Oedipus Rex Essays (713 words) - Literature, Greek Mythology

Oedipus Rex Sophocles' Oedipus the King is a tragic play, which discusses The tragic discovery of Oedipus that he has killed his father and married his mother. The story of Oedipus was well known to the Athenians. Oedipus is the embodiment of the perfect Athenian. He is self-confident, intelligent, and strong willed. Ironically these are The very traits which bring about his tragic discovery. Oedipus gained the rule of Thebes by answering the riddle of Sphinx. Sophocles used the riddle of the sphinx as a metaphor for the 3 phases of Oedipus' life and to further characterized him as a tragic man. The Sphinx posed the following riddle to all that came to obtain the rule of Thebes: What is it that walks on 4 feet and 2 feet and 3 feet and has only one voice, when it walks on most feet it is the weakest? Oedipus correctly answered Man and became the king of Thebes. This riddle is a metaphor for the life of Oedipus. As a child man crawls on his hands and knees this is the four feet to which the Sphinx refers. Also man is at his weakest as a small child. He depends solely on others for his nourishment and well being. Oedipus was the child of Jocasta and King Laius who was taken to the mountain by a shepard to be killed so the omen of the god Apollo that Laius' son would kill him and lay with Jocasta would not come true. Oedipus was the weakest of his life at this point. If it has not been for the shepherd sparing his life and giving him to Polybus to raise as his own Oedipus would have died. Man walks on 2 feet when he has matured. This is a metaphor for Oedipus when he reaches adulthood and leaves Corinth to escape the Oracle. Oedipus meets up with a band of travelers and in a rage kills them. Inadvertently Oedipus has killed his own father. Oedipus then answers the riddle of the sphinx and becomes king of Thebes. By becoming king of Thebes he marries Jocasta the Queen of Thebes and his own mother. Many years later after bearing children with Jocasta a plague kills many of the inhabitants of Thebes. Oedipus is told by the gods to find the killer of Laius. He is very diligent in the inquiry and finally comes to the horrible truth that he himself is the murderer. Jocasta kills herself at the horrible realization that she has laid with her son and Oedipus puts out his eyes at finally seeing the truth. This fulfills the final part of the Sphinx's riddle for Oedipus will have to walk with a cane for the rest of his life because of his blindness, this will give him the 3 feet which man walks with at the end of his years. Oedipus used his intellect and diligence to answer the riddle of the Sphinx. Many of the most intelligent young men of Thebes has been killed attempting to answer the riddle but Oedipus proved his intelligence superior to theirs. Oedipus uses the same intelligence and perseverance to find the killer of Laius. He does not give up his search even when Jocasta warns him to stop and let the matter rest. He calls the shepherd and interrogates him till he discovers the horrifying truth that he is the killer. Oedipus' intelligence was ultimately his flaw. Also, if Oedipus had not had been as courageous he would have never ventured to answer the riddle of the Sphinx. Thus even though he had killed his father he would have never become king of Thebes and laid with his mother. In addition, if Oedipus had had the courage but not the intelligence the Sphinx would have killed him for answering the riddle incorrectly. Sophocles used this to characterized Oedipus as a tragic man for he came about his tragic discovery not because of an evil act or an evil trait but because of the person he was. Oedipus traits which gave him riches and power ultimately led to his tragic ending. Also, the god Apollo did not predestine that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother by the oracle, he only stated what he knew was inevitable because of who Oedipus was. The sphinx's riddle was used by Sophocles to characterize Oedipus as a tragic man and as a parallel to his life. The riddle describes the 3 stages which Oedipus went through in his life. Also in answering the riddle Oedipus inevitable brought about his own

Examining The Application Package Of Accounting Software Information Technology Essay Essays

Examining The Application Package Of Accounting Software Information Technology Essay Essays Examining The Application Package Of Accounting Software Information Technology Essay Essay Examining The Application Package Of Accounting Software Information Technology Essay Essay It is a widely researched subject to actuate little concerns to follow IT. There is small research focused specially on the motivation factors for following computerized accounting systems ( CAS ) in little organisation, though there is much survey on the overall acceptance of IT. However, little concern accounting package is an indispensable sub-set of overall little concern IT research. Accounting package was the biggest application bundle used and the powerful factor behind the IT hardware acquisition determination. To look into the motivation factors for following accounting package, it would be practical to foremost reexamine the more comprehensive literature on overall IT acceptance. Hence, this literature reappraisal begins with a treatment of the surveies of general IT acceptance and so reexamine surveies peculiarly focused on accounting package acceptance. 2.1 FACTORS FOR ADOPTION OF IT Thong ( 1999 ) , Harrison, Mykytyn and Riemenschneider ( 1997 ) , Cragg and King ( 1993 ) , Moore and Benbasat ( 1991 ) and Treadgold ( 1990 ) , who have made research about little concern IT acceptance, have now identified a assortment of actuating factors. Thong ( 1999 ) attempted to beef up the myriad of IT acceptance research by developing an integrated theoretical account of information systems acceptance. This theoretical account is a utile model in reexamining the variables that impact on a little concern proprietor s determination to follow IT. Thong classified the factors into four elements: Features of the organisation ; Features of the direction ; Features of the technological invention ; and 4. Features of the concern environment. 2.2 Features of the Organization The features of the organisation are variables that manipulate the determination whether to follow IT or non. Organizational features for case: employee s degree of IT knowledge, concern location, information-intensity, concern size and industry sector has been evaluated in predating research surveies of Fink ( 1999 ) ; Burgess ( 1998 ) ; Wenzler ( 1996 ) ; Attewell ( 1992 ) ; Yap ( 1990 ) ; and Delone ( 1988 ) . In general, the greater the gross revenues turnover are determined by the larger the figure of employees and the more information-intensive the industry, therefore the more likely a little concern will follow IT invention.In add-on, Thong ( 1999 ) states that little concerns tend to endure resource poorness in footings of fiscal competency, offered clip and IT skilled staff to ease invention acceptance. As a consequence, Attewell ( 1992 ) adds that resource poorness raises the obstruction to innovation acceptance in little concern. 2.2.1 Information Intensity Yap ( 1990 ) quoted in Thong ( 1999 ) , that concerns have different information-processing demands in different sectors. Those in more information-intensive sectors are more likely to follow IT than those in less information-intensive sectors. Further, ( Porter and Millar, 1985 ) have reported that greater utilizations of IT in concerns are due to greater information strength. Therefore, greater information strength will take the holder or supervisor of little concern to comprehend IT as a most of import competitory device and as a consequence addition the chance and complexness of using computing machine package. 2.2.2 Business Size Dewar and Dutton ( 1983 ) and Moch and Morse ( 1977 ) quoted in Thong ( 1999 ) , point out that the technological invention literature has found that larger concerns have more capital and substructure to ease to follow computerized accounting system. However, Ein-Dor and Segev ( 1978 ) , specify that little and average concerns face well more barriers, among others, a deficiency of internal information system expertness, restricted pecuniary resources and as such are less likely to follow information systems than big concerns. Auxiliary literature Alpar and Reeves ( 1990 ) quoted in Thong ( 1999 ) disagree that, even among little concerns, the larger the concern, the more able it is able to use people with specialised accomplishments, for illustration, cognition of information systems. Hence, there is a greater chance to travel from manual system and follow the computerized 1. 2.2.3 Industry SEcTOR Some peculiar industries are more suitable to computerise record maintaining than others are discussed by some research workers. These findings are partially supported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics ( ABS ) 1999-2000 study, Business Use of Information Technology. The maximal usage of computing machines was in concerns in the stuff goods, concern services, electricity, gas and H2O supply industries. At the same clip, the minimal computing machine usage was in the private and other services like lodging, coffeehouse, eating houses, conveyance, storage, retail trade and building. Therefore, it is more suited to implement a CAS in industries in which there are more trading traffics and dealing processing so that to ease daily running of the concern. 2.3 Characteristics of Management Thong ( 1999 ) points out that in big concerns, group squads are normally involved in the IT decision-making procedure. However, this is in differentiation to little concerns where the owner-manager is by and large the IT determination shaper. Therefore, Rizzoni ( 1991 ) indicates that in little concerns, the features of the owner-manager are critical in finding the concern s attack to IT. Thong ( 1999 ) emphasized that the three major features of owner- director which are of import to IT acceptance are: Degree of IT instruction and accounting cognition. Computer self-efficacy, and Innovativeness. 2.3.1 Degree of IT Education and Accounting KNOWLEDGE In position of the fact that directors have illumination cognition about accounting or seeing as they do non cognize how to fix histories and fiscal statements, they by and large prefer to contract out their accounting work to public accounting houses. In add-on, in several states and in several concerns, directors neither considered the accounting capable by any agencies nor the accounting topic in the secondary degree or third degree. Consequently, Lees ( 1987 ) , DeLone ( 1988 ) and Neidleman ( 1979 ) quoted in Thong ( 1999 ) , specify that the owners are non alert of the significance and the utility of accounting information over and above the advantages of utilizing computing machines to do effortless accounting plants. Therefore, it still exists an involuntariness to use computing machine package for the ground that concern procedure outsourcing decreases the deficiency of accounting perceptive of proprietors. Consequently, there would be a larger possibility to implement a CAS , if directors have been educated about the accounting cognition or if they could be learned about the advantages of computing machine know-how to bring forth rapid and precise accounting information. 2.3.2 Computer self-efficacy Self-efficacy is the belief that one has the capableness to execute a peculiar behaviour that is widening the societal cognitive theory. Compeau and Higgins ( 1995 ) described computing machine self-efficacy as a opinion of one s capableness to utilize a computing machine . Delone ( 1988 ) and Raymond ( 1988 ) province that little concerns proprietors or directors who have commenced computing machine preparation and possess computing machine self-efficacy are more apt to implement IT. The cardinal leader for invention is the owner-manager and little concerns frequently can non afford the luxury of experts to steer them towards the invention acceptance and diffusion procedure. Therefore, it is of import for the owner-manager to hold computing machine self-efficacy. It is posited here that, to the grade that the owner-manager feels comfy and confident with the information engineering, here construed as the owner-manager s computing machine self-efficacy, advanced information enginee ring will be adopted. On the other manus, Gableand Raman ( 1992 ) discovered that directors in rather a batch of houses are less alarmed or have no thought of the likely wage ensuing from the usage of computing machines in accounting as they do non possess computing machine cognition. Hence, directors would be willing to follow such computing machine engineering to treat accounting informations and bring forth appropriate and consistent fiscal studies on clip, if they could be learnt about the favorable effects ensuing by following accounting package bundle. 2.3.3 INNOVATIVENESS Invention is defined as a alteration made in the traditional manner of making things. In this model, invention means the development of changing the manner of fixing fiscal studies from manual system to accept accounting package bundle as a device for entering and treating accounting minutess and fiscal studies. Thong ( 1999 ) states that the owner-manager is the 1 who is in charge for the running of the company in little and average concerns. As a consequence, the features of owner-manager are indispensable in finding the invention attitude given that they are the chief determination shaper. Kirton ( 1976 ) quoted in Thong ( 1999 ) , contends that everyone is located on a continuum runing from an ability to make things better to an ability to make things otherwise. The owner-manager will seek solutions that have already been tried and understood, if the latter is non a modernizer. In contrast, Kirton, ( 1984 ) indicates that the proprietor or director who wants to introduce will fav or solutions that have non been attempted and are therefore risky. However, Thong ( 1999 ) suggests that there is non anything that other associates of the concern can make to utilize computing machines for accounting plants if the owner-manager has non the self-control to introduce. 2.4 Features of the Technological Invention The determination to implement Information Technology is dependent on the features of the technological invention itself as they are besides a critical determiner. Rogers ( 1983 ) defined diffusion as the procedure by which an invention is communicated through certain channels overtime among the members of a societal systems . Rogers uses the footings engineering and invention synonymously, but explains that engineering is a design for instrumental action that reduces the uncertainness in the cause-effect relationships involved in a coveted result . There are five, potentially relevant, features of invention noted by Rogers ( 1983 ) which are potentially valuable in explicating the consequences of our research. Complexity: how hard technological invention is perceived as easy or hard to understand and utilize ; Compatibility: how technological invention must be consistent with the bing values, past experiences and demands of possible adoptive parents, for case bring forthing speedy studies as expeditiously and efficaciously ; Relative advantage: how much technological invention must be perceived as better or worse to be compared to its predecessor system ; Trialability: is the grade to which an invention may be experimented with by possible users on a limited footing ; Observability: how much clip it takes for the consequences of technological invention to go seeable and maximize net income. It has been noticed, over the past decennary that the induction of powerful, economical personal computers jointly with available accounting package, have enhanced and raised the barriers to IT modernisation. Thong ( 1999 ) confirms that, this has shown the manner to a encouragement in the acceptance of IT in the accounting field of little concerns. 2.5 Features of the Business Environment Business environment encompasses all those factors that affect a company s operations, and includes clients, rivals, stakeholders, providers, industry tendencies ( accounting house and comptrollers ) , ordinances, other authorities activities, societal and economic factors and technological development. 2.5.1 Accounting house Oran ( 1988 ) and Shannon ( 1986 ) indicate that many little concern owner-managers are non alert of the excess services supplied by comptrollers. Additionally, until a job does non originate, owner-manager will non discourse with comptrollers ( Holmes 1987 ) . Furthermore, ASCPA ( 1992 ) and Breen et Al. ( 1994 ) maintained in their research that an external comptroller used up much of his clip on an act in conformity with accounting pattern and accounting criterions, therefore he can assist a concern to get and set into pattern the accounting package in the concern accounting rhythm. Gorton ( 1999 ) found that concerns that were late start-up were more apt to travel toward an external comptroller for suggestion than more grown-up organisations. Besides, Wenzler ( 1996 ) states that comptrollers are exceptionally placed to supply accounting package advice and support to their clients. Such proposal shows to be efficient and effectual for concerns to choose for accounting package. There are close relationships between little and medium concern proprietors and comptroller, seeing as rather a few little and average concerns contract out their operation dealing entering and describing to external accounting houses. In add-on, Davis ( 1997 ) noted that little and average concerns depend a batch on accounting houses as their most faithful concern advisers. Accounting houses have more familiarity about their clients and their clients concern. They know what their aims are, and can set frontward attacks to assist in achieving those aims. For this ground, as recommended by Yap et Al. ( 1992 ) , accounting houses can well act upon CAS acceptance among little and average concerns and besides their engagement may besides lend to the accomplishment of computerized accounting execution. However, to cut down mistakes and set a halt to fraud, it is indispensable for comptrollers to be cognizant of the impact of doing usage of of computing machines on the accounting processs and controls that are premeditated. Furthermore, computing machines can non replace the sentiment and penetration of educated comptrollers but the computerized accounting package can ease the undertakings by automatizing much of the mundane clerking procedures in the manual accounting systems ( e.g. poster, test balance readying ) . Furthermore, computing machine package allows the comptroller to foreground more on how to continue with the accounting entries and techniques on fiscal studies. Last but non least, more of the comptroller s difficult work can be paying attending on back uping direction in sing the impact of funding, puting and runing determinations on fiscal statements and other steps of public presentation by using accounting package. 2.5.2 Competition Ives A ; Learmonth ( 1984 ) and Link A ; Bozeman ( 1991 ) quoted in Thong ( 1999 ) confirmed that it is normally assumed that competition will heighten the possibility of invention acceptance. Ettlie ( 1983 ) and Ettlie A ; Bridges ( 1982 ) quoted in Thong ( 1999 ) besides point that competition leads to environmental insecurity and increases both the demand for and the rate of invention acceptance. Porter and Millar ( 1985 ) advise that, concerns will be able to vie in three ways by following IT: IT can make competitory advantage by cut downing costs or increasing distinction. IT can alter the industry construction and, in making so, change the regulations of competition. IT generates new concerns by making derived demands from new merchandises, frequently within bing operations of the concern. 2.5.3 External Agents Small concern s clients were a considerable ground for implementing IT, more than the force per unit area of rivals suggested by Wenzler ( 1996 ) . Fortunately, Public Practice Accountants are in a superior place to supply systems analysis, design, execution, and support advice to their clients as many little concerns are in deficiency of resources to follow CAS. Furthermore, the debut of the Goods and Services Tax ( GST ) was an external influence on little concern owner-managers determinations to follow a CAS. Many little concerns would hold taken advantage of Government inducements to assist with the passage costs of the GST. Many little concerns computerized their accounting systems following the debut of the GST because accounting for the GST utilizing manual records proved to be excessively complicated ( Lief 2000 ) . Since the debut of the GST, it has been shown that many little concerns agree that the costs involved were normally: offset by better record-keeping and attendant better concern direction. The general consensus was that the move to computerise records was really positive for the little concern sector overall . 2.6 Barriers FOR ADOPTION OF IT Computerized accounting implies that the lone thing that employees do is inputting and entering minutess into the computing machine, which so processes the other stairss of the accounting rhythm automatically or by a petition. Davis and Olson ( 1985 ) defined Information System acceptance as utilizing computing machine hardware and package applications to back up operations, direction, and determination devising in the concern. In this survey, computerized accounting is defined as utilizing computing machine package applications to back up accounting operations. However, many little concerns are cautious about the consequence computing machine may hold in their house. When a CAS is installed, if there is a bad option of hardware or package, or deficient planning, this may take to obscureness and may hold terrible long-run effects. Some grounds invariably mentioned in literature to explicate why little houses that had non yet adopted IT, identified the three chief barriers to IT acqui sition. 2.6.1 Lack of computing machine accomplishments and cognition Stanworth and Gray ( 1992 ) and Marlow ( 1998 ) reported that drains on clip and money characterize of import restrictions. Computer engineering infuses concerns both big and little ; the demand for employees with equal IT cognition is serious. There are two accomplishable solutions to this quandary. First, it is the employment of devoted IT staff. However, this is can be outer the budget of the little association and is expensive. Second, IT preparation is another pick. Conversely, this besides appears to be dearly-won. The classs for little houses, professional patterns where clients are to be paid on a clip footing, clip used up when set abouting preparation is considered by many owner-managers to be a loss of income as all these have proved to be expensive. Consequently, many little and average endeavors struggle frontward with what cognition exists inside the organisation. The little organic structure of survey stressing upon the result of preparation in little houses is contrad ictory. Delone ( 1988 ) , probe of critical procedure factors, stated that the degree of computing machine preparation was non connected with IT success ( measured as the impact of IT on the organisation and computing machine usage ) . On the other manus, Montazemi ( 1988 ) stated that there is a favorable relationship between degrees of preparation and steps of the impact of IT. Where workers were disappointed with the degrees of preparation available, he noticed their computing machine literacy, end-user fulfilment and blessing of IT was poorer than their better-trained opposite numbers. In add-on, Igbaria et Al. ( 1997 ) accounted that preparation besides is utile for little organisations. Their research demonstrates developing to be decidedly related with the evident effectivity of IT and to utilize it without trouble. On the footing of their decisions, Igbaria et Al. declare that persons with no sufficient preparation are apt to confront problems while utilizing the system. Since they are fighting, they may in fact see that the system is excessively stiff to use and that the public presentation wages of pattern are offset by the difficult work of using it and eventually go hesitant to follow the engineering, t herefore get the better ofing the intent of set uping the new engineering. 2.6.2 Lack of Time Niederman et Al. ( 1991 ) and Galliers et Al. ( 1994 ) province that analysis carry out in big concerns have invariably revealed information systems ( IS ) planning to be one of the top precedences of information systems and concern directors for clip direction. However, Fidler et Al. ( 1993 ) and Dou- kidis et Al, ( 1994 ) study that bing survey puts frontward that little organisations are melting to prosecute the theoretical account set by their larger opposite numbers and remain, in footings of modern direction pattern, in the dark ages. Whilst it is recognized by Malone ( 1985 ) and Cragg ( 1990 ) that the official planning techniques of big concerns are non basically suited for little concerns as probe recommends that little houses that have adopted more formal be aftering systems come across lesser IS jobs. Regardless of such consequences, Cragg and King ( 1993 ) study happening `few formal planning and control activities associated with the computing machine, or for that affair, with the concern as a whole . Where planning does take topographic point it has a inclination to be assumed on an unexpected, job footing ; merely an action of the owner-manager ; informal, periodic and closed ; and prejudiced earnestly by advice from external beginnings with less accomplishments and experience than the owner-manager. While Doukidis et Al. ( 1996 ) suggests, although IT is by and large linked with a systematic attack to direction and decision-making and its debut requires careful planning, much little concern direction public presentation is based on short-run, informal, ad hoc lines. Furthermore, McMahon ( 2001 ) survey mentioned that it truly develops direction in little houses and frees up clip by utilizing a computerized record maintaining system. However, John Breen and Nick Sciulli ( 2002 ) initiated that concern operators are likely to hold complexness happening clip to set into operation a CAS as they lack the clip to analyze and or implement a computing machine package bundle. For that ground, it may hold a positive consequence on the concern taken as a whole and may ease to happen the clip to follow CAS, if owner-managers could hold the needed direction and fiscal accomplishments. Besides, Proudlock et Al ( 1999 ) research observed that some concerns proprietors did non hold adequate clip to turn up and get peculiar accounting package that satisfy their concern necessities, and they did non hold clip to put up the accounting package and to enter the everyday concern traffics. This is why they did non follow Information Technology in the fiscal accounting system. 2.6.3 fiscal resources Iacovou et Al. ( 1995 ) finds that little and average endeavors need a changeless supply of sufficient fiscal resources for a booming acceptance of CAS. The fiscal resources are looked-for to confront the installing costs, care, and other current disbursals that might harvest up during the whole class of the system operation. However, Iacovou et Al. ( 2005 ) , Quayle ( 2002 ) and Riquelme ( 2002 ) added that non all little and average endeavors have adequate fiscal resources needed to back up the acceptance of CAS and as such fiscal restriction becomes the barrier to CAS. Head ( 2000 ) confirmed that: ..small concern calls hapless when it comes to purchasing computing machines. This shows that it is really dearly-won and hard when switching from manual system to computerise system. Besides, due to dearly-won investing, many little concern directors were unwilling to utilize computing machine package in the accounting system as mentioned by Head ( 2000 ) research survey. However, Doukidis et Al. ( 1994 ) and Proudlock et Al. ( 1998 ) province that adviser aid comes at an elevated monetary value, frequently excessively high for the little concern. Consequently, many little organisation proprietors prefer to obtain advice from neighbouring houses and support houses every bit good as less formal beginnings of advice such as immediate household, friends and familiarities, who fundamentally have small or no apprehension of the concern. In the same manner, Delone ( 1988 ) and Gable ( 1991 ) affirmed that IT advisers may non ever be the answer. Although they are familiar with the application of IT in concern, they barely of all time are cognizant of the specific demands of single concerns in the same deepness as the owner-manager. 2.7 Decision This overview of past research surveies has clearly demonstrated the standards which influenced the factors for the acceptance of information engineering in the accounting profession for some little and average concerns. However, these past surveies have lifted a problematic issue in the literature. Consequently, no contrasts are made between concerns that use a computerized accounting system. This appraisal would be practical in the grounds for utilizing or non utilizing computerized records, over and above what factors would carry more concerns to follow IT irrespective of their dimensions. Furthermore, harmonizing to the literature, all of the above features influence the proprietor or director s determination to implement IT in the accounting field to a changing extent depending on the economic system and industry in which the concern operates. .

Nebraska Man - An Evolution Hoax

Nebraska Man - An Evolution Hoax The Theory of Evolution has always been a controversial topic, and continues to be in modern times as well. While scientists clamor to find the missing link or the bones of ancient human ancestors to add to the fossil record and collect even more data to back up their ideas, others have tried to take matters into their own hands and create fossils they claim are the missing link of human evolution. Most notably, Piltdown Man had the scientific community talking for 40 years before it was finally definitively debunked. Another discovery of the missing link that turned out to be a hoax was called Nebraska Man. Maybe the word hoax is a bit harsh to use in the case of Nebraska Man, because it was more of a case of mistaken identity than an all out fraud like the Piltdown Man turned out to be. In 1917, a farmer and part time geologist named Harold Cook who lived in Nebraska found a single tooth that looked remarkably similar to an ape or a human molar. About five years later, he sent it to be examined by Henry Osborn at Columbia University. Osborn excitedly declared this fossil to be a tooth from the first ever discovered ape-like man in North America. The single tooth grew in popularity and throughout the world and it wasnt long before a drawing of the Nebraska Man showed up in a London periodical. The disclaimer on the article that accompanied the illustration made it clear that the drawing was the artists imagining of what the Nebraska Man may have looked like, even though the only anatomical evidence of its existence was a single molar. Osborn was very adamant that there was no way anyone could know what this newly discovered hominid could look like based on a single tooth and denounced the picture publicly. Many in England who saw the drawings were quite skeptical that a hominid had been discovered in North America. In fact, one of the primary scientists who had examined and presented the Piltdown Man hoax was vocally skeptical and said that a hominid in North America just did not make sense in the timeline of the history of life on Earth. After some time had passed, Osborn agreed that the tooth may not be a human ancestor, but was convinced it was at least a tooth from an ape that had branched off from a common ancestor as the human lines did. In 1927, after examining the area the tooth was discovered and uncovering more fossils in the area, it was finally decided the Nebraska Man tooth was not from a hominid after all. In fact, it was not even from an ape or any ancestor on the human evolution timeline. The tooth turned out to belong to a pig ancestor from the Pleistocene time period. The rest of the skeleton was found at the same site the tooth had originally come from and it was found to fit the skull. Even though Nebraska Man was a short lived missing link, it tells of a very important lesson to paleontologists and archaeologists working in the field. Even though a single piece of evidence looks to be something that could fit into a hole in the fossil record, it needs to be studied and more than one piece of evidence needs uncovered before declaring the existence of something that actually does not exist. This is a basic tenet of science where discoveries of a scientific nature must be verified and tested by outside scientists in order to prove its veracity. Without this checks and balances system, many hoaxes or mistakes will pop up and stall out the true scientific discoveries.

Market Segmentation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Market Segmentation - Essay Example Lastly, the company seeks for a unique marketing segment that is not being practised by their competitors. This plays a big role in enabling companies to achieve a high market share, thus generating a comfort factor since the buyers will see it as a market leader. Through this, most business entities are able to better their competitive positions and satisfy their customer needs (Burrows, 2010). For an adequate marketing strategy to take place, a manager has to determine and identify the boundaries within the market and with the help of a business plan, develop a clear definition of a business to be in operation. Then, the manager should get enough knowledge and all the relevant information about the goods and services provided by the competitors in relation to the basic requirements of the customers in the market. The company, therefore, would determine the methodology and variables to use in dividing its market into subsets. Research tools are introduced in the process of collectin g and analysing data with the purposes of identifying a homogenous segment which, at the same time, is heterogeneous to the other segments. Basing on the consumers’ behaviour, a company selects the variables that will assist it in creating a detailed profile of each distinct segment (Burrows, 2010). Then the marketing manager looks for the potential customer with needs and wants that require being satisfied in respect to the business they had identified in the previous steps. Finally a product and market plan is developed to make an appeal to a specific market segment. All these combined together will attract a customer to purchase a particular product that will satisfy his or her needs and wants. Market segmentation is considered as a decision making tool for most of the marketing managers in the selection of a target market for their goods and services. Product differentiation techniques have frustrated companies’ expectations since they were purposed to provide a va riety of products rather than offering different segments, therefore leading most of the companies to embrace the segmentation. Marketing managers use segmentation in defining the market, i.e. they are able to perceive their market from a consumer’s point of view rather than a manufacturer’s. Managers gain the knowledge and ability to rationalise policies for available commodities so that they can outshine their competitors by protecting their products from any competitive practice and also work towards achieving a high market share. They harmonise the different segments in a company by catering for the segments that are perceived to be more important, and minimising the competition between the goods and services within a company. This simply means that managers rely on the segmentation process to position ranges of their existing products (Croft, 1994). Since not all existing products can satisfy the needs of each segment, the managers identify the gaps and take an in itiative of launching a brand new or an already available commodity to solve the shortcoming. Companies with small distribution channels use segmentation to sell their goods and services in specific parts of a country. A marketing manager uses the GNP per capita and different behaviours of the customers in the area of concern to determine the marketing strategy to be used in meeting their needs. Demographic variable in market segmentation explains

Different sectors and their current performance Essay

Different sectors and their current performance - Essay Example United Kingdom’s construction sector is important for the country’s economy and has a number of services,products and technologies. These differ in economic value realized from them relative to their varied outputs regarding skilled and unskilled labor, knowledge, raw materials, intangible investment and raw materials. It must also be noted that the construction industry in the UK has been growing in terms of maintaining, designing and developing, operating and repairing of buildings (CIB, 2010). These and more are captured in this paper which looks into five key sectors in the UK construction industry. Private house builders Private house builders in the United Kingdom normally raise money to put up buildings and projects. They are then paid by their clients or the government upon completion of the projects but with interest (CLG, 2010). The payment is distributed evenly over a given contracted period of time when the building process runs. Their roles comprise buildin g of houses, large buildings, estates as well as developing structured facilities for example manufacturing buildings. They are mostly associated with cheap labor which they employ in the building process while at the end of the day they reap huge sums of money in return which guarantee them huge profits. Some of the activities which are presently being worked on by private house builders include putting up of a 75-storey Hertsmene House on the Canary Wharf and building up of residential houses in new towns (CIMR, 2003). This housing project is set to take three years and its benefits are projected to boost the country’s economy. This will be in terms of investment prospects which have since been defined and planned for the building once it is complete. Social house builders UK has in the recent past had an increased rate in worker housing needs hence calling for new developments to build houses for workers (BIS, 2012). Social house builders are concerned with such building d evelopments in which they are charged with the task of building worker houses. This considers costs for constructing the houses which are usually a target of low cost ownership of homes for workers. There are quite a number of social house builders whereby some work as single entities while others work in partnerships. This has also led to emergence of associations for housing projects and at least 5000 new homes are said to be in the process of being constructed at the moment (Leftly, 2010). These are projected to take approximately a year and are set to benefit the worker community especially in relieving them from the strain of house seeking at convenient places. Social house builders understand the specific needs and requirements which are associated with affordable housing constructions. This is mainly with regards to housing designs and building approaches employed in building the houses. Social house builders are always focused on benchmarking their present position while als o look into ways of improving their building performances (UKCES, 2012). They are also keen to offer affordable housing and help in addressing particular needs of people relative to culture, security, language as well as accessibility to services. Private commercial builders Output of commercial building process in the UK has off late been noted to account for 18 per cent of all the work associated with construction industry (UKCES, 2012). Private commercial builders has however, been on the rise in the country with most of them targeting construction in various areas. They have been into construction of residential buildings whereby new building projects, renovation works, home improvements and extension projects have been part of their dealings. They have also been into commercial construction projects both in the public sector and private sector. Their main concentration has been construction of both commercial and residential build

Porter Generic Stratey Essay Example for Free

Porter Generic Stratey Essay The key drivers of competitive advantage are cost leadership and differentiation product †¢COMPETITIVE STRATEGY- the means by which an organisation seeks to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Porter suggests that competitive strategy means taking an offensive or defensive action to create a defendable position to cope with the competitive forces- this would lead to greater returns †¢Porter suggests that a firm’s strengths fall into two headngs; cost advantage and differentiation. By applying these strengths in a broad or narrow focus, three generic strategies result: COST LEADERSHIP, DIFFERENTIATION AND FOCUS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦they are generic because they are not specific to a firm or industry. †¢4 strategies to gain a competitive advantage: COST LEADERSHIP-(superior profits through lower costs), DIFFERENTIATION-(higher profits by adding value the products areas that are of real significance for customers who are willing to pay a premium price), FOCUS STRATEGY-(concentrate on a specific area on the market) †¢COST LEADERSHIP- concentrates on becoming the lowest cost producer through economies of scale. With this, the organisation can compete on price with the potential to earn higher unit profits. Cost reduction provides the focus for the orgaisations strategy. Competitive advantage is achieved by driving costs down. There is room for only one cost leader †¢Firms that succeed in cost leadership have the following strengths: access to capital to make big investment, design skills, high level of expertise in manufacturing process, efficient distribution channels †¦. EXAMPLES- RYANAIR, TOYOTA, TESCO, AND WALMART †¢Cost leadership is often seen as a strategy that aims to attract customers with low prices made by low costs†¦.. ut this doesn’t necessarily mean the lowest selling price, but due to low costs, the profit margins are higher †¢DIFFERENTIATION- this strategy calls for a development of a product or service that offers unique and valued attribute by customers. The customers believe that the product is different than rivals. the uniqueness gives a product added value which enables companies to charge a higher price premium. Successful differentiation- differentiating products from competitiors, charging a higher price†¦. an base differentiation on omage, durability, after-sales customer service/ needs strong RD †¢HOWEVER, adding value increases a firms cost base for a product which reduces the unit profit margin- these costs can only be recouped if the consumer is willing to pay the premium price. Also, customers must recognise these differences†¦. EXAMPLES: BMW, MIELE (HIGHER QUALITY DOMESTIC APPLIANCES), BANG AND OLUFSEN, MERC, ETC †¢Benefit a chance of charging a premium price, demand for differentiated less elastic, above average profits, additional barriers to entry? Risks difficult to sustain, higher costs, risk of creating differences, comsumers may become too price sensitive, compititors who attain a focus strategy may achieve greater differentiation. †¢FOCUS STRATEGY- Like differentiation, but organisation concentrates on one or more segments of the market, this may offer the firm more security for achieving its competitive advantage†¦. However there are specific requirements for the focus strategy†¦. Firms benefit form specialisation, differentiation on a lower scale, so the costs are lower than full scale differentiation

performance apraisal critique Essay -- essays research papers

The performance appraisal system used by our organization is done annually. The purpose of the review is for employee as well as manager, to aptitude performance from the past year relating to the specific responsibilities and objective of that employee. This gives the opportunity for managers to give feedback on the strengths and development areas that are summarized from that previous year. Employees must also use this opportunity to give feedback on how they can best perform and develop themselves. This Annual review period is an opportunity to communicate and work together to build unity in the workplace. Realistic plans may be made for the employee’s development and growth.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The supervisor and the employee review the job description standards and compare the employee’s accomplishments against the standards set. The data comes from established performance metrics, employee self-assessment and customer or coworker feedback from daily activities.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are five levels of the performance rating. Outstanding is the highest rating. To get an outstanding rating means the employees contribution to the business far exceeds requirements. The employee is personally committed to the company’s mission, values and goals at a consistent level. The employee takes the initiative to identify challenging work goals and tries to find solutions. The employee’s quality is never a question, even under challenging situations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next rating is an excellent rating. The employee who receives an excellent rating produces more than required. The employee takes the initiative in developing and finding challenging work goals. Each responsibility is finished with quality and on time. That employee needs little direction or supervision. The employee thinks beyond the details of the job and contributes to the objectives of the department. All of the employee’s decisions and actions are higher than expectations.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The next level of rating is commendable. This employee performs what is expected of an experienced individual in the department. The employee’s errors are minimal and they have learned from their mistakes, some improvements from them are expected. They schedule projects and work on problems in an orderly manner. They understand suggestions and recommendatio... ...sp;These conditions do not empower employees. Employees are told what to do and they have a small amount of insight on what their actions are contributing to. Employees feel powerless; we are reluctant to take the initiative for fear of doing the wrong thing. We do our jobs as told, and have little sense of personal responsibility or commitment. Our goals are set for what is measurable rather than what goals are important. We have very few interactions with our manager over the course of the year to discuss how things our going. Employees have lack of information about the company’s goals. We are discouraged from asking for help or coaching assistance from our supervisor. Our goals are assigned to us without mutual agreement.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  We must change the organization to give employees the understanding for how our work contributes to the organization. Employee’s goals are achieved by our freedom to choose the best way to take on these goals. Supervisors must be supportive and actively coach employees. There must be minimum supervisor control and interests of discovering better ways of working. When employees discover this, it will be reflected in our reviews.

Aboriginal Canadians and European Settlers

Aboriginal Canadians and European settlers In the history of contact between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in Canada, there has been an imbalance in acculturative influences. Generally, Aboriginal peoples have been changed substantially, with serious erosion of their cultures and identities. However, this dominance by Euro Canadian peoples has also been met by resistance by Aboriginal peoples.Policy and programme changes to alter the relationship between these two sets of people are suggested, including a reduction in pressures toward assimilation and segregation which have historically resulted in the marginalization of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. When individuals experience intercultural contact, the issue of who they are comes to the fore. Prior to major contact, this question is hardly an issue; people routinely and naturally think of themselves as part of their cultural community, and usually value this attachment in positive terms.Of course, other life transitions (su ch as adolescence) can lead people to wonder, and even doubt, which they are. But it is only during intercultural contact that their cultural identity may become a matter of concern. The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples established a research project on Aboriginal cultural identity, and commissioned reports on the subject.This paper is based on one of those reports, and draws upon concepts, data and analyses that were carried out as a consultant to that project The main line of argument in this paper is that intercultural contact between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples in Canada (both historically, and at the present time), has initiated a process of acculturation (at both the cultural and psychological levels), during which Aboriginal peoples have experienced cultural disruption, leading to reducedwell-being and to identity confusion and loss.It is further argued that sincethis process has resulted from interactions between Aboriginal and nonAboriginal peoples, the key to reestablishing a sense of well-being and secure cultural identity resides in restructuring the relationships between these two communities. This paper contains four sections: a discussion of the concept of cultural identity, as it derives from the social science literature; a brief review of the process and consequences of intercultural contact; a summary of the main findings; and a discussion of their implications for policy and programmed.May lead to more positive identities, and to cultural and psychological outcomes that are more fulfilling. Breton and Norman fishermen came into contact with the Algonquians of the northeast at the beginning of the 16th century, if not earlier, as they put into natural harbors and bays to seek shelter from storms and to replenish water and food supplies. There is some indication that these first contacts with Aboriginal inhabitants were not always friendly.A few individuals were kidnapped and taken to France to be paraded at the court and in p ublic on state and religious occasions. Also, precautions seem to have been taken to hide the women inland when parties landed from ships engaged in cod fishing or walrus hunting. On the other hand, there were mutually satisfactory encounters as trade took place. The Algonquian brought furs, hides and fish in exchange for beads, mirrors and other European goods of aesthetic and perhaps spiritual value. Both sides seemed content with this growing exchange.Soon the Algonquian exacted goods of more materialistic value, such as needles, knives, kettles or woven cloth, while the French displayed an insatiable desire for well-worn beaver cloaks. In the 16th century, the French, like their western European neighbors, proceeded to lay claim to lands â€Å"not possessed by any other Christian prince† based on the European legal theory of Terra Nullius. This theory argued that since these lands were uninhabited, or at least uncultivated, they needed to be brought under Christian domini on.The royal commission to ROBERVAL for the St Lawrence region, dated 15 January 1541, and La Roche's commission for SABLE ISLAND in 1598 enjoined acquisition either by voluntary cession or conquest. By the early 17th century, as the FUR TRADE expanded and Catholic missionary work was seriously contemplated, a policy of pacification emerged. The fact that the French chose to colonize along the Bay of Fundy marshlands and the St Lawrence Valley, from which the original Iroquoians had disappeared by 1580, meant that no Aboriginal peoples were displaced to make way for colonists.This peaceful cohabitation remained characteristic of Aboriginal-French relations up to the fall of ACADIA (1710) and of NEW FRANCE (1760). Beyond the Acadian farmlands and the Laurentian seigniorial tract, the Aboriginal peoples on their ancestral lands continued to be fully independent, following their traditional lifestyle and customs. Royal instructions to Governor Corellas in 1665 emphasized â€Å"the off icers, soldiers and all His Majesty's adult subjects treat the Indians with kindness, justice and equity, without ever causing them any hurt or violence. Furthermore, it was ordered that no one was to â€Å"take the lands on which they are living under pretext that it would be better and more suitable if they were French. † Royal instructions in 1716 not only required peaceful relations with the Aboriginal peoples in the interests of trade and missions but also forbade the French from clearing land and settling west of the Montreal region seigneurs. In the PAYS D'EN HAUT, care was taken to obtain permission from the Aboriginals before establishing a trading post, fort, mission station or small agricultural community such as Detroit or in the Illinois country.Following a conference with 80 Iroquois delegates at Quebec in the autumn of 1748, Governor La Galissoniere and Intendant Bigot reaffirmed that â€Å"these Indians claim to be and in effect are independent of all nations , and their lands incontestably belong to them. † Nevertheless, France continued to assert its sovereignty and to speak for the â€Å"allied nations† at the international level. This sovereignty was exercised against European rivals through the allied â€Å"nations,† not at their expense through the suppression of local customs and independence.The Aboriginal peoples accepted this protectorate because it offered them external support while permitting them to govern themselves and pursue their traditional ways. The MI'KMAQ, and later the Arenac, accepted the Catholic religion, even in the absence of large-scale sustained evangelization, as a confirmation of their alliance and brotherhood with the French and resistance to Anglo-American incursions. When the Milkman eventually signed a treaty of peace and friendship with the British authorities at Halifax in 1752, the ABENAKI who had taken refuge in Canada rebuffed the official delegate of the governor at Boston.Beg inning their apostolic labors in Acadia in 1611 and in Canada in 1615, Catholic MISSIONARIES dreamed of a rapid conversion of Aboriginal peoples and even wondered if they might not be descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. Traditional Milkman and Montagnais hospitality dictated that the itinerant missionaries be well received. Soon evangelization efforts were centered on the sedentary, horticultural and strategically located HURON confederacy (see STE MARIE AMONG THE HURONS).But factionalism arising out of favoritism shown to converts and the EPIDEMICS that decimated the population almost brought the mission to a close. On two occasions, the JESUITS were spared execution or exile on charges of witchcraft only by French threats to cut off the trade on which the Huron had become dependent. Following the dispersal of the Huron in 1648-49, the missionaries turned to other groups in the Great Lakes basin, including the IROQUOIS confederacy, but they never enjoyed great success. Ab original peoples assumed a tolerant dualism: â€Å"you can have your ways and we will have ours, for everyone values his own wares. More success was achieved on the reductions, or reserves (see INDIAN RESERVE) as they came to be known, established within the seigniorial tract of New France. In 1637 the seigneur of SILLERY near Quebec was designated a reduction for some Montagnais encamped nearby as well as for all the northern hunters who would take up agriculture under Jesuit tutelage. Although the Montagnais did not remain long, some Arenac refugees came to settle, and finally Huron who escaped from the Iroquois conquest of their country.Eventually there were reserves near each of the three French bridgeheads of settlement: Loretta near Quebec for the Huron; Betancourt and Saint-Francois near Trois-Rivieres for the Abenaki; Kahnawake near Montreal for the Iroquois and Lac-des-Deux-Montagnes for both ALGONQUINS and Iroquois. These reserves were relocated from time to time at ever greater distances from the principal towns not only because of soil exhaustion but also because of the desire of the missionaries to isolate the Aboriginal converts from the temptations of alcohol, prostitution and gambling.The Kahnawake reserve, with the connivance of certain Montreal merchants, became an important link in an illicit trade with Albany and New York. The French designated those Aboriginal peoples who settled on these reserves under the supervision of Missionaries as â€Å"Indiens domicilies† (resident Indians). Those who came to live on reserves were motivated by religious ideals and the need to escape persecution or encroachment on their lands, but in time the economic advantages became quite substantial. It was often on the reserves that canoemen, scouts and warriors were recruited for trade and war.The products of the field and the hunt, as well as the manufacture of canoes, snowshoes and moccasins found a good outlet on the Quebec market. At the time of th e British CONQUEST of New France in 1760, the â€Å"resident Indians' were united in a federation known as the SEVEN NATIONS of Canada. It is possible that this Aboriginal political organization, whose membership evolved over the years, dates back to the early days of the French regime at the time when the first Aboriginal â€Å"reductions† (reserves) were created in the St Lawrence valley.Official French objectives had been to christianize and francize the Aboriginal peoples in order to attain the utopian ideal of â€Å"one people. † The church tried to achieve this objective through itinerant missions, education of an Aboriginal elite in France, reserves and boarding schools, but in the end it was clear that the Aboriginal peoples would not abandon their culture, even when converted. It was the missionaries who, like the fur traders, learned the Aboriginal languages and adopted Aboriginal survival techniques.Racial intermarriage, or metissage, traced its origin to t he casual encounters, almost exclusively between Aboriginal women and Frenchmen deprived of European spouses, beginning with the fishermen and sailors along the Atlantic seaboard, and spreading into the hinterland as traders and interpreters, later unlicensed COUREURS DE BOIS, and finally garrison troops came into contact with the interior communities. VOYAGEURS and canoemen travelling to and from the upper country of Canada in the interests of the fur trade acquired the services of Aboriginal women to make and break camp, cook, carry baggage and serve as mistresses.Many of these unions became long-lasting and were recognized locally as legitimate a la facon du pays. Canon law forbade the marriage of Catholics with pagans, so missionaries often had to instruct and baptize adults and children and then regularize such unions. In 1735 Louis XV forbade most mixed marriages; nevertheless the rise of METIS communities in the Great Lakes basin, particularly along Lake Superior, indicated t he prevalence of the practice. Warfare was an aspect of Aboriginal life in which the French soon became involved.Most of the Aboriginal people remained steadfastly attached and loyal to France through to PONTIAC's rising in 1763, with the exception of the Iroquois, Fox and Sioux. Champlain, by supporting his Algonquian and Huron trading partners in 1609, earned the long-lasting enmity of the Iroquois. The French were unable to save the Huron from destruction at the hands of the Iroquois in 1648-49, nor were they able to stop Iroquois incursions into their own or their western allies' territories until the peace of Montreal in 1701 (see IROQUOIS WARS).The Fox became hostile in 1712 and were the objects of several military expeditions before their dispersal in 1730. The Sioux also often attacked France's trading partners and allies before agreeing to a general peace settlement in 1754. Canadian militiamen and Aboriginal auxiliaries distinguished themselves also in expeditions to aid L ouisiana against the Chickasaws and the Natchez. The escalation of tensions between the French and English over control of the fur trade in North America led to the signing of the TREATY OF UTRECHT in 1713.Under the terms of the treaty, France retained access to Cape Breton Island, the St Lawrence Islands and fishing rights off Newfoundland but ceded Acadia (Nova Scotia) to the British and recognized British jurisdiction over the northern territory of RUPERT'S LAND and the island of Newfoundland. The Mi'kmaq, MALISEET and Passamaquoddy of the area, considered themselves to be friends and allies and not subjects of the French Crown, as well as the rightful owners of the territory ceded to the British Crown.The lack of consultation regarding the terms of the treaty, and the lack of compensation provided to the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy upset them greatly, significantly shifting the balance of power and Aboriginal-French relations in the area. France spent large sums of money for the annual distribution of the â€Å"King's presents† to the allied nations. In addition, the Crown issued clothing, weapons and ammunition to Aboriginal auxiliaries, paid for their services, and maintained their families when the men were on active duty. These Aboriginal warriors were judged invaluable for guiding, scouting and surprise raiding parties.Their war aims and practices, including scalping and platform torture, were not interfered with as they generally fought alongside the French as independent auxiliaries. In defeat, the French remembered them, obtaining in the terms of capitulation (1760) that they be treated as soldiers under arms, that they â€Å"be maintained in the Lands they inhabit,† and that they enjoy freedom of religion and keep their missionaries. These terms were further reiterated in the Treaty of Oswegatchie, negotiated by Sir William JOHNSON, at Fort Levis (near present-day Ogdensburg, New York), on 30 August 1760, and reaffirmed at Ka hnawake on 15-16 September 1760.These two treaties set out the terms for British protection of the interest of the Seven Nations and for the peaceful colonial occupation of their lands. As a result of this conquest, the French monarchy capitulated New France to Great Britain and on 10 February 1763, France and Great Britain signed the TREATY OF PARIS. The treaty outlined the conditions of the capitulation, which involved a series of land exchanges in which France handed over their control of New France to the English.Article 4 of the treaty provided for the transfer of French control of lands in North America east of the Mississippi River to Great Britain. Under the terms of the treaty, Great Britain also gained control of Florida from the Spanish, who took control of New Orleans and the Louisiana territory west of the Mississippi River from the French. In order to establish jurisdiction in the newly conquered Canadian colonies, on 7 October 1763, King George III and the British Imp erial Government issued a Royal Proclamation outlining the management of the colonies.Of particular importance, the proclamation reserved a large tract of unceded territory, not including the lands reserved for the Hudson's Bay Company, east of the Mississippi River as â€Å"hunting grounds† for Aboriginal peoples. As well, the proclamation established the requirements for the transfer of Aboriginal title to the Crown, indicating that the Crown could only purchase Aboriginal lands and that such purchases had to be unanimously approved by a council of Aboriginal people.The proclamation also provided the terms for the establishment of colonial governments in Quebec, West Florida, East Florida and Grenada. The colonies were granted the ability to elect general assemblies under a royally appointed governor and high council, with the power to create laws and ordinances, as well as establish civil and criminal courts specific to the area and in agreement with British and colonial l aws.References: 1994 Aboriginal Cultural Identity. Report submitted to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Ottawa, Ontario Aboud, F. 1981 Ethnic Self-identity, in R. C. Gardner and R. Kalin (Editors): A Canadian Social Psychology of Ethnic Relations. Toronto: Methuen. Keefe, S. E. 1992 Ethnic Identity: The Domain of Perceptions of, and Attachment to Ethnic Groups and Cultures. Human Organization 51 :35-43.

Food Is More Than What We Eat Essay

The food we consume everyday has more to it than a source of fuel and part of our human essentials. Though we may not realise, food plays a part of many people’s culture, religion and even employment, where food plays a significant role in their everyday lives. Today, food serves a fairly major role in our society. Due to globalisation and other global factors, there has now been a mix and harmonious diversity in cultures around the world and food is one of the main evidence of that. This can just be seen by walking to your local stores where there are at least two or more food stores/ restaurants from different cultures. This is particularly evident in Australia, as immigrants from across the globe bring with them to Australia their cultures, beliefs and lifestyles to their new homes- with food being one of them. Many of these different cultures are now welcomed, accepted and shared, which provides employment for many people. This is not only evident in the Western continents, but many other Asian countries, where you would see many restaurants, snacks stores and street stores. Food is also used to distinguish the ‘classes of certain groups and/or areas. For example, in the city where there are more higher classed people, majority of the restaurants and cuisines tend to be a lot more expensive than those in the outer suburban areas. The functions of food in cultures vary between cultures, but majority of the time plays a significant role. There are different beliefs and morals, religious and food rules/ etiquettes that are associated with food of different cultures. An example of a food belief/moral would be in China noodles represent longevity, therefore it should not to be broken off or bitten off but put all into your mouth to chew to swallow. Food has not only been applied in beliefs and morals, but also religion. This can be seen in the Buddhism, where vegetarian dietary is preferred for serious believers. Sometimes food etiquette is incorporated into the religious side of food. For example in China it is considered extremely rude and impolite to stick your chopsticks upright in your rice as it is how it appears in funerals and is disrespectful to the elderly. The use of food in traditions and celebrations is another way to show how food has a deeper meaning that being sustenance. Traditions vary between cultures, but even families and individuals. Everyone has their own ‘style’ that they live with and pass on to their family who if they decide to continue the tradition passes on to future generations. Some of these traditions in terms of culture can be having rice has your main staple for most Asian cultures, while in Australia they have many different staples ranging from bread to grain foods. Food is also a big role player in celebrations. Many cultures have special foods that are only eaten or mostly eaten on certain days or events. For example in China on Chinese New Year, moon cakes are eaten, while in Australia, citizens have BBQs on Australia Day and eat ANZAC biscuits on ANZAC day. Food has also been a reason for unity of people. People like to eat whether it is at home or in restaurants in groups, where they not only enjoy the food together but can also start up conversations. For some families during dinner time may be the only time where they sit together and talk about their day. On a larger scale, food and global factors has allowed people of different backgrounds and cultures to accept and understand each other’s cultures. As previously mentioned, where we can now have food that are not from your culture. Because of food being eaten by many cultures, there are modifications to some foods so that more people can eat them. For example, there are now many vegetarian foods such as vegetarian pies and noodles for people with vegetarian diets.

PHP Hello, World! Basic Print Script

PHP Hello, World! Basic Print Script Every programming language has it- the basic Hello, World! script.  PHP is no exception. It is a simple script that only  displays the words Hello, World!  The phrase has become a  tradition for new programmers who are writing their first program. Its first known usage was in B.W. Kernighans 1972 A Tutorial Introduction to the Language B, and it was popularized in his The C Programming Language.  From this beginning, it grew into a tradition in the programming world. So, how do you write this most basic of computer programs in PHP? The two simplest ways are using  print and  echo, two similar statements  that are more or less the same. Both are used to output data to the screen. Echo is slightly faster than print. Print has a return value of 1, so it can be used in expressions, while echo has no return value. Both statements can contain HTML markup. Echo can take multiple parameters; print takes one argument. For the purposes of this example, they are equal. ?php Print Hello, World!;php Echo Hello, World!;? In each of these two examples, the ?php indicates the start of a PHP tag and the ? indicates an exit from PHP. These entrance and exit tags identify the code as PHP, and they are used on all PHP coding.   PHP is  server-side software that is used to enhance the features of a web page. It works seamlessly with HTML to add features to a website that HTML alone cant deliver, such as surveys, login screens, forums, and shopping carts. However, it leans on HTML for their appearance on the page. PHP is open-source software, free on the web, easy to learn, and powerful. Whether you already have a website and are familiar with HTML or you are just entering web design and development, it is time to learn more about beginning PHP programming.

The relationship between business and Psychological , and how the Research Proposal

The relationship between business and Psychological , and how the psychological influence on business - Research Proposal Example Psychology as a system of life experience is familiar to each human being (Franzoi, 1996). Social psychology stands apart among all other branches of psychological science. The combination of these two words itself is an indicator of the specific place of this science. Having emerged at the interface between two other sciences – sociology and psychology – social psychology still preserves its independent status. There are various reasons for it but the principle among them is existence of a certain set of social phenomena that cannot be explained either within psychology or within sociology. Sociology studied the society in general, psychology studied processes that took place inside human brains, but none of them was interested in influence of people on each other or influence of group on people. Social psychology is â€Å"†¦the scientific discipline that attempts to understand and explain how the thought, feeling, and behavior of individuals are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others† (Allport, 1985, p.3). In other words this branch of psychology studies the logic of social behavior of separate people or groups and thus helps to define reasons or forecast their behavior under certain circumstances. Due to this social psychology can be effectively applied to nearly all spheres of human life and work. The management of employee relations is one of the most important spheres of modern business. Knowledge of the basic principles of social psychology can be very helpful in understanding major driving-forces of people’s behavior, their motivation, etc. These include the principle of social construction of reality, the persuasiveness of social influence, several motivational and processing principles. People always strive for mastery, which means they try to comprehend and forecast events in the social world in order to obtain encouragement. They enjoy feeling experienced and effective and will do their best to

Technology Impact on Retail Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Technology Impact on Retail - Research Paper Example Telephone, fax, and non-cash payment systems such as credit cards have existed for quite some time. However, the introduction of computers and internet has changed the face of retail industry in America immensely. Internet related technologies have revolutionized the retail sector like no other technology before. Instead of cash payments, credit card payment systems started to conquer the retail sector in America. Moreover, online purchasing started to dominate offline purchasing as a result of the introduction of new technologies. Amazon, Ebay etc like online retailers started to dominate American retail industry in recent time at the expense of many of the prominent offline retailers. Skorupa (2012) mentioned that Amazon’s forecasted revenue for 2012 is $60 billion (Skorupa, 2012). eBay is also not far behind. The popularity of online retail business forced offline retailers such as Wal-Mart to expand their operation in virtual world. This paper analyses the impacts of techn ology in American retail sector. Technology in American retail sector Internet technologies are being employed at every stage in the retail industry in America at present. Majority of the consumers are using credit cards for paying their bills even though the concerns about credit card forgery like crimes are there. Modern internet technologies are capable of reducing the threats from credit card forgeries up to certain extent which encourage people to increase their cashless transactions in retail sector further. Earlier, it was difficult for retailers to manage their supply chain effectively because of lack of communication channels or ineffectiveness of existing communication channels. However, at present supply chain management in retail industry have been improved a lot with the introduction of internet related technologies. It is easy for the supply chain managers to know the actual inventory of goods at a particular place with the help of a finger touch. Earlier, the informat ion supplied by the managers of the retail shops was used by the supply chain managers to know the inventory of a particular product in a shop. At present, supply chain managers need not wait till the information reaches their table from the retail shop mangers to know these details. Selling statistics of different goods from different shops may reach the table of supply chain manager at the very moment of selling of certain item. For example, a retail shop owner needs to register the details of the customer at the time of selling of Samsung/Apple mobile phones. Thus the supply chain managers will get the information about the present inventory of an item in a particular store any time they want. Current customers have more shopping choices like brick & mortar stores and e-shops. â€Å"Brick & Mortar stores refers to retail shops that are located in a building as opposed to an online shopping destination, door-to-door sales, kiosk or other similar site not housed within a structure †(Waters, 2012). One of the major drawbacks of online retailing is the inability of purchasers to get the physical presence of the product. Brick & Mortar stores help consumers to get the physical presence of the product before they take any purchasing decisions. Ghemawat & Nueno (2006) pointed out that current inventory management systems are leaner due to better forecasting and communication tools. They cited Spanish retailer Zara as an