Free Speech in the Digital World Under Threat?

COMMENTARY Free Speech in the Digital World under Threat? Kirsty Hughes We are at a moment where the digital world can go either way – it can become a space of genuine free expression, one enjoyed by ever larger numbers of people or it can become a controlled and monitored space. Like any battle for free speech and fundamental rights, governments and other major players – in this case big web companies and internet service providers – must be held to account and challenged to defend our rights. T e digital world continues to open up huge opportunities for communication, interaction, sharing views and exchanging information across and within borders. It is even rather dated to say we are all our own publishers now, we can all be citizen journalists – though we are and can be. And as millions more people in the next couple of years join that digital world as the price of smart phones fall, the digital revolution is surely not over. Or is it? Are Governments Hardwired to Snoop and Censor? Kirsty Hughes ([email  protected] om) is with the Index on Censorship, London, United Kingdom. The ability of both governments and big corporations to monitor the internet, to gather data on us all, to determine what we can and cannot do or see on the web is another key but less welcome part of our digital world. And censorship and surveillance of digital communications is on the rise – not only in countries such as Iran, China and Russia, but also in India, the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US). While China’s â€Å"great ? ewall† and army of snoopers does its best to block a whole gamut of politically-sensitive topics and debates – sensitive that is to China’s authoritarian elites – the democratic world is increasingly looking at using the technological opportunities out there, either to block content, or to monitor their own citizens. Earlier this year, Indian authorities came top in Googleâ₠¬â„¢s transparency report – which shows government requests to Google to remove material and how many Google complied with – with the largest number of requests for Google to take down posts not backed by court orders.The US and Brazil had the highest number of takedown demands backed by court orders, while in Twitter’s similar transparency report, the US was the number one country demanding information on users. Google and Twitter also go along with many but not all of the requests NovemBER 17, 2012 they receive – private companies playing a crucial role in determining the extent of our free speech and our privacy. Meanwhile in the UK, a draft Communications Data Bill currently being scrutinised in Parliament, would, if it became law, lead to monitoring and retention of a vast array of digital data across the entire population.From tracking who our emails go to or come from, likewise our phone calls, to storing the data our mobiles give up on our locatio ns or our web searches, showing what topics we are investigating, the draft UK Bill certainly deserves its popular name â€Å"a snooper’s charter†. Iran is also aiming to develop its own intranet that would operate in a way detached from the wider world-wide web, and so be much easier to control by state authorities. But how can India or the UK or US stand up to Iran and pressure them not to cut their citizens off from the wider digital world, if they are not fully respecting basic rights of their own citizens online?What Is Driving the Urge to Control? Freedom of expression is a fundamental right – and without it democracies cannot function and power cannot be held to account. So why are so many governments increasingly looking at control of our digital lives? There are two overlapping justi? cations at the heart of this. Do we need protecting from being offended? Attempts to justify censorship often appeal to the protection of public order, or public morals, t ackling hate speech, or promoting national security.But unless highly limited, such censorship rapidly intrudes on open democratic debate, serious discussion, on art and entertainment, on all our communication and interaction. In the UK, a recent spate of cases indicate a deeply worrying trend towards criminalising speech – individuals have received jail sentences or community service orders for publishing sick or bad jokes online or on Twitter (or in one case for strong anti-police sentiments on a t-shirt). And while the â€Å"Innocence of Muslims† video was highly offensive to some (though not all had seen it) is it really vol xlviI no 46EPW Economic & Political Weekly 18 COMMENTARY the job of governments to decide what is offensive or not? And if they do, and all governments between them censor all that is offensive on the web, then there will be very little left for us all to read or debate or write. We will end up in the opposite of a digital world – in a c ontrolled and fragmented set of con? ned digital spaces. The other main justi? cation governments use for controlling the digital world is in order to justify monitoring and surveillance.We need it to tackle crime and terror, the authorities say with great urgency – the criminals are technologically leaps and bounds ahead of us. But do democracies really need to monitor and survey their entire populations just because digital technology makes it easy to do? Surely tackling crime needs a focused, targeted, intelligent approach – not a population-wide sledgehammer. And if democracies do mimic the mass snooping behaviour of the East German Stasi, or of today’s China or Iran, then they will be undermining their own democratic systems.Free speech does not prevail where everything is being monitored, or collected, or stored so one day it may be checked on. And while governments need to be challenged not to censor and monitor and undermine the global digital space we s hare, private companies have become an increasingly important part of the equation – but one less easily held to account. Facebook’s users hit the one billion mark this autumn. But not only does Facebook make a lot of money out of the private and public information that the one billion share on its pages, it also sets the rules for the conversations in its space.Fair enough you may say, so do plenty of clubs or newspapers or societies. But telephone operators do not set rules of what you can and cannot say on the phone; cafes do not ask you to sign up to what you can and cannot say at the door. And as Twitter, Google and others respond to governments’ requests to take material down – or stand up to governments (as they sometimes do) and defend what has been posted – we are witnessing a major privatisation of censorship in the digital world. Can We Defend the Digital Revolution?So have we lost the digital revolution while it is still in its infancy? Not necessarily. Some big web companies are issuing transparency reports, as Google and Twitter do, so we can all see and judge what they as companies are doing – though we cannot get that picture yet for any individual country. This is an important but partial step. Beyond this, some of the big companies, as well as many democratic governments, have made clear statements supporting an open, free digital space that respects human rights including the right to free expression.And the European Union (EU) and US are currently standing up to a push from China and Russia for top-down regulation of the internet. The next summit where this battle will continue is the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) meeting in Dubai in early December. Which way will India, or Brazil, or South Africa go at that summit – with the US and EU or with China and Russia? We are at a moment where the digital world can go either way – it can become a space of genuine free expression , one enjoyed by ever larger numbers of people, or it can become a controlled and monitored space.Like any battle for free speech and fundamental rights, governments and other major players – in this case big web companies and internet service providers – must be held to account and challenged to defend our rights. If democracies like India, the EU, the US or Brazil do not defend free speech in the digital world, and hold back from the temptation of censorship and surveillance almost at the click of a mouse, then we are on a dangerously slippery slope. It is a moment to stand up and defend our digital freedoms – for if we do not, who will?N EW The Adivasi Question Edited By INDRA MUNSHI Depletion and destruction of forests have eroded the already fragile survival base of adivasis across the country, displacing an alarmingly large number of adivasis to make way for development projects. Many have been forced to migrate to other rural areas or cities in search of work, leading to systematic alienation. This volume situates the issues concerning the adivasis in a historical context while discussing the challenges they face today.The introduction examines how the loss of land and livelihood began under the British administration, making the adivasis dependent on the landlord-moneylender-trader nexus for their survival. The articles, drawn from writings of almost four decades in EPW, discuss questions of community rights and ownership, management of forests, the state’s rehabilitation policies, and the Forest Rights Act and its implications. It presents diverse perspectives in the form of case studies specific to different regions and provides valuable analytical insights.Authors: Ramachandra Guha †¢ Sanjeeva Kumar †¢ Ashok K Upadhyaya †¢ E Selvarajan †¢ Nitya Rao †¢ B B Mohanty †¢ Brian Lobo Pp xi + 408 Rs 695 ISBN 978-81-250-4716-2 2012 †¢ K Balagopal †¢ Sohel Firdos †¢ Pankaj Sekhsaria â₠¬ ¢ DN †¢ Judy Whitehead †¢ Sagari R Ramdas †¢ Neela Mukherjee †¢ Mathew Areeparampil †¢ Asmita Kabra †¢ Renu Modi †¢ M Gopinath Reddy, K Anil Kumar, P Trinadha Rao, Oliver Springate-Baginski †¢ Indra Munshi †¢ Jyothis Sathyapalan †¢ Mahesh Rangarajan †¢ Madhav Gadgil †¢ Dev Nathan, Govind Kelkar †¢ Emmanuel D’Silva, B Nagnath †¢ Amita Baviskar ww. orientblackswan. com Mumbai †¢ Chennai †¢ New Delhi †¢ Kolkata †¢ Bangalore †¢ Bhubaneshwar †¢ Ernakulam †¢ Guwahati †¢ Jaipur †¢ Lucknow †¢ Patna †¢ Chandigarh †¢ Hyderabad Contact: [email  protected] com Economic & Political Weekly EPW Orient Blackswan Pvt Ltd NovemBER 17, 2012 vol xlviI no 46 19

Charlemagne Robert Folz

Frannzen Linares Thursday, October 14, 2010 Knowledge Summary of Source. Report #1 – Charlemagne Robert Folz. The Coronation of Charlemagne(Book), first written in french in 1964, this book is now available in English translation. Robert Folz is well known for his monumental studies of the legend of Charlemagne in the Middle ages. Robert Folz was a French medievalist and a specialist in the Carolignan era; for this reason he is better qualified than most historians to convey a deep understanding of the efforts and signifance of Charlemagne for France and Europe.Folz concentrates on the growth of Frankish power, starting with Clovis and leading to Charlemagne. The focus is on political and religious developpments that explain the imperial coronation, rather than on social and economic history. Folz presents all this with brevity and clearly; the elegance of style shows his familarity with the source material. He wrote numerous books all related and similar to Charlemagne such a s: * (French) Le souvenir et la legende de Charlemagne dans l'Empire germanique medieval. (1950) * The concept of empire in Western Europe from the fifth to the fourteenth century. 1953, translation published 1969) * The coronation of Charlemagne. 25 December 800. (1964, translation published 1974) * (French) Les saints rois du Moyen Age en Occident, (VIe-XIIIe siecles). (1984) * (French) Les saintes reines du Moyen Age en Occident (VIe-XIIIe siecles). (1992) This book also uses extraits and portions of the book â€Å"Life of Charlemagne†(Vita Karoli Magni) which was written by a man named Einhard who actually was a dedicated servant of Charlemagne which adds to the reliability of this book.At the same time, he uses extraits from letters written by a man named Alcuin to Charlemagne himself and books written at the time and date back to Charlemagnes reign. Book written by Robert Folz and translated by J. E Anderson, the publisher of this book is London : Routledge and Kegan Pa ul, 1974 and is a Translation of: ‘Le Couronnement imperial de Charlemagne (trente jours qui ont fait la France : 25 decembre 800)'. Paris : Gallimard, 1964 The company has also published a book with a small portion of the life of charlemagne, The Philosophy of John Scottus Eriugena: A Study of Idealism in the Middle Ages By Dermot Moran.

Bovine Spongy Encephalitis (BSE) in Japan

Bovine Spongy Encephalitis (BSE) in Japan The essay aims to investigate the issue of Bovine Spongy Encephalitis (BSE) in Japan, with particular emphasis on the meat traceability system adopted by the Japanese regulatory authorities and its implications for the Japanese food markets, its beef industry, and the hospitality industry. Presumably written in late 2005 or early 2006, some three years after BSE reared its head in Japan, the essay attempts to trace the events that led to the BSE scare in Japan and the responses adopted by the state and industry to cope with market and customer apprehensions. Essays, on specialised subjects like these, need to have reader friendly, grammatically correct structures that guide curious lay people through the complexities of unfamiliar issues in sequential logical steps; such efforts should be well researched, evidence clarity about the subject at hand, make good use of language skills and engage reader interest in the main and allied themes. BSE, better known as mad cow disease, emerged first in the UK in 1986, its manifestation in cattle being associated with a number of logical, as well as fanciful theories that included (a) force feeding of cattle, animals that are normally herbivorous, with meat or bone meal from semi-sterilised cadavers, and (b) import of meat meal, contaminated with human meat, from India (Jones, 2001)! Related to the presence of a misfolded protein called Prion in the brain tissues of cattle, BSE is known to make the brain of a cow a bloody mass of spongy tissue, followed by the certain death of the affected animal (Jones, 2001). Worryingly it is also known to infect humans who consume BSE tainted products (Jones, 2001). The disease first showed up in commercially reared livestock in the UK, and has since then been associated with more than 150 human deaths in the UK alone; its occurrence in the United States led to panic in Japan, a major importer of US beef, and thereafter to a number of protective and regulatory steps by the Japanese for ensuring the safety and quality of beef consumed in the country (Nottage, 2004). Whilst such background information would have been particularly relevant for establishing the importance of the topic, especially in light of the levels of global panic generated by the outbreak of BSE in the early 2000s, there is little of it in the essay; the author preferring to commence the study directly with the detection of the first BSE case in Japan in 2001 and the events that followed. With much effort having been given to providing technical details about Creutzfeldt – Jakob disease, (CJD) and its new variant, in the appendices to the essay, some elementary information about Prion, established to be the root cause of BSE, the substantial loss of human life, and the worldwide concern that arose, post the emergence of the disease, would have helped in driving home the need for governments to adopt stern regulatory measures and in putting the Japanese regulatory efforts in their proper p erspective. Ford’s book on the risks posed by BSE to mankind, which has otherwise been included by the author in the references, provides a graphic account of the dangers of BSE and the essay would have been well served by the inclusion of some of the highlighted risks.

Slavery in the American Colonies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Slavery in the American Colonies - Essay Example According to the discussion  America since its very beginning practiced cruel racism which does not have any true scientific or biological base. Ethnic segregation and discrimination was very much evident in all areas. This practice started long years back and was followed by people and transferred to the next generations. It later became a political phenomenon. The white majority was found to be proud in their own race (a part of heritage). They were of the belief that they are superior to others in race as well as culture. They tried to put the minorities down in order to strengthen their own group. They developed extreme hatred towards the black minorities and had an overall sense of bigotry. The black minorities were oppressed to the core and were denied all rights. The demands and opinion of the blacks were never considered at all.  From this essay it is clear that  Story of the elimination of slavery from the American land is quite long. Slavery is the core reason the nat ion witnessed the disastrous civil war. United States started practicing slavery as early as 1619. Towards the closing of American Revolution, majority of the northern states stopped slavery, while the plantation economy of the South continued practicing it. In the years before the Civil War all the issues were centered on the issue of slavery. This started with the debates made on the three-fifths clause on the Constitutional Convention of 1787.... In the years before the Civil War all the issues were centered on the issue of slavery. This started with the debates made on the three-fifths clause on the Constitutional Convention of 1787. It further proceeded with the Compromise of 1820, the anti-slavery Gag Rule, the Nullification Crisis, and finally the Compromise of 1850. In the first half of the nineteenth century slavery was supported by the Southern politicians. They maintained the control of the federal government. Though they had most of their Presidents hailing from the South, they were very serious about maintaining a balance of power in the Senate. New states joined the Union and several compromises appeared to keep an equal number of free and slave states. In 1820, Missouri joined as a slave state and Maine came as a free state. The balance got disrupted in 1850 as Southerners allowed California to come as a free state in return for laws upholding slavery. The balance was later disturbed with the joining of free Orego n and Minnesota. The increase of the gap between free and slave state illustrates the changes happening in each region. When South, with a slow population growth, adopted an agrarian plantation economy, North adopted industrialization. They had large urban areas, with large infrastructures. They witnessed increased birth rates and a large inflow of European immigrants. The increase in population made South to keep a balance in the government. This lead to the addition of several free states. An anti-slavery president was also appointed. The political issue that ultimately took the nation towards the war was nothing but slavery in the western territories acquired during the Mexican-American War. The same

Parachute jump Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Parachute jump - Research Paper Example From the Newton laws of motion, a free fall is the motion which involves the weight of a body as the only body is the only force that acts against it. Gravitation was reduced to a time space curvature. Felix had no force acting against him and hence moved along a geodesic. Due to absence of any other forces, gravitation acted on him equally due to the relative weightlessness. In this condition the gravitation field is zero. Felix in the free fall experienced gravititation "0-g". The Newton’s law of universal gravitation simplifies the dynamical equations that describe the trajectories that result due to gravitational force under normal conditions as F = mg. This accounts for the assumption for objects falling to earth over relatively short vertical distances. It is however much untrue over larger distances. The equation ignores the air resistance that was involved that has an effect on falling objects within appreciable distance in air causing them to approach a terminal velocity quickly. The air resistance effect varied enormously due to the size of Felix. The equation ignores the rotation of the earth failing to describe the Coriolis effect (Heitzmann, 23) Near the surface of the Earth, g  =  9.8  m/s ². The assumption is that SI unit g is measured in mps therefore d has to be measured in meters and time t in seconds. Therefore, velocity v is measured in meters per seconds(Heitzmann, 26) Felix is assumed to have started from rest and air resistance was neglected. In the Earth’s atmosphere all results are inaccurate after the first five seconds of the fall. Felix’s velocity at the time should have been a little less than the vacuum vale of 49 m/s due to the resistance of air. As Felix was falling through the atmosphere (which is not a perfect vacuum) therefore, he did not encounter a drag force brought about by air resistance. The drag force should have increased the velocity of the free fall. Felix therefore reached a state where the drag force

International HRM Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 3

International HRM - Essay Example ation, changed organisational structure and employee satisfaction’s issues, consumer behaviour shift, changed societal mind set, employee related government laws, changing norms, fluctuating market trends and variable economic conditions. Analysis of expatriation related practices by HRM department of UNILEVER.LTD is included along with the measures that have been taken to confront them. Recommendations with respect to changing techniques and methodologies have also been made. Human resource management is of great importance for any organisation. Effective HRM helps the organisation to efficiently utilise its work force in order to meet its strategic targets and goals. This exercise comprises of procedures, methodologies, constraints and benefits. At the urge of 21st century, the world has taken the shape of a global village due to advance communication and information technology. Increasing population with limiting resources has made it hard for people to survive. Descending employment and increasing inflation in many countries, especially the third world countries have driven their skilled labour & professional workforce to expatriate for the economic benefit. With the emergence of globalisation, business environment has also globalised. International trade flows, formation of global economic forums, changes in organisational structure and expansion of companies into MNCs have resulted in availability of labour market and staffing requirements which has increased opportunities for skilled work force and business professionals (Edward & Rees, 2006). This cross border demand-driven employment opportunities is resulting in paradigm shift of many countries, like Hong Kong and Singapore, towards service oriented economies. On one hand, expatriation and immigration has brought in many benefits for business and corporate community like economic opportunities, exploration of new markets worldwide and development of multi-cultural work force but on the other hand, it

MARX Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

MARX - Essay Example This is why the Christian God, the Jewish God, Buddha or any African God, for example, are wise, just and powerful1. All of man’s characteristics are gathered and joined in a larger than life, larger than man figure, with all of these characteristics projected on a grand, infinite scale. Feuerbach himself states that God is â€Å"of mans species-essence, the totality of his powers and attributes raised to the level of infinity†2. Feuerbach’s atheism may, for some part, resemble the classical atheism to which Marx himself adheres. However, we may notice that in Feuerbach’s case, God is not a non-existence, he is a creation. We may argue that Feuerbach implies the creation by a small group of people (the clergy, the religious class that exists in every society) of an infinite figure that will reflect the ambitions and needs of the entire mankind. Gods are images of the people itself and, in this sense, will reflect the main characteristics of those people. So far, we have stated that, according to Feuerbach, God is an image of man. Nevertheless, we are aware that in all monotheistic religions, God is the Supreme Being of the existential Universe, the most powerful element of the Universe. A creation of man has become more powerful than the Creator itself. Substituting the Creator and the Created, Feuerbach states that it was man that created God and not the other way around. This anti-theological (I would not consider it necessarily atheist, looking at atheism in its stricto-sensum definition of denying God’s existence altogether) paradox leads to alienation: man is separated from its own creation, which has become more powerful than himself. For Feuerbach, the subject (man) has become the object, hence the state of alienation in which he finds himself. Marx intervention is not necessarily on the conceptualization of religious alienation, but on the causes of this religious alienation that Feuerbach

Obesity in Texas Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Obesity in Texas - Research Paper Example bese children are much more likely to become obese adults, suffering long term health risks such as Type II Diabetes, heart problems, and some cancers (TDSHS 2009). These health care problems affect more than the individual, as the state also faces far-ranging economic and health care system impacts from these trends. Agencies and programs directed at correcting the problems of obesity in the state comprise a significant amount of the Department of State Health Services’ efforts and resources; analysis of the relative and potential successes of these measures likewise presents a valuable area for study. Current state statistics reveal that over 15% of Texas high-schoolers are categorized as overweight, while over 13% were categorized as obese (TDSHS 2010). Furthermore, more than 20% of low income children enrolled in Texas’ Women Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition programs are overweight or obese. Statistics also show much higher rates of obesity for minority groups and those living below the poverty line. The Texas DSHS site also offers some graphs that show overweight and obese statistics by selected grades for overall regions. While these graphs are only for selected age cohorts, only show data by region, and are only available for 2004-5, cumulatively they indicate that the rate of obese and overweight school aged children tends to increase until 8th grade, after which point rates tend to decline. Rates of obese vs. overweight children in different age cohorts, however, seem to vary regionally. Tracking statistical data of this sort over time can reveal some overall trends in childhood obesity in the state. First, while Texas already has higher rates of childhood obesity than the nation in general, these rates have steadily increased over time. Figure 1, compiled from TDSHS data, shows the changing percentages of overweight and obese children in Texas as compared to national averages. While Texas consistently shows higher rates of obesity in

Theorizing Popular Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Theorizing Popular Culture - Essay Example As we enter and tumble into the 21st century we're at a point in human evolution where traditional cultures pushed by rough edge of modernity are really stepping back into their own traditions, and embracing their belief systems. One of the manifestations of that is body marking. At the same time, I think there is a whole sector of modern society, not just youth, but across all sorts of generations, genders, and ethnic backgrounds that are in search of identity, meaning and ritual. Hence, a huge explosion of tribal tattooing, and body marking. This is referred to as the "modern primitive" movement within tattooing. I think there's a correlation because if you step back and look at it, it's the larger picture of mankind wanting identity, wanting a sense of place, a sense of ritual, and a sense of culture within their own community.(National Geographic 2004) Ear piercing can be traced back to 2nd century B.C. in Cyprus along with Iran from 2900-3500 BC and Iraq in 9th century BC, with pieces of art and jewelry in museums. Unfortunately the reasons for this ear piercing phenomenon have not been determined. However an Eskimo tribe in Alaska around 1918 used shark tooth earrings as a form of social rank. Another raising popularity involving ear piercing is stretching the earlobes to accommodate ear spools and ear plugs. Some examples can be found in places such as Guatemala 900-1500 AD with ear spools, and also in china with the stretching of the earlobes. Some people today still stretch their earlobes some examples can be found in Asia on an island named Borneo. Lip piercing another popular part of body piercing is lip piercing or labret piercing which some examples can be found in native Alaskan tribe around 1897. Lip plugs were worn by both men and women and represented those men had reached puberty. For women it was worn as decoration, or by women born of noble stature. Nose piercing, in today's culture can be stemmed from Alaska in the late 19th century and were considered a mark of distinction and prestige and were worn by both men and women. Body piercing in the cultural reference is seemingly just another form of individualism which has been practice in every culture for many centuries and will still be practice for many centuries to come. American's may not get their bodies pierced for the religious or cultural reasons that other countries do, but they still promote individualism that is ultimately behind it. This Modification is slowly becoming our present culture. Cultural Background on Tattoo's Tattooing is one of the most common forms of body adornment and individualism in America today. Tattooing has been practiced since the time of Ancient Egypt. "Tattoo is a word of Polynesian origin which is related to the Tahitian word tatau and the Marquesan word ta-tu." (University of Pennsylvania) One example of tattooing is the ancient Maori of New Zealand. Maori men have their faces, buttocks and thighs covered. This type of tattooing involves chiseling the skin and then placing ink the cuts to create the tattoo. Since this procedure is very painful it is done in stages starting in early adulthood. "The facial tattoos were an

The senior management of your organization is of the opinion that Essay

The senior management of your organization is of the opinion that there should be social responsibility of managers. What do you understand by this, and how sho - Essay Example These actions threatened the firm, the employees, the community, and global financial concerns. With the proliferation of technology and hypercompetition, the drive to enhance the bottom line has often found firms in legal trouble or in a public relations nightmare. What part does the manager play in social responsibility? It’s managements role to set policies and guidelines for implementing a socially responsible agenda. Directors and managers need to maintain an awareness that the decisions they make affect the community, their health and safety, and the quality of life for people in a wide area. The welfare of the wider community has to be considered in any decision making process. Success is not measured by the immediate profit gained by the shareholders. When we define socially responsible policy, it is a concern for the well being of all the stakeholders and not just the owners. The social responsibilities of the directors and managers are the firms responsibilities towards society as implemented by management. Some of the most direct beneficiaries of a socially responsible policy are the employees of the firm. They are provided with a safe place to work whilst the firms responsible behaviour increases the level of job security. By creating a positive climate to work in, the firm is able to attract better and more dedicated employees. In this scenario, an investment in employee well being is returned through a better workforce. Almost all socially responsible policies and management decisions have a positive return. However, the firm often views these activities as expenses and will not, or can not, calculate their true cost or value. Policies need to be put in place to protect the health and safety of the customers and consumers. Managers that fail to act responsibly must be held accountable for their decisions. According to Davidmann (2002), "Those who wish to maximise profits regardless of

Qantas Essay Example for Free

Qantas Essay Qantas Airways is an Australian based airline and is a subset of the Qantas Group. It is a public-listed company in the ASX (Australian Securities Exchange). The purpose of this research is to provide information of the Qantas Group focusing on its profitability, efficiency and liquidity for the last 3 years. This research paper also examines the financial analysis and provides other relevant information to support in the evaluation of the company. 1 Company Profile 1.1 History Qantas is the world’s second oldest airline. It was founded in the Queensland outback in 1920 and has been in continuous operation since that date. Qantas is Australia’s largest domestic and international airline and is recognised as one of the world’s leading long distance carriers. The name comes from the initial letters of the words in the original registered title – Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services Limited. 1.2 Qantas Group Strategy Safety remains Qantas’ first operational priority and they are committed to maintaining the position as the leading Australian domestic carrier and one of the world’s premier sustainable long-haul airlines through the dual airline brands – Qantas and Jetstar. Qantas aim to maintain customer loyalty by delivering exceptional experiences through these dual brands, in conjunction with Qantas Frequent Flyer. The operating strategy is complimented with a prudent approach to capital management as they seek to deliver sustainable, long terms return to the shareholders. The Qantas Group strategic priorities are illustrated below. 4 1.3 Qantas Overview Qantas is Australia’s largest full service airline carrying 28 million passengers in 2011/2013 on 5,050 flights per week in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Europe. It is a founding member of the oneworld alliance. Qantas is a single integrated airlines providing airline transportation through its two Qantas brands – Qantas and QantasLink Main Markets Qantas’ main markets are domestic and international traffic to and from Australia. Qantas, a wholly-owned group of subsidiaries including QantasLink and Network Aviation, services 57 metropolitan and regional regular passenger transport destinations across Australia and Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, as well as 19 dedicated fly-in-fly-out charter destinations. 2011/2012 Passenger Distribution Passenger Revenue Australia domestic 78% 51% International 22% 49% Customers Qantas carries business and leisure passengers Product Qantas offers passengers a premium network product on its extensive domestic and international network and through it oneworld membership, accessing 24 bilateral codeshare agreements (excluding Jetstar and Jetstar Asia with whom Qantas also has codeshare agreements), over 870 destination and 550 lounges. Passengers also have the opportunity to earn and redeem frequent flyer points across its global network. Qantas is focused on both business and leisure travellers by offering a one or two class product on domestic routes and a two, three or four class product for international services. 5 1.4 Jetstar Overview Jetstar commences operations in May 2004. It is the Qantas Group’s low fares airline and the largest low cost carrier in the Asia Pacific region. Jetstar comprises of Jetstar Domestic, Jetstar International and holdings in Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, Vietnam-based Jetstar Pacific and Jetstar Japan. In 2011/2012, its operations carried 18.7 million passengers to over  50 destinations in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Asia Pacific. Jetstar also recently announced its intention to invest in a new airline, Jetstar Hong Kong, with China Eastern Airlines in 2013. Main Markets Jetstar’s main markets are domestic and international traffic to and from Australia. Pan-Asian expansion has strengthened through Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Pacific and Jetstar Japan. New Zealand operations encompass both trans-Tasman and domestic New Zealand markets. 2011/2012 Passenger Distribution Passenger Revenue Australia domestic 57% 51% International 43% 49% Customers Jetstar focused on providing consistently low fares to predominantly leisure travellers. Product Jetstar offers domestic and international passengers a value based product with the flexibility to select additional operations in relation to seating, entertainment, catering, baggage and premium seating on long haul. Jetstar’s continual focus on leading online technology has enabled more innovative ways to book, check-in and board. 6 1.5 Fleet Qantas Group operates fleets comprises of Boeing 737-800, A330-200, A380-800 Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Bombardier Q400 and Boeing 717. Over the next 10 years, the Qantas Group has committed capital investment worth US$23 billion in more fuel efficient, next generation aircrafts such as A380-800, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A320 neo. 1.6 Corporate and Social Responsibilities The Qantas Foundation was established as a charitable trust in 2008. It forms part of the Qantas Group’s commitment to operating in a sustainable and socially responsible manner. The Qantas Foundation focus on two key areas: ï‚ § Initiative that provide an immediate experience for those in need (Changing lives) ï‚ § Experiences and opportunities that empower the next generation of Australians to make a difference in community (Empowering change) To deliver this vision, the Qantas Group leverage off the diverse resources of the  Qantas Group – from their employees, diverse network of suppliers and partnerships, and the use of their own airline. Another initiative that the Qantas Group took on is aiming for a world class performance by protecting the environment for the generations. They aim to reduce their carbon footprint through several proven measures such as: ï‚ § Aircraft weight reduction initiatives ï‚ § Efficient ground power units in lieu of jet fuel driven auxiliary power units ï‚ § Using GPS-based navigation technology to improve operational efficiency ï‚ § Investing in a fuel efficient fleet such as Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 ï‚ § Facilitating a sustainable aviation fuel industry in Australia On ground, together with their partners, innovative projects and partnerships were set to achieve this goal. One example is the Clean Up Australia campaign; started since 1996, the Qantas Group have been a key corporate partner for the Clean Up Australia Foundation. Key Successes 1. Maintained a downward trend on electricity, water and waste-to-landfill consumption since 2006, despite operational growth. 2. Reduced environment impact between 2005 and 2011: Reduced electricity consumption by 8% Reduced water consumption by 19% Reduced waste-to-landfill by 21% 3. Maintained a downward trend on jet fuel emission intensity 7 2. Key Strategies The Qantas Group has a broad portfolio and a clearly defined strategy with the following core goals: ï‚ § Build on the Groups domestic businesses through a clear focus on the customer ï‚ § Strengthened Jetstars presence across Asia to capture the full benefits of the regions low-cost leisure travel boom. ï‚ § Continue to expand Qantas Frequent Flyer by adding new partners and increasing ways for members to earn and spend points. Some of the changes seen were introducing a new tablet-based in-flight entertainment system called Q Streaming that received outstanding feedback from passengers. New order for 10 Fokker 100 aircraft were placed to extend Qantas reach into Western Australias mining centres as part of the Groups fly-in-fly-out strategy. Jetstars focus in the domestic market remained on building up  capacity on core leisure routes with modern fleet such as the A320 aircraft, adding almost 16,000 extra seats during the year. Qantas Group also expanded alliance with Am erican airlines, attracting consumers from the America regions. 8 2.1 SWOT Analysis on the Qantas Group STRENGTH Strong partnership with other alliance through its oneworld membership; accessing 24 bilateral codeshare agreements over 870 destination and 550 lounges. Passengers also have the opportunity to earn and redeem frequent flyer points across its global network which attracts consumer to choose the Qantas Airways over other airlines. Operate and fly in to many destinations such as Australia (Domestic), New Zealand, Asia, North and South America, Africa and Europe making Qantas Airways the ideal airline to consumers. WEAKNESS Qantas do not have many direct routes and depend heavily on its other airline partners. For example to get across to destinations such as Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, consumers have to transit at Dubai and change airlines to the Emirates to get to their final destination. This turns away consumers who prefer to fly in direct to the country. OPPORTUNITY Qantas subsidiary Jetstar announced its intention to invest in a new airline; Jetstar Hong Kong, in partnership with China Eastern Airlines this year. This expands the flying business into the Chinese market. THREAT The global fuel price increase affects the airline industry. With higher fuel prices, the airlines operating cost increases. To compensate, airline raise ticket prices to generate more revenue which in turn, turn away consumers and force them to look at other airline that provides competitive or even lower prices. Introduction of more low cost carriers from established airlines such as Scoot, a subsidiary airline of the Singapore Airline. 9 3. Ratios 3.1 Profitability Ratio (%) Profitability ratio is used to measure a company’s ability to generate revenue in relation to sales, assets and equity (i.e. often the sum of monies invested). It also shows how effective the company is being managed to stay profitable. Some commonly used profitability ratios include return on equity, return on investment, return on total assets, gross and net profit margins and return on capital employed. Profitability ratios provide investors guidance in their assessment of the company’s financial health and performance. For example, return on investment indicates whether the company is generating enough profits for its shareholders. Net profit margin declined by 0.52% in 2012 while an increase of 0.53% occurred in 2011 as seen in Table 1. It is slightly lower than the industry averages of 1.737% by 0.377%. The decline in net profit margin may be attributed to rising fuel costs, fall in freight, tours and travel revenue. In 2012, Qantas incurred restructuring costs of AUD376 million compared to nil in 2011, which is in relation to their initiative to reduce costs and improve business in the international segment. The other ratios such as Return on assets (ROA) and return on equity also declined to 2.12% and 3.38% respectively in 2012. Profitability Year/Ratio 2010 2011 2012 Industry averages Return on total assets (ROA) 1.76% 2.28% 2.12% 2.630% Return on equity 2.88% 4.26% 3.38% 5.290% Net profit margin 1.35% 1.88% 1.36% 1.737% 10 3.2 Efficiency Efficiency ratios are used to show how well a company uses its assets and liabilities efficiently to be able to earn significant amount of profits. Examples of efficiency ratios include asset turnover, inventory turnover, receivables turnover and payables turnover. Qantas may be considered as efficient in utilizing its resources to generate revenue, with asset turnover showing an increase to 252 days in 2012 compared to 245 days in 2011. Generally the higher a company’s asset turnover, it means the assets have been used more efficiently. From table 2, the number of days taken for creditors to be paid fell to 45.41 days in 2011, however a modest increase of 1.45 days was experienced in 2012. Compared to industry averages, Qantas took a longer time to pay their creditors. On the other hand, number of days debtors took to pay was shortened by 2.09 days in 2012 while there was an improvement of 1.62 days in 2011. However the receivables turnover is a little higher at 19.83 days co mpared to industry averages of 18.45 days. Inventory turnover shows the frequency a company’s inventory is sold and replaced over a period. A high turnover indicates strong sales while a low turnover may imply poor sales and hence excess inventory. Inventory turnover fell to 9.39 days in 2012 compared to 9.72 days in 2011. However the ratio is higher than industry average of 8.52 days. Table 2 Efficiency Year/days 2010 2011 2012 Industry averages Days payable 50.43 45.41 46.86 43.90 Days receivable 23.54 21.92 19.83 18.45 Days inventory 9.19 9.72 9.39 8.52 Asset turnover 234 245 252 284.70 11 3.3 Liquidity Liquidity ratio measures the company’s ability to pay its short term liabilities when due. It is calculated by dividing cash and other liquid assets by the short term borrowings and current liabilities. This will show the number of times the short term obligations are covered by the cash and liquid assets. The short term obligations are considered fully covered and the company is in good financial health if the value is greater than 1. The higher the liquidity ratio, the higher the capability the company possesses to meet its current liabilities. Examples of liquidity ratio include current ratio and quick ratio. Current ratio for Qantas was 0.90 in 2011 and 0.77 in 2012, near industry average of 0.81. In comparison to Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd whose current ratio is 0.65 in 2011 and 2012 (See table 4), Qantas appears more stable though the values of its current ratio are less than 1 for both years. Quick ratio also known as the acid-test ratio focuses on the most liquid as sets, leaving inventory out which may be hard to turn into cash in a timely manner. In the case of Qantas, the quick ratio was 0.71 in 2012, 0.14 drop from 0.85 in 2011, while industry average is 0.75. As compared to Virgin whose quick ratio was 0.61 in 2012, the company seems to be in a stronger position to meet its short term commitments. Table 3 Liquidity Year/Ratio 2010 2011 2012 Industry averages Current ratio 0.93 0.90 0.77 0.81 Quick ratio 0.88 0.85 0.71 0.75 12 Table 4 Growth Profitability and Financial Ratios for Virgin Australia Holdings Limited Liquidity/Financial Health 2010-06 2011-06 2012-06 Current Ratio 0.76 0.65 0.65 Quick Ratio 0.75 0.62 0.61 Financial Leverage 4.15 4.15 4.3 Debt/Equity 2.3 3.21 3.96 Source: 2013 Morningstar, Inc. 13 3.4 Gearing Ratio Gearing ratio compares owners’ equity or capital to borrowings. Gearing is a measure of financial leverage showing the extent to which a company’s activities or operations are funded by owners’ funds against borrowed funds. A high gearing ratio indicates that a company is using debt to pay for its operations and may risk inability to meet repayments in an economic downturn. The situation could be made worse where rates move upwards suddenly. Lenders are generally concerned about excessively high gearing ratio that may put their loans at risk for non-repayment. Some examples of  gearing ratio are debt equity ratio and net interest cover. For Qantas, the gearing ratio increased to 111.21% in 2012 compared to 98.05% in 2011. This means the company used debt instead of equity to fund its continuing operations. However, this ratio is lower that industry average of 130.547%. Net interest cover ratio refers to the ease a company pays interest expenses on outstanding debt. The lower the ratio, the more the company is burdened by debt expense. The company’s ability to meet interest payments may be doubtful when the ratio is 1.5 or lower. In Qantas case, the net interest cover ratio dropped sharply to 1.54 in 2012 against 3.96 in 2011. This ratio of 1.54 is close to the threshold of 1.5 and is indicative that Qantas may face cash flow problems and inability to meet interest expenses should rates increase suddenly. Table 5 Gearing Year/days 2010 2011 2012 Industry averages Net Interest cover ratio 4.16 3.96 1.54 2.35 Gross Gearing (D/E) 95.600% 98.050% 111.210% 130.547% 14 3.5 Investment ratio A shareholder can analyse the financial information available to determine if the investment in a company is of value and quality. The price/earnings ratio is the best known investment valuation indicators and used widely by investment professionals and investors. Generally the stock with a high price earnings ratio indicates that investors expect higher earnings growth in the future. The price earnings ratio for Qantas was 12.23 in 2012, 15.90 in 2011 and 29.14 in 2010. A sharp decline of 13.24 was recorded in 2011 due to market confidence in this stock prior to 2011. However the industry average is 12.25 which may suggest that investors may be less likely to

Lessons In Life Essay Example for Free

Lessons In Life Essay When comparing Mother To Son with Mending Wall the message given is that with hard work, either manual or emotional life gives rewards. In Mother To Son the mother wants to pass her knowledge of life to him, that nothing is free and with hard work you will receive the feeling of accomplishments. The mother speaks of her hardships in life, but even with those she has always had hope. Even during the darkest times in her life she never gave up. What greater gift can a mother pass on to her child? The gifts than come from the heart are the greatest. She is trying to let him know that even though she has been climbing all her life she will not give up. Even though the story of Mending Wall focusing on the hard labor that comes once a year to neighbors repairing a common wall between their properties they also share good times together. Good fences make good neighbors. (page 1881) The neighbors speak of hunters that have passed during the year. Their walk of the wall gives each neighbor a time to share and reflect on the past years events with each other. Both stories differ in their style, Mother To Son gives a hidden approach to life. She is trying to give him subtle hits of what the road of life offers. Mending Wall gives a direct approach, its a conversation between neighbors that happens once a year, once it happens they go back to the way they were. Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri, James Langston Hughes was a member of an abolitionist family. His first published poem was also one of his most famous, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, and it appeared in Brownies Book. Later, his poems, short plays, essays and short stories appeared in the NAACP publication Crisis Magazine and in Opportunity Magazine and other  publications.( http://www.redhotjazz.com/hughes.html) Robert Lee Frost was one of Americas leading 20th-century poets and a four-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize. An essentially pastoral poet often associated with rural New England, Frost wrote poems whose philosophical dimensions transcend any region. Although his verse forms are traditionalhe often said, in a dig at archrival Carl Sandburg, that he would as soon play tennis without a net as write free versehe was a pioneer in the interplay of rhythm and meter and in the poetic use of the vocabulary and inflections of everyday speech. His poetry is thus both traditional and experimental, regional and universal. (http://www.robertfrost.org/indexgood.html) Works Cited Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. 2003 http://www.redhotjazz.com/hughes.html http://www.robertfrost.org/indexgood.html

Strength And Conditioning Programme Physical Education Essay

Strength And Conditioning Programme Physical Education Essay Strength and Conditioning is the combination of resistance training and endurance conditioning that is used by athletes and sports teams to improve and assist their performance (Driskell, 1999). Sport specific fitness can include a structured progressive program that could comprise of power, muscular endurance, strength, speed, aerobic or anaerobic conditioning (Steindler, 1955). It has been shown that strength and conditioning programs increase sports performance, producing better athletic results and reducing the incidence of injury (Burrows, 2007). Strength and conditioning programs are suitable for athletes performing at recreational levels, elite levels, sports teams or anyone else looking to ascertain new training methods that might raise their performance capabilities (Baechle Earle, 2000). The aim of this assignment is to undertake a needs analysis for a chosen sport and position and to design and outline a six week training programme suitable for the individual athlete. The assignment will consider periodization as well as an analysis of the macrocycle, mesocycle and microcycle sections of a training programme. The sport and position that will be discussed within this report is football and a central defender. Football is a demanding sports in terms of the effort the players need to put into the game. Football training and conditioning is essential. Players can cover around 8-12km during a match of which 24% is covered by walking, 36% covered by jogging, 20% coursing, 11% sprinting, 7% moving backwards and 2% moving whilst in possession of the ball (Reilly, 1996). Central defenders need a wide range of attributes, which include height, Strength, balance and a good mentality. Saif (2002) claimed that a defender needs to have good concentration during games and also require skill attributes such as tackling and heading. Football players need to have excellent endurance. They require a VO2max that has been reported to range between 55 and 70 ml/kg/min in elite performers (Bangsbo, 1991). The game is played approximately 80-90% of maximum heart rate (Helgerud et al, 2001). The greater a players aerobic capacity, the greater the distance they would cover during a typical game (Reilly Thomas, 1976). Many factors need to be considered to plan and implement a successful training programme. These factors include periodization, macrocycle, mesocycle and microcycle along with other essential phases. These are all factors that need to be taken into account in order for a successful training programme. Periodization is a planned execution of particular training phases (Bompa Haff, 1996). The training during the periodization phase is based on increasing and decreasing the volume of repetitions, time and amount of sets. In addition an increase and decrease in intensity. These measures are implemented when planning a structured training program. An important characteristic of periodization training is the scheduling of a recovery period. The principal attributes of periodization include creativity, tactical preparation and utilization of the recovery (Bompa, 2005). Examples of periodization programmes include, Stepwise where training includes high volume with low intensity and progresses to low volume and high intensity. In addition, Undulating periodization is used. This is where volume and intensity of training are changed throughout the course of a short period of time. Periodization is the most effective form of training when aiming to improve on muscle strength, motor performance and body composition. The macrocycle can be defined by four different components. These components include the number of competitions, dates of competitions, the recovery period between competitions and the preparation period before competition. (Dick, 2002) The microcycle is the smallest part of the overall program as it accounts for only one week of the training. The mesocycle is the part of the year that the athlete is in, for example mesocycle 1 will be the pre-season phase. The macrocycle is the overall program based over a year (Dick, 2002). The Anatomical Adaptation is established at the start of the season or immediately after the transition phase. It is introduced before the season starts as it adapts the body for future strength programs. The aim of this stage is to involve all of the muscle groups which prepare muscle, ligaments, and tendons and joins in preparation for training. These strength programs should look to include all parts of the body such as arms and legs but also for the core area, which includes the lower back, abdomen and spinal column musculature. The muscle areas present support for the arms and legs, to help absorb any shock during exercises that require landing or falling. This period is essential because it generates objective growth of the muscles. Maximum strength phase sets to develop the highest force possible. The training requires the athlete to train at 85-100 percent of 1RM. Many sports require power, muscular endurance or a mixture of both. This phase will last between 1 and 3 months depending on the athletes needs (Bompa, 2005) The conversion phase transforms the maximum strength that has been developed ready to use during competitive. This conversion occurs when specific training is performed. Throughout this phase an assured level of maximum strength must be acquired otherwise power will deteriorate. Weight training is the most appropriate method of doing this. The duration of this period depends on the ability being converted. The customary period is between 4 and 5 weeks. Conversion to muscular endurance is 6-8 weeks due to anatomical changes that take longer to transform (Bompa, 2005). The competition phase consists of work carried out during pre-season and must be maintained to reduce the probability of detraining. If an athlete does not maintain their pre season training then muscle fibres can decrease, power is lost as there is a decrease in motor recruitment and speed which can result in a decrease of power. These decreases can result in poor performance during the season. A transition period is commonly known as the off-season. The aim of this phase is to remove any fatigue a player has developed. It is a method of replenishing the energy systems by decreasing the volume of exercise. This can also be an effective way of reducing the psychological stresses that the player could experience during training and competition. This relaxation period can allow the player to loosen up and rest. Although this period has benefits it should last no longer than 4-6 weeks as there would be great deterioration of the players training. (Bompa, 2005). Training programmes can be developed to aid the development of the player.The goal set to achieve in the training program is to try to improve performance levels. This includes fitness and skill levels. To find the improvements of a player the measurements will be recorded through fitness testing as a marker to distinguish if certain component skills are improving or not (Fleck and Kraemer, 2004). When planning a training programme for a particular sport, Specificity must be considered. This associates to how much difference there is between training and performance. This is very important, as training inappropriately could ultimately have a negative effect on performance. Performance levels are measured through fitness testing. The levels will be assessed prior to the training program and after the training program to see if, there has been any improvement. Alternatively, the program may show signs of a decrease in skill levels because the training program did not work and therefore changes will need to take place to solve the problems immediately (Brooks, 2004). When designing a strength and conditioning program the experience of the player must be taken into account. This is because it would be easier to improve a player at a lower level such as amateur league or Sunday league than a player who is at professional level (Reynolds, 1982). This is because; to improve a professional player other factors must be taken into account such as the attitude of the payer. If the players attitude to improve is good then it will become easier to improve than if the player has a bad attitude towards it however this could also be a factor for amateur players (Magnusen and Rhea, 2009). Strength and conditioning programs must take into account the time of year such as if it is Pre season or in season etc. Moody (2007) suggests The 4 Phases of a football strength training program which includes, off-season, Off-Season/Early Pre-Season, Late Pre-Season and In-season. During the off season players should look to build functional strength. Football like any sport, places a lot of demand on the body. Most players kick the ball with a predominat foot and using the same motor patterns, some muscles develop more than others. Some joints are also experience more stress than others. The goals of this phase are to prepare the joints, muscles, ligaments and tendons for more intense work in subsequent phases. With a good foundation to build on after phase one the player is prepared to move into phase 2 which is the off-Season/early pre-season period where they set to build maximal strength. The goal of this phase is to develop the highest force possible. Since power is our overall outcome, it makes sense to develop strength first and then convert it into football specific power. The aim is to complete this phase before the start of the season. That way the latter stages of pre-season training can focus on power and strength endurance training. Phase three is the late pre-season muscular power and strength endurance. In this phase of football strength training, goal is to convert your strength gains into soccer-specific power and muscular endurance. Football is one of the few sports demands roughly equal amounts of explosive force and strength endurance. Plyometric training and/or circuit training should replace sessions in the weight room for this phase. It will last roughly 4-6 weeks depending on your schedule. Phase four is the in-season maintenance which aims to maintain the gains youve made during a strenuous pre-season period without over reaching or over training. This is not one big, continuous phase in your soccer strength training routine. Because the competitive season can last up to 9 months, it should be split up so the strength routine is in smaller cycles. Periodization of a player to perform maximally at competition level is crucial at times. For example, if the England team try to get maximum performance out of a midfielder for a world cup in four years time, they should make use of a young midfielder of 22, who would then be more of a mature player at 26 when the world cup begins. This Periodization is a long-term assessment; but for the amateur player a short-term assessment will be made (Bompa and Carrera, 2005) The program will focus on training pre-season for the player so that the player is prepared for the new season in our training program. In addition, the competitive status of which the player will be training for is the amateur league so it will be competitive for the player and with in reason. The strength of the player will need to be improved through free weights, as in a game situation the player will not be supported by any machines. Muscle groups that are a key in the sport are lower body muscles such as the quadriceps and hamstrings. The movements that will be involved with this are a squat position to strengthen quadriceps, hamstrings and calves. This may need to be done through maximum power. Tackles that the player makes needs to be explosive although the athlete also needs to be able to do this through out the 90 minutes. Upper strength also needs to be maintained to be able to keep balance and be strong enough to jostle for the ball and gain possession. Another key skill component that will be needed is maintaining cardiovascular endurance. This is maintained by running on a regular basis in an environment, which the player would be performing. This is so that the player is aware of the environment and surroundings. Although working in a regular environment can help with the development of the player, the use of treadmills can also be efficient. Kravitz et al (1996) has shown that heart rate levels are higher with the use of treadmills than is an athlete uses a cycle. These findings suggest that the player would work harder when using a treadmill than training outdoors. To assess an athletes performance fitness tests can be introduced to identify strengths and weaknesses. When tests are complete, the player can then assess what skill components they need to improve on and what needs to be maintained. It is important to decide the most suitable fitness test, which can be used to measure these skill components. After the tests are identified data can be collected so that analysis can be made to see where the weaknesses and strength are obtained. After this analysis decisions can be made as to what exercises are needed to create the training programme. Before any training can proceed, a medical of the player must be undertaken. This is to make sure they have no illnesses that can harm them during their training (Waehner, 2010) The facilities in which the player or a team may train in can vary a persons ability to train. For example, if a player is training their football skills in the rain on outdoor grass, then it can become very difficult to train indoors as the difference in the environment can affect their ability. Although training outdoors in the rain can be off putting. However it can also be an advantage because it replicates playing in a competitive game where the weather conditions vary. When assessing the individuals performance we need to fitness test them, so by doing this we are going to assess their cardiovascular system. This can be done by the 12-minute cooper test, which is a field test, which measures how far a person can travel in 12 minutes. This will be done prior to the training program and 6 weeks after the programme to see if there are any improvements within 6 weeks. This will be the same with all the fitness tests that are included to measure the skill components. Next thing we need to asses is muscular power. We can do this by fitness testing one repetition max test. There are a number of exercises we could use to test this fitness component such as handgrip dynamometer and maximum bench press. The exercise we will be using for this is a squat as it improves lower body for tackling and needs explosive power when in a need for short bursts in a game situation. Before a training programme can be created, the following training principles should be used. The principle is abbreviated to S.P.O.R.T which stands for, Specificity, Progression, Overload, Reversibility and Tedious as a way of guiding my training program. Specificity is the principle of training that states that sports training should be relevant and appropriate to the sport for which the individual is training in order to produce a training effect (Triplett, 2006) The athlete is going to be training over a 6-week period prior to the new football season. It is important to emphasise the cardiovascular system whilst maintaining key component skill factors. Trying to improve Muscular Power is also a key factor so that the player can sharpen up and be more explosive ready for the new season. The Principle of Progression implies that there is an optimal level of overload that should be achieved, and an optimal period for this overload to occur (Shepard, 2009). For the athlete to progress when training cardiovascular endurance, he will start off at a level that he is comfortable with and is able to perform such as running for a 10-minute period. For the progression, the athlete can add on 30 seconds each time he runs. Therefore, the next time this athlete runs it will be 10 minutes and 30 seconds, then 11 minutes and so on. To progress when performing muscular power exercises the athlete could add on an extra 2.5kg every session. This is because if the athlete added to much extra weight they could become injured so progress made should be slower. This should only be prepared if and when the athlete feels, it is possible. If the athlete struggles with the weight, it is highly unlikely that the player will be able to lift anything heavier. The principle of overload states that a greater than normal stress or load on the body is required for training adaptation to take place (Kavanaugh, 2007). To make sure that the athlete does not over load on his training programme we will be organising a programme that includes three training sessions a week for a 6-week period. This can reduce the risk of the player becoming fatigued and unable to train. The Reversibility Principle dictates that athletes lose the effects of training when they stop working out. Conversely, it also means that detraining effects can be reversed when they resume training (Powers et al, 2006). When a player has started to progress their skill levels, they could become injured. If injury occurs, reversibility is a big factor that can affect progress. If the player trains three times during a week and sticks to the training program then this should not be a problem. It is much harder to get back into the fitness levels that you once were if reversibility sets in. This is in particular a big vulnerability when working with cardiovascular endurance. Tedium commonly occurs in those who regularly perform monotonous exercise routines. Unlike fatigue, boredom leads to a lack of desire to exercise, rather than an inability to exercise. Boredom is one of the main reasons why people stop exercising and drop out of sport. It can be avoided if the type and location of exercise is varied, if achievable but challenging targets are set, and if exercise is made more fun (Baechle and Earle, 2000). Boredom sets in when the training program becomes the same every week and there are no goals or challenges for the player to try to achieve. If a training program becomes to boring for a player they may become jaded and therefore it will be very difficult for them to stick to the training program and be motivated for future sessions. When designing a training program it is important to make sure that the coach assesses the situation of the athlete and starts the program at the level the athlete has reached. For example, if an athlete is at a low level of training then the coach must start the program with easier ability exercises. The emphasis on the first week of the program is to get the athlete ready and motivated to become active. To achieve this, the program will include high intensity training to get the athlete ready and prepared for the new season and the program will start with Cardiovascular Endurance Training. The skill of the player will also need to be tested and this can be performed by the 12 minutes cooper run and finding out how far the player can run over a 12-minute period. The results are assessed after the test to create a suitable starting time for this player. The player will start running at 10 minutes. This will then be done 3 times in the first week whilst adding 30 seconds on each time. In addition, muscular power will also be assessed. To perform this test the player will use weight training and perform squats. Adams et al (1992) found that squats exercises enhance power production, which is why we are using squats as the main exercise in producing muscular power. The player will start off at a weight he can lift and add on 2.5k each time. This will overload the progression of muscular power. Low weights with high repetition would increase muscular endurance and high weights with low repetition would increase muscular strength, so we need to try to avoid this and balance the weight distribution evenly to try to increase muscular power. Firstly we need to fitness test his ability and by doing this we will do a maximum repetition max test on how many this player can squat. One set of ten squats at a high intensity, which would be a high weight so that muscular power can be strengthened. The following weeks are set for a progression from week one and to maintain football skills and team work the players must attend club training sessions which is held once a week for an hour and a half. When the player reaches the final week of the programme, he should feel fit and ready to perform at a high level. His skill levels should be higher as well as his attitude and motivation, this then acts as an indicator to show he is ready to compete in a competitive game situation for the new season ahead. The final cardiovascular training session should consist of a 12 minute cooper run again to find out if the player has improved or not. My prediction would be that the player would run further this time than he did the first time he ran the 12-minute cooper run, if the results show an improvement then the training program has been efficient. The Athlete should also repeat a muscular endurance test. The one repetition max test should be carried out during the last session to see if the player has improved. In conclusion, Strength and conditioning programmes can be very useful to the progression of an athlete. Whilst other methods of training have been found useful, a well-designed programme has been shown to improve an athletes ability greatly (Burrows, 2007). This could be because the athlete knows exactly what is needed from them and exactly when the effort is needed. The structured plan can give a big confidence boost for the athlete therefore, they will be eager to test their ability with the addition of a test to improve their ability for the season ahead. With the programme set up the athletes and coaches, can set targets and the athlete can then work within the programme to reach the goals. With a well-organised and constructive programme, improvements should be found. When improvements are not found, this indicates that the programme was not successful therefore; a revised programme must be made to aid the athlete. I feel that there would be great improvements in the athletes ability because the programme sets out to achieve goals that were set and was specific to what the athlete needed to work on. No ineffective training was performed leaving the athlete training only what was needed to play at a higher level of football that before the programme.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Myself :: Personal Narrative, Essay About Myself

Ariel and Marie were sisters. Marie was two years younger than Ariel, one year younger than me, and I fit between them nicely, in age as well as personality. They lived in two different hemispheres of existence, and I hovered around the equator, bouncing from pole to pole depending on which sister I was with. For me, Ariel was the personification of cool. Even her name was cooler than mine. My name was wooden, it fell to the ground with a thump, but Ariel's danced. When she scratched the energetic verticals of her name--Ariel Acosta--the letters became edgy and hip. My swirling cursive seemed clichÃ… ½ in comparison. I liked hanging out with Ariel because she made me feel cool too. I was insecure with my conformity. I felt guilty that I owned clothes from the Gap, that I had cried at Titanic, that I worried about my hair. With Ariel I felt validated. If Ariel thought I was cool, well, then maybe I was. Ariel was everything I wanted to be. She was brilliant, and she seemed to know something about everything worth knowing about. She shopped at thrift stores and wore big black boots and clothes that didn't match and her thin blond hair was spiky and went every which way. She played the violin and the piano. She was a photographer. She went to Guatemala for the summer. She was into hardcore, ska, punk, and everything "indie," she was straight edge and went to lots of shows. She dated guys much older than she. She liked Vietnamese food and watched soccer on the Spanish-language station. Ariel was unpredictable, and I loved discovering new facets of her personality. She often seemed lost in her thoughts, which I was convinced were deeper than mine, and I was always dying to hear them; to be admitted into the club of deep thinkers. Ever her fallibilities were infallible to me; even the dorky things were cool when she did them. (She confided in me about her profound childhood love for New Kids on the Block--Jordan was her favorite.) We went to used CD stores, where I loved the bargain bin and the soothing click click sound of the practiced browser hunting for gems. She introduced me to Pho, Vietnamese noodle soup, and I was incredibly relieved that I actually liked it. This was hope for what I saw as my bland and unsophisticated palate, which preferred pizza and mashed potatoes to more worldly cuisine.

Themes of Love and Revenge in Shakespeares Hamlet Essay -- Shakespear

Themes of Love and Revenge in Shakespeare's Hamlet Love is one of the most powerful themes in Hamlet, but a superior force - REVENGE, drives Hamlet's love. Revenge of his father's murder. Hamlet is confused and melancholic over the fact that his mother married his own uncle and so quickly after his father's death. Even though he does not immediately suspect foul play in his father's untimely death, he is in a state of shock. As Kenneth Muir states, "He (Hamlet) is profoundly shocked by Gertrude's marriage to his uncle in less than two months after her first husband's death, although he has no conscious suspicion that his father has been murdered or that his mother had committed adultery." The ghost scene seems to fuel Hamlet's revenges of his father's murder, but also, as we will discuss later this scene confuses Hamlet. Hamlet's revenge of his father's murder is successful, but very costly. Hamlet pays the ultimate price of his mother's, his sweetheart Ophelia's, his friend's and his own life to accomplish this revenge. Hamlet's revenge for his father's murder begins just after the ghost scene, were Hamlet meets his fathers ghost and is told of the murder. Hamlet's father tell him to revenge his murder "Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder" (I, v, 25). Hamlet's response is to swear "that I, with wings as swift As meditation or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge."(I, v, 29-31). Hamlet is now determined, even inspired to a rapid revenge. Hamlet is confused with his fathers death and is suspicious of foul play, but even after the ghost scene Hamlets seems to be vacillating between actuality (Was his father murder by his uncle?) and manic depression. Hamlet even goes as far as considering suicide. "... ...ve his final revenge. "Hamlet's revenge has led him to wanton and meaningless slaughter. He may have ultimately won the battle within himself, but he dies with the blood of eight men on his hands, five of them innocent victims, helpless bystanders who were pointlessly struck down because they came between two mighty opposites. Hamlet's revenge has led to the destruction of two entire families and to the abandonment of the State to a foreign adventurer." BIBLIOGRAPHY Hoy, C. HAMLET William Shakespeare, New York, 1963 Prosser, E. HAMLET & REVENGE, Stanford, 1971 Wilson, J. What happens in HAMLET, New York, 1964 Muir, K. SHAKESPREARE Hamlet, London, 1983 Cantor, P. Landmarks of World Literature SHAKESPEARE Hamlet, New York, 1989 Farnham, W. HAMLET PRINCE OF DENMARK, New York, 1985 Mercer, P. HAMLET and the Acting of Revenge, London, 1987

Tim Burtons style Essay --

Tim burton is inventive when he directs movies that are not mainstream.In the movies Charlie and the chocolate factory and Edward scissorhands, Tim Burton uses shots and framing, sound, and lighting to create hesitancy and anxiety in the audience. Tim Burton keeps his audience on their toes through the whole movie. Suspense is around every corner. Shots and framing is one cinematic technique that Tim Burton using in his movies. Tim Burton in Edward Scissorhands uses extreme close-ups to create worry in his audience example when Peg turned her mirror and sees Edwards house all you can see is just what she can see, and we can anticipate that she is going to go to his house. This creates a dark and worryfull feeling because we can see just his house alone ,dark on the hill. Tim Burton in Edward Scissorhands use is shot reverse shot and the opening scene when we see both point of views from the grandma looking at Edwards house, Edwards view looking out at them. This makes the reader have anxiety because they want to know more about Edward and why is snow is because of him or why dark ...

Al Qaeda 4

Paper 1 – Al-Qaeda 10/19/10 It would not at all be surprising if this decade comes to be known as the decade of terrorism in years to come. Since the turn of the millennium, terrorism, maybe more than any other global issue or topic, has plagued the world stage with constant news and horror. It can be argued that terrorism is a problem with no solution and no end in sight. The Islamic militant group, Al-Qaeda, is the most well known terrorist organization in the world.Al-Qaeda has been held accountable for some of the most tragic and horrifying acts of terror in history. Still, many people do not fully understand what Al-Qaeda is, who is behind it, and why it exists. A fluid, agreed-upon definition does not exist for the extremist organization, run by Osama bin Laden and responsible for the September 11th terrorist attacks, but rather a multitude of beliefs on the number, strength, and whereabouts of Al-Qaeda. Most researchers and historians point to August 11th, 1988 as the o rigin of Al-Qaeda as an organized group.However, it was the events leading up to this meeting that caused Osama bin Laden and a small group of extremist leaders to officially organize what had grown into a large, strong Islamic following. From December 1979 through February 1989, the Soviet Union was engaged in a war with Afghanistan. The communist Soviet Union allied with the Afghan Marxist regime in order to fight the native Afghan mujahideen (Burke and Allen). The United States channeled funds to the native Afghanis in order to stop the spread of communism by the Soviet Union in a CIA program called Operation Cyclone.There are many people today that are of the belief that it was this CIA program that kick started Al-Qaeda, and that the US was directly responsible for the growth and success of the same terrorist organization that executed the most devastating attack on US soil (Dixon). Once the war ended, Osama bin Laden met with the leader of the Egyptian Islamic-Jihad, Abdullah Azzam and planned to expand their newly founded organization. Al-Qaeda relocated to Sudan from 1992 to 1996.During this time, Al-Qaeda grew through various forms of terrorist attacks, until the Saudi Arabian government exiled Osama bin Laden and forced him and his followers to once again relocate to avoid conflict (Bergen). After the Soviets left Afghanistan, there was a period of great turmoil and anarchy that took hold. There was no established form of government, and many separate groups claimed the rights to certain territories throughout the country. This was the perfect time for bin Laden and Al-Qaeda to return home and regain power in Afghanistan.They teamed up with the Taliban, an organization that garnered its strength through the education and training of children. The Taliban had been the most successful group to rise to power, and many recognized them as the governing entity in Afghanistan. With the protection and support from the Taliban, bin Laden was able to mobilize and organize Al-Qaeda into a dominant and strategically planned terrorist organization (Burke and Allen). Al-Qaeda’s mission has been summarized as â€Å"centralization of decision and decentralization of execution. In other words, bin Laden hoped to form a group in which he and a few close advisors would set out guidelines and make decisions for the smaller cells that would then spread around throughout the world and execute his attacks. Structurally, Al-Qaeda is formed just like any other corporation, with senior executives at the top and then smaller, less powerful roles towards the bottom. Bin Laden is the emir, which is the highest power in the organization, almost king-like. Ayman al-Zawahiri is Al-Qaeda's Deputy Operations Chief, and is known as bin Laden’s second in command.Similar to other organizations and corporations, Al-Qaeda has several divisions that handle issues specific to their role. First, the Military Operative is the most destructive and infamous . It is responsible for training soldiers, acquiring weapons, and planning attacks around the world. Second, the Money/Business Committee is responsible for providing the funding for the training operatives and attacks, using the hawala banking system (informal value transfer system that is not used in the United States).The Law Committee rules on whether certain actions follow Islamic law. The Islamic Study/Fatwa Committee issues religious edicts, also known as fatwas, that the rest of the organization and even the territory it controls must follow. For example, in 1998, Al-Qaeda issued a fatwa that all Muslims should kill any American if given the chance. The most recent addition to Al-Qaeda has been the formation of As-Sahab, Al-Qaeda’s media outlet that supplies video and audio recordings and sends them out to the rest of the world (Inside Al-Qaeda).Tapes of bin Laden have been released to the United States where he takes responsibility for the September 11th attacks, as well as numerous other hateful speeches about the evils of Western culture and perceived Muslim intolerance. Although there is a large following of people that believe Al-Qaeda has been dismantled and broken down since the War on Terror, evidence still points to a structurally organized and strategically planned organization in which each department works in conjunction with each other to carry out acts of terror.Osama bin Laden is advised by a Shura Council, estimated to consist of twenty to thirty members, who make plans and decisions for the entire organization. They recently released a document called â€Å"Al-Qaeda’s Strategy to the Year 2020† in which they outlined their military, political, and religious goals for the organization in the upcoming years. The strategy can be summarized into five stages. First, provoke the United States into invading a Muslim country. This was successfully executed once the United States invaded Afghanistan following the September 11th attacks.Second, incite local resistance to occupying forces. This way, Al-Qaeda creates the enemy and turns the natives against the foreign invaders, thereby leaving them as the only reliable solution to restore â€Å"peace†. Third, engage surrounding countries in the war so that the United States is trapped in a â€Å"long war of attrition†. Fourth, convert Al-Qaeda into a set of operating principles and ideologies that can be franchised into smaller countries and smaller cells. Then, these cells will engage the United States and its allies until they can no longer fight and must withdraw.Al-Qaeda was able to do this with the 2004 Madrid train bombings, but failed to impact British involvement with the July 7, 2005 London bombings. Finally, the fifth stage, which has thankfully yet to occur, is that the United States’ economy will crumble due to too many engagements in too many areas, and any allied nations supported by the United States will fall as well. Al-Qaeda will then be able to take control and set up the desired form of government, a Wahabi Caliphate, throughout the region (Atwan).Al-Qaeda has been responsible for several acts of terror in the 1990’s and 2000’s that were designed with the intent of furthering Al-Qaeda’s mission. In 1992, Al-Qaeda successfully executed its first terrorist attack. Two bombs were detonated in Aden, Yemen. The first target was Movenpick Hotel and the second was the parking lot of the Goldmohur Hotel. Although no Americans were killed and it went with little notice in the United States, the attack did signify the first attack on Western culture by Al-Qaeda.Then, in 1993, Ramzi Yousef used a truck bomb to explode one of the World Trade Center towers. The plan was that the bomb would crumble the foundation of the first tower, sending it into the second tower and resulting in the collapse of both. Although the plan did not work to perfection, it did kill six people and put Al-Qa eda on the radar as a potential threat to American security. There were several other attacks in the late 1990’s, such as the bombing of the U. S. S. Cole, a military destroyer based off of Yemen that killed 17 US servicemen (Terrorism Project).However, no attack in history has come close to the tragedy of September 11th, 2001. The September 11th attacks were the culmination and result of Al-Qaeda’s growth, organization, and mission. Once bin Laden was able to mobilize the extremist followers, he was ready to execute the first stage of its mission strategy. On September 11th, Al-Qaeda hijacked four commercial airliners. The hijackers flew two planes into both towers of the World Trade Center, eventually collapsing both towers into debris and destruction.Another plane crashed into the Pentagon, and a fourth was originally intended for Washington, D. C. , but crash-landed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. These attacks left 3,000 people dead and countless injured, allowing i t to be the worst attack in American history (Bin Laden). Following the attacks, an extreme sense of national unity erupted in the United States, and George Bush’s administration had no choice but to wage war against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban regime. The War on Terror began on October 7, 2001 with the first set of US troops landing in Afghanistan.The original plan was executed swiftly and successfully, and by early 2002, Al-Qaeda had been dealt a serious blow. Many of its top executives and leaders were either captured or killed, and many of its training facilities and bases were destroyed. By the end of 2004, the United States government estimated that two-thirds of Al-Qaeda’s most senior figures had been captured and interrogated by the CIA. However, Osama bin Laden was able to escape each attempt at capture, and is still believed to be hiding out in an undisclosed location.Overall, the initial strike in the War on Terror was deemed a success, even though the aftermat h has divided the nation and raised serious questions about the United States’ involvement in the Middle East (9/11 Commission Report). The world changed forever on September 11th, 2001. Aside from the tragic consequences and the unfathomable death toll, a new evil was officially born into the world. There had been terrorist attacks before, but none that shook the United States, and the world stage, as much as September 11th did. As a result, this decade has been plagued by fear of terror.New organizations and strategies have emerged that solely engage in counter-terrorist activities. Airport security has been completely revamped following an extreme fear in almost all Americans that caused aviation activity to decrease significantly after the attacks. So, after all that Al-Qaeda has been accused of, and after all the intense fear that spread throughout the country, why is it that there are still such differing beliefs and theories on Al-Qaeda? Why do some people believe that , for the most part, it has become a brand name that smaller terrorist groups use, but in reality have no real affiliation with the defeated organization?And on the other hand, why are there people who strongly contest these views and believe that Al-Qaeda is still a functioning, organized militia run by Osama bin Laden? I am not sure whether there is a right or wrong answer, but a serious concern in the minds of both beliefs is that terrorism, as a threat, could be one that proves insolvable.Works Cited â€Å"The 9/11 Commission Report. † National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Web. 15 Oct. 2010. . Atwan, Abdel Bari. The Secret History of Al-Qaeda. Los Angeles, California: University of California, 2006. Google Books. Bergen, Peter. â€Å"The Osama Bin Laden I Know. Internet Archive: Wayback Machine. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. . â€Å"Bin Laden Claims Responsibility for 9/11. † CBC News. Web. 15 Oct. 2010. . Burke, Jason, and Paddy Allen. â€Å"The Five Ages of Al-Qaida. † Latest News, Comment and Reviews from the Guardian | Guardian. co. uk. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. . Dixon, Norm. â€Å"How the CIA Created Osama Bin Laden. † Green Left Weekly. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. . â€Å"Inside the Alqaeda Terrorist Network. † Middle East: MidEastWeb. Web. 15 Oct. 2010. . â€Å"List of Known Terrorist Organizations. † CDI – Center for Defense Information – Security Policy Research Organization. Web. 15 Oct. 2010. .

Laughter Is the Best Medicine Essay

I. IntroductionA. Humour has good mend power and it is good for you.B. Dr. Lee Berk and fellow queryer Dr. Stanley Tan of Loma Linda University in calcium have been analyzeing the effects of gag on the immune system. C. To date their publish studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces line hormones, summations muscle flexion, and boosts immune function by raising levels of infection-fighting T-cells, disease-fighting proteins called Gamma-interferon and B-cells, which produce disease-destroying antibodies. D. jape withal triggers the release of endorphins, the torsos vivid painkillers, and produces a habitual sense of salutary-being. E. joke is the trump out medicine.II. Bodysee to a greater extentlaughter is the outgo medicine wordA. laughter activates the Immune System.1. First step in hinta. In their conceive, the physiological solution produced by belly laughter was pivotal of what is seen in classical stress, supporting the decision tha t mirthful laughter is a eustress utter a state that produces healthy or positive emotions. Research results indicate that, afterwards exposure to humor, there is a general increase in activeness at bottom the immune system. b. An increase in da Gamma interferon, which ordains various components of the immune system to term of enlistment on. c. An increase in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that approach viral septic cells and some types of under cheekcer and tumor cells. d. An increase in excited T cells (T lymphocytes).There are many an(prenominal) T cells that await activation. Laughter appears to tell the immune system to turn it up a nonch. e. An increase in the antibody immunoglobulin A (immunoglobulin A), which fights upper respiratory tract insults and infections. f. An increase in IgB, the immunoglobulin produced in the superior quantity in body, as well as an increase in balance 3, which dish ups antibodies to pierce dysfunctional or i nfected cells. The increase in both substances was not only present while subjects watched a humor video there as well as was a lingering effect that go along to show increased levels the next day. B. Laughter decreases stress hormones.2. First sub pointa. The results of the study also supported research indicating a general decrease in stress hormones that constrict blood vessels and beat immune activity. These were shown to decrease in the study group exposed to humor. b. Laughing is aerobic, providing a workout for the diaphragm and increasing the bodys ability to use oxygen. c. Laughter brings in positive emotions that can prove not replace conventional treatments. d. whence it is another tool available to help fight the disease. Experts believe that, when used as an adjunct to conventional care, laughter can reduce pain and aid the meliorate process. For one thing, laughter offers a sizable distraction from pain. e. In a study published in the Journal of holistic Nursi ng, patients were told one-liners after surgery and before odious medication were administered. Those exposed to humor perceived less pain when compared to patients who didnt contain a dose of humor as part of their therapy. Perhaps, the biggest benefit of laughter is that it is thaw and has no known negative side effects.III. ConclusionA. legion(predicate) of us look awkward in joking in front of terminally ill patients. Many may even consider it distant or insensitive. However, it has been known scientifically that the best thing you can do to your friends is to win a humorous environment and permit them forget about their condition. Sitting and sprightliness sorry for their condition will not help them much. B. Laughter really is the best medicine.Sources* http//www.holisticonline.com/Humor_Therapy/humor_therapy_benefits.htm * -Top of Form

Procurement and supply chain management Essay

This payoff is come to with the vital subject of c every last(predicate)ing logistics and l rarity stove engineerion, an bea that s in extensionge be essential to a signs combative strategy and r withalue generation. This tensioning atomic number 18a has been described by numerous names, including personal dispersion, bodilys focus, deportationation caution, logistics, and succeed cosmic string circumspection. germane(predicate) disdain activities whitethorn take on iodine or much of the following argonas tape drive, coat up, baseb t bulge ensemble club affect, purchasing, w atomic number 18housing, sensibles handling, packaging, guest performance standards, and drudgery.The focus of this matter is on the thinkning, organizing, and get a lineling of these activities describe elements for successful wariness in any ecesis. surplus emphasis is given to strategic preparation and last making as an distinguished berth of the coun tr ansfering subroutine. Managerial efforts be directed towards orbit the direct up aim of the logistics activities so as to install harvestings and servicing gettable to clients at the clip and address required, and in the build and random variable bankd, in the nigh profitable and salute- in effect(p) way.Logistical activities waste al shipway been vital to giving medications, and so crease logistics and come forth concatenation perplexity represents a synthesis of umteen thoughts, principles, and modes from the more traditional atomic number 18as of merchandise, produceion, accounting, purchasing, and transportation, as intimately as from the disciplines of utilize mathematics, organizational behaviour, and economics. This Publication attempts to unify these elements to drive in the effectual solicitude of the bring ambit.The Publication aims to present compositions, principles and techniques that ar aboriginal to wide-cut worry logistic s practice. It concent grade on definitive activities of counsel such(prenominal) as planning, organizing, and tameling, and as salubrious on a triangle of interrelated transportation, enrolment, and location strategies, which ar at the heart of ingenuous logistics planning and decision making. coeval tr wind ups that proceed the domain and practice of handicraft logistics and deliver d freshstring anxiety pick out been corporate into the automobile trunk of the text.Firstly, emphasis is get offd on logistics and publish strand focus in a worldwide declineting to reflect the growing internationalization and globalization of communication channel in general. Secondly, the shift towards assistant-oriented economies by industrialized nations is express by showing how logistics concepts and principles atomic number 18 applicable to rough(prenominal) work-producing tirms and convergence-producing ones. Thirdly, perplexity is given to the integrated care of tack orbit activities. 1 LSCTMMOD1 aim for a disembarrass imitation of our prospectus give by airmail, telephone, telecommunicate or email, or via our website Britain. world(prenominal) home office College House, Leoville, jersey JE3 2DB, Britain autotype +44 (0)1534 485485 netmail datarmationcambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk The Publication contains many virtual(a) and contemporary examples that show the applicability of the textual textile and assist in the curbment and learning of the discoer vizors and concepts.Each Chapter in this Cambridge foreign College Publication on Logistics, Chain put up & go Management includes An introduction section Examples and/or figures and diagrams to excuse the concepts being c everywhereed A summary of utmost comments Review Questions designed to reinforce learning and reflectivity of what is covered in the Chapter Advice on How to Study this chopine Every individual CIC Member approa ches his/her exact in a different manner, and different people whitethorn energize a particular accept method that they find most effective for them.However, the following is a tested and proven Study Method, suggested to you as a CIC Member in pasture to assist in making your study and learning easier and enjoyable and to assist you to quickly master the contents of this CIC Publication on Logistics, Chain fork over & Transport Management cadence 1 Set yourself a flexible study schedule, depending on the clipping you prepargon unattached and what is lift out for you. For example, the target set could be to study for 1 or 2 hours a night, or for 8 or 9 hours a week, or to virtuoso(a) one Chapter every 2 weeks. on that point is no set or compulsory schedule, exactly hardly put a schedule or death is often an authoritative action in ensuring that study is under pipn successfully and at bottom the specified sentenceframe. tint 2 Read the whole of the first Chapte r at your expression reading pace, without exhausting to memorise every matter covered or fact stated, but trying to get the feel of what is dealt with in the Chapter as a whole. Step 3 Start reading the Chapter once again from the beginning, this succession reading more slowly, paragraph by paragraph and section by section.Make sketch line of reasonings of any points, sentences, paragraphs or sections which you feel deal your nurture study, consideration or thought. You whitethorn wish to af unswerving any nones in a collapse single file or none bulk. Try to absorb and memorise on the whole the important topics covered. Step 4 Start reading the Chapter again from its start, this condemnation paying particular attention to and if necessary studying more thoroughly those split on which you earlier wrote nones for further study. It is outmatch that you do non pass on to former(a)wise part or topics until you atomic number 18 plastered you fully agnize and remember those parts you earlier noted as requiring your special attention.Try to fix everything taught steadyly in your mind. 2 LSCTMMOD1 load for a emancipate written matter of our course catalogue earmark by airmail, telephone, facsimile machine or email, or via our website Britain. world(prenominal) home plate College House, Leoville, tee shirt JE3 2DB, Britain facsimile +44 (0)1534 485485 email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk Step 5 There be self-assessment review questions at the end of the Chapter, and you ar strongly advised to try to process or intend astir(predicate) them as best you cigargontte but do not ship your answers to the College.If these questions/exercises risquelight any argonas that you feel you need to revision or re-read in the Chapter, then go frontwards and do that before moving on to Step 6. Step 6 Once you throw away realised steps 1 to 5 above, move on to the next Chapter and repeat steps 1 to 5 fo r sever completelyy subsequent Chapter. 3 LSCTMMOD1 guide for a freehanded double of our Prospectus hold back by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain. transnational Headquarters College House, Leoville, tee shirt JE3 2DB, Britain fax +44 (0)1534 485485 telecommunicate infocambridgetraining.com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk LOGISTICS, SUPPLY fibril & TRANSPORT MANAGEMENT political program MODULE ONE BUSINESS LOGISTICS/SUPPLY CHAIN A VITAL SUBJECT (based on Chapter 1 of Logistics, Supply Chain and Transport Management by Ronald H Ball(a)ou) Contents Introduction lineage Logistics define The Supply Chain The Activity aggregate richness of Logistics/Supply Chain (SC) Costs ar substantive Logistics client Service Expectations Are Increasing Supply and Distribution Lines Are Lengthening with great complexity Logistics/SC Is Important to StrategyLogistics/SC Adds operative Customer Value Customers Increasingly Want Quick, Customized ch emical reaction Logistics/SC in Non-Manufacturing Areas Service Industry host Environment Business Logistics/SC in the dissolute Objectives of Business Logistics/SC Questions and Problems Introduction As further back up as register records, the computables that people treasured were not evermore produced where they wanted to go with and through with(predicate) and through and through them, or these graves were not accessible when people wanted to consume them. Food and other commodities were widely dispersed and were further obtainable in abundance at certain measure of the year.Early peoples had the choice of consuming obedients at their conterminous location or moving the nices to a preferred site and storing them for later use. However, because no well developed transportation and storage trunks yet existed, the parkway of goods was expressage to what an individual could personally move, and storage of decayable commodities was possible for only a short time. This especial(a) movement-storage system generally constrained people to put out close to the sources of takings and to consume a preferably narrow range of goods.Even today, in or so parts of the world consumption and outpution take place only within a very limited geographic part. Striking examples grass still be observed in the developing nations of Asia, South America, Australia, and Africa, where some of the population live in small, self- fitted villages, and most of the goods needed by the residents are produced or acquired in the immediate vicinity. Few goods are imported from other areas. Therefore, fruit efficiency and the economic standard of keep are generally low.In this type of economy, a well-developed and inexpensive logistics system would encourage an telephone exchange of goods with other producing areas of the country, or level the world. 4 LSCTMMOD1 lodge for a FREE counterpart of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via ou r website Britain. transnational Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk As logistics systems improved, consumption and harvest-tideionion began to crack geographically.Regions would alter in those commodities that could be produced most in force(p)ly. Excess resultion could be shipped economically to other producing (or consuming) areas, and needed goods not produced locally were imported. This exchange process follows the principle of comparative degree improvement. This same principle, when applied to world markets, helps to explain the high aim of international business that takes place today. in force(p) logistics systems allow world businesses to take advantage of the fact that lands, and the people who occupy them, are not evenly yieldive.Logistics is the very middle of trade. It contributes to a higher(prenominal)(prenominal) economic standa rd of living for us all. To the individual profligate operating in a high-level economy, good centering of logistics activities is vital. Markets are often national or international in scope, whereas business may be concentrated at relatively hardly a(prenominal) points. Logistics activities provide the bridge mingled with production and market locations that are separated by time and distance. Effective management of these activities is the major concern of this Program. Business Logistic beBusiness logistics is a relatively wise field of integrated management study in resemblance with the traditional fields of finance, selling, and production. As previously noted, logistics activities scram been carried out by individuals for many years. Businesses also build continually engaged in movestore (transportation-inventory) activities. The upstartness of the field results from the concept of coordinated management of the related activities, sooner than the historical prac tice of managing them separately, and the concept that logistics adds honor to products or gos that are essential to node satisfaction and gross sales.Although co-ordinated logistics management has not been generally practiced until recently, the idea of co-ordinated management can be traced back to at least 1844. In the writings of Jules Dupuit, a French engineer, the idea of trading one cost for another (transportation be for inventory cost) was evident in the filling mingled with road and water transport The fact is that articulated lorry by road being quicker, more authorized and less subject to loss or damage, it possesses advantage to which businessmen often attach a goodly order.However, it may well be that a salvage induces the merchant to use a canal he can buy warehouses and increase his floating big(p) in devote to suck a sufficient add together of goods on hand to protect himself against gracelessness and irregularity of the canal, and if all told the sa ving in transport gives him a cost advantage, he ordain learn in favour of the new route. The first textual matter to suggest the benefits of co-ordinated logistics management appeared around 1961, in part explaining why a generally accepted rendering of business logistics is still emerging.Therefore, it is worth era to explore several(prenominal) renderings for the scope and content of the subject. A dictionary comment of the line logistics is The branch of armament science having to do with procuring, maintaining, and transporting cloth, personnel, and facilities. This definition puts logistics into a soldiers context. To the extent that business objectives and activities differ from those of the military, this definition does not capture the essence of business logistics management.A damp representation of the field may be reflected in the definition proclaim by the Council of Logistics Management (CLM), a professional organization of logistics 5 LSCTMMOD1 Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain. International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk managers, educators, and practitioners formed in 1962 for the purposes of continuing education and fostering the interchange of ideas.Its definition Logistics is that part of the grant mountain range process that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective arise and storage of goods, improvements, and related data from the point of origin to the point of consumption in order to meet nodes requirements. This is an excellent definition, conveying the idea that product flows are to be managed from the point where they exist as afflictive materials to the point where they are last-placely discarded. Logistics is also implicated with the flow of serve as well as physiological goods, an area of growing hazard for improvement.It also suggests that logistics is a process, meaning that it includes all the activities that have an impact on making goods and services available to customers when and where they wish to acquire them. However, the definition implies that logistics is part of the offer stove process, not the perfect process. So, what is the leave concatenation process or, more popularly, tally chain management? Supply chain management (SCM) is a term that has emerged in recent years that captures the essence of integrated logistics and even goes beyond it.Supply chain management underscores the logistics interactions that take place among the functions of selling, logistics, and production within a unshakable and those interactions that take place surrounded by the de jure separate plastereds within the product-flow line of business. Opportunities for cost or customer service improvement are get hold ofd through co-ordination and coaction among the bring members where some essential come forth chain activities may not be under the direct control of the logician.Although early definitions such as physical dispersal, materials management, industrial logistics and transmission line management all name employ to describe logistics have conjure upd this broad scope for logistics, at that place was petty(a) attempt to implement logistics beyond a familiaritys throw initiative boundaries, or even beyond its own infixed logistics function. Now, retail libertines are showing success in sharing development with suppliers, who in turn agree to maintain and manage inventories on retailers shelves.Channel inventories and product stockouts are lower. Manufacturing regulars operating under just-in-time production programing build relationships with suppliers for the benefit of both companies by lessen inventories. Definitions of the impart chain and come out chain management reflecting this broader scope are The cut cha in (SC) encompasses all activities associated with the flow and transformation of goods from the raw materials stage (extraction), through to the end user, as well as the associated info flows. veridicals and randomness flow both up and down the supply chain. Supply chain management (SCM) is the integration of these activities, through improved supply chain relationships, to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. after(prenominal) mensural study of the various definitions being offered, Mentzer and other writers draw a bead on the broad and rather general definition as followsSupply chain management is defined as the systematic, strategic coordination of the traditional business functions and the tactics crosswise these business functions within a particular phoner and across businesses within the supply chain, for the purposes of improving the long-run performance of the individual companies and the supply chain as a whole. 6 LSCTMMOD1 Send for a FREE copy of our P rospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain. International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining.The supply chain management model in figure of speech 1-1 viewed as a pipeline shows the scope of this definition. It is important to note that supply chain management is somewhat(predicate) the co-ordination of product flows across functions and across companies to achieve competitive advantage and profitability for the individual companies in the supply chain and the supply chain members collectively. It is difficult, in a practical way, to separate business logistics management from supply chain management.In so many respects, they promote the same mission To get the right goods or services to the right place, at the right time, and in the desired condition, while making the greatest piece to the firm. approximately claim that supply chain management is just another name for integrated business logistics management (IBLM) and that the broad scope of supply chain management has been promoted over the years. Conversely, others say that logistics is a subset of SCM, where SCM considers excess issues beyond those of product flow. For example, SCM may be have-to doe with with product pricing and manufacturing quality.Although SCM promotes viewing the supply channel with the broadest scope, the reality is that firms do not practise this ideal. Fawcett and Magan shew that companies that do practise supply chain integration limit their scope to one tier upstream and one tier downstream. The focus seems to be concerned with creating seamless processes within their own companies and applying new schooling technologies to improve the quality of schooling and speed of its exchange among channel members. The boundary between the logistics and supply chain management ground is fuzzy.Even then, logistics activities are repeat once again as used products are recycled upstream in the logistics channel. A single firm generally is not able to control its entire product flow channel from raw material source to points of the final consumption, although this is an emerging hazard. For practical purposes, the business logistics for the individual firm has a narrower scope. Usually, the maximum managerial control that can be expected is over the immediate physical supply and physical dispersion channels, as shown in fingers breadth 1-2.The physical supply channel refers to the time and space gap between a firms immediate material sources and its processing points. Similarly, the physical distribution channel refers to the time and space gap between the firms processing points and its customers. Due to the similarities in the activities between the cardinal channels, physical supply (more commonly referred to as materials management) 8 LSCTMMOD1 Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain.International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk and physical distribution moderate those activities that are integrated into business logistics. Business logistics management is now popularly referred to as supply chain management. Others have used terms such as nurture nets, value stream, and lean logistics to describe a similar scope and purpose. The evolution of the management of product flows toward SCM is captured in Figure 1-3.Although it is easy to think of logistics as managing the flow of products from the points of raw material acquisition to end customers, for many firms there is a reverse logistics channel that must be managed as well. The life of a product, from a logistics viewpoint, does not end with delivery to the customer. Products fit obsolete, damaged, or nonfunctioning and are returned to their source points for cover or disposition. Packaging materials may be returned to the shipper collectable to environmental regulations or because it makes good economic sense to use them.The reverse logistics channel may utilize all or a portion of the forward logistics channel or it may require a separate design. The supply chain terminates with the final disposition of a product. The reverse channel must be considered to be within the scope of logistics planning and control. The Activity Mix The activities to be managed that make up business logistics (supply chain process) vary from firm to firm, depending on a firms particular organizational social system, managements honest differences of opinion or so what constitutes the supply chain for its business, and the grandeur of individual activities to its functionings.Follow along the supply chain as shown in Figure 1-2 and note the important activities that take place. Again, accord to the CLM 9 LSCTMMOD1 Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain. International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. ukThe components of a typical logistics system are customer service, demand prodigy, distribution communications, inventory control, material handling, order processing, parts and service suffer, plant and warehouse site pickaxe (location analysis), purchasing, packaging, return goods handling, salvage and mo disposal, traffic and transportation, and reposition and storage. Figure 1-4 organizes these components, or activities, according to where they are most likely to take place in the supply channel. The list is further divide into key and support activities, along with some of the decisions associated with severally performance.Customer service standards co-operate with marketing to a. Determine customer needs and wants for logistics cust omer service b. Determine customer response to service c. Set customer service levels 2. dose a. Mode and transport service selection b. Freight consolidation c. Carrier routing d. Vehicle computer programming e. Equipment selection f. Claims processing g. Rate auditing 3. Inventory management a. Raw materials and completed goods stocking policies b. Short-term sales forecasting c. Product shamble at stocking points 10 LSCTMMOD1Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain. International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk d. Number, size, and location of stocking points e. Just-in-time, push, and pull strategies 4. Information flows and order processing a. Sales order-inventory porthole procedures b. Order nurture transmittal methods c. Ordering rules Support Activities 1. Warehousing a. topo graphic point determination b. Stock layout and dock design c. store configuration d. Stock placement 2. Materials handling a. Equipment selection b. Equipment replacement policies c. Order-picking procedures d. Stock storage and retrieval 3. purchase a. Supply source selection b. Purchase time c. Purchase quantities 4. overprotective packaging designed for a. treatment b. Storage c. Protection from loss and damage 5. Co-operate with production/ trading operations to a. Specify aggregate quantities b. Sequence and time production output c. Schedule supplies for production/operations 6. Information concern a. Information collection, storage, and manipulation b. info analysisControl procedures Key and support activities are separated because certain activities will generally take place in every logistics channel, whereas others will take place, depending on the circumstances, within a particular firm. The key activities are on the critical loop within a firms immediate physical d istribution channel, as shown in Figure 1 to 5. They contribute most to the hit cost of logistics or they are essential to the effective co-ordination and completion of the logistics task. 11 LSCTMMOD1 Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our websiteBritain. International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk Customer service standards set the level of output and degree of readiness to which the logistics system must respond. Logistics be increase in rest to the level of customer service provided, such that prospect the standards for service also affects the logistics costs to support that level of service. Setting very high service requirements can force logistics costs to exceedingly high levels. conveyance and inventories maintenance are the primary cost-absorbing logistics activities. Experience has shown that each will represent one-half to deuce- third gears of entirety logistics costs. shipping adds place value to products and services, whereas inventories maintenance adds time value. Transportation is essential because no modern firm can operate without providing for the movement of its raw materials or its finished products. This importance is underscored by the financial strains placed on many firms by such disasters as a national railroad strike or indie truckers refusal to move goods because of rate disputes.In these circumstances, markets cannot be served, and products back up in the logistics pipeline to deteriorate or become obsolete. Inventories are also essential to logistics management because it is usually not possible or practical to provide instant production or envision delivery clock to customers. They serve as buffers between supply and demand so that needed product availability may be maintained for customers while providing flexibility for production and lo gistics in seeking efficient methods for manufacture and distribution of the product. Order processing is the final key activity.Its costs usually are electric razor compared to transportation or inventory maintenance costs. Nevertheless, order processing is an important element in the total time that it takes for a customer to receive goods or services. It is the activity triggering product movement and service delivery. Although support activities may be as critical as the key activities in any particular circumstance, they are considered here as contributing to the logistics mission. In addition, one or more of the support activities may not be a part of the logistics activity mix for every firm.For example, products such as finished automobiles or commodities such as coal, iron ore, or lambaste not needing the weather and security protection of warehousing will not require the warehousing activity, even though inventories are maintained. However, warehousing and materials hand ling are typically conducted wherever products are temporarily halted in their movement to the marketplace. 12 LSCTMMOD1 Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain.International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk Protective packaging is a support activity of transportation and inventory maintenance as well as of warehousing and materials handling because it contributes to the efficiency with which these other activities are carried out. Purchasing and product scheduling often may be considered more a concern of production than of logistics.However, they also affect the overall logistics effort, and specifically they affect the efficiency of transportation and inventory management. Finally, information maintenance supports all other logistics activities in that it provides the needed information f or planning and control. The extended supply chain refers to those members of the supply channel beyond the firms immediate suppliers or customers. They may be suppliers to the immediate suppliers or customers of the immediate customers and so on until raw material source points or end customers are reached.It is important to plan and control the previously noted activities and information flows if they affect the logistics customer service that can be provided and the costs of supplying this service. Management of the extended supply chain has the likely of improving logistics performance beyond that of just managing the activities within the immediate supply chain. enormousness of Logistics/Supply Chain Logistics is about creating value value for customers and suppliers of the firm, and value for the firms stakeholders. Value in logistics is primarily expressed in terms of time and place.Products and services have no value unless they are in the possession of the customers when (time) and where (place) they wish to consume them. For example, concessions at a sports event have no value to consumers if they are not available at the time and place that the event is surpassring, or if inadequate inventories enduret meet the demands of the sports fans. Good logistics management views each activity in the supply chain as contributing to the process of adding value. If little value can be added, it is questionable whether the activity should exist.However, value is added when customers are willing to pay more for a product or service than the cost to place it in their hands. To many firms passim the world, logistics has become an increasingly important value-adding process for a number of reasons. Costs Are Significant all over the years, several studies have been conducted to adjudicate the costs of logistics for the whole economy and for the individual firm. There are widely varying estimates of the cost levels. match to the International Monetary Fund ( IMF), logistics costs amount about 12 pct of the 13 LSCTMMOD1Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain. International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk worlds stark(a) home(prenominal) product. Robert Delaney, who has tracked logistics costs for more than two decades, estimates that logistics costs for the U. S. economy are 9. 9 share of the U. S. gross domestic product (GDP), or $921 billion. For the firm, logistics costs have ranged from 4 portion to over 30 percent of sales.The results from a cost survey of individual firms are shown in Table 1-3. Although the results show physical distribution costs at about 8 percent of sales, this survey does not include physical supply costs. Probably another one-third may be added to this total to represent average logistics costs for the firm at a bout 11 percent of sales. Over the last decade, physical distribution costs have ranged between 7 percent and 9 percent of sales. There may be a twist of increasing costs for individual firms, although Wilson and Delaney show over the same period that logistics costs as a percent of U. S.GDP have declined by about 10 percent. Logistics costs, upstanding for most firms, rank plunk for only to the cost of goods sold (purchase costs) that are about 50 percent to 60 percent of sales for the average manufacturing firm. Value is added by minimizing these costs and by passing the benefits on to customers and to the firms shareholders. Logistics Customer Service Expectations Are Increasing The net, just-in-time operating procedures, and unvarying replenishment of inventories have all contributed to customers expecting rapid processing of their requests, quick delivery, and a high degree of product availability.According to the Davis Survey of hundreds of companies over the last decade, best competitors have average order cycle time (the time between when an order is placed and when it is received) of seven-spot to eight days and line item fill rates of 90 percent to 94 percent. LogFac summarizes frontmost logistics performance for domestic companies as Error rates of less than one per 1,000 orders shipped Logistics costs of well under 5 percent of sales Finished goods inventory turnover of 20 or more times per year Total order cycle time of five working daysTransportation cost of one percent of sales revenue enhancement or less, if products sold are over $5 per calciferol gms As might be expected, the average company performs below these cost and customer service benchmarks, when compared with the statistics in Tables 1-3 and 1-4. Supply and Distribution Lines Are Lengthening with Greater Complexity The trend is toward an integrated world economy. Firms are seeking, or have developed, global strategies by shrewd their products for a world market and produc ing them wherever the low-priced 14 LSCTMMOD1Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain. International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk raw materials, components, and crusade can be found (e. g. , Fords Focus automobile), or they simply produce locally and sell internationally. In either case, supply and distribution lines are stretched, as compared with the producer who wishes to manufacture and sell only locally.Not only has the trend occurred of course by firms seeking to cut costs or expand markets, but it is also being promote by political arrangements that promote trade. Examples of the latter are the European Union, the North America Free divvy up Agreement (NAFTA) between Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and the economic trade agreement among several countries of South America (MERCOSUR). globalisation and internationalization of industries everywhere will depend severely on logistics performance and costs, as companies take more of a world view of their operations.As this happens, logistics takes on increased importance within the firm since its costs, particularly transportation, become a larger part of the total cost body structure. For example, if a firm seeks foreign suppliers for the raw materials that make up its final product or foreign locations to build its product, the motivation is to increase profit. Material and labor costs may be reduced, but logistics costs are likely to increase due to increased transportation and inventory costs. The tradeoff, as shown in Figure 1-6, may blow over to higher profit by reducing materials, labour, and overhead costs at the expense of logistics costs and tariffs.Outsourcing adds value, but it requires upkeepful management of logistics costs and product-flow times in the supply channel. Logistics/SC Is Important To Strategy Firms spend a great deal of time finding ways to differentiate their product gos from those of their competitors. When management recognizes that logistics/SC affects a significant portion of a firms costs and that the result of decisions made about the supply chain processes yields different levels of customer service, it is in a position to use this effectively to penetrate new markets, to increase market share, and to increase bread.When a firm incurs the cost of moving the product toward the customer or making an inventory available in a timely manner, for the customer value has been wee-weed that was not there previously. It is value as surely as that created through the production of a quality product or through a low price. It is generally recognise that business creates four types of value in products or services. These are form, time, place, and possession. Logistics creates two out of these four values. Manufacturing creates form value as inputs a re converted to outputs, that is raw materials are transformed into finished goods.Logistics controls the time and place values in products, mainly through transportation, information flows, and inventories. Possession value is often considered the right of marketing, engineering, and finance, where the value is created by helping customers acquire the product through such mechanisms as advertising (information), technical support, and terms of sale (pricing and credit availability). To the extent that SCM includes production, three out of the four values may be the province of the logistics/supply chain manager.Customers Increasingly Want Quick, Customized result Fast food retailers, automatic teller machines, nightlong package delivery, and electronic mail on the Internet have led us as consumers to expect that products and services can be made available in increasingly shorter times. In addition, improved information systems and flexible manufacturing processes have led the m arketplace toward dope customization. Rather than consumers having to accept the one size fits all philosophy in their purchases, suppliers are increasingly offering products that meet individual customer needs.Companies too have been applying the concept of quick response to their internal operations in order to meet the service requirements of their own marketing efforts. The quick response philosophy has been used to create a marketing advantage. Saks Fifth alley applied it, even though big profits are made through big margins and not on cost reductions that might be achieved from good logistics management. Supply chain costs may even rise, although the advantage is to more than cover these costs through increased profits. Logistics/SC in Non-manufacturing AreasIt is perhaps easiest to think of logistics/SC in terms of moving and storing a physical product in a manufacturing setting. This is too narrow a view and can exsert to many missed business opportunities. The logistics/ SC principles and concepts larn over the years can be applied to such areas as service industries, the military, and even environment management. Service Industry The service area of industrialized countries is large and growing. In the United States, over 70 percent of all jobs are in what the national government classifies as the service sector.The size of this sector exclusively forces us to ask if logistics concepts are not equally applicable here as they are to the manufacturing sector. If they are, there is a tremendous untapped opportunity yet to be fulfilled. Many companies designated as service firms in fact produce a product. Examples include McDonalds potty (fast foods) Dow Jones & Co. , Inc. (newspaper publishing) and Sears, Roebuck and Co. (merchandise retailing). These companies carry out all the typical supply chain activities of any manufacturing firm.However, for service companies such as lodge angiotensin-converting enzyme (retail banking), Marriott Corporat ion (lodging) and Consolidated Edison (electric power), supply chain activities, 16 LSCTMMOD1 Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our website Britain. International Headquarters College House, Leoville, Jersey JE3 2DB, Britain Telefax +44 (0)1534 485485 Email infocambridgetraining. com Website www. cambridgecollege. co. uk especially those associated with physical distribution, are not as obvious.Even though many service-oriented companies may be distributing an intangible, nonphysical product, they do engage in many physical distribution activities and decisions. A infirmary may want to extend emergency medical care throughout the community and must make decisions as to the locations of the centers. United Parcel Service and federal official Express must locate terminals and route pickup truck and delivery trucks. The East Ohio Gas Company inventories indispensable gas in underground wells during the off-season in the region whe re demand will occur. Bank One must locate and have cash inventory on hand for its ATMs.The Federal Reserve Bank must select the methods of transportation to move sour cheques among member banks. The Catholic Church must square off the number, location, and size of the churches needed to meet shifts in size and location of congregations, as well as to plan the inventory of its pastoral staff. Xeroxs repair service for copying equipment is also a good example of the logistics decisions encountered in a service operation. The techniques, concepts, and methods discussed throughout this Program should be as applicable to the service sector as they are to the manufacturing sector.The key, according to Theodore Levitt, may be in transforming an intangible service into a tangible product. Problems will remain in conservatively identifying the costs associated with the distribution of an intangible product. Perhaps because of this, few service firms or organizations have a physical distr ibution manager on their staff, although they frequently do have a materials manager to handle supply matters. However, managing logistics in service industries does represent a new direction for the future development of logistics practice. Military in the lead businesses showed much interest in co-ordinating supply chain processes, the military was well organized to carry out logistics activities. More than a decade before business logistics developmental period, the military carried out what was called the most complex, best-planned logistics operation of that time-the aggression of Europe during human race War II. Although the problems of the military, with its super high customer service requirements, were not selfsame(a) with those of business, the similarities were great enough to provide a expensive experience base during the developmental years of logistics.For example, the military alone maintained inventories valued at about one-third of those held by all U. s. manuf acturers. In addition to the management experience that such large-scale operations provide, the military sponsored, and continues to sponsor, research in the logistics area through such organizations as the RAND Corporation and the Office of ocean Research. With this background, the field of business logistics began to grow. Even the term logistics seems to have had its origins in the military.A recent example of military logistics on a large scale was the action between the United States and Iraq over Iraqs invasion of the small country of Kuwait. This invasion has been described as the largest military logistics operation in history. The logistics support in that war is yet another illustration of what worldclass companies have always known Good logistics can be a source of competitive advantage. Lt General William Pagonis, in charge of logistics support for Desert Storm, observed When the ticker East started heating up, it seemed like a good time to pull out some history book s on desert warfare in this region .But there was nothing on logistics. Logistics is not a best seller. In a parallel of his diaries, Rommel talked about logistics. He thought the Germans lost the passage of arms not because they didnt have great soldiers or equipment in fact, the German tanks outfought ours almost throughout World War II but because the British had better logistics. 17 LSCTMMOD1 Send for a FREE copy of our Prospectus book by airmail, telephone, fax or email, or via our websiteThe first wave of 200,000 troops and their equipment was deployed in a month and a half, whereas troop deployment took club months in the Vietnam conflict. In addition, the application of many good logistics concepts was evident. Take customer service, for example We believed that if we took care of our troops, the objectives would be accomplished no matter whatever else happened. The soldiers are our customers. It is no different than a determined, single focus on customers that many su ccessful businesses have.Now, you take care of your soldiers not only by providing them cold sodas, and burgers, and good food you make sure they have the ammunition on the front line, so that when they go grapple the war they know they have what they need. This meant that when 120 mm guns rather than 105 mm guns were desired on tanks, they were changed. When brown vehicles were preferred over the traditional disguise green, they were repainted at the rate of 7,000 per month. Environment Population gain and resultant economic development have heightened our sensation of environmental issues.Whether it is recycling, packaging materials, transporting hazardous materials or refurbishing products for resale, logisticians are involved in a major way. After all, the United States alone produces more than 160 cardinal tons of waste each year, enough for a convoy of 10-ton garbage trucks reaching halfway to the moon. In many cases, planning for logistics in an environmental setting is no different from that in manufacturing or service sectors. However, in a few cases additional complications arise, such as governmental regulations that make the logistics for a product more costly by extending the distribution channel.Business Logistics in the Firm It has been the tradition in many firms to organize around marketing and production functions. Typically, marketing means selling something and production means making something. Although few business people would agree that their organization is so undecomposable, the fact remains that many businesses emphasize these functions while treating other activities, such as traffic, purchasing, accounting, and engineering, as support areas. Such an attitude is justified to a degree, because if a firms products cannot be produced and sold, little else matters.However, such a pattern is dangerously simple for many firms to follow in that it fails to recognize the importance of the activities that must take place between points and times of production or purchase and the points and times of demand. These are the logistics activities, and they affect the efficiency and effectiveness of both marketing and production. Scholars and practitioners of both marketing and production have not neglected the importance of logistics. In fact, each area considers logistics within its scope of action.For example, the following definition of marketing management includes physical distribution selling (management) is the process of planning and executing the conception, pricing, promotion, and distribution of ideas, goods, and services to create exchanges with target groups that satisfy individual and organizational objectives. merchandisings concern is to place its products or services in convenient distribution channels to facilitate the exchange process. The concept of production/ operations management often includes logistics activities.Now, viewing product flow activities as a process to be coordinated, product flo w aspects within marketing, production, and logistics are collectively managed to achieve customer service objectives. The difference in operating objectives (maximize revenue versus minimize cost) for marketing and production/operations may lead to a fragmentation of interest in, and responsibility for, logistics activities, as well as a overlook of co-ordination among logistics activities as a whole. This, in turn, may lead to lower customer service levels or higher total logistics costs than are necessary.Business logistics represents a regrouping, either by formal organizational structure or conceptually in the minds of management, of the move-store activities that historically may have been partially under the control of marketing and production/ operations. If logistics activities are looked upon as a separate area of managerial action, the relationship of logistics activities to those of marketing and production/ operations would be as is shown in Figure 1-7. Marketing would be primarily responsible for market research, promotion, sales-force management, and the product mix, which create possession value in the product.Production/ operations would be concerned with the cosmos of the product or service, which creates form value in the product. Key responsibilities would be quality control, production planning and scheduling, job design, capacity planning, maintenance, and work measurement and standards. Logistics would be concerned with those activities (previously defined) that give a product or service time and place value. This separation of the activities of the firm into three groupings rather than two is not always necessary or advisable to achieve the coordination of logistics activities that is sought.Marketing and production/operations, when broadly conceived and co-ordinated, can do an effective job of managing logistics activities without creating an additional organizational entity. Even if a separate operable area is created for logistics within the firm so as to achieve effective control of the firms immediate logistics activities, logisticians will need to view their responsibility as one of coordinate the entire supply chain process rather than being just a local logistics activity administrator. To do otherwise may miss substantial opportunities for cost reduction and logistics customer service improvement.The interface is created by the arbitrary separation of a firms activities into a limited number of structural areas. Managing the interface activities by one function alone can lead to sub-optimal performance for the firm by subordinating broader company goals to individual functional goals-a authority danger resulting from the departmental form of organizational structure so common in companies today. To achieve interfunctional coordination, some measurement system and incentives for cooperation among the functions involved need to be established.This is equally true of the inter-organizational co-ordinati on required to manage product flows across company boundaries. It is important to note, however, that establishing a third functional group is not without its disadvantages. Two functional interfaces now exist where only one between marketing and production/ operations previously existed. Some of the most difficult administrative problems arise from the interfunctional conflicts that occur when one is attempting to manage interface activities.Some of this potential conflict may be dissipated if a new organizational arrangement is created whereby production/ operations and logistics are merged into one group called supply chain. Just as managers are beginning to control the benefits of interfunctional logistics management, inter-organizational management is being encouraged. Supply chain management proponents who view the area more broadly than some logisticians have been strongly promoting the need for collaboration among supply channel members that are outside the immediate contro l of a companyslogistician, that is, members who are de jure separate companies.Collaboration among the channel members that are united through buyer-seller relationships is essential to achieving cost-service benefits unable to be realised by managers with strictly an internal view of their responsibilities. Supply chain managers consider themselves to have responsibility for the entire supply channel of the scope as illustrated in Figure 1-8. Managing in this broader environment is the new scrap for the contemporary logistician. Objectives of Business Logistics/SCWithin the broader objectives of the firm, the business logistician seeks to achieve supply channel process goals that will move the firm toward its overall objectives. Specifically, the desire is to develop a logistics activity mix that will result in the highest possible return on investment over time. There are two dimensions to this goal (1) the impact of the logistics system design on the revenue contribution, an d (2) the operating cost and capital requirements of the design. Ideally, the logistician should know how much additional revenue would be generated through incremental improvements.