The Laws of Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

The Laws of Leadership - Essay Example This is the Law of the Inner Circle. According to Maxwell (1998), â€Å"Nobody does anything great alone. Leaders do not succeed alone.† (127) This is a statement of fact and it is actually practical. There was a time that I was given the mantle of leadership, but I must confess that, I did not farewell based on my own talents, but with the help and support of the people that worked with me. I did not succeed alone as it was with the help of the people closest to me. Thus, the Law of the Inner Circle was enacted in my life and now I know that, great men do not achieve great things alone, but with the efforts of the great minds that work with them (Pierce & Newstrom, 2010). According to John Maxwell (1998) in 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, â€Å"Effective leaders are always on the lookout for good people.† (103). I think I have not fared well in this regard. I know that, I need good people to work with, but I have not taken time to look for them. I have not really tried to magnet the people that I know that I can work with. In order to solve this leadership lapse, I would try as much as possible to be like the kind of people that I want to work with, so that it would be easier for me to attract them. I would try to take my time out to attract people to my sphere and make them work towards achieving our common

Supply of Music after the Introduction of Internet Marketing Essay Example for Free

Supply of Music after the Introduction of Internet Marketing Essay Internet allows the labels to make the distribution directly to the customers bypassing the retailers. Internet eliminates the necessity of the retailers and by this way the recording companies are able to add the amounts payable to the retailers to their own revenues. Since the retailers were to be paid a considerable portion of the total revenue generated the recording companies always finds ways to eliminate the retailers and garner the additional revenues. 1. Another impact internet had on the music industry is the reduction in revenues as a result of piracies and illegal copying of the music products. Though the proportion of such illegal copying is very less in the past with the advancements in the technology with ‘compression protocols and high-speed internet connections’ have resulted in a large manifestation of this issue especially in the college campuses. The websites like Napster that provide free software and central website to download the required songs, have proliferated the problem of illegal copying. In the post-web period that is after the introduction of the internet marketing of the music products, the music industry has been subjected to the threat of a wide spread piracy which has the effect of affecting the sale of the original products. These piracies take the form of piracy of Compact Discs, private burning of the CDs and the peer-to-peer swapping of music files online through the internet. Out of these the biggest threat to the music industry is the peer-to-peer (P2P) supply networks facilitated by the internet. In the P2P networks the exchange of music takes place by the swapping of music files through the internet. Under P2P there is an utter disregard of the labels of the records and P2P bypasses any restrictions and allows the swapping of music files by the consumers without the payment of any money to the record company. P2P also enables the artists to supply the music without the knowledge and control of the record companies. The introduction of MP3 technology along with the possibility of file sharing has enabled the supply of music over the internet much easier and directly to the consumers on their personal computers. As a technical advancement the easy accessibility of music in the personal computers facilitated the proliferation of other portable audio devices that enable the MP3 files to be transferred to these portable devices after downloading from the personal computer. These portable devices could easily be carried around by the consumers. The portable audio devices have the distinct advantage of being small and easy to carry along. These devices enable the consumer to listen to the music while moving around, travelling or while doing exercises. The advent of these smaller audio devices has in effect enhanced the demand for music over the internet as it is possible to transfer the music to these devices from the personal computers where the music is already downloaded via internet. As shown in the figure below the role of internet has increased significantly during the recent periods in the supply of music. So long as the consumers download the music that carries a copyright, in a legitimate way after making payment to the online trading organizations the position of the record companies can be considered safe. In fact internet offers a wide scope to the music industry as the newly emerging digital technologies offers music to large groups of people and enables the audience to have access to their favorite artistes. The internet also offers the possibility of accessing old, new and unusual music at very competitive and affordable prices. (Gerard F. Lewis et al 2005) On the darker side of the internet, it offers scope for music piracies. There is nothing new about the piracy in the music industry. But according to Hammersley, (2002) the scale and ease with which the music piracy is attempted in the internet is really frightening. Source: Parikh (1999) With the advancement in the technology now it is possible to download any piece of music from the internet without paying the charges or cost to the online trading company. This amounts to the pirating of the music piece. Napster, the American company is the famous promoter of such technology for downloading the music from the internet without payment. Thus the new technologies have broken the control of the record company owning the rights for the content form preventing such unauthorized downloads. It made the record companies to realize that they have underestimated the threat to the industry from the piracy and have been very sluggish in reacting to protect their interests. The protection of their rights from illegal trespass would involve the registration and protection of their copyrights more strongly. (Gerard F. Lewis et al 2005) One of the basic business models of the music industry is to make music stars. A music star is made when the music created by the musicians fits into a well defined set of factors that can stimulate the demand of a majority of consumers universally. Here what comes into fore is the music consumers’ needs and preferences. There are certain variables that initialize the customers’ needs and preferences. Rosen (1983) observes musicians with lesser talent are easily substituted by those with more talents. It is also quite possible in the present day context of the availability modern communication technologies like internet and television to reach an audience of unlimited magnitude. Because of this trend there is always the possibility that the musicians with greater talent will always prevail over the musicians with comparatively lesser talent. Using the economic theory advocated by the renowned economist Marshall (1920) it can be pointed out that the technological advancement is the key factor in determining the music industry’s demand. But in addition the ‘talent’ can also be regarded as the deciding factor for the demand. But the only issue with talent is that it cannot be measured. The influence of social pressure also plays a key role in the determination of the need and preferences of the customer. The influence of peer group also changes the customers’ preferences as per the study conducted by Johnstone and Katz (1957) In this case attendance to concerts by music celebrities or listening to their works is considered as a necessity to form a basis of communicating with each other in any peer group. But social pressure is also another variable that cannot be measures as in the case of talent. Hence it may not be precisely possible to identify the extent of the impact of these variables on the customers’ preferences. The other variables that influence the online music consumers’ preferences are the individual tastes, knowledge about music, communication possibilities and the portion of the income that is apportioned by the consumer for music related expenses. Crain and Tollison (1997) identified that the amount of income reserved for music determines the quality and taste of the music as with lesser cost the consumer can listen to the music by non-stars than spending more to listen to music by celebrity stars. The last but not the least criteria is the ‘music time’ denoting the time that can be undividedly distributable for listening to music. This also determines the customers’ needs and preferences over the music online.

Plagiarism - An Ever-increasing Problem Essay -- Exploratory Essays

Plagiarism - An Ever-increasing Problem Plagiarism has been a problem to academic institutions for centuries. Plagiarism basically means taking credit for somebody else’s work. The technical definition of plagiarism, as used by State University, is presenting work done (in whole or in part) by someone else as if it were one's own. Dishonest practices that go hand in hand with plagiarism include faking or falsification of data, cheating, or the uttering of false statements by a student in order to obtain unjustified concessions. In the past, plagiarism had been limited by the availability of information that is worth plagiarizing, either in area libraries, in newspapers and magazines, or even in academic files maintained by campus organizations (fraternities). Now, with the wealth of information available on the Internet only a â€Å"click† away, plagiarism has become an ever-increasing problem. When you think about it, getting enough information to do a paper is as easy as â€Å"click†, copy, p aste, print, and then you are done. Not all cases of plagiarism are as harsh as copying and submitting an entire document, but in reality, plagiarism is plagiarism. It is so easy to just forget about giving credit where credit is due that sometimes the work is handed in and the credit is given to the student. By doing this, the crime of plagiarism has been executed and the punishments could be severe. Punishments or repercussions could range from getting a zero on the paper to as severe as getting kicked out of university. Not to mention the possibility of criminal charges. Throughout this â€Å"age of the internet,† that we live in, plagiarism has the possibility to affect everyone. There are websites that are dedicated explicitly ... ... employers for five years after the incident. If ethics are not a good enough reason for a person to refrain from plagiarizing, the combination of ethics and possible punishment should be. Besides providing ways to plagiarize and telling of the possible repercussions of plagiarism, the Internet also provides us with some ways to detect plagiarism. Sites like Plagiarism.org and Turnitin.com have dedicated themselves to detecting and stopping online plagiarism. They hope to complete an online database that will contain thousands of documents that can be cross-referenced to determine if the report has been plagiarized. They hope that this will prevent papers from Internet sites ever being used to obtain a course requirement. With enough cooperation from enough institutions (colleges, universities, high schools) these hopes may become a reality in the future. Plagiarism - An Ever-increasing Problem Essay -- Exploratory Essays Plagiarism - An Ever-increasing Problem Plagiarism has been a problem to academic institutions for centuries. Plagiarism basically means taking credit for somebody else’s work. The technical definition of plagiarism, as used by State University, is presenting work done (in whole or in part) by someone else as if it were one's own. Dishonest practices that go hand in hand with plagiarism include faking or falsification of data, cheating, or the uttering of false statements by a student in order to obtain unjustified concessions. In the past, plagiarism had been limited by the availability of information that is worth plagiarizing, either in area libraries, in newspapers and magazines, or even in academic files maintained by campus organizations (fraternities). Now, with the wealth of information available on the Internet only a â€Å"click† away, plagiarism has become an ever-increasing problem. When you think about it, getting enough information to do a paper is as easy as â€Å"click†, copy, p aste, print, and then you are done. Not all cases of plagiarism are as harsh as copying and submitting an entire document, but in reality, plagiarism is plagiarism. It is so easy to just forget about giving credit where credit is due that sometimes the work is handed in and the credit is given to the student. By doing this, the crime of plagiarism has been executed and the punishments could be severe. Punishments or repercussions could range from getting a zero on the paper to as severe as getting kicked out of university. Not to mention the possibility of criminal charges. Throughout this â€Å"age of the internet,† that we live in, plagiarism has the possibility to affect everyone. There are websites that are dedicated explicitly ... ... employers for five years after the incident. If ethics are not a good enough reason for a person to refrain from plagiarizing, the combination of ethics and possible punishment should be. Besides providing ways to plagiarize and telling of the possible repercussions of plagiarism, the Internet also provides us with some ways to detect plagiarism. Sites like Plagiarism.org and Turnitin.com have dedicated themselves to detecting and stopping online plagiarism. They hope to complete an online database that will contain thousands of documents that can be cross-referenced to determine if the report has been plagiarized. They hope that this will prevent papers from Internet sites ever being used to obtain a course requirement. With enough cooperation from enough institutions (colleges, universities, high schools) these hopes may become a reality in the future.

Maya Angelou

‘Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou: the poem You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ‘Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard ‘Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. GCSE English Blended Poetry  © Maya Angelou in whose name Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. has granted permission.  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Exploring the Poem We are now going to explore ‘Still I Rise' using the five aspects of poetry we looked at earlier. Situation Viewpoint Ideas or themes Language and style Mood or atmosphere After reading ‘Still I Rise' a couple of times, use the following questions to help explore your ideas about the poem. Situation What do you think Angelou might mean in the opening lines when she says that history tells lies about her? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 In the closing lines, who is Maya Angelou referring to as her ‘ancestors' and why is this important? Angelou repeats the words ‘I rise' throughout the poem. What does she mean by this? GCSE English Blended Poetry The Sheffield College, 2006 Identity is an important idea in the poem. What impression do you get of Maya Angelou in the second, third, fifth and seventh verses? What impression of herself does Maya Angelou definitely not want to convey in the fourth verse? What impression does Maya Angelou leave us with at the end of the poem? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Viewp oint Who is ‘I' in this poem? Who is ‘you' in this poem? Ideas and Themes What themes do you see in the poem? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Language and Style As you work through this section, you might want to refer to the Glossary, to read about some of the techniques discussed. Angelou uses a lot of natural imagery in the poem. List all the similes and metaphors which relate to nature that you can find in the poem. Imagery What points do you think Angelou is making in using this natural imagery? Comment on at least three images in detail. GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Alliteration and Assonance Find as many examples of alliteration and assonance in the poem as you can. What effects do you think Angelou is hoping to achieve by her use of these techniques? Rhythm and Rhyme Re-read the poem aloud or at least read it to yourself imagining how it would sound if you were reading it aloud. How do you think the rhythm and the rhyming of the poem affects your understanding of what Angelou is saying? Repetition What do you think Angelou is trying to achieve with the repetition in the poem? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Mood and Atmosphere How would you describe the mood or atmosphere of the poem? Does the mood change throughout the poem? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Maya Angelou ‘Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou: the poem You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ‘Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard ‘Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. GCSE English Blended Poetry  © Maya Angelou in whose name Copyright Clearance Center, Inc. has granted permission.  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Exploring the Poem We are now going to explore ‘Still I Rise' using the five aspects of poetry we looked at earlier. Situation Viewpoint Ideas or themes Language and style Mood or atmosphere After reading ‘Still I Rise' a couple of times, use the following questions to help explore your ideas about the poem. Situation What do you think Angelou might mean in the opening lines when she says that history tells lies about her? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 In the closing lines, who is Maya Angelou referring to as her ‘ancestors' and why is this important? Angelou repeats the words ‘I rise' throughout the poem. What does she mean by this? GCSE English Blended Poetry The Sheffield College, 2006 Identity is an important idea in the poem. What impression do you get of Maya Angelou in the second, third, fifth and seventh verses? What impression of herself does Maya Angelou definitely not want to convey in the fourth verse? What impression does Maya Angelou leave us with at the end of the poem? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Viewp oint Who is ‘I' in this poem? Who is ‘you' in this poem? Ideas and Themes What themes do you see in the poem? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Language and Style As you work through this section, you might want to refer to the Glossary, to read about some of the techniques discussed. Angelou uses a lot of natural imagery in the poem. List all the similes and metaphors which relate to nature that you can find in the poem. Imagery What points do you think Angelou is making in using this natural imagery? Comment on at least three images in detail. GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Alliteration and Assonance Find as many examples of alliteration and assonance in the poem as you can. What effects do you think Angelou is hoping to achieve by her use of these techniques? Rhythm and Rhyme Re-read the poem aloud or at least read it to yourself imagining how it would sound if you were reading it aloud. How do you think the rhythm and the rhyming of the poem affects your understanding of what Angelou is saying? Repetition What do you think Angelou is trying to achieve with the repetition in the poem? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006 Mood and Atmosphere How would you describe the mood or atmosphere of the poem? Does the mood change throughout the poem? GCSE English Blended Poetry  © The Sheffield College, 2006

Ethical and Legal System Essay

For many years healthcare industries all over the world are known for operating under various legal regime systems, which often threaten hospitals, health plans as well as physicians with very severe and stiff sanctions for any violations they perform on the standards that are set for the healthcare industries. In this case, legal systems in the healthcare industries have managed to eliminate waste in uncontrollable healthcare industry systems. The legal systems have also managed to maintain the high standards offered in many healthcare industries today and not allowing them to ever go down as well as impending the reliance that healthcare, industries may make on private contracts which they do so in order to escape the tyranny caused as a result of inefficient standards (Feldman, 2000). Health providers on the other hand possess broad powers collectively or individually under industry connections that are mostly supported by the legal systems in the healthcare industry. These powers held by health care providers assist them to declare without cost constraints the types of services that patients should receive at the expense of the society. Under the legal system in the healthcare industry, certain situations especially those that involve the well being and physical health in relation to the quality of life-saving diagnosis as well as their availability are the most common compelling subjects that majority of juries and judges usually face. In the American economic activity, the annual representation of healthcare is approximately $ 2 trillion. The expenses cover innovations under diagnosis in surgery, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. There is also heavy government involvement in the health care industry. Moreover, a number of difficult issues that include expenditure, individual rights and equity often result in the attraction of attention from the public and frequent debates and this is mainly because this industry constitutes such a rapidly part of the American economy (Feldman, 2000). This paper will focus on Premier Inc. an organization in the healthcare industry, discussing its ethical and legal systems as well as the strengths and weaknesses of these systems available at Premier Inc. Premier Inc. is one of the strategic healthcare alliance organizations in United States today. It is owned by at least 200 leading healthcare systems and hospitals in America and its operations are mainly affiliated with almost 1,500 hospitals as well as other healthcare sites. In addition, Premier Inc. rovides resources that assist in the delivery of healthcare services in areas such as comparative data, insurance, group purchasing, benchmarking as well as supply chain improvement. Its main goal is to improve the communities’ health and brings forth nationwide knowledge with the aim of improving local healthcare (Voien, 2000). This is done through gathering financial and clinical data from its organizing committees as well as over hospitals that are its members in order to assist in decisions for sponsoring seminars, conferences and alliance with the main purpose of sharing the available practices that are good and effective. As a result, Premier Inc. is able to bring together any chaotic, inefficient and fragmented health care system hence enabling the provision of high-quality services in healthcare industry at the least costs. Facts are also applied by Premier in order to bring about best products and practices which result in patient outcomes that are of high quality. The organization shows its commitment in improving its operational and clinical performance by offering assistance to its members and providing performance informatics, supply chain service, insurance programs, resources that relate to performance improvement as well as group purchasing programs. The organization’s headquarters is located in San Diego with its offices in Washington, D. C. Chicago and Charlotte Premier Inc. is also dedicated to fulfilling three of its six indicators and one of the best indicators in its sample is the Code of Conduct in the company, which is thorough as well as easy to follow (Voien, 2000). Among the issues that the code highlights include the guidelines in the conflict of interest in the company, through this code, employees are often shown on how to contact the manager of the Ethics Compliance. In addition, people who call the manager are confident since, their phone numbers are not displayed as the organization has a potential phone violations code. The organization is also committed in providing the best workplaces in United States and this is mostly done by the company’s efforts in creating an organizational culture which aims at rewarding employees, behavior that is value-based, training which is essential in assisting employees to attain their maximum full potential, rewarding assignments as well as feedback. Employees at Premier are also treated with respect and this is mostly done by respecting their privacy, respecting the employees’ confidentiality records and also aiming to aid the aspirations of their employees especially those that are related to their work. (Voien, 2000). Employees at Premier are also urgently informed on any issues that affect them and listening to their concerns and ideas that they recommend. The organization also shows its commitment in promoting and protecting the safety and health of all of its employees and it forbids any use of illegal drugs by its employees. A dismissal is issued to anyone found possessing, using or even selling illegal drugs anywhere within the company’s property. Premier Inc. of the United States has several responsibilities that it aims to provide to its employees as well as patients in America. The organization aims to effectively make use of the available resources of the organization in order to support all of its members. In cases whereby there is emergence of conflicts in the organization, Premier has its responsibility focused on the avoidance of any conflicts of interest. The organization also aims at conducting its business with a lot of integrity, seeking guidance in situations whereby the organization is unsure of how to go about an impending problem and lastly the organization also has the responsibility of reporting any business practices that are unacceptable in the organization. For instance, premier has been aiming to implement the organization’s new code of conduct of Group purchasing since early 2002 (Voien, 2000). In addition, Premier organization has a number of ethical standards that help in its everyday operations. Among its ethical standards include the integrity of the enterprise and all individuals at Premier. Another ethical standard refers to the creation of real value that concerns the stakeholders as well as heading the place and a bias for any action and performance passion and also innovations at Premier. This means that the company aims at seeking a number of breakthrough opportunities, initiating any change which is meaningful as well as taking risks. Lastly, focusing people through respecting and showing concerns for all its employees, establishment of relationships with the entire community by building collaboration and this also applies to Premier’s business associates, workers and customers is also an ethical standard at Premier (Voien, 2000). In its ethics policy, Premier urges all its employees to exercise faith that is good in nature while undertaking all their responsibilities including various duties. They should also administer all of the company’s affairs economically and honestly as well as carrying out best care, judgment and skill so as to benefit the company. In addition, Premier Company forbids any activities that employees may be carrying out with the aim of gaining their personal advantage either in the way that they use their positions in the organization or also the knowledge that they gain while still at the organization and this also applies to financial gains. The organization also urges all its employees to carry out their duties as well as acts and these should adhere to the best interest of the company. In order to ensure that the company is committed in establishing best business practices that are ethical, Premier has set out to communicate to stakeholders and also providing important information which is useful to them especially in understanding the organization’s commitment in providing high standards of conduct. Moreover, Premier assists all of its employees by giving them additional guidance that will help them in decision making which is ethical. In 2002, Premier instituted an Ethics And compliance program whose main objective was to demonstrate the company’s strong commitment in providing high standards as relate conduct in the organization and this is mainly done in order to preserve the reputation that the company holds as well as enhancing the quality of the service delivery in the health care system that is offered to the community (Feldman, 2000). This program is a product of all the employees in the company who often work in order to put into practice the company’s principles. There other are other units at Premier that work hard to ensure that the high standards that relate to the company’s conduct are well infused in many business activities that take place at Premier. They include Human resources, Advocacy, Legal, Corporate communications as well as ethics and compliance units among others. The central support for the program is provided by the ethics and compliance office that often with employees, suppliers, owner members as well as the senior management at Premier in order to ensure that premier’s business practices are able to constantly meet all those standards that are set in the existing Group Purchasing Code of conduct at Premier as well as the Guidelines of the Business Conduct hence establishing the company’s commitment to the ethical conducts that are set. Lastly, the Board of Directors at Premier in 2006 altered the code relating to the company’s Group Purchasing Conduct which aimed at clarifying the provisions in the conflicts of interests in a better way especially in regarding established relationship among vendors and businesses. The legal system at premier is mainly seen at the premiers Legal Department which monitors and ensures that everyone at the premier acts according to the stated established federal laws (Feldman, 2000). These systems at Premier have had quite a number of positive implications to the organization. One advantage is that it has been able to establish integrity and trust among the employees because of the organization’s commitments to its employees and as a result it has out –performed many organizations in the healthcare industry in the United States as well as establishing a good reputation for the company. The legal systems have had a positive a positive impact on employees especially in relation to the codes of ethics o0f the organization. Doctors, Physicians and Nurses have maintained high standards in the way that they offer services to patients by offering quality and best practices as a result of the improved delivery systems in the healthcare services. Another advantage is that members have been able to get the right products and at the right prices hence enhancing the outcomes of patients who utilize the resources available at Premier. However, these systems also pose a major weakness to those who are directly or indirectly linked into it. The main weakness is that the policies lead to the creation of a monopoly whereby it is the organization that decides on the price and value that it can offer to its consumers and this directly affects the other organizations under the health care industry that are kept out of competition. It is therefore essential that the organization strives to openly communicate with all stakeholders, as well as meeting all requests that are reasonable so as to gather the required information. In conclusion, it is also essential to remember that an organization’s ethical conduct is as a result of collective conducts as relates its officers, board of directors and employees as well as enhancing open communications with these groups. As a result, this leads to a transformation in the healthcare delivery system of an organization.

Internet Access-ADSL-ISDN †Information Technology Essay

Internet Access-ADSL-ISDN – Information Technology Essay Free Online Research Papers Internet Access-ADSL-ISDN Information Technology Essay Internet Access-ADSL-ISDN- Many people think that the Internet innovation, when in fact the essence of it has been around for over a quarter century. The Internet began as ARPAnet, a U.S. Department of Defense project to create a nationwide computer network that would continue to function even if a large fraction of it were destroyed in a nuclear war or natural disaster. During the next two decades, the network that evolved was used primarily by academic institutions, scientists and government for research and communications. The appeal of the Internet to these bodies was obvious, as it allowed disparate institutions to connect to each others’ computing systems and databases, as well as share data via E-mail. The nature of the Internet changed abruptly in 1992, when the U.S. government began pulling out of network management, and commercial entities offered Internet access to the general public for the first time. This change in focus marked the beginning of the Internet’s astonishing expansion. According to a survey conducted by Commerce Net and Nielsen Media Research in early 1997, nearly one out of every four Americans over the age of 16 in an Internet user. And the number of users worldwide is believed to be well into the tens of millions. Other statistics are equally startling: A CNN report stated that the Internet traffic in 1996 was 25 times what it was just two years earlier. The market research group IntelliQuest pegged the number of Internet users in the U.S. in late 1996 at 47 million-a 34 percent increase over the first quarter of that year. According to IBM, 146 countries currently have at least some level of Internet access. The technology research firm IDG estimates that by century’s end, one billion people worldwide will have access to personal computers-more than doubling the computer-savvy population of 1996. With this growing World Wide Web many businesses today need a faster Internet connection. Lawyers need to download and upload documents †¦ ISDN stands for Integrated Service Digital Network. It is a digital version of switched-circuit analogue telephone service. It was and developed to use the existing telephone wiring system is provided by local phone companies or PTTs ISDN was specifically designed to solve the low bandwith problems that small offices or dial-in users have with traditional telephone dial-in services. When data call is made using ISDN the WAN link is brought up for the duration of the call and is taken down when the call is connected from each site. Traffic engineering may require multiple BRI services or multiple PRIs at some sites. Once connected to the ISDN fabric by BRI or PRI interfaces, design of ISDN end-to-end services must be implemented. The BRI local loop is termintated at the customers premise at an NT1. The interface of the local loop at the NT1 is called the U refrence point. On the customer premise side of the NT1 is the S/T refrence point. ISDN cards and TAs are like modems, bu t 5 times faster. They require special telephone lines, which cost a little (or a lot, depending on your phone company) more than normal phone lines. ISDN calls are usually (in USA) charged by the minute, even for local calls, but this varies from state to state. If youre quite nearby to someone you connect to constantly, you can sometimes order Centrex service, and get free calling always. Businesses seeking fulltime connection are often better served by 56Kb/sec Frame Relay instead of ISDN, as its flat rate Dan Keigel’s ISDN page. Website http://alumnus.caltech.edu/~dank/isdn/index.html ADSL started out as the phone companys way to compete with cable TV by delivering both TV and phone service on your plain old copper phone line. Now its also a good candidate for high speed Internet access. The A stands for Asymmetric, meaning the phone company can send lots of data to you, but you cant send much to them. Originally, only a tiny uplink of 16 or 64kbps was supported; recent flavors of ADSL support up to ten times that much. Adsl stands for Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber line, a new technology that allows more data to be sent over an existing copper telephone lines (POTS). ADSL supports data rates of from 1.5 to 9Mbps when receiving data. We in the technical field would call this downloading. And from 16 to 640 Kbps when sending data. This is known as uploading. This will keep businesses on top and ahead of competition. ADSL is one member of a continuum of last-mile transport systems called DSL, or Digital Subscriber Line, which can carry about 1 to 6 megabits/sec over copper lines. It does not include any way to make long distance data calls, or even local calls. Thats another matter entirely one which is still up in the air. ADSL was originally designed so you still can use it as a regular phone line when the power goes out, which would be a big improvement over BRI ISDN. For the moment, the only form of DSL really being deployed is HDSL, which is more or less a direct replacement for traditional T1 service. T1 lines have been around forever, but require technicians to tune the line to perfection; HDSL modems can handle dreadful lines cheerfully, so should be much cheaper to install and run. Other kinds of DSL are coming soon. In general, the fastest DSL schemes only go a couple miles; the slowest can go farther. Its a tradeoff. Short for symmetric digital subscriber line, a technology that allows more data to be sent over existing copper telephone lines (POTS). SDSL supports data rates up to 3 Mbps. SDSL works by sending digital pulses in the high-frequency area of telephone wires and can not operate simultaneously with voice connections over the same wires. SDSL requires a special SDSL modem. SDSL is called symmetric because it supports the same data rates for upstream and downstream traffic. A similar technology that supports different data rates for upstream and downstream data is called asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL). ADSL is more popular in North America, whereas SDSL is being developed primarily in Europe. Refrence webopedia Research Papers on Internet Access-ADSL-ISDN - Information Technology EssayAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaThe Project Managment Office SystemOpen Architechture a white paperPETSTEL analysis of IndiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfDefinition of Export QuotasMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductGenetic EngineeringTwilight of the UAW

Free Essays on Shepherd Kretch

Shepherd Kretch begins his novel with a very striking image which we all probably remember: who could forget the face of â€Å"the Crying Indian†? Kretch goes from this to explain that this add states that the Indian does not pollute, as his white counterparts do, and therefore â€Å"the white destroy[s] his land. He destroy[ed] planet earth† (Quoted in Kretch, 22), and Indians have this â€Å"noble image†. Ah,,the noble savage strikes again. Kretch explains both the noble savage and the ignoble savage and talks about the past and how people have revered Indians as â€Å"carefree, eloquent people living innocent, naked lives in a golden world of nature† (Kretch, 17), and consequently, the opposite on how they were bloodthirsty savages. He also touches on the French authors Rousseau and Montaigne, as we have read about previously, and their half-witted, daydream version on Native Americans. Kretch’s â€Å"Ecological Indian† is the Indian that we all know from the movies, television, on book covers and on T-shirts, who â€Å"feels sympathy with all living forms† (Kretch, 21) and always stays in balance. The noble savage idea. The first chapter of Kretch’s book is on the Prehistoric peoples that were here or came here from somewhere else. He talks about these people possibly coming from northeastern Asia to North America, crossing a landmass that would appear every time the sea level would drop, known as Beringia. As they moved southward when they could when weather conditions were favorable, and through out the centuries continued to move south, leaving behind them a mass of extinction of â€Å"megafauna†, large mammals. (supposedly). A man, Martin, says that the extinctions of these animals were solely the work of the humans moving southward and because these humans were on the move all the time, would just kill as convenient. However, not only did the megafaunal species disappear, but lots of bird species as well. Martin explained thi... Free Essays on Shepherd Kretch Free Essays on Shepherd Kretch Shepherd Kretch begins his novel with a very striking image which we all probably remember: who could forget the face of â€Å"the Crying Indian†? Kretch goes from this to explain that this add states that the Indian does not pollute, as his white counterparts do, and therefore â€Å"the white destroy[s] his land. He destroy[ed] planet earth† (Quoted in Kretch, 22), and Indians have this â€Å"noble image†. Ah,,the noble savage strikes again. Kretch explains both the noble savage and the ignoble savage and talks about the past and how people have revered Indians as â€Å"carefree, eloquent people living innocent, naked lives in a golden world of nature† (Kretch, 17), and consequently, the opposite on how they were bloodthirsty savages. He also touches on the French authors Rousseau and Montaigne, as we have read about previously, and their half-witted, daydream version on Native Americans. Kretch’s â€Å"Ecological Indian† is the Indian that we all know from the movies, television, on book covers and on T-shirts, who â€Å"feels sympathy with all living forms† (Kretch, 21) and always stays in balance. The noble savage idea. The first chapter of Kretch’s book is on the Prehistoric peoples that were here or came here from somewhere else. He talks about these people possibly coming from northeastern Asia to North America, crossing a landmass that would appear every time the sea level would drop, known as Beringia. As they moved southward when they could when weather conditions were favorable, and through out the centuries continued to move south, leaving behind them a mass of extinction of â€Å"megafauna†, large mammals. (supposedly). A man, Martin, says that the extinctions of these animals were solely the work of the humans moving southward and because these humans were on the move all the time, would just kill as convenient. However, not only did the megafaunal species disappear, but lots of bird species as well. Martin explained thi...

50 Greek and Latin Root Words

50 Greek and Latin Root Words In English grammar, a  root  is a word or portion of a word from which other words grow, usually through the addition of  prefixes and suffixes. By learning root words, you can decipher unfamiliar words, expand your vocabulary, and become a better English speaker.   The Roots of Words Most words in the English language are based on words from ancient Greek and Latin. The root of the word vocabulary, for example, is ​voc, a Latin root meaning word or name. This root also appears in such  words  as advocacy, convocation, evocative, vocal, and vowel. By dissecting words such as these, etymologists can study how a word has evolved over time and tell us about the cultures they came from. Root words are also useful for creating new words, especially in technology and medicine, where new innovations occur frequently. Think of the Greek root word tele, which means far, and inventions that traverse long distances, such as the telegraph, telephone, and television. The word technology itself is a combination of two other Greek root words, techne, meaning skill or art, and logos, or study. Greek Root Words The table below defines and illustrates 25  of the most common Greek roots. Root Meaning Examples anti against antibacterial, antidote, antithesis ast(er) star asteroid, astronomy, astronaut aqu water aquarium, aquatic, aqualung auto self automatic, automate, autobiograph biblio book bibliography, bibliophile bio life biography, biology, biodegradable chrome color monochromatic, phytochrome chrono time chronic, synchronize, chronicle doc teach document, docile, doctrinal dyna power dynasty, dynamic, dynamite geo earth geography, geology, geometry gno to know agnostic, acknowledge graph write autograph, graphic, demographic hydr water dehydrate, hydrant, hydropower kinesis movement kinetic, photokinesis logos word, study astrology, biology, theologian narc sleep narcotic, narcolepsy path feel empathy, pathetic, apathy phil love philosophy, bibliophile, philanthropy phon sound microphone, phonograph, telephone photo light photograph, photocopy, photon schem plan scheme, schematic syn together, with synthetic, photosynthesis tele far telescope, telepathy, television tropos turning heliotrope, tropical Latin Root Words The table below defines and illustrates 25  of the most common Latin  roots. Root Meaning Examples ab to move away abstract, abstain, aversion acer, acri bitter acrid, acrimony, exacerbate audi hear audible, audience, auditorium bene good benefit, benign, benefactor brev short abbreviate, brief circ round circus, circulate dict say dictate, edict, dictionary duc lead, make deduce, produce, educate fund bottom founder, foundation, funding gen to birth gene, generate, generous hab to have ability, exhibit, inhabit jur law jury, justice, justify lev to lift levitate, elevate, leverage log, logue thought logic, apologize, analogy luc, lum light lucid, illuminate, translucent manu hand manual, manicure, manipulate mis, mit send missile, transmit, permit omni all omnivorous, omnipotent, omniscent pac peace pacify, pacific, pacifist port carry export, import, important quit silent, restive tranquil, requiem, acquit scrib, script to write script, proscribe, describe sens to feel sensitive, sentient, resent terr earth terrain, territory, extraterrestrial tim to fear timid, timorous vac empty vacuum, vacate, evacuate vid, vis to see video, vivid, invisible ​Understanding the meanings of the common word roots can help us deduce the meanings of new words that we encounter. But be careful: root words can have more than one meaning as well as various shades of meaning. In addition, words that look similar may  derive  from different roots. Sources Bryant, Alice, and Robbins, Jill. Grow Your Vocabulary by Learning Root Words. VOANews.com, 28 November 2017.Grammarly staff. Why You Should Learn Roots. Grammarly.com, 6 February 2016.McCammon, Ellen. 50 GRE Words You Should Know. PrepScholar.com, 8 February 2017.

Ethics and governance Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Ethics and governance - Essay Example The action by the Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) to investigate BP was to audit its safety standards. Hence, this decision was based on the oil fire incidence at BP which killed 15 of its workers and injured 170 others as well. This is due to the fact that the company had ignored this issue for a long time. The report notes that this company was plagued by years-of cost cutting which in turn increased its vulnerability to this catastrophe in its refinery in Texas. The other actor in this case is BP Company itself through its management and workers; in which case its decision was based on the need to improve its image in the oil market according to Mortishead, (2005, p. 8). From the above BP’s case, there are a range of possible consequences based on the reports findings. One such possible consequence is the remarkable improvement in the compliance to safety standards by BP and other companies as well. In so doing, these oil firms would have to embrace the tenets of ethics and governance. In this regard, they shall have to implement fundamental organizational changes to ensure for them to be virtuous. The other actual consequence is the loss of market leadership position by BP to its competitors. According to the CSB report, the company had been noted to be more concerned with profit maximization through cost cutting at the expense of ensuring that its employees were safe. As noted by Carl, BP’s main concerns were in terms of meeting its production targets, budgets and operational goals but not safety. This is best captured by the management’s decision to opt to cut- costs with the main emphasis being on saving of such costs for ot her uses. To the other companies, this action by CSB would result to them being under both public and government over safety compliance. One of the key decisions which are culpable in BP’s case can be

How would you define a group And how would you transform a group into Essay

How would you define a group And how would you transform a group into a high performing team - Essay Example However the most significant aspect that could be understood here is that of a group coming out as the best with the assistance of a leader which is appointed at the helm of affairs by the top management – the authority responsible for enacting the group in the first place. In life as well as in sports, groups and teams are formed up so that the resources could be utilized in an effective and efficient way and the results are drawn for the sake of achieving the already chalked out objectives. (Fink, 2002) Thus the definition of a group becomes pretty easy to comprehend when it is concerned with delivering results, getting resources used in a productive way and in the end, asking for feedback from the stakeholders who have been left on the mercy of the group for more than a single reason. A group of individuals is nothing but a collection of men and women who are present within it to perform a series of tasks and/or actions. However if these people are told what the leader expects of them in the long run and how he will provide them the much needed resources at their disposal, then this group starts to become like a team. Now if this team exhibits the motivational regimes within its folds and if it understands the true meaning of oneness and unity, then this is a given that this team will be one of the most sought after ones within the related settings. The team would start performing in a highly effective way and thus contribute to the working basis, when one sees the same in the light of the objectives that have already been drawn. The team members must know that the objectives are very important and these must be understood beforehand so that the end result is one that is familiar to them. This would enable them to comprehend the real meaning of success and thus t heir efforts would be full of commitment and devotion, put in proper area within the related settings. A high performing team does not

Strategic Management Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Strategic Management Analysis - Essay Example The selection of this company is largely based upon the well known Thomas Cook brand, which is practically synonymous with packaged vacations as well as specific vacation related financial services and products. Additionally the company’s publicized commitment to a sustainable approach both to and within the tourism sector and destinations deserves the due recognition and is furthermore one of the factors for the selection of the Thomas Cook Group. The Thomas Cook Group, as a company per se, was established in 1841 by Thomas Cook who at the time was a providing excursions for fellow temperance members and campaigners and is credited with marketing the first private excursion train (Williamson 1998). This therefore makes the company almost 170 years old, which can certainly be seen as an asset in the view of competing travel related companies and service providers within the broader tourism industry. According to the latest annual report (Thomas Cook 2009) provided by the company the staff compliment is in excess of 31,000 people, catering to over 22 million customers, and in turn generating revenue in 2009 of  £9.3 billion. In addition to offering travel, travel related, packaged travel, and financial services in the broader travel sector, the company operates 95 aircraft, predominantly operating within and from the country of Germany in Europe. In so far as geographic location and representation is concerned, the group is r epresented by company owned and franchised stores in 5 geographic regions, within 21 different countries. The Thomas Cook Group has certainly grown over the years, and it appears that sound strategic management has been at the center of this growth, based largely upon acquisitions and mergers to access specific sectors of the tourism market. The analysis of the business’ history and timeline so to speak provides valuable insight into specific strategically related process, and management decisions within the group as it in turn allows us

Sutainable operations - industry sector report Essay

Sutainable operations - industry sector report - Essay Example Therefore, in order to retain its reputation, it implemented varied types of sustainable operations. The industry of aviation is described as one of the fastest growing segment in the entire globe. It is mainly due to the rapid transformation that took place in this sector after liberalization. As a result, the number of passenger as well as cargo airlines increased both in domestic and international levels. This geared the revenue by $ 147.2 billions along with an annual growth of 3 percent in 2011 and 2012. Side by side, the profit margin of the airline industry also enhanced by $ 2.1 billions that helped in contributing a significant portion to the gross domestic product (GDP) and gross national product (GNP). So, aviation industry presented a significant impact over the economic condition of the country as compared to others. The aviation industry is one of the most innovative one that connects individual and countries from one place to another. However, inspite of such positive effects, it is facing varied types of challenges. All of them are mentioned below: Effect of green houses gases (GHG) - due to the emission of varied types of poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and other air polluting gases, traps the outgoing sources of energy emitting from the lower surface of the ground thereby increasing its temperature as a whole. Depletion of ozone layer - due to the emission of varied types of harmful gases, the level of ozone is depleting day by day to a significant extent. Due to which, the rate of harmful ultra-violet rays are entering into the surface of the earth thereby making presenting varied types of disorders within the human beings. Aircraft noise pollution- aircrafts are also a prime reason for generating huge rate of noises thereby disrupting the general live of the society

COLLEGE ALGEBRA-DISCUSSION BOARD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

COLLEGE ALGEBRA-DISCUSSION BOARD - Essay Example Therefore e = 1 + 1/1 +  ½ + 1/3 +  ¼ †¦. Alternatively, e =1 + 1 + 1/ (1Ãâ€" 2) + 1/ (1 Ãâ€" 2 Ãâ€" 3) †¦. This makes e to have special characteristics that makes it a useful constant in mathematics. The first property of e is that it is a transcendental number. This implies that, e cannot be a root of any non-zero polynomial f (x) that has rational coefficients. Other useful mathematical constants are Ï€ and i. The number e has many uses that result directly from its characteristics. The number is useful in calculus where it is used to perform integral and differential operations that involve exponential functions. The number is of particular interest in indefinite integrals since it enables calculation of lower and upper bound for such integrals. The number is also applied in complex analysis as Euler’s identity. In this case cos x + i sin x = eix. In business arithmetic, the function is applied in the calculation of compound interest. Finally, the constant is applied in statistics to calculate Bernoulli

Hatshepsut Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Hatshepsut - Research Paper Example III. Analysis of Hatshepsut A. The World Scene 1. Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for about twenty-two years from 1479 to 1458 B.C 2. Hatshepsut faced problems related to gender discrimination in leadership positions, and typical feminine representations. 3. Several factors around Hatshepsut facilitated her reign and success as an Egyptian pharaoh, such as the death of Thomose I, absence of appropriate successor, and Egypt’s wealth as well as peace. B. Actions of Hatshepsut 1. Hatshepsut is renowned as a prolific builder because of her spectacular Egyptian monuments and temples featured in ancient Egyptian history. 2. Hatshepsut attained significant achievements in trade and military expeditions. C. Impact of Hatshepsut 1. Hatshepsut provides an affirmative perspective on women leadership 2. Hatshepsut revealed the need for women to stand against discriminative policies and rules. 3. Hatshepsut’s made exceptional contributions to politics 4. Hatshepsut made contributions in arch itectural designs through her creative concepts embedded in monuments as well as temples. IV. Conclusion A. Hatshepsut was an influential leader whose actions and decisions affect the history of the world, especially Egypt. B. Historical figures make great history Hatshepsut’s Historical Contributions Introduction Historical figures are significant contributors of world History. The apparition of their intellect, exquisiteness of their art, their divine inspiration as well as leadership prowess results to enhancement of the world’s history. Some historians argue that societal, economic, and technological aspects are more imperative to history compared to individuals’ actions and decisions. However, historical figures or great men are credited for various essential developments in the past that significantly feature in contemporary recorded history. This paper will analyze Hatshepsut’s contributions during her reign as an Egyptian pharaoh with respect to t he Great Man theory by Thomas Carlyle, and it will also attempt to reveal the importance of historical figures’ actions and decisions in history. Analysis of Hatshepsut Background Hatshepsut was Thutmose I and Queen Ahmose’s eldest daughter, wife to Thutmose II, mother to Neferure. Hatshepsut was one of the renowned, triumphant pharaohs as well as famous female-ruler in history, whose time in power superseded those of other women in the native Egyptian dynasty. The name Hatshepsut refers to the â€Å"most noble of noble ladies† signifying her unprecedented power attainment among ancient Egyptian women, and eventual crowning as pharaoh during the eighteenth dynasty. Hatshepsut initially acted as a co-regent to her stepson; Thutmose III, but she became pharaoh after about seven years. This marked Hatshepsut’s desertion of Queen’s roles as well as titles with the commencement of her reign as a female and conventional pharaoh. Hatshepsut reputation as a remarkable pharaoh is associated with various outstanding activities that took place during her reign. These included her participation in trade as well as armies expeditions, construction of some of the greatest Egyptian monuments, and acquisition of male roles in her leadership as pharaoh. Furthermore, Hatshepsut remained in power as pharaoh for twenty-two years before the reign of her successor, Thutmose III (Hill 3). The World Scene Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for about

COLLEGE ALGEBRA-DISCUSSION BOARD Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

COLLEGE ALGEBRA-DISCUSSION BOARD - Essay Example Therefore e = 1 + 1/1 +  ½ + 1/3 +  ¼ †¦. Alternatively, e =1 + 1 + 1/ (1Ãâ€" 2) + 1/ (1 Ãâ€" 2 Ãâ€" 3) †¦. This makes e to have special characteristics that makes it a useful constant in mathematics. The first property of e is that it is a transcendental number. This implies that, e cannot be a root of any non-zero polynomial f (x) that has rational coefficients. Other useful mathematical constants are Ï€ and i. The number e has many uses that result directly from its characteristics. The number is useful in calculus where it is used to perform integral and differential operations that involve exponential functions. The number is of particular interest in indefinite integrals since it enables calculation of lower and upper bound for such integrals. The number is also applied in complex analysis as Euler’s identity. In this case cos x + i sin x = eix. In business arithmetic, the function is applied in the calculation of compound interest. Finally, the constant is applied in statistics to calculate Bernoulli

How Lack of Education Affects Children in India Research Paper

How Lack of Education Affects Children in India - Research Paper Example Education in India is catered for in most cases by the government through public schools and by private providers under the umbrella of private schools (Chamberlain, 2000). Funding for education, in this case, comes from three distinct sources namely the federal, state and local governments in respective areas. Both Union and state government have control over education in the country with a clear division of roles that are to be performed by each division of the government. Access to basic education is one of the fundamental rights that have been entrenched in the constitution of India where it is clearly stated that every citizen has a right to getting access to quality education in the country. Statistics indicate that for the past two decades, India has made tremendous progress in terms of access to primary education (Chamberlain, 2000). However, there have been areas where access to education has been hindered by several factors that have affected children in one way or the othe r. Despite a lot of developments in areas that of innovation and accessibility, India continues to face several challenges in terms of access to basic education especially to children in remote areas. Research shows that despite continued investment in education, at least 25% of school-age children in India are still illiterate. The government of India has placed a lot of emphasis on primary school education which is popularly referred to as elementary education in India. In an effort to ensure high levels of turnout at elementary levels, the government of India has moved to ensure that child labor in the country has been banned and that no school-age child is left behind.  Ã‚     

Bouncing balls Essay Example for Free

Bouncing balls Essay To investigate the effect on the bounce of a squash ball if its dropped when, the temperature of the ball is changed. Prediction: I predict that the hotter the squash balls are the more it will bounce. When the ball is heated the air particles inside the ball move faster so they are more likely to hit the walls (the ball is given thermal energy). This means that there is a greater pressure inside the ball, so it will squash less. When it hits the floor, after being dropped, less energy will be transferred to heat and more will be used to make the ball bounce higher. Method: Firstly I will find three squash balls that have the same dot on them so I know that the bounce will be roughly the same on each ball. Next I will fill one beaker with ice and another with boiling water. Then place one ball in each beaker leaving the third ball. This balls will all be bounced at different temperatures, from below 0i C TO 100i C.the test will be done 3 time for each temperature to get more accurate results. Then I will drop the three balls from equal heights (1M) to see how far they will bounce up again. The balls will have to be dropped from an equal height so the test is fair. This is a list of the equipment I will need:   Water   ice 2X beakers, squash ball stop watch meter ruler Key factors: There are some controls that I need to take into mind. The balls will need to be the same dot, so the bounce is roughly the same at the start of the test. The two balls that are going into the ice and boiling water will need to be in the beakers for the same amount of time. The surface that we bounce the balls on will need to stay the same and the height we drop that balls from will also need to stay the same, so we get a fair and constant result. Results table: Temperature (i C) Drop 1 Drop 2 Drop 3 Average Efficiency (%) 0i0. Evaluation: I think that my experiment went well, there were on odd results as my line of best-fit matches most of the points on the graph. If I did the experiment again I would use a web cam to look at how the ball bounces. A web cam would take pictures frame by frame so I could see exactly where the ball bounces. This would give better more accurate results. If I did any extinction work maybe I could look at different surfaces for bouncing the ball. E. g. on carpet you may get different results, more or less bounce.

Reasons Behind The Growth Of Eurocurrency Markets Finance Essay

Reasons Behind The Growth Of Eurocurrency Markets Finance Essay The Eurocurrency market Ñ onsists of banks, which Ñ alled Euro banks that aÑ Ãƒâ€˜Ã‚ ept deÑâ‚ ¬osits and make loans in foreign currencies. Eurocurrency is a deÑâ‚ ¬osit held in the bank outside the Ñ ountry in whose currency the deÑâ‚ ¬osit is dominated. The deÑâ‚ ¬osit can be Ñâ‚ ¬laced in a foreign bank or in the foreign branch of a domestiÑ  US bank. For à Ã‚ µxample, dollars deÑâ‚ ¬osited in a bank in Switzerland arà Ã‚ µ Eurodollars, yen deÑâ‚ ¬osited at a US bank are Euro yen, etc. The Eurocurrency market is dominated by US dollar or the Eurodollar. The deposit need to be held at a European bank or in Europe. Eurocurrency is used for lending and borrowing. The Eurocurrency market often provides a cheap and convenient form of liquidity for the financing of international trade and investment. The main borrowers and lenders are the commercial banks, large companies, and the central banks. By raising funds in Eurocurrencies it is possible to secure more favorable terms and rates of interest, and sometimes to avoid domestic regulations and taxation. The deposits and loans were initially on a short-term basis but increasing use is being made of medium-term loans, particularly through the raising of Eurobonds. This has to some extent replaced the syndicated loan market, in which banks lent money as a group in order to share the risk. The Eurocurrency market is dominated by US dollar or the Eurodollar. Occasionally, during the 1970s and 1980s, which were a weak dollar period, the Euro Swiss Franc and the Euro Deutsche Mark markets increased in importance. The Eurodollar market originated post Second World War in France and England thanks to the fear of Soviet Bloc countries that dollar deposits held in the US may be attached by US citizens with claims against communist governments. A Eurocurrency is a freely convertible currency deposited in a bank located in a country which is not the native country of the currency. Restrictions on convertibility take many forms limiting the amount that can be exchanged, the currencies into which exchange is possible, the uses for which foreign exchange can be obtained, or the range of holders who are allowed foreign exchange. The Eurocurrency market has grown rapidly mainly due to the existence of various US regulations that have raised costs and lowered returns on domestic banking transactions. In other words, the Eurocurrency market has become popular because of the absence of restrictions from the government which have led to attractive deposit rates for savers and attractive loan rates for borrowers. This means that banks can offer higher interest rates on Eurocurrency deposits than on deposits made in the home currency. Similarly, banks can also charge lower interest rates to Eurocurrency borrowers than to those who borrow the home currency. The spread between the Eurocurrency deposit and lending rates is less than the spread between the domestic deposit and lending rates giving Eurocurrency banks a competitive edge over domestic banks. The Eurocurrency market began to develop in the 1950s, when the Eastern Bloc countries were afraid the United States might seize their holdings of dollars. It means that instead of depositing their dollars in the United States, they deposited them in Europe. Additional dollar deposits came from Western European central banks and companies that exported to the United States. The other long-running disadvantage was a Regulation Q. This prohibited the payment of interest on demand deposits, as well as authorising the Federal Reserve to set a maximum interest rate payable on savings and time deposits in US banks. The level of interest rates in the money supply was raised through slowing down the growth of the money supply. However, while money market interest rates rose, the interest rates payable on time deposits, were held down by the ceiling. Investors moved their time deposits from the banking system, causing the banks to experience a shortage of funds. The banks then looked to the E urodollar market for funds, and in 1966, when money was tight, borrowing from European Branches of US banks by their head offices rose by $2.5 billion. Nevertheless, banks began to regard the market as a substitute source of dollars even when Regulation Q was not effective as in 1967. Funds raised through this method were then used to continue lending to customers in the US. Regulation Q stimulated the growth of the Eurodollar market in two ways: firstly, it reinforced the market`s ability to offer higher interest rates on deposits. Two other reasons why they could offer higher interest rates were that Euro banks operated on lower margins; and the effect of domestic reserve requirements. Secondly, the growth of the market was stimulated because of the demand for dollars from commercial banks in the US in order to go around domestic credit restraint policies. In 1957, the market surged again after changes in British laws. In the 1960s, the market grew once again when, after changes in US regulations discouraged US banks from lending to non-US residents, would be borrowers of dollars outside the United States turned to the Euromarkets a source of dollars. The next big increase in the Eurocurrency market came after the 1973-74 and 1979-80 oil price increases. OPEC (Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) members avoided potential confiscation of their dollars by depositing them in banks in London. The dramatic growth of flight capital to Swiss and other banks, encouraged by the development of financial centres such as Luxembourg in which regulations ensured the protection of the anonymity of lenders. The growth in supply of funds to the market was the use by central banks of the market in order to increase returns on their holdings of international reserves. However if there had not also been a large demand from borrowers for Eur odollar, the market would not have grown so rapidly. The reasons for the large demand from the borrowers include a US government discouragement from 1963 of borrowing by foreign companies directly from the US market through the imposition of a tax that increased the cost of borrowing in the US for borrowing in most of the industrial nations. The fact that the euro banks were free of the reserve requirements imposed on domestic banks, allowed them to maintain a lower spread between borrowing and lending rates. Another important reason of a large demand is a US government limitations on the amount of capital that US transnational corporations could shift out of the US to invest abroad, forcing them to borrow outside the US and providing the market with a major group of very creditworthy borrowers. The domestic and the international markets have two major components: the inter-bank mechanism, and the channelling of funds from initial depositors to ultimate borrowers. However, in the Euro-markets, the former plays a far more important role, with respects to the latter, in which the markets introduced important innovations. The general efficiency of the inter-bank mechanism in allowing banks access to funds at very short notice, as well as allowing them to place funds in the market for very short periods to earn some interest, helps to reduce the transactions and information costs in the Eurocurrency markets. This also allows them to operate on smaller margins. Two innovations, which are associated with lending to non-banks, and which have facilitated the expansion of the Euro-currency markets, are roll-over credits and the syndicated loan system. The introduction of roll-over credits reduces the risk of interest rates moving against a bank when it tends to borrow short and long-term. It enables banks to offer higher interest rates on short-term deposits, whilst at the same time being able to commit these funds long-term, through reducing the risk of making losses if deposit rates should rise again. On the borrower`s side of the market, such roll over credits imply that interest rates at the time of borrowing are less important, because if they should fall over the course of the loan, the borrower should reap the benefits. The second innovation is that of syndication of loans. A syndicated credit is a loan in which a group of financial institutions makes funds available on common conditions to a borrower. It allows credits of larger sizes sometimes over $1 billion, to be put together, a factor that was especially important in the financing of national balance of payments deficits. In the lender`s point of view, it reduces the risks of international bank lending , through diversification of loans to political entities. It also provides more protection against selective defaults: unwillingness of a nation to repay its debts will be met with pressure from several countries, whose banks are involved. Negotiations were also feasible, because at the same time, there are few enough creditors involved. On the other hand, a possible danger of the process, which has become increasingly recognised, is that in the event of a default, the repercussions will be spread over a wide part of the Euro-currency system. This has raised questions regarding the stability of the international banking system. There are certain important consequences of the rise of the Eurocurrency markets. The first is the shift in the financial system from one depending on a state to manage the flow of international liquidity, to a system where liquidity is provided by private banks. The international financial systems were threatened with a lack of credit, there is now, excess international liquidity, and private bank lending provides this. In 1980, the US inter-bank loan market stood at $74 billion, this almost doubled to $170 billion by 1995. The international inter-bank lending market by contrast had grown to $5.8 trillion by June 1995.

Economic Development In Zimbabwe Essay -- essays research papers

Economic Development in Zimbabwe The country of Zimbabwe is one of the most economically developed on the African continent . A fairly young political entity, Zimbabwe has only enjoyed recognized autonomy since 1980, the year in which the United Kingdom repealed its imperialistic claims to the African nation . Despite its youth the country has achieved a level of economic development uncharacteristic of sub-Saharan African nations. Second only to South Africa in economic development, Zimbabwe's economic system is one indicative of a transitional country, a country making the transition from dependency underdevelopment to self-reliant industrialization. The purpose of this essay is to make a cursory but adequate examination of Zimbabwean socio-economic and political system, as means to analyzing the countries economic development. The ultimate purpose of this study is to provide a model of the structure necessary to achieve economic development where none previously existed. Zimbabwe is an appropriate model because the dynamics of underdevelopment to development in this country are readily apparent. This model can be useful in understanding underdevelopment in other so called "third-world" countries and in determining what is necessary for these countries to make the transition to industrialization. Geography Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in the southern, sub-Saharan area of the African continent bordered by South Africa to the South, Botswana to the West, Mozambique to the East and Zambia to the North. With an area of 391,090 km2 Zimbabwe is only slightly larger than the state of Colorado. Harare is Zimbabwe's capital and largest city with a population of 1,100,000. Containing vast amounts of rare mineralogical resources and possessing a favorable growing climate Zimbabwe's economy is drawn almost equally between the mining of minerals ($2.2 billion) and the production of staples and cash crops ($2.1 billion) . People Zimbabweans are comprised of two primary ethnic groups, the Shona, comprising 74% of the population and the Ndebele comprising 20%. Other ethnic black groups and Asians make up 4% of the population while whites make up just over 1% of the population. Zimbabwe has a population of 10.35 million people with a population density of 24 persons per km2. 1992 census figures estimate Zimbabwe's growth at 3.0% with 90% of this growth ... ...ble workforce. Finally, Zimbabwe participates in non-aligned trade for non-strategic products such as textiles. This greatly reduces the countries chance of becoming dependent on a trade partner. Conclusion In many ways Zimbabwe is a model for third-world economic development. Although not yet fully developed Zimbabwe clearly has the potential to be a full fledged developed nation. Beyond its vast resources Zimbabwe is structured in a way to promote development. This fact in and of itself distinguishes Zimbabwe from most other Lesser Developed Countries (LDC). Zimbabwe's economic structure is one in which they are essentially self-sufficient and trade only for profit or for consumer goods. Also they perform trade with many partners with no single partner comprising garnering more than 15% of import or export goods. By structuring the Zimbabwe's economic system in a way that keeps its partners diversified and its imports non-strategic, Mugabe has successfully led his nation to the path of development. The barriers left to full development are quite minimal compared to the ones already dominated, The structure of Zimbabwe's economic system is truly a model of economic development.

Barriers to entry into foreign markets

Any organization of relatively any size has some fundamental aims and objectives. One of such primal aims is to grow; this growth can be in terms of sales, profits, or anything else but the underlying value is to grow. In a given region or rather in the country of origin, a firm may grow up to a certain extent may be by reaching each and every corner of the country and having presence everywhere but this ‘everywhere’ is limited or bounded by geographical boundaries so the growth, in essence, is restricted.Organizations grow ‘big’ when they cross the borders, arrive in a new market and capture mass customer base and then move on to another target while keep in mind-frame the issue of customer retention. This phenomenon or type of growth is known as entry into foreign markets. Generally, the government of any country welcomes foreign firms coming in as they increase the investor confidence and show signs of growth; however, only in a few scenarios, that can be counted as exceptions, the local competitors welcome foreign firms.There are several reasons to this fact, the prime reason being people’s attraction towards foreign products and services. To ensure their local market share retention, these local vendors create barriers to entry in the local markets, which are in essence foreign markets for the investor . This research paper presents an over view of the barriers that might be faced by an entrant into a foreign market. These barriers can be of any form and type. The major aim of this paper is to analyze these barriers and how they can be eliminated.What is a foreign market? The foreign exchange market exists wherever one currency is traded for another. It is by far the largest market in the world, in terms of cash value traded, and includes trading between large banks, central banks, currency speculators, multinational corporations, governments, and other financial markets and institutions . Foreign Market Entry Global Assess ment One must first identify what regions or countries of the world would be a potential market opportunity for your product or service.Also conduct an industry sector analysis that covers the market outlook for a particular industry . A Foreign Market Entry Plan Having determined the best international markets for your products, you now need to evaluate the most profitable way to get your products to potential customers in these markets. This can be achieved through a Foreign Market Entry Plan that will help plan entry into a market and the Foreign Market Growth Plan that will keep you in the market. These plans typically include : †¢ Identification of marketing and sales objectives†¢ Target market descriptive †¢ Expected sales †¢ Profit expectations †¢ Market penetration and coverage †¢ Marketing activities †¢ Identification of target market †¢ Alternative Methods of Entry (based on Country Assessment) †¢ Development or redesign of tact ical marketing plan †¢ Product adaptation, or modification †¢ Promotion strategy †¢ Distribution strategy †¢ Price strategy (includes terms of sale and methods of payment) †¢ A proposed budget and implementation schedule †¢ Resource requirements (finance, personnel and capacity) †¢ Implementation and control plans†¢ Key contacts from the United States’ Foreign Commercial Services The Foreign Market Growth Plan It is completed near the end of your first year of entry into the country market. One must identify and prepare for Trade Events. Trade shows, international buyer programs, matchmaker trade delegations programs or a catalog exhibition program can lead to tremendous international opportunities . Methods of foreign market entry Methods of foreign market entry include exporting, licensing, joint venture and off-shore production.The method you choose will depend on a variety of factors including the nature of your particular product o r service and the conditions for market penetration which exist in the foreign target market . Exporting can be accomplished by selling your product or service directly to a foreign firm, or indirectly, through the use of an export intermediary, such as a commissioned agent, an export management or trading company. International joint ventures can be a very effective means of market entry. Joint ventures overseas are often accomplished by licensing or off-shore production.Licensing involves a contractual agreement whereby you assign the rights to distribute or manufacture your product or service to a foreign company. Off-shore production requires either setting up your own facility or sub-contracting the manufacturing of your product to an assembly operator. Barriers to entry into foreign markets The main trade barriers to any foreign market include: Psychological barriers in foreign exchange markets Traders adjust their anchors in two ways. Some believe that exchange rates move tow ard (perceived) fundamentals, while others bet on a continuation of the current exchange rate trend.The behavior of the traders causes complex dynamics. Since the exchange rate tends to circle around its perceived fundamental value, the foreign exchange market is persistently misaligned. Central authorities have the opportunity to reduce such distortions by pushing the exchange rate to less biased anchors, but to achieve this; they have to break psychological barriers between anchors. High import tariffs inclusive of restrictions related to national security Tariffs are taxes that raise the price of a good when it is brought into another country.Tariffs and import quotas form the toughest barriers. Seventy percent of respondents say tariffs on goods and services are the most effective form of protectionism, followed closely by import quotas (68%). But this is by no means the whole story: 45% say that artificially undervalued exchange rates do much to boost the competitiveness of loc al firms, while 59% cite subsidized competitors as a major barrier. Many also noted the challenges of informal protectionism, such as local firms convincing government officials to block the approval of licenses.Quota systems in Japan: The tariff quota system charges a lower duty rate (primary duty rate) on imports of specific goods up to a certain quantity, but a higher duty rate (secondary duty rate) on quantities exceeding that volume. This system protects domestic producers of similar goods but also benefits consumers with the lowest tariff rates possible. The tariff quota volume for each allocation can be applied in one of two ways: according to the order in which the request was received, or according to prior allocations.Japan utilizes the prior allocation method. The tariff quota system does not restrict direct imports, since imports can be made without a tariff quota certificate, provided high duty is paid. Regarding footwear, quota allocations to individuals or companies a re based on historical trade performance in the importation of footwear. Japan has allocated quota not to quota traders but to footwear importers, so business can take place as per footwear importers requirements. At the same time, new importers can acquire special quota for new importers.The Government of Japan implements this system in accordance with governmental regulation. Therefore, Japan believes that new importers have opportunities to obtain quotas under the current quota allocation system. Unfavorable foreign rules & regulations Voluntary export restraints limit the quantity of a good brought into a country, but they are initiated by the country producing the good, not the country receiving the good. Federal, state, and local governments sometimes restrict entry into markets by requiring firms to have licenses.The Federal Communications Commission, for example, grants licenses to radio and television stations; there simply aren't enough frequencies for an unlimited number of firms to broadcast in any area. For safety reasons, all nuclear power plants are licensed as well. Governments also bar entry by giving firms exclusive rights to a market. The U. S. Postal Service, for example, has an exclusive right to deliver first class mail. Firms are sometimes given exclusive rights to do things like operate gas stations along toll roads, produce electricity, or collect garbage in a city.Exclusive rights are granted if a government believes that there is room for only one firm in a market. Until the 1980s, the federal government also restricted entry into the airline, trucking, banking, and telecommunications industries. Many of the laws that restricted entry into these industries were put into place in the 1930s, when many people believed that large firms needed to be protected from â€Å"cutthroat competitors. † Many economists now believe that these laws did more harm than good. In 1938, for example, the Civil Aeronautics Board, or CAB, was establi shed to regulate the airline industry for interstate flights.For the forty years that it existed, it didn't allow a single new firm to enter the market, although it received over 150 applications for routes. In 1978, despite protests from the airlines, President Carter ordered the deregulation of the industry and the phasing out of the CAB. Within five years, 14 new firms entered the industry. Many experts believe that airline fares after deregulation were well below what they would have been had regulation continued. For instance, take China as an example. China’s government has set policies that are posing great challenges for foreign investors.China’s regulatory framework for cross-border remains a complex and incomplete patchwork of laws, regulations and policy decisions made by various ministries and government agencies. A lack of transparency, coupled with low standards of corporate transparency and disclosure, makes it difficult for potential investors to carry out due diligence to accepted international standards. Valuing the potential liabilities of a firm is especially difficult. At the same time, the Chinese government continues to close off so-called â€Å"strategic assets† to cross-border without specifying which sectors are defined as strategic, or why.To address these issues and remove other obstacles to cross-border deals, it is recommended for China to: †¢ Streamline the approval process for cross-border and make it more transparent; †¢ Put in place a sound competition framework; †¢ Further open its capital markets to foreign investors; †¢ Encourage its firms to increase corporate transparency and provide more up to date and accurate financial information to make it easier to value a potential acquisition, especially regarding a firm’s liabilities; Relax foreign ownership restrictions.In particular, revise existing catalogues that list the type of firms that can or cannot be acquired by foreign i nvestors. The report also recommends that China pilot these recommendations in the North-East of the country before rolling them out nationwide. This region, China’s historical industrial heartland, has a high concentration of state-owned firms in need of restructuring and technological upgrading, as well as high unemployment and low productivity. Cross-border could help rejuvenate the region’s economy. Free Trade PolicyPolicy in which a government does not discriminate against imports or interfere with exports. A free-trade policy does not necessarily imply that the government abandons all control and taxation of imports and exports, but rather that it refrains from actions specifically designed to hinder international trade, such as tariff barriers, currency restrictions, and import quotas. The theoretical case for free trade is based on Adam Smith's argument that the division of labor among countries leads to specialization, greater efficiency, and higher aggregate production.The way to foster such a division of labor, Smith believed, is to allow nations to make and sell whatever products can compete successfully in an international market. Arbitrary tariff classifications Regional wise review: Africa: The eight sub-Saharan African countries under review are undertaking economic and political reforms to promote economic growth and to facilitate their integration into global markets. Most of the countries have taken steps to improve their investment climate and are actively seeking foreign investment. Tariffs have been reduced, but remain high in certain sectors and countries. Other issues hampering U.S. exporters in sub-Saharan Africa include ineffectual enforcement of intellectual property rights, onerous customs delays, and corruption. Canada: The United States trades more with Canada than with any other country, but a number of issues threaten this partnership. The 1996 U. S. -Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement, which covers $7 billion in tra de, was created to mitigate the effects of Canadian provinces' timber sales practices and to provide time for reform. But the United States has seen little change in these practices and continues to be concerned with the lack of market principles in Canadian forest management systems.The Canadian Wheat Board has been reorganized but continues to enjoy government-sanctioned monopoly status, as well as other privileges that restrict competition. In October 2000, USTR initiated a 12-month investigation of the wheat board's practices in response to an industry petition. Canada committed to bring its dairy export subsidy regime into compliance with its WTO obligations by January 31, 2001: Instead, it instituted programs that essentially replicate the old regime. The United States has requested WTO authorization to suspend trade concessions if a WTO appeals panel determines that Canada has not complied.China: The United States and China continued multilateral negotiations on China's acces sion to the WTO throughout 2000. In preparation for accession, the Chinese government launched a campaign to align domestic laws and regulations with WTO rules. But a number of problems continue to plague the bilateral trade relationship. Import standards and requirements are being used to create import barriers for products that will benefit from tariff cuts following accession to the WTO. Imports of products ranging from cosmetics to medical equipment are required to undergo duplicative and expensive quality and safety inspection procedures.Imports of agricultural products such as grain, poultry and citrus have been arbitrarily blocked. Transparency continues to be an issue for both foreign and domestic firms. Inconsistent notification and application of existing laws and regulations create problems for businesses. China has made improvements in its intellectual property rights protection regime, but a high level of product counterfeiting and copyright piracy continues. European U nion: Several European Union policies continue to create significant barriers to U. S. economic interests.These include the bananas regime, bans on U. S. beef from livestock treated with hormones and on U. S. bio-engineered products, member state government financial support to the aircraft industry, and widely differing EU standards, testing, and certification procedures. Many U. S. trade concerns stem from the lack of transparency in the development of EU regulations. The United States views transparency and public participation as essential to promote more effective trans-Atlantic regulatory cooperation, to achieve better quality regulation, and to help minimize possible trade disputes.India: Access to the Indian market has improved with the removal in the last year of longstanding quantitative restrictions on a wide variety of products. However, India continues to impose substantial barriers to U. S. exports, including high tariffs and related taxes, and a variety of non-tariff measures affecting most trade, including an onerous import licensing regime. Inadequate intellectual property protection and enforcement remains a longstanding concern. India's policy linking auto imports to investment, local content and trade balancing is the subject of a WTO dispute.India has recently introduced new labeling and other standards-related requirements that could impede U. S. exports to India. Japan: Japan is the United States' third largest trading partner, accounting for well over $250 billion in two-way trade in goods and services. But a sputtering Japanese economy, persistent market access barriers, structural rigidity and excessive regulation limit opportunities for U. S. companies trading with, and operating in Japan. The United States is encouraged that Prime Minister Mori agreed with PresidentBush in their Joint Statement on March 19, 2001, about the importance of promoting deregulation, restructuring and foreign direct investment. Much of this year's report f ocuses on progress achieved under the U. S. -Japan Enhanced Initiative on Deregulation and Competition Policy. The report highlights the U. S. submission to Japan under the Enhanced Initiative in October 2000. The initiative calls on Japan to adopt additional regulatory reforms in key sectors and structural areas of the Japanese economy. This year's report includes new sections on information technology and proposed revisions to Japan's Commercial Code.The report underscores USTR's deep concern with barriers in Japan's $130 billion telecommunications sector. Competition in this sector has been stifled due to the absence of an independent regulator; weak dominant carrier regulation; high interconnection rates for both wired and wireless services; and inadequate access to rights-of-way, facilities and other services to competitors. We are concerned about the increase in barriers to Japan's agricultural market, including the level of access for U. S. rice. Japan also needs to comply wi th a WTO ruling in favor of the United States on varietals testing.Korea: Korea is one of the United States' major trading partners, and President Kim Dae Jung has made some progress toward a more open, market-oriented economic policy. However, Korea continues to impose significant barriers to U. S. imports. Korea's high tariffs and related taxes, and anti-import biases, combine to restrict seriously access for U. S. exports. Korea's auto market remains virtually closed to U. S. companies. Korea also imposes high duties and maintains other barriers on many agricultural and fishery products.The United States has expressed its concern to the Korean Government about the negative implications of recent government-directed lending on the country's restructuring efforts, and the potential inconsistency of this action with its WTO commitments. Inadequate protection of intellectual property rights continues to be a serious problem in Korea. USTR has long-standing concerns about the Korean G overnment's involvement in, and support for the Korean steel industry. Mexico: Mexico is the United States' second largest bilateral trading partner, and has been the fastest growing major U.S. export market over the last seven years. USTR welcomes Mexico's progress in promoting competition in its $12 billion telecommunications market. However, Mexico has not addressed certain outstanding issues subject to its WTO commitments. It has failed to ensure competition in its market for international services. Unfavorable quotas and embargos Quotas place limits on how much of a good can be brought into a country. Observers in Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa have frequently inveighed against U. S. trade sanctions policies aimed at punishing regimes in Cuba, Iran and Libya.They argue that sanctions and embargos have not brought the desired results, and that the Cuban, Iranian and Libyan people, rather than governments are the ones who suffer. Pundits overseas strongly support European Union retaliatory efforts designed to combat the Helms-Burton Act which allows U. S. citizens to sue foreign companies using property in Cuba confiscated from them after Fidel Castro seized power in 1959. The EU efforts includes request for the formation of a WTO dispute panel. Complaints that the Helms-Burton Act â€Å"conflicts with rules for international trade,† is â€Å"extra-territorial† in dimension, approaching â€Å"trade terrorism†.Analysts hold the strong objection against actions taken by America's allies over the sanctions issue reveals the extent of European â€Å"frustration† with the U. S. over trade issues and signals. Europe's new-found resolve to challenge the world's leading economic power. Berlin's left-of-center Die Tageszeitung, for example, held, â€Å"For more than 50 years, the U. S. has determined the rules of the global economy according to its taste. Only in recent times have the view grown in the EU that a common Europe is strong enough to have a say on an equal basis.† Criticism of the U. S. strategy, however, did not inspire observers in the press to offer other alternatives on how to promote the U. S. -stated goal of encouraging greater respect for human rights and democracy, and discouraging state-sponsored terrorism in suspect nations. This may be a good time to reinforce the idea that trade barriers are designed to protect some industries but, in fact they may hurt other industries or even consumers. Economists have found that sanctions don't often reach their political objectives and they come with high costs.A good example is the steel tariff imposed by the Bush administration, on foreign-made steel. President Bush imposed the tariffs, ranging from 8 percent to 30 percent, on some kinds of foreign steel in March 2002, in order to help the U. S. steel industry compete with foreign steel producers. Many U. S. manufacturing companies that use steel, including manufacturers of auto parts and appliances, say that the steel tariffs have raised costs for manufacturers and caused thousands of manufacturing losses. Also, people who buy cars or appliances may have to pay higher prices because of the steel tariffs.The U. S. International Trade Commission recently concluded that the tariffs have caused a $30 million net loss to the U. S. economy. In addition, the European Union is considering retaliatory tariffs against the U. S. High costs of customs administration Customs procedures for imports are time-consuming. Generally, over 10 steps are required for a typical import clearance transaction. Besides, the trade facilitation institutions are not in one place, which makes the clearance more complicated. The Kenya Customs requires more than 20 copies of bills of documents to be passed from one officer to another.The documents are not only processed slowly, but also sometimes subject to repeated examination. Similar procedures are also applied on paying of tax refunds and obta ining tax waivers and rebates on imports used for manufacture. To inspect imports, the Kenyan Customs opens almost every container, the practice of which not only delays the goods from passing the Customs, but also increases the likelihood of breakage. Customs valuation Though Kenya has implemented the Agreement on Customs Valuation since 2001, customs officials constantly uplift the declared valuation of goods instead of using the c.i. f. value provided or the supplier's invoice, which usually results in a completely higher tax liability. Information on custom valuation methods and tariffs are not disclosed. Additionally, importers are hard to question the tax liability, because the clearance process will be delayed when a dispute of valuation occurs and the high demurrage costs arising there from exert a heavy burden on the importer. Pre-shipment inspection As from June 30, 2005, pre-inspection certification is required for goods to be imported into Kenya.All goods must demonstrat e compliance with Kenya Standards or approved equivalents by evidence of a â€Å"Test Report or Certificate† from an ISO/IEC17025 accredited laboratory or recognized by the ILAC (International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation) or the IFIA (International Federation of Inspection Agencies). Goods imported without the above mentioned certificates or reports would be held at the port of entry at the importer's expense until their quality is determined. The new regulation has significantly affected the export of Chinese products to Kenya in the following two aspects.First, the quality certification has led to a substantial increase in the export cost. According to this regulation, all products to be exported to Kenya must obtain test reports or certificates from approved organizations. However, the Kenyan Market requires a small quantity of a great variety of goods and products. If every product needs a test report, then the cost will be greatly increased. Second, the Kenya Bu reau of Standards has assigned the certification of Chinese products to Intertek Testing Services, a company that monopolizes product testing and is known for its low efficiency.