Tuesday, December 24, 2019

Can Stem Cells Be Used For Cure Parkinson s Disease Essay

Introduction: Investigative Question: Can stem cells be used to cure a neurological disease, namely; Parkinson’s Disease? The aim of this research is to determine if stem cells can be used to cure Parkinson’s disease. I too aim to determine if such may be achieved by using stem cells that are obtained in an ethically unchallenging manner, such as by using induced pluripotent stem cells, which are created from one’s own skin, to cure the disease. I chose to conduct research into this topic as currently there is no single cure for Parkinson’s Disease. All that currently exists to help the disease’s estimated 7-10 million sufferers are suppressive medicines that do not cure the patients of the disease but better their symptoms thereof. Stem cell therapy, if proven viable, will be the first treatment of the disease that will truly rid the patients of this disease and immediately improve their lives. There is currently much research being conducted regarding the using of stem cells to cure Parkinson’s and whether or not this may be a viable method to do such. To aid in the answering of my question, I researched the progress that different scientists and laboratories across the world have made regarding such by means of the research/experiments that they have conducted. By putting all this information together and examining it I will be able to determine if stem cells can cure Parkinson’s Disease. Reviews of Literature: Source 1: Parkinson’s disease: How Could StemShow MoreRelatedA Research Study On Stem Cell Research Essay1265 Words   |  6 PagesComposition Stem Cell Research According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary a stem cell is â€Å"a simple cell in the body that is able to develop into any one of various kinds of cells (such as blood cells, skin cells, etc.).† There are two types of stem cells, embryonic and adult. The adult stem cells can can be found in brain, bone marrow, blood, etc. The embryonic stem cells come from a four to five day human embryo during the blastocyst phase (Crosta) . The controversy behind the topic usually stems fromRead MoreStem Research : Stem Cell Research1692 Words   |  7 Pages Stem Cell Research As stem cell research progresses, it is essential that we think about the issues encompassing our future. One of the exceptionally debated topics, stem cell research, is gathering a lot of information. Stem cell research is as of now is legal in many nations. The united states, regularly a pioneer in all things new and energizing is one of the last to investigate this topic. As this sort of examination continues advancing, as citizens, we will in all likely need to vote onRead MoreIs Stem Cell Research Ethical?1252 Words   |  6 Pages Is Stem Cell Research Ethical? The question that has been asked so many times, is stem cell research ethical? To argue ethics over this topic, one must first know what a stem cell is.Stem Cells are â€Å"cells with the ability to divide for indefinite periods in culture and to give rise to specialized cells† (Stem Cell Basics: Introduction). The National Institutes of Health say that stem cells are distinguished for two different reasons. The first is â€Å"they are unspecialized cells capable of renewingRead MoreEssay about Advances in Parkinson’s Disease1345 Words   |  6 Pagesall affected by one disease (Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, Statistics). That disease is Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s takes away little things like movement that many of us take for granted. Lives are changed because of Parkinson’s, but there is hope. Through medical breakthroughs discovered in recent years, my grandpa and many others suffering from Parkinson’s disease have a ch ance at a better life. History of Parkinson’s Disease Signs or symptoms of Parkinson’s disease have been recordedRead MoreParkinson s Disease And Its Effects1299 Words   |  6 PagesParkinson’s Disease An estimated eight million people are living worldwide with Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s is a disease where the nerve cells, called neurons die in your brain. These neurons that die produce a brain chemical, dopamine which is a neurotransmitter. As the neurons die or become damaged the lack of dopamine creates the symptoms and disease. The neurons that die are located in your Substantia Nigra in the brain. The nerve cell affects your entire nervous system. The neurons transmitRead MoreStem Cells Research The Regeneration Of Medicine. Stem1526 Words   |  7 PagesStem Cells Research the Regeneration of Medicine Stem cells research is one of the most powerful areas of medicine that is both researched and passionately argued. The web page of National Institute of Health (NIH) describes that stem cells are unspecialized cells that are capable of renewing themselves through cell division and they can also be induced to become tissue or organ-specific cells with special functions. Stem cells have the potential to develop into many different cell types in the bodyRead MoreAdvanced Healthcare Treatment Over The Past 20 Years1628 Words   |  7 Pagesthree most significant include Gene therapy, Stem cell transplant and health screening, commencing with meanings, approaches; uses and case studies of each type of techniques. Gene therapy is an experimental form of treatment, where normal genes are placed into missing or defective ones in order to correct or alter genetic disorders. In other terms, it is the therapeutic delivery of nucleic acid polymers into a patient s cells as a drug to treat disease (Gennady, 2015). After many attempts at modifyingRead MoreA Research Study On Stem Cell Therapy1450 Words   |  6 Pagesothers in need. Stem cell therapy is one of the new therapies that are used to treat a disease or prevent it. Bone marrow transplants are one type of therapy that has been used for the treatment of leukemia for a while now. 1,6Stem cell therapy is used to replace damaged, diseased, or malfunctioning cells anywhere in the body with healthy cells. When a stem cell is introduced to a specific part of the body, that stem cell receives signals that tell it how to mimic the other cells around it. OneRead MoreStem Cell Advocacy Paper : Stem Cells1123 Words   |  5 Pages Stem Cell Advocacy Paper Introduction Stem cells are basically the building blocks of life. Some type of these cells can be engineered into any type of cell in the human body. There are three types of stem cells currently. Adult or somatic stem â€Å"cells can generate replacements for bone and muscle cells that are lost through injury, disease or normal wear and tear.† Another type of stem cells are embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells â€Å"are â€Å"starter cells† that can be coaxed into becoming anyRead MoreThe Debate Of Embryonic Stem Cell Research1969 Words   |  8 PagesEmbryonic stem cell research and use is a scientific advancement that could change medical history. There are two types of stem cell research, adult stem cells, and embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells receive a very negative connotation in society, and there are many misconceptions about the process and the ethics of embryonic stem cell research. A large majority of society immediately assume that it is the use of abor ted embryos because of the word embryonic, and adult stem cells are not as

Monday, December 16, 2019

International Business Study Guide Free Essays

string(107) " price in foreign markets due to the application of duties, dealer margins and/or other transaction costs\." IBM 414 Study Guide Ch:12 Global Marketing Management: Planning and Organization Global Marketing – †¢The trend back toward localization –Caused by the new efficiencies of customization –Made possible by the Internet –Increasingly flexible manufacturing processes From the marketing perspective customization is always best †¢Global markets continue to homogenize and diversify simultaneously –Best companies will avoid trap of focusing on country as the primary segmentation variable International Marketing- is the performance of business activities designed to plan, price, promote, and direct the flow of a company’s goods and services to consumers or users in more than one nation for a profit. †¢An entry strategy into international market should reflect on analysis –Market characteristics †¢Potential sales †¢Strategic importance Strengths of local resources †¢Cultural differences †¢Country restrictions à ¢â‚¬â€œCompany capabilities and characteristics †¢Degree of near-market knowledge †¢Marketing involvement †¢Management commitment Exporting Indirect Exporting-requires no equity investment and thus has a low risk, low rate of return, and little control. Licensing –A means of establishing a foothold in foreign markets without large capital outlays –A favorite strategy for small and medium-sized companies –Legitimate means of capitalizing on intellectual property in a foreign market Joint Venures-When two or more participating companies join forces to create a separate legal entity to facilitate doing business in the international arena Direct Investment †¢Factors that influence the structure and performance of direct investments –Timing –The growing complexity and contingencies of contracts –Transaction cost structures –Technology transfer –Degree of product differentiation –The previous experiences and cultural diversity of acquired firms –Advertising and reputation barriers Example:When a company sells to a customer in another country, the company is into Direct exporting. We will write a custom essay sample on International Business Study Guide or any similar topic only for you Order Now Strategic International Allicance Consortia –Similar to joint ventures and could be classified as such except for two unique characteristics †¢Typically involve a large number of participants †¢Frequently operate in a country or market in which none of the participants is currently active –Consortia are developed to pool financial and managerial resources and to lessen risks Joint Ventures –JVs are established, separate, legal entities –The acknowledged intent by the partners to share in the management of the JV There are partnerships between legally incorporated entities such as companies, chartered organizations, or governments, and not between individuals –Equity positions are held by each of the partners Franchise –Franchiser provides a standard package of products, systems, and management services –Franchise provides market knowledge, capital, and personal involvement in management –Expected to be the fastest-grow ing market-entry strategy †¢Two types of franchise agreements –Master franchise †¢Gives the franchisee the rights to a specific area with the authority to sell or establish subfranchises –Licensing Contract Manufacturing-is a manufacturer that contracts with a firm for components or products. It is a form of outsourcing. Contracting Management- is the management of contracts made with customers, vendors, partners, or employees. Contract management includes negotiating the terms and conditions in contracts and ensuring compliance with the terms and conditions, as well as documenting and agreeing on any changes or amendments that may arise during its implementation or execution. CH:8 Developing a global vision though marketing research Challeneges and problems The major difficulty is converting a series of often ambiguous business problems into tightly drawn and achievable research objectives †¢The first, most crucial step in research is more critical in foreign markets because an unfamiliar environment tends to could problems definition †¢Other difficulties in foreign research stem from failures to establish problem limits broad enough to include all relevant variables Environmental Scanning- Careful monitoring of an organization’s internal and external environments for detecting early signs of opportunities and threats that may influence its current and future plans. Marketing Screening- The process of discovering relevant information about a tradable asset in order to determine a fair price for the asset. Primarily used to avoid creating an adverse transaction. Steps to marketing Screening- Market- A regular gathering of people for the purchase and sale of provisions, livestock, and other commodities. Requirements of effective Market Segmentation Describe the psychographic segments profiled in the Worldwide Global Scan study How can international market demand be estimated? page 236 When desired stats aren’t available a close approximation can be made using local production figures plus imports, with adjustments for exports and current inventory levels CH:13 Products and services for consumers Why are product strategy decisions the most crucial ones in the marketing mix? What two errors do multinational product managers tend to commit? Define and explain: Product, Quality Features and benefits Reliability, Durability Product Homologation. What are the standardization/adaptation strategies that a marketer can implement and when would you recommend them? What is meant by the â€Å"diffusion of motivations†? What are the degrees of newness that a product can exhibit and what are the (perceived) product characteristics of an innovation that affect its rate of acceptance? What is product counterfeiting and how can it be fought? CH:14 Products and Services for Businesses ISO 9000 †¢Positively affects the performance and stock prices of firms †¢Certification of the existence of a quality control system a company has in place to ensure it can meet published quality standards –Describes three quality system models –Defines quality concepts –Gives guidelines for using international standards in quality systems Generally voluntary †¢EU Product Liability Directive †¢Now a competitive marketing tool in Europe and around the world †¢The ACSI approach Trade Shows †¢Secondary methods for marketing: –Advertising in print media –Catalogs –Web sites –Direct mail †¢Trade shows have become the primary and most important ve hicle for doing business in many foreign countries †¢Total annual media budget spent on trade events: –Europeans – 22 percent –Americans – 5 percent †¢Benefits –Provide the facilities for a manufacturer to exhibit and demonstrate products to potential users –Allow manufacturers to view competitors products Are an opportunity to create sales and establish relationships with agents, distributors, franchisees, and suppliers †¢Online trade shows –Become useful in difficult economic and/or political circumstances –Are obviously a less than adequate substitute for live trade shows CH:18 Pricing for International Markets Price Escalation- A disparity in pricing where goods have higher costs in a foreign market than in the domestic market due to transportation and exporting costs. Price escalation can also refer to the sum of cost factors in the distribution channels which add up to a higher final cost for a product in a foreign market. The difference between the domestic price and the target price in foreign markets due to the application of duties, dealer margins and/or other transaction costs. You read "International Business Study Guide" in category "Papers" How can the effect of price escalation be lessened? †¢Lowering cost of goods –Manufacturing in a third country –Eliminating costly functional features –Lowering overall product quality †¢Lowering tariffs –Reclassifying products into a different, and lower customs classification –Modify product to qualify for a lower tariff rate within classification –Requiring assembly or further processing –Repackaging †¢Lowering distribution costs Shorter channels –Reducing or eliminating middlemen †¢Using foreign trade zones to lessen price escalation –Establish free trade zones (FTZs) or free ports †¢Tax-free enclave not considered part of country †¢Postpones payment of duties an d tariffs †¢Dumping – To place (goods or stock, for example) on the market in large quantities and at a low price. –Use of marginal (variable) cost pricing –Selling goods in foreign country below the price of the same goods in the home market Gray Market- A market where a product is bought and sold outside of the manufacturer’s authorized trading channels. The unofficial trading of a company’s shares , usually before they are issued in an initial public offering (IPO). †¢Occur whenever price differences are greater than cost of transportation between two markets †¢Major problem for pharmaceutical companies †¢Exclusive distribution Transfer Pricing †¢Prices of goods transferred from a company’s operations or sales units in one country to its units elsewhere –May be adjusted to enhance the ultimate profit of company †¢Benefits –Lowering duty costs –Reducing income taxes in high-tax countries –Facilitating dividend repatriation when dividend repatriation is curtailed by government policy †¢Objectives Maximizing profits for corporation –Facilitating parent-company control –Providing all levels of management control over profitability †¢Arrangements for pricing goods for intracompany transfer –Sales at the local manufacturing cost plus a standa rd markup –Sales at the cost of the most efficient producer in the company plus a standard markup –Sales at negotiated prices –Arm’s-length sales using the same prices as quoted to independent customers Countertrade †¢Types of countertrade –Barter –Compensation deals –Counterpurchase or offset trade –Product buyback agreement †¢Problems of countertrading Determining the value of and potential demand for the goods offered –Barter houses – †¢The Internet and countertrading –Electronic trade dollars –Universal Currency/IRTA †¢Proactive countertrade strategy –Included as part of an overall market strategy –Effective for exchange-poor countries Administered Pricing- The price of a good or service as dictated by a governmental or other governing agency. Administered prices are not determined by regular market forces of supply and demand. Ch:16 Intergrated Marketing Communi cations and International Advertising 6) What are the four methods of promotion and how can they be used in nternational marketing? Integrated marketing communications (IMC) are composed of advertising, sales promotions, trade shows, personal selling, direct selling, and public relations Sales promotions-marketing activities that stimulate consumer purchases and improve retailer or middlemen effectiveness and cooperation Public relations (PR)-creating good relationships with the popular press and other media to help companies communicate messages to their publics-customers, the general public, and governmental regulators. Public relations firms’ billings in the international arena have been growing at double digit rates for some years. Handling such international PR problems as global workplace standards and product safety recalls has become big business for companies serving large companies. International advertising-global mass media advertising is a powerful tool for cultural change, and as such, it receives continuing scrutiny by a wide variety of institutions. What are the pros and cons of standardization, adaptation and â€Å"glocalization† in international advertising? Standardization Pros Standardized marketing for global companies typically offers significant cost benefits. If the same message works universally, you don’t have to spend money to develop customized marketing messages. While you would have to adapt the language to the local markets, the conceptual premise of your messages can remain constant. Also, if your brand theme is powerful and has global appeal, a standardized approach helps people around the world share in the value proposition you offer Cons Global marketing standardization is not sensible in all cases. If people use your products differently or if your brand message doesn’t work everywhere, you need to be flexible. McDonald’s, for instance, has been successful selling its western and American cultural appeal in some countries such as Russia, Japan and France. However, the fast food chain has emphasized its relationship with local suppliers and management in some countries in the Middle East and elsewhere, where attitudes toward western and American culture are less welcoming. Globalization Pros The main benefit of globalization is that it lets you reach a lot more customers. As long as there is demand in an overseas market for a product or service your business offers, there is a customer base. A product that sells successfully at home will often do well in international markets, says Wesley Johnston, a marketing professor at Georgia State University. Electronics and other tech products are examples of consumer goods that sell well on the global market. Cons Before taking your business worldwide, make sure there is a market for it. Consumers in other countries often have different preferences and needs and might not have much interest in buying your product. For example, if you sell Canadian flags, you might not find much demand in countries outside Canada. Another risk of going global is that it can be costly. This is especially true if you decide to set up operations in other countries. Finally, different countries have different regulatory standards. Products that can be made and sold freely in some markets might run up against stiff regulatory hurdles in other countries. Adaptation Explain the statement, â€Å"The search for a global advertising campaign can be the spearhead of the search for a coherent global marketing strategy. What types of errors are committed when advertisers attempt to go global? †¢Consumer criticism †¢Deceptive advertising †¢Decency and blatant use of sex †¢Self-regulation †¢Government regulations What challenges confront international advertisers when they attempt to develop creative and media strategies? †¢Language is one of the major barriers to effective communication through advertising †¢Translation challenges †¢Low literacy in many countries †¢Multiple languages within a country †¢In-country testing with the target consumer group avoids problems caused by linguistic differences ) Can personal selling and sales promotion be standardized in international markets? What role do publicity and public relations play in international marketing? what are the three sources of personnel for international assignments and how can U. S. personnel be trained for such assignments? Expatriates- –Numbers are declining –Important for highly technical or involved products –High cost –Cultural and legal barriers –Limited number of high-caliber personnel willing to live abroad Virtual Expatriates- –Manage operations in other countries but don’t live there Local Nationals Transcend both cultural and legal barriers –Familiar with distribution systems and referral networks –Headquarters person nel may ignore their advice –Lack of availability –Sales positions viewed negatively What are the differences in cultural values that can affect management practices in foreign cultures? How has the profile of global managers changed in recent years? †¢Objectivity –â€Å"Separating people from the problem† †¢Competitiveness and equality –Japanese appear to be the best negotiators with the highest profits –Japanese appear to be more equitable with buyers Time –The passage of time is viewed differently across cultures Describe the negotiation process. Stages 1. Non Task Sounding – Report 2. Task related exchange of info – Sales Pitch †¢Let the foreign counterparts bring up business †¢Expect a large number of questions but little feedback †¢Allow periods of silence †¢Use multiple communication channels †¢Understand the lack of, or the bluntness of negative feedback †¢Meet aggressive f irst offers with questions, not anger 3. Persuasion – Handling of objectives Task-related information exchange versus persuasion †¢Avoid threats, warnings, and other aggressive negotiation tactics †¢Avoid emotional outbursts †¢Ask more questions †¢Use third parties and information channels of communication 4. Consensus agreement – The close †¢Write down concession-making strategies †¢Understand differences in decision-making styles †¢In many cultures, no concessions are made until the end of the negotiations CH 15 International Marketing Channels #8 Describe the difference between traditional, import-oriented distribution systems and modern ones. Page 421 In an imported-oriented or traditional distributution an importer controls a fixed supply of goods, and the marketing system develops around the philosophy of selling a limited supply of goods at high prices to a small number of affluent customers. Describe the current Japanese System; how can an international marketer secure a foothold in the Japanese System? Small retailers are considered to be the foundation of the Japanese distribution system. Distribution in Japan has long been considered the most effective nontariff barrier to the Japanese market. What are the pros and cons of using foreign vs. home country middlemen? Foreign Middlemen-Pros-shorter channels and deal with middlemen in constant contact with the market (page 434) Home Country Middlemen-(domestic middlemen) companies relegate foreign market distribution to others. Offer many advantages for companies with small international sales volume, those inexperienced with foreign markets, those not wanting to become immediately involved with the complexities of international marketing, and those wanting to sell abroad with minimal financial and management commitment. Con- limited control over the entire process. Page 431 What are the strategic goal–the 6C’s of channel strategy? page 436 COST CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS CONTROL COVERAGE CHARACTER CONTINUITY How should you go about locating, selecting and motivating middlemen? page 438 Locating-productivity or volume, financial strength, managerial stability, and capability, and the nature and reputation of the business. Selecting-low volume or low potential volume hampers most prospects, many are underfinanced and some simply cannot be trusted. Motivating- motivational techniques that can be employed to maintain middlemen interest and support for the product may be grouped into five categories: financial rewards, psychological rewards, communications, company support, and corporate rapport. What is the significance of the internet for international distribution and what issues must a prospective e-vendor consider? page 441 Internet is an important distribution method for multinational companies and a source of products for businesses and consumers. Put the consumer in control of marketing and distribution globally #9 What is the purpose of export restrictions? are limitations on the quantity of goods exported to a specific country or countries by a government. Describe the process necessary to determine whether or not an export license is required? An export license is not required Define and explain the following: boycott, free-trade zone (FTZ), maquiladoras, bill of lading, and foreign-freight forwarder. Boycott-is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for social or political reasons. Sometimes, it can be a form of consumer activism. Free-trade zone-customs privileged (In a FTZ, payment of import duties is postponed until the product leaves the FTZ area and enters the country. Page 536 Maquiladora-is the Mexican name for manufacturing operations in a free trade zone (FTZ), where factories import material and equipment on a duty-free and tariff-free basis for assembly, processing, or manufacturing and then export the assembled, processed and/or manufactured products, sometimes back to the raw materials’ country of origin. Example given in class (Tijuana) Bill of lading-is a document used in the transport of goods by sea. It serves several purposes in international trade. Foreign-freight forwarder-is a person or company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to get goods from the manufacturer or producer to a market, customer or final point of distribution. Forwarders contract with a carrier to move the goods. A forwarder does not move the goods but acts as an expert in supply chain management What is physical distribution (logistics)? Involves more than the physical movement of goods. It includes the location of plants and warehousing, transportation mode, inventory qualities and packing. What is the physical distribution concept? Takes into account the interdependence of the costs of each activity; a decision involving one activity affects the cost and efficiency of one or all others. Page 449 What are the pros and cons of the different modes of transport available to international marketers? How to cite International Business Study Guide, Papers

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Health And Well Being Of The Population †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Health And Well Being Of The Population. Answer: After analyzing the discussion, I strongly believe that although, government interventions are designed to promote health and well-being of the population, invariably, it intrudes on personal interests and rights incurring economic costs. Similarly, policy makers also try to inculcate healthier lifestyle choices in individuals where they interfere with economic, political interests and rights of the people. I believe that governments interventions in public health regulations are developed to minimize the risk to others of developing unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, in protecting incompetent people and most importantly, minimize risk to self (Felse, Castelo and Reiner 2013). There are number of levers that are at disposal by government to prevent disease and promote health of the population. Firstly, through education, deterrence or incentives, people are persuaded to make healthy choices, spending powers or taxing greatly encourage healthy behaviors or discourage risk behaviors. Public health regulations also affect the principles of privacy, autonomy and ethnic rights. Despite of the fact that governments power authority is to promote welfare of the society, there are some constitutional limits to public health regulations. This happens because standards of health and safety are different that demand compliance or non-compliance creating individual conflicts (Friedman 2013). Despite of these individual conflicts, research evaluations are important to make better regulations by policy makers. In order to make or shape, health policies are working at a level to transform their health conditions and promote public health safety. Therefore, not only the government who implement public regulation promotes health, but necessarily limits to protection of individual rights. References Felsen, G., Castelo, N. and Reiner, P.B., 2013. Decisional enhancement and autonomy: public attitudes towards overt and covert nudges.Judgment and Decision Making,8(3), p.202. Friedman, D.A., 2013. Public health regulation and the limits of paternalism.Conn. L. Rev.,46, p.1687.

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Sensory Experiences Exploring Reality

Learning and experiencing new objects and scenes depend on the number of sensory experiences involved into contemplation. In fact, the experience of contemplating the room by one individual cannot testify to the objectivity of the room.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Sensory Experiences: Exploring Reality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Neither can different experiences become the proof of objective reality. At the same time, the existence of the objective reality as itself is justified by the emergence of various perceptions existing in spiritual form. Due to the fact that earthly flesh has constantly changing nature, the room that Kant describes can change as well, based on different perceptions. I agree with the idea that our attitude to the external environment depends not only on perception of sensory experience, but also on previous knowledge about the object to be perceived. Therefore, if Kant looks at t he room for the first time, he could make up an opinion about its various qualities and attributes. The second time of looking at the room will be evaluated on the premise of both new sensory experience and previous knowledge about it. The latter allows the viewer to present a comparative analysis of two different perceptions. In response to the objective reality, the author argues that our sensory experience also has a sequential nature. The difference in experience also depends on the shifts in perceptions once the priority of contemplating the object is changed. There is also a matter of ordering while looking at the object in the room. Hence, Kant focuses on his personal choice in choosing the sequence of looking at the objects. The above-presented assumptions premise on the theory of great chain of being introduced by Aristotle and Plato. According to this theory, our world and experience is composed of multiple chains and links. Due to the fact that the world is constantly cha nging, human experience of observing the objects surrounding them can be different all the time. In spite of the fact that material the world changes, the spiritual component remains permanent, which is important for understanding the concept of reality. In general, object position cannot be altered in the hierarchy. In nature, earth stands at the core of hierarchical chain because this element owns only the quality of existence. Each component that is directed upward focuses on the positive aspects of the previous chain. For instance, a human combines mortal, flesh characteristics and spiritual ones. Within the context of this dichotomy, body and soul become a whole in which the moral component is shaped. In case a human focuses on spirit, he/she could become much closer to the religious domain. Different outlooks and perceptions of the world influence human understanding of reality.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The theoretical framework and Kant observations are of great significance for understanding and evaluation the connection between human subjective perception and the objective representation of reality. The concept of reality, however, does not always coincide with the sum of perceptions on the objects. Therefore, different angles and sequences of contemplating the object can alter the position of objects. Kant’s observations do not only create different angles of perception, but also characterize reality in terms of its changeability. In addition, each person contemplating specific objects relies heavily on his/her experience while assigning various attributes to it. Therefore, a variety of subjective analyses provides a new meaning to objective reality and introduces a new dimension of perception. This essay on Sensory Experiences: Exploring Reality was written and submitted by user Remy O. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Judaisms Transformation To Modernization In Relation To America Essays

Judaisms Transformation To Modernization In Relation To America Essays Judaism's Transformation to Modernization in Relation to America The Jewish way of life has been affected in a tremendous way by the people of the United States of America. By the time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, there were only 2500 Jews in America. For forty years beginning in 1840, 250,000 Jews (primarily from Germany, Hungary, and Bohemia) entered this country. Anti-Semitism and economic woes in Eastern Europe went from bad to worse after the pogroms of 1881-1882. Almost three million Eastern European Jews left between 1881 and 1914, two million (85%) of which decided to come to America, where they thought "the streets were paved with gold." They were wrong. Because of this intercontinental migration, the social characterization of Jews in America changed drastically. Before the move, the largest group in the early eighteenth century were the Sephardic Jews. They lived in the coastal cities as merchants, artisans, and shippers. The Jews who predominately spoke German came to America over 100 years later, and quickly spread out over the land. Starting as peddlers, they moved up to business positions in the south, midwest, and on the west coast. New York City had 85,000 Jews by 1880, most of which had German roots. At this time in American history, the government accepted many people from many different backgrounds to allow for a diverse population; this act of opening our borders probably is the origin of the descriptive phrase "the melting pot of the world." These German Jews rapidly assimilated themselves and their faith. Reform Judaism arrived here after the Civil War due to the advent of European Reform rabbis. Jewish seminaries, associations, and institutions, such as Cincinnati's Hebrew Union College, New York's Jewish Theological Seminary, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, were founded in the 1880s. America was experimenting with industry on a huge scale at the time the Eastern European Jews that arrived. Their social history combined with the American Industrial Age produced an extremely diverse and distinct American Jewry by the end of the intercontinental migration, which coincided with the start of the Great World War (World War I). Almost two out of every three new immigrants called the big northeast municipalities (such as the Lower East Side of New York) their new home. They would take any job available to support the family, and they worked in many different jobs which were as physically demanding as they were diverse. The garment district in New York today was made from the meticulousness, the sweat, and the determination of the Jews. Low pay, long hours, and disgusting working conditions characterized the average working day. Labor unions fought for these workers' rights and eventually won. There are stories of men in the Lower East Side of New York who started to sell rags from a cart, and slowly moved up the ladder in time to run a small clothing shop. Like other Jews in America at this time, they sacrificed the Sabbath to work during it, but it was for the good and the support of his family. The 1890s saw the birth of many Jewish-oriented charities were organized to raising funds for medical and social services, such as Jewish hospitals and Jewish homes for the aged. The American Jewish Committee was formed in 1906 to attempt to influence the American government to aid persecuted Jewish communities overseas. B'nai B'rith, a Jewish fraternal society, was set up in 1843 by German Jews in America; in 1913 it instituted the Anti-Defamation League to combat anti-Semitism. Today the ADL combats not just anti-Semitism, but also racism and other discriminants. Furthermore, The B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation has put together Hillel Houses at major college campus throughout the country to ensure that Jewish college students get an adequate religious experience. Anti-Semitism in America did not become widespread until the turn of the century. Anti-Semitism follows Jews around; it is not part of a community unless Jews live with them in that community and the gentiles don't want them there. Jews were informally ostracized from clubs and resorts, and were denied entrance to colleges and other institutes of higher learning. Moreover, it was a common practice to not employ Jews in particular professions and basic industries. Between World War I and World War II the United States placed limits on the number of Jews allowed in per year. Zionism, the movement formed by Jews to get themselves to

Friday, November 22, 2019

A Short History of the Architecture Profession

A Short History of the Architecture Profession Architecture was not always thought of as a profession. The architect was the person who could build structures that didnt fall down. In fact, the word architect comes from the Greek word for chief carpenter, architektÃ… n.  In the United States, architecture as a licensed profession changed in 1857. Before the 1800s, any talented and skilled person could become an architect through reading, apprenticeship, self-study, and admiration of the current ruling class. Ancient Greek and Roman rulers picked out the engineers whose work would make them look good. The great Gothic cathedrals in Europe were built by masons, carpenters, and other artisans and tradesmen. Over time, wealthy, educated aristocrats became key designers. They achieved their training informally, without established guidelines or standards. Today we consider these early builders and designers as architects: Vitruvius The Roman builder Marcus Vitruvius Pollio is often cited as the first architect. As chief engineer for Roman rulers such as Emperor Augustus, Vitruvius documented building methods and acceptable styles to be used by governments. His three principles of architecture- firmitas, utilitas, venustas- are used as models of what architecture should be even today. Palladio The famous Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio apprenticed as a stonecutter. He learned about the Classical Orders from scholars of ancient Greece and Rome- when Vitruvius De Architectura is translated, Palladio embraces ideas of symmetry and proportion. Wren Sir Christopher Wren, who designed some of Londons most important buildings after the Great Fire of 1666, was a mathematician and scientist. He educated himself through reading, travel, and meeting other designers. Jefferson When the American statesman Thomas Jefferson designed Monticello and other important buildings, he had learned about architecture through books by Renaissance masters like Palladio and Giacomo da Vignola. Jefferson also sketched his observations of Renaissance architecture when he was Minister to France. During the 1700 and 1800s, prestigious art academies like École des Beaux-Arts provided training in architecture with an emphasis on the Classical Orders. Many important architects in Europe and the American colonies received some of their education at École des Beaux-Arts. However, architects were not required to enroll in the Academy or any other formal educational program. There were no required exams or licensing regulations. The Influence of the AIA In the United States, architecture evolved as a highly organized profession when a group of prominent architects, including  Richard Morris Hunt, launched the AIA (American Institute of Architects). Founded on February 23, 1857, the AIA aspired to promote the scientific and practical perfection of its members and elevate the standing of the profession. Other founding members included Charles Babcock, H. W. Cleaveland, Henry Dudley, Leopold Eidlitz, Edward Gardiner, J. Wrey Mould, Fred A. Petersen, J. M. Priest, Richard Upjohn, John Welch, and Joseph C. Wells. Americas earliest AIA architects established their careers during turbulent times. In 1857 the nation was on the brink of Civil War and, after years of economic prosperity, America plunged into depression in the Panic of 1857. The American Institute of Architects doggedly laid the foundations for establishing architecture as a profession. The organization brought standards of ethical conduct- professionalsim- to Americas planners and designers. As the AIA grew, it established standardized contracts and developed policies for the training and credentialing of architects. The AIA itself does not issue licenses nor is it a requirement to be a member of the AIA. The AIA is a professional organization- a community of architects led by architects. The newly formed AIA did not have funds to create a national architecture school but gave organizational support to new programs for architecture studies at established schools. The earliest architecture schools in the US included the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1868), Cornell (1871), the University of Illinois (1873), Columbia University (1881), and Tuskegee (1881). Today, over one hundred architecture school programs in the United States are accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which standardizes the education and training of US architects. NAAB is the only agency in the US that is authorized to accredit professional degree programs in architecture. Canada has a similar agency, the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB). In 1897, Illinois was the first state in the US to adopt a licensing law for architects. Other states followed slowly over the next 50 years. Today, a professional license is required of all architects who practice in the US. Standards for licensing are regulated by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). Medical doctors cannot practice medicine without a license and neither can architects. You wouldnt want an untrained and unlicensed doctor treating your medical condition, so you shouldnt want an untrained, unlicensed architect build that high rise office building in which you work. A licensed profession is a path toward a safer world. Learn More The Architects Handbook of Professional Practice by the American Institute of Architects, Wiley, 2013Architect? A Candid Guide to the Profession by Roger K. Lewis, MIT Press, 1998From Craft to Profession: The Practice of Architecture in Nineteenth-Century America by Mary N. Woods, University of California Press, 1999The Architect: Chapters in the History of the Profession by Spiro Kostof, Oxford University Press, 1977

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Qs)I assume, for one thing, that there is a broad measure of agreement Essay

Qs)I assume, for one thing, that there is a broad measure of agreement that principles of justice should be chosen under certain conditions. (Rawls) Is it a f - Essay Example One of such greatly influential political philosophers of the twentieth century was John Rawls, who is thought by many to be the most important political philosopher of his time in the whole English-speaking world. More specifically, Rawls, influenced by such liberal and legal theorists as Isaiah Berlin and Herbert L. A. Hart, is widely known as the author of the almost revolutionary work "A Theory of Justice" (1971) in which he erased disciplinary lines and elaborated views which resurrected the academic interest to political philosophy. In fact, Rawls obtained the unique position among modern political philosophers as he is often referred to by politicians and in the courts. One of the main achievements of Rawls was his formulation of the two famous principles of justice as a proper solution of problems of distributive justice, which is preoccupied with determination of justice in the field of the allocation of goods and benefits within a society (Talisse, 2001, pp.3-22). However, there is a criticism of the approach of Rawls which, among other things, claims that Rawls cannot prove all the assumptions on which he builds his theory of justice. Let us take a closer look at the Rawls` principles of justice, and try to see whether the mentioned objection to Rawls constitutes a fatal one for his theory of justice. The main task of Rawls` "A Theory of Justice" was to offer a satisfying interpretation of the notion of political obligation under which citizens are compelled to follow the rules created by the state. While views of Rawls can be generally attributed to the rich social contract tradition, for him such a contract assumes a peculiar form as Rawls states that the social contract can be truly just if every member of society would agree with its terms without knowing beforehand which social position he or she would adopt. To prove his case, Rawls starts off his line of reasoning with mounting of a hypothetical case with which he attempts to show a possible

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Afghanistan is a failed state Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Afghanistan is a failed state - Essay Example Afghanistan is a mountainous landlocked country found in the South Central Asia, bordered by Pakistan in the south and east, Iran in the west, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in the north, and China in the far northeast (Afghanistan, 2011).Various ethnic communities can be found in the country, with the most common being the Pashtun ethnic group, although there are a few other ethnic groups such as Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazara, and other small groups. Despite having large chunks of underutilized agricultural lands and mineral resources, the country remains one of the poorest nations mainly due to political disturbance and persistent infighting, as well as the 1980 Afghan War (Afghanistan, 2011). A failed state may be described as one where political control and order is non-existence such that the citizenry are oppressed, while the general environment is tense, and consists of warring factions and militant rebels, with the government’s armed forces always at cross-roads with these insurgents or unable to provide enough security. Afghanistan seems to have fallen in this category, not until the US embarked on enforcing democratic rule in the recent past. One reason for classifying Afghanistan as a failed state is the fact that the government institutions have been almost totally destroyed characterized by no rule of law and no democratic system of governance; for example, the Taliban militia oppressed and massacred most people opposed to their rule. In addition, the country seems to have failed due to persistent civil war, internal and external displacements, human rights violations, extreme poverty, and the unending drought with the socio-economic indicators being too poor or inadequate. Other factors have been traced to emerge from the cold war, colonial disturbance of social structures and imbalance between social mobility and nation-building processes. In the recent years, the international community has been keen to help the country rebuild itself, with the US being on the frontline. However, several challenges are encountered in nation building, one being that the policies drawn are not sound enough as the main focus is military intervention to eliminate terror and create a democratic state, but less emphasis on reconstruction. Other challenges include insufficient funding from NGOs, insecurity due to the persistence of an antiregime and anti-western insurgence, and shifting attention by the US and UK to other countries, such as Iraq, Libya and so on. Further in this paper I will look at what has failed and why Afghanistan is being compared to a failed state and the nation building efforts which have received a lot of international support have not been quite a success. The paper will also touch the role of violence, military and humanitarian issues in the Afghanistan. Failed states Countries exist to offer political and social goods in a decentralized manner to the people living within its boundaries. Therefore, countries or ganize and distribute the concerns of their people, and safeguard their people from external exploitation and influences to ensure the country’s internal environment in terms of economic, political, and social aspects are taken care of. Countries are classified as strong states, weak states, failed, or collapsed depending on their ability to provide the important political goods to their people. Any country government’s main function is to provide the political good of security by preventing cross-border invasions and infiltrations, and any reduction of it territories. This is in addition to removing domestic threats or attacks upon the national order and social systems, and providing mechanisms for dispute resolution between the citizens with the state and with fellow

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Personal Statement Essay Example for Free

Personal Statement Essay It is the intention of every individual to constantly improve and strive for betterment. Each one is motivated to create opportunities for them to enhance and reinforce their skills to remain competitive in their individual profession. Despite the immediate challenges posed by such endeavor, there is a willingness and dedication to persevere to reap a good outcome; a better future. It is with this enthusiasm and determination to progress that I express my intention to apply for a Masters degree in Construction Management at NYU. I believe that leadership is an essential facet of every work environment. It is considered to be an instrument that directs the particular organization and company towards the desired change. It is what bonds and keeps roles and functions together to achieve the particular objective. Likewise, it is what captivates and inspires workers to believe in the possibilities available within a particular framework. In the end, it this skill serves as a benchmark towards success and a vital determinant of my career. Looking back at my education, I finished my Bachelors degree in Management at St. John’s University. During my stay, I have had the experience of immersing myself to the various disciplines surrounding management. However, what captivated me the most was in the realm of construction. I had always a passion of seeing things being built and it inspired me to specialize in this field so that I can one day manage and lead projects. Due to this, I exerted extra time and effort to boost my abilities. Eventually, all this hard work paved off and became vital in my career. Currently, I am fulfilling my dream to be in the construction business for the past seven years. The first two years served as a stepping stone as I was an assistant of a project manager. Starting fresh from the University, it is in here that my capabilities were honed and strengthened. In addition, I came across the application of theories and concepts that I had learned in management. This training really helped me prepare for the upcoming challenges ahead. After that, I became project manager and held that position for five years. It is in here that I came across numerous challenges within and outside the construction realm. One must have the effective skills to attain the goal of the company. Due to this, I had to handle things such as pre-planning until post construction. Also, the initiative must adhere to several rules and requirements placed by the government and the city. Likewise, I have been tasked to communicate and manage the costing, time and scope of the project. Lastly, I must always put into consideration the safety of the people and alleviating the possibilities of risks. The Masters in Construction Management is a suitable program because it suits with my profession and relative experiences. The curriculum can increase my proficiency and competence in determining the optimal strategies and trends today in both local and foreign markets. Recognizing the increasing diversity in the workplace, there is a need to constantly equip myself with the appropriate training and foundation to remain viable from my counterparts. Also, this study can create a deeper background about the specialization I am into. Concepts and theories can be reinforced and I can effectively apply both the theoretical and actual elements of practice. With all of these, I hope that the admissions committee shall consider my application. The University and degree is another preparatory stage towards the attainment of my long term goals. Moreover, with the outstanding alumni that NYU offers, I can have the necessary contacts that will enable me to explore business possibilities. I believe that this program will not only enhance my management skills; but at the same time unravel talents and capabilities I never though I had.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

Internationalization Of Accounting Standards For Consolidation - Japan :: essays research papers fc

Internationalization of Accounting Standards for Consolidation - Japan: A Case Study The purpose of this paper will be to examine problems with internationalization of accounting standards for consolidations on methods from an international perspective - specifically, in the US and Japan. This is an especially timely topic as standardization of financial markets is a prerequisite to international free trade. Given the trends toward greater globalization, the motivations of companies for seeking a uniform accounting system are strong. If companies have to prepare their accounts according to several different sets of rules, in order to communicate with investors in the various capital markets in which they operate or for other national purposes, they incur a considerable cost penalty and feel that money is wasted. This significantly limits global opportunities for multinational businesses. Thus, it is important to understand what the differences are between accounting standards, why they exist, and what problems they pose. It is worth noting that no one nation has a set of accounting rules which appears to have such clear merits that they deserve adoption by the whole world. No one country can claim to have a uniquely correct set of rules. The United States has the longest history of standard setting. It has the largest standard setting organization which is characterized by high standards of professionalism. But, even the rules of the United States exhibit compromises between different interests of a kind which could have reasonably been decided otherwise. Furthermore, no unanimity exists among U.S. accountants about the merits of the precise details of the compromises that have been struck. For example, the recent discussion memorandum on consolidation outlines three different methods which are GAAP in the US (Beckman, 1995). No one nation has a clear right, on the basis of existing achievements, to be regarded as predominant in accounting. A great deal more work is needed by accountants from different countries before we can reach the point of having a well founded basis for uniformity. People who study differences among systems of accounting rules are inclined to group countries into two categories. On the one hand, there are countries where business finance is provided more by loans than by equity capital, where accounting rules are dominated by taxation considerations and where legal systems customarily incorporate codes with detailed rules for matters such as accounting. The effect of taxation systems can be particularly pervasive. Often, the taxation system effectively offers tax breaks for businesses by allowing generous measurement of expenses and modest measurement of revenues on condition that these measurements are used for general reporting purposes. Companies have strong incentives to take advantage of these taxation concessions as real cash

Monday, November 11, 2019

5 Key Concepts Underlying Structures of Cultures

Define at least 5 key concepts underlying structures of cultures. Answer: Speed of messages: It is the matter of how long a message can be understood or how long does it take to understand a person. Messages interactions can be in different speeds depending upon culture. Context: The concept is different in different cultures, so a balance is necessary for interacting within each culture. It’s the matter of how much relevant information is in the message, and already understood by both sides.So we have context situations, like a message which contain lots of meaning without much information content in one hand, and low context like a message which may not contain all relevant information. Space: The space is different in different cultures. It’s the matter of what is I? For example, in office, some people have invisible boundaries in one meter. Actually people have a visible physical boundary and series of invisible boundaries Time: What is the opinion of time is very c ulturally dependent. There are many kinds of time systems in the world, but two are most important to international business.How many things are done at once? One thing: monochromatic; many: polychromatic. To Asian, several things can be done at once, but it is very difficult to American or European. For example, American and European will think about the schedule is very important, they care about when, how and where. But Asian will think about goal is the most important and they will do some adjust and increase of efficiency. Information flow The mean is Path data takes from its original setting to its end users. In Low-context countries, such as USA, Canada, Israel, German-speaking countries and Scandinavia, information spreads slowly and bocused.But the Higher Context Cultures: China, Arab countries, Italy, Greece, Japan, Spain, Korea, India, Brazil and Russia information will spread rapidly. So the information flow is different in different cultures. 2. Define the 4 types of gl obal organizations. Answer: a. Ethnocentric corporations: the corporations are home-country-oriented. Ethnocentric managers believe that home-country nationals are more intelligent, reliable, and trustworthy than foreign nationals. b. Polycentric corporations: the polycentric firm establishes multinational operations on condition that host-country managers â€Å"do it their way†.Host-country nationals have high or absolute sovereignty over the subsidiary’s operations. The polycentric firm is a loosely connected group with quasi-independent subsidiaries as profit centers. c. Regiocentric corporations: these corporations capitalize on the synergistic benefits of sharing common functions across regions. A regiocentric corporation believes that only regional insiders can effectively co-ordinate functions within the region. d. Geocentric corporations: the geocentric system is highly interdependent. Subsidiaries are no longer satellites and independent city-states. he entire organization is focused on both worldwide and local objectives. 3. Discuss the Yin and Yang of managing in Asia – 200 words or more. Answer: American management styles, almost universally, presuppose the importance of the individual. We value empowerment, proactive decision making, and ownership of the task. This style of management reflects our Western tradition of the power of rational control and the inherent equality of all people. Asian management styles typically subordinate the role of the individual to the greater demands of the group.The power of obligations and relationships and the respect for order are of greater importance in the East. In the West, efficiency and change often equal effectiveness; in the East, passive acceptance of what is, and the ability to perfect one's work with others within the existing conditions, might be a greater virtue – and the way to a smooth-running, successful organization. The Yin and Yang are contradiction and complementat ion. It is very difficult to work between Asian and Westerner, but the human resource managers and employees should recognize that deep differences of values and beliefs.Then employees need to coordinate in dealing with Asian colleagues and subordinates. And build a bridge between Asian and Westerner. So, bringing yin and yang together would drum up business. 4. Define the following Boundary less concepts. Paradigm:underlying the rise of various forms of â€Å"new organization† to which have been ascribed the terms virtual organization, empowered organization, high-performing work teams, and process reengineered organizations is â€Å"a single, deeper paradigm shift that we call the emergence of the boundaryless organization†, (p. 2; Ashkenas st al. 1995).This shift recognizes the limitations of the following four types of organizational boundaries: vertical (between levels and ranks of people), horizontal (between functions and disciplines), external (between the orga nization and its suppliers, customers, and regulators), and geographic (between nations, cultures, and markets). In the boundaryless organization, these boundaries are not used to separate people, processes and places, rather, the focus is how to move ideas, information, talent, and decisions where they are most necessary (Ashkenas et al. 1995). Employment arrangements: an increase in nontraditional employment contracts between the worker and the organization is cited as an example of blurred organizational boundaries (Miner ;amp; Robinson, 1994), as well as evidence of a post-job society (Bridges, 1994). The term contract denotes the different forms employment is taking in the 1990s: temporary, part-time, job-sharing, consulting, contracting, and leasing.Although some employees have little choice but to accept one of these forms of employment, many employees welcome these options for more flexible hours and more control over where they work, how they work, and which projects they w ould most prefer (Belous, 1989). Job Analysis: is the measurement of tasks and / or worker attributes for a given job, thus, job analysis techniques can be classified as work-oriented or worker-oriented (Gatewood ;amp; Field, 1994). Work-oriented methods involve specific descriptions of the various tasks performed on a job, whereas worker-oriented methods examine broad human behaviors involved in work activities.Skills Emphasis and work Analysis: given that functional boundaries will continue to blur (Ashkenas et al. , 1995; Miner ;amp; Robinson, 1994), boundaryless organizations may eventually collapse â€Å"jobs† into more comprehensive task of job analysis less cumbersome; it could contribute to a culture wherein workers are afforded more freedom and opportunity to engage in different work activities. Recruitment: gaining competent employees at all levels of the organization is more than a matter of training, it stems from changes in recruitment and selection philosophy (A shkenas et al. 1995). Specifically, the boundaryless organization emphasizes the development of a shared mindset among all of its employees and the continuous support of this collective culture. Although Ashkenas et al. (1995) don’t describe specific recruiting approaches that aid in achieving this cohesive culture, they state the importance of thoroughly screening applicants, sometimes with the help of customers, based on skills and personality traits that match the technical and cultural needs of the organization. 5. What are the dilemmas of boundaryless recruitment and selection?A dilemma regarding a high degree of person-organization culture fit surfaces: what about the potentially negative consequences of attracting and selecting too many like-minded individuals? For instance, Schneider (1987) has suggested that organizational dysfunction and eventual demise can be traced to an overabundance of homogeneous worker characteristics. As a corollary, some diversity of worker attributes may be necessary to respond to environmental threats and opportunities, ultimately ensuring the viability of the organization.Another caveat to consider is the possibility of adverse impact. Any employment test which results in different acceptance/pass rates for individuals belonging to different groups must be validated and its continued use demonstrated as necessary. Thus, the very homogeneity of employee values proposed as necessary for the success of the boundaryless organization may lead to two serious problems: decreased organizational performance and adverse impact.Approximately how much and what kinds of cultural parity between worker and organization are necessary for a productive mindset? Approximately how much and what kinds of cultural similarity between worker and organization lead to litigation and/or poor organizational adaptability? It may be that just as the organization needs different skill sets to accomplish a unified performance goal, organizations n eed different traits and worker characteristics to accomplish the longer-term goal of survival (Schneider, 1987).However, worker heterogeneity does not necessarily preclude the selection of homogeneous traits that primarily serve to reinforce core values and pivotal norms. More research is needed to build theory and enhance practitioner success in recruiting and selecting workers for boundaryless organizations. 6. How does one build a global work force with recruitment? Answer: Every year, hundreds of companies expand their operations into the global marketplace. At the same time, corporations that are established in the international sphere redefine their business to maintain a competitive edge.For organizations in both categories, recruitment and international assignment are key determinants of long-term success. Today, HR professionals in progressive global companies are discovering that it isn’t enough just to look for these skills among members of the expatriate communit y. Rather, every employee needs to have a certain level of global awareness, and many companies are finding that screening must begin at recruitment. Form many corporations, international recruitment is synonymous with expatriate selection.Within this area, significant progress has been made to ensure candidates are screened for global competency, with includes such qualities as flexibility, open-mindedness, technical expertise, multiple language proficiency and the willingness to take risks. In addition to recruiting for expatriate potential, HR professionals are finding that employees who have international experience and language proficiency help the company function on a day-to-day basis. Mangers must understand differing cultural norms to perform well on business trips and short-term assignments in other parts of the world. 7.Define the four faces of global cultures. Answer: Davos: from boardroom to bedroom This culture is globalized as a direct accompaniment of global economic processes. Its carrier is international business. It has obvious behavioral aspects that are directly functional in economic terms, behavior dictated by the accoutrements of contemporary business. Participants in this culture know how to deal with computers, cellular phones, airline schedules, currency exchange, and the like. But they also dress alike, exhibit the same amicable informality, relieve tensions by similar attempts at humor, and of course most of them interact in English.Since most of these cultural traits are of Western provenance, individuals coming from different backgrounds must go through a process of socialization that will allow them to engage in this behavior with seemingly effortless spontaneity. Faculty club international: This is the internationalization of the Western intelligentsia, its values and ideologies. It is carried by foundations, academic networks, non-governmental organizations, and some governmental and multinational agencies.The â€Å"faculty c lub culture† spreads its beliefs and values through the educational system, the legal system, various therapeutic institutions, think tanks, and at least some of the media of mass communication. If this culture internationalizes the Western intelligentsia, it also internationalizes the conflicts in which this intelligentsia has been engaged on its home territories. The McWorld culture: The McWorld culture is most credibly subsumed under the category of Westernization, since virtually all of it is of Western, and more specifically American, provenance.These critics of â€Å"culture imperialism† also understand that the diffusion of popular culture is not just a matter of outward behavior. It carries a significant freight of beliefs and values. Evangelical Protestantism: Provide a distinctive process of globalization, especially in its Pentecostal version (which accounts for something like 80 percent of its worldwide growth). This globalizing force is best seen by compari ng it with the other dynamic religious phenomenon of our time, that of the Islamic resurgence.Evangelical Protestantism brings about a cultural revolution in its new territories (in that respect it is very different from its social function on its American home ground). It brings about radical changes in the relations between men and women, in the upbringing and education of children, in the attitudes toward traditional hierarchies. Most importantly, it inculcates precisely that â€Å"Protestant ethic† that Max Weber analyzed as an important ingredient in the genesis of modern capitalism – a disciplined, frugal, and rationally oriented approach to work.Thus, despite it indigenization, Evangelical Protestantism is the carrier of a pluralistic and modernizing culture whose original location is in the North Atlantic societies. 8. Discuss and describe the challenges of Diversity Training in Texaco, UNUM, GTE and Gannett. Answer Texaco: work in progress Texaco’s stra tegy started to take shape two years ago when Gadsden the manager of U. S. workforce diversity and EEO compliance for Texaco Inc. came on board.According to the diversity manager, the impetus stemmed from a number of sources: changing demographics in the workplace and Texaco’s customer base, the oil company’s quest to be a top-tier company, and the need to fully utilize every member of an organization that over the past five years has shrunk from approximately 27,000 to 19,300 employees. Thorough focus groups and a national survey of more than 3,000 of its workers, Texaco leaned how employees felt about the oil company in general, its training and development, its promotion policies and compensation, and whether Texaco and its managers valued a diverse workforce.In the survey results, employees need to improve promotion of minorities. They want managers to be held more accountable on managing diversity and better educated on how to communicate with employees of differi ng backgrounds. A cross-function team was requested to ask for the promotion process by Texaco’s managements. The team discovered that employees wanted a streamlined application process and more feedback on the outcome of promotion requests. Therefore, the cross-functions team supplied work guide of how to get promoted.In the other hand, they improved a diversity training component to highest-level executives, then extend diversity training to all employees. One of the more difficult aspects of workplace diversity is finding the funding for it. Gadsden has succeeded in part by being frugal. He worked with a group of 14 independent consultants rather than handing the contract over to one big firm. He bargained and haggled with his vendors, getting them to reduce fees in return for a guaranteed amount of work. While he uses outside facilitators for his workshops, he also employs internal staff to save money, plus the employees learn by running the programs.Gadsden estimates his cost at $224 a person versus what Gadsden calls a company average of about $1,379 per person. Like any workplace diversity program, Texaco’s is a work in progress. UNUM: visible diversity 1989, the UNUM Life Insurance Company of America has experiencing high turnover among the very minority workers it was trying so hard to recruit. â€Å"We were in compliance mode, doing affirmative action, and trying to bring women and minorities into the company. † Sandy Bishop, manager of UNUM’s diversity programs says. â€Å"We wanted our business environment to mirror our world, the people we were insuring. Its proactive program began simply enough with its HR staff developing a diversity philosophy. In addition, the HR department brokered meeting between senior executives, the majority of whom were white males, and representatives of minority groups. Like Texaco, UNUM began with an internal audit of what needed to be done. Out of that came a three-day diversity workshop designed to build â€Å"cultural competence. † In its effort to integrate the diversity debate with other business issues, UNUM has an informal diversity structure.Corporate communications, for example, publishes a newsletter addressing diversity issues. UNUM also has an education committee that set up â€Å"Lunch and Learn† talks on diversity. As part of its outreach activities, the company has also launched community programs that deal in diversity. While UNUM’s earlier efforts were restricted to company headquarters, the disability insurer this year is extending its diversity programs to its branch offices. And of the five diversity seminars that UNUM will hold this year, three of them will be in remote locations. GTE: mutual respectTelecommunications giant GTE got serious about diversity in the early 1990s for two reasons, says Randy MacDonald, the company’s senior vice president of human resources and administration. â€Å"First was recognition of t he changing workplace†¦more spouses working and more immigration. Second, and this is still evolving, is that while we’re U. S. based, the workplace is becoming global and we need to address marketplace diversity. † GTE combines its workplace diversity efforts with its work/family programs (telecommuting, flextime, seminars on balancing work and family).The diversity end consists of minority recruitment, employee career advancement, training on managing and being part of a diverse workforce, as well as multicultural awareness events that celebrate diversity. The telecommunications company has made a conscious effort to recruit minorities on college campuses, once a person is on board, he or she is eligible for career advancement training, regardless of ethnic background. The company does offer some specialized educational programs for minorities. Through its actions, the company has increased minority and female representation among its managers.Gannett: total inte gration Gannett Corp. Inc. may well have the granddaddy of diversity programs. The media conglomerate first embarked on managing diversity in 1980. While minority recruitment was first emphasized by Gannett, the media company has expanded into career advancement training. The company also publishes an in-house newsletter devoted to the topic and sponsors noon seminars. According to the diversity manager, what has made Gannett’s program work is the fact that it is closely aligned with overall business aims. 9. Describe the adult learning theory culture-bound.Answer: The underlying assumptions behind experiential training are worth investigating to begin determining the universality or cultural relativity of the field’s mainstream methodologies. Holvino (1982) found experiential learning to be: * Active and participatory * Learning how to learn * Based on interdependence or independence * Based on learner’s internal direction * Shared responsibility for leaning * Built on experience and knowledge of learners * Shared access to power and knowledge * Focused on problem identification and solution Information seeking and sharing 10. What are the cultural training techniques? Answer: Training techniques are commonly characterized as falling along a spectrum from Didactic (trainer-centered, low-risk, content-oriented) to Experiential (learner-centered, high-risk, process-oriented). In Hofstede’s terminology, Didactic techniques can be considered to have a high Power Distance and strong Uncertainty Avoidance value orientation, while experiential techniques can be considered to have a low Power Distance and weak Uncertainty Avoidance value orientation.By juxtaposing Hofstede’s cultural value spectrum with this training technique spectrum, we create a guideline for predicting the relative appropriateness of different training techniques for different cultural groups. If we compare the two sides of Figure 20. 1, we can predict which tec hniques might be appropriate for a given cultural group. Appropriate techniques are those that might most effectively challenge the participants without eliciting a high level of resistance.

Saturday, November 9, 2019

Laboratory Techniques & Measurements Essay

Laboratory Techniques & Measurements Objectives: Become familiar with several important laboratory techniques. Gain proficiency with some of the common measuring devices used in a chemistry laboratory. Determine the volume, mass, length, temperature, and density of objects and liquids 1. Length Measurements: Object Length (cm) Length (mm) Pop Can 12.0 120.0 iPhone 11.7 117.0 TV Remote 16.3 163.0 2. Temperature Measurements: Hot water from tap (⠁ °C) –  47 Boiling Water (⠁ °C) –  61 Boiling Water after 5 mins.(⠁ °C) –  73 Cold water from tap (⠁ °C) –  15 Ice Water (⠁ °C) – 6 Ice Water after 5 mins. (⠁ °C) – 4 3. Volume Measurements: Test tube volume (mL) – 10 Number of drops in 1 mL – 9 Pipet volume (mL) – 4 4. Mass Measurements: Object Estimated Mass (g) –  7.8 Actual Mass (g) –  9.2 5. Density Measurements: Mass A Mass B Mass A-B Object Graduated Cylinder + Substance Hypothesis on Salt Compared to Water: The salt solution will have a greater density than pure water as the substance mass is lager. 6. Densities of Irregular Objects: Mass A Mass B Mass B-A Object Graduated Cylinder Volume (mL) Graduated Cylinder + Object (mL) Object Volume (mL) Object Mass (g) Density M/V Metal bolt Water Displacement Method Questions: A. Some reasons for the water not boiling at 100⠁ °C could be: different temperature settings, not allowing enough time to fully boil and experimental error. B. 102⠁ °C-100⠁ °C 99.2-100 100⠁ °C 100 2-0.8 100⠁ °C 100⠁ ° 0.02 X100%-0.008X100 =2=-0.8 C. Height= 3.6, Base=4.21, Width= 1.17 Volume = bXh/w 4.21X3.6/1.17 = 13.31 Density= mass/volume 21.3/13.31 = 1.6 D. Density= mass/volume 19.30=26.15/V -26.15X19.30=V -504.69=V V=504.69 Conclusion: Some new things that I learned from this lab are experimental errors can drastically effect the outcome and adding a substance such as salt to water will increase the density of water. I believe I did meet the lab objectives because in result of this lab I became familiar with lab techniques, gained experience using lab measuring devices and I learned the volume, mass, length temperature and density of some objects and liquids.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Tycho Brahe Essays - Copernican Revolution, Tycho Brahe, Philippists

Tycho Brahe Essays - Copernican Revolution, Tycho Brahe, Philippists Tycho Brahe Tycho Brahe Tyge (Latinized as Tycho) Brahe was born on 14 December 1546 in Skane, then in Denmark, now in Sweden. He was the eldest son of Otto Brahe and Beatte Bille, both from families in the high nobility of Denmark. He was brought up by his paternal uncle Jrgen Brahe and became his heir. He attended the universities of Copenhagen and Leipzig, and then traveled through the German region, studying further at the universities of Wittenberg, Rostock, and Basel. During this period his interest in alchemy and astronomy was aroused, and he bought several astronomical instruments. In 1572 Tycho observed the new star in Cassiopeia and published a brief tract about it the following year. In 1574 he gave a course of lectures on astronomy at the University of Copenhagen. He was now convinced that the improvement of astronomy hinged on accurate observations. After another tour of Germany, where he visited astronomers, Tycho accepted an offer from the King Frederick II to fund an observatory. He was given the little island of Hven in the Sont near Copenhagen, and there he built his observatory, Uraniburg, which became the finest observatory in Europe. Tycho designed and built new instruments, calibrated them, and instituted nightly observations. He also ran his own printing press. The observatory was visited by many scholars, and Tycho trained a generation of young astronomers there in the art of observing. After a falling out with King Christian IV, Tycho packed up his instruments and books in 1597 and left Denmark. After traveling several years, he settled in Prague in 1599 as the Imperial Mathematician at the court of Emperor Rudolph II. He died there in 1601. His instruments were stored and eventually lost. Tycho Brahe's contributions to astronomy were enormous. He not only designed and built instruments, he also calibrated them and checked their accuracy periodically. He thus revolutionized astronomical instrumentation. He also changed observational practice profoundly. Whereas earlier astronomers had been content to observe the positions of planets and the Moon at certain important points of their orbits. Tycho and his cast of assistants observed these bodies throughout their orbits. As a result, a number of orbital anomalies never before noticed were made explicit by Tycho. Without these complete series of observations of unprecedented accuracy, Kepler could not have discovered that planets move in elliptical orbits. Tycho was also the first astronomer to make corrections for atmospheric refraction*. In general, whereas previous astronomers made observations accurate to perhaps 15 arc minutes, those of Tycho were accurate to perhaps 2 arc minutes, and it has been shown that his best observations were accurate to about half an arc minute. Tycho's observations of the new star of 1572 and comet of 1577, and his publications on these phenomena, were instrumental in establishing the fact that these bodies were above the Moon and that therefore the heavens were not immutable as Aristotle had argued and philosophers still believed. The heavens were changeable and therefore the Aristotelian division between the heavenly and earthly regions came under attack (see, for instance, Galileo's Dialogue) and was eventually dropped. Further, if comets were in the heavens, they moved through the heavens. Up to now it had been believed that planets were carried on material spheres (spherical shells) that fit tightly around each other. Tycho's observations showed that this arrangement was impossible because comets moved through these spheres. Celestial spheres faded out of existence between 1575 and 1625. Tycho developed a system that combined the best of both worlds. He kept the Earth in the center of the universe, so that he could retain Aristotelian physics The Moon and Sun revolved about the Earth, and the shell of the fixed stars was centered on the Earth. But Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn revolved about the Sun. He put the (circular) path of the comet of 1577 between Venus and Mars. This Tychonic world system became popular early in the seventeenth century among those who felt forced to reject the Ptolemaic arrangement of the planets (in which the Earth was the center of all motions) but who, for various reasons, could not accept the Copernican alternative. Tycho's major works include De Nova et Nullius Aevi Memoria Prius Visa Stella (On the New and Never

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

About the U.S. Department of State

About the U.S. Department of State The United States Department of State also referred to as â€Å"the State Department† or simply â€Å"State,† is the executive branch department of the United States federal government primarily responsible for administering U.S. foreign policy and consulting with the President of the United States and Congress on international diplomatic issues and policies. The mission statement of the State Department reads: â€Å"To advance freedom for the benefit of the American people and the international community by helping to build and sustain a more democratic, secure, and prosperous world composed of well-governed states that respond to the needs of their people, reduce widespread poverty, and act responsibly within the international system.† The primary functions of the State Department include: Provide protection and assistance for U.S. citizens traveling or living abroad;Assist U.S. businesses and industries operating in the global marketplace;Coordinate and provide support for international activities of other U.S. agencies, official visits overseas and at home, and other diplomatic efforts;Inform the public about U.S. foreign policy and relations with other countries and provide feedback from the public to administration officials. Similar the foreign ministries in other nations, the State Department conduct international diplomatic relations on the part of the United States by negotiating treaties and other agreements with foreign governments. The State Department also represents the United States in the United Nations. Created in 1789, the State Department was the first executive branch department established after final  ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Headquartered in the Harry S Truman Building in Washington, D.C., the State Department currently operates 294 U.S. embassies around the world and oversees compliance of more than 200 international treaties. As an agency of the president’s Cabinet, the State Department is led by the Secretary of State, as nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The Secretary of State is second in the line of presidential succession after the Vice President of the United States. In addition to assisting with the international activities of other U.S. government agencies, the State Department provides many important services to U.S. citizens traveling and living abroad and to foreign citizens trying to visit or immigrate to the United States. In perhaps its most publicly noticeable role the State Department issues U.S. Passports to U.S. citizens allowing them to travel to and return from foreign countries and travel visas to U.S. citizens and non-citizen residents. In addition, the State Department’s Consular Information Program informs the American public of conditions abroad that may affect their safety and security while traveling abroad. Country-specific travel information and global Travel Alerts and Warnings are vital parts of the program. The State Department also oversees all U.S. foreign aid and development programs such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. All activities of the State Department, including foreign assistance programs, representing the U.S. abroad, countering international crime and human trafficking, and all other services and programs are paid for through the foreign affairs component of the annual federal budget as requested by the president and approved by Congress. On average, the total State Department expenditure represents just over 1% of the total federal budget, projected to exceed  $4 trillion in 2017.  Ã‚   Brief History of the State Department On July 27, 1789, President George Washington singled a bill passed by the House of Representatives and Senate on July 21, 1789, creating the Department of Foreign Affairs as the first federal agency created under the new Constitution. A law enacted on September 15, 1789, changed the name of the agency to the Department of State and assigned it oversight of a variety of domestic, rather than foreign issues. For example, the law made the Department of State responsible for running the United States Mint and conducting the decennial U.S. census. During the 19th century, these and most of the Department of State’s other domestic duties were turned over to other federal agencies and departments. Appointed by President Washington on September 29, 1789, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, then serving as Minister to France became the first Secretary of State. Appointed before Washington had taken office, John Jay had been serving in as Secretary of Foreign Affairs and continued to function as de-facto Secretary of State until Jefferson returned from France several months later.

Saturday, November 2, 2019

Behavioral and performance issues with a customer service Case Study

Behavioral and performance issues with a customer service representative - Case Study Example This study focuses on many challenges resulted by the recent deregulation of financial services in Canadian banking industry, many changes have been incorporated in banking system. Previously cross-ownership between four pillars (banking, insurance, trust and security) was not allowed but due to the deregulation it is possible now. This has brought many new opportunities and challenges in the market with increased competition. To meet new objectives pressure on customer service officers have been increased which also meant low flexibility in working hours and job sharing. The Canadian National bank is among the largest chartered banks in Canada with 1600 branches around the nation. The focus of this study is on one of the case of employee behavior in the Chatham branch of Canadian National bank. This case discusses two employees of Chatham branch of Canadian National bank, Lesley Mohan and Pam Stewart. Lesley was a newly hired customer service manager and Pam Stewart was 25 years employee, holding the position customer service executive. The main area of discussion is Pam’s conflicting attitude and Lesley’s respond to it.... Previously cross-ownership between four pillars (banking, insurance, trust and security) was not allowed but due to the deregulation it is possible now. This has brought many new opportunities and challenges in the market with increased competition. To meet new objectives pressure on customer service officers have been increased which also meant low flexibility in working hours and job sharing. The Canadian National bank is among the largest chartered banks in Canada with 1600 branches around the nation. The focus of this study is on one of the case of employee behavior in the Chatham branch of Canadian National bank. This case discusses two employees of Chatham branch of Canadian National bank, Lesley Mohan and Pam Stewart. Lesley was a newly hired customer service manager and Pam Stewart was 25 years employee, holding the position customer service executive. The main area of discussion is Pam’s conflicting attitude and Lesley’s respond to it. Problem statement â€Å" Although Pam’s (CSR) experience was so vast and past performance was above average, but her conflicting behavior, self superiority and resistance to change was creating difficulties for new customer manager to adopt recently made changes by higher authority and improve assigned bank branch performance while sustaining her growth and position, human resource and conflict management theories could be considered as a measure to decrease the severity of problem† Problems Pam’s (customer service representative) conflicting behavior with Lesley, new customer service manager Pam’s self superiority because of her 25 years of experience Pam’s resistance to change recently made by customer service capacity management schedule Pam’s rebellion attitude towards Lesley Sub problems

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Marriage in the 20th Century Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Marriage in the 20th Century - Essay Example First, they perceived conscience as the possession of a general knowledge as regards moral principles. In addition, it was also seen as a process towards being deliberated morally. Finally, these theologians examined the term conscience in terms of its usage in specific cases. The perspective of the Catholic Church is also threefold, as regards the term conscience. First, conscience is seen as that which an individual is able to experience as a reality, from within themselves. The term conscience is perceived as an analytical, evaluative and reflective judgment regarding that which is right in respect of particular cases. In this case, a call towards openness is called upon; if at all individuals are to identify the truth (Firer, n. d.). Finally, conscience is seen as an event that facilitates the attainment of a moral decision. In other words, it is the gateway that enables individuals to differentiate between that which is right, or wrong. The exercise of conscience calls for its development and cultivation. To develop it, it is required of an individual to undergo through an experience that shall both deepen and sharpen their sensitivity in terms of the evils on the one hand, and the moral good on the other hand. This enables individual to 'see rightly' (Firer, n. d.). Secondly, the development and cultivation of conscience may occur as a result of a learning process that entails making of judgment during times of conversation with say, a community as well as those responsible for giving such a community moral wisdom (Firer, n. d.). This way, individuals are assisted in judging rightly. Finally, the definite occurrence of arriving at a decision, coupled with the ensuing action, accords to each one of us what may at best be referred to as a ' track record' that upon reflecting on it, turns out to be our individual fountain of guidance as well as moral wisdom. This often takes time, but eventually, it enables us to 'act rightly'. Moral discernment According to Wallace (2003), discernment may be seen as a conventional name that refers to the difficult process of arriving at decisions or choices, on the basis of the "moral imperative" of an individual's conscience, while taking part in a "reasonable dialogue" with experts in subject-matter and also spiritual guides. It is important to note that there is a variation between the process of making daily decisions on the one hand and discernment on the other hand. Wallace has also referred to discernment as a "thoroughgoing effort" (Wallace, 2003). Logic alone is not enough to warrant recognition of discernment; the rest of our mental facilities are also called upon. To begin with, discernment tends to be in tune with the "the moral good", as opposed to the profitable that which is solidly conventional, or expedient. In other words, discernment is about trying to identify the best source of action to undertake from a moral perspective, as opposed to doing what we might find easier to accomplish, and that which may not lead to others criticizing our actions. Discernment also differs from the everyday decision making process in another way that could be seen as even more subtle. In this case, individuals take an assumption that sheer logic is not enough to help them attain "the good" (Wallace, 2003), thus calling for discernment. Conscience, moral

Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Literature review Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Literature review - Dissertation Example Table of figures Figure 1 Evolution of materials used in structure construction (Balageas, et al., 2006) Figure 2 A schematic representation of coordinates and plate in lamb wave formation (Ryden, et al., 2004) Figure 3 propagation of Asymetric and Symetric lamb wave modes (NDT, 2012) Figure 4 Cross-section of a typical Contact transducer (Arnau & Vives, 2008) Figure 5 compact 3D laser vibrometer (Oliver, 2000) Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Structural health monitoring can be defined as the process of implementing strategies aimed at identifying damages in engineering infrastructure. Damages, within the monitoring process, refer to changes occurring in the components and materials that could affect structural functioning adversely. The evaluation tools utilised ought to present non-destructive effects to the structures. In establishing the damage, past, present and future status of structures should be considered carefully (Farrar & Worden 2007). Changes with adverse effects to the functioning of the systems form the greatest concern referred as damages. The relevant changes should be quantifiable for classification as damages and their effects on the functioning of structures adverse. Motivations of SHM Structural health monitoring remains an essential process aimed at ensuring safety of engineering structures. Monitoring could be essential in identifying defects within structures, prompting appropriate corrective measure with the aim of rectifying the detected defects. This process might be carried out as part of routine maintenance procedures undertaken during the lifetime of engineering structures. Monitoring could therefore, precede planned maintenance procedures as it can assist in detecting changes within the structure that need rectification (Balageas et al. 2006). Necessary repairs to structures can be identified through monitoring before engaging the repairing teams. These processes can assist maintenance teams in identifying the required mainten ance procedures for different projects. The adverse effects of damages could escalate to a point where structures become classified as unusable. Slow accumulation of damage could drive structures to this stage referred as failure. The process of implementing monitoring strategies involves making structural observations, over period, using standardised measurements and analysis. The monitoring process should provide analytical information regarding the future functioning of the structure in relation to the anticipated ageing associated with time (Farrar & Worden, 2007). Since ageing of structures remain inevitable, monitoring the ageing process become crucial in minimising the possibility of structures collapsing unexpectedly. Monitoring the ageing process provides engineers with information that can be utilised when performing routine maintenance on structures. This information can also be utilised when constructing new structures through identification of problems that might occur as observed in existing structures (Fassois & Sakellariou, 2007). The ageing process could impose significant changes into materials; changing their characteristics. Modifications to materials can, however, be undertaken artificially through addition of relevant components. The general trend of modifying the materials shows changes from simple, natural materials to complex, auto-adaptive materials as indicated in the figure below. These adaptations remain essential in increasing adaptability of materials