Information Sharing in Supply Chain

Information Sharing in Supply Chain Introduction Supply chain management refers to â€Å"the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the ultimate provision of product and service packages required by end customers†. It involves movement, as well as, storage of materials, stock of work-in-progress and final goods. Consequently, supply chain management involves several actors which include suppliers, retailers, and transporters among others.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Information Sharing in Supply Chain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The effectiveness of the supply chain is contingent on the extent to which the businesses involved in it are able to plan and coordinate their activities. Coordination of supply chain activities is enhanced through effective and efficient flow of information. This means that participants in the supply chain must be able to share all the relevant information in order to enhance the competitiveness of the supply chain. Thus, a lot of technologies have been developed in the last two decades to enhance the flow of information in supply chain systems. Effective sharing of information in supply chain will be the focus of the proposed study. Purpose The proposed study will focus on the use of information technology in supply chain management. In particular, the broad objective of the study is to investigate the use of modern information technology to enhance effective and efficient sharing of information within a supply chain. The specific objectives of the study include the following. The first objective is to identify the technologies, currently, being used to enhance flow of information. The second objective is to investigate the factors that determine the use of modern technology to enhance sharing of information. The last objective is to analyze the benefits of using information technology in supply chain. The expected practical outcome of the study is to i nform policy formulation. In this context, the result, hopefully, will help organizations to formulate policies that will enable them to use modern technologies to share information. Additionally, the findings will advance knowledge by contributing to the literature on the use of information technology to share information in supply chain systems. Background The main objective of supply chain management is to enable an organization to offer the best customer services in targeted markets. Customers not only demand high quality goods, but also require such goods to be manufactured and delivered in time. Thus, organizations must effectively coordinate the receipt of raw materials, manufacturing of goods and dispatch of final goods.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More In some cases, the quality of the goods can be compromised during transportation. This necessitat es effective sharing of information between the producers and the transporters about the quality of the goods. The customer service requirements in any given market are the basis for setting performance targets for the supply chain. In order to realize the expected level of customer service, all activities that do not add value should be eliminated from the supply chain. Thus, proper planning and synchronization of supply chain activities become apparent. Additionally, effective supply chain management facilitates optimization of supply chain investments and costs. It should enable organizations to deliver goods to the end customers at the least cost possible. Globally, most markets are characterized with intense competition and limited growth. Consequently, firms are focusing on cost cutting measures to enhance their effectiveness. Empirical studies reveal that adopting the right communication technology can help to reduce information costs significantly. Delivery of products often involves complex movements among several firms that make up the supply chain. Thus, inefficiency at any point in the chain translates into failure of the entire supply chain. All links within the supply chain are important since each link contributes to value addition and profitability. Due to lack of proper coordination or adequate resources, supply chain functions have traditionally been executed in isolation. This has always led to failures within supply chains. Consequently, it is important to recognize that the supply chain as â€Å"a whole is greater than the sum of its constituent parts†. The implication of this perspective is that all activities within the supply chain must be integrated through effective sharing of information. Thus, information management is the most important supply chain activity. This is because the movement of goods and money (payment for goods) is often initiated and facilitated by the relevant information. In this context, information technol ogy as a facilitator of information flow becomes an enabler of supply chain management.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Information Sharing in Supply Chain specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The importance of information in supply chain management has often been ignored. This is attributed to the fact that many agents in the supply chain lack a clear understanding of the value of information. The advancement in information and communication technology in the last two decades has led to a shift from paper based flow of information to electronic sharing of information. However, the factors that determine adoption of the modern information and communication technologies in supply chain management are still not well understood in academia and business cycles. Some empirical studies reveal that businesses are not likely to adopt a given technology if they do not understand its benefits. Constraints in technologica l transfer have been identified as one of the major factors contributing to poor understanding of the benefits of information technology in supply chain. In conclusion, three observations can be identified. First, effective and efficient sharing of information is necessary for improving supply chain management. Second, the factors that determine adoption of technologies that enhance sharing of information in supply chains are not well understood. Finally, the benefits associated with modern information technologies are not known to many firms. These observations justify the need for research on the use of information technology in supply chain management. Scope Given the objectives of the proposed study, a significant amount of time will be devoted to data collection and analysis. This is because data must be collected from participants who are located in different places. The study is expected to take three months. The fieldwork is expected to commence after the proposal is approve d. Prior to the fieldwork, two weeks will be spent on designing the data collection instrument. This will involve formulating the interview questions to be used during data collection. An additional two weeks will be spent on booking appointments with the participants. Data collection will be done in six weeks. Data analysis and preparation of the final report will be done in the remaining two weeks. Thirty managers in charge of supply chain activities will be recruited to participate in the study. The participants will be drawn from ten companies operating in different industries. Thus, a total of thirty interviews will be conducted to collect the required data.Advertising Looking for research paper on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Theoretical Framework Resource Based View (RBV) RBV is a theory used to identify a firm’s strategic resources and how such resources can be used to achieve competitive advantages. The RBV theory asserts that the competitive advantage of an organization is determined by the allocation of the organization’s valuable resources. A firm’s short run competitive advantage can be turned into a sustainable competitive advantage if the firm’s bundle of resources is heterogeneous and imperfectly mobile. Resources that meet the heterogeneity and imperfect mobility criteria are considered valuable. This is because such resources can not be imitated or sustained without great effort. Valuable resources can help a firm to consistently realize above average returns. In the context of supply chain management, information technology can be considered a resource. Thus, the RBV theory can be used to investigate the use of information technology in supply chain management in the following ways. First, a resource is valuable if it can enable a firm to formulate a strategy that creates value by minimizing the firm’s weaknesses or overcoming competition. Thus, the cost of investing in the resource should not exceed the expected returns. Determining the value of information technology will help in identifying its benefits in enhancing sharing of information in supply chain management. Second, a valuable resource should be rare. This means that the resource should not be available to majority of firms within an industry. Thus, this requirement is a basis for investigating the factors that determine access or use of information technology in supply chain management. Third, valuable resources should be in-imitable. A resource is expected to create competitive advantage if it is controlled by one or a few firms. Thus, this condition forms a basis for investigating determinants of access to information technology. Finally, a valuable resource should not b e substitutable. The implication of this requirement is that the benefits of information technology will no longer be a source of competitive advantage if competitors are able to counter its benefits using substitute technologies. Supply Chai n Integration Theory Supply chain integration describes the process of synchronizing all supply chain activities and linkages in order to achieve efficiency and effectiveness. Supply chain integration depends on two factors namely, linkage and alignment. Alignment illustrates the extent to which visions, goals and objectives are shared by participants in the supply chain. It ensures consistency in planning and decision making in supply chain management. Linkage describes the extent to which information can be shared and the level of interaction that planers and decision makers can engage in. linkage enhances the availability of information for decision making and the use of the same data throughout the supply chain. Linkage and alignment are ac hieved through the following factors. First, linkage and alignment can be achieved through communication and e-systems. Communication and e-systems include the technology used to gather and share information, as well as, the means of facilitating communication between decision makers. The e-system ensures â€Å"data availability, accuracy and timeliness†. Communication on the other hand enhances the use of information in decision making initiatives. Second, alignment and linkage can be achieved through organization and people. Organizational structures determine how individuals interact and share information in an organization. Important resources and relevant stakeholders can be excluded from the decision making process if the right organizational structure is not put in place. In this context, the employees’ skills and capabilities are central to achieving integration under the existing organizational structure. Third, alignment and linkage can be enhanced through tr ust. Trust affects people’s willingness to share information. In this case, the main concern is security over the given information. Finally, alignment and linkage can be achieved through metrics. This refers to the metrics and rewards that employees respond to in order to achieve the objectives of the supply chain. In conclusion, both RBV theory and supply chain integration theory emphasize the importance of sharing information in supply chain. Using these theories forms the basis for investigating the benefits and factors determining the use of information technology to share information in supply chain management. In particular, the theories help in formulating hypothesis for the study. For example, using the supply chain integration theory, we can hypothesize that information technology enhances timelines and accuracy of information. Method Research Design The proposed study will adopt a qualitative research design. Qualitative research is based on interpretative paradigm . According to the â€Å"interpretative paradigm, social reality is created and sustained through the subjective experience of people involved in communication†. The factors underpinning the choice of a qualitative design include the following. First, a qualitative research will facilitate a holistic study of the use of information technology in supply chain management. Second, it will facilitate the use of primary data. Through data collection methods such as interviews, the researcher is able to get first hand information on the research topic. Thus, the conclusions drawn from the data is likely to be reliable and accurate. Third, qualitative research enhances flexibility in the research activities such as data collection, analysis, as well as, interpretation. Flexibility will be needed in the proposed study to cater for unforeseeable risks that might limit the use of any of the proposed methods. Finally, qualitative research will facilitate an in-depth understanding of the research topic by allowing the researcher to interact with the participants. Variables and Measures The proposed study will focus on three variables namely, types of information technology, determinants of access/ use of information technology and benefits of information technology in supply chain management. Each of these variables has specific indicators that can be conceptualized as follows: Types of information technology: software, hardware and communication equipment Determinants of access or use of information technology: cost, skills, technology transfer, patents, research and development Benefits of information technology: cost benefits, timeliness of information, accuracy of information, performance of the supply chain Sampling Sampling refers to the process of identifying and recruiting the individuals who will participate in the study. The study will be conducted in ten companies based in New York. Three managers will be selected from each of the ten companies to part icipate in the study. Consequently, the total number of participants will be thirty. The stratified random sampling method will be used to recruit the participants. The companies will first be classified according to their industries. The list of companies will be obtained from industry databases. The industries to be considered in the study include retail, automobile, pharmaceutical, hospitality and food processing industry. Two companies will then be chosen randomly from each industry. Three managers will then be randomly chosen from each company to participate in the study. Choosing the companies through a stratified random method will help in achieving heterogeneity or representativeness. Consequently, it will be possible to use the conclusions of the study to make reliable generalization. Using a random method to select the companies and the participants also reduces bias in the recruitment process. This is because a random approach gives an equal opportunity to every participa nt or company to be selected. Data Collection Data collection refers to the process of gathering the data that is required for the study. Qualitative data will be collected through interviews. Structured questions will be used to guide the study. Unstructured questions that transpire during the interview will be used to obtain more information and to seek clarifications on answers. Additionally, probes will be used to seek more information from the participants. The interviews will be audio-taped to enhance data analysis. The choice of interviews is justified by the fact that interviews enable the researcher to clarify any question that might be ambiguous or seek clarifications on any answer that might be ambiguous. Additionally, interviews are easy to use and facilitate access to first hand information. Data Analysis The analysis will begin with transcribing the collected. The transcribed data will then be coded into themes. In this context, coding involves identifying and labeling similar words, as well as, phrases mentioned by the participants. Appropriate themes will be used in the labeling process. The themes will be used to make generalization about the research topic. Finally, interpretations will be made based on existing literature about the research topic and the adopted theoretical framework. Simple descriptive statistics will also be used in the analysis process. The final results and conclusions will be presented in the form of a report. Limitations The ability to complete the study or to make reliable conclusions will be limited under the following circumstances. First, the subjective nature of qualitative research is likely to compromise the reliability of the conclusions if the participants fail to give correct information. It is usually very difficult to authenticate the information collected through interviews. Thus, if the interviewees fail to give correct information, the findings of the research will not be reliable. Second, replicating th e study will require collecting data from the same respondents and companies. Thus, replication will not be possible if any of the respondents or companies refuse to participate in subsequent studies. Third, the in-depth analysis associated with qualitative research limits the scope of the study in terms of the number of participants that can be interviewed. Finally, lack of adequate resources will make it impossible to carryout or complete the study. For instance, interviewing the participants is expensive due to the travelling costs associated with it. Thus, lack of enough financial resources will negatively impact data collection. Conclusion The proposed study aims at investigating the use of information technology to enhance sharing of information in supply chain management. The objectives of the study include identifying the information technologies, currently, being used, the factors determining the use of information technology and the benefits of information technology in su pply chain management. The study will adopt the resource based view and the supply chain integration theoretical underpinnings to investigate the research topic. Additionally, the research will adopt a qualitative design, and data will be collected through interviews. The results of the study are expected to inform policy formulation and to advance knowledge by contributing to the literature on the use of information technology in supply chain management. References Blanchard, D., 2007. Supply Chain Management. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Larsen, T., 2005. Supply Chain Management. New York: CBS Press. McBurney, D., 2009. Research Methods. New York: Cengage Learning. McNeil, P., 2005. Research Methods. New York: Routledge. Mentzer, J., 2001. Supply Chain Management. New York: Sage Publishers

Extraneous vs. Superfluous

Extraneous vs. Superfluous Extraneous vs. Superfluous Extraneous vs. Superfluous By Mark Nichol What’s the difference between extraneous and superfluous? Are they redundant to each other, and how do these terms relate to redundant and other synonyms? Extraneous, which stems from the Latin term extraneus (related to strange), means â€Å"irrelevant† or â€Å"nonessential, or â€Å"coming from or existing outside.† Extravagant means â€Å"beyond what is reasonable or appropriate,† with multiple corollary senses having to do with such qualities as cost or decoration; its second element is related to vagary and vagrant and means â€Å"wandering,† so the literal translation is â€Å"going beyond.† Extrinsic (from a Latin word meaning â€Å"from without†) is a direct synonym of extraneous. Superfluous (from Latin, and literally meaning â€Å"overflowing† the second part of the compound is related to fluid) means â€Å"extra, more than is necessary.† Supererogatory is identical in meaning to superfluous, with an additional sense of â€Å"done beyond what is required.† Supernumerary means â€Å"exceeding the usual,† â€Å"more numerous,† or â€Å"not what is usually included†; it is also used in noun form to refer to an extra person, especially in theater as a more formal equivalent of the film-production slang extra. The second element is from the same Latin term from which numeral and number are derived. Redundant has the same literal meaning as superfluous the second part of the compound is related to wave and is seen, slightly altered, in the word inundation and the identical basic connotation, though it also has the senses of repetition, abundance, or extravagance, or duplication as a safety measure. More quotidian synonyms include excess, spare, and surplus. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Misused Words category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:When to use "on" and when to use "in"Story Writing 101

Gangs and gang behavior - week 5 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Gangs and gang behavior - week 5 - Essay Example disruptive conduct disorders before entry into school system (Kalb &Loeber, 2003) and, according to Loeber and Farrington (2001), these problems develop later during growth. The later theory is backed by Vaughn and colleagues (2009), who argue that children become more exposed to an array of risks during the elementary period and onward and also argue that children get more vulnerable to bad peer influences outdoor. In other cases, some theories do not highlight other potential causes of this problem of gang involvement, for example, Loeber, Farrington and Petechuk (2003) including Tremblay (2003) discover that concentrated disadvantages obstruct socialization of juveniles. Loeber and Farrington (2001) talk about relevant family variables present at the preschool level, low social resources and a number of family hitches inclusive. On another account, Pogarsky, Lizotte and Thornberry (2003) identified broken families, parental delinquency, poor child management, abuse, grave matrimonial conflicts and inexperienced young motherhood. With regards to the above, it is vivid to see that other theories actually forget to put into account other relevant factors. In another analysis, theories contend for example Kroneman, Loeber and Hipwell (2004) who strongly assimilate societal poverty with behavioral problem and specifically girls, Hipwell (2002) as well as Wei (2005) make a conclusion regarding the same theory highlighting girls become the most affected in disadvantaged neighborhoods. Some factors are common across all the four developmental stages as well as the theories, therefore, this means that a single theory can be developed out of all the theories with respect to the developmental stages of a

The Educational System Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The Educational System - Essay Example The employees as a result, are left to virtually fend for themselves. "General Rule: The State and its agencies, departments and political subdivisions are not liable for the tortuous conduct of their employees," (Evans p.3). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is described as, "a United States federal law that governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to children with disabilities. It addresses the educational needs of children with disabilities from birth to the age of 21.[1] ," Adding that, "The IDEA is considered to be a civil rights law. However, states are not required to participate. As an incentive and to assist states in complying with its requirements, IDEA makes funds available to states that adopt at least the minimum policies and procedures specified in the IDEA regarding the education of children with disabilities. Since its inception, all states have chosen to participate. The IDEA was formerly known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act but has grown considerably since. IDEA became a federal standard by an act of Congressional adoption in 1975 but has been amended many times since. The IDEA was most r ecently amended in 2004, which was a significant update," ("Individuals" p.1). The following are brief examples of some of the litigation that has come from this law; Schaffer v. Weast: On November 14, 2005, the Supreme Court held in Schaffer v. Weast, 126 S.Ct. 528, that moving parties in a placement challenge hold the burden of persuasion. While this is an accord with the usual legal thinking, the moving party is almost always the parents of a child. Arlington v. Murphy: On June 26, 2006 the Supreme Court held in Arlington v. Murphy, 126 S.Ct. 2455, that prevailing parents may not recover expert witness fees as part of the costs under 20 U.S.C. 1415(i)(3)(B). ("Individuals" p.1). Such as with almost any other child, disciplinary action is a complex matter for any school official when it pertains to the students within their school system. For the discipline of a student that happens to have a disability, "Pursuant to IDEA, discipline of a child with a disability must take that disability into account. For example, if a child with Asperger syndrome is sensitive to loud noises, and if the child runs out of a room filled with loud noises, any discipline of that child for running out of the room must take into account the sensitivity and whether appropriate accommodations were in place. According to the United States Department of Education, for children with disabilities who have been suspended for 10 days total for each school year, including partial days, the local education agency (LEA) must hold a manifestation determination hearing within 10 school days of any decision to change the placement of a child with a

Healthy Lifestyle Essay Example for Free

Healthy Lifestyle Essay Regular exercise is essential for good health. It tones the muscles, strengthens the bones and makes the heart and lungs work better. Exercise also helps to relieve stress. The most beneficial type of exercise is aerobics. Aerobic exercises, in the form of jogging, cycling and lap swimming, strengthens the heart. It is important to choose a form of exercise that we enjoy. It could be dancing or just walking. As long as we do it regularly, we will be fit. People who are fit enjoy life more because they can join in any kind of activity. To maintain a healthy life, it is necessary to develop good diet habits. Balance your choices of food. It is not that we have to give up our favourite food. We just have to be smart about how often and how much of it we eat. Our body needs nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals. Balancing food choices will help us get all these nutrients. Avoid eating junk food or processed food which is high in sugar or salt content. Developing good health habits are important if we want to keep healthy. Don’t smoke, avoid excessive alcohol intake and keep moderate hours. Go to bed early and wake up early. Work hard and play hard too. Have a positive attitude towards people and work. Half-yearly dental check-ups are also necessary to maintain dental health. Being overweight can lead to a lot of health problems. We can suffer from heart disease, high blood pressure and so on. Weight control requires conscious effort and self control. Diet and exercise play the most important role in weight control. Make sure exercise is part of our daily programme. Watch the amount and type of food we eat. Health is pleasurable; ill health is miserable. There are other threats to health but if we remember the points mentioned above, we should enjoy good health.

Feminist Literary Criticism and Lysistrata Essay -- Literary Analysis,

Classically, women playwrights are almost completely absent. There were virtually no women writers at all up until at least the seventeenth century. This fact originally led feminist critics to disregard the classical period. In an article titled â€Å"Classical Drag: The Greek Creation of Female Parts,† Sue Ellen Case states that because â€Å"traditional scholarship has focused on evidence related to written texts, the absence of women playwrights became central to early feminist investigations† (132). Despite this absence of female writers, feminist critics analyze the role of women in ancient Greece in other ways. Recently, feminist writers have been able to delve further into the classical period by examining female characters from the works of male playwrights. The construction of women in male literature is extremely important. Peter Barry, in his chapter on feminist literary criticism in his book Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory, asserts that observing the female characters in works by men is important because it provides â€Å"role models which indicated to women, and men, what constituted acceptable version of the ‘feminine’ and legitimate feminine goals and aspirations† (122). Looking into the roles of the women within the works helps us determine the kind of role women and men occupy in relation to each other in addition to the personal characteristics of the women. This insight into the relations between men and women adds a new layer of knowledge for feminist critics. The depiction of women by women writers differs greatly from the depiction of women by male writers. Women, as represented by men, represent stereotypes of actual women. That is, â€Å"the feminist critic may assume that the images of... ...ial and cultural evidence of the role of women in ancient Greece. Despite the fact that he is indeed a man, Aristophanes does a good job capturing certain aspects of his female characters: their drive to succeed, their natural coquettishness, the general desire to end war diplomatically, and their devout servitude to the gods. Aristophanes also has a very firm grasp of the social situation of women in his time. For example, he knows where the line of rebellion would be drawn: if the husbands forced the wives into having sex, they must relent. He knows how the ultimately defer to their husbands’ judgment, particularly in political matters. Lastly, he knows that their concerns are chiefly domestic. However, he generally misunderstands or misrepresents many aspects of the female character. The feminist literary critic would be quick to point these discrepancies out.

Obama’s Speech rhetorical analysis Essay

In his awaited response to Chicago pastor, Jeremiah Wright’s uncivil outburst, Barrack Obama puts to shame the hasteful denunciations from Americans. He creates redemption for Wright’s actions which produces an emotional appeal with his citizens. Ushered forward by Obama is the back story of Reverend Wright,- something Obama’s audience had been comfortably oblivious to until now- his hardships, victories, and benevolent deeds that reveal his true nature; not the one of ill nature or ignorance that one might think otherwise. But, before President Obama can do this, he must give himself a sense of credibility through sharing a portion of his own backstory. In the 6th paragraph of Obama’s speech, he introduces a small yet personal synopsis of his family’s story. He acknowledges the role that the United States has played in Obama’s kin, and his own, journey â€Å"And for as long as I live†¦ my story is even possible.† (paragraph 6, lines 7-8) Although, he says â€Å"my story,† Obama is rhetorically telling his audience the United States of America is the sole place where almost anything can be accomplished, no matter how unfeasible the quest; many grown Americans are able to connect to this one statement because America, the land of the brave and free, is the reason they have their own â€Å"my story.† He confirms this notion in lines 9 and 10 of the same paragraph,â€Å"this nation is more†¦ we are truly one.† Obama’s mixed race that he identifies in this paragraph(6) sets up as an anecdote used 15 paragraphs later. â€Å"I can no more disown him than†¦ stereotypes that made me cringe.† (paragraph 21, lines 1-5) President Obama makes the point of acquainting with the â€Å"black community† before introducing his white grandmother. His verbal gesture emphasizes neither is above the other and reinforces his racial credibility. The president qualifies his beloved grandma as an illustration that demonstrates how even though loved ones have the occasional slip-ups, they should not be grounds to break ties. Obama captures his audience in a thought bubble where they decide if a loved one has more rights than other humans. â€Å"These people are part of me. And†¦ this country that I love.† (paragraph 22) This succeeding line to his grandmother anecdote continues  the flow and thoughts gathered from paragraph 6 that says Americans are independently â€Å"One† with each other if they overcome simplistic prejudices. At the time Obama makes his speech he fights two battles: a battle of the polls and one of morality, but not just Reverend’s ethics, all Americans for the past 221 years are included. â€Å"The press has scoured†¦ black and brown as well.† (paragraph 7, lines 7-9) The President draws a parallel that indicates ideas of racial inequality is something that will exist no matter the society. Obama seeks to change this. He looks to the young and new generations to fulfill America’s true purpose- freedom. â€Å"what gives me the most hope is the next generation† (paragraph 43, line 4) President Obama looks to youth because they carry not the burdens of their ancestors as they are born into a more accepting world. American young are Obama’s (peaceful) Aryan race(s). Their appearance does not blend. They stand out from one another. Yet  their minds blend more or less. And that is why they are perfect. Obama’s Aryan race is already on the move; Ashley Baia is one of his soldiers. President Obama shares Baia’s story from paragraph 44-47 and how she saw not in hues, but in virtue. â€Å"She sought out allies in her fight against injustice.† (paragraph 46, line 3) The relevance of Baia’s story presents itself when she asks her group members why they had joined her. All but one elderly black man has a specific reason. Obama shares the old man’s reason in antimetabole â€Å"And he doesn’t†¦ Barack Obama.† (paragraph 47, lines 4&5) The use of antimetabole in this context lowers the importance of the presented reasons enough to grasp all listener’s attention. â€Å"I am here because of Ashley.† said the old man; â€Å"I’m here because of Ashley.† said Obama. He repeats the same phrase but changes â€Å"I am† to â€Å"I’m.† The subtle change in punctuation makes his words feel like a whole different statement is being made-and there is. Obama is saying that Baia is an inspiration that has influenced him to this road of candidacy, and therefore has changed all of our lives. Ashley Baia ate mustard and relish sandwiches for a year. That was her sacrifice to injustice. Obama’s silent inquiry then establishes itself: What sacrifice have you made to combat injustice? America answered eight months later when Barack Obama became the first African American President of the United States.

Ethics, politics and bio-pedagogy in physical education teacher education: easing the tension between the self and the group Essay

Art is a skill that has aesthetic results. There are different types of art like music and paintings that are similar in composition in a way since they convey certain messages and demonstrates creativity. Therefore, there are general standards that artists agree to that constitutes art that assists in distinguishing suitable art from unsuitable one. Evaluation of a particular artwork depends on a number of qualities that the art may exhibit. However, there is controversy when it comes determining whether a particular artwork has artistic merits. Whereas ethics is acceptable standards, people live by. More often than not, we disagree with ethical theories though we can all identify an unethical deed when we see one. Tower (2011) says that the values that distinguish noble art from awful art are as a result of reasons hence easy to reach an agreement about whereas evaluating a particular artwork depends solely on the individual’s emotion feelings which normally differ hence is bound to bring about conflict . In the case of ethics, however, the alternative is true since theories result from peoples’ feelings about specific ethical standards hence bound to bring conflict as everyone will interpret the situation differently but we all recognize an action that is unethical when we see one because there are undoubtable reasons to explain their relevance to the society (Coast, 2009). Art is open to debate, based on the fact we are all unique (Coast, 2009). What your neighbor prefers and likes might not be what appeals to you and that is the reason for the rise in different opinions when it comes to judging a particular artwork. The work is exposed to critics from anyone, and its judgment depends on the individual’s taste and preference that are uncontrollable. As much as people may accept the artwork the fact remains that not everyone would be on board with that decision. This is because the work may meet most of the general art standards such communicating the intended message appropriately but may fail to impress others maybe be due to visual impression in case it is a painting (Coast, 2009). Camacho & Fernandez (2006) agrees that reaching a consensus on issues that distinguishing noble art from bad awful art is less complicated since they consider a number of factors all directed to the importance of art in the society however deciding whether a particular art portrays artistic merits may result to dispute since there is difference in the interpretation of those standards when evaluating an individual’s work. For instance, artists agree that good art ought to exhibit a high level of the creativity, capture imagination as well as convey the message clearly and appropriately. However, people differed with the judgment of the film, Wonderful Life and Miracle on 34th Street directed by Bob Clark, because they were not able to come to an agreement concerning whether the message was clear for the audience intended and the degree of creativity. The standards dictate that a good art should be timeless, but people could not come to an agreement whether this film would stil l be relevant in the future since the society is dynamic. This is a clear indication that the application of these principles is not clear hence results to disputes. However in the case of ethics, the converse is true. Interpretations of ethical theories depends on individual’s perspective hence may result in disagreement due to different opinions but an unethical act is easy to spot. Indeed, we may agree to general standards in the in the arts but disagree as to whether a particular work has artistic merits. However, when it comes to ethics may disagree with ethical theories but know an unethical action when we see one. This is because, general art standards are facts and determining the value of a particular artwork requires application of these general standards that depends on Individual’s taste and preferences hence brought about by the unique nature of humans is bound to create controversy just as in the case of ethics, ethical standards are facts based on the acceptable moral behavior and ethical theories are notions that can be interpreted differently hence results to controversy. Moreover, the values that distinguish good art, and bad art are subjected to reason while evaluation of a particular art is subjected to emotions that are the opposite when it comes to ethics. References Camacho, A. S., & Fernandez Balboa, J. (2006). Ethics, politics and bio-pedagogy in physical education teacher education: easing the tension between the self and the group. Sport Education and Society. doi: 10.1080/13573320500255023 Coats, A. J. (2009). Ethical Authorship and Publishing. International Journal of Cardiology. Doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2008.11.048 Tower C.N. (2011). An Evaluation of compositions for wind band according to specific criteria of serious artistic merits: A second update. Source document

Water Pollution in Vietnam Essays

Water Pollution in Vietnam Essays Water Pollution in Vietnam Paper Water Pollution in Vietnam Paper Essay Topic: Water pollution With the rapid growth of industrialization in urban cities, the water around them is getting more and more polluted. One time casually crossed by To Lick River, one of the big rivers in the capital Hanoi, behind the industrial zone. The river water there was polluted seriously and smelt really fetid. A lot of small fishes and other sea creatures were dead and floating on the surface of the river. I was thinking about how people could live near such a polluted environment and eat those poison fishes. They might be in danger. I then topped thinking and went away because that smell made me nauseated. That was the ordeal. However, the rapid growth of industrialization is not the only cause that leads to water pollution in Hanoi; climate changes and using old-dated technology to treat water also impact significantly on the quality of water. Water pollution has left huge problems in Hanoi. Above all, it affects heath negatively because the polluted water sources may produce an increase in disease such as respiratory diseases, water-borne diseases and intestinal sickness among people who live near that polluted environment. Yet, it also affects other economic activities such as agriculture, aquatic sports, fishery and tourism; and threatens the ecosystem. If water pollution gets more serious in the future, it is going to affect the development of economy and society. So, my motivation for doing this research is that I want people to be aware of how serious this issue in Hanoi by presenting some problems regarding to water pollution that Hanoi; besides, I also present some programs or solutions, both effectively and ineffectively, which Hanoi authorities has carried out. First of all, Hanoi is big city with the rapid growth of industrialization. However, this growth has produced a big problem concerning water pollution. Hanoi is listed among ten cities in the world with the highest level of water pollution (Health and Environment: Vietnam to Spend par. 4). The problem is showed clearly in the article Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in River Water of Hanoi, Vietnam Using Multivariate analyses written by Chichi et al. According to the authors, high concentrations of several toxic heavy metals such as Cd, As, Cue, Zen, BP are detected in the water of Nine River and one of its tributaries, the To Lick River, in Hanoi. It is caused by untreated domestic and industrial wastewater charged into the rivers from the factories of mechanical engineering rubber, soap, tobacco, paper and metal located along these rivers. Relating to the problem that stated above, another researcher claims that Hanoi is facing the threat of arsenic pollution originated from underground water, rivers water, ponds water and lakes water. The concentrations of arsenic in the river significantly exceeded the Vietnamese drink king water standard for arsenic (Bang et al 466). According to Rural people provided with water filters to prevent arsenic poisoning, up to 21 percent Of Vietnamese population are exposed to arsenic in drinking water at a level above the acceptable 1 Poop (or 0. 01 MGM of arsenic per liter) recommended by the World Health Organization. Water containing arsenic at high level would cause many serious disease including skin cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, inborn deformities. Besides industrialization, climate change is also one of the causes resulting in water pollution. According to Seminar seeks solutions, the elements of climate changes are changes in temperature, water flows, the transformation of pollutant at catchments and rising sea levels. These changes affect the eater quality significantly. To cope with this problem, Hanoi, December 23 (VAN) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on December 23 held a seminar discussing climate changes impacts on water resources in Vietnam and measures to reduce water pollution and maintain aquatic ecosystems (Seminar seeks solutions par. 1). Dry. Dang HTH Lana Hung from the Department of Water Resources Management states Vietnam should consider recommendations issued by the US in its global climate change research programs to timely deal with climate changes impacts on water resources (CTD in Seminar par. 3). According to Hung, the country should creates water management policies so as to use water resources effectively and efficiently and should study methods to treat and reuse Wastewater and desalinate sea water along with improving a legal framework for water management and distribution. Water pollution doesnt only happen in urban centers, but also happens in craft villages in Hanoi. The main cause leading to water pollution in craft villages is that traditional craft villages still currently use old-fashioned technology, causing water pollution and harm the human health. The water around there has been seriously polluted. The latest survey by the Hanoi University of Technology showed that 100% of the samples of wastewater from craft villages have excessive contents of toxic chemicals than the permitted levels (Health and Environment Vietnam Hanoi par. 1 1). In the craft villages, the number of people with serious diseases like cancer has risen in recent years. The city has carried out a lot of big projects on water treatment system for craft villages with the capacity of 1 cubic meters per day (Heath and Environment Vietnam Hanoi par. 7). Yet, to deal with this problem, Professor Dry Dang Kim Chi, Chair of the Vietnam Association for Environment Protection, stressed that local authorities should program craft villages development and demand to strictly follow the environment protection rules, rather than gathering strength on settling consequences (CTD. N Health and Environment Vietnam Hanoi par. 8). Also, Hanoi planned to carry out 35 from now until 2015 period for solving water pollution problem in craft villages in Hanoi. Nevertheless, those are not still proper solutions so far. Water pollution problems solving has still been a big question in craft villages to Hanoi authorities. To deal tit arsenic pollution, some communes of north ern Ha Name province have been provided with free-of-charge water filters to reduce the risk Of arsenic poisoning for the local population (Rural people). The filters are set up to remove toxins and retain useful mineral. The project was processed by The National Centre for Safe Water and Environmental Hygiene with the assistance from the United Nations Children Fund (EUNICE) in coordination with the HCI Ltd. Co, a Swiss invested company in Vietnam specializing in water treatment technologies (Rural people). That helps reduce significant amount of arsenic in water. The same problems concerning water pollution have also happened in other cities in Vietnam. The authorities have attempted to fix those problems. In Quant Name, a province in the middle of Vietnam, a seminar was held on March 25, 2009 in support of water pollution control project (Seminar seeks to improve par. 1 The project would be implemented in the central Quant Name and some provinces in the North. The project spent 330,000 USED to carry out with funding assistance from World Banks Institutional Development Fund (WIBNI). Environmental experts presented the important role of the media and local communities in support f water pollution control in Vietnam m. Another solution for water pollution control is the cooperation with another country. According to Vietnam, Mexico to raise cooperation in land management, water resources, Ministers Of the Environment and Natural Resources of Vietnam and Mexico had a meeting on the sidelines of united Nation Climate Change Conference, held in Mexico. During the meeting, both minister agreed that this cooperation between two countries would contribute to international efforts in managing water resources, protecting the environment and decreasing negative impacts of global climate changes (Vietnam, Mexico par. ). Another cooperative project concerning water pollution control was created by the Ho Chi Mini City University of Technology (HOCUS), Thailand-based Asian Institute of Technology (TIT) and the Institute National des Sciences Applied uses (INS) in France (Vietnam has potential par . 3). This project focused on developing local technical and research skills to promote membrane-based wastewater reuse activities in the country. The principle in membrane technology is the forced selective passage of solute or solvents through special membranes, resulting in separation of individual constituents in the influent. This project was coordinated by local authorities and nation government authorities and gave good results with treated water in some industrial zone in the South. The above studies show that Hanoi as well as other cities in Vietnam is facing serious threats from the polluted water sources caused by industrialization, old-dated technologies and climate changes. Among above causes, industrialization is the leading cause of water pollution. The factories which located along rivers have discharged untreated industrial wastewater into the rivers. It creates the high level of water elution by heavy metal and arsenic, which affect health negatively. Moreover, the traditional craft villages still currently use old-fashioned technologies to treat wastewater. The elements Of climate changes such as changes in temperature, water flows and rising sea levels affect the water quality significantly. Water pollution has left huge problems. It affects health negatively by causing many serious disease including respiratory disease, water-borne disease, intestinal sickness, skin cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer. In addition, it threatens the ecosystem and other economic activities such as agriculture, as attic sports, fishery and tourism. Vietnam authorities have attempted to find out the solutions to solve these problems. Vietnam carried out a lot of projects in coordination with foreign companies such as Swiss invested company to specialize in water treatment technologies with funding assistance from EUNICE. Another project was created by HOCUS, TIT, INS in France. Vietnam also received funding assistance from WIBNI. Furthermore, Vietnam cooperated with Mexico in managing water resources and decreasing negative impacts of global climate changes. However, those solutions are not enough to decrease the level of water elution significantly. In my opinion, needs to make more efforts on solving this problem by reinforcing and revising Law on Environmental Protection and Development. These laws should restrict the industrial factories from discharging untreated wastewater into rivers.

Examples of Images in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction

Examples of Images in Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction An image is a representation in words of a sensory experience or of a person, place, or object that can be known by one or more of the senses.   In his book The Verbal Icon (1954), critic W.K. Wimsatt, Jr., observes that the verbal image which most fully realizes its verbal capacities is that which is not merely a bright picture (in the usual modern meaning of the term image) but also an interpretation of reality in its metaphoric and symbolic dimensions. Examples Far beyond her, a door standing ajar gave on what appeared to be a moonlit gallery but was really an abandoned, half-demolished, vast reception room with a broken outer wall, zigzag fissures in the floor, and a vast ghost of a gaping grand piano emitting, as if all by itself, spooky glissando twangs in the middle of the night.(Vladimir Nabokov, Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle, 1969)In the shallows, the dark, water-soaked sticks and twigs, smooth and old, were undulating in clusters on the bottom against the clean ribbed sand, and the track of the mussel was plain. A school of minnows swam by, each minnow with its small individual shadow, doubling the attendance, so clear and sharp in the sunlight.(E.B. White, Once More to the Lake. One Mans Meat, 1942)Mr. Jaffe, the salesman from McKesson Robbins, arrives, trailing two mists: winter steaminess and the animal fog of his cigar, which melts into the coffee smell, the tarpaper smell, the eerie honeyed tangled drugstore smell.(Cynthia Ozick, A Drugstore in Winter. Art Ardor, 1983) That woman sitting on the stoop of an old brownstone house, her fat white knees spread apart- the man pushing the white brocade of his stomach out of a cab in front of a great hotel- the little man sipping root beer at a drugstore counter- the woman leaning over a stained mattress on the sill of a tenement window- the taxi driver parked on a corner- the lady with orchids, drunk at the table of a sidewalk cafe- the toothless woman selling chewing gum- the man in shirt sleeves, leaning against the door of a poolroom- they are my masters.(Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead. Bobbs Merrill, 1943)I should have been a pair of ragged clawsScuttling across the floors of silent seas.(T.S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, 1917)The train moved away so slowly butterflies blew in and out of the windows. (Truman Capote, A Ride Through Spain. The Dogs Bark. Random House, 1973)It is time for the babys birthday party: a white cake, strawberry-marshmallow ice cream, a bottle of champagne saved from another party. In the evening, after she has gone to sleep, I kneel beside the crib and touch her face, where it is pressed against the slats, with mine.(Joan Didion, Going Home. Slouching Towards Bethlehem. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1968 He clasps the crag with crooked hands;Close to the sun in lonely lands.Ringed with the azure world, he stands.The wrinkled sea beneath him crawls;He watches from his mountain walls,And like a thunderbolt he falls.(Alfred, Lord Tennyson, The EagleAmong the strangest illusions which have passed like a haze before my eyes, the strangest one of all is the following: a shaggy mug of a lion looms before me, as the howling hour strikes. I see before me yellow mouths of sand, from which a rough woolen coat is calmly looking at me. And then I see a face, and a shout is heard: Lion is coming.(Andrei Bely, The LionThe apparition of these faces in the crowd;Petals on a wet, black bough.(Ezra Pound, In a Station of the Metro)[Eva] rolled up to the window and it was then she saw Hannah burning. The flames from the yard fire were licking the blue cotton dress, making her dance. Eva knew there was time for nothing in this world other than the time it took to get there and cover her daughters body wi th her own. She lifted her heavy frame up on her good leg, and with fists and arms smashed the windowpane. Using her stump as a support on the window sill, her good leg as a lever, she threw herself out of the window. Cut and bleeding she clawed the air trying to aim her body toward the flaming, dancing figure. She missed and came crashing down some twelve feet from Hannahs smoke. Stunned but still conscious, Eva dragged herself toward her firstborn, but Hannah, her senses lost, went flying out of the yard gesturing and bobbing like a sprung jack-in-the- box.(Toni Morrison, Sula. Knopf, 1973 [In] summer the granite curbs starred with mica and the row houses differentiated by speckled bastard sidings and the hopeful small porches with their jigsaw brackets and gray milk-bottle boxes and the sooty ginkgo trees and the banking curbside cars wince beneath a brilliance like a frozen explosion.(John Updike, Rabbit Redux, 1971) Observations Images are not arguments, rarely even lead to proof, but the mind craves them, and, of late more than ever.(Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1907)In general, emotional words, to be effective, must not be solely emotional. What expresses or stimulates emotions directly, without the intervention of an image or concept, expresses or stimulates it feebly.(C.S. Lewis, Studies in Words, 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press, 1967) Images in Nonfiction ​Instinctively, we go to our store of private images and associations for our authority to speak of these weighty issues. We find, in our details and broken and obscured images, the language of symbol. Here memory impulsively reaches out its arms and embraces imagination. That is the resort to invention. It isnt a lie, but an act of necessity, as the innate urge to locate personal truth always is. (Patricia Hampl, Memory and Imagination. I Could Tell You Stories: Sojourns in the Land of Memory. W.W. Norton, 1999)In creative nonfiction you almost always have the choice of writing the summary (narrative) form, the dramatic (scenic) form, or some combination of the two. Because the dramatic method of writing provides the reader with a closer imitation of life than summary ever could, creative nonfiction writers frequently choose to write scenically. The writer wants vivid images to transfer into the mind of the reader after all, the strength of scenic writing lies in its ability to evoke sensual images. A scene is not some anonymous narrators report about what happened some time in the past; instead, it gives the feeling that the action is unfolding before the reader. (Theodore A. Rees Cheney, Writing Creative Nonfiction: Fiction Techniques for Crafting Great Nonfiction. Ten Speed Press, 2001)

Astronomy As a Natural Science Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Astronomy As a Natural Science - Essay Example The cosmology  encompasses the study of the universe as a whole. Such prehistoric cultures include the Nubian and Egyptian monuments and other early civilizations such as the Iranians, Maya, Chinese, Greeks, Babylonians and the Indians. There was the need to invent the telescope before astronomy made it into the modern science. Astronomy has historically included disciplines ranging from astrometry, observational astronomy, celestial navigation and the making of calendars (Trumper, pg. 11). Currently, astronomy is considered synonymous with astrophysics. In the twentieth century, astronomy split into theoretical and observational branches. Observation astronomy focus on acquiring data from various observations of astronomical objects that is then analyzed using basic principles of physics. On the other hand, theoretical astronomy is oriented towards computer development or analytical models that describe the astronomical phenomena and objects (Renner et al., pg. 618). Thomas Harrio t was the first person, four centuries ago, to look like a celestial object using a microscope. He used his simple Dutch trunk telescope to view the moon in the late 1600s and made drawings of the observations (Basu and Matzner, N. p. 115). Thomas was operating within the same time as Galileo and actually, Thomas did his observation before Galileo. Both Galileo and Thomas were astronomers. They spent time in studying celestial bodies more so the moon. They both developed an interest in studying the lunar. Unlike Galileo, Harriot did not publish his observational drawing though he was able to share his telescopic findings with a group of English correspondents. They both drew â€Å"moon maps† and they believed to be the geographical surface of the moon to be (Hyslop, pg. 293). The type of moon maps, in this case, is well illustrated in some literature writings such as in the School of Night where a letter is missing and the search result to the discovery of buried gold and cod ed maps (Bayard, 2010). This book was written in the 16th century. These coded maps are actually some of the drawings by Thomas and Galileo.