How to Create a Homeschooling Lifestyle

Academics are a vital  aspect of homeschooling. However, we homeschooling parents need to avoid the trap of becoming  overly focused on them and on trying to recreate a traditional classroom setting. Doing so can cause us to  lose sight of what a gift it is to have the  freedom  to homeschool our children. Home educating doesn’t mean that we bring school home. Instead, it means that we incorporate learning into our everyday lives until it becomes an extension of our family life. Try these simple tips to put the home  in your schooling. 1. Snuggle up together to read – even if you’re all reading different books. It doesn’t matter if you’re reading books for school or books for fun, if you’re reading aloud or everyone has their own book – snuggle up to read together! A bed or couch is a perfect, year-round snuggle spot. A blanket in the back yard makes a stress-relieving warm weather book nook. Move the blanket near the fireplace or heater for a cozy cold weather spot. 2. Bake together. Baking together provides opportunities for younger kids to practice real-life math applications (such as adding and subtracting fractions), following directions, and basic kitchen chemistry. It allows older students to learn home-making skills in a real-world context. Baking together creates  discussion time for kids of all ages. It also helps your entire family to bond and create memories together. 3. Learn alongside each other. You don’t have to fumble your way through algebra or chemistry. Take the course with your students and learn together. This shows your kids shows them that learning never stops. 4. Discover family hobbies. Discovering activities that you all enjoy doing together builds family relationships .It also  provides additional  learning opportunities. For older kids, family hobbies may even translate to elective credits for high school. 5. Take family field trips. It’s fun to go on field trips with your homeschool group, but don’t forget about family-only field trips. The kids often learn more because they’re not distracted by friends. Family field trips also provide the non-teaching parent a chance to get involved with what the kids are learning. 6. Involve the non- teaching parent in real, practical ways. Let Dad (or Mom) do something besides ask, â€Å"What did you learn in school today?† Let the parent who isnt the primary teacher do science experiments or art class on the weekends or in the evenings. Let him read aloud to the kids in the evenings. Ask him to teach them to change the oil in the car, cook a favorite meal, or set up an Excel spreadsheet. Be aware of practical opportunities for homeschool dads (or moms) to be involved based on their talents and your family’s needs. 7. Allow character training to take place over academics. There comes a time in every homeschooling family’s life when character training needs your focus. It’s a time when you need to put the books aside and give your attention to the issue at hand. The books will still be there tomorrow or next week or next month. 8. Involve your children in your everyday life. Don’t overlook the educational value of everyday activities such as grocery shopping, running errands, or voting. Take your children with you. Don’t feel that school has to be a completely separate part of your day. 9. Don’t consider life events a disruption to school. At some point, most families will face life events such as a death, a birth, moving, or an illness. These are not disruptions to learning. They are opportunities to learn and grow together as a family. 10. Be involved in your community. Look for ways to get involved in your community as a family. Serve in the local soup kitchen. Volunteer at the library. Work in local politics.   Homeschooling families need to understand that learning happens all the time. We need to embrace these moments,  instead of seeing them as a disruption to school.   Dont miss the opportunities that are all around you to put the home in your schooling.

The Threat Of Liberty Equality Based Societies By Alexis...

Threat to Liberty in Equality Based Societies While traveling across the United States, Alexis de Tocqueville recorded how democracy operates and the roles of its participants in, â€Å"Democracy in America.† Tocqueville demonstrates his admiration of the American democratic system and Americans’ dedication to freedom, equality, and supporting one another. Despite these praises, there is also a looming danger against liberty in not only America, but in all societies based on equality. The most imminent threat to liberty in these societies is despotism as it prevents individuals from exercising their natural freedoms and rights. Tocqueville proposes resolutions to this threat, such as, government decentralization and civil associations. Despotism flourishes in equal societies due to individuals isolating themselves and forming a centralized governing institution. As stated by Tocqueville, â€Å"Equality places men beside one another without a common bond to hold them. E quality disposes them not to think of those like themselves†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (485). With aristocracies, a society not concerned with equality, there is a ligature between individuals within each socioeconomic class. For instance, the noblemen associate with noblemen, while the poor associate with the poor. However, with societies based on equality, mankind is no longer divided by their means. The wealthy are equal to the poor in rights and freedoms, but not in monetary wealth. Lacking this unification amongst each other’sShow MoreRelatedThe Issue of Overcoming Racial Inequality in the United States2632 Words   |  11 PagesThe label of inferiority poses immense challenges on the structure of a society. Branding a group of people as â€Å"savages† creates divisions in society that drastically affects how individuals are supposed to interact with these â€Å"inferiors.† It makes you think of someone who is uneducated or unsocialized, one who is not granted full rig hts and privileges. Other words that might have the same the sort of connotation for many in the United States today are â€Å"alien,† â€Å"immigrant worker,† or â€Å"illegal immigrantRead More From Individualism to Unionism: The Changing Meaning of Freedom in America3158 Words   |  13 Pagesvision—one with a relatively balanced division of wealth, a population of homogenous skilled workers, and a narrow definition of equality based on a broad definition of freedom—to the highly industrialized urban nation glorified by the World’s Fair itself—one of polarized wealth, vast and increasing numbers of unassimilated, unskilled workers, and a demand for a return to the old equality at the expense of the old concept of freedom. Turner’s thesis was threaded with observations of these changes, and madeRead MoreThe Causes and Outcomes of the French Revolution1975 Words   |  8 Pagesat the same time to prevent defeat in war by the combi ned forces of Austria, Prussia, and Britain. The so-called reign of Terror was instituted to quash both internal and foreign forces of counter revolution. But once these internal and foreign threats were under control in the spring of 1794, Terror continued at the direction of the Committee of Public Safety, the most famous member of which was Maximiliean Robespierre. This last period of Terror was aimed at eliminating political rivals of RobespierreRead More Promoting and Protecting Minority Rights Essay2310 Words   |  10 Pagesmajority rule. Since, of any possible outcome, the worst would be a situation in which a minority group is denied rights, not due to simple social complication, but instead due to a general lack of government protection. While a democracy is based on majority rule, minority rights must not be disregarded. One of the principles of democracy includes a minority receiving equal opportunity to become a majority, and thereby providing competition for the majority of the time. Competition has potential

Insolvency Trading Relevant Law

Question: Discuss about theInsolvency Tradingfor Relevant Law. Answer: Issue Jacob and Marie are accused of engaging in insolvency trade; which is against the 2001 Corporations Act. While analyzing this case, s588G and s588H will be relied on. This is because they identify the circumstances when a liquidator can bring a case against the directors of the company, accusing them of insolvency trading, and the possible defenses that the directors of the company can use to defend themselves. Therefore, in this case, Jacob and Marie have some grounds they can defend themselves, based on s588H of the Corporations Act. Relevant Law Section 588G of the 2001 Corporations Act provides identifies the obligations of the directors of a company towards avoiding insolvent trading[1]. Company directors may seek to trade within their companies despite being insolvent, with the belief that after a period of time, they will manage to transform the financial position of the company. The law requires financial directors to be fair in their financial dealings, and they must not incur debts when they are in the insolvency status. Through this position, the intention of the drafters of the corporation act was to protect creditors from unfair borrowing tactic that are used by the directors of the company. Furthermore, the directors of a company must act in good faith and not use their position for personal gain. For purposes of defending themselves, the directors of the company will rely on s588H. The law comprises of circumstances when the directors of the company can claim protection from the courts, against the application of s588G. s95A od the 2001 Act will provide information on the concept of solvency and insolvency. Application The directors of a company will breach s 588G of the company if the company incurs a debt at a time when the company was insolvent[2]. Furthermore, they will breach this section, if they are aware that the company is unable to pay their debts, but they are unable to prevent the company from acquiring debts. Additionally, an individual will be engaging in insolvency trading if they suspect that the company is insolvent or will become insolvent at the time of acquiring the debt. If the liquidator manages to proof these assertions, then he can successfully bring a case against Jacob and Marie. To understand the possible defenses that Jacob and Marie will have, there is a need of understanding this notion of solvency, in accordance to section 95 of the 2001 Corporations Act, and the criteria used in determining whether a company is solvent or not, in accordance to the various common law principles applied in Australia[3]. Section 95A (1) of the 2001 Corporations Act provides a definition of solvency. According to this act, a company is solvent when it has the ability to pay all its debts in a timely manner and when they are due. On the other hand, s 95A (2) denotes that when a company is not solvent, then it is classified as insolvent[4]. A company that is classified as insolvent does not have the capability of paying the debts that it owes to its creditors. Furthermore, in analyzing the capability of a business organization to pay its debts, the court will look at the position of the company on the day that the debt was incurred, and not at the time of paying the debt. Additionally, there are a number of conditions that an organization must meet for it to be declared insolvent. These conditions are established in the 2009 case of Sutherland v Hanson Construction Ltd[5]. Under this case law, it is the cash flow of the business organization that will determine the solvency status of an organization. However, it is important to note that the analysis of the balance sheet is not the only factor that can determine the insolvency of a business organization, in as much as it is an important factor to consider. This is a principle established in Sutherland v Eurolinx 2001 where the court made a ruling that reliance on the cash flow statement of a company cannot be used a single factor to determine the solvency of a business organization[6]. This is because companies that are solvent normally experience cash flow problems from time to time. Therefore, Jacob and Marie cannot successfully bring a defense on the solvency of their company based on the strengths of the organizations balance sheet. For instance, Jacob and Marie cannot claim that their company was solvent based on the fixed and non-fixed assets that were under their possession. However, the two can successfully carry out a defense if they can prove the conditions that are established in section 588H of the Corporations Act[7]. For instance, one of the possible defenses that Jacob and Marie can argue for is that they did not expect that the company would be insolvent at the time of incurring the debts. For instance, Jacob and Marie denote that Tania advised them that the company was solvent, and it had the capability of meeting its obligations and debts at the time the company was incurring the debts. The reason for this assertion is that the creditors of the company have been in agreement with the organization not to take any recovery process, only after they have issued a 30 day notice. Therefore, basing on the advice of their employee, Jacob and Marie were not suspicious of the insolvency status of their company. Additionally, s588H of the corporations act denotes that the directors of a company cannot be held liable for insolvent trading if they relied on the information from their subordinates, whom they believe that they are competent, reliable and responsible[8]. In the case of Jacob and Marie, Talia is their financial officer, and they employed her because of her competence, reliability and responsibility. Therefore, by relying on the information provided by Talia, the directors of the company can successfully bring a defense based on s588H of the 2001 Corporations Act. Conclusion Finally, while bringing a case against Jacob and Marie, the liquidator may denote that they engaged in insolvency trading, therefore breaching s588G of the 2001 Corporations Act. Some of the elements for a successful case against Jacob and Marie may include, if an individual is a director of the company, at the time the company was incurring debts and the company is insolvent. The liquidator must prove that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the company knew of the position of the company, but they failed to prevent the transaction. However, Jacob and Marie can argue that they were not suspicious of the insolvency status of the company, and they relied on the information from their subordinates while making a decision to engage in the trade. Bibliography Books, Journals and Articles Symon, Helen, Corporations Act 2001 (Leo Cussen Institute, 2006) Symes, Christopher Francis, The Justification And History Of Statutory Priorities In Australian Corporate Insolvency Law (2005) Case Laws and Statutes Corporations Act 2001 s95A Corporations Act 2001 s588G Corporations Act 2001 s588H Sutherland v Eurolinx (2001) 230 NSWSC (2001) Sutherland v Hanson Construction Materials Pty Ltd (2009) 232 NSWSC (2009) The New Corporations Act 2001 And Related Legislation (Butterworths, 2001)

Anaemia in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy-Free-Samples for Students

Question: Discuss about the Anaemia in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy. Answer: Introduction Cancer patients are often at risk of developing anaemia in the course of the disease, treatment and particularly during chemotherapy. A majority of those who undergo chemotherapy develop anaemia in the course of their treatment(Kitano, et al., 2007). The prevalence of the condition has reported variedly, with records of 30% to 83% (Barrett-Lee, Ludwig, Birgegard, Bokemeyer, Kosmidis, 2006).Anaemia is defined as a haemoglobin level of less 12.0 g/dL. Anaemia often exacerbates symptoms such as weakness, dyspnoea, and fatigue and as a result causing a further decline in the quality of life, and as a result, affect the prognosis in the patients. Normal Physiology Bone marrow stem cells have the ability to self-renew and also have the capacity to supply normal haemoglobin levels through an individuals life. Erythropoiesis is a complex process that maintains the number of erythrocytes circulating in an individuals physiological conditions. Erythrocytes are obtained from committed stem cells that undergo differentiation and multiplication through the various erythroblastic stages (Dicato, 2003). Human cells exhibit an inverse relationship between the events of proliferation potential and differentiation. Both differentiation and proliferation are regulated by cytokines, and erythropoietin is of great significance once the erythroid pathway is initiated. Erythropoietin binds to specific receptors n erythrocyte progenitors and produces a signal that initiates proliferation and differentiation and also an antiapoptotic effect. An alternative antiapoptotic pathway is the production of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (N F KB) which occurs as a response to inflammatory events in the body. Digicaylioglu and Lipton (2001), linked NF KB production with a possibility of cross-association with erythropoietin antiapoptosis mechanism in the central nervous system. In summary, erythropoietin as the primary growth factor interacts with specific receptors on erythroid progenitor cells and contributes to mitogenesis in the marrow (Rim, 2012). Agents used for chemotherapy interfere with erythropoiesis, and as a result, increases the incidence of anaemia among cancer patients. Anaemia in Cancer In anaemic cancer just like in anaemia of chronic conditions, several mechanisms interfere with the normal process of erythrocyte production. Most probable inhibitory mechanisms include the cytokines interferon gamma, transforming growth factor-beta, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-) (Dicato, 2003). Papadaki, Kritikos, and Valatas (2002) agree with the observation made y Dicato (2003), by claiming that the network of the above-mentioned cytokines play a role in the modulation of iron metabolism, and the erythropoeitin effect is diluted by TNF- among others. Anaemia of cancer impairs almost all body tissues and organs and also leads to several disturbances in normal physiological functions, with the potential to decrease the capacity of mental and physical performance. Fatigue is the primary expression of organ disturbance. Fatigue ranks first among patent complaints(Curt, Breitbart, Cella, 2005), and it parallels haemoglobin level (Littlewood, Bajetta, Nortier, 2009). Averagely, one out of every three patients develops anaemia after three cycles of chemotherapy (Glaspy, Degos, Dicato, 2002). Pathophysiology of Chemotherapy-Induced Anaemia Chemotherapy-induced anaemia results from an interruption in the process of erythropoiesis among cancer patients and this has been linked to various factors which include; patient related factors such as thalassemia and haemoglobinopathies, disease related factors that include bone marrow infiltration, diminished nutritional state and hypersplenism, and lastly, therapy related factors such as hypoplasia of bone marrow-bearing areas following radiotherapy, and renal and bone marrow toxicity as a result of chemotherapy (Dicato, 2003). Cancer treatment-related anaemia is quite common, mainly attributed to the poor capacity of stem cells to repair radiation damage. Chemotherapy is likely to cause both transient and sustained anaemia. Agents used for chemotherapy interfere with erythropoiesis, and as a result, increases the incidence of anaemia among cancer patients. The mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced anaemia in cancer patients include the delaying or blockage of haematopoietic factors, immune-mediated haematopoietic cell destruction, stem cell death, long-term myelodysplasia, microangiopathy, plasma volume expansion with dilutional anaemia, oxidant damage to mature haematopoietic cells, and immune-mediated haematopoietic cell destruction (Mercadante, Gebbia, Marrazzo, Filosto, 2000). Among agents used for chemotherapy, nitrosoureas, alkylating agents, and antitumor antibiotics have been demonstrated to cause damage to both dividing and resting cells, and also causes myelosuppressive effects of much greater intensity compared to cell-cycle-specific agents (Rim, 2012). According to Barrett-Lee, Ludwig, Birgegard, Bokemeyer, and Kosmidis, (2006, those patients on chemotherapy using platinum based chemotherapy have a heightened risk of developing anaemia compared to those on non-platinum based chemotherapy. Apart from the type of chemotherapy drug used, other risk factors that increase the incidence for chemotherapy induced anaemia include tumour type, low baseline haemoglobin, and concurrent treatment with chemotherapy/radiation therapy (Rim, 2012). As attested by Barrett-Lee, Ludwig, Birgegard, Bokemeyer, and Kosmidis, (2006), cancer patients exhibitng low baseline levels of haemoglobin (= 13.4 dL in males and = 12.9 g/dL in females)have a heightened risk of developing anaemia following chemotherapy. With regard to the type of tumour, those with tumour types such as gynecologic cancer or lung cancer have a threefold increased chance of developing anaemia compared to those with colorectal/gastrointestinal cancer (Rim, 2012). On concurrent treatment, cancer patients on concurrent chemotherapy have a higher risk for chemotherapy induced anaemia. This is supported by evidence from a 2004 study by European Cancer Anaemia Survey (ECAS) which demonstrated that fifty percent of those with lun g cancer on concomitant therapy had evidenced more severe anaemia, compared to those who received radiation therapy or chemotherapy separately, at 39% each (Kosmidis Krzakowski, 2005). Conclusion Chemotherapy induced anaemia is a common problem in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. This form of therapy is responsible for increased fatigue, poor prognosis, negative effect on quality of life, and a decline in functional and psychological wellbeing in cancer patients. Compared to cell-cycle agents, a higher incidence of anaemia in patients receiving have been reported among those on treatment using nitroureas, alkylating agents, and antitumor antibiotics. These agents interfere with erythropoiesis, and as a result, increase the incidence of anaemia among cancer patients. Some of the mechanisms that lead to chemotherapy-induced anaemia include the delaying or blockage of haematopoietic factors, immune-mediated haematopoietic cell destruction, stem cell death, and long-term myelodysplasia. References Barrett-Lee, P., Ludwig, J., Birgegard, G., Bokemeyer, C. G., Kosmidis, P. (2006). Independent risk factors for anemia in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: Results from the European cancer anaemia survey. Oncology, 34-48. Curt, G., Breitbart, W., Cella, D. (2005). Impact of cancer-related fatigue on the lives of patients: new findings from the Fatigue Coalition. . The Oncologist, 353-360. Dicato, M. (2003). Anemia in Cancer: Some Pathophysiological Aspects. The Oncologist, 1-5. Digicaylioglu, M., Lipton, S. (2001). Erythropoietin-mediated neuroprotection involves cross-talk between Jak2 and NF-kappaB signalling cascades. Nature, 641-647. Glaspy, J., Degos, L., Dicato, M. (2002). Comparable efficacy of epoetin alfa for anemic cancer patients receiving platinum- and nonplatinum-based chemotherapy: a retrospective subanalysis of two large, community-based trials. The Oncologist, 126-135. Kitano, T., Tada, H., Nishimura, T., Teramukai, S., Kanai, M., Nishimura, T. (2007). Prevalence and incidence of anemia in Japanese cancer patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy. International Journal of Hematology, 37-41. Kosmidis, P., Krzakowski, M. (2005). Anemia profiles in patients with lung cancer: What have we learned from the European cancer anaemia survey (ECAS)? Lung Cancer, 401-412. Littlewood, T., Bajetta, E., Nortier, J. (2009). Effects of epoetin alfa on hematologic parameters and quality of life in cancer patients receiving nonplatinum chemotherapy: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of clinical oncology, 2865-2875. Mercadante, S., Gebbia, V., Marrazzo, A., Filosto, S. (2000). Anaemia in cancer: pathophysiology and treatment. Cancer Treatment Reviews, 303-311. Papadaki, H., Kritikos, H., Valatas, V. (2002). Anemia of chronic disease in rheumatoid arthritis is associated with increased apoptosis of bone marrow erythroid cells: improvement following anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibody therapy. Blood, 474-482. Rim, H. (2012, January 17). Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia in Cancer Patients. Retrieved from OncoLink: https://www.oncolink.org/healthcare-professionals/o-pro-portal/articles-about-cancer-treatment-and-medications/chemotherapy-induced-anemia-in-cancer-patient

Analyze the goals Essays

Analyze the goals Essays Analyze the goals Essay Analyze the goals Essay Analyze the goals and objectives using the mission statement as the basis.The Mission statement of Microsoft is as given below:â€Å"At Microsoft, we work to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential. This is our mission. Everything we do reflects this mission and the values that make it possible†The above statement tells about the intent of the company. For fulfilling the above mission, Microsoft needs to do specific tasks which are specific and also can be measure. These are known as goals.   Finally to achieve these goals, the company should use certain tactics which are classified as objectives.Looking at the above mission statement it can be said that one of the goals of Microsoft is to be a well-known global player, who would like to help people and businesses from all walks of life. In addition, the company wishes to make people attain their own goals by making them utilize their full potential. To attain this goal Microsoft set its objectives towards more effective worldwide sales and distribution network. In addition to this, the marketing strategy of the company should be designed such that people living anywhere in the world are aware of the company and its products and services. The entire system should be backed by an excellent customer support service which can take real-time feedback of these people.There are some common values that company that wishes to help people throughout the globe, should possess. Some of them are maintaining quality in products, transparency in processes, promptness and efficiency of customer service and concern over environmental issues arising directly or indirectly due to the products and services.Critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses, taking into consideration all the environmental factorsStrengthsa.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Due to the developmental activities taking place in many developing an d third world countries, the company has a very good chance of developing newer markets. Combined with the excellent brand image the company has, this is one of the biggest opportunity and asset for the company at this stageb.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The presence of Microsoft in multiple countries has given it a very wide exposure and capability to deal with people belonging to various cultures. This could be extremely useful while the company expands to a newer market or newer countryc.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The market of mobile and handheld devices is booming. With some strategic alliances which Microsoft could gain a string foothold in this field. The company’s dominant international presence in the PC market can be a big asset in forging such an alliance.d.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Even while the handheld device market is on a rise, the desktop systems market is still very strong. The tried and tested software development process ensures rapid development and updates of the existing products. The experience of the company in this market also proves beneficial at the time of product innovatione.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Users rely on buying software from a company that is well-known and provides excellent customer support. Microsoft scores well on these issues thereby getting customer loyalty and this increasing revenuesf.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The superior technical image of the company attracts highly-skilled professional who increase the quality of labor force and in turn help in developing superior quality productsg.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The company’s strategy for expansion is very aggressive which makes it a very formidable competitor. Microsoft is also well known for its large number of acquisitions which help it in expanding the product portfolio and also control the competition.(Hafner, Hibbert p. 1, 3)Weaknessesa.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the company enjoys top position in almost every area of software products, its biggest threat is the open-source software. The quality of these software considered by many, to be much better than Microsoft’s products which is not a very good signb.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The company’s products of late have been focusing on merely software upgrades. The few new software packages that have been released in the market like Microsoft Visio has garnered pretty lukewarm responses.c.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the employees of the company are well-paid and are of a superior quality, the massive number of updates and installation deadline have le d to high attrition rated.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Many users feel that the products have a single focus and do not usually work well when installed / combined with other products.e.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   While the company enjoys very good image in the market, the reputation has been often threatened due to its entanglement in antitrust and permatemps Vizcaino litigation. The reputation has been further threatened by the fact that the company is very cut-throat in competition and plays very dirty towards its competitors by stifling their growth in all possible kinds of waysf.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The repeated forays of the company in the wireless market have proved to be pretty disappointingg.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The massive structure of the company which is essentially decentralized in na ture has led to the company having major problems with employee management.h.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Software piracy of commercial and consumer applications software on a global scale threatens revenue streams(Hafner, Hibbert p. 2, 4)Recommend a strategic model for the organization. Justify the choice of the model. Discuss a global strategy for this organizationStrategic modeling for an organization must be done taking care of the mission, goals and objectives of the company. The organizational structure of the company defines what present focus of the company is and paves its way towards achieving long terms strategic goals. The modeling means grouping of the organization into various clusters and their modes of interaction with each other. In addition an organization has to develop an information system to meet the inter- and intra- organizational demand for information processing (Burton, Obel p. 10)The present organizational structure of Microsoft is a decentralized organization which is falling into professional bureaucracy and red tape. To make the organization effective, the structure should be matrix like with a functional base. While there is no need for centralizing the company, a little less formalization would be very beneficial for the internal environment. Being a very big organization automatically means that the company structure is complicated enough. Hence, efforts should be made for more effective communication by cutting of channels (Burton, Obel p. 290-293)Microsoft needs to continue its strategy of building strategic partners across the globe. Increasing the size of its own company should be taken one step at a time, so as to give the management as well as its employees to adjust to the various necessary changes. Forging alliances would make sure that the company stays within the competition and not much of the company structure is disturbed, which is seen to be a very common activity in the co mpany (Menzefricke p. 5). The strategic alliances should be with companies in the newer countries who could act as distribution centers. The company should also start actively foraying in the mobile and handheld device market by actively forging alliances. The focus here should be on product innovation for bringing out quality products, instead of just consolidating the market. This would enable the company in getting quality products which can then be aggressively marketed.Identify the key performance indicators to measure the performanceKey Performance Indicators are used for measuring the performance of each of the defined objectives. Using this, a process can be analyzed based on cause and effect, which can be used to implement strategies having built-in metrics to track and measure the performance.Based on the goals and objectives of Microsoft, its KPIs can be figured out. As the company wishes to grow throughout the world one of the KPI could be market growth. This can be furt her detailed by taking the market growth for each country group or each country. The rate of increase in the market share is yet another KPI, as are the sales or revenue growth rates. Hence, the company should take the sales target combined with the market share and make an analysis of the newer markets entered in a fiscal year to measure its true performance rating. As improving the quality of customer support is also an objective, one of the KPIs could be also be higher rate of customer satisfaction achieved in a given period. This can also be further divided into the percentage of returning customers, response time taken on an average, customer satisfaction or dissatisfaction indices etc. (Woods, Joyce p. 99)Establish the information requirements and hence strategic information systems to give a competitive edge to the companyThe world of business has always been ruled by information. With the advent of digital techniques the technology has advanced at a very fast rate. This as e ffected the way in which information is passed between various channels in business. IT based information systems have become the order of the day. The integration of business with IT ensures many advantages for the company adopting the digital mode of communication (Dobrev p. 7, 9). The major impact is on the enhancement of products, its life cycle, reduction in management levels and ultimately reduction the cost. The company can effectively manage its internal environment and concentrate its external environment. As a company expands the business goals of the managers change. This brings about an increase in the complexity of tasks performed by the managers leading from a structured world to an adhoc unstructured one. Integrating IT with businesses helps in simplifying the process, hence providing for a more effective working environment (Galliers, Leidner p.1, 2)IT inherently depends on systems. While working with IT companies should not only focus on its competitors but should a lso take into consideration its various present and potential collaborators which whom a strategic alliance or partnership could be forged. A classic example is the alliance between Intel and Microsoft which gave both of them a massive increase in sales and revenues along with the lion’s share of the market (Shapiros, Varian p.10). As can be seen this gives a much needed competitive edge to the company intending to employ Strategic Information Systems within the organization.Discuss the ethical and social issues associated with usage of IS/IT in the organization.The emergence of IS/IT systems have brought about newer ways of passage of information and also newer rules to ensure that the information that is passed is authorized and correct. The major problem seen with the software industry is the piracy of the software packages. While many efforts are made to curb this yet the problem seems to lie wit users who do not think that it is a crime to use software without proper aut horizations.The other issue is social in nature. There is a complete profile available of most of the people in the developed people available on the internet. The security when breached causes a breach in the personal data which was heretofore known only to select few. Many people are not comfortable with this scenario and the growing number of internet crimes does not help the situation either.Microsoft faces both the types of issues within its organization. To tackle these issues an attempt should be made to create awareness among people about the nature of their faults related to the software field.Suggest how customer relations could be improved with the usage of strategic systemsCustomer relation is an important aspect for any business organization. In case of smaller business units, the relations are closer knit and personal. The customer-relation process is hence closely monitored and any mistakes are easily found and rectifies. Larger organizations have trouble in maintaini ng customer relations at the same level as the smaller businesses, and this problem increases proportional to the size of the project (Knox p. 9). For global organizations like Microsoft with a dominating presence in almost every country that uses computers and software, the problem is even more acute. Any system used for this purpose in addition to providing inputs for increasing customer satisfaction must also have the additional features of being integrated with the entire system and also have economy of scale.For maintaining the huge database of customers, 100 million of which are in US alone, Microsoft relies on high-end software tools and technology to manage the customer relations across the globe. With sophisticated tools like MS SQL Server 2000, the company can process up to 2 million customer records per day. For getting a comprehensive view of its vast client network Microsoft has designed and deployed data warehouse (Microsoft p. 2-3). This system is used to improve cust omer satisfaction and increase the customer loyalty. The tools can be used to keep in touch with each customer helping the company serve them better. The tool also helps all the units of the company serve their customers in a similar way. This is helpful as the company has a highly decentralized structure with as many as 60 subsidiaries with different niche databases and sizes. Also each customer can be a part of multiple databases, which helps in having a complete profile of the individual customer, helping the company to cater to each specific customer. Finally having a common tool also standardizes the entire system throughout the entire organization (Microsoft p. 6-14).

Gender stereotype Essays

Gender stereotype Essays Gender stereotype Essay Gender stereotype Essay Gender Stereotypes in a Commercial An advertisements intended use might be to sell a product in the grand scheme; however gender stereotypes are often embedded to attract a particular market and indirectly set the social norm. These gender stereotypes are found in commercials, TV shows, music videos and billboards. Men and women are depicted to behave a certain way in society, and have a certain attitude to differentiate genders. This shapes the way men and women should act in society, and creates a targeted end user for a companys product. Marketers exploit gender identities, stemmed from rotational ways of composing oneself to sell products. Targeting a market uses different methods that will attract a female versus a male. For example, pastel colors for a little girls clothes and toys, where as a boys are bold or bright in color. More specifically, a Did Groins pizza commercial was attempting to convince the audience that their bake-at-home frozen pizza was as good as a fresh delivered pizza. : However, when watched closely, this Did Groins commercial expresses women being portrayed as responsible for grocery shopping and cooking, that women are inferior to men, and that all men dictate. Since the beginning of culture, women are often depicted as housewives who do the cooking, shopping and laundry. Historically, chores around the house are gender oriented. Women do the light weight work and nurture the kids, while men do physical, heavy lifting work and take charge. Psychologically, commercials embed these stereotypes, which define how genders should compose themselves in society. In this Did Giorgio advertisement, it is obvious that the woman is viewed in a house setting, as a domestic bringing in the groceries. She is then told by her husband to make a pizza with extra toppings and to make it quick. This gender stereotype proves the label of women having to cook for their husband and family. The point of this commercial, which was trying to sell a home baked pizza Just as good as delivery, left an impression towards women suggesting that you should make what your husband wants, how he wants and when he wants it. When he gets what he wants he will be satisfied and love you. A woman cooking for their husband is understood as trying to make their husband happy, and in return, creating happiness for themselves. The perception about women having to cook and grocery shop is not only a way of this immemorial trying to sell their product, but also to convey that the current restricted gender roles are still the same. Women are widely known as inferior to men, not only in the household but in all settings of society. Whether it is in the workforce, in politics, or religion, women are deemed as inferior to men because of sexual selection. Men prove themselves as physically and intellectually greater than other men when trying to get women, whereas women must be superior sexually. This leads to the conclusion that men are of higher power or value and women should be overlooked. Traditionally, this culture we are raised in does not see a point in women that she hates when he dictates to her, but reluctantly takes his command and makes the pizza. This gives in to the stereotype that women are inferior to men. It comes across as women being passive and taken advantage of. The thought of women being a lesser human being and more unreliable than men is disrespectful. Women should have a right to equality between gender roles, without the needed acceptance of commercials. Commercials display gender stereotypes that are widely followed, with womens inferiority being the case in this advertisement. While women are considered to be submissive and passive, men are also largely stereotyped. Men are represented to be dominant and strong. Male stereotypes can cause pressure on men who do not fit the label of a male physically and emotionally. In society men are pictured as lazy, that they are doctors, not nurses and have the right as husbands, to tell their wives what to do. As seen in the Did Giorgio commercial, the husband is depicted in a social setting, watching television with his friends. The husband, trying to impress his friends, ordered that his wife make a pizza the way he wanted it, in a Emily manner. The husband was essentially dictating his wife, from naturally having a leadership role. Men are known to dictate in the work force or house environment because women tend to lean on them for assertiveness. However the stereotype that men dictate, particularly women, is not always true. Because of situations they are put in, for instance in decision making, marriage or outside affairs leads to believe this is how all men act. Gender stereotypes lead to believe that all men should dictate in society, and have the right to. The commercial which is viewed by millions, encourages men to continue to act that way without hesitation. Advertising relies on stereotypes to sell their product, while simultaneously defining gender. Because so many people watch commercials, television, or ads, they have the power to influence society stereotypes. The Did Giorgio commercial confirmed that men still desire for the dictator role in a relationship, while females continue to insist on equal rights. Granted, females have Just as many rights as males do today, but equality is something constantly being striver for in the twenty first century. Commercials are a way of making us believe what we are watching, which sells their product, but also psychologically tells us how we should act in a traditional culture. The traditional culture has always been looked upon, and never really been challenged of its standards. It is hard when the public norm does not acknowledge males as nurses or females as presidents because of gender stereotypes portrayed in commercials. Gender is only a part of which people are; it does not define them or their limits. Advertisements contribute to our perception of cultural identity, gender identity and gender roles, but perception is not reality.

Economics assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Economics - Assignment Example 6 & 7 of Shy or the notes). Prices fall and quantity supplied increases. The economic welfare is better than in the cournot conditions. Although profits fall, consumer surplus increases and equilibrium approaches the competitive case. 2) Now let’s find out if the above results you derived are actually true!! Use the StackelbergSolver macro and enter the data with marginal cost = 4, a = 1,000 and b = -2 and derive the Stackelberg results. Of course you are also going to have to use the CournotSolver. Why? Explain your results. Do your results conform to the theory you provided above in problem 1? Display your results. In the Bertrand model, the firms set prices simultaneously instead of quantity. The model is only valid in an oligopolistic, market structure where there are few firms selling too many buyers. As matter of fact, it’s easier and cheaper to adjust prices than quantity. However, the process of â€Å"priced cuts† can be risky. Equilibrium price and quantity in a Bertrand model is the competitive equilibrium. Note that the firms can either set price or quantity but not both. In the Bertrand model the firms set price simultaneously. Consider a 2-firm case, suppose firm 1 moves first and sets price p> MC, in an effort to maximize profit. Firm 2 will have an incentive to lower the price such that p1>p2>MC, to capture a larger market share. Rationally, consumers will shift to the lower price, p2 and firm 1 will make zero profits. The assumption is that, consumers are well informed and the products are homogeneous. Firm 1will thus cut its price making it lower than P2. The game continues until both firms charge a price equal to MC, and make zero economic profits. At this price no firm would either raise prices; leads to zero sales, or lower prices; at p 5) a) Below is a table showing the payoffs for price strategies that each of 2 firms can make. These profits are derived from the