Wisdom I have learned from an older adult

I have to say that Vive put quiet a bit of thought Into who Vive received the most words of wisdom from and I have chosen my adopted mother. Over the past thirty six years that I have been a part of my adopted family I have truly had some difficulties coping and dealing with the fact my biological mother abandoned myself and my four brothers when I was a baby. For many years I have questioned so many things, the reasons, the whys, the what ifs, and how can a mother possibly do meeting so traumatic to such small, innocent children.I've had many a disagreement with my adopted mother over my continued search for answers, yet through all my struggles I have learned a few things that will always remain close to my heart and forever be embedded within my thoughts. Mom always told me you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. I decided that I could never make my biological mother love me, but in turn I could love my children, fam ily and friends without all my heart and open y heart to them In return.Vive learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back. She taught me that It takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy It. She told me that It's not what you have In your life, but who you have In your life that counts so don't dwell on those that have chosen not to be apart of your life. She taught me that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do. I quickly learned that I wanted to be the best for myself and no one else.She truly tried to instill in my head that it's not what happens to people that's important. It's what they do about it. So, with that in my head I have chosen to take what my biological mother put me through and teach my children what it truly means to love and be a parent in hopes that they will one day be able to instill their love in their children, family and friends as well. Vive learned that it's taking m e a long time to become the person I want to be but without Mom's guidance and encouragement I would have never over come my frustrations, worries ND concerns.One of the most important things she taught me was that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. She taught me that you can keep going long after you think you can't. So many times I've wondered why I was even brought into the world and why I continue to move forward everyday when I have felt I shouldn't. She taught me to always remember what my biological mother did and always remember that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.I honestly do not feel my biological mother ever felt responsible for the pain she put us through. She taught me that learning to forgive takes practice. Forgiving my biological mother has taken me years to do, but I have been able to accomplish forgiveness. Vive learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. Mom always said that I can be angry at my mother the rest of my life but never be cruel to anyone because of my feelings, people don't deserve to be treated In the manner I have en.I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many adopted mother has tried to instill in my head and my heart, but I have always kept her wisdom close to my heart and knew that in time I would head her lessons and one day be the sort of person I have always wanted to be. We don't always believe older people have wisdom but my adopted mother has more wisdom than I will ever have in a life time and I thank her each and everyday for it.

Strategic Alliances: A Competitive Necessity

The past two decades has been an era of global evolution, in which the globalisation of markets, the convergence of and rapid shifts in technologies, and the breakdown of many traditional industry boundaries, has rendered strategic alliances a competitive necessity (Ohmae, 1989). A single firm is unlikely to possess all the resources and capabilities to achieve global competitiveness. Therefore, collaboration among organisations that possess complementary resources is often necessary for survival and growth (Dussauge, Garrette and Mitchell, 1998).Defined as a long-term, explicit contractual agreement pertaining to an exchange or combination of some of a firm's resources with another firm(s), strategic alliances allow firms to share risks and resources, gain knowledge and technology, expand the existing product base, and obtain access to new markets (Burgers, Hill and Kim, 1993; Dacin, Hitt and Levitas, 1997; HagedoornAlthough the benefits of strategic alliances are well documented, w hether strategic alliances can be a viable entry strategy option for small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) to successfully penetrate markets held by major incumbent suppliers is less clear.In this paper, strategic alliances are shown to be an effective entry-cum-deterrence strategy for SMEs to successfully penetrate markets that are well established and dominated by major corporations. In addition, the conditions under which SMEs can use strategic alliances as an entry strategy without restricting themselves to target only those markets ignored by bigger firms are identified.In terms of methodology, this paper follows a deductive approach – one based on game theory, to examine explicitly the reactions of bigger firms to the entry of SMEs into their markets, specifically taking into account the resource limitations faced by SMEs. To verify that the theoretical arguments presented are consistent with practice, two cases of the use of strategic alliances by SMEs as an entry s trategy to penetrate markets dominated by major corporations are examined. The practices and experiences of these SMEs were found to be consistent with the theoretical arguments presented here.

The Thoughts of Tao Te Ching

The thoughts of Tao Te Ching (Philosophy) The first thing that struck me about Tao Te Ching is Albert Einstein. I am a big fan of Einstein, perplexed by years of studying his scientific theories and thereafter forever being awed by his genius. As for Taoism, being of Chinese descent, growing up in the eastern world, I have constant exposure to the Taoist practices, culture, traditions, images and symbols. However, the irony is that I had never ventured further than just being a mere observer, a classic case of not seeing the forest for the trees.When I began to read Tao Te Ching, I am intrigued by the concept of Tao and its similarities to scientific theories, Einstein’s theories and thoughts, in particular. In Chapter 1 of the Tao Te Ching, it tells me that the real Tao is not an entity and cannot be described in words or named. All that could be named are just illusions or mere manifestations as stated in chapter 1, â€Å"Naming is the origin of all particular things† and another line, â€Å"Caught in desire, you can see only the manifestations†.The â€Å"mystery† which is the â€Å"unnamable Tao† is reality as stated in this sentence, â€Å"The unnamable is the eternally real†. Then, it goes on to say that, â€Å"Yet mystery and manifestations arise from the same source†. I would interpret this as reality and illusion are both the same. Here, I draw similarity to Einstein’s quote â€Å"Reality is merely an illusion albeit a very persistent one†. Chapter 2 reads to me as Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. It says that what is defined as beautiful is possible only when compared to what is ugly.Likewise, what is ugly is only definable compared to what is beautiful. It gives other examples of paradoxical unity. Often what we see is relative to another that opposes: good and bad; being and non-being; difficult and easy; long and short; high and low; before and after. To me, it means that what we can see as real is defined by comparing to something that is opposite, without which, neither exists. One entity is relative to another. This is exactly what Einstein says in his Theory of Relativity. He says to imagine a passenger sitting in a high speed train hich is really going smooth, and looking out through the windows. The trees will appear to be moving, rushing by and the passenger does not feel that the train is moving. To an observer standing on the platform, the same train appears as speeding by, not the trees. Who is correct? Einstein says both are true. He goes on to explain that if a high speed train is travelling very smoothly and the windows are completely closed, the passengers inside could not tell whether they are moving. This is the part of the Einstein’s theory that is the basis of his famous formula of E=MC? which I find parallel to that of another line of this chapter which reads, â€Å"Therefore the Master acts without doing anything and teaches witho ut saying anything. † My interpretation of this is â€Å"Tao† advocates concentrating on ‘contradictions’ or â€Å"relativity† as the basis of reality and it is also the Master’s recommendation as the principle that governs the world. In other words, everything is interconnected and does not exist without each other, as there is no black without white; no short without long; and no being without non-being.Everything exists as relative to another just as Einstein said so. This interconnectedness and mutual existence appears to me as a key idea of Tao. I understand Tao to be not an entity or something tangible that we can grasp on. We can only know of its manifestations in Nature, in relation to one another – relativity. Through Tao, one can see that everything on earth and in the Universe is intertwined in a harmonious balance. One cannot survive without the other, just like a perfect ecosystem.It follows that a person who has wisdom or has Tao will not resist or try to control nature. He is at â€Å"One† with nature. I find this concept of â€Å"At One† and connectivity expressed in many chapters such as: Chapter 23 – be like the forces of nature, open yourself to Tao, you are at one with the Tao; Chapter 42 – but the Master makes use of it,†¦he is one with the whole universe and; Chapter 51 – Every being in the universe is an expression of the Tao.Last but not least, I find the best expression of my understanding of Tao in Chapter 39: â€Å"In harmony with the Tao, the sky is clear and spacious, the earth is solid and full, all creature flourish together, content with the way they are, endlessly repeating themselves, endlessly renewed. When man interferes with the Tao, the sky becomes filthy, the earth becomes depleted, the equilibrium crumbles, and creatures become extinct. †

Strategic Systems Management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Strategic Systems Management - Assignment Example Mercedes Benz has a very long history of cars manufacturing, being a part of Daimler-Benz company and later belonging to Daimler-Chrysler. Perhaps, Mercedes-Benz is the most well-known automotive brand worldwide. Its rich history and known top-level quality have earned a reputation of luxury cars manufacturer for the company. Mercedes Benz automobiles being prized for prestige and quality often become the choice of the rich and famous. Throughout the history, the goal of Mercedes Benz was providing its customers with more than just cars. Owning a Mercedes Benz was a symbol of belonging to community valuing quality above all. The focus of Mercedes-Benz vehicles is set on high quality and state of the art engineering. Of course it makes them expensive; thus they are made in lower volumes compared to cheaper cars. The company has carefully cultivated an image of superior engineering, quality, and service. Mercedes-Benz is clear leader in the luxury and upper range segment of the market. Recent efforts of the company to move towards lower segments were rather successful: its Smart brand has become a market leader in microcar segment in several European countries. Hence the famous luxury cars manufacturer now tries to make its products popular among low-priced cars to achieve global dominance. The mission statement of Daimler-Chrysler, which Mercedes Benz is currently a part of, indicates efforts towards fulfilling customers' desire for mobile independence (Daimler-Chrysler 2005). Mercedes-Benz is proud of his long 120 years history of car manufacturing, putting its experience and commitment to use in making quality cars. Nevertheless, quality is not the only pillar the company stands upon. The corporate strategy of Mercedes Benz is based on four cornerstones: global presence, strong brands, broad product range, and technology leadership. Invention and innovation put to good use at Mercedes Benz allows a company to set up a high quality standard. Broad product range reflects the company's direction towards dominance rather than being a niche player in luxury cars segment. Its strong brand is often seen as its greatest competitive advantage providing Mercedes Benz cars with a spirit of precision and comfort. Finally, steps taken in the establishment of global presence allow Mercedes Benz to enter new national markets. The great Daimler-Chrysler merger made in 1998 can be seen as an example of establishing global presence of Daimler-Benz. Although the deal was supposed to be a merger of equals, Daimler-Benz quickly took the wheel of the new formed company. "When the dust settled, Daimler was firmly in control of Chrysler, and the shock waves were reverberating on both sides of the Atlantic. An American icon would lose its independence, and a German giant would grow in power and influence." (Stertz and Vlasic, 2000) Another example of expansion is purchasing of Mitsubishi departments serving two purposes: 1) getting closer to a perspective Asian market and 2) using the expertise of Asian car manufacturers in producing small cars. Nevertheless, the sky is not clear for Mercedes Benz. Its recent trends of moving into lower market segments has not gone unnoticed for its luxury cars. "In recent years the brand's reputation once sterling reliability record has been called into question when it was recently ranked rather low in consumer surveys." (Wikipedia 2006) Thus Mercedes-Benz is now

I will attach the article i choiced from the five articles i have Essay

I will attach the article i choiced from the five articles i have online. follow the instruction in the details and write a discussion - Essay Example The article also relates to the article I chose by Mark Joslin which rules out the effectiveness of the treatment provided in rehabilitation centers. The article I chose is based on logic arguments on the effectiveness on a brain focused treatment of addiction. The article provides concrete evidence on the effectiveness of the treatment by Dr. Sponaugle. The author of the article first recognizes the fact that rehabs do not provide addicts with full treatment. This is presented in real cases where patients’ experience relapses shortly after coming out from rehabs. From the article I increased my knowledge on the most effective approach to cure drug addiction. Prior to the information provided in the article, one believed in the effectiveness of the treatment provided in rehabilitation centers. From the information provided by Joslin, it is interesting to understand the fact that the brain provides the most appropriate centers for addiction treatment. By analyzing different areas of the brain Dr. Sponaugle could be able to cure the deficiency in brain stimulation. By understanding the parts of the brain he was able to come up with mechanisms of correction which were long term. In an argument by Cosgrove (2010) the number of addicts in the United States are increasing rapidly with more youths are increasingly abusing drugs. Additionally, the situation is made worse by the fact that most people believe in the treatment provided in rehabilitation centers. Addicts subjected to this treatment only have short term addiction free status (Cosgrove, 2010). Most of them have relapses after few weeks of treatment. From this argument it is an obvious assumption that the treatment provided in rehabs is not effective enough to lead an addict to full recovery. Additionally, full recovery from addiction requires a neurological approach as

IT Audit & Security controls at ABC Company Essay

IT Audit & Security controls at ABC Company - Essay Example The move is further fuelled by the growing availability of broadband connectivity and increasing competitive market pressure. Some of the factors supporting rapid mobile deployment are: Availability of a variety of communication mediums and bandwidth connectivity Availability of cheaper powerful and multi-functional Smartphones Market competition Development of easily customizable business application platforms Availability of large number of mobile applications integration of wired and wireless applications by using new technologies such as IMS, 3G networks, smart phones, and WiMAX devices Advantages of deploying mobile devices in organization have been tremendous. Major advantages of deploying mobile devices are: Secure, Manageable and Real-Time availability of information Accessibility of information anytime and anywhere Availability of real-time and accurate inventory data to support supply chain management Streamlined inventory management improve productivity and workflow, while reducing error rates, overhead, and administration Better customer relationship management due to on site availability of information which helps in tracking and monitoring a customer Benefits of deploying mobile workforce comes along with various risks associated with it. Security of information is foremost concern for most of the organizations planning for mobile deployment. Some of the major risks deploying mobile devices are as follows: Loss or theft of mobile device Spreading of virus and worm Network compromises Organizations can overcome the risk associated with mobile workforce to some extent by applying various security and precautionary measures. Following recommended course of actions help in successful mobile deployment in an organization: Designing,...workers will be mobile workers and half of European workforce to be mobile by the end of 2007. The principal driving forces behind deploying mobile workforce include both technological and organizational changes. The move is further fuelled by the growing availability of broadband connectivity and increasing competitive market pressure. Some of the factors supporting rapid mobile deployment are: Benefits of deploying mobile workforce comes along with various risks associated with it. Security of information is foremost concern for most of the organizations planning for mobile deployment. Some of the major risks deploying mobile devices are as follows: Organizations can overcome the risk associated with mobile workforce to some extent by applying various security and precautionary measures. Following recommended course of actions help in successful mobile deployment in an organization: Organizations must assess and prepare themselves for short and long term advantages, disadvantages, risks and other impacts of deploying mobile workforce before jumping on board. They have to develop standard business processes so that they can take maximum advantages of the mobile workforce and reduce the risks associated with the move.

Outline Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Outline - Essay Example In other words, I need to address a lifestyle change that is responsive to my desire to curtail irresponsible spending. This question is very important to me because I realize that in order to improve the quality of my life I need to be more budget conscious and more responsible with what I do with my earnings. This is all the more important because my irrational and irresponsible spending impacts not only my own comfort, but the comfort of my family. At this point I am able to admit that I am at worst a compulsive spender, at best, unable to manage my earnings responsibly. I want to make a lifestyle change that reverses this conduct and improves the quality of my life and the lives of my loved ones. In this regard, I have focused my attention on what it is that I need to do to invoke an effective lifestyle change to curtail my spending habits. Current research into the topic of lifestyle changes typically agree that lifestyle change commences with identifying future goals and acknowledging current personal obstacles that can be changed to achieve a successful lifestyle change. McGraw (1999) informs that lifestyle changes begin with a realization that everyone faces challenges but the individual must take sole responsibility for meeting their own challenges (pp. 11-12). In general there are ten life laws for lifestyle changes. They are: becoming one of those that get it; accept that you are responsible for your own life; do that which works; accept what needs to be changed; take positive action; identify your perceptions; take control of your life; dictate how you are treated; be merciful and identify what you want to achieve (McGraw 1999). Markway et al (2003) caution that making lifestyle changes are never easy as it requires commitment, vision and discipline (p. 92). Tracy (2009) maintains that success driven persons are those who think ahead to the future and do not

Oil and gas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Oil and gas - Essay Example The employee’s team will be enticed through the promises of better hours, bonuses and the additional perks. This will ensure that the employees are always motivated and thus they will not leave the company for better payment. Zz company will also prevent the live company from outweighing them by ensuring that they will not handle the main areas of their concern.zz company will handle themarketing,geographical,exploration and production by offering the competitive salary to employees,encouranging growth, open channel of communication, promoting balance,moltivating and engaging employees. The zz employees will not leave their job for the better salary because the company will ensure the personal career growth of all the employees. The company will offer a career advancement opportunity for all the employees through guiding them and placing them in their areas of specialization. This will help the employee to understand that they are much appreciated and it will even attract the employees from the live company to come and be employed by the zz company. The open channels of communication will encourage the employees in the zz company and they will feel more involved in the operations of the zz company. The zz company will develop a good communication channels and network between the employees and the decision makers which will make the employees to feel that they have a big role in the company. This will ensure that the employees are much connected with the management and it will build the credibility and trust between the employees and the company. The zz company will motivate and engage all the employees in the company’s affairs and they will be able to realize that their effort in t he company are realized. This will build a strong relationship which will ensure that the live company does not take advantage of

Realist Theories Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Realist Theories - Assignment Example China wants to resolve the issue with the countries involved and not with the international bodies. If this can be resolved, what could these small countries do if China will lose its military might on its claims on the disputed islands. China may be emboldened to bully its neighboring countries due to its $9240 billion GDP which is the second highest in the world. This GDP also allowed it to have a military superiority against its neighbors including Japan. Even if their total economies and population will be combined, it would still be no match against China. In addition, China is the only nuclear capable state in that region. China however must take into account that there are two countries (Philippines and Japan) among the claimants that has Mutual Defense Treaty with the United States, the largest economy in the world and strongest military in the world. If China attacks Philippines and Japan, this would make the Mutual Defense Treaty take into effect dragging United States in the war. In addition, the international community will also be against China because Philippines has brought the issue to the international court for arbitration and waging a war against other claimants will be trespass the case before international

Business ethic Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Business ethic - Coursework Example Less emphasis is placed on how Lower level managers and employees define ethical issues, think about ethics and resolve ethical issues. Thus, on this premises, this paper seeks to explain how the lower level managers and employees perceive ethics, in comparison with how the top managers perceive ethics. In establishing an ethics program, a bottom-up approach is recommended (Brown, 2005). This entails engaging all the employees in the discussion and thinking about ethics. This makes it easier to implement as everyone in the company may feel that they had an input in deciding about ethics program. As fact, top-down nostrums are less effective in most organizations. They tend to perpetuate even further, the varied perception toward corporate ethics as perceived by the employees and the top management. Nevertheless, senior managers are known to influence the character and the scope of the organization’s corporate ethics program. They are charged with the responsibility of ensuring the integration of the ethics into the day-to-day routine of the organization. In general, senior managers have much to play in the successful implementation and management of ethics in an organization. Thus, their take and perception on ethics matters a lot. Research has evidenced that senior manager in most companies exhibit a more positive perception towards organizational ethics as compared to the lower level managers and employees. On the other hand, lower level managers and employees tend to be more cynical when it comes to business ethics in organizations. Thus, there is a clear contrast in perception towards organizational ethics between the two groups. Even so, many senior managers have proved to be ignorant of the ethical problems and matters affecting their organization. This plays a pivotal role in discouraging ethics as well as perpetuating the differences in perception towards ethics in most organizations. On the other

Women offenders and prisioners Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Women offenders and prisioners - Essay Example The special guidelines for the treatment of female prisoners, namely the Bangkok Rules, have been adopted by the United Nations (UN) in the year 2010. Despite the fact that these rules have not been implemented in totality, they represent vast improvement for female prisoners in international law. The main motivator for this astounding development was Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand. This redoubtable champion of women’s issues was instrumental in ensuring that the efforts of the Thai delegation to the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice was successful in its efforts (Barberet, 2014, p. 174). It has been acknowledged in these rules that female prisoners have drastically different requirements, in comparison to their male counterparts. To a major extent the Bangkok Rules are evidence based and acknowledge several of the findings of ‘Women Crime and Criminal Justice: A Global Enquiry’, by the eminent scholar Ms. Barberet. Moreover, the Bangkok Rules mirror several of the erstwhile reform efforts that had been undertaken on behalf of females in prison, across the world. For instance, these rules acknowledge the high incidence of victimization of female prisoners and their greater inclination to engage in self-harm and suicide; the lower risk of most female prisoners, but higher classification levels; the special status of female prisoners who are also mothers of children; the stigma encountered by female prisoners; the abuse of women for immoral crimes; and the specific needs of indigenous women prisoners (Barberet, 2014, p. 174). Furthermore, these rules recommend the provision of intimate articles for females, alternatives to invasive or strip searching, alternatives to incarceration for females, and research and data collection regarding the issues pertaining to imprisoned females. Moreover, these rules acknowledge that females, in some nations, are incarcerated, in order to safeguard them,

Demonstrating Sulphuric acid is Dibasic Essay Example for Free

Demonstrating Sulphuric acid is Dibasic Essay Chemistry Practical Plan Aim The aim of my experiment is to demonstrate that sulphuric acid, H2SO4, is dibasic. Dibasic means that one mole of sulphuric acid can release two moles of hydrogen ions, H+ when it reacts in an aqueous solution. To demonstrate the dibasic nature of sulphuric acid, I shall do two experiments, one involving a titration, the other a gas collection. Predication In my titration, I shall neutralise an acid with a base. Firstly, I will titrate Hydrochloric Acid against Sodium Hydroxide. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is as follows. HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq)→ NaCl(aq) + H20(l) Hydrochloric Acid, HCl, is a monoprotic acid, meaning that it will release one Hydrogen ion, H+ when reacted in an aqueous solution. The molar ratio in this reaction is 1:1, and therefore 1 mole of Hydrogen ions, H+, will be needed to react with 1 mole of Hydroxide ions, OH-, to form 1 mole of Water, H20. Therefore, I predict that this will mean that an equal number of moles of Hydrochloric Acid will be needed to neutralise the Sodium Hydroxide. I shall then titrate Sulphuric Acid against Sodium Hydroxide, in comparison to Hydrochloric Acid. HCl is monoprotic, whereas H2SO4 is diprotic, and will therefore release double the amount of Hydrogen ions, H+. The reaction is as follows: H2SO4 (aq)+2 NaOH(aq)→ Na2SO4(aq) +2H2O(l) To demonstrate that Sulphuric Acid is dibasic, and that it will release two Hydrogen ions, H+, I predict that only half the number of moles of H2SO4 will be needed to neutralise one mole of NaOH. The molar ratio of acid to alkali is now 1:2, so for every Hydroxide ion released from the Sodium Hydroxide, two Hydrogen ions will be released from the sulphuric Acid, and so only 0.5 mole H2SO4 will be needed to neutralise 1 mole NaOH. For the gas collection experiment, I shall again react firstly a monoprotic acid, then a diprotic acid and compare the amounts of gas collected. My first reaction will be between Hydrochloric Acid (monoprotic) with Magnesium Carbonate. 2HCl(aq) + MgCO3(s) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) My second reaction will be between Sulphuric Acid (diprotic), and Magnesium Carbonate. H2SO4(aq) + MgCO3(s) → MgSO4(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) For both reactions I shall collect the gas in a gas syringe, and compare the amounts of gas released. When metal reacts with acid, carbon dioxide is released. I will use acids of equal molarity, and the same mass of magnesium carbonate. I predict that the H2SO4 will produce twice the volume of gas in comparison to HCl, as this will demonstrate the dibasity of Sulphuric Acid. Safety Sulphuric Acid is corrosive and therefore goggles must we worn at all times. If spillages occur, these should be washed liberally with cold water. Sulphuric Acid can burn skin and eyes, so lab coats and gloves should be worn. In case of contact with eyes, immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. If swallowed drink plenty of water and seek medical help. Also follow standard laboratory safety such as removing lose clothing and tying hair away from face. Fair Test Titration – to ensure a fair test in my titration, I will use the same amounts of acid the same in each titration, and measure the variation in alkali needed to neutralise the acid. I will use a pipette and burette because they are the most accurate equipment available, being accurate to +/- 0.05cm3. Before filling the burette and pipette I shall rinse them first with distilled water and then with the chemical to be used. This will allow me to take more accurate readings from the equipment and reduce the possible error margin. I shall rinse the burette and pipette also with the solution to be used to ensure no dilutions in my experiment, which could lead to inaccuracy. Gas Collection – to ensure a fair test in the gas collection, I shall use equal masses of Magnesium Carbonate in both collections, and measure the varying amount of Carbon Dioxide released. I will use a gas syringe to collect the carbon dioxide because I think that this I more accurate than upwards delivery – carbon dioxide is soluble in water and this could affect my results. For both experiments, I shall also use the largest values possible as this will reduce the percentage error in my practical to give me more reliable results. Titration Method Apparatus: Sodium Hydroxide (1.0 molar), Sulphuric Acid (1.0 molar), Hydrochloric Acid (1.0 molar), 50 cm 3 pipette, burette, phenolphthalein indicator, white tile, clamp stand, boss, distilled water dispensers, pipette filler, 4 Ãâ€" 100cm3 beakers, 2 Ãâ€" 100cm3 conical flasks, plastic filter funnel. Perform pre-tests to determine the colour change of the indicator at the end point of the titration and the colour of phenolphthalein in acids and alkalis. Prepare the equipment as follows: Burette – rinse with distilled water followed by the solution to be used, NaOH as not to dilute the solution with water. Run solution through and invert the burette to ensure no air bubbles. Fill the burette with NaOH using a filter funnel, and remove the funnel. Record the volume of solution within the burette to 0.05 ml. Pipette – rinse the pipette several times by sucking and releasing the solution to be used, HCl or H2SO4, using a pipette filler, (suck up solution to above the measured mark) Using pipette filler, fill pipette with until the meniscus is slightly above the mark. Take the pipette out of the solution to ensure no atmospheric pressure and allow the liquid to run out slowly until the meniscus is level with the mark. Touch the side of the flask with the tip of the pipette but allow any residue to remain in the pipette. Add 3-4 drops of the indicator phenolphthalein to the solution in the conical flask (no more as indicators are weak acids and so can have an effect on the titration) Use a white tile to help identify the colour change at the end point. Run the solution from the burette whilst swirling, stop as soon as the indicator colour changes. Record the volume of the rough titration. Repeat the titration carefully and drop wise until the colour is about to change, then add half a drop at a time. When the faintest detectable colour change can be noted, record the final volume to within 0.05 ml. Repeat the titration to get three accurate titrations within 0.1 ml of each other. Gas Collection Apparatus: Hydrochloric Acid (1 molar), Sulphuric Acid (1 molar), Magnesium Carbonate, 6 conical flasks, gas valves and bungs, gas syringe with delivery tube, Clamp stand and boss. Set up the experiment as shown. React 0.34g MgCO3 with 100ml HCl for at least 10 minutes or until the reaction is complete. Record the volume of CO2 produced. Repeat three times, ensuring that the gas syringe is always set at zero before the experiment is set. Repeat with H2SO4to allow the comparison of results. Quantities Titration From my research I know that the maximum volume of Sodium Hydroxide will be needed in the titration with Hydrochloric Acid. The burette I will be using can measure accurately up to 50cm3. I from my calculations, this amount will be used to neutralise 50cm3 of acid. For the reaction with Sulphuric Acid, twice the volume of NaOH shall be needed to neutralise the acid. Therefore, I shall use only 25cm3 acid for both titrations, as I know that 50cm3 NaOH is the maximum volume I will need. The advantage of using the largest volumes possible is that the percentage error is reduced, and my experiments will therefore me more accurate. Gas Collection H2SO4(aq) + MgCO3(s) → MgSO4(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) This is the reaction that I predicted would release the most carbon dioxide. I therefore had to work out what the maximum amount of product I could use within the practical limits of my apparatus. Max volume gas released – 100cm3 No. moles = actual volume à · 24 = (100à ·1000) à · 24 = 0.004 moles CO2 Molar ratio MgCO3: CO2 =1:1 Therefore 0.004 moles MgCO3 Mr MgCO3 = 24+12+ (16 x 3) =84 Actual Mass = number of moles x mass 1 mole = 0.004 x 84 0.34g Magnesium Carbonate to be used. The Sulphuric Acid must also be present in excess to ensure the reaction goes to completion, and so I will therefore use 0.1 mole H2SO4. Volume = number of moles à · concentration = 0.01 à ·1 = 0.01 dm-3, or 100 cm-3 2HCl(aq) + MgCO3(s) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) For my second reaction, I shall use the same mass of Magnesium Carbonate, and provided the acid is still in excess, the same volume of Hydrochloric Acid, to ensure a fair test. Mass MgCO3 to be used = 0.34g Molar ratio HCl: CO2 = 2:1 Therefore 0.004 x 2 moles HCl to be used. To allow the acid to be present in excess, I shall use 0.01 mole of Hydrochloric Acid. Therefore, volume = number of moles x concentration =0.01 Ãâ€" 1 =100cm3 Specimen Calculations Titration using Sodium Hydroxide and Hydrochloric Acid HCl(aq) + NaOH(aq)→ NaCl(aq) + H20(l) Volume HCl used: 25 ml or 0.025 dm-3 Number of moles HCl = concentration (mol dm-3) Ãâ€" volume (dm-3) = 1mÃâ€" 0.025 dm-3 = 0.025 moles HCl Molar ratio NaOH: HCl = 1: 1 Therefore 0.025Ãâ€"1= 0.025 moles NaOH Volume NaOH = number of moles Ãâ€" concentration (mol dm-3) = 0.025 Ãâ€" 1 =0.025 dm-3 This shows that an equal volume of Sodium Hydroxide is needed to neutralise the Hydrochloric acid, indicating that for every OH- ion in the NaOH, one H+ ion was released from the Hydrochloric Acid to form H2O, a neutral molecule. This shows that Hydrochloric Acid is monoprotic, as it releases one Hydrogen ion when it is reacted in an aqueous solution. Titration using Sodium Hydroxide and Sulphuric Acid H2SO4 (aq)+2 NaOH(aq)→ Na2SO4(aq) +2H2O(l) Volume H2SO4 used: 25 ml or 0.025 dm-3 Number of moles H2SO4 = concentration (mol dm-3) Ãâ€" volume (dm-3) = 1mÃâ€" 0.025 dm-3 = 0.025 moles H2SO4 Molar ration NaOH: H2SO4 = 2: 1 Therefore 0.025à ·2 = 0.0125 moles NaOH Volume NaOH = number of moles Ãâ€" concentration (mol dm-3) =0.0125Ãâ€" 1 = 0.0125 dm-3 This shows that only half the volume of Sodium Hydroxide was needed to neutralise the Sulphuric Acid, indicating that for every OH- ion in the NaOH, two H+ were released from the Sulphuric Acid, demonstrating its dibasity, as for every mole of Sulphuric Acid reacting in solution; two moles of Hydrogen ions were released. Gas Collection 2HCl(aq) + MgCO3(s) → MgCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) Number of moles MgCO3 = actual mass à · mass 1 mole Mr MgCO3 = 84 = 0.34 à · 84 = 0.004 moles Molar ration HCl: CO2 = 2: 1 Therefore 0.004 à · 2 = 0.002 moles CO2 Volume = number of moles x 24 = 0.002 Ãâ€" 24 = 0.048 dm-3 or 48cm3 H2SO4(aq) + MgCO3(s) → MgSO4(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g) Number of moles MgCO3 = actual mass à · mass 1 mole Mr MgCO3 = 84 = 0.34 à · 84 = 0.004 moles Molar ratio H2SO4: CO2 = 1: 1 Therefore 0.004 moles CO2 Volume = number of moles Ãâ€" 24 = 0.004 Ãâ€" 24 =0.096 dm-3 or 96cm3 When a metal carbonate reacts with acid, carbon dioxide is released. These results show that when Magnesium Carbonate reacts with Sulphuric Acid, twice the volume of Carbon Dioxide is produced in comparison to its reaction with Hydrochloric Acid. This shows that, as we know HCl to be a monobasic acid, Sulphuric Acid is dibasic, as it produced double the volume of gas as a result of its two Hyrdogen ions that are released. Bibliography ‘Chemistry’ – Chris Conoley and Phil Hills (p. 332) Collins Educational 1998 Steven Doherty – Atoms, Molecules and Stoichiometry www.catalogue.fisher.co.uk/scripts Cambridge University Press 2000 ‘Chemistry’ Brian Ratcliff

Porters Five Forces Analysis of Yahoo!

Porters Five Forces Analysis of Yahoo! The World Wide Web brings about new products and services every day for any consumer to access at any time with the simple click of a mouse. Consumers may look at the local weather forecast, find address and phone number of a business, or simply use the Internet for entertainment. All of these activities and many more are all accessible on Yahoo!s website. Terry S. Semel, Chief Executive Officer at Yahoo! and the Porters Five Forces analysis model along with Porters Differentiation strategy helps Yahoo! compete intensely among its competitors. From an internal perspective, Porters Five Forces gives Yahoo! a sustainable competitive advantage by analyzing the Threat of New Entrants, the Bargaining Power of Buyers, the Bargaining Power of Suppliers, the Threat of Substitute Products and Services, and the Intensity of Rivalry among Competitors in an industry. Semel analyzes each piece of Porters Five Forces model to determine the best route for Yahoo! to boost its competitive advantage in the Internet industry. First, Yahoo! analyzes the Threat of New Entrants coming into the Web industry. The Threat of New Entrants refers to the possibility that the profits of established firms in the industry may be eroded by new competitors (Dess, Lumpkin, Eisner, 2007, pg. 59). In Yahoo!s industry, it is relatively easy for any firm to have an eye-catching website. A new entrant can be a firm in its beginning years who does not have a significantly large budget, but could better serve consumers wanting specific products or services because of new technology it owns. Distributors and manufacturers may also reach more consumers through the Internet, so they enter the market. Semel bought technology such as the Inktomi search engine for Yahoo! to better serve the Internet world and keep a sustainable competitive advantage using product differentiation to create a higher barrier of entry for those smaller or newly established firms. The second of Porters Five Forces discusses the Bargaining Power of Buyers in an industry. Buyers threaten an industry by forcing down prices, bargaining for higher quality or more services, and playing competitors against each other (Dess, Lumpkin Eisner, 2007, pg. 61). Buyers are generally not loyal to a specific brand of product or service. Buyers have any information available to them 24 hours a day and they use this to their advantage. Consumers want the best deal for them at that time, so they will take a few minutes, click the mouse a few times, and find the best opportunity for their needs. Buyers use this tool to their advantage. It is difficult for suppliers to retain repeat customers because the customers have the opportunity to shop around to best satisfy their quality and price needs. With Yahoo! expanding their search capabilities by adding new features like its alliance with SBC communications, adding WUF Networks Inc., and HotJobs.com, Semel is aiming to keep more of Yahoo!s consumers within the Yahoo! website and prevent them from exiting to search on a competitors sites. The Bargaining Power of Suppliers is another of Porters Forces that Yahoo! needs to keep in mind. Suppliers involve providing products or services to other businesses, therefore use the term B2B-that is, business-to-business (Dess, Lumpkin Eisner, 2007, pg. 285). Yahoo! is an intermediary between some buyers (consumers) and sellers (advertisers) and is business-to-business oriented. Suppliers can make arrangements on the Internet to make searching and buying easier for consumers and prevent them from switching. Yahoo! relies heavily on several different advertisers to keep consumers searching on the Yahoo! site. Semel has built Yahoo! into a site that can offer surfers many different services, with several of them requiring the customer to pay a small fee (Shamsie, pg. 795). The customer is more likely to stay on one site if everything he/she is searching for is there, letting Yahoo! and the advertising supplier profit. Any company in an industry needs to keep a watchful eye for the Threat of Substitute Products and Services. This may be the most important of Porters Five Forces for Yahoo! to stay on top of. Substitutes limit the potential returns of an industry by placing a ceiling on the prices that firms in that industry can profitably charge (Dess, Lumpkin Eisner, 2007, pg. 63). Again, consumers can compare prices, quality, and customer service between companies, but companies can do the same. A firm can research what products and services other firms are selling and make substitute products or services. This is the case for Yahoo!s digital theme part Semel is pushing into effect. AOL and MSN are also envisioning a digital theme part and they have many substantial advantages from competitive software and programs to money on hand. Semel has pushed through with new advanced technology to give Yahoo! the edge they need to compete with companies such as AOL and MSN (Shamsie). The last of Porters Five Forces Model is the Intensity of Rivalry Among Competitors in an Industry (Dess, Lumpkin Eisner, 2007). Because the Internet creates more tools and means for competing, rivalry among competitors is likely to be more intense (Dess, Lumpkin Eisner, 2007, pg. 288). Rivalry among competitors on the Internet is extremely high because technology is constantly changing. New, better software is being introduced every day to give certain companies a competitive advantage and leave others trying to catch up. Google is Yahoo!s biggest competitor, and is regarded as the most prominent search engine in most parts of the world (Shamsie, pg. 796). Semel and his team have been dedicated to increase Yahoo!s search engine capabilities to compete with competitors like Google, MSN, and AOL. Semel has done a wonderful job turning Yahoo! around from the falling company it was before he joined the team. Using Porters Five Forces, Semel has wisely used the companys funds and resources to gain new technology to push Yahoo! to the top of the bar. Implementing Porters Differentiation strategy by building an animated theme park as Yahoo!s Web site to keep people wanting more from Yahoo! might just give Yahoo! the edge it needs to move forward and take over the number one spot for search engines. Differentiation consists of creating differences in the firms product or service offering by creating something that is perceived industrywide as unique and valued by customers (Dess, Lumpkin Eisner, 2007, pg. 169). Differentiation can have a huge influence on customers because of unique service and product offerings and positive brand image (Dess, Lumpkin Eisner, 2007). Semel is creating differentiation through features and technology with Yahoo! having multiple services in one location in Yahoo!s digital theme park. He is building brand image by investing in billion dollar companies like SBC Communications and Inktomi so Yahoo! will have the technology and the freedom to adapt to changes in the fast-paced Internet industry by owning their own technology. Semel is aiming for Yahoo! to be a whole, small world in itself and enticing customers to stay in Yahoo!s website for all of their service and product needs. Semel comments, The more time you spend on Yahoo!, the more apt you are to sample both free and paid services, (Shamsie, pg. 795). The total revenue for Yahoo! leaped tremendously from 2002 to 2003 and continues to rise because of Yahoo!s CEO Terry Semel. Yahoo! hired Semel to pull the company out of ruins and he did so successfully with Michael Porters Five Forces Analysis model and by implementing Porters Differentiation strategy. He acquired excellent technology and made strategic alliances with companies to give Yahoo! a step-up from its competition. Semel is differentiating Yahoo! by building a digital Disneyland-a souped-up theme park for the Internet Age (Shamsie, pg. 792). His goal is to keep current customers in Yahoo!s site by offering everything to fill their needs. The more time a customer spends on a specific site, the more likely he/she is to do business on that sight, letting Yahoo! profit from his/her requests. Semel using Porters Five Forces and the Differentiation strategy continues to push Yahoo! to the top of the leader board. References Dess, G. Gregory, Lumpkin, G.T., Eisner (2007). Strategic Management 3e. McGraw-Hill. Shamsie, Jamal. Yahoo!. Michigan State University, 792-797. Porters Five Forces and Differentiation The Threat of New Entrants Easy for anyone to have eye-catching websites that compete with large companies New entrant can be any firm who will do well because of technological advances Distributors and manufacturers can reach more consumers through the Internet, so they enter the market The Bargaining Power of Buyers Buyers can get information off of Internet about competing products and services Most Internet buyers are not loyal to a specific brand. Want what is good now Suppliers have a hard time keeping loyal customers because they shop around for the best quality, prices, and customer service The Bargaining Power of Suppliers Yahoo! is intermediary between some buyers and sellers B2B oriented Suppliers can make arrangements on the Internet to make searching and buying easier to prevent customers from switching Yahoo! is intermediary between some buyers and sellers B2B oriented Suppliers can make arrangements on the Internet to make searching and buying easier to prevent customers from switching Yahoo! uses several different types of suppliers on their site to keep customers within their walls The Threat of Substitute Products and Services Any company can research and find a better way to accomplish the same task Yahoo! was threatened by AOL and MSN for the theme park The Intensity of Rivalry among Competitors in an Industry Rivalry is very intense because there are many tools and excellent technology for competing firms Google, MSN, and AOL are major rivals Differentiation Huge influence because of the unique services and products Yahoo!s alliance with big companies Yahoo!s buying of outstanding technology Yahoo! wants to keep people in their site. They are more apt to pay a small fee for something if they can stay in one place

Religious Terrorism And Its Global Effects Politics Essay

Religious Terrorism And Its Global Effects Politics Essay Religious terrorism is terrorism by those whose motivations and aims have a predominant religious character or influence. In the modern age, after the decline of ideas such as the divine right of kings and with the rise of nationalism, terrorism more often involved anarchism, nihilism and revolutionary politics, but since 1980 there has been an increase in activity motivated by religion. Former United States Secretary of State Warren Christopher said that terrorist acts in the name of religion and ethnic identity have become one of the most important security challenges we face in the wake of the Cold War. Steven Weinberg has argued that religion is the most important factor, famously saying for good people to do evil things that take religion. (Arquilla, 1999) In the wake of the tragic events of September 11, and as evidence mounted that Islamic extremists committed the acts, the Muslim community in the United States quickly moved to distance itself from the terrorists. In stark contrast, Muslims in many parts of the Middle East could be seen on television news programs wildly cheering the attack on America. Those unfamiliar with Islam suddenly had a deep interest in knowing which of these really represented Islam. In the first days after the attack, uncertainty bred fear and contempt in some Americans who lashed out at an innocent Muslim community. Many Muslims, fearing for their safety, would no longer go out in public. Political leaders and the media joined Muslim leaders in trying to educate the general public about the differences between true Muslims and those who committed these terrible crimes. (Arquilla) U.S. officials believe that at least 19 Islamic men orchestrated the suicidal hijacking of four Boeing jets who had connections to the fanatical religious leader, Osama bin Laden. At least one of the hijackers owned a copy of the Koran, which authorities found in a bag that didnt make the flight. They also found pages of spiritual instructions which contained statements such as: Youre doing a job which is loved by God, and you will end your day in heavens where you will join the virgins, and I pray to you God to forgive me from all my sins, to allow me to glorify you in every possible way. The Koran, their faith and their will to die for their beliefs provide important clues as to the reason for their actions. Apparently these clues have yet to affect the minds of our military and political leaders. Long before September 11, 2001, Muslims in the U.S. realized that Islam was associated with terrorism and they set about to distinguish moderate Islam from that of Muslim extremists, fundamentalists and terrorists. Moderates claim Muslim extremists have given the wrong impression of Islam and contend that to equate religious terrorism and ethnic cleansing with Islam is like defining Christianity by David Koresh or Timothy McVeigh. The truth probably lies somewhere in between, for both history and fundamentalist theology present functional problems for Muslims to explain. (Hoffman, 1999) Despite these assurances and having moved several months past the attacks, the debate continues as to whether Islam is a religion of peace or does, in fact, support the terrorist actions that have taken so many innocent lives in America and throughout the world, in the name of Allah. This debate will no doubt continue for some time. Our purpose here is not to resolve that issue but to try and better understand the beliefs of our Muslim neighbors and our responsibility as Christians to reach out to them with the gospel. Muslims believe there are two types of jihad: a lesser and a greater. Muhammad is said to have taught that warfare to destroy the infidel is actually a lesser jihad. Instead the Muslim should practice the greater jihad, which is the war every man must wage within himself to follow Allah and do what is right. In Middle Eastern countries the emphasis certainly seems to be on the lesser jihad. However, Muslims in democratic countries, and Western Muslims in particular, currently tend to interpret jihad as the greater jihad. Causes of Terrorism Social and political injustice, these people choose terrorism when they are trying to right what they perceive to be a social or political or historical wrong. This may happen if they have been stripped of their land or rights, or denied these. The belief that violence or its threat will be effective, and move in change. Many terrorists in history said that they chose violence after long deliberation; because they fell they have no choice. Here are some stories where these two elements are basic in their story. Zionists who bombed British targets in 1930s mandate Palestine felt they must do so in order to create a Jewish state. The IRA (Irish Republican Army) bombed English targets in the 1980s to make the point that their land was colonized by British imperialists. In the 1960s and 1970s, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine felt that armed attacks in Israel were a justifiable response to the usurpation of their land. Osama bin Ladens war on American interests in the 1990s stemmed from his belief that U.S. troops stationed in Saudi Arabia represented an abomination to the kind of Islamic state he believed should exist in the Arabian Peninsula. Uighur separatists In China felt the Chinese religious repression justifies their terrorist tactics. In some cases, people choose terrorist tactics based on a cause whose righteousness they believe in to the exclusion of nearly all else. Abortion clinic bombers in the 1990s and groups such as the Animal Liberation Front believe zealously in their causes. (Richard, 1998) Most that choose terrorism are persuaded that by violence or threats of violence is effective. So the question what causes terrorism? we probably will not be able to answer. Although many people today believe that that religious fanaticism causes terrorism, it isnt true. It may be true that religious fanaticism creates conditions that are favorable for terrorism. But we know that religious zealotry does not cause terrorism because there are many religious fanatics who do not choose terrorism or any form of violence. So there must also be other conditions that in combination provoke some people to see terrorism as an effective way of creating change in their world. There are two more reasons why asking, What conditions create a favorable climate for terrorism? is better than asking about causes The first is, it makes it easy to remember that there are always at least several conditions. Terrorism is a complex phenomenon; it is a specific kind of political violence committed by people who do not have legitimate army at their disposal. A second reason that has been useful for me, as I ask questions about terrorism, is that thinking in terms of conditions helps I remember that people have a choice about whether to use violence. There is nothing inside any person or in their circumstances that sends them like a monopoly piece headed directly to Go directly to terrorism. Instead, there are certain conditions, some of which make violence against civilians seem like a reasonable and even necessary option. Despite this, and some of the deeply unforgivable circumstances that foster terrorism, people always have the free will to seek another course of action. The Effects of Terrorism Terrorism has occurred throughout history, but today the world is experiencing a global rebirth of attacks. Today it no longer affects only small societies, such as isolated third world countries who fall victim to regular terrorist attacks, but the whole world is becoming more familiar with Arab and Muslim names. The terrorist violence that is on the rise today has informed citizen all over the world about different types of terrorism. Also with the resurgence the world is experiencing of terrorism, the Nations have been to do what they can to eliminate terrorism. Terrorism is a major problem that is reoccurring over the globe in many different forms. The US alone spends about $5 billion dollars a year combating terrorists. The treats of bio-chemical, Suicide or psychological warfare, and information warfare are on the rise in todays societies as more political argument and groups emerge. Along with the rise of terrorism is also the increase in Counter-Terrorism acts. Even though most counter terrorist groups are kept secret, the increase of terrorism has also countered balanced. Throughout the years many radical and reactionary groups have been the cause for terrorist attacks throughout the world, but the ones that will always remain the most important to you are the ones that happen in your home nation.

Essay --

Strategic Marketing – Adidas was born in Germany in 1949, and since then the brand has been synonymous with the sport world. Second only to the Nike, Adidas is a multinational company and it is spread worldwide across the whole planet. The company’s products range is very vast, from the running shoes to the watches, from football shirts and shin pads to bags and hats. The company is currently employing 46,000 people worldwide, operating on more than 46 countries. The Adidas brand is built all around passion for sports excellence and innovative design to help athletes improve their performance. As a market-oriented organisation, Adidas continuously updates and fulfils consumers’ needs in order to meet them with products and services. It is basically this focus on the audience, teamed with product and marketing innovation that plays a key role in the company’s success. Trying to keep up with endlessly changing market, I was thinking to try and launch a new product under this well-known brand name. As Adidas focuses on athletic performances, and other than clothes the firm developed only sport accessories for its customers, I was thinking that it could be a great opportunity for them to specialise in a personal Energy Drink. As the firm always had to chase the leading firm Nike, something should be done in order to gain an advantage over it. The Adidas organic Energy drink (AdiRush) may be a perfect example of something that the German organisation would have more than the American. Energy drinks normally contain large amounts of caffeine and legal ingredients such as Ginseng. Firstly developed in Asia and Europe, then introduced by Red Bull in America. Our idea was to develop an Energy drink made entirely with organic m... ... are very happy with the product we are selling. It has the nice freshness attribute that differentiates us from the rest, but still the performance is well helped by the consumption of the drink. People are also starting to drink our AdiRush also after lunch in order to keep focused and concentrated on what they have to do in the late afternoon. Some customers, mainly women, feel that a 16 Oz mini bottle is sometimes too much to finish , therefore we can start thinking of the next option of having also smaller bottles in order to meet female needs and have a choice of what volume bottle to buy. Still there are problems trying to change customer perception towards energy drinks, mainly because new results of side effects of drinking too much Red Bull are being published, therefore a sceptical feeling is affecting the market.

SARS Essay -- SARS Health Essays

SARS It has been a tough week for my family and I. It is no longer safe for us to go outside. Last month, I noticed that the Taipei General Hospital located two blocks from my house has been taped off. At first, I didn't understand why all the sick children and elders were not seeking medical treatment there. As days went by, brother and I started taking a different route to school and I no longer saw any activity of patients and doctors going in and out of the hospital. At school, our teacher discussed the new lessons for the next few weeks to us, and told us to work on our lesson book each day. She told us that we were excused from school and that we would not be attending classes until it was safe to do so. The daily news on television is now filled with stories about the quarantine of major hospitals in Taipei city and other hospitals in northern Taiwan. The outbreak of an airborne disease called SARS has infected and killed several Taiwan citizens. SARS is short for severe acute respiratory syndrome. Big Aunt (Da Yi) says SARS originally came from China. Th...

Modules on skills and materials Essay

â€Å"Well prepared teachers have a large repertoire of activities for their classes. They can organise preparation and controlled output practice; they can direct students in the acquiring of receptive skills and organise genuinely communicative activities. This repertoire of activities enables them to have varied plans and achieve an activities balance.† â€Å"The Practice of English Language Teaching† Harmer Which of the techniques outlined in this module, and elsewhere in the modules on skills and materials, would you use in order to achieve genuine communication in the classroom? This task should refer to other areas of the course. You should aim to write about 750 words. The ultimate aim of teaching English to speakers of other languages is to achieve genuine communication by limiting teacher talking time and maximising student participation. Simply standing in front of a class and telling things to the students does not guarantee they will learn them. Students need to be actively involved in the lessons. A vital step in establishing a class of active learners is classroom management. There are many techniques which can be implemented in order to achieve genuine communication within the classroom. Communication should take place the minute the class begins. Getting into the habit of ‘chatting’ to the students at the start of a lesson gives them the chance to take part in natural conversation. This can be achieved by greeting the students and allowing five minutes to go around asking what people did at the weekend, for example. This gets students speaking before they have had a chance to worry about getting involved. In order to create an open learning environment and aid the flow of communication, the furniture in the classroom should be arranged appropriately. Ideally, the furniture should be  arranged in a circle as it allows all the students to be involved and creates a sense of equality. However, if this is not possible, a semi-circle or some form of group arrangement is best. A semi-circle ensures the students are able to see any visual aids clearly and as many students as possible have eye contact with the teacher. A group arrangement allows for a huge degree of interaction and can be useful in mixed-ability classes, where groups of students can concentrate on different communication tasks according to their ability. Another great way of rousing communication is to show interest in the students by getting to know about their interests and backgrounds. This allows teachers to make conversation before and after class using personal information. How is your new cat? Is your husband feeling better? It is encouraging for the students and they are more likely to want to speak about themselves, their families, etc. Getting to know the students also allows teachers to personalise lessons and set up relevant discussions. This increases student involvement by allowing them to express opinions about their environment and personal experiences. A similar technique is to talk about current affairs or news stories. These are subjects that the students are likely to have knowledge of and will be able to discuss amongst themselves. This will encourage students to find interesting stories or anecdotes they can share with the class or to keep themselves informed so they can have meaningful input in class activities. Current newspaper and magazine articles can be cut out and used to prompt discussions. These techniques can allow the students to take control of the conversation, reducing teacher talk time and consequently further their learning. Relevant and realistic practise of language is important in spurring meaningful communication from students. Teachers should focus on elements of language and communication that are necessary for the student’s goals or are of personal interest. The types of activities utilised in a lesson can give more or less opportunities for communication. The most obvious way to get someone talking is to ask them questions, but teachers should really think about the kinds of questions they ask. Closed questions are simple direct questions that can be useful for checking understanding or reviewing language, whereas open questions do not always have a single or right answer and get the students thinking. Both types of questions are useful in the classroom and teachers should establish a good balance between  the two. Furthermore, questions should be directed to the whole class initially, rather than a named individual, as this ensures all students are alert and thinking about the answer should they be chosen to respond. Another technique to keep students focused is avoiding asking questions in a fixed order. Teachers should mix it up by darting around the classroom, keeping the students on their toes. Asking questions can be rather limiting in the degree of communication it fosters and it involves a lot of initial input by the teacher. In order to encourage genuine communication between students so they get the most out of the experience, teacher talking time needs to be limited. Group or pair-work activities are a great way to do this. They generate conversation and communication flows more naturally. Well prepared group or pair-work activities should require students to maintain communication in order to complete the task. They dramatically increase the amount of speaking time each student gets in the class and allow students to interact independently without guidance of the teacher. This promotes learner independence and more spontaneous communication. Role-plays, dialogues, sketches, etc. can be a great way to reduce anxiety about speaking. Students may be embarrassed at first, but become less self-conscious as they concentrate on the character or role they are required to carry out, thus produce more natural language. In addition, prompts, such as role cards and realia can be provided as an aid for the students to use during their performance. It is important for the teacher to continue monitoring groups during fluency tasks to ensure English is being spoken. It is imperative that the use of the mother tongue language is limited in the class. If the class are of differing nationalities, this aids communication as the students have no choice but to use English to communicate. Thus, there are many techniques that can be adopted to ensure genuine communication is achieved in every lesson. It is important for teachers to really think about all aspects of the lesson, including the introduction, seating arrangement, the delivery of activities, materials used, etc. prior to teaching in order to maximise student talk time so that each individual gains the most out of their experience within the classroom. TASK FOR SUBMISSION TO YOUR TUTOR TASK 2 You are working in an ESOL school with class sizes of 14-18. Your boss does not like your school’s current way of testing spoken English. At the moment it is tested in a one-on-one, 2 minute speaking test at the end of course with a mark from 0-10. It does not seem to be working well and takes up a whole lesson from the course. He has asked for suggestions as to how to change the system. With reference to what you have studied in this and other modules, and to your own experience and reading, make some suggestions to your boss as to how the school could assess the spoken English of the students in a more accurate and less pressurized way. You should write about 400 – 500 words to send as an email setting out your ideas. Dear ______, In light of your recent request for ideas as to how to change the current way of testing spoken English, I would like to propose the following suggestions. Rather than a one-on-one end of year speaking test, we could adopt a task approach and assess the students speaking ability in a variety of ways throughout the duration of the course. We could create tasks that require the students to use the language in ‘real-life’ communicative performances. This type of testing is advantageous as it can be conducted with more than one student at a time, reducing the amount of time dedicated to the testing. It allows the students to use their language knowledge and competence in ‘real-life’ communications with their peers. It is a more realistic and accurate measure of their abilities. Not only do these tasks test accuracy and fluency, they also test how creatively the students are able to use language and whether they are able to communicate effectively with each other . It is likely to reduce the pressure they feel about a single ‘interview’ with the teacher, particularly if they get to perform the  tasks with other students so the focus isn’t solely on them. Adopting this kind of testing approach will allow us to carry out a number of different oral tests throughout the course, assessing a variety of skills. There are a number of different tasks that could be used such as role plays, debates and presentations. Role Plays: We can give them a specific situation and roles to play that utilise the language they have learnt. Role plays can be used informally throughout the course so the students get lots of time to practice for a formal assessment. Debates: We could split the classes into groups and have each group debate an argument relating to different topics they have studied. Each group would be split into two smaller groups, one to represent each side of the argument. The students can be given time in or out of class to prepare their side of the debate. Each side could be allocated a specific time for giving their initial argument in which each student has to contribute the same amount of time. Again, debates can be used informally throughout the course to practice language, allowing students ample of practice before the formal assessment. Class Presentation: We could assign group projects for the students to carry out in or out of class. The students will have a deadline to complete the project, at the end of which they will be asked to give a group presentation. We can provide them with guidelines of what to include and what skills they will be individually tested on. Another way to test students individually that takes away the pressure of ‘performing’ in front of the class is to ask them to make a recording. In a previous school, we had students read a short story and then asked them to imagine they were one of the characters. They had to record themselves giving an account of what happened according to their {the characters} personal experience. The students were allowed time to think about what they wanted to say before making the recording. After assessment, the students listened to each other’s recordings and gave constructive feedback to their classmates. This type of assessment was carried out a number of times throughout the course, with notable improvements across the board. Although this approach is less realistic, it gives the students a chance to hear themselves speaking and pinpoint their own mistakes which they can work on in the future. I hope these suggestions are of use and we are able to implement a more successful way of testing the oral skills of the students.

Business Communication Essay

To communicate with others, to convince and to find the compromise, to listen and speak – those are what the life consists of and the business life especially. Without those important skills no success may be reached, and people gain these skills and improve them during their whole life. I think nobody can remain indifferent to the relations between people, their behaviour and their individuality. It is no matter who are you – the manager of giant corporation or, let’s say, a low-paid employee in a small office – if you are involved into some kind of business activity and have some goals and wishes – you are compelled to have a deal with others, without possibility to stand out from communication. Business communication involves exchange of information within an organizational setup. It is a continuous process. The more the business expands, the greater is the pressure on the business to find more effective means of communication both with the employees and with the society at large. Business communication is both written and oral. Written communication is important to fix accountability and responsibility of people in organization. This requires more of written communication (much of paper work). Everything should be communicated in written form by the manager to the people in the organization. Written messages can be saved for future references and cannot be denied. Written communication has great significance in today’s business world. It is an innovative activity of the mind. Effective written communication is essential for preparing worthy promotional materials for business development. Speech came before writing. But writing is more unique and formal than speech. Effective writing involves careful choice of words, their organization in correct order in sentences formation as well as cohesive composition of sentences. Also, writing is more valid and reliable than speech. But while speech is spontaneous, writing causes delay and takes time as feedback is not immediate. The object of this course paper is written business communication. The subject is grammatical and stylistic peculiarities of business written interaction. The aim is to explore the peculiarities of business communication in wide meaning in order to understand all the peculiarities of such type of communication and its necessity in modern world. In accordance with the aim of investigation the following tasks were set: âÅ"“ To define the concept of business communication; âÅ"“ To analyze the most frequent types of written business communication and to explore them; âÅ"“ To subscribe linguistic and sociocultural peculiarities of the style of business documents. Chapter I Characteristic Features of Business Communication 1. Functional Styles and their Classification Functional styles of language are a system of interrelated language means which serves a definite aim in communication. Functional styles are thus to be regarded as the product of a certain concrete task set by the sender of the massage. Functional Styles appears mainly in the literary standard of a language. The literary standard of the English language, like that of any other developed language, is not so homogeneous as it may seem. In fact the standard literary English language in the course of its development has fallen into several subsystems each of which has acquired its own peculiarities which are typical of the given functional style. The members of the language community, especially those who are sufficiently trained and responsive to language variations, recognize these styles as independent wholes. The peculiar choice of language means is primarily predetermined by the aim of the communication with the result that a more or less closed system is built up. One set of language media stands in opposition to other sets of language media with other aims, and these other sets have other choices and arrangements of language means. Functional styles are also called registers or discourses. In the standard  literary English we distinguish the following major functional styles are distinguished: 1. The language of belles – letters. 2. The language of publicistic literature. 3. The language of newspapers. 4. The language of scientific prose. 5. The language of official documents. As it has already been mentioned, functional styles are the product of the development of the written variety of language. Each functional style may be characterized by a number of distinctive features, leading or subordinate, constant or changing, obligatory or optional. Most of the functional styles however, are perceived as independent wholes due to a peculiar combination and interrelation of features common to all (especially when taking into account syntactical arrangement) with the leading ones of each functional style. Each functional style is subdivided into a number of substyles. Each variety has basic features common to all the varieties of the given functional style and peculiar features typical of this variety along. Still a substyle can, in some cases, deviate so far from the invariant that in its extreme it may even break away. We clearly perceive the following substyles of the fire functional style given above. The belles-lettres functional style is subdivided into: a) the language style of poetry; b) the language style of emotive prose; c) the language style of drama. The publicistic functional style comprises the following substyles: a) the language style of oratory; b) the language style of essays; c) the language style of feature articles in newspapers and journals. The newspaper functional style falls into: a) the language style of brief news items and communiques; b) the language style of newspaper headings; c) the language style of notices and advertisements. The scientific prose functional style also has three divisions: a) the language style of humanitarian sciences; b) the language style of â€Å"exact† sciences; c) the language style of popular scientific prose. The official document functional style can be divided into four varieties: a) the language style of diplomatic documents; b) the language style of business documents; c) the language style of legal documents; d) the language style of military documents. The classification presented here is by no means arbitrary. It is the result of long and minute observations of factual material in which not only peculiarities of language usage were taken into account but also extralinguistic data, in particular the purport of the communication. The classification of functional styles is not a simple matter and any discussion of it is bound to reflect more than one angle of vision. Thus, for example, some stylicists consider that newspaper articles (including feature articles) should be classed under the functional style of newspaper language, not under the language of publicistic literature. Others insist on including the language of everyday – life discourse into the system of functional styles. Prof. Budagov singles out only two main functional styles: the language of science and that of emotive literature. It is inevitable, of course, that any classification should lead to some kind of simplification of the facts classified, because items are considered in isolation. More over, sub-styles assume, as it were, the aspect of closed systems. But no classification, useful though it may be from the theoretical point of view, should be allowed to blind us as to the conventionality of classification in general. 1.2 Peculiarities of the Style of Official Documents The style of official documents aims at establishing, developing and controlling business relations between individuals and organizations. Like their styles of language, this style has a definite communicative aim and, accordingly, has its own system of interrelated language and stylistic means. The main aim of this type of communication is to state the conditions binding two parties in an undertaking. These parties may be: this state and a citizen, or citizen and citizen; a society and its members (statute or ordinance); two or more enterprises or bodies (business correspondence or  contracts); two or more governments (pacts, treaties); a person in authority and a subordinate (order, regulations, instructions, authoritative directives); a board or presidium and an assembly or general meeting (procedures acts, minutes). The aim of communication in this style of language is to reach agreement between two contracting parties. Even protest against violations of statutes, contracts, regulations, can also be regarded as a form by which normal cooperation is sought on the basis of previously attained concordance. The most general function of the style of official documents predetermines the peculiarities of the style. The most striking, though not the most essential feature, is a special system of clichà ©s, terms and set expressions by which each sub-style can easily be recognized. For example: I beg to inform you, provisional agenda, the above – mentioned, on behalf of, private advisory, Pear Sir, we remain, your obedient servants†¦ In fact, each of the subdivisions of this style has its peculiar terms, phrases and expressions, which differ from the corresponding terms, phrases and expressions of other variants of this style. Thus in finance we find terms like extra revenue, taxable capacities liability to profit fax. Terms and phrases like high contracting parties, to ratify an agreement, memorandum, protectorate, extra – territorial status will immediately brand the utterance as diplomatic. In legal language, examples are: to deal with a case, summary procedure; a body of judges; as laid down in. Like wise, other varieties of official language have their special nomenclature, which is conspicuous in the text and therefore easily discernible as belonging to the official language style. Besides the special nomenclature characteristic of each variety of the style, there is a feature common to all these varieties – the use of abbreviations, conventional symbols and contractions, for example: Ltd – Limited, B/E – bill of exchange, Gvt – government, Appx – appendix, $ – dollar, â‚ ¤ – pound†¦ Words with emotive meaning are not to be found in the style of official documents. Even in the style of scientific prose some words may be found which reveal the attitude of the writer, his individual evaluation of the facts and events of the issue. But such words are not to be found in official style, except those which are used in business letters as conventional phrases of greeting or close, as Dear Sir, yours faithfully. Almost every official document has its own compositional design. Pacts and statutes, orders and minutes, notes and memoranda – all have more or less definite forms, and it will not be an exaggeration to state that the form of the document is itself informative, inasmuch as it tells something about the matter dealt with (a letter, an agreement, an order†¦) Chapter II Peculiarities of Written Interaction 2.1 Types of Written Business Communication Written communication involves any type of interaction that makes use of the written word. Communication is a key to any endeavor involving more than one person. Communicating through writing is essential in the modern world and is becoming ever more so as we participate in what is now commonly called the information age. In fact, written communication is the most common form of business communication. It is essential for small business owners and managers to develop effective written communication skills and to encourage the same in all employees. The information age has altered the ways in which we communicate and placed an increasing emphasis on written versus oral communications. The ever-increasing use of computers and computer networks to organize and transmit information means the need for competent writing skills is rising. Dr. Craig Hogan, a former university professor who now heads an online school for business writing, receives hundreds of inquiries each month from manager s and executives requesting help with improving their own and their employees’ writing skills. Dr. Hogan explains, in an article entitled â€Å"What Corporate America Can’t Build: A  Sentence,† that millions of people previously not required to do a lot of writing on the job are now expected to write frequently and rapidly. According to Dr. Hogan, many of them are not up to the task. â€Å"E-mail is a party to which English teachers have not been invited. It has companies tearing their hair out.† Survey results from The National Commission on Writing study back up this assessment. They found that a third of employees in the nation’s â€Å"blue chip† companies write poorly and are in need of remedial writing instruction. The need to develop good writing skills is only highlighted by the fact that in the information age, it is not uncommon to have business relationships with customers and suppliers that are established and maintained exclusively through the use of written communications. In this environment, â€Å"the words we write are very real representations of our companies and ourselves. We must be sure that our e-mail messages are sending the right messages about us,† explained Janis Fisher Chan, author of E-Mail: A Write It Well Guide-How to Write and Manage E-Mail in the Workplace, in an article appearing in Broker Magazine. The key to communication, of course, is to convey meaning in as accurate and concise a manner as possible. People do not read business memoranda for the pleasure of reading. They do so in order to receive instructions or information upon which to base decisions or take action. Therefore, highly literary prose is not desirable in business writing. Overly formal prose may also be counterproductive by seeming stand-offish or simply wordy. A style of writing that is too informal can also convey an unintended message, namely that the subject matter is not serious or not taken seriously by the sender. A straightforward, courteous tone is usually the best choice but one that may not come naturally without practice. Advantages and disadvantages of written communication Written communication has great significance in today’s business world. It is an innovative activity of the mind. Effective written communication is essential for preparing worthy promotional materials for business development. Speech came before writing. But writing is more unique and formal than speech. Effective writing involves careful choice of words, their organization in correct order in sentences formation as well as cohesive composition of sentences. Also, writing is more valid and reliable  than speech. But while speech is spontaneous, writing causes delay and takes time as feedback is not immediate. Written forms of communication have several advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that written messages do not have to be delivered on the spur of the moment; instead, they can be edited and revised several times before they are sent so that the content can be shaped to maximum effect. Another advantage is that written communication provides a permanent record of the messages that have been sent and can be saved for later study. Since they are permanent, written forms of communication also enable recipients to take more time in reviewing the message and providing appropriate feedback. For these reasons, written forms of communication are often considered more appropriate for complex business messages that include important facts and figures. Other benefits commonly associated with good writing skills include increased customer/client satisfaction; improved interorganizational efficiency; and enhanced image in the community and industry. There are also several potential pitfalls associated with written communication, however. For instance, unlike oral communication, wherein impressions and reactions are exchanged instantaneously, the sender of written communication does not generally receive immediate feedback to his or her message. This can be a source of frustration and uncertainty in business situations in which a swift response is desired. In addition, written messages often take more time to compose, both because of their information-packed nature and the difficulty that many individuals have in composing such correspondence. Many companies, however, have taken a proactive stance in addressing the latter issue. Mindful of the large number of workers who struggle with their writing abilities, some firms have begun to offer on-site writing courses or enrolled employees in business writing workshops offered by professional training organizations, colleges, and community education programs. 2.2 Business Letters, their Types and Components Business communication is a permanent means of communication and is much easier understanding then oral means of communication. Good written communication contributes to success of an organization. It helps in  building goodwill of an organization. Written business communication includes letters, memoranda, agenda, manuals, reports etc. 1. Business Letters: A very large part of the business of the world is conducted by means of correspondents. Therefore it is extremely important to be able to write good business letters – letters that represent one’s self and one’s organization to best advantage. Writing good business letter is a matter of detailed and often quite specialized technique, which is not so complicated as you may have been let to fear. All you need is a supply of visiting cards, some good paper, a pen, a computer and a little good will. It must have a good appealing layout. The content of the letter should be clear in mind of the writer. The letter must be divided into paragraphs. It must have subject written and should be enclosed in an envelope. It should be surely used for future reference. It should be carefully written as it has an impact on goodwill of the organization. Examples of Business letters are – sales letters, information letters, problem letters etc. 2. Memoranda: Memos are generally short means of written communication within an organization. They are used to convey specific information to the people within an organization. 3. Reports: A report is prepared after lot of investigation. Whatever observations are made, an account of them is written in the report. Reports are important for analyzing the performance of the organization. It helps in taking important decisions within an organization. 4. Agenda: Agenda is an outline about all the contents of the meeting. It tells what is the purpose of the meeting and where are the participants heading. While designing an agenda one should be very specific. Designing an agenda beforehand helps the people to come prepared for the meeting. 5. Electronic Mail. Electronic mail, commonly known as email or e-mail, is a method of exchanging digital messages from an author to one or more recipients. Modern email operates across the Internet or other computer networks. Some early email systems required that the author and the recipient both be online at the same time, in common with instant messaging. Today’s email systems are based on a store-and-forward model. Email servers accept, forward, deliver and store messages. Neither the users nor their computers are required to be online simultaneously; they need connect only briefly, typically to an email server, for as long as it takes to send or receive messages. The most popular type of written business communication is letter. Letter writing is an art. A letter on one topic can be written in different styles with the help of various formats. Writing a letter is a difficult task for some because of format used for writing. The letter has to have following parts. They are date, name and address of sender and receiver, salutation, main body and complimentary closure. When all these parts are combined together then you will get a well drafted letter. Writing as well as receiving a letter is always special. A Letter is a platform where you can express your innermost feelings in a straightforward manner. Business letters and personal letters are two types of letters. For all official and formal situations, you write business letter whereas letters written to friends, relatives, acquaintances are personal letters. Both follow the same format only the difference lies in the language used for writing. In business letters, formal language is used and situations discussed are work related. In personal letters language is informal and you discuss personal and intimate topics. A commercial business letter is a letter written in formal language, usually used when writing from one business organization to another, or for correspondence between such organizations and their customers, clients and other external parties. The overall style of letter will depend on the relationship between the parties concerned. There are many reasons to write a business letter. It could be to request direct information or action from another party, to order supplies from a supplier, to identify a mistake that was committed, to reply directly to a request, to apologize for a wrong or simply to convey goodwill. Even in our modern days, the business letter is still very useful because it produces a permanent record, is confidential, formal and delivers persuasive, well-considered messages The most common types of business letter include: 1. Acknowledgement Letter: This type of letter is written when you want to acknowledge some one for his help or support when you were in trouble. The letter can be used to just say thanks for something you have received from some one, which is of great help to you. 2. Apology Letter: An apology letter is written for a failure in delivering the desired results. If the  person has taken up a task and he fails to meet the target then he apologizes and asks for an opportunity to improve in this type of letter. 3. Appreciation Letter: An appreciation letter is written to appreciate some one’s work in the organization. This type of letter is written by a superior to his junior. An organization can also write an appreciation letter to other organization, thanking the client for doing business with them. 4. Complaint Letter: A complaint letter is written to show one that an error has occurred and that needs to be corrected as soon as possible. The letter can be used as a document that was used for warning the reader. 5. Inquiry Letter: The letter of inquiry is written to inquire about a product or service. If you have ordered a product and yet not received it then you can write a letter to inquire when you will be receiving it. 6. Order Letter: This letter is as the name suggests is used for ordering products. This letter can be used as a legal document to show the transaction between the customer and vendor. 7. Letter of Recommendation: This type of letter is written to recommend a person for a job position. The letter states the positive aspects of the applicant’s personality and how he/she would be an asset for the organization. Letter of recommendation is even used for promoting a person in the organization. There are several points that will help one in drafting a busines s letter: †¢ Make sure that you type the letter. It should not be handwritten. †¢ Always use a letter head to write a formal letter. †¢ If you don’t have a letter head, then type your name, designation and address at the top of the page. †¢ Mentioning the date in a letter is a must as it serves the purpose of reference in further letter regarding the same topic. †¢ After the date, you need to write the full name, designation and full address of the recipient. †¢ Then you need to insert greeting to the person whom the letter is written. You have to use formal language. Take a look at this example: Dear Mr. Brown, †¢ Now, you can actually begin to write the main message of the letter. In the first paragraph, you have to introduce yourself if the receiver does not know you. You could begin with a sentence like â€Å"We had recently met in a conference†, or â€Å"I had purchased a SIP from your company two months back.† †¢ After that you have to clearly mention the purpose of the letter. The purpose may  be to lodge a complaint, request for information, compliment a product or service provided, discussing a business deal etc. You have to be brief and precise. †¢ In the end of the letter, you have a complimentary close. The words that are included: Sincerely, thanking you, regards, etc. †¢ The last thing is you need to type your name and sign the letter. †¢ The letter should be printed in a readable font. Business letter has a specific format. The letter is different from other forms of communication because of the format in which it is presented. The letter has a beginning, middle and an ending. All the areas of the letter have to be organized logical so that the letter is clear, complete and cohesive. A letter has different parts. All the parts have to be neatly drafted so that a meaningful letter is created. The block format is the most popular format of the business letter where all the matter is aligned to the left side and uses single spacing. The letter includes the following parts: †¢ Letterhead: The formal business letter should always begin with letterhead. Every organization has a letterhead used for all official correspondence. One have to begin the letter on the letter head of the company. The letter head gives the receiver an idea about who has sent the letter. †¢ Date: The date has to be written exactly below the letter head. The date is important part of a letter and can be used as a reference. The date has to be written in full with day, month and year. For example: 25 December 2011 or December 20, 2011 †¢ Receiver’s Address: The next important part is the receiver’s address. One need to include the name of the receiver, his designation and complete address. The inside address and the address on the envelope should always be same. †¢ Salutation: This is the opening line of the letter. It should begin with a greeting. In a formal business letter, one need to write dear followed by Mr./Ms with his or her name. It looks unprofessional, when a writer includes only the first name of the person. †¢ Body: In the first line itself, a writer has to mention the message of his letter. The letter should be able to convey the message directly to the reader. The letter has no place for unnecessary words. It has to be concise but informative. The letter should consist of paragraphs. Each new point should have separate paragraph. The last paragraph should sum  up the letter and ask the receiver to do an action based on the letter. †¢ Complimentary Closure: In the end of the letter one have to use complimentary close. One can use words like â€Å"Yours faithfully†, â€Å"Yours sincerely†. Comma has to be included after the close. A writer has to insert his/her full name at the end leaving few spa ces to sign the letter. After this is done a writer can include the enclosures. Stylistic and Lexical Peculiarities of Business Letter The layout of the business letter differs in some respect from that of the personal letter. Not only the sender’s address is given (as in personal letter) but also the name and address of the person or organization to which the letter is being send. This is written on the left-hand side of the page against the margin slightly lower than the date (which is on the opposite side). It should be the same as the name and address on the envelope. A letter written to a man should be add – reseed to, for example, Mr. D. Smith or to D. Smith Esq. (Esquire). A letter to a woman, should be addressed to, for example, Mrs. C. Jones or Mrs. C. Jones. If you do not know the name of the person for from your letter is intended you may address it directly to the company, e.g.: The Branded Boot Co. Ltd., 5 Rubberheel Road, Wellingborough, Northants, England. Co. and Ltd. Are the usual abbreviations for Company and Limited. However it’s better to address your letter to some individual – The Managing Director, the Personnel Manager, The Secretary, The Branch Manager, The Export Manager – followed by the name of the company. If the person you are writing to is known to you, you should begin with, for example, Dear Mr. Thompson, Dear Mrs. Warren, etc. Otherwise you should begin Dear Sir (S), Dear Madam, or Gentlemen. The body of the business letter usually includes: a) Reference, b) Information, c) Purpose, d) Conclusion. You should begin your letter with a reference to a letter you have received, an advertisement you have seen, or an even which has prompted the writing of your letter. It is sometimes necessary to add some detailed information related to the reference, in a subsequent paragraph. The generally accepted way of writing the data is the following: October 17,200__ 17 October,200__ October 19th ,200__ 19th October,200__ The subject line is typed immediately below the salutation in the center. It helps to ensure that the letter is passed without delay to the right person or department : Dear Sir, Your order # 0072/98 Purpose is the most important part of the letter, where you are expected to state clearly and concisely all the questions that you have been asked. As business letter are written on behalf of a firm, use ‘we’ and ‘our’ instead of ‘my’ and ‘I’. Do not use the short forms ‘we’ll’ ,’we’ve’ in all formal and business letters. Extra spacing is used between paragraphs to separate different points more effectively. Try to use short sentences and short paragraphs because it is easier to read and understand . Conclusion usually consists of some polite remark to round the letter off. Then usually follows the complimentary close. If you begin your letter with Dear Sir (s) or Dear Madam you may and it with the words â€Å"Your faithfully†. If you address a person by name the words â€Å"Yours sincerely † are preferable. There is a modern tendency however to use â€Å"Yours sincerely † even to people you have never met. The signature: sing you name clearly, in full, as it should appear on the envelope of the letter addressed to you. If there are enclosures, the word ’Encl:’ is typed at the bottom left-hand corner, with a short description of the enclosure. The postscript (P.S.) should be avoided. But sometimes ‘it has a definite, planned function. It is designed to draw special attention, to emphasize a  point made elsewhere in letter, or to make a special offer. Sometimes it may serve as a reply to a further letter that has come in after the letter had been completed. 2.3 Modern Means of Business Communication People have always tried to convey information. Now, they send letters and documents by post, by fax, by computer and they make phone calls from home or the office or, thanks to mobile phones, from wherever they happen to be. The list of services, thanks to advanced technology, is long and presumably will grow. People can phone and fax from trains and planes. They can buy things, carry out financial transactions, get information – all without leaving their chairs. This is the global information age. The worldwide computer network known as the Internet connects millions of people worldwide. It connects many computer networks and uses common addressing system. The most popular Internet service is e-mail. Using e-mail, you can send messages to anyone with an internet account. Most businesses today have electronic address because e-mail provides cheap and rapid communication. Since the mid-1990s electronic commerce has become one of the most rapidly growing retail sectors involving the use of computer telecommunication networks for maintaining business relationships and selling information, services and commodities. Although e-commerce usually refers only to the trading of goods and services over the Internet, it actually includes broader economic activity such as business-to-consumer and business-to-business commerce as well as internal organizational transactions that support these activities. A new form of collaboration known as a virtual company is flourishing now. This type of company is actually- a network of firms, each performing some of the processes needed to manufacture a product or deliver a service. E-mail is cheap and easy to use. E-mail is the transmission and distribution of information through personal computers linked to the telephone system, which allows subscribers to send a message directly to another subscriber that will appear in their electronic mail box. Computer use continues to grow and develop in all spheres of our life. Its applications have had a great impact on the business world. Computers have helped society by increasing productivity and simplifying many services, such as checking,  credit cards, and telephone service. Electronic Mail Once a person gets comfortable with e-mail, it may seem like the only communication method needed. However, written media are preferred and necessary in many cases as previously described. In many ways, e-mail messages are formatted and look similar to memos. Most of the e-mail heading portion is quite simple, most of it being handled by the e-mail program itself. The address of the recipient is filled in; addresses for those to receive copies are filled in; and a brief phase indicating the contents or purpose is added. After typing in the body of the message, an additional formatting element to add to a professional e-mail communications is a â€Å"signature†. Construct a signature containing your full name, title, company name, e-mail addresses, regular mailing address, telephone number, and other such detail. As for style in e-mail messages, here are some suggestions: 1. Typos and Mistakes. There is some controversy about how much to worry about writing mistakes in e-mail. Except for very formal electronic communications, most people disregard or even expect occasional writing glitches in the e-mail they send or receive. However, e-mail messages can be proofread and edited as easily as most other written documents. Sloppiness in writing can become a bad habit. 2. Formality. The tone of e-mail communications is generally informal. E-mail messages are normally rather short, for example, under a dozen lines, and the paragraphs are short as well. No one likes having to do a lot of extended reading on a computer screen. 3. Specific Subject Lines. If you want your e-mail to be read and have the impact you intend, make the subject line specific and compel ling. It is not uncommon for people to log-in and find 50 messages waiting. 4. Format. Whenever possible, break the message into paragraphs of less than six or seven lines and skip an extra line between them. Use only the characters on the keyboard; anything else may not format properly when the recipient views it. Use headings to identify and mark off the various subtopics. If there is a series of points, use the various forms of lists that are available. 5. Automatic Replies. The reply function in e-mail is a wonderful time-saver. However, e-mail is often addressed to multiple recipients. Know for sure that you want all listed recipients to receive the message. Particularly be careful with replying to group list-serves. It can be highly embarrassing for a sensitive message to go to unintended parties. Thus, sensitive topics probably should not be discussed via e-mail. Remember that e-mail can be quickly forwarded to a huge audience. Memoranda A memorandum can be used for most communications internal to an organization with the exception of possibly a full formal report. A memo might contain a status or progress report on a project; it might be a request to an employee to provide information; or it might be the employee’s response to a request for information. Thus, a memo can be very much like a business letter, or it can be very much like a short report. The key is the memorandum format. The memo format is commonly used for progress reports that are required in some engineering courses at ASU. These progress reports in memo format may have attachments as with a business letter. If longer than one page, memo progress reports should have subheading to help organize and present the information. For example, a progress report on a design project might have subheadings for an introduction, accomplishments, future work, and problems. The main header words in the memorandum format are usually in al l capital letters and are now commonly shown in bold type for appearance. 1. MEMO Heading. In most cases, the word â€Å"MEMORANDUM† is placed at the top, center of the first page. The font size is usually slightly larger than that of the text and other header words, and some provide a space between each letter of the word. 2. DATE Heading. The date used for the memo should be somewhere in the header. The example shown by Figure No. 3 shows the date as the first line, but in some designs, it may be a subsequent line. 3. TO Heading. The name of the recipient or the group name is shown following the TO: heading. Use appropriate names and titles, such as â€Å"Susie†, â€Å"Susie Jacques†, or â€Å"Mrs. Susie Jacques, Executive Secretary†, depending on your familiarity with the recipient and the formality of the situation. 4. COPIES Heading. If copies are sent to others, this heading should also be used. List the names and titles of those receiving copies of the memo. 5. FROM Heading. The sender’s name or the name of the group is placed on this line. The familiarity with the recipient and the sense of the formality dictate how the sender is addressed. In many organizations, the writer of the memo places their initials or first name just after the typed name. 6. SUBJECT Heading. A brief phrase that encapsulates the topic and purpose of the memo is placed in this space. Generally, the first letter of each word in the phrase is capitalized, and there is no punctuation at the end. The actual label for this element varies; some styles use â€Å"RE:† or â€Å"SUBJ:† Most of the rules that apply to business letters also apply to the body of a memo. For example, text should be single spaced with double spacing between paragraphs. In more formal styles of memoranda, writers actually insert the same kind of complimentary close and signature block as used for  business letters. For continuing pages, some type of header is appropriate with the name of the recipient, date, and page number shown. Conclusion So, we defined the concept of business communication and we can surely say, that it takes a huge part in our life. Business communication is very important for every businessman, because communication with business partners, employees, clients is the ground of their success. Written communication is more frequently used type of communication in business life. An exceptional business writing skill is very important in any type of business. Clients frequently base the company’s credibility on the quality of their business communications. These people tend to have negative view of businesses that disseminate written materials with errors or businesses that use vague phrases and misspell names. Written communication allows businesses to communicate developments, expectations and legalities to employees and contacts in the outside world. While traditional hard copies of written communication in business are still prevalent, email and online communication has become increasingly common. In this course paper we studied and described the peculiarities of business writing – letters, e-mail, memoranda. We clarified the main structural parts of business writing documents, which always are bound by certain accepted standards. Good business letter must be well-planed and built. It is very important to follow the standardized structure of the letter and corresponding language.