Education Essay - 1244 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Most controversies over education are centered around the question of how strictly standards should be upheld. The concern over whether or not flunking students is appropriate or even in the best interest of the student is a widely discussed topic. The argument often begins with students just starting school where the question of standardized testing for kindergartners arises. The majority of people are actually against such testing because they feel that a child who is labeled as a failure at such an early age may be permanently damaged (Bowen 86). The worry over the failure issue is further traced to educators who feel children just entering school are not fully prepared. Teachers are faced with†¦show more content†¦Its givings are based strictly on financial need (Mulcahy 12). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;The government is not the only organization avoiding standardized testing; many colleges around the nation, including several elite liberal-arts colleges, have stopped requiring standard test scores for admission. These universities use other information, such as class rank and GPA, to determine eligibility (Goldstein 52-53). There is, however, much opposition to the idea of no tests. Diane Ravitch feels that testing can protect society and encourage students to try harder. She feels that tests are effective as long as students are properly prepared for them in their everyday learning (54). nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In more recent headlines, the issue of education and testing has risen again. Both major presidential candidates have voiced strong support of statewide testing in hopes of raising academic standards. This is in response to voter’s strong backing of high-stake testing in the polls. The majority of people included in a recent survey feel that students should have to pass statewide tests to progress to the following grade and even to graduate. For programs started in Texas by Governor George Bush, schools are rewarded and punished according to the student performance. Some critics express concern that pressure on students and teachers is too greatShow MoreRelatedEducation In Education1314 Words   |  6 PagesAssessment). When compared to the United States, the overwhelming difference in intelligence of teenagers between the two countries begs to question if our learning styles work well. If the U.S. can learn and execute decisions in the Department of Education to make it similar to Finland, then public schools will excel. Unfortunately, teachers create the largest obstacle currently stopping the U.S. from becoming like Finland because they do not obtain as much educational experience and skill. In AmericaRead MoreDistance Education : Education And Education1422 Words   |  6 PagesDistance education provides many benefits for the students, faculty, and universities who utilize them. For students, it provides more flexibility for their schedules, the ability to work at one’s own pace, and improves their familiarity with job-friendly technology. It also allows them to receive an education while simultaneously being employed in a full-time job elsewhere—whether that be maintaining a career or caring for a family. Distance education also keeps teaching staff at peak performanceRead MoreEducation Reform : Education And Education1043 Words   |  5 Pages Education Reform School has changed tremendously over time. School was a lot different back then than it is today. Going to school wasn’t offered to everyone. It was only offered to the upper-class. Boys and girls were schooled separately, but today our schools are diverse and have many different kinds of races. Technology did not even exist a hundred years ago but today, we use technology everyday for our schoolwork. Through the course of history, education usually matched the needs of societyRead MoreEducation, Education And Education939 Words   |  4 Pagesamenities such as health, education and security to its citizens. According to Milton Friedman, the government has a very important and critical role to play in the provision of education and more specifically provision of primary education. Government involvement in the education sector can either be in the form of loans, subsidies or grants to provide an enabling learning environment to the needy students. This paper analyzes the r ole of subsidies in the support of higher education based on Friedman’sRead MoreEducation And Influences Of Education1392 Words   |  6 PagesEducation and Influences What does it mean to be educated? When education is thought upon, one would imagine the school system starting with preschool, first grade, second grade, and third grade eventually moving on up to till the 12th. Or One might think that education is having â€Å"street smarts†... knowing which places to avoid in florida versus being a tourist just visiting. Education is defined as: the process of receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or universityRead MoreEducation And Its Impact On Education1706 Words   |  7 Pagesthe way it is in these modern’s period. Education plays a role in a development in a country. When we look at the global as a whole, we would see that educations are a factor that help for war, increase economy, increase political tension, and so on. The foundation of the society is based on education since it brings economic and social prosperity. Gaining education enhances an individual to live a respectful life in the societ y. This is because education offers a setting in which culture and valuesRead MoreThe Importance Of Education In Education744 Words   |  3 PagesIn a democratic education system, there is a balance of authority between the state, the parents, the individual, and the educators. While each group has their own claim to power over the education of children, there is still the question of who should have the most. This question often comes down to the state or the parents because they are the most complicated and influential. The primary goal of democratic education is to equip children with the knowledge and moral character needed to find successRead MoreEducation And Education : The Benefits Of Sport Education1040 Words   |  5 PagesHow we can make a definition for Sport education? It’s a way that you can make your mind and body be more stronger on your education by choosing a good sport. There will are so many good effects by doing sports, for instance, students can be to ugh after they playing basketball, and they can be If we want to analyze the effects , we need to find out the main reason that why students need to do some sports in their education. In the modern life, there are so much pressures in studying, and they canRead MoreEducation And The Education System864 Words   |  4 PagesToday, along with integration with the world on all aspects about education so the education system in my country also has many programs to help students easier gain access to the education of the world including the US. We know that English very important for students when they want to study in US so my education system has built an environment convenient for students such as English center, website, a program teach about English for students when they are at school, and STEAM system for studentsRead MoreEducation : Education And Development1281 Words   |  6 PagesChapter 11: Education and Development Education took a shift in the 1950’s in Latin America. Due to the change of society, education began to shift as well. Education in Latin America went from consumption to production and striving the development of all nations and mass education was the key to access modernization. Schooling was a way of teaching the knowledge, values, and attitudes that would modernize a society as well as uphold the industrial economy. The focal point of education in Latin America

Travel Plan and Market Segmentation Assignment Example

Essays on Travel Plan and Market Segmentation Assignment The paper "Travel Plan and Market Segmentation" is a wonderful example of an assignment on tourism. Lifestyles and lifestyle values have many factors within a particular group of people, which affect their way of life other than the cultural and religious orientation. Lifestyle segmentation allows marketers to look at the global consumers a heterogeneous group of individuals who fall under the same segmentation as a basis for the development of products or even services (Baines et al 2005). Lifestyle in this case, therefore, defines the person’s basic reactions and behavior. In many markets, there are diverse consumers who have differing lifestyles, backgrounds, and even income levels. This, therefore, means that there is no single marketing mix that can be used to cover or even attract all sectors of a market. By understanding the consumer, marketers get a clear chance to develop a mere efficient and effective marketing strategy (Fraj Martinez 2006).In any given market, ther e are many variables in consumer needs, preferences and most importantly the purchasing power which attracts consumers with a single marketing mix. There is a need to identify the factors that affect purchase decisions and then group consumers according to the presence or even the absence of the said factors (Divine Lepisto 2005). In other words, there is a need to have the marketing strategies adjusted so that they can meet the needs of a particular group. This division of the market into smaller and relatively homogenous groups is the one referred to as market segmentation.A market segment, in this case, must have a definite presence of a measurable purchasing power and size. In this case, the two couples fall under different categories and therefore the design of the product will have to be different even though there are some which they can handle at the same time (Bojanic 2007). The difference will in most cases be determined by the price and product which are mostly correlate d to their life stage difference and not age per se.It is worth noting that, this segmentation approaches a life stage that determines the consumer purchasing behavior primarily. As people move from one stage of life to another, they become consumers for different types of goods and services. In this case, Couple A, who has just married have a differing profile as compared to couple B who happens to be their parents. To satisfy these groups, then there is a need to offer them the best value possible in accordance with their group type.This report is about a travel plan for two groups which are:Couple A - Young Optimism ValsCouple B - Visible Achievements ValsThe two groups are looking for different vacations but in the same region. However, due to the difference in their lifestyles, their packages are going to be different.Vacation VenueVeniceVenice has extraordinary tourist attractions to show off which are mostly enhanced by their waterfront location.

Gang Leader For Day free essay sample

The author of â€Å"Gang Leader for a Day†, Sudhir Vankatesh, delivers an intimate look into a world most people would prefer to ignore. In the book, the graduate student formed a friendship with a local gang leader and was able to get the inside information of the gang’s role in the Chicago housing projects. ABC’s 60 Minutes and National Geographic have made outstanding videos describing in great detail, gang life. Girls in the Hood, by ABC, informs that the notion of only males in gangs is false; that there are strong female leaders that are much involved in the gang as much as males. â€Å"Maximum Security†, by 60 Minutes, informs the audience about how gang leaders turned Pelican Bay, a prison fortress, into their own head courters of criminal activity. â€Å"World most Dangerous Gang†, by National Geographic, describes how important it is to deal with violent gangs and not make the same mistake twice. Sudhir Vankatesh is a brave sociologist who wanted to live the life of the very thing he studied. In 1989, Vankatesh was a graduate student from University of Chicago and for his research he had come to spend time with the Black King gang. The author stayed in the Robert Taylor housing project which was next to the university; although, the staff of the university made it clear that these areas were places to be avoided. He started to attend seminars that analyzed typical sociological enquiries which he felt did not portray an accurate sociological prospective of the people who lived in the projects. He liked the questions the researchers were asking, but compared them with the vibrant life he saw on the streets of Chicago, the discussion of these seminars seemed cold and distant. The author decided to go with the direct approach in which he had a firsthand experience in his research, instead of a more common approach of using surveys and questionnaires. The biggest reason why Vankatesh did not want to base his research on surveys is because their validity is not one hundred percent accurate. Vankatesh’s research method was not clear to him when he approached Hyde Park for the first time. It is understood that throughout the book he used the participant and observation method: seeing people face to face. He meets J.T at the park and soon realizes that he is a Black King Gang member. They form an unusual friendship because they are both intrigued with each other. J.T. has a college degree and he had a job but he felt that  he could not grow within the workforce due to his ethnicity. The blue-collar occupation that J.T. worked at could not promise better pay so he had to go back to the projects where he grew up and ran the Black King Gang. His authority was easy to achieve because he was well known throughout the project community. He mostly dealt with people like a business man but sometimes he had to put people in line through brutal violence. The Robert Taylor homes housed many poor African Americans which results in de facto (‘in actual fact†) segregation. The occupants consisted mainly of single parent homes which attributed to their socio financial status. The deprived African Americans experience hypersegregation because of the geo-political region. The local law enforcement’s lack of presence encourages locals to seek the Black King Gang for justice. J.T, gang’s leader, regulates the kind of punishment suitable for each situation. After Brass and C-Note went against J.T.’s rule to make Vankatesh leader for a day they were brutally assaulted. The consequence of their behavior resulted in punishment sanction that encouraged conformity to the gang’s cultural norms. The Black King Gang organizes itself to efficiently perform responsibilities. The bureaucratic gang has a â€Å"Board of Directors† at the top of it hierarchy that oversees the grand operation. J.T. is an instrumental leader because he focuses on completing tasks. His take charge attitude and outgoing personality are all traits of a born leader. As a leader he had to keep the gang motivated to keep sell the illegal substances. J.T. understands the consequences of breaking the law so he never carried a gun or drugs because it would send him to prison. The people of the Robert Taylor Homes value the hierarchy of the gang because it serves them as protection. Squatters, people who sleep in the halls, usually cause a lot of trouble because of their alcohol and drug abuse. The female tenants feel comfortable enough to tell J.T. if the squatters are harassing them. Being organized allows the gang to run more efficiently when performing tasks. In chapter four of â€Å"Gang Leader for a Day† the author gets a chance in a lifetime: he was appointed leader of the gang for one day with, of course, help from J.T., T-Bone, and Price. They discuss the ongoing problem of rival gangs wanting to take their territory explained that he pays the local homeless of the area to keep an eye out just to have a second reference, when a problem occurs. The author concludes that his peers, other sociologist, have a false  understanding of the kinds of positive outcomes gangs bring to The Robert Taylor community. The latent function of the gang’s role is that they try their best to protect the men and women who do not abuse drugs and are too poor to care for themselves. Girls in the Hood put together a lot of videotape shot over a four month period by Mara and Jokey, two female gang associates in East Los Angeles. Mara is one of the leaders of Tapa 13. Tapa is the name of her neighborhood and 13 stands for the south. Jokey is a member of the drifters in East L.A. She has stolen cars, sold drugs, and shot at her enemies. They acclaimed this life style because they are in it for the thrill and danger. Even though they do all these not so great things they value religion. In the video there is a clip of a mural of the Virgin Marry spray painted as a totem to the Neighborhood. Mara explains that this sacred symbol is presented in an area where acts of crime are ordinary. The community values religion and believes in biblical figures yet still acts in atrocious behaviors. As for Jokey, stealing and selling drugs is norm. During the Rodney King riots in 1992 Jokey looted local shopping malls and was scorned by her father. They both explain that their gang is like a second family. The major function of this family is the social placement of one another. Its main focus is to have social organization and pass down race, ethnicity and religion. The video â€Å"Maximum Security† explained how gang members live in the Security Housing Unit (SHU). Prisoners are locked in their cells 23 hours a day. For the hour outside their cells the prisoners are allowed out in the yard to do some form of exercise. In their cells they communicate with each other through the drains. Inside the SHU, gangs find new ways of collaborating because it’s the best way to keep under the radar of the guards or other gang members. The language used here is not used by the average citizen in the United States. The system of symbols such as hand gestures and sign language are specifically understood by the members of the gang. The gangs are able to send out orders to murder and money launders from within this metal fortress. In their cells however it is much harder to converse in SHU through hand gestures, so they started fishing. Fishing is when a person from a cell writes a note and attaches it to a line, made out of bed sheets, and launches it hoping it lands in the right place. If it goes off course or one of the guards picks it up they just make another one because they have a  lot of time on their hands. The Guards consider â€Å"fishing† a nuisance and in a sense a folkway of inmates. The video â€Å"World’s Most Dangerous Gang† focuses on the notorious MS-13 which is 10,000 foot soldiers strong and spanning from El Salvador to Canada. Originating in East Los Angles, MS-13 acts like an underground business or black market that defends its territory through ruthless violence. To stay in business, the gang must keep their coldblooded reputation and it is considered a norm to kill. This allows the gang to keep their profits coming in. A former gang member is interviewed in the short film; his name is Jester; when he was only eight years old he was jumped in. To be jumped in is to undergo a vicious beating for no more than 13 seconds. This gang is involved in more crime than any other gang in the world. The U.S Government decided to send captured MS-13 members to El Salvador in attempt to get rid of the problem. This caused the gang to become stronger and larger because the officials in El Salvador are not as strong as the officers in the U.S. The sociological theory of deviance best explains gang life is differential-association theory. According to Edwin Sutherland â€Å"a person’s tendency toward conformity or deviance depends on the amount of contact with others who encourage or reject conventional behavior† (Macionis). The differential-association theory applies to many kinds of deviant engagements. For example, MS-13 provides conditions in which young individuals learn to become lawbreakers. This gang defines itself as countercultural and glorifies viciousness, vengeance, and corruption as means to achieving social status. Gang members learn to be deviant as they embrace and conform to their gangs norms. It focuses on evolving the nature of criminality because adolescents usually learn deviance from the people who spent the most time with it. Fortunately none of my family members are involved in any gang or criminal activity. I do understand that being in a gang gives people the sense that they belong to group. I have a fairly large family and we are very close. If I did not feel like I belonged to my family there would have been a big chance that I would have spent more time with negative influences. ABC’s, 60 minutes, and National geographic did an excellent job in getting the inside story of gangs and the life. It breaks the false interpretation mass media gives to the general public. Maximum Security, by 60 minutes, informs the audience on how the gangsters in Pelican Bay send out orders to do heinous activity. â€Å"World’s most Dangerous  Gang†, by National Geographic, describes how important it is that law enforcement deal with violent gangs and not send them to another region of the world to wreak havoc. Sudhir Vankatesh lived in the shoes of a gangster’s life for one day to personally experience the culture poor African Americans live in.

Lichen an Example by

Lichen by Expert Lilliana | 06 Dec 2016 A lichen is an association between a fungus (mycobiont) and a photosynthetic symbiotic (photobiont) that results in a stable thallus, or body, of specific structure. The photobiont is either an alga or a cyanobacterium. A remarkable feature of a lichen is the transformation that the symbionts, in particular the fungus, undergo during the association. A new entity, the thallus, is formed, and unique chemical compounds are synthesized. The physiological behaviour of the symbionts also changes in symbiosis. There are about 15,000 species of lichens, an indication that this type of symbiosis has been highly successful and has involved many species of fungi. Surprisingly, only about 30 different types of algae and cyanobacteria have been reported as photobionts. Need essay sample on "Lichen" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed A lichen thallus usually consists of layers such as an upper and lower cortex, algal layer, and medulla. The layers differ in thickness and are better developed in some species than in others. Fungal hyphae make up most of a thallus; the photobiont cells are only a small percentage (about 7%) of the total volume. There are three main types of thalli: crustose, foliose, and fruticose. A crustose thallus lacks a lower cortex and is generally considered to be the most primitive type. Thalli of Lepraria species do not have layers but consist only of powdery granules. There are more species of crustose lichens than other types, and most of them belong to the genera Lecanora and Lecidea. Many crustose lichens stick tightly to the substratum and appear to be painted on it. Some species grow inside rock crevices and bark and still manage to produce separate layers. Squamules are typical of many species of Cladonia. Squamules are a specialized type of crustose thallus and are attached at only one end to the substratum. A foliose thallus has an upper and lower cortex, an algal layer, and medulla and is usually loosely attached to the substrate by hairlike structures called rhizines. The thallus has many different sizes and shapes and is often pided into lobes. Common foliose genera include Anaptychia, Cetraria, Parmelia, Physcia, and Xanthoria. Some foliose lichens, such as Umbilicaria (rock tripe), have thalli that are attached to the substrate by only one central point. Fruticose thalli are upright or hanging, round or flat and often highly branched. Thalli of Usnea are hairlike and can reach a length of 5 m, whereas those of Evernia are shorter and strap-shaped. The layers of a fruticose thallus may surround a central thick cord, as in Usnea, or a hollow space as in some Cladonia species. Lichens grow practically everywhere - on and within rocks, on soil and tree bark, on almost any inanimate object. They grow in deserts and in tropical rainforests, where they occur on living leaves of plants and ferns. They have been found on the shells of tortoises in the Galapagos Islands and on large weevils in New Guinea. In the dry valleys of Antarctica, endolithic lichens, such as Buellia and Lecidea, grow inside sandstone crevices. Dermatocarpon fluviatile and Hydrothyria venosa grow in freshwater streams, and species of Verrucaria are common in the intertidal zones of rocky, ocean shores. Verrucaria serpuloides is a permanently submerged marine lichen that grows on stones and rocks 4-10 meters below mean low tide off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Douglas Larson has estimated that about 8% of the earth's terrestrial surface is dominated by lichens. Lichens abound in areas with high annual humidity, such as the fog belt zones of Chile and Baja California. Extensive lichen populations also grow in the cool, northern forests of the world, where hundreds of miles of forest floor are covered with thick carpets of reindeer lichens (Cladonia). Lichens with organized thalli do not grow well in areas that are continuously wet, such as tropical rainforests. Only poorly organized species of Lepraria and leaf-inhabiting lichens are found in these regions. Lecanora conizaeoides and Lecanora dispersa colonize trees and gravestones in industrial cities and towns, but most lichens cannot tolerate the polluted atmosphere and persistent dryness of urban areas. Lichens are dispersed by thallus fragments and vegetative diaspores such as isidia and soredia. Each diaspore consists of a few algal cells and fungal hyphae. Soredia are powdery granules that originate inside the thallus, as localized overgrowths of algae and hyphae, and break through the upper cortex. Isidia are cylindrical extensions of the thallus. About 39% of all foliose and fruticose species of lichens produce isidia. Diaspores are dispersed by water, wind, insects, and birds. Lichen fungi produce the same type of reproductive structures as other ascomycetes. Only some aspects of the sexual process have been seen in lichens, such as the fusion of microconidia to the tips of trichogynes. Dispersal of photobionts occurs by means of motile (zoospores) and nonmotile (autospores) spores. The basic unit of a lichen thallus is one algal cell with enveloping hyphae. Fungal hyphae adhere to the surface of an algal cell by means of a mucilage produced by both symbionts. As the fungus envelops the algal cells, it forms two types of specialized cells, appressoria and haustoria. These structures are common features of pathogenic fungi. The appressorium fastens the mycobiont tightly to the photobiont and gives rise to hyphae that grow into the algal cell and form haustoria. Hyphae penetrate the algal cell by enzymatic and physical means; that is, they partially dissolve their way through the algal wall and also push their way through. The plasma membrane of the algal cell always remains intact, no matter how deeply the hyphae grow inside the cell. The lichens are a unique example of symbiosis. Most of the studies that have dealt with the physiological interactions between lichen symbionts have focused on the passage of nutrients from the photobiont to the mycobiont. In a lichen thallus the photobiont excretes more than 90% of the carbon that it fixes photosynthetically as a polyol or a sugar such as glucose. The polyol excreted by green symbionts is ribitol, erythritol, or sorbitol; bluegreen photobionts excrete glucose. The fungus may control the rate of polyol excretion by the photobiont. Carbon dioxide stimulates photosynthesis of the photobiont, while NH 3 increases its respiration and carbohydrate release. When the lichen fungus is actively growing, it can increase the flow of nutrients from the photobiont cells by producing more urease. Lichen acids and certain proteins act as a feedback control because they inactivate urease. Polyols and glucose released by the photobionts are absorbed by the mycobiont and converted to mannitol, which is a fungal storage product. Such a conversion creates a sink to which algal nutrients continue to flow. The fungus uses some of the mannitol for growth and development, but the rest is used to help it withstand the extreme conditions of its habitat. Lichens contain unique secondary compounds, which are commonly called lichen acids. These compounds were thought to be products of the symbiosis, but studies of isolated mycobionts growing in culture with high concentrations of sucrose have revealed that the fungus alone produces these compounds. In lichens secondary metabolism appears to be connected to desiccation and aerial growth of the mycobiont. Secondary compounds of lichens may have important ecological roles. Many have antibiotic activity and may prevent the microbial decay of lichen thalli, which may live for hundreds and even thousands of years. Lichen substances are also chemical weathering compounds that have a role in soil formation because of their chelating properties. Lichens - unique life forms that actually are two separate organisms, a fungus and an alga, living in symbiosis - are especially susceptible to air pollution. According to James P. Bennett, a research ecologist with the National Biological Service, Small plantlike organisms, lichens once were found in every corner of the world. Now, at least a dozen areas in North America - from Los Angeles to tracts of rural Pennsylvania - are classified as lichen deserts. Many northern and alpine animals - including moose, elk, muskox, and a number of ground-feeding birds - turn to lichens when the winters are long and other types of food are scarce. For these animals, lichens are "famine foods." In addition, birds and squirrels incorporate lichens in the latticework of their nests to insulate, cushion, and conceal their eggs and young. Humans, too, have benefited from lichens and their products for thousands of years. Lichen extracts were used for dyes in ancient Greece and Rome, as recorded by Pliny and Dioscoridis. Many of the methods for extracting and preparing lichen dyes were perfected in Europe during the Middle Ages. In the twentieth century, biologists found orcein to be a useful agent for staining chromosomes, enhancing their visibility under a microscope. A closely related dye, litmus, has been widely used to test the pH (acidity or alkalinity) of solutions. The extracts from some lichen species, including oakmoss (Evernia prunastri) and tree moss (Pseudevernia furfuracea), are used by the cosmetics industry for fixative agents in perfumes. In addition, usnic acid - obtained from species belonging to several genera (such as Usnea, Cetraria, Cladonia, and Parmelia) - promises to be useful in antibiotic salves, herbicides, and deodorants. Today we can find lichens in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and colours. Lichens occur in every type of habitat, promote soil development, reveal air quality, and serve as sources of food, dyes, and medicines. How will lichens be used in the future? Perhaps they will lead us to new nutritional products, important tests for environmental health, or valuable pharmaceutical. Time will tell. In the meantime, let us begin to appreciate this group of organisms that already had contributed so much but are acknowledged so little. Works Cited Air Pollution Is Decimating Lichens. USA Today 124 June 1996. Hylander, Clarence J. The World of Plant Life. The Macmillan Company, 1969. Macy, Joanna. Deep Ecology and the Council of All Beings. Re-vision 16, 1993. Paracer, Surindar and Ahmajian Vernon. Symbiosis: An Introduction to Biological Association. Oxford University Press, 2000. 113. Smith, Dwight G. Partners for life. World and I. 18 April 2003.

The Audobon Zoo free essay sample

THE AUDUBON ZOO, 1993 The Audubon Zoo is located in New Orleans, Louisiana and is a 501(3)(c) non-profit organization. In 1914 the Audubon Commission was created to maintain and develop Audubon Park. In 1919 the Audubon Institute was established as the parent agency. Over the next several decades many changes would occur including the addition of a monkey cage, mammal cage and a deer paddock. Louisiana school children purchased the first elephant in 1924 and shortly thereafter an aquarium and sea lion pool was added. Through the Great Depression of the 1930s and 1940s the zoo was barely able to keep its doors openand in the 1950s it was labeled an animal â€Å"ghetto† by the media. In 1970 the U. S. Humane Society insisted the zoo be brought to industry standards. In the early 1970s the Commission worked closely with Mr. Ron Forman, City Hall Liaison for Audubon Park, to pass a special referendum that generated close to $2 million in bonds. We will write a custom essay sample on The Audobon Zoo or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page These funds were the beginning of the Zoo’s restoration project that enabled it to expand from 19 acres to over 55 acres. Volunteers at the Zoo formally became known as Friends of the Zoo. By the 1980s the Zoohad received accreditation from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association and was noted as one of the nation’s top-rated zoological parks. And in 1989, Friends of the Zoo became known as Audubon Nature Institute where it remains today. Today, the zoo combines research laboratories with acres of pristine natural habitat where rare and endangered animals roam and reproduce (ANI, 2009). The Audubon Nature Institute’s mission to servesone purpose: Celebrating the Wonders of Nature. Its facilities carry on this mission through the Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, Entergy IMAX Theatre, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, Audubon Wilderness Park, Audubon Insectarium and Audubon Nature Institute Foundation. Additional opportunities for the Zoo include technological advances in animal breeding and new interactive computer programs that allow visitors to become educated about the animals history, environment, special characteristics, feeding and origination. Educational programs for both children and adults are offered through visitor programs, school field trips, outreach programs, and educator’s resources. A very real threat to the Zoo is the unpredictability of Mother Nature. New Orleans is located on the Gulf of Mexico and hurricanes cause a threat to coastal areas during the summer and fall seasons. Tourists and residents will be deterred from visiting the Zoo during inclement weather and will have a negative impact on admissions revenue for an undetermined amount of time. A SWOT analysis is essential in evaluating the market potential of the Zoo. In areas of strength; new attractions will draw repeat customers and with the educational activities offered year round there is a limitless supply of â€Å"new† school children as they grow and develop their interest in the world around them. The rehabilitation center for injured animals is a favorite of the public and should be marketed accordingly. And, the Zoo’s Center for Research of Endangered Species has been recognized as â€Å"top notch† and as such also holds considerable value in marketing. The one major weakness of the Zoo is its absolute necessity to depend on donations from a generous public. Unfortunately, not all funds that are pledgedare actually received by the Zoo and this creates challenges in budgeting from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year. In a poor economy when the public are forced to worry about basic survival needsdonations will sharply decline. While the Zoo enjoys a heavy supply of volunteers, which creates a positive image to the community, they cannot be held to the same standards as paid employees. Volunteers are more apt to come and go as they will and this leaves the Zoo at the mercy of over worked, understaffed employees. A financial analysis of the Zoo reveals that it has done very well and that at the end of 1982 it was virtually self-sufficient. Improved efficiency in the area of operations was the first step towards this turnaround. The Zoo is entering a maturity stage and should look for opportunities to reduce its employment costs, non-value added programs and departments, administrative supplies and expenses associated with daily overhead. Media exposure can be highly expensive and as a non-profit entity the Zoo should take advantage of as much free exposure as possible. Press releases about new acquisitions, programs, animals, and the rehabilitation center should be sent to the media on a continuing basis. News articles with information about the different animals and the lands they originate from could become a regular travel guide feature of the local print media. Holding special events for a targeted segment of the public could draw additional revenue; live music on the green or in the park, Sunday afternoon Jazz Concert, or birthday parties with the special child’s favorite animal as the thememay stimulate growth in revenue. Another idea would be to consider an â€Å"adopt-an-animal† program. Local schools, businesses or individuals could agree to â€Å"adopt† an animal and provide monetary support through fund-raising or in-kind donations. Offering a yearly pass for residents at a discounted rate may seem contradictory to the idea of increased revenue but, if the community felt that they could visit the Zoo at any time without paying an entrance fee they may be more apt to spend discretionary dollars on hats, tee-shirts, sweat-shirts or other accessories, concession stand items and impulse buying of souvenirs. Key factors in bringing a successful turnaround of the Zoo begins with the original bond of $2 million and the total of a $5. 6 million development program that was created by the Audubon Park Commission. These funds permitted expansion of the Zoo to its present 48 acres allowing the area to be divided into geographic sections that featured the differentiation of the animals. Next was the implementation of admission charges to generate revenue and help off-set the few donations the Zoo received. The creation of the group Friends of the Zoo, which managed guidelines for the many topics and programs available also offered the edZOOcators conductededucational programs. The implementation of fundraising through new and interesting events and finally, the continuous expansion of programs and updating of other programs helped to create the Zoo’s success.

Child labor Essays - Childrens Rights, Childhood, Human Trafficking

Child labor Essays - Childrens Rights, Childhood, Human Trafficking Child labor is a worldwide issue but particularly in developing countries. I have chosen this topic due to my interest on childrens rights. I have found it very cruel to force little children to work while childhood is a critical time for healthy human development. What is child labor? Child labour is defined as employment of children in an early age 5-17, under hazardous conditions. Not all works are defined as child labor and only it can be called Child labor when the conditions under which it is performed and the time that it takes is not suitable for child depending on their age or ability. Statistics have shown that currently Eritrea, Somalia are the top the latest list for countries where child labour is most prevalent. Throughout the research that UNICEF has done there is an estimation of 150 million children aged 5-14 in developing countries were involved in child labour in 2011. Of these children, the international labour organisation (ILO) estimates that 60% work in agriculture. Key point one: There are many forms of child labour worldwide and the main reason for its occurrence is poverty. Children are to pay off debts incurred by parents and grandparents or in many instances children are orphans and have no place to go. Therefore nowadays there are many children who are employed by child traffickers in different areas such as agricultural labor, mining, manufacturing, domestic service, types of construction, scavenging and begging on the streets. Most child laborers do not receive protection and when they get ill or injured not only their regular wage but also their cost of treatment is not received. In fact child traffickers violate childrens right by employing them with unfair wages and in some cases just providing them food. In this case childrens lack of knowledge let child traffickers to continue their crime. Key point two: impacts The impacts of Child labor is vast. As we all know the fact that all of our development such as physical, cognitive (thought/learning) and behavioral happens during our childhood therefore it is a critical time for us. In this age children need should be taken into consideration more than any other time in order for them to have a healthy and safe development. Unfortunately Child Laborers miss out on this opportunity. Many of these children work under hazardous conditions and these hazards and risks affects adults and for sure more strongly children. These risks cause last-longing injuries and lack of physical development essentially on brain development while working in a place surrounding with poisonous gases like manufactories. These children may also suffer from mental pain from working and living in an environment where they are harassed or experience violence and abuse. In addition, child labor affect childs future as their chance of education is denied and later on as adults t hey have little chance of obtaining a decent job and escaping the cycle of poverty. United nation has said that "All of the worst forms of child labor must be eradicated. Child labor not only violates human rights but also the natural foundation of a serious threat to the future social and economic development. Trade, competition and economic efficiency should not be an excuse for the violence. "(The declaration of employment and decent work / Board of Directors of the United Nations. Geneva 2007) I strongly agree with this quote. I believe that communities across the world should take this issue into earnest consideration so that the steps taken towards child labour would bring an end to this issue which has been recognised as a social problem. I feel the best way to abolish child labour is to abolish poverty as long as it is the main cause of this issue. The other way to alleviate child labour is to have stronger government intervention. Bibliography: Child Labor and Child Abuse in Developing Countries 2011, Unite For Sight, 1 February, accessed 23 June 2015, uniteforsight.org/gender-power/module4>. Erin, S 2010, Why does child labour happen?, Globalization and Child Labour, 1 November, accessed 25 June 2015, http://globalizationandchildlabour.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/why-does-child-labour-happen_30.html>.

Child labor Essays - Childrens Rights, Childhood, Human Trafficking

Child labor Essays - Childrens Rights, Childhood, Human Trafficking Child labor is a worldwide issue but particularly in developing countries. I have chosen this topic due to my interest on childrens rights. I have found it very cruel to force little children to work while childhood is a critical time for healthy human development. What is child labor? Child labour is defined as employment of children in an early age 5-17, under hazardous conditions. Not all works are defined as child labor and only it can be called Child labor when the conditions under which it is performed and the time that it takes is not suitable for child depending on their age or ability. Statistics have shown that currently Eritrea, Somalia are the top the latest list for countries where child labour is most prevalent. Throughout the research that UNICEF has done there is an estimation of 150 million children aged 5-14 in developing countries were involved in child labour in 2011. Of these children, the international labour organisation (ILO) estimates that 60% work in agriculture. Key point one: There are many forms of child labour worldwide and the main reason for its occurrence is poverty. Children are to pay off debts incurred by parents and grandparents or in many instances children are orphans and have no place to go. Therefore nowadays there are many children who are employed by child traffickers in different areas such as agricultural labor, mining, manufacturing, domestic service, types of construction, scavenging and begging on the streets. Most child laborers do not receive protection and when they get ill or injured not only their regular wage but also their cost of treatment is not received. In fact child traffickers violate childrens right by employing them with unfair wages and in some cases just providing them food. In this case childrens lack of knowledge let child traffickers to continue their crime. Key point two: impacts The impacts of Child labor is vast. As we all know the fact that all of our development such as physical, cognitive (thought/learning) and behavioral happens during our childhood therefore it is a critical time for us. In this age children need should be taken into consideration more than any other time in order for them to have a healthy and safe development. Unfortunately Child Laborers miss out on this opportunity. Many of these children work under hazardous conditions and these hazards and risks affects adults and for sure more strongly children. These risks cause last-longing injuries and lack of physical development essentially on brain development while working in a place surrounding with poisonous gases like manufactories. These children may also suffer from mental pain from working and living in an environment where they are harassed or experience violence and abuse. In addition, child labor affect childs future as their chance of education is denied and later on as adults t hey have little chance of obtaining a decent job and escaping the cycle of poverty. United nation has said that "All of the worst forms of child labor must be eradicated. Child labor not only violates human rights but also the natural foundation of a serious threat to the future social and economic development. Trade, competition and economic efficiency should not be an excuse for the violence. "(The declaration of employment and decent work / Board of Directors of the United Nations. Geneva 2007) I strongly agree with this quote. I believe that communities across the world should take this issue into earnest consideration so that the steps taken towards child labour would bring an end to this issue which has been recognised as a social problem. I feel the best way to abolish child labour is to abolish poverty as long as it is the main cause of this issue. The other way to alleviate child labour is to have stronger government intervention. Bibliography: Child Labor and Child Abuse in Developing Countries 2011, Unite For Sight, 1 February, accessed 23 June 2015, uniteforsight.org/gender-power/module4>. Erin, S 2010, Why does child labour happen?, Globalization and Child Labour, 1 November, accessed 25 June 2015, http://globalizationandchildlabour.blogspot.com.au/2010/11/why-does-child-labour-happen_30.html>.

Nursing Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Nursing - Assignment Example To bring out the best of employee productivity, teamwork has emerged as the catalyst to the exploitation of synergies of individual abilities and potential. This discourse presents a few team development concepts that a manager must consider. The best performing and functional teams depict utilization of the best practices in putting together a winning and balanced team. The most important formula in the development of a winning team is working on the interpersonal needs of the team working as a group. As opposed to the scientific management approach employed in the rationalized productivity of an individual, teamwork emphasizes on the cooperation of individuals in delivery of their mandate. To develop a functional team, the organization requires the facilitation and cultivation of an operating culture. Communication within the organization is mandatory at all levels of the organization; appropriate vertical and horizontal communication needs must exist (Abudi, 2010). All members of the team need to feel accommodated to air their views and the culture establishes the general expectation that useful and relevant communication is a right to every team member. In addition, members of the team require a platform to discuss operations, progress and challenges with an aim of brainstorming on the appropriate course of action. The team leader and the team members are equal in the definition of the solution to challenges and tasks, but they differ in the implementation roles. Moreover, deliberations on the regular team discussions must forge a consensus in order for the team to be successful. Dissenting views must arrive at a compromise before the team meeting closes, failure to which the dissent renders the team powerless and useless. In addition, members’ commitment in the solutions contributions to executing allocated tasks determines the outcomes of the team agenda. Laxity and failure of a few members in the team

Willa Cather Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Willa Cather - Essay Example While editing the mÐ °gÐ °zine, she wrote short stories to fill its pÐ °ges. These stories, published in Ð ° collection cÐ °lled the Troll GÐ °rden in 1905, brought her to the Ð °ttention of S.S. McClure. In 1906 she moved to New York to join McClure's MÐ °gÐ °zine, initiÐ °lly Ð °s Ð ° member of the stÐ °ff Ð °nd ultimÐ °tely Ð °s its mÐ °nÐ °ging editor. During this time she met SÐ °rÐ ° Orne Jewett, Ð ° womÐ °n from MÐ °ine who inspired her to lÐ °ter write Ð °bout NebrÐ °skÐ °. In 1912, Ð °fter five yeÐ °rs with McClure's, she left the mÐ °gÐ °zine to hÐ °ve time for her own writing. Ð fter the publicÐ °tion of Ð lexÐ °nder's Bridge, Ð °lso in 1912, CÐ °ther visited the Southwest.In 1913 O Pioneers wÐ °s published Ð °nd in 1917 she wrote My Ð ntoniÐ ° while living in New HÐ °mpshire. By 1923 she hÐ °d won the Pulitzer Prize for her One of Ours, Ð °nd in this yeÐ °r her modernist book Ð  lost lÐ °dy wÐ °s published. Ð t the ti me her novels focused on the destruction of provinciÐ °l life Ð °nd the deÐ °th of the pioneering trÐ °dition.LÐ °ter CÐ °ther hÐ °d the period of despÐ °ir which wÐ °s followed by her productive success during these yeÐ °rs. Ð fter she recovered, she mÐ °nÐ °ged to write some of her greÐ °test novels, such Ð °s The Professor’s Hourse (1925), My MortÐ °l Enemy (1926), Ð °nd DeÐ °th Comes for the Ð rchbishop. She mÐ °intÐ °ined Ð °n Ð °ctive writing cÐ °reer, publishing novels Ð °nd short stories for mÐ °ny yeÐ °rs until her deÐ °th on Ð pril 24, 1947. Ð t the time of her deÐ °th, she ordered her letters burned. WillÐ ° CÐ °ther wÐ °s buried in New HÐ °mpshire (Marilyn, 1996).Like many artists, Willa Cather knew personal conflict.... By 1923 she hd won the Pulitzer Prize for her One of Ours, nd in this yer her modernist book lost ldy ws published. t the time her novels focused on the destruction of provincil life nd the deth of the pioneering trdition. Lter Cther hd the period of despir which ws followed by her productive success during these yers. fter she recovered, she mnged to write some of her gretest novels, such s The Professor's Hourse (1925), My Mortl Enemy (1926), nd Deth Comes for the rchbishop (1927). She mintined n ctive writing creer, publishing novels nd short stories for mny yers until her deth on pril 24, 1947. t the time of her deth, she ordered her letters burned. Will Cther ws buried in New Hmpshire (Marilyn, 1996). Like many artists, Willa Cather knew personal conflict. She was a free thinker reared amidst Calvinist dogma; a materialist acutely aware of the limited worth of "things"; an optimist who wanted to retain faith; a skeptic prone to depression and despair. In her fiction, successful marriages, happy families, and satisfying personal relationships are as scarce as summer rain in the New Mexican desert. Suicide marks her pages like the Platte River cuts Nebraska. Of all her conflicts, however, none is more acute or controversial than her sexuality. There are those who maintain that Cather was not homoerotic. For instance, in an interview published in the Omha World-Herald ( 1984), Susan J. Rosowski and Mildred Bennett advocate Cather's heterosexuality and maintain that her interest in other women was nothing more than school-girl crushes ( Cather Scholar 4). Sharon O'Brien , first in several essays and then in Willa Cather: The Emerging Voice, and others elsewhere have argued rather conv incingly that

Loan Processing at Capital One Essay Example for Free

Loan Processing at Capital One Essay This marketing effort, which was planned to take the form of a major mail drop, was designed to increase the volume of funded loans in about six weeks when potential customers start returning these applications. It was clear to everyone at Capital One that the operations of loan processing would play a major role in determining if the upcoming mail drop would be a success. With 14 funded loans processed per associate every month and a total of 25 associates on the team, the department does not have the capacity to handle the application volume leading to our target of 700 funded loans per month that we set following our increased marketing effort†, observed one of the managers working for Rick, â€Å"What we need is a significant increase in staff. We also need to heavily invest in information technology to further increase the productivity of the existing staff†. While it was clear that the forecasted increase in loan applications would provide a serious challenge for the underwriters, there was no consensus on what actions should be taken. As was observed by one of the executives in charge of consumer loans: â€Å"When I benchmark the productivity of our underwriting team with other companies in the industry, 14 funded loans per associate per month is not a number we can be proud of. It takes about 3 hours of actual work to fund a loan, and that includes everything from the initial interview to underwriting, quality inspection, and closing. We have 25 associates, that each works about 150 hours per month. So each associate should be able to process 50 applications per month, which gives us 1250 applications per month for the team. Even if we fund only every other loan that we underwrite, we would just need a little bit of over time to get 700 units funded. † Several others at Capital One agreed. As it was put by one of the associates in charge of direct marketing: â€Å"Frankly, if you asked me, there seems to be a lot of potential for improving productivity in our processes. I am optimistic that our upcoming mail-drop will lift productivity and utilization scores in the underwriting process since there will be a lot more work coming in. † As the person in charge for operations management, Rick had mixed feelings about these comments. On the one hand, it was true that his department’s productivity metrics had not been stellar in the past. But his associates worked very hard and were very capable. This case was developed solely as the basis for class discussion. It is not intended to serve as an endorsement, source of primary data or illustration of effective or ineffective management. All data in the case has been disguised. Rick was relatively new to this role, though he was a highly accomplished operations manager with a history of taking on tough challenges and producing strong results by redirecting his teams towards better prioritization, teamwork and focus on strategically important activities. As he looked over the marketing forecast and the target of 700 funded loans for the next month, Rick wondered what the upcoming mail drop would do to his department? And, more importantly, what could he do to help Capital One grow its consumer loan business in the most optimal way? Capital One: Background Information After graduating first in class from the Stanford business school in 1981, Richard Fairbank joined Strategic Planning Associates (SPA), a strategy-consulting firm. In 1986, Fairbank met Nigel Morris, a young associate at SPA. While analyzing the operations of a major money center bank, the two reviewed the firm’s credit card operations. Both of them were struck by the enormous profitability relative to the rest of the bank. The young consultants concluded, â€Å"Credit cards are not banking – they are all about collecting information on 200 Million people that you’d never meet, and, on the basis of that information, making a series of decisions about lending money to them and then hoping they would pay you back. † Fairbank and Morris recognized the potential of customizing credit card products based on characteristics and behavior of their customers and taking advantage of the technological advances in computers that offered companies the ability to record, organize and analyze large amounts of customer data. They realized that few products in the credit card industry were being direct marketed and that even fewer firms were fully exploiting the power of statistical analysis. Fairbank and Morris were able to convince the bank to run a test using this strategy. The test worked remarkably well, however, the bank was unwilling to adopt this new strategy. Convinced that they were onto something really big, the two pitched their idea to more than 20 national retail banks before Virginia-based Signet Bank invited them to launch its Bank Card division. Over the next several years, Fairbank and Morris ran thousands of statistical tests and eventually introduced the first balance transfer product in 1991 that revolutionized the credit card industry and saved a struggling Signet Bank. Four years later, in 1995, Signet spun off its credit card division to create the publicly held Capital One. Recognized for its innovation, customer service, information technology, and financial management, Capital One now is one of the largest issuers of Master Card and Visa credit cards in the world. Today, the company’s global customer base is close to 49 Million with managed loans totaling over $83 Billion. From its IPO in 1994 to 2005, Capital One’s stock price had increased more than 1400%. In recent years domestic diversification has become a primary component of Capital One’s strategy. After going public, the company progressed on geographic and This case was developed solely as the basis for class discussion. It is not intended to serve as an endorsement, source of primary data or illustration of effective or ineffective management. All data in the case has been disguised. product line expansion through organic growth in credit cards and a series of acquisitions in non credit card businesses. In 1998, the company acquired Summit Acceptance Corporation, an auto loan provider. In 2001, it acquired the nation’s largest online provider of direct auto loans – People First, and a leading provider of financing solutions – Amerifee. The acquisition of Onyx Acceptance Corporation ® made Capital One Auto Finance the second-largest independent auto lender in the United States. The company also acquired Kansas City-based eSmartloan, an online originator of home equity loans and mortgages; Hfs Group, a home equity loan broker in the United Kingdom; and InsLogic, an insurance brokerage based in Tennessee. A number of these diversified businesses along with some organically grown businesses reside in the Global Financial Services (GFS) organization of Capital One. The Loan processing center is one such business that supported a variety of loan products such as small business loans, Line of credits and Jumbo loans. The Loan Approval Process In the division in charge of consumer and small business loans, the marketing department solicits potential customers through direct mail and/or email campaigns, that highlight the loan product features and specials of various products that are offered by Capital One. These campaigns, which are typically carried out at a nationwide level, have an information card that can be returned by the customer. The customer uses this card to provide information concerning their name, the type of loan they are interested in and the phone number/time range that is best to reach them. Customers who respond by sending this information back enter the process and are referred to as an â€Å"App†. Each App flows through a process that consists of five steps: Interview, Workflow Coordination, Underwriting, Quality Assurance (QA) and Closing. Exhibit 1 shows the process flow with a brief description of the activities and the number of associates in each role. Interview The interview step consists of seven associates who call the telephone number specified on the information card. On a typical day between 200 and 500 potential customers are called depending on the incoming volume of customer requests. Federal privacy regulations require that financial institutions can speak about the loan only to the person who actually requested the loan. Hence, if this person is not home at the time of the call, the call has to be repeated at a later point. During the call, the associate interviews the applicant about her loan needs. Based on the customer needs, the associate offers a range of products to the customer and the loan terms such as the maximum loan amount and the interest rate associated with each product (usually a range of interest rates is provided). This case was developed solely as the basis for class discussion. It is not intended to serve as an endorsement, source of primary data or illustration of effective or ineffective management. All data in the case has been disguised. If the customer is interested in one of the products, she will start an application process with the associate. The associate follows a scripted questionnaire and enters the information being provided by the customer into a computer system. The interview associate sets the expectation with the customer on the next steps: if additional information is necessary to complete processing and approving the application, an underwriter will get in touch with the customer in 2-5 business days to get the necessary information. If all the information is complete and accurate, the applicant will receive a phone call from an Underwriter in approximately 5-10 business days outlining the next steps in the closing process. Exhibit 2 summarizes some sample data that was collected over the course of a week. The Exhibit shows it takes on average 22 to 24 minutes for an associate to process one extra app. This includes the time the associate spends talking with the applicant. It also includes the time it takes the associate to reach the applicant.

Affect And Strategy Of Environmental Factors Marketing Essay

Affect And Strategy Of Environmental Factors Marketing Essay STEEPLE/PESTLE originally designed as a business environmental scan, the STEEPLE or PESTLE analysis is an analysis of the external macro environment (big picture) in which a business operates. These are often factors which are beyond the control or influence of a business, however are important to be aware of when doing product development, business or strategy planning. Social: Dà ©lys is a chocolate based cake and a bakery Producer and as United Kingdom is one of the highest consumers of the Chocolate product, it is easily accepted by the People. It can take a speed in a market in very less time. On the other Hand as every person is busy, they prefer Baker Products which is more quick and easy to eat, every age, sex and of different geographical regions would easily adopt Dà ©lys product. Technological: The most modern bakeries are highly automated. To track and help assure compliance with government regulation that affects bakeries, companies deploy software, such as Environmental Quality management Program. Bakery Firms may use computer system to receive order, track sales and exchange the data with large customers. Dà ©lys do not have its own distribution business and retail outlets, Sales are through the main supermarket chains such as Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons. Some independent grocery chains also stock Dà ©lys products and the products also sold by Harrods and Fortnum and Mason. Which may affect the technologically in the operation of the Business. Economical: Large economies of scale occur in production baked product, is manly of labour cost can be reduced dramatically in large bakery facilities. A big automated bakery can produce a million bread loaves a week with just 100 employees working two shifts. The size of production facilities is limited by the need to distribute a highly perishable product to a large number of customers. Usually a large baking facility can service an area within a 300-miles radius. As Dà ©lys has 60 employees it could reduce the cost of production. These may be the factor affection Economical environment of the Industry. Environmental: Production is carried out at Dà ©lys Ltds own factory and by one other food manufacturer in England that is not owned by Dà ©lys Ltd. The factory must be environment friendly and should be concern about the reduction in pollutions that may effect in health of the person residing nearby. This may be the factor that may affect the operation of Dà ©lys Ltd. Political: As the Political situation of U.K is stable and that warmly welcomes the entry of the new products inside the United kingdom market, the tax policy of United kingdom is very producer friendly and conflicts is very much less likely to occur in the production like Cakes and bakeries that may affect the operation of the Dà ©lys Ltd. Legal: The basic understanding of the political legal environment is when the government implements laws and or regulations which affect the way a business operate. Legal environment in a business are as following Statutory and regulatory conditions, corporate governance, compliance, international trade regulations, competition regulation. In the case of Dà ©lys Ltd it has to be careful in food and hygiene regulation, employment policies, health and safety rules and regulation etc Ethical: The ethical factors includes Business ethics, Consent, Client confidentiality, Official Secrets Act, Security access, terms of business/trade, Trust, Reputation. As the national press has praised the quality of the products and a number of organisations have identified some Dà ©lys products as being the best of their kind in taste tests. Jo Brown has found fame as a dynamic entrepreneur and is a dragon on the BBC business show Dragons Den. Jo is a hands-on managing director and would always want to be seen as such in any business she worked in. These could ethically effect the environment of the Dà ©lys Ltd. Stake holder analysis Internal stakeholders and their interest in the company: (a) Employees. Employees and their representative groups are interested in information about the stability and profitability of their employers. They are also interested in information which enables them to assess the ability of the enterprise to provide remuneration, retirement benefits and employment opportunities, in the case of Dà ©lys Ltd 60 employees are the internal stakeholder of the Business. (b) Investors. The providers of risk capital and their advisers are concerned with the risk inherent in, and return provided by, their investments. They need information to help them determine whether they should buy, hold or sell. Shareholders are also interested in information which enables them to assess the ability of the enterprise to pay dividends. (Investors are owners of the co. It can be argued that they are external stakeholders, but its also hard to call your owners outsiders) In the case of Dà ©lys Ltd its a Private Company so the investor is Dà ©lys itself. (c) Management and those who appointed them. Financial statements also show the results of the stewardship of management, or the accountability of management for the resources entrusted to it. Those users who wish to assess the stewardship or accountability of management do so in order that they may make economic decisions; these decisions may include, for example, whether to hold or sell their investment in the enterprise or whether to reappoint or replace the management. External Stockholder The external stakeholders can be considered as anyone outside the implementing Organisations that could be affected by the projects results. STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT It is not sufficient to identify the relevant groups. Named individuals need to be identified within each group and more than one person may be required for any organisation or department. The selection of these individuals will depend on the role that they are to play in the project and the requirements in terms of knowledge, authority and level of involvement that this creates. External Stockholder of Dà ©lys Ltd is Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons. Some independent grocery chains also stock Dà ©lys products and the products also sold by Harrods and Fortnum and Mason. Attitude toward the Strategy of Dà ©lys would be positive by the internal and external stakeholders, as Sales of the companys products have currently grown by more than 15% per annum every year since the company was founded and they currently amount to  £6 million annually. The net profit on sales ratio is a very healthy 10% and at this level other businesses have been attracted to Dà ©lys Ltds business model. The company has a balance sheet that shows there are assets of  £20 million funded by a mortgage of  £7 million, a long term bank loan of  £2 million and retained profits over the last 10 years of  £6 million. The residual amount comes from the shareholders equity. It employs only 60 people. Apart from one factory with attached offices, Dà ©lys Ltd owns no distribution businesses and no retail outlets. 2(a) Use appropriate tools to analyse and measure the effects and effectiveness of Dà ©lys Ltds current business plans. 2(b) Summarise the position of Dà ©lys Ltds in its current market. 2(c) Evaluate the competitive strengths and weaknesses of Dà ©lys Ltds current strategies. Existing Business Strategy Porters Five Force analysis is important when trying to understand the competitive environment facing a given industry. It involves looking at internal competition barriers to entry, the profit appropriating power of buyers and sellers, as well as substitutes to the goods produced. Applied to the bakery industries like Dà ©lys Limited it shows an average net profit that typically does not cover the cost of capital due to low barriers to entry, ease of production and ease of access to ingredients. Internal Rivalry There are many players in the bakery industries like Dà ©lys Limited. The top four companies are estimated to only account for 11.7 percent of the market. The industry is characterized by many small bakeries, but theres has been the recent trend towards consolidation and economics of scale. Businesses compare on price, quality, differentiation and relationship with key suppliers. Barrier to entry Barrier to entry in this industry is low. Economics of scale are beneficial, but are not required for industrial success. As a result, small business can enter the industry with relatively small amount of Capital. The two main Determinant of New company successes is the leader ability acquire sufficient channels of distribution to cover an operating cost and their ability to built up Brand acquisitions and Loyalty. Distribution channels typically involve retail outlets, such as grocery stores and supermarkets and they can be easily acquired if the bakery brand is established or have market research to create one. Dà ©lys Ltd Sales are through the main supermarket chains such as Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda and Morrisons. Some independent grocery chains also stock Dà ©lys products and the products also sold by Harrods and Fortnum and Mason. Buyers Buyers of the bakery industry products like Dà ©lys Ltd such as ASDA, Sainsburys, Morrison, Tesco are able to appreciate much of the industry profit due to large number of small bakeries that are buying to find outlets for their products. As a result Buyers are able to command Low price and volume discounts. Only a large player like have the power to level the playing field and achieve a more balanced share of the profit. Suppliers Suppliers do not have much negotiating power in the bakery business like Dà ©lys ltd due to the well developed market for their products and their commoditized nature of what they are saying. Cakes and pastries and child bakeries of delays ltd can be affected by price swing of the raw input, but the changes are the result of the global supply and demand determinants rather than supply negotiating power Substitutes Many substitutes exist for bakery products. Breakfast cereals, rice and potatoes are all viable alternatives and individual can also make all of the baked goods they want at home. Bakery relay upon price and convenience to keep individuals switching to a substitute for baking what they need at home. Position of Dà ©lys Ltd Product in Market Dà ©lys Ltd is a private company that makes cakes under the brand name Dà ©lys. It was founded in 2000 by Jo Brown who liked the chocolate based cakes and patisserie that was on sale in Paris. With  £75,000 Dà ©lys Ltd was founded. It makes a variety of desserts and sweets for the premium end of the market. All the output is of chilled products. Jo Brown has found fame as a dynamic entrepreneur and is a dragon on the BBC business show Dragons Den. Jo is a hands-on managing director and would always want to be seen as such in any business she worked in. Sales of the companys products have currently grown by more than 15% per annum every year since the company was founded and they currently amount to  £6 million annually. The net profit on sales ratio is a very healthy 10% and at this level other businesses have been attracted to Dà ©lys Ltds business model. The company has a balance sheet that shows there are assets of  £20 million funded by a mortgage of  £7 million, a long term bank loan of  £2 million and retained profits over the last 10 years of  £6 million. The residual amount comes from the shareholders equity. It employs 60 people. The growth in snacking and requirement for convenience foods has benefited both the biscuits and cakes and pastries sectors. Many industrially produced cakes are now available in wrapped single-portion sizes designed for snacking, while snack-sized packs of biscuits have also become more commonplace. The European market for bakery products amounted to 30.2 million tonnes in 1999, worth an estimated  £45 billion ($73 billion or i68 billion). Given its size, the bakery sector can be considered to be one of the most important sectors of the food industry as a whole. Bread remains a staple part of the diet, whilst cakes and biscuits can increasingly be regarded as regular snacking items rather than occasional treats. Bread is by far the largest sector of the bakery market, with sales of 24.45 million tonnes in 1999, equating to 81% of total bakery volumes. Sales of biscuits totalled 3.02 million tonnes, representing 10%, and cakes and pastries for the remaining 9%, or 2.73 million tonnes. There are over 120,000 enterprises active in the European bread-baking sector, the vast majority of which are small craft bakers. Craft bakers are dominant in countries where there is a tradition of buying freshly baked bread every day, such as Italy, Portugal, Greece and France. This contrasts with the situation in the UK and Ireland, where some 80% of bread consumed is industrially produced. Overall, artisanal bakers and in-store bakeries currently account for 63% of all bread consumed in Europe, although industrial bakers, which account for the remaining 37%, are becoming more significant. Within the total European biscuits market, DANONE is market leader, with a 16% share of sales, While Sales of the Dà ©lys Companys products have currently grown by more than 15% per annum every year since the company was founded and they currently amount to  £6 million annually. Ahead of United Biscuits with 11%, Bailsmen with 8%, and Barilla with 6%; own-label accounts for an estimated 18%. 3(a) Use a range of tools and models to develop a range of strategic options for Dà ©lys Ltd 3(b) Analyse the comparative strategic position taken by competitors in the market and how it may affect the choice of future strategy by Dà ©lys Ltd 3(c) Create a range of feasible options as the basis of future organisational strategy for Dà ©lys Ltd Despite the ongoing trend towards healthy eating, and the added pressures from the credit squeeze, demand for indulgent chilled desserts continues to grow. Market value increased by 14% between 2003 and 2007, and is expected to grow by 4% in 2008, taking sales to  £1,030 million. An internal shift within chilled pot desserts away from every day desserts in favour of premium lines is adding value, although overall volume growth has been subdued. Sales of other chilled desserts other than those in pots have been boosted by larger sharing formats, while a revival of family dining at the weekend has contributed to the growth of hot eating desserts. The outlook for the market remains positive, although in order to achieve longer-term growth, manufacturers will need to further increase the participation of ABC1s and increase frequency of consumption beyond special occasions. Impulse and on-the-go snacking, as well as the consumption of desserts away from main meals all offer further potential for growth. Mintel last examined the UK market for Chilled and Chilled Pot Desserts in March 2007 and July 2006 respectively. Mintel forecasts on the Bakery, cakes and pastry Industry Bread UK February 2007 Between 2001 and 2006, the retail sales volume of bread fell by 14% to 1.8 million tonnes. Mintel forecasts slower decline between 2006 and 2011 of approximately 9%. Between 2001 and 2006, the value market grew by 14%, or 9% in real terms. Mintel also forecast that it will grow by an estimated 11% over the next five years to reach a value of  £2.4 billion at current prices, which translates to a 2% rate of growth in real terms. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Bread Cakes Ireland March 2006 Retail sales of biscuits are valued at à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬252.4 million in RoI and have grown by 24% since 2000. Retail sales in NI rose from  £88.4 million in 2000 to  £114 million in 2005, representing a growth rate of 29% over the review period. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Cakes and Cake Bars UK June 2006 The UK ambient cake market comprises three main segments; whole cakes, occasion cakes and individual cakes. Sales increased by 11% from 2001 to reach a value of  £1.47 billion by 2005. In order to progress, suppliers have had to develop products to deal with current eating trends that have shifted away from the role of cake as a teatime treat or celebratory indulgence. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Morning Goods UK July 2007 The morning goods market comprises a broad range of bread rolls and bakery snack products. Most product categories continue to advance in value despite their maturity, while some notably bagels, muffins, brioche and doughnuts have been enjoying impressive rates of growth. Overall sales of morning goods increased by 11% between 2002 and 2006, to reach  £1.18 billion. This compares with a 10% rise in bread sales (excluding rolls) over the same period in a market worth  £2.11 billion. Growth has picked up since 2004, with morning goods sales increasing by 7.5% between 2004 and 2006, while sales of bread Increased by just 5.6%. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Sweet Biscuits UK May 2007 Sales of sweet biscuits stood at  £1,462 million in 2006, having achieved 2.2% growth on the previous year against a prevailing trend of healthy eating. Over the 2002-07 periods, value growth has outstripped that of volume, signalling consumers lighter consumption habits but willingness to trade up to more expensive and indulgent products. Greatest growth over the previous year was in healthier and special treat biscuits, both of which tend to retail at the premium end. Mintel forecasts that both value (in real terms) and volume sales of sweet biscuits will increase by around 7% at current prices over the 2007-12 month period, increasing to an estimated  £1.7 billion. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Non-sweet Biscuits UK October 2007 Sales of non-sweet biscuits have enjoyed slightly higher rates of growth (from a smaller starting point) due to their strong health positioning and the development of snacking variants. Snacking both at home and on the go is a key factor behind growth in sales of non-sweet biscuits. Manufacturers have already responded to this with snack pack and mini variants, but could do more to extend the relevance of non-sweet biscuits to the convenience-led on-the-go market. The newly released March edition of Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing Industry report is the comprehensive market research guide for the industry. It has the latest information on the industrys key financial data, competitive landscape, cost and pricing, and trends during the current economic climate The available options for the Dà ©lys Limited are as following: Expanding the range of desserts and sweets it makes to include Viennese and Italian styles, Expanding the range of products to include ambient and frozen products, Producing healthier products to chime in with consumers changing tastes and government initiatives on healthy lifestyles, Increase the number of retailers selling the Dà ©lys range, Producing own label products for the supermarket chains, Expanding internationally, diversifying into other product areas such as bakery, Making products for niche markets such gluten intolerants and products for specific ethnic and religious groups who have specific dietary needs., Supplying mass-market caterers and airlines, Licensing producers to use the Dà ©lys name on other food lines., Opening Dà ©lys retail outlets in retail centres., Taking over other businesses. Two local firms with good regional reputations which might be targets are Maggies Farm Breads, an artisanal bakery, valued at around  £1.5 million, and Chocolaterie de Gro ote a company that hand makes Belgian style chocolates that is worth around  £1 million. , and selling out to a large food producing business. Jo believes she could probably get  £25 million for Dà ©lys Ltd. and get a seat on the board with a view to moving up to be in charge of a FTSE listed company. Alternatively she could just walk away with the money and find new businesses and ideas to develop. She also knows that Ben and Jerrys lost a lot of its carefully developed image as a hippy ice cream maker when it sold out to Unilever and she does not want to lose the market image she has built up for Dà ©lys Ltd by selling out. But she knows everything has its price. Conclusion At the end, studying about several criteria of the Dà ©lys Limited Production, Market and the product and looking over the diversified available strategic option we could conclude the assignment. Expending the range of desserts and sweets can be the good strategic option including ambient and frozen, as U.K person are health conscious so making the product may be the effective option for Dà ©lys Limited. As Delays Limited has no any retail outlets its open to open the retail outlets may also be profitable, supplying mass-market through caterers and airlines may me seasonal options. Dà ©lys limited if licence producer to use Dà ©lys name on other food may be that suitable option in a United Kingdom market as it itself developed a good image and goodwill in a market. Diversifying into other product may also help in expending the market share. And Making product for niche market such as gluten intolerants and products for specific ethnic and religion groups who have specific dietary needs may not work in United Kingdom market. When expanding into new markets credit managers need to be concerned about the new client base, specific trade laws that may apply currency considerations and political risk. The treasury department may consider working capital concerns, advance rates from their traditional credit facility and loan covenants as part of the overall strategy. Selecting which country to sell into is often dictated by the products we produce. For example, lets say Dà ©lys Ltd. provides Cake and Pastries that are ideal for economically challenged nations. They are low cost, light weight and easily produced worldwide. Companies such as Dà ©lys Ltd may have expertise in foreign languages, laws and customs. They need a strategic partner who brings these skills to the table.

The Gravity Model of Trade

THE GRAVITY MODEL OF TRADE 1 Assignment 1: The Gravity Model Of Trade: Do Size And Distance Matter For The Exports Of Japan? THE GRAVITY MODEL OF TRADE 2 Abstract In the field of international economics, the gravity model for trade reveals that bilateral trade is directly proportional with the extent of the economy (usually expressed in GDP) and inversely proportional with the geographical distance between the analysed entities. The present report illustrates the model for the case of Japan, elaborating the trade patterns created among it and its 9 main trade partners.The parameters for the gravity equation are estimated and the relation between GDP and exports for the countries in question are depicted through a scattered plot, for a more in-depth view on the connections. By testing the model it can be observed that the trade relations of Japan are being influenced by the size of the economy and the distance to the trade partners. (JEL F100, F170) THE GRAVITY MODEL OF TRADE 3 The la w of universal gravitation was published by Isaac Newton as a general physical law.Its application was later on spread into various fields of research, succeeding to explain a series of scientific phenomena. In international economics, the gravity model of trade is used in order to predict bilateral trade flows in respect to the economic performance (measured in GDP) and distance between the two states taken into consideration. The present report aims to illustrate the gravity model of trade for the particular case of Japan, revealing how size and distance influence the country’s exports, centering the study on the relation among Japan and its 9 top trade partner countries.The model will be tested by estimating the parameters of the gravity equation, namely the elasticities for GDP and distance. In order to estimate the gravity equation, the R statistical software has been used. The data set contains information regarding exports, GDP and distance to destination country, retr ieved from the 2011 International Trade Statistics Yearbook of the United Nations. All data has 2011 as the year of reference. The GDP value for each country has been converted into billions of USD, in order to maintain the same unit of measure.Example: China’s GDP 2011 = 47. 16 trillion CN? ;exchange rate: 1$ = 6. 4588 CN? ;therefore, China’s GDP for 2011 amounts to 7,298,147 millions USD. Figure 1 shows Japan’s trade as percentage of the exports of the top-9 export destinations in 2011, versus the GDP as percentage of the total GDP reported by the top-9 export destinations. As it can be seen, China does a lot more trade with Japan than even with the U. S. A, the main reason being the small distance between the two states, which THE GRAVITY MODEL OF TRADE reduces transportation costs.In addition to this, the cultural factor has also to be taken 4 into consideration, as both Japan and China are Asian cultures sharing similar values and tastes; therefore they hav e a look-alike pattern of trade. The linear equation appears as it follows: z = 12. 03 + 0. 05 x1 – (-0. 15) x2 The coefficients of correlation in respect to GDP are b = 0. 05, therefore there is a weak relationship between trade and one country’s GDP. The coefficient of correlation in respect to distance is c=-0. 5, therefore there is also a weak relationship between trade and the distance between Japan and the trade partner country. The direct effect is that trade increases by 0. 05% when the partner country’s GDP increases by 1%, while it decreases by 0. 15% when the distance to the partner countries increases by 1%. The mean and the standard deviation (descripted variables) have been computed for the variables: GDP, exports, distance. GDP: mean= 1556897. 3, standard deviation= 2417090. 79 Exports: mean= 58211. 7, standard deviation= 52047. 57 Distance: mean=4319060. , standard deviation= 3462913. 81 The results obtained depict that the model it is indeed ver ified, but the correlations are not strong enough in order to fully explain the patterns of trade between Japan and its 9 main trade-partners. Nevertheless, we can observe that both distance between countries and the size of one country’s economy are factors that influence the trade between two states. THE GRAVITY MODEL OF TRADE 5 References: American Economic Association, JEL Classification Codes Guide. Retrieved October 6, 2012 from: http://www. aeaweb. org/jel/guide/jel. hp Centre d'Etudes Prospectives et d’Informations Internationales (CEPII) (2011). Geodesic Distances. Retrieved on October 6, 2012 from: http://www. cepii. fr/anglaisgraph/bdd/distances. htm International Monetary Fund. (2012). International Financial Statistics Yearbook 2012. Washington, DC: International Monetary Fund Krugman, Obstfeld, and Melitz (2012), International Economics Theory & Policy, (9th edition), Pearson Education United Nations. (2011). 2011 International Trade Statistics Yearbook. New York: United Nations. Retrieved on October 14, 2012 from: http://comtrade. n. org/pb/CountryPagesNew. aspx? y=2011 United Nations Statistics Division, Countries or areas, codes and abbreviations. Retrieved October 15, 2012 from: http://unstats. un. org/unsd/methods/m49/m49alpha. htm THE GRAVITY MODEL OF TRADE 6 Table 1 Japan’s Trade Partners Country Exports (millions USD) China USA Republic of Korea China, Hong Kong SAR Thailand Singapore Germany Malaysia Netherlands 162062. 1 127679. 0 66167. 5 42954. 4 37530. 60 27264. 60 23505. 50 18796. 00 17945. 80 GDP (millions USD) 7298147. 00 14660400. 00 1116247. 00 243666. 00 345672. 00 259849. 0 3607364. 00 287943. 00 838112. 00 2098111. 00 10855. 59 1156. 67 2891225. 00 4612997. 00 5326388. 00 9298341. 00 5329095. 00 9303377. 00 Distance (km) Source: Data retrieved from the 2011 International Trade Statistics Yearbook of the United Nations (2011 – year of reference) Table 1 THE GRAVITY MODEL OF TRADE 7 Figure 1. Which a re the closest trade partners for Japan? This figure illustrates Japan’s trade as percentage of the exports of the top-9 export destinations in 2011, versus the GDP as percentage of the total GDP reported by the top-9 export destinations.

Gender segregation In US Essay

In the recent past, United State has been a victim of gender inequality. For instance, in the colonial era, reading and writing were the essential skills. However, these skills were mainly taught to boys and only privileged girls. This is a clear discrimination that makes the girls child disadvantaged and thus affects her social development and limit her interaction. One of the most important aspects in human development is the gender-role development. Age between two & six are the essential stage when the children start to learn of the abilities, and gender. In making of toys for playing, the America culture separates toys for girls and boys. The boys will shy from playing with dollies and the girls also avoid playing with tennis balls. This separation affects the social development of the children in many ways. First, the playing styles and behaviors will be centered on the identity ‘I am a Girl’ or ‘I am a Boy’. This spreads to the social context of the family, school, and peer group. Most theories of social development highlight early childhood as initial and the essential stage in social development. Much of the learning in this stage occurs by imitation. That is, boys learn to be boys by observing their fathers and girls learn l to be girls by observing their mothers. When children imitate similar sex they tend to be appreciated. However, imitating the opposite sex would attract punishment. This stereotype leaves a lasting impact on the mind of the children who grow up to believe that girls and boys are different and should be treated differently. This has been the root cause of gender disparity in US. Reference: Axtell, J. (1974). Gender-Role Development – The Development of Sex and Gender. Illinois; University of Illinois Press.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Quotes

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Quotes The Boy in the Striped Pajamas follows the lives (and friendship) of two young boysacross the Holocaust fence at the Auschwitz Camp. One boy is the son of a high-ranking SS officer, while the other is the son of a Polish Jew. Here are quotes from the novel. Quotes We dont have the luxury of thinking ... Some people make all the decisions for us.One day he was perfectly content, playing at home, sliding down banisters, trying to stand on his tiptoes to see right across Berlin, and now he was stuck here in this cold, nasty house with three whispering maids and a waiter who was both unhappy and angry, where no one looked as if they could ever be cheerful again.So were here at Out-With because someone said out with the people before us?We should never have let the Fury come to dinner.He suddenly became convinced that if he didnt do something sensible, something to put his mind to some use, then before he knew it he would be wondering round the streets having fights with himself and inviting domestic animals to social occasions too.The thing about exploring is that you have to know whether the thing youve found is worth finding. Some things are just sitting there, minding their own business, waiting to be discovered. Like America. And other things are probably better off left alone. Like a dead mouse at the back of the cupboard. You wear the right outfit and you feel like the person youre pretending to be, she always told me.Bruno opened his eyes in wonder at the things he saw. In his imagination he had thought that all the huts were full of happy families, some of whom sat outside on rocking chairs in the evening and told stories about how things were so much better when they were children and theyd had respect for their elders, not like the children nowadays. He thought that all the boys and girls who lived there would be in different groups, playing tennis or football, skipping and drawing out squares for hopscotch on the ground... As it turned out, all the things he thought might be there - werent.Despite the chaos that followed, Bruno found that he was still holding Shmuels hand in his own and nothing in the world would have persuaded him to let go.A few months after that some other soldiers came to Out-With and Father was ordered to go with them, and he went without complaint and he was happy to do so because he didnt really mind what they did to him anymore. Resources Interview with Childrens Author John BoynePodcasts Downloads

Free Essays on Blaise Pascal

Blaise Pascal was a great mathematician who lived in 17th Century France. His mother was Antoinette Begon; she died when Blaise was three. His father, Etienne took the responsibility of bringing him up. Pascal had two sisters, Gilberte and Jacqueline. Pascal began his studies in 1635 with his reading of Euclid’s Elements and mastered them by age 12. This won the boy respect for his great talent in mathematics. Pascal in fact did not attend school; instead, Etienne brought him to lectures and mathematical gatherings at the â€Å"Academie Parsienne† nearly from its founding. At the early age of 16, Pascal began to play an active role in â€Å"Academie Parisienne†. There, Pascal became the principal disciple of Girard Desargues, a professor working there because he was the only one who appreciated his work in geometry. Pascal began work on conics and published several papers to do with geometry. In fact, in June 1639, Pascal has already made a significant discovery with his â€Å"mystical hexagram†. In 1641, he began to suffer from problems of health that delayed his research for a year, but he recovered and continued his work. In 1642, Pascal began to create a machine that would be similar to an everyday calculator to help his father with his accounting job. His first attempts were failures and Pascal was discouraged from working on the project for many years. He returned to it in 1644 because of the encouragement of many people. He finished the final model in 1645 after going through more than 50 incarnations of the design, he finished the final model in 1645, Pascal himself did the selling with a few associates but because of it’s high price of and limited uses, sales were probably modest. He did present one to Queen Christina of Sweden and he was allowed a monopoly over it by royal decree. Although Pascal had been raised as a Catholic, later in his life, Pascal had been converted to Jansenism in 1646 and moved to a monastery i... Free Essays on Blaise Pascal Free Essays on Blaise Pascal Blaise Pascal was a great mathematician who lived in 17th Century France. His mother was Antoinette Begon; she died when Blaise was three. His father, Etienne took the responsibility of bringing him up. Pascal had two sisters, Gilberte and Jacqueline. Pascal began his studies in 1635 with his reading of Euclid’s Elements and mastered them by age 12. This won the boy respect for his great talent in mathematics. Pascal in fact did not attend school; instead, Etienne brought him to lectures and mathematical gatherings at the â€Å"Academie Parsienne† nearly from its founding. At the early age of 16, Pascal began to play an active role in â€Å"Academie Parisienne†. There, Pascal became the principal disciple of Girard Desargues, a professor working there because he was the only one who appreciated his work in geometry. Pascal began work on conics and published several papers to do with geometry. In fact, in June 1639, Pascal has already made a significant discovery with his â€Å"mystical hexagram†. In 1641, he began to suffer from problems of health that delayed his research for a year, but he recovered and continued his work. In 1642, Pascal began to create a machine that would be similar to an everyday calculator to help his father with his accounting job. His first attempts were failures and Pascal was discouraged from working on the project for many years. He returned to it in 1644 because of the encouragement of many people. He finished the final model in 1645 after going through more than 50 incarnations of the design, he finished the final model in 1645, Pascal himself did the selling with a few associates but because of it’s high price of and limited uses, sales were probably modest. He did present one to Queen Christina of Sweden and he was allowed a monopoly over it by royal decree. Although Pascal had been raised as a Catholic, later in his life, Pascal had been converted to Jansenism in 1646 and moved to a monastery i...