bible, which resolves the concept of feminist translation. However, some people think that the rewriting of the Bible may lead a misunderstanding of it, for the fact is that the social status of female in that era is extremely low. We can judge from the following: The Bible teaches that woman brought sin and death into the world, that she precipitated the fall of the race, that she was arraigned before the judgment seat of Heaven, tried, condemned and sentenced. Marriage for her was to be a condition of bondage, maternity a period of suffering and anguish, and in silence and subjection she was to play the role of a dependent on man’s bounty for all her material wants, and for all the information she might desire on the vital questions of the hour, she was commanded to ask her husband at home. Here is the Bible position of woman briefly summed up. (Stanton l972:7) Different translation versions of the Bible are allowed nowadays, on condition that the religious rules and the historical truth of the original text not be violated. Otherwise it won’t become an authorized and popular one. With the rapid development of the feminist translation theory, there sprang up numerous recomments on the reinterpretation of feminist literature in China and abroad. Some main research texts are: Pride and Prejudice; Zhang AIling’s translations; Jane Eyre; Diary of a Mad Black Woman; A Frolic in the Snow; The Color Purple;《王å ®â€°Ã¥ ¿â€ Ã¯ ¼Å¡Ã§â€ ·Ã¤ º ºÃ¥â€™Å'Ã¥ ¥ ³Ã¤ º ºÃ¯ ¼Å'Ã¥ ¥ ³Ã¤ º ºÃ¥â€™Å'城å ¸â€šÃ£â‚¬â€¹and so on. Through the recomment on the feminist literature, and the comparison of different versions from gender point of view, more and more people were awakened by the feminist consciousness, it earned widespread attention to some extent, it even changed the position of men and women in an unnoticed , fast way. For example, there are two different translated versions of Li Limei and Sun Zhili to Pride and prejudice. As far as Austen’s ideas on marriage are concerned. Li Limei’s preface for her translation of Pride and Prejudice:She criticized most of the marriage at that time†¦(she thought) the base of an ideal marriage should be mutual love and understanding†¦but she never put money and love ai the opposite position; instead, she showed that money played a key role in an ideal marriage. In Sun Zhili’s preface for his translation of Pride and Prejudice : she accepted Collin’s proposal just for the purpose to have a good home, a â€Å"safe box† whi ch ensured that she can be protected from cold and hunger. She didn’t mind the fact that she couldn’t enjoy the happiness of love after she got marriage. And to some extent, it reflects the miserable fate of women. It shows us that how the subjectivity influences the translation, in the example above, the female translator, influenced by gender consciousness, can better grasp and reproduce the details related to feminine in the original text. However, the male translator, lacking the gender consciousness, often neglects these details, and even weaken or distorts the feminist purpose in the original text. 2. Theory foundation and their strength and weakness 2.1 Sherry Simon and her Gender in Translation: Cultural Identity and the Politics of Transmission Sherry Simon and her Gender in Translation: Cultural Identity and the Politics of Transmission, which is one of her most significant monographs of translation studies and is also the first comprehensive discussion of the western translation studies from feminist perspective. The book mainly explored the influence on translation theory and practice on the part of feminism based on political and literary movement. In Simon’s words, the book is the product of feminism and translation studies from the perspective of culture. It abandoned the traditional translation theory and held that translation was not a simple mechanical language conversion ,but also the constant extension the renewal of an unlimited number of text discourses. Therefore, translation, considered as an act of writing through highlighting the subjectivity of the translator, is also a rewriting behaviour in specific social, historical and cultural context. Sherry Simon concentrated on the discussion of replacing those hackneyed language by means of the positive discourses that enable to convey the function of identity in translation practice. Sherry Simon’s feminist theory has broken the shackles of translational translation theory, promoting the play of individual initiative, advocating individual interest and needs and recognizing the individual world view.(Simon 1996:105-108) Simon focus on underlining the importance of the cultural turn in translation. Cultural studies brings translation an understanding of the complexities of gender and culture. It allows us to situate linguistic transfer within the multiple ‘post’ realities of today: poststructuralism, post colonialism and postmodernism. (Simon 1996:136) Thus Simon links gender and cultural studies to the development in the post colonialism. The exact scope of post colonialism is open to some debate; however, it is generally used to cover studies of the history of the former colonies, studies of powerful European empires , resistance to the colonialist powers and, more broadly, studies of the effect of the imbalance of power relations between colonized and colonizer. The consequent crossover between different contemporary disciplines can be seen by the fact that essays by her and Lefevere appear in collections of postcolonial writings on translation, and Simon herself makes extensive reference to the postcolonialist Spivak.(Jeremy 2010:133) 2.2 Luise Von Flotow’ Translation and Gender : Translating in the Era of Feminism Followed by Sherry Simon, Luise Von Flotow wrote her Translation and Gender : Translating in the Era of Feminism . After the publication of this book, there came into being a lot of thesis about the feminist translation theory almost at the same time. The importance of it is quite evident. However, does it rightly or properly criticize and comment on the feminist translation perspective? We know that (a) the book systematically expounded the origin, development of the feminism, as well as its relationship with translation. (b) And it perfectly combined theory and example by citing abundant cases. The most heating topic was her three feminist translation strategies: â€Å"supplementing†, â€Å"prefacing† and â€Å"footnoting† as well as â€Å"hijacking†. She explained to us those methods the translators use in their work elaborately. (c) More importantly, as a women, Luise did not hold a bigoted idea, but a justice one to feminism. All of those are strengths, but (a) the language she studied focused on Hebrew, French, and German which all of them have typical gender, number and case. It is not convincing for the Chinese, Japanese and Korean readers for their language can not be obviously distinguished. (b) her criticizes from Outside Feminism and Within Feminism leave us an impression that the feminism overemphasize their manipulative and political act by tampering and the authors’ writing style, without regard to the readers’ feeling. Presenting to us their colonialism in translation. (Flotow 2004) 2.3 Barbara Godard’s Views on feminist translation studies. Barbara Godard was born in Toronto in 1941, she was one of the most famous feminist translators who were the first to engage in feminist translation. She published six translation works including dozens of translations of poetries, proses and fiction excerpts. Godard emphasized on the profiling of women and the translator in the translation. She wrote prefaces all her translators, showing her rejection of invisible women, translators and translations. An important discovery she found was that the language differences between women and men, she found that women must put female language translated in to patriarchal language when they got involved in to the public domain, so women were â€Å"bilingual†, with at least two kind of visions of looking at reality. However, men has a single perspective because of their power positions of masters. When it came to the translation of women’s work, this narrow perspective of men were fully exposed. What she sought was not the â€Å"one to one correspondence† between the translation work and the original texts, but the recreation of the translation to the feminism in the original text. Godard was absolutely a pioneer in western feminist translation and her feminist translation practice and theory were extremely important for us to study the western feminist translation. However,(a) her works were so radical that it was almost impossible for the translators to find the so-called equivalence of the original work and the translation work. (b) Godard’s translation were indeed limited to the highly educated elite readers for she thought it was one of the strategies of feminism that required the text of elitism to make the text more readable. 3. Conclusion It is regarded as a good way to improve the women’s social status with language and translation, we are also delighted to see the improvement of the subjectivity and the translators, but it will become debateable if the translators attempt to change the style of the original work, or rewrite it to serve their political act. If the translation is not fidelity ,we won’t care whether it is beautiful or not. What we should do is not to rewrite all the works forcefully, but fully analyzing and translating the feminist works with female consciousness, so that our voice can be heard,and our female consciousness can be released from the male-centered one.(ä ¹ Ã© »â€ºÃ¤ ºâ€˜ 2002) The translation theory and translation practice now mainly focus on some typical literary translation and texts, but not spread to the people at bottom. It is suggested that the mass reading and some other aspects should also be involved. As for China, we still did not have any formal feminist movement, plus we lack of the deep research about translation. Hence we haven’t achieved a remarkable achievement concerning the feminist translation. We should avail ourselves of this opportunity to call on Chinese translators apply this feminist consciousness into their translation. Because it benefits not only the development of feminism, the gender study, but also the translation studies. The revolution of the translation may be a revolution of literature, and a revolution of human culture.

The Lebensborn Project essays

The Lebensborn Project essays The topic of eugenics cannot be discussed without encountering the Holocaust, but this is as it should be. When contemporary geneticists, genetics counselors and clinical geneticists wonder why it is that genetics receives special attention from those concerned with ethics, the answer is simple and can be found in history. The events which led to the sterilization, torture and murder of millions of Jews, Gypsies, Slavs and children of mixed racial heritage in the years just before and during the era of the Third Reich in Germany were rooted firmly in the science of genetics (Muller-Hill, 1988). Rooted not in fringe, lunatic science but in the mainstream of reputable genetics in what was indisputably the most advanced scientific and technological society of its day. The pursuit of genetic purity in the name of public health led directly to Dachau, Treblinka, Ravensbruck and Auschwitz. As early as 1931 influential geneticists such as Fritz Lenz were referring to National Socialism as "applied biology" in their textbooks (Caplan, 1992). As difficult as it is for many contemporary scientists to accept (Caplan, 1992; Kater, 1992), mainstream science provided a good deal of enthusiastic scientific support for the virulent racism that fueled the killing machine of the Third Reich. When the Nazis came to power they were obsessed with securing the racial purity of the German people. The medical and biomedical communities in Germany not only endorsed this concern with "negative eugenics," they had fostered it. Racial hygiene swept through German biology, public health, medicine and anthropology in the 1920s and 1930s, long before the Nazis came to power (Weiss, 1987, Muller-Hill, 1988; Proctor, 1988; Kater, 1992). Many in the medical profession urged the Nazi leadership to undertake social policies that might lead to enhancing or increasing the genetic fitness of the German people (Kater, 1992). Eugenics consumed the German m...

Best Places to Find Gifts for Geologists

Best Places to Find Gifts for Geologists Stumped on what to get the geologist in your life for the upcoming holiday, birthday, or anniversary? Heres a short list of places to shop and gifts to get for that person who loves all things geological. The gift ideas in this geologic gift guide range from serious to wacky, plus a few items to make your jaw drop! Not on the list are all of our favorite books for geologists - for those, visit our  book reviews. Geological Tool Gifts   The Brunton Co. The Brunton Company is the maker of world-standard field tools for geologists, starting with their famous compasses many of us know simply as Bruntons. Forestry Suppliers For everything from hammers to sieves, Forestry Suppliers has a great inventory of tools your geologist will enjoy. Amateur Geologist Amateur Geologist boasts all sorts of gifts for geologists from the tools they’ll need in the field to books, geological maps, and even fun, educational items for kids. One can never have too many 10X magnifiers – at least a geologist can’t! Here are our picks for the best magnifiers on the market. Magazine and Guide Gifts for Geologists Bobs Rock ShopWhile Bob doesnt sell rocks at his rock shop (Bob’s Rock Shop is actually an online publication and community for rock enthusiasts), but this great Web destination has advertisers who do- or you can get a subscription to  Rock Gem  magazine here. Earth MagazineEarth Magazine is one of the best and most popular magazines for those who take geology seriously (the publication was formerly  titled Geotimes). You can buy gift subscriptions for your geologist on their site. Mountain Press PublishingMountain Press Publishing’s online bookstore is home to the highly regarded Roadside Guide and Geology Underfoot series of books. U.S. Geological Survey Maps and MoreYes, the USGS has a store, and it’s full of great gifts for geologists! Find maps, posters, passes, products and more from the worlds coolest government agency. Desert GuidesDesert Guides host an assortment of books about getting around, and even finding wealth, in the desert. Your geologist will get lost in the fascinating information and stories! Minerals, Rocks, and Collectibles Gifts Science Stuff Science Stuff, formerly known as Earth Stuff, has gifts for any young scientist. We especially like their Earth science section with rocks, minerals, tools, fossils, and books for smart kids interested in all things geology. The Mineral GalleryThere are hundreds of mineral shops on the Web, but the Mineral Gallery probably has the best selection of minerals for sale for your geology enthusiast. FulguritesWhen lightning strikes the ground, sediments are fused together by the energy creating beautiful and unique crystal-like structures. Various mineral dealers sell the melted results as collectibles, you can find them at the link above. Top Stone Rolling FountainsThese fountains feature large stone spheres spinning miraculously suspended on water. Uniquely beautiful, these gifts are perfect for the geologist or rock enthusiast who has everything. We love this site. Spheres To YouThey call themselves the biggest seller of stone spheres in the world, and we believe them. Their selection is incredible. The Soft EarthPottery artist, Joan Lederman, uses pedigreed seafloor mud from Woods Holes oceanographers to make wonderful objects and collectibles. U.S. Geological Survey Bench Mark ReplicasFull-size reproductions in pewter of those cool brass benchmarkers from all around the world from the most famous summits to the South Pole. They even make earrings, pins, pendants, and more.

ECONOMICS FOR BUSINESS Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

ECONOMICS FOR BUSINESS - Essay Example But with the passage of past two years, much is still to be done to revive the American economy, since the public also has shown their displeasure for many of the policies of the Obama regime. Though the Obama regime has promised jobs for the millions of the jobless Americans, much has to be seen the way in which the whole American economy is going to sway in the coming years. Two years ago with the change in the regime, everyone thought that the recession would be soon over and that the American economy will soon be resurrected back to its previous permanent superior position. But things have so much changed and it is seen that the whole set of optimistic predictions about an instant recovery were turned into rubble. Thus the whole thing of a temporary kind of resurgence only ended up in brewing more trouble for the US economy and the final result was that the start of a double dipping recession. Really it was a shock to the millions of the entrepreneurs as well as the American citi zens in general, since this was the worst scenario that they had ever predicted or they ever wanted to happen. (www.bothsidesofthetable.com) The American government along with the Federal Reserve remained a mute spectator to the entire happenings, since they were also quite helpless and did the maximum that they could to save the entire US economy. But the US economy was sinking constantly and the Obama regime could do nothing to protect the consumer’s interests or the business investors. Indeed billions of dollars that were invested by the entrepreneurs and the investors went up for nothing which meant that it pushed the US economy deeper into financial trouble. The rising inflations during the past two years along with the loss of jobs nation wide, has made things very bitter and increasingly difficult for the American citizens, since they could not afford for even the essential utilities that they had previously enjoyed before the start of the recession. Life has turned fr om tough to the worst during the past two years. The foreign investors from the other countries totally shied away from the US stock markets, since things were becoming much worse and the whole US economy was bundled up in the past two years into increasing debts and poverty started to rule most of the US states. People had indeed opted for a regime change thinking that they would get a better government with the Obama regime but things have still not happened in the same way as they intended it to be. The Year 2010 has been a year that has been marked by the US government and the US Federal Reserve as a year, which was particularly meant for raising adequate funds for resurrecting the US economy as it was during the post recession era. But how far the fund raising has raised the capital for the various US industries and the American economy is still yet to be seen. Though the recession has started to recede and the US economy is showing a bounce back from the past years, still the investors as well as the general US public along with the business community is showing little optimism, regarding the various reforms and the policy packages that are being announced by the US government. (www.bothsidesofthetable.com) As per the US government’s statistical data, the unemployment rates are regarded to be much below the ten percent mark. But though this is the data that has been produced by the official agencies all across the US, the actual

Steps to Ethical Decision Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Steps to Ethical Decision - Essay Example Three main assumptions that define how this issue could present an ethical challenge. The conflict involved is to what extent is the appreciation token genuine but not a bribe. More apparently, the winner of a tender out of good will decides to present appreciation to the entire panel openly inform of either cash, a party or any other form that may appear inducement. No doubt, many will find it within the sound business practice considering it happens publicly and more importantly out of the willingness of the rich supplier. Secondly, such offers are hard to be defined within the context of bribery because this is not done in secret, and everyone gets an entitlement to a fair share. Lastly, this occurs after the panel has established successfully that the supplier justly deserves the tender, however accepting gifts or goodies could jeopardize other potential competitors in future.Concisely, some parties may argue that it may be unethical to accept offers from business partners. Howev er, the manner at which this offer is given appears fair and not an inducement. When trapped in such a dilemma and case, the eight clearly outlined steps are fundamental in bringing the conflict to sanity. Basic Ethical Principles. Situation analysis of benefits versus burdens. While some decisions may appear ethical, it may bring huge burden to an organization. Loss of integrity and the perception of lack of fairness are two critical challenges that may accrue from a controversial ethical decision.

Answer question Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Answer question - Essay Example Nonetheless, the relationship between Rose and Saba concerning a graphic design desktop computer worth 1,500 did not constitute a valid contract. Despite the seller’s â€Å"offer† of the item for sale, MacIntyre (2013) would argue that Rose’s response did not meet the â€Å"acceptance† test. Her counter-offer of 1,000 for the same item was not readily accepted by the seller, thus stripping the agreement of any validity. This case is almost similar to Hyde v Wrench (1840) 49 ER 132 in which the respondent offered a piece of land valued at  £1,000 for sale (Elliott, & Quinn, 2014). The plaintiff gave a counter offer of  £950 which the seller refused. The plaintiff then communicated his acceptance of the initial offer of  £1,000, but the seller refused to sell the property to him, prompting the litigation for performance. The court is likely to follow the precedent set in Hyde where a counter-offer invalidated the contract and stripped the claimant of the rights to specific performance. The status of contract between Rose and TW depends on whether each party acted reasonably to see its creation. Whereas the two weeks that Rose took to communicate her acceptance of the TW offer was reasonable, it may have been the cause of the subsequent delay, leading TW to revoke the contract. The main legal issue in this case is whether TW made a valid revocation of the offer. The validity of a revocation of an offer principally lies in its communication to the offeree. Rose has grounds against the validity of TW’s letter of revocation. Rose’s claims are backed by the ruling in Byrne & Co v Leon Van Tien Hoven & Co [1880] 5 CPD 344 where the court imposed a ban on revocation of an offer by the postal rule, but allowed acceptance under similar circumstances. As Justice Lindley held in the case, TW would only be deemed as having validly revoked the offer through a direct communication

Examining different types of budgets and their uses

Examining different types of budgets and their uses Budgeting operations are very important for any kind of an organization, that is involved in making profits or not. This is the case because all forms of organizations have a number of resources, both material and human, which have to be managed in order to promote and effective realization of goals and objectives. As well, all organizations shall have a number of obligations and missions that have to be realized within stated time durations, and hence budgeting acts as one of the major tools that can be greatly applicable towards realization of goals and objectives. This paper shall hence give the major findings on the budgetary framework, usage and benefits of the 8 types of budgets. Introduction Definitively, a budget refers to forecast of companys incomes and expenses anticipated for a given period of time. With a budget, an organization is able to analyze how much money they are making and spending, and they are able to figure the best way to channel it among various categories and departments. Budgeting depicts the entire process of analyzing and planning using a budget. Since budgets are vital tools for management and planning, the process of budgeting generally affects all types of organizations regardless of their size and composition. Many organizations participate in budgeting process with the view of determining the most cost effective and efficient strategies of making profits and intensifying its capital and asset base. In management, budgeting guides an organization to use its scarce resources in a way that exploits the existing business opportunities well. Good budgeting concepts integrate efficient business judgment and help the management to make decisions reg arding the overall performance of the company. In budgeting, an organization typically develop long-term and short-term plans that assist in implementation of its policies and even though its expensive and time consuming, it increases awareness of costs and coordination of activities channeled towards achievement of company goals and objectives. In any organization, an effective budget always explains the projected route a company would follow in achieving its objectives and goals, and it summarizes the forecasted result of production and marketing efforts, and acts as a benchmark in which the management compares its performance against the actual outcomes. The major functions of budgeting include planning and control. Planning activities convey the views and plans of a company in scientific terms and the eventual planning on its part creates the framework for control, which an organization uses to delegate duties and standardizes procedures (Banham, 2000). Budgeting process is chronological in nature, and consists of many budgets that are roughly classified according to methods and techniques of an organization in generating and spending its money. Different budgets are used for different applications. Some of these mentioned budgets deal with income coming from dividends, sales and interest. Consequently, other budgets give details of sources of expenditures like labor, selling costs, purchases, and factory costs. Some unique types of budgets are chiefly concerned with investments and forecast for company productivity and performance. These budgets are classified according to their usage and include ,Sales budget, Production budget, Direct materials usage budget, Direct materials purchase budget, Direct labor budget, Factory overhead budget, Selling and administration budget and Cash budget (Colin, 2005). Types of budgets Sales budget In any organization, its the sales department that has the overall responsibility of preparing the sales forecast. Sales forecast is a requirement in devising sales budget on which an organization can schedule its production. Sales budget refers to a comprehensive schedule that shows the anticipated sales for a given period of time. The plan for this given period is usually expressed in terms of volume of total sales and selling prices of each class of goods or services. An accurate sales budget is an important element in budgeting as it contributes to the overall organization budgeting process. If sloppily done and formulated, the rest of the budgeting process becomes a waste (Adams, et al., 2008). The sales budget is also referred to as revenue budget since its a preliminary step in preparation of master budget. In an organization, sales budget assist the management to determine the amount of units to be produced thus the production budget is formulated after the sales budget, whic h in turn is used to determine budgets for production costs that include direct materials , production overhead costs and direct labor budget. In essence, the sales budget is very critical in that it elicits a chain of reaction that often leads to growth and development of other types of budgets. The sales budget consists of sales that are expressed in terms of number of units and the amount of revenue including all expenses that support sales, advertising and the cost of distribution of goods sold. Sales budget also consist of forecast of distribution of expenditure for goods sold (Banham, 2000) When developing a sales budget, the following calculations are formulated; the sales budget is erected by multiplying the budgeted sales in units by the selling price. Budgeted Sales = [Budgeted Unit Sales] [Budgeted Sales Prices] For the management, sales budget is often the preliminary step in preparation of the master budget. All other components in the master budget do depend on it in some way. Production budget Its mostly prepared with data from sales budget. Companies that are product oriented usually create production budget that tends to estimate the number of units that ought to be produced in order to meet the sales goals and objectives. The other function of production budget is that it estimates different types of costs involved in production or manufacturing of the said units, inclusive of material and labor costs (Colin, 2005).Any typical organization spends huge amount of money in production than in any other type of expense. For this reason, its vital to create production budget that include all production expenditures so as to estimate the future working capital and future effects on inventory and levels. Production budget is an all-inclusive plan that considers all manufacturing works to be done within the period including the amount expenditures to be incurred on these projects. When creating production budget, it requires individuals involved to be accurate with detailed prod uction estimates .This kind of estimates are typically prepared in combination with the title budgets, which must be finished prior to contracting of other project (Horace, et al., 2007). Before production budget is prepared, the management should always review the production period of budget. The major function of production budget is that it calculates approximately different costs involved in production or manufacturing of products including the cost of materials and labor. When calculating the total production needs, an organization adds anticipated sales to ending inventory and deducts the commencement of inventory from that sum. Total production= (projected sales) + (ending inventory) (starting inventory). Direct materials usage budget Direct material budget refers to analytical plan that shows how much materials would be required in manufacturing or production and the amount of material required to meet the production needs. Its usually prepared after calculation of production needs or requirements. Materials budgeting show the amount of raw material to be purchased in order to accomplish production requirements and the necessary amount to provide adequate inventories. Preparation of this kind of budget constitutes the organizational overall use of material requirements planning (MRP).This organization tool help manage inventories and materials, and ensures the required materials are available in the right quality and quantity and at the required time to meet the production needs of the company. Direct materials budget regularly go along with a schedule of anticipated cash payouts for raw materials and this plan is required for the preparation of the overall cash budget. Expenditures for materials include the cost of purchases of purchases the present budget period. Direct material budget is mostly constructed to determine the amount and cost of any additional materials needed to fulfill the anticipated production levels. Most organizations depicts this in two tables, where the first table shows the number of units to be purchased and the total cost for those purchases while the second table shows a plan of the projected distributions of cash to suppliers of materials. The formula for the computation of materials purchases is given by:- Purchase costs = (Materials Purchase Costs Unit of Materials to Be Purchased) X (Unit Price). Most successful organizations uses the planning and control of a direct-materials budget in order to determine the level of competence in their cargo space, inventory system success and to appraise the capacity of dealers to supply raw materials in the estimates and qualities that are required, and plan material purchases in relation with movement of funds into the organization (Livingstone Leslie, 1994). Direct materials purchase budget Production budget provide necessary information for determining the projected amount of direct materials that ought to be purchased.   Simply by multiplying these amounts with the anticipated costs of purchase price, gives the total costs of materials to be purchased. The major function of direct material purchases budget, is that it provides the essential framework to plan and schedule cash payments for direct materials (Peter McLaney, 1997).This budget also critically reveals the companys planned end of the fiscal year inventory .this value is very important in cost accounting techniques because it a vital component in preparation of the budgeted year ending balance sheet. For effective implementation, the direct purchases budget should be incorporated with the production budget to make sure any level of production is not interrupted during the period of production. This budget tends to estimate the quantity of materials to be purchased in order to promote the budgeted production level and keep desired inventory levels. Direct materials to be purchased are given by:- Materials to be purchased = (materials required for production) + (desired ending materials inventory) (estimated beginning materials inventory) (Horace, et al., 2007). Direct labor budget Definitively, direct labor budget refers to a fixed Schedule for anticipated labor cost. The anticipated labor costs is chiefly reliant on projected volume of production or production budget. The labor needs are dependent on production volume multiplied by direct labor-hours per unit. The derived product is then multiplied by direct labor cost per hour to achieve the exact budgeted direct labor costs. This budget is created from the production budget where direct labor needs are computed to make the management know whether there is sufficient labor time to fulfill the budgeted manufacturing requirements. This advance knowledge helps the management in to develop plans to regulate labor force when adverse situations occur (Livingstone Leslie, 1994). Organizations that fail to budget well always face the risk of having labor shortages or increases in unwarranted times. This kind of unpredictable often leads to inconsistent labor policies that contribute to insecurity, low workers moral e, and low productivity. Direct materials budget is used in an organization to illustrate the amount and cost of direct materials to be purchased. It also provides the foundation for preparation of direct labor cost budget (Colin, 2005).Most organizations give this budget in terms of the number of units and the total costs. Labor hours are displayed using parameters like the type of operation, workers used, and the overall cost centers involved. Total direct labor cost is given by:- Total direct labor cost = (Expected production) + (direct labor hour per unit) + (direct labor cost per hour) Factory overhead budget In cost accounting, factory overhead budget is referred to as a to-do list of all anticipated manufacturing or production costs apart from for costs related to direct material and labor. Factory overhead include items like indirect material and labor, cost of insurance, rent and rates Factory overhead are usually variable or fixed, or a blend of the two. The major function for this schedule is that it critically analyzes all the anticipated production costs for the specific period of time. Factory overhead budget does not include miscellaneous expenses incurred in marketing and administration. These expenses are considered miscellaneous because they are not involved in the production process. As mentioned earlier, production overhead costs determine the total production factory overhead costs and also determine the manufacturing overhead cost per unit. The overall overhead costs include the costs of materials required to make the finished product, direct labor costs needed to produce one unit and the factory expenses required to create one finished unit. The summation of the three costs gives the manufacturer a rough idea of the cost required to produce one unit or finished product (Horace, et al., 2007). Selling and administration budget Selling and administrative expense budget refers to a schedule of budgeted expenses for other areas rather than manufacturing. In organizations this type of budget consists of assemblage of many and individual budgets that are forwarded by various departments. It provides a detailed plan involving all the companys operating expenses, other than the ones involved in production. The said expenses are required in maximum in order to maintain the sales and organization overall operations for a given period of time (Peter McLaney, 1997). This comprehensive financial plan is analytically used by the management to plan and control the day-to-day running of business affairs and activities. In this budget the organization gives details of the amount of money it projects to spend in support of manufacturing or production and sales efforts to be taken. Selling and administrative expense budget consists of employees salaries and benefits, office supplies and expenses; expenses sustaining admini stration, taxes, and any other professional services (Livingstone Leslie, 1994).Normally, these expenses differ little for changes in the volume of production which fall within the period of budget. As a result, the selling and administrative budget is always a fixed budget. Cash Budget Cash budget is definitively referred to as an evaluation of cash outflows and inflows for an organization for a  given period of time. They are mostly used to appraise the performance of an organization and check whether it has adequate cash to accomplish the overall regular operations of a company. The budget is also used to check whether funds are being used as per laid down guidelines. The cash budget shows the companys liquidity position and shows the capability of an organization to meet it goals and objectives. Even though profits promote liquidity, they do not have a high relationship. This budget assists the management in keeping proper cash balances that relates with needs and objectives of the organization. It also helps the management to plan usage of cash where by it avoids cash fro lying idle and prevents possible funds shortages. most budgets consists of four sections that include receipts section, disbursement section, cash surplus section and finally the financing s ection which gives details of payments and borrowings expected during the budget period (Horace, et al., 2007). A budget properly prepared shows how funds flows in and out of the organizations and indentify any loopholes that may slow organization productivity. The cash budget also determines the organization future ability to pay expenses, loans and as well as debts. Banks and other financial institutions grant loans to organizations that have effective liquidity ratio and proper systematic cash plan. Similarly, organizations that function on a casual basis are able to borrow more funds at unfortunate times (Colin, 2005).Cash budgets are commonly given by:- Budgeted Cash Available = (Beginning Cash Balance) + (Budgeted Cash Collections) Conclusion Therefore, for any organization, Budgeting involves the process of controlling and planning the overall activities of a company. It analytically covers precise details of management, sales, marketing, operations, and finance, and thereby provides the management effective guidelines for future performance. Through the concept of budgeting, the management is also able to verify the most profitable use of its limited resources and also it increases the organization ability to deploy resources effectively. In conclusion, its imperative for any organization to trade effectively and efficiently without proper budgeting skills. Its important for individuals and organizations to build budgets to ensure proper movements of resources. References Adams, R., et al. (2008). Self-review for  higher  education  institutions. Melbourne: Australian Universities Quality Agency. Banham, R. Better Budgets. Journal of Accountancy, vol.2, no.1, 2000, pp.32 55. Colin, D. (2005). Management and Cost Accounting. 4th ed. New York: Thomson Business Press. Horace, R, Charles, E., P., Billie, M, (2007). Accounting Principles and Applications. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Livingstone, Leslie, J. (1994). The Portable MBA in Finance and Accounting. New York: Wiley. Peter, A., McLaney, E. (1997). Accounting and Finance for Non-Specialists. New York: Prentice Hall. Question Two Budgeting and its functions Introduction Budgeting refers to the process of predicting or forecasting the organization incomes and expenses for a given period of time. Budgeting depicts the entire process of analyzing and planning using a budget. Since budgets are vital tools for management and planning, the process of budgeting generally affects all types of organizations regardless of their size and composition. Many organizations participate in budgeting process with the view of determining the most cost effective and efficient strategies of making profits and intensifying its capital and asset base. I budgeting is vital in an organization in that it provide measurements that help the organization management in planning and setting of goals and objectives. Effective budgeting assists an organization to forecast future performances and productivity. They make available a feasibility analysis that help an organization create an effective business model; identify required resource and capital requirements. Budgeting at times also helps in finding funding. Budgeting guides an organization to use its scarce resources in a way that exploits the existing business opportunities well. Good budgeting concepts integrate efficient business judgment and help the management to make decisions regarding the overall performance of the company. In budgeting, an organization typically develop long-term and short-term plans that assist in implementation of its policies and even though its expensive and time consuming, it increases awareness of costs and coordination of activities channeled towards achievement of company goals and meet its objective, and to measure up to standards set (Iain, 2003). Functions of budgeting For any individual or organization with the yearning for financial freedom, the most significant thing they can do is to appreciate the fundamental functions of budgeting. Generally without figuring what one owns and spends it would be impossible to make changes in ones spending habits. With the use of adequate budgeting schedule, it acts as a tool that assist individuals and organizations track areas where changes can be done to improve monetary situation. Budgets serve a number of useful purposes that includes planning, coordinating, communicating, motivating, controlling and evaluating (Rubin Irene, 1997). Planning Generally, a budget is a plan for the operations of a company for a given period of time. As a planning tool, budgets are vested with the sole function of determining an organizational programs and objectives .They tend to evaluate available alternatives as a way of achieving its goals and objectives. Planning also involves prioritizing where the most beneficial projects are put forward first and the less beneficial ones follow suit. In all financing activities, budgeting is the core function. Proper budget makes planning easier because it allows people to know which direction the company is following and what business activities it plans to engage in, in the future. Budget planning involves discovering and looking for sources of revenue and expenses, with the intention of meeting personal or organizational goals and objectives (Downes Goodman, 2006). Planning as the primary function of budgeting, it makes sure there is savings after the funds have been allocated for spending. Organ izations that plan and use effective budgeting strategies, they are ensured of successful management of their expenses and savings hence they are able to secure better investments in the future. The major advantages of budget planning are that they put checks and balances at specific points to prevent overspending I future at various levels, also they assist the management of an organization to take account of any unexpected need or requirements for funds. Though beneficial, planning as a function of budgeting has few shortcomings that include, it affects the quality of life and productivity of people and organizations especially in situations where there is excessive emphasis on savings. Also when the budget is planned to rigid, devotion to it tends to become a problem and fulfillment of organizational goals and objectives becomes a problem (Brookson, 2000). Coordinating In order an organization to properly grow and develop, the management needs to know what is happening within the company and have an unambiguous idea of what they expect in the future. Coordination as a component of budgeting has fundamental objectives that are important to the management. The act of Coordination makes budgets from various specific departments to work together with sole function of meeting the organization goals and objectives. The way budget are constructed is very vital including the figures it carries. The entire process of putting budget together involves correction of data regarding the business and the present and future needs of the company (Iain, 2003). Coordination of activities makes different individuals to participate in the making of budget where each of them contributes his or her knowledge to the areas of their expertise. In the process, employees learn from each other and this promotes the concept of teamwork and working together. Diverse units found in the company should coordinate different works they do. Communicating Budgets act as communication tools in that they allow individuals and management of organizations to pass information regarding the goals and objectives of the company. The management is able to promote goal congruence that allows the companys limited resources to be coordinated and channeled to key areas. Budgeting process gives organization opportunities communicate and this allows them to accomplish their goals, and hence gives them chances scrutinize those achievements as well (Rubin Irene, 1997). Communication being a core purpose of budgeting provides information that is significant in the entire business strategic planning. The communication between the management and employees helps establish a mutual understanding that is geared towards achieving the companys goals and objectives. Also different units in the company must communicate with each other during budget making process in order to effectively and efficiently coordinate their plans and efforts. Motivating Effective Budgeting and budgets allow an organization to motivate its workers by involving them in the budget making process. This concept of giving them a chance to make organizational decisions makes them feel valued and appreciated, and they respond by working harder with the sole aim of meeting the goals and objectives they set in the budget. Even if top-down budgeting technique does not realize this objective effectively, participative budgeting can be very encouraging and motivating. Budgeting can be an effective tool in promoting teamwork in places of work though many people and businesses dont realize it. Since the employees know the companys performance and productivity, they tend to channel all their effort in adhering to budgetary policies and work extra harder to make sure the companys goals are met (Sullivan, Arthur Steven, 2003). Controlling Budgetary control involves deliberate actions that are performed analytically with the guidance of a budget plan. Budget control involves the use of budget plan to control expenses with the aim of maximizing accountability. This purpose is mostly connected with line-item budgets. Technically once the budget is created; it acts as a planning tool for the organization operations. Management has power to use up funds within the set budget and to generate revenues within the specified margin of the budget. These Budgets are scrutinized regularly to countercheck variations and to establish whether the company is moving on the right target. If the company performance and productivity does not meet the requirements of the budget, immediate action is always taken to adjust its activities. The general aspect of budgeting allows an organization to control costs and avoid things not budgeted to be done. Proper budgets also give organizations a benchmark from which they evaluate the companys per formance. Control involves monitoring, and involves comparison of different informations to a given standard from where it is used to make corrective actions (Brookson, 2000). Evaluating The aspects of budgetary control are much valued and appreciated in an organization since they help an organization to evaluate and monitor team and organizational performance and provides the management of the organization with a clear idea of the company financial position and makes information and data available on which they base their action. Budgets at times are used as a tool of management, which reward and punish managers and their employees and also they are used as a basis for modifying future plans and budgets (Iain, 2003). One way to evaluate the management and employees performance is by comparing the company budget and the overall actual performance. Though an important concept of business, budgeting can cause massive problems in parts of workers especially in situations where they are not involved, and also where their jobs are dependent on meeting certain organizational goals and objectives established by the budgets. This happens in organizations that concentrate so much on evaluation purposes of budgeting and those organizations that conduct top-down budget process, rather than the bottom -up or participative one. Effective evaluation and monitoring of employees and the management as a whole, improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the company products and services and makes them competitive in the global scene (Rubin Irene, 1997) Conclusion Budgeting always form an integral part in our society. Its ideal concepts require individuals and companies to look ahead and sanctify future goals. Budgeting involves the process of controlling and planning the overall activities of a company. It analytically covers precise details of management, sales, marketing, operations, and finance, and thereby provides the management effective guidelines for future performance. Budgeting depicts the entire process of analyzing and planning using a budget. Since budgets are vital tools for management and planning, the process of budgeting generally affects all types of organizations regardless of their size and composition. Many organizations participate in budgeting process with the view of determining the most cost effective and efficient strategies of making profits and intensifying its capital and asset base. Budgeting is vital in an organization in that it provide measurements that help the organization management in planning and setting of goals and objectives. Through the concept of budgeting, the management is also able to verify the most profitable use of its limited resources and also it increases the organization ability to deploy resources effectively. In conclusion, its imperative for any organization to trade effectively and efficiently without proper budgeting skills (Budgeting is vital in an organization in that it provide measurements, 2009). Its important for individuals and organizations to build budgets to ensure proper movements of resources.