International Trade A New Concept - 2257 Words

International trade is focused on the exchange of goods, services and capital across national borders. According to Ball et al. (2012) international trade brings many benefits to the consumer, such as larger variety of products and services, on the other hand also benefits the country’s economy such as creation of jobs, innovation or reduction of poverty. World Trade Organisation (2013:online) proposes that merchandise exports of WTO members totalled US $17.3 trillion in 2012 and export of commercial services totalled US $4.25 trillion in 2012 and suggests that size of the international trade continues to increase. The top five world’s merchandise exporters are Germany, United States, China, Japan and France, in addition world’s top five service exporters are United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan and France (Wild et al., 2010). The concept of trade and international trade is not a new concept, it occurred many thousands of years ago (Schmitz and Schmitz, 2014). Figures for international trade- why is it important Make sure you understand the main theories of trade -- neoclassical comparative advantage and new trade theory (and whilst Porter s Diamond Model isn t formally a theory of trade, there are a number of ways in which it overlaps with theories of trade, particularly new trade theory). The reading material, particularly the textbook book chapters I have included on the list, discuss these various theories and the implications for free or managedShow MoreRelatedEssay on International Trade Simulation987 Words   |  4 Pagessummarize the International Trade Simulation, explain the basic concept of International Trade, emphasize the four key points from the reading assignments in the simulation, and apply these concepts to my workplace. Simulation Summary In the International Trade simulation, you are the Trade Representative of a small country called Rodamia. You are introduced to international trade--the theory of comparative advantage and the impact of tariffs, quotas, and dumping on international trade (Applying InternationalRead MoreEssay on International Trade Concepts Simulation827 Words   |  4 PagesInternational Trade Concepts Simulation Abstract The following paper will present information found in a simulation based on international trade concepts. Key points found from the reading will be noted and concepts discussed will be shown integrated in the workplace. International Trade Concepts Simulation International trade has become a very important means of survival for global economies in this day and age. As countries continue to grow and resources become smaller, trade with otherRead MoreDavid Ricardos The Principle Of Political Economy And Taxation1519 Words   |  7 Pagesmodern economics was David Ricardo who developed the concept of the comparative advantage of trade. This concept is a part of the classical theory of trade and was published in 1817 in David Ricardo’s book entitled the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation (Appleyard Field, 2014, p. 30). This paper will address the effectiveness of this concept as it has been applied to real-world international trade after the General Agreement in Trade and Tariffs (GATT) was signed in 1947. How the levelRead MoreDifferent Theories Concepts Of International Trade Theories1697 Words   |  7 Pagesdifferences between different theory concepts of international trade theories. The author will analysis and se riously assess their believe concepts and believe. The author of this assignment agrees with the economist that international trade is the interdependence of nations in terms of trade. International trade theories are basically different theories, with their concept of trade how they explain international trade. The concept of majority of economist believes that, trade is about exchanging goods andRead MorePolitical Factors That Affect International Business1020 Words   |  5 Pagesfactors that affect international business include† (Justin Ervin. Zachary Smith A.2008). One significant political environmental factor that influences international business operation is trade agreements. Countries frequently enter into trade treaties to further facilitate trade between themselves. Case in point, a European Union consisting of countries like France, Germany and Italy where the organizations of these member states can with few legal requirements, these international business haveRead MoreChallenges Faced By International Businesses Essay1506 Words   |  7 PagesIn this modern globalized world, there have been many challenges for International Businesses to seek for opportunity and chance to expand their business to a wider marketplace. There are many ways for international businesses to seek those opportunities, such as through exporting goods and services, starting a joint venture with a company, opening a branch for distributing goods, and giving license to produce goods. From these ways to seek opportunities, there are basically three major motives, Read More Challenging Comparative Advantage Essay1410 Words   |  6 Pagesbenefits of mutual trade (Carbaugh, 2008). Many underlying assumptions of comparative advantage depend on states of economic equilibrium and an absence of economy of scale. In reality, economies are dynamic and subject to innovation and interference; which has led to revised assumptions of return and competition (Krugman, 1987). These factors have created questions of free trade and governmental participation in an economy by the development of strategic trade policies. These new concepts do not replaceRead MoreThe International Trade Concepts1357 Words   |  6 PagesThe International Trade Concepts The International Trade Concepts simulation helps one to learn the advantages and limitations of international trade. One can also take what is learned from the simulation and relate it to the U.S. economy and the effects international trade has on it. Learning about how fiscal and monetary policies affect the exchange rate is important as well. Not only can one apply what was learned in the simulation to the U.S. economy but they can also apply it to their workplaceRead More International Trade Essay865 Words   |  4 Pages International Trade What is International Trade?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  International trade is defined as trade between two or more partners from different countries in the exchange of goods and services. In order to understand International trade, we need to first know and understand what trade is, which is the buying and selling of products between different countries. International Trade simply is globalization of the world and enables countries to obtain products and services from other countries effortlesslyRead MoreGlobalization: Its Effects Key Drivers and Supporting Theories695 Words   |  3 Pagesinterdependence of countries world-wide through the increasing volume and variety of cross-border transactions in goods and services and of international capital flows, and also through the more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology. There exists a number of traditional international trade theories that in one way or the other support the globalization concept. One of these theories is mercantilism which is largely based on the view that nations should export more (while discouraging imports)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley and the Industrial Revolution

â€Å"Oh! No mortal could support the horror of that countenance. A mummy again endued with animation could not be so hideous as that wretch† (Shelley 57). This statement is how Mary Shelley successfully portrayed the overall negative consensus of the industrialization of Europe in the 1800s in her novel Frankenstein. This story parallels the world’s transition from nature and emotion to reason and truth which was the primary cause for the industrial revolution. Though the revolution brought new technology and knowledge, people felt as though they were enslaved by this sudden change. This is clear through Shelley’s Dr. Frankenstein and the ‘wretched monster’ that would forever change the world. There is an equilibrium that can be struck†¦show more content†¦In relation to the novel, Dr. Frankenstein set his sights on creating life and nothing could stop him. He worked tirelessly to create the ultimate human. â€Å"The summer months passed w hile I was thus engaged, heart and soul, in one pursuit† (53). Frankenstein nearly killed himself due to his dedication for this creation. He neglected his family, his friends, career, and his own life. This discovery sucked every bit of emotion and caring out of him and only caused pain. What made everything worse was that this creation destroyed his entire life. Everyone he cared for was killed and spent much of his life in misery. Though the creation of life is astonishing, reason and truth cannot exist without emotion. No emotion essentially means that destruction of one’s entire being. The introduction of this new technology and knowledge did not simply effect those that created or possessed the knowledge. Instead, it caused problems and raised issues among the common people of Europe which lead to their subsequent disapproval of the overall revolutionary phase. When the industrial revolution began to emerge, most people typically worked for themselves on a subsist ence farm or as an apprentice. Their main goal was truly to take care of themselves and their families. When the change came around though, everything changed. Factories appeared and cheap labor was needed. Thus, workers began to flock towards cities in hopes of making it big at a factory. Sadly though,Show MoreRelatedRomanticism In Frankenstein Essay740 Words   |  3 PagesWithin Frankenstein Imagine a world without Enlightenment, the Industrial Revolution,and Romanticism. Mary Shelley uses these topics in her novel to expose the effects that each of these had on society. Frankenstein is a novel that was published in the early 1800’s and tells a story about a man by the name of Victor Frankenstein. Technology and critical thinking skills plays a huge role in the novel and real life.By analyzing the importance of the Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, and RomanticismRead MoreFrankenstein Pursuit Of Knowledge Essay1673 Words   |  7 Pages Among the many themes explored in Mary Shelley s timeless classic â€Å"Frankenstein†, the one I find to be most relevant and the one that truly resonated with me was the dangers that stem from the pursuit of knowledge. This theme resonated with me for many reasons because, while the pursuit of knowledge has allowed humankind to exert and enjoy unparalleled and unprecedented power over the animal kingdom and the wo rld itself, it’s a seemingly benign aspect of human nature that can paradoxically renderRead MoreFrankenstein by Mary Shelley640 Words   |  3 Pagesthe work of my hands.† (Shelley, 178) The Romantic Movement began in the 1970’s and ended in the 1850’s. One of the key ideas shared by Romantics was that a literal and metaphorical return to nature was necessary. They believed that the individual was the most important part of society. Romantics rejected the Scientific and Industrial Revolution. They believed that cities prevented individuals from discovering the sublime. Mary Shelley’s Romantic and Gothic novel, Frankenstein, opens with a series ofRead MoreFrankenstein: Science and the Industrial Revolution1212 Words   |  5 PagesFrankenstein: Science and the Industrial Revolution Frankenstein, written by author Mary Shelley, was a romantic based story written in Europe during the eighteen hundreds. During this time period, Europe was experiencing many social and economic changes. Many of these changes were a product of the industrial revolution of Europe. This time period can be defined and era of exploration, discovery and industrialization in which ideas were pushed to the limits. Victor’s creation of Frankenstein isRead MoreMary Shelleys Frankenstein Essay1086 Words   |  5 Pages Mary Shelley wrote the book Frankenstein sometime in the 1810s. She was born in London in 1797 (Biography). Her mother was an author of prime literary stock who was trying to encourage women to pursue their ideas and strive to earn the status as equals. The Scientific and Industrial Revolutions that were taking place around Mary Shelley certainly influenced her while she was writing the book. The creation of machines and experiments at the time made people wonder what the limit of human technologyRead MoreEssay on Frankenstein: Development through Romanticism1614 Words   |  7 Pages Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein is a Gothic and Romantic novel written in the early 1800s. The novel opens with Captain Robert Walton as he is sailing on his ship on the search for new and undiscovered territory. During his exploration, Robert’s ship becomes trapped in ice, and he encounters Victor Frankenstein, who looks miserable. When Robert begins to talk to Victor, Victor starts to explain his life story, which ends up being a complete tragedy. Victor tells Robert of his desire to discover theRead MoreHow The Romantic Period Was Characterised By Political And Social Upheavals1318 Words   |  6 Pagesagricultural society to a modern industrial nation. Moreover, the aristocracy s influence diminished, industry-owning middle classes grew. The Romantic epoch also witnesses revolution and war. First the American Civil War, followed by the French Revolution later. They brought concepts of popular freedom, and of the power of the proletariat. In England, these ideas were we ll received by radical thinkers. However, the later petrifying and grotesque stage of the French Revolution dampened approval for thisRead More Frankenstein, Community, and the Individual Essay1697 Words   |  7 Pagesresponsibility that lie at the core of Mary Shelleys Frankenstein. It is through these concepts that Shelley explores how society has changed during Romanticism and the Industrial Revolution, with lessening importance on shared knowledge and the public sphere and more emphasis on individual achievement and identity, leading to a fractured and isolated society. In this paper I argue that Mary Shelleys Frankenstein criticizes the impacts of Industrial Revolution and Romantic era-inspired individualismRead MoreThe Historical Events Of The Great Gatsby By F. Scott Fitzgerald1595 Words   |  7 Pagesreligions, wars, revolutions, and much more. Many classics show the influence of well-known historical events of their time period such as: 1984 by George Orwell which was i nfluenced by the spread of communism and totalitarian governments, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald influenced by the roaring 1920s, and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird influenced by the racial inequalities prevalent in America. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein can be added to this list as well. Frankenstein was influencedRead MoreFrankenstein, by Mary Shelley1078 Words   |  5 PagesMary Shelley’s Frankenstein has undoubtedly withstood the test of time. Frankenstein’s direct association with fundamental Gothic literature is extremely renowned. However, the novel’s originality is derived from the foundational thematic values found within the relationship (or lack there of) between Victor Frankenstein and the monster he had created, in combination with a fascinatingly captivating plot. Understandably, Frankenstein can often be associated with a multitude of concepts; however,

Why Do People Join Gangs Essay Example For Students

Why Do People Join Gangs Essay OVERVIEW OF GANGSOriginally the word gang had no negative connotation. In Old English, gang simply referred to a number of people who went around together-a group. Today a gang can be defined in four basic ways: an organized group with a leader a unified group that usually remains together during peaceful times as well as times of conflict a group whose members show unity through clothing, language a group whose activities are criminal or threatening to the larger society. Gangs are one of the results of poverty, discrimination and urban deterioration. Some experts believe that young people, undereducated and without access to good jobs, become frustrated with their lives and join gangs as an alternative to boredom, hopelessness and devastating poverty. Studies have attempted to determine why gangs plague some communities but there has been no definitive answer. As a result, people working to solve gang problems have great difficulty. They find the situation overwhelming, and the vio lence continues. EARLY GANGS IN UNITED STATES HISTORYNo groups completely fitting the above description of gangs existed in America until the early 1800s, but from the beginning of the European settlement in America there was gang-like activity, especially when class distinctions came into being. Gang members tended to be from the poorer classes and tended to be from the same race or ethnic background. They banded together for protection, recreation or financial gain. THE 20TH CENTURY GANGS In the early 1900s the U.S. economy worsened, the population grew at a rapid pace, and the gap between the rich and poor widened. All across the nation gangs appeared where poor, hopeless people lived. The dawning of the 20th century also brought with it a widespread use of firearms. 1920sBy mid 1920s there were 1313 gangs in Chicago and more than 25,000 members. Gang warfare in Chicago was widespread and fighting took place along ethnic, cultural and racial lines. Some gangs had no noticeable cultural, ethnic or national ties and consisted mostly of whites. Chicano GangsThe 1920s and 1930s saw the rise of Chicano (Mexican-American) gangs in Los Angeles. By the 1940s Chicano gangs established their place in Los Angeles-their zoot suits (a style of dress incorporating tapered pants, long wide-shoulder coats and broad-brimmed hats) had become a familiar sight. Fighting back against harassment of white residents and visiting soldiers during the so-called zoot suit riots in 1943 strengthened their cause. Post World War IIAfter World War II gang membership: 1.became younger, 2.the nationality of the membership became largely non-white (though Italians, Irish and other white ethnic groups still made up a percentage), 3.drugs became a more publicized concern, 4.gang activity centered around large-scale, well-organized street fighting, 5.fire-arms were used more often, 6.the structure of organization became more rigid, 7.and society at large became concerned with gangs as a social problem and worked toward rehabilitation. Changes in Ethnic PopulationsThe 1950s During the 1950s gang fighting rose to an all time high in cities like New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Cleveland. Gang members were usually in their teens. Codes of dress (black leather jackets were popular) and mannerisms were an important means of identification. Body language said a lot about the nature of the gang. When a gang decided to become a fighting, or bopping gang, its members immediate ly took on a different way of walking. A rhythmic gait, characterized by the forward movement of the head with each step. Terms for fighting were: bopping, rumbling, jitterbugging. Gang members used guns, knives, and homemade weapons. Most common drugs-alcohol, marijuana, heroin. New York gangs fought along racial lines-African-American, white, Puerto Rican. Usually they fought over girls or turf. Turf could be anything from a few blocks to an entire neighborhood. Gang members believed it was essential to protect the honor of their girlfr! iends. And in the late 1950, girl gangs, with strong ties to boy gangs, began to form. Revenge was required by an inflexible code of gang loyalty. It was from such incidents that gangs drew their sense of pride, of being somebody. In order to combat the rise of violence, organizations like the New York City Youth Board sent social workers into the slums to form relationships with the gangs. In some cases it worked; in

Operations Strategy at Galanz

Galanz’s Competitive Strategy Galanz is a company that is based in China. Its main business is the manufacture and sale of microwaves. The company faces a lot of competition from other established companies, such as LG, Panasonic, Toshiba, and Samsung, among others. The company has had a long way en route establishing itself as a competitive organization considering the major players in the industry are few, but well established organizations.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Operations Strategy at Galanz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Initially, the company was only producing microwave ovens for sale in the domestic market. It used to purchase key components and production technology from Japan. The company then started its own Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) business. This attracted foreign brand owners to outsource their production to Galanz. The company then transformed into an Original De sign Manufacturing firm. The combination of OEM and ODM facilitated its brand being recognized in the overseas market. The other competitive strategy that the company applied is low cost production. It had cheap labour and land, both of which facilitated in lowering the production cost. This was the major strategy that led to a large volume of sales as the company is able to offer its products at a relatively low price compared to the competitors (Thompson and Frank 552). In addition, the company had an RD department that had undisputed capabilities of developing highly competitive and innovative products. Finally, the company has a brand name that is well recognised, both in China and abroad. The competitive strategies of Galanz are successful for a number of reasons. First, the low cost production enables the company to sell its products at a low cost. Second, the RD facilitates quality production. Third, its strong brand has won the loyalty of customers across the globe. The thre e aspects combined have contributed to a successful competitive strategy for Galanz. Galanz’s Operation Strategies The company also worked towards changing and improving its operational strategies in its bid to succeed in the global market. The aim was to make the operations more effective and efficient and lower the cost of operation. This would be effective in boosting the competitiveness of the company. The operations manager was responsible for following up the company’s operation strategy. The operations manager makes decisions to manage the transformation process that converts inputs into finished goods or services that are ready for consumption. The manager also oversees the supply chain, which is also effective in ensuring a successful operation strategy. Initially, the company was buying magnetrons from its competitors.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn Mo re However, the competitors cut their supply of magnetrons to Galanz as its growth continued to escalate, prompting Galanz to start its own manufacture of magnetrons. This was one of its operational strategies that propelled the company to succeed. The company then started its own OEM and later transformed it to an ODM. It could, therefore, be able to produce Galanz microwave ovens with its own brand, rather than purchasing some components from competitors. The company had operations in the Original Brand Manufacturing firm in the domestic market. The company was able to develop and produce its own magnetrons with the Original Design Manufacturing. This ensured that the company was able to deal with the previous shortage of magnetrons. It also ensured constant supply of microwave ovens. The operational strategy of Galanz was successful because the company was able to meet the market demand that was increasing as the company’s growth continued. Galanz was able to produce suf ficient magnetrons enough for its microwave oven production. At home, the Original Brand Manufacturing (OBM) facilitated brand recognition in the domestic market. The operational strategy further helped in the production of quality microwave ovens. The company’s operations manager has control over the quality of magnetrons. He or she is able to ensure the magnetrons are of the desired quality. Therefore, the end product is of desired quality as the whole production line is managed by the organization’s operations manager. How Galanz operation strategies support its competitive strategies For an organization to be successful in the market, the operation strategy should be able to support the competitive strategy. At Galanz, the operation strategy has been successful in supporting the competitive strategy of the company. First, it is important to note that the major competitive strategy of the company is low cost production, which enables it to sell products at highly co mpetitive prices compared to those of its close competitors. Secondly, its RD has also been instrumental in increasing the competitiveness of the company by facilitating innovation. Its operation strategy, on the other hand, has seen the formation of the OEM business and then transformation into the ODM. This has boosted the company’s production of magnetrons. The company also has its own OBM in China, which has helped in domestic brand recognition.Advertising We will write a custom case study sample on Operations Strategy at Galanz specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The ODM and the OBM have helped in further reduction of the production costs for Galanz. Producing its own magnetrons is much cheaper compared to purchasing them from other companies. Further, the production development of ODM has also facilitated RD and innovation, consequently supporting its competitive strategy. OBM, on the other hand, helps in increasing bra nd recognition as a competitive strategy. â€Å"How the company should set priorities and utilize its resources and capabilities to gain competitive advantages in the marketplace† The company has achieved breakthrough in the market by selling its products at low prices. This has led to some of its competitors withdrawing from the market following the stiff competition it provided them. It claimed that price wars were a defence of the company and the objective was to destroy its competitors. Galanz had succeeded in this strategy. However, the business world is said to be dynamic. An organization only survives in the long run following its ability to cope with the changes that occur daily. The company started to experience challenges for its future growth and development after years of market domination by Galanz, both in China, as well as in the overseas countries. There are worries on whether its current low cost strategy will still be successful in the future. It is clear th at there are some changes that have to be implemented to keep the company in the competition. Galanz is supposed to take a competitive position in the market by setting its priorities right. First, the world is trending towards technology and most products over the past few years are produced based on technology. The future of business organizations is highly dependent on their ability to embrace technology and utilize it effectively. Galanz should prioritize its resources by investing in technology. In doing so, the company should also be keen not to deviate from its low cost strategy. The differences between OEM/ODM versus OBM in terms of production, design, marketing, distribution, and customer service The OEM and the ODM firms were the two business strategies that Galanz turned to after its supply of magnetrons was cut by its previous suppliers, who also happened to be the company’s major competitors. Therefore, the OEM and the ODM production were aimed at producing magne trons for the manufacture of microwave ovens for sale in the overseas market (Bonaglia 38). The two production modes produce and design the magnetrons, but the branding and distribution is done by another company. The two modes helped the company to produce magnetrons at a low cost that facilitated its low cost strategy in the global market. In terms of design, the OEM and ODM helped the company design its own brand that helps it switch to a business direction of, â€Å"Created in China†, rather than â€Å"made in China.† The OEM and ODM further marketed and distributed the company’s products in the international market. The OBM model was targeted to the domestic market. It produced and designed its own brand, instead of outsourcing to the competitor companies. The OBM further marketed and distributed its products in China. The customer services it offered were all meant for the domestic market. The aim of OBM was to strengthen the brand in the domestic market. Galanz was successful in using the models in that each of them specialized in its market targets, thus they produced efficiently to satisfy the market needs.Advertising Looking for case study on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Galanz’s strategy of introducing OBM in international market Currently, the OBM is purely targeted at the domestic market. It is aimed at strengthening the company’s brand in the domestic market and winning its competitive advantage in China. An original brand manufacturer refers to a company that sells a product that has been produced by another company or that includes a component of another company as its own brand. This is a strategy that is seen as able to add an extrinsic value to the product (Bonaglia 39). In the case of Galanz, the brand has already established itself in the international market. Therefore, the company does not need to introduce its OBM in the international market. Galanz should continue with its OEM and ODM business strategies. The two businesses have proven to be successful in the international market. They have facilitated the growth and development of Galanz and its competitiveness. It should be noted that business strategy is a factor that facilities the success of the organization. Facility strategy, on the other hand, considers the amount of capacity, among other factors. Facility strategy would, therefore, consider the capacity of Galanz to manufacture microwave ovens. The company manufactures microwave ovens and then sells them to the international market through the brand name of another company (Bonaglia 38). However, the selling company always refers to the manufacturing company, which is Galanz in this case. The ODM mode allows a firm to make products, but the products are branded and sold by a different firm. With any of the two models, the original manufacturing company will always get credit for the manufacture. Therefore, the brand name for Galanz under ODM or OEM will be maintained and there is no need to change the models. Advantages and disadvantages of technology in Galanz’s success Galanz started to invest in RD in the year 1995 with the aim of facilitating new design and development in the or ganization. It focused on new technologies to improve and boost its marketability. Galanz realised a number of advantages out of the technology. New technology helped Galanz cut down the cost of production. This was beneficial in that it helped the company produce at lower costs. Secondly, the new technology helped Galanz produce more differentiated products. This added to the quality of its products, as well as the marketability and competitiveness of the organization. Quality control systems should be put in place to ensure quality production. The systems should be developed on technological knowledge. The products that a company makes should satisfy customer needs fully. Factors that add up to constitute quality include availability, field service, quality of design, and quality of conformance. Third, the company started to receive more orders for its products as a result of the new technologies (Panneerselvam 60). However, the technology did not come without any disadvantages. F or instance, the company had to spend a significant amount of its fortunes to invest in the RD. It was approximated that the company spent about 3% of its annual revenues to invest in the new technologies. This reduced its income in the short-run. How technology affected Galanz Technology affected Galanz in that the total sales in the long-run increased following an increase in demand for its products. The technology also helped Galanz localize the design of its products to suit its target market. Technology played the role of increasing and improving the quality of its production and lowering the cost of production, leading to the success of Galanz. The challenges that faced Galanz and how it overcame the challenges The road to success for Galanz was not an easy one. Galanz encountered several challenges on its way to its current position. First, the company was initially not producing its own magnetrons. Instead, it was buying them directly from its competitors, such as LG and Pan asonic. The supplier companies cut the supply of magnetrons because of fearing the threat that Galanz was setting in terms of competition. In dealing with this challenge, Galanz established an OEM with the aim of manufacturing its own magnetrons. Galanz was initially named as Guizhou down Product Factory and it was in the business of producing down leather products and selling them to abroad markets. On joining the microwave market, the company faced a challenge in that there were already established companies in the market. The microwaves at the moment were expensive and unaffordable to many people. In addition, the technology for producing microwave ovens, as well as the technical expertise was not available in China. This presented a big obstacle for the company in its bid to start the microwave business. Liang Senior went a step further to ensure that the production of microwaves took place in China, instead of importing the microwaves by bringing in the technology and expertise needed for the job. This saw enabled him set up a factory in China. Mr. Liang’s achievements that lead his company to greater success The current success by Galanz can be traced to the contributions of Liang Senior, who is the Vice Chairman and CEO of the company. In fact, the credit for the company’s success can be given to him. He made a number of achievements in securing this success. The first achievement by Mr. Liang was to start up the microwave ovens manufacturing company in China. Initially, there was no technology and technical expertise in China to manufacture microwaves. Mr. Liang purchased the equipment for this manufacture and brought in people who had the expertise to carry out the manufacture. This was the first and the most important achievement. Mr Liang carried out the initial project planning and scheduling. He did all the necessary controls to ensure that the equipment was installed successfully. Among the scheduling activities he carried out were bringing in experts and assigning them tasks, as well as developing a work breakdown structure for them. Another achievement by Mr. Liang was his successful efforts to sign a contract with overseas companies to outsource the designing and branding of magnetrons. There was no technology for such production in China at the time the company was entering the microwave ovens market. Mr. Liang outsourced this production, a step that was very successful in starting up the growth of Galanz. He also created an Original Equipment Manufacturing model whereby the company would be manufacturing its own magnetrons, instead of outsourcing the production. Suggestions Galanz can be considered a successful company since the entry of Mr Liang Senior. The company has been able to establish a low cost strategy that has seen it edge out most of its rivals, even forcing some to leave the market completely. However, there is a chance that the organization can still improve and achieve greater success in th e future. However, the company has to be in a good position to face the future market challenges, some of which it is already encountering. In terms of strategy, the organization should hold on to its low cost strategy. However, it should adopt a differentiation strategy and market focus strategy at the same time. Under differentiation, Galanz should be producing microwaves that have improved features compared to those of its competitors. On market focus strategy, the company should be focusing on different markets and their requirements. In turn, Galanz should produce microwave ovens that meet the market demands of the different focus markets to be able to penetrate more markets (Christensen, Antony, and Roth 218). In terms of management, the Mr Liang should ensure that the operations managers have the full control of the company’s production activities. This will enable them to track and realise any default that may compromise the quality of the microwave ovens in time. The managers should also be highly skilled and have the relevant knowledge to enable them cope with the market conditions now and in the future. The management structure should be flat to facilitate communication across the organization. Capacity planning should also be considered by Mr Liang in his bid to achieve greater success for the organization. The organization should position itself such that it will be able to produce enough microwaves to meet the increasing demand (Christensen, Antony, and Roth 218). This will be important in preventing the customers from walking away to rival companies. The operational diagram should be made as effective as possible and less hierarchical to increase production efficiency. The customer service at the organization is good. However, it can still be improved to enhance customer satisfaction further. To do this, Mr Liang can increase the number of customer representatives in the organization and ensure that they have sufficient knowledge to addre ss all the issues raised by the customers. Works Cited Bonaglia, Federico. Meeting the Challenge of Private Sector Development: Evidence from the Mekong Sub-Region. Paris: OECD, 2006. Print. Christensen, Clayton M, Scott D. Anthony, and Erik A. Roth. Seeing What’s Next: Using the Theories of Innovation to Predict Industry Change. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Publishing Corporation, 2004. Print. Panneerselvam, Ranganathan. Production and Operations Management. New Delhi: PHI Learning Pvt. Limited, 2012. Print Thompson, John L, and Frank Martin. Strategic Management: Awareness Change. Hampshire, UK: Cengage Learning EMEA, 2010. Print. This case study on Operations Strategy at Galanz was written and submitted by user Anya Kirby to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Horace Pippin essays

Horace Pippin essays Of all American painters, Horace Pippin comes closest to John Kane, but at times his painting definitely has more charm than any of Kanes canvases can boast, judged Robert M. Coates of the New Yorker. He also claimed that Pippins work was precise, sharply drawn, and minutely detailed... a kind of natural sophistication in the use of color that is at times surprising. Besides the description of his artwork, Pippin was said to be a tall, broad, open-faced man with a flashing smile and a hearty laugh. He was also a warm, religious person. Horace Pippin was born on February 22, 1888, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He was the grandson of slaves and the son of domestic workers. His family moved to Goshen, New York when he was 3 years old. Pippin grew up sketching the world around him and would illustrate his spelling words in school. But his family could not afford art materials. At age ten, he won a box of crayons in a magazine drawing contest and started coloring. He left school at age 14 to work at a hotel where his mother had been a maid. His boss was so impressed with a portrait that Horace made of him; he wanted to send young Horace to art school. But, Horace had to work because his mother was sick. He worked in a coal yard, a feed store, furniture packer and iron molder. When America entered World War I, Pippin, who was 29, enlisted in the Army. In 1917, he was stationed in France. He fought for many months in the frontline trenches in the Argonne Forest with the celebrated Black Regiment, 369th Infantry, called the Harlem Hell Fighters. He recorded his experiences in great detail and added colored-pencil drawings. These vividly document the exposure to cold, rain, gunfire, confusion, and death. He was wounded by a gunshot to the arm and honorably discharged in 1919. The war shattered Pippin physically and emotionally. He had a steel plate in his shoulder and his right...

Definition and Examples of Jargon

Definition and Examples of Jargon Jargon refers to the specialized language of a professional or occupational group. While this language is often useful or necessary for those within the group, it is usually meaningless to outsiders. Some professions have so much jargon of their own that it has its own name; for example, lawyers use legalese, while academics use academese. Jargon is also sometimes known as lingo or argot. A passage of text that if full of jargon is said to be jargony. Key Takeaways: Jargon Jargon is the complex language used by experts in a certain discipline or field. This language often helps experts communicate with clarity and precision. Jargon is different from slang, which is the casual language used by a particular group of people. Critics of jargon believe such language does more to obscure than clarify; they argue that most jargon can be replaced with simple, direct language without sacrificing meaning. Supporters of jargon believe such language is necessary for navigating the intricacies of certain professions. In scientific fields, for instance, researchers explore difficult subjects that most laypeople would not be able to understand. The language the researchers use must be precise because they are dealing with complex concepts (molecular biology, for example, or nuclear physics) and simplifying the language might cause confusion or create room for error. In Taboo Language, Keith Allan and Kate Burridge argue that this is the case: Should jargon be censored?  Many people think it should.  However,  close examination of jargon shows that, although some of it is vacuous pretentiousness...its proper use is both necessary and unobjectionable. Critics of jargon, however, say such language is needlessly complicated and in some cases even deliberately designed to exclude outsiders. American poet David Lehman has described jargon as the verbal sleight of hand that makes the old hat seem newly fashionable. He says the language gives an air of novelty and specious profundity to ideas that, if stated directly, would seem superficial, stale, frivolous, or false. In his famous essay Politics and the English Language, George Orwell argues that obscure and complex language is often used to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. Jargon vs. Slang Jargon should not be confused with slang, which is informal, colloquial language sometimes used by a group (or groups) of people. The main difference is one of register; jargon is formal language unique to a specific discipline or field, while slang is common, informal language that is more likely to be spoken than written. A lawyer discussing an amicus curiae brief is an example of jargon. A teen talking about making dough is an example of slang. List of Jargon Words Jargon can be found in a variety of fields, from law to education to engineering. Some examples of jargon include: Due diligence: A business term, due diligence refers to the research that should be done before making an important business decision.AWOL: Short for absent without leave, AWOL is military jargon used to describe a person whose whereabouts are unknown.Hard copy: A common term in business, academia, and other fields, a hard copy is a physical printout of a document (as opposed to an electronic copy).Cache: In computing, cache refers to a place for shorts of detritivores include earthworms, sea cucumbers, and millipedes. Holistic: Another word for comprehensive or complete, holistic is often used by educational professionals in reference to curriculum that focuses on social and emotional learning in additional to traditional lessons.Magic bullet: This is a term for a simple solution that solves a complex problem. (It is usually used derisively, as in I dont think this plan youve come up with is a magic bullet.)Best practice: In business, a best practice is one that should be adopted because it has proven effectiveness.

ENGLISH (BA) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

ENGLISH (BA) - Essay Example The importance of sustaining the relationship with family members amidst controversial thoughts and other social issues is revealed in both the novels. For example, the life of Joe and Violet amidst Joe’s extra marital relationship with Dorcas and Ginny’s inability to face her father in spite of the sexual abuse shown by her father towards her and her first younger sister Rose reflects the above situation. â€Å"Jazz† is the popular-most novel of the renowned Afro-American writer Toni Morrison that won unabated fame as well as Noble Prize for the writer in the field of literature. Like other Morrison’s novels, Jazz also lays its concentration on the historical background and socio-cultural aspects of life of Black people of America, who have been got settled in America. The central theme of the novel seems to be personal, domestic and cultural memories. Morrison has structured her characters in Jazz from 1850s through 1920s chronicling the extended cultural responses to the eradication of slavery from different parts of the world. The novel discusses family life of the individuals belonging to different areas and professions, having two things in common i.e. race and social class. The novelist looks for the old traditional domestic life of Blacks where there was complete peace and harmony among the members of family. The novel is the reflection of feelings like care, love, sympathies and kindness she had observed in her own family life. Her novel also depicts to search out the same characteristics in contemporary American society. The novel deplores on the displacement of the members of one family reminding the time when the European nations made the poor Africans as captives to take them to Europe as slaves. No body in Africa could even resist all such atrocities due to the powerful imperialistic political set

Rogerian Theory includes the concept of Necessary and Sufficient Essay

Rogerian Theory includes the concept of Necessary and Sufficient conditions for client change. Discuss these conditions in DETAIL - Essay Example The conditions include: The two people he referred to were the patient and his therapist. The first condition states that there has to be a relationship in terms of psychological contact for change to occur. He, however, indicates that this condition is a hypothesis and is open to disapproval (Sharf, 2012). By saying this, he means that for a change to occur there has to be dissimilarity between the client’s actual experience and his or her self picture the experience. This implies that the client has to be in a state of inadequacy (Sharf, 2012). Unlike the client, Carl suggests that the therapist has to be himself and his actual experiences have to be accurately represented by the knowledge he has of himself. He has to be in a state of adequacy. It is only through this that the change can occur. By saying this, he means that the therapist has to experience a warm acceptance of the client’s incongruence or inadequacy as being part of the client. This means that the therapist must not have conditions for accepting a client (Sharf, 2012). All clients must be equally accepted regardless of their experiences. The therapist must sense his or her client’s private world, in a way, that feels like it was his own, but without losing the congruence to his own knowledge of himself. His remarks and assertions should conform to the client’s content and mood, and he should be in a position to comprehend the client’s feelings. This is called empathy. This implies that the client must understand, to a minimal degree, the empathy and acceptance he or she is offered by the therapist. It is only when some aspects of these attitudes are perceived that change can occur (Sharf,

How is Global Warming Effecting Hurricanes Essay Example for Free

How is Global Warming Effecting Hurricanes Essay As we all know oceans cover about 70% of the Earths surface and typically the principle component of hydrosphere and contain roughly 97% of the Earths water supply. It plays very important role in the Earths climate by transferring warm as well as cold air and precipitation to coastal regions, where they may be carried inland by winds. The winds give energy to the sea surface that result in ocean currents. The currents carry heat from one location to another, changing the Earths surface temperature patterns and bring in changes in the atmosphere. Hence, ocean has a tremendous affect on climates and visa-versa. The thermohaline circulation of the ocean distributes heat energy between the equatorial and Polar Regions of the earth while other ocean currents do the same between land and water. However, today with the increase in the emissions of greenhouse gases, scientists and environmentalists are equally concerned that the polar ice caps could probably melt and contribute to the increase in ocean level. In recent years global warming is linked by many to the strength and number of hurricane. This is a research paper on a â€Å"CASE ANALYSIS† of a crisis we are facing with global warming and how it is affecting hurricanes. There are several studies that show that in the past years temperature has risen on the globe including the ocean temperature. Incidentally, during these years the number of hurricanes has also risen. This is the basic reason that scientists began to think if the increase in temperature is causing the disaster of hurricanes which need warm water to thrive. A few scientists also think that the temperature increase could also cause a super-hurricanes or the ultimate hurricanes in the U. S. east coast shores. It is predicted that these hurricanes will be more powerful than the once experienced till now (personal. psu. edu, N. D. ). Before we get into the details of how global warming can result in stronger and increasing number of hurricanes, it is important to understand what is global warming. Global Warming Global Warming as the word suggest is an increase of the global average temperature and is also termed as Greenhouse Effect. In general, the greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides which are responsible to trap heat that has been reflected from the earths surface. Scientific studies provide enough proof that on an average, the global temperature has increased 0. 5 °C over the last 100 years. However, there was a rapid increase in temperature only in the past 10-15 years and has resulted in climate changes (personal. psu. edu, N. D. ). The sea interacts with the atmosphere in two different methods, physically and chemically. The physical way is through the exchange of heat, water, and momentum. More than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by ocean and contains about 97 percent of its surface water and stores huge amounts of energy in the form of heat. Besides, the sea has comparatively large temperature resistance to change. Today, it is understood that the biological and physical performance of the ocean can change rapidly over minute and large areas. It usually decides the timing and models of climate change. When the heat increases over the ocean it escapes to warm the atmosphere and creates temperature variation in the atmosphere which in turn causes winds. As a result, winds move horizontally over the sea surface to drive ocean motion patterns. The variations in temperature and salinity cause vertical ocean currents which makes the warmer, fresher waters flow upwards as colder, denser or saltier water tends to move down. Eventually, a complex flow pattern is created through which the warm surface waters move pole ward where heat escapes fast to outer space, as cold, deep currents are established in the sea depths. Because of this complex ocean circulation movement system, the oceans and atmosphere get together to distribute heat and control climate. As this movement conveys huge amounts of heat and as a result more moderate climates on land areas that are nearer the ocean. It is not surprising to note that man’s increasing needs have simultaneously increased the load of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels releases many harmful pollutants particularly the greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and contributes global warming. Increases of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increases the earth’s temperature and results in malting of glaciers and ice sheets (Meehl, et al. 2005).

The Light Of Sight :: essays research papers

In this universe there are many thing that we cannot explain. Among these many things is light. Light, as far as we know, come in different wavelengths and the size of the wavelength determine what type of light it is. The middle wavelength lights are what gives us the seven basic colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Beside these visible lights there are the lights that cannot be seen by the human eye. These invisible lights can be grouped into two other groups the long waves and short waves. The first group of waves is the longer wavelength of light including infrared and radio waves. Radio waves, the longest wavelengths, alternate and can be volatile. Arthur C. Clarke said in the essay "The Light of Common Day" that since radio waves fluctuate so much no animal has ever been able to sense them. He goes on to say that if you had an eye big enough to see radio waves your eyes would be millions of times larger than a normal eye. The next longest wave is the infrared light waves. Infrared light is used nowadays to see in the night. Special goggles are designed to pick up infrared light making it possible to see at night. The next group of light waves are the shorter waves of ultraviolet and x-rays. Ultraviolet light, sometimes referred to as UV, is right next to violet and is just beyond sight. UV light is what causes sunburns and can be very painful. In Arthur C. Clarks essay it states that even though UV light is not visible the retina of the human eye reacts powerfully to it. He compare the human eye to a camera and says that a good camera need may types of lenses made out of different types of glass to take a good picture. The human eye has only one lens and cannot possible see UV light. The last type of light is the x-ray. The x-ray is the smallest wave and is used in the medical field greatly to take pictures through flesh of bones. Even though x-rays are very useful they can be very dangerous. They have been know to disrupt radio waves and can poison a human body to the point of death.

Thoughts on a Democratic England

AbstractThis paper discusses the development of democracy in England, specifically addressing the interaction between parliament, capitalists, and the masses during the early nineteenth century, and how these interactions lead to a more democratic England; however, the focus will be on entertaining the theory ‘What else could have heralded Democracy during this time?’ Thoughts on a Democratic EnglandThe early nineteenth century saw England at the cusp of a radical change, socially, politically, and economically. The advent of the Industrial Revolution had drastically transformed the mental and physical landscapes of the time; factories were sprouting left and right, people were flooding into the cities to work, and entrepreneurs kept the thriving businesses alive. Gradually the topic of Human rights arose, and cities clamored for representatives in Parliament, while the idea of universal suffrage arose, men voicing out desires to vote in order to improve the condition of life.As history shows, after much conflict – riots, deaths, political upheavals- the internal tension in the nation gave way to a greater amount of freedom and Democracy among the citizens. But what if these internal forces had not simmered and seethed, causing uproar and promoting change like they did? Would the outcome then have been similar? Let us examine the conditions of the time, and assess whether present forces of that day could have instigated change, as the conflict between social classes did.The first and seemingly obvious alternative would be a Revolution. During that time –the early 19th Century- the memories of both the French and the Irish (against the English) Revolutions were still fresh in men’s minds; this coupled with the inequities prevalent in the new, Industrialized society, would have galvanized rebellion and caused men to bear arms against the Capitalists who coveted the lion’s share of the profits as well as the Parliament, who denied men representation, votes, and a say in the great scheme of things.The second alternative would be Education. This was a time when newspaper and the printed page thrived. Aside from news, many works of entertainment were printed in the weekly papers, by writers such as Charles Dickens. The Literacy rate was increasing, and as people were no longer scattered but concentrated in the cities, thus quickening the dissemination of information, the Media could, theoretically, have spearheaded a movement for change.Inevitably though, these two alternate theories would have eventually coincided with the ideas which opened this paper, namely Social Conflict. For Democracy ultimately dwells in the hearts and minds of men, and, as such, all socio-political and economic movements begin and end in the realm of social strife.

Texting And Driving Essay

I do support in the fact that texting a driving should be considered illegal, mainly for the soul purpose that many people die because of the distractions on the road that your phone can cause. â€Å"In the past three years alone, 30 states have banned texting while driving, the only state that has not done it yet is Oklahoma. † (Delcour 2) You see on the news that there are many teenagers now a days that get into car accident why? BECAUSE THEY WERE TEXTING AND DRIVING!â€Å"Last year, despite assurance by S. C.  lawmakers that a texting ban would be passed, obviously it died without coming up for a final vote. †(EDITORIAL 6) I know people who try to text and drive but we always remind them that there are other people in this care ad unless they want the guilt of their friends death due to their carelessness then that’s up to them. When I get behind the wheel of a car I turn my phone to silent and I don’t turn it back up until I that car is stopped and I get out of that car, I don’t sit there at a red light or a stop sign reading text messages or taking calls while I’m behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.It is unsafe to not only you but the people in your car, and the people outside of your car as well like other drivers, pedestrians, animals, etc. I think that if it were to become illegal then it should not only have one ticket for texting while driving but also another one for being stupid to put yourself and other in a dangerous risk of dying or getting seriously hurt. â€Å"Fifty-eight percent of those under 45 say texting while driving should be punished less severely than driving while intoxicated, while 65 percent of those over 45 say the severity of the punishment should be equal for both.† (CBS 6)I am still kind of a new driver myself but I do know how to stay safe on the road from anything that may distract me and end up causing a lot of damage. Dinosaurs have big bodies and small brains, when you st ep inside of a vehicle you now have a big body and a smaller brain. Don’t let that brain of yours end up making stupid decisions behind dangerous machinery like a car. Why do people text and drive? Because they think they can multitask, news flash no you can’t. You cannot pay attention to the road going 70 while talking to your friend at the same time because our minds were meant to comprehend only one thing at a time.Everyone says â€Å"oh I can multitask† and when they do they completely screw something up, just like driving if you don’t pay attention you will screw up bigger than falling off your bike and getting a skinned knee. If this was made illegal I am pretty sure that people wouldn’t obey it at first, but once they get into that accident due to that electronic distraction they will understand why it was made illegal. â€Å"Numerous recent studies document that using wireless communications, and specifically texting, is one of the most da ngerous distractions for a driver, under many circumstances have there been deadly consequences

Independent Variable Definition and Examples

Independent Variable Definition and Examples The two main variables in a science experiment are the independent variable and the dependent variable. Heres the definition on independent variable and a look at how its used: Key Takeaways: Independent Variable The independent variable is the factor that you purposely change or control in order to see what effect it has.The variable that responds to the change in the independent variable is called the dependent variable. It depends on the independent variable.The independent variable is graphed on the x-axis. Independent Variable Definition An independent variable is defines as the variable that is changed or controlled in a scientific experiment. It represents the cause or reason for an outcome.Independent variables are the variables that the experimenter changes to test their dependent variable. A change in the independent variable directly causes a change in the dependent variable. The effect on the dependent variable is measured and recorded. Common Misspellings: independant variable Independent Variable Examples A scientist is testing the effect of light and dark on the behavior of moths by turning a light on and off. The independent variable is the amount of light and the moths reaction is the dependent variable.In a study to determine the effect of temperature on plant pigmentation, the independent variable (cause) is the temperature, while the amount of pigment or color is the dependent variable (the effect). Graphing the Independent Variable When graphing data for an experiment, the independent variable is plotted on the x-axis, while the dependent variable is recorded on the y-axis. An easy way to keep the two variables straight is to use the acronym DRY MIX, which stands for: Dependent variable that Responds to change goes on the Y axisManipulated or Independent variable goes on the X axis Sources Dodge, Y. (2003). The Oxford Dictionary of Statistical Terms. OUP. ISBN 0-19-920613-9.Everitt, B. S. (2002). The Cambridge Dictionary of Statistics (2nd ed.). Cambridge UP. ISBN 0-521-81099-X.Gujarati, Damodar N.; Porter, Dawn C. (2009). Terminology and Notation. Basic Econometrics (5th international ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 21. ISBN 978-007-127625-2.

Definition of Interpretive Sociology

Definition of Interpretive Sociology Interpretive sociology is an approach developed by Max Weber that centers on the importance of meaning and action when studying  social trends and problems. This approach diverges from positivistic sociology by recognizing that the subjective experiences, beliefs, and behavior of people are  equally important to study as are observable, objective facts. Max Webers Interpretive Sociology Interpretive sociology was developed and popularized by Prussian founding figure of the field Max Weber. This theoretical approach and the research methods that go with it is rooted in the German word  verstehen, which means to understand, in particular to have a meaningful understanding of something. To practice interpretive sociology is to attempt to understand social phenomena from the standpoint of those involved in it. It is, so to speak, to attempt to walk in someone elses shoes and see the world as they see it. Interpretive sociology is, thus, focused on understanding the meaning that those studied give to their beliefs, values, actions, behaviors, and social relationships with people and institutions. Georg Simmel, a contemporary of Weber, is also recognized as a major developer of interpretive sociology. This approach to producing theory and research encourages sociologists to view those studied as thinking and feeling subjects as opposed to objects of scientific research. Weber developed interpretive sociology because he saw a deficiency in the positivistic sociology pioneered by French founding figure Émile Durkheim. Durkheim worked to make sociology be seen as a science by centering empirical, quantitative data as its practice. However, Weber and Simmel recognized that the positivistic approach is not able to capture all social phenomena, nor is it able to fully explain why all social phenomena occur or what is important to understand about them. This approach focuses on objects (data) whereas interpretive sociologists focus on subjects (people). Meaning and the Social Construction of Reality Within interpretive sociology, rather than attempting to work as detached, seemingly objective observers and analyzers of social phenomena, researchers instead work to understand how the  groups they study actively construct the reality of their everyday lives through the meaning they give to their actions. To approach sociology this way is often necessary to conduct participatory research that embeds the researcher in the daily lives of those they study. Further, interpretive sociologists work to understand how the groups they study construct meaning and reality through attempts to empathize with them, and as much as possible, to understand their experiences and actions from their own perspectives. This means that sociologists who take an interpretive approach work to collect qualitative data rather than quantitative data because taking this approach rather than a positivistic one means that a research approaches the subject matter with different kinds of assumptions, asks different kinds of questions about it, and requires different kinds of data and methods for responding to those questions. The methods interpretive sociologists employ include in-depth interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic observation. Example: How Interpretive Sociologists Study Race One area in which positivistic and interpretive forms of sociology produce very different kinds of questions and research is the study of race and social issues connected with it. Positivistic approaches to this are of study tend to focus on counting and tracking trends over time. This kind of research can illustrate things like how education level, income, or voting patterns differ on the basis of race. Research like this can show us that there are clear correlations between race and these other variables. For example, within the U.S., Asian Americans are the most likely to earn a college degree, followed by whites, then Blacks, then Hispanics and Latinos. The gap between Asian Americans and Latinos is vast: 60 percent of those aged 25-29 versus just 15 percent. But these quantitative data simply show us that a problem of educational disparity by race exists. They dont explain it, and they dont tell us anything about the experience of it. In contrast, sociologist Gilda Ochoa took an interpretive approach to studying this gap and conducted long-term ethnographic observation at a California high school to find out why this disparity exists. Her 2013 book,  Academic Profiling:  Latinos, Asian Americans, and the Achievement Gap​, based on interviews with students, faculty, staff and parents, as well as observations within the school, shows that it is unequal access to opportunities, racist and classist assumptions about students and their families, and differential treatment of students within the schooling experience that leads to the achievement gap between the two groups. Ochoas findings run counter to common assumptions about the groups that frame Latinos as culturally and intellectually deficient and Asian Americans as model minorities and serve as a fantastic demonstration of the importance of conducting interpretive sociological research.

Should teens in the United Arab Emirates adopt the British custom of Essay

Should teens in the United Arab Emirates adopt the British custom of taking a gap-year or one year break from studying bet - Essay Example The United Arab Emiretes is one such country that is considering introducing the program in its education system. This follows the advantages associated with adopting the program as has been cited in countries where the program is a custom. Nevertheless, some skeptics have criticised the program arguing that it adds no good to the students and should not be adopted. Gap Years-United Arab Emirates Introduction The term â€Å"Gap Year† for a long time had been associated with the western and European countries, particularly the U.K. and the U.S.. â€Å"Gap Year† refers to the time duration in which high school students are allowed some time off from academic work before proceeding to colleges (Griffith, 2005). Griffith (2005) argues that gap year programs are mainly created to allow students to have fun, travel, participate in community services, as well as for personal growth. Britain is one among the countries in Europe that has adopted this custom within its education curriculum. Griffith (2005) points out that about 660,000 U.K. high school leavers take a Gap Year before proceeding to colleges. This custom has also been adopted in the U.S. as well, where students are being allowed to take a gap year before they can proceed to colleges. ... This paper will examines the reasons why teens in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) should adopt the Gap year custom of Britain. To begin with, Haigler and Nelson (2005) argue that learning about the world is one of the best forms of education that a child can get. However, teens can only learn more about the world if they can have some time to travel. Despite the fact that gap years are not designed for travelling, Haigler and Nelson (2005) reveal that a majority of teens who take gap years seize the chance to travel to foreign countries. This enables these teens to have a feeling of peculiar cultures, which acts as lessons as they discover new things that they would not have otherwise learnt if they did not get the opportunity to travel. Therefore, allowing UAE teens to take a gap year will be beneficial for their personal development in exploring different parts of the world and learning new cultures, which is very good experience. Griffith (2005) argues that people only live once. Th erefore, teens should be given sometime off to have fun and enjoy themselves. This can only become a reality in the UAE is teens are allowed to take a gap year before joining high school. This is because taking a gap year will give them the opportunity to travel, explore, adventure, and discover more about themselves. In fact, reports indicate that thousands of British school leavers use gap years to have fun. The gap year program needs to be adopted by the UAE because it will give the teens the opportunity to learn more about themselves. For instance, gap years will enable UAE teens who have grown up in a structured family with clearly defined goals be it academic, sports, or athletics to be free to assess themselves.

Servant leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Servant leadership - Essay Example The authoritarian leadership style denotes a centralized decision making approach where the final decision is taken by the topmost executive. The participative leadership style indicates that employees should be included within the decision making process. Employees are able to influence the decision making approach, and simultaneously the responsibility of team members also increases. The laissez-faire leadership approach is the least observed within an organizational system. There are similarities between servant leadership and participative leadership styles. In the current scenario there is a wide range of firms following the servant leadership approach. The servant leadership style is valued by many organizations so as to strengthen employee relationships. The organization selected for this particular study is Prince’s Court. This is a healthcare provider that aims at providing family-centered and quality healthcare to individuals. The study will summarize the implementat ion of the service leadership approach within the chosen organizational framework. The servant leadership concept suggests the primary role of a leader is to extend support towards team members or to serve them appropriately. This approach does not believe in exercising power over other team members, but distributes power amongst all individuals. It is an ancient philosophy and is closely knitted with the concept of participative leadership approach. A servant leader possesses certain priorities such as enabling, encouraging and supporting subordinates to address specific goals or objectives. This eventually leads to distribution of power and responsibility amongst employees. It can be considered as a participative decision making style, where all team members contribute their opinions or ideas (Mello, 2011). Servant leadership approach is not only confined to employee related behavior but its objective is to alter hierarchical relationship between team members

Histort Essay on Globalization Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Histort on Globalization - Essay Example The Internet has made products more accessible to people all around the world and corporations are willing to dip their hands in the pockets of other countries. Globalization is basically an effort for a business to provide a product on a multinational effort in search for profit from wherever they can possibly get it, even if that includes having products manufactured for little cost overseas. This then has resulted in a lack of jobs in the United States due to globalization and has ultimately led to an economic downward spiral. Corporations thrive on the globalization of their business, able to make millions and offer their goods to developing companies. Occupy Wall Street is an anti-globalization group that currently protests shipping jobs overseas and keep the work here in the United States. It ks a movement designed to completely protest globalization because they expect for economic movements to stay local within our own government here in the United States. The western worlds currently dominate the majority of the world's economy and the United Nations plays a huge role when it comes to globalization. The United States plays a huge part in the United Nations due to the country being a giant in the corporate and developing realms of business. Alternately, globalization is also impacted on by embargoes that are set up in other parts of the world that can otherwise effect the rest of the world that are unable to trade goods. The economy as a whole is deeply affected in a negative way, particularly in the United States while there is a huge economic crisis going on. The value of a dollar is going down and will also affect other areas in the world and exchange rates which then also effects People on the political left have the tendency to want change while the people on the right wing do not want change. Conflicting visions are typically the topic of most political issues. Globalization is just another means for conflict in politics. It also results in a stru ggle between states. Some states have different resources to offer than others so globalization can effect the local economy as well as the overall national economy. The current Obama administration has the same policy that was passed from the Bush administration. Obama's stimulus package also plays a huge role in globalization not just in the United States, but also in other parts of the world because many other countries rely on the United States. Though it appears that Obama has tried to impact the economy, when looking at the bigger picture, there are still major issues in the United States that lead to unemployment, the middle class is the suffering class, and therefore contributing to the issue of globalization. It may have been a gesture of collective action but it was not quite effective enough or at least Americans are still feeling the burn of globalization's effects. The lack of jobs seems to be the largest sour idea when it comes to globalization, from the perspective of an American. Corporations not only are making money off of high priced items, but are shipping their jobs overseas to be performed at extremely low costs. Additionally, globalization is changing the world. Change does not just make the United States uneasy, but people in other economies do not know what to expect either. As a giant powerhouse of a country, many of the moves of other countries are impacted by the decisions of the United States. 2. The United States is struggling from economic recession and though it is the

Critical Analysis Of Heart Of Darkness English Literature Essay

Critical Analysis Of Heart Of Darkness English Literature Essay Considered one of the greatest novelists in English, Joseph Conrad (born JÃ ³zef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski), Conrad was actually of Polish descent. Although he did not fluently speak English until his twenties, Conrad nonetheless excelled at prose and the written English language, with many of his works having been adapted into film. English was in fact his third language, Polish and French being the first two languages he learned. Conrad led a harsh life as a child (Conover), and when he was only three, his father was imprisoned Warsaw for his supposed revolutionary political affiliations (Conover) until the family was exile to northern Russia in 1861 (Liukkonen). In 1869, both of Conrads parents passed away due to tuberculosis, and he was sent to live with his uncle Tadeusz in Switzerland. While living with his uncle, Conrad persuaded his uncle to let him go to sea (Liukkonen), where his many adventures and journeys laid the foundation for most of his works, which are mostly sea- faring stories. In 1890 he sailed up the Congo River, a journey that provided much of the material for his most notable and highly regarded work Heart of Darkness. During his time in the Congo, Conrad experienced extreme physical and mental stresses, which eventually affected his health for the rest of his life. Resettling in London, Conrad went into exile for various reasons including political (Conover). Ending his mariner career that spanned more than twenty years of sea-faring experiences, Conrad was able to draw from there intricate characters and stories which spoke of the human condition, and the complexities of the inner psyche. One such important literary work titled Lord Jim, in which Jim, a young British seaman accompanies his captain and other crew members in abandoning the passengers of their ship. Later hounded by his misdeed, Jim settles at a remote island where the natives title him Tuan or Lord. While there he protects the villagers from bandits and a local corrupt chief. Lord Jim speaks of the rise and fall of the human spirit, and the honor and redemption inherent in noble deeds. These themes are present throughout Conrads stories, and in the Heart of Darkness he also makes heavy use of colors, primarily white and black, and references to light and dark, often intermingling the socially accepted view of each one respectively. Conrad also deals with the issues surrounding imperialism in the Heart of Darkness (Sparknotes), yet there is also a larger underlying issue of race and equality, or lack thereof, within the overall story. The story revolves mainly around Marlow, and his journey through the Congo River to meet Kurtz, purported to be a man of great abilities. In his job as a riverboat captain with a Belgian Company organized for trade within Africa, Marlow encounters much brutality against the natives within in the Companys settlements. The inhabitants of the region have been pushed into forced labor, and they suffer terribly from overwork and ill treatment in the hands of the Companys agents. The cruelty of the imperial enterprise contrasts sharply with majestic and massive Congo jungle that surrounds the white mens stations, causing them to appear like small islands amongst the vast darkness of Africa. Amidst problems with the oppressed natives, Marlow manages to survive his time in the Congo, but because of the extreme conditions and harsh living in the area at the time, he returns home with ill health. The events depicted in Heart of Darkness truly could have occurred anywhere, but Conrad chose the Congo for the feeling and impact of the climate, the individuals involved, and the very way of life there. The title itself reflects the heart of darkness within men, who can sometimes use others for their own benefit and profit, casting away human life as if it had no value. The title may also refer to the Congo itself, due to the darkness and uncharted territory and mysteries that lurked within at that time. Conrad creates a build-up of tension and mysteriousness to the plot, which causes one to wonder what may happen next, and even though nothing overly climactic occurs, each individual event adds to the foreboding of the story. Deaths and other dark happenings are spoken of, and Conrads technique in describing these events conveys the darkness and hopelessness of the entire situation. The story portrays darkness as emanating from the depths of the jungle; it fills men with evil and allows them to act upon it. The main example of this darkness is within the station manager Kurtz, who performs such debauchery in the jungles that he eventually becomes ill and dies. The character of Kurtz could be considered a catalyst for change, and the symbol for the Europeans failure in the Congo. Unaware of his own evil, Kurtz is unable to fight the darkness within. There is a question of good and evil that is addressed within Heart of Darkness; the motifs of light and dark in which the darkness in Africa is separate from its blackness, and the whiteness in Europe being far removed from the goodness of light. In a sense, light and dark are polarized; Light represents the falsehoods and corruption in the world symbolized by the white man, whereas dark is a symbol for truth, while the dark natives show the pureness and innocence of humanity. Though there is some ambiguity of whether the title Heart of Darkness refers directly to Kurtz dark heart, or to the darkness of the jungles interior, the latter is more likely, due to the extent of abusive and evil actions portrayed by all the white men, which only grows in intensity with their close proximity to the center of the jungle. These settings and symbols help to portray the theme of universal darkness that Conrad alludes to. Conrads descriptive passages about the interminable waterways of the Congo and the Thames River show the connection between humanity and darkness. Each river flows into each other, and lead into a heart of immense darkness. This shows that all of humanity is connected through the heart of darkness and the truth. Ultimately Heart of Darkness is a story of the pitfalls and perils of greed, lust, and the corruption of ideals and values by the darkness that dwells within all of mankind. It tells of the madness that the greed for riches or power can create within the heart and mind, and that even the best of intentions can become twisted into something evil and oppressive. Works Consulted Conover, Matt. HEART OF DARKNESS: The Hypertext Annotation. The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, 23 Nov. 2003. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. . Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness. Planet EBook. Web. 19 Nov. 2010. . Crowther, John, ed. No Fear Heart of Darkness. SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Search EText, Read Online, Study, Discuss. The Literature Network: Online Classic Literature, Poems, and Quotes. Essays Summaries. The Literature Network. Web. 15 Dec. 2010. . Liukkonen, Petri. Joseph Conrad. www.kirjasto.sci.fi. Web. 15 Dec. 2010. . Roberts, Andrew Michael. Joseph Conrad. London: Longman, 1998. Print. SparkNotes Editors. SparkNote on Heart of Darkness. SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2002. Web. 1 Dec. 2010.

The Red Badge of Courage - Henry is No Hero Essay -- Red Badge Courage

The Red Badge of Courage - Henry is No Hero      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane explores the theme of courage and heroism in depth. He develops these themes through the main character, Henry Fleming. Henry is a naà ¯ve young man faced with the harsh realities of war, in this book, some argue that Henry is transformed into a heroic "quiet manhood" while others see Henry as the same young man who ran from battle in the beginning of the book. I think Henry doesn't change, his heroic status acquired at the end of the book isn't truly him, instead he merely is motivated by fear of dying and being rejected by his fellow soldiers.    At the beginning of the novel Henry is disappointed of war; he had far greater expectations of war. He wants one thing out of this experience, Glory, and he would go to any extreme to fulfill it. In battle Henry acts impulsively and is easily manipulated, he flees from battle at the sight of others running. When he realizes his cowardice he rationalizes without end to why he ran. He justifies that nature also flees at the sight of fear when he scares a squirrel to runoff. Henry acts shallow and vain when he manipulates his friend, Wilson; he uses the letters Wilson gave him as leverage if Wilson finds out Henry's "crimes". His pride is restored when he finds out that he doesn't get caught. He is constantly comparing himself to others, and doesn't judge himself by the same standards as he does others. I think Henry is envious of his friends. The only thing the tattered man wanted is warm pea soup and a warm bed, but he wants to survive to be there for his children. I think Henry admires the tattered man's selflessness and courage, he never really complained abo... ...ck at his General for calling them mule drivers by dying in battle. In reality Henry was an insignificant soldier and the General would never care whether he died in battle or not. To me, a hero doesn't try to hide behind his insecurities, like Henry did, he faces them.    In conclusion, I think Henry was not a hero in this novel, in fact I thought he acted more like a coward. Though during brief periods of time Henry physically acted heroically, his moral character was weak, trying to cover up his psychological wounds with self-justification and delusion. I think towards the end of the novel Henry abandons the notion of becoming a hero, mostly because it is unrealistic. Instead, he settles with a more humble title of being a man.    Work Cited: Crane, Stephen. The Red Badge of Courage.   Logan, IA:   Perfection Learning Corporation, 1979.

Food Security in India

Food security is access to enough food by all people at all time for an active and healthy life. In the past concentrated efforts were made to achieve food security by increasing food grain production. Thanks to the impact of green revolution though, it was limited to same crops and too in limited states. To ensure easy access to food at household level, government monopolizes grain management and subsidized food gains. Paradoxically, India attained national food self-sufficiency 35 years ago yet about 35% of its population remains food insecure. Low incomes and high food prices prevent individual food security. Another aspect of Indian food security situation is that after over three decades of operation, public distribution system meets less than 10% of consumption of PDS grains– rice and wheat –by the poor. At the global level, poor harvest coupled with rising demand has led to and overall increase in food prices. Unfavorable weather conditions in parts of Europe and North Africa, together with worst ever drought in Australia put stocks of major food crops, especially wheat, at record low levels. Tight supply pushed up the prices of wheat to unprecedented heights, significantly affecting food inflation across the globe including India. Surging food grain prices and worsening global supplies are now bringing the domestic food crisis to the boil. The crisis has been building up for sometime. The food grains yields of India farmers are not going up. Grain output has been stagnating for over a decade and there is a growing gap between supply and demand. Attaining long-term food security requires the raising of incomes and making food affordable. To ensure food security for the vulnerable section of the society a multiple pronged stately is to be evolved. To begin with all the existing social safety net programmes need amalgamation and should focus on vulnerable and underprivileged regions and groups. The existing anti-poverty programmes may be made more transparent with better government that minimizes leakages and benefits from such programmes. Simultaneously, agriculture needs to be reformed by improving incentives, incentives, increasing in vestment etc. So that production of traditional and high-value commodities can be increased. Unfortunately agriculture is in the grip of poor performance. Traditional sources of augmenting income are ceresin. Production environment is changing it is not dominated by small holders. With the shrinking land holdings, their sustainability and viability can not rely solely on production of food grains. To augment their income, small holders need to diversify their production and crops. Ten years after the dismantling of the universal public distribution system systems, the statistical jugglery of the targeted food distribution system actually excludes millions of poor in both the BPL and APL categories. Targeting is linked to neoli9beral policies that seek to limit, if not eliminate, the government’s welfare responsibilities. The denial of the right to food for a large section of the Indian population reflected in increased malnourishment strutted growth, ill health and loss of energy and therefore productivity is an issue that deserves more national attention. If countries agree to be graded in terms of provision of food security to their citizens, India would rank along with Ethiopia at the lower end. The United Nations children’s fund report that tone out of every tow children in India in malnourished confirms the lopsided priorities of successive governments at the centre that seek to narrow fiscal deficits by reducing food subsidies. Until 1996, India has universal PDS. There it introduced the targeted system with the mistaken notion that the infirmities of the PDS should be curbed and that it would enable subsidized grain to reach those who actually needed it. India now has 10 years of experience of the targeted (into APL and BPL ouseholds with access to foodgrain at different prices) and further targeted (into BPL and Antyodaya households) system. Last year, the planning commission did an evolutions of the PDS and found that 57% of the poor hand been actually excluded from the BPL system. Earlier the Abhijit Sen committee had also come up with similar findings, pointing to the utter failure of the targeted system, and suggested a return to the universal PDS. For these schemes is a major problem. If only those who are officially identified as poor can have access to food, then clearly the method has ensured accuracy. The prevailing method of identification is entirely unsatisfactory. There are two sets of estimates. The estimate that is linked to allocations of foodgrain is made by the planning commission. According to a replay given in parliament, the present concept of the poverty line is based on the per capita consumption expenditure needed to attain a minimum amount of calorie intake out of food consumption along with a minimum amount of not-food expenditure in order to meet the requirements of clothing, shelter and transport, among other things. This is based on the methodology suggested by the Lakdawala committee in 1993 and the population projections of the registrar-general of India as of march 12000. Shockingly, according to the current assessments, it works out to around Rs. 11 an adult a day clearly; this is not a poverty line but a destitution line. Earlier foodgrain allocations were not linked to poverty line assessments but were open-ended depending on past utilization by the states. The linkages came along with the targeted system. This creates another anomaly. The rural development ministry has set of programmes for BPL families. According to current estimates, 6 crore households in India come under the BPL category. That such a large number of people are earning less than Rs 330 a month is shocking enough. But what is cruel is that anyone earning above this meager monthly income is classified as APL and excluded from the right to subsidized foodgrain. The very words ‘Above Poverty Line’ misleading because they include a vast section of poor who have been denied their entitlements through statistical fraud and jugglery to serve a neoliberal agenda. The need for subsidized food grains for a wider section of people is also reflected in increased off take. While the off take in the Antyodaya system is around 90%, showing the desperate need of people for cheap foodgrain, the off take for BPL has doubled in the past few 73. 67 lakh tones to 228. 45 lakh tones in 2005-06 out of an allocation of 273. 20 lakh tones which constitutes 83%- of the allocation. As far as APL is concerned, the off take is much lower not because people do not need the grain but because for several years there was not much difference in the APL price and the market price. The central issue price for wheat is Rs 7. 50 a kg. For rice the price range is from Rs 10 in Gujarat and Maharashtra for a kg to Rs 9 in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. As current market prices of foodgrain have shot up, the demand for APL foodgrain will definitely increase but the poor offtake of the grain in the demand for APL foodgrain will definitely increase but the poor off take of the grains in the past few years is being cited by the government to cut allocations, precisely when people require it more. Since rise procurement is reportedly up by around 28 lakh tones, it is possible for the central government to replace wheat allocations will rise at least for the time being in consultation with the states. Instead of taking such a step, the Centre is proposing a cut in allocation. The demand for a revision of poverty assessment also needed. Secondly, the neglect of foodgrain production consequent to the new agricultural policy’s emphasis on export-oriented cash crops is a major reason for current shortfalls in wheat production. The third Issue is that of procurement of wheat. Wheat deficits to the extent of 29 lakh tones below the buffer stock norms leading to imports for the first time in decades are a result of the deliberate policy of the government to cut down procurement on the one hand and encourage private trade on the other. Big farmers who could hold on to their stocks would have benefited from the higher price offered later, but the bulk of the peasantry sold their produce to traders at price below the Rs 700 offered three week too late by the government, the FCI had been given the same leeway as private trade, then the present dismal record of low procurement could have been avoided. Shockingly, the government offered the Indian farmer almost Rs 100 less than what it paid foreign trades. The concerning of the stock by private trade has permitted wheat hoarding, which has pushed market prices up by Rs 5-6 a kg. Decades of building a food security system can be wiped out by such neoliberal ideologies that undermine the principal of self-reliance. Besides, it reflects a naive belief that international prices will remain static whereas clearing international trades are waiting to maximize profits through wheat imports as higher, price to India. Further, a dangerous concession by way of lowering of phytosanitary standards in the quality of wheat is also being planned- This must be opposed strongly. India can spend thousands of crores to protect itself through nuclear might but can render itself completely vulnerable by losing its greatest achievement, the backbone of sovereignty—– food self-sufficiency. With this approach, the situation on the rice front could follow a similar disastrous pattern in the future. It also raises the question of whether it is appropriate to combine the Agriculture Ministry with the food and Public Distribution Ministry. Fourthly, the FCI is being weakened systematically. The employment schemes of Government, which offer part of the payment in food grains. Play an important part in the provision of food security, through inadequate. The move to cut back on this component will also cut down on the real wages of the worker. With the current high prices of wheat and other essential commodities, What the worker grains in cash is less than what he/she has to pay for his/her foodgrain needs in the market. What needs to be done is improve the system – whether of procurement agencies, the fair price shops or the methods of distribution – but not to destroy them. But that is what the Food and Public Distribution Department seems to be proposing. People –centered reform requires a return to the universal PDS. During periods of high inflation in food prices, governments must provide a basic minimum quantity of food grain and other food items at low prices through public distribution systems to low-income, food-insecure, and vulnerable populations. In India, the ostensible purpose of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) was to take food to the poor; in practice, it has resulted in the large scale exclusion of the poor and food-insecure from the public food system. Recent evidence from a report titled Public Distribution system and other Sources of Household Consumption 2004-5 (GOI. 2007), which presents data from the 61st Round of the National Sample Survey (NSS), establishes that targeting has led to high rates of exclusion of needy household from the Public Distribution System (PDS) and cleared deterioration of coverage in States like Kerala where the universal PDS was most effective. Let me illustrate with evidence from rural India. The recent report of the National Sample Survey gives us an insight into the magnitude and nature of this exclusion from the PDS. At the all-India level, 70. 5 per cent of rural households either possessed no card or held an APL card. Since household with APL card are effectively excluded from the PDS, the majority of rural households in India are excluded from the PDS. The NSS Report also allows us to classify-by caste, occupation, land ownership and consumer expenditure category-the household that are excluded from the PDS. The NSS maintains five types of rural households, based on information on source of income; self-employed (agriculture), self employed (non-agriculture), agricultural labour, other labour and other households. We focus on agricultural labour, since manual agricultural labour households are undoubtedly among those most in need of access to the PDS. The all India average indicates that 52percent of agricultural households either had no card or an APL card. The corresponding proportion was 96 per cent in Manipur, 68 per cent in Rajasthan and Assam, 71 per cent in Bihar and 73 percent in Uttar Pradesh. Can 70 per cent of agricultural labour households be considered as ineligible for the PDS? There were only four States in which two thirds or more of agricultural labour households were not excluded from the PDS (that is, held a BPL or Antyodaya ration card). These States were Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Jammu and Kashmir and Tripura. Secondly, we examine the social back-ground of households, focusing on Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Treble households. We have selected only those States where the rural Scheduled Caste population is more than 10 percent of the total population. In rural areas, there is known to be substantial degree of overlap between the Scheduled Caste status, blandness and poverty. The NSS data shows that 70 per cent or more of Scheduled Caste households had no card or an APL card in rural area of Assam, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Utter Pradesh. Among these states, only Punjab is a cereal-surplus State. At the all-India level, 60 per cent of the scheduled Caste households in rural areas were effectively excluded from the PDS. States with a lower degree of exclusion of Scheduled Caste households were Karnataka (27 per cent excluded), Andhra Pradesh (31 per cent), and Kerala (38 per cent). A large number of households belonging to the Scheduled Tribes, Again, do not have access to the PDS: to illustrate, 90 per cent of rural Scheduled Tribe households in Assam, 79 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh and 68 per cent in Chhattisgarh were excluded from the PDS. Surprisingly, the North Eastern Sates did not perform too well on this count (though again there may be a problem of data quality). There were only four states – Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat and Maharashtra-where more than 50 per cent of rural Scheduled Tribe Households had received a BPL or Antyodaya card. The NSS report classifies households by the extent of land they possessed. It is not noted that land possessed† refers to all types of land and includes agricultural land, homestead land and non-agricultural land. It is not surprising, then, that a very small proportion of households are reported as landless. I have therefore grouped together the two categories of landless. Again, the conclusion is that a very high proportion of landless and near landless household did not possess BPL or Antyodaya cards (86 per cent in Sikkim, 80 percent Goa, 79 per in Uttar Pradesh. 6 per cent in Haryana, 75 per cent in Jharkhand, and 74 per cent in Uttaranchal, for example) and were thus effectively excluded from the PDS. In striving for â€Å"efficiency† by means of narrow targeting households that should be entitled to basic food security through the PDS have been left out. The data from the 61st round of the NSS make it quite clear that a high proportion of agricultural labour and o ther labour households, of households belonging to Scheduled Caste and the scheduled Tribes, of households with little or no land and households in the lowest expenditure classes, are effectively excluded from the PDS today.